Alumni Review 2010 Issue 2

VMI

ALUMNI REVIEW 2010-Issue 2

Contents

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE Alumni Review 2010-Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

This issue includes Class Notes covering the time period of Nov. 16, 2009, to Feb. 15, 2010. Other than Class Notes, most stories and news in this issue were received in the November ’09 through February ’10 time frame.

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FEATURES 10

Corps Salutes New Governor

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Hill ’55: Second Career

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Deyerle ’76: VMI Ancestor

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Sebrell ’01: Civil War History

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NEWS AND UPDATES 3

OEF/OIF: An Update

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Association/Chapter News

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Class Notes

140 Births, Marriages, Degrees 140 Most Senior Alumni 142 Taps 152 Alumni News

DEPARTMENTS 2

President’s Letter

150 Association Directory 157 The Institute 161 VMI Athletics 166 The Foundation 174 The Keydet Club

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Volume 86, No. 1

PUBLISHER The President of The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. 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 PRINTER Progress Printing Co., Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia 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.

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 Covers: Responding to an “Eyes, Right” command, the VMI Corps of Cadets marched past the reviewing stand to honor Gov. Bob McDonnell on his inauguration day, Jan. 16, 2010. This photo and those on the inside front cover by VMI, Kevin Remington.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT As you receive this issue, I will be nearing the end of my term serving you as president of The VMI Alumni Association. It truly has been my honor to serve in this capacity; to meet other alumni and friends of VMI; and to be a part of the Alumni Review – a great tribute to our heritage and the only magazine of its kind.

In the OEF/OIF section of this issue, read about how Maj. Anthony Meador ’95, USA, who is near the end of his third tour in Iraq, flies a Black Hawk helicopter into combat zones to rescue the injured, risking both the enemy and the elements.

Meet Sam Hill ’55 and learn of his work with Physicians for Peace, an organization that provides training and education to health care professionals in developing countries including Haiti, where teaching and healing skills are needed most.

Lykins ’73

Also providing much needed support in Haiti is Cmdr. Matt Ott ’92, USN, whose unit, Joint Logistics Command/JTF Haiti, was one of the first on the scene at Port au Prince after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in January. See photos in the Association News section.

In this issue, there are articles about our alumni and their historical research, such as Tom Sebrell ’01.

Read about how connections to VMI and the Civil War have come together in his professional life – not in the United States but in Great Britain, where he lives and works.

With a family heritage that extends back to the first VMI alumnus career officer to die serving his country, Chip Deyerle ’76 uncovered an article about his ancestor, Charles Peter Deyerle, class of 1842, written by a Virginia museum director and curator.

Finally, don’t miss the fantastic photos of the Corps of Cadets in the Governor’s Inaugural Parade, which took place on Jan. 16, 2010. Nearly the entire Corps was there to honor and welcome newly appointed Governor Bob McDonnell.

With more than 19,000 living alumni, I continue to marvel at the impact of our alumni, a relatively small number by today’s standards, who serve their community and country. As this magazine arrives near a key milestone in VMI’s history, it’s a poignant reminder of that call to duty, to be put into position to lead others, as in New Market and in the world today.

In the bonds,

Richmond P. Lykins ’73, President The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

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Jared Siebenaler ’08 during his deployment in the Middle East.

Operation

Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom An Update The following alumni names have been received since the publication of the 2010-Issue 1 Alumni Review. This update does not include alumni names received after Feb. 1, 2010.

Also, once the name of an alumnus has been listed in the Review, it will not appear again, even if the alumnus is re-deployed at a later date.

Not all of the alumni listed are currently serving in OEF/OIF, but they all have served at one time.

Names and photographs are e-mailed to us almost every week.

Because we have to have a cut-off date for each issue, your name and picture may have arrived past that date and therefore are not published in this issue; they will be published in the next issue.

Please send additions, corrections and photographs to the Alumni Review staff at: VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 (e-mail: review@vmiaa.org).

For a complete list of names that we have received, go to http://www.vmialumni.org and click on the link titled “OEF/ OIF,” or go directly to http://www.vmialumni.org/oifoef.

Class of 1981

Class of 1986

Class of 1990

Quisenberry, Brian L. Capt., USN

Amsel, Bryan E., civilian

Kimberly, Mike W. Lt. Col., USA

Class of 1984

Class of 1989

Class of 1994

Roach, Jeffrey L. Lt. Col., USAF

Duffy, Brian P. Col., USAF

Colvin, Stephen P. Maj., USAF

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Class of 2001 Beazley, Luther A. IV Capt., USA

Class of 2003 Adams, Christopher N. 1st Lt., TXARNG

Class of 2005 Corrado, Jonathan Lt., USN

Class of 2006 Stevenson, Thomas W. 1st Lt., USA

Class of 2007 Sutliff, Neal O. 1st Lt., VAARNG

Class of 2008 Curle, Benjamin A. 2nd Lt., SCANG Photo above: Class of 1970 Brother Rats Dr. John Flemming, left, and Col. Glenn Kuntz at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thanksgiving Day 2009. Fleming is a civilian working in the Multi-National Force-Iraq J5 Assessments Division, and Kuntz is a recalled reservist working in the Iraq Transition Assistance Office at the U.S. Embassy. According to Kuntz, who submitted this photo, the two reminisced about a Thanksgiving dinner food fight in 1966 that took place in Crozet Hall.

Photo below: Assigned to the MultiNational Corps/Force-Iraq at Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, are, from left, Col. Dave Shutt, ’82; Maj. Gen. J.D. Johnson ’77; and Col. Mark Lowe ’81. Lowe wrote, “The Institute is well represented – a little bit older but probably a whole lot wiser!” The photo, provided by Shutt, was taken on Dec. 12, 2009.

Photo above: On Nov. 11, 2009, 10 VMI Brothers gathered at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters compound in Kabul, Afghanistan, to celebrate VMI Founders Day and share stories. According to Col. Sean Le ’82, who submitted this photo, he was the oldest alumnus attending, and Spec. Matthew Murphy ’10 was the youngest. Le wrote, “It is so common, and we do take it for granted, that VMI alumni, regardless of background, culture or walk of life, enjoy the tight and lasting bond among us.” From left, kneeling, are Maj. Tim Bailey ’94, USMC; Matt Childs ’91, U.S. Embassy; Col. Brian Duffy ’89, USAF; and Col. Le, USAF. Standing, from left: Lt. Col. John Piedmont ’89, USMC; Spec.

Murphy, USARNG; Maj. Charles Fuller ’91, USMC; Lt. Col. Rob Gowan ’88, USA; Lt. Jordan Fox ’03, USN; and Lt. Col. Mike Kimberly ’90, USA.

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Husband and Wife Take Command As Soldiers Bid Farewell to Outgoing Officers 37th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne) – Joint Task Force Eagle

by U.S. Army 1st Lt. Meghan Keefe Editor’s Note: An article featuring U.S. Army Capt. Brandon Bowman ’01 and his wife, Vanessa, appeared recently on the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS). Portions of that article are reprinted below.

Joint Base Balad, Iraq – U.S. Army Capts.

Vanessa and Brandon Bowman ’01 have taken command of separate companies within 37th Engineer Battalion (Airborne)-Joint Task Force Eagle, based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Company commanders passed their guidons to Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman of Oconto, Wisconsin, and Wallace, Michigan, and Capt. Brandon Bowman of Stevens, Pennsylvania, in consecutive change of command ceremonies.

Both Bowmans have a history with the 20th Engineer Brigade, higher headquarters of 37th Engineering Battalion, and both are senior rated jumpmasters, in keeping with the Airborne Leader tradition.

Vanessa deployed with the 37th Engineering Battalion in support of OIF in 2003 serving with HHC as the company executive officer.

Following her assignment with the 37th, she deployed in support of OEF in 2008 with the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Combined JTF-82.

Brandon’s first assignment was with the 37th Engineering Battalion sister unit, the 27th Engineering Battalion. While with the 27th, he deployed in support of OIF in 2002 and again in early 2005. Brandon also deployed with the 20th Engineering Brigade Headquarters in support of OIF in 2007-08. Presently, he serves with JTF-Eagle in Iraq.

Both Bowmans are pleased to say they can share this deployment with each other. “This is our third deployment at the same time but the first time that we are able to be together,” Brandon said.

Vanessa added that this deployment “is a unique experience to spend time living together, really one of the few times we have done so since our marriage in 2004. Professionally, it is nice to have Brandon’s support during company command, especially as he has spent so much time in this part of the country.”

2010-Issue 2

Face of Defense: Submarine Officer Serves in New Role

by U.S. Army Spec. B. Todd Willis Editor’s Note: The following article featuring Lt. David M. Bartles ’03, USN, was published on Jan. 5, 2010, by the Navy News Service.

Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan – In wartime, service members often are required to master and perform duties outside their area of expertise.

Navy Lt. David M. Bartles [’03], 29, spent his three previous years of duty on a nuclear submarine. Now, he’s the night-shift battle captain for the Combined Joint Task Force 82 information operations section.

“It’s definitely a big change from what I am used to, but it’s pretty exciting,” Bartles said.

The information operations section works with other sections in the communications action group in a variety of duties, including generating content that appears on radio and television stations in eastern Afghanistan. Service members who accept duties outside their area of expertise incur some unique challenges.

“The most difficult thing thus far is the pace,” Bartles said. “You have to learn your job and the organization very quickly. You’re expected to be effective from day one, and failure here can have profound effects.”

His day-shift counterpart says Bartles has stepped up to the challenge effectively.

“I am definitely surprised at how quickly Lt. Bartles made the transition from working on a nuclear submarine to this,” said Army Lt. Christopher L. Hunt, day-shift information operations battle captain.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Military Institute and a master’s degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University, Bartles received two years of training in nuclear engineering in preparation for his duties on a submarine. During his six years serving in the Navy, Bartles has earned two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Expeditionary Medals and five Overseas Service Awards.

“The best thing about working on a submarine is the camaraderie,” he said. “The crew is pretty small, and we have to depend on each other to get through the day. We build strong relationships by sharing the hardships of life underwater.”

Still, Bartles said, opportunities to get off the sub were welcome during deployments.

“Port calls aren’t anything new to the Navy, but we ended up spending six weeks in Perth, Australia, one time,” he said. “The city was awesome.

It had friendly people and beautiful beaches and an exciting nightlife.

Also, I won a poker tournament and took a tour of southwest Australia, hopping from one park to the next.”

Bartles grew up in Falling Water, West Virginia. He has two sisters and a brother, who also serves in the Navy.

“The hardest part of military service for me is being away from my family and friends,” Bartles said. “I have been able to keep in touch using the Internet, and it will be nice to take the family out for dinner when I get home.”

Though his duty here has been a new experience, Bartles said, he’s learned a great deal from it.

“I’ve gotten to work with people from other services and field areas,” he explained. “This has given me a better perspective on our effort here in Afghanistan.”

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Getting together at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Nov. 6, 2009, to recognize the U.S. Marine Corps’ birthday were, from left, Col. Sean Le ’82, USAF; Maj. Charles Fuller ’91, USMC; Matt Childs ’91, U.S. Embassy; and Lt. Col. John Piedmont ’89, USMC.

Gathering at a luncheon to celebrate VMI Founders Day on Nov. 11, 2009, at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan were, from left, kneeling, Capt. Jason Quash ’04, USA and Lt. David Bartles ’03, USN. Standing: Maj. Cloyd Lilley ’94, USA; Lt. Col. Brian McCormack ’90, USA; Lt. Col. Chris Eubank, ’91, USA; and Lt. Col. Guy Gormley ’88, USA. Last row: Michael Evans ’87, USN (Ret).

From left, Lt. Col. Guy Gormley ’88, Maj. Gen. Abner Blalock ’70 and Maj. Mike Leeney ’88 at Field Operating Base (FOB) Wright in Asad Abad, Afghanistan, on Nov. 20, 2009. According to Gormley, the 40th Agribusiness Development Team is located at FOB Wright, and Leeney is the operations officer in that organization.

Photo, left: At Camp Phoenix in western Kabul, Afghanistan, early 2010, were Matt Childs ’91, left, and Lt. Col. William Smithson ’79.

Photo, right: Childs with Lt. Col. Edward Ledford ’87 at Kabul International Airport, North (the military side). According to Class Agent George Petty ’91, Childs was in Kabul on assignment with the State Department (security).

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Photo at left: Rob Kelly ’08, left, on patrol in Iraq with a non-commissioned officer in his unit.

Photo above: Jake Vishneski ’08 and Ben Curle ’08 at Forward Operating Base Victory in Iraq. Curle completes his Iraq tour in April 2010.

Photo below: Rob Kelly ’08 with Iraqi children.

Photo above: At Field Operating Base Falcon, south of Baghdad, Iraq, were Lt. Thomas Wilson ’06, USAF; Nathan Blythe ’02, USA; Lt. Frank Dyson ’05, USA; and Spec. J.B. Thompson ’05, USA. Photo courtesy Wilson.

Photo below: Class of 2003 Brother Rats Capt. Andrew Marsh, Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Rupert and Capt. Nick Shallcross at Kirkush Military Training Base in Diyala Province, Iraq.

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Meador ’95 Risks the Elements to Save Lives Editor’s Note: The following article featuring Maj. Anthony Meador ’95, USA, was originally published in The Gazette (Galax, Virginia), a Landmark Media Enterprises newspaper.

It is reprinted with permission. Copyright 2010.

Weathering the Storm

by Sgt. Neil Gussman The 34th Red Bull Infantry Division (Additional reporting for The Gazette by Brian Funk)

his first baby boy, who is now five. The couple now has a second son, age 3.

He had almost two years of stateside duty before returning to Iraq with the surge of troops in 2007.

“I was executive officer of a [general support aviation battalion] based in Balad, so I flew every kind of aircraft we had,” said Meador. “With the surge, the operating tempo was high. Part of our mission was flying General [David] Petraeus, General [Raymond] Odierno and Ambassador [Ryan] Crocker.”

His first two tours were filled with high-intensity, aroundthe-clock operations, but the weather was great. “In Baghdad and Balad, the weather was not an issue. It was sunny all the time, no dust storms,” Meador said.

Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq – Maj. Anthony Meador, a Galax native, is near the end of his third tour of Iraq Dangerous Mission as a U.S. Army aviator.

At Contingency Operating Base Adder in 2009, the intensity The MEDEVAC pilot flies his Black Hawk helicopter into of operations is often lower, but “the combat zones to rescue injured or weather shapes every aspect of our misailing soldiers, risking both the enemy sion planning – weather here, weather and the elements to get them medical at the destination, weather along the treatment. route. We are constantly updating our The Galax High School Class of 1991 planning based on the weather.” alumnus is a 1995 graduate of Virginia Difficult weather forces tough deciMilitary Institute. sions with MEDEVAC flights. One of the Meador told The Gazette that he toughest decisions for Meador on this joined the military “because I wanted tour was whether to fly on July 2. to lead men and women. I wanted to A call came in from the Adder emerbe an officer, and via ROTC, I received gency room. A patient with a pulmoa commission out of VMI.” nary embolism needed immediate He has served 14 years as an Army transport to Balad for a type of surgery Medical Service officer and is assigned not available at Adder. to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where Charlie Company would fly the he will return after his current tour patient to Al Kut and transfer him to of duty. a waiting MEDEVAC helicopter for Meador served in Baghdad in 2004 transport to Balad. and at Joint Base Balad in 2007. He now Maj. Anthony Meador, a MEDEVAC pilot The first segment of the flight was just commands Company C, 1st Battalion, in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 52nd 300 meters from the Charlie hangars to 52nd Aviation Regiment, an AlaskaAviation Regiment, Task Force Keystone, the COB Adder emergency room, but based U.S. Army unit attached to 2nd paused for a moment while inspecting the tail rotor of a Black Hawk helicopter. that flight was enough for Meador to Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment, Meador is wrapping up his third tour in reconsider the wisdom of flying with 28th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Iraq. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Neil Gusvisibility less than a half-mile in a huge During his first tour, Meador, 36, sman of TheRedBulls.org. dust storm. served as a MEDEVAC pilot during According to Meador, winds were 30 some of the most intense fighting knots with gusts up to 45 knots. Vertical visibility was 125 in the war.

“We were slammed in 2004, and in April things got really feet.

To further complicate the flight plan, the patient’s condibad,” he said in an article at military Web site www.theredbulls.org. “One night, we evacuated 44 soldiers in two-and- tion meant they had to fly close to the ground, as pulmonary a-half hours on six Black Hawks. We had burns, gunshot embolisms are aggravated by altitude.

“We had to stay extremely low anyway, because visibility wounds, shrapnel wounds … the 2/5 Cavalry got ambushed in Baghdad’s Sadr City neighborhood. The whole year was was worse at 1,000 feet. But flying at 50 to 75 feet with power lines and towers is very difficult,” Meador said. non-stop for all of us.”

As they flew from the hangar to the clinic, he said, “We’re Meador returned home in 2005 to his wife, Margaret, and

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going to have another conversation with the physician. I am about 60 to 70 percent sure we are going to cancel this mission.”

Staff Sgt. Jason Jones, a flight medic, talked to the physician on duty. The clot was moving toward the patient’s lungs and heart, and he would die without surgery at Balad. When Jones confirmed the patient’s prognosis, Meador decided to go ahead with the mission.

“When you get a patient on board, you’re committed,” he said. “Once you leave the airfield with a patient on board, you’re committed to the entire mission.”

The trip to Al Kut is usually 43 minutes, said Meador. “We flew low and slow for an hour and 20 minutes. The chase bird was at our altitude, flanked right and about [100 yards] behind us” – much closer than the normal following distance but necessary because of the low visibility.

“We were coordinating moment-to-moment throughout the entire flight. When one of us would pick up a power line or a tower, we would advise the other right away.”

Eighty minutes after takeoff, they landed safely and transferred the patient to a waiting MEDEVAC helicopter for transport to the Balad medical facility.

They refueled and returned to COB Adder. The patient arrived at Balad in time and got the surgery he needed.

Another Day on the Job “I don’t feel I did anything out of the ordinary or outside the normal scope of my job,” Meador told The Gazette of the hazardous flight.

This kind of mission is not that unusual for a MEDEVAC pilot operating in a war zone – which also happens to be in an environment prone to extreme weather.

A typical day in Iraq starts at 5:15 a.m. and ends at roughly 8 p.m.

“The heat, dust and wind are the biggest environmental obstacles to overcome,” Meador told The Gazette. “The weather shapes every aspect of our mission planning focus because of the nature of our mission – evacuating the sick and wounded to higher levels of healthcare.”

As with the mission described earlier, pilots have to make hard decisions when “we induce risk on the part of the aircrew for sake of the patient. This risk is also studied with respect to the enemy threat, another part of our mission planning focus.”

Duty crews receive a daily update briefing at 8 a.m., and aircraft are ready by 9:30 a.m., Meador explained. “This process takes place every single day, and pulling duty involves remaining on a standby status for the time you’re on duty.

We don’t leave our compound while we’re pulling duty, as our goal is to be off the ground within 15 minutes of receiving a mission. Our average is roughly 8 minutes.”

Meador said each deployment to Iraq has been unique, but one thing has been a constant – his faith.

“I have had some crazy missions, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fact that the good Lord has watched out for me. Faith has been the one true element to help me with the various situations, predicaments and close calls.”

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Reluctant to talk specifics about the more dangerous missions, Meador said his faith and his training have seen him through tough times.

“With a lot of the more interesting missions, you are enveloped in the situation before you even realize it. Whether you are being engaged by the enemy or flying into bad weather, you can plan all you want, but the situation will change so quickly, your experience and reliance in a higher faith is all that will sustain you through the mission.”

Coming Home Meador said his experiences in Iraq have been rewarding, but “the multiple deployments are difficult, because one’s family continues to grow while you’re away.”

After all, he has two boys at home, and he realizes his duty as a father is just as important as military service. “There are a lot of side effects when one of the parents is gone for so long, typical of any other single-parenting environment.

“At any rate, I look forward to returning home soon from this deployment.”

Moder ’98 Receives Bronze Star with “V” Device Maj. John A. Moder ’98, USMC, was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” device on March 9, 2010, for his actions in Afghanistan.

Moder, who is the officer in charge of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command’s assessment and selection, repeatedly exposed himself to Taliban sharpshooters and rocket-propelled grenades during a firefight in the Garmsir district of Helmand province.

Then-Capt. Moder was serving as commanding officer of Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Over the course of a 14-hour fight, Moder “fearlessly” led his Marines from bunker to bunker, killing several insurgents with an M240G machine gun and an M4 assault rifle in support of Operation Azada Wosa.

“Calm and courageous under fire, he remained at the front of his company in constant contact with insurgent fighters,” according to the citation. “He was conspicuous throughout in his leadership and heroism. Capt.

Moder’s resolute leadership and courage in the face of a determined enemy reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

Moder, who has deployed four times since Sept. 11, 2001, received his commission in 1998 after graduating from VMI.

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Corps Salutes New Governor at Inaugural Event

The Corps of Cadets didn’t let a bottleneck at the entrance to the state capitol, which blocked their route for several minutes, prevent them from marching past the reviewing stand to honor Gov. Bob McDonnell on his inauguration day, Jan. 16, 2010.

The Corps was the largest and last unit in the parade that travelled down Grace Street in downtown Richmond, into Capitol Square, around the capitol building and back out to waiting buses. The exit from Capitol Square of an earlier unit in the parade caused a several-minute break in the parade before the cadets marched into view.

With the exception of the guard team and in-season athletes, nearly the entire Corps marched in the parade. The Corps required three blocks to form up in companies with six cadets abreast.

Cadet Elizabeth Dobbins, regimental S-5 officer, told a Roanoke television station that the cadets were excited to march and show their support for the new governor.

“He’s our commander-in-chief, so we’re proud to be here,

said Dobbins, who is graduating this May and entering the U.S. Marine Corps as a second lieutenant. “We like to come out here

Photo of the VMI Corps of Cadets courtesy the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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and see the public and represent VMI to the public.”

Twenty-seven buses lined up in front of Barracks and along Letcher Avenue to begin loading cadets at about 8 a.m. for the two-and-a-half hour journey to Richmond. The buses arrived at the Corps’ marshalling area nine blocks from Capitol Square shortly before 11 a.m. Cadets ate lunches, adjusted their uniforms and formed up into companies for the 1:30 p.m. step-off.

The buses arrived back at VMI before 6 p.m.

In addition to the cadets who marched, the VMI Glee Club performed at a pre-inaugural event in the morning, and 80 cadets served as ushers.

Editor’s Note: The preceding article was written by VMI Communications and Marketing. All photos but one (on previous page) were taken by VMI, Kevin Remington.

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Hill ’55 Finds Second Career Rewarding, Fun A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Sam Hill ’55 hadn’t seen the Institute until he matriculated, but before arriving, he knew he wanted to pursue medicine. After a few tough chemistry courses, he realized that he was not cut out to be a doctor, but his contribution to medicine throughout the world has been great, thanks to the people skills he acquired making new friends at VMI. Hill made it a point to get to know every cadet he could, and while he wasn’t the best chemistry student, he did enjoy classes in business and decided hospital administration might be a better career choice. However, following military service, Hill ended up in the savings and loan business, a vocation he enjoyed for 31 years.

“My involvement as a volunteer for the United Way of South Hampton Roads and in development during the establishment of the Eastern Virginia Medical School led me to a second career as a fund raiser,” said Hill. “Shortly after I met Physicians for Peace founder Dr. Charles E. Horton, he asked me to become the fledgling organization’s executive director. He was such a good and sincere person; I couldn’t say no.”

To honor his many contributions to Physicians for Peace and to mark his 76th birthday, Physicians for Peace named Sam Hill one of its 20 health care heroes in July 2009 during the celebration of the organization’s 20th anniversary.

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The first licensed plastic surgeon in the state of Virginia, Horton founded Physicians for Peace in 1989 to provide training and education to health care professionals in the developing countries of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Physicians for Peace Hill ’55 teams stay for one to six weeks in countries where teaching and healing skills are needed most, bringing modern aspects of pediatric and family health care to people in places where such care had never before been available.

It also has been working in Haiti since 2005 as part of its prosthetic program, serving the needs of amputee victims and those who suffer from birth defects and disease. Physicians for Peace has been working with Hanger Prosthetics and Orthodontics to collect prosthetics, crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs to support its work in Haiti, providing care for the injured and disabled.

“I simply love working for Physicians for Peace,” said Hill, who joined the organization in 1995. “I am passionate about the work we do here, and sometimes I have to hold myself back, because I enjoy talking about it so much. I love and respect our mission, and I love working with people.”

Hill’s ease in talking to people and success as a fund raiser have helped the organization grow in leaps and bounds in its 20-year history. He has served as executive director, director of development and now is a development officer for major funds, where he is considered to be a fundraising powerhouse.

“Sam has made significant contributions to Physicians for Peace in so many areas,” said Dr. Charles E. Horton Jr., the son of the late founder and a member of its board of trustees. “First and foremost, Sam is one of those rare individuals who becomes lifelong friends with everyone he meets, and so he has been able to bring countless people into the Physicians for Peace family.

Sam often talks about his lunches with Dad, when they would put their heads together and figure out how to convert friends into volunteers and volunteers into cheerleaders for the work of Physicians for Peace.”

One of those cheerleaders is another VMI alumnus and Hill’s dyke, Willcox Ruffin Jr. ’52, M.D. The retired plastic surgeon helped Horton Sr. found a burn center in Nicaragua in the early 1990s. He has helped countless patients through his work with Physicians for Peace and served on its board of trustees, as well as a term as president of the board and currently as trustee emeritus.

At 76, Hill enjoys his job so much that he has no intention of retiring anytime soon. In fact, he said he is much happier working for Physicians for Peace than he would be sleeping in or playing golf each day.

“There’s nothing wrong with either, but there are many very talented people out there who could share their talents more,” he said. “Take it from me; doing what I love on the job is pure happiness.”

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Deyerle ’76 Discovers Historical Ancestor When Chip Deyerle ’76 was a cadet, he found the Institute to be a wonderful place full of history, tradition and honor.

Little did he know that he was the third in his family to attend VMI. In fact, the first, Charles Peter Deyerle, was one among the first class to graduate from the Institute in 1842 and the first career officer to die in service to his country. Charles Peter Deyerle’s brother, Madison, was a member of the VMI class of 1860.

Chip Deyerle learned of his groundbreaking relative a few years ago when he moved back to Roanoke, Virginia, from Richmond.

Charles Peter Deyerle’s interesting story intrigued him, and he’s been learning more about his roots from a family historian.

“I think it’s interesting to know about Charles Peter, because he is a part of VMI’s history and its objective of generating citizen-soldiers,” Deyerle said. “He was in the first class to graduate and went on to medical school at Pennsylvania State, before serving in the Mexican War and his death in California.

“Our family wanted him brought home when he died in 1853,” he said. “We’d like to see him make one more stop. As a member of the first VMI class and the first graduate to die in service to his country, it would be great to move him one last time to [the VMI] Post.”

For the third Deyerle to attend VMI, Charles Peter’s story is quite special. He is proud to know that his ancestor fulfilled the mission of the Institute, led a life of adventure and served his country well.

The following story about Charles Peter Deyerle, class of 1842, was obtained from the Salem (Virginia) Museum & Historical Society and is reprinted here with the curator’s permission.

VMI History: Journey Home Adventurous for Early Cadet

by John Long Museum director and curator Salem Museum & Historical Society Among the many illustrious sons of Salem, Maj. Charles Peter Deyerle (1820-53) holds a unique place of distinction. In a day 2010-Issue 2

Chip Deyerle ’76 is the ancestor of Charles P. Deyerle, class of 1842.

For most men that would be the end of the story, but Deyerle’s family wished him interred at home and so arranged for his remains to be transported some 6,000 miles back to Salem. We know of this voyage because chosen to accompany the body was David A. Carter, a local newspaper man.

In 1855 Carter would write a serialized account of the journey for the Salem Weekly Register. The series attracted a wide readership, not only for the unusual purpose of the trip, but for the colorful descriptions of far off places.

Carter’s journey from Salem began Jan. 11, 1854, soon after the family received word of Charles’ death. He and James Deyerle, brother of the deceased, traveled by a tortuous combination of rail, stage and riverboat through Lynchburg, Farmville, Richmond and Washington, D.C., stopping there to secure the necessary military permission for exhuming and transporting the late major. From there, they trekked to Baltimore, Philadelphia and finally New York, where they arranged passage on a steamship.

Carter recounts for his readers anecdotes of visits to Cape Hatteras, Cuba and Jamaica, and finally to the city of Aspinwall in modern day Panama. “It was a relief,” wrote Carter, “to again feel the touch of earth and a happy reflection that we had crossed one ocean.”

Panama Canal at that time was nothing more than a distant dream, and so the party had to cross the malarial isthmus by rail, and when the rails ended, by mule. Finally, however, they reached the other side and saw the Pacific Ocean, where another

when few Salemites ever traveled much beyond the rim of the valley, Charles went as far as Mexico and California. Even more amazing were his post-mortem adventures; after his death in California, he was buried three times, nearly buried at sea and traveled thousands of miles in an epic journey to be interred in his hometown.

Charles was the eldest son of the prominent couple Joseph and Annie Crawford Deyerle. He was raised west of Salem near Dixie Caverns and was a member of the first graduating class of the Virginia Military Institute (and the first career military officer to come out of that school). He proceeded then to study medicine, and by the outbreak of the Mexican War, he was an Army surgeon under Gen. Winfield Scott, taking part in the invasion of Vera Cruz and the march to Mexico City. During the war, he got to know, among others, Franklin Pierce, who would become president in 1853.

After the war, he was posted to Benicia, in the new American territory of California, as chief surgeon of the base. His voyage to California took him around the tip of South America, perhaps the first Salemite to venture so far. It was in California, in his 33rd year, that he died on Oct. Charles P. Deyerle in U.S. Army uniform, circa 1848. Detail from a portrait not 30, 1853, of gastritis and was buried owned by VMI. Provided by VMI Archives. for his first time.

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steamer awaited (although a thrown entirely upon our own three-mile trip in rowboats was resources,” [Carter continued]. necessary to reach the ship).

“Before daylight in the mornFrom there, the ship crept along ing, with two mules and two the coast of Central America to natives bearing the body of the Mexico. deceased, we were on our way.”

At that point there is a gap After a perilous crossing (clearly in the story due to the absence Carter’s least favorite segment of Carter’s third installment, of the trip), they arrived back April 19, 1855, which has apon the Atlantic side and booked parently been lost. Presumably, passage on the steamer United the missing chapter recounts States for New Orleans, by way visits to Mexico and their arof Havana. Carter only briefly rival in California, probably in summarizes the last legs of some detail, since the entire the journey up the Mississippi, serial is entitled “Sketches of a eventually back to Washington, Trip to California.” That state to Lynchburg and Salem on had only recently joined the April 13, more than two months Union and was a target of conafter their departure. siderable interest among East “We carried the body and Coast Americans. It was reputed placed it in the arms of the to be a land of great beauty and stricken and bereaved family, productivity, as well as hidden [Carter wrote], “and turned gold, and Carter certainly inaway with a conscious pride cluded a running commentary of having discharged our duty on his impressions of these and with emotions of mingled Charles P. Deyerle, class of 1842, in the late 1840s. Copy faraway lands. rejoicing and sadness.” from original daguerreotype. Provided by VMI Archives.

When the surviving narrative A funeral followed in the famresumes, the party is in Benicia ily plot, which Carter recounts where they visit the unmarked grave of account of the trip back is not nearly as in some detail. He closes his account with Charles Deyerle. lengthy as that of the first half, but Carter his own epitaph for Dr. Deyerle: “He died [Carter continued], “We stood by the includes some fascinating anecdotes, far from home … Across two oceans, we grave, more than 6,000 miles from home including one about an over eager sea bring his body to rest it in its native vale. … and we could not check the unbidden captain who nearly rendered the entire Here, where he was born, it is fit that he tear.” Soon, the body was exhumed, and voyage futile. should repose.” they started their homeward journey. The Ironically, that was not the end of the Arriving back at the Pacific Coast of travels of Dr. Deyerle. In 1902, the graves Panama, [he wrote], “We were then placed in the Deyerle family cemetery near Glenin one of the most trying situations of our var [Virginia] were removed to East Hill life. When the baggage was brought up on deck, the corpse was discovered, and the Cemetery [in Salem], where they lie today determination expressed by the captain of in the center circle. If all goes as planned, the vessel to cast it overboard. To this we that will be his final resting place, but with remonstrated, with an appeal to his gen- an adventurous man like Maj. Charles Peter erosity. It seemed to be in vain, and when Deyerle, one can never be certain. steps were taken to carry his threat into Editor’s Note: According to the Salem execution, we resolved to ‘conquer or die,’ for we had told the mother of the deceased, Museum & Historical Society Web site, if we ever returned, we would bring back the Salem Museum is an educational and the remains of her son.” Fortunately, the cultural resource center that maintains captain relented, after the intercession of a collection of local artifacts – including 40 or 50 other passengers who favored Native American pieces recovered from an early Indian settlement, relics of the Carter’s party.

Their trials were not over, because they Civil War and mementos of daily life from quickly discovered that there was no way the span of Salem’s history. The museum to transport a coffin across the Isthmus of also sponsors a rotating gallery of local Panama – very likely, it had never been done artwork, publishes A Guide to Historic Charles P. Deyerle, circa 1850. Probefore. “The express companies refused Salem, hosts workshops and programs, and vided by VMI Archives. to take our charge in hand, and we were maintains a historic herb garden.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Sebrell ’01 Blends Love of VMI, Civil War History

Tom Sebrell ’01, far left, with a group of his University of London students, shortly after they found the lost grave of Charles K. Prioleau, the leading Confederate financier who had been missing since the 19th century. See Alumni News page 161 of the last Review, 2010-Issue 1, for more about Sebrell’s discovery.

Tom Sebrell ’01 has had a strong interest in two things since he was a child growing up in Virginia: the Virginia Military Institute and the Civil War. So, it’s no surprise that those two loves merged when he attended the Institute and majored in history. What is surprising is that his connections to VMI and the Civil War have come together in his professional life, not in the United States but in Great Britain where Sebrell now lives and works.

Sebrell grew up attending VMI home football and basketball games with his father, John Sebrell ’69. He was struck by the close friendships his father had with his Brother Rats, stronger than those with other friends, and he wanted that experience, too. The strong relationships forged at VMI, along with small class sizes and the chance to compete in NCAA cross country and track and field, made VMI his first choice.

While Sebrell studied the Civil War at VMI, his interest in the war’s ties to Britain flourished when he spent time at the University of Cambridge as part of his master’s coursework. At the encouragement of one of his professors, Sebrell returned to England to get a doctorate specifically on the topic at Queen Mary, University of London.

“I knew that London would be the best setting for this sort of research, because most of the archives I needed to use were in that city,” said Sebrell. “I looked at several colleges within the University of London, and I chose Queen Mary as the best option for me, because they were just as interested in what I wanted to do as I was, and I knew I’d get a high level of support from them.”

While he was completing his Ph.D., Sebrell spent four years conducting research throughout England, giving him the opportunity to spend time in places outside of London, including Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham, among others.

“Each area of England is very unique, so I was always seeing new places, meeting new people and trying different things,” he said.

“I would spend the whole day reading 19th century letters and 2010-Issue 2

memos in archives, then spend the whole night in pubs trying out the local ales – it’s been a good life. I’ve also had a great deal of teaching responsibilities at the University, and I’ve learned that teaching at the university level is the perfect job for me.”

In addition to teaching, Sebrell has created a 2 1/2-hour tour of the American Civil War for the London Development Agency, and he will create a similar tour in Liverpool as a consultant to the city for its American Civil War Sesquicentennial commemoration from 2011 to 2015. In that role, he will develop a walking tour, bus tour, museum exhibit and an academic conference.

“This is going to be a great opportunity for American Civil War enthusiasts to come to England and see for themselves the effects our Civil War had on Liverpool,” said Sebrell. “They also will see the numerous traces Civil War personnel left on the city. This really is one of the most exciting Civil War projects conducted in the last 50 years.”

Sebrell has encountered quite a few historical VMI figures in his work in England, and three are part of his London walking tour. Visitors stop at “Rebel’s Roost” near St. Peter’s Church, the home of Matthew Fontaine Maury, who served as a purchasing agent for the Confederates and in later years (1868-73), was a professor of physics at VMI. The plates used to print Confederate money and government stationary were made in London, and one man responsible for overseeing these initiatives was Benjamin Ficklin, who graduated from VMI in 1849.

The tour also stops at the home of Sir A.J.B. Beresford Hope, a wealthy British aristocrat who was chairman of London’s British-based Southern Independence Association, which met in his home. This group raised the funds necessary to erect the statue of Stonewall Jackson at Capitol Square in Richmond shortly after the war. More money was raised than needed for the statue, so Beresford Hope decided to donate the rest to the Institute, resulting in the Jackson-Hope Medal which is presented annually at VMI’s commencement.

“A key reason the colonists won the American Revolutionary War is because they obtained French intervention,” said Sebrell.

“When the Civil War began, the Confederates realized they needed European intervention to win, especially being deficient compared to the North when it came to weaponry and manpower.

Likewise, Lincoln realized the South’s need for such assistance, so he tended to tread the water carefully whenever a situation with Britain or France came up.

“The war’s outcome was largely decided by Britain’s decision to not intervene,” he added. “Very few British people understand this and also don’t often consider the implications our Civil War had on the expansion of their empire.”

Both the city of London and Liverpool are working with the Virginia Sesquicentennial Commission to promote each other’s tourism efforts for the commemoration. Sebrell is helping create tourism packages for Virginians who want to visit England specifically to learn more about its involvement in the American Civil War. He’s excited about the opportunity for fellow Virginians to share a side of England he experiences on a daily basis.

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Last Tribute of Respect

Jackson’s Funeral, VMI, May 15, 1863

by Mort Künstler “The Institute will be heard from today!” Gen. Stonewall Jackson, surrounded by former students and colleagues from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), uttered these famous words on the battlefield at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 2, 1863. Within hours, he would lay fatally wounded by friendly fire. This tragic event would be felt from the capitol in Richmond to the Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

When announcing the death of Gen. Jackson to the VMI community, Maj. Gen. Francis H. Smith, VMI superintendent, commented, in part, “His country now returns him to us – not as he was when he left us; his spirit has gone to God who gave it. His mutilated body comes back to us – to his home – to be laid by us in the tomb. Reverently and affectionately, we will discharge this last solemn duty, and though his early sun has set, its light shall linger round us yet – bright, radiant, blest.

“Let the cadet battery, which he so long commanded, honor his memory by half-hour guns tomorrow from sunrise to sunset, under the direction of the commandant of cadets. Let his lecture room be draped in mourning for the period of six months. Let the officers and cadets of the Institute wear the usual badge of mourning for the period of 30 days, and it is respectfully recommended to the alumni of the institution to unite in this last tribute of respect to the memory of their late professor.”

Artist Print Signing VMI Museum, Jackson Memorial Hall • Saturday, May 15, 2010 • 9:00 am until 2:00 pm About the Artist: Mort Künstler is America’s foremost Civil War artist. His artwork is known for its historical accuracy, and he is known for his ability to make significant historical events come to life with his paintbrush. His artwork has been featured at some of America’s most prestigious museums, and his paintings have been featured on the CBS TV mini-series, “The Blue and the Gray,” and the motion picture, “Gods and Generals.”

Limited Edition – Call Now to Order!

To place an order, call American Spirit Publishing at 800/850-1776.

350 Limited VMI Edition Prints $225 25 Artist Proofs $350 All prints and proofs will display the 1880 VMI Cipher as a remarque. (See cipher at left.)

1880 VMI Cipher We also have a very limited edition of canvass Giclees® available.

Please call for availability and pricing.

A donation has been made to the VMI Museum for the help and generosity its staff has graciously provided to make this project a huge success!

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS ASSOCIATION NEWS

Loyal Fans Cheer on Keydets at USMA Football Game

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Alumni traveled long distances with friends and family to see VMI kick off against the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, in November 2009.

Although weather presented challenges with strong winds and persistent rain, alumni cheered for the Keydets and weathered the storm.

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3 Photo 1: Rick Killmeyer ’95 and his wife, Lizann, cheered for the Keydets. Photo 2: Jay Wegrzyn ’66, right, traveled from La Jolla, California, to see the game. He is pictured with his daughter and son-in-law, who joined him in the stands. Photo 3: Class of 1987 Brother Rats enjoyed time in the stands, catching up on old times. Photo 4: Ken Iversen ’54, far right, is pictured with his family who traveled from New Jersey to see the Keydets play. Photo 5: New York CityLong Island Chapter President Bob Munno ’81 and his wife, Agnieszka, enjoyed the game. Photo 6: Tim and Colby Keilty ’86 enjoyed the game, even though weather remained cold and rainy. Photo 7: Troy Mosby ’97,

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second from left, in front, made arrangements for a New York group charter boat that traveled from New York City to just outside the limits of West Point on the Hudson River.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Lynchburg Area Alumni Meet at VMI vs. Liberty Football Game Lynchburg (Virginia) Chapter alumni and VMI football fans met in Lynchburg on Nov. 7, 2009, to attend a pre-game event before the Keydets faced the Liberty Flames. The group met at the Wingate Inn for a meal and celebration.

Hearn ’85 Also Piloted Presidential Helicopters In the 2009-Issue 4 Alumni Review, we published an article on pages 12 and 13 by Bolling Williamson ’60 titled, “Welcome Aboard, Mr. President.”

As a sidebar to that article, we included a list of alumni who had piloted U.S. presidents, in addition to Capt. O.V. (Buck) Sessoms IV ’91 and Lt. Col. Richard S. Barnes ’93, about whom the article was written. Recently, we received notification that Lt. Col. Brent Hearn ’85, USMC, had also been assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) – like Sessoms and Barnes – and had provided helicopter support to Presidents Clinton and G.W. Bush. Hearn’s Brother Rat Tucker Maloney brought this to our attention. Our thanks go to Maloney, Hearn and all of those who have safely transported our country’s commanders-in-chief.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS Superintendent Meets with Florida Alumni Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, VMI superintendent, traveled to Florida in January 2010 to meet with alumni from a number of chapters. A reception was held on Jan. 9 at The Villages, and more than 100 alumni and guests attended.

Key in planning the event were Jim Joustra ’76, regional director for the Deep South, and Col. Walt Chalkley ’72, USA (Ret). Prior to the reception, alumni were invited to tour The Villages property and register at the Waterfront Inn, the primary hotel that is part of the active living community. In his remarks to the group, Gen. Peay provided an update to alumni about recent events on Post and the progress that has been made in a number of areas.

2010-Issue 2

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Alumni in Port-au-Prince, Haiti “Our Camp Has a Name!”

As part of Joint Logistics Command/JTF Haiti, Cmdr. Matthew N. Ott ’92, USN, and his unit were among the first on the ground in Port-au-Prince following the devastating earthquake. In Haiti as of this writing, Ott is the operations officer of Defense Logistics Agency’s Deployable Support Team, which arrived within days of the 7.2 quake that struck on Jan. 12, 2010. While his unit set up their base, Ott proposed the name “Camp Keydet,” and he said, “The name stuck!”

Photos at left: Matthew N. Ott holding the Camp Keydet flag. About the camp’s location and conditions (photo inset), he wrote, “We are right on the airfield, and we have recently [February 2010] had some rains that led us to improve our position ... gravel. Stay on high ground: lesson 1 remembered.” Regarding the Camp Keydet flag, Ott wrote, “The flag is seen daily by everyone in our 450-person camp ... as well as by anyone arriving via aircraft to Port-au-Prince … it is placed to be visible on taxi approach and departure!”

Photo above: Ott, left, with Maj. Carl E. (Trey) Rhodes III ’90, USA, also a member of the Joint Logistics Command/JTF Haiti.

Photo below: With Ott, J. MacKay Spears III ’81, a former U.S. Navy A-6 pilot and now an immigration customs enforcement officer.

Ott explained that in the early 1990s, Spears was assigned to the NROTC Department at VMI and was an assistant lacrosse coach.

A member of the lacrosse team, Ott met Spears, who later encouraged Ott to seek a Navy commission. Photo of Spears and Ott

by Lt. Cmdr. B. Barich, U.S. Navy.

Above: The W.M. Jordan Company held a Christmas party on Dec. 12, 2009, at the Virginia Beach Hilton. Attending the party were, from left, Chuck McCarthy ’85, Brian Andrew ’03, Mike Locher ’84, Glenn Thompson ’90, Mark Reilly ’88 and Bill Madison ’90. Not pictured are Terrance DeGray ’04 and John Neblett ’85. W.M. Jordan, a general contracting company, is based in Richmond, Virginia.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS Fourth Annual Lynchburg Chapter Valentine’s Hop

On Feb. 12, 2010, the Lynchburg Chapter held its Fourth Annual Valentine’s Hop, bringing together alumni from Lynchburg, Lexington, Roanoke, Richmond and surrounding areas. The VMI Commanders, conducted

by Col. John Brodie, who is VMI’s music director and an honorary alumnus, entertained the crowd with a variety of big band music and more modern dance tunes. Chapter President Chris Boswell ’00 organized the event with other chapter members. It was held at the Boonsboro Country Club in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Photo left, top: From left, Jeff and Elizabeth Perkins ’84, Hank and Carole Selman ’84, Jim and Jodi Outland ’83, and Frank and Amy De Venoge ’88. As a group, the couples attended the Valentine’s Hop and stayed together at the Craddock Terry Hotel in downtown Lynchburg.

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CLASSNOTES NOTES CLASS

’35

Jim Sherman

Well, here we are, Brother Rats, our numbers reduced to seven, three of whom are reasonably mobile, the other four in various stages of ... well, put militarily, “retreat.” But it’s been a fun ride, and there is more open road ahead; just look out for the “potholes.”

Bob Evans is still recovering from his recent illness and is not getting as much exercise as he would like. He is still teaching at the Yale Child Study Center, but when we talked, he was depressed about the recent loss of his best friend. He is using a three-wheel walker these days when the distance makes it advisable. His lady friend, Ruth Lord, keeps up his spirits, and she uses a cane as well.

St. John Arnold remains in Harborway at Atlantic Shores, Virginia Beach, and anticipates remaining there. He has acquired a four-wheel, battery powered wheelchair which provides his access around the complex. Socially, he has developed a mutually rewarding friendship with Dora Duvall, a lady in the same facility, and they have their meals together, as well as the evening entertainment provided by Harborway.

Believe me, this boy could charm a bird out of a tree! Most unfortunately, son Tom still has health problems.

Jo Ann O’Hara says her health is “pretty good,” requires no aids and counts every day a blessing. Furthermore, she is so grateful to be living at Westminster Canterbury in Richmond. When we talked, they had 12 inches of snow on the ground with more expected but had not lost their power. As for entertainment, they were having the Paragon Ragtime Band, to be followed by a vocalist, good live performances. Also, she belongs to a book club and finds it rewarding, as the group has meetings to review the current book of interest.

I had been unable to reach Al Snapp whom I knew was in declining health, but in response to my efforts, daughter Linda called me with word that Al was now in a nursing facility where daughter Carol, a speech therapist, works daily. Linda visits 22

him in the evening and joins him for dinner. Al has dementia and other problems, is confined to bed or a wheelchair, but socializes and enjoys company. Linda adds that he is holding his own – reassuring words about a dedicated Brother Rat. Although he may have his doubts, our Senator Harry Byrd remains the healthiest BR in the class, still scorning a cane, though acknowledging he tires easily – sound familiar? However, Harry remains vitally concerned about the financial condition of this country, now in the second year of a trillion-plus budget; Obama’s first totaled 1.6 trillion with a built in deficit of 1.4 trillion. And now, Harry says, the new budget will be 1.8 trillion with a deficit of more than a trillion. He feels our country is in a very dangerous position, and that this huge federal spending is of a magnitude that cannot be sustained, and that the administration is taking the country down the wrong road. He concluded, it’s time for the president and the Democratic Party to WAKE UP! When I awakened Ed Arnold from an unscheduled nap, he said he was in “pretty good shape” and continues his mall walking about five or six days a week. He is on two heart medications and suffers the same familiar memory loss common to our age. He was extremely happy to obtain a two-year extension on his driver’s license last December, and I share that feeling.

Ed has three sons and all have good jobs.

His eight grandchildren are either working or attending college; Ed says, “We are blessed!”

Barbara Meem always feeds my imagination when she amplifies her life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where one can attend open air operas in summer and great skiing in winter, when the temperature at times drops into the single digits; the snow melts slowly at an altitude of 7,000 feet. Barbara is very well these days, as was confirmed by a recent physical exam. She likes to drive and afoot, uses a three-wheel walker.

I lost the connection briefly but was highly amused when she exclaimed at one point, “Some women are bossy!” But it’s always a joy to talk with her.

“B” Holt was in Burlington, North Carolina, with 8 inches of snow on the ground when we talked and more in the forecast.

However, there is no waiting for the snow

to be removed; why, she just straps her “YAKTRAPS” on the soles of her shoes, and she’s out the door. After all, she grew up on Georgia clay. She recently finished her attic and intends to remain in her home as long as she is able. One son in Chapel Hill checks on her daily. She dearly loves her family and now has a new great-grandson in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Ikey Knight had just returned from North Carolina, the birthday celebration of Bob, her youngest son, who teaches music and can play any instrument. While there, she took seven family members to dinner in honor of the occasion. Back home at her retirement base, she remains active and fully engaged, playing bridge and other card games four days a week. Health wise, she’s taking a new exercise to strengthen the legs, plus about 20 minutes walking to and back from the exercise room, four days a week – she has it all figured out.

When we talked, Ikey said they had 10 inches of snow on the ground and more expected.

Sparky Carper in Roanoke, Virginia, says she is fine, and it was snowing at the time with 9 inches on the ground but previously 12 inches. She expected to resume playing bridge shortly, then adding, “hopefully!”

Finally success ... I have been trying for days to reach George Freeman or wife Clelia. George continues to remain in the recovery facility, Harborway, at Atlantic Shores, as the medical staff does not think it wise to return him to his own apartment and place the burden of support on Clelia, who is about half his size. So, they have lunch and dinner together daily and breakfast, as well, on special days. Clelia says she is fine and greatly relieved that George is so much better.

When I called Dora Williams at her Cedarfield retirement home in Richmond, she had just gone to bed. She happily told me she was fine but now observing a tad earlier bedtime. So, in future I will remember the witching hour!

When talking with Blanche Brown in Farmington, New Mexico, I mentioned being bonded to a three-wheeled scooter these days, to be reminded that Bill utilized one during those previous years in Albuquerque, an easy and wise choice when the lower legs and feet begin to VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES numb up on you. She is quite happy with her current life in a retirement facility in Farmington, New Mexico, and with daughter Roe and husband Sam living nearby.

As for Jim and Peggy, they had their fourth wedding anniversary a few days ago, happily captured by her son, Greg, at the time, the photo including our chaplain right in the center. This union could not have come at a better time, as we both need each other, and that makes it special.

Bless you all … Jim

’39

Griffin, Mrs. John Johnson, Mrs. Evelyn Mathews, Col. Alex Morrison, Ira Saxe, Mrs. William Smithey, Mrs. Richard Strickler and Don Stroop for their generous donations to the Institute in 2009.

Well, Marcy and I are going to get some relief from “Old Man Winter” by leaving from Galveston for a week cruise to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cozumel. I’ll let you know how badly we get sunburned in the next class notes. In the meantime, keep warm, and let me hear from you.

Frank Parker III ’64

As I write these notes, winter has descended on us all. I settled in Texas to get away from the winters up north, but somehow, it has found us. As bad as we have had it here – I’ve only played golf twice in the last month – you folks in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and DC are getting a record amount of snow and a miserable winter. My sister lives in Staunton and has 50 inches of snow on her family farm. The mother cows can’t get out of the barn and are starting to calve. It reminds me of a bad winter in the early ’60s when I was at VMI. We ended the winter with a battalion snowball fight. The rumor was that Gen. Shell ’31 allowed it, because he wanted the snow to melt quicker, so we could start parades sooner.

The above paragraph tells you what little news I actually have to report. The best news is that our BRs seem to be healthy and weathering this tough winter pretty well. Ira Saxe reports that his replacement hips (three) have finally healed, and he is back on the golf course several times a week for nine holes. (He lives south of Houston.) He just turned 92 and has wine and dinner with two other widowed friends each week. He says, “All in all, I am indeed most fortunate.”

Bill Brand sent me a note to say he was doing well in spite of the snow and that Tickie was in Tyler, Texas, and also experiencing too much snow.

Special thanks must go to Mrs. Roberta Bigler, Bert Brayshaw, Mrs. Lloyd 2010-Issue 2

Class of 1939: Ira Saxe at 91 in February 2009.

’40

Robert Smith

As the poor little, newly docked puppy said, “It won’t be long now.” April 19 and 20! Some are coming, and some will only be able to send messages about their fond memories and good wishes. But we all will be at our 70th in the Spirit of VMI! The death of Andy Turner on Dec. 16 starts our class news. He was such an inspiration to us all in the gallant and exemplarily way he lived his life. The outpourings of affection for him from his family and from those that knew him in his community and church have been heartfelt and abundant. I’m sure he and his Evelyn have a very special place in our hearts for their having undertaken the rearing of our

Brother Rat Setty Morrissett’s children. I wish you could all read the service bulletin from his very large memorial service with the tributes written by his 10 grandchildren who called him “Grandy.” Sol Rawls sent it, and I will bring it to the reunion. The service ended with the playing of “The Spirit.” Evelyn said that their daughter, Courtney, came from her diplomatic post in Turkey, and so, all six children were there at the end. His final military interment service is to be at his family’s plot in Roanoke, Virginia.

To share with you at the reunion, I will also bring along some of the commemorative tribute material that poured out for Charlie Beach, as well as some additional photographs of Vester Thompson’s family that Elizabeth has sent. We have such curiosity about and interest in each other’s lives since we were all together. This suggests that all of us might think about bringing along or sending to Walt or me some memorabilia or a note about our class to show and share at the reunion.

The excellent Jan. 19 letter from Carole Green, vice president of Alumni Activities, tells us of the arrangements. You should know that she was most considerate in discussing the plans with Walt and me, so we could review them before they were issued. Then, to learn later that our BR’s son, Col. Tom Moncure ’72, and his wife, Sally, will host us for dinner Tuesday night was a great bonus feature. The Alumni Association is also graciously hosting us for both the Monday and Tuesday evening dinners, which is very special.

As this is being sent to you in early February, may I suggest that you send in your reservations as early as you can. If you have to, you can change plans or cancel later – so, don’t hold off. Give yourself as long a time as you can to enjoy eagerly anticipating our great party!

Here is a rundown on our BR’s reunion plans: In spite of Walt Edens’ news that he will be moving to Denver sometime soon with his son, Sandy Edens ’72, who has a new position, the intention is for Sandy and his Diane to come to the reunion with Walt. When we talked in early February, Walt was feeling poorly, but since most of us have our ups and downs, we agreed that he would do the best he can to try to make it. Sol Rawls was snowed in deep 23

CLASS NOTES in January, but he and his son, Waite Rawls ’70, will see us in Lexington. John Cowart was most generous in contributing to the scholarship fund in memory of Deaderick, Beach and Turner; his son, Jack ’67, who lives in DC, will accompany John to Lexington. John Augustine and June will be coming; they plan to fly to Dulles where their son, John Augustine IV ’68, who lives in Arlington, will then be with them during the reunion. John and June are looking forward to going to Lexington, Kentucky, in early June for battlefield visits sponsored by the Civil War Preservation Trust. Jim Cheek broke his hip from a fall recently and moved to a new section of what is now called Blakeford at Green Hills (same address), so he can’t come. Dan Flowers and Jeanie with their son, Fort, are coming. A grandson who is a high school sophomore may be looking at VMI for his college, and so, they may try to bring him, as well. Frazier Baldwin and Ginny are planning their trip down; they are expecting to drive. It was wonderful to learn in early February that Bob Barnes is planning to come, accompanied by his daughter, Julie Morrison, and his friend, Michelle Edelmann. Chuck Wilson does not think he and Dorothy can make the long trip from Kingsland, Texas. Earl Brown has decided he is not able to come because of his infirmities.

Eppy Powell also cannot come for reasons of health; he and Doris are quite limited in what they can do. Ben Hardaway said he would look at coming by flying in for one of the dinners; he believes his health is improved enough to make it possible.

Jack Camp and Rachel are planning to come, even though he was also planning cataract surgery later in February – from my recent experience, he should be fine by April. Was glad to talk briefly with Jerry Totten in San Antonio, but he will not be able to come. Gene Phillippi is not planning to come because of his limited vision, but I tried to talk him into reconsidering.

Art Wadsworth has no plans to come; his wife, Dorothy, has died and her memorial service was in January. His only son, Art, who lives in Manchester, Maryland, calls every day and had him for a visit last Thanksgiving. Doug Cook and Barbara will drive down with daughter Jennifer and tour around as they go. Matt Friedlander 24

was at their place (141 E Mangrove Bay Way in Jupiter, FL 33477) when I tracked him down (phone number: 561/743-3666) – seems he spends the cold weather there and the warm weather in their Highlands, North Carolina, place when not at home in Moultrie. He and Jackie are not planning to come. Bud Irwin and Ruth will be accompanied by their daughters, Courtney, Dulcy and Kathy. Bob Smith (me) and Betty-Jane will be shepherded by their daughter, Pamela, and son-in-law George Dials, U.S.M.A. ’67. From all of this, it looks at this time as if there will be 10 of us and that we will bring about 21 guests.

In other news: Fred Miner’s son, Edward of Bellingham, Washington, wrote in early January that his mother, Nola, died Nov. 30, 2009. She was a combat surgical nurse in WWII, and she and Fred met in Naples.

Fred died in 2004, and they had five children. Nola lived in Seaford, Delaware. An invitation was received from daughter Sue for the 90th birthday party of Brother Rat R.G. Bailey’s sweet prom-trotter of our era and widow, Martha, on Jan. 2 in Killeen, Texas. A note was sent to Charlotte Davis, Charley Beach’s associate at his bank.

She was so thoughtful throughout Charles’ long illness, and the newspaper articles and other notes she had sent were beyond effusive about him. Those that knew him best held him in such high regard!

Notes from the much appreciated Christmas cards: Virginia Merchant sends us “Love and a big hug for each,” together with the hope that Walt Edens gets there from way out west, so he can be a handsome representative of “our” class. Jane Deaderick wrote her good wishes. Adelaide Simpson sent her family news expressing thankfulness for most everything about her life – especially her great-grandchild. Just for fun, she sent a puzzle. Adelaide’s card also told of having lunch with Mary Stuart Gilliam and said they both want to have dinner one night at the reunion. Barbara and Doug Cook sent a Unicef card showing their mastery of six languages. Art Wadsworth sent good wishes. Billie Mac Hoge wrote from Frankfort, Kentucky, about Charles Beach’s accomplishments. Walt and Dottie Eden’s newsletter was upbeat and told about their family. Gene Phillippi overcame his vision difficulties and wrote

a brief note by hand. The family of Charles Beach sent a thoughtful card of appreciation for all the support they got and for Christmas wishes. John and June Augustine’s card said they are doing their best to come to the reunion. Rachel and Jack Camp’s card tried to mislead by showing their beautiful visages decked in outdated Christmas costumes, holding water glasses that were of a size somewhere between a magnum and a carboy!

’41

Walter Richards

First, a big correction: I mistakenly said that F.C. Booker was our last ’41 living in Florida. Bill Wood is still there. Sorry, Bill.

Unfortunately, we have some sad news.

Fred Kaiser passed away on Jan. 20, 2009.

Remember, Fred wrote a book on the American coasting schooner titled, Built on Honor, Sailed with Skill: The American Coasting Schooner. He also rowed his boat every day he could. We have also lost a couple of our Ladies. Cards to Mrs. George Richmond (June) and Mrs. George Shelhorse (Belle) were returned marked “deceased.”

An update on address of Frank Kirby: Harbor’s Edge, #1 Colley Ave., Apt. 1016, Norfolk, VA. 23510. As I count, our roster now stands at 31 Brother Rats of ’41 and about 45 widows, including those I can’t account for.

2010! 2011 is fast approaching – KEEP THAT IN MIND. And keep THE SPIRIT ’41

Richard C. Horne III

’42

Charles P. Wilson

Williamsburg is handling winter with the skill it exhibits in its attraction of Yankee tourists, giving them the assurance of its nearness to our earliest start of English settlers. Not far from here, Pocahontas saved Captain John Smith’s skull from her VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES father’s best skull-crackers. I’m bragging, I know, but early history accepts the correctness of her heroism. One of the earliest of the residents, I’ve been told, was named Richard Horne (or Horn). The tale may be true, as there are still many residents of that name. To be fair, I have been told there are still many residents of that name.

I have also been told that many of them headed west, seeking the wealth of a place called “Kentucky.”

What does all of the above have to do with money raising for VMI? Very little, I think. But I lack daily contact with my Brother Rats.

My first contacts in Virginia were in Falls Church, where my father bought a house. I attended the local high school where I met Willoughby Williams. Yes, the same R.W. Williams who was our Brother Rat. But, even more important, I met Mary Payne, called Mitzi. We became sweethearts for the next 73 years. With some assistance from me, she produced three fine sons.

The eldest became a soldier who became an Army helicopter pilot who became a specialist in the use of helicopters as gunships. The middle son works in the government in a senior capacity. (You figure that one out … comment by Jed …!)

The youngest son, John, is in Williamsburg with a high position in the James City County government.

As most of you know, I lost Mitzi last October. We were true lovers. We never quarreled. If we ever disagreed on minor matters, I gave in without acting hurt. She taught me how lovers should act …

These are Jed’s notes …

I sent all of you a letter recently with an enclosed, addressed and stamped penny postcard in it. You have responded very well. I hope more are coming.

The first answer was from Charlie Miller. Actually, it was an e-mail on another subject. Charlie only communicates verbally or by e-mail. He does both well.

Charlie and Anne are living in Westminster-Canterbury in Richmond. For those of you out of Virginia, Westminster-Canterbury is a series of retirement, assisted living, etc., etc. homes in Virginia. They seem very happy there. They recently (Dec. 16th) had a reception to celebrate 2010-Issue 2

their 65th wedding anniversary. It was a glorious affair. It seemed to me that everybody in Richmond within 20 years of my age (and still living) was there. For years, Anne and Charlie had entertained at their home on their wedding anniversary.

This was m-mm … the best. A number of the guests were like me … their children had to drive them to (and of course, home from) the party. Their two daughters, whom I have known almost since birth and taught in Sunday school, were there. The elder offspring had someone named Hillary as a classmate at Wellesley. In many ways, Charlie is the most unusual member of our class. He still can, and does, wear his Rat year coatee to the proper functions.

And … “It fits!” I find it embarrassing at times to be asked, “Jed, why aren’t you wearing your coatee to this affair?” It was because I didn’t take care of myself like Charlie did. Charlie didn’t get an electric garage door installed until he was 85. He thought he needed the exercise to get out of the car and lift that door! For years, he arose at 5:30 and ran a mile and a quarter to the club where he played a set of tennis. After eating breakfast with his tennis friends, he would run home, shower and dress to go to work. After manually opening the garage door, he would back the car out, get out of the car and close the garage door, then get back in the car and go to work. I’m satisfied to be 30 pounds heavier than he is and not own a coatee …

The second postcard came from Ernie Keppel. All of you remember “Ole Ern …”

He married a Texas girl named Tish who attended RMWC. They had five children, including one set of twins. Ernie’s family sold their trucking business rather early.

Tish, in addition to being a mother, taught school, directed plays and then became a very good stock broker. I think they are called financial advisors now. They moved out of their large home into a nice apartment in a gated community near Libby and me. For many years, they have had a summer-winter home at Wintergreen.

It is a recreational community promoted some years ago by Jim Wheat ’41 (greatly helped by Frank Louthan ’41). The Keppel’s have one son in the entertainment business who mush be relatively successful. Kep wrote to me that his son “was letting his parents spend much of the winter

at his place in the Bahamas … ” The third postcard to come back was from Clifton “Shrimp” Sutherland. Like Tommy Wilson and me, he was from Clifton Forge. Shrimp had a sweetheart in Clifton Forge who lived across the street from my family. He married Martha and went to law school and became a patent lawyer. He retired and purchased a remote property in Madison County and restored it over the next decade or so. He then sold it to a nephew of mine, who is still living there and who has made a Nature Camp out of it. Shrimp and Martha went to a retirement community in the Culpeper area.

They are still there. Martha is in assisted living following a stroke in November 2009. They have been great supporters of the Institute and have attended every alumni function of our class. Shrimp had a younger brother who graduated from VMI in the early ’50s. He now resides in the same community as Gabe does in Williamsburg (Patriot’s Colony). Shrimp also had an older brother who graduated in ’39.

The fourth postcard was from Harry Siebert and will be commented on later. At the time of this writing, I have also heard from Jack Woodward, Lou Naisawald, Jack Patton, Clyde Hooker, Bob Goodman, Gordon Moore and Walt Woelper.

That is 33% and is a great response for a penny postcard deal.

’43

Jeffrey G. Smith

We have lost four Brother Rats and one class widow since (actually, one died before) my Class Notes of 15 Nov., 2009.

Bryan Russ’ son informed me that his father died 6 Nov., 2006, at the Del Mar Nursing Home in Rockport, Massachusetts.

Charlie Willcox died 8 Jan., 2010, in Norfolk at Harbor’s Edge, the retirement residence at which he and Judy lived (as do Vince and Betty Thomas and Frank and Indie Bain Bilisoly). I received a short note from Charlie written shortly before he died to regret he could not attend this May’s mini reunion and emphasizing that with the exception of his legs, he felt a lot better than my last Class Notes implied. In 25

CLASS NOTES fact, he and Judy had planned to participate in a wedding of a family member in North Carolina, which took place only a day or two after Charlie died.

Jim Hodgkin died 25 Jan., 2010, at the Warrenton hospital. A short time before, I’d received a regret for the mini reunion written by both Jim and Sally. Sally wrote that Jim had been “confined to the house and been in the hospital in November for aspiration pneumonia … He (was) slowly getting his strength back (after) his stroke in 2007 but doubt he will recover to the point where he can go out at night.” Bill Winter had called Jim about 18 Jan., and soon thereafter Bill called me to tell that Jim seemed to be failing. His daughter, Sarah, wrote: “To all in the class of ’43, know how much my father loved and talked about you. Thank you for taking such good care of him and making VMI the center of his life after God, country and family.”

Keith Phillips died 9 Feb., 2010, of pneumonia, in Newport News. When I called him in mid January, Keith said his poor balance made it unlikely that Lucy and he could make the May mini. He’d also had a minor stroke the day before (apparently, no major residual ill effect other than worry) and was awaiting a visit from his doctor. By the end of our chat, he was more cheerful, seeming to leave the door open a bit to join us in May.

I received an e-mail from Anne Board, daughter of Barbara and Box Board, to tell me that her mother had died 17 Dec., 2009, at the Cokesbury Village Heath Care Center near Hockessin, Delaware.

Box and Barbara had been married 60 years. Many of us had long empathized with Box’s frustration in not regaining his balance sufficiently to enable his discharge from the Health Care Wing and return full time to their apartment in their retirement residence in Cokesbury Village. Anne wrote that her father’s “mind is good, his long term memory excellent and he still has his dry sense of humor. Thank you for your friendship and calls to both my parents over the years … As you say, here’s to VMI, 1943 and here’s to Barbara and Box.” I first heard of Charlie Willcox’s death from Vince Thomas. Vince sounded hale and hearty and said he and Betty are doing well. Nevertheless, his poor balance, along with Betty’s less pronounced but unsure balance, ruled out their attending the May mini. Vince added that Frank Bilisoly’s balance problems seem no better, and Frank has now developed macular degeneration. (Editor’s Note: The Keith Phillips and Charlie Wilcox obituaries will appear in the next issue of the Review.)

The Alumni Office has been asked (presumably by his sister in Tennessee with whom he’d been living in recent

Class of 1943: In early 1943, pre-med majors (three not in photo) were, from left, foreground: Nick Ardan, Guy Hollifield, Instructor Turley and Bill Romm.

Middle row: Virginius Pittman, Mark Holt, Curtis Guild, Bob McConnell and Gunyon Harrison. Back row: Bob Reeves, Jim Hodgkin, Bob Wiseman, Charlie Willcox and Bill Winter. Photo courtesy Bill Winter.

26

years) to remove Jim Demmler’s name from all mailings and solicitations. Some time ago, I reported that his sister told me (phone call) that he had the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. Instructions have also been received by the Alumni Office to remove Bill Emory’s widow, Emma Gray, from all mailings. The Alumni Office had no further information.

Our most prominent Brother Rat on the “no mailings” list is Bob Reeves. As best we know, Bob still lives in Tumwater, Washington, a small town deep in the mountains. Bill Winter and I had telephone chats 18-19 Jan., one result being Bill’s attempt to call Bob. Bill was able to ferret out a telephone number, but the phone had been disconnected, apparently recently. Bill, incidentally, had to regret the upcoming mini as they will be traveling to a summer in Vermont at about that time.

Bill was successful in calling two other fellow physicians and Brother Rats, Bob McConnell and Gunyon Harrison. Bob’s wife died about two years ago. Bob has nephritis (under control) and had been living with his daughter in Temple, Texas.

However, he recently moved to live with his son in Richardson (next to Dallas).

Bill reported that Bob sounded fine and in good spirits.

Gunyon is well, retired, living in Kerrville, Texas, happily married, loves to fish and does a lot of it. What more could a man ask? He served on the faculty of the Baylor University Medical School for 40 years, principally as chief of the Pulmonary Division in Pediatric Medicine. He remains a consultant at Baylor.

Frank Williams and I spoke 31 Jan. Frank sounded top-notch, although he continues to be plagued by limited use of his legs. Uses two canes or a walker. He is planning to attend our mini reunion in May along with son Frank and looks forward to seeing the changes at Fort Belvoir, his old stomping ground in the Corps of Engineers.

On 31 Jan., I also spoke with Georgia Lee Litton, Sonny’s wife, in Lorton, VA. Sonny has had a rough patch starting with a heart attack which kept him from coming to our 65th. In early December, he fell and broke his hip and shortly after had a mild stroke. He is in rehab now. Georgia Lee said that he has trouble with short term VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES memory but that he always remembers VMI and is keenly interested to hear any news of it.

Settle and Polly Frank moved from their West Virginia home in early November to the Otterbein Retirement Living Community (a Methodist facility) near Lebanon, Ohio. On 1 Feb., Settle called to tell me of Jim Hodgkin’s death. He added that, so far, their new home finds them content (many activities and well appointed), but in March or April, they might choose to pursue other options. Settle hasn’t closed the door on attending our mini reunion in May 2010.

Dan Thornton’s son (Dan III) wrote in early January that our Dan is in a nursing home in Virginia Beach; he is “doing OK but unable to (answer) letters.” I know that all join in wishing Dan the very best.

A lasting memory of Dan dates from 16 Nov., 1945, in Tsingtao, China. I was then an Army captain on shore leave from a Navy destroyer. He was a Marine 1st lieutenant and aide-de-camp to (then) Maj. Gen. Lemuel Shepherd (VMI class of 1916), commanding general of 6th Marine Division. Dan, the general and I had a private dinner that evening.

Jim Anderson and his daughter, Alston, joined in sending a most welcome Christmas greeting from Thomasville, Georgia.

All of us who are so blessed appreciate the care and love given us by our children.

Thank you, Alston, for the care given our Brother Rat Jim. Also most welcome was hearing from several of our class widows at Christmas or shortly after and learning they are doing well. Those were Nita Clark (Little Rock, Arkansas), Maxine Mahone (Panama City, Florida), Barbara Young (Leisure World, Maryland) and Betty Haskins (Lexington, Virginia). Maxine (with a couple of daughters) and Betty (who has yet to sell her beautiful home in Lexington) will attend May’s mini. We look forward to seeing them.

Bob Reveley is coming all the way from California for the May mini. Bob sold his “big” boat, a Grand Banks 42, and replaced it with a silent running and fun to operate Duffy electric boat. Uses 16 batteries which provide lots of watts. Name of the new boat: “Watt-a-Way-To-Go.” Bob’s health remains good. He believes he takes after his mother who lived till 104. Bob’s 2010-Issue 2

dad died at age 52 while Bob was a cadet.

Good news: George and Kitty Snead will be at the May mini. George writes that they are “both still mobile – without aids – BUT SLOWER.” Bill Bell wrote that Betty Brooks and he will also attend the mini with caveat: “Unless arthritic back, deteriorating knees and/or (poor) balance (prevent).” Bill uses a pushcart for locomotion but continues to enjoy playing in an informal string quartet – sitting down. He closed by observing that “getting old is such fun.”

Jim Dischinger set an example by being the first to reply to my mini reunion notice; half in our class have yet to acknowledge it. Unfortunately, Jim can’t attend, because he “can barely walk.” Jim lost his wife in 2005 and lives now in a retirement community in Richmond. His daughter and family live nearby – as does his brother, Hugh Dischinger ’45. Jim’s three sons and their families live, respectively, in Mississippi, North Carolina and Floyd, Virginia.

I called Gordon Smith 19 Jan., and heard to my great concern that he’d just returned from Florida where he’d suffered a stroke.

A week in the hospital followed by a week in rehab, then flew home to Mundelein, Illinois (near Chicago). He was his usual upbeat self, but his voice sounded as if he had laryngitis. He needs a cane but expects improvements on legs and voice from physical therapy. Good news is that he’d kept in good shape and received quick, effective treatment. Later the same day, loyal Brother Rat Jim Tapley called me to report that he, too, had just spoken to Gordon.

Jim can’t make our mini.

Brian Bowen in Lynchburg wrote that he’ll attend the mini. He intensely misses his Jane, but “her happy spirit continues to inspire” him and their several children and grandchildren. Son Biff runs the family jewelry business now. Brian comes in thrice weekly; works out at the Y in between. Daughter Lou just retired from the Army (Go Army!) as a Russian linguist in military intelligence and will move from San Antonio (110 degrees) to Minneapolis (10 degrees). Brian will visit after Spring Thaw.

John Halsey, who plays tennis four times a week, described his and Judy’s home at Richmond’s Westminster Canterbury as “almost like living on a cruise ship.”

Lots of activities and “a couple of dozen VMI alumni and widows get together for cocktails and dinner twice a year.” He’ll be at the mini and now has two grandchildren either accepted at or attending Stanford. Recently, John saw Dick Catlett (who signed up for the mini); Dick looked “fine.” John observed the same about Johnny Van Landingham (also a mini recruit) whom he saw when both listened to Si Bunting ’63 speak about Si’s upcoming Gen. Marshall (class of 1901) biography.

John was reminded of a letter he wrote his mother 16 Oct., 1939: “Yesterday, as always on Sunday mornings, we had room inspection. This time, however, Gen. Marshall came around and inspected a few rooms on each stoop. He came to our room, and he was right nice looking. He stopped and admired the view that we had from our window.” I, too, remember it well; the great general visited our room (Nr. 433) that same day.

Besides signing on for the mini, Johnny Van Landingham reports that both Shirley and he are doing well. He golfs twice a week and swims at the Y once or twice a week. Dick Catlett wrote that he is “retired, not busy enough, still playing golf, exercising regularly, still married, and just talked to Thomas & Bilisoly.”

From Boca Raton, Florida (where they spend January through April before returning to Long Island), Gerry Asch wrote that they will be at the mini in May. Gerry golfs a little, has quit tennis and most of his exercise now comes from playing bridge. Anne and he are in “reasonably good health but like most our age, have our aches and pains. The ‘Golden Years’ have a little false gold.” Josh Whetzel lives in Del Ray, Florida, the next “village” north.

Nimrod Long wrote from Birmingham, Alabama, to regret the mini. Lamentably, all his VMI contemporaries in the Birmingham vicinity have died. However, his interest in VMI remains keen, and Nimrod enjoys the Alumni Review and Class Notes.

“Other than a hip wearing out,” Nimrod reports that he “is fairly active; does some walking but quit golf” which is close to par for the class of ’43.

Floyd (he now prefers Floyd to “Bill”) Gottwald wrote that “the ninth Gottwald is headed for the Ratline next year.”

27

CLASS NOTES Congratulations all around! Thanks to Floyd, the “VMI Class of 1943” will be recognized on the “Wall of Honor” in the U.S. Army’s soon-to-be-built National Museum at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Among the many exhibits in the new museum will be accounts of notable and unusual “Soldiers’ Stories.” One is currently planned to be about the VMI cadets at the Battle of New Market.

Last April, Chuck and Helen Beckham were struck by a car at a pedestrian walkway. Helen was in hospital for several days. Severe cuts and bruise on left arm, leg and side. After six months of PT, she is doing fairly well. Chuck fared better and resumed tennis several days a week, not to speak of his providing informative, on-target e-mails concerning our nation.

In the same vein, Fielding (Doc) Greaves also keeps the internet humming with his welcome e-mail zingers. Doc included a gracious note in his regret for the mini.

As always, Bill Johann keeps several of us Brother Rats informed of class goingson through his frequent phone calls. His optimism and accommodation of his virtual blindness is an example for us all. Bill is very much looking forward to the mini.

In her Christmas letter, Peg Gibson, Baylor’s wife, passed on worrisome and some hopeful news regarding Baylor’s treatment at the Duke University Medical Center for lymphocytic leukemia and chronic Hodgkin lymphoma. Baylor completed one chemotherapy program in December. He is now participating in a study of a new chemo especially designed for a very few patients who share a rare genetic makeup. Peg wrote that Baylor never complains of aches, pains or inconvenience. His silent acceptance reminds her of “of St. Joseph who has been called ‘the quiet man.’ After WWII, Korea and Vietnam, it is a miracle that Baylor is still with us. If God permits, we will celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary March 25, 2010.” Our prayers are with you.

On 11 Feb., from balmy California (70+ degrees when we again talked next day), Don Foster called my attention to a recent article in the National Parks magazine on the secret activities of U.S. Army WWII interrogators of German POWs. All took place at Fort Hunt just off the Potomac River. Fort Hunt dates from the Spanish28

American War and is now a National Park, within three miles of our home. Don reports he’s well, swims a few times a week, keeps current on the law and walks his Chihuahua. Way to go.

Just in from Nels Holden in Las Cruces, New Mexico: He’s fine, but Jo remains in pain from a recent knee replacement – especially after long periods of sitting. That rules out the long flight needed to attend our May mini. We will miss them.

Your humble amanuensis (run for your dictionaries) and my bride, Jane, are in good health. I did wrench my lower back doing sit-ups. Painful, but I’m 90%-95% back in battery. However, my doctor switched me from jogging to an exercise bike. We plan a Mexico trip in March, to distance us from the dreadful, recordbreaking snowstorms in our area. Our Army son (VMI 1979) is serving his nation in Afghanistan as I write.

Update on mini reunion: Bruce Suter and I tend the store. As of 15 Feb., acceptances from 12 Brother Rats and two class widows. Expect at least two more Brother Rats.

As of 31 Dec., 2009 – midpoint of VMI’s Fiscal Year – our class had contributed $159,750 to VMI. For the classes of the 1940s decade, that’s the top, just ahead of 1941’s $126,862. Most of 1943’s came from one Brother Rat whose generosity seems unending. Of 50 Brother Rats listed as potential donors, only 14 (28%) contributed, which at the moment ranks our class fourth from the bottom. ANY contribution helps.

’44

Robert P. Jones Jr.

The Winter Olympics started Feb. 10th, and I like to watch winter sports. Six inches of snow hit here about 10 days ago, and a lot is still around. This all gives me the motivation needed to start on these class notes. I really hate to type them, but nobody can decipher my handwriting on the rough draft, especially with all the changes I’ve put between lots of lines.

First, Faye and I want to thank all of you who sent us Christmas cards. We always like and appreciate the messages on those cards.

Most will go to good use in the Assisted

Living and Memory Support units here in our retirement community. Faye carries them to those units where they are appreciated and put to use in various craft classes given for the folks living in those units.

I also want to thank those who wrote notes expressing hope that I was “mending well,” as Betty Metcalf put it. Marguerite Ellett expressed it a little differently with hope that my new knee was coming along with “leaps and bounds.” I could only wish for that, but it is doing fine. Enough of my GIM report.

The Elletts did manage to get a few quick trips worked into their schedule last year including their annual visit to Pawley’s Island which is a must for them. They also reported seeing Tom Hupp and Juliet at the Westminster Canterbury Men’s Club Christmas Party and thought Tom looked great.

Tom and Juliet had written that they were fine but considering the problem that traveling has become they don’t do much of that. Tom has to take his wheelchair and oxygen everywhere he goes.

Back in early November George Tompkins wrote that he and his companion, Rosa Massie, had tied the knot with marriage on Oct. 26th. Great news! I hope I sent them congratulations but for the life of me, can’t remember. If not, forgive me, George, and Rosa, and please take this as our sincere congratulations to both of you.

Remember: Do you remember when we were all saying “remember when?” Now it’s much more often “can’t remember.”

Also in November Bruce Bowden called me to relate a tough break he had.

In October before they left on a planned long cruise to Australia, around that continent and back to the U.S., he had a physical exam that uncovered an urgent heart valve problem and a small cancer on his pancreas. His treatment center is the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and it is one of the best anywhere. They have been unable to come up with a safe way to perform the needed operations. Naturally they had to cancel the cruise, and he is hoping for the best. When I last talked to him he hadn’t heard much from Dick Meade, our other Arizona Brother Rat. Bruce said he thinks that is because Dick is tied up with the girl friends who are VMI graduates he met on his cruise VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES in March 2009. I told Bruce that Dick Meade forbid me to report that. Bruce said it was fine for me to report anything that he, Bruce, had said.

I had a letter from Tom Williams. He wrote that in 2008 he went to his son’s house in an ambulance. This year, he plans to go under his own power. Sally added a P.S. note hoping I could read Tom’s letter and that my knee was better. Sally, I could read his letter (not much worse than Hotdog Helmen’s handwriting), and my knee is a whole lot better. Thanks and I’m glad both your hopes materialized.

A surprise letter from Bertie Hengeveld let me know that Florida was behind her.

She is now living in Massachusetts. Her new address and phone number is: 154 Butler Road, Monson, MA 01057 and telephone: 413/267-0130.

She is living much closer to children and grandchildren. Daughter Cheri and family came up for Thanksgiving and cooked a magnificent turkey dinner with all the trimmings. They were all looking forward to the Hengeveld family Christmas and New Year. Bertie wrote that the weather in Massachusetts hadn’t been too cold so far. I haven’t heard from her lately, but that was December, and I’m fairly sure that her thinking has changed since then.

A fine Brand clan photograph came as Cabell and Shirley’s Christmas card with quite an assemblage and a litany of the activities in which their many family members are engaged. It sounds like lots of fun, but I don’t know how they can keep track of it all.

Cynthia Cabaniss’s life is still centered around children and grandchildren, as are so many of the rest of us these days. She is also trying to get her weight down to the point she can get her nerve up to go through a much needed knee replacement safely. She doesn’t want her life with all the enjoyment of keeping up with children and grandchildren threatened.

The Christmas letter from Dick and Victoria Doom was every bit as incredible as the many I’ve written about in past years. Here is one highlight from their latest edition. Over the years, they have adopted horses from the Horse Shelter out there in their area. Usually, it was to replace one of theirs that had died and the other because another one was lonesome – 2010-Issue 2

not being accepted by the rest of the herd.

A couple of months later, some of the folks from the Horse Shelter came out to their ranch to see how the additions to the herd were getting along. When the horses came to the barn for water at noon as was their custom, the two recently adopted horses were absent. Everyone waited for them to show up. The Horse Shelter folks decided to go back to their facility. After about 15 minutes, the two absent horses showed up to get water. Victoria is convinced they smelled the Horse Shelter on the visitor’s vehicle, figured the people were there to take them back to that place, and they didn’t want to go. Dick Doom played a lot of golf in 2009. He and Victoria would load the golf clubs in their travel trailer, and his son with his wife (experienced RVers) joined them at the various tournament sites to help set up the trailer; great arrangement.

The picture of the cannon and snow on our Christmas card reminded Slim Galliford of the lowest point in his lifetime; returning to the Ratline after Christmas break. As I remember, he left VMI, got his B.A. at UNC, his M.A. at UVa and his Ph.D. at VPI. All plus an U.S. Marine Corps career – a rolling stone.

An undated (December) note from Hotdog Helmen asked how we were holding up under the heavy snow they were having in northwest Virginia. He didn’t know that we didn’t have any in December and our weather was fine. That’s a different story now, as we had six or seven inches last weekend. That amount is enough to shut Tidewater, Virginia, down and did. Hotdog and several others have remarked that they liked the VMI scenes on the birthday and Christmas cards last year. I didn’t like the birthday card scene VMI was going to furnish the class agents, picked a scene I liked from an old VMI calendar and used it for my cards to our class. The Christmas card I sent them in December at their Monterey, Virginia, address came back about a week and a half ago. When I find out where it won’t bounce, I’ll send it to them.

On his card, John Ingles commented that it seems like a greater percentage of the mail I send out nowadays is bad news, which is somewhat understandable. He and Audrey are contending with a couple of health issues but still hanging in there.

Cows and golf are keeping Harold Lockwood very busy. I would guess that it’s more the cows than the golf, but chasing golf balls is certainly more fun than chasing cows. He says Marguerite still handles her daily chores but her medical problem results in her tiring very easily. Both were looking forward to kids, grandkids and great grandkids to brighten their Christmas.

Judging by the pictures and activity report, things are going pretty well for Martha McIntyre in Florida. The pictures indicate a family of lovely ladies.

I love Fran Meade’s Christmas poem each year, and here’s a short passage from near the beginning of her latest effort: And ponder – while we’re boring y’all – Just what we might expect to call The coming year. Two thousand ten?

Or go back to the old days when We’d simply call it twenty-ten?

Oh well, it’s quite beyond my ken So let’s get back to all things Meade And share what this year’s fates decreed.

Bob Nay and Bob Sherrard were pretty lavish in their praise of my efforts as class agent. I’m thanking them here, along with the many others who have done so at other times, to make a point. I do try to keep all such comments in a proper perspective. I appreciate them and want to thank all of you but don’t want my head to swell!

Dick Niess wrote that he and Ann both successfully met the health challenges they had this past year and are thankful for a very good hospital and medical center near them. Dick still flies coastal patrols as observer and co-pilot with the Coastal Air Patrol and as crew and radio watch stander with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Ann is composing a new book about a mid 19th Century abolitionist’s life, taken from existing documentation with live accounts enlarged to make a story.

They are still active in several other local activities and enjoy the company of many good friends in the Naples, Florida, area. As Dick says, they are blessed and fortunate.

One of our Sister Rats, Barb Rush, feels the same way about her life. Last fall, she took a “walkabout” in her van, heading east and south from home in Clarkston, Michigan. She visited gardens outside of Philadelphia and in Winston-Salem and 29

CLASS NOTES Roanoke Island, North Carolina. I figure she likes gardens. She loved the Outer Banks of North Carolina and spent four days in Washington, DC, visiting museums and the Library of Congress. Barb says she pressed her hands on the glass of Julia Childs’ kitchen in the Smithsonian, hoping to absorb some cooking “vibes.” It was a great fun trip of almost a month. I think she is already planning her 2010 journey.

Faye and I would suggest Tidewater, Virginia, and a visit with us. There are lots of interesting spots to visit here.

A long Christmas letter from Patricia Wen gave me the new address and phone number for her planned move, probably in April, to an apartment near where her daughter lives. I’ll pass this along in my class notes after the move takes place. She did have some medical problems last May which were taken care of by her doctor.

The major typhoon which visited Taiwan last August spared Taipei any severe weather. Patricia was looking forward to her grandchildren being there for Christmas.

As usual, we welcome the New Year’s toast that Bob and Hazel Smothers come up with each year at Christmas: “Dance as if no one were watching; sing as if no one were listening; live every day as if it were your last.”

Still hanging in there, Rose Tucker really enjoys living in her Richmond condo. She talks to Juliet Hupp often; they are longtime close friends. Rose says sometimes Juliet lets her talk to Tom. That reminds me what a store owner in New Orleans told me one day when we were talking about women. “Bob,” he said, “They’re all alike. Only names are different.”

After four more trips to the hospital last year, Lois Whitehurst says it’s difficult to control her hand, thus her handwriting is terrible. I wish I could send you all a sample. I think it’s beautiful and wish mine was just half as good. Her daughter, Patty, is taking good care of her. She feels fine but says age has finally caught up with her. I’m sure most of us feel that way – just some more or less than others and in different ways.

In my last call from Ruthie Miller, she told me that she and Bill (who I introduced to you all in my November notes) were 30

getting married on Feb. 14th, Valentine’s Day. By the time you see these notes, that ceremony will have taken place. We wish them both smooth sailing for lots of years and welcome Bill to the class of 1944 family.

Lastly, I got a very nice note from Marti Gillum thanking the class for the beautiful flowers she and her family received from the class. She noted that it was hard to believe that Marvin had left her and their three girls. She added that many people had told her they believed Doc was the perfect example of the real “Southern Gentleman.”

That’s all for now. Take care of yourselves wherever you are. God bless all of you, and God bless America and VMI.

’45

John D. Williams

Sadly, I report that we have had a terrible quarter and must tell you of the loss of eight of our Brothers. Several of these deaths were a few months earlier, but through various sources, we are only now learning of them. Frank Godbold died 11/27/09 at his house in South Boston, Virginia. Raymond Yow died on 11/3/009 at his home in Sarasota, Florida. John Carroll Jr. died 7/12/09 in New York. George Barnett died 12/28/09 in Suffolk, Virginia.

Gordon Mills died 5/12/09 in Louisville, Kentucky. John Ellett died 12/22/09 in Charlottesville, Virginia. William Drewry died 10/19/09 in Chicago, Illinois. Edward (Ned) Turner died 11/30/09 in Warrenton, Virginia. May their souls rest in peace.

Now on a lighter side, I wish to issue a broad “Thank you” to the many Brother Rats and spouses that sent us Christmas cards, and most all of them contained some news. That certainly makes my quarterly job of writing the class notes considerably easier. With the help of Joe Gantt and Jim Morgan, our plans for our 65th Reunion in April are about complete.

As of Feb. 1st, we count 19 Brother Rats with 17 spouses and two widows, for a total of 38 attending. It will really be an exciting time to meet with old friends and re-hash old tales, long ago forgotten. For those of you who are unable to attend, we

will attempt to give you a thorough report in the following class notes.

Snookie and Sam Walker are still located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, and their grandson, Ben, has recently left for his third deployment to the Mideast, serving as a Ranger. Sam and his bird dog are enjoying some quail hunting, and Snookie is doing some volunteer work with her church.

Kay and Cary Esser have moved from Virginia to Alabama in order to be closer to some of their children, and state that they have experienced a relatively uneventful year. Kay is suffering with dementia but has done fairly well, is usually very cheerful and can carry on a conversation, even if she forgets a fact or two. Cary says that he had major health problems from August 2008 until August 2009 but now has fully recovered and is considering attendance at our reunion. A lovely note from Janet Russell informs me that after 51 years in the same home in Kansas City, Missouri, she has moved across the state line and is now living in Kansas. Her new address is 7926 Bristol Court, Prairie Village, KS 66208. She manages to stay very busy and has lots of family and lifelong friends nearby, and she is blessed with 17 great-grandchildren. She doesn’t feel a day older and will be spending much of the winter in Boca Grande, Florida. Janet brought back to my mind a cruise that we all enjoyed together, touring the Netherlands.

Verne Chaney writes from New York that “2009 was a year of disappointment and disillusion, but such is life these days.”

In spite of his health problems, he plans to attend the April Reunion.

Jess Reed and a urologist named Sam Ambrose of Atlanta started the Socioeconomic Committee of the American Urological Association (AUA) which has become the Health Policy Council and has established an annual essay contest in honor of these two doctors. In addition, the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association holds the annual Ambrose-Reed Lecture at its meeting. Both doctors are past presidents of this section.

Jess has also been honored as the recipient of the AUA Distinguished Service Award.

It is indeed special to have a national essay contest and a named lectureship sponsored VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Joan and Paul Marks sent us holiday greetings, and we chatted on the phone recently. They’ve had a lot of snow and flooding. Paul came down with a bout of asthmatic bronchitis. (If it’s as hard to cure as it is to spell, he must have had a tough time.) Much better now and looking forward to his annual spring turkey shoot.

Paul continues to guide a bundle of scholarship money from the Camp Foundation to VMI, as well as generous personal contributions.

Mort Mumma gave us a “heads-up” that he and Babs were off to Western Europe again for their annual Christmas shopping spree. They usually add a river cruise which they truly enjoy. According William A. Eliason to Mort, the accommodations, food and service are easily the peer (or better) than the much larger sea-cruising ships, plus a lot more scenery. They visited Russia this time, and to put it mildly, Mort was not impressed.

In this issue, we start with an appropriate Beth and Pat Echols sent us a great New paraphrase of the start of last February’s Year’s letter that I’ll share with you. “We notes. Sitting here in beautiful Tidewater Virhad a lovely Christmas Day with family, inginia, watching the cardinals and red-winged cluding adorable Daniel and Molly, five and blackbirds trying to beat a foot of snow from three; their mother and dad, their empty feeder, it is not difficult to Sheila and Tucker Echols; believe that my friends up in the Blue eldest daughter Carter and Ridge are still snowed in with three her boyfriend; and youngest or four feet of the white stuff. For daughter Campbell. The 10 sure, it is indeed mid-winter. Before of us, including our live-in getting into individual notes, I want Indian friend, Mary, had a to express my thanks and those of the jolly ole time, one week afInstitute for your generous response ter a big blizzard -- two feet to my end-of-the-year letter and for of snow! Pat’s macular deall of the holiday greetings. generation is getting worse, Lou and Ed Powers again sent us but his hearing is as keen a copy of their holiday letter, noting as ever, and since he is a visitations. They are still globe-trotdevoted classical music fan, ting to judge flower shows. Ed manthat is a multiplied blessing. ages to chase the frustrating dimpled Beth is the driver in the famball, whilst Lou chases a 7-no trump ily but there are days when bid in the clubhouse. Tough life! I arthritic fingers fumble with think I have earlier noted their prethe ignition key! science in locating the family of one “One of the most splendifof their progeny in Hawaii, “forcing” erous happenings of the year them to go visit at least once a year. was meeting and entertaining Good planning, Ed! Pat’s cousin, Rita, whom Norval Marr and Ardith have conhe didn’t know he had until tinued their highland flinging. They about two years ago. She recently attended a VMI Alumni Class of 1946: Recently, John and Sally Naill performed was born to an Italian girl in meeting at The Villages, the well- their tap routine at seven retirement centers in the Little Dakar at the end of World hyped, new, planned retirement com- Rock, Arkansas, area. According to Naill, this has become an War II and finally summoned munity in Central Florida, and heard annual Christmas holiday affair over the past several years, and he said, “It sure helps to keep an 85-year-old going.” the courage to contact her a great report on VMI and the future by your contemporaries while you are alive.

Eloise and Nate Adams are both in reasonable health and living in Lexington, Virginia, and have offered their assistance with the reunion. Anne and Charlie Bigger are still in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Charlie says he spends most of his time at doctors’ offices, and Anne is teaching, so he will miss our reunion.

Mary Ballou and I are off to the Bahamas for most of the month of February. We welcome the warm, sunny weather, as well as complete relaxation.

I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our 65th Reunion. God bless you, our Great Class of 1945 and VMI.

’46

2010-Issue 2

goals presented by Gen. Peay ’62. Norval writes, “The meeting was well attended and I believe I was the oldest member there. The widow of a member of the class of ’43 was there (but I forgot her name). Ardith and I attended “The Gathering 2009” in Edinburgh, which was held to commemorate the 250th birth date of Robert Burns, and then visited friends in Dornoch and Laurencekirk. Also a great fishing trip to Wildman Lake Lodge way down on the Aleutian Peninsula. Since then, I have been playing Patient rather than Doctor with cervical spinal stenosis. Two epidural blocks gave temporary relief, but the symptoms have returned, and I will be seeing the neurosurgeon later this month.”

I’ll leave it to Phil Reitz, Buck Bedinger and the rest of you sawbones to decipher all of that “doctalk.”

Elmon Gray has been kept plenty busy helping his dear wife, Pam, recover from a really nasty patch of pneumonia. She was unable to breathe on her own for over six weeks and is into deep physical therapy.

At this writing, Elmon says she’s doing well but still on a walker with a long way to go. Let Pam and Elmon hear from you.

31

CLASS NOTES father’s family here in Virginia. The father and his wife are both deceased. It is a wonderful story which some of you have already heard, and we’ll gladly provide more about it, if you would like; just give us a call at 703/524-1217. The bottom line is that she has two half-sisters in the U. S. who have accepted her like the long lost family member that she is. Rita’s husband, Andre, came with her from France and was equally accepted and greatly adored. We were so blessed to have them in our home for a party of about 20 members of the Echols clan who live in this area. What a joy! We are so glad she was born!

“In May we had a quick - but delightful - trip to Gresham, Oregon, along with all the East Coast family, to help celebrate the 50th birthdays of son Patton III and his wife Karylinn. Their lovely home is high on a mountain side facing the Cascades, and we spent hours sitting and eating on their front deck with Mt. St. Helen’s, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood in the distance. We loved meeting Karylinn’s large, gregarious family, from teenagers to great-grandmother Dolly. A good time was had by all, and we were glad we went.

“Pat still has some law clients that don’t want to deal with anyone else except him, so he keeps up his legal license after more than 50 years, so as not to let anyone down who needs him. Sadly, a friend and client of more than 50 years passed away at the ripe age of 103 years and that has kept him very busy over the holidays, in addition to the usual year-end business matters. He would rather be needed than ignored and is grateful to be of service. His eyes are not good, but his brain and memory are superb!

“He and Beth have been working together to produce a book of memoirs for Pat’s family and friends, and they hope to get back to it soon to add to the 25 chapters so far. Pat dictates and Beth types -- see, we do make a great team.”

Had a call from Pat shortly after Christmas asking me if I had an address and/or phone number for our Brother Rat Doug Jones, last reported to be in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I gave Pat what I had and asked him why he needed it. It seems that Doug’s mother, a longtime client of Pat’s, had passed away at age 103 and had named Doug as executor. Pat called back 32

later to advise that Doug’s phone was no longer in service and that further investigation revealed that Doug had joined that “Great Ratline in The Sky” last April.

Small world.

I continue to promise that I won’t turn this column into an obituary section, but the old man with the scythe just won’t leave us alone. I keep telling him that ’46 is immortal, but I guess he isn’t buying it.

We’ve done pretty well though, all things considered. We’re all about 85 or more.

We had a life expectancy when we came into this world of about 54 years, and there is about a third of the class still hanging on. We may be lame, halt, blind, deaf and daft, but by the wagging tail of “Zip, Crewd Jawn’s” adjutant, we are still here.

Reminds me of a joke in an old Bomb: Semite to Rat in J.M Hall: “Is VMI strict!”

Rat: “Strict is too mild a word. A Brother Rat died in class, and we had to prop him up until the next CP!” Had a nice Christmas e-mail from Anne and Allan Ferrey up Toronto way. “Bill, saw your picture in latest Alumni Review.

Boy, have we all changed from our Rat pictures in the Bomb. We are having a quiet Christmas here. Our daughter and her tribe will be here Dec 26th, and our son with his lot the next day. No snow here; temp about 27. How did you fare when storm hit East Coast? In winter, I keep busy at the senior’s section at the local curling rink. This is a very popular winter sport here. Summer we spend at the cottage. All the best to you and your wife from the North.”

Because I could not imagine anyone, at 85, running out onto the ice and sweeping it, I responded with some frivolous (and what I thought were ridiculous) questions about whether they used custom brooms with special configurations like hockey sticks with their names on them, etc. Much to my surprise and elation, Allan took me seriously. (I think?) This is what he responded: “Some curlers have their own brooms. All the pros have them, and they can go up into the hundreds of dollars. As far as I am concerned, shoes are the most important. Most are sliders, and you put on a gripper when sweeping.

As one of the fellows at the club said, “The two most exasperating sports are

golf and curling, and they both originated in Scotland!” Maybe Scotsman Norval Marr can tell me whether Allan is “putting me on” or not. Having never had a great deal of interest in curling, they take it real serious up Allan’s way. As a result, I’ve been watching the sport in the Olympics, and it looks like a lot of fun. Kinda like horseshoes on ice!

John Naill came blazing in this week with a pix of Sally (what a livin’doll!) and him entertaining some senior citizens with an “old soft shoe” act. The pix is in this issue.

I’ll close on some personal notes.

Notwithstanding Carol’s difficulties in recuperating from her heart surgery and other assorted maladies, we have a lot to look forward to this year. Our son, Col. Bill, will retire from the Air Force after 30 year’s service on New Market Day, May 15th. At about the same time, he will be awarded his Ph.D. from Old Dominion University, joining our late daughter, Leslie, at that academic rank. We also have the joy to announce that their daughter, Kristin, our granddaughter, received her J.D. from Catholic University last spring and with her first shot at the Maryland bar exam, was admitted to the Maryland bar, oldest in the nation, in December.

That, plus, our oldest grandchild, Michael and his wife, Heather were married last summer and have announced that we will become great-grandparents this summer.

Our cup runneth over!

We still need letters and pix to keep this column going; we ain’t done yet! ’Til next time.

’47

Bill Hallett

The bugler gets little rest. “Taps” sounded for Col. William C. Carper III, USA (Ret), on Oct. 27, 2009, as he lost his battle with Alzheimer’s. Bill matriculated from Buckhannon, West Virginia, and according to Gus Robbins, during our Rat year lived on the third stoop with Butterworth, Reynolds and Al Smith.

Bill served in the Army for 33 years and received the Silver Star for gallantry during his Vietnam service. He is survived by VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES his wife, Mary Lou, three daughters and seven grandchildren.

“Taps” sounded for Walter E. Beverly Jr. on Nov. 17, 2009. Walt matriculated from Rocky Mount, Virginia, and during our Rat year roomed with “Stud” Hathaway, Sam Gillespie, Rover Newsom and Ivan Ross.

Your Scribe remembers those lads who lived in room 150, because he lived next door in 148. Following service in the Navy in the Pacific, he was graduated from U of R, earned his law degree, became an officer of Travelers Ins. Co., before entering private practice. Walt is survived by his wife, Opal, and their son and daughter.

After several years of declining health, “Taps” sounded for John T. “Jack” Trotter on Nov. 25, 2009. Jack matriculated from Houston, Texas, and died at his home there. He was a lawyer and CPA, successful investor and served on numerous boards. Some of us may remember that during our Rat year, Jack evidenced his opinion of the administration by starting a fire in the basement of Scott Shipp Hall.

He never returned to VMI to apologize for his youthful indiscretion, nor did he ever participate in the Institute’s fund-raising efforts.

With regret, I report the death of Katheryne Tindall Hundley on Nov. 24, 2009. Born in Albemarle County, Virginia, educated at Longwood College (then Farmville State Teacher’s College), she taught at several Virginia high schools and in 1954, married Louis. Katheryne was, for many years, executive secretary to the director of the Virginia Horse Center and contributed unselfishly to that center’s success. She is survived by Louis, their daughter, Mary Louise Hunt, and her husband, Mark.

Was recently notified that Ruth Barnes Stanley died May 26, 2009, in Winter Park, Florida. Ruth was born in WinstonSalem, North Carolina, and was graduated from Madison College in 1948; she and Tom were married in 1949. Ruth was an avid sportswoman, loved fishing, gardening, playing bridge and traveling. On the occasion of our 50th Reunion, she and Tom contributed $1,000,000 to endow a chair for Ethics and Leadership. Ruth is survived by a daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren.

Bill Glass was among the large number 2010-Issue 2

of alumni attending the June 2009 multichapter meeting at Trumps National Golf Club at Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

If you still have the 2009-Issue 4 VMI Alumni Review, you’ll see Bill seated second from right in the group picture on page 14. In August, he was in OK City and visited with Alice and Ben McCarley; Bill said Ben served a delicious Krispie Pie. Sure there was no need to call for Bogus, whose real name was Borgus. Also on page 21 of that edition was a picture of Elizabeth Lee and Jean Salley, along with those of the many alumni living at the Holy City’s Westminster Canterbury campus. Am told that group has frequent spirited meetings.

The Institute Society Dinner on Founders Day was held in VMI’s new magnificent Marshall Hall. The rainy evening did not dampen the enthusiasm of the nearly 300 attendees, including these stalwart loyals of ’47: Buck Cavedo, Helen Gillespie, Marty and Bill Hallett, Elizabeth and Harry Lee, Bill Phillips and Betty Lane and Gus Robbins. An old friend of mine, John M. Camp Jr. ’40, was the senior alumnus attending. A very long distance call on Halloween from Jorge Sarmiento reported that all was well with him and Delia.

Recently, they had been very concerned about a 22-year-old granddaughter (one of Admiral Ernesto’s daughters) following surgery for a brain tumor. Follow-up treatments indicate positive progress. Jorge said that he and two other VMI men were planning their Founders Day luncheon; he confessed that the other two did not partake of alcohol, so he would have to do the “work” of three. His summer begins in December, and he is looking forward to renewing his swimming routine. A mid-November call from Lucius Dabney helped to brighten a dreary day. The newly reorganized Mississippi alumni chapter held its inaugural meeting in Jackson, Mississippi, on Founders Day. Lucius and Roger Rosenfield were the “age rankers” among the 30 attendees. They had a fine time playing catch-up, and Roger reported that currently Lynne has only one horse.

Lucius enjoys being busier than ever; he now has two part-time lawyers helping him. Both were former electrical engineers who, I guess, studied law by the fireplace in Dabney’s law office.

Historic Quotes: Thomas Jefferson must have anticipated our current state of affairs when he said: “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” John Adams said: “In many years, I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a Congress.”

Lexington officials asked W&L and VMI to allow archers to shoot deer on some of their in-town property. W&L said no.

VMI said yes. The Institute’s buildings and grounds crew, not the cadets, did the hunting, and venison was not served in Crozet.

Marty and I greatly appreciate your Christmas cards and notes. ‘Twas the season to enjoy and to remember old friends and shared good times. A Christmas eve call from Jorge Sarmiento to send good wishes to all Bro’ Rats and remind me that it was warm in Lima, and he was on his way to the beach. McCarley’s Christmas greetings included this note: “Didn’t believe I’d make it to Y2K, and now, a decade later, Alice and I are still hobbling along.” Well stated! Now in the year 2010, when asked our age, most of us may reply: “Four score and four.” From agile to fragile in six decades. Just remember, when your time comes, not even a very good doctor will be able to save you – so go ahead and relax! A check for his Annual Giving contribution was included in the Christmas card signed by Fred “just in time” LeBlanc. Great to know that Fred is still with us; been a while since hearing from him.

Dick Spencer’s Christmas letter was loaded with history of the third class year of ’47. Bless his heart for remembering and collecting. He sent a copy of the 1943 Honor Court and General Committee rules. I sent a copy of them to Gen. Peay ’62; he was delighted to see those “historical” documents and wrote, saying: “In many ways, I am jealous of the simplicity of those two documents. There is no way today, with the litigious society in which we live, that those two documents could remain the same. Frankly, I am surprised ‘ours today’ are as simple as they are.”

He sent me a copy of current Honor Court rules which are nearly twice the size of ours and include definitions of Malingering and Quibbling. You’re probably not 33

CLASS NOTES surprised to know that Terrible Twenty no longer survives. Other Spencer history will be in a later edition. Max Lamont reported that the ’49C 60th was good, except that the parade was cancelled due to “inclement weather.” They gave an Old Yell and fortunately neither he nor Bob Patterson fell off the sentry box. He and Hilma were doing fine, though not eagerly awaiting the predicted snow storm. I don’t know how much snow arrived in Tullahoma, Tennessee, but there was a foot of the stuff here in the Capital of the Old Confederacy and, sorry to report, the lone mule formerly assigned to snow-plow duty died three years ago.

Their year-end letter reported no extensive travels for Margaret and Ridley Nichol; unless they can get there by car, they don’t go. They continue mall-walking most days and visiting with friends they’ve met there. A couple of hospital events for Ridley last spring; he does like those nurses. In spite of daily struggles with his old enemies Arthur Itis and Al Zheimers, he has not lost his sense of humor.

Children, grands, great-grands and cousins arrived in Atlanta for their Christmas Eve festivities.

Great pictures of family and friends with year-end greetings from Lucie and Garvin Jones. They had just returned from a tour of South Africa and were getting ready to go skiing out West. Suppose Garvin is still calling the plays?

The Willsons continue their annual travels of the world. Carol and Jim visited Iceland, enjoyed a cruise/tour of China and had several days in Korea and Japan. They saw no signs in those last two countries indicating that your Scribe had been there.

Double L attended his 60th Reunion at West Point. In addition to her duties as vice-chair of the finance committee of their 900-home association, Carol has started watercolor painting again.

Their holiday greeting card featured her painting of a scene in Iceland. Busy, busy, busy but still have time for their daily walks and twice a week golf games.

Santa arrived at Helen Gillespie’s home with a front-end loader to remove the 17 inches of snow from her driveway. Marty Katcher reported that he and Florence were still present and “probably” accounted for. Gladys Rayhorn sent best 34

wishes for the New Year to all of Jimmy’s Bro’ Rats.

Traveling with family, volunteer work at her church, serving as part-time organist and tutoring three pupils in reading and math give Eva Simmons little time to worry about/with the aches arriving for our generation. Sue and Carl Garrison were very happy to report that a neighbor used their snow-blower to clear his and their driveways. When I talked with Carl on his birthday, he said his stability/mobility problems have lessened his desire to travel, but he would love to make a trip to VMI. Said he has good days and bad days, but the good days outnumber the bad.

Bill Glass stays active by playing tennis (although always doubles with partners older than he is); he still works part-time as a CPA. Bill attended the 50th Reunion of his Harvard Business School class and unwound with a three-week train and bus tour of central England and Ireland. Opal Beverly says she is now wearing Walter’s VMI ring which she had reworked to make it fit. She gave his VMI tie to her niece’s son who also went to VMI. Norma and John Burton enjoyed Christmas at home with all their family; they are grateful that all of them still have jobs in the Charlotte area. Roger Rosenfield says he was one of the ’47s dancing at the Class of ’47 Ring Figure. When Alice and Ben McCarley arrived at the emergency room following Ben Jr.’s mid-December motorcycle accident, they saw him smiling – his complete recovery expected by mid March. Life keeps us busy!

The following quote by Neil Morgan (an auto industry reporter) is on the back cover of Al Smith’s latest publication entitled: Wake Up Detroit, The EVs and Hybrids Are Here. “If you’re shocked by electric cars, be ready. There were 53 electric cars in an annual rally at Sunnyvale, California, the other day (up from 33 last year).

Among the comers: Al Smith of La Jolla driving a sleek electric car he built from a kit using a VW Beetle chassis. It took him a year of evenings and his wife’s help, but that was all right; his real estate business was slow.” I sure hope that Lolly got at least half of the publicity.

I’m sorry to advise that we were unable to arrange an April mini reunion.

Bill Phillips, our event planner of long

standing, made several trips to Lexington and to no avail. Unable to get the desired alignment of facilities and parade. VMI’s event calendar and those of W&L and the Virginia Horse Center were full. Bill will keep trying for us. There will be nine VMI reunion classes in Lexington during the last week of April.

If the past three months are realistic indicators, citizens of the Old Dominion will find little comfort in the current version of global warming. November and December here were the wettest of the past 50 years. A foot of snow arrived soon after Santa; January brought very cold days and nights and 14 inches of snow fell on January 30th. I called Stock Fleming ’49C on one of those cold days, so we could reminisce about the frigid weather we endured 59 years ago in Korea; he reminded me that we were much younger then. The long-range forecast brings no joy … Hurry up spring!

How about this: Thirty-two employees of VMI Laundry Services handle about 27 tons of laundry per week. Laundry is picked up Monday, and everything is ready for pickup Friday afternoon.

My thanks to Ben McCarley and Mac Davis (our class president and vice president)) for their letters asking all of you to contribute your financial support to VMI. Glad to report that 40 of the 60 surviving Bro’ Rats and seven of our widows answered their call. Contributions for 2009 totaled $38,100, nearly $4,000 more that 2008. Quite a few of the “regulars” dug deeper, and fortunately for VMI, 10 of them made gifts exceeding $1,500. I’m very sorry that 20 of you did not care to contribute/participate. I hope each of you will contribute during 2010 and help ’47 be a leader among the 13 classes of the 1940s. It sure would be nice if you’d send a few sentences telling of what’s going on with you. Please keep in touch. A former roommate and fellow stoop-trotter would be very interested!

And now a personal note. Among the many items not on my wish list to Santa was shingles. They/it arrived just after Thanksgiving and hung on quite uncomfortably until Santa time. As a History major, I’m not allowed to practice medicine; however, I suggest you get the shingles vaccine. No charge for this “visit.” As I complete this edition, more snow is on the VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES way. Oh, joy! Marty joins me in sending best wishes for the New Decade to each of you. Stay well, keep smiling and age gracefully.

’48A

Dale E. Wykoff

While we are digging out of what may be the worst snow storm in a century, it seems unfair that John and Barbara Trumbo are enjoying the warm sunshine of Florida, as they do each winter. When I asked them about it, they said, after all, someone had to be in Florida, and it might as well be them! Well, it couldn’t happen to nicer people. Of course, that leaves most of the rest of 1948A to cope with the snow. But not all. Bill and Betty Bond are enjoying the warm weather in Fort Worth but noted that their present problem lies with 400-pound wild hogs that are making themselves at home near them. They dig up a lot of ground – but they make themselves good targets for hunters! In the meantime, Mike Calhoun is our perennial politician in Blountstown, Florida. I said I admired his living in a state with no personal income tax, but he assured me that property and other investments are taxed to make up any shortfall.

I tried to contact Don Florence, through his daughter, Debra Pianka, but was unable to do so. I’ll keep trying. It was a real pleasure having them here in Lexington for our 60th Reunion in 2008. Ed and Peggy Kritzer live here in Lexington, so it is always enjoyable to visit with them.

Ed continues to make progress against Parkinson’s disease. Peggy fell, broke her wrist in three places and is now working on some of the resulting problems. She always has a good outlook on life which makes their difficulties as acceptable as they can be. Bev and Katie Laws are doing well in Houston and said they were glad to be avoiding the Lexington heavy snows. Bev is getting along well. He’s temporarily on a walker but expects to be back on his cane soon and is well over his bronchitis which recently hospitalized him. Dora Meler called to say that she was looking forward to seeing us at the VMI basketball game scheduled for February 2010-Issue 2

5th – only to call again shortly thereafter to say that everything had been cancelled because of the heavy Lexington snowfall!

Sorry to miss you, Dora, and to know that you are keeping up with the many changes in the banking business of New York. Two other lucky residents of a warmer climate, Cheddy and Blake McFeely, in Valley Center, California, have been keeping busy establishing a new computer system. It is great to know that someone in our class is still young enough to be able to do that!

J.Y. O’Neal and I share the same birthday, so when I told him that I had just turned 39 years old, he doubted me. We exchange birthday cards, each poking fun at how old the other is! J.Y. is a great guy (but he is, you know, terribly old!). It is always a pleasure to talk with Irene Sadler, especially remembering when we first met, in Tokyo, 1951, when Jack introduced us.

Irene continues to visit her ancestral home in Hawaii each year and is already looking forward to the warmer summer when she plans to leave behind the high snow of Williamsburg and return to her beautiful home once again. If there should be any question about how well VMI will do in football later this year, Paul Stagg has all the answers. However, to tell the truth, his estimate isn’t as favorable as it might be for the coming season. That’s OK, Paul; we have been hearing for 65 years how good the team will be – not this year – but the next one! Bill Whitmore and I had a nice chat, first about his health which he says is better. Following the fracture of his femur, he stayed in a hospital bed for over two months, but he has now made such progress that he is able to walk a bit without his power chair. Our conversation turned to his book, Full Time Doctors – An Endangered Species, and how the old “family doc” has essentially disappeared, to be replaced by a bevy of specialists. His book is not only a testament to Bill’s years of effective family medical practice but is also a disturbing indicator of what we may reasonably expect from our own private physicians in the years to come. Medical practice has totally changed from when we were children. We can remember when many doctors made house calls and took food and fowl for fees! I was delighted to talk with Mary Ann Williamson. The snow has had a direct impact on them,

because Route 11 in front of their house in Edinburg, Virginia, has been inundated with heavy trucks which have frequently been diverted off Interstate 81 due to the snow. They, too, are looking for warmer weather! Finally, the Wykoff family plods along on the banks of the Maury River by Glasgow and (as all are doing) looking forward to the end of this unusually heavy snowfall.

Thanks to all who have contributed to the greater VMI, to Annual Giving itself and to the 1948A Scholarship fund. While falling investment values have lowered the worth of the fund to some extent, due to your kindness we are still able to provide a needy cadet with about $5000/ year to offset the cost of tuition. I will be in contact with each of you about our scholarship fund as the year progresses. In the meantime, please keep in touch!

’48B

Louis Castellano Jr.

Our next reunion will start Friday, Oct. 22nd and end Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010. At this stage in our life, it certainly is much better to get together every two and onehalf years. The VMI experience creates a bond that will go into eternity. With that said, please let me know as early as possible, those of you who hope to attend. At the present time on Oct. 22nd, there will be a parade, dinner at Moody Hall, with “Men in Grey” to render a few of their more popular versions, and on Saturday, Oct. 23rd we plan to have dinner at the Lexington Country Club with the commandant of cadets as our guest. There will be other activities that will be arranged beforehand. Also, keep in mind that for those of you who come alone, you may be able to get a room at the Alumni Hall.

However, let me know in advance, and I will look into it.

Recently, I received a letter from Marie Sinclair advising that Dune had a stroke in January 2008 and has recovered substantially with certain limitations. I am sure if anyone of you has an opportunity to drop him a line, he would certainly appreciate it.

Our Brother Rat Gorman Pinkston has been trying unsuccessfully to receive 35

CLASS NOTES treatment at the Norfolk General Hospital Therapy Department. There must be someone connected with the Institute that can open the door for this situation. I’ve sent another letter to Pat Webb, vice president of Alumni and Reunion Giving, to try to make things happen.

Heard from Al Loth, Buck Ruffin, Henry Nalven, Mickey Lawson, Howard Smith, Johnny Eldridge, Macon Michaux, Applin and Alberto. All hope to attend our 2010 reunion. Doug Hamner states that he’ll be there, if alive. George Ramsey will also be attending.

Although the job of class agent does have its commitment, it is most apparent to me after making this modest contribution that there is a bond that exists with all of our Brother and Sister Rats that is perpetual and extremely rewarding.

’49A

James Harrington

In a nice Christmas card, Margaret Butler writes: “I am getting along fine. The children have been a great help. I went to Marge’s in Atlanta for Thanksgiving and will be with Ralph and family for Christmas. He has the two little ones, 5 and 7, so should be interesting.” Margaret thanks all for our support and good wishes.

In another nice card, Martha Shackelford tells about traveling to Lexington and to the VMI Museum to deliver a few items that Gordon wanted to donate. Martha expressed her pride, pleasure and appreciation on seeing Gordon’s brick on the walk, alongside the rest of us.

Speaking of Gordon, one of his Rat roommates has just “returned to the fold.”

You’ll remember that there were only some 47 of us when we matriculated and that by our third class year, we were down to 30. A number went missing, as have many since that time. So, I was really delighted to hear from David Flippin.

David was with us for only about two months in that first year. He has since gone on to a solid career in the insurance business and risk management supervision.

David and his wife of 59 years, Sarah, now live in Greensboro, North Carolina.

They have two children. If you remember 36

David (or even if you don’t), write to him and welcome him back to the class. David A. Flippin, 700 S. Holden Road, #104, Greensboro, NC, 27407-2321.

Margaret Anne Noftsinger writes (on behalf of Bill): “There is no news from this household. Our health is holding out, for which we are grateful. We have been very close to home because of the weather.

Wish I could help out, but spring is around the corner!”

And Allen Penniman’s quarterly letter to us all, addressed to Dear Brother Rats: “As the year drew to a close, Joanie and I talked about our plans for Christmas and where to go and whose turn it was for us to visit over the holidays. With the number of children and grandchildren we have, our choices are almost unlimited. Thank goodness they are all willing to have us.

After much discussion, we decided that we would go to Albuquerque this year and make this our holiday headquarters. Joanie has a married daughter living there and another daughter and her family who live in Santa Fe which is just an hour’s drive away. Added to this group, Gordon Atkins and his family live in Amarillo and were willing to drive to Albuquerque to spend time with Joanie and me. So, it happened.

All of us descended on Albuquerque and had a grand time. We had all of the families for a day or two; then one of the families for a day or two; and then one of the families and a granddaughter in Santa Fe for one day. The granddaughter, Sarah, who arrived from Denver, brought good news – her Christmas announcement was that she is expecting a baby in June. This will be Joanie’s and my first great-grandchild. We are thrilled at this announcement, but with 23 grandchildren, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Now, if all of these names and all of these people and where they come from confuse you, I fully understand. It is almost overwhelming, but it is a thrill, and it is a great thing for Joanie and me. Let me sum it up by saying that it was one of the grandest and most enjoyable Christmas holidays that I have ever spent. Amen. And so now we enter a new year and as some are saying, a new decade. We have much to do, and there are many things that are not properly being handled. I refer primarily to the leadership at the national level … Joanie

and I are fine and are looking forward to this New Year. We hope that it will be good for all of you and that our fortunes and our health do not decline any more than is to be expected, especially the latter!

I send each of you my warmest personal regards. I am proud to be your Brother Rat.” Joe Fil is dangerous when he gets to his computer. His most recent (and welcome) update came in all caps, which took me a day to put in the format desired by the Alumni Review staff. I probably could have paraphrased Joe’s letter, but I wanted you to get the real thing: “Our life here is pretty uneventful, except for trying to work my way around little problems that I have created. I’m still involved in numerous little construction activities in this old house. Sue’s new windows have finally been installed, and the carport has been changed to a regular garage with all the gadgets everyone else has accepted as standard for the day. Today, Sue and I are on our way to attend a conference for California District Trustees. The good people in Sacramento are going to help us serve our communities better. Maybe we’ll get to see Arnold. I hope so, as he is the only one with his feet on the ground up there.

We hope to have an influx of family this summer. We have had some nice long calls with Joe and Wendy this year and with Paul and Maria in Maryland. There are plenty of things going on in Korea these days, which keeps Joe busy. We feel very fortunate to have two of the boys and their families close by.”

Joe says he’s finally given up his motorcycle. Now, if he will concentrate on his computer skills!

At the Harrington household, we are holed up in our winter quarters (between Pinehurst and Southern Pines, North Carolina) until the winds calm down at the beach. Ann plays tennis (weather permitting), and I read books. We enjoyed Christmas visits with (most) of our grandchildren, including a quick trip to those in Florida. We are well, except for the agony over the state of our (U.S.) union and anticipation of income tax season ... Anyway, by the time you read this, we will be on our way to the USMA at West Point to attend our #2 grandson’s commissioning. He has sufficient class standing to request his branch and has selected to go MI, which VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I’ve always thought to be an oxymoron.

He’s probably smarter than I am, given the new requirements of asymmetric warfare.

Herb Johnston is about as busy as any of us: “We hope you had a great Christmas and that 2010 will be a good year for you and the others from ’49A. We have really had lots of snow this winter and lots more is predicted. We have stayed in, kept warm and enjoyed the beauty of the trees and shrubs. We look forward to spring and being able to work in the yard with our flowers, etc. We are going to Florida to visit our son and experience the warmth of South Florida. Jeanne and I are doing OK health wise. I’m busy on four boards and two church committees, as well as my musical group. We have season tickets to the ballet, symphony, jazz arts group, OSU basketball and a theatre series. I’m sorry we don’t have any exciting news, but we are enjoying all the things we do.”

Bill May weighed in just before the deadline: “Am p’d off with all this snow.

Can’t go rabbit hunting. I’m feeding 15 beagle hounds plus four puppies, all getting fat. I am not getting any return on dog food except the stuff you have to shovel out of the pen. Pray for warmer weather.

Life goes along in a routine manner.

One good thing: Since the blizzards hit, Washington, D.C., had to shut down. Our money-grabbing legislators can’t reach into our pockets for a few days. Happy hunting!”

Well, it looks like a politically incorrect consensus among us for this issue. Maybe we can get some help from the more numerous classes. Let’s see how it works out.

’49B

Dan Smaw

These are the class notes for February 2010.

In the November 2009 class notes, Jack Evans said he had been surprised to learn that George Dooley had graduated with zero demerits. When Ed Watling saw that, he wrote Lon Walter as follows: “As I remember it, the magic number was eight.

In any month in which you got fewer than eight demerits, the difference between what you got and eight was subtracted 2010-Issue 2

from your record. So, even though I got some demerits, I was able to end up with zero.” I was one who did not receive many demerits, so I’m guessing I also ended up with zero?

I talked with Helen Casey in mid November, and she said Mark’s balance and memory had improved since a shunt was put in to drain fluid from the brain.

In December, I talked with Mark, and he reinforced what Helen had said. His medication and the shunt are adjusted periodically.

Greg Nelson wrote in November to say that he and Kitty had attended the game with Old Dominion in Lexington. They took two neighbor boys, one of whom was interested in the military. He said the review was excellent, and the Corps looked great. George Wolfe drove down to join them and the Dooleys for their famous tail-gating operation. Reading about all the various foods and drinks makes you want to join them for a game this fall.

Sissy Prillaman was also with them, but the Harmons and Nux Enochs could not make it. Just before kick-off, there was a flyover which was very impressive.

In November, Jimmy Shepherd wrote that 2009 had been a special time – 60th Reunion in April, his delayed master’s degree from the University of Alabama in May and having his name attached to the observatory at the University of Montevallo in November. The first phase of the James Wylie Shepherd Observatory opened in November. It has been in progress for three years and really made progress with a financial boost from Jimmy, who said his help was a tribute to the love his father, Jim Shepherd Sr., had for astronomy.

Ding and Nobbie Patton spent Thanksgiving in Virginia with all of their family to welcome their grandson, Scooter Baber ’02, back from his tour in Afghanistan. We are happy for your safe return.

Axel Bolvig called in December to say he had been having some back problems since the reunion but was confident he could overcome them and be back to full speed soon. We wish you all the best, Axel.

I talked with Earthmole Lewis a couple of times in December. Earlene was undergoing radiation for bone cancer. We wish you well, Earlene.

Dave Briggs called in December and wanted to get a class roster. I had to inform him that my roommate, Lon Walter, was the originator and keeper of the roster. It was good talking with Dave.

Joe Reynolds ’47 called in December to be sure the number he had for Bobby Thomasons was correct, since Chi Mills ’48B had tried it without success. I told him the Thomasons had gone to Connecticut to visit their daughter, Jane, for Christmas, but the number was good.

Louise and I were planning to go to Michigan at Christmas to visit our daughter and family. The more we looked at the weather reports, the less we were interested in going into all the cold, snow and ice, so we cancelled. We missed out on being there when our granddaughter, Ashley, became engaged to Kurt Helfrich ’08. Also we very much missed having a chance to visit with Mark and Helen Casey.

When we returned from church the Sunday after Christmas, there was a message on our answering machine from Tommy Bowers. He and Pam were leaving in three days for their two months of hardship duty in the Caribbean. Further on in a lengthy message, he said he knew I was in church – it occurred to me, why wasn’t he, a priest, also in church? I hope they have not been affected by the series of earthquakes hitting the Caribbean area.

The following items come from Christmas cards and notes which you were kind enough to send.

Jack and Pat Evans have recovered from their health problems of a year or so ago and are using the fitness center there in Sun City. Of course, Jack is found on the golf course as often as he can make it.

Walking their dog is good exerciser for both. Both are involved in volunteer work in the Sun City community. They are participating in the Computer Club, and Jack seems interested in learning the computer.

I didn’t know any lawyers in this class knew anything about computers – Jack, you may be the first.

The Bradleys have had the same address for three years which is almost a record for them. They do go to The Villages in Florida for about a week a month for a change of pace. Even Florida has been cold this year, but not like around here.

Harv tries to play golf three times a week.

37

CLASS NOTES Barbara gardens, walks the dogs and The only ones who made out better were along OK. They had Betty Lu Stephens lunches with friends. Barbara says Harv’s the “A” classes. with them at Thanksgiving and planned to daughter, Lori, has told them enough Vernon Patterson commented on my go to Mobile Christmas evening to be with about the Chicago weather to discourage a mentioning his Christmas of ’44 as a Betty Lu. winter visit.

POW. He said he did not think many Lon and Doris Walter attended the F-86 Nux Enochs had his son, Wilson, and soldiers in World War II, if any, had the Sabre reunion in Las Vegas in April and family for Christmas followed by a quiet experience of celebrating the birth of Doris’ family reunion in Asheville, North weekend. He still rows his boat across the Christ with the enemy. It is one Christmas Carolina, in June. The highlight of the James a couple of times a week, which he he will never forget. year for them was attending daughter, Lt. says is a real joy to move slowly and enjoy Jack Neunhoffer wrote that Grace had Gen. Terry Gabreski’s, retirement from the the changing panorama of the sunsets – it’s a total knee replacement in June which USAF in November. also great exercise. slowed them down – no vacation travel.

Ed and Deegee Watling say they are Leo Soucek said he was trying to dig out He takes her to therapy three times a doing many of the same activities they from two feet of snow that would not go week. They figure it takes six months to have been doing in the past. Deegee plays away. Said he is too old to shovel, and his start feeling better and a year to be good tennis, does art and book club, works at snow blower is so fast, he can’t keep up with as new. I can’t confirm those figures, but the church Thrift Shop and is involved it – solution is to wait for spring and let it I know of people who have done it in less with several Republican groups. Ed volmelt. Otherwise, he and Ev are doing OK. time. We wish you well, Grace, and hope unteers at Walter Reed in prostate support Bobby and Jean Thomason planned to you make it to Hilton Head in June. groups and prostate research. They are also spend Christmas in Connecticut with their Both Sam and Julie Marty had hip involved in a dinner group and monthly daughter, Jane, provided Jean’s back was replacements in 2009 and are doing fine.

American Legion dinners. Their son, Peter, OK for the trip. Bobby is doing OK except They have been traveling, as usual, to sevreturned from a year in Afghanistan. He for arthritis which has caused him to give eral jazz festivals, a Caribbean cruise, and was promoted to colonel during the year. up playing golf. Maybe warmer weather trips to Oregon and Southern California to John and Mary Haggerty took a cruise will help them. Their two granddaughters, visit family. Sam still works part time and to Canada’s eastern provinces and up the along with their two granddogs, now live is thinking of retiring in 2010. Julie conSt. Lawrence River to Quebec in October. in Charlotte, much to their delight. tinues her church work and several other In December, their daughter-in-law, Odie, The Bridges continue to be active in their volunteer activities. who was at our 60th, was visiting from church as well as in several civic organizaClint and Rose Anne Hurd are getting Switzerland. After a concert and dinner, tions. Their greatest excitement the three went down to visit A NEW VMI TRADITION in 2009 was when Pat was asked their son, John, and family to pose for the “Pin-Up Boys of about 30 miles away. One by Atlantic Shores Calendar.” Fifone from New York, Washingteen guys, ages 69-90, who live ton, Oregon, and New Mexico in the retirement community were their children appeared. It was Made in New Hampshire by skilled selected to pose “nearly nude” a surprise visit to celebrate artisans, these distinctive clocks will with discreetly placed props which John’s December birthday and make a great graduation or retirement gift.

Jefferson I – $129 represented their interests. They Mary’s January one. They had Clocks are made of cherry wood and Jefferson II (chiming) – $179 sold some 4,500 calendars with no clue it was going to happen, Dimensions 11.5"h x 8"w x 4"d available in either burgundy cherry the proceeds going to the local but a great time was had cel(dark) or antique cherry (light) finish. all-volunteer rescue squad. The ebrating for the next few days.

To order a clock, visit us at pin-up guys have autographed It goes without saying that the www.nhclocks.com or call 800-808-9871. copies in Barnes and Noble as well Haggertys live an active life – as several other locations, and the keep it going. calendars have been shown on TV Bob and Barbara Jeffries and national newspapers. They also only travel during the year Winchester I – $119 had a float in the Virginia Beach was to the 60th, which they Winchester II (chiming) – $169 Dimensions 10"h x 8"w x 4"d Neptune Festival parade. All the enjoyed. Barbara continues doguys had lots of fun, as well as ing programs and activities at Alton – $80 contributing to a worthy cause. the Canaan Inn and is also first Dimensions 10 .5"h x 10 .5"w x 2"d Bill Sweeney said his Rat reader at her church. Bob is the Lexington – $199 grandson was guessing breakout Webmaster for the CommuMadison – $72 (PERSONALIZED Lexington Regulator (chiming) – $249 would be around 15 Jan. Bill nity College in New Canaan.

Dimensions 5"h x 10 "w x 2"d PLAQUE IS OPTIONAL) Dimensions 23"h x 13"w x 3"d thinks that is pretty soft, and I am Son Christopher, who writes The VMI Alumni Association receives a generous inclined to agree when I think of musicals, is still in Seattle. royalty on each clock sold! how long we were in the Ratline.

He is currently updating one

Handcrafted Clocks

38

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES of his former ones, and Bob and Barbara are looking forward to going to it when it comes out. Andrew and his family are still in Manila. They will be visiting the Jeffries at Christmas. Jeff and his family live nearby, and his two daughters are into golf which Bob encourages as a way to earn a scholarship to college.

Jack Hayes writes that he is doing fine.

He is playing a lot of poker in either Atlantic City or Las Vegas and is enjoying life.

Good to hear – keep it up, Jack.

Carel Humme reports that he and Ikey don’t feel their age and just keep on truckin’. He said to cover all the activities of five grandchildren, four spouses and eight great-grandchildren would be excessive, so he just says all are doing well and are in good health. Their youngest had his first birthday on Veterans Day, also known as VMI Founders Day. Sounds like a future Keydet.

Joe and Shirley Spitler are still in good health, even though Joe’s hip gives him trouble occasionally. They cut their travel practically to nil in 2009. Joe did go from the 60th to Richmond and Luray to visit family and friends. All their children and spouses visited at least once during the year; that was Joe’s 80th birthday request.

Shirley is still knitting, spinning and crocheting. Joe does docent work at Kitt Peak Observatory. He is the telescope operator on a 90mm telescope equipped with a Ha filter that shows the sun to the public. Joe says we are coming into a new sun spot period, so things will be more exciting than they have been. He also does some math tutoring.

Grover Outland wrote that he spent Thanksgiving at Cedar Island with his sons, Grover ’81 and Jim ’83, along with Webb Chandler ’46 and his son, John ’82. They also had three of Jim’s sons and one son of daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Wade Branner ’83. You can almost get the idea there are several VMI connections in that family. Grover cooked a turkey which he said was quickly devoured. He also mentioned that he was having knee replacement surgery on 18 Jan. I talked with him prior to that, and he said he was doing all the pre-op exercises the doctor had recommended.

The best place for him to do them was in bed – that figures for a Liberal Artist, 2010-Issue 2

since they spent most of their cadetship in their hays.

It strikes me that two themes run through the Christmas cards. First, with few exceptions, most are traveling less. Second, the activities we are involved in are the same ones we have been doing for years and are therefore comfortable with.

Margaret Lee Overton wrote in January that she has adjusted to her new lifestyle and has found lots of new friends in the retirement community. Quoting her 10-year-oldgranddaughter: “She does what she wants to when she wants to do it.” She mentioned what a good time she had in Richmond at the lunch Greg Nelson arranged in the fall. One of the security personnel at her retirement community is a VMI graduate, Mark Mills ’02, from New Orleans – no kin to Chi. One of her granddaughters living on the West Coast wants to take a look at VMI, as she might be interested. Margaret Lee expects a visit this summer. We have yet to have a ’49B granddaughter to attend – that I know of – but have had several grandsons, including two there now – Talbott (Stephens) and Sweeney.

In late January, Tommy Bowers wrote that he and Pam were in the middle of their two months of hard work on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. He said it was a tough job in spite of the continuous 78-degree weather, beautiful breezes and sunsets, beaches beyond measure and the clearest turquoise water you ever saw. He had lost his 60th Reunion hat which was sorely needed with all the sun he has to endure.

Maybe Greg Nelson has an extra one stuck away that he can get when his tough tour is over.

I talked with Teancy Outland several days after Grover had his knee replacement. She said he was the star of the rehab therapy class – that is, when he wasn’t telling them how to run things. Glad to hear you are doing well, Grover. It looks like all the pre-op exercises did a lot of good.

I talked with Earthmole Lewis in late January and found that Earlene had undergone 35 days of radiation. This had reduced the bone cancer to the point where further treatment would be with drugs rather than radiation. Glad to hear the good news, Earlene.

In February, I had a nice conversation with Mark Casey. The shunt (mentioned

earlier in these notes) is doing its job, and Mark says he is feeling good and getting along OK. He would like to hear from his Brother Rats, so I will give all of you a way to speak with Mark: phone 248/9601727.

Thanks to all who have contributed to Annual Giving. I hope this year sees the ’49Bs set a record for participation.

God Bless America, VMI and ’49B.

’49C

Haywood France

I think everyone is happy to have the snow and cold weather behind them and is looking forward to the warmer months.

Our vintage seems to move a lot better in the warm sunshine; the joints don’t seem to be so stiff and poorly lubricated.

There was very little feedback on a mini reunion. Several said, if we had one, to make sure it was easily accessible and in a warm climate. These requests were probably prompted by the recent winter of snowy and cold weather. Having any reunion entails a lot of planning, selection of a good location for all, arranging local transportation suitable to our needs, and most important, a person willing and capable of chairing the total package.

Lexington was mentioned in several notes as possibly the best location, but I didn’t receive any volunteers willing to organize a reunion.

We have several Brother and Sister Rats who can use our assistance and prayers.

Hans (Heinie) Henzel fell in his apartment at Kendal, broke a couple of ribs and had to spend some time in the hospital in Lexington. He is out of the hospital and doing well. He has moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina, to be near his son. His address: c/o Alex Henzel, 568 Woodbridge Court, Wake Forest, NC 27587. Caroline Robertson informed me that Georgia Hening’s daughter was having some medical problems and could use our prayers for both Georgia and her daughter. Sara Wayne Forsyth, Dan’s wife and my sister, died Dec. 6, 2009. She is surely missed by all of us.

They have determined that Kendall’s back problems are being caused by a malignancy 39

CLASS NOTES on one of her vertebrae. She is in the nursing home here at Sunnyside. They have gotten the pain under control, and we are trying to determine the next plan of attack.

We would certainly welcome your prayers.

Bruce Taylor phoned during one of his brief stops between Severna Park, Maryland, and Hilton Head, South Carolina.

He had the opportunity to meet “Cappie” Moncure for lunch in Baltimore. Bruce and Anna May still try to get in three rounds of golf (followed by lunch and a nap) a week. They also try to fit in doctor’s appointments and other necessities.

They are in good health and were sorry they had to miss the 60th Reunion. Stock Fleming wrote that he and Jean are doing as well as can be expected and, like all of us, are experiencing the bumps in the road as we grow older. He was very impressed with a call he had received from a cadet concerning fund raising and news about the Institute. They had a great talk, and she later sent a card thanking him for their conversation. The cadets in the calling program are doing a tremendous job, and they are extremely interesting and informative. Had a long note from Stew Snoddy.

(He knows the value of information at quarterly Review time.) He had a corneal transplant in his left eye in January. He has had trouble with this eye for about a year and had several procedures to solve his problem, finally leading to the transplant.

He still has fuzziness in the vision of that eye but is told that things should improve over time. Also received cards or phone calls from Max Lamont, Eddie Davis, Coleman Rice, Marshall Brittain and Tom Hawkins. All claimed to be meeting the requirements for people in their age class.

Their major problems were keeping up with their doctor appointments and pill schedule.

I received a copy of a letter to Stew Snoddy from Brian S. Crockett (CEO, VMI Foundation) concerning the status of the Class of 1949C Scholarship Fund.

The Fund is providing a total of $28,100 in support of five cadets during the current school year. As reported previously, the fund took a hit during the last year and a half but is starting to make a comeback.

As of June 30, 2009, the fund had a market value of $483,195.

In closing, I request that all of us give 40

serious thought to our support of the Institute in these difficult times. At the end of the second quarter of this fiscal year (12/31/09), the participation of ’49C alumni in Annual Giving was only 40.9%.

We still have until the end of June for this fiscal year, so let’s make a real effort to increase that number. Annual Giving will accept any amount, so let’s get to100% participation.

’50A

Bill Moore

Good news: Rick Martin’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is gone. He is no longer on chemo, feels much better and sounds like himself again. I have other not-sogood news. Charlotte informed me that Harold Logsdon died Nov. 29, 2009. The good news about Loggie is that he was in hospice, not in pain and passed peacefully.

May we all.

B.J. and Kenny Stagg are down to the final preparations for their trip to Israel and Egypt. I’m looking forward to their trip comments when we meet in April. Harriett and Jennings Bunch report good news, which is essentially no news. Jennings didn’t mention anything about a possible trip to China this summer, and I forgot to ask him. We’ll find out in April.

Dick and Jeanne Mandt tell me that, other than being a little apprehensive about driving long distances, their health is just fine. I don’t know how these things get started, but several of the BRs have questioned me about Dick’s health. It’s the same as it was after he recovered from a heart attack several years ago. Son Rick is in the hospital with a MRSA infection.

It was discovered early, and he is recovering nicely. You may recall that septicemia, likely a MRSA infection, killed Ed Henson of Muppets fame several years ago. I/ we are counting on Rich to drive Dick and Jeanne to our reunion. There is a plan B. Gene Witcher is the same old Gene – lovable, full of himself, and busy visiting relatives and friends in Austin and across the Southwest. Son Lee will accompany him to Lexington in April. Bill and Carol Clark are, as Bill puts it, “coping with old age.” In spite of relatively good health,

Bill seems reluctant to commit to the long journey to Lexington. He says there’s a 3% chance that they’ll make it. I told him I’d take those odds and will be staying on his case trying to improve them. I reminded him that Amtrak has good, daily service between Meridian, Mississippi, and Lynchburg.

Elliot and Nancy Hudgins have their reservations for our reunion, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing them, since there have been so many aborted plans to meet on one of the trips Anne and I often take to the Myrtle Beach area. Granddaughter Elizabeth graduates from Coastal Carolina in May, and son Reed Hudgins ’90 is on hold in Germany with the battalion of Special Forces and Marines he commands that are destined to eventually be deployed to some as-yetundetermined, not-too-nice place.

Ralph and Judy Mooney are deep in the snowbound Amherst mountains. Judy tells me that it hasn’t been too bad, but I do sense a little cabin fever. We Moores have had a little of the aforementioned malady also. More snow than I can remember for a decade or more, and we’re still fortunate compared with nearby areas. We’ve had two snows of 12 inches each but completely missed the devastating storm that hit northern Virginia, DC and points northeast. We were barely grazed by two others and have had no ice, freezing rain or power outages. That last point is very important to your almost 81-year-old BR. Anne and I continue to enjoy good health and grandchildren. Poor weather has stalled most outside activities, including the bio-diesel project. I did manage to make almost all of our heating oil before it got so cold. Son David Moore ’86 has the permitting and the preconstruction work completed for another Moore’s Country Store (West Lynchburg-Timberlake area), ready to break ground in the spring. I’m enjoying my role as a NATO observer and the pointer-outer of the “fatal flaw(s).”

Joanne (Ed) Miller is doing well and sounding great. I’ve had a difficult time catching up with her, and apparently, it was purely due to bad luck or timing that I got nothing when I called. Things like that give me a scare. She was at her usual home all the time. I finally called her daughter, Maria, and had a relieved and VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES enjoyable chat with her. Adrian, Joanne’s other daughter, will accompany her to the reunion. Barbara (Hugh) Barnes is looking forward to our reunion and had planned on sharing a room with Mary (Joe) Ripley.

However, Mary had decided that she can’t come for personal, not health, reasons.

We’ll miss Mary, but be glad that we have Barbara. Perhaps Barbara and Charlotte can get together.

Unfortunately, Syd and Beverly Stealey won’t be able to make it to our reunion.

Syd sends his deep regrets and wishes they could be with us. They are in excellent health but have a problem. Bev just cannot comfortably sit long enough for any trip even partially as long as one from Fairbanks to Lexington. We always have interesting conversations on everything including “shoes and ships and sealing wax” when I call. I was looking forward to having those conversations in person.

By the time you read these notes, we’ll have had our 60th Reunion. Doesn’t seem possible, does it? From March 4, 1946, to April 18-20, 2010. As of now, I expect 70% of our remaining BRs to attend – perhaps even 80%, if I can win my wager with Bill Clark. Total of about 18-20 people including wives, our widows and children. I’ll personally miss all of you who can’t be there, and this set of notes is dedicated to you.

’50B

Ralph Warren

We had a small but enthusiastic mini at Fort Myers, Florida. In attendance were Mary Buchanan; Ann Witt; Mary Virginia Harwood; Bob and Nancy Lynd; Frank Cox and his daughter, Sheri; Braxton and Judith Green; Vince Palazzo and Kaye; and Ralph and Marilyn Warren.

We enjoyed good meals together both Sunday and Monday nights with entertainment provided Monday night by Braxton and Bob. On Monday morning on the golf course, the team of Mary Virginia Harwood and Ralph Warren fought the favored team of Judith and Braxton Green to a tie, thanks to the strong and accurate driving of Mary Virginia.

From Tom and Norma Kelly: “2009 has 2010-Issue 2

been a challenge for us all, and we thank the good Lord for guiding us through it.

Norma’s health has been good; only a bum knee keeps her from the upcoming winter Olympics. The grandchildren are doing a great job of growing up. Tommy graduates from SMU on Dec. 19, Kelsey graduated from the University of Arizona in the spring and Molly is doing extremely well in her freshman year at SMU. Sue and Kelly are doing a wonderful job of weathering the economic storms, while raising three terrific children and helping us grow old as gracefully as possible. Norma and I adopted a little fluffy, white dog from the Animal Welfare League of Phoenix very recently. He’s a great little guy – 3-yearold Lhasa Apso mix. Paddy is his name, and he is a new joy in our lives. Our only travel this year was a sad journey to old and dear friend Bill Talbott’s funeral. We hope to get to VMI in April for our 60th Reunion, God willing. We are currently redoing part of our home here in Phoenix, a task which keeps us busy. (We are not sure that we need to be that busy!)”

Betty Wagner writes: “Not much to report this year ... the good news is, I’m breathing and I still get up in the morning ... the bad news is that I haven’t been able to take part in programs and visit friends in either the Burg or Lexington ... hope I can remedy that next year … had a bit of an accident by being a good citizen and dragging my recycle bin to where it was to be picked up ... it took several doctors, a physical therapist, many tests and four months to determine that I had not pulled a muscle but blew lumbar #3 and 4 in my spine. Pain is gone, but cold damp weather is not fun ... heating pad is my best friend ... push myself to get out every day ... activities at church keep me busy four days a week (I volunteer), go to plays, concerts, lectures at the Historical Society, programs at the U of R, watch grandchildren compete in year-round swimming, etc.”

Laura Sutherland wrote: “When Aidan was 8 years old, this was his assignment for CCD: The Villavicencio’s Ten Commandments; we should listen to other people’s sayings; every night, remember to say our prayers; we should talk kindly to everybody; do not interrupt; remember the people that you have known and died; on Sunday, always

go to church; you have to listen to do your chores; show love to other people; love God, love Jesus and love the Holy Spirit; you should love the people that you knew or know; and the Great Commandment – Love Everybody that’s up in Heaven or down on Earth. When his little brother was about to make his First Communion, he had to find out how many grownups knew the Ten Commandments. Since I was the only one who went to Catholic School for 12 years, I could still remember all of them. Marcelo said, ‘Moma, you forgot to say, “Thou shall not lie.”’ ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘That’s “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”’ Everyone said, ‘Boo.’ What price glory!”

From Herb and M.M. Harris comes: “Now that a year has passed, how do we like living in a continuous care community? We are quite content and thriving!

We just returned from a wonderful week in London. The family becomes more fun every year. Charlie keeps the residence here alert as he races through the hallways in his Super Why costume, and the tooth fairy visited Abigail right here in our apartment! Our older more sedate grandchildren, Tim and Julie, college students, and John, high school senior, delight us with their accomplishments. Both sets of parents, busy with careers and families, adapt to their growing broods and share their love with us.”

Karen and David Kovarik write: “Enjoyed a good, busy year: the Virginia Opera, Winter Bridge and more bridge (David says we are building a span), and travel. David continues with the County Planning Commission dueling with the anti WalMart faction. Karen is very active with Stage Alive. Our interest in opera led to a three-day course on Puccini/Verdi at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore with a side trip to the B&O railroad (roundhouse) museum. On the home front, the big news is Bandit, our new tiger cat. (Sadly, Syau Hu, our 21-year-old, passed away.) We adopted Bandit at the Orange County Animal Shelter. It was love at first purr.

She is the friendliest cat. Her name? David says because she steals Bridgett’s food.

He is thinking of re-naming Bridgett, our senior cat, the Sheriff, because she does give chase. In May, we flew to Texas to visit Mel’s family (Karen’s late husband).

41

CLASS NOTES Her stepson, Bobby, met us and kindly The following news comes from Dave most of the summer in Bellevue. Dave is lent us his van to visit Mel (senior) in Soracco: “This has been a year to watch involved with the condo’s board of trustees Kingsland. We stayed at the Antlers, a our Congress in action. Can hardly wait and Sara with the Senior Net group.” grand old railroad hotel. Dad (Mel) is 93 to see how it turns out. Meanwhile, the From Vaughan Tweedy: “It certainly is and still living alone after a brief fling with Soraccos are hanging in there as best we late to think about writing a Christmas letassisted living. (The others were just too can. Last Christmas, John and Pete joined ter, so let’s call this a ‘catching up’ letter. old and feeble.) Dad taught David to play us in Hawaii for the holidays. They found All that abundant time for everything that dominoes. We returned to Austin for a visit adventure when they experienced the all I thought would transpire after retiring with Bobbie and Mike and their families. island blackout in Waikiki. We opted out just hasn’t happened. Last April was my The youngsters hadn’t all met David of a St. Louis Christmas; it’s just too cold.

University of Virginia medical school before but quickly adopted their new Susan said, ‘No Problem! We will visit class’s 55th reunion. It was good to see ‘Grandpa.’ In July, we visited Nashville for you.’ So, this year we are pleased to have the class members again, and I discovered the Live on Stage preview of next season’s Susan and family join us for the holidays. that my increasing deafness was somewhat concerts. The long trip in October (2,200 John is coming, too. Peter is undecided, alleviated by the Southern accent. In other miles) was to Branson, Missouri. We were but we are still hoping, as we are surwords, I hear Southern much better than joined by Bill, Sharon and Liz (Karen’s rounded by golf courses. Maybe Santa will any other. While in Charlottesville, I was brother and family). The shows we saw put him on a stimulus list and come up able to go see my in-laws near Orange, were: ‘The Liverpool Legends’ (Beatle with a ticket. Susan, Steve, William (13) Virginia, and a pleasant surprise was that impersonators), Yakov (comedian), ‘6’ (six and Sara (11) Hassell are still enjoying Cynthia and Sandra Magera (Gray’s sister, talented brothers who created the effect their busy life in St. Louis. We enjoyed a Sue’s, daughters) happened to be visiting of musical instruments with their voices) visit with them in September. John also Gladys and Eugene Johnson (Gray’s sister and ‘Red Hot and Blue’ (song and dance). was there for a long weekend. Cmdr. John and brother). Considering our advanced We enjoyed them all. On the way back, we is still assigned to the Joint Chief’s staff in ages, everybody seemed to be enjoydiscovered the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Washington, DC. He expects orders as the ing a reasonable state of health. One sad and visited the Wild Turkey Distillery. Da- supply officer on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. event while I was in Virginia was that my vid asked the guide, a young girl, ‘Would Lincoln, home ported in Everett, Washlifetime good friend Russell (Jack) Dufyou prefer a Virginia Gentleman?’ (our loington. We will be delighted to have him ford passed away. As planned, I stayed at cal distillery). She replied: ‘We don’t have in the area part of the year. Pete is still inhis home. However, he was in a long-term Virginia Gentleman out here.’ (Karen’s volved in designing golf clubs in Carlsbad, care facility, and the lengthy conversations note: ‘I am lucky to have one.’)”

California. He did a marathon tour of the and trips to various restaurants (neither In a note, Mary Buchanan said: “I am settled major golf courses in the Southern states one of us was much of a cook) was not to in Patriots Colony and am enjoying being with and added many more golf balls to his be, because Jack (Pappy) couldn’t stand old Army friends and new ones. Lots to do and signature collection. Sara and Dave spent or walk, and his voice was so gravelly I see. I plan to spend Christmas with could not understand most of Tig and Barry. I’ll go up on the 22nd what he said. I didn’t realize (by train) and plan to see VMI play how much I would miss him, George Mason.” as I quite often find myself From Jim Flippen: “Nancy had thinking about the old times back surgery in early November we spent together. Last May, but is recovering nicely. As with Bonnie and I went to Tunisia all others, we’re looking forward in North Africa. They have to our 60th in April. Sandwiched some well preserved Roman around that for us will be a planned ruins, and we visited one trip to Disneyworld with sevwhich would rival the Colieral grandchildren in March and a seum in Rome. The people cruise out of Venice in May.” were friendly and of course, On a card that he had designed, Muslim, but [there was] none Jim Work sent this message: “I of the radicalism found in don’t remember a cannon near the some of the Islamic countries.

‘Limits Gate,’ but in 60 years, a lot We even had an informative can change.” [Jim is referring to the discussion with an Imam 2009 Christmas card.] “Health rea- Class of 1950: Richard Dickson, left, was the commis- (Muslim cleric). We took a sons will keep us from our reunion, sioning officer for his grandson, Nicolas DeWolf. The camel ride, rode on a cenbut we are not complaining, as the ceremony took place on Sept. 9, 2009, at Maxwell AFB, tury old narrow gage railway, Lord has been good to us, and we are Alabama. Dickson said that it was one of his most memo- visited the island of Djerba rable military experiences. thankful for all of his blessings.” with its historic synagogue, 42

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES El Ghriba, whose history dates back to the 6th Century BC and is still the center of an active Jewish community that lives in harmony with its Muslim neighbors. One of the most impressive places we visited was the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial where rest 2,841 of our military dead that lost their lives during the African campaign of WWII. This whole trip was truly enjoyable, seeing and being witness to a very different culture.

This past November, Bonnie and I went on a cruise up the Rhine and Moselle Rivers.

Not a good idea. There was a lot of beautiful scenery, but the temperature was barely above freezing, and most of the time, it was cloudy and/or raining. We were glad to get back to sunny Arizona and warm our old bones again. Last week, we went to Sedona, the area of the beautiful red rock country, and stayed in our time-share apartment. The weather was good, and we were enjoying ourselves until Bonnie hurt her right knee, which became quite painful. It sounded like a torn semi-lunar cartilage in the knee joint.

Several X-rays were taken of the joint, and it was determined that the pain was due to arthritic changes in the knee. She is being treated with non-inflammatory agents (Tylenol and Motrin) which are helping.”

Over the course of the holidays, I also heard from John and Gloria Berberich, Red and Ruth Bragg, George Coffman, Frank and Anne Cox, Carl and Marian Galliher, Braxton and Judith Green, Gwynne and Gertrude Jones, Bill and Catherine Kelly, Dick Leithiser, Bill Lewis, Jeanette Nardello, Neal, Ed and Jean Oast, Joan Phillips, Deedee and Lola Shepherd, Ed and Sarah Smith, Helen Talbott, John and Ruth Taylor, Bill and Ginny Tuxhorn, and Dick and Julia Woodman.

In case you might not have been at our 60th Reunion and have not heard, I am retiring as class agent. I have thoroughly enjoyed my 10 years as your class agent, especially the chance it gave me to interact and get to know so many more of my Brother Rats, but felt that it was time to pass it on. We are most fortunate that Robin White is the new class agent. I want to thank one and all for the great cooperation that I received as your CA. I want to especially thank Deedee Shepherd who has done such a great job as our class treasurer and taken care of flowers and 2010-Issue 2

whatever was requested for our deceased Brother Rats and has helped in so many other ways. Also a special thanks goes to Bill Kelly for chairing two committees during my tenure, and Mary Buchanan, Jane Patton and Helen Talbott for their extraordinary support for minis, reunions and all other ’50B gatherings.

’51

John Ross

This note covers the period Nov. 10, 2009, through Feb. 10, 2010.

Marie and I traveled to Lexington on Nov. 10, 2009, for the Institute Dinner. We met Pat and Duane Holloway for lunch.

Then, Duane accompanied me to the publication office at the Institute where I turned in our Class Note. This gave me a chance to personally thank Traci Mierzwa and Brenda Stoner for their help with my notes for the Alumni Review. It is amazing that these two, along with Hope Hennessey, the editor, turn out one of the best Alumni Reviews in the country, often enhanced by the artistic photography of Kathryn Wise.

That evening, Marie and I had dinner with the Holloways – a very quiet 234th birthday celebration. At breakfast on Nov. 11, Duane and I visited with Bill Kelly ’50B, who now lives and works in Atlanta.

After breakfast, we and the Holloways made the usual visit to the VMI Book Store and Museum. Unfortunately, due to the torrential rain, the afternoon parade was cancelled. On the evening of Nov. 11, we attended the 35th Institute Society Dinner, which was held for the first time in the new Marshall Hall. The class of 1951 was represented by Peggy and Willard Hays, Barbara and Jack Lowden, Jeanne and Bob Nolley, and Marie and Jack Ross.

We also had the support of the Nolley’s daughter, Catherine Triantis. We also were fortunate to have cadet Bingley B. Squire ’10, a Marine option NROTC and regimental executive officer, at our table – a most impressive young man. Incidentally, cocktails were served in the Hall of Valor, a most impressive commemoration of VMI alumni in time of war. There are over 1,100 alumni represented, with a combined total of over 4,200 medals for valor.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, Marie and I attended the fall Class Agents Conference.

We heard from Brian Crockett, the new chief executive of the Foundation. He appears to be a great selection for the job.

We also heard from Adam Volant ’88, executive vice president of the Alumni Association; Greg Cavallaro ’84, chief executive of the Keydet Club; and Pat Webb, director of Alumni and Reunion Giving. All of these presentations stressed the need for alumni financial support, as the state’s contribution to the operating budget is now below 20%. After a break, we had a very interesting and reassuring presentation from Col. Curtis ’79, the new chief of staff. He emphasized that the academic program is stronger than ever; the school’s ranking and research programs have been nationally recognized; and the Corps is physically and militarily more prepared than ever. He based these conclusions on a comparison with his experiences as a cadet in the 1970s. Then, he, who was a cadet prosecutor for the Honor Court, declared the Honor System is as strong as ever. Some interesting statistics: 96% of the faculty have a doctorate or other terminal degree; student-teacher ratio is 11:1; degrees are awarded in 14 majors; cadets come from 47 states and 15 foreign countries; exchange programs exist with six foreign military academies; we field 16 NCAA Div 1 athletic teams (10 male, five female and one mixed); there are over 70 extracurricular organizations; and 80% of cadets receive financial aid.

When I arrived home from Lexington, I found Roger Little’s annual e-mail of Nov. 10 wishing all Marine BRs a happy 234th, which I acknowledged with thanks.

Paul Shrader reported from Pensacola: “We enjoyed our five-week cruise to Aus.N.Z. Hit all the Pacific Islands between San Francisco and Down Under. Seventeen-hour return flight tough on these old legs. Happy 234th – Semper Fi.” Sounds like Paul and Polly are fully recovered from their surgeries.

I called Sam Scott to forestall his usual inquiry concerning the Institute Dinner and gave him a full report. Sam and Jessie are doing well.

Both Bill Caldwell from Roanoke and Ray Moncrief from Middletown, Ohio, called requesting contact information for 43

CLASS NOTES his attendance, the night before, at the birthday at the beginning of December, their roommate, George Cohen, as they inaugural meeting of the Greater New as we both were watching the Redskins were concerned about his health. I gave Orleans Alumni Chapter, which had been lose another game. Marie then visited with them the requested info and assured them spearheaded by Rhys Williams ’07. I Nancy, who was preparing the birthday George had indicated he was well on the responded and thanked him for the news. feast. And, of course, Pat and Johnny way to recovery. I then left a message for As a result of an e-mail from Joe Tom Gray were coming to join the celebration.

George reporting the foregoing. George Howard, reporting that Bland Wilson had I also reached Ken Crisp in Huntington, called in response to my message and been injured as a result of a fall, I called West Virginia, to extend birthday greetings said he would contact his roommates. He Bland. He stated this incident had occured at the beginning of December. He had just reported that Marty and he are vacating a number of years ago – in 1997. I called returned from spending Thanksgiving with their Atlanta apartment on the expiration Joe Tom to give him the good news. Bland one of his sons and family in Chicago. of the lease in January. They are presently was in fact celebrating the day I called Shortly before posting the VMI Christestablishing South Carolina residency at Marty’s Hilton Head home.

– the restoration of his driving privileges – mas cards to the class (146: 107 BRs and 39 SRs), Marie and I received our I left birthday wishes with Jane Owen even though he is still recovering from the first card from Lee Duval of Lewisville, in Wilson, North Carolina, as Dick was undiagnosed infection of his legs.

Texas, wishing us a happy holiday season. not available. She reports he has a painful I reached Paul Robinson in Neenah, Lee reports she toured Washington, DC, back problem, which they hope impending Wisconsin, to welcome him to the Octoand Virginia last summer with her son, surgery may relieve. Jane mentioned that genarian Club. He and Jean celebrated Michael Duval ’81, and family. She also Joe Tom Howard had called the previous Thanksgiving with a daughter and then writes, “We visited everyone we know at night to extend birthday greetings. had a repeat with a son on the following Arlington National Cemetery.” – A referI reached Walt Carraway in Plano, Saturday. They intend to return to the ence, of course, to our BR Hank, who is Texas, and wished him a happy birthday.

Florida panhandle in mid January. Paul buried there, alongside his grandfather, He is recovering from back surgery and then intends to contact Brom Nichol and father and infant son. looks good for our 60th.

Hank Quisenberry.

Thereafter, in no particular order, we I caught up with Joe Tom Howard I had a call from Des Wray, who was received cards, notes and e-mails from: in Melbourne, Florida, to tell him how with us for one year before graduating Jean and Paul Robinson; Peggy and thoughtful it was to remember his roomfrom the Naval Academy, requesting conWillard Hays; Pete Philp; Pat and Duane mate, Dick Owen’s, birthday. Joe Tom and tact info for his roommate, Harry Bailey.

Holloway; Glennie Brown; Jigger and Frances are well and planning their next Des remarked how his father, who was a Ursula Baxley; Jim and Cindy Marshall; trip – a canal voyage through England. Joe great VMI fan; often gave Dick Chaplin, Fred and Rose Anson; Henry and Joan Tom regularly exchanges e-mails with Jim his other roommate, a ride home from the Bryan; Bill Dawson; Lew and Beverly Close. In a recent one, Jim reported on a re- Institute.

Beazlie; Joe Stump; Sid Hannah; Woody cent visit to the Institute and how impressed Nancy Bell called Marie and me to report Woodward; Nancy Bell; Jack and Barbara he was with developments there. Joe Tom she is moving into a retirement community.

Lowden; Mary Ellen and Jim Connolly; sounds like a definite for our 60th and She also reported what a great ThanksgivGracelyn and Skip Parks; Ann Penner; hopes to convince Dick Owen to attend. ing visit she had with two of her daughters Sherry McVeigh; Richard and Anita I reached the Lecks in Florida and first and their families in northern Virginia.

Chaplin; Sheila and Rav Marshall; Rog had a nice visit with Maureen, who reports I reached Jack Hill to wish him a happy and Betty Little; Marty and they are both doing well. They George Cohen; Robin Jordan; intended to have Thanksgiving Steve Carlon and Pat Wise in the Sunshine State and then (writing for Steve); Eleanor return to New York for Christmas and John Blakemore; Julie and with all their children. When Bill Henry Pitot; Patricia Blackwell; got on the line, I was able to welDon and Jody Baldwin; Janet come him to the Octogenarian Lemley; Hap and Renate Higby; Club. In response to his inquiry, I Maureen and Bill Leck; Doc informed him that Jack Lowden and Lois Laville; Jim Evers; and Sam Scott were both well.

Mary Lee and Ed May; Phil Bill sounds very positive for our 60th.

Barton; Jack and Nancy Hill; I left birthday greetings for Pat and Johnny Gray; Jessie and Clyde Green on the voice mail of Sam Scott; Cathie and Gib Gay; his son, Tom, who subsequently Steve and Marion Meader; left “thanks” on my voice mail.

Polly and Paul Shrader; and Class of 1951: Frances and Joe Howard in Melbourne, I received an e-mail from Carolyn McCallum.

Florida, 2009.

Jimmy Gonzales reporting on Many of the cards had long 44

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES printed enclosures, which due to publication limitations, I cannot repeat. However, I would like to excerpt some of them.

Robbin Jordan thoughtfully writes, “Once again, all of the Jordans want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your love and support for our dear John …. May this holiday season bring you much joy and abundant happiness from our Lord.”

Bill Moore, who was with us for one year, writes, “Thanks for keeping me in touch with my Brother Rats. I’ve never forgotten those relationships or the bonds I have with VMI. Merry Christmas to all.”

Glennie Brown in a unique card, which features a shadow picture of her on a camel in the Sahara Desert, includes a much appreciated message for a Class Agent, “Enjoy hearing from you, even when it’s a request for money.”

Sam Scott circulated another of Bob Raeburn’s cards.

The Higby’s card featured a small chapel (Mary’s Rest) in color, which they visited every year and is located near the Austrian-German border.

The Cohens in their note included new contact information effective Jan. 31, 2010.

Paul Shrader reports from Pensacola, Florida, that he had an early Christmas present – his pancreatic tumor is benign.

He also reports Polly is doing well.

Shortly after Paul’s good news, I received an e-mail from Kathryn Wise at VMI and a phone call from Joe Tom Howard with the shocking news that our BR Bill Nelson had died on Dec. 10, 2009.

Bill was buried with full military honors on Dec. 14. I sent a note of condolence to Ellen and a contribution to VMI in his memory on behalf of the class.

Sam Scott called to wish Marie and me a Merry Christmas. Jessie and he were leaving for Atlanta to spend the holiday with her daughter and family.

Bill Caldwell called from Roanoke to extend holiday greetings, as he did not send cards this year.

I extended birthday greetings by voice mail and welcomed Bounce Carstens, Jigger Baxley and Tom Wornham to the Octogenarian Club.

Bounce Carstens sent me a nice thank you note and asked to be remembered to Marie. Then, on New Year’s Day, Bounce called to wish us a Happy New Year. He has 2010-Issue 2

regular contact with Doc Laville and Jim Enochs and reports the latter is complaining about the bad weather, which interferes with his golf. Bounce is good for the 60th.

I made my first birthday call of 2010 to Jack Lowden on Jan. 3. Barbara and he had a nice holiday season.

The next day, I welcomed Ray Moncrief in Middletown, Ohio, to the Octogenarian Club. He must have been disappointed by the results of his beloved Texas football teams – T.C.U. losing to Boise State and Alabama rolling over Texas.

I called Steve Carlon to wish him a happy 80th and asked Pat Wise to pass this message to him.

I hope Winston Baber got some solace in Nebraska routing Arizona in the Holiday Bowl, after its narrow loss to Texas in the Big 12 Championship game.

I know Bland Wilson is still celebrating his redneck triumph in the Bowl Championship game – Alabama 37 to Texas 21 – as evidenced by his e-mail.

On Jan. 10, 2010, I had a nice visit with Duane Holloway, after wishing him a happy birthday. He and Pat were celebrating with lunch. On that same day, I left a voice mail for John Blakemore, wishing him a happy birthday.

I also failed to reach Hob Richey on his birthday and left a message on his voice mail.

Jack Evans sent me an e-mail reporting on a telephone call with Robbin Jordan – Johnny is about the same but failed a little the past couple of months. A few days later, Jack called after visiting Johnny and said he found him in bed and about the same as in the past. Jack then reminisced about some of his roommates – Jack Catlin, who is now deceased, and Stonewall Davis.

I had a long call with Henry Bryan in Port Huron, Michigan, after wishing him a happy 80th. He laughed when he informed me that, for the year, Virginia has had more snow than the Port Huron area. He inquired about a number of the pre-meds – Johnny Lyden, Joe Tom Howard and Henry Pitot.

I provided what info I had. Henry and Joan are well and are good for the 60th.

Shortly thereafter, I welcomed Jim Smith to the Octogenarian Club, and we had a nice visit. He reports that he and Hilda are doing well, although he had diabetes, which is controlled by medication.

I wished Stroud (Stonewall) Davis in Southern Pines, NC, a happy birthday. He is presently facing the possibility of a heart procedure. I provided him contact information for Jack Evans, a roommate, and Jack Nichols. Stonewall asked about Richard Chaplin, and we then reminisced about other members of our small EE section.

Jim Connolly reports Mary Ellen and he had a quiet holiday season. Jim is still doing a great job for the class operating our class network.

Dick McFarlin saw his first ArmyNavy game in Philadelphia, where he also visited with a granddaughter, who is in her first year at the Naval Academy.

I left birthday greetings for John Phillips on his 80th and did the same for Johnny Gray on his 80th.

I reached Gibson Gay in Florida to wish him a happy birthday. Gib and Cathie are doing well and expect to make our 60th.

I connected with Jimmy Gonzales and Doc Laville, both in Louisiana, to wish them happy birthday – Jimmy in person and Doc by voice mail.

I want to thank Sherry McVeigh, Kay Bennett, Janet Lemley and Patty Blackwell for providing me with requested contact info. Once again, if you did not receive a birthday card and/or call from me in 2009, I do not have your birth date (month and year) or telephone number.

Keep the news coming.

Before closing I would like to remember our Brother Rats who left us in 2009: George T. Cowherd (2/17/09) and William L. Nelson (12/10/09). May they rest in peace.

Marie and I wish to thank everyone who so kindly remembered us during the holiday season and once again wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2010.

Semper Fi … Jack

’52

Nutz Navas

We talked with Hume and Pat Powers in mid February and found our Brother Rat in better health than previously mentioned in the November issue of class notes. He is now home from the hospital under the care of Pat and his family. He sounded strong and confident. Hume has had a couple 45

CLASS NOTES of operations for severe gall bladder and colon issues. He is able to walk with a cane and get around reasonably well, but as he stated, he has a long way to go and is determined to be back in shape in a few months. They are both deeply touched with the outpouring of phone calls, messages and cards from his Brother Rats. Unfortunately, he does not have a computer at home, nor does he want one! Pat ran into Bobby Caudle at one of the malls in Roanoke, and he was feeling pretty good.

Hume turns 80 in August and is looking forward to being back in Lexington in the fall for Keydet football games. It has been a long haul for Hume and Pat and the family, but he is one tough Marine with a great attitude. They both asked that I thank all of you for your prayers and good wishes.

Charlie Shoaf is now a resident at The Place, an assisted living care facility in Vero Beach. Mary wrote in early 2009 that she needed to have spinal surgery and could no longer care for him at home, even with nurses on call. He is stable, has a settled routine within which he can manage and has superb nursing care 24/7.

Two male nurses work with him every day doing exercises, walks in the area, playing games, work him through memory books, etc. They attend church, lectures, concerts and visit friends and museums. He can participate and follow while they are there but does not remember any of it after he next sleeps. Mary had spinal surgery in June, and it has been a success. She walks half a mile every day and does exercises without pain. Charlie and Joan Hogge sent greetings from Plano, Texas. They celebrated their 28th anniversary in December. Joan has enjoyed success in several areas of her active life. Her book, The Butterfly Gift, was given the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the category of Children’s Interests by the National Book Dealers Association. She is active in the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) and enjoyed working with two high school students in the spring and fall semester. Charlie began training in March 2009 and received certification in June as a volunteer ombudsman for residents in nursing homes – under the direction of the Senior Source and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability. He visits a local nursing home twice a week and sees as 46

many residents as possible. Being their advocate and friend gives Charlie a sense of belonging, of accomplishment and joy.

After a fire essentially ruined their home a couple of years ago, Henry and Betty Nanninga were scheduled to leave their apartment and move back into their home in Savannah, Georgia. George Robison sent greetings that Reno received a white Christmas when it snowed from Sunday through the following Sunday and into Monday morning, at which time they were fogged in – usual for Reno, he said.

Charlie McRae wrote that he almost got to Virginia from Texas when his son took him to Pinehurst to play golf this past summer for his birthday. Lou Delisio took the smart move to visit Hawaii before the tsunami of all snow storms engulfed us living in northern Virginia. He is playing golf, and we are throwing snowballs at each other instead. Kit Carson on Oahu sent in a fondest Aloha regards. He writes that the year has been fine, some slight winter rain with large winter waves for their “surf meet” – 30 feet and some 40-45 feet. Bernie and Howard Williamson sent Christmas greetings from Tucson with news that Bernie slipped and broke her femur again, as she was in recovery for a partial hip replacement. Her hip replacement held up fine, but the second break was more complicated. She was doing alright and hoped to be back at her normal routine, including playing cards. Howard says, “We are both anxious to get back to walking for our exercise routine.” Howard’s coffee group still meets most Wednesdays, even though one member is 91, another had his 90th birthday in December and another will have his 90th this year. Howard says, “I don’t know what is in the coffee, but it must be doing some good!” His close Brother Rat, Jim Mecredy, sent us a note that he and Lucette went to Minnesota to attend their grandson’s wedding. Jim reports that they “have no health problems, but I had cataract surgery to correct my vision, and we both wear hearing aids, so we can hear each other.” Sandra Pittman sent greetings from Virginia Beach that she and Gary were treated last year to a week of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in the Pocono Mountains with all 16 of their family in attendance.

Yancey and Carol Clark wrote from

their Windswept Farm in Danville, Kentucky, that they had some good news and some bad news last year. A disastrous winter storm in January 2009 that centered in the Danville area as well as in western Kentucky left many people without power for three to four weeks, but they were only without power for 24 hours. Many people used gasoline generators, and several people died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The next morning after the storm, the debris on the farm looked like a war zone, according to Yancey. He used a tractor to push the debris off the driveway so that they could get out to the county road. It took almost a year to clean up the broken branches that fell on their property. The good news is that they flew to Paris in July for a Collette tour. There were only 20 in their group. They stayed in Paris for a couple of days and then visited Normandy, toured the Loire Valley and took a high speed train to Nice in the south of France.

The highlight of their tour was Normandy.

We have taken almost the same route they did, and it is truly a memorable experience. They also noted that children in France and Germany are required to visit the cemeteries. They said that the high speed train was quiet and almost motionless. Also, the French do not talk on the train, since it is considered rude to do so.

Checked in with David White in Raleigh where he continues to do the Lord’s work with Hospice. During the past year, terminally ill patients have risen from 102 to 242. That is a significant increase. He sounded hale and hearty but very busy in his work.

Charlie and Melva Hansrote moved into new digs in Lynchburg, Virginia. Our retired chemistry professor is doing fine after cataract surgery in one eye, and Melva had cataracts in both eyes removed. They traveled to Ireland last October to sightsee and do a little birding with two good friends.

They have been bird watching enthusiasts for 28 years.

Bill Kearney wrote in his card to us that his sister passed away last April, and their son unexpectedly died at his home in Colorado. According to Bill, their son was 48 years old, and he did a lot of good for a lot of people. Bill and Shirley flew to Colorado for the funeral services. Brisbane Brown is still teaching one class at the VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES University of Florida in Gainesville and doing some consulting. He was appointed to the board of trustees of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) which is in the southern part of South Africa. One of his former students is the president of BIUST. During a visit to Botswana last year, Brisbane had the opportunity to experience a walking and riding safari in the Madikue Game Reserve where he enjoyed the beautiful South African scenery and wildlife.

Lou and Elsa Delisio are in Hawaii and have missed the 40 inches of snow we have endured for almost a month. We are not very happy campers right now!

In conclusion, please try to drop this old goat some news about your lives.

Keep fit and trim!

’53

William C. Noell Jr.

How was your winter? In Lexington, we had 20+ inches of snow in our yard before Christmas, which lasted over 30 days, and then we came to Tennessee the last of January and had 5+ inches here at the lake.

So, as I write these notes before the last minute, for a change, I am looking out on the lake with everything covered in white.

And more snow is predicated, especially in Lexington. So, no parades in January and February … ugh. One thing for sure: Judy and I are ready for spring and lake weather. Hope all of you have had a good winter.

Now for the bad news: We lost our BR Pinky Moore on Nov. 23rd in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The services were the day before Thanksgiving which, regretfully, Judy and I could not attend. I had just sent Pinky a card, since he missed the Institute Society Dinner in Lexington this November, which he normally liked to attend. As you know, Pinky had been fighting health issues for several years. I sent an e-mail notice to BRs and also wrote a note to Ellen for the class of ’53.

An e-mail from Betty and Mickey Mills said they were out of the country at the time of Pinky’s services. An e-mail from Bill Nelson commented that they visited Susan and Art Moncrief at their “ranch” 2010-Issue 2

in Texas during Thanksgiving. Bill said Art had the “ranch” looking sharp with 200 head of cattle munching away, an abundance of chickens, a few turkeys and favorite dogs. Bill and Randi joined the Moncriefs on their back verandah to relax and look out over this scene. I had an e-mail from Bill Nelson in response to the VMI snow pictures I sent out via e-mail in December. He said they had only three inches to a dusting of snow in Albuquerque so far this year. Would like to ship him all of our snow in a railroad boxcar. Bill also invited us to come back there for a visit … been at least 15 years since I was there last.

Bob and Bebe Cheatham had plans to head for Jamaica in February for their grandson’s wedding. Bebe is still holding her own with her lymph problem, does not complain, according to Bob, and still does just about everything that she wants. When they were here at the lake last fall, they taught us a card game named “99,” which we all enjoyed. In fact during the last snow here in December, we had neighbors come over and play it one Friday night until 1 a.m., as we could not get out and up our hill in the snow. A recent e-mail from Bob said they had four inches down there in Summerville (Charleston), South Carolina, of all places, but the snow did not stick to

the pavement. They also lost electricity for a day. Paul Fortin received the 2009 Kansas “Governor’s Aviation Honor Award,” which is covered in the Alumni News section of this Review. The award was presented to Paul by the Kansas governor, Mark Parkinson. Ed Brown and Bob Lambert ’52 came up from Williamsburg last month for a VMI basketball game. We only had a brief visit with Ed, since we had two of our grandchildren with us at the game. We were keeping them for a long weekend while Jennifer and Brad were in California. I had a telephone call from Bromo Seletz telling me about his e-mail address change and how things are going up there in New Hampshire/Massachusetts. Also says he will be 80 in November and is already looking forward to the “60th Reunion.”

A Christmas letter from Wes Gray said that they were staying in Florida this year, so that Elizabeth can have hip surgery and recuperation in warm weather. They celebrated their 50th a year late in September by sailing to and from the United Kingdom on the Queen Mary 2. Last April, they took a 3,400-mile trip from Florida to Maryland via New Orleans, Memphis, Kansas City, Omaha, through Indiana and Ohio, and finally back to Maryland for the summer. A Christmas letter from Jim and Marilyn Meek noted that it has been five

Class of 1953: At Norris Lake in Knoxville, Tennessee, September 2009, were, from left, Judy Noell, Bob Cheatham, Bill Noell and Bebe Cheatham.

47

CLASS NOTES years since they left DC, friends, their church January ’09 … says “that adjustment is a Beyond Class of ’53 lunch – this one at the and familiar places for a much slower routine work in progress.” A Christmas letter from Country Club of Virginia in the west end of in Ohio. They did travel to San Francisco, Gayle Shorter contained a great prose Richmond on Thursday, April 22nd. Notices with 10 days in Colorado, and back to DC about Wyatt, written by his granddaughwill have been sent out to a wide range of for a visit. A Christmas letter form Bob and ter, Emily Wyatt. The letter reviewed the BRs in Virginia, in addition to the normal Ilene Rutschow said that they spent last New passing of Wyatt and the celebrations of Richmond group. Warren Koontz volunYear’s in Grand Cayman with their boys and his life. Gayle says she has now become teered to make the arrangements; wives are family. Bob also is still doing volunteer tax a vegetable and fruit gardener – a first for also being invited to this lunch, as was the return work for the AARP in Charlottesville her since 1943’s victory garden. She is case of the fall luncheon. Based on interest to from February through April for three af- staying busy with their church and organidate, this will almost be a mini-reunion. ternoons a week, and served as an election zations that she and Wyatt shared.

P.S: On 15 Feb., as I go to turn in these I just received a very nice note from Peggy notes, it is snowing again in Lex, with at official in the Virginia primary in June and Skinner, saying she spent Thanksgiving during regular elections in November. least 12 inches still on the ground.

A Christmas letter from Betty and VMI Trivia – the Old Mickey Mills said that they and Lois Corps: Alumni, as well as and Frank Wootton attended the current cadets, are always commissioning of the aircraft cartalking about the “Old Corps” rier, George H.W. Bush, in January – some good, some not so in Newport News. Betty and Mickey good. To me, in the long run, were scheduled to make a long trip the current Corps and Instito Antarctica and South America, tute are great but harder and but it had to be canceled when Betty different in some ways. Howbecame ill and then had to spend six ever, one of my complaints days in the hospital – the cause was about the Corps of these days never determined. However, during is their lack of attendance the year, they did take cruises to Berat sports events – especially muda, the Mediterranean for their basketball. Last week, at the 45th anniversary and the southern VMI-SVU game, which VMI Caribbean in November. A Christwon, there were more at the mas letter from Jack and Meredith Class of 1953: The VMI plaque, above, was donated in game from SVU in Buena Townes said that they now have two summer 2009 to the National Museum of the Pacific War, Vista than from the Corps just grandsons in college and another that commonly called the Nimitz Museum, in Fredericksburg, up on the hill. Of course, I do is ready to receive his Eagle Scout Texas. (Editor’s Note: See more information about VMI realize that the cadets these alumni at the event in the 2008-Issue 3 Alumni Review on Award. Their two granddaughters page 39.) Photo submitted by Foy Braswell, who took the days have more options in the are in stages of advancing through photo while in Fredericksburg for his 2009 Army artillery evenings than we did, as we high school, according to Meredith. battalion reunion. could either study (without “Jack stays busy piddling around the electronics, other than radio) house and compiling family history,” in Barracks or the library, and “Meredith stays busy with her golf and with their son in Wilmington and the week of or escape to a basketball game. Still, it is bridge.” A card from Helen and Webb Mad- Christmas in Colorado with their daughter, disheartening to see poor student support on dux said that they are doing well and staying Peggy. She says she is doing better than a regular basis at the basketball games … active and filled me in on the school status “just hanging in there” and that she might of course, for certain “big games,” there is a of their grandchildren. John and Ruthann even make it up to the Richmond lunch per very good turnout.

Speth said that they are doing well, despite my invitation. She also said Buddy had so Bill Turner many things wrong with him, that as hard as the aging process. he tried, he just could not get better. Since I had a nice note from Lucy Moise. he did not have to linger in a hospital or at She mentioned that she had sent a note to home, Peggy says that makes it better in the Peggy Skinner and received a very nice long run. Oh, yes – at the time she wrote the note in response from her. I also had a note, she had seven inches of snow on her nice card from Ann Artz with an enclosed “Waterboarding, by the way, is not the deck … in Virginia Beach! I hope to stop for donation for the Alumni Fund and a note inhuman nightmare many have portrayed a visit when I am down there this spring … from Faye Andrews. Faye noted that “life it as being. Among other things, it was she only lives a few blocks from my grandis a series of adjustments, some of which a long-established hazing ritual at the daughter’s new condo on Laskin Road. are more difficult than others.” She had Virginia Military Institute. Gen. George C. Now, by the time you read these notes, we to adjust to the loss of her mother at age Marshall, the World War II chief of staff will have held another Richmond Area and 95 in January ’08 and the loss of Doug in and Harry S. Truman’s secretary of state,

’54

48

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES was waterboarded when he entered VMI.” – Catastrophe by Dick Morris & Eileen McGann.

Got a very nice e-mail from Perry Archer. At his request, I had sent him a CD of my latest book, a memoir. He said something interesting. I believe it applies not only to this writer but to each member of our class. Perry writes: “I can’t thank you enough for having sent the disc …

VMI trains response and word is bond.

You exemplify these, Wild Bill. Lord, we are so fortunate to have experienced and to experience for our lifetimes the unique thing that is the Virginia Military Institute.

The SPIRIT lives!”

Although Perry’s remarks regarding my response to his request were more than flattering and probably hyperbolic, I think I can agree with him that the school does seem to inculcate the kind of core values of which Perry speaks. It tries very hard, I think, to prescribe a moral compass which, if followed, leads to moral excellence. I am talking about excellence in character, not necessarily excellence in achievement, although that is certainly an important residual effect. In the area of honor and integrity, at VMI the minimum passing grade is 4.0. On that, there is neither compromise nor exception. Some may see that as quaint or old fashioned, completely out of step in a “secular progressive” society, but to VMI grads, it’s the hallmark of a life well spent, the bedrock upon which all else is built. Nothing else comes close.

When recently I presented a copy of my book, Reflections: My Life in the Rear View Mirror, to the VMI library, I wrote in the frontispiece the following: “To the Institute, which brought out the best I had.” That I have not done more with my life is not the fault of the VMI; it merely took what it was given, the raw material, and tried the best it could to mold the man in a way that would bring credit to him, his family, his country and the Institute. It tried as hard as it knew how to instill a set of timeless yet immutable truths. It was up to me to execute.

“The tragedy of life is not dying but living without purpose.”

Spoke with Dr. John Barthelmess today and Troy Carter. John is retired now but still manages to stay active, finally doing what he wants to do and ignoring 2010-Issue 2

the rest but still staying busy. I think Dr. B. is on to something there. Don’t you think it’s about time we stop doing what’s expected of us, or demanded, and attend to the really important things, like trying to influence positively our grandchildren or paying forward even a little of what we’ve been given by a parade of people who cared enough to serve and sacrifice on our behalf? I don’t know about you, but I have finally concluded that if we only knew how seldom people think of us, we wouldn’t be so bothered by what they think of us. Anyway, it’s what we think of ourselves that really matters.

Troy said he was doing well, no complaints. He expressed gratitude that he has been spared many of the vicissitudes of the advancing years. He sounded, well, content, which is a consummation devoutly to be wished in this life.

Things I have learned – You can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: A rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I have also learned that the opposite of love is not hate but indifference. Indifference has probably killed more marriages than infidelity, abuse and neglect combined.

Got a nice e-mail from Don Walden today. Says his BW, Maureen, is heading “Down Under” for a month’s visit with family and friends. He will not be going since he’s “waltzed Matilda” four times now. Plans to stay home and tend to his plot of the community garden, which constitutes about all the exercise he gets nowadays. Don seems proud to say that he is on the “compost” committee, really “shoveling” it with gusto now. He encourages his BRs to “try a little Australian wine,” says it’s good stuff. I know, Donald. I know – especially Australian Shiraz, a certain palate pleaser, even for the initiated. Tell Maureen the next time I’m in her delightful company, I want her to sing (just) for me the beautifully haunting “Botany Bay.” I love it. Of course, I admit I’m incorrigibly sentimental and a (realistic) romantic. My late wife, Bet, used to say I could cry at super market openings. So be it; I is what I is. Getting back to Australia, I remember when I was in ’Nam, that beautiful country was something of a Mecca for lonely hormone-driven

American servicemen. Something to do with the innate pulchritude and ingrained “hospitality” of the Aussie girls, I believe.

Seems they really like “Yanks,” which is most certainly reciprocated and makes for a nice rapprochement between two old and enduring allies.

Again, I am reminded of a story. (My wife, Sonja, says that she doesn’t think I’ve ever had an unexpressed thought. I can’t imagine what she is talking about.)

Anyway, as most of you know, American GIs were stationed all over England before the Normandy invasion in 1944; they were very popular with the British girls, for whatever reason. The British soldiers, “Tommies,” lamented that the only trouble with the omnipresent Yanks was that they were “overpaid, oversexed and over here,” to which their “guests” responded that the only problem with you Brits is that you are “underpaid, undersexed and under Eisenhower.” Ouch!

Just had a long but exceedingly rewarding conversation with Glen Cock, who recited a great story involving our late BR Don Dunlap. He said that Don had a heart condition requiring a pacemaker-defibrillator implant and while performing a marriage ceremony one day, he was “zapped” by the defib and knocked to the floor. (As anyone knows who has ever had a defibrillator, when activated it has the kick of an irascible Missouri mule. Not a great deal of fun but effective, at least most of the time.) Without missing a beat, Don completed the ceremony while lying supinely on his back! After the ceremony had been completed and Don elevated to a somewhat vertical position, the groom purportedly asked if the marriage was “legal,” considering its somewhat unorthodox presentation. Assured that they were indeed legally “joined,” the shaken but otherwise happy couple skipped off to their next stop. (VMI men generally have the enviable reputation for completing the mission, no matter how challenging the circumstances.)

“Duty, honor, country. These three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you will be. They are the rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope seems forlorn … ” General Douglas MacArthur.

49

CLASS NOTES Just spoke with Connie Via moments ago. Had neither seen nor heard from Connie in (too) many years, so it was so good to spend some time with him. Connie, the “quiet professional,” retired from Dominion Resources, formerly the Virginia Electric and Power Company, a few years ago and now spends most of his time “relaxing,” e.g., gardening. Connie has three children, one a daughter doing missionary work in Costa Rica. He told me that he had lost one grandchild at 13. I really don’t know how anyone survives the loss of a child without a good deal of faith. I read once that “faith is not belief without proof but trust without reservation.” There are few things in life, I believe, that test our faith like the loss of a spouse or a child.

Connie has a 20-year history of heart problems and has undergone four bypass procedures. Now he has a pacemaker and says he’s been guaranteed either five more years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes soonest.

Listening to Connie recite a litany of “challenges” in his life got me to thinking.

In the past four months, I’ve had occasion to talk with many of my BRs and the women who loved and lost some of them about such deeply philosophical issues as loss, grief and loneliness. I can relate. At times in my own grief, in my longing and loneliness, when I have found the solitude almost unbearable, I have been able to find some small measure of comfort, some solace in … my thoughts, memories, my books and music.

In a letter to John Adams in 1815, the third president of the United States said: “I cannot live in a world without books.”

I’m afraid I am very much like that. I am often reading two-three books simultaneously. I have long felt that the man who won’t read has no advantage over the man who can’t read. And I do believe with all my heart that if you enjoy reading, you can never be lonely – alone perhaps, but not lonely. Notice, I didn’t say never be sad but maybe less so. For example, recently I heard a song from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Phantom of the Opera, “Wishing you were somehow here.” It captured again my thoughts, my feelings for a lost love, for something that can never be again. And for a few brief moments, I was “there” again, with those I have loved with a passion 50

that transcends the pain of “departure.”

And for a little while, I was once more in the company of those who will never be forever gone. They will always command a corner of my heart and soul as fresh and alive as the morning’s sunrise or the evening’s sunset.

You know, no matter what your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them terribly when they’re gone.

Speaking of relationships, I remember one I had once with one of my VMI professors. I guess you could say at the time I had an “attitude.” Some would say I’ve not changed much in that regard. But I was never the kid who would take an apple to his teacher; I was the one who would ask her for a bite of her apple. I guess early on I adopted the unassailable conviction that the only thing worse than being disliked was being ignored.

Once when I was in Col. Fuller’s history class, I took it upon myself to be the selfappointed spokesman for our section, a role I actually relished. It sort of brightened my otherwise dreary and seemingly purposeless day, I suppose. Anyway, one day after a delay of several weeks, I asked Col. Fuller, on behalf of the class, if he had finally gotten around to grading our papers. I think I began by saying something like … “Col. Fuller, I hate to bother you, sir, but have you yet graded those tests we took several weeks ago?”

Col. Fuller, whom I actually respected and admired deeply, slowly looked up from his desk, looked me squarely in the eyes and intoned, “Well, Mr. Turner, if you hate to bother me, why do you?” For one of the few times in my life, I had no quick response. Indeed, I had no rejoinder soon or late. So I did the next best thing. I retreated ignominiously, quietly and expeditiously to my desk, contemplating whether my final grade in that particular course would be either a soft “D” or a hard “F.” I had a gaggle of VMI professors for whom I had great affection; Col. Dillard, Col. “Daddy” Dixon and Col. “King Tut” Tutwiler come quickly to mind, but Col. Fuller deserves a special place in my pantheon of Institute heroes and not just because he once caught Tex Ricker, John Benson and me in the Old Dutch Inn drinking beer on a Wednesday afternoon, one of the few afternoons when one or all

of us were neither under confinement nor walking penalty tours. Of course, we had secreted our banned libations in milk shake cups. Upon gazing upon this sorry triumvirate and assessing their likely reason for being where they were, Col. Fuller merely tipped his hat, wished us a good day, told us to carry on and departed, but that wasn’t the real reason he was so widely respected.

To me Col. Fuller epitomized what I believe a good instructor should be, one who is more interested in the student than he is in the course being taught. To me, that was the acid test, the sine qua non separating good teachers from pseudo-teachers, those merely putting in the necessary time to obtain tenure or are too busy trying to satisfy the “publish or perish” syndrome to spend time with those who actually pay their salaries, the students. I have attended several fine institutions of higher learning since those halcyon days of my youth at the Institute and been tutored by many fine academics, but Col. Fuller was a breed apart. He will forever be one of my all time favorites. Thank you, sir, and God bless you, wherever you are. (I don’t think we ever got those test papers back. I know I didn’t get mine.)

“It is strange that ‘old men’ should not be sensible, that their minds need keep pace with their bodies in the progress of decay.”

(T. Jefferson) Coming to grips with my own mortality has been particularly difficult and annoying for me. Maybe I take the great Irish poet, Dylan Thomas, too personally when he says, “Do not go gentle into that good night.” I don’t know, but the aging process is especially galling to me. I’m getting better, but I’m not “there” yet. I can concede, however, that, like Jefferson, the best we can hope now is to try and live a “contemplative” life, one in which we try to pass the better angels of our nature on to succeeding generations. Although like Michelangelo, DaVinci and a few others, our reach might yet exceed our grasp, if we are totally honest with ourselves, there is the very real probability that we have already achieved all our strength, intellect, determination and energy have allowed and should now turn our remaining time and attention to leaving behind something far more valuable than our stock portfolios, degree plastered walls and other VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES honors and that is … an anthology of the most important lessons we have learned over the years. It may be time, I think, to ask ourselves what have we really done with our lives, and how might that help those we love and will leave behind – our families, our country and humanity. In the final analysis, I believe that may be the seminal question and the easy part. What’s important is how we answer the question.

“If you are able, save them for a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.”

(Maj. Michael O’Donnell, KIA, DakTo, South Vietnam, Feb. 7, 1973) Irony of Ironies: While my good wife and I were staying at an inn at the Outer Banks, North Carolina, I passed an automobile parked in the inn’s parking lot that had an interesting license plate. It read “JOBIL,” nothing more, nothing less. Now since the word “Jobil” is not your everyday word, and since I remembered that BR Jack Cole has a wife who goes by that name, I thought I would look into the matter a little more closely. Subsequent investigation revealed that Jack and Jobil were, indeed, registered in my hotel. Now, how ironic is that? Of all the hotels, motels, inns, etc. located in Duck, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, etc., what would be the odds of my spotting a car named “Jobil” parked in the very same hostelry in which I was then residing? Unbelievable! Anyway, I called Dr. Cole’s room, and “Jobil” answered, confirming my suspicions. We had a very nice chat. The only downside was the discovery that Jack had some health issues.

(Editor’s Note: Sadly, Jack Cole died on Oct. 2, 2009; his obituary appeared in the 2010-Issue 1 Alumni Review, Taps section.)

Paul Kneuer writes, “Thank you so much for the phone call the other evening and the copy of our 55th Reunion commemorative book. As you said, ‘a mixture of joy and sorrow but with a few laughs thrown in …’ Transportation will be provided to Barracks for those who cannot walk: speaks volumes. Roommate Ray Helmer gave me a report on our 55th with photos, including a picture of the current female occupants of our old room. I think they would be a big improvement over the two I had to put up 2010-Issue 2

with. Ray recounted your rescue by BRs from a W&L frat house. Muriel and I will be headed ‘down east’ next week to your old haunt, Southwest Harbor, Mt. Desert Island, Maine. I will be thinking of you as I sip a drink while overlooking the harbor from our room.” Thanks, Paul, for a fine letter. Brought back a lot of bittersweet memories.

A final thought, maybe two. A pretty good man, Martin L. King Jr., once said: “The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.” Think on it. Not too shabby.

In conclusion, I need both copy and pictures. If I don’t get ’em, the photos, you will have to get used to seeing more of me, and that’s kind of scary. Take care and shalom.

’55

Read Hanmer

By the time you receive this, our 55th Reunion will have come and gone. Because of the publishing schedule dictated by the Alumni Association, these notes have to be in by 15 Feb., so you will have to wait until the summer Alumni Review for news of the reunion itself.

I am writing these notes while looking out at “the blizzard of 2010,” which has already dropped more than 35 inches on Falls Church (we’re in phase 2 of the storm) and continues unabated. They are claiming it’s the worst snow accumulation in the DC area since 1898. So much for global warming!

A goodly number of Bro’ Rats made it to the VMI-Army game. I understand that the Keydets played an outstanding game and, but for a questionable call late in the game, quite possibly could have won.

I sent a contribution in the name of the class to the Old Coast Guard Station in Virginia Beach in memory of Mary Sallé Tyler. Fielding asked me to pass on to all of you the thanks of his family for the generosity. Mary was Fielding’s Ring Figure date. We all miss her.

Bill Nolley writes that he’s been inundated by snow, as well. Bill says that he suffered a torn rotator cuff in January and

thus has had to hire some young neighbors to shovel him out. Don’t you know that you are getting old, Bill?

Cece Sakakini DuSang sent an e-mail to tell us that she remarried during the past year. Cece has been a strong supporter of VMI. We wish you great happiness, Cece.

Mort Bregman informs that “for a couple of old folks, [he and Jean] are doing fairly well.” Travel for them has become constricted, due to assorted medical problems. The Bregmans are living just outside San Antonio, Texas, and are fortunate to have their three children, grandchildren, and a seven-month-old great-grandson living in the area, making visits to the family easy. Mort still enjoys playing (he said “hacking”) golf three times a week with a convivial group of guys.

Travis Russell checked in to note that he would not be able to make it to the reunion from Seattle, Washington, but he sends his best wishes to all us Brother Rats. He noted that the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Alumni Association had a function recently and that it had been fun and informative to be able to talk with some of the younger men and women. Travis was the oldest grad present, along with a ’56er, with a big gap between them and the other attendees.

In a note from “rainy Texas,” Leon Cock offered a few observations on our five and one-half decades out of VMI. “The good news is that the DOW went from 500 to over 10,000, a 20-fold increase. Eisenhower put in the interstate highway system.

Reagan ended the Cold War. Some of the bad news is that the last war we really won was WWII. Our projected national debt is approaching 20 trillion by 2020, five times higher than at the beginning of this century. Old ladies and gentlemen (ed. comment: that’s us) have to remove their shoes and relinquish their shampoo to get on an airplane. The real unemployment rate is approaching 20%. Many real jobs have disappeared forever. A redistribution of wealth like we have never seen is now occurring. The generations below us may not have living standards equal to ours.

We are in deep trouble: two wars that are perhaps unwinnable and unsustainable debt for as far as the eye can see.” After that doom and gloom, Leon then said it was time to move on to really important 51

CLASS NOTES matters, such as where he and Zella were going to have lunch!

Ben and Connie Semmes noted that their son (Ben III ’88) has six kids and a bunch of provisional cadetships. No telling, maybe a sixth generation of Semmes will attend the I. Would that be a record, Ben? Ken Carstens said that his niece, Lt. Col. Abbie Luck, USAF, got home from Iraq the day before Thanksgiving, and they all had turkey together. Her husband, Steve, just retired from the Marine Corps after 32years. The weather in Louisiana is showing how true the climate change hype is: there recently was a high of 19 degrees and his pond was frozen over. Ken says he hopes to make our 60th (that’s forward thinking!) and sends a “hello” to all BRs. Received a nice note from Rosemary Coleman (Lamar), who sent to me a wonderful tribute to Lamar from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where Lamar served for many years, lastly as chief of staff for the then-director of the lab, Bruce Tarter. The article noted that Lamar was devoted to his family and his church and volunteered at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Livermore, California.

George Locher checked in with a nice card and a few lines on what he’s been doing. He has been in real estate with Long and Foster in Richmond for 15 years. Long and Foster is owned by Wes Foster ’56 and is the largest individual RE company in the U.S. George noted that he got out of the brick industry 19 years ago and began his RE career in Durham, North Carolina.

George has written a book about his dad’s family. His ancestors came to the U.S. from Switzerland in the 1700s. The book is with a publisher and should appear on the market soon. Way to go, George!

Bettye Jean McKemie (Jim) sent a wonderful note about Jim’s work in helping the homeless in Mobile, Alabama. Jim was on the board of “Loaves and Fish,” an organization that serves the homeless in many ways. It is now called “15 Place.” In memory of Jim, the organization named a new homeless group, one that serves women, “McKemie Place.” Bettye Jean helps with the meals.

Nanalou Sauder (Bill) has nicely recovered from a bout with cancer and remains 52

very busy. She is on the Mary Washington Board of Visitors and currently is serving as rector of the board, which takes a large amount of her time. She enjoys having both her children in Rockbridge County.

Stu Adams sent along a note with his response to the reunion sign-up package.

He said he had rescued a cadet overcoat from Craig’s List, because he did not want “some dope smoking, maggot-infested type to be wandering about in it as part of his “uniform.” He is looking for some way to recycle the overcoat, perhaps through the cadet store. Good job, Stu! I also received a lovely note from Lois Reynolds (James), who expressed thanks for being kept “in the loop.”

Ending on a sad note, Marty Tanzer’s wife, Barbara, passed away in May 2009, after a long battle with cancer. Marty said Barbara had felt as though she was a member of the class, having attended so many of our activities, and had warm feelings for the many classmates and their wives that she had met. Marty asked me to say “hello,” and he wishes all his Brother Rats and their families the best.

Please keep the letters, e-mails and calls coming. We need pictures!

’56

Richard M. Smith

I received a note from Tony Waring wishing me a great Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday. Connie’s health continues to cause her difficulty as her eyesight along with the arthritis causes problems.

Tony returned the copy of Tiger, Jackson’s write-ups of his mountain climbing and fox hunting. He comments that “Tiger was the best all around athlete he had ever known.” I saw Marshall Mundy at the VMI-VPI basketball game in Blacksburg on a very cold night for us and the team. John “Rocky” Stone contacted me to find out which deceased BRs didn’t have “bricks” with their names, as he has qualified for two more and wants to make sure they are received. Bob and Betty Jo Morecock sent an update in their Christmas card. They have started exercising at the YMCA and going to Weight Watchers.

Their relaxation is embroidery/sewing and

ham radio operation. Bob is still doing some engineering with AMT Engineering Co. but not as much. They vary their time between homes in Stafford Co. and Mattaponi every six months or so. Their children are pursuing careers in several locations in Virginia and Boston and grandchildren in school or college. Also had a nice note from Wallie and Suzanne Schutt. He is still working with Waggoner Engineering as a project manager in Mississippi. Tiger Jackson tells me he has been in touch with Bill Lamb and Spike Dillard to come out again and ski at Bridger Bowl since the skiing is free for “old folks.” He says they have lots of good new snow around Bozeman, Colorado. He and Nan look forward to seeing friends at the 55th. So far, I have been able to fight my way through the cutovers and bushes in pursuit of my hobby, quail hunting. Everett Irby ’55 and I have enjoyed good hunts in Halifax Co. and Southampton Co., finding quite a few nice coveys. It is a pleasure to see our dogs work the birds. Ron Herring sent a long newsletter of family happenings during 2009. A highlight was the celebration of his 75th birthday in Washington, DC, with his children and grandchildren.

They toured the capitol building and various museums and monuments. They also helped clean up his deck of old “junk” and deliver it to a dumpster. There was also a trip to visit family in New Hampshire. All of the children and grandchildren are busy in their various successful careers. A wonderful newsletter was received from Dick Justice. His memory of incidents that took place at VMI while we were Keydets is remarkable. I will relate some of them he told about in his letter. He often plays golf with Don Heslep and sees Walt Donovan frequently. Walt gave him a print of our class marching in Ike’s inauguration. Dick tells about an incident that occurred while his parents were visiting him at VMI. It was a cloudy Sunday morning, and they heard the “Rats” yelling, “rain, rain,” and when they asked him what it was all about, he explained. They had been told to do it so we could avoid having to go to church. His dad thought it was funny, but his mother thought it was a terrible practice. Another recent graduate attends the same church as Dick, and when they both arrived a little late for service, he VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES commented that “little toot” had already blown. His friend didn’t know what he was talking about. He probably didn’t know the difference between “running” and “slimy.”

Dick mentioned that each October there is a reunion at Hopewell High School which he attended for the classes of the ’50s.

Tom Nugent was the coach there who went on to coach at VMI, and the school fed a lot of players there. (Nugent also recruited me.) Dick has heard from Walt Tatum, his old roommate in Tampa, and he is doing well in spite of family health problems.

He also comments that Hop Graham and Sylvia do a lot of traveling in their RV. Hop said if he had it all to do over again, he would be a truck driver rather than a surgeon. Dick and his wife, Susie, stay in touch with Frank Wiggins’ sister, Betty, who used to work in the finance office when we were in school. In his final comment, Dick asked if I remembered the cadence chanted to the song, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” I didn’t, but it went, “Hark the angels shout, 10 more days till we get out.” Those Were The Days, Weren’t They!? Thanks a million, Dick!

John “Rocky” Stone included in his Christmas card a write-up of his brother, Reed’s, death in Austin, Texas. He attended VMI in 1951 prior to entering West Point and graduating in ’55 with a U.S. Air Force commission. Col. Stone was awarded the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal. A call to Harry and Linda Jones to wish them a Happy New Year let me know that Harry had another bout with pneumonia and had almost died from too much medication given him, according to Linda.

He is now out of the IC unit and trying to regain strength in a full care facility. She hopes to be able to get him home soon.

A late Christmas card from Frances and Jim Dillard explained why they didn’t make it to the fall mini and weren’t back in Virginia for the holidays as usual. Frances had open heart surgery on Dec. 9. She had cataract surgery earlier, and Jim had back surgery in summer. They hope all is taken care of now and look forward to 2010.

Tiger Jackson had informed Jim that Bill Lamb planned to come out skiing and wanted him to, also. He responded with “No Way,” I’m free at 75. Scottie Boland called to invite me to stay with him while 2010-Issue 2

I’m in Florida and we would go fishing again on Lake Kissimmee. He also told me he had to take John Kirchmier ’57 in the hospital with heart problems. Scottie has tried to help him out as much as John will let him. I learned from Spider Allison that he had a call from Linda Brophy telling them that Harry Jones died Tuesday night.

He fought a noble fight against cancer and heart problems, and as his wife, Linda, told me, “Harry never complained, which was the sign of a strong VMI man.” My records show that he was the 50th BR to die. A belated New Year and Christmas card was received from Jane and Jon Roach showing all the family at their son Jeff’s in Texas. They have always been a very close knit family with their two boys, both of whom went to VMI, and their daughter. Bill Lamb rode with me up to Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, to attend Harry Jones’ funeral. Also attending were Les and Pat Belsha and Linda Brophy and her daughter, Lauren. It was a very impressive service in the old St. Marks Church on a windy hill in Amish country. His two grandsons, one a Marine sergeant and the other an Air Force lieutenant, escorted Linda and the family to the gravesite and placed Harry’s remains in the ground as a bugler played “Taps.” Our return to home in Virginia took two days in the snow. Fred Farthing informed me that Bill and Else Tolley are now in the Chamberlain Hotel retirement center at Fort Monroe. Anyone in the area should get in touch by calling 757/637-7422. Fred talked with Gaylord Williams who had back surgery late last year and was pleased to learn it was successful. However, his red blood count being high now has him back on prednisone.

Fred recently learned he has prostrate cancer and has started radiation treatment.

Notes from Florida … After driving to Florida in the rain, I hoped to see some sunshine. What I found were temperatures in the 40s and wind. I spent three days with Scottie and Ardis Boland and enjoyed meeting their family. They have a beautiful home on Lake Ruby in Winter Haven. Scottie is still in demand as an actor for movies, and they have a company which produces much of the blank ammo and weapons used by the movies, military and Disney. We tried to do some fishing, but the weather wouldn’t cooperate. Also

living in Winter Haven is another BR, John Kirchmier, with whom I visited and played nine holes of golf. We all got together one evening for steamed oysters, fried snook and smoked mullett. From Winter Haven, I drove up to The Villages to spend several days with Bob and Jackie Morris. This community has become the largest, privately-owned, total service area of any in the country with 80,000 people.

The amenities they have at their disposal are incredible. We enjoyed meals at several of the clubs and played golf in the cold with Bob and Tony Curtis ’62. Tony is preparing the Class History Book for their upcoming 50th Reunion. After leaving The Villages, I stopped by Crescent Beach and picked up Honey Rector before heading to Melbourne and a visit at Al (Spider) and Anne Allison. They threw a great party for us at their home that evening.

Attending were Paul Gronroos, Paul and Betsy Bark, Tony and Maureen Nicoletti, and Bob and Cathie Spurrier ’58. Duke Bickmore (honorary BR) and his wife also were in attendance and live in this community. Duke, a retired Marine aviator, was taken in as an honorary Brother Rat since his interest, love and loyalty to VMI was generated by his brother, Jessie Bickmore ’53, who died. The next evening after cocktails with the Barks in their home, we dined at the wonderful clubhouse at this retired military community. The rest of my travels across Florida to visit other BRs will have to go into the next issue, since I have to send this report in by tomorrow.

Yours in the Spirit … Dick

’57

Clayton M. Thomas III

At Christmas, many Brother Rats wrote.

Ginny and Bob Alexander sent greetings in the middle of an epoch storm from Exton, Pennsylvania. They are expecting two feet of snow before it ends. Ginny, their cat and Bob left for warm, sunny Arizona in January.

Karen Ashbaugh, Jack Maticic’s widow, lives in Fairport, New York, and wished she and Jack had traveled to VMI while they were talking to their son about college.

Their son is still working his way through 53

CLASS NOTES college, and Karen works for IBM. Joan and Tom Atkeson in Monterey, Virginia, miss traveling, and Joan wishes Tom were more up to it. Their one adventure was to Raleigh, North Carolina, for Tom’s brother’s 80th birthday and a family gathering.

Martha and Bill Batten plan to visit us in February. They fly into Orlando, and their flight from South Carolina will take less time then our drive to the airport to pick them up.

Betsy and Sam Barker toured the west in their new RV. They spent a month in Zion National Park, Utah, after a number of days at the Grand Canyon and northern Arizona. They crossed Nevada to Yosemite and northern California, including a visit to Carmel, before traveling to Seattle. Cold weather in Idaho and Montana drove them south through Yellowstone on their voyage

back to South Carolina, where they moved into their new home in Murrell’s Inlet.

Sam is looking to the Citadel game in 2011 as a “must see event.”

Carolyn and Alan Baumgartner have traveled round the country visiting family.

They have been married 52 years and living in the same house in Powder Springs, Georgia, for 11. Al will have surgery in January to replace a hip.

Bill Benson wondered whether his contribution to the 75th Keydet Club Fund counted toward Annual Giving, so he sent another donation. They both counted. Bill and Kathy continue to enjoy life in Rome, Georgia.

Beverly and Charlie Caldwell from Gilliam, Louisiana, sent three photos of their great-grandchildren. I trust that Charlie has a Provisional Appointment for the

lone great-grandson. Beverly reports that Charles has been ill this past year and is “going down fast.” They have set up an appointment with Baylor in Houston to run tests. Hopefully, they will discover the problem, and Charlie will have a speedy recovery.

Susan and Bob Christopher want to know when we will visit Virginia again.

They will certainly try to meet with us.

They continue to enjoy life in Wicomoco Church on the historic Northern Neck.

Nancy Clapp in Minden, Nevada, reported it was 38 degrees in daytime and zero at night. She has had bronchitis with a nasty relapse but hoped to get out for New Year’s. Wiley is so healthy, she is jealous.

Sarah and Dick Collier sent a Christmas picture of their clan, which numbers 33. It is quite a handsome group.

Class of 1957

Photos clockwise from top, left: -Carrol and Darrel Mason at the Montrose, California, Christmas Parade in 2009.

- Harry Huneycutt with his twin grandchildren.

-Nat and Chris Pendleton in Fort Myers, Florida. According to Class Agent Dixie Thomas, they are “happy, healthy and busy in paradise.”

-On Jan. 9, 2009, at The Villages, Florida, were, from left, Carl and Mary LeBourdais, Bob Fiske, Betty and Bill Huffcut, Dixie Thomas, and Pete and Ann Wilson.

54

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Judy and Don Coombs sent greetings from Texas Hill Country where they are fully settled and enjoying functions at Comanche Trace and in Kerrville. They are still healthy and playing golf. They celebrated their 50th anniversary by taking a six-week trip back east, visiting family and friends and Brother Rats.

Linda and Claiborne Coupland were in Lexington for the VMI-ODU football game. Old Dominion won, playing in their first year of competitive football, and finished 9-2, while VMI went 2-9. Poor Claiborne endured heavy ribbing, as he lives a short distance from the university.

When Tropical Storm Ida hit with heavy rain and exceedingly high tides, their home in Norfolk was surrounded in water which resulted in the insulation, duct works, hot water heater and furnace being replaced.

All are restored now, except the phones are out of service.

Katie and Ken Dickinson sent Christmas greetings from frigid South Dakota.

They planned to depart for Florida before Christmas. The weather was in the single digits, and they wanted to depart before they were snowed in. Hunting had been good to Ken this fall. They will be bringing a second cat home. “Bear” is huge, with long hair and very docile.

Lew Diuguid, being a ware of the need for mini reunions, wrote with “tonguein-cheek” that he has rented the “Pride of Baltimore II,” a beautiful sailing ship, for a voyage to Madagascar. Kay and Lew enjoy life on the Baltimore Harbor, where they follow their beloved O’s.

Damaris and Ben Elmore are well and enjoying life together in Pensacola, Florida. Damaris reported that the family was due to arrive for Christmas, and they would go from “quiet” to “Oh, my goodness!”

Chloe and Billy Elmore will be in Florida from Jan. 15 to April 15 and will try to get together with us.

Connie and John Emmerich in Louisville, Kentucky, reported they had a mix of rain and snow. John says, “Enjoy Florida.”

Joanne and Drewry Fox in Havorford, Pennsylvania, enclosed a picture of nine grandchildren with a plethora of future VMI Keydets. We should see Drew in April at the first meeting of our 55th Reunion Committee.

2010-Issue 2

Connie and Bob Fravel had a good 2009 in Port Clinton, Ohio. Bob had lots of fishing, and now he is traveling around the area, watching his granddaughters play basketball.

Mickey and Bill Galvin in Buffalo, New York, claim nothing is going to stop them from attending the 55th Reunion. Bill is still fighting the “Big C,” but he is making good progress.

Frances and Bill Gay in Saint Louis sent holiday wishes to all our BRs. They planned to spend Christmas weekend in New York City, seeing some shows, eating a couple of good meals, drinking some great wine and toasting the great Class of 1957.

Belkis and Clint Glover drove from Antioch, Illinois, to attend the Institute Society Dinner. The next day, they left for Williamsburg and ran into Tropical Storm Ida. It was a bad experience. They are already looking forward to our 55th in 2012.

Sandy and Bill Haas received a five-inch snowfall in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, and learned that Rockbridge County had two feet.

Carole Lee and Lionel Hancock have a summer place in Sandbridge. There, a family photo shows, they are blessed with five grandchildren.

Rita and Harry Huneycutt in Verdi, Nevada, enclosed a photo of Harry holding twin infants, Jackson and Rita. Harry is trying to program them to consider VMI. Nick Kallelis in Gastonia, North Carolina, plans a trip to Greece in April with Carmen. This will be his first trip to that area.

Ruth Smith, Ron Kaye’s caregiver, reports that Ron completed his 33rd radiation therapy on Dec. 8. The tumor has shrunk considerably. He still has tubes in his throat and stomach and recently fought the battle of a 102-degree temperature due to an infection. The “Great White Owl” is alert but very weak, and his MS has not vanished. Ruth sees him two or three times a day. She donated to VMI Annual Giving in his honor. Ron is not up to any important decisions like this.

Michael Kidwell, Walt’s son, sent Lily Kidwell’s new address in Overland Park, Kansas. Michael also sent me a picture of Walt’s three grandkids. The boy looks a lot like his grandfather.

Received a phone call the day after Christmas from J.J. Kirchmier, who is back in Winter Haven, Florida. I was concerned about his health, as he felt ill enough last winter to return to Tidewater, Virginia, earlier than usual. We hope has felt better this winter.

Ira and Gus Kline sent a happy Christmas note; Ira picked out the card and wrote most of the message. Frank added, they are “chugging along here in St. Louis.”

Diane and Jim Kyle in Poughkeepsie, New York, saw less snow this winter, as Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC, got the lion’s share. The best news in Poughkeepsie is the opening of an old RR bridge into a walkway across the Hudson.

Diane and Jim enjoy the view of the Hudson Valley, high above the river.

Marilyn Landis, Paul’s widow, made memorable trips to Vietnam and Cambodia and then to Egypt. In September, she toured the Southwest via Collette Tours, visiting Santa Fe, Taos, Durango, Silverton and Mesa Verde. The highlight was the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.

Cindy and Mo Levine in Westminster, Colorado, continue to bike locally and in far away places. They completed a bike trip across Germany and France, enclosing a picture of themselves at the Normandy Beaches.

Martha and Ray MacKay had a threeday gathering in Gastonia, North Carolina, with Judy and Don Coombs and Nick Kallelis and his new companion, Carmen Branson. In November, they saw the new buildings at VMI on their way to a family reunion in Stuart’s Draft. While at VMI, Ray chatted with a couple of first classmen in the book store, but realizing they weren’t born until 1990, he must have seemed like a relic to them.

Ed Martin got together with John Michelsen and Jay Woodward at West Point when VMI came close to beating Army.

Ed and his son and grandson attended the VMI-Seton Hall basketball game. We almost won, if the team could have made a few easy lay-ups. Ed felt that the snow storm in Hillsborough, New Jersey, made it feel like Christmas.

Lucy and Rod McCormack sent a Christmas message with a photo of their two cats curled up under their Christmas 55

CLASS NOTES tree. They also were hit hard by Tropical Storm Ida, which stayed two days and caused lots of flooding in Virginia Beach.

Patty and Ron McManus enjoyed speaking with us at the Institute Society Dinner. They went to the “Carols in the Courtyard,” but because of the work in old courtyard, the program was held in third courtyard. It was a good program but really cold. For Christmas dinner, their children and grandchildren assembled at their home. Patty and Ron were hoping they would remember how to cook for a larger number than two.

Jeanne Meyer wrote on Dec. 10 that we were welcome to stay with Lynn and her in Aiken, South Carolina, in April on our way to VMI. In January, Lynn called with the terrible news that Jeanne passed away on Dec. 21. They had been married 52 years, and Lynn is shattered by her death. Dawn and I are saddened at his loss, and we have Jeanne and Lynn in our prayers.

Betty Mixson from College Station, TX, was pleased that the widows are added to the Christmas list. “Dixie, you are a sweetheart to remember us each year with handwritten notes – 194! I would need to start in July. Thank you. Hope to see you in 2012.”

Florine and Bill Moore wished the class a Merry Christmas with a photo of their family – all 18 of them.

Joan Munson sent another picture of Charles. In February, he fell on his head and had to be airlifted to the University of Virginia Hospital, where he spent a week in the Intensive Care Unit. In March, his son came from California to be with his father and while working on the same project, joined his father in the same hospital to have his elbow put back together. Joan sent us a picture of Charles in one bed and his son in the other. Recovery for both has been slow.

Jay Musser enjoyed being with us at Nancy and Pete Lincoln’s place and seeing other BRs on Founders Day. He also continues to be active on our Bereavement Committee.

Chris and Nat Pendleton had a wonderful 2009 with good health and no hurricanes. Their family grew with the arrival of a large Maine coon cat, Lt. Col. Sandie Pendleton, who is named for a Pendleton family luminary. Chris 56

is entering her 10th year as CEO at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and just signed a contract to continue through 2012. They are happy, healthy and busy in paradise.

Every Christmas, Betty and Ed Powell send greetings to the class and include a photo of their handsome family. There are two young grandsons who may be likely candidates for VMI. Pat and Dudley Price in Stanley, Virginia, were planning to head back to Punta Gorda, Florida, after Christmas, bringing his father, who is now 100 years old.

Skip Richardson in Virginia Beach planted and harvested his bean crop despite drought and floods. He had a good crop. Skip was late sending Christmas cards as he was hospitalized with cardiac problems, but he passed extensive tests, had great medical care and the nurses were all young and “foxy.” He is looking forward to another reunion and seeing all the folks again.

Joyce and Carl Schladitz hope to see us sometime in 2010 at VMI. Malcolm Smith in Deland, Florida, wants to do lunch. We hope to see him this spring.

Nelda and Buzzy Snyder’s property was accepted for placement in a Conservation Easement, so it will be kept forever in its natural state. Their main endeavor in 2009 was to reverse Buzzy’s 2008 heart failure.

The triple bypass, great cardiology care, a careful diet, effective rehab and a fitness club have restored him to good health.

Last May, he paddled the 12-mile Canoea-Thon for the 17th year and kept a steady pace.

Doug Talbot is back in Virginia Beach, working part time. In May, he got together at Myrtle Beach to play golf with Johnny St. George and Bunny Wiggins.

In July, his son and he played in the national father/son golf outing there. Doug is looking forward to the 55th and will do his best to encourage Elinor and Carter Fox to attend.

Brenda and Tom Vaughan in Williamsburg, Virginia, will be taking a cruise from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal, ending in San Diego, in March. This will help to blow away the “winter blues.”

Deloris Walter in Bel Air, Maryland, wrote that the snow was coming down

hard and was supposed to be a blizzard.

She had some books from Chuck’s collection and thought that VMI might be interested. Many pertain to British military history.

Rita and Armond Wagner are doing well in Ware Neck, working part time, traveling and playing bridge. Their grandson, David, is a third classman at VMI, and they try to visit him when possible.

On 17 Dec., 2009, Geoffrey Dick ’91 called with the sad news that his father and our Brother Rat, Bill Dick, passed away on 27 Sept., 2009. The reason for the long delay is that the authorities took two months to allow Bill to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The burial took place a few days before Christmas.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eleanor and her two sons.

On 9 Jan., 2010, Bob Fisk and I drove over to The Villages for a VMI function to hear Gen. Peay ’62 address the alumni on the state of the Institute. At the cocktail party, dinner and speech, we had nearly 200 in attendance. Our class was well represented. Besides Bob and me, there were Betty and Bill Huffcutt, Mary and Carl Le Bourdais, and Ann and Pete Wilson.

The speech, dinner and company were all excellent.

On the trip to and from The Villages, I learned that Bob Fiske continues to be active in disaster relief with the American Red Cross. He is also president of the Greater Volusia County Tennis League and is active in supporting the Intrepid Wounded Warriors Project. During Christmas week, Edie and he traveled to Ft. Sam Houston and visited many wounded veterans at Brooke Army Hospital. Also, he raised nearly $10, 000 from his tennis associates in Halifax Plantation to support Intrepid Wounded Warriors Project and the Fisher House in San Antonio. At the Fisher House, family members can stay free while they visit their wounded relatives. For those of you with good memories, you should recall that Bob was our first class agent from1957-59. He suggested that I should encourage those Brother Rats who rarely or never contribute to VMI to make at least a modest contribution. Bob believes our class should have a greater participation than 60%.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Dave and Anna Pai report that they are comfortably settled into their retirement community (The Pines) in Davidson, North Carolina. Anna reports that her science fiction novel, called Choices, has been published under her pseudonym, A.C. White, by Dorrance Publishers. This might be an interesting read on a snowy winter’s evening … or any evening, for that matter.

Walter Leach waxed philosophical in his Christmas letter, reflecting upon the “beauty and the wonder and the power” of the sights he saw in his four trips covering 48 states and 18,700 miles. We laud you, Walter, for your curiosity, bravery and sense of purpose.

BR Ken Godfrey reported that “2009 was a crazy year” for him, but things look brighter now. On Oct. 10, he married Lorna, a widow from his church. Congratulations, Ken and Lorna. We wish you all the best!

Amid all their travels, Ted and Becky Henry managed to attend Ted’s 55th high school reunion, as well as visiting cousins in upstate New York. They also did their usual four-week stint at the beach. Ted, you and Becky need to stay home awhile and rest up!

BR Gates Sykes proudly announced that his grandson, Ben, is currently a Rat at VMI. This makes three generations of the Sykes family – Gates, his son and now his grandson – who maintain the proud tradition of the VMI legacy.

Bill and Mary Jo Thomas are enjoying this winter in Naples, Florida. However, they have been busy painting their house

inside, staining the cedar siding outside and performing general repairs that are all part of maintaining a home. As is usual, when one lives in Florida, the winter season attracts lots of company. The Thomases took time out to celebrate their son, Steve’s, 50th birthday. Billy reported they had lots of fun, but, “How old does that make us?”

Our BR Bill Holland and wife Linda find themselves well enough to travel and are spending the month of February in Dear Brother Rats, Here we are in Februthe Naples, Florida, area. It sure beats the ary of the New Year 2010. On this midsnow that blanketed Richmond this winter. winter day, Annemarie and I find ourselves We wish them all the best. Enjoy the in our south Florida home, enjoying 64 warmth and the sunshine, you two. degree weather and plenty of sunshine. Not According to Bill Keefe, an Institute infrequently, we are asked, “Why don’t you live year round in Virginia?” I, knowing Report article reported that the VMI the thermometer is reporting record lows Trap and Skeet Club had competed in the with plenty of snow, simply say, “Because National Clay Target Championship. The it’s too darn cold!” Apropos of that, our VMI team placed 28th out of 38 schools. lane leading to our Virginia home has been Bill said, “Who knew that VMI has a washed out and made impassable. The river skeet team?” Bill apparently is fond of this is swollen, and reports come in predicting sport. He contacted VMI to volunteer to more snow and rain. Need I say more? go to Lexington and do a little “pro bono” BR R.J.T. Smith, our New Mexico archeolcoaching. This writer is surprised that VMI ogist, says he misses hearing from classmates. is fostering this sport, as he knows the He has been back to Lexington several times “clay pigeons,” even when purchased in over the past years but has not connected large quantity, are very expensive. with his BRs. Hey, drop him a line. His new BR Gene Grayson, our champion trout address is: Woodleaf Apt. 7B, 3320 N. Dal fisherman, reported that Rockbridge County Paso, Hobbs, NM 88240. From his report, it has a fine of $100.00 if anyone is caught sounds like Bob is ready to turn in his shovel using illegal baits. This comment is aimed and retire from “shifting sand and finding toward me, as Gene constantly goads me to sharks’ teeth, as this [area] at one time was enter into competition against him, knowing an inland sea.” He also says that from time fully well, that if we fished the South River, to time he suffers from CRS (Can’t we’d have to bring our own Remember Stuff, I think that is!). water. (True under normal conWelcome to the club, BR! ditions; however, this does not Sandy Yon reported that she apply to the current situation, took one trip this year, returning as the heavy rain, snow and back to Asia. She went to Camboflooding have washed out the dia, Thailand and South Vietnam. road at the Roberts’ Virginia Sandy says that her hospital volabode again.) unteer work continues to take up Gene is constantly fighting most of her time, averaging a 40an uphill battle with shoulder hour week. It seems that cutbacks problems but is not inclined to by the hospital have contributed to follow the advice of his physithe increase in her hours. In July, cians and have more surgery. she tried her hand at sky diving He said, “Enough is enough!” again, enjoyed it much more the Jim Cowan, our hose-mountsecond time and anticipates doed BR, says that he understands ing it again in 2010. As they say that American Airlines finally in Spanish, “Cada loco con su located South Dakota on their tema”, which roughly translates map of the U.S. Reportedly, as “to each his [or her] own.” You Class of 1958: Roy and Joyce Palmer aboard the Royal they plan to run airborne “cattle Clipper, the VMI cruise from Barbados. go, girl! cars” between Rapid City, South

Wes Roberts

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CLASS NOTES Maj. Gen. Matthew C. Horner, was a very Dakota, and Dallas this year. He further stat- from Maryland. They spent the month of close friend of Chesty Puller. The two men ed that if he can afford the baggage charge, October in Australia and New Zealand … were intertwined in the service, beginmaybe he will fly down to visit our south “a wonderful experience.” ning in 1926 and throughout their service BR Tom Saunders noted that he and Texas contingent. If Jim tries to leave at this together in the Pacific in WWII. Tom time of year [February, that is], he will have Jordan invited former President George to follow the guide rope from the house to W. Bush to be the honoree at the Marine noted that he was privileged to have met the barn and dig out a path to the Gen. Puller in Portsmouth, Virroad. However, I warn you, Jim, ginia, in the early ’60s and was to stay away from that rowdy given a signed copy of his book, bunch, i.e., Paul Johnson, Jim Marine. Having read Tony’s Poteet, Sully Griffin and Jack e-mail, Earl Bennett added Boze, when they start drinking one small anecdote. Earl said margaritas! that not long after graduation, Frank “Boeggie” Boeggeman he was driving to the Pentagon advised that he has recovered and along the way picked up a well from his triple bypass surteenager thumbing a ride. When gery but is lacking energy. He is this young man got into the attending cardio rehab, hoping car, he noted the VMI sticker to improve his energy level over on Earl’s back window. As this time. Frank noted that one of his conversation ensued, the young granddaughters, age 14, is playman mentioned that his father ing JV high school girls’ baskethad gone to VMI and that his faball. Her teammate’s grandfather ther’s name was Chesty Puller. is also a VMI alumnus, Dick Years later, Earl read that Gen. Class of 1958: Lorna and Ken Godfrey were married on Walsh ’54. It’s a small world.

Lewis “Chesty” Puller’s Marine Oct. 10, 2009, in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

From the Pacific Northwest, Corps son, Lt. Lewis Puller Jr., Roy and Joyce Palmer report had been wounded in Vietnam Corps Annual Semper Fidelis Dinner in in: “Roy’s consulting jobs have dwindled, and had lost both of his legs and most of Washington, DC, on Feb. 25, 2010. This either postponed or cancelled, but the his fingers. The younger Puller later wrote important things remain … acrobatics in the would be the President’s first official a Pulitzer Prize winning book, Fortunate return to Washington since he left office.

Christen Eagle sport bi-plane, lattes with Son. Having lived with his wounds for friends at Starbucks, Sudoku and crossword He chose to return to Washington with the some 25 years, he took his own life. puzzles, surfing the Internet, golfing, hiking Marine Corps because of his high regard (Note: Col. William H. Dabney ’61, for the military in general and because of a USMC (Ret), is married to Chesty Puller’s wooded trails, church activities, travels (the personal relationship with the Corps. Tom highlight being a VMI alumni cruise on a daughter, Virginia. They live in the Lexingtall sailing ship from Barbados), and the joy said it should be a great evening. ton, Virginia, area.)

Our correspondent from Portland, and delight of our grandchildren who live Shep Shepard Oregon, Tony Lash, offered the follownearby.” Sounds like the Good Life to me! ing from a book he read about Chesty Flip and Sally Miller travel from their Puller entitled, Chesty. As many of you home in Huntley, Illinois, each January to may know, Lewis (Chesty) Puller was a spend winter and spring in Williamsburg, famed hero in WWII, who retired from the Virginia. We hope they realize that they USMC as a three-star general. The book really are in Virginia this year, as all the Hal and Barbara Dayhuff are very much notes that Chesty joined the USMC, havsnow might make them think otherwise. involved in Dutchtown Middle School ing been very impressed by his company The Millers enjoyed a trip to Cancun, where granddaughter Laci attends school. commander at VMI. Puller noted that this Mexico, in November. They were supRecently, Hal was asked by Laci to attend posed to go with a group, but the rest were gentleman was a great influence on his a Veteran’s Day program there. About 60 decision to join the Marines and was “one scared away from the trip by the threat of vets assembled in the entrance area and of three VMI leaders who had finished swine flu and drugs. Flip and Sally report then were escorted to the end of the hall. making a man and a soldier out of me.” that they went anyway, saw no evidence What they saw was more than any of them Tony shared this information in a general of the flu or drugs, and had a wonderful expected: children and teachers lined the e-mail to the class. That e-mail resulted in time enjoying the beautiful weather. Good hallway cheering and clapping, holding the following anecdotes from other memfor you. The Millers travel to Florida hand drawn pictures, thanking them for bers of the class. Tom Saunders wrote that their service to our nation. They all wanted (Orlando, Daytona and Fort Lauderdale) his wife, Jordan, lived next door to Gen. in March. to shake hands or high five. None of the Puller for many years. Jordan’s father, Colleen and Larry Wootten checked in vets had ever had this type of “Thank You”

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES before, and it will be a day that they will always remember. Our country will be in fine shape with young people like this leading us. Physically, Hal has not had a good year; he has pneumonia-COPD and spent a good bit of time in the hospital. He also has ruptured a tendon, but none of this prevented him from attending the opening of the Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia. Hal says it should be a must on everyone’s “bucket list.” Barbara has been very much involved in genealogy work and many historical and patriotic organizations in Atlanta. Billy and Sue Kornegay attended the VMI Founders Day Reception and Dinner. The activities were very impressive and enjoyable, especially with several BRs on hand. Attending were: Bill and Yvonne Traylor, Mort and Audrey Eggleston, Jim and Bet Vermillion, John and Teddi Martin, and Buzz and Virginia Nowlin. Bobby and Mary Alice Ross were scheduled to attend but were busy being good Samaritans to their neighbors. The “Stonewall Class” was recognized for the generous contribution we made at our 50th Reunion. All of this was impressive, but the training of VMI cadets was really brought to light as they left post and witnessed the quick reaction of a handful of VMI cadets when a lady slipped and hit her head on the concrete – very impressive. The Institute is in fine hands, and the Cadet Corps is absolutely great, and we should all be very proud to be associated with VMI. The following day, they all met for breakfast at a local restaurant where it just so happened that Bobby and Mary Alice were also having breakfast. They had another impromptu mini reunion in the restaurant, and breakfast was extended long enough to get several old “war” stories rehashed. Sue continues to make chocolates, visit nursing homes while working with the Powhatan Woman’s Club and the St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Billie spends his time making wine, working with the American Legion youth programs and supporting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families back home by providing care packages and clothing for hospitalized troops.

Peggy Smith is grateful for all the support she received from Brother Rats during Kenny’s final days. Life has not been the same without him, but Peggy knows he 2010-Issue 2

would want each of us to remember him by living the best life we know how. Peggy fulfilled one of Kenneth’s last wishes when she and daughter Carol went to Lexington and met with Col. Gibson ’77, the curator for the VMI Museum, to present Kenneth’s ring to the museum. The presentation took place on Ring Figure weekend, so how appropriate was that? Peggy wrote that we all have fond memories about that special time in our lives, and she was not looking forward to handing over Kenny’s ring, but Col. Gibson made her feel so good about it, that she was amazed at how special it felt. Peggy thanks all those who were involved in making this happen, and thank you, Peggy, for being so generous.

I’ve been in contact with Marti Strunk Sturgis and her son, Joel, because we plan to pay Marti and Joel a visit this spring. We’ll meet Joel in Rockland and spend the evening in an off-shore island called Vinalhaven, a remote fishing outpost. We’ll then meet with Marti in the western Maine mountains, where we hope to see Jeff and Rory and the newest arrival to the Strunk family, Jud IV, who I am told looks just like Grandpa Jud. After many idle years, the Florida Group is back in business. We had our first mini reunion in years at Celebration City, Florida, where we had a grand time and a great turnout.

A few outsiders were allowed to attend; Bud and Susan Mease from Utah were there visiting with Ann and me after they returned from two weeks cruising in the Caribbean with Bud’s West Point classmates – a precursor to his 50th Reunion this spring at West Point. They’ve had a pretty rough year, but a major blessing has been Susan’s health, with no signs of a return of the cancer she fought all year. They have also been blessed with a lot of quality time with their six grandchildren at timeshares in Las Vegas and San Diego and their son, Mike’s, place on Lake Hebgen, West Yellowstone, Missouri.

Norma and Bruce Mackenzie were there from North Carolina, one of the few times Norma allowed Bruce to leave the Citadel circle in Charlotte and join his Brother Rats for a change. Bruce, as always, was very generous and presented each of the very appreciative ladies with a red, white and yellow necklace that he had made in his lapidary workshop. Nevins Wilburn got tired of all that terrible weather in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and headed south for a few weeks. After the mini, he joined Ann and me for a few days exploring the Space Coast before heading over to the West Coast of Florida to visit with Don and Carol Messner, who were also in attendance at the mini. Lee and Marilyn Southard are once again in

Class of 1959: The Robert Martin family, from left, front row: Nolan and Carolyn Harrell, Annabelle and Heather Martin, Shea Harrell, Shawn Markham, Isabella Reynolds, Avi Belle Martin, Braxton Harrell, and Bob and Sylvia Woodard. Back row: Roy and Marilyn Reynolds, Steve Markham, James and Jeannine Martin, Kim Markham, David Martin, Chris Harrell, and Priscilla and Bob Martin.

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CLASS NOTES Florida after a six-month stint and on the way stopped to have in Corolla, North Carolina. lunch with Ron and Mary Alice.

Marilyn is still talking about Despite what I’ve alleged, Mary their 50th wedding anniversary.

Alice is indeed a very nice lady.

The kids planed the celebration She recently spent a week in Washa year in advance beginning ington, DC, with her sorority siswith four romantic nights at the ters. She refuses to tell Ron what Tides Inn, an old southern rethey did – only that her lawyer is sort on the Rappahannock, and handling a few “misunderstandconcluded with renewing their ings,” and there is nothing to vows on the beach. About 50 worry about. In the meantime, she friends and family came from continues to do her volunteer work as far as Colorado and Texas, with the church and make quilts for making it an occasion that they the needy. Ron also does a lot of will always remember. Mel and volunteer work but does find time Jean Anderson were there, to do a little fishing. You can’t after just returning from a trip Class of 1959: While Nevins Wilburn, middle, was visiting spend two minutes with them beto the Rose Bowl followed by Shep and Ann Shepard, left, they joined Ron and Mary fore they bore you to death with a few days in Las Vegas. I’m Alice Marley for lunch at the Outback Crab House. stories of their wonderful grandnot sure it’s true, but I was told children. There is Lucas, 4, who is that Mel has to take on a few extra jobs to six weeks. He has completed weeks of PT a devil but cute as a button; Parker, 9, the make up for Jean’s Las Vegas indecorous and has done magnificently; he’s back walk- scholar; Alex, the adult, a junior at Stetson; behavior. What happens in Las Vegas really ing three times a week and didn’t miss any and Ann’s favorite, Sam, 14, the clone of stays in Las Vegas, because I couldn’t get work. Dave Goode and Sandy Owens were Ron. It’s always good to be with the Maranything out of Mel or Jean. Robert and there. Dave is recovering nicely, and I un- leys. Speaking of Bud and Denyse Kramer, Priscilla Martin had all five of their children derstand they will have an announcement to Bud’s son, Blaine, and his family visited and their respective families together and make soon. Bud and Denyse Kramer, Bill from Canada and while here, contacted the had a ball. Later in the year, they drove to and Connie Nebraska, Bob Haines and Warbird Museum and Flight School so he Cape Cod for wonderful visits with friends. Monique Harnetty, and Ron and Mary Alice could accumulate helicopter flight hours Unfortunately, the last night there, Bob fell Marley all were there, brightening up the toward his commercial license. Blaine indown some steps and fractured his right evening. While Nevins was visiting with us, vited Bud to fly with him and his instructor humerus bone; no surgery, just a sling for we took a quick side-trip to St. Augustine pilot. When introduced to his IP, Bud informed him that he had once been a chopper pilot but had not flown in 32 years. Bud strapped in, sat back and prepared to enjoy the ride around Disney, like all the other visitors to Orlando. The IP called the tower for take-off and immediately informed Bud that he had the stick!!! After a few rough maneuvers, he pulled pitch and up they went into the wild blue yonder. After a few autorotations and confined area landings, Bud felt like he was flying Vinh Long patterns again. Another IP called and said that he was flying a demo in a WWII T-6 trainer and would like to fly formation. Bud pulled up to his left wing and flew in a beautiful formation with an old T-6 trainer. Bud’s IP radioed the other IP that he had flown slicks in Vietnam, whereupon he responded that his passenger, Jack, flew Hellcats off the Saratoga during WW II. It was one of Bud’s best Class of 1959: Representing the Eggleston family tree were, from left, Morton Christmas gifts ever. John and Betty Ann Eggleston, daughter Leigh Twiford, Audrey Eggleston, granddaughter Madeleine Twiford, grandson Carson Twiford, son-in-law Kurt Twinford, grandson Gabriel Tompson stay busy in San Antonio, Texas.

Eggleston, grandson Liam Eggleston, son John Eggleston and daughter-in-law John recently had a neural stimulator inMalena Eggleston. stalled to control the headaches he has suf60

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES fered with over the years. Thus far, it has not been successful, but he is willing to give it time. Hope it works out for you, John. Got a nice note from Jim Edmunds filling me in on what he has been up to since graduating.

First, Jim worked for the United Fuel Gas Company, in Charleston, West Virginia; married the love of his life, Mary Lew; and shortly thereafter, left for six months of active duty. This was followed by a move to San Diego, where Jim worked for General Dynamics in the plant where the Atlas and Centaur missiles were made. A year later, his Reserve unit, a 12-man diving detachment, was called to active duty as a result of the Berlin Crisis. He was attached to an Army port construction company at the Presidio of San Francisco. Jim says he hated to dive in the hard hat outfit; SCUBA was great, but a heavy hard hat outfit, attached to the surface with an air hose with no mobility was not for him. He got out in 1962 and decided to stay in the Bay area where he got a job doing research for the Office of Civil Defense on the effects of blast and fire from a nuclear explosion on buildings. In 1970, the research work ran out, and he joined Bechtel, designing buildings for a nuclear power plant. In 1978, Jim was transferred to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he worked on both nuclear and fossil power plants. He left Bechtel in 1988 and worked for Detroit Edison for a couple of years until the bureaucracy got to be too much. Jim joined a small civil engineering firm doing development of subdivisions and small strip malls. Both of their children got married in the late 1980s, so in 1991, they decided that the weather in California was much better than in Michigan and both children had moved to the West Coast, so they moved back to Walnut Creek where Jim worked for the State Highway Department, Caltrans, until retiring in 2003. That lasted a year before he returned to a small consulting firm, doing much of the same that he did with Caltrans. Full retirement still doesn’t look like it is in the cards anytime soon. Their son lives in Phoenix with his two children, and their daughter lives in Orinda, 15 miles away, and has three children. Mary Lew knits and sells her items at a local Holiday Faire. Jim is the treasurer of the local region of the Porsche Club of America.

He has two Porsches, a 1973 911 and a 2001 Boxster, a hobby he loves. Jim’s health is 2010-Issue 2

good; Mary Lew’s is fair. Besides the Porsches and the grandchildren, they enjoy travelling, especially to Santa Barbara, Maui and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jim and Martha Wood have had a great year with travels, family reunions, visitors and grandkids, Jackson, 7, Leorah, 11, and Campbell, 13, who are the most handsomest, brilliant children in the world. Both are still involved in town government, with Martha topping the vote count in her precinct for re-election to Town Meeting and recently being appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Jim is still involved in Town Meeting as well as trees – both for the town and his personal tree farm in New Hampshire. Both walk three miles a day to stay in shape. Jim is still working on licensing ecological uses for the patents he and his partner hold in the field of plastic bottle sterilization. Martha has returned to the newspaper world, writing a column for the local newspaper, and is in the final stretch of producing the history of the first seven generations of the Stow family in America. Jimmy and Linda Johnson do what good BRs do; they had dinner with other BRs and their wives: Bob and Anne Baillio, Mark and June Smith, and Steve and Paula Barcik. Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson have been busy; after the reunion, they boarded a working ship in Bergen, Norway, and sailed north to Kirkenes. There were 67 stops along the way delivering supplies, people and machinery. This was followed by a riverboat cruise on the Rhine and Main Rivers in Germany, visiting Kriskindlmarkts along the way. Cec MacArthur and son Gordon are

well in Conroe, Texas. They spent Christmas with daughter Kresten and her children, followed by a long anticipated cruise with Gordon. John and Teddi Martin can’t believe our reunion was a year ago. They’ve been back to the Institute twice since the reunion – once for the Society Dinner where they enjoyed the company of many BRs and the other was for a football game. They still do their hospital work, where Teddi is a volunteer and John does nighttime on-call chaplain duties. Soon they will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary with a river cruise down the Danube River followed by a week on the Outer Banks with their grandchildren. Bill and Jennifer Lee have never regretted moving to the Gulf Coast of Florida; it is so much easier to persuade the grandkids to come visit and frolic in the waves, swim in the pool and build sand castles, and oh, yeah, see their grandparents.

Bill and Jenny went to Europe revisiting favorite places like Prague and Paris but also taking in Vienna, Austria, Amsterdam and Munich. Even got to spend a day at the famous Munich Oktoberfest. They visited their son and his family in California for Thanksgiving but spent Christmas doing their volunteer work, feeding the poor and homeless.

God bless you both for what you do. Linda and Skip White and their whole gang are in good shape; everyone is active and doing what they do and doing it well. Skip had ankle surgery but is well on the way to complete recovery. They get together with their family quite often and have lots of opportunities to enjoy their girls, their husbands and their great

Class of 1959: Attending the Florida group mini reunion were, from left, Bud and Susan Mease, Bill Nebraska, Jean and Mel Anderson, Connie Nebraska, Shep and Ann Shepard, Bob Haines, Denyse and Bud Kramer, Mary Alice and Ron Marley, Dave Goode, Sandy Owens, Nevins Wilburn, Robert and Priscilla Martin, Bruce Mackenzie, Monique Harnetty, Norma Mackenzie, Carol and Don Messner, and Marilyn and Lee Southard.

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CLASS NOTES 14 grandchildren. Eddie and Carolyn Barnes Myers, Florida, in mid March to participate where he was chief surgeon for six years, he are doing well. Eddie still works a little. He in the Lifeline Family Center charity sup- still feels most proud of helping the poor in finds himself on the golf course as much as ported by Lee and Marilyn Southard. We Peru. Well done, Jake; keep up the good work! possible. He claims not to be very good but hope to see many of our Brother Rats there. Now for an update on the Jud Strunk saga I enjoys the beauty of the course. Yeah, that’s Jim and Bet Vermillion are both fit as a fiddle mentioned in the last edition of the Alumni it – the beauty of the course. Over the past 50 thanks to the local YMCA. They are still very Review. Nell Mohn, the lady who is handling years, Eddie and Carolyn have always been active in the Master Gardeners program, it, tells me she has connected with Jud’s sons, staunch supporters of VMI athletics and can mentoring several interns. The gardens Jeff and Joel, talked to some of Jud’s early-life be found hanging around Lexington when- around “Old Comfort” never looked better. buddies in western New York, tried to get info ever some athletic event is going on. Must be Jim is active in Rotary functions, and both about his USO career and stumbled across a painful sometimes. Bill Wichlei is in the enjoy the work they do for the local historic book of his poetry through some online Knights of Columbus and recently took part preservation society. They have made a num- searching. She has a vision of a wonderful in their annual charity drive. Bill was the ber of trips in the past year, including North- musical about Jud and his times that would chairman and raised over $12,000, exceeding ern California; Cape May, New Jersey; and appeal to all his wonderful friends, contacts past year contributions. The proceeds will Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Kids and and associates from his short life. There benefit the Hendersonville, North Carolina, grandkids are doing great. The Vermillions continues to be high interest and planning for mentally handicapped and the Special Olym- seem to be on track. Julio and Marisol Garcia a possible musical. That’s all Nell is at libpics. Well done, Bill! Bill has a log cabin in are hard folks to pin down since they spend erty to say at the moment. I’ll keep you the mountains of Saluda, North Carolina, and a good portion of the year in New York but posted, and if it does come about, it’ll be a plans to spend a lot of time there for the next travel frequently to Spain and Miami. Julio’s great opportunity to have a mini reunion in few years. He can use some company, so if favorite place, however, is Peru where he does New York. Ann and I are doing pretty good, you’re in the area, give him a call. He’s always medical missions helping the poor. Even considering minor ailments. Unfortunately, prepared to drop everything for a round of though retired from active medical service we had to cancel our trip to Africa because golf. Max and Lee Ann Blanchard Ann suffered a back injury. She capped off an exciting year with underwent extensive physical their traditional grandchildren’s therapy, had a number of spinal sixth birthday trip to Disneyland; shots and now is back in the pink. this year was Elliott’s turn – After she gets through her knee daughter Mellanie’s son. The replacement she’ll be ready to weather was cool, but Disneyland start running marathons and we’ll was decorated for Christmas, and be back traveling once again. it was wonderful. Both Max and Speaking of marathons, our son, Lee Ann are busy with their Phil ’83, flew down from Virginia, church. They have resigned from to run the Disney 1/2 Marathon the Episcopal Church and joined with our daughter, Christine, who the Anglican Church; must be a lives here. Both did very well, very difficult time for all those despite the weather; temperatures involved. They are working with were in the 20s with snow and a contractor and the V.A. to sleet. Maybe not bad for some of modify their house so that it will you above the Mason Dixon line, be more wheelchair accessible. but for Floridians, that’s cold.

Anyone who has been involved After the race, Phil and I drove to in home modifications knows The Villages and joined Lee and how that scenario goes. Good Marilyn Southard, Ron and Mary luck! Bobby and Alice Ross had Alice Marley, Dave Goode, and a sublime year celebrating their Billy Traylor for a VMI Alumni 50th wedding anniversary and Association dinner where Gen. 50th class reunion, wondering Peay ’62 gave us an Institute upaloud, “Where did the time go?” date. Had a great time; everyone All the kids and grandkids are as commented on how much our son, settled as they can be, some being Phil, looks like his uncle Donnie in the military, but all are safe and Dreelin. All of our kids and grandsound, scattered from Virginia to kids are doing great – can’t believe New York to Georgia to Florida we will have a senior in college and even Lexington, Virginia. Class of 1959: The Southard VMI family, from left: Brian next school year. Yours in the Bobby will be coming to Fort ’93, Lee ’59 and Todd ’85.

Spirit … Shep 62

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CLASS NOTES

’60

L. Edward Tolley

Brother Rats: Snow is falling in the Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, i.e.

Buchanan, for the fourth time this season!

It is beautiful. Eighteen inches fell a couple days before Christmas, and later, we had another nine inches on top of that.

As I write this today, over an inch of new snow has fallen so far. Along with several good rains, the snow has had a very good effect on the ground water situation. I’ll not get into the impact all this has on “climate change.”

We lost two more Brother Rats since our last Review. I got notification from Len Bush’s daughter that Len had passed away on Oct. 10, 2009, in McHenry, Illinois. Len had retired and was living with a daughter. He had a son and three daughters. He attended VMI for two years.

Over the years, Len had been the manager of several resort casinos in the Gulf Coast area.

In late November, Seaborn Brown and John Powell forwarded to me copies of William C. “Whirley” Boxley’s obituary.

Whirley’s wife of 42 years, Mary Lou Spence Boxley, had passed previously.

He was survived by his wife, Mary Ann Truelove Boxley; a brother, John; three children, Beth Walker, W.C. Boxley IV and Mary Boxley; and five grandchildren.

Whirley had lived in Greensboro, North Carolina, for 50 years and was very active in community activities. A donation in lieu of flowers was made to Westover Church, Greensboro, as requested.

Had a good chat with Don “Kaintuck” Hammonds and got a good recount of the trip that he, Joe Collins and Bo Bowles took to upper Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota during one summer while in school, to pick peas and other vegetables for Del Monte. That must have been exciting as well as back breaking! Don’s sons are both back stateside, each having served another military tour in Afghanistan. You may have read an article in The Washington Post in which Christopher Hammonds told of his experiences on the Pakistani border. Son Joe returned home on Tuesday 2010-Issue 2

before Christmas and what a perfect gift!

Amy, their daughter, lives near them, and her children provide Don and Lynn with good exercise, kids’ tales and experiences.

Don and I are working on sorting out the political predicament in which we find ourselves. As always, the “Welcome” mat is always out at the Hammonds for BRs who may travel through the Atlanta area.

Thanks to yeoman’s work by Valerie Myrick, Reid finally got his bio page to Peanuts Elliott. Reed has been doing a lot of golfing, hunting and fishing in Arizona and Colorado, while Val keeps the home fires burning. I feel like Val is a sister, we talked so many times. Thanks, Reed, for your attention to this critical work.

Bill Knowles has been a bulldog getting his list of BRs to respond relative to our 50th. He and Sue are staying busy. Over the past years, he and Tom Leary have both been calling several BRs in Tidewater to “mini” reunions. Included in the last mini were Mike Pitt and Betty Hudgins, Dave and Imelda Bisset, Mike and Alice Shoemaker, John and Joyce Coughlin, Tommy and Angie Leary, and Bill and Sue. Bob and Lucy Clay and Howie and Susan Moss missed the last one.

Speaking of Tommy Leary, he suffered yet another demolition of his house by the tropical storm that hit the Tidewater area in the fall. He says that progress has been slow, and he is tired of moving boxes and furniture, but there is light at the end of the hallway. Tommy gave me the phone number for Lenwood “Fuzzy” Knight who lives in the Kittyhawk, North Carolina, area. It was great talking to Lenwood who confirmed his intent to make the 50th.

Carl and Barbara Benner are enjoying the sun in their home in Anthem, Arizona.

Of course, Carl is still golfing five days a week when the grandchildren aren’t having him flip them or telling mother goose tales. On the first tee of a men’s club event, Carl ran into Tom Kirk ’50B, who spent five and a half years as a guest at the Hanoi Hilton. Later, the two attended a VMI gathering at which Tom was the featured speaker. Tom Kirk is quite a guy!

Ed and Sheila Davis have had a banner year, and busy is an understatement! The big event was a trip around the world made convenient by their attendance at youngest son’s (Jamie) wedding at a resort

near Yogyakarta on the island of Java, Indonesia. The trip included stopovers in Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Istanbul, Singapore and numerous places in Indonesia.

The return stops included Australia, with a trip to the Outback, and ended back here in Albuquerque. Ed was transferred to a new parish where he continues his deacon’s duties. Ed is still chaplain at Canterbury House, works with Seafarers’ Ministry and is very active in Boy Scouts activities.

If you haven’t made the trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon yet, Henry Shirley can give you a good list of things to take or not take. Henry and Ginny Shirley and numerous relatives spent 26 days touring the desert Southwest this summer. Ginny did not go down, opting to remain in the air conditioning. Henry spent the night at the bottom at Phantom Ranch with “Norman,” his mule carryall. The Shirley’s year included a trip back to the site of their roots at Mountain Lake near Pearisburg, Virginia, for a week. Everyone is well and in good health. That Carolina cookin’ is OK, eh? Steady as she goes is the path for next year.

Jay Jarrett continues to hang in out in California. His family photo included 15 young and bright members resulting from their union. Jay and Sandi missed the Las Vegas rodeo, normally an annual trip, this year since they have “been there – done that,” and traveling isn’t what it’s been.

Unfortunately, Jay doesn’t expect to make the 50th.

I cannot believe that Pril, Seaborn Brown’s better half, has had trouble motivating him to get to the 50th. What goes, Seab? After all, Sarasota is just down the road, and you need a break to all that beautiful weather. And Bill and Joan King, who need no motivation, send a “Hi” from Texas. They will be present.

Joe and Mary Ann Morabit look forward to our reunion and will have many friendships to rekindle and update. Their annual trip to Florida this coming summer has been nixed in lieu of a kitchen overhaul.

Thankfully, their son, Joe Junior, is handy with the tools and lives close enough to help out.

Wow! I talked to Al and Cookie Walker having received a very informative letter in his Christmas card. Al was pre-oped with xes and IVs plugged in to have his knees 63

CLASS NOTES replaced. Immediately before being “put under” by the anesthesiologist, Cookie reminded the doctors that Al had had a ruptured vein in his esophagus some four years previous with serious internal bleeding – not a good situation. The operations were scrubbed. The doctors determined that, had they proceeded, it could have done him in! The good news is that a series of five injections of a silicone that provides a cushion has done wonders to relieve pain.

Interestingly, Nance has a bad knee that we were preparing to have replaced, only to learn that effects of the anesthesia had potential for ill effects relative to her condition of dementia. Further remedy is on hold, as I write. Thanks for the information, Al and Cookie. Otherwise, Big Al and Cookie keep on, keeping on.

Some of us may have met Steve Yedinak, a green beret in Vietnam, who has a stepson, Alex ’10, a first classman at VMI, and is an author who has written a book about his experiences in Nam titled Hard to Forget. The book is in its second printing, published by Random House and available on Amazon and at the VMI bookstore. I have read the book, and it is a real thriller.

BRs who served in Vietnam may know Steve and may want to get a copy of his book.

Eva and Cynthia Gillespie confirmed that they will be present for the 50th and thanked me for “all the hard work I do for our BRs.” Brother Rats, ask Jeep or Henry just how much “hard work” is involved.

Their answer will be zero! I enjoy it and only hope that my writing is not so bad that it is left unread or that it stirs up contempt. As long as you keep in touch by any means possible, I’ll continue. I would, however, like to give it up to anyone who wants to take on the job. There are some 177 living BRs who would do as good or better job than do I. I had a good belly laugh reading the letter from Alex and Barb Dunlap. Barb and I could shop for groceries in five minutes.

As per Barb, to Alex, a cart has a special place for each item, and it must be placed in its place – end of story. Evidently, Barb doesn’t visit in the supermarket either.

Alex and Nance sound remarkably similar. It sounds like the current economic environment in the country has had a toll on certain aspects of the Dunlap family, like ours. Like yours? Next year, include a photo of some of your paintings, Barb.

The news was not good from Ed Martin.

Ingrid has had a bout with stage III lung cancer and although she has responded favorably to chemo and is currently under

Class of 1960: Right: Henry Shirley and his mule, Norman, with Norman’s friends, during their trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, above, in summer 2009.

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observation, she will not join us for the 50th, but Ed will.

The annual photograph of the G.G. and Frances Phillips family did not grace their card this year. Not that they couldn’t get everyone else together; the two of them have kept the road hot with his many trips to meetings, long hours and diligence to our 50th Reunion. George and Frances continue to support VMI to the maximum.

Their children and grandchildren, like most young families today, keep moving, developing, growing and keeping Grandma and Grandpa in fairly good shape, except for extra pounds, wrinkles, memory loss and I can’t remember what else. Thanks for all you do, guys.

Sam Miller dropped me a card from Millersville, Maryland. Evidently he hasn’t made it back to BV since back in the summer.

George and Judy Miller had an awesome year! A second home was purchased in Mesquite, Nevada, with mountain and golf course views. George topped that adventure with a sailing trip to Hawaii with five other guys in a race called “Transpac” that included teams from around the world and spanned 21 days. Way to go, George, but did you win?

John Powell sent me a copy of the movie, “Mardi Gras.” I had not seen the movie since its opening in Lexington back in ’58! Movies have changed, eh?

Dick and Mary Ann Murphy are doing OK, as long as the medicines don’t give out. Dick has macular degeneration that is being treated every four weeks; it is working, and he is able to continue reading a lot and can drive still. He and Mary Ann have had back/shoulder pains that are successfully treated. Their ailments haven’t reduced their travels, as they jaunt up and down the countryside from Olean to Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, or wherever.

Keep the engines revving, Dick.

Jack and Anneliese Willard checked in from Alexandria and are ready for the 50th, but my card for Bob Davis was VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES returned! His Charlottesville address was marked NG. Earth to Bob. Come in, Bob. You recall that in last quarter’s Review, I enthusiastically stated that I had received a call from Jon Quinn and had spoken with his wife, Lucy. Very sadly, Lucy met with a tragic death in late November. The situation is unsettled, in that the laws in Ecuador are substantially different from those here in the United States. Obviously, Jon and his sons are experiencing much pain and anguish. Our prayers are that Jon and his family will have peace and justice.

Ray Crickenberger noted that he and Terri Zinn will not be present at the 50th but send confirmation that their hearts will be with us. And Carol Slattery reported that Steve Slattery remains in a nursing home near Sacramento, California, where she is able to visit him often, thanks to one of Steve’s Army pals who lives close by.

Steve has Alzheimer’s disease.

Bill and Lou Overman are cooling it in Virginia Beach in the snow, as I write!

Speaking of snow, Jack and Jayne Seamon have turned in the snow scoop for a condo on a golf course in Fort Myers, Florid.

Can’t imagine Jack living so close to the rough. Jayne does lots of volunteer work; we won’t talk about what Jack does. Back in September, the Seamons visited with old Air Force friends in Albuquerque.

They still live in Fairfax, but when the forecast starts mentioning the 40s, its Fort Myers or bust.

Denny and Sandy Zay checked in from Wilmington, North Carolina, as they anxiously await the 50th. And Mike Pitt and Betty Hudgins sent a picture of them in a crowd of folks protesting against changes to late night TV stars. They like Conan.

The Foxwells, Vaughn and Helen, celebrated all year the good health of their own, their children and grandchildren, plus that of Vaughn’s mom, Bea, who turned 98! The picture album spanned ages from 1 to 98. ‘Tis quite a sight!

Linda Duncan says that as Big Ed stares out from behind a new growth of beard and continues to mutter, “This farming …

I’m goin’ ta give it up,” then gathers up the tools and materials to go out and finish building another shed for the new tractor he bought. Yeah, Ed, sounds like a real farmer. You are going to retire? Ed had a good year hunting / bagging a seven-point 2010-Issue 2

buck, three does, one fox, seven ground hogs and two coyotes. Sounds like he is either doing more hunting or his aim is improving, or maybe by sporting that beard, he can get closer to the prey. The family tree is sprouting new branches, and there are home improvements on this year’s schedule. Yeah, Ed, sounds like you’re ready to retire!

If George and Ginny Ax and Tom and Ann Kurkoski ever get uncovered from the historically record-high snow, we will see them in April. As for Judy and Wayne LeBlang, they are probably just suffering through another month of temperatures in the 70s out there in LaQuinta, California.

The Easter egg hunt photo of the Ashby and Katie Chamberlin battalion included 25 on the front. I didn’t count those on the back, and there were no pictures of the eggs. There was no time for dilly-dallying in Chamberlin’s year-long schedule. A trip to Yellowstone, the Tetons and Jackson Hole kept Ashby and Katie busy, until they took other trips to Breckinridge and then to Colorado Springs before ending the year in South Carolina. I may change my philosophy relative to global warming if Ashby keeps on going. But since he is in training for assisting Hospice Care, I think I can relax.

Bill “Peanuts” Elliott and his chief scribe, Jan, had another full year, the highlights of which are always the time spent at Mullett Lake on the northern Michigan coast. Jan is still gainfully employed on a relaxed schedule, but Peanuts is continually busy at the Markland Tree Farm. Now, it is just about time for the annual winter burn when the clippings, branches and discarded stuff are set ablaze. It is also an opportune time for a community party.

They were able to do some traveling; the high points are always to the home of son Todd, Bissy and the three grandchildren in Illinois. As you know, Peanuts is the author of the “Class of ’60 50th Reunion” booklet. Jim and Nancy Pittman have been major contributors, as have Jim French and Hap Miller, to its timely compilation and accuracy of the information.

Thanks to all Brother Rats for helping to make the booklet a valued keepsake.

Jeep Goodwillie says that under the watchful eye of Linda, he is staying out of trouble! Wheeee! With all the green

around their place and knowing Jeep, I was worried. But Linda is, as the current vernacular allows, a multitasker, which she must be as she continues her interior designing business, bowling, golfing, mah jong, shopping and watching out for Jeep.

Jeep’s son, Skip Goodwillie ’83, just made full colonel in the Army Reserve. And grandson, James Goodwillie ’12, is doing wonders on the swim team at the “I.” Jeep helped Walt Chalkley ’72 coordinate the golf game when Gen. Peay’62, VMI superintendent, visited The Villages in January.

The time of the year has come when I get my annual card from Bob and Betty Gianella. This year, they celebrated having participated in the run on the campus of the University of Texas, Austin, to bring awareness to the fact that “Life is too short not to have fun!”. What a worthy cause! The entire family, Gabrielle, Betty, Christian, Stephanie, Isabella, Steve, of course, Bob and Jessica the All-American dog, comprised the total group “running.”

I hope everyone is ready for this gang to arrive in Lexington.

Bless you, Alice, wife of Frank Bruce, for using the 14 font size. You may want to use Times-Roman style, but I could read your letter with ease! Brute and Alice spent a grand vacation in Gatlinburg and at the Biltmore during the breaks from work and car tending. The Christmas season allowed the family to get together again.

I am sorry that the Ravens didn’t have enough umph to get by the Colts. Maybe next year, as the Red Sox used to say; right, Bananas?

Mike and Alice Shoemaker dropped me a line from Virginia Beach, where they are sailing smoothly. And down the coast in Southport, North Carolina, Jimbo and Ruth Smith are doing the same. Bob and Jane Graves send their best from Pensacola, while Jim and Irma Bagby are relaxed in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

And now, The Satellite Beach Dog Report from John and Lin Hilliard. Each year, I have been CA for ’60, John’s letter has been the first to arrive. Thanks, John. I use your letter as a kick off to start getting ready for the season. Sadly, John and Lin lost their daughter, Cheryl, from an accidental fall in her home in early December.

Throughout the year they traveled around 65

CLASS NOTES various places, enjoying the company of family and friends. Such a loss, however, is one that, regardless of all the good things that come and go, make the total year a sad one. Our prayers are with John and Lin. That’s it, Brother Rats. Several have asked about Nance’s condition. It has continued to deteriorate with not much hope for improvement, but in His wisdom, God has given us a wonderful family and many friends who are very supportive and understanding. We are blessed.

Rah Va Mil

’61

Sal Vitale Jr.

What a winter we have had. For those living in the DC/ Maryland areas and in Lexington, global warming is something they have been dreaming of. I am happy to say that as far as I know, no BRs have had health problems due to shoveling snow. From what I heard, Florida wasn’t that warm either. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and the class notes are due. By the time you receive this copy of the Review, our 50th Reunion will be only 11 months away.

I am pleased to inform you that Lee Badgett, chairman of our 50th Reunion Campaign Committee, was overwhelmed by the number of BRs responding to his request for volunteers for the committee. The committee members are: Alvey, Ayers, Badgett (chairman), Bickford, Clarkson, Copenhaver, Gouldthorpe, Harbach, Haslam, Henning, Hirsch, Hollowell, Johnston, King, Lynch, Miller J.C., Miner, Murray, Richards, Rishell, Taylor, Tharrington, Vitale, Wetsel, Wilkinson, Woodcock, Woodfin and Youngblood. Sometime after you receive this Review, someone from the committee will be contacting you with the details of our 50th Reunion Campaign.

In June 2010, you will be receiving the reunion registration forms from me. Based on the comments in the e-mails and Christmas cards I received, we should have the largest number of BRs returning and will possibly set a VMI reunion record. I was especially pleased to learn that many of our BRs who were short timers or who did not graduate with us for a variety of reasons or who have never been back to VMI are planning to return. Be it known that all are welcome, and I assure you they will be well received and, the good Lord willing, will most likely say that they will never miss another reunion. Remember, “Brother Rats are forever.”

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I have been in contact with several widows who are planning to be at the reunion, and I look forward to welcoming them. So, mark your calendar now for Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 2011.

I love the holidays, because many of you take the time to put notes and family pictures in your holiday cards. The pictures are placed in the VMI 1961 scrapbook Sue has been keeping.

The family pictures are priceless. I received greetings from: Farleigh, Andrews, Cranford, McNemar, Maurer, Oliver, Gangemi, Woodcock, Wells , Bickford, Callander, Clarkson, Redd, Fout, Goldman, Hala, Bill Phillips, Coltrane, Daniels, Preston, Hirsch, Jarvis, Berger, Drescher, Len Martin , Dave Martin, Dapra, Puette, Bell, Lisiecki, Suiter, Miner, Bella, Butler, Elliott, Burks, Reitz, Copenhaver, Floyd Roberts , Grazulis, Huneycutt, Van Orden, Bev Scott, Harrison, Bryant, Shuba, Coen, Keech, Weede, Doleman, Pete Roberts, Alligood, Larry Williams, Homes Smith, Robert Williamson, Wetsel, Dick Stone, Youngblood, Whalen, Rice, Phlegar, Badgett, Nelms, Durrette, Myruski, Fridley, Harbach, Browning, Thomas, Moore, Henning, Respess, Hanlein, Bissell, Rishell, Artman, Cleveland, Ed Hollowell, Tarrall, Zick, Hartford, Rod Hudgins, Duncan’60 and Madison ’64. I was thrilled that we heard from the following wives, several of whom are planning to be at the 50th Reunion: Donna Tyler Fisher, Gaylia Hudgins, Barbara Jean LeFon, Maria Anjier, Hannelore Garrison, Elfriede Winiker and Kim Wise. I received e-mails with no news from Ed Fox, Ernie Johnson, R.E.L. Huddle, Raine Gilbert and Harvey Curlee. At least I know they are alive.

On with the news: Wayne Andrews, who lives in Columbus, Georgia, spent a week during December entertaining his supper club friends at Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown. His Georgia friends were dazzled at what they saw, and now Wayne is considering getting back to his Virginia roots, BRs and VMI. Hopefully, that means the 50th, too! Bob and Jeanie Burks are doing well. They just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary by spending two weeks in Cancun. In December, the Burks visited with Karl and Mollie Zick.

Karl has been coping with a cancer under his tongue, and as of this writing, is recovering nicely. Mollie, who is a very active quilter, was asked by the Corpus Christi Arts Center to display 25 of her quilts at the center and also teach a quilting class. Lou and Pris Shuba had quite a bit of snow this past winter. Lou said it was so deep that he could not push the snow away to make a path. Lou is back in serious training. He has formed the Custer’s Cavalry team to ride in April for the “2010 Face of America” bike ride honoring servicemen and women injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. You will have to wait for the next issue to find out how Lou placed in this two-day, 100+ miles bike ride.

If that isn’t enough, Lou and Kent Modine are planning to hike the Grand Canyon this spring.

Mary Callander says that Spike will never stop working, because his company, SAIC, just moved Spike to a new office with commanding views of Washington, DC. Spike only works a few days a week. David Martin is alive and well. Dave and Sandra have two married sons and six grandchildren. David’s family’s education is deep-rooted at William and Mary, and he spends most of his time there. I hope he will

Class of 1961: At a golf outing in Winter Garden, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2010, were from left, front row: Lee Crow, Bronnie Polk and Dianne Stone. Back row: J.C. Miller, Bob Polk, Graham King, Leola King, Stu Crow and Dick Stone.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES consider joining his Brother Rats at the 50th.

Ron McNemar looks so young in his Christmas letter photos that it is hard to believe he is as old as us. Working for the Forest Service was good to him. Ron’s very proud of his grandson who is in college on a ROTC scholarship and is on track for helicopter pilot training. Ray Hanlein kept me advised of the depth of snow in northern Virginia. The February report put the total at his house at 48 inches. Bob and Bronnie Polk spent some time in NYC in December. They walked, as New Yorkers proudly do, around new WTC, Ground Zero, Battery Park, the financial district, great pizza shops and of course, Washington Square. I am told that Bronnie has a new fondness for “egg mit cheese” sandwiches. The Class has expressed a great interest in golf, so Bob Polk organized three days of golfing at Winter Garden, Florida.

The golfers included J.C. Miller, Stu and Lee Crow, Graham and Lee King, Dick and Dianne Stone, and Bob and Bronnie Polk. The winning team was Miller, Dianne Stone, and Graham and Lee King. Please join me in congratulating Larry Respess for the recognition he received from his colleagues, who presented him with the 2009 Intellectual Property Achievement award from the San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association. Larry is considered a pioneer in the development of intellectual property law as it relates to the new areas of gene production and other pharmaceutical products. Roy Whitehouse is well, still kicking

(but not as high) and still doing optometry four days per week with no mention of retirement any time soon. Bill and Shon Maurer had a wedding in the family. Their daughter, Melissa, was married to Keith Castagne. With Bill back working at the “Lady” and appearing on TV, I am amazed he had time to attend the wedding (smile). Tom Artman says, “Not much going on of interest out here in Forgottonia, a.k.a.

Cuba Ill.” Tom and his wife, Jan, are doing what a lot of our Brother Rats are doing at this point in our lives – hanging in there and supporting the local medical profession!

Roger Suiter is still teaching chemistry at Winthrop College and says his 10 years of teaching have been a great transition for him after 39 years in the chemical industry. When Roger is not attending his grandchildren’s athletic events, he enjoys puttering around in his flower and vegetable garden. I recently learned that Harrison Fridley finished his gardening training course and is now a master gardner.

His son, Mitch Fridley’89, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and has taken command of the 2/319th Battalion of the 98th Division headquartered in Salem, Virginia.

Mitch still works in the commandant’s office as the operations officer for VMI. During a recent visit to VMI, I saw Mitch, in his sweats, doing laps with the cadets, and he was out front (smile). Tom Jones lost two of his best friends this year, Konrad the basset hound and Harry the dog. The remaining bassett was heartbro-

Class of 1961: Dec. 12, 2009, the VanOrden family gathered at the Cheese Cake Factory in Short Pump, Virginia, to celebrate George VanOrden’s birthday.

From left, front row: Jack, Jane and Justin. Middle row: Laura Lee, George, Marina and Joyce. Back row: Jim, Kyle, Aaron and Kelly.

2010-Issue 2

ken, so Tom purchased a “Trophy Wife” for him. Sue and I enjoy the puppy pictures he sends and can understand his sorrow. Tom visited Old Munich Germany, for a couple of weeks to pay his respects to his wife’s resting place and see old friends. He says after 30 years in Germany, he misses some things, but he is glad to be back in the U.S.A. Tom and Barbara Phlegar did a lot of traveling this year. They were with us in Alaska and then managed to fit in a trip to Germany and a Panama Canal cruise. This year, Tom plans to concentrate on the U.S.A. Quiet Bill Nelms has become very active in the Richmond Tea Party organization. He needs to team up with Tom Langdon (Georgia chapter) and together form a 1961 Tea Party? If the e-mails sent me by many of you are any indication of your feelings about what is going on today, a ’61 chapter may not be out of the question. Hill Browning has sold his company and is semi-retired. Heather says Hill still runs five miles almost every day and is enjoying golf. The Brownings visited Utah’s Park City to help Hill’s roommate, Frank Oley, celebrate Frank’s 70th. Frank is still working, and maybe he can be coached to take time off and be with us at the 50th. What is a reunion without Frank? Dave Harbach has been at Fort Lewis, Washington, since mid August, holding down General Dynamics Stryker operation until a full-time manager is brought on. Dave was back in Virginia for Christmas, and until the project is turned over, he won’t get back to Detroit very often. Congratulations to Ken and Sue Patrick on the arrival of their first grandson, Oscar Patrick Erickson, VMI 2031.

From what I heard from “Rabbit,” Oscar has a football physique.

Lynn and Shirley Hartford are hard at work with Shirley’s new project, “Friends Forever, A Cat Sanctuary.” To date, Shirley and her team have rescued 307 cats and most are already in forever homes. My son, Sal III, is also into rescuing Bengal cats, and it is amazing to me how many pets are poorly treated. Kudos to Shirley! David Thomas has retired from the Aero Space Corporation, and Edwina has retired from her position as director of Sharing Mission Abroad (SOMA). I will miss trying to correctly spell all those exotic places Edwina visited during the past 19 years.

The family is relocating to Marshall, Texas. Ed and Phyllis Hollowell continue to be active in the community. Phyllis has started painting again, and this time she is doing water colors. Phyllis attends exercise classes and noted that she is the youngest in the class. Ed is completing his first of a two-year assignment as division commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Ed also enjoys assisting the Coast Guard in recruiting midshipmen for the CG Academy. Bob Reitz is enjoying his hunting and fishing trips, while his wife, Suellen,

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CLASS NOTES is hard at work in her new business, procedures on 116 patients. There “Think Bigger.” Suellen’s core busiwere 12 volunteers from the U.S. ness is providing seminars focusing and others from Brazil, Paraguay, on leadership, self development, sales Italy, Ireland, UK and Peru. Gaylia techniques and woman’s self esteem. said the hospital in Lima was in Ed and Linda Duncan continue to a very bad part of town. It was stay in touch with the class. Accordtotally surrounded by a 15-foot ing to Linda, Ed keeps saying he will steel fence with motorized gates retire from farming, but he keeps on allowing their bus to come in. buying equipment and building sheds There were several armed guards and barns to house them. I guess that with large guns at each gate and means all is well at the Duncan farm. also police. The conditions in the I always look forward to hearing from hospital were probably better than my dike, Ancher Madison ’64. It was in most third world countries, but hard to believe that his youngest son, Gaylia was confident that this hosJoseph, is on his second tour in Iraq. Class of 1961: From left, Dick Stone, Buzz Bossart and pital would have been condemned I still visualize Ancher as my dike and long ago demolished if it were John Purner gathered at Bossart’s home in Ormond and therefore was taken aback when I here in the U.S. Gaylia left Lima Beach, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2010. learned that Ancher had a triple bypass, with a very full heart and so gratewas in a coma for a week and during ful for our country and its health Tunnel and onto the streets maintained by Virhis rehab, had to get a stent. His situation made me ginia Beach. We had at least two inches of ice all care. She said, here in the U.S., babies born with think how lucky I am to be in good health. Gerry the way home. For the next two days, we were facial deformities would immediately be listed Eubank is enjoying his golf and won his club’s housebound. George Van Orden finally turned for a series of appropriate surgeries regardless of championship. Gerry’s son, Chris Eubank ’91, 70, and his wife, Marina, had a surprise party for their financial situation. Gaylia spent 14-16 hours and Chris’ family were on Fox News on Veteran’s him. Attending the Cheesecake Factory party a day at the hospital, and it was worth it, knowDay. Fox interviewed Chris in Afghanistan and were his first wife, Jane; children Kelley, Lee and ing that 25 little faces had new smiles. God bless the family at Fort Bragg. Lee and Betsey Badgett Jim; and five grandchildren. Missing was daughter you, Gaylia, and I know Bland is very pleased. are doing well. Their son, who is in the Army Spe- Rina who lives in San Diego. George said it was The health of the class is OK, I guess. We always cial Forces, completed his second tour in Iraq and a great family reunion and birthday. hope for a miracle or two, and we have had at is now at Fort Carson, Colorado. Bill Gibbings is least one to date. I was pleased to learn that Roy Gaylia Hudgins returned safely home from still keeping busy at woodworking and as a volun- Lima, Peru, where she was a volunteer with Schall may not need a liver transplant. In talking teer researcher at The Mariners Museum. For BRs “Operation Smile.” Her team was successful to Roy, he said that his liver started to regenerate and friends, Gibbings hosts a beer and cookies in treating 184 patients and performing 145 itself, and if the progress continues at its current party (he provides both) at his house rate, he will see us at the 50th. Ray every Friday afternoon at 1630 hours.

Hanlein’s and Stu Woodcock’s We have seen Garland Payne, Robert knee replacements went well, and Williamson and Larry Wetsel with both are doing therapy. Sleepy spouses or friends there several times Hollowell has had no reoccura month. Garland still runs the family rences of the staph infection in his insurance business, hunts and manages knee. Irene Gangemi is doing well to play golf every chance he gets. Robafter her surgery and plans to be a ert is very active with his yacht club, longtime survivor. Buzz Bossart is and Larry and his wife, Jerri, seem to still taking chemo for his bladder be always on the go. Larry calls me condition. Buzz is a great golfer, about once a week, and it’s usually not but due to two crushed vertebrae from his home in VB. Bill Gibbings, and osteoporosis, he will have to David Gibbings’88, Larry Wetsel and be content with helping out John I attended the Colonial Williamsburg Purner. John is recovering from woodworking seminars again and eye surgery in which the doctors learned about the construction of select opened John’s right eye lid, and pieces of Thomas Jefferson’s furniture.

John was able to see OK for the Then, in late January, Sue and I were first time in years. John’s left eye invited by the Gibbings’ granddaughsurgery is planned for the near futer, Sarah Jackson Marlowe, to her bat ture. Mike Payne had two full knee mitzvah (Daughter of the Commandreplacements, and I know he will ments), and we had a wonderful time. be shagging and winning dance Class of 1961: On Dec. 10, 2009, Larry Respess, left, That weekend, it snowed a few inches contests again real soon. I am hopreceived the 2009 Intellectual Property Law Association in Pennsylvania and about a foot in ing that Mike will demonstrate at Award at a luncheon in San Diego, California. (Editor’s Virginia Beach. When we drove home our 50th how a past shag champion Note: See the Alumni News section, pages 152-153, for an from Pennsylvania, all was well, until cuts the rug. (smile) Ken and Anne article about Respess and this award.) we got off the Chesapeake Bridge Ayala have had a tough few years,

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CLASS NOTES but both are recovering. Anne’s blood cancer is be appreciated if you would take a second and He graduated with a degree in civil engineering in complete remission, and she is enjoying life in reply to me when you get my e-mail with a with our class in 1962 and served as an officer frozen Asheville as much as she can. Not much simple “OK.” Our 50th reunion information in the United States Army in Germany. He is horse riding but still very active in horse events. will be snail mailed, but updates will most survived by his wife, Dixie; a son, Peter; and three daughters. A private service was held Ken’s prostate cancer is also in remission, and likely be e-mailed. Should you not have an for the immediate family in Charleston, South otherwise he is in surprisingly good health and e-mail, let me know, and I will make special Carolina. Dixie’s address is 598 Bonnyneck still works out three days a week. Ken Patrick arrangements for you. I do not send junk mail Drive, Georgetown, SC 29440-7223, should should have a new kidney by the time you read e-mails. I know you had intentions of notifying you wish to send condolences. this. Amen! Sue Wells has completed her che- me about your e-mail some time ago but … So, On a happier note, I recently received a note motherapy; she looks great and is feeling better. please do it now! from Tom Meler in which he states, “I Nelle Gouldthorpe, Hugh’s wife, am humbled and excited to say that I is recovering from breast cancer, have been selected to officiate football/ and because it was detected early, soccer matches at the 2010 Special the prognosis at this point is most Olympics USA National Games from favorable. Sigrid Hala has finally the 16th to the 24th of July in Lincoln, healed after eight months of her Nebraska.” He is really looking ups and downs. Another Amen! forward to this opportunity, since being Andy Thacker’s condition has involved with Special Olympics soccer not worsened, but only time will on a local and state wide level. He is tell. Finally, thanks to all for your going with three elite referees from good wishes during my knee rehis home area, all three of whom have covery. Sue says no more smelling officiated at the 2006 Special Olympics the roses. I am back in the gym, USA National Games in Iowa. lifting weights and trying to lose I received a note from Monty and those pounds gained from inactivCarol Williams reporting that they are ity and plan to be in great shape doing fine and have been traveling. Last for the big 50th. summer, they went to the Canadian I am sorry to inform you that we Class of 1961: In October 2009, Gaylia Hudgins, middle, Rockies and Vancouver Island. This have lost two Brother Rats, Mac volunteered her time with Operation Smile at a hospital in past fall, they toured New England and McGinn on Dec. 3, and Doug Lima, Peru. Operation Smile is a group of medical profesNew Brunswick Canada. They have also Ballard on Dec. 30. Mac lost his sionals and others who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such made short trips to Minnesota and Oklaleg due to complications from as cleft lip and cleft palate. homa to visit family. More recently, they diabetes and never really recovvisited New York City, where they saw ered. To make his family situation a few plays. You will recall that Monty worse, Mac’s wife, Diane, unexI have a limit on the number of photos that had his carotid arteries cleaned out several years pectedly passed away a few weeks earlier. The ago, so it appears that he is fully recovered. class was fortunate to have Jim Needham, Jim can be included in the Review. I will continue Binnie and Pam Peay are enjoying their sevCranford and Lou Grazulis attend the service to send out, via e-mail, the full version of the enth academic year at VMI. Binnie reports that and Mac’s daughter, Shannon, was very happy notes with all the pictures sent to me. So, if I Jim and Keltie are in England, where he is an she could meet Dad’s classmates. The family also don’t have your e-mail address, you are missing exchange instructor at the Royal Artillery School received calls from Jim Miner and two other BRs, out on some great pictures. When you are visitat Larkhill about a mile from Stonehenge. He is whose names escaped her. Doug Ballard had non- ing or passing through Virginia Beach, stop in. half way through his assignment, and where they Hodgkin’s lymphoma for about 20 years and also Sue and I would love to see you. Until we meet, go next is unknown. Jim enjoys the interacsuffered from dementia. The family had a memo- stay well ,and God Bless our Brother Rats, their rial service at Paula Ballard’s mother’s house in spouses and families, our widows and VMI. Re- tion with the British Army, and they have taken the opportunity to travel around England and Virginia Beach. Those attending the service were member to mark your calendar for Friday, April Europe. Ryan, Binnie’s other son, and Lauren Wells, Patrick, Will Hoskins, Drescher, Pitt ’60, 29 and Saturday, April 30, 2011, our 50th! continue to enjoy their home in Arlington, VirGibbings, Garland Payne, Vitale, Bickford and ginia. Lauren works in D.C., and Ryan is back in most spouses. We are very fortunate to have BRs Jerry Burnett school full time, getting his MBA from Darden and wives who are willing to take the time to pay at the University of Virginia. Pam’s parents contheir respects to a lost Brother Rat. We also lost a tinue to do well. They are in their mid eighties, Sister Rat, Rose Marie “Rick” Walz, Kit’s wife. look great, enjoy life to the fullest and are always Rose Marie died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a coming up with new projects for their Door rare neuro-degenerative disorder. Rick served on County farm in Wisconsin. It is hard to believe the board of the Mount Vernon Country Club in Dear Brother Rats, I begin my notes with that Binnie and Pam have been at the Institute for Alexandria and was the first woman to be elected one item of sad news. Peter Vanderwerff died seven years, and hats off to all of the hard work president of a private golf club. She was very Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at Georgetown Memorial they are doing for the Institute. active in community affairs, an expert golfer and Hospital of a brain tumor. Peter was born in Don Arey was the first to notify me about will be missed.

Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, on April 30, 1939.

Peter Vanderwerff’s brain tumor and untimely Some of you must have had cyberspace acciHe grew up in Danville, Virginia, and was a death. Don had received an e-mail from some of dents that injured your e-mail address. It would graduate of George Washington High School.

’62

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CLASS NOTES his Danville buddies and relates that Peter was one of four George Washington High School grads that went to VMI in the fall of 1958. Don called Tom Bandy over the Christmas holidays to invite him down to Florida for a New Year’s Eve party. Tom’s wife passed away in September. Tom re-married over the Christmas holidays and is now living in Jonesboro, Arkansas. I did receive a note from Tom, and he told me he had lost his mother July 31, 2009. Congratulations to Tom and Sister Rat Bandy.

I sent out e-mail notices on Peter Vanderwerff’s death and received some nice notes from Seymour Samuels, Walter and Mary Perrin, and Bob and Nancy Miller. I have also received some personal notes from Howard Cobb, Carl Jordan and Mark Muth.

Sam Clement sent me a copy of a note he had written to Dixie in which he reported that he had gone to grade school with Peter at Forest Hills Elementary School. After grade school, Sam moved to Florida and then reconnected with Peter, Don Arey, W.E. Samuels and Charlie Crowder at VMI. Sam continues to live in Richmond, Virginia.

John Cooke lost his brother, Robert, on Oct. 22, and another brother, Richard, died Jan. 5, 2010. John has been faithful in keeping me informed of events in his life.

Spencer Elmore reports that he was in Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, in November playing golf. He is now in Florida where he hopes he can work on his golf game. I have also had nice notes from Keith Block who is still in South Carolina, as well as Earl and Joan Severo.

We have 333 Brother Rats, with whom I correspond by mail for Christmas and birthdays, as well as the widow Sister Rats in our class.

I have e-mail addresses for about 260 of you.

When I have urgent news, I send you an e-mail.

On average, about 75 of these e-mails are undeliverable, because your spam filters will not let the messages flow to your Web mail. Most of the time, I will be sending these messages out from my office e-mail which is Dr.Burnett@ hrhs.org. If you could send your e-mail addresses to me at this e-mail address and remove the filter for spam, I will be able to contact you immediately when any good or sad news needs to be dispensed. Furthermore, as a cost savings to the Institute in these tough times, the Alumni Review staff is trying maintain the current page count to keep the magazine from getting any larger. I will be able to get pictures and notes out to you faster and cheaper if I have all of your e-mail addresses.

I received a note and check to VMI recently from Klaus Burmeister. He wishes all of our Brother Rats the best. He said he was “fighting the after effects of a nasty stroke.” He had to learn to write again. He is looking forward to

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the 50th Reunion in April 2012. I had no problem reading his handwriting, so congratulations on your recovery from the stroke, Klaus.

Finally, all of you owe Tony and Judy Curtis a round of applause for the wonderful job that they are doing on the Class of ’62 50th yearbook. They get discouraged at times, because only 70 out of 350+ BRs or their widows have responded to his Bios request. Tony recently wrote you a note, which follows: “On Sept. 10, 1958, Brother Rat Charles Richard Carlisle was the first to sign in, and 387 Brother Rats later, Leonard Overton Pettit closed the registration books. Two hundred sixty-seven graduated four years later, and 53 have died.”

Tony has put in an urgent request for emails, since he does not have e-mails for 187 classmates or widows. They are pushing for a publication date late in 2010, so this can be sent out in plenty of time before our 50th Reunion weekend of April 26-29, 2012. Tony’s e-mail is tonyaarp@embarqmail.com. Tony will be happy to send you some samples of Bios. Just send him your e-mail.

I would like to remind you that there are now 4500 bricks in place along the front walk of Barracks. To qualify for a brick, a donor must meet or exceed $2500 in cash gifts since July 1, 1998. You can order these bricks in March/ April and July/August, and the inscriptions for alumni are limited to standard names. I enjoy visiting the Class of ’62 brick display on my visits to the Institute. You may call the Alumni office, and see if you have already qualified for a brick and if so, order the brick for yourself, another Brother Rat or a deceased Brother Rat. Walt Perrin, president of the VMI Foundation, is six months into the fiscal year 2010 fundraising goal of $2,785,000.00. Walter and I would like to see our class at least have a 62% participation level through annual giving funds to the Foundation Fund, Keydet Scholarship Fund, or Athletic Operating Fund.

As always, I enjoy being your class agent and look forward to your calls, visits, letters and e-mails.

In the Spirit … Jerry Burnett

’63

Michael J. Curley

Let’s get started with a humbling selfconfession. I make mistakes! Thank God there are a number of you out there who read these notes diligently and are always there, ready to help. First, Mike Smither found the following errors in 2009-Issue 4: 1) St. Clair, not Sinclair.

(Sorry, Doris … my bad!) 2) Mike said Beau Walker and I, along with Taze Hubard and

Wade Johnson, graduated from Norfolk Academy and “traveled together by train to Lexington, VA, “instead of, “traveled together in the rain to Lexington VA.” (Are you sure it wasn’t raining, Mike?) Finally, Mike adds “… and the Notes were published Nov. 15th, not Aug. 17th. Yup! I’d like to thank Mike for wishing me a Happy Birthday in December. Mike’s my buddy! In the same issue (Photo 4), I misidentified Charlie Straub as Charlie “Mike” Walton.

And I should apologize to whom? Then, my old roomie, Beaver Bevins, took me to task for errors in 2010-Issue 1: 1) In the group photo taken on the Alumni Hall steps for our 9/9/59 Matriculation Commemoration gathering, I misidentified Bill Crisp as Dave Glantz. Sorry, guys! My biggest faux pas, however, was not identifying Kent Wilson at all in the group photo, and there he is standing right there in the front row. Duh! My bad, Kent! For those who may be feeling badly for me right now, please don’t – especially if you remember that I am a Catholic, and confessing comes rather easy to me! There now – I feel better already.

Once again this year, I reach into our Christmas mailbag for some class of ’63 news. The common message from the class describes various 50th High School Reunions, many extraordinary grandchildren and travel – lots of travel. From John Cloe: Catch this 2009 travel journal … Mexican volcano Peco de Orizaba; Maxwell AFB for research on a book he is writing; President Roosevelt’s home in Warm Springs, Georgia; Tuskegee Airmen’s Museum in Alabama; Disneyland (with grandkids!); Everett Base Camp in Nepal; Beach house in Morrow Bay, California; Cruise out of Seattle, Washington; and Maple Valley, Washington.

WOW! And he still found time to moderate a panel for the Alaskan Historical Society meeting at Dutch Harbor in the Eastern Aleutians. (mjc: So, what did you do for your vacation, John?) George and Rita Blood: The Bloods travelled, but the most noteworthy was Thanksgiving in Hilton Head “with our traditional spaghetti dinner.” (mjc: Peg and I host a similar family spaghetti dinner on the Friday following Turkey Day each year, and it’s always a hit.)

Pat and Gwen Kelly’s message focused on their new place in Hamilton, Texas, with accompanying pictures AND announcing that they are now ready for visitors! The Kellys are still involved in “Project Children” after 25 years and travelled to Northern Ireland in October as usual. (mjc: Great work, Patrick!) Don and Candy Prystaloski speak of their experiences raising their 15-year-old grandchild, and although theirs is not the ideal retirement, they still sound strong and determined to deal with the hand they were dealt. On a light note, they mentioned a visit from Andy and Jan Anderson for their

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Annual Golf River Outing which sounded like lots of fun. (mjc: Don and Andy, thanks for not calling as you may have in the memorable past … at midnight … somewhat incoherently … for Modarelli’s phone number!)

Dave and Mary Ann Glantz completed Dave’s tour at The Citadel where he served as “Mark Clark Distinguished Professor of History for nine marvelous months.” During their time in Charleston, Dave discovered a love of collecting sea shells while walking on the beach during storms. Mary Ann says that their “beautiful bay window … is now festooned with display cases full of shells.” She continues, “It seems that historians are also inveterate ‘collectors’ of all sorts of strange things.” David and Sue Reid sent pictures of their thriving children. Their son, Nick, is being ordained as a transitional deacon in the Catholic faith in Washington, DC, April 2010. “Daughter Hilary has elected the ‘mommy track’ out of law school.” She graduated Washington Law in May, passed the bar in August and is due to give birth to their first child in October 2010.”

“And son Christopher has set his wedding date, also in St. Louis, for Oct. 19th. Christopher put his sixth deployment to the combat zone behind him, completed a master’s degree and the Air Force Squadron Officers Course. He also acquired designation as a flight evaluator … yet still found time to become engaged.”

From John White in warm, sunny Alaska: “I welcome visitors of all descriptions. ‘The latch string is always out,’ so if you’re headed north for any adventure, stop by anytime!” Like others, Fausto and Dennie Molinet sent beautiful pictures of grandchildren … or rather, let’s say pictures of beautiful grandchildren! Perhaps the most touching of all the cards I received was sent jointly from both Missy Alden Ogle and Linda (Ogle) Glatt thanking the class for their generosity and support during their time of need. Missy Ogle’s Christmas letter also said, “I enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving (with Dan’s children) at the home of Dan’s former wife, Linda Glatt. …We are grateful to all of you who were supportive, wrote notes, sent flowers or e-mails, called, attended the services and just loved us.” Take note: Gary and Sharon Eifried “recently moved to a new home at Clayton Lake in the mountains of southwest Virginia.

We are on a hilltop just outside the village of Draper, overlooking the lake, with beautiful sunrises, lots of deer and 11 acres.” (mjc: That sounded like Paradise, until I read that they also bought a boat, a lawn tractor, an SUV to pull the boat and trailer. Gary and Sharon then leaped into building an addition to their new home and renovating bathrooms. Gary, that sounds like work, not Paradise! What are you thinking?)

2010-Issue 2

This is a great place to tell of the misadventures of some of our civil engineers. An event to honor Col. Don Jamison ’57 was scheduled in Lexington, Virginia, for Feb. 6th. Many of our esteemed Brother Rats were planning to attend, among them one Pete Brunel, driving all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma. There was wild anticipation of a MINI reunion from Bunny Reynolds, John Mills, Bill Moore, Buff DeLeo, Leland Caldwell and other luminaries who planned to attend the event. Pete’s planning was so very CE – not a detail omitted.

Pete constructed an elaborate driving plan and shared it with all. The reality was that God had a different plan and also a keen sense of humor. Pete began the drive, with beautiful and patient Diana at his side. They planned to spend the next few nights at the sumptuous (Bob and Carol) Baldwin Suite in Bob and Bromby Earle’s Bed & Breakfast, Glen Allen, Virginia. (AAA Rated!) They arrived safely on Monday the 1st, and Bob, Pete and I met for lunch Tuesday in the rain and sleet. It doesn’t get any better than this – good food, good drink and fast friends. However, Pete spoke of the anxious hours spent driving through the snow in West Virginia and the rapidly advancing (and extremely large) storm system heading toward Lexington, Richmond and DC! Let’s cut to the chase. Wise Diana advanced her reservations to fly home from the 8th to the 4th … smart girl!

The snow started slowly Thursday, quickly built to many inches and then word of the cancellation came from Lexington – hate it when that happens –and all the CEs cancelled their plans.

Since Bob and Bromby moved their scheduled departure for Key West up to Friday morning because of the hateful weather, Pete was soon to be an orphan in a snow storm … with a car … on the wrong Coast. I invited him to stay at my place, but he opted for John Mills’ invitation.

Somehow, Pete headed for Bill Moore’s place in Staunton on Saturday, where they visited for awhile, then Sleepy and Pete headed for Bill’s ranch in Burke’s Garden, Virginia, late that afternoon … way out in SW Virginia. I called out to the ranch Monday to check on Pete.

After a nice chat with Sleepy, he woke Pete, and we talked about the weather and if he felt they might get out of there before the 50th. By the way, cell phones don’t work out there, TV is analog with only one channel, electricity and land lines are questionable, but they do have deer sleeping beneath their window. I checked NOAA for weather while we were on the phone and decided they might actually get out of there

by Thursday the 11th, and they did, but only after digging their way out. Bottom line: Sleepy and Pete spent five nights in the wilderness without TV, computer or newspapers – just books and conversation. Amazingly, they are

still friends and seemed to have enjoyed the experience. No … wait … I haven’t checked with Sleepy yet!

There was an attempted MINI on Nov. 14th at the USMA football game in West Point, New York. Bunny Reynolds led the effort with Bob Troxler and Billy Wray in attendance. Billy Bell aborted due to weather. Bunny reports, “We did not do anything after the game. The weather was crummy, and the ground logistics sucked – took us 75 minutes to get from our seats to a shuttle bus to get back to the parking lot. It was so bad – combined with end zone seats – that I don’t think I’ll bother to go next year.” (mjc: Bummer! ) Jane Greene (John) wrote to say, “Yep, we jumped the broom on Nov. 11th.” Jane still resides in Charlottesville with her new husband, Marty. (mjc: Congratulations to you both … promise to stay in touch with ’63, OK?) I always love hearing from Bonnie Reeder. She is such a sweetheart; Ken is a very lucky guy. She writes, “Thank you for the heads up about the VMI wrestling team coming to New Jersey. Ken and I enjoyed the matches with Rutgers and Princeton. It was nice to be with VMI folks in this area. The team did well, winning some and losing some. To be honest, I don’t know overall the final outcome, but Ken does. The coaches and all of the team players worked hard and presented a challenging opposition to the other teams. We felt quite proud of their effort. Ken sported his VMI sweater – no doubt whose team we were there for.”

P.K. McMahon wrote to say, “Jim and I are now living full time in Patagonia (AR), where Jim is headmaster at the local Montessori school and maintains a law practice, as well.

Someday, if we ever tire of the drama of small Border Town life, we may return to our condo in the city.” Tom Whitford, in his inimitable fashion, wrote, and I quote, “Hey, guys: Well, Teak’s had her knee scoped – trimmed and scraped – and she’s doing great. First couple days it was pretty painful. The happy pills didn’t make her as happy as hoped for, but by the third day, the pain had subsided, and she was doing her exercises and moving well.

These days, these knee scopes seem rather like a factory production line. See the surgeon for a couple minutes, meet the anesthetist (a former Navy doctor specializing in dive medicine) and wheeled away. No more than two hours after entering the clinic, we were heading home!

Certainly a wham-bam sort of operation. But Teak’s doin’ well, so this quick hit ’n cut stuff must work. We missed seeing you guys over Thanksgiving. Hope all is well. Tom ’n Teak.” (mjc: Sadly, Teak no longer flies anywhere, but that didn’t stop Tom and Charlotte from heading to Louisiana by train a couple months ago for a conference. When Peg and I heard they

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CLASS NOTES 1

Class of 1963 2

3

4

5 Photo 1: Gathered at a local Richmond, Virginia, restaurant during winter 2010 were, from left, Bob Earle, John Mills, Pete Brunel and Mike Curley. They resolved, “No more snow.”

Photo 2: In October 2009, Pete Brunel, Bill Moore and John Mitchell got together at Mitchell’s ranch in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, for horseback riding, hunting and fishing.

Photo 3: Jim Hoge and his new bride, Catherine Liu, married Dec. 22, 2009, in California. Class Agent Mike Curley says, on behalf of the class, “We wish them a long and happy life together!”

Photo 4: Walt and Karen Kleine at the January 2010 Texas A&M Aggie Boot Scoot in Doha, Qatar.

Photo 5: Walt Kleine in Qatar, January 2010, sitting on his camel, while waiting for his wife, Karen, to lead the way into the desert.

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CLASS NOTES were going to spend almost a week one way on a train going there, we scratched our collective heads. However, when I spoke with Tom after the trip, he declared it a success, particularly the food. Wow – who would have known?)

From Mike Smither: “Got a call last night from none other than H. Hobbs Goodwin, visiting Denver Perkins in Argentina. It was 72 degrees there (and 7 degrees here). It was good to talk with both of them, although briefly.

I thought Hobbs was in Fort Lauderdale or the Bahamas, but no, he’s in Argentina. (mjc: I spoke with Hobbs the same evening, and he said he had left the boat parked at Bob Byrd’s marina and caught a flight down to Argentina using Heidi’s flight discount … sweet deal!).

Mike later continued with his regular contribution to the Notes: “Betty and I see Cindy and Charlie Peckham occasionally. They live in southern New Hampshire, and we’re further north in the White Mountains. We go downhill or cross country skiing every other day or so.

We would welcome all the snow that Virginia is ‘enjoying,’ as we haven’t had a decent snowfall up here in many weeks. Remember the year we had a major snow storm and could not parade between Christmas and spring furloughs? Must have driven Shell and Smith crazy (crazier?).

Guess I had more to say than I realized. P.S. I have a few ideas concerning our 50th. Some are off the wall, but we’re going to have only one 50th. Anyway, I’ll polish them up and get them ready; after all, we have only three years to plan!” Chuck Weddington is whining again: “I’ll be leaving for the Ranch in a few minutes but thought it wise to drop you guys a quick note to fill you in on our next few weeks. Christi and I will be leaving early Tuesday morning for Castle Rock, Colorado, to spend Christmas with all the kids plus our nine great-grands.

We probably will not get back to Bentwater until Jan. 5th or so … THEN we’re in a crash moving mode (d*** it). We’ve sold our home in Bentwater (d*** it) and will be moving to the Ranch. The closing is Jan. 8th, and our move out date is Jan. 15th (d*** it).” (mjc: Chuck, when I sell a house – particularly when sales are few and far apart these days – I’m ecstatic.

So, exactly what are you grumping about?)

From Jim Hoge: “Here’s my promised news: After courting her for over 11 years, Catherine finally said ‘yes,’ and we were married on Dec. 22nd. In the next few months, we are planning to buy a condo in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we will live in the spring and fall of each year and where BRs will always be welcome. Then, back to California each summer and winter to avoid the humidity and snow. I’m really looking forward to being on the East Coast again and will definitely be attending ’63 events as much as possible when

2010-Issue 2

we are there.” (mjc: Great news, Jim; congratulation from us all!)

Bunny Reynolds forwarded an e-mail from the Buffer (Bill DeLeo) a few weeks ago. Buff writes: “Thanks for the note. Judy and I are attending (Col. Jamison’s dinner). After a visit to Roanoke, we will go to Lexington Friday night (Best Western), hang out on Saturday, do the reception and stay overnight.” (mjc: Wonder how that worked out.) I also received this e-mail from the distinguished Professor. “I made it back from my third tour in time for New Year’s Eve! Needed to have a ‘few cool ones’ before I got used to things ... LOL. Sure is nice being back with family and friends again, and I can relax for a few weeks or so. Plan is to reconnect with my son and look forward to seeing my daughter have her first child in March ... finally be home when a grandchild is born (4th). I’ll be connecting with Cheech regularly, and we’re looking forward to the 50th, God willing. I’m standing by, as I’ve offered to volunteer to go to Haiti as soon as I’m needed. Wait ... Skype is calling ... Just got off Skype with Pat Kelly!

What a surprise he called, and we’re already planning a MINI in Austin when I go there to visit Mike Walton and my bro-in-law in Feb. sometime. Will let ya know how that works out when the time comes. Thanks for your support and prayers while I was away. Our guys and gals have done a helluva job for the Iraqis.” (mjc: We are all glad to have you safely back home, Buff!).

Did you check out that picture of Walt of Arabia? WOW! Walt and Karen Kleine write “Karen and I are in Doha, Qatar, visiting our daughter (and her family) who works at Texas A&M here.” According to Walt, their picture was “taken at the 2010 Texas A&M Aggie Boot Scoot in Doha, Qatar. It was a huge event – even the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar attended. Yesterday, I went to the Qatar Masters that featured a lot of players from the European Tour that I’ve seen on TV.” (mjc: Does he want sympathy? Personally, I feel sorry for that camel and the awful tablecloth he’s wearing.)

I almost forgot to mention that Peg and I made a trip to Florida this January to visit with her two sisters, and while there, we were able to run up to see Tommy and Sharon Rountree at their home in Hernando, Texas. They are doing very well, although our visit was way too short.

We were only able to enjoy a glass of wine together, then it was back to Base Camp. We did note with sadness the absence of their two Harleys. Please pray for Sharon’s son who is doing battle with brain cancer. We’re with you, Sharon!

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

There have been three mini reunions planned this calendar year. The first, in February, was in Florida. More on that later. Next will be to Egypt and the Nile River in May (we’ll be departing prior to the May arrival of this Alumni Review). Finally, in September is a 16-day trip to Russia. It’s not too late to check with W.J. Kitchen on the details. These mini reunions continue to be to places of real interest, inexpensive and an absolutely great way to get reacquainted with BRs. As mentioned previously, I won’t be actively soliciting participation in mini reunions in the future. They will merely be announced once they are scheduled. However, if some of you have specific ideas for trips in which you’re interested, let me know and I can help get them organized. Plus, Sherrel and I will go virtually anywhere, anytime.

In the previous class notes ,I attributed comments about the reunion to Bill McVey. While he did contribute, part of what I quoted was actually submitted by Bill Thompson. It was purely my error made during my cutting and pasting. I tried to correct it prior to printing but was unsuccesful. My apologies to the Bills.

It’s always hard to relate the sad news that we lost a Brother Rat in early January. Dave Kaliski died on Saturday, Jan. 9th. He had diabetes and experienced both foot and back problems this past year. The latter kept him away from the 45th Reunion. The last time I saw him and Penny was at Fred Segesman’s memorial service a year ago. Joe Turner helped get the information out about the memorial service. He attended, as did Pete Mitchko plus Dan and Sandy DeForrest.

Several BRs contributed to VMI in Dave’s honor. Plus Mike Murphy assured there was a nice floral arrangement at the service.

Penny Kaliski and her family sent the following note which was addressed to the entire class: “I am writing to you collectively to thank you for all your prayers and condolences during this difficult time. Your kind thoughts have meant a lot to me and my family. We are also deeply touched by your donation to the VMI Foundation Fund in Dave’s memory. You all had a special place in Dave’s heart, and I know that he was disappointed when he could not attend the class reunion last fall. Please know that your kindness will never be forgotten!”

Again, it reinforces in my mind how important it is for all of us and our spouses to keep in touch with each other. The spouses, in every case, report back that the support provided by

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CLASS NOTES Brother Rats is appreciated much more than the gesture itself.

Don Carson e-mailed, “Nelson and Karen Trinkle came by for a nice visit after taking a cruise from Fort Lauderdale. Margaret and I invited Lee Fleshood to join us (his wife, Roxanne, was visiting her daughter) for dinner that evening.

Jim Crawford wrote in, “I ran into Ron Rogers last week while picking up some prescriptions at K-Mart. Talked a little bit, and I said we missed him at the reunion, but he said he would

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try to make the 50th. That’s the same thing that Bishop Read told me when I had my latest PSA tests. (He’s my urologist.) Hope we all make it.”

Jim continued, “The wife and I spent last week at Sanibel Island, Florida, and worried about our house here the whole time, with the storm that flooded the area. Luckily, we had no damage. I noticed all the kind words in the Alumni Review concerning Lilly Hawkins.

I grew up with Tommy, Lilly and the rest of their family in Glasgow. They were indeed a

nice family, and I was blessed to have known them. In addition, Wallace was my roommate for two years, and he worked with my mother at Burlington Industries. I tried to keep up with Lilly and Wallace during all their medical problems. It hit hard when they were told of the recurrence of the cancer. She really suffered but was very strong up to her death. My best memory of our 45th was reuniting and playing golf with my Rat roommate, Roxie Webb. We had not seen each other since 1961. We laughed

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3 4

Class of 1964

5

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Photo 1: Attending Dave Kaliski’s memorial service in New Jersey, January 2010, were, from left, Alan and Sue Kaliski; Kaliski’s son, Drew; Sandy and Dan DeForrest; Kaliski’s wife, Penny; and Kaliski’s daughter, Sara, and her husband, Brian; Kaliski’s son, Ty; Pete Mitchko and Joe Turner. Photos 2 and 3: At the Carson home in Tequesta, Florida, for a mini reunion in February 2010 were, photo 2, from left, front row: Sherrel Cavedo, Paula Warren, Margaret Carson and Penny Sebrell. Second row: Bill Crone, Marion Garber, George Warren, Roxane Fleshood and Dyan Crone. Back row: John Cavedo, Lee Fleshood, John Thornton, Bill Garber, Don Carson, Tom Sebrell, and Ron and Ginny Williams. Photo 3: Penny Sebrell, Margaret Carson, Sherrel Cavedo and Marion Garber. Photo 4: At Warren Budd’s cabin in Georgia, November 2009, were, from left, Budd, Doug Walker and King von Schilling. Photo 5: Sherrel and John Cavedo with Lauranne and W.J. Kitchen in Barbados, December 2009.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES about the time my cousin, Ed Tolley ’60, was OG and came into our room with saber drawn.

I broke out laughing, but Roxie and Willy were scared to death. Ed got us in trouble several other times, like covering the evening gun with snow one night. Willy Williamson was my other roommate. I roomed with Willy our Rat year and the extra semester we had to return to the Institute. Willy became a doctor in Newport News. He died a number of years ago.”

Mike Murphy e-mailed, “In Danton, we had the ‘30th Annual Family and Friends’ Thanksgiving for almost 80 people with a Friday brunch for about 25. We put up a tent in the back yard. My daughter-in-law is a caterer, so for the past few years, she and my son, Kevin, have done almost all the work. We had a ‘moon bounce’ for the youngsters this year, and a friend of mine is a serious croquet player who gave croquet lessons. We’ll sometimes have a long ball golf competition, but this year, we deferred to the croquet. Next year, I’m going to borrow an idea from the 45th Reunion and have a sporting clay station, too.”

King von Schilling emailed, “I really was not prepared for the emotional impact of seeing all of us together, looking at how some have grown older and thinking of those who weren’t there, especially Dickie Butt, to whom I was very close. Also, watching you receive your ring. Even now in the silence and retrospect, I get a lump in my throat. I forget which night it was, but George Rapport and I had had more than a few libations (George had had more, of course), and I think George stated it rather well: “I am reluctant to use the ‘L’ word, but there is a very special bond among our BRs, especially those who return and those who keep in touch.’

I must agree with him. For a bunch of old guys, I thought, as a group, we looked pretty well preserved, and our wives looked even better.

Everyone was very relaxed. The talk was of fun things and not business, which was very nice.

I thought the band Friday night had improved since our 40th, and they were very good, albeit a bit loud. As evidenced by the amount of dancing, some of us can still move quite well. And my, how well everyone cleaned up for Saturday night. A few showed up at Crozet Hall for breakfast. Heck, the meal was better than downtown. Warren Budd’s wife, Courtenay, and I enjoyed tacos for breakfast. Overall, it was well done, and I have heard no complaints. We really can’t thank our committee enough for all they did and did so well. Now, on to the 50th. I have already thought up the license plate I am gonna get for that one.”

W.J. and Lauranne Kitchen joined Sherrel and me for a really nice week in Barbados in early December. We walked all over the place, snorkeled, drove to the extremes of the island

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and ate very well. Our thanks to Janice and Ed Seager for providing lots of information on Barbados. They spend every month of February there and have a huge amount of experience.

For those considering Barbados, forget the local busses. Just ask W.J. how much fun they can be when riding for long periods.

Harvey Sargent, upon returning from Rome, e-mailed, “We’ve been managing to keep pretty busy here in Boulder in spite of the unusually cold weather. Dolores and I spent 10 days in Rome in late October. Sort of a combination 60th birthday (Dolores, of course) and 35th anniversary present to ourselves. It was wonderful. I spent two years in Sicily in the Navy, and Dee and I met in Europe in ’72 and love Rome, so it was a natural. I’ve become something of an amateur scholar on ancient Roman history over the last 15 years or so and could have done some of the tours we took myself. We hope to get back to Sicily in the next couple of years. I’ve finally been able to get back into some regular running over the last several months and am feeling good. I hope to do a triathlon in June, if I can get my shoulder rehabbed, so I can swim 1,000 meters. Need to stay in shape just to be able to handle day care duties with our new granddaughter, Mackenzie.

It’s been a long, long time since I had to care for a 4-month-old, solo, for nine hours straight.

Really wears the old body out. We had a great time at the Reunion. I hope to get back to VA to visit my Mom and take in a track meet at VMI in March. I’ve gotten my USATF certification as an official and have been working meets at CU and local high schools since last spring. I love it! Some of the best distance runners in the U.S. live or go to school here. Track and field has remained my passion for almost 50 years, and it’s great to be able to stay involved in some way. Dolores keeps her hand in law volunteering at the DA’s office two days a week, and I still manage to grind on a few molars using the office of my son’s best friend and also as a contractor treating GIs going to Iraq or Afghanistan. My next gig is supposed to be for a day or two in early January.”

Warren Budd submitted, “Enclosed are pictures of King von Schilling, Doug Walker and me on a hunting trip to my cabin in Swainsboro, Georgia. We stayed five days and had a great time. Doug got four deer. King got a hog.

I cooked and cleaned up. One day, King and I went fishing. I paddled while King caught all the fish. We plan on doing it again next year.”

Warren mentioned (as have several BRs) that he had submitted one request for the 50th reunion. He doesn’t think we need a speaker at our seated dinner. “After people have been eating and drinking, a speaker never makes any impact. People like to visit, not hear a speaker.”

Jan Rudinoff sent in that he still golfs, while Paula still surfs. They spend their time traveling and enjoying family and friends. He wrote, “In 2009 we snowboarded in Nelson, BC, cruised to Alaska twice, cruised to Europe to see Chris and Thor in Stockholm, cruised from Vancouver to Tampa through the Panama Canal, and then spent a week at Disney World. In 2010, we’ll return to Nelson to snowboard, take a transatlantic European cruise for Paula’s 60th birthday and cruise Alaska again. (Do you get that Paula loves Alaska?) Paula’s parents, June (83) and Harry (87) Boranian, are still living next door. We took them to Las Vegas for their 60th wedding anniversary celebration. There were lots of Boranians there! The four of us went on the NCLA Pride of America cruise around the islands at the end of November.

The ship is a great way to see Hawaii.”

Ken Dice wrote, “Have been ‘messing’ with my knees for over a year now. I’m beginning to get bowlegged due to the inside of each knee wearing out. Two years ago, I heard a presentation in Florida about getting a partial knee replacement when only part of the knee is worn out. Easier, quicker recovery, etc. Early last year, I saw five doctors (probably an overkill but was hoping I’d get consensus that partial was the way to go). One in Florida said yes; the other four didn’t recommend it due to the rest of the knee not really being that good. The one I will eventually go to said to put it off as long as possible and keep the upper leg muscles exercised.

We haven’t done much since before Thanksgiving with the travel to see the kids and cold weather. We’ll be in Florida for February and March and plan to ‘get off my butt’ and see how it does. Then I figure the Egypt trip will also tell me something. Either it will be OK for a while longer, or I’ll be looking to do something in the fall.”

Since Ken’s e-mail, I’ve had several phone calls with Andy Tucker. He has also had knee surgery on both knees shortly after Christmas.

He did it in a way I had never heard about; he had the second knee done less than a month after the first. I’ve always suspected Andy was immune to pain. Less than 10 days after his second surgery, Andy didn’t need a cane, much less a walker. He wasn’t moving far from his house but was mobile.

Your class officers have been working diligently over the last several months getting organized for the 50th Reunion. We’ve all been involved in a series of phone calls, to include a couple of conference calls. Progress has been made. Tom Davis will be the reunion coordinator again, while Al Fiorini has agreed to chair the fund raising portion. Watch this space for more information as we get closer. After all, by the time you receive this in the Alumni Review,

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CLASS NOTES our 50th will be only four years away.

Richard Beatty’s family is following in his footsteps. You may remember that Richard spent more than six years in Africa with the Peace Corps. His sister, Judi, and brotherin-law, Ken (an ophthalmologist), have been taking yearly vacations to Haiti for the past 25 years to help build a hospital with aid and money from their church. The hospital is in Pignon, about 60 up-country miles from Port-auPrince. Their son, Neil, has also gone to Haiti and become an expert in water resources.

All three were either in Haiti or went to Haiti since the earthquake and have been sending back e-mails describing the condition. Richard forwarded some of them to me. It’s astounding the level to which his family has been involved.

The heavy work and planning are being done by seriously committed people. The Beattys are right in there.

Between Feb. 3rd and 8th, Don and Margaret Carson and Lee and Roxane Fleshood hosted a mini reunion in their part of Florida. Joining were Bill and Marion Garber, Butch and Joan Nunnally, Tom and Penny Sebrell, George and Paula Warren, John and Sherrel Cavedo, John Thornton, Tom and Yvonne Myers, Ron and Ginny Williams, and Bill and Dyan Crone. The group enjoyed two dinners out at restaurants plus two dinners at the homes of the Carsons and Fleshoods. Don had made the detailed arrangements for the hotels and restaurants plus several other activities. Lee made arrangements for Sporting Clay shooting and a round of golf. Our last night as a group was spent at an outdoor restaurant with several hundred antique cars and hot rods parked in the streets, covering several city blocks. Both Don and Lee hope to make this an annual event.

Everyone who participated agreed this venue has lots of possibilities, not the least of which is warm weather while the Northeast freezes.

While there, we learned that Ron Williams was scheduled for yet another round of surgery for his cancer. On Wednesday following the reunion, Bill Crone reported the surgery was highly effective with Ron recovering nicely. Bill wrote, “Let our BRs know Ron has successfully completed a second session for brain cancer treatment using the cyber knife procedure, and assuming there are no other ‘spots’ on the brain after they check the results, he should be OK.” Ron and Ginny, too, have been suffering and fighting cancer for approximately six years.

Many other BRs and spouses continue to endure physical hardships. That makes it even more important to keep the communication flowing.

If I haven’t mentioned it often enough, let me tell you what a privilege it is for me to serve as your class agent. It’s uplifting and fun. Your e-mails and calls mean a lot to me. Plus, I need them for class notes. Keep communicating!

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’65

Mickey Finn

on the outposts of the empire. I sold my sailboat last month after 31 years of living on the water and am now a total landlubber. Inspiration was a classic IOR ocean racer, and the new owner wants to do a complete re-fit. So, I’m looking forward to a shakedown sail with him next year.”

Irwin McCumber’s nice note: “Hi, MickeyThanks much for the b’day card. We went down to one of our daughter’s homes near Charlotte for Thanksgiving and then went with a bunch of family to see University of South Carolina beat Clemson. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed it immensely, as USC had not beaten them in Columbia since 2001. My daughter-in-law, Erin, decided to spread most of my son, Scott’s, ashes on the football field at Williams-Brice Stadium in September, since he was born very near the USC campus and was a huge Gamecock fan. I am going to place the rest on the parade ground at VMI but haven’t done it yet. Hope y’all had a great Thanksgiving. See you in 2010! Irwin (Irmox)” James “Mac” Hammond wrote a letter with a brief update on his life: “After graduation, I spent 12 years flying in the Air Force (five on active duty, seven in the ANG KC-135s and RF-101s). Started an air freight business in 1970, merged it with another company in 1978 and sold my remaining interest in 1980. Started a non-denominational church in 1981 and am still pastoring that church today in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My wife, Lynne (Southern Sem), and I have two boys and one girl and all work in the ministry with us. We have six grandchildren. Life is good!” Mac, thanks for taking the time to write and to remember your roommate, Donald McCown.

This was the season for writing and mailing, as I received a nice note form Don Jebo who shares, “We moved to Carolina Beach, North

Well, it snowed here in Wilmington this past week. Did you know that, for the first time, all 50 states had snow on the ground at the same time? Global warming is dead. You heard it here first (as of 2/15/2010). Now, to the serious side, great notes follow!

Karl Zeller sent this nice note about his trip to the VMI-Army football game: “Hi, Mickey – Remember BR Bill Swindell? He left our class at the end of our third class year. He has been in contact on and off thru the years and had purchased an extra ticket and goaded me into flying east from Colorado to Newark to attend the game. Greg Robertson gave us a lead on the cruise boat that VMI alumni charter whenever VMI plays Army, going from Manhattan to West Point and back. So, Bill and I took that route to the game. It was especially neat, because Bill, recently retired, had spent his career working at the Indian Point nuclear plant, and the cruise boat passed that facility on the way up the Hudson. So, he pointed out all the buildings he had worked in and on during the years. No ’65ers on the cruise except Bill and me. [See] photos of the VMI flag on the boat and one of Bill and me at a restaurant the next day, so you can see how young we are. At the game, we sat toward the NE corner with the scoreboard to our right. I did walk down to the VMI section on the south end but couldn’t find any ’65ers – I did get to talk to a few grads, like Bunny Reynolds ’63, etc., who I remembered. What a great game our team played! I was proud of them.”

Woodie Watkinson sent a nice note with a request (fulfilled): “Hi, Mickey – Could you send me Bill Cather’s e-mail and phone number? I’d like to contact him. As for Simone and me, we are getting settled in for the winter up here on the mountain.

Shot and killed a deer on the property last week, and we now have 40 lbs. of venison for the winter. (We live 300 yards from the Shenandoah National Forest.) We get all our beef, eggs, apples, bacon, peaches Class of 1965: Charlie Smith stopped for a break while and veggies locally now removing snow at his home in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and will have a garden Canada. in next year. That’s life

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Larry Egan and Donnie White do every year for the get-together for SRC and a basketball game in February. Unfortunately, this year the snow storm kept most of us from making the trip. Thanks, guys! Perhaps a baseball game in the spring will work this year. Where is Global Warming when you need it?

From Newfoundland, Charlie Smith updates us all with a wonderful e-mail received just in time for these notes. “Just a note to say hello to all and to let you know of our current address/ contact information. Elaine and I moved to Newfoundland, Canada, this past June upon my retirement from the U.S. Government after 35-1/2 years of service. I did not really retire, as I am still working in Canada with a group known as PRAC (Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada), funding research contracts for the offshore oil and gas industry here in Newfoundland, as well as teaching engineering at Memorial University in St. John’s. Elaine and I will be building our retirement home in Bay Roberts, and I have attached a picture of our lot (the area beyond the tree in the fenced area) for your information. We will have about 300 feet of beach and a view of the harbor on three sides. (The water is so clear, you can see the bottom at 25 feet.) This will be the ‘homestead’ and will be open to all ‘Brother Rats’ who would like to visit this great land up north. (I have also attached a few pictures of the great conditions up here during the winter – Ha!) We are currently living in St. John’s until we move (November 2010) to Bay Roberts, and all are welcome to visit with us here at any time (winter or summer – both days – Ha!). Lots of good fish, crabs and lobsters are to be had here in Newfoundland. We are planning to attend the 45th Reunion, so please keep us on the distribution list for any information, so we can plan our trip accordingly. Give my best to all of our Brother Rats, and let them know we hope to see them at the Big 45th. With very best regards, Charles and Elaine Smith.

The time is fast approaching for our 45th Reunion, and it looks to be the greatest ever!

Please do your best to be there, Sept. 3-5, 2010. In response to Vince Cable’s request for information on the status of the class beClass of 1965: Karl Zeller and Bill Swindell enjoyed some ing represented in the time together after the VMI vs. West Point football game Hall of Valor, please in New York, November 2009. be assured that we are,

Carolina, several years ago, and we love it. It’s nice living in a small town with a city close enough to have the benefits of both worlds. We took a month off and went traveling. Then, we weren’t back a week when my son’s father-inlaw died. So, we spent a week in Richmond babysitting while he and his wife went up to Maryland to take care of the funeral. On top of that, even though I am retired, I am still consulting from home. So, it’s been busy recently.

My son is a lawyer in Richmond and met Ralph Robertson before he died. He has also met Al Orgain. My son went to William & Mary, so he is into Virginia sports. My daughter graduated from the U of Richmond and now lives in Washington, DC. So, this is a great place for us to retire. Both of them are coming for Thanksgiving, which should be a treat.” Thanks, Don; I owe you a call!

Nice note from Gordon Eubank: “Thanks for your birthday card. Several of us (five VMI alumni) in Bedford have an annual bus trip to a VMI basketball game each year. 50 older, beer drinking men went on this trip recently (snow, ice and cold weather). The Radford team was too tall and strong for VMI. I will go back to the Jacksonville University-VMI lacrosse game on 2-27-10. We know their coach from his coaching days at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. Our son-in-law, who is the head coach at Hobart now, was an assistant for three years under Matt Kerwick before he left for Jacksonville two years ago. Even though I transferred to the MCV School of Pharmacy after our third class year, I still have fond memories of VMI and especially my Brother Rats. I hope to be able to make it to the reunion in September.” Gordon, thanks for thinking of us; see you at the reunion!

That brings me to recognize the work that

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and you can see how many are represented during the reunion. At this time, at least one function is planned for the Marshall Hall: Center for Leadership and Ethics that houses the Hall of Valor. I am sure there will be plenty of time for an Old Yell or two. Are you ready? Let’s Go! ’65! ’65! ’65!

’66

Al Carr Albert Conner

I sadly report that our Brother Rat, Charles Edward “Scotty” McNeillie, passed away on 28 Jan. 2010. He served two Vietnam tours and was quoted about extending for his second tour, “Someone had to serve this country, and I knew this country had been a salvation to my parents and grandparents who came through Ellis Island to immigrate from Scotland and Poland.” Scotty was an engineer with Goodyear Tire, based in Georgia and Alabama until his retirement in 2005. While covering a vast territory including Alabama, eastern Mississippi and Florida, he regaled his co-workers with weekly “armadillo reports” on the migratory habits of the critters. In retirement, he operated a horse farm, an extension of which was a harness and buggy shop. A very touching obituary also related that he was active in church and the Caledonian Society where he “wore the McNeil Clan tartan as often as he could, so as to show off ‘my gorgeous legs’.” All of that recalls my memories of him as a cadet. If you missed the e-mail notice and would like contact information to reach his family, please let me know. We all sympathize with their loss and offer our prayers to relieve their grief. (Editor’s Note: Mr. McNeillie’s obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review.)

After my 20 Nov. 2009 e-mail to the class, I heard from Rob “Flash” Gordon’s wife, Karen, about whom I had neglected to put in information she had forwarded to me in July 2009. Sure enough, I had saved the e-mail at the time but forgot to include it in my 15 Aug. 2009 (and naturally from my Nov. 16) class notes. I sent out a special e-mail to those in my 13 address books, but for the others, here goes. Rob and Karen celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary and are living in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

They’ve been there since January 1978. Karen retired from EDS in November 2008, and Rob worked as a mental health hospital administrator for 15 years and is currently practicing as a substance abuse counselor. If you’d like to get in contact with them, please contact me.

I sent my apologies, of course – to make matters worse, Rob was a fellow history major, also in F Company and my platoon sergeant!

Oh, yes, I also discovered that I had responded

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CLASS NOTES to their e-mail saying I’d put it in the 15 Aug. notes. Don’t I feel smart? I believe that this is the first time I’ve erred in including info sent to me; however, it has made me wonder if that’s correct. If any of you have had a similar problem, please let me know, and I’ll rectify it.

Again, I’d like to thank BR Cliff Martin (and his side-kick, Al Carr) for keeping us up to speed on the ’66 VMI Sports Net. I feel closer to the teams and appreciate Cliff’s commentary (and Moby’s less frequent wise-cracks). My son, Owen, and I went to the VMI-George Mason game (along with lots of VMI alumni) in December, and I actually got to be Cliff-for-a-day.

I had a wonderful telephone call from Woody and Lori Sadler. They were in New York City re-honeymooning and called to see how we were doing. They took the train from Lexington, through Charlottesville, DC, etc. on what sounds like a neat excursion. Best wishes to one of our favorite couples!

Dee Hartman had been involved in organizing a meeting of the Tri-Cities (Petersburg) VMI Chapter in December. Hugh Adams was the guest speaker (subject: Iraq), and we were able to alert some BRs via the e-mail network. Apparently, all had a memorable time, as Dee’s terse report related: “I think we all enjoyed the talk – what a stark country! ’66 was well represented with Hugh and wife Deane, Dee and Mary Paul Hartman, Herb Chittum, Jamie and Doma Browder, Knox McEwen and Delores Lee, Dick and Kathy Daugherity, and George Dyer.”

Actually, it sounds more like the annual meeting of the Richmond Hugh Adams Fan Club.

Heard from George Newton who reported in that “I’m in Seville, Spain, these days. Our company, Northrop Grumman, won the TurkeySpain Base maintenance contract and will run Incirlik, Turkey, and Moron, Spain. I’ve agreed to run the Spanish operation and move to Seville for a few years ... can’t believe they pay for living in such a great place!! VMI will be heard from here -- Roy Shoemaker (class of ’68) is going to be my base civil engineer. We were both in ‘A’ Company.”

Speaking of the great class of 1968, their ever-alert class agent, Tom Hickey, sent me an article on our BR Jay Adams from the Washington Post. It was an interview with Jay on his taking over as chairman of Fauquier Bankshares, a community bank in Warrenton.

The interview reviewed Jay’s time with Bowman Distillery and his achievements at the helm of that firm. It did not mention our Brother Rat’s extensive involvement with a whole host of civic and non-profit organizations. Thanks, Tom; it makes me kind of regret sending you up to the Executive Committee so many dark winters ago. Sorry!

Class agenting has its odd moments. At a

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recent conference, I found myself sitting across from Lt. Gen. Jeffrey G. Smith ’43. It wouldn’t have registered with him, but the last time we had met face to face, he was dead-ending my trip to Gettysburg with the Civil War Roundtable. The reason for my incarceration involved a rusty butt plate ferreted out by future Maj. Gen. Robert L. Drudik (of blessed memory) after our Rat Year FTX. Also memorable was the fact that I couldn’t find any rust on the darned thing in the bright sunlight! Nevertheless, as one of Uncle Bob’s fair-haired troopers, I accepted the special report and penalty on the grounds that HE must have been able to see rust where I couldn’t! How young we were.

Spence Wilkinson passed along that he has retired after 17.5 years at Lockheed Martin. His earlier career (1967-92), you will recall, was as a colonel in Uncle Sam’s air force. Prop your feet up, and enjoy the rest of the trip, Spence! I, on the other hand, have spent the last 14.5 years in official retirement.

Maybe everybody is spending the winter months reflecting and remembering our misspent youth. I received an interrogatory e-mail from Charlie Ramsburg asking about several memories of cadet days. As always, it is good to hear from Charlie, who writes lively e-mails. He says he’s looking forward to our 45th Reunion.

Also received a brief note from Larry Demeo.

He ended with, “Haven’t forgotten my ‘promise’ (what can I say, I’m an old cavalryman, and we promise everything to everybody) to drive down for a lunch. Let’s do that in the spring sometime, OK?” Alright, Larry, you’re on, and let’s see if you actually make it down to Stafford. If you come, I’ll show you Hartwood Church, the scene of several fascinating cavalry actions in 1862 and 1863. I’ll also show you where the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac was born. Boy, do I know how to have fun or what?

John Rowe sent an update. He and Carol are busy working in their respective jobs. John is town manager of Windsor, and Carol’s writing grant requests for the Portsmouth Public Schools. They are active in civic and church work and have recently discovered a talent for fundraising. Carol chaired a capital campaign to raise $250,000 for their church children’s facilities. John’s president of the Portsmouth Volunteers for Homeless and “once again” played the role of Father Braidfoot, a 1776 Anglican rector of Trinity Episcopal’s parish, in the Annual New Year’s Eve Scottish Walk. Otherwise, they’ve vacationed on the Outer Banks and in the mountains. They also invaded the North at Cape Cod. Their note ended with, “It’s so good to reflect over the past year on the simple things that make life so meaningful.”

I had a nice phone conversation with John Walters. John doesn’t do e-mail, so it was a

rare opportunity to catch up the old fashioned way. His kids are hitting college age, and his son wants to be in the USAF and in the aeronautical world. It’s always a pleasure to talk to John, who continues to bleed “red, white and yellow.” We are really fortunate to have such great Brother Rats.

Larry Sonstein and wife Peggie are moving to Lakeland, Florida, as I write these lines. It sounds like they’ve had enough of cold winters and the rust-belt. Larry’s e-mail came at a vulnerable time for me, as I had just finished shoveling off 290 feet of driveway (again), and we’re awaiting another storm with another 8-12 inches of snow forecasted. The hot and buggy places have never been close to my heart, and I love dear old Stafford and Virginia … but there are times! Anyway, if you’re down that way or live there already, “be advised.”

When you receive these notes, we’ll be on the downward slope of this fiscal year’s annual giving campaign. It doesn’t seem possible that time keeps rolling by so fast. Please remember to give this year, as we’re going to need the past givers and some new givers to make it to our goal of 66 percent at our 50th Reunion. I’ll be sending out my e-report from the Class Agents Conference and my spring letter, as well. Please make sure we have your e-mail and current mailing addresses.

Take care, BRs. May the wind (especially the blizzards) be ever at your backs!

’67

Jan Abernathy

It is with sadness that I report that Dennis Walker Graves died on Feb. 5, 2010. He had been suffering from congestive heart failure for some time. (Editor’s Note: His obituary will appear in 2010-Issue 3 of the Review coming out in August 2010.) He was especially proud of three things in his life: finding Dianne late in his life, his association with his Brother Rats and his Vietnam service (Bronze Star and Purple Heart). I want to thank those who responded to my call in August regarding “A BR needs assistance.” The funds collected made Denny’s life much easier during his last months. John and Laura Goode and Hunter and Catherine Taylor joined with Jim and Bootsie Rogers to take on Denny’s needs. Bootsie made it her mission to get Denny into the V.A. hospital system which she did. Denny had been a “lost” BR for some 20 years. When he contacted me to see if ’67 could assist him with his wife’s cremation expenses last August, more than 120 among us chipped in. After I sent the check to the Cremation Society of Virginia for

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Diane’s cremation, Jimmy agreed to administer the balance of our contributions for Denny’s immediate needs. He and Diane had lost their home and income due to her cancer and his medical conditions. A huge THANK YOU goes to ’67 for stepping up for the Graves family. I cannot tell you how profusely thankful Denny was for this assistance. He was so appreciative of the cards and letters and phone calls from his BRs. I spoke with him many times, and he never failed to ask me to thank you all, as he could not get to everyone himself. You made his burden lighter and put many smiles back into his very sad heart. You men and your wives represent the best that the VMI family has to offer, the best of the VMI Spirit. I sent the VMI ’67 scholarship account (originally named for Denny’s roommate, Jimmy Breckinridge) a check in Dennis’ name from the ’67 checking account on behalf of the entire class.

The first section this issue will cover news from your Christmas cards and letters. Kathy and Bob Morin cannot seem to retire. She is a bookkeeper for their parish and a member of the “Old” (her word, not mine) Girl Scout Alumnae Steering Committee providing input to the Council CEO. Bob works at an adult day facility, and his Irish band keeps him busy. Jake de Steiguer says he got into the VMIAA.org Web site and learned my “real” name is Lonnie. No secret here, but it is my grandfather’s name, and he lived with us. Only the IRS calls me Lonnie … and now the Social Security/Medicare folks.

Janice and Jim Clarke said how much they enjoyed the Pipe Band at the chilly inaugural parade last January. Gene Potter said he

celebrated getting his Medicare card by running his first 100-mile trail race. “The finish was very satisfying, but Marilyn says I got grumpy on the drive home. Imagine that!” Max and Terryann Toch say the triplets keep them busy.

Max’s Mom died recently at age 94. Jimmy Waehler’s mom also died last fall at age 91.

Randy Heneberger suggested Joan and I need to make another international trip in order to bring him more foreign coins. Randy, send me a few U.S. coins to pay for the trip, and I will be happy to accommodate your request. Dave Veazey says he is trying to find a book that our BR Chip Chafey said closely outlined his last operation behind the lines in SE Asia. The Five Fingers was written under a pen name and has been out of print for some 30 years. Tom and Lucy Gritzmacher and John and Sandy Lee both sent messages that there were 20 inches of snow outside while they were finishing their cards. Linda Rountree sent a “Thank You” to all of us for keeping her in the ’67 loop. Dave and Marlene Fink’s card had a family photo including the new grandbaby, Robert Jacob Mustel. Marlene is still working with a real estate office, and Dave is enjoying retired life with golf and swimming. He medaled in four events last fall, as there was a paucity of swimmers in the events for his age group … that and the fact that he gets up five days a week at 4:30 a.m. to get in his practice and be prepared. Congrats, Dave! Monica and Ken Chun only sent three photos this year in their letter. They spent time in Yellowstone, Grand Tetons National Park and Las Vegas. Monica teaches 5th grade.

Carol Ann and Doug Mills checked in from the

Class of 1967: At The Villages in Florida, January 2010, were, from left, Dan Deforest ’64, Butch Nunnally ’64, Richard Stanard and Tom Myers ’64. According to Stanard, he dyked Myers when the two were cadets at VMI. The four were attending a Central Florida Chapter meeting at which VMI’s superintendent, Gen. Peay ’62, was the guest speaker.

2010-Issue 2

Florida panhandle. She is still teaching (one more year), and Doug has joined the Optimist Club and enjoys working with local youth.

Dave and Allison Bristow win the “most photos” contest this year, as their letter contained eight. Two of the kids are in college; Dave retired from KAISER after 25 years; one child got engaged; their daughter won a $3000 scholarship for her duct tape evening gown design; and Dave’s mom passed away at the age of 102.

Leslie and John Forsyth sent the longest letter – two full pages crammed with news. Leslie “… endured spinal fusion surgery which went terribly wrong.” Another surgeon “… installed properly sized stabilizing prosthetics” soon after. Then, she tore the plantar fascia in one foot.

Her favorite song is, “If you are going through hell, keep on going,” by Rodney Adkins. Much of the family spent the week after Christmas in Orlando looking for Mickey. Not certain how many were there. John’s parents celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. Shirley Mustard says Tom retired from their church in Bedford, Virginia, only to start back part-time for a church in Roanoke. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy. Doug and Donna Fisher are spending much of their retirement time in their motor home, apparently pursuing golf courses mostly in the south and southwest. Don and Cheryl McMenamin’s backyard has become a wildlife sanctuary (too much time on someone’s retirement hands) with deer, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, raccoons and red foxes. She had the raccoons trapped and set free elsewhere. She also says Liquid Fence helps with the deer. Cheryl says, “Hope they move on soon,” about the foxes.

Ski and Carol Ann Waskiewicz spent much of the year having reunions, celebrating anniversaries, visiting boat shows, attending Redskins games and enjoying their family. Lila and Bill Brent’s card had a great shot of their grandkids.

There were family photos of the Schlossers, the Weiners and the Gioias. Margaret and Frank Oliver say they have moved but remain in Anderson, South Carolina. This last message is from Don Harrison. Don has been on the “out of touch” list for quite some time, and it was a treat to hear from him. He wrote that he and Bill Harris met in summer school taking solid geometry in order to qualify for matriculation at VMI. He and Bob Green and Beegie Harman attended Churchland High School together in Chesapeake, Virginia. (Jan’s note: Don, back then it was only part of Princess Anne County, as there was no Chesapeake.) Don is an insurance broker in Concord, North Carolina, and is on the local boards of the Boys and Girls Club, The Salvation Army and the Vietnam Veterans Association. His wife, Frankie, owns a florist and gift shop called the Goldminer’s Daughter

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CLASS NOTES in Gold Hill, North Carolina. And Don may woke me, he advised me with strong language ground. That reduced my total to 17. I’ll never be our only ’67 Green Beret. Are there others? that A Co. had marched off. He was incredulous know if the President or his aides read our letter, Thanks to all of you who sent your cards, even and told me to change into a blouse and form up but I voted for Johnson the first chance I got. I without including any news. Joan and I thorwith F Co. The bone for unintentionally missing believe it’s a pretty good chance that all cadets oughly enjoyed hearing from you. a formation was five demerits, so I was now with excess demerits that day can thank Gordy Most of you know George Elmore came over the limit for suspension. The President of and me … Hunter” (Jan’s comment: Thank you, through his triple bypass on 18 Dec. with flying the United States was my (our) only hope. At Hunter! It never ceases to amaze me the true colors. He and Suzanne asked me to thank all of the dedication – a pleasant, sunny spring day – I stories and occasional tall tales that you guys you who sent cards and e-mails when I put out the was, of course, anxious about the phrasing of the recall. It is time for all to recall stories for the next information on the ’67 e-mail list. Vernon Knuck- amnesty. Johnson was introduced by Gov. Har- reunion booklet. Sam is specifically collecting les sent a letter bemoaning the cold winter in rison who was introduced by Gen. Shell ’31. At sports stories.) I got an e-mail from Sam Heltzel Cincinnati. He expects to be back in Brazil during the end of his address, he looked at his notes and saying he had met one of “your” recent piper the World Cup series this summer. grads at an alumni chapter organizational He included information on the two meeting in the Memphis area. Capt. Berrybooks he has written: An American man “Chipper” Woodruff ’04 pilots C-17s Globetrotter and Schoolboy Trojans. for the Mississippi Air Guard in and out of I have submitted his book informaAfghanistan, generally taking over re-built tion to the AR folks for inclusion in Abrams and returning with troops needing a future issue.

U.S. medical attention. “He came up to me Last fall, I made an error in attriband said you and Joan were responsible for uting the President Johnson Honor his going to VMI!” Jan adds: Chipper was a Company to the wrong company. high school sophomore who we met at the After the fallout, the following came highland games in Atlanta. He is married to from Hunter Taylor: “Jan, you Amanda, who is attending law school. His have triggered an A Co. memory. mom is a senior flight attendant for Delta.

In about March ’64, my roommate, Dad is USNA ’72 and a retired Delta Tristar Luke Gordy (Conway, Arkansas), pilot. You met Chipper at our 35th Reunion, and I both had 70 demerits. (I recall as he played for us at our memorial service 72-73 got you a one-way ticket out in Cocke Memorial Garden in front of the of Lexington for the remainder of Parapet. I will say again that it keeps us the semester.) When we learned young (ish) as we follow the careers of that Pres. Johnson would be at the recent graduates. And it is always a source Marshall Library dedication and that of pride to watch them mature and achieve our A Co. would be the honor guard their goals. to greet the chopper on the Parade From Chuck Keblusek: “Hi, Jan. At Ground, we decided to write a deslong last, I’m getting online to drop peration letter to the POTUS. We you a note about myself and the family. spent a couple of evenings debating I’m able to finally give an accounting the draft and finally agreed I would of myself after so long, because I sold pen it for both of us, using my best my OB practice in early 2008 and have mechanical drawing lettering skills. closed it at the end of this past July.

The letter ‘informed’ Johnson that After tying up loose ends and getting my it was our understanding that it is last child into college (Va. Tech!), I’ve Class of 1967: Connie and Carter Melton taking a break customary for a visiting president to at last had time enough to sit down and from the ship on a cruise to Alaska in fall 2009. grant a general amnesty to the corps write a note to you. I’ve signed on as of a military academy. However, we an OB hospitalist at St. Mary’s Hospital explained, a general amnesty only erases PTs and said something like: “To express my appreciation here in Richmond and will be an independent confinement (our concern), and we needed his for the fine review parade, I ask Gov. Harrison contractor there without a private practice. This amnesty to also apply to demerits, so we could to order (I’m positive of this verb) Gen. Shell will allow me more time off and less hassle stay in school. We went to Preston Library to look to grant the Corps of Cadets a general amnesty. as relates to insurance companies, paperwork up the official form for addressing the letter. It White gloves and some hats sky rocketed with the and possibly ‘Obama-care,’ if that ever comes was “Mr. President.” We signed it and posted it to cheering. I looked for Luke in A Co. but didn’t to be ... I’m looking forward to rotating in the “The White House” at1600 Pennsylvania Ave. My see him. As the president was walking to his seat, hospital every fourth day and being off the rest dyke, the late David Bell, 1st BN Cmdr., ordered an aide went up to him and whispered in his ear. of the time. Seems like a good way to taper me to be in his room 30 min. before A Co. was to Johnson returned to the podium and said it had down toward retirement. Ginny continues to be form up for the honor guard, so he could person- been brought to his attention that some cadets cancer free and to receive chemo every three ally check my dyke, shoes and appearance. It was have excess demerits that are not affected by the weeks. My son, Scott ’01, and his wife, Brandy, a Sat., so when I got to his room, all the hays were general amnesty and asked, as a special favor, are expecting their first child in early Septemdown, and no one was there. I waited for him that Gen. Shell erase all demerits recorded since ber. We know it’s a boy and are wondering by lying on his hay, remaining very straight and a specific date (don’t remember) in January. Now, if [Scott] will register him at our alma mater. still, so I wouldn’t mess up my dyke. When Bell most of the hats were in the air, and I was on the Scott is a CE at a local firm in Richmond, and

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Brandy is an attorney working in the domestic court, at times in Steve Buis’ court. Amazing how things flow together in life. When he heard her last name, he asked if she were related to a Brother Rat of his – now, I ask you, how many Kebluseks do you think are in the Richmond phone book! Katie, our second child, is in the DC area as a pharmaceutical rep with Eli Lilly and is getting mighty serious about a local boy who was in her same class at Tech years ago. Looks like a wedding in the making. Last (but certainly most significant) our third child, Michael, has transferred to Va. Tech into the agricultural technology program to go into landscaping. The house is at last empty of kids, and I hope a bit more sane. That’s about all I have at present. I’ll try to do better in the future keeping up. Chuck” I recently heard a local radio station promo for free prostate cancer testing. They were teaming up with a university study, and the word FREE always gets the attention of a Scot.

The young doctor was from Russia. Following the exam, his response to my question as to my prostate was, “Good shape; nyet problems!”

And my PSA paperwork arrived several days later to verify his findings. Fellows, I make light of it here, but I encourage you to get your own prostate exam update.

Mel Wright: “Lynn and I have taken over the Meals on Wheels program in the Fredericksburg area. Since retiring, Lynn decided that I needed to be in charge of something, after running a solo practice for 26 years, and she was not going to be it (the something)! Not sure what she was talking about. Any other BRs understand? Anyway, it is quite a switch from pediatrics to dealing with the elderly (defined as anyone older than us). We are heading to Key West this January for a bucket list trip.” Ron Lowry: “We hope the holidays have been good for you as they have been for us. Neighbors this week were talking about college education costs ... their daughter paid over $30K/year.

While recalling the costs during our era, Patsy and I differed on our memory. I thought in state for VMI was about $1100/year for us ... what is your memory? (Jan’s note: Ron and I had a couple of exchanges on the costs. I thought ours was around $3000 per year. Please send in your memories on this.) Patsy and I selected an architect and general contractor this week for our condo redo ... should be finished by next summer. Say hello to any BRs seen. Ron” Ron and Patsy also visited extensively in Virginia recently. He sent in photos of himself and Tubby Wilkinson and Wharton and Ellen Ramsey, but the quality was not clear enough for the AR. Doug Berry: “Jan, if you know of any BRs moving to Raleigh and looking for quarters,

2010-Issue 2

please give them my e-mail address. I am not in the business, but I do have an opportunity for a family in Angier, North Carolina, which is off of Hwy 40 East. S/F & DOR, Doug” Barrett Graham: “I just finished reading the alumni mag cover to cover (we’ve got 4-8 inches of wet snow, depending upon where you’re standing) and of course, thoroughly enjoyed it.

I find it interesting how viewing photos of other classes’ reunions remind me how much that crazy place means to me. I wish we lived a little closer.” Jan adds that this issue might be a little light on ’67 photos, as not many were submitted. Please do your best to send me good quality shots for inclusion. You are mostly a retired group, so you have time to send them in a leisurely fashion. And your BRs want to see them.

I close with a message from Hank Ratrie expressing his thoughts at Denny’s passing.

He included a color photo of Pigpen and Larry Rutherford “stoop jousting” … sitting on hays on the rail with their Rats pushing them towards each other. It won’t make the AR due to quality of the prints of that era, but it is a great memory.

Jan Abernathy

Tom Hickey

’68

Ron Gallagher

I’ll start with some good news I got in January 2010. Barbara Blakey of the VMI Museum wrote that the Hall Of Valor medals from VMI ’68 have finally been put on display. The medals, along with those of other VMI heroes, are in the new Leadership Center. I believe them to be on 2nd floor, on the W&L side, near the stairway coming up from the main entrance near Smith Hall – at least, that is where I found the medals for ’65, ’66 and ’67 back in November 2009.

Heard from Diann Mitchell (Henrico County), Vance Mitchell’s widow, just after the November notes were submitted. Diann wrote, “It was so good to hear from you! Everything is good with me; I am back in Richmond, living close to family and friends and selling for Long and Foster Realtors, a good old VMI guy! Vance’s younger son, Brian, lives here and has two daughters, and David, the older son, lives in Charlottesville with four children, and they are both doing very well. They are wonderful, and check on me often. I am very involved with church work, and my grandchildren really keep me busy with soccer, lacrosse, football, etc. It’s great! I really love going to all the games; I am a born cheerleader!”

Ken Pennington (Amelia Island, FL) sent an update along with his new address. He wrote, “Barb and I are doing well, and we love Amelia. She wanted a second home in the mountains, but I told her she can get that with her new husband after I’m gone. I tried to retire, but when the market tanked, I found a position here on the island with Olympic Steel. The office overlooks the oldest saloon in Florida, so the scenery is always interesting.”

Hal and Sandy Switzer (Cambridge, MD) did a lot of traveling in 2009. They traveled with the Airstream to Prince Edward Island and other areas in Canada. After that, they took a hiking trip at Zion and Bryce Canyon in Utah. Then another trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, including a hike through Montenegro. Not satisfied with this, Hal and Sandy are planning (actually on the road as I write this) more travel in their trailer camper in 2010. They plan to be on the road from January through September with only a short visit home for a few weeks in April/May. Hal wrote, “Sandy and I are indeed ready, and we plan to hit the road again immediately after the first of the year. Two long trips this year … first for about three months to Florida, then points west, maybe as far as Arizona. Home for just a bit, then a 4-5 month stint north and across the Northern tier and out to Vancouver before we head back home. The only stop absolutely cut in stone as to dates is to be in New Market for Rat Parade in September.”

Wayne Burton (Saint Marys, GA) volunteered the following, “Carole and I returned to England to visit our son, Craig, for Christmas.

We spent Christmas week in Malaga, Spain, where we also celebrated our 40th anniversary.

Cold and lots of snow in England. They don’t usually get much snow. We returned home, only to endure 13 straight days of freezing weather.

I heard it was our longest cold spell in south Georgia and north Florida in 100 years. Where is global warming when you need it?”

Via the power of Facebook, I was “friended”

by Richard Burton’s widow, Audrey BaileyBurton. She wrote on my wall, “I am doing well – just keeping busy and enjoying my children and grandchildren. My son, Adam’01, was married Oct. 11, 2009, to a beautiful girl, Adrienne Lawson. I now have all four of my children out of college and married.”

In an e-mail update, Jack Bareford (Swainsboro, GA) wrote, “As I mentioned last fall, the funding for my rural center at the college went away due to the budget crisis in the state. There were no other positions open at the college, so I lost my job Dec. 31st. I am looking for other employment but anticipate it to be difficult in the current environment. Plus, my age will not help, even though I am nowhere near ready for retirement and in excellent health.”

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CLASS NOTES I also received more than a few welcome Christmas letter updates over the holidays. With some heavy editing, here’s what folks wrote about: Wes Padgett (Montgomery, AL) wrote, “After a wonderful 18 months with our grandchildren ‘underfoot,’ we experienced empty nest – maybe for the first time in our lives. We’ve been slowly readjusting to our shrinking household and growing family.” Wes is still working with government contracts at Gunter AFB, and Ruth is still teaching at Prince Institute for Court Reporters.”

Di Johnson (Humble, TX) wrote, “This was a different kind of year for us. I have been retired a whole year now. But isn’t it odd how stuff keeps happening to fill up the day? We snuck away to Costa Rica for a fun short week at a tucked-away beach villa in Playa Grande on the west side. We also made a couple of extended stays at our cottage on Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York.”

Rick Brothers’ (Richmond, IN) letter reported, “Rick returned to work in January and February 2009, taking a Locum Tenens job in Richmond, Indiana. We lived in the Holiday Inn during those months. He loved the hospital. At the end of his time, they offered him a two-year contract. We decided to accept. Rick works for 3-4 weeks, then has 2-3 weeks off.” In a lateDecember update, Rick wrote, “Mike finished # 14 at the U.S. Biathlon Olympic Team Trials in Colerain, Minnesota. He had to be one of the top four to qualify, so he and I returned to the ‘life’ routine, after having spent 11 quality bonding days in the frozen northland.”

Our USAFA grad, David Wagner (Columbine Valley, CO), wrote that he and his Marti celebrated their 30th anniversary with a barge cruise of France that coincided with the finish of the Tour de France. David is chairman of The Colorado School of Mines Foundation. The Foundation was able to raise a record amount of money in 2009. Later, Dave said it was martini time when we talked. Dave moved to the Foundation after serving on the School of Mines’ Board of Trustees. We compared weight stories. Dave says the only uniform item he can fit in is his cadet parka which has a 1969 on it.

When he wore it to a USAFA football game, he heard a cadet remark that he was pretty old.

In 2009, Dave and Marti downsized by moving from Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, to a smaller place in Columbine Valley, Colorado.

Of course, their downsizing meant moving to a larger place but no yard work and much closer to their country club.

Hal Hostetler’s (Portsmouth, VA) annual letter reported that Hal is continuing as the associate pastor at Portsmouth’s Calvary Baptist Church. He has taken leadership roles in the

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Tidewater Concert Band and the local chapter of the Military Officers Association.

Bill Millan (Arlington, VA) wrote that Susan continues her work as a speech pathologist in Fairfax County. Bill finished another edition of the International Conservation Budget (the sixth edition he has produced) for the Nature Conservancy.

Kerr Kump (Elkins, WV) was at the “Backyard Brawl,” the West Virginia-Pitt basketball game, when I called, so Susie and I talked for a while. Cyrus is in Winchester working for Chuck Maddox’s old engineering firm. Will is in Moorefield, WV, working on the Corridor H project. Elizabeth is in Richmond. Ann is in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

George Buzzard (Waynesboro, VA) is still refereeing high school basketball – some of which are being rescheduled because of the series of snowstorms that hit the VA/MD area in late January/early February. George retired from the school system in July 2009 but goes in two days a week as a part timer. Unlike George, Norma is completely retired from the school system. Blair’s husband is stationed at Fort Bening, GA, where she teaches second grade.

They’ve provided George and Norma with a grandson. Son Scotty has four kids, giving George and Norma grandkids ranging in age from 18 to 1. George and Norma made the West Point football trip in November 2009.

Bill Bragg (Mercerville, NJ) said he had back surgery in mid-November 2009 and been out on medical leave since. Elaine has her own business in interior design, especially kitchen and bath remodels.

Will Robertson (Virginia Beach, VA) was at choir practice when I called, so I talked with Emily. Emily had been assistant dean of students at the College of Albemarle in North Carolina but left there and returned to Old Dominion University, where she runs two of their full service distance learning sites in northern Virginia. She’s still active with her artwork, showing at a gallery in Fredericksburg and in North Carolina from time to time.

Talked with Alfred Smith’s widow, Hallie (Richmond, VA), in mid February. She says she’s doing fine. She has four grandchildren – her son’s two little boys and her daughter’s boy and girl – and [as of this writing,] her daughter is due to have another baby in March. In fact, the night we spoke, she was planning a trip to Chicago to babysit her daughter’s kids in February with a return trip in March when the baby comes. She says she hears from Lynn Hill Slabaugh and John Van Landingham (Eugene, OR). She also saw Rev Jones in Brittany in 2009 and had a mini reunion.

Jim Burg (Prescott, AZ) responded to the note I sent out on the upcoming data call for the

next edition of the Register of Former Cadets.

He wrote: “16th year of helping others rehabilitate from war-related injuries, both physical and mental. I’ve also been doing some guest speaking for MOAA and my church and was the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Prescott V.A. I’m still as driven as ever but use a lot more wisdom in decision making and when helping others in despair. Many disabled veterans have given up hope, and I feel driven to help them through their darkest hours.

I get great satisfaction from helping others and apply the qualities and characteristics I learned from satisfactorily matriculating from one of the greatest military/ ROTC programs in the nation. I’ve had a lot of good help since being wounded 40 years ago. I value the opportunity to share with others. My master’s degree in counseling and subsequent licensure in that field have all worked together for the good of others and my success in life.”

Phil Lanier (Monroe, LA) responded to that same e-mail with, “Went to a game last fall with BRs Wise (Richmond, VA), Donald (Richmond, VA) and Walton (Richmond, VA). Thought I would see you there, but I guess you get tired of seeing all the losses. Our daughter and husband live in Denver, and we spent Thanksgiving with them. While there, Creigh Kelley (Centennial, CO) and I spent an afternoon catching up on things. Creigh is still living on airplanes half the time in the track and field world.”

I got copied on an e-mail exchange several weeks after the devastating Haitian earthquake that included the following comments from Bob MacPherson (Charlotte, NC): “I am sitting in Port au Prince. It is hot, humid and pretty grim. Veronica and I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, on 15 Dec. ’09. Her family is all from the city. I haven’t spent much time there, but it appears to be a neat place. I am also only four hours from Lexington, so I can stay in touch with Ad and a good friend from the class of ’59 (Harry MacGregor).”

Dean Kershaw (Hamilton, VA) responded to Bob with, “Nancylee and I built a house between Fairfield and Lexington, so if you head to Raphine, give us a call. Nancylee is living there full time while I’m using Dubai as my base of operations, setting up IT services and PM services for L-3 Communications.” Dean provided additional information in a second e-mail: “I’m living in Dubai where I’ve established an office for L-3 STRATIS. Marketing enterprise IT services and tailored program management services. Headed to Doha, Qatar, for a software presentation tomorrow for three days. Nancylee has gone back to school full time to become a physician’s assistant. She’s living in our house outside of Lexington. I get home every

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES six weeks or so. I’ll be back 18 Feb.-5 March.

Nancylee will come back to Dubai with me for her spring break. Our two youngest kids will fly over the next week on their spring breaks – Diana from Ole Miss and Thomas from the University of Idaho. BTW ... he’s a Sigma Nu. Couldn’t talk him into VMI, but he did join a VMI fraternity. Saw Larry Ryan (Winchester, VA) in January. Larry just moved to Winchester, Virginia, and is working for the Corps of Engineers’ Middle East Division. He’s the PM for Kuwait, so we may have an opportunity for him to visit Dubai, too. Ned Harris (North Andover, MA) was working in Abu Dhabi last year but left just before I moved over. Trying to talk he and Cornelia into returning for a visit, but he went back to work in Sacramento, building a light rail system. Can’t keep Ned away from trains.”

George Sebren (Niceville, FL) added, “My wife, Kay, and I are currently on extended stay in Key West and have gotten local info about the Coast Guard cutter Mohawk’s mission down there. Also, a local sailing club is sending a flotilla down there today to deliver donated supplies.” In an earlier message, George wrote, “All is not well in Key West this year. We arrived on Jan. 3 in time to endure the longest cold snap in Keys history. For over a week temps, were in the 50s during the day and the 40s at night. The record low of 41 was not broken, thank goodness, as it only got down to 42. Fortunately for us, the house we have rented has heat – many down here do not. Otherwise, life is grand in Margaritaville, and they never run out of whiskey somehow. We’ve been to two wonderful plays and a burlesque show that was a hoot. Planning a trip to the Dry Tortugas and gay bingo later. Ran into a ’92 grad, Dale Bishop (his father was ’58), who is a fishing guide. We’ll try to hook up for some fishing next week.”

In the same e-mail train, John Crim (New Market, VA) wrote, “Since last summer, my wife and I have been fixing up a beach place in Pine Knoll Shores near Atlantic Beach and Morehead City. We don’t get there nearly enough, but it has four bedrooms and four full baths, and if scheduling permits, you all are certainly welcome to join us some week or more.

Unlike the Outer Banks, when you stand on the deck, you face due south over the Atlantic.

Last fall while we were there, the new U.S.S. New York anchored off for a night, then tied up in Morehead City for the day. Quite a sight and story!” In an earlier e-mail, John wrote that his restaurant in New Market honors veterans on Veteran’s Day by giving them a free meal. In late November, he wrote, “This past Veteran’s Day, our steak dinner numbers were 164 meals served and 20 rain checks issued. That made

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a total of 184 Vets-Service-Personnel meals served. Last year, we served about 134 all together. Definitely a long (and immensely satisfying) evening.”

John Andrews (Yorktown, VA) sent me a short note when we “linked” via LinkedIn: “Hi, Tom. I am doing great. Hope you are well, also.

Sorry I don’t get up to Lexington as often, now that the boys are out. Are you ready for some more snow? Have a great day!”

Also via LinkedIn in late January, I heard from Herb Brasington (Hillsboro, OR): “Am in Montana for a week of skiing;” Dee Biggs (Acton, MA): “Doing well and am on my way to Phoenix for a meeting next week;” John Kemper (Richmond, VA): “Doing great – up early watching the snow come down – we are supposed to get a foot today;” and from Dave Avery (Lyme, NH): “Workload increasing but budget cut. I spend days arguing how to cut the budget more and who on the staff we can make do without.”

Hope you all are doing great. More in three months.

’69

Walter Judd

Greetings, BRs and friends of the class of 1969. It is mid winter in eastern Virginia, and our big snow storm is now history. Saturday, 30 Jan., was an all-day snow affair, and we loved it. But then, Monday came and we had to clean up everything and resume the daily grind. Just to make sure we had enough white stuff, that first storm was followed by two others in the weeks to follow. For an area not used to much snow, we are rich indeed this winter.

Basketball games, holiday gatherings and greetings, and interesting trips highlight this version of our notes. In a fit of cabin fever at the end of December, I invited many BRs to join me in Lexington for an evening basketball game. Tom Morris and I took off in mid Jan. on a weekend retreat to Lexington and met Jimmy and Beth Long at the game and reception before the game. We dropped off Gail Morris at her daughter’s house in Richmond (so she could do the “Grandmother” thing …) and drove on to Lexington. We ate lunch at the Bistro on Main and then checked the book store on Post. There we found David and Susan Prugh outside and Ron and Betsy Wall inside. The place was quiet, as the Corps was in Richmond marching well for the new Virginia governor at his inauguration. Ron was busy entertaining two young children of the cashier and loving it. We all met again at the basketball game that evening, where we also greeted Chuck and Beth Becker,

Tommy Catlett, and Peyton and Gail Brown.

Not a bad showing for our class, I thought.

When I sent out the word that Tom and I were heading to Lexington, several BRs responded with “regrets.” Al Pond, Lee Barnes, Rawls Williams and Frank Easterly liked the idea but were unable. Marty Parks tried to schedule it.

Jim and Beth Long have a houseful of people all the time, but his Thanksgiving group might have been a record. “We fed 39 people ... some were little munchkins but still a house full.”

Mav also passed along a quick report on the VMI-Old Dominion University football game in late Nov. “In attendance were Ron and Betsy Wall, Dave and Susan Prugh, Chuck and Beth Becker, Whip Priest, Marty and Elizabeth Parks, John Sebrell, T.O. Palmer, Leotis Barnes, and Beth and me. While the game was high-scoring and close, ODU left town with us disappointed.” Bob and Susan Alexander sailed in the warm Caribbean in mid Jan. When sending his regrets for the 16 Jan. gathering, Dr Bob wrote, “Out of town celebrating 40th wedding anniversary ... warm breezes in the tropics on a 45-foot catamaran, sipping rum drinks and smiling at colorful fish ... thanks for the invite, but Susan made me do it!” He added then, “It has been cold here out catching 46-inch rockfish [in the frigid Virginia waters, but someone has to do it!].” I think we need a class fishing derby: Mercer out of Virginia Beach vs. Alexander of Yorktown vs. Nelson from Deltaville. Let the best boat win.

Courtney and Ellen Welton greeted pretty cold weather down in Key West. Court wrote on 4 Jan., “Great idea [to gather at the 16 Jan. basketball game], but Ellen and I have deployed south to Key West for the winter. We had a gorgeous white Christmas in Richmond and left the day after to visit my kids and grandchildren in Roanoke and Apex, North Carolina. The new addition to the family is a granddaughter born on Valentine’s Day last year. On the way to Florida, we stopped for two days in Savannah.

That was a treat. Then, we stopped in Florida for oranges and orchids on the way to Key West. We arrived with 71-degree temperatures and a glorious sunset.”

BRs are enjoying ribbing each other – still.

Biker Bob Ladd found Frank Daniels last summer after some research to invite him to a special ceremony honoring their Rat roommate, Frank Webb, at Fort Benning. Although Frank (or Danny, as Bob called him) was unable to attend, the two have resumed the friendship begun a lot of years ago. Bob wrote of a time on one winter Saturday night when Frank was caught sipping something stronger than water in the Barracks by none other than the First Captain. When Frank played Barracks lawyer for a moment with Mr. Tallman, he thought he

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CLASS NOTES had escaped trouble. Like all very crafty cadet officers, however, Mr. Tallman passed the word to the Rat basketball coach that some of his charges had been sipping in their off hours.

As Bob relates it, “[Coach] Joe Hobbs found out that some of us basketball players had had a couple of cold ones, and the practice should have been for cross country, not bball … !” Ken Houston wrote he, too, had talked with Danny (as well as with Fred Smith) and enjoyed his conversations.

November 2009’s Founders Day ceremonies and Institute Society Dinner brought Bob and Lush Heely and Bunny and Carolyn Paulette to Lexington. Bev and I sat with the small group and invited Pat Webb, Texas A&M ’69 and VEEP of Annual Giving, to sit with us in our far corner, about as far from the speaker’s dais as possible, in the new Leadership Center. I am not sure that room was even open for our reunion dinner, but on this night, it housed three tables of rowdies from ’69, ’70 and ’71.

Charlie Bryan has enjoyed having a few more hours during his retirement time. He said he discovered in some old letters a reference to BR Mike Hill. We have lost contact with Mike and would appreciate anyone knowing info about him contacting me or Charlie. Charlie also related that he combined family trips (to see daughter) to Chapel Hill with good times with John and Marie Mitchell.

That Judge Glenn Hammond is something?!

“Did I tell you that I performed the marriage ceremony for my son, 1st Lt. Barry Hammond ’06, on 7 Nov. ’09, at Lake Arrowhead, California? (Editor’s Note: See the class of ’06 class notes for a photo of Hammond, his son and the bride.) Any U.S. judge can perform marriages in the Peoples Republic of California, and I did just that! What a great honor to hitch my own kid.” For a now (as of 3 Dec. ’09) retired guy, Glenn finds a few things that give him pleasure.

I want to thank Col. Diane B. Jacob, head, Archives & Records Management of the VMI Library, for helping me obtain a copy of our matriculation records. I sent a formal request for copies of the pages and was able to get them from her. Now, the hard part comes: I am compiling a database of names and pertinent info on our class members. I will pass this on to whoever requests it, so they can know the names of the men who are associated with our illustrious class. I have written before that Rawls Williams and Tim Rahm began a study of all the degrees our BRs have earned. I have added to that study other BRs whose records are available to me and will now seek to expand the study to those who have not kept up with the class. I find it interesting that our Alumni Association doesn’t have all the info available on every person to “sign the book,” so I am

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gathering data. Feel free to help me with “I know what happened to” stories for guys who stayed only short times with us.

Ward Carr sent the following newsy note and a photo to prove where he went.” We were in China for a wedding the beginning of December. We were only there 10 days, so we couldn’t get to see Jay Hoenig. Malte Gaack, my colleague on the Bismarck book project, got married to a girl from Foshan (about 140 KMs north of Hong Kong). Malte and Happee visited us last summer, and she hit it off with our girls, so we all went over from 3 to 12 Dec. No small feat, as the kids had several tests during that time. But the schools said they could take their tests later, and off we went. We arrived in Peking on 4 Dec., did the super quick tourist thing and left for Hong Kong 5 Dec. We went by bus from HK back to mainland China. Apparently, Confucius had a younger brother who went to Ireland and changed his name to Murphy.

That’s right; the people put us on the wrong bus at the border. But Anna sat next to a lady who spoke English and was really great; she helped us get straightened out. Otherwise, we would have faced a 35-year tour in a detention camp in western China. We spent three days in Foshan for the wedding, one day on the road and then went through Macau to Hong Kong for the final three days. It was a great trip. And yes, we did think about you all and did not eat all the grilled centipedes and smoked rats we saw. We knew you would want some when you came. Here

is a picture of us on the Tiananmen Square, just before I ripped off my shirt exposing my ‘Freedom for Tibet’ T-shirt.”

Gary Mackey keeps me informed on several BRs. He related a visit with B.A. Rennolds at his house in the country near Tappahannock, Virginia. “My Peggy and I spent a day with B.A. and his Peggy in August and had a great time.

Their new neighbor is Carl Strock ’70 (and several other years!) and his wife, who are remodeling an old country plantation.” For those of you with short memories, Carl took command of the Army Corps of Engineers from BR Bob Flowers and served in that position for a couple of years.

That change of command ceremony still rings as special in my book. Several of us from the class were there to support the two generals.

Young Bob Waldo wrote in late Jan., “I’m going into semi-retirement. As of the first of February 2010, I’ll become a Class III [as required] employee … that means I’ll be working on a task-specific basis. I have enjoyed my full-time employment and look forward to my part-time employment. Most of you know, my wife, Ruth, still works. While she has said when I retire she’s going to retire, I’m not sure if it will be the same day. Accordingly, we are not planning any extended trips in the near future, but I do see them in the not too distance future.

When I’m not back at TEC, I’ll be working around the house and playing more golf. I wonder if I’ll get any better or just lose [or should I say misplace] more golf balls? I don’t know if

Class of 1969: Ward Carr and his family visited Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China, in December 2009.

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CLASS NOTES Ruth had this in mind, but she did give me four golf lessons as a Christmas present. Did she know something I didn’t?”

Webb Hatch’s Frostburg State basketball team has a winning record so far. I get the bimonthly bulletins and monitor the “other” FSU and their coach. When you kick back and think about the hardest jobs you have done, give Webb a positive thought. He makes a living out of motivating young athletes to perform better and looks good doing it!

Larry and Katy Brydon opened their own jewelry store (MacLaren Jewelers) in the Richmond suburb of Glen Allen on 30 Nov. Visit Larry in person or on-line at www.MacLarenJewelers.com!

Now to Christmas and holiday greetings. I appreciate your many cards and letters. They give me some great info on what you are doing.

Bob and Sandy Clingenpeel had a busy year traveling: Sydney, Australia, on business (!?), Baltimore for a wedding and the Caribbean on a five-masted sailing ship. Their picture was the wedding portrait from the Walter’s Art Museum in Baltimore, showing everyone in “fancy dress.” Spunky Butler sent news that he was retiring from government work and joining the truly retired crowd. We’ll take bets on how long that lasts … Don Mercer checked in from Virginia Beach. No fishing pictures this time.

Rudy and Judy Segaar have mastered the art of merging photos together in a colorful and

Class of 1969: Rudy and Judy Segaar dressed up for a Civil War re-enactors’ ball, winter 2009.

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interesting way. We got a look at Civil War finery as the two dressed up for Victorian Dance Society gala. Rudy, a Rebel Colonel? Did Scandinavians fight for the South? [Tell me, folks.]

There were also photos of first class private Rudy teaching classes in Civil War lore to kids and George Mason University ROTC cadets.

Larry Riegner sent a card from his new abode in Ponce Inlet, Florida. [Florida sounds great today, as we in Virginia, are digging out from wind and snow yesterday!] Glenn and Elizabeth Hammond sent a nice note. The Judge is retired now. Don Nelson said he enjoyed seeing Barracks in the card I sent and then said it was better now than the January day in 1966 when we returned from Christmas break … Tom Jones of Macon, Georgia, has a celebrity wife.

Elizabeth is a local “Biggest Loser” TV personality [she of ironman and marathon event fame], and people recognize her everywhere they go.

Notoriety is hard to get and hard to live with [so I hear]. They both competed in an Ironman event in Mexico. He won by one second …

Mike and Leigh Harper checked in from Kentucky. New client in China and a weekend trip to St. Michaels, Maryland – their letter shows a speck of the schedule they keep. Bev and I have discovered Solomon’s, Maryland, and enjoy trips to the Chesapeake Bay-side village. Tommy and Becky Hudson love their mountain retreat in West Virginia. Tommy is still painting and dealing with Virginia politicians as a lobbyist. [No matter what you hear, we do know some lobbyists with consciences.]

Gary Vitt and Sam Hoffman sent cards.

Harold and Jane Fleischer sent a card drawn by their son, Kurt. Their memories of son Jacob killed in Afghanistan in 2004 are still very strong.

Amo and Margy Judd sent a picture of them “ziplining in Hocking Hills, Ohio.” Hard hats and lots of ropes fill in the picture. I looked but could not find an aerial vehicle of any sort in the image.

Check out the site of many parks and trails; the place is famous for more than just being the site of the William T. Sherman museum. Mel and Kathy Adams would not be too surprised with our ton of snow if it fell in their Vermont area. Even their Christmas card has several snowy scenes! Neither would Mike and Mary Giles from their home in the Boston suburb of Somerville. Lloyd and Debbie McGrady wrote from Waco that they had seen Mike and Debbie Maguigan in Atlanta and Waco areas last year and had done a little Texas Hill Country wine tasting on the Texas journey.

Gordon and Pat Bailey send me frequent e-mails and also sent a card. They enjoyed the reunion and their visit back to the Valley.

That guy with the funny hat at the reunion sent a card. You may remember Joe Howard had a funny, floppy hat on most of the time and loved the attention it brought. Joe’s words were simple:

working at Los Alamos for 35th year, and wife Jenny is doing OK. Both are good news. Lynchburg, Virginia, Flint family – Bob and Polly – celebrated their 40th anniversary in August and, as the note said, Polly’s milestone birthday. We older gentlemen say to Polly, it is not so bad to have passed that milestone! Three grandchildren bless this set of grandparents as well as the news that Polly’s three sisters now live in the same area. Four “Blackwell girls” now live in the same community. Not many of us can say that. Geoff and Frances Taylor sent holiday greetings, as did Peyton and Gail Brown.

And lastly Rick and Maryanne Snow sent greetings from New Mexico. Rick has added to his resume: grape grower as well as potter and master blower-upper. The vineyard has produced fruit and will be exchanged for the finished product (after its time in the barrel with the local wine maker). Potter Rick still sells his goods at local Arts Festivals and then works on destruction of other guys’ stuff at work. Mary Anne is now a board certified ultrasound nurse and has started teaching in the nursing aide program at their local community program. Her most fun, however, is taking Duffy, the black standard poodle to long term care and hospice facilities for a little “make people smile” therapy. Having spent some months this past year in such facilities with my mom-in-law, I can certainly relate to this terrific use of time and energy.

I mentioned my studies of the class and its missing persons. Write or call me if you know about our BRs who did not graduate but still lead interesting and productive lives. We want to remember them, as well. Maybe there is another interesting story there for all of us to share.

And don’t forget Annual Giving. Every penny we give for the next 10 years goes into our count for our 50th. Let’s make that grand reunion a reason to celebrate in several ways.

See you at a baseball game. In the Spirit …

Walt

’70

Bill O’Connor

Hello to all. As I write these notes in February, I know that by the time you read them, we will have had our 40th Class Reunion. It is hard to believe that it has been almost 44 years since we assembled in Cock Hall, signed the matriculation book, marched off to Barracks and entered Jackson Arch for a journey that still continues to this day. The time tested adage that old friends are the best friends is no better exemplified than by the term “Brother Rat.” How many times have you heard non-VMI people speak of the special relationship that exists in the VMI

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CLASS NOTES family? I think that “relationship” is most evident in class reunions. As I write these notes, I don’t know how many BRs will attend reunion, but I’m guessing that it will be a pretty good turnout. I am also guessing that a lot of relationships will pick up right where they left off, whether it was 44 years ago or the last time you saw a BR. We gave up a lot by going to VMI, as opposed to a “regular” college, but I bet you a dime to a donut that most of our old high school friends would give a lot to have what we have had for 44 years and will continue to have until we depart this earth. Taps has sounded for 10 of our Brother Rats since matriculation. Although they are no longer with us, they certainly are not forgotten. The following deceased BRs will be remembered as long as we have a living classmate: Kerry Newberry (6/11/72), Philip R. Ramsey (1/23/76), Henry Parish (10/5/78), Frank H. Whitenack (8/6/80), Theodore B. Bolton (1/25/81), Edward D. Holmes (9/1/85), K. Scott Strong (9/23/92), Joseph E. Vojtecky (5/18/02), Randolph B. Jones (7/19/03) and Richard Corbett (7/21/06). God bless them, and may their eternal rest be peaceful.

News was somewhat sparse this quarter. I suspect that news “catch up” will occur at reunion.

Received a note from Paul Dickinson with a family update: “Hope this finds you and Paula well. I have been meaning to write and bring you up to date with my life and family. Judy and I now have five grandchildren. Paul ’96 and Alison are living in Richmond and have a girl, Mattie (4 yrs.), and a boy, Taylor (2 yrs). Paul is with Price Waterhouse and in the Air Force Reserve. John lives in Springfield, Virginia, and is with Nothrup Gruman. He and Shannon had a boy, Aidan, born on July 7, 2009. He has encountered some problems, but things seem to be looking much better for him. I appreciate that Ralph’s (Costen) and Neil’s (Steverson) Prayer Group prayed for him. Jane and Derek live in Draper, Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. They have two children. Emory was born Sept. 1, 2008, and Beckett was born on Nov. 11, 2009. Yep, that is Founders Day, and it is also my birthday. A side note: If I can remain healthy, I am going to begin playing 60-andover tennis tournaments again. If any of you BRs know of any tournaments in your area, let me know. I will consider it an invite for free housing during the tourney.” Thanks for the update, Paul. By the way, you have my vote for changing the least in the last 44 years. Still can see your feet and still hit a tennis ball!

Judge Neil “no one is innocent in my court” Steverson sent a nice note, which follows: “Just finished reading the Alumni Review and as always, enjoyed reading your column. My bit of news was that De had a heart scare in October,

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which kept us from attending the Institute Dinner in November. However, she is doing much better now. In January, we met up with Cy and Mary Margaret Dolph at the winter meeting of the Virginia Bar Association, and for the weekend, we had a fantastic time retelling ‘Old Corps’ stories – some of which may have been true. Cy looks exactly like he did on graduation day. I have been working on him to return to reunion in April. He and Mary Margaret do a lot with their children, and Cy even judges rowing events for his daughter, which he may be doing on our reunion weekend. I have not given up hope on him yet. He, at least, has made a hotel reservation. I played a round of golf with Herb Braun before the winter avalanches hit Richmond and hope to get out there after the spring thaw – which may not come until July.

On my way to Florida for Spring Training again this March for my annual baseball fix.” Thanks, Neil – glad De is on the mend, and thanks for the update on Cy. I sure hope he does attend.

The GOMBACS just returned from their annual trek to Myrtle Beach. This year’s group included John Bailey, Dave Schmidt, Tom Cooke, Warren Grasty, Herb Braun, Gary Weishaar, Jim Mawyer, Charlie Walker, A.C. Arnn, Roy Heddleston, Stix Chandler and Richard Balderson. As always, the golf was so-so, but the activities were great. As with most VMI get-togethers, the stories continue to be the often repeated stories of old but with different endings.

This will be my last official act as class agent, and before I relinquish the reins to our new class agent, Warren “the e-mailer” Grasty, I would like to thank a number of people for their assistance during my tenure. First of all, I want to thank my wife, Paula, for all she has done.

She made sure all deadlines were met and acted as chief censor. She edited all written submissions and deleted all hyphenated words, offensive words (such as commie and democrat) and all references to activities that would cast an amoral cloud over any BR. Thank you, Paula; I appreciated all that you did. I would also like to thank Chips Lanier for setting up and administering a first class Web site for our class.

Thanks, Chips; job well done. Next I would like to thank Ned Haley for all he has done in locating and contacting missing BRs. Fabulous job, Ned! Lastly, I would like to thank our 40th Reunion Committee for putting together a great reunion weekend. Many thanks to Tom Cooke, Herb Braun, Ralph Costen, Bob Copty, Bill Gearhart and Ned Haley for all you did.

GOOD job! I assumed the class agent’s position five years ago. Since then, I have changed jobs three times, gained 40 pounds, lost a good portion of my hair and now occasionally wet the bed. Having experienced all that, I would like

to say that it was a privilege being your class agent these past five years, but it has been an honor being your Brother Rat the last 44 years.

God bless each and every one of you and your families. Please give Warren the support you have given me.

Bill - Rah Va Mil, ’70, ’70, ’70

’71

James Kelly

Gentlemen: We have lost one of the biggest stories of the “old days” that we could share with our grandchildren. The winter of 2009-10 has officially outdone anything most of us have ever seen and, as such, will become the source of tales for someone else to tell. NOVA could have been a venue for the Winter Olympics.

However, we can (and will) always remember our Ratline as truly representative of the Old Corps and, as far as I know, still the longest in modern history. That Mother Nature cannot take away from us.

In spite of the rough winter, I hope everyone has had an otherwise good start for the New Year and will have a prosperous new decade.

Kathryn and I have tried on a few occasions to catch up with our basketball team but always seemed to run into ice and snow. A lot of BRs had planned to get together for the Winthrop game on Feb. 6 but most had to bail out when the storms began arriving for that weekend.

Buddy Bryan expressed his concern about getting to the game, and he lives there! Buddy also reported that Carol is improving nicely from her double knee replacements but still needs some ice and Tylenol at times.

Keith Simmons e-mailed me some time ago that he and Debbie had celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary. Keith is still with Booz Allen Hamilton and working with the U.S. Navy in the area of communication logistic support. Debbie helps plan surface ship christenings and commissionings. Keith and Debbie have eight grandchildren scattered in Virginia, Arkansas and the Azores.

If you are going to be in the Atlanta area, you may want to look up Spooky Mays. He and Nancy have relocated to Roswell, Georgia, and have plans to start their own yogurt shop business. They hope to be up and running this month (February) in a shopping center called Sweet Apple Village. The move also brings them closer to their children and three grandchildren.

Kimiko and Phil Hannum celebrated Phil’s birthday in November with their third trip to Japan. They visited the large island of Hokkaido, fished for salmon and did the sights. Phil has now been with Apple FCU for five years, and

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CLASS NOTES he and Kim are both very active in their church community.

Along with his Christmas card, Bill Ginder sent a photo of about nine pretty tough looking hombres (and Margaret in the middle), suited up and well armed, getting ready for the first day of dove season in Texas. It reminded me of my family when we get together for skeet shooting with enough shotguns to outfit the Confederacy.

Maybe we could meet you guys at the TexasVirginia border (wherever that is) sometime and see which clan has the better arsenal.

Steve Turner is still flying 747s for Atlas Air with two weeks on and two weeks off. During his breaks from flying, he visits his daughter in Richmond and son in Mooresville, North Carolina, who is associated with NASCAR. Also with a Christmas card I got a note from Bill Wadsworth. Bill’s son has just entered seminary at Mount Saint Mary’s (Maryland) and will study for the Roman Catholic priesthood. Bill and his wife have wrestled with some health problems lately but are hanging tough and hoping for better days ahead.

John Ashman now has two daughters in college with Julia at the University of Colorado and Jeanna at UCLA. This leaves empty nester John to make “mad money” trading stocks and wife JoAnn continuing to work for Kellwood Company managing their eCommerce sites.

Kathryn and I got to spend time in Richmond over the holidays with our grandchildren, Lauren (’26) and Ryan (’27), who are now age six and five respectively, and with their proud parents, Chuck and Veronica Fox. I appreciate all of the holiday cards we received this past year. In addition to those who sent notes and newsletters, we heard from Bob Kardian, Buddy Bryan, Jim Gearhart, Billy Rose, Bob Neville, Sid Friend, Bill Stallings, Geof Schelhorn and Dan Peer.

I don’t know how many of you saw the December issue of the Institute Report, but there is an interesting article in there about the traditional high rise white ducks. Remember “cracking” those things and then trying to keep them from wrinkling and/or getting dirty? The Corps is now experimenting with low rise white trousers (with belt loops no less). Word is the cadets like the new trousers, and VMI may eventually adopt them as “official,” but they will still retain the time honored white ducks for formal occasions. The cadet laundry processes over 7,000 pairs of trousers each week when whites are in season. Cadets also now receive their shirts pressed and on hangers, thus “saving them time” with unfolding and touching up.

Any way you look at it, the cadet laundry is a busy place and plays an important role in keeping the Corps looking sharp.

I recently received the first quarter giving

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information from VMI. Our class is off to a good start for the fiscal year, and I hope that each of you will consider helping out in some way as the year progresses. I don’t have to tell you that a quality education takes some serious dollars to achieve.

That is about all for now. I hope to be seeing and hearing from you in 2010. Be safe out there.

Yours in the bonds … Jim

’72

Larry Houseworth

Brothers, families, friends and observers: These notes cover Thanksgiving 2009 through Valentine’s Day 2010. One week after backto-back, end-of-days blizzards, the nation’s capital continues to extricate itself from more than 50 inches of global warming. At deadline, we’re cowering in the face of a third storm that planted 7 inches on Dallas and dusted Savannah. Thank God in Heaven for the character instilled through mid-winter tours of Post #4.

But all of this will be past history by the time you receive these notes – a glorious (hopefully) Shenandoah May …

Business first: Information from the Class Agents get-together. Col. Jeff Curtis ’79, chief of staff, discussed the current and “flatline” state budget and cost increases. He said that VMI is working to keep tuition and fees down to attract top caliber cadets and keep them in school. He also said that, in spite of the challenging financial situation, Gen. Peay ’62 is working to ensure that new and existing infrastructure remains functional and optimum for cadet learning and development. He affirmed the Institute’s determination in providing financial aid to those cadets who otherwise would not be able to benefit from the VMI experience.

Jeff then gave a brief overview of the ongoing construction to develop the Military and Leadership Field Training Grounds (North Post).

This includes development of at least three club sports playing fields, a renovated obstacle course and construction of a new baffled rifle range, all scheduled to be completed within two years, and should funding be available, future development of a field house. The final project he discussed was the renovation of the “Science Building” which will include reconfiguration of labs, architectural improvements, and improved HVAC and mechanical systems and laboratories.

Greg Cavallaro ’84 addressed the goals of the Keydet Club and its plans to meet a $3,550,000 annual giving goal for scholarships and athletic operations. He reviewed his efforts for maintaining the Keydet Club donor base

in the face of the current financial challenges through the increased use of class representatives (Gale Sommers – rah!) and continued emphasis on 75th Anniversary participation.

Executive vice president of The VMI Alumni Association, Adam Volant ’88, addressed the status of New Cadet Recruiting, the new Alumni Association “cookbook” and the concept for the next Register of Former Cadets. He reviewed this year’s recruiting program which is in full swing with receptions in Lynchburg, Roanoke, Richmond, northern Virginia and Nashville, Tennessee (a new target market).

The Alumni Association “cookbook” will reach out to audiences such as spouses, widows and parents. A Web-based vendor will publish the book which will contain stories, pictures and items of interest. Adam discussed at length the efforts of the association to create the 2010 edition of the Register of Former Cadets. He said alumni should expect a postcard and e-mail inviting them to make a toll-free call to the organization partnered for the project to check data and update records. The Register will be available in late 2010.

The VMI Foundation’s new chief executive officer, Brian Crockett, presented an extensive look at the Foundation. He candidly addressed the challenges of returning to pre-recession giving levels. State tax revenues are declining; operating and infrastructure improvement costs are rising; tuition and fees must remain competitive to attract the best and brightest faculty and candidates for admission; and the Institute is pressing ahead with the successes of “Vision 2039.”

Brian has met with Gen. Peay, department heads, key Institute staff, all members of the Alumni Agencies and 150 selected major donors, board members and key alumni to introduce himself and obtain their perspective on fund raising. He discussed his efforts to establish an aggressive prospect management program to interact with the Keydet Club. This program will support a disciplined management of portfolios, teamwork and collaboration among gift officers. Focusing on personalized attention to all major donors, the program will emphasize solicitation tracking with guidance and defined steps that ultimately lead to a greater number of successful solicitations.

He concluded by reiterating that the current financial environment presents significant challenges to VMI for the education and welfare of the Corps of Cadets – the paramount mission of the Institute. He emphasized the absolutely critical significance of alumni support in achieving this mission.

So … how are we, as a class, doing our part?

Twenty-two members of our august throng contributed a total of $16,240 (for the year through

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CLASS NOTES lobbying is grass roots. And community banks 1 Nov,) in Annual Giving. This is 8.25% of are in everybody’s district.” our total solicit-able population. This puts us Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director exactly in the middle of giving percentages for at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and the classes of 1969-75 – our “contemporaries.” a member of Americans For Financial Reform, Our individual donations ranged from $25 says, “(i)t’s really quite simple. The big banks $10,000, but –again – participation percentage are based in Charlotte, New York and a couple trumps donation amount. Please remember other places. The little banks are based in Evthe Institute and its significant challenges, and erytown, USA. They aren’t out-of-town suits. show your appreciation through any contribuThat’s why everyone wants them on their side.” tion – in any amount. Thank you, BRs. In response, Cam says, “I’ve talked with To the news and a profound apology. I did not include this news of Cam Fine provided by Hank members of the consumer lobby; I’ve talked to Humphreys in the last issue. As president and representatives of the largest Wall Street firms CEO of the “Independent Community Bankers … I’m hearing from people I never heard from of America” (http://www.icba.org), Cam and his before. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, both association are deeply engaged in the battle over the volume and the pace.” He’s done more Federal overhaul and regulation of the banking than that; representing banking’s grassroots industry. An article entitled “Small Banks at “everyman,” he was one of 15 senior financial Center of Overhaul Debate” in the 28 July, 2009, industry leaders (e.g., Ken Chenault – AMEX, edition of the Washington Post states, “(w)hile Vikram Pandit – CITI, Ken Lewis – BOA) the country’s biggest banks have taken much of the blame for the economic crisis, the fate of the Obama administration’s efforts to overhaul regulation of the financial industry could rest in the hands of thousands of small local banks which have remained out of the national spotlight.” The article goes on to say, “(t)he country’s 8,000 community banks are a powerful lobbying force, and no one knows that better than the nation’s largest financial firms, most of which oppose the creation of an agency to oversee consumer products ranging from mortgages to credit cards.

Wall Street firms might have millions of dollars to spend on Washington lobbyists and public relations campaigns, but these companies possess neither the strong reputation nor the grass-roots reach of community banks.”

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, says, “The larger financial institutions have the opposite of political clout today. They’re radioactive … the only way the big banks can win is if they get the community banks to be their troops … it’s a mistake to think that money is everything in politics. Money helps. But votes will beat money any day. Class of 1972: The Gorskis family, from left, Elise, Paul, Joseph ’00, Christine and John (age 5).

The most effective kind of

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invited to the White House by President Obama for a private meeting addressing challenges facing the nation’s financial community. Your country and your Brother Rats salute you, BR! Holiday news was plentiful and much appreciated. Unfortunately, its sheer volume taxes my page allotment, so I’ll synopsize. Jim and Betty Barnes (Austin, TX) wrote of children/grandchildren and Jim’s position with the Texas Department of State Health Services where he’s a chemist in their Emergency Preparedness branch under a grant from Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control. Bob and Jan Benson (Coudersport, PA) wrote of children/grandchildren and younger kids’ college (son Rhet graduating from University of Texas Medical School, daughter Lana off to TCU), while Dad Bob keeps the wheels rolling with Buckler Transport, and Mom Jan steps down as cheerleading coach to assume full-time grandmother status for Shane and Tara’s new arrival (whew – !). Chris and Betsy Foster (Midlothian, VA) sent a great picture of the family on their vacation in Tanzania. Dwight and Rosalie Rowland’s (Woodbridge, CT) picture-rich letter wrote of – yes – children/ grandchildren, family work with the volunteer fire department, Rosalie’s joyful babysitting of granddaughter Makenzie and grandson Matthew, and Dwight’s work with Turner Construction on the Smilow Cancer Center project in New Haven, CT. In his “spare” time (?!?), Dwight serves as president of the Beth-Wood Baseball League, as a member of the Woodbridge Recreation Commission and as an honorary member of the Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department – all while bemoaning the fade of the New York Giants.

His Honor Jim Pagones and wife Joan (Hopewell Junction, NY) sent along the family photo of them, son Jordan ’06 and daughter Julia. Joan, City Manager for Fishkill, New York, was honored in December as the Woman of the Year by the Poughkeepsie Women’s Republican Club – mega-congratulations, Joan!

Mark Pieklik’s (Somerset, NJ) card was a tintype reThomas ’03, print of VMI General Order Number 54, Dec. 24, 1914,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES which announced suspension of classes and a reunion with old Army friends and were able to (Pittsburgh, PA) football team – the same Brent“remittance” of confinement and penalty tours get away for a week in Disneyworld – well-earned wood High School where Donna’s cross-country for the next day. His note said he is now the op- after their high-energy schedule! Zeno Henninger team was P.I.A.A. Class AA Champion in 1975. erations coordinator at Fort Dix’ Army Casualty (Goppingen, Germany) boned himself 10-6-30 for Shortly after Christmas, roommate “Moon” Assistance Center (CAC), and he’s looking for- failure to communicate. He continues his valiant Mullen and I broke years of procrastination ward to drawing his Army retirement … a noble quest to instill a 3rd Grade Ratline at Bitburg and met for supper in Tyson’s Corner. The boy, assignment and retirement well earned, BR! A.J. Elementary School but has only a short time bearing a striking resemblance to Kris KristofFojt lamented that his and Karen’s Three Kings to accomplish this noble goal before the school fersen, regaled me with tales of a new grandson, was the closest available holiday remembrance closes. He leads by intimidation, threatening sons and their wives, daughter Samantha of a Band Company Sweat Party – ! (senior at Radford) and Michelle’s Bob and Linda Stransky’s (Prince plans for remodeling their home in George, VA) note shared a brief Manassas. We each scoffed at the remembrance of Lou Pappas and ridiculous notion of retirement and mentioned that Linda has retired embellished a few old war lies “ from teaching. Long-lost, newly… just to tell our souls we’re still appeared Pat Moore (Woodland, the young lions” (apologies to John CA) wrote of four kids – the oldest Mellencamp). of whom turns 16 on 30 Dec. Good On a more serious note, I received Lord, man – the energy! Speaking of an appeal from the “Sovereign Order energy – G.T. Lahmers (Colorado of Saint John of Jerusalem” within Springs, CO) shared news of sons hours of the devastating earthquake Kurt, a Jr. High School Science in Haiti. Quick research revealed that Olympian, and Kyle, budding chess the OSJ “is a Christian organization wiz and dulcimer craftsman. His that began as an Amalfitan hospital work remains challenging, racking founded in Jerusalem in approxiClass of 1972: The Pagones family, from left, Lt. Jordan up over 126K Delta Miles to Hawaii, mately 1080 to provide care for poor, ’06, Judge Jim, Joan and Julia.

Guam and Canada. On a sadder sick or injured pilgrims to the Holy note, G.T.’s wife, Poh-Chan, lost Land. After the Western Christian her father, but she was able to spend five weeks his charges with military school, “…but, damn, conquest of Jerusalem in 1099 during the first with her family and the boys, in Malaysia. He and they behave at lunch.” He and wife Joann (also Crusade, it became a religious/military order Poh-Chan passed along an invitation to any and a teacher) were contemplating a retirement town under its own charter and was charged with the all passing through Colorado Springs to come in Belgium but are now considering a return to care and defense of the Holy Land.” The appeal visit – “We always have extra space and (you Joann’s native New England. Sadly, Zeno lost was signed by Barry Garland, Grand Master and can) try some of Poh-Chan’s exquisite cooking.” both his father and stepfather this past year. As RN, Jupiter, Florida.

Dave and Sue Hall’s (Killeen, TX) note spoke of both were former Navy men, the choirs’ renditions Dr. Dave King ’71 passed along the folRotary Club, church projects, AUSA, “Leadership of “The Navy Hymn” were particularly poignant. lowing, from his friends Ashby and Johnny Killeen,” Vive Les Arts, Officer’s Wives Club, “The Fox” says that he’s now tired of funerals, but Pinkard. “Marshall Pinkard traveled with a bowling and their local Gourmet Club (again, thanks to the Lutheran Ladies Circle, they are well mission team from First Presbyterian Church, whew - !). Dave’s job (Bovis Lend-Lease) keeps provisioned with scalloped potatoes and deviled Norfolk, Nov. 28-Dec. 13, 2009, to Nazareth him in airports more than at home, but they were eggs – oh, the irony for a funeral …

Hospital, north of Nairobi, (Kenya). Nazareth able to attend the retirement ceremony and Canada is a 220-bed mission hospital where medi“Captain Jack” and Donna Miller and Rob-bo Day celebrations with Canadian Army friends at and June Murray enjoyed a recent roommate cal treatment and education is given to HIV+ CFB Pettawawa, Ontario. As do the Lahmers in reunion. In the small-world department, Rob’s adults and children. While there, Marshall Colorado, Dave and Sue say “Come Visit Texas!” dad quarterbacked the Brentwood High School participated in patient counseling, doctors’ Grandpa Doug Nichols (Winchester, rounds, pharmacy duties and inVA) bragged, justifiably based on the home visits to AIDS patients. He picture, of his adorable granddaughwas also involved in the week-long ter. Herb and Penny McCulloch’s Boys-to-Men mentorship program (Chester, VA) news-filled pictorial conducted for the local Kenyan spoke of daughter Kara’s fairytale boys and enjoyed a couple of wedding in May, daughter Kelly’s days on safari. Interesting note: graduation from George Washington Marshall traveled to Kenya with University with a master’s in speech Jim Wood, Senior Pastor at First pathology, and daughter Krista’s Presbyterian Church Norfolk. Jim’s new job as placement officer for Virson, Adam Wood, is a freshman at ginia’s “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids.”

VMI, class of 2013.”

Part of the Children’s Home Society That’s a wrap – “Assembly” of Virginia, “Wendy’s Wonderful sounds. Keep yourselves and those Kids” matches foster children of all you love close in your hearts. As Class of 1972: June and Rob Murray with Jack and ages with adoptive parents. Herb always, I am honored, BRs – Rah Donna Miller. and Penny traveled to Baltimore for Virginia Mil! Larry

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CLASS NOTES I had a note from Ed Hall in early February saying that Matt Tignor’s wife, Beth, would be having heart surgery to replace a mitral valve which has caused problems for several years.

The surgery took place at the Mayo Clinic, and reports from Matt indicated that the doctors were able to repair rather than replace the valve.

The surgery went well, and they were back home for Valentine’s Day. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

This issue’s “Lost BR” award goes to Tim McConnell. I hadn’t heard from him in awhile. He sent me a really nice note right after Christmas. Tim and his wife, Tricia, live in the Columbus, Ohio, area and operate an in-home care business in central Ohio. Comfort Keepers has an office staff of seven and nearly 150 caregivers. Even though that keeps them very busy, Tricia home schools their two daughters, ages 18 and 15. On a recent vacation in Charleston, South Carolina, Tim said his daughters remarked that they thought the Citadel cadets looked pretty sharp, and he decided it was time to take them by VMI to show them what “sharp cadets” really looked like! Their oldest daughter heads off to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, this fall. It was great to hear from you, Tim, and best of luck in your business.

Dave Woody told me last fall that he had been in Las Vegas about the same time I was out there in October. Apparently, while Pat and I were having fun with the grandkids, he was competing in the ESPN-Callaway National

Golf Challenge. His partner was Jim Naylor, and they competed in the senior net division and were part of a tie for third place. Dave said he had practiced some in Lexington with Rich Lykins, Tom Napier and Mike Smith to help get ready for the tournament.

You may remember that Mac Kirkpatrick Well, Brother Rats, it’s mid-February and actuwas unable to attend our reunion because of a ally my sister’s birthday as I write these notes. motorcycle ride he had planned in the northeast.

She was born at the onset of the “big snow” a As he told me, “Motorcycling is my passion!” few years before we matriculated. As of yesterMac sent me a letter right after I submitted the day, the news media reported snow in 49 of the November notes to say he had finished restoring 50 states. Hawaii is the only one with no snow a 1975 BMW motorcycle, model R90S. This today! That is pretty amazing. I hope you read project took him more than two years. There is the notes in the Review, which you should have a book out on the BMW R90S that features a received last week. Those notes were written in picture of Mac on one of his bikes on the front November, and I closed by saying that we would cover! Mac is now restoring a 1950 Whirlwind probably be cold and snowy and looking forward wooden boat. He said that he went to Lexington to spring! That is true here in North Carolina, last fall with his high school junior son, Clark, and likewise, when you read these notes, spring to attend the VMI Open House. He was really will be here and the flowers in full bloom! impressed with the positive changes that have As I’ve said before, writing the February notes taken place during the past few years. Mac was is usually easier, because I hear from a lot of you very complimentary about the VMI women and during the holidays. This year was no exception. acknowledged that their addition has had a treThanks so much for all your notes, letters and mendous positive impact on the school, as well. e-mails. It is really great to hear from you.

Bill van Deusen keeps me posted on the I am pleased to announce that Roland Tiso has latest web jokes and other funny stuff. In one finally gotten back home safe and sound after a of his notes last December, Bill said that he seven-month tour in Pakistan. He had hoped to be and Shirley had decided to give up their big home last Thanksgiving but was not able to make house and move to their place on the beach in it until right after Christmas. However, Roland Sandbridge where he is rapidly becoming very indicated he may have to go overseas again this accustomed to a “beach bum” lifestyle. No fall, possibly to Afghanistan. I told him we were grass to mow or shrubs to prune – just sit and making plans to attend the Army game Oct. 30th enjoy his coffee and watch the surf roll and hoped he and Judie might make it. In in! He’s ready for visitors anytime you fact, it would be great if a number of the are in the area. class of ’73 could be there! Roland told I also hear from Scott Lingamfelter me he was notified that he’s receiving an regularly, and he’s staying really busy Army Commendation Medal for actions in They Were Heard with his elected duties. He has a very Iraq in November 2003, as well as being good and informative newsletter, so awarded the Intelligence Corps’ Medal for From—VMI Alumni let him know if you’re not on his his achievements in Pakistan last year.

In the Civil War e-mail list.

More good news … In late November, Author: B. David Mann I sat with G.G. and Ann Gray at the David Schwab sent me a note saying that (‘46/49 - C) Institute Society Dinner last Novemhe had just gotten out of the hospital folThis monograph details the roles ber. During a recent e-mail exchange, lowing a heart attack and surgery. He was of VMI alumni on both sides of the we talked about meeting in Lexington fortunate that they were able to put in a $ Civil War. Paper Back . . . . . . . 6.95 the first weekend in February to attend stent to open a clogged artery and not have a basketball game. G.G. said there was to do bypass surgery. Dave teaches at an The Corps Forward an event honoring CE Professor Col. American school in Germany. While workEditor: Col. William Couper (1904) Don Jamison ’57 scheduled after the ing at the community theatre, he started Foreword: Col. Keith E. Gibson (1977) game, and he and other CEs, such as having chest and arm pains and began to The gripping story of every cadet Darrell Rickmond, were planning to sweat. Several of the folks around him and faculty member who marched attend. Lexington got bombarded with suggested he go to the doctor. He resisted to New Market. more than 12 inches of snow, so we at first, but went on to the hospital. Had Hardcover with Dust Jacket . .$49.95 had to cancel at the last minute. I hope he not, the doctors told him he might not Paper Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$19.95 some of you were able to make it. It have made it. David wants to emphasize All sales benefit VMI Museum & Alumni Association would have been a lot of snow for us that we should take care of ourselves, to traverse to get there, but I am sure listen to those around us who care about Order direct from Mariner Publishing Lexington was a pretty sight to see. us and be thankful for the great medical (540) 264-0021 And in the midst of that snowcare available to us! Glad you’re doing www.marinermedia.com/bookstore.html storm, Ray Burton was moving well, Dave!

’73

Mike Kelly

True accounts of VMI’s remarkable Alumni in the Civil War

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES from Chattanooga to Richmond. Ray has been unemployed for more than a year now and has moved back to their old home in Richmond.

He hopes that something will come open there for him. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the VMI network in the Richmond area will give Ray a boost!

Pete Walters told me this month that he and Karen were tired of the snow and bad weather and were headed to Cancun for some warm weather later in February. Last fall, they went to Stowe, Vermont, and visited Norwich while they were there. He said it was a really pretty campus but not anything like he had imagined.

Pete talked to some of their rats, who are called “rooks,” and of course heard some of the same tales about how hard it was! Still nothing like the Old Corps, however!

We got a lot of cards and letters from folks at Christmas. Tom and Lois Jennings are still in Chesterfield, Virginia. Bob and Sharon Bushnell sent a picture of their family, including their daughters, Kate and Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s new husband, John Meyers. Ann and John Pinner said “Hi” to all from Suffolk, Virginia. Ralph and Becky Littreal were looking forward to a nice Christmas in California.

Hank and Lisa Weatherford sent a nice card with their daughter’s picture (Savannah) on it and said they were all doing well.

R.B. and Becky Newman sent a picture of their family taken at the christening of their granddaughter, Ellie. It doesn’t take the kids long to grow up!

I had pictures of Mrs. Thad (Tricia) Smith and her daughters, Tiann and Tanis. Tricia is doing well and still lives in the Ft. Worth, Texas, area. Dick Bugbee sent a great picture of his family, and his young boys are really growing, as well! The Bugbees live in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Bill and Mary Stoner noted that they had run into Mark and Libby Swank ’76 at a party they were hosting for VMI folks in the central Texas area. The Stoners live in Austin, Texas. However, Bill spends his working time between Austin and Dallas. Mary works at the Dell Children’s Medical Center, and they frequently run up to DFW to visit their daughter and granddaughter. Last summer, Bill and Mary took a couple of weeks to vacation on the Monterey Peninsula where they were married 35 years ago. Sounds like they had a lot of fun visiting their favorite old spots!

Dave Sutherland is still in Brownsburg, Indiana. He commented that as of Christmas 2009, it’s been 40 years since we completed our first semester at VMI. I know I longed for that Christmas break something fierce!

Scott McCarthy is doing well. He is still living in Maryland and said he and Ed Hall traveled around Maryland last fall representing

2010-Issue 2

VMI at various college fairs. He attended Ed’s Marine Corps birthday bash, along with P.X. English and Matt and Beth Tignor.

Willie Wells sent a great picture of himself and his two sons. He’s still in White Marsh, Virginia, and working for the Navy at Yorktown.

His son, George, is a freshman at VCU, where he has apparently found life to be quite different than when he was at Fishburne Military Academy! His other son, Brent, lives in Gloucester and continues to work for Beckie’s Bulbs, which also makes Willie smile because of all the flowers around his house!

Doug and Pat Huthwaite were still talking about their big cruise last year from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome. Doug keeps hoping Pat can join him in retirement soon, and they can move from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to their place at the beach.

Terry and Nina Howlett continue to travel with their mission work. This past year, they spent some time building houses in a Haitian village and spent most of July in the Dominican Republic. While at home in Tyler, TX, they do a lot of community volunteer work. Their son, Evan, continues to do well with Suddenlink, and their daughter in-law, Angel, works as a pharmacy tech in a Walgreens.

Mary and M.B. Adelson stay busy all the time! M.B. decided to go back to school last year to study environmental law, and he’s now a “full-time attorney and full-time post-doc graduate student!” And in their spare time, they are continuing efforts to open a German restaurant in Tallahassee. Mary works for the state of Florida, but one of her biggest triumphs occurs every year at Christmas when she spearheads a Visual Arts annual holiday lighting show. Their Christmas card this year had a picture of one of their creations, a walk-in Gingerbread House, and Mary described all of the other exhibits they had. It must be the talk of the town! And on top of all their work, M.B. and Mary spend a lot of time watching their grandkids play soccer, T-ball and dance.

I had a nice letter from Tom and Bonnie Clark and several pictures of their fishing expeditions! Seems they have traded in their tent for a pop-up camper and decided that is a much better way to go! Bonnie left Colorado College after nearly eight years, and now they have more time to travel, camp and fish! They still spend some time going to South Dakota to see Bonnie’s mother and to Albuquerque to visit Tom’s mother, but they are planning a trip to, in April and to California in September to attend a friend’s wedding. I told Tom that Pat and I plan to be in Albuquerque in June, and we also hope to travel up to Mesa Verde and Monument Valley while out that way. Hopefully, our schedules will match, and we can get together somewhere

along the way (although Pat prefers the Holiday Inn Express to a pop-up camper!). But Tom said he’d love to see any of you that may be passing through Colorado during the summer.

Jeff Minch sent me a note during the Rose Bowl. He said he had “banished” all from the house so he could watch the game (I am sure he was pulling for Texas!). His wife, Tempe, was skiing in Steamboat Springs; his son, Jeff, was at the game; and his daughter, Liz, had returned to UGA. Jeff also told me that last summer they were in North Carolina hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, when they ran across a big black bear on the trail. Tempe was eying both Jeff and the bear and wondering, “What next?”

Jeff remembered the regimental adjutant at VMI, so he stood at attention, raised his arms over his head, holding his hiking stick parallel to the ground, and began barking out commands: “Attention. Left face. Pass in review!”

The bear, thinking him somewhat nuts, actually walked down the mountain, and they escaped without any further problems. Later, Tempe asked him what his “Plan B” was, but Jeff hasn’t revealed that as yet …

Blake Thomas was awarded the “Lost BR” award in the last Review, and as always, it is great to link up with folks you haven’t heard from for awhile. He and Sandy sent me a wonderful Christmas card and letter in December.

I mentioned in my last notes that they have worked on, restored, rebuilt, etc. a number of vintage aircraft. On their Christmas card this year, they had a picture of the Nieuport 28 plane they were rebuilding during 2008 while they were in Missouri. The weather last winter turned so bad, they had it shipped to their home in Richmond, Texas, on a truck. But once it got there, Sandy said Blake was like a kid in a candy shop.

The picture of their plane was actually taken at the Pioneer Flight Museum where he was the featured air show. Like Sandy said, “How cool is that?” They are doing well, and Blake thoroughly enjoys flying for Southwest Airlines.

Michael and Mary Burke also sent a really nice Christmas letter. They still live in the St. Louis area where Mike is in his third year of full-time community college teaching. Mary also teaches there, although she teaches dental hygiene at a different campus. Mike has really gotten his students into Shakespeare. He has developed a Shakespeare and film class that led to somewhat of a “cult” following. Their daughter, Emilie, attends school there, as well, and has become very involved in student government – she is currently serving as the vice president of the student body association. Last summer, Emilie worked at the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and dug dinosaur bones in Montana! Now, Mary’s talking about going this year!

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CLASS NOTES Well, that is it for the notes this time. I do need some help, however, as I’ve lost track of three of our BRs. Mail keeps getting returned for Mark Camper, Joe Duffy and Walt Wright.

If any of you know their whereabouts, or if you guys are reading this, please get in touch with me! And if any of the rest of you aren’t getting notes, cards, etc. from me, then please let me know. Also, check your e-mail addresses, because I sometimes get returns from my e-mail, and I have no way of checking them. If you change your e-mail address, please be sure to let me know.

Thanks to all of you that contributed to the Institute this past year. As you can imagine, the commonwealth of Virginia continues to suffer during this tough economy, and every dollar we can contribute helps. Remember that VMI’s fiscal year ends June 30, so any “year- end” contributions you can make would be appreciated.

Take care, have a great spring and summer!!

If you can, plan a vacation trip that swings you through Lexington. It is more beautiful than ever. And please stay in touch!

’74

Snookie Parker

Warm wintery greetings to all. I am writing this edition of notes on the 80th anniversary of Roanoke’s infamous TT (Texas Tavern for the uninitiated) – 15 million served. I’m pondering my favorite order: a bowl with and a coke without! – John Smithey, thanks for the heads up on this momentous occasion.

I am pleased to report that the class of ’74 remains very active within the present VMI Corps of Cadets. Nearly 40 years after we all matriculated, three of our BRs have sons in the Corps. Mike Andriani and T.J. Wilson both have sons in the Ratline (class of 2013), and Rich Forbes’ son, Chris Forbes, is a second classman. Interesting, both Mike and Rich were also roommates at VMI, as well. BR Mike Andriani wrote that when he dropped son (Mike III) off to matriculate, the cadre corporal that led young Mike to his room was Paul Lingamfelter, the son of Scott Lingamfelter ’73. Mike commented that “once again, the Lingamfelters are ‘welcoming’ the Andrianis to VMI!” As it turns out, young Mike is just next door to T.J.’s son and only three doors down from where his father roomed his Rat year. Mike’s e-mail speaks well to the “continuity” of VMI! Christmas correspondence was plentiful this year. Christmas cards (and e-mails) were warmly received and greatly appreciated from the following BRs: Rob and Joan Bacon, Bob and Lisa Braren, Snap and Cathy Carlock, Chuck

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Collins, Mike and Sarah Fisher, Rich and Ann Forbes, Bert and Cherryl Graham, Steve and Laura Hearne, Bruce and Sue Jones, Rick and Page Kastelberg, Mike and Clay Morrissett, Kevin and Cindy Nettrour, John and Suzanne Pate, Bruce and Peggy Pence, Mark and Michelle Prentice, Ted and Susan Telle, Charlie and Tommie Toler, Lane and Karin Toomey, Kent and Brenda Wheeless, Don and Barb Whitten, TJ and Kerry Wilson, Walt and Karen Wilson, Ted Zajac, Bert and Jane Zinkand, Steve and Pat Orr, John Smithey. Others provided the Annual Christmas letter or something akin to this epistle.

I was delighted to have received an interesting … in fact, fascinating update from Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dan Pirasak Sikangwan. After a three year tour as the defense attaché to the U.S.A. and Canada in Washington, DC (96-99), Dan returned to Thailand as the director of Operations and Intelligence at the Army Training Command, while his family stayed in Los Angeles. His wife, Krisna, retired from her job at Petroleum Authority of Thailand to take care of their son and daughter while they attended high school in California. In 2002, Dan, now a major general, was an advisor to the assistant secretary of defense in Thailand. There was a financial crisis in Thailand and significant political corruption problems. The Army chief of staff nominated Dan to be the executive vice president of the Thai Military Bank, a bank that needed a new management team. So, Dan retired from the Army and become a banker for two and half years. Dan discovered more hidden problems than a new management team could resolve so Dan decided to rejoin his family in California. Dan took a job as a database manager for a research institute of UCLA until his son and daughter graduated from UCLA. His son, Mick, graduated and is working for an engineering firm. His daughter, Mim, graduated and is working as a freelance consultant in software engineering. Dan, currently working on another research project at UC, Irvine, plans to retire for a second time in about five years …

Fascinating! Proud to be your BR. Thanks for the update Dan! Andy and Pat Young sent season greetings.

Andy is still the director of Military Nutrition Research at the US Army Medical Research and Development Command laboratory in Massachusetts and is the editor-in-chief of a major biomedical research journal in the exercise and sports medicine area. Pat is a senior marketing manager for Waters Corporation while daughter Gracie continues her quest for a position at a contemporary art museum. Golf and business travel consume most of their time. Andy is wrestling with a progressively worsening problem with his cervical spine that has degraded

his finger function (hand numbness). Hopefully, the after-Christmas surgery will resolve this issue and put Andy back on his golf game!!!

Good luck, Andy!

Red Undercoffer sent Christmas greetings from the largest U.S. embassy in the world – Baghdad, Iraq. Plans for Christmas with the family in Lexington were overcome by service with the 3rd Infantry Division in Tikrit through the election cycle. Needless to say, the vultures are circling as the U.S. combat troops draw down. All is well on the Undercoffer home front. Two engineers at VA Tech – mechanical and aeronautic, Andrew and Brian, respectively.

Shelley, Cole and Caity are in Lexington (10th and 8th grade respectively). Watch your six, Red, and come home safe!

Gary and Alison Trinkle sent a two-year “catch up on Trinkle news” letter. Gary the Pirate (aaarrr) received a kitchen pass to sail with friends/mates on their 54-foot yacht around Grenada and throughout the Grenadine Islands – a treasure chest full of memories – wow!

Back to reality – Gary’s contract position with the Army converted to government … and Gary is now doing the same thing he did before but now as a GS14. Alison’s private practice continues to thrive. On a sad note, both Gary and Alison lost parents since their last update. No matter how you cut it, the circle of life is tough emotionally. You are in our prayers, BR. Ken Terry’s better half, Betsy, sent an entertaining yet informative newsletter on the Terry clan. With the youngest at Bridgewater College, another working in northern Virginia and the third married and parenting two rambunctious boys, Ken and Betsy are empty nesting grandparents. Ken is still flying, while Betsy plays tennis, teaches water aerobics twice a week and finds time to run every day. Life is good in the Terry household. Thanks for the note, Betsy!

You are the best!

Got a Christmas note from Craig and Debbie MacFarlane. Much needed house repairs for these empty nesters have commenced since their last (Jared) graduated from VA Tech last December. Son Kevin got engaged to Miss Sarah Hurley in August. Daughter Heather and Mike had their fourth on 25 March – Ewan James Dollenger. The Breakfast Club awaits the return of Granpa MacFarlane. See you there, Craig!

Russ and Cheryl Takata are also recent empty nesters reporting in from Hawaii. Daughter Courtnie is married (Grant) and is a web developer at Vail Systems in Deerfield, north of Chicago. Alisa works for a financial company in Burlingham, south of San Francisco. Cheryl is still with Healthways providing diabetic counseling. Russ is seriously considering retirement from the State Health Department. Russ and Cheryl did a lot of traveling together this

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES year – seeing daughters and BRs. Russ, thanks for the update!

It has been a whirlwind year for Wilson and Anne Johnson. After 29 years in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Wilson and Anne have moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia. A downturn in construction inspired Wilson to leave Soil Consultant, Inc in Charleston for a job with Northrop Grumman in Arlington, Virginia, supporting the Air Force in the field of energy.

Son Matthew is in Lynchburg, Virginia, working on his master’s in homeland security with an emphasis on terrorism. Daughter Catherine graduated from U of SC in December with a 4.0 GPA in retailing with an emphasis on fashion merchandising. Anne is still unpacking boxes but has found a new church and is looking forward to getting involved … and may start substitute teaching at a big Christian school after Christmas. Alert the Grand PooBah (Charley Banning) – another prospective member to the Potomac Area Breakfast Club. See you there, Wilson! Thanks for the note, Anne!

Speaking of the Grand PooBah – Charley “Buff Daddy” Banning has published the 12th edition of the Banning Christmas Gazette – an entertaining diatribe. Buff Daddy is now Bass Daddy in a two-man jazz band playing regular gigs on the Blue Hair circuit. Debbie “She Who Must Be Obeyed” (SWMBO) Banning was tossed by her horse and broke three ribs. Even though Buff Daddy was 100 miles away, it was his fault. Will “Boy Wonder” Banning plays in the state honor band, has joined the National Honor society and was elected senior patrol leader of his troop. Interesting note – SWMBO was in Beantown on business in March. It’s 10:00 p.m. and the police are knocking on her door. SWMBO fears that the jig is up on the room service tray she pushed across hall. It turns out that the now infamous Craig’s List Killer had killed a “massage therapist” across the hall from SWMBO. SWMBO somehow slept through multiple large caliber gunshots.

Speculation is: Alcohol must be involved.

Superb edition of the Gazette Charley!

All is well with George and Anna Van Laethem. George is still with CSC but is now supporting USJFCOM in Suffolk. George was appointed to the city of Chesapeake Planning Commission by the City Council and is in his tenth year coaching girls’ soccer at Western Branch High School. Anna is in her fifth year in the guidance department at Western Branch High School. Daughter Ashley is a soccer “red shirt” junior and a chemistry major at Francis Marion University (FMU). Ashley was also first runner up at the Ms. FMU pageant this year. As expected, fall weekends for George and Anna were taken up traveling to watch FMU soccer.

Thanks for the note, George!

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Received a nice note from Pete and Susan Shelley. Pete is still with Kruger but religiously buys a lottery ticket each week. Susan continues her Jazzercise and computer consulting for selected clients. Son Ryder graduated from San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a master’s in percussion performance and is trying to make a living as a musician in San Fran.

Daughter Taryn, a senior swimmer at NC State University, is a chemistry major who has applied to six pharmacy schools, including UNC. I guess she could wear red under her light blue lab coat! Thanks for the Christmas note.

A proud parent moment for Don and Patti Kilcullen. In a note, Patti described their son’s return from the Middle East. Michael is a Marine Special Forces corporal. Don and Patti drove to Camp Lejeune for Family Day and an opportunity to see Mike. Mom could tell right away the experience had changed her son.

To say the least, dad was quite proud. Mike is scheduled to go to Afghanistan in June 2010.

Keep the Kilcullen’s in your prayers. Thanks for the note and the pictures, Patti.

Bob Moore’s job change has put him in San Antonio, Texas, but he takes frequent trips back to DC (visits with Wilson Johnson who is the Air Force/A7C). Wife Magic has yet to join Bob – she is waiting for the dust to settle before making the leap, so their Virginia address is still good. Bob and Magic did get a chance to reconnect with their two sons. Rob has just completed a 5-year tour in Okinawa with deployments all over the world. He is being assigned to HMX-1 supporting the White House.

Son Patrick is the management fireman/Mr. FixIt for a large Physical Fitness Company. Bob and Magic could not be prouder of their sons.

Thanks for the note, Bob … and the insight on your roomie, BR Flynn!

Received a nice note from J.R. and Jayme Davis. J.R. is the director of Construction Management at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) and has been named “Outstanding Administer” this year by his colleagues. Their son, Mac, completed his freshman year at PLU. Daughter Mallory, a high school senior, has applied to nine colleges.

I’m sure J.R. hopes she attends Willamette University in Salem, Oregon – acceptance came with a substantial scholarship to attend. Highlight for the Davises in 2009 was a family trip to Europe in December – Rome, Tuscany, Venice and Munich.

Nice. Thanks for the note, J.R. Mike Mahoney writes that all is well in northern Virginia despite fighting fires in this blustery, record-setting winter. An interesting short story: Mike was teaching one of his high school EMT volunteers in late ’08. During the class, the volunteer saw Mike’s VMI license plate cover and stated that he wanted to attend.

After class, the volunteer asked Mike to explain

the Ratline. Mike’s words: “I put my hand right in front of his nose and asked, ‘When was the last time that somebody was this close to your face hollering at you to the point where you could feel their spittle on your face, and you couldn’t do a damn thing about it?’ His eyes dilated, and he said, “Never.” I told him, ‘That’s the Ratline.’” Mike wrote a letter of recommendation for him. This volunteer was accepted early and will be a member of the class of 2014.” Well done, Mike!

Pat Flynn writes: “Friday, 29 Jan. ’10, was a memorable day. A number of us got together at the famous A1A Ale Works in St. Augustine, Florida. Donnie Ross, Rob and Joan Bacon, Judge and Rhoda Nottingham, and Pat and Sue Flynn spent almost four hours drinking and telling stories. I think there was some food consumed, as well. The occasion was Donnie Ross’s trip to Florida on Institute business. As I listened to Donnie and Judge discuss the nature of the trip, I wasn’t exactly sure why Donnie had come to our fair state. The closer I listened; it became evident that he was on a mission directly from the superintendent to personally survey all the golf courses throughout the state. I don’t think Donnie was able to get to all the links, but from what I heard, he made a valiant effort. As the alcohol and calamari were consumed, the stories unfolded. Most were of times long past. Ahhh … all those recollections of our higher education … streaking the commandant’s house, shenanigans at the R.E. Lee Hotel, Johnny’s, Zollman’s, the Red Front, beer and bombs in the Barracks, Tom Patykula’s girlfriends, etc., etc. Yep, we learned a lot in those, our formative, years. I think it’s safe to say that those lessons have served us all very well.” Sounds like a pretty good time – glad the ladies were on hand, and no one got arrested!

Glenn and Grace Greene were singing the praises for all who contributed to brighten this Christmas for Roy Heiderman’s family.

Barbara Heiderman and family were blessed … and extremely touched by the thoughtful gifts during this emotionally tough Christmas season.

Snap Carlock writes that he and Cathy have an opportunity to make a move to Lexington, Virginia. Cathy is now with The Main Street Group in Lexington, and Snap has taken a job as a reverse mortgage consultant with Wells Fargo in Lexington. Cathy’s family is in Lexington, and their daughter, Catherine, will graduate from W&L in the spring of 2010. If it all works out, the Carlocks will be in Lexington sometime this year.

From Roland Lazenby: “I regret to inform the class that we recently lost BR Charlie Nichols who died of a heart-related ailment recently.

Some of you may recall Charlie charging that

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CLASS NOTES big paper mache Kangaroo the VA Tech cadets were toting around before the game in Roanoke our Rat year. The Kangaroo was filled with manure, as I recall, and Charlie dove into it head first. Charlie showed me how to “ride” the dryers in a local laundromat during summer school.

Put in your money, then hop inside ... And he was fond of skateboarding into Lexington on the interstate from Natural Bridge late at night.

Charlie later became a dedicated member of a motorcycle gang, but whenever I ran into him, I always enjoyed his cheerful personality.”

Finally, another sad note for the VMI family and the class of ’74. Andrew L. Turner ’40 of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away in December 2009. Mr. Turner was an impressive man who had influenced many from all walks of life in a positive way but especially his children and grandchildren. Mr. Turner was the adopted father of Mike Morrissett and related to John Smithey and Pete Shelley’s wife, Susan. Our prayers are for all in this close knit VMI family.

CLASS AGENT PLEA! Don’t be caught without your class coin. If you need one, send $10 (cost of coin and postage). 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

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Robert Mills

Greetings, My Brothers: Reading this in the merry month of May, I am sure that all of you will have cleared your calendars and made your plans for Labor Day weekend when the class of ’75 assembles once again to celebrate the fact that we have all made it this far and have a whopping 35 years to catch up on! Unless you have been hiding under a rock, everyone knows by now that we will be golfing on the morning of Sept. 3rd and partying late into the night at the Lexington Country Club with football on Saturday, more merriment that evening and hangover recovery on Sunday. Our copious thanks to Jelly Bear Taylor and the committee for putting all of this together and, of course, to all of you for making your plans to attend. Now, for the wintertime news!

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Michael “Rico” Soares and his bride took a winter trip to Portugal where they were the guests of the Baron and Baroness of Ancede whose fifth grandfather was the brother of Michael’s fifth grandfather back in the 18th Century. The Soares progenitors were not surprisingly proprietors of the wine trade between England and Portugal. This historical note was followed by an invitation to join “Rico” on his Facebook page. I am blissfully ignorant about all of this Facebook biz, and I have true reservations about whether faces like mine and Rico’s actually belong on a book. Harley Myler checked in from Beaumont, Texas, where he and Nancy became grandparents in October when their daughter gave birth to young Grant Rutlegde Steffey. Harley is optimistic about the young grandson attending the Institute, having weathered the disappointment of each of his progeny choosing other institutions of higher learning. Harley’s son, Logan, graduated from high school at age 15 and is now a junior in the University of Texas chemistry pre-med program. He is scheduled to graduate from college next year at the ripe old age of 17! Harley is looking forward to the reunion, having just purchased a Mooney which, I suppose, is some type of aircraft that he plans to fly into Lexington for the big occasion. By the time you read this, Andy “Lance” Dearman will have retired from the Southern Company and will be devoting more time to his leisure pursuits, which usually include shooting assorted woodland creatures who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Andy and Mary Love’s son, Drew, has signed a letter of intent to play football for the University of South Alabama. Mary Love is still demonstrating her prowess on the local ladies tennis circuit, and the two of them entertained Mike and Sloane Hunter during a visit to Birmingham in January. Andy lamented the fact that all of the local deer survived this outing but assured me that such temporary good fortune was bound to expire by the time of the next Hunter visit. Salvo Lape has been busy in his job with the immigration and customs enforcement office of training and development.

His bride, Karen, his daughter, Stephanie, and son J.J. are all busy teaching, and Dave Jr. is enjoying the life of an unemployed college graduate. That not only puts him in good company but in an enviable social position.

Danny Darnell and wife Vicky are enjoying life in Honolulu where Danny is the deputy commander of the Pacific Command. He is loving life on the Banzai Pipeline where his daily responsibilities range from strategic to policy to operational and diplomatic issues in an area of responsibility that covers half the globe’s service and 36 different countries. He had just finished playing host to Secretary of State

Clinton for several days and was acting like that was a ho-hum moment. Danny and Vicki’s oldest son, Dan, is an active duty EC-130 pilot on his way to Chicago Business School for his MBA. Young Dan’s wife, Cynthia, just left active duty, and his youngest son, Trey, is a lieutenant stationed at Rhamstein Air Force base in Germany, where his wife, Maggie, has just been deployed to Iraq and is due to return in the summer. Danny says mahalo and aloha to everyone and is looking forward to a visit from Kimo, so he can brush up on his Hawaiian language skills.

Bo “Bonecrusher” Temple is enjoying his job as the deputy commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, and his and Nancy’s children, Meredith and Peter, are both studying at VCU and hoping to finish in May and December respectively. Artie Nunn, president of the Air Compliance Group in Roanoke, has been hob-nobbing with Dave Schuyler and talking to Mike Fleenor who is cancer-free and doing extremely well. Artie’s son, Matt, returned from duty in Iraq just before Christmas, and his eldest daughter will be married in Asheville the weekend before the reunion, which the father of the bride is definitely planning to attend. Artie’s father, VMI class of ‘43, will be traveling to eastern France in June to participate in the 65th Anniversary of the Normandy landing and will dedicate a memorial to the 3rd Army. Artie is looking forward to attending that function with his dad and taking advantage of the unparalleled opportunity to visit with all of the surviving vets. Charlie Kaune, Kevin Wright and a host of Keydets from later classes are continuing to focus their efforts on the challenges posed in Africa. Charlie had just returned from a visit to Djibouti to meet with some of the major players from Sudan in order to gain a better understanding of the immensity of the task before them.

Charlie and Lynn invite everybody to Stuttgart for a little continental culture and an assortment of Bavarian beverages. Kimo Wong wrote to brag about his recent trip to Hawaii where he was joined by Professor Tom and Judy Baur.

Kimo reports that Tom and Judy devoted much of their time to swimming unencumbered by bathing apparel and that Tom acquired a new nickname – “KESAGI” – which he claims to be Hawaiian for “Master of the Swingdance and Bathing Au Naturale.” Meanwhile, Kimo claims to be the Master of Woodford Reserve and Macanudos! Bill Kern took time out to buy a bicycle and assemble it without bothering to consult the directions. He catapulted himself over the handlebars, recovered from that and continued on, while noting that cycling had become more difficult than he remembered.

Soon, he returned and retrieved the written directions from beneath some coffee grounds

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES and an old banana peel only to find that he had put the front wheel assembly on backwards!

According to Bill the bike works great now, and he is becoming an accomplished cyclist, though perhaps somewhat short of tour status.

Andy Andisheh is back at work on another Shell project which is located 10 hours north of Calgary. Somehow, Andy has managed to do this while avoiding a visit to the actual site of the project. He plans to defer this as long as possible but is looking forward to the reunion in May. Charlie Collins was anticipating the start of lacrosse season down there in that hot bed of lacrosse fervor, Houston, Texas. Charlie sent along a photo of himself in full Renaissance regalia from the Texas Renaissance Faire. I did not think that Texans required an excuse to drink way too much, but apparently, they do.

Chris Smart has just discovered the Linked In network and been in touch with his BRs, Amatetti, Andisheh, Hendry and Taylor. Chris is loving life in Abu Dhabi, where he chortles about the fantastic weather from October to May. Chris has been competing in golf tournaments and has won some and finished second in some others, carrying a handicap of eight and showing no mercy to his younger opponents.

Chris is also the chapter president of the Society of Petro-physicists and Well-log Analysts and was planning a conference on rock-typing and carbonate reservoirs which should be complete by press time. Chris reports that malt beverages are much easier to acquire in Abu Dhabi than they were in Dubai, although spare ribs are in somewhat short supply. Dr. Glenn Garland tore himself away from the Chapel Hill singles scene long enough to join the Keydet faithful at the football game at West Point. No word on whether he met any nice New York girls.

Rod Lowe and Rusty Rahm are still cavorting around Africa and working on various projects while accumulating massive air miles.

Rodney’s son, Ross, had just been promoted to first lieutenant, and Rodney has become a grandfather twice over! Randy Frank has accepted a full time, in-patient psychiatry position at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, Washington, and plans to move north from Eugene, Oregon, in June. According to Randy, he and Terry plan to stay put this time and are looking forward to more visits from Dave and Tana Schuyler. Dave Applin is working for the Science Applications International Corporation in a variety of jobs, including the Army’s future combat system and developing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance infrastructure. His wife, Anne, has recently graduated from the Drexel Graduate School of Information Management, and they have three children: Mark, age 8; Ryan, age 12; and their daughter, Rebecca, who crews for Thomas

2010-Issue 2

Jefferson High School. This makes dad really proud, because he is the vice president of the Occoquan Boat Club that sponsors the annual Head of the Occoquan Regatta. He sometimes runs into Dave Mund who participates with the team from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Following repeated entreaties, we have finally confirmed that Harry Barksdale is alive and has accepted a position with L-3 Communications in Salt Lake City, Utah. This places Harry and Elizabeth just south of Rick “The Dawg” Law in Golden, Colorado, where he is a big hotshot in the Miller-Coors Beverage Company. Rick had been in contact with Ron Bongiovanni and was looking forward to visiting Bongo in Jacksonville, Florida, during spring break. Rick’s daughter, Whitney, will be attending physician assistant school at NOVA Southeastern in Jacksonville.

John Young is a program manager for artillery and armored systems for General Dynamics and lives in Vermont. He had just completed a five-year production run of digital fire control systems for the Army’s M777 lightweight howitzer and celebrated the marriage of his son, John IV, back in January. Chip Louthan’s son, Michael Louthan ’10, will graduate in May, and Chip had seen Jelly Bear at the inauguration parade at the Governor’s Inauguration Parade in Richmond. Chip and Kathy had entertained Oliver and Bonnie Way in Wintergreen and on the way home had met C.T. and Diane Bryant and their daughter, Karen, for lunch.

All of them are planning to attend the reunion in September and were trying to convince Sig’s Sigsbury to travel east for the occasion. Bonnie and Ollie were planning a trip to the Mayan Riviera to escape the snow. Lawton Way ’04, upon graduating from William and Mary Law School, has accepted employment with Hunton & Williams in the mergers and acquisitions division and has recently announced his engagement. Jerry DeWaters reported that he had survived the two feet of snowfall in New York City which he saw as proof that global warming is a myth in light of the fact that it continues to snow in the dead of winter. The fact that it has stopped snowing in Vancouver as the polar ice caps melt seems not to concern him. He extends an open invitation for golf, DRC or SRC whenever his VMI brothers are in the Big Apple. Bill Robson retired from the federal government after 35 years with the Corps of Engineers in January 2010 and was debating whether or not to pursue another career. After 10 days of retirement, Edith decided that if he did not find another career soon, she would find one for him. By now, I am sure that Bill is diligently involved in something that doesn’t require hanging around the house.

John Amatetti reported that his son has joined

VIKA as a project engineer after graduating VMI with distinction (unlike John). John’s company, VIKA, is celebrating its 30th birthday this August, and I am sure that John will tell us all about it at the reunion. Randy and Diane Robinson sent Christmas greetings. Randy is still directing the Department of Public Works in Bel Aire, Maryland, where he has been having lots of fun protecting local commerce from the northeastern blizzards. Tony and Theresa Farry are happy that both of their boys have finished with college. Kyle is working for Cibola Farms raising organically fed bison and getting them to market, and Adam, a recent Robert Morris University graduate, is pursuing PGA certification and working as an assistant golf pro. Tony continues to caddy at the Robert Trent Jones course after a temporary set back with plantar fascitis which finally responded to a regimen of shockwave therapy, steroids and other modalities aimed at getting him back on both feet. Greg and Melody Diamontopulos have been living the life in Yorktown, where Melody pursues her amateur bowling career, most recently at the Amateur Nationals in Reno, Nevada. Their son, Peter, recently completed his Rat year (although he is an academic sophomore), and the whole family continues to enjoy their hobby of restoring and showing antique hot rods. Greg is supporting the Air Force at Langley Air Force base with BAE Systems, this being the 14th year of Greg’s second career.

Frank Hillson has been hard at work on his Ph.D. in English and has been traveling around the country presenting papers at academic conferences where his area of emphasis is the captivity narrative. Frank plans this as his thesis topic and is looking forward to further enlightening all of us with his literary erudition when we get together for the reunion in September.

Allen and Sandy Morgan had just completed a winter tour of Italy in which they ate and drank their way throughout the countryside while using essentially every mode of conveyance available from train to tram to car to motor scooter. Sandy kept all of us updated with her e-mail posts from various locations. If one may draw any conclusion from the length and detail of her frequent postings it seems that Sandy is able to type at least as fast as she talks. I may enlist her to train my office staff in that particular skill set.

Finally, all is well here in Norfolk, where our class vice president, Ronny Norman, frequently visits but never calls. Nevertheless, your humble correspondent has been keeping up with his tennis and scuba diving (most recently in Cozumel) and looking forward to joining daughter Valerie in Peru once she completes a 10-week project in the rainforest of Ecuador. Hopefully, father and daughter will

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CLASS NOTES – it was snowing there, too. Rod is working for United Way. He is also the general chairman for the 2010 “Cheyenne Frontier Days, The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo and Western Celebration.” Rod said the position and his normal full time job keep him off the streets at night. If you want to read more about the event, “Cheyenne Frontier Days” is on Facebook, or you can search for it on the Internet. Rod’s daughter, Erin ’07, got married last summer to an Air Force captain, and now they are both looking for an assignment where they can finally live together.

Jay Foertsch is doing well. He said he survived Black Friday last year and can’t believe he got out of bed at 3:00 a.m. for a store opening at 4:00 a.m. He saw Garry and Karen William Bhatta Varney at the Founders Day celebration in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Varney’s have two daughters: Leigh Anne lives in Jacksonville, Florida, where she teaches autistic children and Laura is working in Oklahoma City.

Brother Rats: Right now, you are reading these Jay said Garry’s and Karen’s enthusiasm about notes in the comfortable, May spring air, but Oklahoma is contagious. The more people Jay it was cold and snowing (with no end in sight) talks to, who move to Oklahoma from out of when I wrote them. These notes cover the winter state, the more he is encouraged to stay. ice age between 15 Nov. 2009 and 15 Feb. 2010.

Tom and Lois Diggs live in Dallas, Texas, and Richard and Debbie Keith live in Montalso have two daughters. Amy graduated last gomery, Alabama, and have two children.

May from Trinity University in San Antonio Their son attends Auburn, and their daughter with a BA in economics. She was fortunate to will graduate this spring from the University get a full-time job with their Texas House of of South Alabama. Richard has been a crimiRepresentatives member, where Amy interned nal defense attorney in the Montgomery area the previous summer. And Stacey works as the for the past 20 years. He is the past president business manager for a Dallas law firm – this of the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers is her fourth year, and she has done quite well.

Association and was named a “Super Lawyer” Tom stays busy at the EPA where he just started in 2009. Richard said he hosted Chip Deyerle his 13th year. down to the Gulf on a fishing trip recently.

Andy Stewart reported he is alive and well Ken Harbin works at NCR Corporation in in Alabama. He retired from the U. S. Army Peachtree City, Georgia. He manages contract Reserve as a colonel in June 2006, attended manufacturing and external supplier relationthe Army War College in Carlisle, ships in Latin America and Asia, Pennsylvania, as a Department of the so he travels quite a bit. He said an Army civilian in 2008-09, and was August winter in Buenos Aires beat assigned to the Army Materiel Coman August summer in Georgia! Ken mand at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, just started his 13th year as a roller in late 2009. Andy bought a six acre hockey referee for local leagues and mini-farm in New Market, Alabama high school games in the Georgia (that’s right, New Market), last High School Roller Hockey AssoJuly. His wife, Julie, and daughter ciation – over 40 high school teams Danielle (age 11) are enjoying their participate. Ken and Susan have new home. They are busy with girls’ been married 28 years now. Sue is basketball, volleyball, school projbusy in her career with Salon 54, ects and all the pleasures of raising also in Peachtree City. Their oldest kids. Andy said at his advanced age boy, Ben, graduated from Georgia kids do not make you feel younger Southern University and is an In– his knees are shot, his hearing is ternet security specialist working selective and he suffers from CRS out of Alpharetta, Georgia. Their (can’t remember stuff). youngest son, Eddie, also attended Rodney Hayes wrote to catch evGeorgia Southern and is a technical Class of 1976: Hunt Ozmer, left, with Curt and Carole Reppart at the Florida vs. South Carolina football game eryone up on his whereabouts. Rod sales associate with Best Buy in in Columbia, South Carolina, Nov. 14, 2009. entered the Air Force in October 1976 Newnan, Georgia. Both are doing get to wind their way up the Inca trail. Young Edward Mills ’07 has taken a new position with RestorX of Texas in Dallas where he entertains assorted Brother Rats, including, most recently, former lacrosse great Steve Long ’07.

Please do not forget that Alan Hansen is collecting images for a photographic montage to be presented at the reunion. It is not too late to send Alan your submissions by e-mail to hansen@ a29.com, or mail them to him at his home in Georgia – 1302 Hidden Brook Lane, Acworth, GA 30101. Your humble correspondent is giddy with excitement to see all of you in September, and until then, I am confident that you will all stay young and may actually be in touch!

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well. Ken said there are no wedding bells yet, but both have wonderful girlfriends. Ken sent a shout out to his former roommates Mel Williams, Mike Conley and Simon Radomskyj.

Allen McCarthy lives in Lynchburg where he owns a real estate appraisal company. Allen and his wife are empty nesters with five children living between California and Virginia; they have five grandchildren now and spend many weekends in Urbanna, Virginia, on their sailboat. Allen met Dexter Gilliam, Dyke Davies and Wayne Eastham in Lexington last January for the VMI-Gardner Webb basketball game.

Paul Spencer contacted me on Facebook. He said he has Jetty Codutti on Facebook and wants Mark Rinnan and Mark McIntyre to join, as well. Paul has worked for The Aerospace Corporation for the past 13 years and is living on a farm near Warrenton, Virginia. On his free time, he swims, cycles and runs, so he can participate in triathlons and hopefully, one day, make it to the Ironman competition in Kona, Hawaii. He has two great kids – Ian, 14, and Arianna, 11 – both active in sports and school.

Hank and Doris Dean live in Strasburg, Virginia, where Hank owns an insurance agency. Doris is a school administrator in Warren County. Hank’s son, Jason, works for the U.S. Postal Service, and his daughter, Shannon, teaches second grade in Rockingham County.

Both are single, so no grandchildren yet. Hank and Doris travel as often as possible – they just completed a Mediterranean cruise – and they also enjoy riding a motorcycle year round, weather permitting. Of course, Hank enjoys golf and seeing BRs at Hunt Ozmer’s annual golf tournament. The Deans plan to hook up with Phil and Terry Upton in Chicago for the Blues festival this year.

Rod Hottle sent his greetings from Wyoming

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES and retired as a lieutenant colonel at Edwards from New Jersey to Hellertown, Pennsylvania. two boys are getting settled on their own and Air Force Base, California, in 1997. He met his It allowed them to downsize, reduce their taxes, Grigg enjoys his time with VMI cadets. Grigg wife, Sandy, in 1975, and they were married in get in-state tuition for Garrett and put his family is now the oldest member of the Civil EngineerDecember 1977 (32nd anniversary last year). closer to Lois’ folks. Now they live in the country ing faculty – since we just graduated a couple Now they live in Newport News, Virginia. Rod but close to the city, with about two acres to mow. of years ago, there must be several vacancies has three children. Eric, 29, lives with his wife, Bill said the move increased his commute time to in the CE Department. Grigg just finished his Megan, in Lancaster, California, and works in the work an hour and fifteen minutes, but books on last term on The Timber Framers Guild board of directors last December. The Guild offered Valencia school district IT department. Ruedi, 25, tape help pass the time. him great travelling opportunities lives in Newport News, Virginia, and recently to Sun River, Oregon; is a police officer there. Stephanie, Frankfort, Kentucky; Genesco, 12, is currently in 6th grade at a Illinois; Saratoga Springs, New local Christian school. Rod said York; and England. Last spring the since he graduated from VMI with Mullen’s supported a VMI cadet a chemistry degree, the Air Force and local timber framers project decided that he would be perfectly to replace an old Goshen Wayside suited to be a communications ofpicnic shelter in Rockbridge ficer. But it worked out well and County. There is a great article gave him the opportunity to get a about the event on the VMI Web second bachelor’s and a master’s in site at http://www.vmi.edu/show. electrical engineering early in his aspx?tid=27397&id=41773. career. Ten years ago, after two job Another Lexington BR in VMI changes, Rod started working for news was J.R. and Mei Mott. Last The MITRE Corporation at Langley Class of 1976: Mike Conley started skydiving with his November, they hosted 17 VMI Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. daughter, Cadet Bridget Conley ’12, in 2007. On Foundcadets from Taiwan at their home He is a network systems engineer ers Day 2009, Mike jumped over Rosharon, Texas (south for dinner with Chaplain Park and supporting a DOD networked radio of Houston). his wife. development program. He loves the

And now, the BR Minute: Hunt job, but it keeps him on the road, Ozmer met Curt and Carol Reppart at the Kurt and Cindy Luckenbill welcomed their mostly to and from San Diego.

Florida-South Carolina football game last Nofifth grandchild – Mark Christopher Swetland – Since it was the holiday season, Rick Tufaro last May. By the time you read these notes, their vember in Columbia, South Carolina. Curt’s son caved to my plea for a BR update. Rick has goes to South Carolina, and he had his daughter sixth grandchild will have arrived. Kurt and been teaching high school social studies in Bath and son-in-law with him. He was pulling for Cindy both changed employers last year. Kurt County the past 34 years. When his current the Gamecocks, and Hunt was pulling for the left Wells Fargo Securities after 19 years to join students started telling him he taught their mom RBC Wealth Management, where he is still and dad, Rick decided it was time to move on Gators. Pete Gabriel is doing well. He has been doing personal financial planning. Cindy started to greener pastures. He said he was going to working in Pakistan the past two years. Steph a new marketing and client relations role at EG discover something new and less stressful in Savage said, “Everything is copacetic.” He has Stoltzfus Homes.

Lexington where he lives and works on a large lived in the Washington, DC, area for almost Grigg and Cindy Mullen are doing well. horse farm.

20 years now and still works at the Department Bill and Lois Favier have been married 29 years Grigg says he lives in “one of the best places of Agriculture. Mike Tate saw J.R. Mott at now. Brianne, their oldest, is living in Phillipsburg, on earth, with a fine family, good friends and the George Mason-VMI basketball game last New Jersey. Larissa, their middle daughter is a ju- attentive students.” Cindy’s health is good, their December. He said there were probably over nior at Parsons School of Design in 100 VMI alumni at the game. Jack New York City, New York. Garrett, Christy had flashbacks to Founder’s their youngest, is a freshman at Penn Day 1975. That’s when he started State University, enjoying college, four months confinement – ouch the Big 10 sports atmosphere and, – for driving a car in Rockbridge of course, school. Bill started his County. Evidently Jack, Bill Ryals 27th year at Bristol-Myers Squibb and others were driving to Richmond in Princeton, New Jersey, where he for a Corps trip when he was caught. is the director, Lean Sigma Training.

John Harman was recently elected He has been busy implementing to the Oxford City, Ohio, city countraining and coaching programs for cil for a four-year term. John makes people leading process improvement his living as a day trader in the S&P projects throughout the company.

500. Doug Hines was at the Coastal Bill also was an adjunct professor Carolina-VMI game last October. at LaSalle University for a couple Doug’s son is a senior at CCU. Doug of years teaching an “Overview of said he has two yellow lab puppies the Pharmaceutical Industry,” in the – Keydet and Raven. Steve Joyce Class of 1976: Jim Joustra and his son, Andrew, on a university’s MBA program. Three is doing well and lives in Dallas, cattle drive in Montana high country. months ago, the Faviers moved Texas. After getting a second degree

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CLASS NOTES where Peggy has worked as a guidance counselor for the past seven years. David’s soccer team finished in first place with a 9-0-1 record.

VMI’s soccer coach may be interested in him someday. Elizabeth, their fifth grader, also plays soccer. Moe was sorry to hear Mike’s mother died in January. Fortunately, he is doing well and staying busy as the Roanoke County Public Library system’s assistant director. The South County Library just broke ground on a 56,000 square foot facility. Just imagine Mike in charge of so many books with so few pictures. Fred Wiggins wrote to say he had knee replacement in April in Pembroke, North Carolina. He wants to continue participating in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” in which he walked 27 miles last year – not too shabby! Fred’s son got married in Nov. ’09, and his daughter is a junior at Hopewell High in Hopewell, Virginia. As you read these notes, Moe is sure Fred is well on his way to recovery. John Quackenbush wrote to say his Federal Protection Service job is keeping him busy – nine Midwest states (approx. 2,000 Federal buildings) are his responsibility. Quack still has some time for his ’32 Ford Coupe hot rod that has been painted and is in final assembly.

The ’65 Mustang is still driven once per week, weather permitting, and his new 2010 Roush Mustang convertible (supercharged 5-speed with 435 horsepower) is a blast to drive. Any BR visBland Massie iting him in North Richland, Texas, is welcome to take one or all three for a spin around town or the track. Hey, what are BRs for anyway? Moe did read between the lines about the driving offer. Quack, you should name the hot rod “Super ’77” when you do race it. Quack was at Denise Rah Super ’77, Rah, Rah, Rah! and Steve Neas’ wedding, as mentioned in the For those of us living in the east, it was an interlast notes. Moe is now aware that Chuck Conner esting winter. The amount of snowfall set records and Bob Atkinson were also there at J.M. Hall. and reminded Moe of our Rat year snowball fights Lucy and Mike Lindsay wrote to tell Moe that in Barracks. Lexington got slammed with 20-plus their daughter, Megan, was married inches in less than 24 hours before in September to Michael Povelones.

Christmas. Jane and Moe Massie The newlyweds are living in London, spent two days snowed in with Jane England, finishing their post doctoral and Tom Mortenson in Lexington. fellowship at Imperial College. Lucy (Tom has been with the VMI Adand Mike have gone to visit them missions office for 18 years and and should send word of their trip. serves on the Keydet Club Board Their younger daughter, Hillary, is of Governors.) Moe was on his a physical therapist in Centerville, way to Michigan with Jane to visit Virginia. Mike’s work involves travel, her family for Christmas when the but he still finds time to be involved snow hit. The Mortensons were with his family and church. His golf so gracious to put us up, but they game doesn’t get enough of his time – sure were glad to see us go! Moe is sounds like he is sandbagging to Moe. certain that Buster Pace in Philly The Lindsays are in Warrenton, Virand Freddie Allner in Baltimore ginia, and would love to catch up with got more white stuff than we did in BRs passing through. John Marshall Virginia. Moe was told there was a Class of 1977: Martha and Paul Seufer, left, with Jane wrote a short (very short) note to spill petition going around Washington, and Bland Massie at the Lynchburg Chapter’s VMI Valhis guts about the Vegas mini reunion DC, for Al Gore to return his Nobel entine’s Day Hop at the Boonsboro Country Club, Feb. (all the gory details). No sooner than Prize and one million dollars to Co12, 2010. he had gotten into the really juicy penhaven, and after that, he could

in business administration with a marketing / distribution specialty from the University of Alabama – and working in the same area for 20 years – he started doing security work in the area. Steve said he enjoyed watching Alabama’s run at the BCS National Championship last year.

Phil Haymes says he often reminisces about his great times at VMI. After working in Arizona and Tennessee the past 17 years, Phil relocated from the great town of Warminster, Pennsylvania (where I grew up), to Lynchburg, Virginia, so he could be closer to his two daughters. Razz Waff is not the last BR wearing a military uniform – a mistake in my annual BR letter. John Strock is a retiree recall. John retired as a command sergeant major but is currently serving as a sergeant major in the U.S. Army’s Freedom Team Salute office.

Well, I need to Advil-up and start shoveling snow. The 35th Reunion is tentatively scheduled for 9-10 Sept. 2011 – just 580 days away. Block your calendars now! Thanks #1 for sending your updates for these class notes, especially to everyone that used Facebook – it’s easy to do. If you have a Facebook account, consider joining the VMI class of 1976 group.

Only BRs have access to it; it’s a great way to stay in touch with one another. Thanks #2 to the 14 new BR contributions to the Keydet Club’s 75th Class Challenge that ended last December.

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help shovel the 30+ inches of global warming in front of the White House and use his carbon credits to haul the snow to Vancouver, Canada, for the 2010 Olympics. Well, by the time you are reading these notes, that will all be a distant memory.

Moe would like to thank all of you who sent notes, e-mails, Christmas cards, etc. Not only is the news great, but it also gives Moe something to knock the spider webs out of the mailbox other than bills.

Elliott Shull sent a Christmas card. Moe gets funny e-mails from Elliott on a regular basis and usually gets a good laugh out of them. Bob Hartzell sent a card from Springfield, Virginia, with well wishes. Moe sure missed Debbie and Bob’s tailgate and hot cider this past football season. Maybe next year will be different.

Mark Bryant has retired and sent a nice card.

Maybe Mark will get serious about his golf game now that the snow has melted. Lynne and Jim Bradshaw sent a nice Christmas photo of their family. Jim and his son, J.B. ’09, were on the outside of the group shot, so Moe cropped the two Jims out of the picture leaving Lynne, Elizabeth and Meredith in the picture. Now that made a keeper photo of a great looking bunch.

Marty and Bob Manteuffel sent word from Texas. They are helping keep the VMI Spirit alive in Texas. Peggy and Mike Meise are active at VMI, and Moe sees them often. Peggy sent a letter with the card to update Moe. They have three children. Matthew, 17, is driving, playing soccer, and competed in the school, country, regional and state science fairs and won all of them in his category. He received awards from the American Nuclear Society and the Virginia Dental Award and is part of the National Honor Society. Moe is sure he belongs to Peggy, but based on his achievements, Mike needs to have a paternity test done. David is in middle school

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CLASS NOTES went to Rensselaer for his master’s and to Asian graduation in May and will come to see Col. stuff about what really went on with names and Institute of Technology for his Ph.D. He is out of Jamison at VMI. My warmest regards, Lt. Gen. everything, Hope (his wife) smacked him on the the Army and is the senior VP at Thai Pipe Com- M.L. Prasobchai Kasemsant ’77/’76.” back of his head and wanted to know if he had pany, which is owned by his family. lost his mind (like he ever had one). Something Just before the notes deadline in February, “Pongsak Pullsuk (Tee) is happily flying was said about his life insurance policy not being Moe caught up with Martha and Paul Seufer at B747s all over the world; he is a senior captain paid up and how the other BRs on the trip would the Lynchburg Chapter VMI Valentine’s Hop. and pilot/instructor at the Thai Airways Internakill a Shankapotamus like J.J. for squealing on Shorty looks pretty good in his tuxedo, but tional. He doesn’t need the tutoring money from Martha has him beat in the looks department, them. Now J.J. is on room confinement and K.J. Mullin. He is a heck of a golfer – do not pretty upset. Moe knows that, because he put hands down. It was good to see another ’77 BR bet against him. two stamps on the note and addressed it to the at the dance. Unfortunately, Karen and Dennis “Surapun Wongthai ’77/’76 (Tom) went to Reverend. Moe will get more info on this trip Kocik missed it for the first time in four years. later, now that Marshall has shown himself to be Cornell for his master’s and is now the directorMoe understands that Steve Kelly has moved to general of Joint Operations at the Royal Thai the “weak link.”

Lynchburg, so hopefully he will be at our next Armed Forces HQ, a lieutenant general rank.

Tim Thompson’s karate team has won chapter event. Moe plans to have more info on “Chavalit Noomnoi (Mu) is far ahead of us another U.S. Classic National Karate ChamSteve next time. all. He is enjoying after-life in heaver; he was pionship for 2010. Two articles can be found Well, at least by now, we have all put the helped getting there by cancer. at pr.com/pressrelease/211082 and bbimag. snow behind us and are looking forward to our “Since you mentioned about those English com. Congratulations, Tim, and keep kicking summer. Hopefully, you had a great spring and grades, and after all these 37 years you still ass-s-s-s-s. Kurt Weidenthal e-mailed about his maybe made it to VMI for a baseball game, haven’t figured out the why. Well, I got a B in unique Christmas and New Year’s. His family parade or rugby match. The renovations of Old EN101 and an A in EN102. I never go less than didn’t travel anywhere, and friends came over Barracks are coming along well and will prob100 marks from Cloudy’s math classes. In my for good food, celebrations, football games, ably be completed ahead of schedule. third and final year, I went to see Col. Zdinak shopping ventures and Wii gamesmanship. Kurt Have a great summer, and let Moe in on some to apologize that I was dropping his advance said he was having too much fun to get out of your fun – at least the part you can talk about. math class; he almost cried, then after a few and Seasons Greetings. He is also still working Rah, Rah, VMI, Whole Da*# Class, In the memorable words from him, I had no choices hard at Redstone Arsenal/Marshall Space Flight Spirit of VMI, Never Say Die! but to continue. There was a rumor that some Center in support of NASA and staying closely Moe CE and math professors/teachers gave me the connected with our DoD warfighters and Tom Brown grades without even opening my exam envecontractors. He says life is good in Huntsville, lope. The day I received my VMI diploma and Alabama. Danny Bradach wrote to update the First Jackson-Hope Medal, I sat by myself his new address in Gainesville, Georgia, and on the bench in front of the Preston Library and thanked Moe for reminding him how old he is fathomed the truth. All those VMI professors/ getting with his birthday card. Danny did do teachers graded us with their heads and their pushups to commemorate the 36-year anniverGreetings to the great class of ’78! As you hearts. So, after 37 years, you can happily rest sary of getting out of the Ratline on 20 Feb., read this, it is well into spring, and the weather the case. You are excused from the ‘intense ’74. Moe is not sure how many pushups Danny is hopefully much warmer. As I write this, that psycho therapy.’ I was rejected by Cornell did – hopefully not 36 or we may never hear nasty white stuff, SNOW, is still falling and but accepted to Stanford. My eldest son was from him again. Danny, please let Moe know on the ground. The winter of ’09-’10 will be accepted by Cornell and went there; his sole you are still with us. a lasting memory for those of us who had to Moe sat with Kimber Latsha during the Coastal reason was to beat me at least once. We are all shovel our way through it. For those of you in Carolina basketball game in Lexington in Decem- the same – this is how life is and should be – we the warmer climes, you were more than likely ber. Kimber was here for his first BOV meeting. are in the bonds of VMI. yucking it up at our expense.

We had a nice visit, and Moe can assure all Super The weather must have had an impact on “I will go to JMU for my youngest son’s ’77 BRs that they would be proud of the lines of communication, as Kimber, because he is still the same the news is a little sparse this time down to earth, nice guy we knew as around. Alec Earle had a busy time a cadet and as our class president. this winter. He just moved from Thank goodness being a lawyer warm and sunny Texas back to cold hasn’t changed him. Keep making and snowy Washington, DC. Alec us proud, Kimber. worked environmental programs at Chris Nash was also at that game the Air Force Center for Engineerwith some guests. Chris forwarded ing and the Environment (AFCEE).

Moe this e-mail which you will Since they planned to be in San enjoy. It is from P.K. Kasemsant Antonio for several years, Alec and on our Thai BRs: Shelia broke ground on a new house “Chris: Yanyong Phataralaoha in April and were looking forward (Mr. P.) is now in New Zealand; he to moving in. They were getting Class of 1977: At the Keydet Club Cookout for the VMI vs. took his youngest daughter to enroll used to Texas and even experienced Old Dominion University football game at Foster Stadium, Nov. 9, 2009, were, from left, Bland Massie, Mike Conway, in a university there … his eldest the hottest summer in San Antonio’s Lee Foresman and Will Bynum. Attending, but not pictured, daughter is at Cornell – she’s gotten history (over 50 days above 100 was Chris Perry. the university’s scholarship. Yanyong degrees!). They also enjoyed getting

’78

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CLASS NOTES reacquainted with many longtime friends who settled in San Antonio. Sheila was offered (and accepted) the position of principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower & Reserve Affairs. It was a job too good to pass up and one that fit her experience and background. As for Alec, the Air Force also brought him back to the Air Staff where he is working information technology issues as the chief information officer (CIO) for the AF Civil Engineer. His job promises to be both rewarding and challenging; he is looking forward to learning acquisition and technology stuff. So, in early December, they packed the car and headed back east to Alexandria, Virginia. They purchased a 2 BR/2 BA condominium in “The Jamieson.”

The condo is located next to Old Town Alexandria and is the top six floors of the Weston Alexandria Hotel. They enjoy having a hotel right below them. They arrived in December, in time to enjoy the 23 inches of snow delivered complements of the “Blizzard of 2009” from the relative comfort of the condo. Their most memorable event for this year was reaching their 25th wedding anniversary. They also did a considerable bit of traveling: St. Petersburg, California, Las Vegas, an Alaska cruise and moving to Alexandria. Alec began participating in triathlons (swimming, biking and running) and completed two this year. While both were the short Olympic Sprint Distance, they were challenging and fun. In the second race, Alec even finished second in his age group (and yes, there were more than two participants in the group). Alec also participated in a 54-mile bicycle ride the day before they left San Antonio on their coldest day of the year (27 F). Glad you guys are back in the Old Dominion and hope to see you at the “I” some time.

Bob Magnan sent a brief note that he finally connected with Dave Wrenn, however briefly,

during Dave’s trip up to see his dad. On the not fun side of things, Bob is going in for another left heart cath. Seems that he may have scarred up at one of the stent sites he had this past summer. Not much fun, Bob. Our best wishes are with you for a speedy recovery.

Tim Pishdad is just plugging away in Florida waiting for the economy to turn around. Seems a tornado decided to visit his street this winter.

Tim thinks he was the only one in the area who goes to church, because his home had very little damage, and most of his neighbors had at least $15K in damages. Tim had the chance to attend an Orlando VMI get-together at Fiddlers Green in Winter Park. Tim saw Glenn Dallinger. It was good food, beer and conversation. Tim reports this happens each first Tuesday of the month. So, those of you in Central Florida have an excuse to get together. Tim also enjoys “seeing” all the BRs on Facebook.

Rob Traver is fine and doing well in Pennsylvania after 18 inches of snow. Rob says no real news to report … except being named to a National Academies Committee. He has also been following his two second cousins (both VMI grads) in the Army, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Rob is going to New Zealand and is repelling into a cave. It’s only been since VMI and ROTC summer camp in 1977 that he has done that. Says he sure hopes he remembers how. Just make sure your seat is nice and tight Rob. I had the pleasure of a visit from field correspondent Paul Mitchell. He and his lady friend joined the Lynchburg alumni chapter for the fourth annual Valentine’s Hop. We had a grand time enjoying the company of many alumni and a few BRs, as well. Danny Thornton and Bert Loflin were there with their lovely ladies. We enjoyed the VMI Commanders music and did a little dancing as well.

I have been pleased with the information I

Class of 1978: At the 2010 Lynchburg Chapter’s Valentine’s Day Hop were, from left: Bert and Kim Loflin, Melissa and Danny Thorton, Pat and Tom Brown, Anne Fleischmann and Paul Mitchell.

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am able to glean from Facebook about class happenings. I just need to figure out how to keep track of the printable stuff. Terry Dorn has been on the move. He continues with his biking exploits, having done over 900 miles on his bike as of late 2009. He has been looking after our federal dollars in North Carolina and Afghanistan, as well. Tim Fredrikson and Tim Pishdad relay their exploits quite often, as well.

Jim Doyle and George Relyea are frequent presences on FB, too. Come join the crew at the class page (VMI 78).

As I mentioned earlier, the snows must have hampered the mail, so nothing more to pass along. If you have not been getting class e-mails, please keep your personal info up to date at www. vmialumni.org. Go to The VMI Ranks link, and you can manage your personal information and get contact data on BRs. If you have trouble, pass the info to me. Have a great summer.

’79

Michael Ogden

February 2010. Hope this finds everyone healthy, warm and out of the snow!

For those of you who have not heard, our dear Brother Rat Frankie Lumpkin passed away unexpectedly the day after Christmas.

His visitation, funeral Mass and reception were attended by more Brother Rats than I have room to list. I met with some BRs that I had not seen since graduation! The line for the visitation extended through the halls and out the door of the funeral home and lasted for hours. It was an unbelievable outpouring of respect and fondness from the Richmond community. The Mass was standing room only, with Mac Curtis giving a truly moving and inspirational eulogy. The reception was a well attended affair, as well, with ’79 giving a rousing class yell to ’79 and “UF.” I know Patty; Frankie’s mother, Anne; children, Fletcher and Maggie; and the rest of his family were very appreciative of all from ’79 that were able to attend. Frankie will be sadly missed. (Editor’s Note: The obituary for Frank Lumpkin will appear in the 2010-Issue 3 Alumni Review.)

A solemn note from your fellow Brother Rat and annoying Class Agent: If you do not now undergo a yearly physical, then please consider doing so. And I do not mean just popping in to get your Viagra prescriptions refilled … A real, no-kidding physical. Renee insists that I do. (I was always in the habit anyway as a pilot.) You and your family will be glad you did … and maybe a few of your BRs, as well.

Mark Cheek writes in that he and Lisa are the proud parents of 7. That’s S-E-V-E-N! The

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CLASS NOTES oldest, Taylor, is in her junior year in high school and doing a fantastic job. He has two in middle school, Marissa and Jared, who are doing well.

They’ve both gone through a bout with the swine flu. However, they came out the other side with just some of the piggish manners left behind. There are three in elementary school: Austin, Leah and Kylie. Austin has announced his intention to attend VMI and then become a Marine (Awww RIGHT!). Mark thinks that Austin will be a credit to the “I” and the Corps.

Mark was Air Force forward air controller and says he admires someone with the ambition to contribute to their country, even at the young age of 11. Mark sees Chuck Billingsley nearly every work day. (Chuck, you never write or call!) Chuck and Mark got together for lunch with Danny Sheahan when he was back this way last summer. They had some fun reminiscing about the old Corps days and what everyone is all up to now. Mark is holding up fairly well physically and mentally, although he says he has lost some gray hairs due to the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Mark says, “I think that parenting is sometimes a lot like a Rat Cadre officer. You teach them the rules, fuss at them when needed (and sometimes extra for good measure), march them around wherever they need to go and then in middle school, you let them breakout of the Ratline.” His youngest boy, Nathaniel, will start school next year. He was a premie, born at 25 weeks. You wouldn’t know it now, as he has sprouted up and already past his older 7-year-old sister in height. Wow. I say again, S-E-V-E-N! Tom Baltazar checks in with news that he has left Booz Allen Hamilton (after seven short months) to accept an offer to get back into government as the deputy senior civilian representative in Regional Command-South, Kandahar Afghanistan. Looks like Jeff Smith will have a BR to watch his six.

Curt McCabe reports that Ted Kientz and his lovely wife, Lynn, opened up their home and served ample beers and a fantastic gourmet gumbo to Curt while he was TDY to Fayetteville, North Carolina, in December. Ted’s been overseeing multiple complex building construction projects at Fort Bragg. The buildings will house two major Army commands as they relocate from the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

Curt “Mac” watches the information technology and management end of the projects for “big” Army. Curt says Ted and Lynn’s beautiful home is a must-see at Christmas time. A spin through (they’re little piece of North Pole, coupled with a meal fit for Santa and all their elves) will definitely figure into his TDY plans again next year.

Curt says Frankie and he roomed together during their VMI visitation weekend. The two filled the tub in their room with ice and beer and

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had a blast, with others hangin’ in the Econo Lodge. It was evidently really painful when they banged their motel doors the next morning to get them up for the orientation. They were definitely not going to attend VMI after that weekend. But that changed.

Jim LaRose took another trip to Shanghai for a week of work meetings. While he says business is slower, it has not stopped. Jim and Kathie are going to take a vacation to Negril, Jamaica, in mid February. Like he said, business is slow but not stopped. Wonder where they would have gone if business was booming?! They decided it is too damned cold and dreary down in Mobile, Alabama, so they decided to go someplace warm. Renee and I, along with Jay and Debbie Virtue, are planning a visit to Casa de LaRose in April. I have a Harrier Reunion that weekend in Pensacola, Florida, and Renee has family in the area, so we will be busy! I am sure it will be a great time.

Jim Owens (on his way to Horn of Africa or HOA) saw Jeff Smith down in Chapel Hill this past October. They were going through training for the Army. It was great to catch up with him, as they haven’t seen each other since ’03 in Baghdad at the change of command for Brig. Gen. Jack Kern ’69. Jim found out in November that he had been selected as the deputy for CJTF-HOA (congrats, BR!) and has spent the last couple of months getting ready and preparing to change command. Jim did get to go to lunch with Mark Byrd, Butch Manning and Frank Jester recently in Virginia Beach (I failed to make the gathering) and had a great time. They are part of a Norfolk VMI group that gets together every month or so. ’79 usually has the most attendees that usually include Tom Herbert, John Arthur, Asa Page and Pete Underwood.

“Smitty” Smithson returned from Afghanistan in late January and is currently at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for a few weeks, then back to Individual Ready Reserve, or perhaps he thinks it is time to retire. The active Army is still confused about Smitty being a physician’s assistant and if medicine or his infantry talents are more vital to the war effort. The whole branch transfer thing started as a good idea to get his student loans paid off, but it has ended up being a real nightmare for him. Common sense played no part in it.

Bob “Stosh” Morris writes, “Last weekend (Meade) Spotts invited me to roll cigars at a pre-inaugural ball reception hosted by a Virginia State senator. Very good time, punctuated by the fact that my cigars did not kill anyone.

Few tense moments when Spotts had me give some to a judge (as you know, I don’t do the legal system well) ... but we got by that. Thanks to the availability of an extra ticket Spotts came

up with (having no connection to the man I hit with my car out front), I accompanied Spotts and his wife to the Governor’s Inaugural Ball, where I achieved a personal goal of actually making it through security and the body scans.

The high point of the evening is when Spotts lost track of the extra ticket for some time, allowing his wife and me to meander around aimlessly unaccompanied. Thus proving that greater devotion has no man than this that he give his wife to his BR. Naturally, as in all functions Spotts has me attend, there are no photos or any permanent record which allows him plausible deniability. Last I saw Spotts and the group that night was back in the senator’s suite, where copious amounts of alcohol were flowing and the senator was encouraging everyone to get out of their tuxes and into more comfortable things. The senator being retired Navy and Spotts being ... well ... Spotts ... I thought it best I invoke the spirit of ‘don’t ask,’ so I would not have to later tell you.”

Bob Sievert has been working through the transition to Virginia’s new governor. Since his job is to manage the state’s electronic purchasing system, eVA, Bob has been a part of a big effort to brief the new governor’s transition team on how the state does business and where there are opportunities to save money on this “buy-side” of things. The state does between $4-5 billion dollars in buying every year, and almost all of that is done through this system that Bob manages. So, we\they are fairly “highvis” when it comes to politics like a governor change and the fact that the legislature is in session at the same time! Couple that with the ongoing bad budget saga, and it makes for lots of excitement in the office these days! On the family front, Bob and Angela are focusing on planning vacation time for 2010. Their youngest son, Andrew, is in the middle of his sophomore year in New Hampshire at Daniel Webster College. So, one aspect of their year will be road trips to pick him up for the summer and then take him back in the fall. They are trying to turn these trips into mini-vacations by taking extra time to tour the New England area and parts of Canada near the border there. Last year, they made it halfway up Maine and then cut back across into Canada, until they hit Niagara Falls.

This year, they may try to go further west until they hit British Colombia.

Larry Adams checks in with word that he and Mark Day wanted to see the VMI basketball team play, so they drove almost three hours (Road Trip!) from Atlanta to Presbyterian College (the nearest they will come this season).

The first half was apparently like I had heard it would be and the major reason they wanted to go – fast paced and VMI was winning! It was 40-25 at the half, which was still below VMI’s

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CLASS NOTES average scoring pace. Presbyterian figured something out at halftime and came back in the second half to lead with a couple of minutes left, but a VMI basket at the buzzer sent it into overtime, whereupon the “Blue Hose” took charge and won. But ... the most fun for Larry was spending six hours in the car with his BR! Larry’s Air Force Academy third classmen son made the superintendent’s list for the fall semester, which means he was among the top cadets in three areas: Academics, Military and Athletics. About 7% of his class made the supe’s list. Larry’s daughter sang the “National Anthem” at the Georgia All-Academy Ball over the Christmas holidays. She also sang it (by the time you read this) at three county swim meets and at least one of her high school’s basketball games.

Jeff Curtis recently traded e-mails with BR Don Zimmer. Don retired from the Army as an O-6 and is in Nairobi, Kenya, as chief of security for a UN agency. Don is married with three children and only gets back to the U.S. about once a year. On the personal side, Jeff’s wife, Betsy, is working in Crystal City for the Air National Guard and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. She comes down to VMI about every other week for an inspection.

A little information from Dave Taylor: “My oldest two daughters (I have three girls, an empty bank account and a shotgun) are both in AFROTC at Wright State University outside of Dayton, Ohio. Rachel the oldest (pre-med) will be heading to field training held at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, this summer. Sarah, who is on a full AFROTC scholarship (mechanical engineering), will be off to the Air Force Academy this summer for her training. She’ll get to fly and jump out of airplanes – hopefully not the one she’s flying. I never jumped out of a plane in 26 years of service in the Air Force.

She can’t wait! My wife, Carrie, and I are really excited that the girls chose the Air Force as a career. We never pushed them in that direction.

I run into Tim Bridges often at meetings here at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command.

I swear he looks about as close to the day he graduated as any BR we have!”

Evidently Greg Weaver has an interesting hobby, as he writes, “Miss North Carolina came up short at the 2010 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas. I recently judged the Miss Goldsboro Pageant. My next two Miss North Carolina Preliminary Pageants will be Miss Thomasville and Miss Greater Wilmington. Hopefully North Carolina will send a winner for the 2011 Miss America Pageant. Congratulations to Miss Virginia, our new Miss America (Caressa Cameron). Why let Rush Limbaugh have all the fun!” Maybe Greg is positioning himself for the next judge opening on American Idol!

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Russ Zech’s son, Rat Roland, broke out with the new class of 2013. Roland’s brother, Micah, will be enlisting in the USAF sometime shortly after his 18th birthday in February. Roxanne is ruling the yearbook copy desk at Westglades Middle with an iron fist. Heidi is managing marketing for a good-sized commercial roofing company in south Florida. Russell is recruiting construction apprentices at the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors. A quick story from Russell: “Shortly after our reunion, I jammed my ring on my right hand in a rush to a job interview. Ah, vanity. I didn’t get the job, but I did get my ring stuck.

It took two nervous jewelers to cut it off. They had never seen a ring with such a thick back!

Can you say 32 penny weight? Thought-cha could. One jeweler was cutting with a disk and the other was painting the wheel with water to keep the heat down. They had to make two cuts.

After the first cut, the ring was still so massive that they couldn’t spread it. They needed a shield under the ring at one point and ended up using the only thing that was handy – silver foil! We went to them, because they were in our neighborhood. It was a lucky choice, since they are the jewelers that all of the local hospitals call in when they need a ring removed. I’ve been in touch on Facebook with Fred Bailey to let him know that his design for my stone encrustation now graces the replacement. Jostens was slow but steady with the replacement and double-checked every specification. Overall, I was pleased with their work.”

I had my mother’s miniature (she passed away in ’97) resized for Renee through Jostens, and they did a great professional job, start to finish, from the first exploratory phone call to the actual delivery of the ring.

I had a business meeting up in Crystal City, Virginia, in December, and I was able to meet up with Doug Doerr, Tom Manley and Phil Southers to have dinner in Fredericksburg on my return trip to the Eastern Shore. Grand time was had by all with the most revealing story about how Doug was not a fan of the Sentinel Box burning and finding out that his roomie, Tom, was in on it. A secret no more after over 30 years! Shocked Doug was; totally shocked, I tell you!

I am now on Facebook. It was suggested to me as another way of keeping up with all my Brother Rats. And it is working. I was able to hook up with “Sput” Leadbetter, as an example. So, if you are into that sort of thing, join up and send me a friend request.

All is well on the Virginia Eastern Shore.

Renee is busy at the Northampton County Chamber of Commerce, and Matthew is taking 16 hours this semester. He is looking to move “across the Bay” and go to ODU “in person”

next semester, versus distance learning. An improved social life is sure to follow. James is still having a blast working at the II MEF Simulation Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and he has started back to school at nights and weekends in an attempt to finish his degree (that was interrupted when he joined the Marines) and break through that corporate “glass ceiling.”

That is all for now, BRs. Stay well, and keep in touch.

’80

John Gibney Jr.

Hello, Brother Rats: These notes cover the period of Nov. 16, 2009, through Feb. 15, 2010.

Thanks to all for your communication during this very active period, with apologies to all who reached out and did not receive a response.

The last set of class notes concluded with the wedding in New Orleans of Amy and Elliott Wolffe. This set begins with New Orleans having won the Super Bowl and the wedding of Mike Hall! Mike sent an e-mail with a photo announcing that he was married, for the first time, in August to Patricia Corbett. Congrats to Mike and Patricia!

Next, Dave Hageman sent an e-mail noting that he still plans to be married in July. Dave heads the Detroit Chapter of the Alumni Association. He retired from the Army Reserve in February and plans to attend our reunion.

John Blankenship sent an e-mail volunteering to serve on the Reunion Committee. John has been working in Cincinnati for the last year and traveling back and forth to Richmond where he maintains his home.

Boyd Gaines sent a message with a photo taken in Skopje, Macedonia, with Andy Brown in October. Andy is a rear admiral and the director of Logistics for the U.S. European Command.

Boyd is a Department of Defense civilian assigned to the U.S. Joint Forces Command as the Multinational Affairs Branch chief. They met at LOGEX09, an exercise involving logisticians from Albania, Croatia and Macedonia. Boyd also wrote that he plans to attend our reunion.

Bill Wallace called to volunteer to serve on the Reunion Committee. Bill lives in Alabama where he works construction, following his retirement from the Army. Bill’s daughter, Megan, also lives in Alabama. His son, Nathan, lives in Georgia. Bill said that he speaks often with Russ Early who is retired from the Navy but works as a civilian pilot for the Navy in Pensacola.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES receiving his birthday card. John wrote that he In an exchange of e-mail, Tom Bersson wrote stopped by VMI for the ODU football game that he was not planning to visit his daughter, Beth, at NYU but that her visit home at Thanks- where he saw Paul Burkholder, Doug Burton, V Dunn, Hugh Fain, Craig Jones, Josh Priest giving was much anticipated. and Allen Ramer.

Dennis Quinn called. He and Jill relocated With the exception of the Christmas cards I to Connecticut from Atlanta. Their son, Ryan, works in New York City. Their daughter, Kirsten, received, VMI activity in December ended when Patti and I had dinner with Matthew and Tanya attends the University of South Carolina.

Keys and their son, Bryan, just before Christmas.

Forrest Marion sent an e-mail saying that he Larry Ciacci and Dennis Hackemeyer sent attended the memorial service for Cadet John electronic holiday wishes.

Evans ’13, the late son of our BR Bob Evans.

Forrest’s son, Nathan, was one of John’s roommates and a speaker at the service.

Gary Levenson, VMI’s deputy commandant, was very active at Ring Figure. He reported seeing John Alerding, Mike Bellamy, Ed Bower, Doug Burton, V Dunn, Rick Gilbert, Dennis Hackemeyer, Craig Jones, Robbie Jones, Mark McLean, Josh Priest, Al Ramer, Gene Scott, Bob White and Craig Wilson at various times during the weekend. Gary also added that Dennis’ daughter, Hope, and Gene’s son, Eric, received their class rings.

And Gary marched with a group of cadets from Harrisonburg to New Market, including the sons of Forrest Marion, Jay McCauley, Dan Sweeney and Michael Smith.

Gary then brought Karen and their grandson, Tyler to New York. We visited with them before their return to Richmond. Thanks, Karen, for straightening the fringe on all five area rugs in our apartment!

Apologies to Larry Ciacci for trying to schedule lunch to no avail. Larry lives in Connecticut and works in lower Manhattan.

Thanks to Dan Conn for providing input for consideration by the Reunion Committee.

The Reunion Committee is being led by Pat Griffin. Committee members include John Alerding, John Blankenship, Paul Burkholder, Hugh Fain, Tim Hodges, Robby Jones, Gary Levenson, Patrick McCarthy, Jay Melvin, Class of 1980: Mike Hall was married Aug. Rob Quarles, Scott Sayre and Bill Wallace.

29, 2009, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to Thanks to Pat for his tireless efforts, to the former Patricia Corbett.

Hugh Fain for providing teleconference support and to Phil Munisteri for video support.

Cards with short messages were sent by John November closed with an e-mail from V and Anne Alerding, Joe Burns, Gary and Mindy Dunn. V and Sarina planned to host a party to Fellows, Pat and Beth Griffin, Gary and Karen watch the VMI vs. West Point football game.

Levenson, Phil Munisteri and Rich Zott.

Unfortunately, the game was dropped from Farhad and Deby Bigdely sent a card noting broadcast television. Nonetheless, they had a move to Sandy Hook, Virginia, in the spring.

Tom and Amy Bersson and Dixon and Nancy Tucker over, and they listened to the game over Chris and Jen Dombalis sent a card with a photo of their daughters, Taylor and Alexis. Marty the computer.

Fedenko sent a card with a note about our “mini December began with an e-mail from Frank reunion” in October, and Rob and Ginger GearLeech in response to a birthday card. Frank hart sent a card noting their plan to attend our lives and works in Abu Dhabi, but he, Elma and reunion. Rob and Traci Robinson sent a photo of the girls own a home in Albuquerque that they their daughters, Maddie and Caitlin. planned to visit over the holidays. They will do Dave Hageman sent a photo of his sons, Catheir best to attend the reunion. leb (11), Jake (19) and William (23), and a note John Blankenship sent an e-mail after

2010-Issue 2

saying he plans to attend the reunion. Larry and Vera Hupertz sent a photo of the family taken at Stonehenge. Dwight and Joanne Pearson enclosed a family photo that included Pater and Patrick. Rob and Elizabeth Quarles sent a card with a photo of Arkell, Marshall and Fielding and their dogs.

Massoud Tahamtani noted in his card that he plans to attend the reunion, as did Preston and Shari Vock. Amy and Elliott Wolffe sent a photo taken at their wedding that included their children Erica, Chelsey, Maxwell, Mary Parker, Wesley and Turner.

Several of our BRs included end-of-year letters in their cards.

Steve and Cathy Andrews included a photo of Caroline and Virginia. Virginia is a senior in high school and one of two drum majors. She is waiting to hear from the six colleges to which she applied. Caroline is in 9th grade where she plays on the volleyball team and sings in the chorus. She also takes piano lessons.

Ed and Diana Baker enclosed a family photo. Ed continues to stay busy with his OB/GYN practice in Lumberton, North Carolina, and with hunting and fishing when he’s not at work. Diana is an RN at an outpatient surgery center in Fayetteville. Their daughter, Katie, is in her second year at UNC-Pembroke, where she double majors in psychology and English. Their son, Charlie, is in the 9th grade, an avid hunter and about to receive his learner’s permit.

Andy and Sharon Brown enclosed a photo of their sons, Joseph, Casey and Christian, taken at a ski resort in Austria. They live in Stuttgart, Germany. Joseph, 25, is stationed in Japan and attached to the U.S.S. George Washington. Casey, 23, graduated from VMI in May and attends the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Christian, 15, attends high school on the base in Germany.

Andy wrote that due to a joint exercise with Israel, he may not be able to attend our reunion.

Aaron and Nancy Bush sent a letter from their home in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where Aaron teaches in the high school and coaches cross country and Nancy works part-time at Veterinary Supply Center. Zachary graduated from Radford and works as a graphic designer in northern Virginia. Kinsey lives on her own and works in Hershey. Wes also works in northern Virginia. Jeremiah is a junior in high school where he plays soccer and runs track. Lucas is in 5th grade and played on the travel basketball team, coached by Aaron.

Vince and Sheila Copenhaver enclosed a letter. Vince is the director of finance for Franklin County where Sheila owns J and J Fashions.

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CLASS NOTES deputy chief for the Commander’s Action Group. College where she plays varsity volleyball and Victoria, 20, is a sophomore at Liberty UniverFinally, Tracy and Jennifer Wilson sent a letsity in Lynchburg. studies communication. Larry and Vera plan to ter and photos with their card. Their daughter, Sean and Marlo Gallagher sent a card from attend our reunion.

Siena, is almost five and in preschool. Ellie is their home in the state of Washington with an Jonathan Ives called while on a short trip to 2-1/2. Jennifer works for the International Mon- New York City. Jonathan has been selected for enclosed a photo. Sean retired from the New etary Fund. Tracy achieved a long-term goal York City Police Department on Sept. 1st and promotion to brigadier general in the Army Rewhen he attended a launch of the space shuttle. accepted a position with the Tenino Police Deserve and is living in Washington, DC, awaiting January began with phone tag with Wade partment where he became the police chief on school. He plans to attend our reunion.

Stinnette and an e-mail from Dixon Tucker.

Jan. 1st. Marlo is settling them into their home January closed with a phone call with Dennis Dixon organizes Alumni Association events in in Lacey, Washington.

Maguire in Boston where the temperature was Matthew and Tanya Keys also enclosed a note the Norfolk area and copies me on the invitathree degrees above zero. Dennis plans to attend and photo. Matthew works at Sleepy’s in Man- tions. Potential attendees at the January event our reunion. hattan, and Tanya works at Chase. Bryan will included Ken Baybutt, Tom Bersson, Andy Finally, I “found” two messages posted to our graduate from Mary Washington class page on the VMI Web site. in May with a B.S. in chemistry.

My apologies to Hal Snyder, who Andrew manages an Applebee’s in posted his message in July 2009.

Blacksburg.

Hal wrote that he and Kathy moved Walt and Carrie Kreitler sent their to Braddock Heights, Maryland, annual update with a page full of near the private dental practice he photos. Carrie has taken up tennis purchased in 2007 following his again. Walt has moved to Northrup retirement from the Army. Hal plans Grumman. John graduated from to attend our reunion. And Mike West Point in May, and Walt swore Knapp posted a message in January him in as a second lieutenant. John 2010. Mike and May moved back graduated from Infantry Officers to northern Virginia in October Course and is in Ranger School. when Mike took a promotion and Robert will graduate in June from became the deputy director of George Mason where he swims Army museums at the Center of competitively. Walt plans to attend Military History. Mike works with the reunion.

Rob Dalessandro who retired last Tim and Becky Mecredy sent a year from the Army to become the card from their home in Georgia. assistant chief of Military History at Class of 1980: Boyd Gaines and Adm. Andy Brown, USN, Their son, Michael, received a the Center of Military History. at a chance encounter in Skopje, Macedonia, October bachelor’s degree with highest In closing, the timing of the 2009, during the multinational exercise, “LOGEX09.” honors in environmental engineerpublication of the Alumni Review is ing from Georgia Tech where he is now working on his master’s. Emily will graduate from high school in May and has been visiting colleges.

Dennis and Donna Milsten sent a note with several photos. Dennis works for the Veteran’s Administration in D.C. Donna works at an architectural firm.

Brian and Kim O’Neil enclosed a photo of their five children, Kelly (23), Ryan (21), Tim (18), Kirsten (15) and Brendan (13). They plan to attend the reunion.

Bert and Peggy Schneider included a note saying that Elizabeth is working toward her Ph.D. in bio engineering at U.C. Berkeley, and Chris is in his second year of veterinary school at Colorado State University.

Mark and Darlene Sobota sent a note and photos from their home in Dayton, Ohio. Their son, Chad, attends Miami University in Ohio where he is a computer engineering major on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. Luke graduated from high school in May as his class valedictorian and is a freshman at Ohio State University, majoring in engineering physics. Mark works at Headquarters Air Force Research Labs as the

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Brown, V Dunn, Tim Hodges, Gary Kessler, Rob Leatherbury, Mike Lunning, Gary Levenson, Bill M’Coy, Ali Mahan, Josh Priest, Bob White and Tom Wilson.

This was followed by an e-mail exchange with Bob White, who plans to attend our reunion.

Patti and I had dinner with Matthew and Tanya Keys after ice skating in Central Park.

Ray Joinson sent an e-mail saying that he is retiring from the Air Force. He and Carla will leave DC, where Ray works at the Pentagon, for a home they built in Tennessee. Their son, Eric, is a lieutenant in the Coast Guard stationed in Alaska. Ray and Carla plan to attend the reunion.

Matt Atkinson sent an e-mail with his new mailing address. He moved from Boca to Ft. Lauderdale.

Larry Hupertz sent an e-mail after receiving his birthday card. He and Vera are busy in the Cleveland area with work, and the girls are both at school. Alex will graduate from Dennison University in May and plans to attend law school. Monica is a junior at Mount Union

such that this set of class notes was submitted in advance of our reunion but will appear in print several weeks after we convene. Please excuse any awkward references to expectation that, as you read, may have already occurred.

Thanks to all for your contributions to this set of our notes. Please look on the VMI Web site at the photos referenced above that do not appear in print.

’81

Gerald Manley

Dear Brother Rats: It is a snowy February as I start these notes. “Snowmagedon 2010” has come and gone, and I pray that everyone survived. I am writing this after a recent and hectic trip to Richmond to watch my nephew, Jacob Manley, wrestle in a state tournament at Saint Christopher’s, while also working in a side trip to visit my daughter at Longwood University. Mike and Katherine Denton were, once again, gracious

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES hosts and took great care of me, as I was in and out of their home between obligations. Many thanks to you, Mike and Katherine, for sharing the keys to your home and your hearts.

On to the inputs received: Jim Frishkorn wrote from sunny Florida that he and Mei-Ling are enjoying life in the Panhandle. They recently purchased a boat and are hoping for quiet weekends on the water once the weather warms up. (While he did not specifically say it, I am sure that news is an open invitation for any of his BRs to crash at his place and join him for some fun in the sun!)

Jim and John Cawthorne are planning an Axis deer hunt in April with a couple of other Air Force civil engineers on the Hawaiian island of Lanai. John had already scouted an area from last season and has booked rooms in the “Dreams Come True” Bed and Breakfast on the island. I understand Jim has tried to convince John’s lovely bride, Lisa, to reserve space over the fireplace to display John’s expected trophy, but Lisa’s pained expressions have suggested that anything from the wild will be displayed in the garage.

John Dixon shared that he and Patti are enjoying Life! Patti has managed to work through the “post-Christmas” slump, and her “Island Dog” shop in Gettysburg keeps her busy throughout the week. Patti’s Web site, which is still evolving, can be viewed at: www.IslandDog.biz.

John is working hard but loving every minute of being a faculty officer at Carson Long Military Institute in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania.

John is teaching chemistry and physics and serving as a building officer (similar to a VMI TAC). John takes daily ribbing for being the only Air Force guy on staff but stands fast as he reminds his peers of “how superior the USAF is to other branches.” He tells the cadets to “Aim High” and is a tremendous role model for them all. John said the faculty and staff are doing great things and shared that the school Web site can be viewed at: www.CarsonLong.org.

The great “Snowmagedon” of 2010 took its toll on scheduled events at VMI, planned by two selfless Brother Rats. Grover Outland, who has enjoyed a dynamic role within the Alumni Association and its Placement Committee, had to cancel February’s Cadet-Alumni Career Networking Forum. As of this writing, a new date for the Forum later in the semester had not yet been designated. Jeff Hamilton put out similar word for the Col. Don Jamison ’57 Appreciation Event. The event was to be held to recognize Col. Jamison and his wife, Priscilla, for their devoted service and contributions to VMI and generations of cadets. BR Jeff Hamilton is one of the committee members and also, notably, the one who initiated the Jamison 1957 Family Scholarship Fund. For those of us

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that were CEs, Col. Jamison was a true mentor.

He began his teaching career in NEB. With the exception of time spent earning his advanced degrees, he has been in Lexington holding positions as head of the CE Department, coach of the tennis and golf teams, Superintendent’s Representative to the Honor Court and academic advisor to many cadets. The list goes on!

Hopefully, both events supported by Grover and Jeff will have been rescheduled and successfully run by the time this edition is published.

I extend much pride and appreciation for you both, Grove and Jeff, for your efforts in support of VMI and our class!

Trip Lloyd shared that he has just finished his two-year active duty recall and is back with the Department of Homeland Security and deeply engrossed in the 2011 budget process with recent submissions to Congress. Trip shared of his family’s recent skiing vacation and adventures in Canaan Valley, West Virginia. His 7-year-old son knows no fear, and his 9-yearold daughter discovered skiing over gravel will ruin both skis and knees. Trip enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing and left the mountain exhilarated and undamaged. The worst of it was their having to drive through the West Virginia mountains during the last snowstorm, but he made it back safely to find that his neighbors had already cleared out his driveway.

Greg and Ann Wolven chimed in. Greg was in Washington, DC, recently at an NRECA meeting; had been in Minnesota several times; and was leaving for Atlanta to give a presentation at the Tech Advantage Conference. In between all the travel, Greg is enjoying his job at WIN Energy. Greg and Ann did go up to see their daughter, Kati, at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, in January. Ann shared that they, too, were driving through the Blizzard of 2010 to her parents’ in Maryland; it took them almost 20 hours of driving (not counting five hours in a hotel), and she credits God as their co-pilot, because they arrived safely with no accidents in two new cars! Their son, Chris, is doing well at Vincennes University studying biomedical electronics/computer internet security and enjoying it. Katie is doing extremely well through her first semester, while playing for the school’s volleyball team.

I received a quick note from Brian Quisenberry. Brian sent a couple of great pictures from the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad and reports that all is well. Brian had expressed gratitude for one of the local major generals in charge of Iraqi Security Forces (didn’t get the full name and hope to address/correct in a follow-on edition) for sponsoring a meal at his home for U.S. and Iraqi forces during a trip to Baghdad.

Stay safe, Brian! We look forward to your safe return, BR.

Dan Pere shared news of a mini reunion with Jeff Adler and Bill Bird. Dan met up with Jeff and Christie Adler and Bill and Daina Bird, along with Jeff’s friends, the Edwards, for dinner at Lee Roy Selmon’s restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida, on Jan. 27, 2010. Dan reports that all had a great time and that it was good to see one another and catch up on new and old history. Dan shared that Bill and Daina were also going to meet up with the Chip Chipley and Mike Hatfield to attend a Wounded Warrior Project fundraiser at Port Charlotte High School, Port Charlotte, Florida, to lend support to the program. VMI’s band was scheduled to perform a military tattoo. Hope to get feedback from the BRs on how that event went. (Editor’s Note: See more about this in the Institute section of this Review.)

Jeff Adler also chimed in and shared that he and Glenn Alexander get together at the I-Hop in Chantilly every 3-4 months to catch up. Coincidentally, at that same I-Hop, Ken Herbert and I were able to share an early breakfast a few weekends back (and Ken is still a blest and blessed man – great sharing a three hour breakfast with you, Piggy!). With Jeff’s help, we are going to try to set up a regular Pancake Social for any of the BRs in the area or those that want to make the trek.

That’s all for now, BRs! Regret the relatively short inputs this edition, but it has been a hectic few months for many of us, I am sure. Please keep the e-mails coming! As always, keep sending me e-mail address updates. God bless you all!

In the bonds of VMI … Jerry

’82

Charles Kause

In Love’s Labours Lost, William Shakespeare wrote: When icicles hang by the wall, And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And Tom bears logs into the hall, And milk comes frozen home in pail, When blood is nipp’d, and ways be foul, Then nightly sings the staring owl, To-whit! To-who!—a merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

When all aloud the wind doth blow, And coughing drowns the parson’s saw, And birds sit brooding in the snow, And Marian’s nose looks red and raw, When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly sings the staring owl, To-whit! To-who!—a merry note, While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

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CLASS NOTES I have been keeling many pots this winter, in between the almost weekly bouts with The Snowtorious B. I. G. My new job is with TASC Inc., which broke off from Northrop Grumman Corporation in December. I support the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. Right now, though, I am staying at home awaiting the results of yet another security background investigation, because my active CIA clearances were considered “out of scope.” Too bad “One Team, One Fight” is not the motto of America’s Intelligence community.

To keep me occupied in between snowstorms, I have mastered the art of making crème brulee, as well as treating my family to such delights as Irish Italian Chili, slow-cooked short ribs braised in red wine, seafood au gratin and my award-winning Triphibious Gumbo (on air and land and sea; chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, and crawfish). The Clown Prince and Daughter of Darkness are begging for mac and cheese and hamburger, like all the other normal kids get to eat. Mrs. Kause, on the other hand, is thrilled to come home after a long day on the grind to home-cooked meals. Besides, I need to pork up on the calories, in order to fuel my body for the rigors of digging out after yet another of Mother Nature’s White Rages.

Speaking of raging against the wind, 2010 heralds a watermark event in most of our lives.

My wake-up call came right after Christmas when I received an invitation to join the AARP. Most of us will be “celebrating” this event by getting colonoscopies and other such indignities to mark the unyielding advance of age. Joe Yodzis, however, celebrated turning 50 by doing something more fun. After climbing the Matterhorn in 2007, Joe had the itch to do another big climb and planned to celebrate his 50th by climbing the Weisshorn, reputed by some to be the most challenging summit in the Alps via the normal route. He departed for Switzerland on his birthday, 16 Aug., and spent 10 days in Zermatt hiking and climbing to get ready.

Although Weisshorn is less technically difficult than the Matterhorn, it is a long day – 12 hours to the summit and back to the refuge on 28 Aug. The summit is at 14,780 feet, and the refuge one vertical mile below. Joe sent a picture to provide proof of his victorious climb.

I made only one pilgrimage to Lexington this fall. It was Ring Figure Weekend, and the weather was perfect for watching a football game. I stumbled upon a mini Alpha Company reunion in the stands. Emmett and Lynn Heltzel were sitting with Scott Crumpler and family, as well as Maureen and Jim Hickey. Emmett and Lynn’s daughter was getting dolled up for Ring Figure as the date of a lucky Second. This was the first VMI football game the Hickeys were able to attend in Lexington. They are living an almost

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normal life, with Jim still stuck in the Pentagon as the executive officer for the Army G-3. The Pentagon’s bleakness has been offset by lots of visits by friends and family to the Hicky Bed and Breakfast, as well as a 25th wedding anniversary trip to Paris (France, not Texas) and a summer vacation to Maine. Since Maureen likes to go out on “girl’s weekends,” Jim consoles himself by not missing a single gun show within a 100-mile radius of Washington.

Also present at that Ring Figure football game were Bill Jennings and Joey Keyes. Bill was in his traditional perch high atop the stadium, and we were all under the glaring overwatch of Joey from the flying bridge of his Keydet Club command suite.

In December, I went to a VMI versus George Mason University basketball game in Fairfax.

It was the first college game I had been to since taking off the Moe costume in ’82. College basketball sure has changed since then, and I was amazed at how fast the game was played. VMI lost in the last minute, but seeing some local BRs consoled me. Joey Keyes, Ron Mecredy and Darryl Horne attended the game. Danny Clymore promised to attend but was taken down by some Swine Flu kind of crud and had to beg off.

Also in December, Chris Schrichte came into Washington on business, and we were able to get together for dinner. Chris normally lives on a spread in Montana and loves everything about the Big Sky Country … everything except his inability to satiate his Thai food cravings. Chris shared this issue with me, because he knew

I grew up in Thailand. I suppose I am Chris’ Paad Thai Pal. So, on a dreary, rainy night, we got together with Jeff Roseme and tucked into some fabulous crispy fish, red curry duck, chicken sate, beef and basil, and Thai beer for a round of war stories and business opportunity discovery. Joining us that evening was the former undersecretary for Homeland Security, George Foresman ’84, and Joe Irby ’85.

I usually get one or two personal responses to that obligatory and perfunctory end-ofcalendar-year plea for support from the Alumni Association and VMI Foundation in my name.

This year was no different. I received a terse reply from Shaun Gillilland, tasking me to do something that is anatomically impossible. But Shaun was kind enough to share that his son, Quentin, is now a cadet at Norwich University in Vermont, where he is on the varsity rugby team and is a motivated Army ROTC cadet.

Mike Albert also noted the only time I “write” to him is when I am “shilling for the I.” Then, again, the only time he writes to me is when I get his Christmas card. Mike wrote his daughter, Samantha, who many of us met at our 25th Reunion, is now taking a college semester abroad in Spain. His youngest is now 20. Seems like only yesterday I was following the snow plows up I-95 in a 1983 blizzard, so I could be a groomsman at his wedding to Heather. Mike also offered up a scary vision of us at the 200th Birthday of VMI in 2039. Both of us plan to be there, drooling into our creamed corn at the banquet and being held up by strapping Keydets who need to

Class of 1982: Col. Dave Shutt '82, USA, far left, celebrateed Christmas 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq, by taking the day off from work and joining his colleagues on a run.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES burn off penalty tours at the parade. I opine I will He will enter the Rat Mass of 2014 in August. Dave Shutt, still deployed to Iraq, saying that the be atop Moody Hall, bourbon in hand, yelling at Duke and Penny will be making plenty of road persistent cold temperatures Florida was facing the Corps to dress right dress and stop bouncing trips up to Lexington for lacrosse matches and were making him long for the 100 degree temps when they march by me. to ensure Dane and his BRs keep Christian alive in Baghdad. Dave replied that George should shut Dave Kohler sent me a great note over Christand functioning. his piehole and forwarded a photo of what he mas. When not working for Dominion Resources, David Loy has a beef with BR Willy did in Baghdad on Christmas Day. It gives you a Dave continues to placate his travel bug with trips Funkhouser. Willy apparently left off David’s better perspective on things we take for granted. to Mexico City and Lake Valle de Bravo, Housdaughter from the list of BR children in the Rat I trust by the time this is published, Dave will be ton, Nags Head, Los Angeles, Krakow (Poland), Mass of 2013. His daughter, Chelsea, is also a reunited with his family back in Alaska. and his beloved Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. fourth classman at VMI and is following in his Sadly, Joey Keyes informed me of the loss Oh, and let us not forget a soiree to Paris. Dave footsteps playing soccer for VMI. She is also a of another BR. On Jan. 5th, Danny Fritz sucis starting to feel his years, though, as a second roommate of Neal Fortney’s daughter, Leigh cumbed to Huntington ’s disease at the Blue knee surgery has slowed him down, and he is Anne. Both David and Mack Tabb keep tabs Point Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center looking for a new sport to replace running. Dave on VMI soccer as much as possible. When not in Baltimore. His obituary was posted in the also keeps up an active social life in Richmond, as being a VMI soccer fanboy, David is living Loudoun Times-Mirror. Danny matriculated well as supports several community activities, like in Appomattox County in central Virginia on with us in 1978 and spent two years at VMI, Habitat for Humanity and ChildSavers. He is also a beautiful farm, growing wine grapes. It’s a excelling in football and baseball. Memoa Dominion-designated floor captain for several small operation right now (produced nine tons rial contributions may be made to the Johns community and volunteer events. of grapes this past fall), but it sells commercialHopkins University-Baltimore Huntington’s Randy Parker and his wife, Michelle, also pro- ly to local wineries in central Virginia. There is Disease Center, 100 North Charles Street, 410, vided a thoughtful holiday missive. They did some always an open invitation for anyone that would Baltimore, MD 21201. Phone: 410/516-6251. summer travel to Riga, Latvia, and the Munich like to have the experience of harvesting grapes So, we are all getting older, slower, balder, and Garmisch areas of Germany. Their children in the fall. Long days of labor in the fields but softer and rounder as Time’s winged chariot are beginning to spread their wings. Son Tyler will fun and rewarding and, of course, lots of wine. draws near. We do not bounce back as fast as be graduating from high school on Memorial Day I may have to take David up on that offer. we did when we were adorned in Keydet grey. weekend and plans to study either mechanical or David also works for Genworth Financial in Yet, for all of us who still stalk this Earth, let us computer engineering in the fall. Daughter Ashley Lynchburg. In his spare time, David coaches the be gentle with one another. Drop me a line, buy is getting her driver’s license and is studying for Appomattox County High School Girls Varsity me a beer and we shall laugh at our misspent her ACTs and SATs while continuing to participate Soccer team. He has three kids and yes, one youth and sing To-whit! To-who!—a merry in track and band. Randy and Michelle welcome grandchild. Is David ’82’s first grandfather? note! In my next epistle, I hope to regale you on any BR traveling in the Dayton, Ohio, area to stop In early January, George Mayforth whined to how I celebrated my 50th birthday. by if they have a chance.

John Wranek ’85 contacted me to provide an update on his dyke, Dee Shannon. Dee now lives in northwest Montana. He is suffering from fibromyalgia but has started a new protocol and hopes to be pain free in a few years. His goal is to be medicine free within three years and to be able to return to writing and his vigorous outdoor lifestyle. Dee would love to hear from his BRs. His new address is: PO Box 767, Troy, MT 59935. Phone: 406/ 295-5323; E-mail: larondshannon@mac.com.

In January, I received a real letter on corporate stationery from Duke Addison of Addison Commercial Real Estate, Inc., in Jacksonville, Florida.

Duke’s eldest son, Grafton D. Addison IV (Dane), is currently a second at VMI, majoring in business/economics.

He is the fourth Addison to attend VMI and the fourth Addison to be in F Troop.

Dane studied abroad in New Zealand and had awesome experiences Down Under sky diving, bungee jumping, orbing (?), cavern rappelling and tourClass of 1982: Joe Yodzis celebrated his 50th birthday by climbing and conquering ing the country. Duke’s youngest son, the Weisshorn (14,780 feet high) in the Swiss Alps. According to the summitpost.org Christian, is a senior in high school and Web site, there are few climbers who go to Weisshorn’s summit because of the difwas recruited by VMI to play lacrosse. ficulties and long distance in reaching it.

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CLASS NOTES

’83

Jim Outland

I sure hope it is warm and sunny whenever you read these notes, because as I write them in early February, we are still covered up by our third Virginia snow storm, and more is on the way. Back before the snows came, I was able to visit with many of you in Lexington during the ODU-VMI game in late November. I must say I’m impressed with the organizational abilities of the class of 83’s “Tailgate Brigade” in coordinating the pre- and post-game festivities.

Since most of you were first class privates “back in the day,” I suspect your wives deserve most of the credit for this mission’s success.

Even though this was our Keydet’s last game, I soon realized the setup had been fine-tuned during the fall football season into a well-oiled machine. Thanks to planning which began the preceding Tuesday, we ended up having something on the order of 7-plus tents/cars/ families lined up “ringside” along the Parade Ground on Saturday morning, thus ensuring The Class of 83 would be heard from. The food layout was indeed impressive. In Skip Goodwillie’s words, “We’ll be able to feed the Corps, W&L, and half of Lexington, it seems.” Realizing that BR Amato might again bring “the green salad,” (whatever THAT is), there was an eventual sigh of relief at the arrival of BBQ ribs “imported” from Martinsville, Virginia, courtesy of hometown-boy BR Gene Warren. Gene made the stop at Pigs R Us on his way up from Atlanta to secure the ribs in honor of Bunny Hewitt who, like many of you older BRs (shout outs to Cottrell, Dodge and Henry) have turned the corner on “Nifty Fifty.” Hewitt’s Martinsville ribs were partially compromised, however, when the Birthday Boy arrived at the tailgate post shake-a-leg, which is actually true to his standard operating procedure. It seems Richard’s BRs (class agent included) had been waiting for him just like one hungry dog waits for another and already begun “rib-sampling” before Bunny’s belated arrival. As usual, our tardy BR was well attired in natty red, white and yellow tie, white shirt and well-pressed khaki VMI-spider pants. We later learned that Richard’s last minute appearance was the result of a late night “pep rally” which culminated in a VMI fight song sing-a-long at The Palms with Hollywood actor Dabney Coleman ’53. While watching the dueling grills of BRs Cal Murray and Skip Goodwillie and sampling the impressive food layout among the tents, conversation turned to the excesses of youthful days gone by – especially our infamous Rat

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Mass faux pas in Scott Stadium in 1979.

Thankfully, no excesses occurred among our BRs this time (to my knowledge), but BR Cal was quick once again to remind all that the real perpetrator who inadvertently “redecorated” the commandant’s wife’s shoes that day was “the other Murray” (i.e., Chris “Gator” Murray) and NOT Murray, CM. This clarification of “fact” now seems to be Cal’s lifelong chore, having started in Barracks the Monday after the infamous Scott Stadium affair: “As the other Murray C, let me say that, as I was being assaulted on the stoops and the assaulter came to realize I was not the actual offender known as “Barfboy” (why does one remember such lines 29 years later), I was unfortunately not sent along my merry way but was instead accosted further, because the assaulter was pissed he had the wrong guy.” In some modified words from Shakespeare, “Me thinks Murray, CM, thou doth protest too much,” but most of your BRs are still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, Cal, that you are not, in fact, our “Barfboy.” Also in attendance at the pre-game and sampling the fare or spotted later at Alumni Field were BRs Charlie Luck, Dortch Warriner, Bubba Hazelgrove, John Lashley, Mike Gleason, Scott Belliveau and Dave Via. In keeping with the Ring Figure weekend ambiance, Dave confirmed for us his success in securing a new ’83 class ring to replace the one he lost over 10 years ago! Also set up parade-side with tent and an impressive spread were Mark and Kim Sykes who were visited after the parade by their Rat son, Ben, and some of his comrades. Because this was the ODU game, we also had an impressive turnout from Norfolk alumni to include Franklin Hudgins, my Dyke, Josh Priest ’80 – who was also set up with a ringside tent (and celebrating his birthday), and my cousin John Chandler ’82 and his family. I also saw a number of ODU alumni to include a surprise meeting with another cousin, Anne Park Curtis, sister of Bobby Park ’79, and her family who also happen to be loyal VPI supporters (always a cause of concern but no doubt an issue within some of your extended families, also). Anyway, I enjoyed catching up with Franklin, his prospective cadet son, Christopher, and the crew of young men they bought up from Norfolk’s Maury High School who were all checking out the Institute. I know Christopher and the guys appreciated my encouragement as well as my assurances that the picnics, BBQs and fine fellowship are enjoyed weekly, nay daily, at the VMI. I also later learned that prospective-cadet Ted Gottwald from Richmond, son of our own Teddy Gottwald, has decided to extend the family tradition by signing on to attend VMI next year where he

intends to further an impressive high school wrestling career by joining the Keydet grappling team. Young Ted has also interviewed with a panel for The Institute Scholars program, a panel that included “a balding guy who speaks with a strange NY accent” (which sounds a lot like you, Belliveau). Unfortunately, another prospective cadet VMI will miss next year is Paul McCusker’s daughter, Kate, who has signed on to play Division 1, Big Ten soccer at Indiana University. Paul tells me Hoosier Kate always wanted to play college soccer, so now she is getting her shot at a big time program after considerable hard work. Paul and Vanessa are doing well in Valpraiso, Illinois, where he was recently named general manager of Paulson Oil Company Maxum Petroleum. Anyway, despite an outstanding job of play by play calling from Wade Branner and Cal, the wonderful pre-game camaraderie and great chow, a fine parade and awesome weather, and even BR Via having replaced his lost ’83 ring, our Keydets still could not prevail over The ODU Monarchs. This was the first ever football game between these two opponents, and I’m sure future years will continue to show ODU to be a strong challenger. Hopefully, our Keydets can repay the home game loss when VMI meets them again at Norfolk’s Foreman Field next season. I’m sure such an event will be full of fanfare and Oyster Bowl memories but will probably not include a Shriner’s parade with funny old guys in fez hats driving mini go-carts.

Regardless, I know a good time will surely be had by all. In other news from this past December, I enjoyed my annual eye appointment with our local optometrist, BR Dr. Al Toler. Al checked out my peepers, gave me my annual glaucoma test and provided an opportunity to pump him for catch-up information. While Al gazed deeply into my retinas, we had a similarly deep conversation about the benefits of the model 1911, the 45 ACP and getting a good sight picture. When not fixing people’s eyes and competitively shooting pistols, our BR is now becoming quite the mountain biker, thanks to wife Anne’s inspiration. Unfortunately, Al had some close calls on the mountain recently, having broken his left elbow twice while zipping down the hill. Hopefully, a third time will not be needed to inspire our BR to change his more radical biking maneuvers. With spring to arrive at some point (I hope), my thoughts are on the upcoming lacrosse season. The sport is spreading rapidly among the youth in central Virginia, as well as around the state. The national-caliber program at UVa is a major reason for this, and it seems that the level of play and skill in our area continues to rise among all levels of the sport. If you have kids interested in the

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES game, but have not played yourselves, seek out opportunities for your guys, or help establish and run programs that are getting started. I’ve had some interesting dialogue with BR Hudgins who is on the board of Hampton Roads Lacrosse as they seek to expand into the public schools. This is especially difficult, given current funding challenges. I’m also thankful for BR Mednikov who has kept me in the loop with the Police Athletic League and Benedictine lacrosse here in Richmond. Bob tells me he even spotted a familiar face in BR Adam Phillips when his son’s Cape Henry team traveled up from Virginia Beach to play Benedictine. Spotting the long-lost Phillips anywhere is the equivalent of the Elvis sightings from several years ago at Michigan

area Burger Kings. And speaking of the Michigan area (…what a great segway), I’ve heard from our ’83 outpost in Detroit which is chaired by Professor BR Mark Benvenuto at University of Detroit Metro (UDM). Mark sent me a message that VMI’s lacrosse team was traveling to Detroit in March to play against the UDM team in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game. Along with BRs Brett Allen, John Cooper and Dave Hagemann ’80, the Detroit Outpost is working with UDM Athletics to set up some kind of reception after the game, which I’m sure will be well received by our team. I’ve also recently had some correspondence with Tommy Greenspon ’85 and other prior VMI lax alums about the ongoing financial challenges facing VMI

lacrosse. I believe these are probably no less or more severe than any other aspect of the Institute during the current economic climate, and I’m sure those of you with sons in the Corps are already keenly aware of this. I specifically know Skip has experienced the funding challenge in conjunction with his son’s participation on VMI’s swimming team. The fan support for the swim team’s recent Yellow Jacket Invitational Meet seemed impressive, not to mention the number of class of ’83 BRs who stepped up financially to support the Keydet Club’s 75th anniversary drive in December.

Anyway, Tommy has been in contact with VMI lacrosse Coach Jeff Shirk and learned the team is playing new Division 1 opponent Jacksonville University in spring 2011. The JU squad

Class of 1983 Photos counter-clockwise from bottom, left: -Members of the class and their wives gathered to celebrate the holidays at Charlie Luck’s home in Maidens, Virginia. Luck is pictured second from left.

-Joe Campisano, left, recently received his certificate as Knight of the Order at the Kappa Alpha (KA) Order Convivium, which was held at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida. The certificate honors Campisano’s 25 years as a member of the order. In his words, “I was very proud and happy to be there among other alums from various colleges and to be representing VMI.” -Joe and Silvana Campisano were married in Jacksonville, Florida, November 2009. The couple lives in Jacksonville where Campisano works as a civilian at the Naval Air Station.

-In February 2010, Hugh Daughtry was promoted to colonel in the North Carolina Air National Guard. Shown pinning on his new rank are his wife, Robin, and son Zach. Daughtry is the assistant for the adjutant general.

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CLASS NOTES travels to Lexington this season (2010) to play, but we go there the following year, and our team’s travel budget is not where it needs to be to cover this expense. Flying the team is out of the question. So, the goal is to raise the necessary funds over the next year to cover a two-day bus trip to Jacksonville. The good news is we now have over a year to raise the needed travel funds for the trip. So, if any of you can support this measure, please contact me, and I’ll hook you up with the right people. Speaking of Jacksonville (…and yet another great segway), I’ve had news from there in the form of an update from BR Joe Campisano: “Biggest news for me is that I got married on Nov. 14, 2009. With everything that has happened in my life, I can’t tell you how happy and blessed I am to be married to Silvana. By the way, one VMI grad made it to our wedding -- Rear Adm. Jimmie Seeley ’60. The admiral and his wife, Carol, were there. In fact, Dad Seeley is my surrogate dad. We’ve known each other for nearly 20 years! On the job front, all is going well! This April, I will have six years in civil service working for the Naval Hospital at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville as an industrial hygienist. I’m also back in the cockpit flying single engine prop aircraft out of NAS JAX, as well as flying gliders at Herlong Airfield, which neighbors NAS JAX.” Joe also shared with me that he was the only VMI alum present during the Kappa Alpha (KA) Order Convivium which was held at the Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville in January. During the dinner event, Joe received his certificate for 25 years as a Knight of the Order. In Joe’s words, “I was very proud and happy to be there among the other alums from the various colleges and to be representing VMI.” So, thanks, Joe, for doing us and KA proud, and hearty congratulations to you and your new bride. And finally in the good deeds department, a couple of items to share concerning class of ’83 BRs who are making a difference. I’ve heard through the grapevine that Malachi Mills was down in Haiti recently using his building skills to help repair an earthquakedamaged orphanage. I’ve read in our local paper where Charlie Luck’s firm recently donated a large amount of material to help create spawning reefs for the endangered James River Sturgeon.

I’ve exchanged emails with Col. Jamie Macdonald in Afghanistan where he is putting his extensive Special Forces leadership skills to good use. I also enjoyed hearing of the “Letters to Airmen” program spearheaded by BR Col. Steve Amato’s VMI AFROTC detachment. This program enables letters of appreciation to be sent to deployed Airmen. (See the Institute section for an article about this.) In any areas where you can perform similar service or make a difference, please do so, and until next time, AS YOU WERE! ... Jim

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’84

Barry Coceano

Hello, all! I want to open with a plea for help. I know that a large number of folks who receive the Alumni Review are not registered in the VMI Alumni Web site. I would like to invite you to register at www.vmialumni.org.

Why, you may ask, should I register? From my vantage point as class agent, your registered e-mail address is my only mechanism to reach out to all of you with mass e-mail. As an example, back in October I sent out a couple mass e-mails to provide information concerning Ron Abbit. I promise I will only use it to provide information that I feel is useful and to keep all informed of events. My dilemma is this: the e-mail addresses that are in the database are woefully outdated in many cases. Of the 364 e-mail addresses we have for the class (a large number of folks have provided multiple e-mail addresses, which is a good thing), 159 are no longer valid. Again, if you haven’t registered, please help me out by doing so. If you have registered and you didn’t receive my updates about Ron, chances are the e-mail address VMI has on record for you is no longer valid. For those who attended the reunion and provided an e-mail address at check-in the first day, your e-mail address(es) have been entered into our class of 84 database. Now, to the important stuff – the class notes.

I recently received the following e-mail from Hal Hamner: “Pretty uneventful, non-earth shattering news here ... Cindy, Libbie and I are living in western Hanover with an abundance of God’s creatures roaming around. Interestingly, the adjoining property is owned by the Barrs and there are more than a few of us that took Circuits from Bill Barrs’ son, Dan Barr ’74. Dan and his dad can fix anything, and his mom puts up some mean canning every year. The Barrs have been great to us, and we are thankful that, when Dan is down visiting, he doesn’t run by and whack my front door with a coat hanger! Cindy’s in sales/marketing with Supervalu, and I’m new in business development with Southern Air as of April ’09. Libbie has her own little three legged stool -- violin, figure skating and school … she’s 13 and had a blast at the Reunion. What a great weekend; well planned and well attended!

Wilson Enochs, Breck Gorman ’83 and I have had the opportunity to spend some time together this fall building duck blinds down at Wilson’s place on the James, and over the last couple of years, Breck’s been schoolin’ us on shooting skeet (his son Patrick competes) and that’s been a blast. Last weekend, the James flooded, so we

dumped the brush and beat it over to Charles City where Wilson, Breck, Wilson’s son, Witt, and I had our way with the wobble thrower for hours.” Hal, thanks for the note. Just make sure Wilson doesn’t pull a Dick Chaney next time you two go duck hunting.

The following e-mail update was sent by Don Suggs: “Fodder for your class notes. I am very happily married to my Ring Figure date, Terri, and am blessed with two beautiful daughters, 9 and 10 years old. I am the owner/president of Rhino Metals, Inc., maker of Rhino and Bighorn brand safes and gun safes (www.rhinosafe.com).

We are fortunate to have accounts nationwide and manufacture our product in the U.S. and overseas. In the past, I flew for the Idaho Air Guard (RF-4C, F-4G Wild Weasel, and A-10s) and United Airlines (737s) for a few years.” Don, I put your note directly after Hal Hamner’s, because I saw a potential gun safe sale. I think Hal and Wilson are both in the market, with all the duck hunting and skeet shooting they’re doing.

Lee Gooch sent the following: “OK, I’ll try to be better than I did with Hank. Not much to say on my life. VMI, med school at UVa (Bill Gottwald was my roommate for a year; couldn’t stand me after that. John Shannon joined me for the full four-year hitch in med school), general surgery in Lexington, Kentucky (where I met my wonderful wife), Air Force 1990-94 (went active on Aug. 1; we were at war by the end of the week. Was it just me or what?...), stationed at Hill AFB in Utah, attended the graduate program in neurosciences at the University of Utah, until I began my residency in orthopedic surgery at UVa (again). Finished that in 2000, finished my spine surgery fellowship in 2001 in Baltimore and have been practicing in North Carolina ever since. I lived in Concord (just outside of Charlotte) for the first nine years and have just moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where I joined Carolina Spine and Neurosurgery. Ironically enough, the cardiology practice next door to me has one William Wharton, MD. He is a classmate of mine from UVa Medical School and the brother of one Kemper Wharton … Go figure. The world really is getting smaller. I have two beautiful children, Jonathan (9 years) and Allie (7 years).

If nothing else, they’re keeping me young.

Weird though, to see BRs with sons graduating from the Institute. Anyway, I live a fairly boring life in the mountains of North Carolina with my wife and kids. If anyone ever wishes to drop by for a beer, I think I can find a few places with an awesome view. Take care.” Lee – not much to say?? My goodness, you have lived an amazing life since graduation. Hopefully, my only visit to Asheville will be to have a beer with you, versus a surgical consult. Take care and thanks for the note, Lee.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I recently did a little research to catch up on the Bill Janis election campaign from this past November (i.e., I talked to Bill’s better half, Rose Ann). Since Bill hadn’t filled me in, I needed to find out for myself how he did in his bid for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates. Needless to say, Bill was re-elected with an overwhelming 70% of the vote. A great win; Congratulations! Bill, just remember -- no new taxes, and please fix the traffic problems in northern Virginia. In all seriousness, thanks for all you are doing for the commonwealth of Virginia. Do I hear a congressional or senate seat calling your name in the future?

I received the following from Jon Drof. “After 25 years, I’ll surface. I am, and have been for the last four years, at HQs, Marine Corps Forces Europe, Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart, Germany. I am the G-3 exercise coordinator, a GS civilian on the G-3 staff. I and my staff of two lieutenant colonels and three contractors are responsible for ensuring that the U.S. Marines and NATO and coalition partners participating in any of the 14 multi-national Marine exercises occurring in the EUCOM AOR get the most training possible. This year, I’ve spent an equal amount of time between Germany, Israel and Turkey. Having a house in two of these countries does make life easier when there. This travel is tough on my wife and two sons, as any of us who have deployed understands, but they persevere. And not sure how the U.S. Marines allowed an old Navy EA-6B/A-6E ECMO/BN run their exercise program, but they have. I trust those of my BRs who were able to make it back to our 25th enjoyed themselves. I would love to have been there but was heavily engaged in the execution of the Maritime Prepositioning Force Offload portion of the LOYAL MIDAS 09 NATO Maritime Exercise at Souda Bay, Crete.

Have not seen any of our BRs in years. I work with the likes of Col Jim Bright ’87, which keeps life interesting. If any BRs make it in to the Stuttgart, Tel Aviv or Izmir area, give me a call. I might just be there! Won’t wait 25 years to surface again, and take care BRs.” Jon, it is never too late to re-surface. Glad to hear all is going well. Make sure you schedule your 2014 exercises around the 30th Reunion; looking forward to seeing you then.

John Karafa dropped me the following e-mail: “All is well with me … went deer hunting Monday afternoon with our BR Alex Thompson … we both got skunked, though.

Met Mark Loving ’92 at a site visit today at Fort Eustis. (Mark used to work for me in ’96.)

I’m owner/president of Leebcor Services, LLC in Williamsburg, Virginia. My firm is a service disabled veteran owned company providing general construction services to our Federal Government including U.S. Army Corps of

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Engineers and Department of Veterans Affairs.

Kimberly and I just celebrated my daughter, Emily’s, Sweet 16 birthday … she’s the joy of my life! We had a blast … Still live in Williamsburg; stop by and visit if ever in town.”

John, thanks for the note, and I will take you up on the offer when I get down to Williamsburg.

Robert Bready sent me an update from his home in Atlanta: “Renee and I have been living in Atlanta almost nine years now. We will have been married 24 years this December. We have three boys: Robert – age 21 is a junior at the College of Charleston (he’s a lot smarter than his dad; the girls outnumber the guys 3:1 at the College of Charleston); Stuart – age 17 is in his junior year of high school and plays football (fullback); and David – age 13 is in 8th grade and plays football (receiver), basketball and baseball. I don’t see many VMI alums here in Atlanta. Bill Dyer and I exchange e-mails and talk on the phone but rarely see each other. He and Jill are busy with their girls and us with our guys.

I met with Andy Andres ’88 yesterday. He’s a division manager with a general contractor here (with DPR, Inc.). I’m in the steel construction business (SteelFab), and we were meeting about a couple projects coming up. Andy told me he hears from Mike Locher regularly. Mike’s in the construction business, too. He’s with W.M. Jordan (a Virginia-based GC), and I think he’s on a project at UVa. Mango (Keith Mangum) and I keep up with e-mails regularly, but Atlanta’s a long way from Richmond.” Robert, we have a few guys (Mike Efremov, Jerome Brinkley and Kyle Sinisi) who all live in Charleston, so when you visit your son, Robert Jr., at the College of Charleston, give them a call.

Kurt Weitz sent me the following update: “Hey Barry, just got your e-mail regarding class notes, and I will say that I have been pretty bad about updates. I had a great time at the reunion; what a bunch of awesome BRs we have! I just got back from our annual hunting trip down at Leesville Lake. Dave Thompson’s father owns a pretty nice chunk of land down there, and we had a great time. Dave killed two does, and I got a close to 200# 8-point (small rack, lots of meat in the freezer!). Anyway, I’m all ready for winter up here in the far northwest corner of Garrett County, Maryland.” Kurt -- you and Dave need to hook up with John Karafa, Alex Thompson, Hal Hamner,and Wilson Enochs and set up a Class of ’84 Deer/Duck Hunting Weekend. I don’t hunt, but I do drink beer and occasionally cook. So, count me in if you get something going.

Steve Plystak checked in with the following update: “I am currently living with my girlfriend in Falls Church, Virginia, and working at Harris Corporation as an advanced programs engineer. I retired from the Navy

Reserve on Dec 1, 2008, after 24 rewarding years of service. I frequently get together with Bud Wimmer, who is working at the Pentagon.

He is a captain in the Navy and also lives in the northern VA area.” Steve, thanks for the note, and drop me a line if you are ever in the Pentagon visiting Bud; my office is just down the hall from his.

I received an update from Keith Buckley recently. Keith was hired on as a permanent employee by Northrop Grumman and is working in the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt Air Force Base. Additionally, Keith let me know that he and his family had a great time at the reunion, and they are looking forward to the 30th!

I hear from Pete Marsenison routinely. Petey came out of hiding after a number of years (25 years to be exact, but who’s counting) for the 25th Reunion and is looking and doing great.

Pete and his lovely wife, Christen, live in Phoenix, New York. Interestingly, Pete quit his old job a couple years ago and went to work for Christen’s father at Construction Associates, LLC. Pete … I have to say, this brings new meaning to marrying the boss’s daughter!

I also met up with Art Tringali last month. Art was in town for a meeting and had called Tom Anthony to get together for supper. Tom decided to play a trick on Art and told him to meet at a certain location; from there, they would head to the restaurant. Unbeknownst to Art, the restaurant location was actually my house, so we all enjoyed supper and catching up. Art lives down in Georgia and works for the Marine Corps. After retiring from the Corps, Art decided he liked what he had been doing for 20 years. So, he just changed from the uniform to a suit and showed back up at the same location, only this time in a government service position.

Former Class Agent Frank Kollmansperger sent me an update knowing first-hand how difficult it can be getting material for the class notes. Frank wrote, “Life is good and quite exciting. Hank Selman and I, as well as a few other folks from the neighborhood, purchased a used deluxe leaf sucker, so that is great fun.

Mary Cay and the boys are doing well. She is actually running in the Richmond Half Marathon and is ready to rock and roll. Football is finishing up for the boys, and basketball starts in a couple of weeks. All are healthy. Working climate has been challenging, and I expect will continue to be for a while, but most days, I enjoy doing my own thing. I had dinner with BR Thompson, EA last week in Virginia Beach. He is doing well and does a great job taking care of my company’s commercial insurance needs.

It was great seeing BR Thompson, DW and all of the other BRs in Lex for the 25th. That was a great time. Not much of an update, but I will

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CLASS NOTES pass you along more later.” Frank, thanks for the material; I know I can always count on you.

Matt Martin sent me the following: “Barry, I wanted to share my experiences from late this past Friday night. I attended the VMI-GMU Club Hockey game. It was supposed to be at the Mount Vernon ice rink, not too far from me, but was switched to the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City. Well, my daughters and wife thought I was crazy to follow through in going to a Hockey game considering it started at 22:45 and could take me a while to drive down and back -- you know how the I-95 corridor is.

I must say the spirit of VMI is alive and well as demonstrated by the group of VMI men skating up and down the ice. These guys did not all have the same jerseys, but all of them had VMI on it somewhere. They pulled up to the arena as I got there -- approximately 20 minutes before they were to start the game. They had driven all the way from the “I.” I walked in with one of the guy’s and tried to lift him up by telling him what our wrestling coach used to tell us. That we could leave the van and walk right to the mat, wrestle and win, because we were VMI men. Not that I think that kid believed me. They never said die. Every member of that team played hard the whole time, and they only lost because they ran out of time. What struck me the most was the three sets of parents that were in attendance. One group made it down from NY City. In conversations with them, I became more appreciative of how the Keydets were playing relative to how they started the season and what they have to go through to just play hockey at VMI. There were a few other alumni there -- class of 2000, 2001, 2007 -- about 15 of us making noise to the five or six from GMU. I was glad I went. It may sound corny, but driving home at around 0200 after witnessing the VMI Hockey team’s effort was not as bad as I anticipated. Rah Virginia Mil!” Matt, it isn’t corny, it’s that commitment and spirit that you have always had … I know those cadets appreciated your support!

I received the following great e-mail from Ralph Foertsch: “Barry, I hope all is well with you. I’m responding to your e-mail asking for an update. I believe this may be my first response since graduation. After a four-year stint in the U.S. Army, I immediately went to law school. I also obtained an LLM in banking/ European Union law at Fordham University but never practiced in that field. I live in Manhattan with my wife, Sung Hee, and daughter, Katharina (19 months old), where I have practiced law for 18 or so years. I represent property owners and major construction companies when they get sued. People in NYC are overly litigious, so work is plentiful. My wife was also an attorney in the same field but thankfully left the practice with the arrival of our daughter. We are “older”

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parents, so the experience is both rejuvinating and exhausting. We make regular trips to the Shenandoah Valley to visit relatives and Germany, where we relax on the family farm, to escape the difficult environment of NY. Of course, VMI is a regular topic of conversation, my wife is amused (and perplexed) by the stories I have to tell of the experience. We see Charlie Budzinski regularly. He is married and has a 2-1/2-year-old daughter. Charlie is a H.S. teacher in New Jersey.” Ralph, I hope on your visits to the Shenandoah Valley that you stop by the Mecca to show Sung Hee and Katharina the wonderful place where you lived for four years.

Glad to hear from you again … stay in touch.

In closing, I want to thank all our BRs who continue to contribute to VMI and Annual Giving. Not only did we shine as the #1 class in the Keydet Club Challenge this past year, but with the exception of the classes of ’31, ’34 and ’35, in FY09 the class of ’84 had the highest percentage of Annual Giving participation (21%).

Let’s make a full-court press and see if we can’t increase our percentage in FY10 to 33%. I know that’s an achievable goal for us … let’s make it happen. If you would like to join the ranks as part of the 33% but are not certain how to contribute, please give me a call to discuss. And please don’t think you have to contribute $100’s or $1,000’s; every $1 counts! VMI continues to produce great leaders; let’s ensure that continues.

Please keep the updates coming, and will the following BRs please send me an update? I want to know how things are going for you guys: Anthony Agostinelli, Andy Anderson, Steve Barsamian, Scott Carter, Ricky Canipe, Bill Dyer, Mike Ewell, Shawn Flores, Dan Grillone, Bruce Hauck, Tom Higginbotham, Eric Jolly, Mark Koltura, Scott Lipscomb, R.G. McManus, Pete Nealley, Dewey Olinski, Dave Parker, Jeff Roach, Tim Stanley, Jim Scanlon, Kevin Taliaferro, Jeff Vielock, Alex Weinstein, Chip Yates and Cubby Zendt. Until next time, good night Thomas Ricardo Amador, wherever you are.

’85

John Eckenrode

BRs: Greetings from the frozen tundra of northern Virginia! Well, “frozen tundra” is overdoing just a bit, but I would suspect that a few of us who live in the DC Metropolitan area have added “Snow Blower” to the list of must-have household appliances. It was during the infamous “Blizzard of ’10” that I wandered down to the post office on a Saturday morning to find none other than Kevin Holland passing me on the way in. I just happened to be mailing some February birthday cards to such esteemed individuals as

Adam Babcock, Walt McMann, John Keenan and Jim Begley, to name a few. Rest assured, Kevin was not removing his likeness from the “Most Wanted” list there. I wanted, in the worst way, to see if Kevin would be willing to pose for a special anniversary remake of the infamous “Lug Nut” photograph, but I had no alcohol to use as a tool of persuasion. Maybe next time …

Maybe at our reunion!

Yes, as amazing as this sounds, our 25th Reunion is less than five months away (September 3–5, 2010). I hope that all of you received your “Save the Date” magnets. We’ve assembled a great team to get ready for this event. Meade King, Bart Williams and Tommy Greenspon have agreed to co-chair our Reunion Fund Committee. Jake Spivey, Joe Irby and J.J. Wranek will help plan the “Fun” side of the reunion (and it’s all fun!). If you want to jump in and help, please call Joe or J.J. at 800/444-1839 or Jake at 804/380-7376. We’ve chosen the Hampton Inn-Col Alto as our class headquarters for the weekend, with additional rooms available at the Comfort Inn. We will launch the registration Web site and send out additional information in the coming weeks. Reunions are a special time to remember our experiences at the Institute and reacquaint with Brother Rats. Please make plans now to come back for this reunion. Contact your roommates to make sure they don’t miss this Check Formation.

Joe Irby recently visited with Walt McMann in Atlanta. He is very busy with his family and business but is really looking forward to our 25th in 2010, which will be special, because he will have a nephew here as a Rat! Joe also caught up with Eric Olsen. He’s doing well way up north in Maine. Eric is teaching high school history and (I know this is a stretch … ) coaching rugby. Eric and his son are visiting for an Open House in February, and he’s excited to return to the Mother “I” for our 25th. Speaking of visiting VMI with their sons, Matt Hadley hit the bricks recently with his oldest son for an interview, as well!

J.J. Wranek recently passed the flag of the 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Division (ARNG), to Lt. Col. Marti Bissell on Dec. 5th at Fort Belvoir. Marti is an aviator and the deputy chief of staff at VMI working for Col. Jeff Curtis ’79. There were a number of VMI alumni in attendance, most notably W.G. Rowlett and recently retired Navy Cmdr. Gary “Mac” McClelland.

On a more somber note, we still have Brother Rats that are rotating in and out of various hot spots in the Middle East. Please think about them and the sacrifices they are making while we are at home, and wish them a speedy and safe return.

Best Wishes from Mary and me to all, until we see you in September, and please continue to keep in touch. Best ... Eck.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’86

Clint Hubbard

Mid February finds Virginia largely covered in snow; that dang groundhog in Pennsylvania said we’ve got six more weeks of winter – most would be happy if it were only six weeks! Over the last few weeks, I’ve shoveled approximately 20 inches of global warming off my sidewalk and driveway – which is nothing compared to the Washington, DC, metro area and up to Baltimore where Steve Thacker might still be buried in an igloo and driving a dogsled to work. Hopefully, wherever you are, BRs, you’re safe and warm. Many of you I suspect are still reeling from the news that Carl Gitchell got married. What is next for the mighty men of ’86? News that Troy Lanier is entering the priesthood? (Now that is far-fetched; he’d have way too much to atone for before they’d even consider him.) Or that Louis Rucker actually did write in? Naw, things aren’t quite that radical, but let’s get started.

In the “I forgot it last edition” news (which is totally my bad), how about an update from one of our favorite Hampton, Virginia, BRs – Larry Watson. BR Watson must have access to a fountain of youth somewhere, as he seems to fail to realize he is actually as old as Scott Wagner and all the rest of us. Among his many activities that keep him busy, Larry is a certified EMT and lifeguard who spends significant time with athletic training and ultra-triathlons. He also established an entity called “do something!” which (forgive me for keeping it simple) does things. BR Watson organizes charitable events such as running races, biathlons, triathlons, mountain biking, orienteering … numerous events of that degree that usually culminate in a concert and monster feed. Think of it as running the O-course to Zollmans, if you will.

Unfortunately for Roy Woolwine, none of the activities that Larry honchos include lying on the couch and watching golf on TV; so you’re not likely to run into BR Woolwine at one of BR Watson’s events. In addition to staying in shape and defying the aging process, the great thing about these events is that they generate funds for charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project and Stop Hunger Now. Thanks for all you do to assist humanity in a great way, Larry!

If someone kept score on good deeds (like carbon credits), then perhaps BR Watson’s endeavors on the betterment of the world would help off-set the rowdy behaviors and rambunctiousness of some of you other miscreants. You know who you are. (Note to former inhabitants of Nichols Engineering Building: miscreant

2010-Issue 2

means ‘scoundrel’ or ‘troublemaker.’ Even if you can’t define the term, you still know who you are!)

Speaking of rowdy behaviors – more particularly about a BR dedicated to curbing such behaviors, here’s an update from our favorite DEA agent – Jeff Boobar. Jeff writes, “I cannot believe the incredible meeting that BR Wayne Fuller had with my former DEA colleague, Ray Melick, in Kabul. It is truly a small world!”

(Note: I have to say I wasn’t surprised in the least to learn of BR Fuller meeting with a law enforcement professional. I was just glad to hear it was in a mess hall in Afghanistan rather than the way or place it might have been in, oh say, 1985 or 1986.) BR Boobar explains that Ray Melick was his first senior partner with DEA and taught Jeff everything he knows about conducting successful drug investigations and being safe on the streets during undercover operations, search warrants, arrests, etc. They worked together for almost six years in Milwaukee as partners. BR Boobar continued, “DEA lost a good man when Ray retired, but he is the right man to be over in Afghanistan training the new Afghan police. As for his comments to BR Fuller, I can only say that Ray will definitely be looking for me to pay for the beer the next time we see each other …

Just kidding, his comments are most appreciated and humbling.”

Jeff also offered that he was glad to read that BR Fuller has returned from another successful deployment in Afghanistan; it always makes him (Jeff) proud to think of what our BRs are doing there, and it is great news every time one of them comes home safe! Here, here.

Jeff is now stationed at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, for at least the next three years. Everyone from DEA must do at least one tour in headquarters during a career, and BR Boobar is doing his turn. Interestingly enough, DEA guys call it their “penalty tour.”

Jeff is working in DEA’s Congressional Affairs office and says that dealing with Congress is more complicated and frustrating than chasing drug dealers! Jeff and Audrey are living in Alexandria which gives them more opportunities to participate in VMI events. Among other activities, they traveled to Lexington to see VMI “destroy” the West Point basketball team.

That had to be special.

While on the subject of DEA, which might make one think about their valiant efforts to eradicate weed, it would seem our favorite Weede -- that is one, each, Weede, RH -- could possibly have been eradicated (at least from among his BRs), as I haven’t seen or heard hide nor hair from Rich in many moons. Actually, I got an e-mail from Ashley Johnson ’84 asking about BR Weede. Y’all may remember Ashley took a bit of a sabbatical somewhere in his

cadetship and then returned to graduate with us.

After his service in F Troop at “The I,” Ashley and Rich served together in the Marine Corps and then drifted out of touch. I wasn’t much help to Ashley in finding BR Weede, but I can always enlist the services of Tim “Birddog” Spivey to hunt him down. Why don’t we just give him a few months to read this, stop practicing his escape and evasion tactics, and come in on his own? Rich, are you out there?

Missing almost as long as Rich Weede is another long, lost BR -- Pete Kramer, who checked in via e-mail. Pete left the Institute after our third class year but returned to graduate in 1988. After VMI, he went to work for Moore Brothers Company [Bill Moore ’63] until 1996 in northern Virginia. In 1996, BR Kramer went to work for Branch Highways (BHI) in Roanoke. He is currently the NOVA Area Manager for BHI and has a home in Bedford County off Smith Mountain Lake, where his Hokie bride Julie (VT ’92) and their kids enjoy a lot of summer fun on the lake.

Pete also maintains an apartment in Centreville, Virginia, and spends about half of his time up there. The Kramerettes – daughters Sabrina and Savannah – attend Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke. BR Kramer reports that neither seems too interested in following his footsteps at VMI, but he’s leaving the option open for them. Pete says that with family and career on the front-burner, he’s taken little time to interact with many of the VMI guys, although he keeps in touch with Scott Hunter and Rob Hoar ’89 and occasionally “runs into” various VMI guys in the engineering and road-building industry, as well as local governments where they work.

BR Kramer signed off by saying that he keeps getting alumni info from the class of ’88 (due to his actual graduating year), and although those guys are great, he’d prefer to reconnect and catch up with his BRs. Thanks, Pete; it’s good to have you back!

The official realization of Geezerdom manifests itself in a myriad of ways – for some of us, it is reading glasses, for others it is wistfulness for having enough hair to qualify for a Rat haircut. Still others might yearn for the day they could see their feet when they looked down. For our favorite Pentagon paper pusher, Dave Grimm, it was joint replacement surgery. Imagine that -- a guy goes from being a hard-charging Ranger involved in joint exercises to joint replacement surgery in just a few years. As Jamie Inman might say, “What a kick in the jimmy!” (Actually, it wasn’t BR Grimm’s jimmy; it was his hip or knee but a kick nevertheless.) With the operation and mandatory recovery time, part of his rehabilitation was to have a physical therapist come to his house and work him over three times per week.

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CLASS NOTES Dave had big plans for that, since, as mentioned, there were no apparent problems with his jimmy.

There was, however, a major stumbling block in that the formidable Mrs. Grimm (Janelle) stays continually engaged in her life’s vocation of keeping that reprobate in line. (Note to the NEB crowd: ‘reprobate’ is a synonym for ‘miscreant.’)

Can we all agree that in fulfilling her life’s mission, Janelle is over-worked and under-valued?

Papa Grimm promises to be back out swinging a golf club among other things in the spring – probably by the time you’re reading this edition.

Actually, this joint replacement is very fitting for him, since I will remind all that Dave is our first bona fide grandpa.

Speaking of the aging process, a week or so ago I was out in Hanover County at their county offices for a business appointment. As I am signing in to the office logbook, another gent walks up behind me. We nodded to one another, and then he signs the book – he reads my name and turns around and says, “Hi Clint – Jon Freeman ’87,” as we shook hands. We had a good laugh that both of our appearances had changed a bit since the last time our paths crossed. It was a good, albeit short, visit – Jon works for General Mills and recently moved back to Richmond from Virginia Beach. It just goes to show that you must behave at all times; you never know when you’ll run into a BR or pseudo-BR (or even a co-matriculant or co-urinal user).

Well, that’s probably enough damage and rock-throwing for this quarter. Before we close, let me throw out a few names in the “where the hay is he category?” How about an update from Dave Wallace, Kenny Spain, Dave Shin, Dion Scaglione, John Pitcock, Keith McKenzie, Jim Harcarik, Adam Dickerson or Chris Bass? I hope all of you are doing well, Brother Rats, and stay safe!

’87

Ernie Edgar

Brother Rats, as I write this for submission to the Alumni Review, the Dark Ages have set in.

As many of you now know, it is my sad duty to report the passing of our Brother Rat, Pete Carty, to cancer in December. The obituary which appeared for Pete I have excerpted below: “Carty, Peter J., 44, of San Clemente, CA, passed away at the UCLA Medical Center on Dec. 17, 2009, after a two-month battle with cancer. Born Sept. 29, 1965, in Portland, OR. He was the son of William and Janet Carty of Dalton, MA. In 1973 he moved to Williamsport, PA, where he graduated from HS in 1983. In 1987, he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a BS in mechanical engineering.

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Upon graduation, Peter entered the Navy as an officer and was posted to the U.S.S. Jarrett, FFG33, at Long Beach. Peter continued his career in the reserves, attaining the rank of commander. In 1994, Peter received an MBA from USC. He worked as the western regional manager for Parker Hannifin Corp. Peter is survived by his wife, Carmina; his son, Andrew; stepdaughter, Lauren; parents, and siblings, Jeanmarie (Glenn), Robert (Cherie), Timothy (Kathy) and Elizabeth (Jason). Peter joins his older brother, David, who passed in 2008 after a battle with cancer. … In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peter’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 A.C. Skinner Pkwy, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256.” In addition, there is a virtual condolence book available on the web at: http://www.legacy.com/ gb2/default.aspx?bookID=2538463328643.

In response to this sad news, many BRs shared their memories of Pete. Mike Maxwell talked about the track road trips they shared.

Owen Curley talked about their glory days as ensigns in the basic course in San Diego. And John Fischer offered this message: “Like all of you, though, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Pete Carty. I wasn’t fortunate enough to know Pete well, but I do have a lasting memory of him. I recall one stoop run way back when, during which Pete effortlessly bounded up and down the stairs, encouraging many of us as he floated along. Paul Munson mentioned that Pete was a stud runner; truer words were never spoken. It’s more than 25 years ago, and I still remember that day -- scared and tired but somehow spurred on by Pete Carty. I don’t know if it’s completely appropriate, but I hope I can find the right words to convey my memories of Pete to his family. For those of you who did know Pete well, I’m as sorry as I can be, and I mourn his loss along with you. On a brief, personal note, I would like to sincerely thank all of you guys for including me in these many updates over the years. It means a great deal to me, and I’m both honored and humbled to call each and every one of you my brother.”

Col. James “Lopperhead” Bright checked in, as well, from Stuttgart where he is with the new Africa Command (AFRICOM). And I ran into Col. Al Pantano at a Society of American Military Engineers seminar in Texas -- he’s now the district commander for the Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District.

Capt. Mike and Molly Williamson are wrapping up their time in DC and head to Camp Pendleton this summer, where Mike will be the next officer in charge of construction there. They stay pretty busy chasing their kids, Justin and Rachel, through soccer and golf, and according to Molly, they’re going to get busier when the third young Williamson arrives in June!

Several guys made it to football games in the fall. Craig Covert made it to the Homecoming game and met up with Sam and Jackie Nelson and Bobby Eaton and his daughter: “We watched the parade and enjoyed lunch in the new Quiznos on Post. Talk about spoiled!

Man, we never had it that good, did we? They are both doing well – both retired recently and are enjoying their new lives as civilians. (Sure made me disappointed in having to wait ’til I’m 60 to draw my reserve retirement!) We ran into John ‘Pig’ Pilloni in the new bookstore.

He hasn’t aged a day since graduation. We all thought we recognized him while sitting at lunch but assumed it had to be a younger brother whom we didn’t know. What a surprise when he walked up to us and said, “Brother Rats”!”

Craig also met up with Eric Davis after the VMI-ODU game. While Craig and Andrea were staying at their place on North Mountain, “Eric spent a stag weekend in Lex at Hojos instead of staying with us. I guess it was too tempting for him to reminisce about the old days.

Unfortunately for Eric, this was also Ring Figure weekend, and the 2nd’s had taken over the hotel.

I think he regretted his decision to stay there instead of my house or Moody Hall around 3 a.m. when the cadets starting running down the hallways.” Eric is still on active duty as a Navy commander and is commuting back and forth to the Navy hospital in Hampton Roads.

When not living the good life in Rockbridge, Craig and Andrea live in a very small neighborhood in Midlothian where he says, “I’m one of three VMI alumni living just houses apart. My neighbors include Tom Burnett ’68 (I think that’s the year) and Wilson Enochs ’84 – he was J.P. Lemaire’s dyke. Needless to say, the VT alumni are a bit jealous that our flags and bumper stickers outnumber theirs.”

Vernie and Julie Reichling made it to the ODU game as well, where they met Steve Cade and his family (back home on leave from Italy) and ran into Matt Morgan while they were there.

Sticking with Alpha Company, John Johnson had a bit of bad luck last spring and broke his leg skiing, “after which I had the distinct pleasure of developing a blood clot from the inactivity.” After what sounded like pretty gross and painful rehab, John says he has “what may be a slight semi-permanent limp, but being the stubborn ass that I am, I decided to get back to running again as soon as I got cleared. My ortho, who is one of the staff physicians for the Ironman competition in Hawaii (and one of the team docs for VMI), said that I might have trouble hiking and ‘jogging’ again. I instead looked to that great man who sucked lemons and taught physics at our beloved, and ran a 1/2 marathon [in November] with a finishing time

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES of 1:40. OK, that’s the last you’ll hear about all that. It’s just fun to prove that you can’t keep a VMI man down.”

And sticking with roommates, I’m pleased to announce that Mike and Susan Moore are the proud parents of twin boys, who had the good taste to be born in the midst of a record-setting snowstorm. (At least, it was record-setting in DC; I’m sure it was just as nasty in Richmond!).

Everyone is doing well and, as promised in the last edition of the Notes, John and I will ensure that provisional appointments are forthcoming.

Finally, it doesn’t seem possible, but our 25th Reunion is just about two years away. Consider this 10-minute call for planning. As you know, there will need to be a big poster-board check with lots of commas and “1987” somewhere in the motif. But more importantly, there will be a great weekend during which we’ll get to see each other again, remember the good times and tell stories about all the other times. So, be thinking about what you want that weekend to look like.

As always, thanks for letting me know what you are up to, and please keep all the e-mails, photos and news coming! ... Ernie

’88

Drew McKone

I think I was a lieutenant … Recently had a respectable VMI showing on 6 Nov., 2009, in Stuttgart, Germany, to mark the occasion of my promotion to colonel. Brig. Gen. Paul Brier ’81, commanding general Marine Forces Europe & Marine Forces Africa, did the promotion. My wife, Suzanne, and kids, Robert, Erik and Christina, pinned on the four eagles.” Chis followed this update with the news that he will be leaving Stuttgart in the summer to take command of the 23rd Marine Regiment in San Bruno, California.

Good luck, Chris, and welcome back to the U.S.!

Todd Oakes – “I am currently living in Ashburn, Virginia, with my wife and three children.

I am employed as a regional sales manager for Activu with a focus on DoD sales. Have been reconnecting with classmates on Facebook and enjoying seeing what everyone is up to. If anyone is out near Ashburn, give me a shout.”

Greg Secrist – “I just celebrated my 17-yearold daughter’s b-day last night. That really made me feel old! We are now officially ‘old corps.’ I’ve been working for Sun Microsystems over the past five years and just became an Oracle employee, since they acquired us last week. I’m just glad they extended me an offer instead of a separation package! I’ll be doing pretty much the same thing ... traveling about 75% of the time as a storage consultant.

Speaking of which, I passed John Ancona on the escalator at O’Hare about a month ago! I said, ‘Hello, keep in touch,’ and that was it.

I was late for a connecting flight and made it three minutes before they shut the door! Thank God for Facebook to stay in touch. :) I am also heading up to VMI this weekend to attend Col. Jamison’s ’57 appreciation event. The Jammer was a very special instructor and mentor to me, and I think this is a really special way to show him how much he means to so many of us.

Well, that’s about it for now. Thanks, Drew!”

Aubrey Walton – “Drew - Good to hear from

you. We are settling in back in Houston after spending the last four years in Singapore. Still working in the oil patch. The kids are doing great. Kendall just turned 9 and is a straight A student and Kyle is 14 and also a straight A student. Kyle is playing football, trumpet and throwing for the track team. My wife, Jennifer, is starting back to work after staying home for the last 14 years. All in all, things are pretty good. If anyone is ever in the Houston/Katy area, please drop me a line.”

Walt Coleman - “Drew: Not much has changed since the last time I wrote. Still traveling the U.S./Europe working for Ferrero, managing the grocery business for the U.S. Family is busy. Boys just finished wrestling at Midlothian HS will begin lacrosse and baseball this spring. Daughter (10) is playing lacrosse and field hockey. Wife Missy is substitute teaching in Chesterfield County -- looking for a full time job to keep her out of the malls. I’m still running. I have a few ultras: Holiday Lake 55k in Feb.; Bull Run 50-miler in April; on the waiting list for the Massenutten Trail 100-miler in May, so we’ll see if I get in; and a marathon in Missoula, Montana (my birthplace). Haven’t seen too many BRs. Did run into Jim Outland ’83 at the Richmond picnic in July ’09. Michael Moore ’78, Jamie Tavenner ’91, Rob Sayegh ’91 I see quite often in the neighborhood (Salisbury). Cloyd Tavenner was in town for Christmas/New Year’s (Jamie’s bro), and we talked about the old corps -- played poker and I made my donation to Cloyd’s kids’ college fund … Am enjoying Facebook as I get to see what all the BRs are up to. Outside of mafia wars and Farmville, it seems fairly uneventful … That’s all from Midlo -- Thanks for pulling the notes together every quarter. I’ll be running an ultra on our class birthday, which will help me get through the expected cold and mud … great flashbacks. Walt”

As I sit at my desk looking out over a yard covered with more than two feet of snow, it is comforting to know that by the time you are reading this… it will be spring! The Mid-Atlantic snow storms have put a “freeze” on permitting efforts to start the building my new home. My hope is that, by the next edition, I will have pictures of us breaking ground!

Other than living with my in-laws, life couldn’t be better! My 20-year-old son is somewhere in South Central Mexico guiding kayak tours for American tourists, and my 19-year-old daughter made the dean’s list in the fall semester. The wife and I are heading to Ocean City, Maryland, this weekend (Valentine’s Day) to refill our “sanity” tanks before returning to the in-laws, where the tanks will again be emptied and my will to live will only be sustained by my newest friend … Scotch!

I am very pleased to have many contributors to this edition of class notes! If you haven’t already, get on Facebook and join the “VMI Class Of 1988” group. It’s a great way to reconClass of 1988: Chris Starling has been promoted to colonel of the U.S. Africa Comnect with your Brother Rats! mand, USMC. Attending his promotion ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany, Nov. 6, 2009, were, from left, Lt. Col. Tom Talley ’90, USA, U.S. Africa Command; Brig. Gen. Paul Chris Starling checked in from StutBrier ’81, USMC, Marine Forces Europe/Africa; Starling; Col. Wayne Sinclair, USMC, tgart, Germany, with news and photos U.S. European Command; Col. James Bright ’87, USMC, U.S. Africa Command; and of his promotion to colonel! He writes: Maj. Tim Collier ’95, USA, U.S. Africa Command. Starling’s wife, Suzanne, and kids “Drew, It has been a while since I sent Robert, Erik and Christina, pinned on the four eagles. an update to the Alumni Review.

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CLASS NOTES Erich Diehl – “Drew - Down in Miami supporting SOUTHCOM and Haiti relief operations. Still at U.S. Fleet Forces Command until May when I’ll transfer to COMSECONDFLT and assume job as Fleet Ops. This past year, put on captain and screened for major command. Participated in Al Cuellar’s promotion ceremony. Family is doing well, with both boys in high school and our youngest, Katie, in 1st grade. If anyone ever gets to Chesapeake, stop by to see the Diehl clan!”

Sam Tate – “The Tate family is still in the Washington, DC, area after almost five years.

Sam was promoted to captain, USN, this past September. Small world story, Sam’s step-brother, Rob Spousta, is stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, at AFRICOM with Col. Chris Starling.

News is that Sam will be assuming command of the Navy Reserve Support Center in New York City (actually San Francisco, CA) this summer.

The family will miss being close to his brother, Lt. Col. Andy Tate ’92, and his BR roommate, Hugh Brien.”

Mike Wood – “Drew - Just a few notes: The family (wife - Jeanne, daughters - Micah (12) and Morgan (9)) and I have been here in Germantown, Maryland, for 10 years now. My son, Tyler (19), just started his second semester of college. I have been at the American Legacy Foundation in DC for two years, and things are good. I caught the ‘Running Roos’ in action against Mason before Christmas and had a chance to catch up with Mike Maxwell ’87, Keith Washington ’87 and Greg Hatchett ’90 at the game! Facebook (FB) has been a great way to stay in touch with BRs, and I am still amazed that my roomie, Tim West, can keep a job -- based on FB hours logged to date! Tim is in Corning, New York, and he and his family are well. My other roomie, Mark Bristol, is still in Tennessee and travels to this area periodically. I get a line from third roomie, Mike Mayo, occasionally, and all was well when we last connected. Had a 25-year high school reunion last year and caught up with a bunch of the collegiate crew – Walter Spence, C.R. Langhorn, Kevin Alvis and Dan Wilson. John Kay was unable to make it, although I have Facebookstalked him and Steve Dorsey who are both in the Philadelphia area. Chris Clark is back on the radar, and he is well. He was in Iraq when we connected, but he should be home now!

Former Rat roomie - Frank Charlonis - is in Charlotte, and we had a brief FB chat recently!

Frank is well, and it was good to reconnect!

Mike Leeney is still missing, so if anyone has heard from him, I would love to reconnect with him. Would love to send a big ‘Thank You’ to all of the BRs serving present and past! We don’t celebrate the work you folks do enough, and I wanted to take a moment to say thanks to

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each of you, and be safe. Hope this is helpful, Drew!”

Andy Gillespie – “I hope you guys are digging out from all that global warming! Things in the Seattle area with Boeing have been incredibly busy … I am buried at work with lots of programs and people to manage and been traveling way too much (currently stuck in El Paso airport). Katie is also busy and is working part time (every other weekend and some days during school hours) for hospice in addition to raising our three growing boys: David, 9, Matt, 7 and Sam, 5. We are gearing up for our Mexican cruise - a week of sun (hopefully) away from the SEA rain. Also been in touch via e-mail with Scott Miller; he is in the DC area and doing well. I must admit, I am a lousy Facebooker or LinkedIn member, as I rarely respond to those messages, since the work e-mails keep dominating my attention -- by the time I’m done with work, I don’t even want to get on my home PC. It’s great hearing from you, and if you ever find your way out to SEA, let me know. Take care.”

D.J. DeRenzo is running for a seat in the Florida State House of Representatives. You can learn more about his candidacy by visiting djdjdj. org. He would gladly accept any contributions from the VMI family.

As you can see, Facebook has become the venue of choice for staying in touch! For those of you reluctant to join Facebook, you can still keep in touch with the class through these class notes.

Send me a quick e-mail or give me a call, and I’ll make sure you are represented in our notes! Until next time … Take Care, and God Bless! ... Drew

’89

Nathaniel L. Cross

Gentlemen: It is Super Bowl Sunday and Virginia is blanketed in snow after its third major winter storm of the year. I hope that when you read these notes, the leaves will be on the trees, and you can sit outside drinking a cold one.

Speaking of snow, who heard Bob Spieldenner on NPR’s “Morning Edition” discussing the storm and snow removal for the state? Maybe you saw him on the Weather Channel? Bob is the spokesman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Services, and it is not always a good thing when he is on the news. But Bob did a great job, and we can all be proud of him.

I received several notes and e-mails over the past three months. I will begin with the great news of Neil Heimer’s safe return from Afghanistan in early February. Neil had a long trip back, but after several weeks travel, he is glad to be back with Tricia and the kids. Staying with the good news, I got a great letter from Dawn Sykes. Keith

returned from Bahrain in early January. He had been gone from Norfolk since January 2009, and she is very happy to have him home. She also updated me: Brian is 10, and their daughter, Daija, is 9. Thanks to both the Heimer and Sykes families for your service to our country.

After the return of two BRs, I have learned of two deployments. Dr. Kristen Zell-Miller, Billy’s wife, left from Bethesda on the U.S.S. Comfort to Haiti to aid in the earthquake relief efforts. Matt Tederick said that she was clearly visible on one of the morning news shows, as they were reporting from the Comfort. We wish Billy well as he holds down the fort with the boys. Deploying to Afghanistan this spring will be Scott Leonard.

Scott came home in April from a deployment in Iraq where he was commander of the 1st Light Armored Recon. Bn. Scott is maintaining command of the battalion for this year-long deployment. We wish him and Michelle all the best, with a safe return in 2011.

I got an update from Pete Catalano in Turkey.

As of February, Pete had been deployed for 16 months of a three-year tour, serving as the Naval attaché to Turkey. He says it is a busy job but exciting and quite different than flying F/A 18s. It is a good experience, and so far, Allison and the kids (Peter, 8, Sabra, 6 and Chloe, 3) are enjoying it.

I got a great picture from Chris Ogden of Ed Herrington at Ed’s change of command from the U.S.S. Hawaii. Unfortunately the Review cannot print pictures off the web [due to low resolution], so you have to believe me on that one. Ed, let us know where you are headed for your next job.

Chris is still working for Ford Motor which must be why they are the only U.S. car maker in the black. Keep it up, Chris.

Keeping it stateside, I heard from a bunch of folks. Wuzzer Rader and family still live in northern Virginia. He is back working in the Pentagon as the Air Force “Guard Guy.” I got a nice e-mail from Cliff Porter who, I believe, is the first in our class to retire from the military.

Yes, we are getting to that stage in our lives. Cliff sent the following: “I retired from the Marine Corps in June and am now working with Harbor Capital Management, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina, as in investment advisor. As luck would have it … all of our past reunions found me either engaged with military relief operations or deployed to some of the best garden spots in the world! I am sure that is quite a familiar story for everyone that has been in the service for the last 20 years. Our last reunion fell during the week of my retirement, and there were too many family members in town to jump ship to Lexington.” Cliff, welcome back to the East Coast, and we hope to see you in Lexington soon. Cliff also attached some pictures of the family from the retirement ceremony. Unfortunately, the Review could not print them. If you can send me pictures

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Andy England touched base and sent me the in PDF format, we can get them published. I got R. Hunter Trumbo following update from Kansas: a cool e-mail from Sean Raborn: “I finished “I received my Review yesterday and realized off the mountain bike race season this year with I had not caught up in quite a while. All is well some significant accomplishments (for me). I in Salina. Kids are busy, as are Katy and I. won the Solo 24 Hours of ERock Race with Big changes are on the way for the Englands.

32 laps (or just about 264 miles). This was the In June 2010, I will become the president of second year in a row for me to win it. Yes, I did Brother Rats: Sorry to start with some sad St. John’s Military School. It is a private, all stop -- just not for long. I also placed 5th in the news, but as many of you heard, we lost BR boys, military school for grades 6-12. I’ve Men’s Solo 40+ BreckEpic mountain bike stage Rob Forgie just before Christmas. I probably been involved with their board for years. The race. The stage race is six days of back-to-back received a dozen e-mails from guys relaying opportunity presented itself, and I felt strongly racing, featuring 40,000 feet of climbing about their memories of Rob; he was one of those pulled toward it. I am in the process of selling 200 miles of single track riding … all at above guys that you just don’t forget. Rob was living my portion of my company and will move up 9,000 feet. Thank goodness that I live at 6,200 in Montvale, Virginia, and is survived by his there in June. Gen. Peay ’62 was at St. John’s feet here in Castle Rock, so I am used to the wife, two daughters, one son and a large exlast May for commencement. It was neat to host elevation … Work is busy but difficult, with the tended family. Several of our classmates asked economy being what it is. If anyone is out in about sending flowers, so I sent a red, white and him, and he gave a great speech.”

I gave Andy a call to congratulate him, and Colorado on vacation or work, please look me yellow “funeral spray” display to the memorial he let me know that he’d been supporting the up. We can ride, ski or just get a drink.” Hey, service in the name of our class. Steve Fitton school board for six years and operating a small Sean, thanks. Think I will stick with a drink the attended the service and let me know that the business and when offered the position, he felt next time I am in Colorado! Congratulations on flower display was a great touch. compelled to support the school. He’s not going a great race season.

In happier news, Jim Hynes left me a voiceto be in a uniformed position, but I’m sure he’ll Mike Masley has been keeping the moving mail saying that, at the end of last year, he had appreciate everyone calling him “sir.” St. John’s companies busy. He wrote that last summer they attended the inaugural meeting of the Greater is lucky to have him! moved from Fort Drum, New York, to Fort JackNew Orleans Chapter of the VMI Alumni AsDusty Crone was kind enough to give me a son, South Carolina. And this summer, he will sociation. Jim was one of 15 alumni, ranging call with an update. He and his wife, Stacey, be moving to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. from the class of 1951 to 2009, who attended, have two kids – Alli (16) and Tanner (14) -- and He, too, has recently returned from a tour in Iraq and he conveyed that it was a great event that where he worked close to John Parrott’s ’88 connected him with some really good folks. The they’re living in Chesterfield, Virginai, where he runs into a few classmates. If I recall, he office. He said that if anyone is in the Colombia, chapter is covering folks from Slidell to Baton keeps in touch with Keats Wade, Ley Havird South Carolina, area, please look him up.

Rouge (that’s a pretty big area), so they’re and Trey Rhodes from time to time. Dusty’s I got a quick e-mail from Matt Sossi who is living going to vary the meeting locations from time been working for Citizen’s & Farmer’s Finanin San Antonio, Texas. Matt, send us some info, so to time. If you’re in the area and interested, I cial Corp for a few years in their Auto Finance we can update everyone on what you are doing. know Jim would welcome some company.

Here in Richmond, I have been fortunate to see Mike Biliunas on several occasions recently. Mike is currently working with his wife to get her print broker business up and running. He is also active in one of the new VMI networking teams. It is amazing the camaraderie through the years and the trust factor that you have in working with VMI alumni. We have gotten to a point in our careers where we can help those younger than us, while seeking guidance from those older. I highly recommend looking for some of these groups or starting your own.

Finally, I spoke to Matt Tederick.

He is in the process of starting up a tech company, working on some new applications, as well as continuing his work as a personal financial consultant.

Matt is still living in Front Royal, and if the news is correct, he got 40 inches of snow this weekend.

Gents, please keep the e-mails and letters coming, as these are your notes. I Class of 1990: John Lanzillotta standing at the base of Fitzroy in Patagonia, Argenlook forward to hearing from you soon. tina, January 2010. At 11, 073 feet, Fitzroy is the highest spire in a range of granite For those who are deployed, thank you, peaks in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. and we wish you a speedy and safe return.

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CLASS NOTES Group. He had gone to work for General Motors right out of school, and it looks like he’s kept with the auto theme.

Greg Hatchett and I had a great chat about what it’s like watching our BRs advancing in their careers and being 20 years on the other side of graduation.

He works in Rockville, Maryland, for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of New Reactors, where he’s the Environmental Projects branch manager for a team that reviews issues with new reactors. Greg lives in Bowie, Maryland, with his wife, Dolline, and children, Addison (2), Justin (9) and Maya (12). He let me know that he was able to make it to the VMI Football Hall of Fame game in October and had connected with Mark Dick and Tim Feagans.

2009 was a bumpy year for many of us and no different for Andy Kvasnicka. He’d gotten laid off from Columbia Gas, did his unpaid volunteer police officer duties for a month, got his hands dirty working for Plantation Pipeline for a while and then took an entry level job with Dominion Power to get his foot in the door. He was working down the hall from John Fisher ’05 who decided to leave his engineering job to go to the DEA. So, Andy applied for and got that position.

Andy’s now happy to be back in the engineering world, and obviously he worked hard to make it happen. He recently spoke to Kevin Handford who is self employed in Warrenton at Handford Financial Strategies, Rodney Edwards who is still in the Marine Corps and is at Quantico, and last but not least, Thomas Cotman who is in the tidewater area. He conveyed that they were all doing well. Andy also had lunch with his uncle dyke, Mike Moore ’87, who is an assistant United States attorney, and learned that his dyke, John Johnson ’87, and his other ’87 uncle dykes, Ernie Edgar and Bob Hinson, are also lawyers.

Andy suggested that, as a Rat, he wasn’t very observant, because he had no idea that they had that much brain power in the room.

I happened upon a resume from Chuck Smith that was broadcast through the Potomac River Chapter, and I gave him a call. He’s retiring from the Navy and is starting to think about where to go next. Chuck’s about ready to leave San Diego and has been considering moving back to the East Coast but really is looking for an interesting job. He let me know that Tim McLaughlin is semi-retiring and going into the civil service but is also part owner of the Battlefield Brewing Company in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Chuck said that they make a pretty good brew!

One late evening recently, John Lanzillotta called me to see if I had a VMI flag he could borrow, because he was going on a trip and wanted to get a picture taken with it. It turns out

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he was going mountain climbing, so I gave him a small VMI spider banner, and he forwarded along a photo of him standing at the base of Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Argentina. Fitz Roy is the mountain image depicted in the logo for the Patagonia clothing line. John was traveling with some childhood friends and said the trip and the views were incredible.

That’s it for this round, gentlemen – thanks for keeping the notes coming. I hope to hear from all of you soon! ... Hunter

’91

George Petty III

Wow! What a winter we’ve had in the Valley this year. There was more snow this year than I had witnessed in my entire life -- about 76 inches at the house here in Waynesboro. The 30 inches that fell in December didn’t disappear until late January, only to be replaced by another 12 inches the next day! I hope everyone survived this bountiful “poor farmer’s fertilizer” without strains, sprains and thrown backs.

Charlie and Lynnett Schindler have settled down in Lynchburg, Virginia. Lyn has a busy OB/GYN practice, and Charlie loafs about the house as Mr. Mom. He did have time to do a whole bunch of hunting with various BRs. Here’s part of a note from him: “Hannah, 10, Charlie III, 7, Joshua, 5 and Abigail, 3 all keep me busy. Its been 10 years since I got a pay

check and have been home as Mr. Mom. I am still running and hunting when I can. We spent a weekend in New York City with Mike Robichaud and his wife, Beth, in January. I have hunted with Larry Murray and his son, my nephew, Austin. Also hunted with Ken Draper, Charlie Cathcart, Greg Hurst, Bob Nickol and Bob Cole a lot.”

Mike Martin has swapped several e-mails with me since early December. He lives over in Nelson County but is a police officer here in Waynesboro. We haven’t crossed paths, on or off the job, since he has been on active duty for the last 3-4 years. Having just returned from a deployment, he is serving as a major in the Virginia National Guard at Fort Pickett. Mike highly recommends the Ming Garden Buffet in Waynesboro as a place to eat. Recently, Mike’s fortune cookie said, “Todd Hubbard is going to end up running the Guard! He is a damn fine fella …, what a great officer and true VMI man.”

Todd didn’t get to visit in February since we had another 20-inch snowfall. The local Guard unit was busy helping get folks to the hospital and serve other critical needs in Augusta County.

Justin Martin continues to live the life of Riley over in Virginia Beach. He sent a very cool picture from a surf session on Thanksgiving Day. This break is a mere 2 blocks or so from his house.

Andy Collier sent word that the next U.S. Navy/Marine Corps student to follow him to the Japanese National Institute of Defense Studies in Tokyo is one Lt. Col. James B. Kendall, USMC.

Class of 1991: The Rusher family celebrated the birth of twins, Garrett and Nolan, on July 29, 2009. Sitting on the steps of their Chesterfield County (Virginia) home were, from left, Steve, holding Nolan; Brennan; Corinne, holding Garrett; and Bogey, the family dog, in the background.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES This is a blurb from Adam Volant ’88: “The VMI Alumni Association will be working to create the 2010 edition of the Register of Former Cadets. Alumni should expect a postcard and e-mail to invite them to make a toll-free call to the organization partnered for this project to check data and update records.

The actual book will be available in late 2010 and can be purchased during the time that updates are provided.”

Please contact Adam at 1-800/444-1839 if you have additional questions. You can expect to be canvassed by phone and mail. The postcard will be first, and you can call the exclusive toll-free number. They will ask questions like current address, spouse, children, military service, awards, birthdates, anniversaries, nicknames, contact preferences and others. You will be able to purchase print and searchable-CD versions of the list. You can see the list free at anytime by joining the VMI Ranks online. Contact me for help logging on this site, if needed. This is important stuff for the Alumni Association, the Foundation, the Keydet Club and for the class to know.

One of my Rat roommates, Kai Torkelson, recently reported to San Diego assigned as the deputy project superintendent for the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) six-month depot availability. His wife, Beth, and their dog, Zoey, were able to join him for the whole time. The Torkelsons enjoyed a Thanksgiving Dinner on a balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Mike Milner volunteered for a one-year temporary assignment, on loan from his agency, to the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. He’s serving as the senior law

enforcement advisor to Iraq’s National Information and Investigation Agency (their FBI equivalent). Mike and I traded a few messages on the importance of being nice to average, local folk. He related how he wrote an article for The Cadet concerning the Stoopies. Mike relates, “One of my proudest moments involving VMI

Class of 1991: In front of Barracks at VMI were, from left, Tom Heffern, Jon Greenspon, Joe Sokolowski and Matt Amato. was when I learned that Hughey (Head Bear) Johnson had received a VMI Distinguished Service Award. In the article, he mentioned that was one of his lifelong goals, and he got it shortly before he died.” I’m embarrassed to report I forgot to ask Mike for some high-resolution pictures from Iraq. He has taken some stunners. Look for him on Facebook. You can see them there.

Bill McClary sent a message in December to say he has been back from his last deployment about six months. He’s currently working

Class of 1991: Justin Martin celebrating Thanksgiving Day 2009 at Virginia Beach.

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as deputy commander for the 4th Sustainment Brigade at Fort Hood and will PCS to Fort Bliss this summer to take command of the 121st Brigade Support Battalion in 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Flip Secrist has also been activated for battalion command in the Corps of Engineers (somewhere in the Northeast, if

Bill remembers right). Last time Bill saw him, he was rear-detachment commander for the 4th Infantry Division and was working to help transition the unit for their move to Fort Carson.

Matt Amato sent a picture from last year’s Legacy Day at VMI. In Matt’s own words, here’s what’s been going on with him. “Here is the skinny on the family: Ginny is teaching for the Thomasville, North Carolina, City Schools in early childhood special education. Andrew is now 11 and is in the 6th grade. He is finishing up football season and getting ready for basketball season. Allison is now 3 and 3/4. I don’t know if you heard the story -- I’ll tell the full version over some evil fire water, but she was born unintentionally at home at 2 a.m., one week before her due date. I didn’t do anything but hold the towel -- ask my wife; she’ll tell you. One of the neighbors, who is a pediatrician, that I called reminded me to call 911, after the fact. I am still working for ATF, which should be a convenience store, not a government agency, in Greensboro, North Carolina. I am one of the three firearms instructors in the office and just finished a weeklong firearms instructor recertification training in South Carolina. I pretty much work with the Greensboro Police Department Violent Crime Task Force. I have seen Dave Beard quite often, since he lives in Thomasville also. We were both up at VMI for Legacy Day last spring, where we met with Jon Greenspoon, Joe Sokolowski and Tom Heffern. Unfortunately, Dave was not in the picture, and yes, I am the one with the ponytail.”

Heh, heh, “should be a convenience store.” I have always thought that the Bureau of Alcohol,

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CLASS NOTES Dean Bailey ’91, also a Marine on the MEF staff, soon to deploy to Afghanistan, and has seen BR Keith Frantz on the same staff.”

I received a nice Christmas card from Dan Franzen’s family and learned that “Dan still travels a lot with the Joint Staff … In his spare time, he’s been biking and kayaking and building [his family’s] DC-Insider credentials. Dan and kids participated in the Washington Post Hunt (a series of puzzles involving DC’s newspaper, streets and landmarks) for the second year in a row.” His family “also went to the concert on the National Mall prior to the Inauguration.”

Also received a nice holiday card from Charlie Enochs’ family and read that he and wife Sara have four children: Charlie McAlister, James, Ben and Ava Kathleen Lillian. Charlie and Sara bought a cabin with 17 acres last year and are working hard to transform it into a grand lodge. Charlie is president of the Phoenix division of Taylor Morrison (a home builder). His “best of life is spending time with his kids. He fishes, plays games, teaches them how to cut wood, make a fire, tracks, hunts and is best when it comes to the discipline of homework.”

Jeff Van Sanford updates: “My kids are getting up there in age at Class of 1991: Lynnett and Charlie Schindler in Lynch16, 14 and 12. I’m about to head burg, Virginia, with their children Hannah, 10; Charlie off to Greenland before the sumIII, 7; Joshua, 5; and Abigail, 3. mertime and be the commander of the 12th Space Warning Squadron in the Air Force. I’ll be up there for a year.

USMC marathon and I’ll never live it down I’ve known my wife, Robyn, since I was her … four years of CC and track down the paperboy, and she attended Ring Figure with drain.”

Adam Gregory me. We’re doing well. Not sure what happens As for the ass-kicker, Mike Starling reports after Greenland just yet.” that he and his wife, “Jenny Starling and Colonel Brodie writes: “Kids are getting four kids, Andrew (10), Caroline (8), Shawn big; Julia started high school this year. My (5) and Sarah (4) are on our third year in Andy Tate Andy Tate wife, Laura, has another book contract and the Crystal Coast. After completing a tour has a new book coming out in April. Follows as executive officer (XO) for 1st Bn, 8th up her last novel – The Widow’s Season. I Marines (infantry), spent the last two years as am quite proud of her and now am known as the operations officer for Special Operations ‘Laura Brodie’s husband.’ We went to Florida Training Group, preparing Marine Expedifor vacation last summer and stopped in Gentlemen: Due to a SNAFU related to the tionary Units (MEUs) for deployment from Raleigh, North Carolina, and had a great visit last edition of the notes, a number of referamphibious shipping.” with our BR John Ward who is well. They enced pictures were not included therewith.

Mike now becomes “a patient to his own have a great home, super little baby and life Each is included with this edition. My apolomedicine,” as he joins 26 MEU as its XO is good for them in Raleigh. He plays hockey gies for the resulting delay. to undergo the pre-deployment training he when he is not working as an engineer of Neil Hennigan writes that he’s “workadministered to previous MEUs -- with a some sort. Speaking of Florida, I just saw BR ing for the GOV here in Pittsburgh, and all deployment this fall. Jenny does everything John Driscoll in Florida when the band went is well. BR Starling kicked my ass in the else in their lives and well. Mike works with Tobacco and Firearms sounded like a party.

Pat Krug says his son, Jarod, is 15, a sophomore in high school and is starting to look at colleges.

He is considering VMI. Pat has two girls (ages 13 and 11), and they say, “No way!” On seeing other BRs, he says he doesn’t see many, but he “got Christmas cards from Vic Dewyea (in Georgia) and speaks to David Ahrens every so often. Both of them have growing and healthy families, and their kids are great looking (take after their mothers). Other than that, I run to kids’ basketball, football and soccer games and try not to eat too much junk from the concession stands in place of dinner.”

Fred Lehman sent an e-mail which leads me to believe he does something very important for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. His signature says he’s a senior vice president wealth advisor.

Fred and Pat have both said they will help to get our Class Memorial Fund started. In the coming year and at our 20th Reunion (about 14 months from this writing!), we will be reaching out to you for funds, pledges, advice and ideas. If you can help in any way, please give a shout.

Thanks for the feedback and messages. I am privileged to serve you, my Brother Rats, as class agent. You fellas make me swell with pride as I read and hear your accomplishments in business, medicine, military and government. You all indeed ensure that “the Institute will be heard from today.” Rah Va Mil!

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES down to Tampa for a benefit show recently.

He and his wife, Ann Mary, are doing great.

They live in Key West, and their kids, Ned and Catie, are at a very cute age. John has done very well in the Coast Guard and had just gotten back from doing rescue work in Haiti. BR Todd Pegg is back from Iraq in March after his 3rd or 4th tour. He is an engineer at VMI when he is not deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan killing bad guys and letting us sleep well at night.”

Mike Kirkmire reports: “Not much going on here [in Idaho]. Training to do the Boise 70.3 Triathlon (half Ironman distance) in June. Headed back to Virginia in July and maybe Labor Day weekend for the Boise State-Va. Tech game at FedEx field. We’ll see.”

Steve Arnold updates that he’s “living in

Fort Smith, Arkansas, working as an assistant principal at a junior high school. Serving as president of the local hombebrew club, the River Valley Ale Raisers. Life is good. Married to my Ring Figure date with two boys, 4 and 6. Hell, life is great!”

Jim Maiocco writes via our Facebook group page (VMI Class of 1992) that “Don Noschese and I got together for a beer ... He is doing well and lives in Louisville, Colorado. My wife, Amy, and I have three small children. So, it’s crazy in our house ... just living the dream. Steve Smith’s (‘Big Smith,’ or as he would say, ‘Medium-Sized Smith’) annual memorial golf tournament is June 14, 2010, in Augusta, Georgia. All proceeds go to his two little girls’ college fund. If anyone is interested in attending, let me know and I will send them information. It’s for a good

cause, and the last time I was there (2007), the beer truck showed up on every other hole ... you can’t beat the service! E-mail me at jmaiocco@lampsoncrane.com.”

Thanks for all the feedback, Brother Rats.

Please keep the communication flowing, and encourage classmates who’ve become shutins or “too cool” to participate, as well. Each of you knows a few of these, so be proactive and kick their proverbial doors in. We should all solicit more participation among our class, especially as the 20th Reunion approaches.

Simply stated, the more BRs who get involved, the more rewarding your individual participation (and our reunions) will be.

There’s my pitch.

Have a great spring, and best of luck and many thanks to all our BRs in the field; get home safe! Best regards ... Adam.

Class of 1992

Photos clockwise from top, left: -David Brugger and his wife, Katie.

-Capt. Josh Powers ’04, USA, and David Bradley at the First Annual Pancake Run in Georgia, June 13, 2009.

-Completing the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon were Neil Hennigan – with a time of 3:15, his first marathon – and Mike Starling – with a time of 4:46, his third best time of four marathons.

-Mike Starling’s children, Christmas 2009: Caroline, 8; Shawn, 5; Sarah, 4; and Andrew, 10.

-Jon Manley married the former Justyn Haskell on Oct. 3, 2009, on a beach in San Diego, California. In attendance were their sons, Blake, 12, and Grant, 13, and daughter Shanelle, 15.

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CLASS NOTES

’93

Bill Cox

program in January to keep out of trouble, and I’m volunteering at the National World War II Museum in their collections department. The museum has a very impressive collection and just recently opened a second wing. Highly recommended for history buffs. If anyone plans on being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras week (Feb. 16 is Mardi Gras Day), please let me know. Everyone has a standing invitation to party and watch the parades with us. Sadly, there were too deaths in the VMI family close to ’93. Chris Davila’s mother passed away on Jan. 1. I did not have a chance to speak with Chris or attend the service, but the obituary follows from the Richmond Times: Davila, Elaine Drake, of Richmond, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. She was preceded in death by her infant son, Todd Clifton, her mother and father, Madelyn and Frank Drake, and her daughter-in-law, Suzanne Davila. She is survived by her devoted husband of 49 years, Jose R. Davila Jr.; four children, Jeff Davila and his wife, Kathleen, Scott Davila and his wife, Janine, Christopher Davila and his wife, Mary, and Ann Elkin and her husband, Jason; eight grandchildren, Avery, Mallory, Shelby, and Tucker Davila, Nathan and Madelyn Elkin, and Zachary and Oliver Davila.

She is also survived by her sister, Suzanne Wilson and her husband, David, and a brother, Stephen Drake and his wife, Nancy, and many nieces and nephews. Elaine attended Salem College, was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and The Junior League of Richmond, where she served as office administrator for 17 years. The family will receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, January 4, 2010 at Bliley’s - Central, 3801 Augusta Ave.

A memorial service was on Jan. 5, 2010, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6004 Three Chopt Road, Richmond, VA. 23226, or the Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA. 23220. Sadly there was a second death close to us. Many of you know Rob Brumley ’94. Rob’s wife, Katherine, passed away unexpectedly on Jan 28th. If you would like to honor her, the family has requested that donations be made to St. Stephen’s Church, 6004 Three Chopt Rd., Richmond, VA 23226 or the Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Rd Richmond VA23220.

Please join me in extending condolences to both the Davila and Brumley families.

As far as myself, I am surviving the winter of my life (in more ways than one). I look forward to spring with great anticipation. To those serving, I offer my now old compliments; I can’t say it enough how much we all appreciate the sacrifices you make and have made in the past.

We are all better people for knowing you. To all those serving here and abroad – “thanks.”

I don’t know what else to say. God Bless the Armed Forces, VMI and the class of 1993.

It’s February now, and for many of us living in Virginia, the snow has come, come again, and again, and is still here. It has been a winter for the record books everywhere. As of this writing, I still have 16 inches of snow in the yard. I think just about everyone is thinking of moving to the Islands to get away from it. These notes will be rather short, as I haven’t gotten a lot of information to share. I went back to “The I” for the ODU football game where many of us from ’93 had planned to meet for the weekend. I will not get into the gory details, but let’s just say there are some seriously funny stories from the weekend. Just ask your Brother Rat Romasz. There were too many guys there to list here.

Wade McNichols sent me a quick note. He and his wife had a baby boy, Alton Carrick McNichols, born on 1/17/2010. He writes that mother is doing fine and baby is growing fast. He said he expected a full night of sleep again next winter. Rich Nevitt recently got married to Michelle Morgan. The Christopher L. Doyle ceremony took place on Jan. 2nd at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. Chris West ’91 and Mike Tuck were in attendance. Rich is doing well and settling into married life (which he explains to mean “having to throw out my bachelor stuff”).

He works near Dulles as a program manager for Brother Rats: I am very saddened to report that the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft simulator Rob Brumley’s wife, Katie, died unexpectedly program which should field in 2011. Jason Denon 28 Jan. Her funeral in Richmond was well ham wrote in with a birth as well. He and his wife, attended by several Brother Rats. Our deepest Laura, added their second child to the clan, Connor, on Jan. 22nd. Jason says that mom and baby are doing well, and father’s vodka intake is increasing.

His signature on his e-mail caught my attention: ALTO VINO WINE. I don’t know if it is a place of employment, a hobby or a state of mind. Please explain, Jason. Mitch Copenhaver and wife Joy also had a baby boy, Wyatt, in January. I received a note from Mike Wallace which is next: “Had a nice Founders Day with a few other VMI alums: Stephen Heinrich ’77, Rhys Williams ’07 and Nick Campbell ’09.

Rhys is forming a VMI alumni chapter here in New Orleans, and we have our first meeting on the 17th of Nov. We’re hopeful we can get the VMI cadets back down here for Mardi Gras and other events. I wasn’t clear when I e-mailed you for the last update – I’m still in the Navy but on my twilight (last) tour. I’m the OIC of the intelligence center at Class of 1993: Celebrating their marriage in Alexandria, Virginia, Jan. 2, 2010, were NAS New Orleans. A good job preparRich and Michelle Nevitt, with Chris West ’91 and Mike Tuck. ing for retirement. Starting a graduate

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’94

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CLASS NOTES sympathies go out to Rob, their children (Campbell and Robert IV), Katie’s parents and Rob’s parents. Please contact me if you are interested in donating to a Sweet Briar College memorial fund in her name.

Mike Eason and his wife, Tamara, welcomed their first baby on 31 Jan. in the middle of that bad ice storm. Victoria Maria Eason, 7 lbs., 12 ozs., 21 inches long. Mike is getting ready to move the family to Fort Drum, New York. Mike will deploy to Afghanistan with the 10th MT Division HQs in the fall.

Dale Hybl is currently deployed to Iraq with the Air Force. He still communicates with George Schreffler and Jimmy Tyrrell. Dale was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 Jan. Katherine, Abigail (12) and Ethan (9) are still in Wiesbaden, Germany.

They’ve been staying busy and have done some touring while Dale’s been gone, including a Med cruise. The Hybls have been in Germany since July 2007 and have gotten to see a lot of the European sites, including Rome, Paris, Berlin, Prague, Amsterdam, Dublin and Salzburg, which they have enjoyed, but they are looking forward to a PCS back to the states this coming summer after Dale returns from Iraq.

Aaron and Stephanie Scruggs had a girl, Calin Quinn, born last April (that makes three girls). Aaron is a real estate agent with Sotheby’s International.

Matt MacNeilly is stationed at Fort Drum, New York, and recently deployed to Afghanistan. This is his third deployment. He will be serving as the XO for 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 10th Mountain Division. The BCT will be headed to Regional Command (RC)-North. Good luck goes out to Matt for a successful deployment.

Corey Cheers recently deployed to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, supporting the 12th Air Force (AFSOUTH) with Operation Unified Response (Haiti relief). While there, he ran into Lt. Col. Ed Swanson ’90, Maj. Andy McQuade ’97 and Mike Haag ’03. All were there supporting the operation.

Brad Reese is busy working for the Marine Corps’ MAGTF Staff Training Program (MSTP). In April, he will be doing some work in Bahrain and then deploying to Iraq in June. Brad reports the following: Sean Dickman is in Michigan working as a special agent for Customs and Border Patrol.

Mike Runkle is in Bahrain on the N-5 NAVCENT staff. Mike Peacock is in Iraq doing a 1-year tour as the logistics officer for a corps support hospital.

Please have a prosperous and safe summer.

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Rick Killmeyer

’95

Dan Williams

Thanks to all who sent Christmas cards; I really enjoyed receiving them. If you didn’t receive a card from me, chances are you haven’t updated your mailing address with the Institute.

Please make sure that you have a current address on file. You can do it on the Web at www. vmialumni.org or by calling 800/444-1839.

I was updating my profile on LinkedIn, and Rick Blaylock’s information dashed across my screen, so I sent him an invitation, and we are now connected. Rick is working for Avon Products in their Global Strategies Group and recently moved from NYC to London. Rick said it is an odd career choice for a VMI grad, but he

gets paid well to travel the world and is having fun. I told Rick that I had recently had lunch with Charlie Branch. He said he ran into Charlie, as they both worked in the Rockefeller Plaza building. Get this – Charlie even put Rick’s chin in and had him pound the steps! Finally, Rick reports that he was able to attend Eric Fegley’s wedding in September. Tony Teriitehau, Dave Mitchell, Matt Russell, Dave Fleck and Virginia Gentlemen were in attendance.

I received an update from Ben and Amy Bird.

They are finishing their tour in Korea and are moving to Washington, DC, this summer. Ben will attend a 10-month course at Quantico, and Amy is still pinpointing her assignment.

I recently spoke with Tim Duane Miller who continues to excel at R.T. Dooley in Charlotte.

Tom Dooley ’56 gave Tim a copy of the speech that was given to the class of 1956 at commencement. The speaker was Gen. George C. Marshall, class of 1901. I was amazed at how applicable the general’s speech was to the events in our world today. If anyone would like to read it, please contact us, as Tim furnished Dan and me with a copy. Tim reports that Andi

Class of 1995: Photo left: Kurt Polk married the former Angie Diamantini in New York City, December 2009. VMI Chaplain Col. Jim Park married the couple.

Photo below: Attending the Diamantini/Polk wedding were, from left, Chris Braun ’98, Troy Mosby ’97, Jim Sharp ’93, Erik Seaman ’98, Brian Kellner ’95, Raleigh Trumbo ’93, the groom, Bob Polk ’61, the bride, Dave Fleck, Jeremy Ingram, Lloyd Taliaferro and Robert Browning ’94. In attendance but not pictured were Steve Mills ’94 and John Miller ’61.

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CLASS NOTES is doing well, and their girls are growing up too fast. Finally, Tim said he spoke with Amy Burris and that Larry Quentin Burris is back at the Pentagon and is aide-de-camp to the Army deputy chief of staff (DCOS) and working his tail off.

Elvin Cabrera took the time to write me a great handwritten letter. He is a New Jersey State Trooper and aviator. After looking for a few jobs after he separated from the Army, he decided that the private sector was not a good fit. So, he applied with the state troopers and was accepted. Then, he saw an opportunity to fly and is now a helicopter pilot. He also reports that he and Special Agent Dennis Lucente frequently meet for lunch. I think I’m going to invite myself to one of those luncheons, so I can catch up with Elvin and Dennis.

I was drinking a cup of coffee over the Christmas holiday, and I opened a Christmas card from Kirk Dennis! Wow! There was little information in the card, but Kirk and his family live in Washington state, I think in the Seattle/ Tacoma area. He is married and has two children. I think Kirk works as a DEA agent. Kirk, when you read this, please reach out to me.

Several BRs have asked me about you and want to hear how you are!

For the last notes submission I was able to update the class on Tim Collier’s whereabouts.

Tim e-mailed me that he was able to catch up with Justin Rubino on Facebook. According to Tim, Justin is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, assigned to Joint Forscom Command. I received a great update from Brian Carl Blue. Brian works and lives in northern Virginia. We discussed how we were disgusted with the performance of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hopefully, Chad Bourne will read these notes and surface to report, as he, too, is a Steelers fan.

As mentioned in the previous notes, I saw Kurt Polk last November at the Institute Society Dinner, and he and his fiancée, Angie Diamantini, were scheduled to be married in December. Kurt and Angie were married in December in NYC by Col. (VMI Chaplain) James Park. (See the photos submitted by Kurt.)

Congratulations, Kurt and Angie!

I recently spoke with Dave Fleck and Thom Brashears who have answered my request to be committee members for our 15-year reunion.

Dave’s sister, Donna, recently was relocated to California for work, and she and Dave drove cross country in January. Somewhere in California, Dave and Donna met up with Tony “Two Tap” and Hiti Teriitehau for the enjoyment of some adult beverages.

Co-class agent Daniel Seymour Williams was called back to active duty, as the Nebraska National Guard is scheduled to be deployed in late 2010. His unit will mobilize in August, with

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a trip to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and then to my former home at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. Dan’s unit will take another trip back to Camp Shelby before their movement into theater. Seymour reports that his roommate Richard Tran Hauben was not only selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel but was also selected for a tactical command!

That’s pretty exciting news, considering a few years ago, Rich was almost medically retired from active duty and was not allowed to attend Air Force Command and General Staff College (CGSC). However, someone thought enough of Rich to select him for command by name before he came out on the O-5 list. This is quite impressive, Rich, and we are proud of you!

Congratulations and thank you for representing our class so well!

Seymour also reports that Matthew Stephen Chapman is getting married! That’s right; Matt is getting married to his girlfriend of 10plus years on April 17, 2010. Dan tells some great Ratline stories about Matt, as they dyked in the same room. In the room, there were four Band Company Rats and Dan. It seems as though he and Matt were the only Rats in the room with integrity, as the other three were rolled before the end of the first semester. So, it was Matt, Dan and five firsts from the class of 1992. The room was dubbed as “spook rat room.” Another good story follows: Matt had a pool party on Labor Day weekend after first class year. Dan attended and a good time was had by all. After a few kegs had been kicked, Dan threw something while wearing his class ring, and the ring went flying. After a few hours of searching, still no ring could be found. A few days later, Dan came back with his combat ring and tested some scenarios; still he was without a ring. Exactly one year to the day, Dan was lying on the couch and his phone rang. It was Matt calling to say their pool pump died, and when the repairman went to dig up the old pump, he found this monster ring inside. Unbelievable! What a great story, and thanks for sharing, Dan! Finally, as for me, I began working for The McIntyre Group in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in December. McIntyre is a risk management firm that specializes in placing hard to fit property and casualty insurance. I have spent my first three months getting licensed and training, and I will continue training for another nine months.

Then, it will be time for me to take off the training wheels and build a book of business. My boss is Jim Walker ’86. I am so thankful for the opportunity and am very excited!

Thanks to all who have sent updates to Dan and me. Please continue to keep us informed about you and your families.

Godspeed.

’96

Rusty McGuire

We have been covered in snow the past few weeks, but hopefully it is nice and warm as you read this issue of our class notes. What a small world … To get away from the snow, a friend organized an impromptu party in the middle of a blizzard at his new pub near my house. I managed to get there to find a number of friends and two Brother Rats – Brady Crone and Eric Michalski joined in on the party. They both recently moved within a mile of my house. With the number of other Brother Rats in Hanover, we are taking over this place. We may need to make Hanover the official county for our class. Both guys are doing well. They moved into the same neighborhood that is perfect for their families.

I also ran into Christian Hoff who was working a tour to help with relief after the recent disaster in Haiti. Christian recently completed ILE and agreed to take a little time away from his civilian job to work at the Pentagon during the relief efforts. I also hear from Mike Ohlegar who is currently in Afghanistan, working on the G9 staff at the MEB-A in Camp Leatherneck. He works long hours but enjoys the job. He ran into a first lieutenant out there named Eric Harley ’07, and they talked about how VMI has changed over the years. Mike was able to pass through Lexington the day after Thanksgiving on his way back home to New Bern, North Carolina.

It was the first time that he had been there since the reunion. He was pretty impressed with all of the new buildings; he said, “They look way more comfortable than when we were there.” When he returns from Afghanistan, he has about 90 days until he leaves his job at 10th Marines, as the Det OIC of the Civil Affairs Detachment, and moves to Monterey, so he can go to Navy Postgraduate School. In school, he will be working toward his second master’s – this one in computer science.

His family is looking forward to the move but not to the process itself.

I did not hear from many of you this time, so make sure you send me your updates, but Mike also brought up a good point. The 15th Reunion is just around the corner. If you are interested in helping out, please contact me.

Thanks … Rusty

’97

John Duckworth

Editor’s note: There were no notes received from the class of 1997 for this issue.

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CLASS NOTES

’98

Hamel Reinmiller

Editor’s note: There were no notes received from the class of 1998 for this issue.

Class of 1998: Matt and Emily Bertsch welcomed their second son, Chase Lynwood, born Nov. 23, 2009.

’99

William Steinbach

Durlach tells me that Katie, their baby, Connor, and he are doing great. He is still working on his graduate degree at National Defense Intelligence College in DC (DIA) and should be finishing that up in July. Following this assignment, he will be back in Norfolk onboard U.S.S. Iwo Jima as the ship’s intelligence officer for a two-year stint. He also is keeping in touch with Andy Stafford who is again on another deployment, this time to Afghanistan with ISO NATO. Andy says that his wife, Irma, and new baby girl, Isabella, are doing great.

Rico Espinoza is right around the block from me at HQ, USMC in Arlington. He will report to Okinawa in June. Jason Berg is in the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs. He is a liaison officer to the House of Representatives. Russ Roselle and his family have moved back to NOVA, and he has a new job with K12, Inc. He saw Chris Alligood a few weeks ago with his wife and their new little one and everything seems to be great with them. Hunter Phelps is in NOVA, as well, and he sent me some pictures of Nige from the reunion that have been deemed unworthy of publication.

Sorry, Skippy. Pat Forrest wins this edition’s award for mentions of the most BRs with the following update: “I haven’t submitted for one of these things yet, so I’m not sure what to include. A quick blurb about me, I guess. I was on the Obama Presidential Transition Team for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for about six months. When that ended, I resumed my role as associate counsel at DHS. It is good to be back doing what I know how to do. I have my first ‘wetting down’ this weekend after my promotion to O-2 in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Better late than never! I’m a member of the faculty now at George Washington University, where I teach a master’s course in domestic security (Homeland Security: A National Challenge). All in all, I’ve been busy with work and trying to do what I can at DHS to help with the Haitian relief efforts. I went to Jae Kwon’s wedding in New Jersey a couple of months ago and saw Jaime Kane, Micah Wei and Stan

Midy. All seemed to be doing well, and a good time was had.”

Mike Nelson is out in California at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, enjoying the good life at grad school by the beach. He says John Holmes is out there, as well, and he ran into him during first day in-brief but has not seen him since. Alex Marrone is in Monterey, as well, over at the Presidio. On the family side, Mike’s wife is expecting child number three in August. Charles Gallion is in sunny California, as well. He is at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin. He will be leaving in August to attend ILE at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Woody Cromley started his MBA with the Post 911 GI Bill and is enjoying it. He is still in company command with the Army Reserve and looking for a promotion this year. Woody says he really enjoyed the reunion and is also enjoying keeping in touch with everyone on Facebook.

Class of 1999: Zachary John Hart was born to Matt and Laura on Nov. 12, 2009.

In deployment news, Chris McGuire just got home from another Iraq tour. He says it was great to be with the family again and meet his 3-month-old son, Liam. His 3-year-old son, PatBrother Rats: Greetings from snow covered rick, and wife, Marlena, are doing great, and they Arlington, Virginia. Hopefully, by the time you are just waiting for orders to see where they will are reading these notes, we will have thawed live next. Barry Williams is currently at Camp out. I doubt it, but I can only hope. It was Stone, Afghanistan, which is in the western part great seeing everyone back at the Institute for of the country. He says he is becoming very our 10th Reunion. Thanks to everyone who familiar with the Middle East due to all of the had a hand in putting together such a great deployments. His current tour will be over event. Your efforts are appreciated. It was in May, and after that, hopefully, he will be particularly pleasing to see that our Honorheading to grad school but says he will have ary Brother Rat 1st Sgt. (Ret) Percell Artis to wait and see what Uncle Sam has to say was able to make it back for the first time about that. While on the subject of Afghanisince our graduation. Percell retired from the stan, Mike Wilson tells me that Conor Powell Army as a first sergeant a few years ago and is currently working for Booz Allen Hamilhas extended his contract to remain in Kabul ton. I run into him from time to time up here reporting for Fox News. I speak to their old at various alumni events. In other DC Metro roommate, Jake Britt, on a pretty regular news, Tom Hanifen is on a fellowship with basis. Jake has been really busy at the fire the Department of Homeland Security, department with all of the winter weather they working in customs and border protection. have been getting down around Richmond.

He will return to the “big Army” in August I met up with Jake Abell for an adult Class of 1999: Kaden with new baby siswhen he moves to his next assignment with beverage when I was in Richmond recently. ter Keagan Faith, born Sept. 10, 2009, to Jason and Erika Smith. the 1st Armor Division at Fort Bliss. Dale Jake is staying busy on a contract down in

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CLASS NOTES Hampton Roads. I think he misses living down the stoop from me, because every time I see or talk to him, he tries to get me riled up, so I will insult him. He is usually successful. Jake also keeps in regular contact with Robbie “Leroy” Trent. Speaking of Leroy, he tells me that he, his wife, Nicole, and their new baby, Alex, are doing well. He says they will probably be moving sometime this summer but don’t know where yet. They spent New Year’s with Jochen and Leslie Dunville and Jason and Sophie Berg up in northern Virginia, and Leroy claims it was a good time and was great to see them. He tells me he was in Richmond not too long ago and went by Jake Britt’s firehouse and racked his chin in. I am sure Jake’s colleagues were impressed. Corey Kearse started working at BBVA Compass in August ’09 doing regulatory compliance. He and his wife, Leslie, are expecting their second child in May. In long lost Brother Rat news, Willy Taylor is living in Europe and building parks. He gave me a call right before the reunion to tell me he was not going to be able to make it back, because he got another contract to stay in Europe. Trevor Chesler sent me the following update: “Bill, glad to hear from you. I have been out of touch with the ‘I’ for awhile and thought I would drop a note. My family and I are here in Dallas, Texas. I have been working with a company, IMC2 (Digital Marketing

Agency), for going on three years now as a finance manager. It has been great, as I have had access to some of the most creative digital designers in the world. I guess it has rubbed off on me, as I have launched my own photography business on the side. My two boys, Trevor and Joseph, are 4 and 2 and are growing fast. Both are attending school already, and it amazes me how much they learn so quickly. Of the two, I think Trevor will likely attend VMI in the future and then pursue a career as a monster truck driver with Monster Jam. But of course, there is plenty of time between now and then. Joseph, on the other hand, will likely become a CEO of his own company; he very much follows in his mother’s path, but there is still time to bring him over to our side.” David Dixon also checked in with his whereabouts: “Hey, man, been a long time. Wanted to give you an update.

It has been so long, I will cut it down. After VMI, I went to WVU and received a master’s in curriculum and instruction/secondary education and a master’s in public school administration.

After working my way up, I am now in my fourth year as principal of South Iredell High School in Statesville, North Carolina. I am married to a lovely woman named Jennie, with one son (Nate) and two stepchildren (Sydney and Sims). That is all in my life, and I hope and wish the best for you. Again, it has been a very long time and do apologize for not being in

touch sooner.” Great to hear from some Brother Rats that I thought might be MIA. If anyone has any contact info on guys that you do not see updates from in here, please forward their information to me.

Matt Irving and his wife, Kristin, welcomed their first child, a son, in August. Arlo Todd Irving was born on Aug. 22, 2009. Jason Smith and his wife, Erika, welcomed a daughter, Keagan Faith, on Sept. 10. Erika tells me that their son, Kaden, is a proud big brother. Mathew and Laura Hart were blessed with their second child, Zachary John, on Nov. 12th. His big sister, Lindsey, loves him very much, and he always smiles when sis comes near. Congratulations to all of our Brother Rats who are expecting or have had children since the last updates!

Please send all new baby information to me (to include pictures) as soon as you are able, so I can alert the Alumni Association. Do not wait for the next class notes!

Well, I believe that about wraps up my inaugural edition of the class notes. Thanks for all of the submissions and the support you have shown me as your new class agent. I hope I do not disappoint. Last, but definitely not least, I would like to thank my predecessor, Brad Wineman. All of his hard work and dedication to the class will not be forgotten. Sir, you are hereby relieved. ’99! ’99! ’99!

In the Bonds … Bill

Class of 1999: The Class of 1999 celebrating their 10-year reunion in Lexington, Virginia, Oct. 3, 2009, after the football game. Photo courtesy Erika Smith.

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’00

Christian Arllen

I am writing you following the 2010 snowpocalypse in Washington, DC. Some of you endured the weather, while Kelley, Sydney and I were stranded in Arizona enduring the warm sunny weather and spectacular sites. For some reason, our return flights were repeatedly cancelled – go figure – so we extended the vacation. At any rate, I highly recommend a drive through Oak Creek Canyon and Red Rock Canyon near Sedona.

Tony Esteve and Ms. Caroline Molitor were married on Oct. 10, 2009, in Charleston, South Carolina, and the class was well represented.

We have photographic evidence that John Palmer, Mickey Wing, Chris Lucas, Ben Inyama, Jimmy Sheldon, Shawn Segreti, Chris Haney, Scott Kuebler and Matt McComas

were in attendance, and Tony tells me Matt Crowgey was present, as well (though not pictured). Tony and Caroline are living in Alexandria, Virginia, and this will be Tony’s 10th year at Truland.

Conrad Bicknell reports in that he and Nate Harris ’08 are assigned to the same squadron, the 83 FWS, Tyndall AFB, Florida.

Recently, some F-15E guys from the 492 FS of Lakenheath AFB, England, were in town, and there happened to be two VMI alumni in the squadron, Capt. Tim “Neko” Tendall ’02 and Capt. Nick “Nacho” Foster ’03. Conrad is still in the Navy and just moved to Panama City, Florida, for his new assignment. Surprise, surprise – his first coastal assignment is on a joint tour with the Air Force! The Bicknells are expecting their first child soon and are in the process of acclimating to the Redneck Riviera after living in California. Conrad has been hanging out with Chuck Minski “the Crusher” and Landon Allen since they live right up the road in Milton, Florida. Recently, Chuck and Conrad

had dinner with Micah North in Destin, Florida.

Micah North, Nadia and both kids are doing well in Dayton, Ohio. Sophie is 2 years old, and Jackson is 4 months. Micah is currently serving as the director of technology development for ATK. Micah confirmed Conrad’s story about dinner in Destin and reports that Nick Castleberry is doing well and living in Jackson, Mississippi.

James “J.R.” Mahala is in the middle of his first deployment to Kosovo, currently at Camp Bondsteel working as a specialist for the 160th Finance Detachment in the Arizona Guard. He is working to ensure contractors/vendors get paid for their services to the U.S. Army and found another VMI alumnus, Capt. Michael Gregory ’04, a UH-60 pilot with the Virginia Guard. James and Rebecca celebrate their sixth anniversary March 12th.

Matthew Martin is stationed off the coast of Haiti on board U.S.S. Bataan (LHD-5), where they have been supporting the relief effort.

Wendy gave birth to their second child – first boy

Class of 2000 Photos clockwise from top, left: -Brad Allen in Iraq in late 2009 supporting troop and materiel movements via C130s.

-In Winter 2009, at an impromptu alumni gathering at Tyndall (Florida) Air Force Base were, from left, 2nd Lt. Nate Harris ’08, USAF; Capt. Tim Tendall ’02, USAF; Lt. Conrad Bicknell, USN; and Capt. Nick Foster ’03, USAF. (Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, this photo could not be printed any larger than that which appears above, due to poor quality.)

-J.R. Mahala and Capt. Michael Gregory ’04, VAARNG, in Kosovo on Feb. 7, 2010, amid their winter accommodations.

-At a November 2009 gathering in Clarksville, Tennessee, were, from left, Justin Wood, John Downs, Will Diaz ’03 and Tom Craig.

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CLASS NOTES Monument, Colorado. Their twins, Tony and Sophie, are 17 months old, and Bethany is teaching Yoga regularly. Tony is in his second semester of a master’s program at the Colorado School of Mines. They are enjoying spending time together and playing civilian.

Carl and Rachael Hammond are expecting a second child, a girl, at the end of February. Carl is pursuing an MBA at the University of South Carolina while still working for Michelin in Columbia, South Carolina. Carl, like just about everyone else I heard from, is looking forward to seeing everyone in October at our reunion!

Brad Allen is presently deployed in Iraq, with C-130s, assisting in the draw down and movement of troops and stuff throughout the AOR. There is a VMI flag flying proudly in one of the chow halls, but the other alums in the area must be hiding, since he hasn’t found them yet. He and Becky settled in to Little Rock (where there are quite a few alums).

Brad had a chance to hang out with many of them at an Arkansas Travelers baseball game (minor league) and looks forward to staying active in the alumni chapter when he returns.

Mike Lim is still in Fredericksburg, Virginia, working at NSWC Dahlgren, where he leads the software development team supporting rapid development and integration for military and DHS urgent needs.

Danny Boyers and his wife welcomed their second daughter, Sophia Ruth, on July 8, 2009.

She weighed in at 8 lbs., 9 oz. and was born on her older sister’s (Anna) birthday. With two girls a year apart, their teenage years ought to be fun. In December, Danny graduated from Liberty University with a master’s in administration and supervision (M.Ed.). Congrats on both counts, Danny. He is still teaching sixth grade, and his wife runs an educational curriculum business out of their home.

Pat Haddock started a new position with Coca-Cola, Atlanta, in August and was promoted to major in the Army Reserve in June. Here’s the shocking Actual size: news: “I, too, am taking the plunge.” Pat 15 1/2” X 10 1/2” X 7 1/2” deep and his fiancée, Charlotte, will be getting married in September in her native Panama, where Charlotte spent her early Choose from New VMI Jewelry Boxes years (she’s an Army brat) and where Shown in walnut & VMI Ring Boxes, Plus – also available in cherry.

VMI Plaques – All Customized! most of her family still live.

See website for more options.s Craig Giorgis spent 72 hours, prior The Deluxe VMI Alumni to e-mailing me, sitting on a flight line in Afghanistan trying to get back home, Our famous handcrafted Virginia “Keeping Box”, similar to English keeping boxes with no end in sight. Thank goodness for found in colonial homes, is now available in solid walnut or cherry with the VMI small blessings, because he found time to spider or seal with the graduate’s name/class year laser engraved into the wood.

An ideal gift for graduates that will be seen and used for many years. check in during the long wait. He should be home by now at Camp Pendleton Hand-Made in Virginia where he and Karen enjoy spending time Order online: with their son, Owen, now 9 months old. www.halwoodworking.com or Call Toll Free 800-755-8546 Craig ran into Matt Brigance and Paul email: info@halwoodworking.com Webber on deployment and traded a

– Henry “Hank” Nicholas, on Jan. 3rd. Congrats!

Dave Epperly and Sara Page were married in Roanoke on 19 Dec. in two feet of snow.

Don Ferguson and Derek Engelhard were in the wedding. Best of all, they charged the hill and led an epic snowball fight that ensued postceremony. (Don’t ask Don about his ring.) Sara and Dave live and work in Charlottesville with their dog, and when they aren’t shoveling snow, they are playing softball.

Back in late summer, Justin Wood, John Downs, Tom Craig and Will Diaz ’03 gathered in Clarksville, Tennessee, at John’s house for an end of summer get-together. Tom Craig and John both have homes in Clarksville and are stationed at Fort Campbell. Will Diaz and Justin both live in the Nashville area. In November 2009, Justin met up with Matthew Hart ’99 while visiting family in North Carolina. Matthew is a pastor of a church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Matthew and his wife, Laura, celebrated the birth of another baby boy last summer.

Alec McMorris reports that he is still in the Army and just recently PCSed to Heidelberg, Germany. We trust he is sampling the native brews and will report back on any exceptional drafts.

Donald O’Sullivan is marrying Krysta Rahemba on April 17, 2010. They will live in Don’s house in Balmville, New York. He’s still working at Symantec as an enterprise account manager and traveling all the time, and his bride is a paralegal in NYC. They will continue taking the train together every day to the city. Don recently met up with Jeremy Berry, and they found themselves visiting a number of pubs in NYC ... what a great time.

Tony and Bethany Cerella are still living in

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couple e-mails with Jimmy Banton.

Joe Segar still lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and works for General Dynamics. He is the project lead for the MK46 Gun Weapon System which is being installed on the U.S. Navy LPD 17 and LCS ship classes. Joe caught up with Conrad Bicknell in Virginia Beach back in November.

Mac Semler is still in the Philadelphia area and currently has an MBA fellowship position at Villanova University. He should graduate next summer and talked to Bill Sjem not too long ago. Bill just finished his EMT certification and is living in upstate New York. Otherwise, nothing else has changed. Mac also reported that NPR had a clip about U.S. troops in Haiti.

They interviewed Capt. John Hartsock who is in charge of a distribution center. Here’s the link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story. php?storyId=122755177 Ryan Cengeri is the last to chime in and is also implanted in the Florida Panhandle.

Ryan has three kids, the oldest recently turned 11. “Two more years until I have a teenager.”

WOWOWOW ... and he will pin on major in May. Congrats, Ryan! He is soliciting support to develop the OPlan to ensure Lee Davis salutes him before he is the same rank. Ryan is currently working through U28 training at Hurlburt AFB, Florida. He doesn’t get invited to hang out with the Navy guys down there. “I think it’s mostly ’cause Conrad is a fighter guy and can’t be seen with a former heavy driver.” There is another guy in Ryan’s squadron, Paul Welsh ’06, and they are trying to teach the AF guys how to relax. Lee is in Alaska with the Coast Guard and is now an NPS graduate. He seems to love his assignment, and his family is doing well.

That is all for this round. Take care, gents, and we look forward to seeing you Oct. 1-2!

Christian

’01

Jason Whitaker

Greetings, everyone, from the frozen tundra of Woodbridge, Virginia. After close to a total of three feet of snow over the past week and a half, we have prevailed. More importantly, on Nov. 30, 2009, my wife, Dawn, gave birth to twin girls, Kendal and Ainsley. Both girls weighed just over 5-1/2 lbs., and I am happy to report that everyone is doing fine, and we were able to go home from the hospital four days after their birth. Parenthood is an awesome responsibility, as many of you already know, and Dawn and I couldn’t be more blessed. They have kept us busy over the last two and a half months, and we love every minute of it. They have begun to “coo” and smile occasionally which fills us with

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES joy. Our class continues to grow exponentially Johnson came up from San Diego to pay a visit to report in early May. I will do a year at George with new marriages, engagements and births, as Lucy. Eric and Zach have been out in San Diego Washington University for a master’s in legislayou will read later on in the notes. Thanks to all since a year or two after we got out of school. tive affairs and then on to Capitol Hill to serve of you who have sent me ideas for the 10-year Jason moved to Irvine, California, in August on a member’s staff for two years. So, it will be reunion so far. I am in contact with the Alumni 2007 after marrying his wife, Heather Maloney good to be back in Virginia to go to some footAssociation, and hopefully, by the time you are Seagle, in May 2007 at the Outer Banks, North ball games and the 10-year reunion. I see Guy reading this, you have already heard from me Carolina. Zach and Eric were Jason’s best men in Workman from time to time; he is on his way about the steps we need to take to prepare for a the wedding, and Richie Palmer ’02 attended the to West Point to serve on staff. (He just returned wonderful 10-year reunion. Keep in mind, we wedding, as well. from Iraq, as well.)” are looking for class function ideas for Friday Brandon Bowman’s mother wrote me a while and/or Saturday night, as well as fund raising back to let me know that Brandon is currently ideas. For instance, Steve Skakandy is interested serving his fourth overseas deployment and in putting together a group of Brother Rats to is in Iraq with the 37th Engineer Battalion. march from New Market to the “I” in order to Fortunately, his wife, Vanessa Bowman, who is deliver the check of donations that our class will on her third overseas deployment, is also with present during the reunion weekend. Steve’s idea him this time. Brandon and Vanessa’s awesome originated with the march to New Market that story of two married, deployed company comseveral of our Brother Rats did to carry shoulder manders was published by two different media boards to give to our Rats after they ran up the outlets, and they definitely have our class’s adhill at New Market Battlefield. Steve’s thoughts miration for being a military couple. (Editor’s were that the march would start on Wednesday Note: See the OEF/OIF section in the front of morning before the reunion weekend, which this Review for an article about the Bowmans.)

Class of 2001: Ethan Weber with his would provide enough time for the group to Ben Griffith sent me the following e-mail: wife, Christine, and son Ryan at Fort arrive in Lexington around Friday night. This is “So, things in northern Virginia are going great, Hood, Texas, after his return from an ambitious and unique idea, and I am highly minus the million feet of snow that we have Iraq in early 2010. certain no other alumni class has done it before. gotten this season. I have been busy the past For those interested, please contact Steve. If few months. In September, I took a position as you do not have his contact information, then Ethan Weber told me the following: a TAC medic (SWAT medic), which has been contact me, and I will get you in touch with him.

“Thought I would drop a line and let the class a very interesting adventure. I also took on I appreciate hearing from all of you who have know what I’m up to. Just returned from my the role of assistant weapons of mass destrucsent notes this time, and for those who have not third tour in Iraq in December with the 1st tion coordinator, also with the Fairfax County submitted anything in a while or ever, please brigade combat team of the 1st CAV DIV. This Police. It all has been quite a bit of extra work contact me, because we would love to hear how time around, I was the MI company commander but rewarding at the end of the day. In my full you are doing. for the brigade in northeast Baghdad. Good time day job, I am still a flight paramedic with Adam Love got married on Oct. 24, 2009, to news is that my wife, Christine, will give birth the Fairfax County Police, which is an always Rachael Ann Wilson of Altoona, Pennsylvania. to our second son, Tyler, next week. Another changing environment. We are starting the William Myers and Greg O’Hare ’98 were a part R&R baby; that’s the way we like it. We are process of looking for a new pilot, if there are of the wedding party, and also in attendance from finally leaving central Texas for DC. I got the any BRs looking to fly helicopters on the civilVMI were Mark Bauserman, Cesar Perez ’98, Dan Army Congressional Fellowship, along with ian side of law enforcement/medevac in the DC Schindler, Russ Sweitzer ’98 and Vic Zottig. The several other active duty officers, and will area. I got a message from Kevin Fromm who new couple bought a house in Johnwas thinking that he might get reasstown, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, signed this summer to the DC area. on the wedding front, Brady Daniels I also spoke with my Rat, Russell proposed to his girlfriend, Jessica Gochenour ’04, in the fall of ’09 Hogan, on Christmas Day, and Jamie on his way home from their 5-year Dillon heard Brady did this only bereunion. I was shocked to find out cause he forgot to buy her a Christmas that they have already had their gift. Just kidding, Brady; congrats to five-year reunion!” you and Jessica!

Anthony Bravo has had quite Congratulations are in order for an experience the past few years Adam Burton who got married in and provided me this update: “At October 2009. John Jicha and Marc the moment, I am about 31 months Schweigert ’98 were present for into a 36-month PEP (Personnel Adam’s wedding.

Exchange Program) tour in South Jason Seagle and his wife, Heather, America, where I am flying P-3s welcomed a baby girl, Lucy Rhodes with the Chilean Armada. Before Seagle, on Jan. 28, 2010, at 6:09 a.m. moving south of the border, I Class of 2001: At the Hair family cabin in October 2009 Lucy was born 7 lbs., 5 oz. and 19-1/4 received a 22-week crash course at were, from left, Brady Daniels, Jessica Pirruccio, Jessica in. long, and mom, dad and baby are DLI (Defense Language Institute) in Hogan, Jenni Reeves, Fred Hair, Jim Bourie, Howie Cook, doing well. Since Lucy’s birth, Jason order to acquire my new dialect, as I Parker Reeves and Nate Charles. told me that Eric Burleson and Zach have to use my Castellano each time

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CLASS NOTES I do anything, from talking to ATC to purchasing a bottle of wine at the grocery store. The orders have been accompanied with a roller coaster of events; in addition to walking through a divorce, I have also seen most all of the country from the Atacama Desert in the north (the driest desert on the earth), to Easter Island (where the famous big-headed Moai statues are found), to Antarctica (the final frontier). With that in mind, last year NASA rented one the Chilean’s P-3s and installed their own Laser and RADAR in order to measure the thickness of the ice and snow from 1,000 feet AGL. I was able to ferry the scientist on several sorties over the frozen tundra, and in the process, they gathered terabytes of information, which will be utilized to further study how the continent is changing ... if at all.

In summation, my tour here has been an amazing experience, one which I feel very blessed to have received and for which I give thanks to the Lord for having given it to me. For life after Chile, I have volunteered for a GSA (similar to an IA or Individual Augmentee) to Afghanistan, and I should be in the Middle East for one year, commencing this coming October/November.”

Mike Butterfield shared this update: “I am finishing up my deployment sometime in March and will be heading back to Okinawa for my last five months there. This deployment has seen me in Iraq for the first two months and Afghanistan for the last five. I am an explosive ordnance disposal technician in the Marines, so it’s been pretty interesting dealing with the IEDs and UXO of our enemy in both countries. I really look forward to seeing my wife, Michelle, and son, Connor, in the next couple of months and hopefully, some BRs at the 10-year reunion, if I am not deployed again at that time.”

Will Alley got back home to Fort Hood, Texas, from a 12-month deployment to Mosul, Iraq.

Although Will hasn’t run into any of our BRs recently, he works with two other Keydets (’04 and ’07) assigned to his battalion (3-8 CAV).

Jessica and Will have enjoyed being a part of the 1st Cavalry Division family but recently found out that Will received orders for Fort Lewis, Washington, and will move there soon.

The orders for Fort Lewis were a complete surprise, since they had asked for the Southeast, but Will guessed the Pacific Northwest was close enough. Will told me that “God has been good to us so far, so we will continue to trust in Him and see where He leads us.”

Congrats to Charles Ransom and Kenny Carmichael who were promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Air Force. Kenny also received a highly coveted intermediate development education in-residence school slot while stationed at Langley Air Force Base and will deploy to the nation of Djibouti in Africa for 180 days. Aaron Trombley is currently a

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maintenance test pilot for the UH-60 Blackhawk as a federal technician at his National Guard unit in Richmond, Virginia – Richmond International Airport. Aaron also recently returned from the Blackhawk instructor pilot course and stays busy with both duties. Aaron’s wife, Sara, is still working with the Chesterfield County Police Department. They have a 4-year-old daughter, who Aaron said is going on 16, and a 21-month-old boy and a baby boy due in May. Aaron is not sure if he will be able to attend the 10-year reunion because of an upcoming deployment to OIF. Unfortunately for Aaron, that’s what happened the last time, too.

Doug Bates provided me the following update: “I married Rebecca Brellenthin in the summer of 2007, graduated from law school in 2008 from University of Tennessee, and returned to my hometown of Centerville, Tennessee, to practice law with my father thereafter. I am now the 7th Bates lawyer to practice law in my hometown, starting in 1871. I really enjoy the work, as it is both challenging and rewarding. I ended my military service obligation in May 2009, as I separated from the TPU unit in Nashville. I live on Duck River and try to fish and hunt as much as possible, and in May, Becki and I are expecting our first child, a little girl.” Doug also recently went back to VMI for a VMI and C31 reunion and saw Scott Smith. Doug mentioned that Scott is with the class of 2002.

Ian Ostlund just retired from a nine year career as a pro baseball player and sent me the following update: “I spent eight seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization (spending my last two years with the Tigers in AAA), then my ninth year with the St. Louis Cardinals (AAA). Going into spring training, I had a very legitimate shot of cracking the opening day roster with the Cardinals.

However, I had my worst major league camp to date and spent an injury-plagued season in AAA. I was very frustrated, yet at the same time very grateful, for all the wonderful things I was able to experience over the years. I was privileged to play with and against many current superstars, hang out with Hall-of-Famers and twice face off against Albert Pujols. My children were able to see me play (I have two sons at the moment, and we’re expecting our third child in July), and I was able to travel the U.S. from coast to coast.

I was able to see and do things that I otherwise never would have gotten to experience. It was a fun and worthwhile ride! I’m currently pursuing a career as a Virginia conservation police officer (formerly known as game warden). If all goes as planned, I’ll be selected to attend the six-month CPO training academy in Richmond this December. It is something that I’ve always wanted to pursue, and I realized I was fast approaching an age where pursuing this other dream was going to become less and less of a possibility.” Great

job, Ian, and good luck with your new endeavor and the upcoming birth of your third child.

Parker Reeves wrote me while he was stuck at home during the recent snowfall. Parker’s wife, Jenni, got a new position at Anthem/ WellPoint and is a direct insurance sales agent and is doing phenomenal. Considering how hard the economy has been on the material handling industry, her new role (and major increase in pay/commissions) really helped to offset how slow Parker’s business had been. Jenni started this position late last summer and has become a top producer already. Parker described Jenni’s job as truly a Godsend and an answered prayer for them. Parker started a new job on Feb. 2nd as an equipment specialist for Patterson Dental.

Parker will be covering the same territory, more or less, that he did when working in the material handling industry. He will be handling a variety of equipment that dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons rely on. Parker said it is good to be out of the “industrial sector” and into the “healthcare sector.” He described his efforts to get this new job as a long, hard-fought battle to break into healthcare and told me that the next time you’re sitting in a dentist’s chair with suction in your mouth and a light shining in your face, think of him. A few weeks ago, Jenni threw a surprise welcome home party for Nate Charles at their house. Jim Bourie, Drew Dickinson, Chris Copenhaver ’99 and Jay Witt ’99 all came.

Nate’s home in Roanoke for a new position with the railroad. Parker talked to Snake, aka Chris Simpson, and Ferg, aka Brian Ferguson, recently, and they’re doing well. As mentioned by Parker, Nate Charles reported that hell truly hath frozen over, because he was transferred over to the engineering department for Norfolk Southern and is no longer an “LA Bandit.”

Greg Martin’s job is relocating him, Caren and Skylar from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Paris, France, in April of this year. Greg will be on assignment for approximately two to three years as a project engineer facilitating certification and design of commercial nuclear power plants for the United Kingdom. Greg advised me to tell everyone that any Brother Rats are welcome to visit or stay with them if they happen to be in Paris in the future. Rich Bruce and Top Palmer are living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and are doing well with the restaurant. Adam Vergne is pursuing a J.D./master’s in securities analysis at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and is engaged to Yasamin Taghizadeh, to be married this fall in Sun Valley, Idaho. Rich Joyner is working as a logistics asset protection manager at Wal-mart and is living in the Sandston area near the Richmond Airport.

In the words of Porky Pig, “Th-th-th-th-That’s all, folks.”

Rah VA Mil ... Jason

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’02

Salmaan Khawaja

Brother Rats, I hope that this edition of the Alumni Review finds you and yours doing well.

Back in 2007, I was heavily entrenched in my predoctoral internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School, a Level I Trauma Center in Norfolk, Virginia. One day, while watching the LifeFlight Chopper take off from next to the Emergency Department, I ran into none other than Lane Fielder, who was a medical student at time. Now known as Dr. Fielder, Lane contacted me recently to let me know that he matched into the Dermatology residency at Brooke Army Medical Center (in San Antonio, Texas) and has one year to go. Lane completed his internship at BAMC, as well, and he noted, “That’s where they’re holding the Fort Hood shooter (creepy).” Did I mention Lane is also a captain? After serving an additional three years for the Army, Lane is then planning on opening a private medical practice.

During medical school at EVMS, Lane met and fell in love with one of his teachers (who also happened to provide didactic training to me and the rest of my training cohort), the former Merideth Zoby, PsyD. Dr. Meredith ZobyFielder is a clinical psychologist and is also at BAMC working with the wounded warriors.

Congrats to Drs. Lane and Meredith Fielder!

Lane hasn’t gotten the chance to evaluate any unusual skin conditions in any of our Brother Rats (OK, I won’t go there; we all know the stories about certain BRs during our Rat year who had some hygiene, um, issues, and those individuals shall indeed remain nameless, but they certainly could have taken/should take advantage of Lane’s expertise!)

Lane also let me know that James Smith is in law school, and Sean Bolling is living in Alabama with his wife and three daughters.

Sean has completed his military service and is now in the civilian workplace. Christian Blanch dropped me a line stating that he is heading back to Peru and wishes everybody the best. I also recently received a New Barracks Liberation Front patch in the mail from an “anonymous” Brother Rat and was subsequently sent a few old pictures of NBLF and Old Barracks related posters. Those were the days …

Capt. E. Blake Witherell wrote in to let me know that he has completed the Army’s Captain’s Career Course and obtained a master’s degree in engineer management. After that, the Army decided to send him back to the 10th MTN DIV at Fort Drum, New York. His new MOS is infantry. There, Blake took command

2010-Issue 2

of a rifle company and deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, for 15 months (2007-08). Blake’s company was given its own patrol base in sector, and he said, “We did phenomenal over there. Gen. Petraeus even came by to visit my company.”

After the company redeployed, Blake was accepted into the elite 75th Ranger Regiment.

Blake said, “I’ve been a part of this special ops team for almost a year now. It’s been amazing to work with such a group of highly trained soldiers.” That’s awesome man, and on behalf of our class, I say keep up the great work, and thank you and all of our BRs overseas for keeping our country and our values safe.

Brendan Fitzpatrick returned from 15 months in Iraq in February 2009. Brendan and his wife, Stephanie, had their first baby boy, Bailey, in May 2009. Currently, Brendan is studying toward a master of science degree in information security and assurance at George Mason University in northern Virginia. In all of his spare time, relatively speaking of course, Brendan was able to meet up with Phak Pen and Paul Knick for dinner. Both are doing well and working in the northern VA area.

Kevin and Allie Fields are living the good life in Richmond. Kevin is working as a job coach right now while also pursuing a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University.

That’s it for now. Hope y’all have a great summer. Please drop me a line with notes about you, yours and the BRs you’ve been hanging out with over time. I also haven’t received pictures lately.

In the Spirit … Salmaan

William Talley V

’03

my somewhat lacking grammatical skills.

It’s hard to believe it’s already mid February.

Life has been rolling in the Talley house. Billy is already 6 months old and has started on real food, which all of you parents out there know what that means! Meanwhile, Savannah keeps both AmieAnne and me on our toes, as she begins to read and question life. No longer can we spell things out when we don’t want her to know what we’re talking about. With the holiday season, I haven’t had the opportunity to see or talk to as many of you as I normally do. However, I hope that everyone had a safe and happy New Year.

Now, on a much sadder note, I ask that you all keep Brother Rat Rollin Steele and his family in your thoughts and prayers, as his mother lost her battle with cancer at the end of 2009.

Mrs. Steele was a great supporter and friend of our class, and many of us met her at football tailgates or various other functions. A memorial service was held in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it is my understanding that our class was represented by several members at the service.

News from Alpha Company … Matt Van Wie graduated from the Charleston School of Law (Charleston, South Carolina) in December 2008, passed the SC Bar Exam in July 2009, got sworn in to the SC Bar this past November and is planning the launching of his own small law firm. He is also actively pursuing an LLM degree (master’s in law) through a program offered by University of Miami School of Law (FLA) in real estate development.

News from Bravo Company … Phil Hampton reports that he got married to Kari Nadeau on Oct. 31, 2009. Present at the wedding were Steve Nakazawa and Jon Faff. I saw Phil and Kari at a football game this past fall, and it looked like Kari had Phil pretty well in hand; congratulations to both of you. Matt Brady apparently is still alive

Phil Kerns

I hope this edition of the notes finds everyone well. This set of notes is a little lighter than normal. It’s mid February, and I think a lot of our BRs on the East Coast are still digging out from all the snow that’s fallen in the last two weeks.

I also want to preface this set of notes with one comment. Our beloved editor, Phil Kerns, has gone overseas for the next 12 months with his job. For those of you who don’t know, Phil (Son of Zeus) has joined a group of midget gypsies in Istanbul and is immersing himself in the lifestyle, so that he can bring back the culture and ways to American soil, where he and his wife, Angee, will try and start their own cult. So, until he returns, I ask that you try and tolerate

Class of 2003: Max Carter was born to Darren and Valerie Williams.

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CLASS NOTES down in the Newport News area. He doesn’t know Joseph reports being stopped in the streets of China and I went to the Redskins/Cowboys game back by a VMI alum who recognized his VMI sweatshirt. in late December. John is still out in Wyoming how to respond to e-mails but is very capable of Small World! Both Rob and Joseph are getting ready but should be moving back to the NOVA area commenting about peoples’ pants on Facebook! to complete their MBAs at UVA’s Darden School sometime in the spring.

News from Charlie Company … No News. in May. Neither is looking forward to getting back I must commend the 2nd Battalion CompaApparently Charlie is still out in the bush. to the real world. Mike DeMayo returned from nies for being the highest contributors to this set News from Delta Company … I had the opIraq in November and now works as a logistician of notes. It truly makes for better notes when portunity to see both Blake and Jennifer Traina for Lockheed Martin/DRS in Fort Monmouth, New you send updates to your company reps. at the wedding of Brian Yannetti ’06 in January.

Jersey. Garth Best was just promoted to a new posiFinally, please remember our efforts in getting Both were doing well. Blake, I believe, was last tion in the public defender’s office in Chattanooga, BR McIlhenny a brick on the bricks. If you have seen shoveling out his car from the snow so that Tennessee, and we are all eagerly awaiting the arrival questions regarding how to contribute, send me he could go buy some truffles, and Jennifer was of his new son in the next few weeks. More Keydets an e-mail, and I’ll get you the information. wearing a very nice dress that was too fancy to for Hotel Company! wear to the school where she teaches. FortunateRyan Shealy News from F-Troop … Dermot Gavin reports ly, due to the snow, they were out of school last that he is in Ghazni, Afghanistan, w/ D CO week, so the dress was not a problem.

1-121 IN, doing some killing with his platoon News from Echo Company … Nothing to of Georgia hunter/rednecks! He should be off report. I think Matt McQueen is still out of the active duty 1 April 2010, if all goes well. Alex country, and Spence Robbins has grown to 3.5 Samms is currently home on R&R from his inches.

C. Justin Roberts deployment in Farah, Afghanistan. He has an News from Golf Company … I had a chance engineer company in 4th Brigade, 82nd ABN to talk with Arthur “Bubba” Matthews in DIV. He say’s it is a great job, and he is having December, who told me he was still living in a blast doing it. He has been in command about Charlotte, North Carolina, and is currently for 16 months and sees it coming to an end. Not engaged to Alison Cassell ’04. He also said that a good time, but he has had more time than othhe is in the process of re-enlisting in the USAF Hey, Brother Rats, I hope everyone’s havers. Alex was just married in April and says that Reserve. So, let’s all wish him the best of luck! ing a great year thus far; judging from the a girl was finally able to get his heart.

James Kuhn and I also caught up in December. updates I’ve gotten, it sounds like it! Lots to Joe Parks and his wife, Lindsey Parks, got marHe told me he was still living in Tulsa, Oklareport this time around, so let’s get started! ried right out of school (July 26th, 2003) and spent homa, with his wife, Holly, and is pursuing his Mariah (Green) Goodall and her husband, master’s degree at Oral Roberts.

Doug ’05, are excited to announce the birth three and half years on active duty at Fort Hood, Josh Gonzales has recently moved down to Jack- Texas. He spent a year in Iraq (OIF05-07), and he of their son, Douglas Romeo Goodall, who son, Mississippi, and I’m sure he’s much happier and Lindsey have two gorgeous boys, Braeden was born on Jan. 11, 2010, and was a whopnow that he is closer to his home state of Louisiana. Parks (age 4) and Everett Parks (age 15months). ping 10 pounds, 9 ounces and 22 inches in He’s promised to show me a good time down in Joe says all is well. They currently live in Allength. They are all doing well and enjoying Jackson, with a side trip to New Orleans, when I lentown, Pennsylvania, and he works in sales for the new challenges of parenthood. come down and visit – which hopefully will be soon! Lutron Electronics. Bill Netherton reports that he Drew Barrett wrote in to touch base. He I heard through the grapevine that Jared Hull has is still in Korea enjoying the sites. He got to take met up with Terrance DeGray in Atlanta for just moved out to Hawaii, thanks to the U.S. Army! over a Bradley section recently, too.

New Year’s at the Chick-Fil-A Bowl, and he All I can say is that we are all jealous Jared – best News from Band Company … John Noonan was doing well and still in Richmond. Speaking of luck! If anyone has any other Golf of Richmonders, Scott Campbell Company updates or photos, please is still there, working hard with send them to me at doug03notes@ the Richmond Police Dept. Drew gmail.com, and I will make sure they had heard from Ben Rand not are submitted to the Alumni Review. I too long ago, and he is back in hope to hear from you all soon! In the South Boston, Virginia, waiting Bonds … Doug Warner. to see where his law degree will News from Hotel Company … A relocate him. Cristin and Drew few really notable items to report for are expecting their first child in Hotel Company… We are proud to August and are really excited announce the birth of another future for that. They are still living and Keydet, Max Carter Williams, son working in Roanoke, Virginia, of Daren and Valerie Williams. He for AECOM and officiating high weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs., 1 oz.; school and college football, so that both baby and mom are doing really keeps him busy during the fall. well. We’re not so sure about Daren.

Speaking of expecting, Jonathan Rob McLean was engaged to Ms. Dumas and his wife, Sarah, are Lindsey Sturgis of Sugar Land, Texas, expecting their second child, a boy, on the day before Thanksgiving. They due on June 30th! Jonathan reports Class of 2003: Attending Phil Hampton’s wedding on Oct. are planning to get married in June in that Chip Satterlee, on the other 31, 2009, were, from left, Jon Faff ’10, Josh Bandy, the Houston. Joseph Pederson is currently hand, is a traveling mad man. groom and bride, Steve Nakazawa and Cy Dekeyser ’02. in China studying abroad for his MBA. He is always going somewhere.

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CLASS NOTES First, he moved to Colorado, then he goes on vacation to Florida, then North Carolina, then Virginia/DC and then NYC. Dan Cragg was admitted to the Minnesota bar last October.

He’s an associate with the St. Paul firm of Kelly & Lemmons, P.A., practicing mostly in the area of civil litigation.

Not much new on the Wright home front. Sara and Josh are busy raising Evelyn. She is 6 months now and growing fast. Josh is still instructing nuclear operators for the Navy up in Ballston Spa, New York, and is also working on his master’s degree in engineering management. Chris Johnson is engaged and set to get married in October.

Stephen Linkous is in his second semester at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, seeking an M.Div., and upon graduation, he hopes to be ordained for ministry. He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Winston-Salem, and he is doing a fellowship this year with the Anglican Mission in the Americas, serving at Christ Church in Winston-Salem. Michael Gregory

is deployed with his Virginia Army National Guard unit to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, in support of KFOR 12. He’s still a police officer in Lynchburg, Virginia, and has been married to his wife, Jenny, going on 2.5 years.

Clark and Erin Laster had their first addition in March. Sarah Elizabeth Laster arrived 3 March at 2:26am – 7 pounds, 14ounces and 21 inches long.

She decided to come in the middle of the first snow they have seen in the three years they’ve been married. Clark’s completely wrapped around her little finger. Her godfather is Kent Monas who is in Afghanistan and due back this April. The Lasters are living in Middlesex County, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River. Clark is the program director at the Middlesex Family YMCA. He calls himself the Y’s bus driver and dodge-ball man.

It was a busy past few months. Sean Duggan, aka “The Big Bear,” married the former Kathleen Jamieson back in October in Boston, Massachusetts, and the wedding was a blast.

Eric Damon, Jason Dorn and Mark Buhl

were also in the wedding. Eric was easily voted “most charismatic” dancer. Sean is adapting well to married life and cleans like you’ve never seen before. Jason is still in DC and recently passed the Texas Bar Exam. Eric is working as a civilian with the Marines at Quantico, and Mark joined the Army after doing civil engineering work in Colorado.

Terrell, Landon Winkelvoss and Maurice Pipkin met at Terrell’s house in Annapolis for a Christmas party. Terrell came through and burnt the baked spaghetti; they laughed, but the wives/girlfriends were all fired up. Cyrus Kump recently became engaged to Amy Goodloe, and they plan on marrying in the fall.

Our President, Jason Quash, is currently in Afghanistan serving as the BDE assistant S2 for 3rd CAB, 3 ID. His wife is still teaching in Columbus, Georgia. They have been enjoying married life, and they would like to thank all of the BRs who were able to attend their wedding last year.

Photos clockwise from top, right:

Class of 2004

2010-Issue 2

- Mike Gregory and his UH-60 Black Hawk before taking off on a mission.

-Doug and Mariah (Green) Goodall with their son, Douglas Romeo, born on Jan. 11, 2010.

-Brian Malast with his wife, Kristen, in front of Barracks during the class’s 5th Reunion, October 2009.

-Clark Laster with his newborn daughter, Sarah, enjoying her first snow fall.

-Brother Rats celebrating their 5th Reunion in October 2009 at VMI. Photo courtesy Brian and Kristen Malast.

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CLASS NOTES Brian Gallagher sent in his first update!

He wrote in to say that he finished up in ’06; congratulations, Brian! Since then, he has had a variety of interesting jobs, including general manager of a restaurant in Missouri, construction and pipe maker at Taylor and Boody Organbuilders. Life has been interesting, but he felt the need to do something a little more constructive, so he joined the Marine Corps. He went the technical training route and has had an opportunity to get another degree on the Marine Corps’ dime.

While doing swim qualifications at Paris Island, he bumped into none other than Capt. Raymond L’Heureux. Needless to say, his senior drill instructor brought him into his office and asked if the captain was an old drinking buddy of his.

Brian graduated from Paris Island in November, finished Marine Combat Training in January and now is in student status at NAS-Pensacola.

Derek Raymond is with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. They are going to be deploying soon, and by the time these notes are published, he’ll be in Baghdad. Derek got engaged to Lilya Haynes since the last Review!

As for me, I’m currently up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for work. I got sent up here to manage four major production line installations for my company’s production plant in Fogelsville. Hoping to wrap up and be back

home in Richmond before my summer flag football league kicks off!

In the spirit … Ryan Shealy and Justin Roberts

Timothy Johnson

’05

William Ray

Brother Rats, I hope you’re enjoying the spring weather and welcoming its arrival after such a cold, snow-filled winter. It’s amazing how fast the time has gone by since we graduated from VMI, and to think that we’re going to be visiting the Mother I in October for our 5-year reunion. I hope each and every one of you is able to make plans to join the class on Oct. 1st through 3rd in Lexington for the reunion. Will and I have been working hard the past few months to plan a fun weekend that we think you will all enjoy. On that note, let’s get into the class notes.

Sean Matson sends the following update: “Things at the Matson House have been very busy! Luckily, I have been home a lot more lately. Recently, I have started learning French three days a week over the past couple of weeks.

But my schedule of traveling and training will pick up here in the next few weeks. Casey is still working, nannying the boys. I think it is going on three years now. Shelby loves going to play with Jack and Henry every day, and she is learning so much from them. Casey has been very busy trying to keep up with Shelby and getting ready for the holidays! We are looking forward to our first Christmas with Shelby!”

Brian Bowman is living in Loudoun County, Virginia. He bought a town home just over two years ago and is now in his fifth year with the Fairfax County Police, currently in the patrol division. He speaks regularly with Shelby Sears, who is with Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky, and Dan Spanu in Alexandria, Virginia. Brian occasionally runs into Blake Bryant in the courthouse, who is a Virginia state trooper. This past summer, Brian took a vacation to Istanbul, Turkey, and sums the trip up saying, “It is a beautiful land with even more beautiful women!”

Kevin Jones is still living up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and at the time notes were submitted, he was busy digging his way out of two snow storms. He is still working for the same company, LaFrance, and splitting time between Pennsylvania and Europe, as well as traveling domestically.

He normally spends six weeks stateside and three weeks in Europe. Luckily, Kevin gets to parley

Class of 2005

Photo above: Brian Bowman vacationing in Turkey during summer 2009. Photo top, right: Jim and Allison Kingsley were married on Oct. 3, 2009, near Annapolis, Maryland. Attending were, from left, Henry Lynch, Tom Innes, the groom and bride, Duke Acors, Will Paulette, Wells Griffith, Bill Paulette ’69, Lawton Way and Jeff Smith. Photo bottom, right: Will and Emily Ray were married on July 18, 2009, in Chapel Hill, North Carolinla.

At the reception with the bride and groom were, from left, Kurt Weishaar, Wei-Han Jeng, Chris Perry, Mike Parsons, Sam Stephens, Tim Johnson, Ben Melton, Ryan Murphy, Shore Stokes, Jarrett Rice ’02, Mal Kerley ’71 and Stu Gitchell ’78.

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CLASS NOTES is focusing on public vaccinations such as the recent traveling for work into visiting some BRs. He Will Davis push for H1N1 vaccination. stayed with Jeff Lange and his wife in Leeds, As for me, I continue to coach and teach in the United Kingdom, and is happy to report that they Richmond area while doing part-time work with are doing well on the other side of the Pond. He the fitness company I had worked with last year. saw Colin Alstad in Greenville, South Carolina, In the middle of January, Brian Duncan diffused and things are going well for him, as well. Kevin a testy domestic shooting situation to join Andy Brother Rats, It has been a long time since my also visited Ian Foley and his wife in the Raleigh Stribling and me in Fredericksburg, Virginia, last submission, and I express regret for that. I area and met their daughter – Lisa Jean – who for Matt Lloyd’s wedding to the beautiful Beth have been busy with the Air Force on TDYs and “luckily got all of her mom’s looks and none of Trammell. Brian continues to live in Culpeper through several OREs and an ORI. There was Ian’s.” When Kevin was in North Carolina, he and is working as a child counselor for the public a mix up with the Alumni Agencies about who also stayed with Luke Moore and his wife in school systems in the area. He is enjoying his our class agent is, and it has been resolved. Since Stoneville, where Luke works in logistics. work and plans on pursuing teacher licensure. last time we spoke, a lot has happened, and I will Aaron Thatcher reports that things are going Andy is still living and working in the Warrenton apologize up front for forgetting to input some well for him in the UAE. He hasn’t been stateside area and continues to spend his free time playing details. since September 2008 but sends word that he will for a rugby club in the area. Matt and Beth will Starting off, Burgess Lindsey married Alisha be at the reunion in October and wants to catch continue to live in Chicago where Matt works in Kipps on Nov. 21, 2009, in New Market, Virginia. up with as many of the Brother Rats as possible. management for Wal-Mart. In his spare time, he They had been dating for a while, and Burg finally A few miles closer but still far nonetheless, John participates in an improv sketch comedy group popped the question. They are now living in Sakaleros sends word that he has left the insurknown as Boomer AngTango.

Germany at Ramstein AB and enjoying it. There ance business to focus his efforts on the family’s At the end of January, I made my annual trip to were a handful of VMI guys there. The wedding sponge business. He, too, will be making the trip Charleston, South Carolina, for the Lowcountry party included me, Todd Baldwin (who is healthy back to the states for the reunion and is looking Oyster Festival and got to catch up with Chris as ever), Ian Camper, James White and a future forward to seeing you all.

Johnson and Sean Moore who came down for alumnus. On a side note, at that time, James’ wife, Jason Reinitz is still stationed at Hurlburt Field Teresa, was pregnant. Also in attendance were in Florida with the Air Force. He works in the the weekend, as well. Chris is in his second year Lee Cook, Drew Neckman, Brian Yannetti (aka same unit as John Buchanan III ’96. In January, at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Yetti), Tom Collins, Mike Davis ’77 and Nate Jason met up with Conor Heely, who was at Georgia, and extends an invitation to those passParsons.

Hurlburt on temporary assignment. He should be ing through the Augusta, Georgia / Aiken, South Brian Yannetti married Heidi Walters on Jan. moving to a different duty station at some point Carolina, area to stop by for a few drinks. Sean is 16, 2010. They are now living in Richmond and this summer. Alex Boykin sends a quick update no longer working for James River Equipment in from Afghanistan; he was deployed in January as northern Virginia. He has switched jobs and works have just bought a beautiful house. Alumni atpart of the 34,000 troop surge. He ran into Alan for Quarles Petroleum, selling lubricants for heavy tending the wedding were Bill Talley ’03, Blake Traina ’03, Amie Ann Talley ’05, Mike Davis Coones who is deployed to theatre with the Army. machinery. He still lives in West Virginia. and me.

Nick Viar is at Fort Lewis with the 1st Special That concludes the latest edition of the class Another marriage to announce: Adam RosenForces Group working in the Group Support Batnotes. As always, I encourage those of you who baum got married in September to his long time talion. He and his wife, Sarah, are expecting a son have not submitted updates in the past to start girlfriend/fiancée, Katie. A bunch of VMI guys around the first week of May. Congratulations, updating the class on what’s going on in your life. made it to DC: Kyle Rosch, Clark Dudley, AnNick and Sarah!

And start making plans now to join us in October drew Walton, Dan Wilmoth, Tyler Monger, Seth Congratulations go out to Jim Kingsley who for the reunion. It is sure to be a great time. Until and Jamie Enterline, Mike Carney, Marc Antomarried Miss Allison Schanberger on Oct. 3, 2009, next time -- In the Bonds … Tim Johnson. nelli and his Rat, Andrew Rohrback near Annapolis, Maryland. Several ’05 ’09. VMI sent a saber arch up for the members were in attendance, includwedding, which was awesome and a ing Will Paulette, Tom Innes, Henry huge hit with all family and friends.

Lynch, Duke Acors, Jeff Smith, Adam said that Sgt. Maj. Neel makes Wells Griffith and Lawton Way. it pretty easy, and he recommends it Some major changes are on the way for any alumni. Adam left the active for Tom and Missy Hardinge who are duty Army and now works for Booz expecting triplets this May. Perhaps by Allen Hamilton in Aberdeen, Marythe time you receive these notes, Tom land. He joined the USAR and is the will be the proud father of three beaubattalion S-3 for the 5-80th (OD), 3rd tiful baby girls … if they take after BDE, 94th Force Sustainment DiviMissy. (Sorry, Tom.) Congratulations sion. He says, “Livin’ the dream.” to the both of you!

I stopped by to say hi to Ian As for your class agents, Will Camper on my way through during continues to live in Chapel Hill with Christmas. He is doing well, is still his wife, Emily who is in her second semester of medical school at UNC. Class of 2006: David Kimsey, right, participated in an living in Buchanan and working in Will completed his master’s in public Ireland study tour through James Madison University and Roanoke. health and works for the Wake County met with John Hume, middle, after his presentation about When I was out in Barstow, CaliHealth Department’s Office of Disas- forging a framework for peace in Ireland. Hume received fornia, as a liaison officer for the E-3 the Nobel Peace Prize in 1998. ter Management. Currently, his work AWACS during Green Flag West, I

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CLASS NOTES Although Jonathan Fredericks went out with the JTACs for the day. has been stationed in Hawaii for TSgt Chris Bowman ’99 was the JTAC the past two years, he just returned I was with, and on the way to the field, from a deployment to Afghanistan we figured out we were both alumni. It and reports that he was married to is a small world when two airmen on an Michele on 9 Aug., 2008.

Army base run into each other while goJeb Pinkerton is working for ing to the field. At that point, Bowman Target now and lives in Martinswas no longer babysitting a lieutenant burg, West Virginia. He married the flyer in the field but bonding with a new new Mrs. Stephanie Pinkerton on found alumnus.

11 June, 2009.

Now, for the collection of short stoJake Willis sent me a message ries: Marc Castles is in DC in the Navy, to report that both he and David and that is all I have on him – standard Metzler work around the Roanoke Marc. I run into Joe Goncalves, as he area with Norfolk Southern. They is stationed at Tinker with me. When I try to get up to the “Mother I’ as spoke with him last, his wife was pregoften as they can to support our nant and was due shortly. Ryan Tibbs athletic department. He also told is still working with Clark Construction Class of 2006: 1st Lt. G. Barry Hammond II, USAF, right, me that Michael Moorman graduand is working out of MCB Quantico for married Heather Lynn Warren on Nov. 7, 2009, at Lake Arabout two years on a Navy contract. His rowhead, California. The outdoor ceremony was officiated ated Ranger School and will be MBA is on the way, and he now lives by the groom’s father, Col. (Judge) Glenn B. Hammond stationed in Hawaii.

Evan Hanks is working as an in Richmond, since he moved out of Sr. ’69, center. Interestingly, in June 2008, the senior NOVA. John Diehl and Shawn Hogan Hammond was also honored to be his son’s promotion engineer on C-130s and is currently were recently reunited and selected after officer when the young Hammond and two classmates stationed at Robins Air Force Base.

Whitney Matthews relocated to completing the December SFAS class. were promoted to first lieutenant. (See article in the 2008While at Camp Mackall, they ran into Issue 4 Alumni Review, page 184.) The bride and groom San Antonio, Texas, after graduatJames Donovan who just finished the live in California – Edwards Air Force Base – and Judge ing from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Q-Course. He said he had seen Andrew Hammond lives in Roanoke, Virginia. on 4 Sept., 2009. She received her Walton and Kyle Schriefer after they Nate McCall e-mailed that he graduated from associate’s degree in occupational were selected in November for the studies in the culinary arts. While living in San course. James Donovan will remain at Bragg with the Chesterfield Police Academy on Jan. 22, Antonio, she is starting her own business as 3rd SFG as an 18D medic, while Shawn Hogan 2010. The very next day, he deployed with the a personal chef, as well as working at a local and John Diehl await a date for the Maneuver Virginia National Guard in preparation for derestaurant as a chef.

Captain’s Career Course (MCCC), followed by ployment to Iraq, which should last from March to January 2011.

I heard from Kathleen Resetar that she marthe Q-Course.

Matt Kania was kind enough to send me updates ried Lt. Brian Sain ’08 in September before he On a side note, our 5th-year reunion is coming on several BRs with whom I have been unable to deployed to Iraq. up fast. I’m looking for some ideas and people get in touch. Thanks to him for taking the time to do Ryan Ernst is set to graduate from the Defense to help me spearhead this. You do not have to so. Matt writes that he is currently living in Virginia Information School (DINFOs) on 5 March and live near Lexington or Virginia, but that would Beach, Virginia, and received his wings with the will return to Randolph AFB in order to continue certainly help. About a year and half out, the class Navy in July. He is flying MH-53Es out of Norfolk with his Public Affairs duties. His wife, Nichole, starts planning it and does any fundraising necesbut will most likely be switching to HM-15s in the is currently attending nursing school. sary to fulfill the class’s wishes on gifts to the near future. Per Matt, Tim Labresh is also based out Jeff Choma will marry Ms. Tori Tabian in July class and the Institute. If you all have any ideas, of Norfolk with HSC-26 and is piloting please let me know, and I will do what I can to MH-60s. He will deploy to Bahrain ensure the best gifts are chosen. in July. Andrew Maxwell recently Until next time, Godspeed and Rah Va Mil! finished Marine Corps OCS and is in Pensacola, Florida, for flight training.

Sally Coffman Arciero John Schwerer is living in Pittsburgh and is working in accounting. Mike Canning works for General Electric and has settled in Dallas, Texas. Drew Holt is stationed in Alaska with the Army and Brother Rats: Thanks to all of you who sent is newly married. submissions this time around for the Review.

Isaac Ostlund reported that he graduThe updates I’ve received have tripled from ated from Officer Candidate School for the last edition to now. Sending class messages Class of 2007: Attending the wedding of Erin the Navy and is in the middle of Primary through Facebook seems to be working well, Hottle to Nick Saucier were, from left, Jessica Flight Training. Isaac and his wife, Canso expect more of the same in the future. I look Daniel ’10, Rachel Toman ’10, Kelly Vickery ’10, dace, are happy to announce that they forward to hearing from y’all, so please conRod Hottle ’76, the bride, Dave Rahl ’06, Jenifer are expecting their first child in June. tinue to keep in touch. There’s a lot to report, so Farkas, Catrina Helsel and Kyle Madden ’06.

Congrats, Isaac and Candace!

I will jump straight into the updates.

’07

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CLASS NOTES and their daughter, Chloe, are also at Fort Campbell. John if he wouldn’t mind sharing his experience of this year. Jeff writes that he received the honor Brandon is XO of the 2-506th. Ryan bumped into from last fall in Afghanistan. I know many of of being named Trooper of the Year for his barDrew Curtis at Fort Campbell, as well, and says you have asked how he was doing or what was racks and the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he works as a state trooper. He and Tori will that Drew recently returned from a deployment going on during his recovery, so I think it would with the 5th Special Forces Group. John Limauro be a fitting start to these notes: “Hello to all Felbe buying a house in February to start their new is there with the 187 IN (Rakasans) and left for his low Alumni and Brother Rats! I wish to thank life together. second deployment in January. Matt Burton is also you for all of the support that y’all have given Lt. j.g. Patrick Magno sent me a note to say at Fort Campbell and will head off on his second to both my wife and me while I have been rethat he is stationed at NS Mayport and is with the deployment in the spring. Ryan writes that there covering. I knew that the VMI alumni network HSL-40 Airwolves flying SH-60Bs. He will be was a Founders Day celebration at Fort Campbell, was strong, but honestly, I did not expect to be relocating to Kanehone Bay, Hawaii, in July. and the class of ’07 had the highest attendance there. visited by so many alumni. Both my wife and I I received a small message from Ryan Steptoe Attending were Ryan Smith, Brandon Price, Matt feel humbled by the outpouring of love and supwho reports that he has been deployed to Paktika, Burton, Benjamin Carlson and Ryan Steptoe. Way port that the Institute provided. Thank you.

Afghanistan, with the 3-187 of the 101st. He to represent ’07!

“As some of you already know, I was dewrites that his company commander in AfghaniI received a lengthy e-mail from Shuchang Liu ployed to Afghanistan in 2009 as an infantry stan is a man whose name we all know well from in Taiwan. He enclosed a photo of an alumni getplatoon leader. While I was in Kandahar, I ran our Ratline: Josh Powers ’04. Ryan admitted together and sent the following note: “An alumni into BR Michael Karlson; he was doing well. it was quite the surprise when he reported and reunion was held in Taiwan on Nov. 14, 2009, On 29 Aug., 2009, I was leading a dismounted noticed him there. to celebrate Founders Day. Most of the alumni patrol in eastern Afghanistan. As we were Stefan Dietrich will graduate pilot training from currently serve in the military, and they generally patrolling through a crowded marketplace in a the Air Force on 12 March. He is also engaged to hold this event every year in order to strengthen small city, a suicide bomber stepped out from Ms. Alicia King from Pensacola, Florida, and they ties and also in order to introduce themselves to a shop and detonated four feet from me at my plan to marry in April 2010. Stefan passed on the the new, younger alumni. On Nov. 14, 2009, the five o’clock position. The blast killed many information that Matt Upchurch is also attending civilians and wounded me and 10 other soldiers, pilot training for the Air Force and should gradualumni dinner was held by Professor Chin-Pu as well as our interpreter. The suicide bomber’s ate about six weeks after Stefan. He was also kind Chen ’85, and 16 alumni, with their families, vest was packed with rocks and metal. Without enough to pass on an update about Brandon Kelly participated in order to share a great moment going into too much detail, I had shrapnel blow who is flying AH-1 Cobras in San Diego. together.” Thank you for the update all the way through my right shoulder, which collapsed my John Schluge is currently deployed to Bagram, from Taiwan! right lung, damaged my liver and diaphragm Afghanistan. He explains that his task force is That wraps up our notes for this edition of the and broke and lacerated some ribs. I also sufcharged with maintaining security, development and Review. I hope it finds you all well. God bless and fered extensive shrapnel and nerve damage to governance throughout three provinces. He works take care! my legs and am deaf in my right ear. I had to specifically in the brigade S2 shop. He also writes Robert Hill have tourniquets put on both of my legs in order that he has bumped into both Jessee Kopczynski and to slow down the bleeding. I had lost four pints Anya Kovarik while deployed. Jessee is working of blood. I did not black out during this event. for an engineering unit charged with route clearHowever, it is hard to adequately describe the ances, while Anya is working for an engineering events following the blast with ink and paper. unit that inspects and fixes HVAC systems for Air “My soldiers were smart and well trained.

Force facilities.

I would like to start out by saying thank you The area was secured; we established a casualty Andrew Timpner moved to Virginia Beach from to all of you who responded to my Facebook collection point where the wounded were treated, Washington state. Before leaving Seattle, he says, inquiries about how things are going for a lot and we were medevaced out on our Strykers his wife, Christin, earned her master’s degree in of you. I apologize if I didn’t reach out to you. to our small company COP. We were fortunate teaching from the City University of Seattle. Now, I have a lot of stuff to pass on in these notes, enough to have a PA at our outpost. He was able he is stationed on the U.S.S. Monterey (CG61) as including a piece from John Arthur. I asked to conduct triage and stabilize us the training officer there. He is curenough for flight. Regardless of the rently attending the Aegis school in medical care, I firmly believe that the Dahlgren. only reason that my soldiers and I are Dan Swift reports that he ran the alive is because God protected us.

Richmond marathon on Nov. 14.

Once stabilized, we were air medevaHe explains that it was his first one ced to the larger bases and finally to and enclosed a photo of his uncle, Landstuhl, Germany. I did not arrive John, and himself at the finish line. at Walter Reed until 4 Sept., 2009.

Congratulations, Dan! That’s quite a “While at Walter Reed, I was visdedicated effort. ited by many family, friends, alumni, I received an -email from Ryan Brother Rats and current cadets. I Smith who writes that he is curremained at Walter Reed for four rently an XO in the 1-506th at Fort months with my wife, Kathryn, a Campbell, Kentucky. Ryan and his Washington and Lee alumnus. While wife, Meg, are proud to announce there, I underwent more surgeries on that their daughter, Emma, is walking Class of 2007: The above alumni and family members my body and had to have a skin graft everywhere now. He passed on to me gathered in Taiwan to celebrate VMI Founders Day 2009. on my left leg. Finally, my wife and that Brandon Price and his wife, Beth,

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CLASS NOTES I were able to transfer to Fort Lewis, where I am an outpatient at Madigan Hospital. It has been very nice to finally be at home, and my wife has been able to resume her job as an actuary. I still have a few more surgeries ahead of me. I have been working hard at physical therapy and am praying that my left leg will recover fully. Furthermore, I am trying to remain in the Army.

“To all who are reading this, my wife, Kathryn, and I want to thank you for all of the support and prayers you have given us. You have treated us like family. But I must ask that you continue to give the same support to all who are serving and are currently deployed.

Rah Virginia Mil!” Thank you, John, for sharing your story!

I am happy to report that John “Dawson” Boyer was married on the 17th of October to the former Ms. Corey Claire Prior. The two were married at 1600 hrs. at the Third Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia.

After the wedding, Corey and Dawson went on a honeymoon in St. Lucia and are now living in the Richmond area. The wedding was well attended by VMI alumni and cadets. The best man was Dawson’s brother, Caleb Boyer ’11, and Michael Wilson was a groomsman. In attendance were the following: Bill Dawson ’51, grandfather of the groom; Worth Bugg ’07; Greg Willson; Barrett Luxhoj ’09; and Charlie O’Ferrall ’11.

Chris Bass and the former Ms. Sarah E. Hale were married on Dec. 12, 2009, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Chris and Sarah began dating

works out. Congrats, Dave and Christine!

I am also very happy to report that Chip Chace, Jordan Rich and Scott Bacci have graduated from VMI this past December. Additionally, Chip graduated with academic stars!

I received a note from Farroll Campbell.

Since he left VMI, he has been to Iraq a couple of times and is about to head to The ’Stan working as a federal agent for the Department of Homeland Security. Clinton Adams is training to be a Marine Corps pilot in Corpus Christi, Texas. A.J. Fortier and Lynn Larson are there, as well! Zach Carmen commissioned on the 15th of March in the USMC. Congrats, Zach!

John Nikiforakis and Chad Tobin graduated from Ranger School in November. John and Chad were in the same company for the entire school and both graduated on their first time through. John is now deployed to southern Iraq, near the Iranian border, with the 4-10 CAV 4ID. His wife, Heather, will be staying in Colorado during his deployment. Prior to his deployment, John Lingamfelter came to visit, and they spent New Year’s touring breweries in Colorado and threw back a few cold ones. Chad is now stationed at Fort Stewart in Savannah, Georgia, with Jeremy Shenefield, and Dave Shedd will be joining them in May. Chris Haviley is still holding down the fort in the Afghanistan mountains and the snow. Also with Haviley are Patrick Zanelotti and John Regan. Speaking of John Lingamfelter, he and Pete Levrant are living together at Minot AFB in North Dakota. John says he doesn’t really care for the area but loves his job. Pete is working as a missileer for the Air Force. John Walaski and Matt Kokal are heading to Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. Matt, as well as Matt Payne and Devin Duval, graduated from Field Artillery OBC on Oct. 27th.

Matt Payne is in Iraq with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2 Infantry Division.

Erin Cipperly Propst is training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Currently, she is working on her military police training for the Army. At the time the notes were being written, she was unsure of her future stationing. Jake Swanson is stationed in Watertown, New York, Class of 2008: 2nd Lt. John H.C. Douglas, USMC, married the former Rebecca Jean at Fort Drum. He says he’s freezing Holloway in Richmond, Virginia, Jan. 2, 2010. Attending were, from left, Michael Wilson, in upstate New York as the snow Daniel Emery ’11, Jamie Bost ’11, Wade Thompson ’11, Aaron Cregar ’11, the bride piles up. and groom, and 2nd Lt. Macks Colella, USA. Also in attendance but not pictured were Joe Pickenpaugh is doing well at Pipe Band Director Capt. Burt Mitchell and chemistry department head Lt. Col. Darren Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TexTimmons. The couple lives in Dam Neck, Virginia, while Douglas completes ground as. He is assigned to the 802d Civil intelligence officer’s school before joining the 1st Marine Division in California.

Engineering Squadron. See, Joe, you

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during our third class year. They were married at the Abingdon Episcopal Chapel with the reception at the Williamsburg Lodge. In the wedding were Dennis Harbin, best man, and Peter Brookes, groomsman. Congrats to Chris and Sarah!

John H.C. Douglas and the former Rebecca Jean Holloway were wed on Jan. 2, 2010, in Richmond, Virginia. In attendance at the wedding were Michael Wilson, Daniel Emery ’11, Jamie Bost ’11, Wade Thompson ’11, Aaron Cregar ’11, Macks Colella, VMI Pipe Band Director Capt. Burt Mitchell and Chemistry Department Head Lt. Col. Darren Timmons.

The two are living in the Dam Neck area of Virginia, as John finishes ground intelligence officer’s school. Afterward, he will be stationed with the 1st Marine Division in California.

Kurt Helfrich and Ashley Timpner are engaged. They are set to get hitched on Aug. 21st of this year. Ashley’s older brother is Andrew Timpner ’07. Ashley was Kurt’s Ring Figure date!

Dave Kerr is now engaged, as well, to Christine Robinson. Dave asked Christine on Christmas Day this past December. They have known each other for a long time, as they were both from Dave’s hometown. Christine currently lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia, but will be joining Dave shortly at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Dave is serving as the 6th Marine Regiment S-2A. They plan to get married in early 2011, if Dave’s deployment schedule

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES should have been a CE and not an ME at VMI, haha. In August, Joe will be heading to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea for a one-year stint.

Dan McKeegan, Phil McCloskey, Rob Kelly, Alec Gray and Dan Boyd got together in Austin in early February to celebrate Alec and Rob returning from Iraq. I can only imagine what they got into, as I got to experience downtown Austin last summer for my dyke’s wedding.

Phil is scheduled to deploy in September.

Travis Light is also stationed at San Antonio.

Justus O’Connor is finishing up his tour of Bahrain for the Navy. He will be heading to California sometime in May. Tommy Cunningham is stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He is completing flight school, and he just started on the T-38. Peter Borchelt finished up phase 2 of flight school, as well, and is hoping to fly helicopters for the Air Force. Dave Feltes has completed USMC OCS and was commissioned over a year ago.

Matt Russo is currently deployed to Afghanistan. He is working with the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. NAT-M command is responsible for training all of the Afghan National Security Forces, both army and police.

J.T. Tishman sent me some interesting lines from his deployment in Iraq. Unfortunately, I find it hard to believe that Gen. Peay ’62 and a majority of the VMI community would get a laugh out of them, like many of our BRs might! Andy Vezza is currently deployed to Iraq, where he reports things are pretty boring, as they have to let the Iraqis do most of the work. They have run close to 200 missions, being hit once, with fortunately no deaths and only five minor injuries.

Devin Millson is also deployed. He is at FOB Warrior in Iraq with Fox Company, 1/37AR, 1/1AD. He says he’s busy keeping roads safe and watching after his men. Andrew Gay finished up USMC TBs in October and is now engaged to Michelle Pendleton. He is at Artillery School in Lawton, Oklahoma, and then will be headed to Okinawa, Japan, in May. Walter A. Stull is doing well in Sicily, Italy. He is working with Navy EOD Mobile Unit 8. He loves his job. Kellen Travis is in Fort Rucker, Alabama. He has completed his primary and is now onto instrument flying, and shortly thereafter, he will begin low level flying in Basic Warfighter Skills and selecting his final aircraft. John Roland is doing well in Iraq. He is currently in charge of a tank platoon and having a good time!

Ben Curle dropped me a line from Iraq.

He’s finishing up his tour in April. By the time he leaves the Middle East, he will have received his promotion to first lieutenant.

Ben’s been talking to Mike Karlson during his deployment in Afghanistan where he is a

2010-Issue 2

company XO. Ben and Jake Vishneski had an opportunity to meet up in FOB Victory in the Connex yard. He also mentioned that Andrew Sullivan was close by him in Iraq. Ben was also kind enough to give me an update on a few others. Sean Ruppert is still working for Bank of American and is doing very well. Jim Andrew is working with a mortgage broker in Richmond, and Josh Gemedschiew is finishing up his master’s at VCU. Thanks for all the news, Ben! Andy Czaplicki is doing well; he moved into a bigger home in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. He is working full time as the Pre-Mobilization Training Assistance Element Personnel and Logistics officer for the North Carolina Army National Guard while his wife finishes her master’s in mathematical finance.

Tim Neal is working as an engineer outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

Alex Menas is still living in Los Angeles and working for the Air Force. He had to mention how happy he is that WVU beat Pitt! He also mentioned how nice the weather has been on the west coast; must be nice, while we deal with all the snow here in Pennsylvania.

Brett Skoog is in Pensacola waiting to start USMC Flight School. Brett is engaged to Ms. Andrea Dryden. The two are scheduled to be married on March 6, 2010, by Bill Morris ’78. Along with Andrea and Brett, they have a 20-month-old running around and a second on the way. In the wedding, Bobby Hawley, John Richardson and Ryan Rose are groomsmen, and in the words of Brett, “God Help Us!” Congrats, Brett and Andrea!

Christoph Lohr is doing well in Iowa where he is working as a consulting engineer and has been doing work with Valparaiso, Western Illinois and Notre Dame Universities, among other projects. Christoph and Katharine Fish are set to wed on March 27th. I will try and have an update on the wedding for the next notes. They are getting married in Phoenix, Arizona. Christoph reports they haven’t got much snow in Iowa to date – nothing like that which hit the East Coast in the month of February. He and Katharine have managed to make it to Minneapolis, Madison, Chicago, Iowa City and St. Louis on weekend getaways, as well as trips to Michigan and Arizona. They are also planning a trip to Germany for the summer months!

Steve Phillips is working for Argy, a small public accounting firm in Tyson’s Corner. He is studying to pass his CPA exam. In February, he was trying to dig himself out of the snow in DC, much like the snow storm he saw in Colorado in 2002. Donnie Cowart is living in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is on a running team which provides him with shoes and gear.

He is racing on the indoor and outdoor circuit in an attempt to make it back to the U.S. Championships!

Brian McGettigan is doing well in Baltimore. He’s been getting a few feet of snow there in the month February, more so then than those of us in State College. Brian is moving to DC to start graduate school in June, and he’s excited for the new challenge. Good luck, Brian! Ed Griffith is staying busy working for Amstar Surface Engineering. He’s been traveling to Houston, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma, Connecticut and Pennsylvania recently. A.J. Betts is carrying again. That wasn’t a joke, either. He’s doing law enforcement off the coast of Texas, specifically doing offshore boardings of ships. A.J. and Ed got to hang out in Texas in the early part of the year.

Chris Beyer is living with his girlfriend, Misty Bright, in DC. He passed his certified public accountant exam and is working for a public accounting firm. Evan Lyne is serving as a district executive with Boy Scouts of America and is have a great time. He recently moved into his own place in Tappahannock.

Dan McGraw is doing well. As I write the notes, he is unemployed and living with his parents. He spends his time between working out and shooting in local competitions. He is headed to basic training in late March/early April. Good luck, Dan! Branden Delong was living down in Florida before heading to Afghanistan. He arrived in country March 1st, and he’ll be deployed with the Air Force for a year. Prior to his deployment, he spent some time at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. Bert Williams is also busy with the Air Force, going to flight school in Columbus, Mississippi. David No is training with the Navy Seabees in California. He’s enjoying the Navy life!

Eddie Burke is finishing up his master’s at Purdue. After graduation, he’s unsure where he might head for a job. Phill Yi is finishing his master’s in environmental engineering at Virginia Tech in May. Afterward, he will be working for Hazen and Sawyer Environmental Engineers and Scientists in Fairfax, Virginia.

As with Eddie and Phill, I am finishing up my master’s degree. I’ll be graduating from Penn State in May and heading to a job in south central Pennsylvania or Cape May, New Jersey. Time will tell!

Some of you may have sent me information for this Review, and I apologize if I didn’t get in. I needed a little more information for some of it, and it will appear in the next edition. As always, please keep sending me information – I look forward to hearing from you all. And remember, I always can use pictures! Take care, and stay safe!

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CLASS NOTES

’09

IanWilliams

Hello again, Brother Rats. Can you believe it has been a full year since we tossed our gloves at graduation? By now, most of the class have become seasoned second lieutenants in the military. The rest of us have climbed to the top of the corporate latter … or are still looking for a job. Then, there are our Rats, the soon-to-be second class. As we have mastered life after VMI, they have certainly begun to master the system back in Lexington. Whatever the case really may be, we are all a year older and a year wiser.

Fort Drum, New York, is the closest base to me, and there are quite a few VMI ties here.

One night while I was out, I happened to run into Gia Bichara ’08. She is stationed at Fort

BIRTHS

Drum with an Air Force attachment. She is there doing intelligence for the TPAC guys.

As for BRs at Fort Drum, the first to arrive was John Collier. However, he was not there for very long. After only a few weeks, he was told he was deploying in the beginning of February. Then in the beginning of April, Alex Kari arrived here. He will be here for at least a few weeks before he deploys, as well.

Chris Brown and Tom Duncan will also be stationed here soon. Their arrival date depends on Ranger School and some other things.

Some of our BRs have decided to continue their education. Reza Eftekhar is attending school in Connecticut at the University of Bridgeport. He is hoping to become a chiropractor. Reza has already made a strong impression within his new class. He was elected his class president in January! Reza, congratulations! Rammy Barbari is also venturing into a new school in a new state.

He will be attending Indiana Bloomington in

BALDWIN – A daughter, Allison Marie, to Tammy and Thomas V. Baldwin ’03 on Oct. 29, 2009.

COPENHAVER – A son, Wyatt Mitchell, to Joy and R. Mitchell Copenhaver ’93 on Jan. 11, 2010.

CLAYTOR – A daughter, Ivey Anne, to Holly and Thomas J. Claytor Jr. ’03 on Aug. 6, 2009.

LEGGETT – A son, Caleb James Kekoanui, to Amanda and Charles A. Leggett ’93 on March 1, 2010.

REID – A son, Parks Neal Allen, to Marla and Richard N. Reid Jr. ’03 on Oct. 22, 2009.

SEAGLE – A daughter, Lucy Rhodes, to Heather and Jason C. Seagle ’01 on Jan. 28, 2010.

TALLEY – A son, William Henry VI, to Amie-Anne ’05 and William H. Talley V ’03 on Aug. 13, 2009.

WHITAKER – Twin daughters, Ainsley Opal and Kendal Stephanie, to Dawn and Jason M. Whitaker ’01 on Nov. 30, 2009.

LASTER – A daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, to Erin and C. Clark Laster IV ’04 on March 3, 2009.

August and will be studying for his J.D. (juris doctorate). Best of luck to the both of you.

Nick Cooper and Jed Miller are still flying high in the Air Force, no pun intended. They are in Georgia and Misawa, Japan, respectively.

Not too much has changed with a lot of BRs, at least from what I know. I will try and talk to everyone as much as I can, but it gets a little tough past the 100-person mark. I’ll also try and be more active on the class Facebook page. If anyone has big news or just anything they would like to share, feel free to post something on the group page.

Also, congratulations to the class of 2013!

They are officially no longer Rats but forth classman. It’s not much better, but it’s a start.

I also wanted to send out condolences on behalf of 2009 to the family and friends of Cadet John Evans ’13. No one should take anything for granted, and from all accounts, John did not.

Stay safe and keep in touch … Ian

MARRIAGES LOVE – Rachael Ann Wilson to Adam T. Love ’01 on Oct. 24, 2009.

KINGSLEY – Allison Schanberger to James B. Kingsley Jr. ’05 on Oct. 3, 2009.

LLOYD – Beth Trammell to Matthew S. Lloyd ’05 on Jan. 23, 2010.

BASS – Sarah E. Hale to Christopher M. Bass ’08 on Dec. 12, 2009.

BOYER – Corey Claire Prior to John E. Dawson Boyer ’08 on Oct. 17, 2009.

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 should any errors be noted.

William E. Cantrell ’26 Richard D. Schmitz ’31 Ernest C. Johnson ’29 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

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Oct. 17, 1905 Feb. 24, 1908 May 19, 1908 Dec. 21, 1908 Nov. 30, 1909 May 26, 1910 Oct. 21, 1910 Nov. 25, 1910 Dec. 3, 1910

James Heine ’34 E. Lane Whitley ’34 Wayne C. Weaver ’33 Emmett J. Heerdt ’34 John D. Todd Jr. ’34 Richard H. McCormick ’34 Thomas St. John Arnold ’35 Alfred J. Snapp ’35

Mar. 18, 1911 April 1, 1911 Dec. 6, 1911 Feb. 27, 1912 June 30, 1912 Dec. 4, 1912 Sept. 8, 1913 Sept. 18, 1913

James E. Kirk ’36 Oscar E. Roberson ’38 Edwin T. Arnold ’35 James C. Sherman ’35 Gardner F. Goodwyn ’36 Randolph Tucker Jr. ’37 Robert W.W. Evans ’35 John A. Gialanella ’36

Oct. 25, 1913 Nov. 13, 1913 Feb. 7, 1914 Mar. 31, 1914 April 27, 1914 June 29, 1914 Aug. 7,1914 Aug. 28, 1914

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME Class of 2014

James Lee Bowman Andrew Ray Crockett Gregory E. Snyder Charles Arthur Trible

Class of 2016

Thomas Robert McFadden Mark Harrison Tharp

Class of 2018

Jake H. Lowenstein Corrine Elizabeth Ward

Class of 2019

Brian Alexander Bell Greer Lowenstein Hallie Nicole Spitler Taylor Elizabeth Spitler

Class of 2020

ALUMNUS-CLASS Michael R. Meads ’94 William T. Crockett ’08 Charles D. Snyder ’09 John F. Mowbray ’54

RELATIONSHIP Cousin Brother Brother Great-uncle

M. Franklin Hudgins Jr. ’83 Uncle Roland L. Tharp ’58 Grandfather

Neil S. Lowenstein ’85 William H. Keech ’61

Father Grandfather

Chesley M. Moyer Jr. ’43 Col. Keith E. Gibson ’77 Neil S. Lowenstein ’85 William H. Keech ’61 William H. Keech ’61

Great-grandfather Grandfather Father Grandfather Grandfather

Step-grandfather Uncle Uncle

Clyde W. Bragg Jr. ’65 Neil S. Lowenstein ’85 James A. Michaels ’62

Grandfather Father Grandfather

Clyde W. Bragg Jr. ’65

Grandfather

James A. Michaels ’62

Grandfather

Phillip D. Hopkins Jr. ’00

Father

Jordan Earl Blanton

Wirt E. Shinault ’81 William E. Chapin ’17

Uncle Great-grandfather

Walker Merritt Ramspott

Eli T. S. Alford ’80 Oliver M. Reynolds 1873

Grandfather Great-great-greatgrandfather

Chesley M. Moyer Jr. ’43 Col. Keith E. Gibson ’77 Michael R. Meads ’94

Great-grandfather Grandfather Father

Harry C. Redd III ’63 John F. Twombly III ’38

Great-grandfather Great-greatgrandfather

Class of 2022

Jared Wesley Jones Emma Lowenstein Kendall Emily Ocello

Class of 2023

Jaelyn Elaine Jones

Class of 2025

Jacob Anthony Ocello

Class of 2027

Phillip David Hopkins III

Class of 2028

Class of 2029

Kaleb Gage Gibson Joseph Ryan Donald Meads

Class of 2030

Brayden Xavier Barnes

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ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

Ayden Brian Cagley

Harry C. Redd III ’63 John F. Twombly III ’38

Great-grandfather Great-greatgrandfather

Brice Eduardo Evans Rodrigues-Duran

Peter M. Evans ’65

Grandfather

Class of 2031

Wesley Lyon Barker VI Thomas C. Collins ’06 Landon Chase Tyler Bowman John J. Marshall ’77 Harry G. Lee ’47 Harry G. Lee Jr. ’81 Philip Bailey Brooke George M. Brooke IV ’94 George M. Brooke III ’67 Philip B. Peters ’57 George M. Brooke Jr. ’36 Lloyd L. Leech Jr. ’42 George M. Brooke 1896 Franklin Pitts Custard

Burt C. MacKenzie III ’70 P. Allen Morgan ’75 P. Allen Morgan ’75

Cody Michael Moore Garrett Lee Morgan Nicholas Vincent Morgan

APPOINTEE’S NAME Class of 2030

W. Ware Smith Jr. ’62 W. Ware Smith ’26 Timothy Andrew Dowdy Jr. Timothy A. Dowdy ’00 George S. Dowdy ’94 Hugh C. Dowdy III ’92 Hugh C. Dowdy Jr. ’65 Robert Grant Eddy Grant L. Eddy Jr. ’99 Grant L. Eddy ’61 David B. Bruce ’94 Thomas T. Cooke ’49B Lauren Grace Franco James W. Baker ’69, DDS Connor William Keech William H. Keech ’61 William Parker Mantooth Ira H. Eskridge Jr. ’59 Thomas B. Inge Jr. ’59 Thomas B. Inge III ’89 George W. Inge ’91 Wallace S. Inge ’96 Olivia Jane Midgett Clyde W. Bragg Jr. ’65 Benjamin Wallace Owenby Penn W. Schubert ’70 Simon Anthony Peters Anthony R. Peters ’04 Keagan Faith Smith Jason L. Smith ’99 Henry Phil Updike III Maurice S. McNamara ’73 Maurice P. McNamara ’28 William F. McNamara ’25

Class of 2032

William Augustus Barton Parker Benjamin Jones

Christopher Everett Morris Luke Anderson Sheppard Michael Warren Vosburg Katherine Lee Wilkinson

T. Bryan Barton ’68 Victor G. Barnes ’66 Benjamin F. Barnes III ’55 Michael A. Barnes ’80 Charles E. Barnes ’07 Chilton E. Morris ’90 Clyde W. Bragg Jr. ’65 James C. Rice ’83 Robert A. Wilkinson Jr. ’65

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

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TAPS TAPS John W. Cooke ’36 John Warren Cooke ’36 of Mathews, Virginia, died on Nov. 28, 2009. He was 94.

Cooke matriculated from Mathews and attended VMI for one year.

Cooke served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1942-80. He was majority leader from 1956-68 and Speaker of the House from 1968-80. At the time of his retirement he represented Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties.

He also represented Charles City and New Kent counties from 1966-72. He was the last son of a Confederate veteran to sit in the Virginia General Assembly.

During his time in elective office, Cooke served on the Virginia-Maryland Potomac River Commission, on the Jamestown Anniversary Commission from 1952-82, and as executive committee chairman of the Virginia Civil War Centennial Commission. He served as a member of the National Legislative Association board of directors from 1970-80.

While in office, Cooke received the National Legislative Leaders Association Award (1976), the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award (1979), a Council of State Governments citation, the Liberty Bell Award, the Richmond Bar Association Award, and a Virginia Press Association award.

At the conclusion of his service in the General Assembly, in 1980 Cooke was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from the College of William and Mary. He was the recipient of a Christopher Newport College medallion in 1986 and an honorary doctor of laws degree from Christopher Newport University in 1992.

In 1946 Cooke was elected to the board of Tidewater Newspapers, Incorporated, publishers of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal. He became president and publisher in 1954 and resigned from that presidency in March 2009.

On a local level, Cooke was a charter member of the first Mathews Rotary Club (1938) and served as its president for two terms. He was president of the former Tidewater Baseball League, chairman of the Mathews Ration and Price Control Board from 1943-45, first district chairman of the Young Democrats from 193940, and former chair of the Mathews County Democratic Committee.

He also served on the boards of directors of the Gloucester Country Club, the Tidewater Telephone Company and the Bank of Gloucester.

Following his service in the General Assembly, Cooke became a director of the Tidewater Automobile Association in Norfolk.

He was a member of Kingston Episcopal Parish in Mathews and served on its parish vestry from 1938-67. He served on the boards of the J. Edwin Treakle Foundation in Gloucester, the College

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of William and Mary Endowment Association in Williamsburg, the Long Bridge Ordinary Foundation in Gloucester, the Mathews Historical Society in Mathews, and the JamestownYorktown Foundation.

He is survived by his wife, Anne Rawn Cooke of Mathews; a daughter, Elsa Cooke Verbyla of Mathews; and a son, Giles Buckner Cooke of Williamsburg.

member of Congressman Rogers’ Southern Kentucky Economic Development Advisory Council; member of Governor Paul Patton’s Council on Quality and Efficiency in Government; and state chairman of the Kentucky Association of Area Development Districts.

He served as president of the Senior Army Reserve Commanders Association in Washington, D.C.; president of the Kentucky River Area Development Fund; chairman of the Kentucky River Area Development District; chairman and Charles Beach Jr. ’40 Maj. Gen. Charles Beach Jr. ’40, USAR (Ret), member of the board of directors of Kentuckof Beattyville, Kentucky, died on Nov. 11, 2009 ians for Better Transportation; chairman of the – Veterans Day and VMI’s Founders Day. He Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; member of the Kentucky Financial Institutions Board; was 90.

Beach matriculated from Beattyville and held member of the Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland, Ohio; a bachelor of arts in liberal arts and member of the board of direcfrom VMI. tors of the Kentucky Independent He entered active duty in the U.S. College Fund.

Army in 1942 after specialty training He served as Bishop’s Warden at at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and Ft. St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sill, Oklahoma. He was assigned to Beattyville. the 602nd Pack Artillery Battalion, Beach received numerous honors a unit of the 10th Mountain Division for his civilian service, including (Ski Troops and Light Infantry) at the Small Business Administration Camp Carson, Colorado. In 1943 he Small Banker Advocate (1984), the was deployed to the Aleutian Islands Beach ’40 Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in Alaska, where the Japanese were Volunteer of the Year (1992) and the the first foreign troops to occupy Community Bankers of Kentucky U.S. soil since 1812. In May 1944 he was wounded in action at Minturno, Italy, Outstanding Community Banker of the Year and spent eight months in a military hospital in (1995). He was recognized by the Beattyville/ Memphis, Tennessee. As a result of that action, Lee County Chamber of Commerce in 2008 for serving 58 consecutive years as its president. he was awarded the Purple Heart.

He is survived by a son, Charles Beach III, After his release from active duty, Beach was assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1957 he and his wife, Helen, of Beattyville; a daughter, was re-commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Elizabeth Beach Baker, and her husband, Tom, major, and in 1961 his unit was called to active of Germantown, Tennessee; grandchildren, duty in Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, due to the Berlin Carrie Baker Tydings and her husband, George Crisis. In 1976 he became the 18th commander Jr., of Potomac, Maryland, Hunter Baker Boone of the 100th Division, the All Kentucky Army and her husband, Weston, of Ruxton, Maryland, Reserve Training Division, and was promoted Taylor Beach Moloney and her husband, Michael “Whit” of Nashville, Tennessee, Charles Beach IV to the rank of major general.

In addition to the Purple Heart, Beach was of London, England, and Thomas Frazier Baker awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and V of Memphis, Tennessee; a brother, Gardner DeCoursey Beach, and his wife, Bettie, of Frankthe Army Commendation Medal.

In civilian life, Beach served as chairman of fort, Kentucky; seven great-grandchildren; and the Peoples Exchange Bank and Insurance; as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. His president of the September Place Retirement Vil- wife, Caroline Margaret Shumate Beach, died lage; as president of the Beattyville/Lee County in 1984.

Chamber of Commerce; as chairman of the AsAmong Beach’s honorary pallbearers was sociation of the Century; and as a board member Albert V. Carr Jr. ’66. of Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was a member of the Board of Health, KenAndrew L. Turner Jr. ’40 tucky River District Health and of Governor John Andrew Lucius (Andy) Turner Jr. ’40 of Y. Brown’s Transportation Task Force. He was Deltaville, Virginia, died on Dec. 16, 2009. He chairman of the Kentucky Registry of Election was 90.

Finance; chairman and member of the board He matriculated from Roanoke, Virginia, and of directors of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel held a bachelor of science degree in civil engiFestival; president and member of the board of neering from VMI, where he was third in his class directors of Financial Management Institute; and a member of the horse-drawn field artillery.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS At the time of his death he was planning to attend his 70th reunion in the spring of 2010.

He served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps from 1941-46, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was stationed in India for two years and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Following the war Turner settled in Roanoke, where he joined Turner Candy Company, a wholesale distributor, and later expanded the company to Turner Distributing Company.

He maintained his church membership in the First Baptist Church in Roanoke for almost 90 years. He was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and chairman of the finance committee.

He was both past president and lieutenant governor of Kiwanis International, a Hospice volunteer and a board chairman of the Salvation Army.

In 1994 he became a year-round resident of Fishing Bay, where he and his family had been “summer people” more than 50 years before. He was active in the YMCA, the Power Squadron, the Rivers Club, the Fishing Bay Yacht Club, the ROMEOs, the Turkey Hunters of Northern Neck, the Lower United Methodist Church, the Deltaville Maritime Museum, Great Decisions, the Deltaville Community Association and numerous other organizations. He was Grand Marshall of the Heritage Day Parade in 2008.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Evelyn Stearns Turner of Richmond; three daughters, Sydney Marshall Turner of Boston, Massachusetts, Leslie Turner Babcock of Roanoke, and Courtney Lee Turner of Arlington, Virginia, and Ankara, Turkey; three sons, Andrew L Turner III ’72 and his wife, Laurie, of Raleigh, North Carolina, Marion Roberts Morrissett of Richmond, and Michael Turner Morrissett ’74 and his wife, Clay, of Roanoke; 10 grandchildren, Logan Elsass of New York City, Chloe Elsass of Charlottesville, Virginia, Andrew Turner IV and Jackson Turner of Raleigh, Melissa Morrissett of Bellevue, Washington, Jeffrey Morrissett of Evanston, Illinois, William Morrissett of Roanoke, Andrew Morrissett of Charlottesville, Benjamin Babcock of North Beach, Maryland, and Hannah Babcock of Roanoke; and a sister, Dorotny Turner Smithey of Richmond.

Frederick F. Kaiser ’41 Frederick Ferdinand Kaiser ’41 of Hampton, Virginia, died on Jan. 20, 2010. He was 89.

Kaiser matriculated from New York City and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. From 1942-44 he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, attaining the rank of captain. He served in North Africa and Italy. He was assigned as an Aero Repair Officer (engineering) in the 20th Air Depot Group, 12th Air Force, and was a Naval architect and Marine engineer.

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He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1948-49. He attended the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology from 1952-53, studying reactor engineering. He spent six months with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in Virginia; one year with Pacific Island Engineers on Guam before joining Newport News Shipbuilding, where he was involved with nuclear design, testing and training. He retired in 1984 after 35 years with that firm.

He served as a church officer and Bible teacher for 25 years and was involved in jail ministry.

His lifelong interest in marine history led to the publication of a book, Built on Honor, Sailed with Skill: The American Coasting Schooner, in 1989.

Among his survivors is his wife, Anna W. Kaiser of Hampton.

Okinawa and in the occupation duty in Japan.

His second call to duty was during the Korean War when he entered the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps as a first lieutenant. He served from 195254 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama.

Hodgkin later returned to Warrenton where he practiced dentistry until his retirement in 1993.

He was a lifelong member of St. James Episcopal Church, a member of the Rotary Club, and Scout Master of Troop 161.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sarah (Sally) Swift Hodgkin of Warrenton; five daughters, Carter Hodgkin, Harriet Hodgkin, Jamie Hodgkin Beach, Cornelia Hodgkin Benson and Sarah Hodgkin Sudduth; and a son, James Hodgkin IV.

Bryan I. Russ ’43

Marvin L. Gillum ’44

Bryan Ira Russ ’43 of Rockport, Massachusetts, died on Nov. 5, 2006. He was 87.

Russ matriculated from Gloucester, Massachusetts, and attended VMI for one year.

A veteran of World War II, he served from 194146 as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Force.

He served as a tail gunner in Italy, Normandy, southern France and the Balkan Islands. He was awarded five Bronze Star Medals, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Following the war, Russ worked for numerous electrical firms on Cape Ann for several years.

He then began a career which spanned 35 years as a field service engineer for Minneapolis Honeywell. He retired in 1984.

He was a member of the Annisquam Yacht Club, the Leonard Club and the Annisquam Village Hall Association.

He is survived by a daughter, Deborah A. Fabi; a son, John Russ, and his wife, Catherine Sinagra Russ; six grandchildren, Charissa Naylor, Jason L. Fabi, Samantha J. Russ, Katie E. Russ, Jessica R. Russ and John A. Russ; two great-grandchildren, Ashley N. Fabi and Adam J. Fabi; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Holloran; and a dear family friend, Blanche Josselyn. His wife of 51 years, Barbara Johnson Russ, died in December 1997.

Marvin Layman Gillum ’44, DDS, of Manassas, Virginia, died on Jan. 21, 2010. He was 85.

Gillum matriculated from Manassas and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned his DDS degree from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry.

He served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps during the Korean War. Gillum served as mayor of Manassas from 1996-2004. During his tenure as mayor, the city underwent a renaissance which included receiving the 2003 Great American Main Street Award and designation as one of Washingtonian magazine’s top places to live in the Washington, D.C., area. Gillum was credited with having played a key role in the soon-to-be-opened performing arts center at George Mason University.

Gillum was a dentist in Manassas for 40 years before beginning a second career in 1987 as an investment broker with Scott & Stringfellow.

While with Scott & Stringfellow he was executive vice president, and a senior vice president, and sat on the firm’s board of directors.

He served for 10 years on the Manassas School Board, which included 10 years as its chairman.

He was a former chairman of the Prince William HealthSystem Foundation; the first chairman of the Manassas Historical Commission; a trustee of the Manassas Baptist Church, where he was a former deacon; a former director of the City of Manassas Education Foundation; a former commissioner of the Manassas Baseball League; a former director of the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross; a member of the advisory board of the Prince William Campus of George Mason University; an honorary chairman of the March of Dimes; a former director of SERVE, Inc.; a past president of the Manassas Rotary Club; and the Grand Marshal of the Greater Manassas Christmas Parade in 1994.

He was a former director of the Central Mutual

James O. Hodgkin III ’43 James Orlando Hodgkin III ’43, DDS, of Warrenton, Virginia, died on Jan. 25, 2010. He was 87.

Hodgkin, who was a fourth-generation native of Warrenton, matriculated from Warrenton and held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He graduated from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry in 1949.

A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1944-46 in the 27th Division on

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TAPS Telephone Company and chairman of the former board of Piedmont Federal Savings Bank.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Martha Droste Gillum of Manassas; three daughters, Cindy Gillum Coiner and her husband, Bill, of Midlothian, Virginia, Debby Gillum Milligan and her husband, Dick, of Manassas, and Melanie Gillum Przybocki of Manassas; grandchildren, Caroline Milligan of Winchester, Virginia, Meredith Milligan of Manassas, Cara Clayton of Sarasota, Florida, Cory Clayton and his wife, Signe, of Denmark, Rob Dufour of Newport News, Virginia, Mollie Przybocki of Manassas, and Wil and Jenny Coiner of Midlothian; and one brother-in-law, David Scott of Decatur, Georgia.

George H. Barnett Sr. ’45 George Harden Barnett Sr. ’45, DDS, of Suffolk, Virginia, died on Dec. 28, 2009. He was 86.

Barnett attended VMI for two years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-44. He received a medical discharge before World War II ended.

He attended pharmacy school when he returned to the States, but later transferred to dentistry school at the Medical College of Virginia.

He began his dental practice in Suffolk in 1950.

He retired from the practice of dentistry in 1995 and delved into community work. In 2000 he was the driving force behind the genesis of the Suffolk Leadership Academy, which helps Suffolk residents learn more about their community and how to get involved. Barnett was active with the academy until the time of his death.

Barnett was a councilman before Suffolk’s merger with the city of Nansemond and became its mayor in 1980.

He is survived by his former wife, Maxine Elder Barnett; a daughter, Gloria B. Barrett and her husband, L. Judson Barrett, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; two sons, G. Harden Barnett Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth D. Barnett, of Suffolk and Glenn Elder Barnett and his wife, Mary K. Barnett, of Richmond, Virginia; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his wife, Judy C. Barnett of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

John P. Carroll Jr. ’45

John Patrick Carroll Jr. ’45 of New York City died on July 12, 2009. He was 84.

Carroll matriculated from Brooklyn, New York, and attended VMI for two years.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-46 and again from 1951-52, attaining the rank of captain.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University and an LLB degree from Harvard University.

He retired in 1990 from Davis Polk & Wardwell, where he had practiced law since 1957, as a partner of the firm from 1961 and a senior partner

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from 1982-90. He founded the London office of Davis Polk in 1973 and worked on a broad range of international financial matters, including the financing of the Forties Field in the British North Sea for British Petroleum. His legal specialty was federal income taxation.

In 1990 he co-founded Akin Bay, a middle market investment banking firm which he also served as chairman.

Among his survivors is his wife, Luceil Carroll of New York City.

William P. Drewry ’45

William Page Drewry ’45 of Chicago, Illinois, died on Oct. 19, 2009. He was 85.

Drewry matriculated from Washington, D.C., and attended VMI for two years.

A veteran of World War II, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1943-46.

He held a bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University and an MBA from Harvard University.

He was a retired vice president-planning for the National Can Corporation. Following his retirement he volunteered with and supported the Executive Service Corps of Chicago, the Howard Brown Health Center, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education of Chicago, and other Chicago area organizations which provide music, dance, theater, the arts, community affairs and health and social programs.

He is survived by his partner, Marshall Keltz; and his nephews and nieces, Guy H. Drewry III ’68, Paul G. Drewry and his wife, Paula, Pamela Downey and her husband, Richard, W. James Drewry and Patricia Barnett McCullough; many grand nieces and nephews; and Ira Keltz and his wife, Lynn, Amy Cardella and her husband, Jeff, and their children. His partner of 40 years, Thomas J. Matier, died in 2002. His brother was the late Guy H. Drewry Jr. ’41, and his father was the late Guy H. Drewry ’16.

John S. Ellett II ’45

John Spears Ellett III ’45 of Charlottesville, Virginia, died on Dec. 22, 2009. He was 86.

Ellett matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years. An accomplished equestrian, he was part of the cavalry while at VMI. A veteran of World War II, he served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1943-46.

Following the war he attended the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in civil engineering in 1948, a J.D. degree in 1957 and a master’s degree in economics in 1961. In addition, he earned a Ph.D. in taxation from the University of North Carolina in 1969.

He was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1957.

The early years of his career were spent working with the family business, Virginia Carolina

Hardware Company in Richmond, the Musselman & Drysdale firm in Charlottesville, Washington and Lee University, and the University of Florida. He was a professor of taxation at the University of New Orleans and professor emeritus after 1994.

He was a certified public accountant in Virginia and Louisiana. He was involved with the University of New Orleans Oil and Gas Accounting Conference, the Energy Accounting and Tax Conference, and the Estate Planning Seminar. He was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Accounting Association, the American Association of Attorney-CPAs, the Virginia Society of CPAs, the Society of Louisiana CPAs and the Virginia Bar Association.

He was honored in 2007 by his former students who were past presidents of the Society of Attorney-CPAs, the Society of Louisiana CPAs and the Virginia Bar Association.

He is survived by five children, John Spears Ellett III and his wife, Jennifer Keys Stewart, Mary Ball Ellett Markow and her husband, Gregory D. Markow, Elizabeth Ellett Burgoyne and her husband, Walter B. Burgoyne, Martha Ruffin Ellett and Henry Maxwell Ellett and his wife, Lori Martin Ellett; three grandchildren, Mary Ball Ruffin Markow, Julia Saunders Markow and Anne Maxwell Ruffin Ellett; a brother, D. Maxwell Ellett, and his wife, Ruth Ellett, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; many nieces and nephews; and a devoted friend of the family, Carnelia White. His wife was the late Mary Ball Saunders Ruffin Ellett.

Frank B. Godbold Jr. ’45 Frank Blackwell Godbold Jr. ’45, O.D., of South Boston, Virginia, died on Nov. 27, 2009.

He was 86.

Godbold matriculated from South Boston and attended VMI for one year and seven months.

He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1943-46.

Following the war, he took pre-med courses at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and then received his O.D. degree from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago in 1949.

He practiced optometry in South Boston for 39 years. He served as a member of the Virginia Optometric Association, as a board member of the Virginia State Commission for the Visually Handicapped, as head of the professional division for United Way fund-raising in 1989, as an institutional representative of the Cub Scouts, as a member of the zoning commission and as president of the Jaycees, Lions Club and Booster Club.

He was a lifelong and active member of First Presbyterian Church in South Boston, where

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TAPS he served as a deacon, elder and Sunday school superintendent.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nan Lacy Godbold; three children and their spouses, Marian and Jim Harris of Richmond, Susan and Joby Klotz of Richmond, and Frank B. Godbold III and Maria of Tampa, Florida; seven grandsons, Lt. Christsopher Harris of San Diego, California, Colin Harris and his wife, Stephanie, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Kyle and Jay Harris of Richmond, and Frank IV, Zachary and Ryan Godbold of Tampa.

Edward C. Turner ’45

Edward Carter Turner ’45 of Warrenton, Virginia, died on Nov. 30, 2009. He was 85.

Turner matriculated from The Plains, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1948.

A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1943-46. He worked as an engineer at the New Jersey Zinc Company in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, for 38 years. He returned to Virginia when he retired in 1986.

A member of the Episcopal Church, he served as senior warden, member of the vestry and treasurer at St. Johns Church in Palmerton.

He later served on the vestry and was assistant treasurer at Grace Church in The Plains.

An active volunteer, when he retired to Virginia he assisted the late Dorothy Rust with her furniture bank, drove seniors to appointments, and picked up meals in Culpeper for Shadow Lawn Senior Center in Warrenton.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Strutz Turner of Warrenton, to whom he was married in 1950; four children, Robert S. Turner of Knoxville, Tennessee, Cary P. Dougher of Nokesville, Virginia, Peter B. Turner of Burlington, Connecticut, and Jane C. Turner of Warrenton; and nine grandchildren.

Raymond M. Yow ’45

Raymond Murray Yow ’45, M.D., of Sarasota, Florida, died on Nov. 30, 2009. He was 85.

Yow matriculated from West Point, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years.

A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army from 1943-46. He then attended the University of Chicago, and in 1948 he received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Illinois School of Medicine.

He served in the U.S. Navy as a medical officer from 1949-51. He received his urology training at the Richmond, Virginia, Veterans Hospital.

He then moved to Salisbury, Maryland, where, in 1955, he became the first urological surgeon to establish a practice.

He was certified by the American Board of Urology and was a Fellow of the American

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College of Surgeons. He held membership in numerous professional organizations and held office in several of them. In 1975 Yow was appointed to the founding Board of Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland by then-Governor Marvin Mandel. He served as senior vice president from 1975-83. When he retired from his medical practice in 1987, he assumed a full time position as chairman and CEO of Medical Mutual in Hunt Valley, Maryland, retiring in 1996.

He served on the board of trustees of the Peninsula General Hospital and was president of the medical staff of that institution as well as chief of surgery. At one time he was a licensed lay reader at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury, where he served as a vestryman and senior warden.

He is survived by his wife, Cathie; his children from a previous marriage, Mrs. Peggy Scott and her husband, Greg, of Waldorf, Maryland, and their daughters, Miki Fett of Kansas and Mary Scott of New York, and Norman S. Yow and his wife, Leila, of Fairfax, Virginia, and their children, Jenna and Ryan; and a niece, Leslie Mill-Santos of Randolph, New Jersey.

Lawrence F. Altaffer Jr. ’46 Lawrence Franklin Altaffer Jr. ’46 of Warsaw, Virginia, died on Jan. 15, 2010. He was 85.

Altaffer matriculated from Warsaw and attended VMI for one year. He had entered the Navy V12 Program, attending VMI and the University of Virginia, and graduated from the University of South Carolina, after which he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a first lieutenant in both World War II and the Korean Conflict.

He was a retired manager for Pet Dairy and was a member of the Warsaw Baptist Church.

He is survived by a son, Lawrence F. Altaffer III, M.D., of Syria, Virginia; a daughter, Elisabeth A. (Betty) Lumpkin and her husband, Billy, of Richmond, Virginia; four grandchildren, Virginia Anne Lumpkin, Anne Altaffer Asplin and her husband, Brian, Elizabeth Altaffer Fedowitz and her husband, John, and Lawrence F. Altaffer IV; and two great-grandsons, Max and Henry Fedowitz. His wife, Virginia S. Altaffer, died on April 17, 2005.

Thomas D. Jones Jr. ’46 Thomas Douglass Jones Jr. ’46 of Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, died on April 9, 2009.

He was 84.

Jones matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for four months and 22 days.

He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from 1943-45. A bomber pilot stationed in Great Britain during World War II, he was awarded nine Air Medals.

He was involved in the tobacco business for his entire career, and retired as president of W.A. Adams Tobacco Company in Oxford, North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen R. Jones of Myrtle Beach; three sons, Thomas Douglass Jones III and his wife, Susan, of Wilson, North Carolina, Benjamin Lee Jones and his wife, Pam, of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Charles Edwin Jones and his wife, Ann, of Pittsboro, North Carolina; five grandchildren, Allison E. Jones, Mallory A. Jones, Hallie E. Jones, Sarah Douglass Jones and Watson D. Jones; and a sister, Sara E. Bruni of Richmond.

Hinton G. Williams ’46

Hinton Goodwyn Williams ’46 of San Mateo, California, died on April 13, 2000. He was 75.

Williams matriculated from Petersburg, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46.

Among his survivors is a son, Hinton G. Williams III, and his wife, Leslie. The Williamses notified the Alumni Association in November 2009 of his father’s death.

No further information is available at this time.

Walter E. Beverly Jr. ’47

Walter Egbert Beverly Jr. ’47 of Alexandria, Virginia, died on Nov. 17, 2009. He was 83.

Beverly matriculated from Rocky Mount, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year and three months.

He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law, where he was a member of the McNeill Law Society.

He was an insurance executive for the Travelers Insurance Company and later practiced law in a private practice in Alexandria.

He was a former board member of George Washington’s Friendship Fire Company and was active in Antiques in Alexandria and in the Republican Party. He attended Immanuel Chapel on the grounds of the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Opal Mattox Beverly of Alexandria; two children, Dr. Walter B. Beverly and his wife, Joanna, of Lynchburg, Virginia, and Jamie Beverly Waldrop and her husband, Dr. Preston A. Waldrop, of Roanoke, Virginia; five grandchildren, Walter Bryant Beverly Jr. and Andrew Quinn Beverly, both of Lynchburg, and Preston Adam Waldrop Jr., Tess Jamison Waldrop and Christopher Bear Waldrop, all of Roanoke, Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

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TAPS John T. Trotter ’47 John Tillman (Jack) Trotter ’47 of Houston, Texas, died on Nov. 26, 2009. He was 83.

Trotter matriculated from Houston and attended VMI for one year and three months. He served as a private in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1944-45.

An investor, he served on numerous boards of directors. He was both a lawyer and a certified public accountant, and at one time held licenses in both professions. His obituary pointed out that he “never really practiced either.”

He is survived by two daughters, Paige Trotter Holloway and her husband, Don R. Holloway, of Franklin, Tennessee, and Barbara Trotter Collins and her husband, William Nelms Collins Jr., of Kerrville, Texas; a granddaughter, Barbara Holloway Nowotny, and her husband, Craig Thomas Nowotny, of Franklin; a grandson, Tillman Rhodes Holloway, and his wife, Megan Williams Holloway, of Franklin; a grandson, William Matthew Holloway, and his wife, Cara Carter Holloway, of Atlanta, Georgia; a granddaughter, Sarah Holloway Ross, and her husband, Steven Russell Ross Jr. of Franklin; a granddaughter, Rachel Elizabeth Holloway of Franklin; a granddaughter, Paige Collins Ellis, and her husband, Lt. Kyle V. Ellis, of Pensacola, Florida; granddaughters Hattie Collins, Chandler Collins, Adelaide Collins, Rebekah Collins and Sydney Collins of Kerrville, Texas; great-grandchildren Ruth Ann Nowotny, Samuel Craig Nowotny, Sarah Elizabeth Nowotny, Mary Layne Holloway, Doss Rhoads Holloway, Elizabeth Marsha Holloway and Steven Russell Ross III; and three nephews, Richard A. Burger, David L. Burger and Robert A. Gray.

William L. Nelson ’51

Col. William Long Nelson ’51, USAF (Ret), died on Dec. 10, 2009, at his residence, “The Folly,” in Accomac, Virginia. He was 80.

Long matriculated from Onancock, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. After graduation, he had a distinguished 23-year career in the U.S. Air Force. He was a decorated fighter pilot and commander, having served in Korea and Vietnam. He received numerous awards and decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 12 oak leaf clusters, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Nelson was stationed on a tour with the Canadians from 1968-72 at CFB North Bay, Ontario in the position of assistant deputy for operations, Headquarters 22nd NORAD Region. While there he teamed with a Canadian to win the Canadian Forces National Sailing Championship three years in a row.

His last assignment before his retirement in

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1974 was in the position of Assistant Deputy of Operations for the 507th Tactical Air Control Group, Shaw Ai Force Base, South Carolina.

He was a member of the Drummondtown United Methodist Church in Accomac.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ellen Nock Nelson of Accomac; five children, William L. Nelson Jr. and his wife, Colette, of Accomac, Gussie Fauntleroy and her husband, Dearing, of Crestone, Colorado, Ginny Snyder and her husband, Kurt, of Bothell, Washington, Sam Nelson ’87 and his wife, Jackie, of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Rick Nelson ’87 and his wife, Amy, of Holden Beach, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Kurt Snyder Jr., Jennifer Snyder, Katy Snyder, Sarah Nelson, Mary Britt Nelson and Victoria Nelson; a sister, Virginia Nelson Tinnell of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; four nieces; and six nephews.

Winfree P. Tuck ’52 Winfree Powell (Win) Tuck ’52 of Tampa, Florida, died on Nov. 16, 2009. He was 79.

Tuck matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He lived in northern Virginia for 31 years, where he was president and co-owner of Inteq Inc., a defense telecommunications company which he sold to Zenith Inc. in 1985. After his retirement, he received his private instrument and commercial pilot’s license in single and multi-engine aircraft as well as aerobatics and helicopter training.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eva Mae Thompson Tuck of Tampa; three sons, Harold Daniel Tuck and his children, Alexander and Rachael Elizabeth, Thomas Michael Tuck and his wife, Sheryl, and Christopher Markham Tuck, and his wife, Susan, and their children, Markham Powell and Travis Michael, and stepson, Nicolai Koroslev; and a daughter, Lisa Anne Tuck Savedge, and her husband, Todd, and their children, Katherine Elizabeth, Jessica Marie and Alexandra Mae.

James E. R. Moore ’53 James Emory Rea Moore ’53 of Red Oak, North Carolina, died on Nov. 23, 2009. He turned 79 the day before his death.

Moore matriculated from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and held a bachelor of science degree from VMI. Following graduation from VMI he served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. He served at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and with the 9th Division in Germany, where he was executive officer of a tank company. He then worked for the Virginia Highway Department as an engineering trainee until 1956. He resigned to assume the position of director of construction for Cities Service Oil Company

in Richmond, Virginia. He started an 11-year career with Texaco in 1959. He worked in various capacities as construction engineer, district operation representative in Charleston, West Virginia, division operation rep in Columbia, Ohio, and assistant regional manager (operations) in charge of transportation, and then construction, in Chicago, Illinois, and Texas. In 1970 he returned to his home town, Rocky Mount, to head up the construction and equipment department for a then-small fast food company known as Hardee’s. He retired in 1990 from Hardee’s Food Systems as vice president of construction, design and equipment.

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, the 10:00 Coffee Club and First Families of North Carolina. He was a Kentucky Colonel and received the order of the Long Leaf Pine.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen Faulkner Moore of Red Oak, to whom he was married in 1990; three daughters, Kimberly Moore Cooley and her husband, Harold D. Cooley II, Kelley Moore Dillon and her husband, Mark Wynne Dillon, and Krystie Lynn Moore, all of Raleigh, North Carolina; two step-daughters, Mary Hadley Whitaker Rose and her husband, Michael Scott Rose, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and Anne Graves Whitaker Vinson and her husband, Stephen Thomas Vinson, of Raleigh; and 10 grandchildren, Rachel, Hal, Emory and Davis Cooley, Alexandra and Emma Dillon, Belle and Woodall Rose, and Thomas and James Vinson.

Reed L. Stone ’54 Reed Lewis Stone ’54 of Austin, Texas, died on Dec. 12, 2009. He was 75.

Stone matriculated from Bassett, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in 1955.

He began pilot training at Moore Air Base in Mission, Texas, and completed the training at Laredo Air Force Base. His assignments included graduate school at the University of Michigan (1959-61); Space and Missile Systems Division, Los Angeles, California (1961-65 and 1970-76); instructor at the U.S. Military Academy (196568), Republic of Vietnam (1968-69), where he was a C-123 Provider pilot, and professor of air science, Purdue University (1978-81).

He retired from the Air Force in 1981 and moved to Austin.

His military decorations included the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal.

After retiring, he was Stone ’54

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TAPS the owner/manager of Pond Springs Econo Storage. He was a member of the Northwest Austin Rotary Club, ACES and the Kaypro Club. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, where he served as an usher.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Roberta Love Stone of Austin; a daughter, Tracy Cornelius, and her husband, Reinhold, of Austin; two sons, Lewis Stone and his fiancée, Tracy Hill, of Austin and Reed Stone and his wife, Luz, of Round Rock, Texas; four grandchildren, Derek Cornelius, Eva Cornelius, Sierra Reed and Sophia Reed; and three brothers, John Harold Stone Jr. ’56, Oliver Stone and Russell Stone ’61, all of Virginia.

Harry F. Jones ’56 Harry Francis Jones ’56 of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, died on Jan. 19, 2010. He was 75.

Jones matriculated from Honey Brook and held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1956-61, and served as a Reservist until 1964.

He worked at one time for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and for Beloit Corporation of Downingtown. In 1972 he founded JESCO Electrical Service Corporation of Honey Brook.

He was a lifetime member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and was a Mason.

He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Linda C. Bowden Jones of Honey Brook; a son, Jeffrey Jones of Florida; two daughters, Wendy and her husband, Scott Pelphrey, of Florida, and Caryn Jones and her husband, Michael France, of Honey Brook; a stepson, F. Jonathan Beale, and his wife, Terry, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; seven grandchildren; and three greatgranddaughters.

The VMI Alumni Association was notified of his death by Steve Collins, a member of the Carson Long Military Institute Alumni Association in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, as well as a member of its class of 1966. Jones was a 1952 graduate of that school.

William W. Dick III ’57 William White Dick III ’57 of Vienna, Virginia, died on Sept. 27, 2009. He was 75.

Dick matriculated from Camp Atterbury, Indiana, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957-70, attaining the rank of major. He rose to the rank of colonel while serving in the Army Reserve from 1970-87.

Following retirement he was a real estate broker/owner with RE/MAX. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Eleanor

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S. Dick of Vienna; two sons, Geoffrey Dick and his wife, Tara, and Matthew Dick and his wife, Bethany; five grandchildren, Margot, Ethan, Krishna, Kavya and Kellan; and a sister, Laurin Dick and her husband, Jutta.

Fritz F. Orebaugh ’59 Fritz Fahaney Orebaugh ’59 of New Market, Virginia, died on Oct. 12, 2009. He was 72.

He matriculated from New Market and attended VMI for two years and four months. A veteran of the U.S. Army from 1960-62, he served a tour of duty in Germany.

He operated Pikeway Motors in New Market for many years with his father. He was a former member of the New Market Town Council, a member of the Zoning Commission, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Shenvalee, the American Legion and the Elks Lodge.

He was a member of the Reformation Lutheran Church in New Market and a dedicated attendee of Saturday Night Alive at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Loretta George Orebaugh of New Market; a sister, Susan Orebaugh Nicholson, and her husband, Nick, of Atlanta, Georgia; his mother-in-law, Juanita George; and his sister-in-law, Kathy Billhimer, and her husband, Casey.

Kenneth G. Smith ’59 Kenneth Garland Smith ’59 of Palmyra, Virginia, died on Nov. 2, 2009. He was 72.

Smith matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army and then spent 20 years in the Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of major.

He retired in 2003 from the University of Virginia, where he was the director of Facilities Planning and Construction. While working at UVa., in 1995 he received his master’s degree in business administration from Averett College in Danville, Virginia.

A member of the Kiwanis Club of Charlottesville, he was its former lieutenant governor.

He and his wife were active in the Friendship Force, which involved welcoming people from around the world into their home when they visited America.

After moving to Lake Monticello, which is located outside of Charlottesville, he became an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was an member of Beaverdam Baptist Church in Troy, Virginia, where he was a Sunday school teacher, a member of the choir, a deacon, and a member of many committees over the years.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Peggy Maddox Smith of Palmyra; three daughters, Karen Smith Gibson and her husband, Fred,

Valerie Smith Fulke of Richmond, Virginia, and Carol G. Smith of Charlottesville; three grandchildren, Kenneth W. Gibson, Joseph L. Gibson and Alexandria T. Fulke; four brothers, William Smith and his wife, Muriel, of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, Patrick Smith and his wife, Kathy, of Riner, Virginia, Robert Smith and his wife, Faye, of Lynchburg, Virginia, and Mark Smith and his wife, Sharon, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and a sister, Johanna White, and her husband, Link, of Forest, Virginia.

William C. Boxley III ’60 William Clivie (Whirley) Boxley III ’60 of Greensboro, North Carolina, died on Nov. 20, 2009. He was 71.

Boxley matriculated from Raleigh, North Carolina, and held a bachelor of arts degree in English from VMI. He served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1960-61 and then served in the Army Reserve from 1961-68, attaining the rank of captain.

He was a sales associate with Central Metal Supplies Inc. in Greensboro, where he was a Jaycee and supported the Greensboro YMCA and participated in many of its programs, including the Wise Men. He participated in Bible Study Fellowship and served in its leadership.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Truelove Boxley of Greensboro; three children, Beth Boxley Walker and her husband, Jerry Lee Walker, of New Bern, North Carolina, William Clivie Boxley IV and his wife, Elizabeth Fitzgerald Boxley, and Mary Rebecca Boxley and her fiancé, Henri Paul Elkins, all of Greensboro; five grandchildren, Sarah, Catherine an Quinn Boxley, and James and Anna Walker; and a brother, John MacLachlan Boxley, and his wife, Mary Roper Boxley, of Raleigh. His first wife of 42 years, Mary Lou Spence Boxley, died in 2003.

Leonard F. Bush Jr. ’60 Leonard Franklin Bush Jr. ’60 of McHenry, Illinois, died on Oct. 9, 2009. He was 72.

Bush matriculated from Washingtonville, Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for two years.

He served as a sergeant in Germany with the U.S. Army from 1959-62.

He was a food and beverage manager at many locations, including the Nittany Lion Inn, the Seaview Country Club in Absecon, New Jersey, the Boston Club in New Orleans and the Great Southern Club in Gulfport, Mississippi.

After retirement he lived with his children in McHenry.

He is survived by four children, Jean Byrd of Madison, Wisconsin, Robert Bush of Naperville, Illinois, and Michelle Ritchie and Nancy Liewald, both of McHenry; eight grandchildren, Anthony Randall, Matt Liewald, Dan Liewald, Brenda

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TAPS Liewald, Abigail Liewald, Ryan Bush, Derek Robb and Sean Robb; one sister, Nancy Fowler of Oxford, Pennsylvania; and two brothers, Dr. David Bush of Washingtonville and William Bush of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

Douglas E. Ballard ’61 Douglas Early Ballard ’61 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died on Dec. 29, 2009. He was 70.

Ballard matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and held a bachelor of arts degree in English from VMI. He served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1961-64.

A graduate of the Washington and Lee University School of Law, he was a law clerk for the Hon. Walter Hoffman of Norfolk. Much of his 40-year legal career involved pro bono work for churches and for underprivileged people.

In addition to practicing law, he consulted for several international companies located in northern Virginia. While working as a consultant with Dyna Systems International in the 1980s, he was named its acting president. As such, one of his duties included administering the Air Traffic Control System of Kuwait.

Ballard was a former president of The VMI Alumni Association’s chapter in Norfolk, a former chairman of the American Heart Association of Norfolk, and a former member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. In the 1970s, Ballard, along with several others, originated the first Christian Legal Society of Norfolk.

He was a member of the vestry, a lay reader, and the men’s Bible teacher at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Norfolk and was a lay reader for the Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, Virginia. He was the sponsor from Good Shepherd for the Billy Graham Crusade in 1975. He was a former president of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Association of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. At the time of his death he was a member of Saint Simon’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Paula Ballard of Virginia Beach; two daughters, Hunter Ballard and Adrienne Conner and her husband, Charles Conner Jr.; and a sister, Victoria Beshore.

Charles S. Brown Jr. ’61

Charles Sullivan Brown Jr. ’61 of Wasilla, Alaska, died on Nov. 3, 2009. He was 72.

Brown matriculated from Bayside, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He first came to Alaska in 1965 and lived in Cordova and Anchorage before moving to Wasilla in 1987.He was a civil engineer and worked on numerous projects in Alaska

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from Prudhoe Bay to the terminal in Valdez, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and many points in between.

He was a lifetime member of Masonic Temple, Glacier Lodge No. 10.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Brown of Wasilla; two sons, David Brown and his wife, Rebecca, of Anchorage, and Daniel Brown of Big Lake, Alaska; four grandchildren, Cameron and Emily Brown of Anchorage and Ashlyn and Rylie Hernandez of Anchorage; and a sister, Florence Reber of Engelhard, North Carolina.

Sylvester McGinn Jr. ’61 Sylvester (Mac) McGinn Jr. ’61 of Wareham, Massachusetts, died on Dec. 3, 2009. He was 71.

McGinn matriculated from Newton Center, Massachusetts, and held a bachelor of arts degree in civil engineering from VMI. A veteran of the Vietnam war, he attained the rank of captain in the U.S. Air Force and retired after serving a combined 20-plus years from the Air National Guard. An avid gardener, at one time he also had a landscaping business.

He is survived by a daughter, Shannon McGinn of Delaware; two sons, Kevin McGinn of Florida and Michael McGinn of Maryland; a stepdaughter, Mary Elizabeth Coalson of Arizona; four grandchildren, Ericca Slatcher, C.J. Beck, Catherine Beck and Matthew McGinn; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Margaret McCarthy, and her husband, Dr. Richard McCarthy, of Clinton, Massachusetts; two nephews, Maj. Brian McCarthy ’92 of Fort Carson, Colorado, and Lt. Michael McCarthy; and a special friend, Judith Ramos of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

His wife, Diane Brown McGinn, died on Nov. 15, 2009.

Peter M. Vanderwerff ’62 Peter Michael Vanderwerff ’62 of Greensboro, North Carolina, died on Jan. 4, 2010.

He was 70.

Vanderwerff matriculated from Danville, Virginia, and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He served in Germany as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1963-65.

He was a self-employed realtor.

He is survived by his wife, Dixie Thomas Vanderwerff of Greensboro; a son, Peter Michael Vanderwerff Jr. of Greensboro; three daughters, Phoebe Whitney Vanderwerff and Sarah Tennille Kaplan and her husband, Keith, all of Greensboro, and Alice Tennille Givens and her husband, Ron, of Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina; five granddaughters, Kerri Leigh Vanderwerff, Alice Austin Givens, Sarah Walker Marian Givens, Alice Fortune Kaplan and Anne Byrd Kaplan; two brothers, William Vanderwerff of Stuart, Florida,

and Buzz Vanderwerff of Greensboro; and five sisters, Wendy Underwood of Sarasota, Florida, Denise Routson of McDaniel, Maryland, Alida Vanderwerff of Rock Hill, North Carolina, and Kathy Moca and Renee Orren, both of Greenville, North Carolina.

David N. Kaliski ’64 David Norman Kaliski ’64 of Harrington Park, New Jersey, died on Jan. 9, 2010. He was 67.

Kaliski matriculated from Port Chester, New York, and held a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He earned an MBA degree from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia in 1966.

A Vietnam veteran, he served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1966-68.

Kaliski joined Spring Industries Inc. in 1970 and was said to be instrumental in establishing Springmaid as a major retail brand. He rose through the ranks to merchandise manager and eventually became vice president and business manager for private tickets, such as JCPenney and Sears.

He joined Royale Linens Inc. in January 1989 and became the company’s president in 1993.

He is credited for having transformed Royale Linens from a distributor of roll stock into a manufacturer and importer of sheets for several major retailers, including JCPenney, Sears, and the now-defunct Linens ’N Things, as well as several regional accounts. In 2007 Royale Linens became a subsidiary of Yunus Textile Mills Ltd. of Karachi, Pakistan, and Kaliski led the integration of the operations and directed its North American sales and distribution.

He is survived by his wife, Penny Smith Kaliski of Harrington Park; three children, Drew Kaliski and his wife, Elizabeth, Ty Kaliski and Sara Devaney and her husband, Brian; two grandsons, Grady Patrick and Sean David; and a brother, Alan E. Kaliski ’69 of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ronald D. Marshall ’65

Ronald Dow Marshall ’65 of Paducah, Kentucky, died on Feb. 22, 2008. He was 65.

Marshall matriculated from Halifax, Virginia, and attended VMI for seven months.

Among his survivors is a son, Natt Marshall.

No further information is available at this time.

Charles E. McNeillie Jr. ’66

Charles Edward McNeillie Jr. ’66 of Columbiana, Alabama, died on Jan. 28, 2010.

He was 65.

McNeillie matriculated from Midland, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS Army from 1967-69, during which he served two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

He was a member of the 1st Supply and Transportation Battalion and the 9th Transportation Company.

Upon returning to the United States, McNeillie went to work for the Industrial Products division of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

He began his career as an engineer and eventually became technical manager of the South Georgia Region, selling and engineering hose and conveyor belt. In 1973 he was transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, to serve as technical manager of the Alabama, eastern Mississippi and Panhandle of Florida. He retired in 2005 to his beloved horse farm, Airy Chance Farm in the Four Mile Community. He owned and operated Alabama’s only harness and buggy shop.

He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Montevallo, Alabama, and of the Caledonian Society.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Walker McNeillie of Columbiana; a daughter, Amanda McNeillie of Helena; a stepdaughter, Emily Mann McCollum and her husband, Michael, of Benton, Kentucky; two stepsons, Phillip Morgan Mann and his wife, Meredith, of Greenville and Charles Mann and his wife, Lauren, of Birmingham; four

grandchildren, George Mann, Virginia Mann, Mary Katherine McCollum and Sarah McCollum; and three cousins, Kimbrly Mershon and her husband, Bill, of Prattville, Kelly Peterson and her husband, Rocky, of Canton, Georgia, and Paula Deiters and her husband, Michael, of Acworth, Georgia.

Michael M. Palmer ’70 Michael Meade Palmer ’70 of Warrenton, Virginia, is deceased.

Palmer matriculated from Broad Run, Virginia, and attended VMI for four and one-half months.

Among his survivors is his wife, Bink.

Peter J. Carty ’87

Peter John Carty ’87 of San Clemente, California, died on Dec. 17, 2009. He was 44.

Carty matriculated from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and held a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from VMI. Following graduation he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He was posted to the U.S.S. Jarrett, FFG33 in Long Beach, California. He then continued his service as a Reservist.

He earned an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1994, and worked as

Deaths in the VMI Family John S. Archer Jr. Parents Council President

John Stanard Archer Jr., M.D., died on Dec. 28, 2009. He was 92.

Archer served as president of the VMI Parents Council during the cadetship of his son, John Stanard Archer III ’72.

Archer graduated with honors from the University of Virginia. He attended medical school at the Medical College of Virginia, where he did his residency in otolaryngology. He set up practice in downtown Richmond and was a member of the staff of the Richmond Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital and the Richmond Academy of Medicine. He was a volunteer physician at McGuire Veterans Hospital and at the Virginia State Penitentiary, and served on the vestry at St. James’s Episcopal Church. He was a past member of the County Club of Virginia, and served on the board of the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

A veteran of World War II, he served in India, Burma and China and was an Army captain in the 70th Field Hospital attached to the Flying Tigers.

He is survived by six children, Mary Archer Enochs and her husband, James D. Enochs, Elizabeth Archer O’Ferrall and her husband, McLain T. O’Ferrall Jr., John Stanard Archer

2010-Issue 2

III ’72 and his wife, Len Dixon Archer, Cynthia Archer Montague and her husband, Peter Lathrop Montague, Thomas Bolling Archer, and Matthew Fielding Archer and his wife, Meredyth Walker Archer; 12 grandchildren; and 11 greatgrandchildren.

Susie Vaughan Neikirk

Susie Vaughan Neikirk of Lynchburg, Virginia, died on Dec. 15, 2009. She was 92.

Mrs. Neikirk was the widow of Joseph Dillard Neikirk ’32, who served as executive vice president of the VMI Foundation Inc. from 1954-78.

During her years in Lexington, she was a noted local artist and a member of the Blue Ridge Garden Club.

Mrs. Neikirk lived in Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg.

Among her survivors is a cousin, Jeannette Glass Plyler of Statesville, North Carolina.

Katheryne T. Hundley

Katheryne Tindall Hundley of Lexington, Virginia, died on Nov. 24, 2009. She was 84.

Mrs. Hundley was the wife of Col. Louis R. Hundley ’47, who taught biology at VMI from 1950 until his retirement in 1989.

She was a graduate of Longwood College (then Farmville State Teachers College) and taught

the regional manager for Parker Hannifin Corporation.

He is survived by his wife, Carmina Carty of San Clemente; a son, Andrew Carty; a stepdaughter, Lauren; and his parents, William and Janet Carty of Dalton, Massachusetts; and his siblings, Jeanmarie and her husband, Glenn, Robert and his wife, Cherie, Timothy and his wife, Kathy, and Elizabeth and her husband, Jason.

Robert L. Forgie Jr. ’90 Robert Latane Forgie Jr. ’90 of Montvale, Virginia, died on Dec. 17, 2009. He was 42.

Forgie matriculated from Montvale and held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He was a member of Walnut Grove Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Deborah Tilley Forgie of Montvale; two daughters, Tamra S. Brown and her husband, Marvin, and Deborah N. Snead and her fiancé, James Hooper; a son, Jeffery D. Altice, and his wife, Amanda; four grandchildren, Deborah M. Altice, Corey L. Altice, Josh ALtice and Corbin M. Brown; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews of the Forgie and Simmons family; and a special friend, David Smith, and his family. high school in Front Royal, Scottsville, Blacksburg and Natural Bridge, Virginia. She worked at Mead Oriental Rugs and was the executive secretary for the director of the Virginia Horse Center for many years.

She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and was a founding member of the Town and Country Garden Club.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Mary Louise Hunt and her husband, Mark Hunt; a sister, Virginia Schilder, and her husband, Thomas Schilder; and three nephews.

Stanley W. Campbell, Ph.D.

Stanley Wallace Campbell, Ph.D., died on Nov. 18, 2009. He was 83.

Campbell began his teaching career at VMI in 1961. He was a lieutenant colonel and associate professor of history when he left the Institute in 1970 to go to Waco, Texas, to become a professor of history at Baylor University.

A veteran of World War II, he served in the Navy attached to a bomber squadron. During the Korean War he served on board aircraft carriers, including the U.S.S. Oriskany and the U.S.S. Midway.

Campbell received degrees from Ole Miss and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Robbi Howell of Waco; four children, Beth C. Drain, Stanley W. Campbell Jr., Paul T. Campbell and Laura Gunn; five grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.

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

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

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

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

The VMI Foundation, Inc.

Executive Vice President

President

Walter C. Perrin II ’62

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

Immediate Past President

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

Brian S. Crockett

The VMI Keydet Club, Inc. President

Charles F. Plageman ’90

Historian

Thomas W. Davis ’64 davistw@vmi.edu

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer Gregory M. Cavallaro ’84

Terms Expire June 30, 2010 Jamel Lynch Jr. ’94 region2aetchair2003@yahoo.com Michael Soares ’75 mLodington@gmail.com

Directors at Large

Terms Expire June 30, 2012 Term Expires June 30, 2011 Kenneth Herbert ‘81 kherbert81@cox.net Bland Massie ’77 super77@vmialumni.org Heidi Nagel ’02 Heidimason@aol.com Dallas B. Clark ‘99 clarkdb@vmi.edu

Region/ Director

Chapter Name

Chapter President

President’s E-mail

Chapter Representative

Russell Shun Takata ’74 Matthew R. Hemenez ’90 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 Thomas R. Clark III ’73 Jay C. Wegrzyn ’66 Andre J. Gibson ’78 Trent L. Boggs ’83 Joseph S. Howard III ’97 Kenneth S. Krynski ’89

russell.takata@yahoo.com mrhemenez@cox.net tearris@gmail.com seattlefarmer@comcast.net vmiman@comcast.com jcwegrzyn@yahoo.com andrejg@aol.com tboggs@gci.com jhoward211@cox.net krynskiks@pendleton.usmc.mil

Russell Shun Takata ’74 Raphael S. Barsamian ’89 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68

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 Stephen J. Barcik III ’85 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 steve.barcik@htds2.com jeff.t.golden@smithbarney.com vordermark@juno.com tfeagans@marcusmillchap.com alexw@enconinternational.com Joseph.J.Leonard@uscg.mil michael.demers2@wpafb.af.mil goreharry@vmialumni.org dhag80@aol.com jim_dittrich@leisurearts.com ggmcd34@earthlink.net WKleine@STX.RR.com HBRvmi98@vmialumni.org

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

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

Patrick L. McGuire ’85 Matthew L. Camfield ’94 Robert A. Munno ’81

magsvmi@email.com matthew_camfield@msn.com ram81vmi@aol.com

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

Thomas M. Wirth ’98 Duane E. Williams ’66 John D. Kearney ’73 Allan R. Berenbrok ’80

twirth@mragta.com dwilliams@pa.net kearneyjd@msn.com allan.berenbrok@tetratech.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 William E. Kirby III ’96

tbowers68@comcast.net tomdaniel60@charter.net cschoen@ironwoodins.com

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

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

Region I Far West

Region II Midwest

Fred Lehman ’91

Fredrick.Lehman@ morganstanley.com

Region III Northeast

Felix Wolkowitz ’75 fwolkowitz@ wolkowbraker.com

Region IV Mid Atlantic

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

Region V Southeast

Guy Conte ’75 guyconte@ gmail.com

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

vmi73agent@aol.com ktkirby@comcast.net

Nathaniel P. Ward IV ’65 Peter H. Lyons ’54 Marcus Bruce Paine ’81 Thomas D. Kelly ’50B John D. Christie ’59

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

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

THE VMI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DIRECTORY

Region/ Director

Chapter Name

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

Benjamin A. Booth ’03 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Michael J. Tutor ’96 Michael S. Anderson ’88

benjamin.booth@volvo.com toomeyl@pinehurst.net mike@tutorresumes.com mike.anderson@allentate.com

John R. Fisher ’89 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 James A. Sharp ’93

Jerome M. Brinkley ’84

brinkleyj1@yahoo.com

Karl L. Klinar ’54 Donald P. DeLuca ’62

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

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 Rhys D. Williams ’07 P. Wells Griffith III ’05

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 rhys.david.williams@gmail.com wellsgriffith@gmail.com

William H. Cather Jr. ’65

New River Valley Lynchburg Roanoke

bmadison@themadisonfamily.net William A. Madison ’90 Christopher M. Boswell ’00 cboswell@aquaduckshoes.com Christopher D. Copenhaver ’99 chrisc@protossecurity.com

William A. Madison ’90 John T. McCarthy ’87 J. Patrick Henderson ’99

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 Jason K. Gruse ’97

Eastern Shore

lbcpa2@verizon.net dtyler4@cox.net joshua.p.priest@navy.mil ed.plucinski@hanson.com ghaste@associatedcontracting.com johnrowejr@verizon.net

Thomas F. Wilson ’80

Norfolk Peninsula Virginia Beach Western Tidewater

Robert W. Leatherbury ’80 David G. Tyler IV ’86 Joshua P. Priest ’80 Edward M. Plucinski ’86 Gary J. Haste ’77 John L. Rowe Jr. ’66

George C. Marshall Potomac River

Douglas B. Warner ’03 Thomas A. Brashears ’95

douglas.warner1@gmail.com R. Rucker Slater Jr. ’88 thomasbrashears@roadrunner.com Douglas B. Warner ’03

Richmond Tri Cities

Adam N. Britt ’03 William H. Talley IV ’77

abritt@kbsgc.com wht4@whts.com

Samuel N. Stocks ’90 Augustus Robbins III ’47

Fredericksburg - Quantico Rappahannock Williamsburg Southside

Carl J. DeBernard Jr. ’94 Richard A. Duke ’90 Peter J. Kokolis ’96 George D. Dyer ’66

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

Europe

Italy

Steven G. Cade ’87

steven.cade@us.army.mil

Region VI Carolinas

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 tedjenks@ comcast.net

Region X Hampton Roads Asa Page III ’79 vmi79@verizon.net Douglas Burdett ’82 douglasburdett@ yahoo.com

Region XI Metro D.C.

Sean Boyle ’91

boyle100@comcast.net

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

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

Steve Nakazawa ’ 03

steve.nakazawa@gmail.com

Region XII Central VA

Robert Louthan ’82 rpl@aocp.com

Samuel Stocks ’90

sstocks@ kbsgc.com

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

2010-Issue 2

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

151

ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS In November 2009, Paul E. Fortin ’53, dynamics and arranged for flights in light Ph.D., received the 2009 Kansas Gover- aircraft with basic instruction. nor’s Aviation Honor Award.

Fortin is a charter member of the MisAccording to the Kansas Aviation Mu- souri Aerospace Summit and the Kansas seum Web site, the “Aviation Honor Award Foundation of Aeronautical Education. was created to preserve the memory of Fortin matriculated from Newburyport, outstanding aviation contributions by Massachusetts, and graduated from VMI citizens of the state of Kansas. The intent with a bachelor’s degree in electrical of this award is to recognize and record engineering. He earned his master’s for future generations the many individual and doctorate degrees from Oklahoma efforts that have been made in the pioneer- State University and Denver University, ing, growth and development of aviation respectively. and space exploration in Kansas.”

Fortin is the author of a number of Fortin joined the Air Force after graduat- books, including Fantasy and Mechanics ing from VMI and served for 30 years. He of Flight. logged over 4,000 hours of flying, including six strategic RB-47 missions around Thomas A. Saunders III ’58 has been the world and 124 combat RB-66 missions elected chairman of The Heritage Foundaover Vietnam. While in the Air Force, he tion Board of Trustees. received two Legion of Merit awards, Saunders has been a member of the board three Distinguished Flying Crosses, a since 2005 and is the first new chairman in Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, 17 years. He previously served as chair13 Air Medals and three Air Force Com- man of Heritage’s Investment Committee. mendation Medals.

He most recently oversaw the “Leadership As a result of this training, Fortin went on for America” campaign and its 10 initiato work in the Air Force Labotives, which include reforming ratories as director of Air Force entitlements, improving health Intelligence with the Directorate care, protecting America from of Intelligence (Air Staff) and its enemies and recovering the manager of four laboratories for nation’s founding principles. the Directorate of Research and Saunders’ service on other Development Headquarters. nonprofit boards includes the He also served four years as the New York Historical Society sole USAF representative on and the University of Virginia the Joint Atomic Energy and Investment Management Co. Scientific and Technical IntelHe previously served as chairligence Committees, providing Saunders ’58 man of the board of the Thomas national intelligence estimates Jefferson Foundation. He was to the president and his staff. on the board of visitors of both Fortin retired from active duty with the the University of Virginia and VMI. rank of colonel.

Saunders is president of Ivor & ComAfter retiring from the USAF, he became pany, a private investment firm. In 1990, an educator at the University of Kansas, he co-founded Saunders Karp & Megrue, teaching undergraduate- and graduate- a private equity firm that merged in 2005 level engineering. In 1990, he and several with Apax Partners of London. From other engineers developed the engineering 1974-89, he was a managing director of magnet program for the Kansas City (Mis- Morgan Stanley & Company. souri) Engineering Magnet High School.

In 2008, President George W. Bush (Editor’s Note: Magnet schools are public awarded the National Humanities Medal schools with specialized curricula. The term to Saunders. He also is the recipient of the “magnet” refers to how the schools draw most prestigious awards bestowed by the students from across the normal boundar- New York Historical Society, the Marine ies defined by authorities, usually school Corps University Foundation, VMI Founboards.) dation and the University of Virginia’s During this time, he also introduced Darden School of Business. inner city students to the basics of aeroSaunders matriculated from Norfolk, 152

Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He continued his education at the University of Virginia where he earned his master’s degree in 1967.

The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) has awarded the Benjamin F. Boyd Humanitarian Medal for Services to Horace D. Hoskins Jr. ’61, M.D. This award was established in 1987 to acknowledge individuals who have extended singular and significant aid to the people of the Americas through ophthalmological service and blindness Hoskins ’61 prevention activities, public services related to the advancement of ophthalmology or blindness prevention, or other such service activities.

From 1979-87, Hoskins was secretarytreasurer of the PAAO for four consecutive terms, traveling extensively throughout Latin America. He served as executive vice president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an institute that works closely with the PAAO, from 1993-2008.

Hoskins matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and attended VMI for three years.

He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1964.

William L. Respess ’61, Ph.D., has received the 2009 Intellectual Property Achievement Award from the San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association (SDIPLA).

According to the December 2009 issue of SDIPLA News, Respess has demonstrated how a lawyer can change society and the world. As general counsel for Hybritech, Inc., a medical technology company that develops monoclonal antibodies, he created a patenting and patent enforcement strategy to protect the company’s inventions. “Without the patents and the likelihood that those patents could be enforced, there would have been far fewer scientists, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS would take the risk to start a fledgling biotechnology company,” the article stated.

Therefore, as a result of his work, Respess “helped to establish San Diego as home to one of the largest biotechnology industries in the United States and the world.”

Respess matriculated from Newport News, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He continued his education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in 1964 and 1966, respectively. He earned his juris doctorate degree from George Washington University in 1972.

Nathaniel P. Ward IV ’65 spoke at an event commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the first two American combat casualties of the Vietnam War. U.S. Army Master Sgt. Chester Ovnand and Maj. Dale Buis died on July 8, 1959, when their compound was attacked by North Vietnamese communists. Theirs are the first two names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, occupying panel 1E, Row 1, at the apex of the wall.

Ward’s father, Col. Nathaniel P. Ward III, was the chief of staff of the U.S. Army Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam from 1958-60. Both Ovnand and Buis worked for Col. Ward.

Working with the Mekong Education Foundation, Ward located relatives of the two men in the late 1990s and has met members of the Buis family.

Ward matriculated from Hampton, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in English. He earned

his LL.B. degree from California Western School of Law, in San Diego.

James P. Tate ’67 participated in a Civil War reenactment event at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital on Oct. 3, 2009.

Vice president of the Third U.S Regular Infantry, Tate portrayed a private soldier from the 1860s, along with other members of the Third U.S. Regulars, a group dedicated to educating the public on the life of the U.S. regular infantry soldier from the period 1860-65.

Quoted in the article, “Civil War Reenactors Salute Today’s Veterans,” by Dave Welker, who is also a member of the Third U.S. Regulars, Tate said, “These soldiers [at Walter Reed] have sacrificed so much, especially those recovering from wounds, and we wanted to find some way to express our thanks and appreciation to them.”

Tate matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and attended VMI for three years.

He graduated from Old Dominion University in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. He earned his master’s degree in finance from the University of Alabama in 1973.

A team led by Edwin A. Snead II ’70 has received the 2009 Science and Service Award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Only seven drug and alcohol addiction recovery programs in the United States were selected for this award.

Since 1992, Snead has been operational manager of Ches-

Nathaniel Ward IV ’65 spoke at the 50th anniversary of the first American combat casualties of the Vietnam War.

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terfield Substance Abuse Services, a public program in central Virginia that provides outpatient substance abuse treatment to a diverse urban, suburban and rural population. As of this writing, the Snead ’70 program currently manages approximately 600 cases. Snead is responsible for the development of policies and procedures, ensuring licensures are met, longrange planning, budgetary requirements, and ensuring that all clinical services and outreach programs are provided.

Since 1999, he has worked within the National Institute on Drug Abuse as a community program treatment director for the National Clinical Trials Network.

The network uses science-based methods to improve the quality of drug abuse treatment throughout the United States.

Snead matriculated from Clifton Forge, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He completed his master’s degree in counseling from Kansas State University in 1980.

Christopher M. Stone ’78, PE, president of Clark Nexsen Architecture and Engineering, has been named the 2009-10 vice president of the National Society of

James Tate ’67 took part in a Civil War reenactment event at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in October 2009. Photo by Dave Welker, Third U.S. Regular Infantry Reenactors Inc. See story above.

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ALUMNI NEWS Professional Engineers (NSPE). In 2011Wolffe matriculated from Short Hills, from VMI, earning a bachelor’s degree in 12, he will serve as NSPE president.

New Jersey, and graduated with distinction English.

As vice president, Stone works with the from VMI, earning a bachelor’s degree in NSPE president, president-elect and im- economics. He continued his education at Hugh M. Fain ’80 was elected to the mediate past-president. When assigned, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Virginia Bar Association Board of Govhe represents the president in meetings University, where he earned his master’s ernors in January 2010. with technical and professional societies degree.

The Virginia Bar Association is a voland other professions. He also serves as a untary organization of Virginia lawyers spokesperson to the media, general public, Robert C. Morris Jr. ’79 received the committed to serving the public and the government, and corporate and education Six Sigma & Business Improvement De- legal profession. The association does this entities with direction from the president, ployment Leader of the Year award on Oct. by promoting the highest standards of inreflecting NSPE policies and programs 14, 2009, at the Annual Global Lean Six tegrity, professionalism and excellence in as approved by the board of directors and Sigma and Business Process Improvement the legal profession; working to improve House of Delegates. Stone is also a mem- Summit & Industry Awards Dinner. the law and the administration of justice; ber of the board of directors, executive Six Sigma is an organization that “uses and advancing collegial relations among committee, House of Delegates data and statistical analysis to lawyers. Fain is in a three-year role on and budget committee. measure and improve a com- the board of governors and will progress According to a Clark Nexsen pany’s operational performance from president-elect to president and then press release, Stone is a strucby identifying and eliminating to chairman. tural engineer with 30 years of ‘defects’ in manufacturing and Fain matriculated from Richmond, experience in the design and service-related processes,” ac- Virginia, and graduated with distinction management of public, private, cording to the Sigma Web site. from VMI, earning a bachelor’s degree in educational and commercial Morris is a member of the U.S. economics. He earned his juris doctorate projects. He has been involved Training and Doctrine Com- from the University of Virginia in 1983. in over 500 construction projmand (TRADOC) Lean Six SigCurrently a member of the VMI Foundaects during his career. Clark ma team. TRADOC develops tion Board of Trustees, Fain also is a past Stone ’78 Nexsen, a 500-person architecthe Army’s soldier and civilian president of The VMI Alumni Association, tural and engineering firm with leaders and designs, develops the VMI Club of Richmond and the Bar seven office locations in the mid-Atlantic, and integrates capabilities, concepts and Association of the City of Richmond. is one of the top 500 U.S. design firms and doctrine to build a campaign-capable He was featured in the Alumni Review top 200 international design firms. expeditionary Army in support of joint 2008-Issue 4 on page 18.

Stone matriculated from Waynesboro, war-fighting commanders through Army Virginia, and graduated with distinction Force Generation (ARFORGEN).

Gen. Paul W. Brier ’81, USMC, was from VMI, earning a bachelor’s degree in TRADOC was awarded Best Project promoted to commander of U.S. Marine civil engineering. He received his master’s Achievement in Innovation or Product Corps Forces Europe and U.S. Marine degree from the University of Virginia.

Development and the Platinum Award for Corps Forces Africa on Sept. 10, 2009.

Process Excellence Project.

Brier joined the Marine Corps in 1981 A member of the United States Hickory Morris matriculated from Newtown, and has progressed through the ranks.

Golf Team, Richard C. Wolffe Jr. ’78 Connecticut, and graduated with distinction More recently, he was promoted to colonel competed in the Hickory Grail golf match, which was held at Falsterbo Golfklubb in Sweden, July 30-Aug. 1, 2009.

Wolffe has played on the U.S. team in four of the six Hickory Grail matches, including the 2000 inaugural match at Kilspindie Golf Club in Scotland. The matches are conducted under the auspices of the British Golf Collectors Society.

The U.S. team included two professionals and 14 amateurs, Wolffe among them.

Wolffe won both his foursomes and singles matches, contributing two points to the American side.

Since 2000, the U.S. and European teams Richard Wolffe Jr. ’78 competed in the Hickory Grail golf match in Sweden, have alternated in hosting the Grail match.

July 2009. Above are Wolffe, his teammates and other participants.

In 2011, it will be played in the U.S. 154

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS in 2003 and served at the Pentagon as Marine Corps service planner and deputy executive assistant to the deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations. In 2005-06, he commanded the 6th Civil Affairs Group in al-Anbar Province, Iraq, supporting the 2nd Marine Division and Multi-National ForcesWest, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In Brier’s civilian career, he is a professional engineer (civil/structural) in the commonwealth of Virginia.

Brier matriculated from Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He is also a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Air War College and the U. S. Army War College, where he received a master of strategic studies degree. He studied joint and combined operations at the Royal Navy Maritime Warfare Centre and Joint Forces Staff College, and civil-military cooperation and civil affairs operations at the Finnish Defense Force International Centre and Joint Special Operations University. His awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V” and gold star.

In the November 2009 issue of Seapower, D. Scott Gines ’83, vice presidentInstitutional Advancement at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, was pictured with members of the military and university, as the Kingsville Council unveiled the “Community Covenant.” The purpose of the covenant is to “express the community’s support of U.S. military men and women.”

During this event and in recognition of Armed Forces Day, Lt. j.g. Russell S. Sloane ’88, USCG, helped coordinate a ceremonial flyby over Javelina Stadium at halftime of the Texas A&M vs. Southeastern Oklahoma University football game.

Gines matriculated from Spring Arbor, Michigan, and graduated with distinction from VMI, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. He has a master of education degree in sport psychology from the University of Virginia.

Sloane matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history.

On Dec. 5, 2009, Lt. Col. John J. Wranek III ’85, ARNG, relinquished command of the 29th Infantry Division’s Special Troops Battalion (STB) to Lt. Col. Marti J. Bissell, ARNG, during a ceremony at Wells Field House in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

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Wranek, who matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and commissioned as an engineer officer in the Virginia Army National Guard. In civilian life, he is an associate director of Alumni and Reunion Giving with the VMI Foundation.

He and his wife, Cathy, have two children.

During her military career, Bissell has been assigned to numerous locations, including Korea; Germany; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Belvoir and Sandston, Virginia; and the Pentagon. In civilian life, she is deputy chief of staff at VMI. She is married to Lt. Col. Gary A. Bissell ’89, USAR, and they have two children.

The STB was formed in February 2006 during the transformation of the division’s headquarters. Its mission is to provide the necessary command and control, sustainment, communications and security support for the 29th Infantry Division. Over the past year, soldiers from the STB deployed to Camp Asaka, Japan, in support of the multinational Command Post Exercise Yama Sakura 55 and to Camp Bullis, Texas, in support of Panamax 2009. In January 2009, the STB provided domestic support to the 29th Infantry Division Joint Task Force Headquarters for the Presidential Inauguration.

Many of the division’s soldiers have recently served in the Sinai Peninsula, the Balkans,

Lt. Col. Marti Bissell, second from left, received the change of command flag after Lt. Col. John Wranek ’85, far right, relinquished command of the 29th Infantry Division’s Special Troops Battalion. See article for details.

Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, its soldiers have served in a variety of homeland defense missions and disaster relief operations.

Col. Steve G. Gray ’86, USAF, has been selected to command the First Air Operations Support Group, headquartered at McChord Air Force Base in Fort Lewis, Washington, effective June 8, 2010.

Gray, as of this writing, is serving as the director for the Combat Plans Division, Thirteenth Air Force, Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Gray matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He received two master’s degrees in military art and science from American Military Institute and the School of Advanced Military Studies in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

He has been awarded three Air Force Commendation Medals.

On Nov. 20, 2009, Andrew S. McAllister ’88 was named vice president, with responsibility for engineering services among other functions, in the Currency Technology Office (CTO) of The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

The CTO’s mission is to serve as the technical arm of the Cash Product Office (CPO), which is based at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and to provide customer support services to the cash processing offices of the Federal Reserve System, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the Secret Service on beMcAllister ’88 half of the CPO. The CTO’s focus is on the automation of physical currency handling and the Federal Reserve System’s high-speed currency processing environment.

McAllister matriculated from Newnan, Georgia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

He earned his master’s degree in systems engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Jason V. Gray ’89 has assumed a new position as the executive officer to the commanding general, First United States Army,

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ALUMNI NEWS headquartered at Fort Gilliam, Georgia. He was previously a program manager for the base realignment at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Gray matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for two and onehalf years.

While serving in the military from 199196, he was awarded two Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, an Army Overseas Service Ribbon and a National Defense Medal.

On Nov. 10, 2009, Chilton E. Morris ’90 was promoted to assistant vice president of BB&T Corporation in Greenville, South Carolina.

Morris joined the bank in 2009 as a collections manager in BB&T’s Non-Performing Assets Department.

Morris matriculated from Summersville, West Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history. He earned his master’s degree from Marshall University in West Virginia.

Erik D. Marechal ’92 is a partner in McLean/Marechal (Nationwide) Insurance based in Florence, South Carolina.

The McLean/Marechal firm has been

recognized for two consecutive years as one of the top five producers of farm/agricultural business insurance in the United States, according to an article that appeared on SCNow.com.

In the insurance business for 17 years, Marechal has been with Nationwide for five.

According to his partner and father-in-law, Bob McLean, Marechal has achieved the president’s level several times with Nationwide. “Very few agents in the state do this,” McLean said.

Marechal, a distinguished military graduate, matriculated from Waynesboro, Virginia, and earned his bachelor’s degree from VMI in economics. His father is C. Douglas Marechal ’62, former president of The VMI Alumni Association (200204) and regional director of the Shenandoah Valley Region. He has also served as a member of the Keydet Club Board of Governors.

Capt. Thomas F. Hancock IV ’03, USMC, was featured in a Nov. 11, 2009, article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The article described the common bond between Hancock, who is a member of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, and his grandfather, Lou

Caraker, who was a Marine in World War II. According to the article, “[Hancock’s] special operations unit – which focuses on foreign internal defense, reconnaissance and covert operations, among other things – is a reincarnation of the elite Marine Raiders, of which the 84-year-old Caraker was a member during World War II.” Their Marine connection has brought grandfather and grandson closer together.

The article quoted Hancock’s mother and Caraker’s daughter, Anne Marie, who said that her father had not, up to this point, talked much about his experience in the war. She explained that talking to his grandson had made her father’s life better and easier.

At Hancock’s graduation from Marine Special Operations School in April 2009, Caraker was surprised to be recognized as an original Marine Raider. “All 47 of those guys clapped for me. I never had a reception like that.”

To read the full article online, go to www. timesdispatch.com.

Hancock matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in economics. His father, Thomas F. Hancock III ’67, also graduated from VMI.

... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ... Book Announcement ...

Objects of Our Affection: Uncovering My Family One Chair, Pistol and Pickle Fork at a Time by Lisa Tracy. Random House/ Bantam, April 2010, New York, NY. ISBN: 978-0-553-80726-4 (Hardcover) Objects of Our Affection: Uncovering My Family One Chair, Pistol and Pickle Fork at a Time is a family memoir by the granddaughter of Gen. Charles E. Kilbourne, class of 1894, and superintendent emeritus. Central to the book is the auction in 2003 of a good portion of the family furniture, which becomes the opportunity to reflect upon and evoke events in this important military family’s history.

Charles Kilbourne, at the end of World War I, was the most decorated soldier in the U.S. Army. He was a contemporary and colleague of George C. Marshall, class of 1901, and Douglas MacArthur, and fought in every war involving the United States between 1898 and 1919. Kilbourne was also the mind behind the construction of the Malinta Tunnel, which he devised under the pretext of a transportation venue and personally supervised in the early 1930s. He was

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also the officer in charge of Corregidor when the ancient Spanish cannons were removed in 1909 and replaced with the armaments that would still be Corregidor’s principle defense against the Japanese in World War II. Kilbourne met and married his wife, Elizabeth Egbert Kilbourne, during the Philippine Insurrection, after she and her mother and sisters were left stranded by the death of her father, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Harry Clay Egbert. Their stories and a substantial slice of late 19th and 20th century U.S. military history are woven through this account of the family furniture, which traveled with them and finally outlived them.

About the Author: Lisa (Elizabeth Kilbourne) Tracy is a journalist and author who spent much of her career at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she served as Home and Design editor, managing editor of the Sunday Magazine and a member of the Editorial Board. Her books include the award-winning Muddy Waters: The Legacy of Katrina and Rita and The Gradual Vegetarian. She makes her home in Lexington, Virginia, and is a member of the board of the Friends of Preston Library.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE INSTITUTE

Governor Praises Cadets in His VMI Valedictory On Jan. 14, 2009, during his last public appearance away from Richmond as governor, then-Gov. Tim Kaine told cadets the lessons of leadership and civility they learn at the Institute are needed by the nation more than ever.

“Our nation needs your leadership, our military needs your leadership and your judgment,” he told the majority of the Corps of Cadets in Jackson Memorial Hall.

He urged the cadets to become engaged in service, “because what you learn here will elevate the tone of civil society.”

He said he was impressed with the values of character, integrity, judgment, compassion and intelligent patriotism that VMI alumni he knows bring to their work. The VMI experience, he said, creates citizens who understand the ethic of service in civilian life as well as in the military.

“The citizen-soldier mission of VMI has never been more important than it is today,” he said.

Kaine said each public college and university in Virginia is unique. “When talking about our model of higher education in Virginia, I always hold VMI up as an example of what is so good about the diversity of the schools we have,” he said.

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, presented Kaine with a VMI Meritorious Service Award. The award recognized Kaine’s accomplishments in office, his support for higher education in the state generally and his support for VMI in particular.

Peay noted that the Institute was especially grateful for the governor’s support of capital projects “that have truly transformed this post.”

Kaine visited VMI as the last stop on his last travel day in office. A parade that had been scheduled in his honor was cancelled due to snow that stubbornly stayed on the Parade Ground nearly a month since the snow storm that hit the region on Dec. 18.

The event was Kaine’s fifth visit to VMI during his term in office.

His visit came during a week that included cadets honoring Virginia’s outgoing and incoming governors.

The Corps of Cadets marched in the inaugural parade for Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell the following weekend.

(See the front section of this Review for photos of the inaugural parade.)

Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles and photos in the Institute section of the Alumni Review are provided

by VMI Communications and Marketing.

2010-Issue 2

Photos top and center: Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, left, read the citation and Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66, right, president of the VMI Board of Visitors, presented Gov. Kaine, center, with the VMI Meritorious Service Award. Photo above; Kaine shaking hands with Sloan Burns ’10, first class president. (VMI photos by Kevin Remington.)

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INSTITUTE VMI Economics and Business Department Earns Accreditation The Department of Economics and Business has entered the ranks of 5 percent of the world’s business programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, as announced in January 2010.

The department was one of nine programs from five nations to complete the rigorous, multi-year accreditation process and to be admitted to the elite list of colleges this year.

“The faculty of the Department of Economics and Business is to be commended on successfully completing the arduous accreditation process,” said Brig. Gen. R. Wane Schneiter, deputy superintendent for academics and dean of the faculty. “Achieving accreditation, however, would not have been possible if the department were not already performing at a world-class level.”

Col. Floyd Duncan, professor and head of the department, spearheaded the accreditation effort. Commenting on the announcement, Duncan said, “We first started to explore AACSB accreditation more than two decades ago. We have been working full time toward this goal for almost seven years.”

AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by less than five percent of the world’s business schools. Today, there are 579 business schools in 35 countries that maintain AACSB accreditation.

“AACSB accreditation represents the highest achievement for an educational institution that awards business degrees,” said John J. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “Col. Duncan and the faculty, directors and administrative staff of the Virginia Military Institute are to be commended for their role in earning initial accreditation.”

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation and adjustment and can take several years to complete. During these years, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the 21 AACSB standards requiring a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement and curricula responsive to the needs of business.

As required by AACSB standards, all accredited schools must go through a peer review process every five years in order to maintain their accreditation.

AACSB made special note of several aspects of VMI’s program it considers to “demonstrate leadership and high quality continuous improvement in management education.” The association has asked for additional information to promote these items to other schools as best practices: The new VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics and how that separate organization integrates with the department’s academic program.

The VMI Honor Code and how the department’s cadets have embraced it.

The strong external support for the department, such as its advisory group, and the active support the department receives from the VMI Board of Visitors, the VMI Foundation and the Jackson-Hope Fund.

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Inspirational Officer is VMI’s First Leader in Residence As announced in January 2010, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gregory Gadson is the first leader-in-residence at VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics. Gadson, who lost both of his legs in a roadside bomb blast in Iraq in May 2007, is now attached to the Army Medical Department’s Wounded Warrior Program.

As leader-in-residence, Gadson spent two weeks on Post during spring semester, March 22-26 and April 12-16, 2010, interacting with cadets and faculty in a variety of formal and informal settings. He also gave an address on ethical leadership that was open to the public.

“Gadson emphasizes with clarity and emotion that everyone has the capacity to get back up after a fall,” said Brig. Gen. Charles Brower IV, professor of history who taught Gadson at the U.S. Military Academy. “He speaks to the interplay of an assertive self-reliance and the importance of teamwork, which was crucial in his own survival.”

“You don’t get to pick your circumstances,” said Gadson. “It’s your obligation to be your best, no matter what you’re asked to do.”

Still serving active duty in the Army, Gadson recently completed a master’s degree in policy management from Georgetown University and is a fellow at the Institute of World Politics.

In Iraq, Gadson commanded the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery. He has served in every major conflict of the last two decades, including Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Kuwait, Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. His awards include three Bronze stars, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

The Leader-in-Residence Program each year invites a current or former leader in government, military, business or other profession to spend two weeks at the Institute in order to allow cadets and faculty to explore the full range of leadership issues such leaders have faced during their careers.

“The program allows cadets and faculty to test their understanding of leadership concepts and appreciate how they have been used in practice,” said Brower. “It is one component of the leadership and character development programs associated with VMI’s new Center for Leadership and Ethics.”

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE Letters to Airmen Program Both Senders and Receivers Benefit

by Col. Steven L. Amato ’83, Detachment Commander, VMI Air Force ROTC

If you need to contact a family member, service members make while deployed November 2009 blog, “During the past loved one, friend, employer or co-worker, overseas. few weeks, I’ve seen a huge outpouring chances are you will send a text message, Feedback has proven that the Letters of support from people back home. I’ve e-mail or instant message or use a cell to Airmen program is a huge morale been receiving tons of e-mails and letters phone to quickly make a connection. booster. Capt. Kristen Pate, USAF, pub- from people all over the world thanking State-of-the-art communication meth- lic affairs officer, 379th AEW, wrote, the men and women of the 379 AEW for ods are available to our military service “WOW! Thanks so much for thinking of their service. Just today, I received about members to and from war zones and all of us. “I will make sure the letters are 100 letters written by freshmen from Virother remote bases, which help to reduce distributed throughout the base. Please ginia Military Institute, AFROTC Det 880. the stress, strain, loneliness and anxiety pass on my thanks to your cadets. There These freshmen cadets wrote to express felt by service members and their thanks and appreciation to their families. As helpful as all here for their sacrifices durthese lifelines are, nothing ing this holiday season.” can replace a handwritten Describing challenges at VMI, letter sent in the mail, and cadets have written of their in today’s military, the “good struggles, stress and hardships old fashioned” letter is still as cadets in the Ratline or as alive, well and very much a nULL in the nULL-system appreciated. at Virginia Women’s Institute With this in mind, VMI’s for Leadership (a female cadet Air Force Reserve Officer corps at Mary Baldwin ColTraining Corps (AFROTC) lege, supported by all of VMI’s Detachment 880 has been ROTC departments). Of course, mailing letters written by cacadets realize that their college dets to our deployed Airmen. challenges are not nearly as For two years, the AFROTC difficult as those experienced Detachment 880 “Letters by deployed Airmen and other to Airmen” program has servicemen, and they state this mailed a total of 250 letters in their letters. to the 379th Air ExpeditionDeployed VMI alumni have ary Wing (AEW) located been among those who have Above are, from left, Maj. Stephani Hunsinger, Ms. Pam in Southwest Asia. During Lipes and Capt. Sabrina Sparkman, all of whom are VMI received cadet letters. Lt. Col. fall 2009, 124 letters were Air Force ROTC Detachment 880 staff members respon- Richard Blocker ’88, who, as of written by members of the sible for making the Letters to Airmen program a success. this writing, is deployed as the class of 2013, and in 2008, Photo submitted by Col. Steven Amato ’83, USAF. deputy director, Combat Plans members of VMI’s classes Division in the Combined Air of 2011 and 2012 wrote 126 Operations Center, Southwest letters. The cadets were asked to write are plenty of people here who never get Asia, wrote to me, saying, “Very nice letters expressing their appreciation to mail, so knowing they are appreciated gesture, and if possible, pass on to the deployed Airmen, especially during the back home is a big deal.” cadets our thanks. There are a couple of holiday season.

In their letters, Detachment 880 cadets VMI guys working with or around me, As the detachment commander, I have have expressed feelings, challenges of and I sent these to them as well.” reviewed every letter written by our cadetship and college experiences, but The Letters to Airmen program clearly Detachment 880 cadets, and many have most importantly, they have sincerely demonstrates to VMI’s officer candidates been amazing. For at least half of these communicated their appreciation to our the importance of expressing appreciation cadets’ lives, our nation has been fighting Airmen. Acknowledging their efforts, to those who most need it – saying “thank the war on terror. It is important for our Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson, the current you” through a simple, less frequently cadets to realize the sacrifices that our 379th AEW commander, wrote in his used medium … the handwritten letter.

2010-Issue 2

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INSTITUTE

VMI Music Program Highlights

by Col. John A. Brodie, VMI Director of Music

Fall Semester Music

Wounded Warriors Project in Florida

Fall semester for the Regimental Band, Pipes and Drums, Glee Club, and Commanders Jazz Band was very busy, including 50 performances of the Band and Pipe Band; 13 parades on Post; three halftime performances; parades in Lexington, Buena Vista, New Market and Staunton; traveling to the VMI-Army game at West Point; and performing during the Pearl Harbor Day memorial ceremony at the University of Virginia.

The Band recruited 56 new Rats into the company.

The VMI Glee Club has performed in concert during Parent’s Weekend, for Founders Day and the Institute Society Dinner, and most recently at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. The Commanders Jazz Band performed in over seven events, including various alumni events, Ring Figure and reunion shows, plus the highlight of the semester: a concert on the U.S.S. John Brown, a WWII Liberty Ship in Baltimore Harbor. (See photo directly below.)

The Regimental Band and Pipe Band traveled to Florida during the weekend of Feb. 5-7, 2010, to perform at the Wounded Warriors Project Military Tattoo in Punta Gorda. One hundred and twenty cadets and accompanying officers were transported on an Air Force C-17 Globemaster from the 446th Airlift Squadron based at McChord Air Force Base in Washington. Lt. Col. Rob Sawyer ’88 piloted the flight which departed from Richmond, Virginia, just ahead of a snow storm. The cadets performed on Feb. 6th at the American Legion in Port Charlotte, Florida, and then at the military tattoo held at Port Charlotte Field.

The military tattoo, which included nine units from the U.S. and Canada, raised significant funds for the Wounded Warriors Project, which benefits service personnel of all branches who have lost limbs in defense of our nation. Among those units performing were the U.S. Army Old Guard, fife and drum corps from Washington, D.C., Scout House Canadian Brass Band, and The Citadel Summerall Guards Drill Team.

The band’s participation encouraged significant financial contributions to the Wounded Warriors Project and increased public awareness about this worthy cause.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

Keydets Place Three on All-Big South First Team VMI’s George Handler, Tim Maypray and Marc Ray have been named to the 2009 Big South Football All-Conference First Team.

Handler, a fifth-year senior offensive lineman, earned his second career All-Conference honor and initial First Team accolade.

He was also named to the conference’s All-Academic team for the first time.

Maypray was tabbed for his third consecutive All-Conference team, having now been voted a representative of the league at four different positions: wide receiver and kickoff returner in 2007, quarterback in 2008, and punt returner this season. Finally, Ray became the first Keydet punter to be named First Team All-Conference since 2002, when VMI was a member of the Southern Conference.

In addition to the three first-teamers, four Keydets were named to the conference’s Second Team, including senior Howard Abegesah, who earned his third career All-Conference nod. The running back was joined by three defensive players, as Josh Wine, Emilio Calvin and Byron Allen each earned their first career All-Conference honor.

Season recap information for each honoree appears below:

OL - #55 George Handler R-Senior Four-year starter who has played every position on the offensive line … split time between center and guard in 2009 … has been a big part of VMI’s rushing offense output, as the Keydets led the Big South Conference (BSC) in rushing for the fourth straight year and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in rushing for the second consecutive year … Through 11 games, VMI ranked first in the league and nation in FCS with a 276.7 average … posted a team-high 13 knockdowns against Gardner-Webb and also had 12 2010-Issue 2

knockdowns against Presbyterian … made 41 consecutive career starts … 2008-09 Big South Presidential Honor Roll … 2008 Second Team All-Big South and 2009 Preseason All-Big South selection at offensive line … Has a 3.054 GPA in mechanical engineering.

PR - #28 Tim Maypray Senior Led the Big South in punt returns with a 12.9 average … also returned 16 punts which was top in the conference … returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown (TD) against Gardner-Webb which was the second longest in school history and third longest in Foster Stadium history.

It was also VMI’s first punt return for a TD in nine seasons … the punt return for TD made him the only active player in FCS history to account for a TD in rushing, passing, receiving, returning a kickoff and returning a punt.

P - #80 Marc Ray R-Freshman Led the BSC in punting with a 38.9 yards per punt … punted a season long punt of 56 yards in opener against Robert Morris in which he averaged 50.0 yards in three punts, with two punts 50+ yards and two punts inside the 20 … averaged 41.5 yards per punt against Coastal Carolina … averaged 40.8 yards and placed one punt inside the 20 against James Madison … punted a 53-yarder against Liberty and a 52-yarder against GardnerWebb … had just one touchback on the year … punted into nine fair catches on the season … finished with four punts over 50 yards on the year.

RB - #31 Howard Abegesah Senior Piled up the most total rushing yards of any back in the BSC in 2009 and ranked

second in yards per game (87.6) … was second in the BSC in rushing attempts (171), sixth in yards per rush (5.6) and tied for seventh in rush TDs (6) … compiled four 100-yard games on the season to include 165 against Presbyterian College, 160 against Charleston Southern University (CSU), 111 against Army and 106 against Robert Morris … named Big South Offensive Player of the Week for Oct. 24 when he scored on TD runs of 1, 32 and 12 yards to go with his 165 rushing yards against Presbyterian College … broke out a 46-yard TD against CSU and a 44-yard TD rush at Army … rushed for 87 yards in first half against Old Dominion University (ODU) before ankle injury ended his season in finale … finished career fourth on VMI career rushing list with 2,860 yards … had 13 career 100-yard rushing games.

DB - #22 Byron Allen R-Sophomore Ranked second in the BSC in tackles per game (9.3) … led BSC defensive backs in tackles per game in both overall and conference games … logged five doubledigit tackle games on the year, including a career-high 17 total stops at Liberty (eight solos, nine assists) … also posted 12 tackles against Gardner-Webb with five solos and seven assists … credited with 11 tackles against #1 Richmond with 0.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) for minus 7 yards … also had 11 tackles in season opener against Robert Morris … forced and recovered a fumble at Coastal Carolina and broke up passes against Richmond and Liberty … racked up five solos and four assists against James Madison and also had seven tackle games against Stony Brook and Presbyterian College.

LB - #99 Emilio Calvin R-Sophomore Big-play performer for the VMI defense 161

ATHLETICS at outside linebacker … ranked third on the team in tackles with 66 and led in TFL with 9.0 for minus 37 yards … ranked 13th in the BSC in tackles per game (6.0) and tied for fifth in TFL per game (0.2) … among league linebackers, he ranked in the top 10 (ninth) in tackles per game … had career-high 11 tackles versus Gardner-Webb with 1 TFL and nine tackles at Presbyterian College (seven solos and two assists) and four TFL for minus 18 yards, including a sack for minus 9 yards, and was named

BSC Defensive Player of the Week … had nine tackles against Coastal Carolina … tied for fifth in the conference in TFL in overall games (0.82) and was second in TFL in league games (1.08).

DL - #50 Josh Wine Junior Helped VMI to its best run defense numbers in 32 years … Keydets allowed 146.8 yards per game rushing – the best since 1977 – and led the league in rushing defense in conference games with 127.2

yards per game … led the Big South down linemen in tackles with 63 (5.7 per game) and had four TFL for minus 11 yards and 1.5 sacks for minus 4 yards … posted a career-high 10 tackles against CSU with a forced fumble … also logged eight-tackle games against James Madison and Stony Brook (five solos) and seven tackles at Army with 0.5 TFL for minus 3 yards … posted six-tackle games at #1 ranked Richmond and against ODU with a TFL for minus 5 yards … ranked 15th overall in the BSC in tackles per game.

VMI Announces 2010 Football Schedule The first gridiron meeting with the University of Virginia in 19 years highlights the 2010 VMI football schedule.

VMI will visit Charlottesville Sept. 25 and play the Cavaliers for the first time since the 1991 season. The Keydets and Virginia had previously faced each other 81 times in football, with the series dating back to 1893.

The Virginia game also marks the first time the Keydets have played an ACC opponent since 2005 when they traveled to Durham, North Carolina, to tangle with Duke.

VMI will play its first four games in the commonwealth of Virginia, opening the season at home Sept. 4 against Lock Haven. It marks the sixth straight season the Keydets have opened the season at home and the second visit to Foster Stadium by Lock Haven, which opened the 2007 season against VMI. The Keydets resume their longtime rivalry against William & Mary the following week at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg. The state rivals had played continuously since 1944 but did not face each other in 2009.

The Keydets open Big South Conference action at home against Presbyterian on Oct. 2 before heading to Long Island to challenge conference co-champions Stony Brook on Oct. 9.

For the second straight season, VMI will journey to West Point, New York, to face Army at Michie Stadium. The Black Knights prevailed over the Keydets, 22-17, last November in the 13th meeting between the military rivals.

VMI’s games with Virginia and Army also mark the first time the Keydets have competed against two FBS (formerly I-A) opponents in the same football season since 1985, when Virginia and North Carolina were on the slate.

The Keydets will take on Old Dominion at Foreman Field in Norfolk, Virginia, on Nov. 13 in the second-ever meeting between the schools and the first visit by VMI to Norfolk since 1995, when it closed out the season against Georgia Southern in the Oyster Bowl game.

VMI will conclude the 2010 campaign on the road Nov. 20

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against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

Home game kickoff times are expected to remain at the traditional 1:30 p.m. start, with Saturday morning parades held on Post.

Tickets for the 2010 season will go on sale on July 1 and can be ordered at www.vmikeydets.com or by calling 540/464-7266. See the table below for the 2010 VMI Football Schedule.

2010 VMI Football Schedule Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20

Lock Haven - (1st Fall Reunion Weekend) at William & Mary Open Date at University of Virginia Presbyterian * (Homecoming 2nd Fall Reunion Weekend) at Stony Brook * Liberty * (Parents Weekend) at Charleston Southern * at Army Coastal Carolina * (Military Appreciation Day) at Old Dominion at Gardner-Webb *

-Home games are shown in bold. * Asterisk denotes Big South Conference game.

-Home game kickoffs at 1:30 p.m.

-Road game kickoffs announced at later date.

Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles and photos in the Athletics section of the Alumni Review are produced by the VMI Sports Information Office.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ATHLETICS Falconi ’10 and Redmond Earn VaSID Women’s Soccer Honors VMI defender Audrey Falconi was named to the All-State First Team, while Keydet goalkeeper Angela Redmond ’11 earned Second Team honors, as announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) organization.

Falconi and Redmond played large roles in VMI’s best-ever defensive season, as the team established a new school record with a 1.06 goals-against-average. With six shutouts, the team also matched its school record, set during the 2008 campaign.

Falconi (Las Vegas, Nevada/Centennial), who earlier in the season earned First Team All-Big South accolades for the second straight year, was the only Keydet to play every minute on the field in 2009. Her recognition caps a season

in which she was also named the league’s Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the first female recipient of the Keydet Club’s Three-Legged Stool Award, given to a senior cadet-athlete who best exemplifies the three aspects of a VMI education: academics, athletics and military life/leadership excellence.

Redmond (Fairfax Station, Virginia/ Woodson) enjoyed a career year as a junior, leading the Big South with her 0.81 goals-against-average, while ranking fourth nationally in save percentage (89.3%). In addition, Redmond led the Keydets to wins over in-state opponents Liberty and Radford, as the team swept its Big South rivals for the first time in program history. She then helped the Keydets into the semifinals of the Big South Championship for the second year in a row, making a game-winning save in the shootout of an upset against Coastal Carolina.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID). For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid. Also, see the 2010-Issue Women’s soccer teammates Audrey Falconi, 1 Alumni Review, Keydet Club left, and Angela Redmond (not shown) section, for more about Falconi earned Virginia Sports Information Direc- and her three-legged stool award. tors Association (VaSID) All-State honors.

Club Sports Chalk Up Wins The VMI ice hockey team beat The Citadel in the Military Classic of the South, two cadets qualified to run in the Boston Marathon, and for the first time, a female VMI cadet has qualified for nationals in powerlifting.

Here is the breakdown of how VMI club sports fared in 2009:

Ice Hockey Club The ice hockey club won its first game against The Citadel 4-3 on Dec. 4. Chris Mendillo ’10 scored the deciding goal with 3:21 left in the game to claim game 1 of the Military Cup. Goal scorers in the game were Alex Erber ’13, Drew Horgan ’10, Andy Adldoost ’10 and Chris Mendillo.

Game 2 was played Dec. 5 at Wake Forest and proved to be more intense.

VMI won the game and claimed the cup in an overtime shootout. These two teams played the same scenario in North Carolina last year.

With time winding down in the third period, Drew Luxhoj scored the game-tying goal and sent the game into overtime. During the first overtime, VMI committed a penalty and skated shorthanded for two of the five-minute periods.

Both goaltenders held their ground, and the game (continued next page)

Sossou and Sowell Earn Postseason Honors VMI men’s soccer defender Ayao Sossou and goalkeeper Brian Sowell both earned postseason awards following the Keydets’ 2009 season. Sossou was named to the 2009 Virginia Association of Sports Information Directors Men’s Soccer Second Team, while Sowell was tabbed for the Big South All-Tournament Team following the Big South Championships in November 2009.

Sossou was a fixture on the VMI back line during his sophomore season, as he started 16 of VMI’s 17 games, missing just one contest during the year. He also notched an assist on the Keydets’ first goal of the season, a marker tallied against NJIT, and was a main player in offensive attacks, thanks to his speed on the wings.

Sossou attempted 10 shots on the year and helped the Keydets

2010-Issue 2

post a 106:09 shutout streak at the midpoint of the season, highlighted by a 2-0 blanking of Gardner-Webb.

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of the 2009 Big South Men’s Soccer Championships, VMI netminder Sowell was named to the All-Tournament team. It was the first Big South All-Tournament honor of Sowell’s three-year career.

During the Keydets’ 1-0 first round loss to Coastal Carolina, Sowell made just one save. However, during the regular season, the junior netminder from Yorktown, Virginia, led the Big South in saves per game and in total saves. He posted a shutout versus Gardner-Webb, and his three double-digit save games made him the only Big South keeper with more than one such game during the regular season.

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ATHLETICS came down to the second shootout with The Citadel in two years. Chris Mendillo and Hunter Wood ’13 both scored during the shootout, while Eric Wittig ’11 denied The Citadel any goals, giving VMI a 5-4 victory to win the Military Classic of the South.

Marathon Club Eleven cadets from the VMI marathon club ran in the 30th annual Peaks of Otter Christmas Classic 5K in Bedford, Virginia, on Dec. 5. Cadets performed well in the race, despite cold and rainy weather.

Chris Carr ’12 finished second in his age group: 18-24. The race had approximately 380 runners. While individual times are not yet available, the VMI marathon club won the team competition for best average finish time and was awarded the “Corporate Cup.” The VMI marathon team also participated in the Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon. Five cadets ran the full marathon. Their performance was stellar. Carr and Nathaniel Anglin ’12 qualified for the Boston Marathon, with finishing times of 3:06:25 and 3:02:17, respectively. The three others running the marathon posted personal bests.

Powerlifting Club The VMI powerlifting club hosted the first-ever U.S.A. Powerlifting (USAPL) VMI Powerlifting Classic on the main gym floor of Cocke Hall on Dec. 5. The event hosted powerlifters from all over the state, including 18 VMI cadets, and ended with four cadets qualifying for USAPL Collegiate Nationals to be held in Orlando, Florida, April 16-18.

Qualifying cadets were Ben Ashooh ’11, John Rivas ’13, Robert Stockman ’10 and Jessie Rende ’11.

Rende became the first woman from VMI to qualify for the prestigious Powerlifting nationals. Other cadets who are already qualified for Nationals are Lee Hafkemeyer ’10, Sharif Gray ’11 and Owen Trotman ’10. VMI Powerlifting now has a total of seven lifters qualified for the USAPL Collegiate Nationals.

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Women’s Runner-Up Conference Finish Highlights Cross Country Season The VMI cross country teams enjoyed a ships, which is the best result the program strong 2009 season, led by the best results has ever posted at that meet. in the history of the women’s program. The On the men’s side, a young team finished Keydet women finished second at the Big fourth at the Big South Championships.

South Championships, held in High Point, Freshmen Ian McGinn ’13, Booth Hornsby North Carolina, on Oct. 31, 2009. ’13 and Chris Wunsch ’13 all showed promHannah Granger ’11 paced VMI by winning the Big South title and Runner of the Year honors, both firsts for the program.

Granger was undefeated in the Big South during the 2009 campaign, as she also won the Big South Preview, which was held at the same course as Hannah Granger led VMI women’s cross country to a the championship runner-up finish at the Big South Championships, as she meet. Jenna Moye claimed the overall title. (Editor’s Note: See more about ’13earned the team’s Granger in the previous Alumni Review, 2010-Issue 1.) first-ever Freshman of the Year honors by finishing fourth at the championships, ise for the future, with McGinn leading that and Coach Paul Spangler was named the trio with a 21st place effort at the conferBig South Women’s Coach of the Year. ence meet. In addition, returners Felix The Keydets went on to finish 21st at the Kitur ’11 (19th) and Ermin Mujezinovic season-ending NCAA Regional Champion- ’11(25th) continued to be solid.

VMI to Sponsor Water Polo as Seventh Women’s NCAA Sport Athletic Director Donny White ’65 announced in December 2009 that the Institute’s intercollegiate athletic program will add water polo to sports sponsored for women’s athletics.

Plans are to hire a coach by July 1, 2010, with competition to begin during the 2011-12 academic year. The addition of water polo will be VMI’s seventh NCAA intercollegiate sport sponsored for women.

The decision to initiate a women’s water polo program was based on a study conducted by a committee of athletic administrators, faculty, cadets, alumni and VMI Board of Visitors members. The committee began its research in September 2009, examining numerous pros and cons of each team sport in terms of implementation at VMI. The primary focus of the study evaluated the new sport’s potential competitive success, operational and facility cost, acceptance by the Corps as a sport that fits well with the VMI culture, and the impact of the new sport on existing VMI sports in relationship (continued next page) VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ATHLETICS to practice and competition facility needs. The committee presented two choices for the addition of a new women’s sport, and Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 made the final decision in consultation with White.

“We are pleased to add water polo to our women’s intercollegiate sports programs,” said White. “The decision was based on extensive research by our committee, and we felt that it would be the best fit for the Institute at this time. We are also excited about the possibility of our women’s swimming program being enhanced with the addition of water polo to the sports VMI sponsors on the NCAA Division I level.”

Women’s water polo, a traditional spring sport season, has been sponsored as a championship sport by the NCAA since 2001, although competition itself has taken place much longer. Currently, there are 33 Division I programs, eight Division II programs and 19 Division III teams.

Most colleges that field the sport are located either on the East or West Coasts. Water polo requires a minimum of 10 contests per season, and they can be scheduled against teams from all three divisions.

Conference affiliation options on the East Coast include the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Collegiate Water Polo Association.

The 2009 NCAA Championships were held in College Park, Maryland, and were hosted by the University of Maryland. Teams from all three divisions competed for the title, which was won by UCLA for the fifth straight year. Water polo also became a women’s Olympic sport in 2000, signifying its rise in popularity.

When it begins competition, water polo will join soccer, cross country, indoor track, swimming and diving, outdoor track and field, and rifle as women’s NCAA sports fielded

by VMI.

2010-Issue 2

Williams ’08 Signs with Warriors for Remainder of Season Former VMI Keydet Reggie Williams ’08 realized a dream on March 22, 2010, signing on for the rest of the season with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.

As of this writing, Williams, 23, has appeared in 11 games with Golden State, averaging 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 24.1 minutes per contest, while shooting 53.0% (53-100 FG) from the field, 48.6% (17-35 3FG) from long range and 90.0% (18-20 FT) from the line. He registered a career-high 28 points in 34 minutes at New Orleans on March 8, and scored 18 fourth quarter points – including 4-of-5 threepointers – en route to a 22-point performance in the Warriors victory over New Orleans on March 17. A 6-6, 210-pound forward, Williams signed his first 10-day with the Warriors on March 2 as a free agent call-up from the NBA Development League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, and signed a second 10-day on March 12.

Williams is just the second Keydet to play in the NBA, joining Ron Carter ’78 who spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers in the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons. He is also just the third Big South player to play in the NBA, breaking through after leading the D-League with 26.4 points in 31 games.

Reggie Williams ’08 during an NBA Golden State Warriors basketball Prior to signing with the Warriors, game. Photo by Getty images-NBA. Williams had been excelling in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Development League (NBDL).

As of late January 2010, Williams, playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, had notched 25.8 points per game, while shooting nearly 57% from the field. His scoring average ranked third in the league among players with at least 10 games played, while his field goal percentage was 10th. Williams was also shooting 81% from the free throw line and had grabbed 5.9 rebounds per game. His season had been highlighted by both his strong performance at the NBDL Showcase in January – an event attended by NBA scouts – and by his outings the week of Dec. 21, 2009, when he was named the NBDL’s Performer of the Week for the first time.

A four-year starter for the Keydets, Williams averaged 27.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists during his senior season, during which he led the nation in scoring for the second consecutive year. He finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading scorer in VMI, Big South Conference and Virginia State Division I history with 2,556 points, while ranking fourth all-time in VMI history in rebounds (820), fourth in three-point field goals made (196), sixth in assists (368) and sixth in steals (175).

Editor’s Note: Portions of this release courtesy the Golden State Warriors.

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. VMI FOUNDATION, INC.

Foundation Fund Makes Strong Progress in FY 2010 Many consider that there is great wisdom in the observation that you cannot know where you are headed if you don’t know where you have been. Looking back at the first half of Fiscal Year 2010, it seems that the Foundation Fund, the VMI Foundation’s annual effort to raise unrestricted money for VMI’s academic and co-curricular programs, is headed toward a year at least as successful as last year.

As of Dec. 31, 2009, the Foundation Fund had received $1,290,499 from VMI alumni, parents and friends. In comparison, at the same time in Fiscal Year 2009, the fund had received $1,270,323. Thus, the Foundation Fund has enjoyed an increase in donations of more than $20,000. If donors continue giving at this same pace, the Foundation Fund should meet and possibly surpass its 2009 total of more than $2.4 million.

“In many ways, this is excellent news for VMI,” said Brian S. Crockett, the VMI Foundation’s chief executive officer. “On Post, there always is a need for what the Foundation Fund provides VMI: unrestricted money that can be used where it is needed most to ensure the high quality of the education our cadets receive. Moreover, at the end of

December, more cuts in state funds to VMI seemed inevitable. So, an increase in one source of private funding is most welcome. Finally, it shows that, even in times of economic challenge, our alumni, parents and friends – what we call ‘the VMI family’ – remain steadfast in their willingness to support VMI.” The VMI Foundation’s director of Alumni and Reunion Giving, Patrick Webb, is responsible for the effort to raise money through the Foundation Fund. When asked about this apparent success, he was quick to credit the work of class agents.

“This year, so many of our class agents have made truly extraordinary efforts in the support of Annual Giving in general and the Foundation Fund in particular.

They often have enlisted class officers and other Brother Rats to help them engage their classes, and they have worked tirelessly and selflessly to communicate a simple message: ‘Join your class leaders and your Brother Rats in helping VMI meet its needs. Your participation is critically important.’ The increase in gifts demonstrates just how effective their work and their message were.”

These class agents, however, are not content with the success they have enjoyed in the first half of this fiscal year.

According to Col. Webb, they are “committed to keep working, to keep building enthusiasm for supporting VMI.” Another benefit of the work of class agents has been some impressive gains in alumni participation. “We have set an overall alumni participation goal of 40% for Fiscal Year 2010. As of Dec. 31, 13 classes already had achieved that goal,” Webb said.

“Participation of alumni in the Foundation Fund is an important element to the overall success of the VMI Foundation’s fundraising effort,” added Crockett.

“Indeed, traditionally, alumni make up the vast majority of our donors and give the vast majority of our donations. So, I am exceptionally grateful for the efforts of our class agents so far in Fiscal Year 2010. That said, along with its work with our alumni, the VMI Foundation is committed to attracting parents and friends to the ranks of those who are generous and consistent donors to VMI.” Alumni and friends who are interested in participating in the Foundation Fund may do so by sending a donation to the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Virginia 24450 or making a gift at the secure online giving site, www. vmialumni.org/Donate.

Message from the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer As the accompanying article indicates, during the first half the Institute. In the past 30 years, however, the role of private of Fiscal Year 2010, the VMI Foundation’s effort to raise unre- financial support at VMI has changed, steadily becoming more stricted money for VMI’s academic and co-curricular important. Not only has private money supported programs has done quite well, besting the amount it the improvements in VMI’s extraordinary educareceived at the same time in Fiscal Year 2009. tion that have translated into a national reputation There are many reasons for this success. For exfor academic excellence, it also has provided finanample, many of our class agents worked tirelessly and cial aid for hundreds of cadets a year and supported engaged their Brother Rats, rallying them to the cause VMI’s faculty and staff. This academic year, in fact, of supporting VMI. Furthermore, indications are that private financial support will make up almost one the economy is showing signs of improvement, perthird of VMI’s budget of $65 million. haps persuading many alumni and friends to become The increasing importance of private support more generous in the latter part of 2009. means that it is critical to VMI that there is a Crockett Certainly, too, this performance – one that the VMI sincere culture of philanthropy built on the solid Foundation will work to sustain throughout the refoundation provided by the tradition of alumni mainder of FY 2010 – is rooted in the strong tradition of alumni giving. A proper culture of philanthropy is one that reaches support of VMI, a tradition that goes back to the earliest days of the entire VMI family – not just alumni, (continued next page) 166

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Message from Brian Crockett continued below ... but also the parents of past and current cadets and those people and institutions who admire VMI’s mission, accomplishments and values. A leading characteristic of this culture will be these stakeholders’ recognition of philanthropy’s importance to VMI; another will be their willingness to receive appeals from VMI. A proper culture of philanthropy also will be one in which the VMI Foundation – as well as its partner agencies, the VMI Keydet Club and The VMI Alumni Association – are constantly engaging current members of the VMI family and looking for ways to expand the numbers and the scope of this important group. It means, too, that all of these organizations look to keep people within the VMI family.

Right now, the trustees, officers and staff of the VMI Foundation are looking to foster a strong culture of philanthropy at VMI. As we continue to execute our ongoing mission of raising and stewarding funds for VMI, we are examining our current practices to discern ways to improve them, and we are examining the best practices of other successful organizations to see how they might apply to our work on behalf of VMI. As we do so, we are mindful that establishing a culture of philanthropy will not happen overnight. It will take hard work, diligence and patience.

It also will require that VMI’s strongest and most loyal supporters – its alumni – accept their responsibility to foster a culture of philanthropy among their Brother Rats and the broader alumni body. The best way to do so, of course, is to set a good example by being a generous and consistent donor to VMI. Our alumni donors, however, should be willing to help their class agents in their work on behalf of their Brother Rats and VMI, as well as be ready and able to make the case for supporting VMI whenever and wherever (and to whomever) possible.

2010-Issue 2

Memorial Scholarship Established Honoring 1st Sgt. Mercardante, USMC Friends and family of the late 1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante have established a scholarship in his honor at VMI. Established with an endowment of more than $50,000, the scholarship will provide need-based financial aid to cadets, with the first preference for aid being enlisted Marines who are currently serving.

While serving as an assistant Marine officer instructor in VMI’s Naval ROTC (NROTC) Department from 2002-05, then-Gunnery Sgt. Mercardante was well known for his devotion to cadets in the NROTC unit and the dedication and intensity with which he performed his duties. His reputation soon expanded beyond the unit, and he became widely admired among the faculty and staff and especially among cadets. His effectiveness as an instructor and the example that he set as a leader inspired the class of 2007 to make him an honorary Brother Rat. The president of the class of 2007, Jamaal Walton, explained that the class presented 1st Sgt. Mercardante with this honor, “because he was a man of honor and integrity and always went above the expectations of his duty.” About this, Mercardante wrote, “This is one of the greatest honors of my life, after being able to call myself a Christian, a father and a United States Marine.”

After his time at VMI, Mercardante returned to the fleet. Sadly, on April 15, 2008, he was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving as the acting sergeant major of Combat Logistics Battalion 24 of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Jack Halper, a former FBI special agent and Vietnam veteran and currently an Athens, Georgia-based financial adviser, organized the effort to raise money for the scholarship. Halper, a long-time colleague of Mercardante’s father, said the idea for a scholarship was born at Mercardante’s wake. Halper recalled, “I was speaking with then-Maj. Craig Wiggers, who had served with Luke at VMI. I told him, ‘I want to do something. How about a scholarship at VMI for enlisted Marines and former Marines?’” Accord-

Mercardante ing to Halper, Maj. Wiggers replied, “You couldn’t do anything better.”

Halper contacted VMI and the VMI Foundation soon afterward and was told that an endowment of $50,000 is needed to establish the scholarship he envisioned. “For some people, the reaction to that news might have been, ‘That much?

It can’t be done; not in this economy.’

To me, that type of reaction didn’t make sense, given the situation, which was the drive to establish a fitting memorial to Luke,” he said.

As someone who had helped numerous civic activities raise money, Halper was no stranger to fundraising. “I just sat down and started working, contacting numerous people I know and telling them of this effort,” he explained. Early on in this process, Halper was rewarded with a donation of $10,000 from Richard Warner, a gift that Halper described as giving the drive “a kick start.”

After discussions with the Mercardante family, Halper and others helping with raising money decided to center the fundraising effort on a golf tournament and auction at The Georgia Club in spring 2009. Response to the event was, according to Halper, nothing short of extraordinary.

“Luke’s commanding officer from Afghanistan was there, as were other Marines who had (continued next page) 167

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. served with him,” Halper recounted. “A Marine detachment from Atlanta served as the color guard for the opening ceremonies, as well.” The support of the event, however, went beyond Marines. “I had told some friends and business associates in Chicago about the scholarship and the event, and they told me that they would be there for the tournament – and they were. Also, the former head football coach of the University of Georgia, Jim Donnan, participated.” All told, the event raised more than $37,000.

“The entire effort from start to finish was marked by two things,” Halper explained. “First, there was the involvement of wonderful people, such as Richard Warner and Luke’s family – his father, Pat, and his wife, Katie, who donated

a motorcycle for the auction; Luke’s mother, Gertrude; his three brothers; and his sister. Second, there was the way that people who had no personal connection with Luke decided that to honor his service and his sacrifice by making a donation. For instance, I told one of my neighbors about the scholarship, and she immediately gave me a check for $500.”

Combined with the money raised before the event, gifts in support of the scholarship totaled more than $50,000 by late July 2009. In August 2009, Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 signed the memorandum of understanding that established the First Sergeant Luke C. Mercardante Memorial Scholarship at VMI. Not long after signing the memoran-

dum of understanding, Gen. Peay sent a letter of thanks to Halper, as well as to Mercardante’s parents. In his letter to Halper, the superintendent wrote, “1st Sgt. Mercardante’s devotion to VMI cadets is renowned among all those who knew him while he was on Post. All of us are familiar with his many virtues, his deep Christian faith and his steadfast sense of service. I am proud, therefore, that you and his friends and family saw fit to honor him ... at VMI. Indeed, I can think of no better way to do so.”

Alumni and friends who are interested in supporting this scholarship may do so by sending a donation to the VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Virginia 24450 or by visiting the secure online giving site at vmialumni.org/Donate.

On Sept. 5, 2009, the class of 1984 presented VMI with the initial proceeds of its 25th Reunion Fund – $1,984,000.

Presenting the check to Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62, superintendent, far right, are the five co-chairmen of the Reunion Fund Committee: James Morgan, Bill Janis, Kemper Wharton, John Munno and Steve Hupp. Richmond P. Lykins Jr. ’73, president of The VMI Alumni Association, is at far left.

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

168

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

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 Nov. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010.

Mr. John B. Adams ’36

Mr. Michael L. Thompson ’75

Mr. Howard M. Allen ’52 Mrs. Anne A. Woolley

Mr. Arthur J. Armstead II ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Charles H. Augustine ’45

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

Mr. Adolphus G. Bradshaw Honorary ’71 Mr. Jeffrey C. Carver ’71

Col. George M. Brooke Jr. ’36 Mr. Michael L. Thompson ’75

Mr. Thomas L. Brooks III ’49A Mr. Frank W. Cox Jr. ’50B

Mr. James E. Brophy ’56 Mrs. James E. Brophy

Col. William J. Buchanan ’50B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Chester F. Burgess Jr., Ph.D. Mr. Robert R. Sparks Jr. ’69

Mr. W. Michael Burton ’79 Mrs. W. Michael Burton

Mr. William E. Crumpler ’53 Mr. W. Scott Crumpler ’82

Mr. William W. Davis ’34 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Mr. Robert H. Deaderick ’40 Mr. W. John Cowart ’40

Col. A.L. Deal III

Col. Donald K. Jamison ’57

Deceased Brother Rats Class of 1972

Mr. Lawrence E. Houseworth ’72 Mr. Wade L. Houston ’72

Deceased Brother Rats Class of 1969 Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mr. Leonard F. Bush Jr. ’60

Deceased Brother Rats Class of 1949A

Mr. Harvie N. Butler Jr. ’63

Deceased Members of Class of 1936

George H. Barnett ’45, DDS

Mr. John W. Butler ’86

Deceased Members of 1966

Mrs. Daniel O. Bayless

Mr. John P. Carroll Jr. ’45

Mr. Stephen M. Delich Jr. ’58

Mr. I. Lee Chapman III ’65

Cpl. Alan L. Diedricksen ’66, USMC

Mr. Robert Emerson Balch ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mary M. Ball

Lt. Col. Alan S. Fojt ’72, USA (Ret) Class of 1945

Miss Kristy Elliott Mr. Thomas G. Jameson Mr. Richard F. Kammerer Mr. and Mrs. John D. Norris

Maj. Gen. Charles Beach Jr. ’40, USAR Mr. John M. Camp Jr. ’40 Class of 1940 Mr. J. Douglas Cook ’40 Mr. W. John Cowart ’40 Col. Walter A. Edens ’40, USA (Ret) Mr. Sol W. Rawls Jr. ’40

Mr. Charles T. Benedict ’64 Mr. Bernie G. Hylton ’64

Mr. Walter E. Beverly Jr. ’47 Mr. William A. Hallett Jr. ’47

Col. Thomas W.C. Birge ’52, USAF Mr. Brisbane H. Brown Jr. ’52

Mr. Hugh H. Blackwell ’60 Mr. G.G. Phillips Jr. ’60 Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57

Mr. G.G. Phillips Jr. ’60

Mr. Paul R. Thomson Jr. ’63 Mrs. Marian P. Butler Class of 1945

Mr. J. Morton Eggleston Jr. ’59 and Mrs. Eggleston Mrs. William W. Old III Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57

Mr. B. Claiborne Christian ’44

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Haff Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones

Class of 1979

Mr. Eric M. Schwarz ’79

John Cole Jr. ’54, MD

Mr. G. Marshall Mundy ’56 Henry G. White Jr. ’54, MD and Mrs. White

Col. Thomas E. Colvin ’53, USAF Mr. Everette A. Powell Jr. ’55

Cheryl C. Conner

Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Capt. Thomas G. Blair Jr. ’69, USA

Mr. W. Mark Conway ’71

Mr. Crispin P. Blanchette ’68

Mr. John W. Cooke ’36

Mr. Robert L. Bobbitt Jr. ’81

Mr. Edwin Cox III ’53

Mr. Whirley Boxley ’60

Mrs. Edwin Cox III

Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mr. L. Bruce McGlothlin ’68

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mr. G.G. Phillips Jr. ’60

2010-Issue 2

Mr. Robert A. Haywood ’71 Mr. Paul B. Mitchell ’78 Anonymous Anonymous

Mr. Herbert N. Johnston ’49A Mr. Joseph H. Keller ’36 Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mrs. Stephen M. Delich Jr. Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Col. Herbert N. Dillard Jr. ’34 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Mr. Robert C. Troxler ’63 Mr. Carson L. Tucker ’70

Lt. Col. James W. Dixon ’69, USA Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz ’00, ANG

Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Mr. Charles Gili & Family and the NY State Hockey Players Support Our Troops Campaign Mr. Eric L. Ham ’01 Mr. Carl B. Hammond Jr. ’00

Mr. D. Clinton Dominick ’40

Maj. Gen. Charles Beach Jr. ’40, USAR Class of 1940

Lt. Jefferson S. Dotson ’66, USAF Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. William P. Drewry ’45

John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams

Mr. Henry S. Dunbar III ’48B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Capt. A.K. Earnest ’38, USN Mr. James G. Earnest III ’65 Mr. Randolph C. Earnest ’66

169

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Raymond V. Long ’38 Rear Adm. Terence E. McKnight ’78, USN Mr. and Mrs. G. David McNichols Mrs. Marianne Versprille

Capt. James C. Edge ’96, USMC Maj. J. Benjamin Bird ’95, USA

Mr. Wayne R. Eggleston ’88

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne R. Eggleston Mr. David T. Hart ’91

Mr. John S. Ellett II ’45

Class of 1945 Mr. Hugh C. Dischinger ’45

The Reverend T. Nelson Elliott Jr. ’62 Herbert P. Rhodes Jr. ’62, MD and Mrs. Rhodes

Cadet John A. Evans ’13

Ms. Nadine Azzolini Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bayliss Mr. William W. Blevins Ms. Sherry W. Browder Mr. and Mrs. Mackie C. Carpentier Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Gary S. Coble Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Crean Mr. Gerard Czupryna ’76 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Mr. and Mrs. George DeGennar Ms. Tammi D. Downs The Driggers Family Mr. and Mrs. Carl Essl Mr. Robert J. Evans ’80 Ms. Kathleen A. Gates CTS and Friends Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Gero Mr. and Mrs. Brian J. Gibbons Mr. and Mrs. Lowrey H. Holthaus I.M.A. Inc. Mr. and Mrs. David A. Kellerman Mr. and Mrs. Douglas A. Lawton Mr. John C. Manning ’83 Ms. Linda Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Moran Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Nelson Mr. and Mrs. Dennis C. Reeves Mr. and Mrs. John D. Salamone Mr. and Mrs. David W. Sewell Mr. and Mrs. Brad Stallings Ms. Christina D. Wood Mr. and Mrs. James M. Wood Jr. Dr. Patrice B. Wunsch

Mr. Paul Lee Everett III ’61

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Gordon

Mr. Robert L. Forgie ’90

Lt. Arthur L. Galloway Jr. ’69, USA Mr. Russell S. Evans Jr. ’65 Lt. Col. Joseph N. Flanz ’69, USA (Ret)

Mr. Benjamin R. Gardner ’64

Mr. and Mrs. Blaise C. Plageman

James Samuel Gillespie III ’94 Col. and Mrs. George Piegari John E. Traynham III ’62, MD

Col. B. McCluer Gilliam ’40, USAR Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Frank B. Godbold Jr. ’45, OD Class of 1945

Mr. Steven Wayne Good ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

B. Richard Hill ’68, DDS

Mr. George H. Roberts Jr. ’68

Mr. Henry B. Holmes Jr. ’16

Mr. William G. Davis ’68 and Mrs. Davis

Mr. Henry B. Holmes, III ’41

Mr. William G. Davis ’68 and Mrs. Davis

Mr. William H. Hoofnagle Jr. ’36 Mr. William H. Hoofnagle III ’67 and Mrs. Hoofnagle

Mrs. R.C. Horne

Fred W. Love ’42, MD

Mrs. Louis R. Hundley Mrs. Frances W. Arehart Mrs. Clentis M. Gupton

Mrs. Barbara J. Goode

Lt. William D. Huyler Jr. ’66, USA

Lt. Col. and Mrs. William E. Graybeal

Mr. Campbell C. Hyatt Jr. ’29

1st Lt. Douglas B. Green III ’66, USA

Mr. James P. Irby ’81

Sgt. Dale R. Griffin ’03, USA

Lt. Gen. Richard L. Irby ’39

Mr. and Mrs. Blaise C. Plageman Mr. and Mrs. James T. Graybeal Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Shawn T. Segreti ’00 Mr. Terence L. Bowers ’68

Mr. Eugene S. Groseclose Jr. ’67 Mr. and Mrs. Hunsdon Cary III

Lt. Harry B. Hambleton III ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Col. Andrew L. Hannah Jr. ’24, USAF Mr. Andrew L. Hannah

Mr. William H. Hansbarger ’43 Mrs. William H. Hansbarger

Mr. F. Baldwin Harrington ’28 F.B. Harrington Jr. ’54, MD

Col. Michael S. Harris

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

The Honorable Thomas P. Harwood Jr. ’50B

Mr. Frank W. Cox Jr. ’50B Mrs. Amy Davis Mr. Edward L. Oast Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Oast Col. Bernard S. Rhees ’50B, USA (Ret) Mr. Nicholas Warren

Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. and Mrs. Larry P. Egan

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Larry R. Jefferson ’72 Mr. Dwight C. Rowland ’72

Mrs. Mary Jane R. Johann

Mr. Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Catlett Col. Walter A. Edens ’40, USA (Ret) Mr. and Mrs. Carl M. Lindner Jr.

Mr. Charles E. Johnson Jr. ’26 Mrs. Elisabeth J. Jones

Mr. John D. Jones

Mrs. John D. Jones

Col. Royce E. Jones ’55

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. David N. Kaliski ’64

Col. James H. Brittingham ’64, USAF (Ret) Class of 1964 William F. Grubb III ’64, PhD Char Segesman

Mr. R. Patrick Kearney ’66 Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Mr. Allen R. Hawkins ’69

Mr. John W. Keith Jr. ’48B

Mr. Phil Headley

Christian A. Kiesau

Col. Douglas C. France Jr. ’41, USA

Ms. Karen M. Heely

Mr. G. Graham Lancaster Jr. ’50B

Mr. Douglas C. France III ’71

Col. Sterling M. Heflin ’16

1st Lt. John H. Lattin Jr. ’66, USA

Mr. Ryan H. Eggleston ’90

Dr. Dean Foster

Mr. David P. Northcraft ’73 Mr. Daniel H. Forsyth ’49C Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

170

Mr. John A. Walters ’66 Mr. Richard F. Jackson

Mrs. Thomas C. Hathaway Jr. Mr. Charles G. Montgomery ’62

Mr. William L. Motley Jr.

Mr. Michael T. Smither ’63 Mrs. G. Graham Lancaster Jr. Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Walter C. Laundon ’69 Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mr. Don Lawson

Mr. Richard F. Jackson

Mr. Robert E. Lee ’65 Mrs. Robert E. Lee

Mrs. Evelyn Leech

Mr. John A. Walters ’66 Mr. Robert D. Leighty ’52 Mrs. Robert D. Leighty

Mrs. Robert N. Lineweaver Mr. L. Anthony Hancock ’63 Mr. Michael T. Smither ’63

Mr. Frank F. Lumpkin ’79

Col. William P. Albro ’79, USAF (Ret) Mr. Bruce P. Arnall and Family Mrs. W. Michael Burton Mr. Craig M. Carlock ’74 and Mrs. Carlock Mr. and Mrs. Alan J. Chenery Cadet Preston A. Craft ’11 Mr. Stuart C. Craft ’07 Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Darling J. Daniel Foster ’79, MD Mrs. Florence M. Gorman Mr. William W. Grove Jr. ’78 and Mrs. Grove Mr. James N. Harton Mr. Thomas P. Herbert ’79 and Mrs. Herbert Mr. and Mrs. Bill Judkins Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Klotz Mr. John T. Leitch Ms. Bettina Lumpkin Mr. Wymer W. Manning III ’79 Mr. Thomas G. Martin ’79 Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence N. Mauck Jr. Dr. and Mrs. William R. Mauck Carol, Matt, Bo and Jake McGee Ms. Boodie McGurn and Gracie McGurn Mr. Ronald K. Milligan ’78 Mr. Harry M. Moore ’81 Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Oley Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Gift from Susan, Margaret, Hatcher and Bill Overton Mr. Robert H. Patterson III ’79 Mrs. Claude H. Patton Mr. John M. Powell ’79 Mr. and Mrs. Duane H. Ragsdale Mr. and Mrs. J. Anthony Randle Mrs. Mary Ellen Richter Ms. Betty O. Smallwood Ms. Loretta L. Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Summers Jr. Ms. Eleanor Wellford

Mr. William P. Johnson ’81

Mr. Gerard Mannix ’81

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Peyton J. Marshall Jr. ’52

Mrs. Peyton J. Marshall Jr. Lawrence G. Mathews ’39, DDS Mrs. Dorothy B. Smithey and Bob and Sarah Parkerson

Capt. Donald J. Mattaro Jr. ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Michael W. Maupin ’59 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

S. Christa McAuliffe

The Honorable Steven J. McAuliffe ’70

Mr. Joseph W. McCarthy III ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Donald L. McCown ’65 Mr. James M. Hammond ’65

Mr. Michael A. McCrory ’69

Lt. Col. Joseph N. Flanz ’69, USA (Ret) Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mr. H. Albert Nance Jr. ’67

Mr. Perry N. Ritenour ’67 Col. Michael J. Ingelido II ’67, USAF (Ret)

Mrs. Joseph D. Neikirk

Mrs. Frances W. Arehart Mrs. George M. Brooke Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Hunsdon Cary III Mr. John W. Cure III ’52 and Mrs. Cure Col. A.H. Morrison ’39, USA (Ret) and Mrs. Morrison Mrs. J. Robert Philpott Jr. Mrs. Vester J. Thompson Jr. Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57

Col. William L. Nelson ’51, USAF Mr. Joe T. Howard ’51 Mr. Robert W. Leatherbury ’80 Mr. C. Edward May Jr. ’51 Col. G.S. Meader Jr. ’51, USA (Ret) Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Northam Mr. John J. Ross III ’51 and Mrs. Ross Mr. Jacob H. Wamsley II ’51

Mrs. John A. Newman

Capt. William J. McDonald ’81, USA

The Reverend James H. Newsom Jr. ’47

C. Alison Drescher ’61, DDS

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Sylvester McGinn Jr. ’61

Dr. and Mrs. Roger D. McCarthy

Col. Joel L. McGrady ’72, USA Mrs. Joel L. McGrady

Lt. Alan M. McLachlen ’81, USN Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. William L. McMillan III ’08 Mr. Terence L. Bowers ’68

Mr. Walter H. Meier III ’72 Mr. W.R. Beerbower ’72

Mr. Thaddeus J. Meler ’48A Ms. Dora T. Meler

Mr. Hugh L. Miller ’23

Dr. and Mrs. J. Stuart McDaniel

Mr. Gordon B. Mills ’45

Lt. Col. John S. Manley ’83, USAF

Mr. James R. Moore ’53

2010-Issue 2

Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

The Honorable John A. Mackenzie

Mr. Michael T. Mahoney ’68

Mr. John M. Gay

Lt. Daniel L. Mullins ’66, USA

Mr. John S. Neville, Unit 399-B

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ‘81

Mr. Hugh L. Miller Jr. ’59

Mr. L. Bruce McGlothlin ’68

Mr. Matthew H. Morgan ’87

Mr. Ronald M. McCullough III ’81

Mr. Charles E. Maddox Jr. ’68 Mr. Cyrus K. Kump ’68

Mr. John L. Morgan ’55

Dr. and Mrs. J. Stuart McDaniel Class of 1945

Col. Clement L. Woodward ’53, USAR (Ret)

Mr. Manson A. Donaghey

Mr. and Mrs. Ted H. Brown

Mr. William A. Hallett Jr. ’47

Mr. E. Marshall Newton III ’54 Mrs. Edward M. Newton III

Mr. Corville J. Nohava ’69

Lt. Col. Joseph N. Flanz ’69, USA (Ret)

Mr. Charles D. North ’30

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Howard

Mr. Temple R. North Jr. ’73

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Howard

Mr. Michael C. Northrop ’86 Mr. Robert C. Hubbard Jr. ’86

Frank J. O’Connor Jr. ’55, MD Mr. William B. Cridlin Jr. ’55

Mr. Daniel J. Ogle ’63

Mr. L. Anthony Hancock ’63 Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66 Mr. Russell L. Rabb Jr. ’63 and Mrs. Rabb Mr. Michael T. Smither ’63

Capt. Thomas T. Oliver ’63, USA Mr. Howard I. Reynolds ’63

Mr. James Vincent Ovca ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

171

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. The Honorable Nelson T. Overton ’49B Mrs. Nelson T. Overton

Ms. Nelson Palmer

Paul A. Bouis ’67, PhD

Louis S. Pappas ’72, MD Mr. William Irby ’72 Mrs. Joel L. McGrady

Mr. John P. Paris

Mr. Richard F. Jackson

Mr. S. Willis Parsons ’35 Mr. Donald R. McMath ’71

Mr. Robert N. Petrola ’71 Mr. W.R. Beerbower ’72 Mr. Paul F. Gibson ’71

Mr. Thomas B. Phillips Jr. ’50B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. J. Robert Philpott Sr. ’35 Philpott Foundation Inc.

Mr. J. Robert Philpott Jr. ’68

Mr. Cyrus K. Kump ’68 Col. G.W. Padgett Jr. ’68, USAF (Ret) Philpott Foundation Inc.

Lt. Terry L. Plunk ’88, USA Mr. William G. Rogers ’86

Mr. Michael J. Ragland ’69 Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mrs. Michael J. Ragland Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Jay R. Sculley ’62, PhD

Mr. Jerry F. Coen ’61 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Lt. Col. Carl M. Jordan Jr. ’62, USA (Ret) Col. Harry W. McClellan Jr. ’78, USA (Ret) Col. and Mrs. George Piegari Herbert P. Rhodes Jr. ’62, MD and Mrs. Rhodes Mr. Robert D. Tyson ’62 Mr. John E. Woodward Jr. ’57

Mr. William M. Shelley ’49B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Joseph H. Sherrard V ’64 Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64

Mr. Walter W. Shorter ’53

Mrs. Walter W. Shorter Mr. and Mrs. Walter W. Shorter Jr.

Mr. Jack Sidney ’55 Mrs. Jack Sidney

Capt. Robert S. Silverman ’81, USA Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mrs. Kathy Slater

Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mr. Edward M. Smith Jr. Mrs. Isabel H. AtLee

Mr. Kenneth G. Smith ’59

Mr. J. Morton Eggleston Jr. ’59 and Mrs. Eggleston Mr. W. Thomas Hawkins ’49C Lt. Col. Michael M. Irvine Jr. ’59, USA (Ret) Mr. Richard E. Phillippi ’59

Jack L. Ragle

Mr. Millard G. Smith ’43

Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Rattie V ’81, USN

Mr. Richard M. Spielman

Col. P.S. Richardson Jr. ’48B, USA

Maj. Gen. John W. Squire ’17, NG

Col. George H. Ripley ’52, USMC

Col. Robert Steidtmann ’38, USMC

Col. John W. Ripley

Selden H. Stephens Jr. ’49B, MD

Mr. John B. Hudson Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mrs. P.S. Richardson Jr.

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Ms. Anne Love Robertson Mr. F. Byron Parker Jr. ’65

Mr. James W. Rountree Jr. ’67

Frank E. Oliver ’67, MD and Mrs. Oliver

Col. William C. Sauder ’55 Mrs. William C. Sauder

Mr. Vincent C. Scott Jr. ’66 Mr. George D. Dyer ’66 Mrs. Vincent C. Scott Sr.

172

Mr. Byrd S. Heaton

Mr. Ronald M. Spielman Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Robert F. Steidtmann

Col. George W. Dooley Jr. ’49B, USAF (Ret) Lt. Col. Carel T. Humme ’49B, USAF (Ret) Lt. Col. Duncan C. Porter ’89, USMC (Ret) The Talbott Family

Col. William J. Stockwell

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mr. G.G. Phillips Jr. ’60

Maj. Paul R. Syverson III ’93, USA Mr. John G. King ’90

Mrs. Mary T. Talley

Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mrs. Powell H. Taylor

The George E. Cohee Foundation

Mr. Christopher A. Touhill ’85 Mr. John A. Walters ’66

Mr. Richard E. Traver ’41 Mr. Ralph Siegel ’41

Mr. Bont F. Tulbert ’78

Robert G. Traver ’78, PhD

Mr. Andrew L. Turner Jr. ’40

Mr. D. Blackwell Brown Class of 1940 Mr. J. Douglas Cook ’40 Mr. W. John Cowart ’40 Mr. John T. Cunningham III ’58 and Mrs. Cunningham Col. Walter A. Edens ’40, USA (Ret) Ms. Kathryne B. Ellett Mrs. H.C. Fitzpatrick Mr. A.J. Graham III ’74 Mr. William W. Grove Jr. ’78 and Mrs. Grove Mr. Michael T. Morrissett ’74 Mr. William M. Noftsinger ’49A and Mrs. Noftsinger Mr. F. Byron Parker Jr. ’65 Mr. Sol W. Rawls Jr. ’40 Mr. and Mrs. John G. Rocovich Mrs. Dorothy B. Smithey and Bob and Sarah Parkerson Mr. Andrew L. Turner III ’72 Mrs. Fancher T. Turner Mr. George I. Vogel II ’63 and Mrs. Vogel Ms. Patricia C. Whitman

Mr. Edward C. Turner ’45

John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams

Mr. Peter M. Vanderwerff ’62 Mr. Samuel A. Clement Jr. ’62 Edmund R. Strickler ’62, DDS

Lt. George T. Varlas ’86, USAF Mr. Robert C. Hubbard Jr. ’86

Mr. Charles Wallace ’51 Mr. John L. Nichols ’51

Mr. Charles P. Walthour ’49B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. J. Albert Watkins ’47 Mrs. J. Albert Watkins

Capt. Rodney H. Stone ’66, USAF

Mr. Robert L. Watson ’64

Mr. Francis L. Summers ’22

Mr. Julian M. Weaver Jr. ’25

Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. and Mrs. William K. Whidden Jr.

Buzz Birzenieks ’64 and Jane Birzenieks Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Richard C. Weaver ’21 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Brig. Gen. C.P. Weidenthal ’53, USA Ms. Corinne Weidenthal

Col. Siegfried Weing

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Edgar V. Weir ’40

The Edgar V. Weir Family Foundation

Mr. Bruce C. Wells Jr. ’52 Mrs. Bruce C. Wells Jr.

Mr. Robert W. Wentz Jr. ’54 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Paul Wessinger

Mr. David R. Wessinger

Mr. Edward E. West Jr. ’49A Ms. Stasia M. McDowell Mrs. Harvey L. Ramos Joe and Joanne Stebick

2nd Lt. Mark C. Whittier ’66, USMC Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Lt. David L. Williams ’91, USN Mrs. Alexander Casimes

Mr. Warren Scott Williams ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Lt. Mark R. Wilson ’88, USN Ms. Lilly Sabadash Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Wilson Jr.

Mr. S. Frederick Winiker Jr. ’61 Mrs. S. Frederick Winiker Jr.

Mr. Donald G. Wise ’61 Mr. Jackson R. Bell ’61

Mr. Henry A. Wise ’27

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. DeWitt S. Worrell ’62

Col. and Mrs. George Piegari Herbert P. Rhodes Jr. ’62, MD and Mrs. Rhodes John E. Traynham III ’62, MD Mr. Robert D. Tyson ’62

Mr. Gary-John G. Yap ’86

Mr. Robert C. Hubbard Jr. ’86

Mr. Elliott I. Young ’59

Col. James G. Vermillion ’59, USA (Ret) and Family Karen Young Levi

Raymond M. Yow ’45, MD

Mr. Hugh C. Dischinger ’45 John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams

C.H. Zimmerman Jr. ’60, MD Mr. G.G. Phillips Jr. ’60

2010-Issue 2

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 Nov. 1, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010.

Aetna Foundation Inc.

Mr. Joseph P. Petitta ’68 Col. Douglas A. Stephens ’65, USA

Altria Group Inc.

Mr. Curtis M. Hinton ’84

American Electric Power Mr. David H. Altizer ’69 Mr. Jack M. Burnett ’45 Mr. William G. Rogers ’86 Mr. John H. Tucker ’78

AT&T Foundation

Mr. Joseph J. Reynolds III ’47 Mr. James Work ’50B

Bank of America Foundation Inc. Mr. Alfred B. Cramer IV ’79

Bechtel Foundation

Mr. Hunter F. Taylor ’67

The Boeing Company

Col. Randolph M. Blanks ’67, USAF (Ret)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation

Mr. Eric S. Plogger ’93 Lt. Col. William E. Wray Jr. ’63, USAR (Ret)

Capital One

Mr. Alexander G. Blanton Jr. ’98 Mr. Hunter S. Seal ’96

Coille Limited Partnership LP Mr. Robert P. Kyle ’67

Goodrich Corporation

Gen. John P. Jumper ’66, USAF (Ret)

Invensys Systems Inc.

Mr. William F. Holzgrefe ’77

Johnson & Johnson Company Mr. John M. Reilly Jr. ’93

Liquidnet

Mr. Troy Mosby ’97

Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation Inc. Mr. Robert E. Kozyra ’65 Mr. Kevin P. Sincavage ’87

MetLife Foundation

Mr. Robert R. Baldwin ’63

New York Life Foundation Mrs. Neelam Salmen

Norfolk Southern Foundation Mr. James D. Gearhart ’71 Mr. Christian A. Hoeser ’48B Mr. Phillip R. Ogden ’63 Mr. William M. Westerman ’56

The Northrop Grumman Foundation Mr. Charles W. Kause ’82 Cmdr. Walter M. Kreitler ’80, USN (Ret) Lt. Col. Timothy A. McGreer ’78, USAF (Ret) Capt. Brian C. O’Neill ’80, USN (Ret) Mr. Edward D. Wagner ’88

Package Pavement Company Inc. Mr. William M. Fleshood ’67

Pfizer Foundation

Mr. C. Stewart Snoddy Jr. ’49C

Pitney Bowes Company

Mr. Benjamin W.L. Semmes III ’88

Datatel Inc.

Public Service Electric & Gas Company

Dominion Foundation

Shell Oil Company Foundation

Mr. William H. Dunlap ’72 Mr. B. Claiborne Christian ’44 Mr. Andrew T. Kratt ’99 Mr. Michael P. Wilson ’99 Mr. Raymond H. Woodall III ’72

Mr. James J. Schaffer III ’77 Mr. James O. Lewter ’45

State Farm Companies Foundation Mr. Tomas E. McHugh Jr. ’86

Entergy Operations Inc.

Teledyne Technologies

Erie Insurance Group

The Grainger Foundation Inc.

Fidelity Foundation

Turner Construction Corporation

Fulton Financial Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

The General Electric Foundation

Wachovia Foundation

Mr. S.M. Henry Brown Jr. ’60 Mr. Randall Leroy Snow ’71 Mr. Robert C. Hardee Jr. ’99 Mr. Oliver L. Way ’75

Mr. Christopher L. Haney ’00 Mr. Edward G.S. Maxwell Jr. ’67

Cmdr. R. Bernard Groome ’71, USN (Ret) Ms. Gloria J. Sinclair

Mr. Richard J. Falcone Jr. ’92 Mr. James R. Greene ’87

Mr. and Mrs. James Fleenor Mr. Jeremy W. Ingram ’95

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KEYDET CLUB KEYDET CLUB

Keydet Club’s 75th Anniversary Challenge Is a Winner!

From July 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2009, the Keydet Club celebrated 75 years of support to VMI Division I Athletics with a challenge to all alumni and friends to make a gift of at least $75 over and above their Keydet Club gift made in fiscal year 2008. The challenge was met – 3,534 alumni, parents and friends contributed a 75th Anniversary Challenge gift. This outpouring of support helped the Keydet Club exceed its FY09 fundraising goal for VMI Division I Athletics. The goal was $3,550,000, and actual contributions were $3,550,999.

A noteworthy fact: 2,088 donors had not made a gift to the Keydet Club in the prior fiscal year. (See graphic on this page.) These “new” donors actually helped push the Keydet Club over the top and helped increase the VMI alumni

participation giving rate to 38.8%.

The Keydet Club is extremely proud of the participation shown by the VMI family in supporting the VMI Keydets.

The total number of all donors, including donors who did not participate in the challenge, actually rose from 2,600 in FY2008 to 3,950 in FY2009 – a whopping 52% increase. It is evident that the VMI Spirit and love for our Big Red teams remain strong.

“The 75th Anniversary Challenge reinforced how important it is for all alumni, parents and friends to support the Virginia Military Institute, regardless of the size of their gift,” said Greg Cavallaro ’84, Keydet Club chief executive officer. “Every gift does count; every gift does matter; and yes, there is strength in numbers.”

Message from Keydet Club President Charles F. Plageman ’90 The celebration of the Keydet Club’s 75th Anniversary was Anniversary celebration and remind you that, although our widespread and successful. From 1934 to 2009, thousands Fiscal Year 2010 goal is the same as last year, the Keydet of cadet-athletes have been able to earn a VMI Club really needs your continued support. We diploma and embark on an honorable and hope you will renew your membership before successful future – thanks to the generosity June 30, 2010. of VMI alumni, parents and friends. And we’re VMI currently participates in 17 NCAA Divinot done yet! sion I athletic programs and will be adding Recent economic times have not been the another one – women’s water polo – soon. best, and many of us have had to tighten our Each of these programs requires operating belts. However, the Spirit of VMI has not been funds and scholarships – to recruit and retain diminished, as evidenced by the fact that the athletes. Keydet Club members have done a Keydet Club was able to meet its goal for Fiscal tremendous job in financing these programs.

Year 2009. This was made possible by the 3,534 And thanks to Gen. Peay ’62, Athletic Director donors who stepped up to the plate and made a Donny White ’65 and our competent coach75th Anniversary Challenge gift to the Keydet ing staffs, VMI Athletics is becoming more Plageman ’90 Club – for many, their first-ever gift to VMI’s competitive. athletic foundation. And congratulations to the Championships and sustained success are great classes of 1948A, 1984 and 1987 for leading the way in possible if you will help VMI keep moving forward. Contheir three eras! tinue your charitable giving to the Keydet Club. It’s an I want to thank everyone who participated in our 75th investment that will make you proud!

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB Class of 1984 Establishes Athletic Scholarship The Class of 1984 Athletic Scholarship has been established by ’84 Brother Rats as a part of their 25th Class Reunion. It will provide grant-in-aid to a cadet-athlete who participates in a VMI Division I athletic program.

The class established the scholarship in recognition of its love for VMI, its appreciation for the excellent education each Brother Rat received and its love for VMI Intercollegiate Athletics. The class also established the scholarship in honor of the VMI Spirit, which has helped to bond its members as cadets and as alumni. It will be represented by Class Agent Barry W. Coceano ’84 and Gregory M. Cavallaro ’84, chief executive officer of the VMI Keydet Club.

“The Class of ’84 Scholarship is a sign of commitment by my generous BRs that our class will continue to afford deserving cadets the same opportunities that we were provided, while simultaneously ensuring that our legacy of giving to VMI continues past our 25th Reunion and well into the future,” said Coceano.

The class celebrated its 25th Reunion in August 2009, and this scholarship was part of more than $2 million raised during their Reunion Fund Campaign.

The scholarship will be recognized at the Keydet Club’s 2010 Scholarship Athletes Recognition Banquet, to be held in October 2010.

About his class’s scholarship, Cavallaro said, “It is an honor for me to see the class of ’84 follow in the footsteps of the great class of ’50B, which has two endowed scholarships – one in both the Foundation and Keydet Club. The class of ’50B has been a shining example for all VMI classes, and I am optimistic that this scholarship and the 1984 Memorial Scholarship in the VMI Foundation will help to keep our class united for decades to come in support of VMI and its wonderful cadets.”

Editor’s Note: All articles in the Keydet Club section of the Alumni Review are provided by the Keydet Club.

2010-Issue 2

Cavallaro ’84 and Munno ’84

Create Scholarship for 25th Reunion In conjunction with the class of 1984’s 25th Reunion in 2009, Gregory M. Cavallaro ’84 and John R. Munno ’84 created a scholarship fund in the Keydet Club that will provide grant-inaid to a cadet-athlete who participates in a Division I sport at VMI. They created the scholarship in support of their alma mater and to demonstrate their appreciation for the excellent education each of them as Brother Rats and roommates received. The scholarship represents their love for each other, VMI in- John Munno ’84, left, and Greg Cavallaro tercollegiate athletics and the VMI ’84 helped create a scholarship for the Spirit, which has helped bond them Class of 1984 25th Reunion. throughout their lives. years as a T-38 instructor pilot and an F-16 “First, I want to give back to a school that has given me so much,” said Munno. fighter pilot. Upon fulfilling his commission“Second, I feel it is my responsibility to pay ing requirements, he was hired by American back the scholarship I received as a cadet. And Airlines, where he is currently employed.

Munno has served on the Keydet Club third, I want to help reward and acknowledge the hard work, dedication and sacrifice it takes Board of Governors and as a chairman for to not only compete in a Division I sport, his class’s 25th Reunion fund effort. He and but to also endure the Spartan lifestyle and his wife, Jamie, live in Richmond, Virginia, academic challenges at VMI. I only wish I and have two children: Joseph (VMI class of ’12) and Alexandra. could do more.”

Cavallaro remained at the Institute followAs a cadet at VMI, Cavallaro was a member of the VMI boxing team and was named ing graduation and began his professional Most Outstanding Boxer while winning the career with a job in the VMI Admissions 147-lb. division of the 1981 Virginia State Office. After two years of recruiting for his AAU Boxing Championships. He graduated alma mater, he accepted a position with the from VMI with a degree in history. While VMI Foundation, Inc. During his 14 years in Cavallaro was, in his words, “academically the Foundation, he held progressively more undistinguished (having graduated last in responsible development positions, includthe class of ’84 and having served a portion ing director of Annual Giving, development of [his] cadetship on academic and conduct officer, assistant vice president and vice probation – ‘All-Pro’),” Munno excelled in all president for major gifts. In 2000, he was hired by the VMI Keydet Club, Inc. Following of his endeavors.

A Dean’s List economics student, Munno the untimely death of then-Executive Vice held rank throughout his cadetship, rising President Jeff Morgan ’80, Cavallaro was to the rank of lieutenant his first class year. appointed EVP after an exhaustive national He was elected captain of the wrestling team search. At the time this scholarship was crehis third class year and remained the team ated, he had served nine years as Keydet Club captain through his first class year, when EVP and as chief executive officer since 2009. he won the Southern Conference Wrestling He has helped increase the Keydet Club’s anChampionship at 126 lbs. and secured a bid nual fundraising from $1.1 million to nearly to the NCAA Wrestling Championships. He $3.6 million in fiscal year 2009. He and his was named to the VMI Sports Hall of Fame wife, Marlene, live in Lexington.

Cavallaro, also known by alumni as “Cav,” and, as of this writing, remains in the top five remarked, “What greater validation for any for wins in the history of VMI wrestling.

Munno was commissioned in the United alumnus than to send a son or daughter to States Air Force, where he served for seven VMI, just as John (continued next page)

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KEYDET CLUB Munno has sent his son, Joseph – a member of the Corps of Cadets, vice president of the class of 2012 and a member of the VMI wrestling team.” Cavallaro continued, “I am honored to join my roommate and life-long friend, John, in support of an organization that is near and dear to both of us. For nearly 30 years, I have witnessed first-hand the lives that the VMI Keydet Club has impacted, the opportunities it has created and the dreams it has helped fulfill. I hope more Brother Rats, roommates, teammates and alumni will consider establishing an endowed scholarship within the Keydet Club. It will ensure that memories, relationships and the Brother Rat SPIRIT live on in perpetuity.”

If you would like to make a gift to the Cavallaro ’84 and Munno ’84 Athletic Scholarship at VMI, you can do so by sending your taxdeductible gift to the VMI Keydet Club at P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450. For information on endowing your own scholarship, call the Keydet Club at 1/800/444-1839.

Celebrity Alumnus Continues to Support VMI Actor Dabney Coleman ’53 visited Lexington during Ring Figure Weekend in December 2009. As the representative of the Colonel Glover S. Johns Jr. ’31 Memorial Scholarship in the Keydet Club (the late commandant was Coleman’s uncle), Coleman graciously agreed to escort Cadet Hannah Granger ’11 to Ring Figure.

Cadet Granger, a record-holder in cross country and track, has been associated with the Johns ’31 Memorial Scholarship throughout her cadetship. Coleman spent the weekend in Lexington, along with his friend, Kathy Carter, and daughter, Quincy Coleman. He has returned several times over the years since he served as the national chairman for the VMI Sesquicentennial Campaign in the late 1980s, helping

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Falconi ’10 Receives Three-legged Stool Award Cadet Audrey E. Falconi ’10, center, a chemistry major and tri-captain of the VMI women’s soccer team, was presented with the Keydet Club’s highest cadet honor, the Three-legged Stool Award, by VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62, right, as Keydet Club CEO Greg Cavallaro ’84 looked on. The presentation took place during halftime of the VMI and Winthrop basketball game on Feb. 6, 2010. The Three-legged Stool Award recognizes the first class scholarship athlete who has the highest achievement in academics, athletics and military life/ leadership excellence. Falconi participates in the Institute’s Honors Program and received a Faculty Merit Scholarship. This year, she was voted runner-up for the Big South Pre-season Player of the Year and was named to the First Team All-State and Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year.

A platoon lieutenant for Delta Company, Falconi will commission in the U.S. Army after graduation and attend medical school in Southern California.

VMI to raise over $150,000,000. See articles about Coleman and Granger in the previous Alumni Review, 2010-Issue 1.

Photo above: From left, Dabney Coleman ’53 and girlfriend Kathy Carter, Harry Warner ’57, Quincy Coleman, Robert Crumpler ’07, Marlene Cavallaro, Richard Hewitt ’83, Erica Crumpler and Greg Cavallaro ’84 on Main Street in Lexing-

ton during Ring Figure Weekend, December 2009. Photo below, left: Coleman, far right, and Cavallaro, far left, with Cadets Jonathan Price ’10 and William Quarles ’10. Photo below, right: At the superintendent’s quarters were, from left, Kathy Carter, Coleman, Quincy Coleman, Cadet Hannah Granger ’11 and Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Placement Officer

Applications

Being Accepted for Two Positions in VMI Alumni Association

The Placement Officer of The VMI Alumni Association manages the program to support employment needs of alumni and businesses who seek qualified candidates. The position reports to the executive vice president and works actively with staff, the Agencies team and through the advocacy of the Placement Committee from The VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The Placement Officer effectively links together candidates, resources, and on and off Post volunteers who support alumni.

The Placement Officer assists and coordinates with existing chapter activity to encourage and develop networking in regional groups. The qualified candidate will possess excellent communication skills and be capable of delivering presentations to small and large groups, providing accurate information related to hiring trends and engaging young alumni in networking.

The candidate will have a broad understanding of employment practices, a bachelor’s degree, at least two years of work experience, fluency with information tools, and the ability to create and present compelling presentations. The person will be highly professional, have the ability to travel for business and possess a strong interest in serving alumni.

New Cadet Recruiting Coordinator

Placement Officer and New Cadet Recruiting Coordinator

The New Cadet Recruiting Coordinator of The VMI Alumni Association integrates chapter and alumni interest in attracting prospective cadets with the Admissions and Communications and Marketing strategy for VMI. The effective candidate will coordinate regional events designed to present information to prospective students, using marketing methods and techniques that allow chapters and alumni to add momentum to the efforts of VMI. The position involves extensive travel and event planning and requires strong verbal and written communication skills. In addition to a mastery of public speaking, the effective candidate will have the ability to develop strong relationships with Admissions and alumni volunteers, possess understanding of budgets and demonstrate a demeanor that best represents VMI. The best qualified candidate will have a bachelor’s degree, a familiarity with the VMI Admissions process and the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively.

Extensive use of Microsoft Office and the Internet is required.

Additional Information Regarding Both Positions Compensation for both positions is commensurate with experience and includes a complete benefits package to include health, retirement and vacation. The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. is a 503C non-profit corporation as part of the VMI Alumni Agencies located in Moody Hall on the campus of VMI. The Association is an equal opportunity employer.

Application Procedures Interested candidates may apply to the positions online at vmialumni.org or provide cover letter and resume to: The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. Attention: Selection Committee P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA 24450