Alumni Review 2013 Issue 1

VMI

ALUMNI REVIEW 2013-Issue 1

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The Institute Society Dinner

November 9, 2012

Contents

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE Alumni Review 2013-Issue 1

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

This issue includes class notes and news covering the period of Aug. 16 to Nov. 1, 2012.

FEATURES 10 Founders Day 2012 Service Award Recipient 15 The Institute Society Dinner 20 In Memory of White Jr. ’54

Editor: Hope Hennessey Assistant Editor: Traci Mierzwa Editorial Assistant: Brenda Stoner

PRINTER Progress Printing Co., Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia

21 Madden ’80: Rescues Satellite 22 Stafford ’09: Federal Player

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24 First Fall Reunion: Sept. 14-15 27 Second Fall Reunion: Oct. 5-6

NEWS AND UPDATES 3

Alumni in Theater: An Update

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Our Alumni Serving

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Association/Chapter News

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Class Notes

142 Births, Marriages, Degrees 142 Most Senior Alumni 144 Taps 150 Alumni News

DEPARTMENTS 2

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

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Volume 89, No. 4

President’s Letter

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:

148 Association Directory

WEBSITE ADDRESSES Alumni Agencies: www.vmialumni.org VMI: www.vmi.edu

154 The Institute

ON OUR COVER

164 VMI Athletics 165 The Foundation 173 The Keydet Club

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

Front Cover: Kent Schlussel ’70, Ph.D., and Mrs. Schlussel admiring an awards display in the Hall of Valor during the Institute Society Dinner, Nov. 9, 2012. Inside Front Cover: Some of those who attended the Institute Society Dinner, which was held at the Center for Leadership and Ethics. Cover photos by John Robertson IV, VMI.

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings from the Institute!

I hope that you enjoy receiving the Alumni Review as much as I, especially during the “dark ages,” but they certainly haven’t been as bad since we left VMI. Last year, when I was cleaning out my mother’s home, I found a 1943 fall edition of the Alumni Review (my parents’ wedding announcement was within). Reading it now was fascinating. Gen. Francis Mallory had just died, having served the first six VMI superintendents. There were so many cadets serving in the military that these 1943 class notes included the classes of ’44, ’45 and ’46. Not too different from our Corps today, which boasts many war veterans.

Our Alumni Review has come a long way and still serves the Institute well. In this, our first issue of the Review in 2013, we honor the latest Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recipient, Thomas G. Heely ’69 and his son, Teddy Slater Jr. ’66, who accepted his award during the annual Founders Day Convocation. His acceptance speech, other related articles and photos highlighting the founding of our beloved Institute and the Institute Society Dinner are found in this edition.

We also honor the late Hugh V. White Jr. ’54, a leading figure in Virginia’s legal community and a dedicated community servant. Thomas Slater, who worked with White, said of his colleague, “ … He was loved and respected by all who had the privilege of working for and with him. He was a loyal friend and a great role model.”

This issue of the Alumni Review also includes feature articles about the following alumni: • • •

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There is an interesting article about Col. David W. Madden ’80, USAF (Ret), who, with his team at Air Force Space Command, rescued a multi-billion dollar satellite that otherwise would have been lost forever.

In the Alumni in Theater section, don’t miss the article written by Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, USAF, about seven VMI alumni in his command. He wrote, “I know you are as proud of these dedicated airmen as I am.”

Kelsey L. Stafford ’09 is featured in this issue, as well. Stafford was named a Washington Post “Federal Player of the Week,” as part of a series spotlighting the work of federal employees who have demonstrated a strong commitment and passion for public service.

In the Institute section is an article about a tribute to the 71 alumni who have received either the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross or Navy Cross. J. Bolling Williamson ’60 conducted the research for this project and recently helped dedicate the display that is now in Kilbourne Hall.

Also, in the Alumni News section is an article about Christopher M.P. Leach ’10, who is earning a master’s degree through the University of Virginia Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) in Systems Engineering.

I remind you to peruse the newest section of the Review, titled “Our Alumni Serving,” which pays tribute to citizen-soldiers who are serving others in their communities, country or the world in a non-combat capacity. Of course, we continue to highlight alumni serving in combat in our Alumni in Theater section, as well.

In closing, I hope you will let me know if there are any ways that we can improve our service to you, our alumni. That is our mission. Please get involved in your local chapter events, support our Keydets and come back to the Institute often.

Best wishes for a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Robert A. Heely ’69, President The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

In Afghanistan were, from left, John Ferguson ’87, Adrian Bogart '81, Tom Talley '90, Dan Hill '93 and Jim Wanovich '91.

Alumni in Theater* Recognizing Alumni Serving in Afghanistan and Iraq * Theater is defined here as the entirety of the air, land and sea area that is involved in declared war operations at this time.

An Update Since the publication of the previous Alumni Review, 2012-Issue 4, we have received no additional names of alumni serving in Theater.

Names sent after Oct. 1, 2012, will appear in the next Review, 2013-Issue 2.

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.

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

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.

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).

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Bryant ’10 Uses Passion for Piping to Entertain Troops and Pay Tribute Editor’s Note: The following article featuring 1st Lt. A. Liard Bryant ’10, USA, was provided by Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System Media Relations and is reprinted here with permission.

Army Lieutenant Entertains Deployed Soldiers with “Piper” Skills

by Staff Sgt. Nicolas Morales

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan: You can’t judge a book by its cover.

Soldiers in today’s Army have skills and knowledge that are not necessarily indicative of their rank or military occupation – from specialists with college degrees to a lieutenant with a unique talent.

1st Lt. Liard Bryant [’10] is a liaison officer for the 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and on Nov. 7 showcased a special talent at a concert at a U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan.

On Forward Operating Base Sharana, Bryant surprised soldiers with a skill he learned while attending the Virginia Military Institute – bag piping.

“I played sports in high school, but I knew I wouldn’t continue in college.

When I got to the Virginia Military Institute, they asked me if I wanted to join a band, and I said ‘sure.’ So, I began to learn to play the bagpipes,” said Bryant.

Playing the bagpipe has also given Bryant some valuable skills that he uses to this day. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. His tireless work ethic helped him through college and has set him up for success in his Army career.

“Basically, in that first year, I went from not playing an instrument at all to playing the bagpipes in the band,” said Bryant.

Bryant has been playing the bagpipes for six years and enjoys offering his musical talent for various military ceremonies.

He has played for change of command ceremonies and, during this deployment, has volunteered to play at memorial

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1st Lt. A. Liard Bryant ’10, a liaison officer with the 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in eastern Afghanistan, played “Amazing Grace” during a concert at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sharana on Nov. 7, 2012.

ceremonies to honor fallen soldiers.

“It’s a passion I have, and I like to share this instrument with people. It’s very unusual for some. Most people haven’t heard bagpipes in person, so I wanted to provide an opportunity for people to hear it, to explain the history and how it works,” said Bryant.

During the concert there was a question and answer period, which had a great reaction from the crowd. While explaining the origin of the bagpipes, Bryant was able to [connect it with] the history of the 1st Infantry Division.

“The band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards recorded ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipes in the 1970s, and the record went platinum,” said Bryant. “Brigadier Felix Gedney (deputy commanding general of Transition for the 1st Infantry Division-led Regional Command-East) actually commanded that regiment – not in the 70s, though. The regiment that made this famous is actually related to the 1st Infantry Division.”

Adding to that history, Bryant will spend the remainder of his time in Afghanistan hard at work, doubling as a “piper” and a soldier.

During the Nov. 7th concert at FOB Sharana, Bryant explained the inner workings of bagpipes to his audience. Both photos by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nick Morales, Task Force 4-1 PAO.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Pausing on Founders Day after a mission in Afghanistan were Justin Wolfe ’98, right, and Karsten Bloomstrom ’10.

Brock Daniels ’04, USA, 82nd Airborne, left, and Ryan Steptoe ’07, USA, 101st Airborne, in Afghanistan on Sept. 22, 2012. Daniels was Steptoe’s dyke at VMI. The two met by chance at Bagram Airfield as Daniels was leaving the country following his first, four-month deployment, and Steptoe was entering the country for his second, nine-month deployment.

VMI Grads in the Fight

by Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, USAF Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command

As U.S. Central Command’s lead airman, I am honored to serve part of his flying career. He’s had three flying deployments and with experienced, disciplined and battle-tested teammates here one ground deployment, and so far, his favorite memory is airin the Middle East, where on any given day through spring, dropping 40 bundles of fuel and supplies to a FOB in Afghanistan summer and fall, temperatures can top 130 degrees. on Christmas Eve 2010, with the first four bundles out of the Just as they have over the course of the last 174 years since aircraft wrapped in Christmas paper like big presents. Like so VMI’s inception, your fellow alumni continue the distinguished many VMI grads, the military is a tradition in Geoff’s family. His tradition of service to our nation. This is perhaps best exempli- uncle retired from the Army Corps of Engineers as a lieutenant fied by the fact that VMI is the only college in the United States colonel and served in Vietnam. Geoff’s brother, Air Force Maj. to have graduated service chiefs of three of the four branches Gary Goldsmith ’99, served multiple deployments in support of of the U.S. armed forces, including Gen. John Jumper ’66, Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as an AC-30U USAF. Graduates of VMI are valiantly serving our nation under pilot. His cousin, Army 1st Lt. Nathan Goldsmith ’08, recently my command as a vital part of Operation Enduring Freedom. completed a deployment to Afghanistan as an infantry officer.

I know you are as proud of these dedicated airmen as I am.

One of Geoff’s most memorable times at VMI was working Capt. Geoffrey Goldsmith ’04 works in the Combined Air and with the Ring Figure Committee to design the class ring. He Space Operations Center’s Air Mobility Division as the chief of says the VMI class ring is every graduate’s tangible tie to the C-17 Plans and Theater Direct Delivery.

Institute and represents an important link He and his three-person team plan and between the history of the class and the execute C-17 intratheater airlift missions. university at large.

For Geoff, the Air Force has provided Lt. Col. Brian Hartless ’96 is the base more opportunities than he ever thought civil engineer and commander of the 379th possible, and flying the giant C-17 has Expeditionary Civil Engineer (CE) Squadshown him parts of the world he never ron in Southwest Asia. As commander of would have otherwise had the chance to the largest expeditionary CE squadron in see. Geoff says that directly supporting the Air Force, his responsibilities are vast, the warfighters on the ground by airdropand leadership opportunities are constant. ping food, water, fuel and ammunition to He says the 625 incredible airmen he remote forward operating bases (FOBs) in oversees every day motivate him to serve Afghanistan has been the most rewarding and continually remind him that he is Goldsmith ’04 2013-Issue 1

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part of something bigger than himself, serving the greater good obligation to others motivated his decision. His most memorable of our country. He credits VMI for the technical education and military event took place in 2006 over Baghdad, Iraq, with the leadership skills learned as the foundaBritish Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF was tions for his success, which have served short-handed and asked him to serve as a him well on six deployments, including door gunner, manning the weapon on the Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan. As left side of the aircraft. The instructions may be the case for many VMI graduates, he received were, “If you see anything, the Ratline brings back fond memories of let me know, but DON’T SHOOT.” He challenges and strong friendships forged. said flying over the city of Baghdad and Brian grew up in the military tradition and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was an cites his military roots as a key reason for amazing experience. The Air Force has his Air Force service. His most meaningful provided many positive memories for memory from VMI is graduation day when Andrew – travel, strong bonds and most he was commissioned by his father, an Air importantly his time at VMI. He recalls the Hartless ’96 Force forward air controller who flew the feeling of achievement as he experienced O-1 Bird Dog in Vietnam and later went “breakout from the Ratline.” He said it was on to fly the KC-135 and B-52. Brian’s grandfather also served a tremendous feeling of exhilaration, as he knew he and his peers and was part of the Army Air Corps at Wheeler Field, Hawaii, on had become an official class at VMI. For Andrew, these memories the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, Dec. 7, 1941. His grandfather and experiences are what confirm for him every day that he made later served in the Air Force during post-World War II recovery the correct career decision. While he admits the hours can be long and in the Berlin Airlift. and the work strenuous, he knows his decision has broadened Lt. Col. Chris Hobbs ’97 is director of staff for the 451st Air his opportunities, taken him places he never thought possible Expeditionary Wing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He leads all wing and given him the privilege of serving his country. staff agencies, to include 50 highly skilled professionals managLt. Col. Matthew Modarelli ’96 is the director of the Air Force ing 12 functional areas, supporting U.S., Office of Special Investigations (OSI) for coalition and host nation operations on Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) at Kandahar Airfield. Deployed from Joint Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), South Carolina.

Base Charleston, South Carolina, this is He plans and executes OSI operations, Chris’ first deployment to Afghanistan, strategic programs, engagements, exerand he’s eagerly contributing directly to cise support and contingency response in the war effort while developing friendships, support of the AFCENT mission. He also networks and memories that will last a provides oversight, operational analysis lifetime. Chris’ brother, Shawn Hobbs ’01, and reach-back capabilities for 14 forwardserves in the military as an Air Battle mandeployed OSI operating locations across the ager. Chris’ father and his grandfathers all Middle East. He has served twice as an OSI Hobbs ’97 at right served honorably in the enlisted corps. For field commander, in Iraq, first during the Chris, one of the best things about serving initial invasion and subsequent months in in the military is getting pushed out of his comfort zone. He says 2003 and then again at a different location from 2006-07. Matt’s the military allows members to succeed on their own merit, father, Robert Modarelli ’63, M.D., graduated from VMI and served and the military has entrusted him with a great responsibility in the Army for 16 years active duty and more than 10 years in to do his best no matter what the circumstances. Chris says his the Reserve. His brother also served 20 years active duty in the fondest VMI memory occurred when his Rat Mass formed up in Army. For Matt, it was the values and lessons learned at VMI that the courtyard and was officially recognized for the first time. He influenced his decision to make a career in the Air Force. Upon didn’t realize it at the time but now appreciates that the men commissioning, he felt a strong desire to be in the fight and to serve and women in his class have remained his closest friends. Chris in the areas of the world where our military faced the toughest credits VMI and the Air Force for the positive direction his life challenges and greatest threats. For Matt, surviving the rigors of has taken and for helping shape the man he is today.

VMI imbued him with the values of service above self and making Maj. Andrew Rush ’94 is a reservist personal sacrifices for the greater good of deployed to Southwest Asia as the chief of our country and fellow service members.

Intelligence for the 746th Expeditionary While many of his VMI best memories are Airlift Squadron. In this role, he provides from time spent with “Brother Rats,” he intelligence support to C-130 crews at the also found important the quiet moments 379th Air Expeditionary Wing flying airlift of reflection on the unique undertaking of missions, distinguished visitor transport VMI. “Those were the moments when you and aeromedical evacuation throughout knew you were doing something special, the region. Andrew knew at a young age and if you could just survive it, you would be that he wanted to serve in the military; able to take anything life throws at you,” he said. Those moments – the early morning his strong sense of duty and feelings of Rush ’94 at right 8

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

hours before formation or late evenings trying to study for tests region. Jeff is the first person in his family to attend VMI. His inwith “Taps” sounding in the background – have stuck with him terest in military service arose as a teenager after learning his dad as powerful and influential events that have shaped who he is served in the Army during Vietnam. Even as a young boy, he was and what he believes. One of the stand-outs in Matt’s deploy- interested in American Civil War history, and when the time came ment history happened while he was commanding an OSI unit to apply to colleges, he applied to only one – VMI. He came into the in Iraq. Together with his U.S. Army counterparts, he formed military to be part of something larger than himself, to defend our an ad-hoc joint task force to respond to insurgent threats. nation and protect the freedoms of his family and fellow Americans.

This effort significantly reduced indirect fire and improvised Jeff says he always knew he wanted to be an intelligence officer, with explosive device attacks. While this initiative later became a strong interest in international studies and the Arabic language, codified in OSI and security processes, at the time it was done and after graduating, he was selected for a six-week immersion through handshakes and agreements among forward-deployed program in Tunisia. Here at the CAOC, he’s had the opportunity Air Force and Army leaders. For Matt, it was both challenging to work with partner nations to improve our information sharing and rewarding to see how the two services came together to and help shape their counter-insurgency efforts. For Jeff, his efforts face a common enemy. (Editor’s Note: A photo of Modarelli have proved rewarding, giving him the chance to work challenging was intentionally ommited for security reasons.) issues and support operations in Afghanistan to save military and Col. Keith McKenzie ’86 is the director of Logistics for AFCENT civilian lives. During his VMI days, Jeff and 16 other cadets had at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. He is respona chance to embrace history when, a week sible for logistics support to Air Force units prior to commissioning, in Civil War period in the Middle East, directing a 130-person uniforms and equipment, they reenacted staff that enables 124,000 annual combat the 85-mile march from VMI to New Market flying missions and manages 2 million in 1864 and portrayed the VMI cadets who gallons of fuel per day across the region. were called to action in the Battle of New Keith says he serves because anything Market. He said that experience epitomized worth having is worth the sacrifice to have the principles he learned as a cadet – duty, it. “Our country and our way of life are just honor and sacrifice – principles he continthat – worth the sacrifice.” He says his 26 ues to apply in his career and life. years of service have only reinforced his These amazing VMI graduates are just McKenzie ’86 feelings about the patriotism and dedicaa few of those who have served the Long tion of our professional military, and he is Blue Line and continue to serve bravely proud to be a member of our Air Force. Keith has been a part of throughout the world in defense of our nation. The important every major combat operation since his graduation from VMI, and missions they are leading in the Middle East continue to keep he’s spent time in many far-flung locations, including Pakistan America safe from our enemies today and help forge a brighter and Oman. His favorite times at VMI were those he spent with tomorrow. Capt. Durham recalled the words of Lt. Gen. Thomas his fellow tennis teammates and, in his words, “the runs across J. “Stonewall” Jackson, inscribed above the Jackson Arch enthe parade deck just to go to the Cockpit trance to the VMI Barracks: “You may be ... or down to Estelle’s ....” Keith summed whatever you resolve to be.” I am thankful up his appreciation saying, “I’m thankful every day that VMI graduates, along with I’ve been able to serve and help others who their faithful fellow airmen, have clearly serve our nation day in and day out. I’m resolved to carry the tradition of excelcertainly not a hero, but there are many lence forward whenever and wherever out there who are, and I have been blessed duty calls. to know many of them.”

Lt. Gen. David Goldfein is commander, Capt. Jeff “Bull” Durham ’05 works in U.S. Air Forces Central Command, the Combined Air and Space Operations Southwest Asia. As the Air Component Center (CAOC) Intelligence, Surveillance commander for U.S. Central Command, Durham ’05 and Reconnaissance Division as the chief the general is responsible for Coalition of Targets and Imagery Support Element. He leads a team of Forces who develop contingency plans and conduct air opera20 members, responsible for time-sensitive and deliberate target tions in a 20-nation area of responsibility covering Central planning and imagery production in support of operations in the and Southwest Asia.

VMI Seeks Commissioning Information for Classes of 1990-2009 In order to more accurately reflect commissioning percentages at VMI, the Institute is seeking to uncover those alumni who have commissioned in any branch of service following their graduation through

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an Officer Candidate Program or other commissioning avenue. VMI believes that there may be a sizeable number of alumni in this category. If you commissioned after graduation, by some

means other than direct commission through VMI ROTC, please contact Lt. Col. Gary Bissell ’89, assistant chief of staff, by e-mail at bissellga@vmi.edu or by phone at 540/464-7104.

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Wall Township (New Jersey) Police Detective Heath Bono ’93, second from left, started a “Christmas in July” program in the children’s center at the local hospital, when he was the police union president. Following his term, the new executive board did not place a high priority on the program. Rather than let it end, Bono picked up the ball. “I run the program on my own using donated toys and officers who volunteer their time,” said Bono. The dog in the photo (lower left corner) is a therapy dog owned by the police officer shown at the far left, Bono explained. The two girls are Bono’s two youngest children, Samantha, left, and Hannah, right.

Our Alumni Serving Recognizing Those Who Serve Others in Their Communities, Country and the World In addition to recognizing those who have served in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (as shown on the previous pages), the Alumni Association would like to pay tribute to other citizen-soliders, who are, as Col. J.T.L. Preston said and as printed on the parapet, “an honor to our country and our state, objects of honest pride to their instructors ... and ready in everytime of deepest peril ... .”

Those alumni whose photos and articles appear in this section of the Review could be members of the armed forces serving in non-combat capacities anywhere in the world, or they could be members of police and fire departments, doctors offering

their services to those less fortunate, alumni volunteering at food pantries or serving as Boy or Girl Scout leaders.

If you or someone you know is serving others, please submit a high resolution photo (3 or 4 megapixels, minimum) taken at the location you are serving or with the people whom you serve.

Along with the photo, please submit a caption that explains what your service is, where you perform it and for whom. Send these to the VMI Alumni Review staff at review@vmiaa.org or by mail to VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450, Attention: Editor. We will review your submission and consider it for publication.

Are you or someone you know serving the community, country or the world? Send in a photo and a description of what you’re doing, where and for whom. See instructions above.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Class of ’89 Brother Rats Mike Monfalcone, Dave Clement and Mark Joynt at the U.S. Fleet Forces Change of Command on Sept.

14, 2012, in Norfolk, Virginia.

Lt. Col. Andy Johnson ’95, USMC, took command of the 5th Battalion, 14th Marines in Seal Beach, California. In the photo, he is receiving the battalion colors from Lt. Col. Mark Coast.

Brent McManis ’86, right, was promoted to colonel in the North Carolina Air National Guard and assumed command of the 145th Combat Operations Group on Aug. 4, 2012, at the Stanly County Regional Training Center in New London, North Carolina. There for the ceremony was Hugh Daughtry ’83, left, who is commander of the 145th Mission Support Group and who submitted this photo. Daughtry wrote, “That makes two of five groups in the NCANG that are commanded by VMI graduates.

Not bad for down here – in what’s usually Citadel country.”

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VMI Founders Day Parade

Photos by VMI, John Robertson IV.

Nov. 9, 2012

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI Founders Day Convocation

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n Nov. 9, 2012, Walton M. Jeffress Jr. ’68, president of the VMI Foundation, presented the organization’s Distinguished Service Award to Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 during the annual Founders Day Convocation. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to those who have provided exemplary service to the VMI Foundation.

Slater’s service to VMI includes a term as president of the Richmond (Virginia) Chapter of The VMI Alumni Association from 1978-79. He was a member of the Alumni Association Board from 1975-87 and its president from 1985-87. He became a trustee of the VMI Foundation in 1991, and from 1995-97, he served as that organization’s president. In addition, he was a member of the Executive Committee of VMI’s capital campaign, Reveille: A Call to Excel, and in 2003, he joined the VMI Board of Visitors and was its president from July 2008-June 2011.

Slater has been with the Richmond law firm Hunton & Williams since 1969 and became a partner in 1976. He currently

is the firm’s group head emeritus of the Litigation, Intellectual Property, Competition and Labor Group.

Active in civic affairs, he is serving as a trustee and chairman of the Virginia Historical Society, a director of the Virginia 4-H Foundation and president of the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.

“Since 1969, Tom Slater has compiled a record of service to VMI that few people can match, and that inarguably deserves recognition,” said Jeffress. “I was pleased, therefore, to present him with this high honor.”

Slater also took the review at the traditional Founders Day Parade. Along with other recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, he was honored at that evening’s Institute Society Dinner, held by the VMI Foundation.

Following are Slater’s Distinguished Service Award citation, the remarks he made at the Convocation and an interview with him.

Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 Receives Distinguished Service Award After Walton M. Jeffress Jr. ’68, president of the VMI Foundation, read the citation announcing Thomas Slater’s award, Slater addressed the audience, which included the entire Corps of Cadets and many guests: Thank you for that generous introduction.

As I was listening to your kind words, I thought to myself that my wife and children must be thinking to themselves, “Who is he talking about? That can’t be the Tom Slater we know.”

On a more serious note, let me say I am deeply honored and grateful to stand before you today. As l told Walt Jeffress when he called me last spring, there are many VMI alums more deserving of this award than [I am] but more about that later.

I salute the Corps of Cadets for choosing VMI – not an easy four years but an experience that will provide a lifetime of benefits.

A special salute to members of the Corps who will be commissioning and serving our country. I also want to salute the faculty, staff, coaches and the administration for all you do to prepare our graduates for their life’s work.

Before I go any further, let me extend my sincere thanks to my wife, Scottie, and our children for their loyal support and patience.

A special thank you to Scottie for her regular attendance at VMI meetings and events over the last 16-plus years. She gets a special citation for “bravery” in traveling with me on Route 81 to and from Lexington countless times over the past 16 years.

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In his remarks, VMI Foundation President Walton Jeffress Jr. ’68 discussed Slater’s long history of alumni support of and service to the Institute. He said that Slater “has selflessly served the Institute. He has contributed much to its successes, and he has provided a superb example of leadership.” All convocation photos

by VMI, Kevin Remington.

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I would be remiss if I did not mention my state and communities in time of peace.

George C. Marshall [’901] summed up his mother and father, Hylton and Tom Slater, You learn very quickly at VMI that there VMI experience and the values of a VMI who introduced me to VMI at a tender age. are no gifts in life – that to succeed you education as follows: We regularly attended VMI vs. UVa and must work extremely hard and be prepared “The Institute gave me not only a stanVirginia Tech football games back in the to accept defeat but not be defeated by dard of my daily conduct among my peers, ’50s and ’60s. In those years, VMI won most your setbacks, mistakes or adversities life but it endowed me with a heritage of honor of those contests. Of course, since my dad imposes on you. and self-sacrifice.” graduated from VMI in 1932, it was pretty As a cadet at VMI, you learn that you and I am not too old to recall that while I was well established that I would be headed to your Brother Rats are all equal. It does a cadet, especially as a Rat, it was someVMI after high school. not matter how rich or poor your family times hard to appreciate the demands and And, of course, that’s exactly what hap- is, what your race is or what your religion restrictions that the VMI system imposed pened in the summer of 1962 when my dad is; you are all treated equally, and you all on me. In fact, in my case, it was not until dropped me off for early football practice must perform your duties and responsibili- later in life, working as a young attorney, in August. ties to the best of your ability. There are no that I came to fully appreciate the value That early football practice in 1962 was shortcuts. There are no easy ways to meet of a VMI education. I came to realize very a great introduction to the VMI class the demands placed upon you seven days quickly that a lawyer’s reputation is his system. It was quickly demonstrated that per week, 24 hours per day. You learn that a greatest asset. I learned that to gain the 175-pound Rats like me were cannon fod- lot is demanded of you, and there is no time respect of my peers and judges and juries der for the likes of Gil Minor [’63] who was to feel sorry for yourself. In his commence- I had the privilege of appearing before, I co-captain of the 1962 football team. Gil led ment address to the VMI class of 1940, Gen. relied on the values that are the hallmark VMI’s team to a Southern Conof VMI: always keep your word, ference Championship win over and work tirelessly to serve your Virginia Tech in Roanoke on clients within the boundaries of Thanksgiving Day. Those truly the legal system. were the golden days for VMI As Gen. Marshall so eloquently football under Coach McKenna. stated over 70 years ago, “VMI While I am on the subject of endows its graduates with a VMI football, let me wish the heritage of honor and selffootball team good luck tomorsacrifice.” As graduates, it is our row against The Citadel. I can solemn duty to uphold those think of no better time for VMI values. to put a licking on our long-time I suggest that the crucible foe, The Citadel, than tomorrow. all VMI cadets are required to That’s enough reminiscing; let endure provides each of us with me turn to my topic of what VMI a burning desire to succeed in has meant to me and my family. life. Whether it’s as a member It has always been and always Jeffress presented the award to Thomas G. Slater Jr. of our armed services, like Gen. will be a shining star in my life.

VMI instills in its graduates honor, courage, duty, tenacity and putting one’s responsibilities above personal gain.

In a word, you learn to do the “right thing” at VMI. The Citizen-Solider concept is the blueprint for the VMI graduate: defend our nation in time of peril, and serve our nation,

The Corps of Cadets and assembled guests gave Slater a standing ovation after he completed his speech.

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Slater took the review with other Institute and Foundation leaders during the traditional Founders Day Parade.

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Distinguished Service Award Citation Presented to Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 Nov. 9, 2012 WHEREAS, THOMAS GLASCOCK SLATER JR., VMI CLASS OF 1966, of Richmond, Virginia, graduated from VMI with a bachelor of arts degree in history and, as a cadet, accumulated a record of many accomplishments, to include being co-captain of the 1965 VMI football team and a Dean’s List student and

Slater addressed the audience after receiving the award.

In his speech, he said that one of the lessons of a VMI education is that “to succeed you must work extremely hard and be prepared to accept defeat but not be defeated by your setbacks, mistakes or adversities.”

Marshall and Gen. Peay [’62], or as a doctor, lawyer, teacher, coach or businessman, the VMI experience endows all of us with a resilience and spirit that enables us to tackle the tasks and adversities of life with a brave heart and “Never Say Die” attitude. That is the VMI spirit in a nutshell. As the inscription over Jackson Arch reminds us, “You may be whatever you resolve to be.”

Let me close by saying to you that in my mind the real Distinguished Service Award winners from our beloved VMI are the men and women of our armed services who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great nation by giving their lives so that we and our children and grandchildren can live in freedom. As Winston Churchill so succinctly put it, “A nation that forgets its past has no future.” We here at VMI learn at an early age to treasure our past, our Brother Rats and peers.

So, with your indulgence, let me now remember my past by recognizing the 11 Brother Rats in my class who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in Vietnam: Alan L. Diedrickson, U.S. Marine Corps J. Scott Dotson, U.S. Air Force Douglas B. Green III, U.S. Army Harry B. Hambleton III, U.S. Army William D. Huyler Jr., U.S. Army John B. Lattin Jr., U.S. Army Donald B. Mattaro Jr., U.S. Army Daniel L. Mullins, U.S. Army Vincent C. Scott, U.S. Air Force Rodney H. Stone, U.S. Air Force Mark C. Whittier, U.S. Marine Corps Please join me in saluting these Brother Rats of the class of ’66 for their heroism and their patriotism. These are patriots who responded to a call. When our country asked them to take a task, they bravely took it and gave their lives. They are the true Distinguished Service Award winners from the class of 1966.

Thank you very much for this day and giving me the privilege to speak to you about what VMI means to me. God bless America and our beloved VMI.

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WHEREAS, after graduation from VMI, MR. SLATER attended the University of Virginia’s School of Law and, upon graduation in 1969, joined the Richmond, Virginia, firm of Hunton & Williams and became a partner in 1976.

WHEREAS, he has developed a national reputation as an expert in complex litigation matters and made many contributions to the legal community in Virginia and the United States and WHEREAS, MR. SLATER has devoted himself selflessly to serving VMI for more than four decades and WHEREAS, that service included serving as the president of The VMI Alumni Association from 1985-87 and the president of the VMI Foundation 1995-97, as well as a member of the executive committee of the comprehensive campaign, Reveille: A Call to Excel and WHEREAS, MR. SLATER was a member of the Institute’s board of visitors from 2003-11 and served as its president from 2008-11 and WHEREAS, during his 42 years of service, he made many substantive contributions to the betterment of all aspects of VMI’s extraordinary education and WHEREAS, MR. SLATER has been an exemplar of unwavering dedication to the welfare of VMI and its Corps of Cadets.

WHEREAS, he has generously supported the Institute, in part by establishing The Thomas and Hylton Slater Class of ’32 Football Scholarship in honor of his parents.

THEREFORE, the board of trustees of the VMI Foundation is proud to recognize this record of dedication to Virginia Military Institute and the VMI Foundation by presenting THOMAS GLASCOCK SLATER JR. with its Distinguished Service Award.

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Interview with Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 Distinguished Service Award Recipient Q: By receiving the Distinguished

Service Award, you now are in some impressive company. What do you think of that?

A: I am deeply honored to receive this award. As I told Walt Jeffress [’68], there are many alums who deserve this award more than I do.

Q: What factors helped you decide to attend VMI? A: My dad was a 1932 graduate, so VMI was always part of my life. We regularly attended football games and reunions.

Q: During your time as a cadet, you were an intercollegiate athlete. What lessons did you derive from that experience? How have you carried them into your professional life?

A: I had the privilege to play for Coach John McKenna. He was a great person and coach. I learned that hard work, attention to detail and desire to win would bring success.

Q: What attracted you to a legal career? What has kept you in it?

A: Doc Carroll, the head of the Biology

Department when I was a third classman, convinced me that being a country lawyer held more potential for me than being a veterinarian, particularly given my grades in chemistry. Hard work and the lessons of doing the right thing that I learned at VMI have helped me in my legal career.

Q: How did VMI prepare you to meet the challenges of your profession? How did it prepare you for leadership in it?

A: VMI truly develops the “whole man” concept of a citizen-soldier. Service to our nation, state and community are part of a VMI grad’s DNA. My one regret in life is not serving on active duty in the Air Force.

Q: Many VMI cadets are hoping to have a legal career. What advice would you offer to them?

A: Work hard, get good grades and commission in one of our services. Law schools like those who have the experience of military service.

Q: You have been involved in service

to VMI since 1969. What motivated you to devote so much time to VMI?

A: I love the school and am extremely proud of its alumni who have contributed so much to our nation and state. VMI is better and stronger today than ever before, thanks to Gen. Peay’s [’62] vision and perseverance.

Q: I know you had many fascinating experiences as the president of the VMI Board of Visitors, The VMI Alumni Association and the VMI Foundation. Would you please describe a couple that stand out for you?

A: Seeing my two sons, Tom [’90] and Andrew, coach baseball together at VMI and lead the team to the finals of the Southern Conference by beating The Citadel was a great thrill. Seeing VMI ranked as one of the top 10 public colleges in the United States while I was on the board of visitors was very special.

Q: You are a consistent and generous donor to VMI. Why do you think it is important to VMI? A: As a state-supported college, VMI cannot maintain its reputation for excellence based on state support, especially since state support has declined over the past decade. Alumni support is critical to VMI’s continued success.

Q: Thank you for your time. We might not have covered something that you wanted to discuss. So, I’ll give you the last word.

The Slater family was present to take part in the award presentation.

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A: The VMI experience, the honor system, the class system, academics, athletics and military duty are demanding and unique. As a cadet goes through VMI, the combination of these can be stressful and, at times, overwhelming.

But I cannot think of a better way of preparing for life’s work, because the real world is similarly demanding and stressful.

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The 2012 Institute Society Dinner

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n Nov. 9, 2012, the VMI Foundation hosted the Institute Society Dinner. The event, which has been conducted on Post for almost four decades, honors the alumni and friends who are leaders in providing unrestricted financial support to the Institute’s academic and co-curricular programs through the Foundation Fund, which is managed by the VMI Foundation. This year, more than 520 people were in attendance, as were a number of cadets.

As they have since the 1970s, The Institute Society’s members continued their leadership in support of VMI in the past fiscal year. Of the $2.7 million received by the Foundation Fund in Fiscal Year 2012, these 888 alumni and friends provided more than 65% of it. They also gave an additional $5 million in other gifts to VMI; therefore, the grand total of their support was $6.7 million.

At this event, the VMI Foundation also honored the class of 1962 and the class of 1986 for the success they enjoyed with their respective Reunion Campaigns. With an astounding 96% of its Brother Rats participating, the class of 1962 raised $20 million in gifts and commitments, setting a new record for 50th Reunion Campaigns. Likewise, for its 25th Reunion Campaign,

the class of 1986 turned in an impressive performance, raising more than $2 million from 52% of its Brother Rats.

As is tradition at the Institute Society Dinner, the evening began with the posting of the Colors by the VMI Color Guard and the playing of the national anthem by the VMI Herald Trumpets.

The guests also were treated to remarks from Regimental Commander Sean P. Noll ’13. He thanked the attendees for their support of the Institute, support which is ensuring that cadets receive the very best education possible in the best traditions of VMI. After dinner, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62, superintendent, addressed the guests (the full text of his remarks are in this section) and introduced a short video which showed that the VMI education remains one that is profoundly transformative.

In addition, the video helped to shed light on the critical role of private financial support at VMI. To close the evening, the VMI Glee Club was called upon to entertain the guests and then lead everyone in a stirring rendition of “The Spirit” and “The VMI Doxology.”

Alumni and friends who are interested in joining the ranks of The Institute Society should contact Sam Sorrells at the VMI Foundation (ssorrells@vmiaa.org).

Photos by VMI, John Robertson IV.

Photos counterclockwise, from top, left: - Lt. Col Andy Tate ’92, USMC, left, and Cadet William Cheatham ’14, who is the Class of 1992 Memorial Scholarship recipient for academic year 2012-13.

- Faculty members are some of VMI’s strongest supporters and members of The Institute Society. Pictured are Col. Jon-Michael Hardin of the Mechanical Engineering Department and his wife, Patricia, who teaches in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.

- Cadet Justin Klein ’13, right, and George Rapport ’64, a trustee of the VMI Foundation, chatted toward the end of the night.

- Representing the class of ’61 at the dinner were, from left, row 1, Warren Copenhaver, Harrison Fridley, Hugh Gouldthorpe, Graham King, Battle Haslam, John C. Miller, John Tharrington and Ed Hollowell. Row 2: Fred Ayers, Raymond Hanlein, Richard Youngblood and Sal Vitale. Row 3: William Keech, Gates Richards, Don Wilkinson, Lee Badgett, George Henning, Richard Lindquist, Larry Wetsel, Stuart Woodcock and Benjamin Lynch.

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Institute Society Dinner Remarks by Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, Superintendent

Ladies and gentlemen of The Institute Society: On behalf of the faculty, staff and cadets of the Institute, I take great pleasure in welcoming you this evening. This is the 10th time I have had the privilege of joining you as superintendent on this festive occasion. It is a gathering that I always look forward to, because it gives me an opportunity, on behalf of the entire VMI community, to “thank you” for your generous support and commitment to the Institute.

Here, in the second decade of the 21st century, we find ourselves in the midst of a number of anniversaries important in the history of VMI. The 11th [of November] marks the 173rd anniversary of the founding of the Institute. Last year, 2011, was the bicentennial of the birth of Col. J.T.L. Preston, principal advocate of the establishment of the Institute, author of the inscription that appears on the Parapet and long-time professor of Latin. This year, we are celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of Gen. Francis H. Smith, first superintendent, whose tenure spanned 50 years – known to us as the “builder and rebuilder” of the Institute. Nationwide, we are in the middle of the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Civil War, and in 2014, we will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of New Market. As a nation, we are also celebrating this year the bicentennial of the War of 1812, of which one of the results was the establishment of the Lexington Arsenal on this site in 1816. And 100 years ago, Sir Moses Ezekiel’s statue of “Stonewall” Jackson was dedicated on the Parade Ground.

There are two other important anniversaries I must mention, because they are even more relevant to this evening’s occasion. This year is the 75th anniversary of the creation of the VMI Foundation. And next year, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of The Institute Society. In 1973, due largely to the inspiration of Executive Vice President Joseph D. Neikirk, VMI class of 1932, the VMI Foundation established The Institute Society as a way to encourage and recognize unrestricted financial support to VMI. Over that span of years, The Institute Society has routinely donated more than two-thirds of the unrestricted money raised through the Foundation Fund. As a result, the Society enabled VMI to provide that extra measure of excellence that has advanced our educational program to the forefront of American colleges. On behalf of all who have benefited from these remarkable organizations, I express warmest thanks.

The Institute’s past is a source of pride to us all, and we owe the founders and builders of this great institution our gratitude. Behind all that has been accomplished are the stories of great men and women who dedicated their lives

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Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent.

and gave of their fortunes to insure that the Virginia Military Institute will flourish far into the future. I emphasize the word “flourish,” because the Institute will not only survive but will become stronger with each passing year. VMI’s future is bright.

There are important changes taking place in almost every corner of the Institute. The most obvious of these changes are the many renovations to aging buildings and other facilities.

Not so obvious are modifications in the academic, military and athletic programs. VMI is changing … but the Institute continues to be dedicated to producing, in the words of its founders, “… honorable youths … an honor to our country and our state, objects of honest pride to their instructors, and fair specimens of citizen-soldiers ….”

Some of the most exciting developments at the Institute today are taking place in the academic program. Upon the completion of our “highly successful” 10- year AccreditationReaffirmation in 2007, the Institute’s academic leadership conducted a full review of the academic core curriculum.

After five years of study and work, this all-encompassing review was reported out this past week to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, our accrediting agency.

And recognizing new requirements for change just during this past year the dean and faculty presented a series of Academic Program Initiatives to be completed by May 2013 to promote greater vitality and contribution and to meet “right-sizing” objectives among the different disciplines and departments. These academic initiatives include strengthening the writing program in the Department of English and Fine Arts; introducing Mandarin Chinese into the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures; possibly creating a separate academic department in informational technology or computer science; and considering restricting the psychology program to a BS degree-only program. As with all areas of the Institute, we must look deep into the future if we are to remain strong and vibrant.

We are especially proud of our academic performance and reputation. Princeton Review, Forbes, U.S. News and World

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Report, and many others have ranked VMI well in the upper quartile of colleges. Last month, Forbes ranked the Institute in the top five percent of 6,500 accredited colleges across the nation. Our small class size (1:11 faculty-student ratio), impressive number of Ph.D. qualified professors, 98 percent of our students with jobs at graduation, and our strong graduation rate all contribute to our high reputation. But it is also “word of mouth” and our ultimate “credential” – the graduate – that favorably affects the reputation of the Institute.

Our reputation continues to attract growing numbers of well-qualified and talented young men and women. This year, we had over 2,000 applications. Admissions numbers grow each year and in quality. At the start of this academic year, we matriculated 508 cadets from 36 states and the District of Columbia and seven foreign countries. The last three years have been the largest matriculating classes in VMI’s history.

With the addition of Third Barracks, the Corps now numbers slightly greater than 1600 cadets. I firmly believe parents and many of America’s youth want the VMI challenge and our unique education.

We are also very proud of the fact that at graduation, in recent years, greater than 50 percent of our graduates have taken commissions across all services. In 2011, the number reached 60 percent. This is a significant measure and statement in time of war. And this is a tribute to their desire to serve and to the leadership and example of the men and women comprising our ROTC departments.

I am often asked, “What is VMI’s Way as regards athletics?”

The answer in these turbulent athletic times bears repeating.

It starts with a “One Corps – One Team” philosophy, with a solid underpinning of academics, honor and discipline. It means no easy degrees, the very best of sportsmanship, and respect as confirmed by our competitors, limited sports and the right sports, being NCAA and Big South compliant, with reasonable expectations satisfied by a balanced and competitive performance. We should note that 422 of our cadets play NCAA sports, and another 866 participate in physical club sports, an impressive 75% of the Corps of Cadets. We have been awarded the Big South Sportsmanship Award numerous times. No other college in America plays on this level playing field. We have work to do. Never say die!

Improving, updating, and expanding our physical facilities have been highly visible parts of Vision 2039, the long-range plan introduced when I arrived in 2003. Though only the stage and foundation upon which educational programs and training are carried out, and never as important as the people and ideas behind those programs, facilities are essential to success.

There have been many recent renovations, improvements and new buildings, and I encourage your visit to them: Third Barracks and Lejeune Hall; upgrading of Foster Stadium and Alumni Field; the renovation of Mallory Hall and currently the New Science Building; Nichols Engineering; North Post and Saunders Fields; an expanded ROTC facility in Kilbourne Hall; a new Gray-Minor baseball complex; a new VMI Museum and acquisition of the Jackson House in downtown Lexington;

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numerous new parking areas around Post; Marshall Hall, our Center for Leadership and Ethics; a new Hinty Hall supporting our Physical Plant team; increased cadet and ROTC training acreage and Sky Farm at McKethan Park; a Shell Hall; and a total modernization of our Post Hospital. Our classrooms are of highest technology and climate enhanced. All of these changes have taken place over the past decade, and they have taken place during a period of dramatically declining state budgets and funding for higher education. This is a testimony not only to our government relations, construction and marketing teams, but also to VMI’s reputation for competency, professionalism and integrity. These qualities have gained the legislature’s and private donors’ confidence and trust, resulting in approximately $350 million of construction in the past 10 years.

At the present time, we are planning and securing resources to build a state-of-the-art $80 million South Post Corps Indoor Training Facility; programming Cormack Hall on Main Street, for a state of the art Physical Education Department; and looking to modify Cocke Hall as a Corps and faculty support building. We hope shortly to begin Phase II construction of Saunders Fields on North Post to complete what we call our “Leadership Valley Project.” Many of you will remember this area as “The Nile Valley.” Ongoing is a $19.6 million modernization of Maury-Brooke Hall to be completed late summer 2013.

After a decade of state financial cuts to higher education, encouragingly, state support stabilized this year at 17 percent of our total operational budget. We are also in the “quiet phase” of our next comprehensive campaign, and there is great excitement and considerable work ongoing as we organize for this endeavor, with public announcement of goals, organization and plans in early 2014.

The Institute continues to stand on the bedrock of personal honor as described in VMI’s historic Honor Code.

And in its fundamental expectations and requirements, the VMI Honor System and the Honor Court basically remain as you knew them. The VMI Honor System is the most cherished of all our systems, and we continue to work tirelessly to ensure its integrity and effectiveness.

I firmly believe that the future holds even greater things for our school and its graduates and that its reputation will rise to even greater heights. With all of us working together for the benefit of the cadet, I am confident that the Institute will continue to provide generations of informed, skilled, fit, confident and dependable men and women of the highest character and integrity for our state and nation.

Pamela and I are committed to an all-out effort in the years ahead to leave VMI – your school – positioned strongly for the future and to serve our cadets, faculty and staff efficiently and effectively. We thank you for your loyalty and continuing support.

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Institute Society Dinner 1

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Photo captions: 1. The venue, The Hall of Valor in Marshall Hall at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, again proved to be an excellent setting for the Institute Society Dinner.

2. As is the long-standing custom, the evening began with the posting of the Colors.

3. Brian Scott Crockett, the VMI Foundation’s CEO, welcomed alumni, friends and cadets attending the event.

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4. Prior to the dinner, Conrad Hall ’65, left, former president of the VMI Foundation, and W. Gregory Robertson ’65, center, a member of the VMI Board of Visitors, spoke with Cadet J. Hunter Colt ’13.

5. Regimental Commander Sean Noll ’13 made remarks in which he thanked the guests for giving in support of the Corps of Cadets.

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Institute Society Dinner 6

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Photo captions continued: 6. Walton Jeffress Jr. ’68, president of the VMI Foundation, thanked the classes of 1962 and 1986 for their successful reunion campaigns and the 888 members of The Institute Society for their leadership in support of VMI during Fiscal Year 2012.

7. Frank Louthan Jr. ’41, center, spoke with Cadet Charles Jenkins ’13, right.

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8. Class of ’54 Brother Rats William Turner Jr., Ph.D., left, and Paul Meyer Jr., M.D. 9. Col. John Brodie, an honorary alumnus and VMI’s music director, conducted the VMI Glee Club.

10. Thomas Slater Jr. ’66, left, and the Institute’s first lady, Mrs. Pamela Peay.

11. Bree Adams ’04, left, and VMI Alumni Association President Bob Heely ’69.

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In Memory of Hugh V. White Jr. ’54

by Scott E. Belliveau ’83, Director of Communications, VMI Foundation

On Aug. 6, 2012, Hugh V. White Jr. ’54, a leading & Williams from a firm with one office in Richmond figure in Virginia’s legal community and a dedito one employing 500 lawyers and with additional cated community servant, died at his Richmond offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Brussels, Hong Kong, home after a long illness. He was 79. and Warsaw. White returned to the practice of law White matriculated to VMI from the small Tidein 1994 and became senior counsel in 1999. water town of Holland, Virginia, in 1950. Described He also helped transform downtown Richin his “history” in the Bomb as a “leader in the mond’s skyline when, in the late 1980s, Hunton social, military and academic aspects of cadet life,” & Williams joined Wheat, First Securities Inc. he was a cadet corporal, cadet first sergeant and and Daniel Realty to develop a two-tower office a cadet captain. During his first class year, he was complex on the James River. Completed in 1990 a member of the Honor Court and commanded at a cost of $100 million, Riverfront Plaza became A Company. the headquarters for Hunton & Williams.

After graduation, he was employed for six months Active in many professional organizations and as an engineer for E.I. duPont de Nemours & Comwidely recognized for his professional accomplishpany, before training as a pilot for the U.S. Air Force ments, White was listed in the 1987 and 1989 and serving from 1955-58, flying fighters. editions of The Best Lawyers in America as a As he approached the end of his Air Force service, corporate lawyer and a bankruptcy lawyer, respeche contemplated returning to engineering as a tively. He also was a director of The Chesapeake White Jr. ’54 career but instead chose the law. In a 1987 dual Corporation and Pulaski Furniture Corporation. interview with another leading light in Virginia’s A dedicated community servant, he was active legal world, Robert C. Patterson Jr. ’49C, published in the summer in many civic organizations, such as the Richmond First Club 1987 edition of the VMI Alumni Review, he described his reasoning: (of which he was chairman), The Forum Club and the Richmond “I really wanted to try something different.”

Metropolitan YMCA (which he also served as chairman). His service He returned to Lexington for his legal education, studying at also extended to educational institutions; he was a member of the Washington and Lee University. He excelled in law school, becom- Virginia Commonwealth University Business School Council and the ing a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa, serving Law Council of the Washington and Lee University School of Law, as the editor-in-chief of the Washington and Lee Law Review, and as well as a trustee of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. He was a graduating summa cum laude in 1961. member of the board of the Virginia Historical Society for 10 years White then moved to Richmond and worked for two years as the and served as its chairman for two years. A member of St. Mary’s executive director of the Virginia Commission on Constitutional Episcopal Church in Goochland County, he served on its vestry for Government, a legislative agency which analyzed and offered papers many years, including a time as senior warden. on the division of responsibilities between the state and federal On a more personal level, White was a “reading mentor” at Richgovernment. mond’s George Mason Elementary School for many years. Before In 1963, he joined the Richmond firm of Hunton, Williams, Gay, and after his retirement, he devoted much of his time to pro bono Powell & Gibson, the forerunner of the current Hunton & Williams legal service, working out of the office that, at his urging, Hunton LLP, beginning an association that would last until his retirement & Williams had established in Richmond’s Church Hill area in order in 1999. White started out as a trial lawyer but, after a few years, to provide legal assistance to low-income residents. He received his decided to specialize in general business law, with an emphasis on firm’s E. Randolph Williams Award in 1999 which is given to those corporate and securities law. He helped clients with contested and who contribute more than 100 hours of pro bono legal service. negotiated acquisitions, friendly and hostile tender offers, takeover Former president of VMI’s Board of Visitors, Thomas G. Slater Jr. defenses, leveraged buyouts, and corporate spinoffs. His client list ’66, who joined Hunton & Williams in 1969 and became a partner included such companies as The Chesapeake Corporation, Owens in 1976, said of his colleague, “Hugh’s integrity and humility were & Minor, Wheat First Securities, Pulaski Furniture Corporation and his trademarks. He was a total team player who put the best interest the Bank of Virginia. of the firm and our clients ahead of his personal interests. He led by In a tribute to White posted on the Hunton & Williams website, example. He always put more hard work and thought into the task at G. Gilmer Minor III ’63, chairman of the board of Owens & Minor, hand than those around him. Hugh treated everyone the same way, remembered White as the “architect” of the two key events in the be it the mailroom clerk or most prominent partner, with respect company’s history – entering a cooperative buyers’ agreement and good humor. He was loved and respected by all who had the that took it from a regional to a national company and listing the privilege of working for and with him. He was a loyal friend and a company on the New York Stock Exchange – and described him as great role model.” “a fantastic lawyer … [and] more importantly ... a wonderful and White’s survivors include his wife of 50 years, Mary Margaret great human being.”

Flowers White; three sons, H. Hunter White of Richmond, William Becoming a partner in 1969, White joined the firm’s Executive Com- C. White of Paramount, California, and J. Porter White of Washingmittee in 1974 and served as its vice chairman from 1982-86 and as ton, D.C.; two daughters-in-law; a sister, Anne Dobbins of Rockport, its chairman from 1986-94. As a member of this committee, he was Texas; an honorary daughter, Suneeta Hazra of Denver, Colorado; part of the leadership team that fundamentally transformed Hunton and four grandchildren.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Rescuing Military Satellites …

All in a Day’s Work for Madden ’80

“The maintenance problem occurred four years before we ever launched the vehicle,” Madden says. “There was no way for us to figure that out until it went into orbit. … If we’d fired the engine one more time, we probably would have blown up the spacecraft.”

Instead, Madden organized his subordinates into teams to troubleshoot the problem. Figuring out a solution quickly was imperative,

by Rich Griset, Contributing Writer as the further the craft descended into the Earth’s atmosphere, the more fuel would be required to push it into geosynchronous orbit.

With the military’s $2 billion Advanced To save the satellite, Madden’s teams determined they could slowly Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite push the craft toward geosynchronous by reprogramming 16 small malfunctioning miles above Earth, it was up thrusters designed for more minor maneuvers. to David W. “Dave” Madden ’80 and his team “We had to use them in a way that was never intended,” Madden at Air Force Space Command to rescue the says. “The good news was the satellite was designed with a flexibility craft before it was lost forever. we didn’t even know we had.”

“This is one of the most expensive systems During the next few months, personnel worked around the the department has ever built,” says Mad- clock to inch the satellite into its final orbit. On Oct. 24, 2011, den, director of Military Satellite Communi- more than a year after launch, the first AEHF satellite reached cations (MILSATCOM) Systems Directorate geosynchronous orbit.

“I can tell you, a lot of us were feeling very good,” Madden says.

Madden ’80 at Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center. “I had a lot of people “It would have taken us years to recover from this because of the breathing down my neck.” expense of the satellite and the time it takes to build. It’s not like Madden is responsible for the military’s communication satellite you can say, ‘Just give me another $2 billion, and I’ll put another systems, from the design and development of satellites and their one up in a year.’ It would have taken another seven to 10 years.” ground systems through launch, initial Since the first satellite was reoperations and sustainment. covered, a second AEHF satellite One such constellation is Milstar, has been launched. Both have which has provided secure communicasuccessfully completed checkout tion for the armed forces since 1994. To and calibration tests in orbit. The replace this aging satellite system, Madthird satellite of the constellation den and part of his team of 800 people was recently removed from storage are working to bring the AEHF satellite and is undergoing tests ahead of a constellation online. The new constelscheduled September 2013 launch. lation will give the military expanded In the next year, Madden will overcommunication capabilities, approxisee the launches of the two latest mately 10 times the communications satellites of the Wideband Global capacity of the Milstar constellation.

SATCOM system.

“It provides protected, survivable Madden’s career path to Air Force communication to our senior leaders,” Space Command began at VMI with Madden says. “Under any conditions, his electrical engineering major including thermonuclear war, the studies. Directly after graduating, president will be able to communicate Madden joined the Air Force, where with [our armed] forces.” he spent three decades working To set up the AEHF constellation, on everything from technology four launches were scheduled to put transfer and ballistic missiles to the satellites into geosynchronous orbit satellites and systems to recover around Earth. The first took place Aug. downed aviators. Madden also re14, 2010, from Cape Canaveral Air Force ceived a master’s degree in systems Station. The rocket, or launch vehicle, management from the University placed the spacecraft into its initial orbit of Southern California. He retired at 200 kilometers (km) above the Earth. from the Air Force in 2000 at the From that position, the craft’s engine rank of colonel. But of all his experiMadden and an Air Force officer in front of the was supposed to push the satellite into AEHF satellite. ences, Madden still credits VMI for geosynchronous orbit at 32,000 km, but giving him the foundation that alit ran into a problem. lowed him to succeed in his career.

The engine fired but wasn’t producing the proper amount of “The engineering discipline I got at VMI was spectacular,” Madthrust. After a second attempt, some of the satellite’s sensors read den says. “The discipline I learned in the engineering department, that part of the craft was heating up. The team figured out that the which was very vigorous, and learning that you really have to work fuel wasn’t mixing correctly and was instead damaging the engine, with the team, or you won’t be successful – the combination of presumably because of a blocked fuel line. these was the key.”

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Washington Post Names Stafford ’09 Federal Player of the Week Editor’s Note: In August 2012, Kelsey L. Stafford ’09 was named a Washington Post “Federal Player of the Week,” as part of a series spotlighting the work of federal employees who have demonstrated a strong commitment and passion for public service.

The article below featuring Stafford was jointly prepared

by The Partnership for Public Service and washingtonpost.com. The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C., that works to revitalize federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works. The Washington Post’s Federal Player series is a joint effort with the Partnership to educate the public on the many contributions federal employees make to the United States on a daily basis.

The Partnership granted permission to reprint this article.

Stafford ’09 Monitors Water Quality of Local Streams

by The Partnership for Public Service and washingtonpost.com Published: August 2012, The Washington Post

become the scientists of the future.”

Stafford and her colleague, Michael Wills, braved the summer’s record-breaking heat to conduct regular testing on the water chemistry and biology of each stream.

They tested for chlorine, phosphorus and nitrates in the water and looked for the presence of dragonflies, freshwater clams, worms and crayfish, which serve as water quality, stream health and environmental indicators. From these measurements, Stafford was able to determine the pollution levels for each of the 10 streams.

“The organisms living in these streams are very sensitive. A slight change in chemical levels can have a drastic effect on the streams and organisms, and many people are unaware of this,” said Stafford.

In addition, Stafford conducted ecological habitat assessments on each stream. This includes examining the occurrence of bank erosion and the amount of algae and shade coverage.

The culmination of the research [was] released this [past] fall as part of an annual report distributed by the park service that provides area residents with a water quality score ranging from one to 12 for each stream.

Stafford said that “none of our streams are a one or a 12, but most have a score of three or four on average.”

She added that “one of the biggest challenges is the lack of public awareness about protecting the watersheds and how directly affected they are by what happens in people’s back yards.”

While many of her peers had congressional internships or jobs that kept them inside air conditioned office buildings, Kelsey Stafford [’09] spent her summer working outdoors examining the environment of the nation’s capital.

As an intern with the National Park Service, Stafford monitored the water quality of 10 streams along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. These streams, which include Spout Run in Arlington, feed into the Potomac River and ultimately affect the area’s drinking water.

Erik Oberg, who supervises Stafford, said the 12week Student Conservation Association internship “introduces bright and enthusiIn August 2012, Kelsey L. Stafford ’09 was named “Federal Player of the astic young people to careers Week” by The Washington Post for her work with water monitoring along the with the Park Service, while George Washington Memorial Parkway. also empowering them to 24

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

For example, Stafford said actions such as dumping chemicals down a drain or chlorinated pool water into a backyard can have huge effects on the aquatic life of these streams and on the area’s drinking water.

As a result, Stafford has made it a point to teach people she encounters during the field work about how they can be better stewards of these watersheds. She offers simple tips like using rain barrels on gutter downspouts and backyard rain gardens to help minimize storm runoff or using a gravel or paving stone base for a patio instead of solid cement to help reduce the amount of impervious surfaces in local watersheds.

For Stafford, the opportunity to do hands-on field research [was] a highlight of her internship. After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in 2009, she spent six months interning for the U.S. Forest Service in a remote section of Alaskan wilderness where she helped determine the best way to increase vegetation growth after the area was logged.

“I was really impressed with Kelsey’s work in Alaska.

It is great having someone who has a foundation in field work anchoring the two-person team,” said Oberg. “She is also excellent at attention to detail, and this kind of work lends itself to having this skill – from the chemical water testing and ensuring accurate measurements to counting the 875th invertebrate in your net at the end of a nine-hour day.”

Stafford plans to pursue a career in research … and her experience with the National Park Service has her considering opportunities with the federal government since it will allow her to have a positive impact on the country.

“I feel so privileged to be a part a program leading the way in stream water quality monitoring for this National Capital Region Network [and] making a difference in educating the public on how to preserve these resources, not only in the back yard of our nation’s capital, but across our entire country,” she said.

Stafford ’09: Epilogue

by George Abry, Contributing Writer

In late fall 2012, a few months after the preceding article about Kelsey L. Stafford ’09 was published on washingtonpost.com, we checked in with her and discovered that she is employed by the historic preservation development department at the University of Virginia (UVa).

She spends her days updating and streamlining the department website; creating advanced databases using confidential financial and contact information; and balancing budgets and procurements for development activities, purchase orders, payment vouchers and travel reimbursements – all in the comfort of UVa’s state-of-the-art Fontaine Research Park.

The truth is that Stafford would rather spend eight hours a day hiking to remote locations in a pair of rubber hip waders, testing the water quality of Virginia’s streams and rivers. “I love it here at UVa. However, I have a strong desire to get outside of the office, to do fieldwork and use my biology degree to make a bigger impact for the surrounding environment,” she said.

When asked about the 12-week Student Conservation Association internship with the National Park Service (NPS) that she completed last summer, she said, “ … the NPS internship was exactly … [what] I was looking for, to gain more experience in the biology field.”

Based on her research, Stafford co-authored a 320-page, 10-year cumulative analysis of stream data, which included her 2012 stream results, methodology, educational outreach and recommendations. “The most rewarding thing about my internship was feeling like we really made a difference,” she said. “This was the 10th year this stream-monitoring program had been in place, and we were able to bring it up to a whole new standard of water quality research.”

As of this writing, she is exploring employment opportunities at various environmental consulting firms and government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which would allow her to continue doing environmental research.

Stafford said her years at VMI helped broaden her focus and led her to seek leadership opportunities that allow her to inspire others. “VMI was an experience that pushed me more than anything had before, and it gave me the confidence to do anything I set my mind to, even if it’s the path less travelled,” she said. “VMI influenced my career path and [gave me a] desire to make a difference … showing me that After graduating from VMI, Stafford spent six months interning for the U.S. with determination, hard work and a Forest Service in the Alaskan wilderness to help increase vegetation growth strong network, anything is possible.” after the area was logged.

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First Fall Reunion

Sept. 14-15, 2012

Photos by Julie Rivera.

Classes of 1967, 1977 and the Honored Class of 1987

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Second Fall Reunion

Oct. 5-6, 2012

Photos by Julie Rivera and Traci Mierzwa.

Classes of 1997, 2007 and the Honored Class of 2002

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If a VMI alumnus or someone referred by an alumnus buys the property, the owner, Philip Clayton, a class of 1972 alumnus, will donate 3% of the sales price to VMI.

Call 540/463-5435

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS ASSOCIATION NEWS Chicago Chapter Holds Rat Send-off

On Aug. 12, 2012, the Chicago Chapter of The VMI Alumni Association (photo above) held a Rat Send-off at U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox. Photo at right, above: Two of the three “future Keydets” who were in attendance. Photo at right: Dion Scaglione ’86 and his wife, Cheryl.

Tennessee Valley Chapter Summer Get-together The Tennessee Valley Chapter met on July 21, 2012, in Huntsville, Alabama, for a summer get-together. According to Ben Summers ’97, who submitted this photo, 30 people attended. He wrote, “We had a great time and enjoyed visiting with families and alumni who represented every decade starting with the 1950s. The group plans to do something again soon.” Pictured in the front row, from left, were Bill Benson ’57, Paul Wagner ’66, Jim Schaaf ’60 and Earl Talley ’58. Back row: Steve Brouse ’81, Summers, Tim Catalano ’00, Kurt Weidenthal ’77, Bernie Groome ’71, John Caldwell ’74, Chris Simpson ’01 and Max Swoboda ’93.

Alumni in Jacksonville Dane Addison ’11 and his brother, Christian Addison ’14, hosted a tailgate party prior to the Jacksonville Jaguars vs.

NY Giants football game in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 10, 2012. Attending were, from left, Roland Richardson ’11, Dane Addison, Matt Talbot ’11, Christian Addison, Jonathan Santos ’11 and Tanner Bauer ’14. Duke Addison ’82, Dane’s and Christian’s father, wrote, “Following the game, several of the guys had a chance to meet former William & Mary defensive back and now-Jaguar Derek Cox, as well as take a private tour of the locker room. The Institute was heard from today and was well represented in Jacksonville.”

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Career Networking Tips The Hand-Written Thank You Note

by Eric J. Hunter ’08, Career Networking Officer, VMI Alumni Association

Over time, we often replace one thing with another – “out with the old, and in with the new,” the saying goes.

A face-to-face conversation has been replaced with a phone call, and now a phone call is being replaced by a text. Kids used to play with friends outside, but that activity is being replaced with inside computer games with friends or with strangers on the Internet. Just like face-to-face conversations and outside activities, the hand-written thank-you note is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

You might say, “Why would I ever spend time writing someone a thank you note, when I could send them a quick e-mail from my computer or cell phone?” That’s a question we could all ask ourselves as our lives get busier and more frantic. When our schedules fill up, we’re forced to skip over the “nice-to-do” things and place other items higher on our daily priority list.

We’re accomplishing a lot, but we miss the opportunity to deepen a professional relationship with someone by putting in the time and effort to write a hand-written note.

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It’s been my experience that hand-written notes are particularly important during the job interview process. After an interview, I write a hand-written thank-you note to each person with whom I’ve interviewed. If two people are in the running for a position and are equally qualified and suited for the job, I believe that the person who follows up in the most professional and genuine manner will most likely receive the offer.

As cultural and technological changes cause us to move toward faster and more convenient solutions, let us think twice before letting go of simple, “old fashioned” courtesies, such as hand-written notes. The next time you have the opportunity to thank someone, try writing a hand-written note. The time and effort are minimal, and the end result – in terms of building relationships and networking – is powerful.

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Stonewall Jackson Bed The Stonewall Jackson Bed is crafted of solid cherry and features 56 ½”H acorn topped posts. Although the original at Guinea Station is a true rope bed, our reproduction will accommodate a threequarter or a full size mattress.

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Stonewall Jackson’s Field Desk The Stonewall Jackson Desk is 29”H x 34½“W x 14½”D. The cherry table is built and finished with the same exacting detail and is the perfect complement to the desk. The table is 29”H x 34½“W x 24”D. The Field Desk is licensed through the VMI Museum. A portion of the purchase price of each desk will go to the Museum. Price: $4,695.00

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS

O

n Oct. 6, 2012, a group of alumni enjoyed a trip on their motorcycles and the opportunity to return to Post. Most traveled quite a distance, coming from Alumni Association chapters in northern Virginia, Richmond, Lynchburg, Roanoke and Lexington.

Together, they met outside of Lexington and rode through town, guided by a police escort, down Main Street and up the hill past Crozet Hall.

This is the seventh year of the event that was initially started by alumni who decided it would be fun to return to VMI on their bikes and see a football game.

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Ride to the “I�

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CLASS CLASSNOTES NOTES

’35

Richard H. Knight ’70

A “Happy New Year” to the class of ’35!

Thank you for your cards and messages. It is good to know that so many of you spent Christmas with family members.

The class scored a perfect 100 in Annual Giving for the year that ended June 30, 2012. Please accept my sincere thanks to everyone who participated, including the ladies.

This column often refers to the Second World War because the class played such an important role in that armed conflict.

But when did the “War” begin? Did it begin with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, or with the German invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939?

Many historians contend that the War actually began when Japanese and Chinese forces clashed at the Marco Polo Bridge near Peiping, on July 7, 1937.

At the time, I Chang was a captain in the Chinese Army. I Chang, or “ChenTsu” as he was known to his Brother Rats, was a graduate of Central Military Academy in Nanking and from there, he entered the United States Military Academy with the class of ’35. He resigned from West Point after plebe year and entered VMI as an academic third classman. Eddie Arnold recalls that Chen-Tsu left the academy because he spoke very little English. Indeed, his Bomb entry confirms that “He says little . . . .” Even so, Chen-Tsu graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

Chen-Tsu was commanding an infantry company at Nanking, China, when, on Dec. 1, 1937, his unit was overrun by the Japanese. Every man, including ChenTsu, was lost.

Was Capt. I (“Chen Tsu”) Chang the first of VMI’s World War II casualties?

He probably was. Now, more than 75 years later, he is a largely forgotten hero, so I am pleased to tell his story – abbreviated as it is – in the pages of the VMI Alumni Review.

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There is an excellent history of the massacre, The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang, and I highly recommend it. It was published about 10 years ago, but it is available at amazon.com and elsewhere. I have not been able to determine if the late Ms. Chang was any relation to Capt. Chang.

I journeyed to Virginia Beach in late October where my mother and I had the pleasure of meeting Clelia Freeman (George C. Freeman) for dinner. Clelia has had a dreadful year. George, her husband of more than 70 years, expired in January, and their eldest son, George C. Freeman II ’65, expired in early fall after a long and courageous battle with cancer. (Editor’s Note: The obituary of George Freeman II appears in the Taps section of this Review.)

Despite these sad events, we enjoyed a delightful evening. Mrs. Freeman recalled that her father had been working on the Panama Canal about the time of her birth and that he returned to Virginia where he worked for the Seaboard Coastline Railroad.

Clelia recalled that she visited the 1939 New York World’s Fair. My father, who was living on Long Island at the time, also visited the Fair, and I remember Dad telling me that he had seen “Popeye” Perry there. Perry was one of Ripley’s most popular acts. He could “pop” out his eyes from their sockets, and evidently this created quite a sensation. When I asked Clelia if she remembered “Popeye,” she smiled demurely.

I look forward to seeing Mrs. Freeman soon. I had a nice letter from my most reliable pen pal, Jane Ferrell (William B. Ferrell). Mrs. Ferrell continues to divide her time between Florida and Virginia, choosing to drive to and fro. And she still has a “lead” foot. I have no problem with that, as long as I am not on I-95 when she is!

Jane disclosed that she has been battling breast cancer for the last few years but is now in complete remission. She urges everyone, regardless of age, to have regular check-ups. Thanks for the good advice, Jane, and know that we are grateful for your recovery.

Eddie Arnold is thriving in the New Mexico high desert. I heard from Eddie’s

son, Dr. Tom Arnold, who tells me that his dad is active and interested in everything. I had the best visit with the Arnold boys last summer. The Albuquerque Cracker Barrel will never be the same.

Our class agent emeritus, Jim Sherman, sent me a long handwritten letter on “expensive” stationery (lined, yellow legal pad paper). Jim said that would help me read his writing. (Jim, your letters are not that hard to decipher!) Jim wrote that, at almost 99, he is no longer running the “high hurdles” but that he is getting plenty of exercise.

The Shermans, who live near Southern Pines, NC, often visit Raleigh to visit Peggy’s son and family and Emerald Isle, where Peggy has an oceanfront condominium. Jim enjoys the ocean but says he no longer surfs! Jim recalls that John Wales was instrumental in their move to Southern Pines.

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the spring. Until then, here is wishing you and yours the very best in all things. Stay in touch!

Respectfully ... Dick ’70

’37

Frank Forsyth

Let’s start off with the weather here.

We all recall how hot last summer was.

Although Denver is a mile high, most Coloradans agreed our summer was unusually hot and folks here were ready for winter’s cooler temperatures. However, I never found it uncomfortable. In fact, I would have appreciated a few higher ticks in the thermometer outside my window!

My plea to hear from folks did elicit responses. Four ’37 family members penned greetings, which shared news just about the time winter was returning to Colorado’s high country. After enjoying each missive, I settled back in the comfort of my new accommodations (more on that later) using one eye to oversee son John Forsyth ’67, as he drafted our latest “notes” edition while keeping the other eye firmly affixed to the local weather channel. Personally, after spending 95 years enjoying Virginia’s VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES warm spring times, sultry summers and festively comfortable harvest periods, it surprises me that out here spring arrives around May but winter returns in September! I remain unaccustomed to receiving snow advisories while knowing the rest of the country remains in summer’s grasp. But broadcast they do … the first snowstorms enveloped Colorado’s high country just about midSeptember. These first announcements of high-country snows focus Coloradoans’ attention on the approaching ski season, and apparently, my Colorado greatgrandchildren are prepared. With season lift tickets in hand and skis strapped to the roof of their parents’ SUVs, they collectively announced that Arapahoe Basin, sporting a 13,050-foot northeast face, was the first alpine resort to open, starting its ski lifts Oct. 20th. For my part, I remain perfectly content facing a healthy fire but observing the snowcapped peaks from as great a distance as possible. I do enjoy eavesdropping on those same great-grandkids as they relive their alpine exploits (translated … thrills and spills)!

Bunny Tucker got off a quick note in August in appreciation that the class remembered his birthday. He reminds us that the 20 or so VMI alumni and other VMI family members residing at Westminster Canterbury get together a couple times a year. Additionally, he has another alumni group that meets monthly at area restaurants. This group of approximately 30 calls itself the “VMI Romeos,” which stands for “Retired Old Men Eating Out!” Bunny went on to say that whenever the group meets, he (like me) finds he’s the oldest one in attendance. Bunny, although I’m not quite your age, I’m catching up quickly. How about advertising the next Romeo, so the rest of us may consider plans to travel to your alumni festivities? I’ll see if I can talk my daughter-in-law into flying east with me for the occasion. She’s a much better companion than grouchy son John, who seems to do nothing but work! Besides, I‘ve always wanted to see how folks handle living at Richmond’s premier senior living residence.

Sorry your arthritis has been acting up and your general health is not what you 2013-Issue 1

want it to be, Bunny. I believe we all understand … from personal experience.

Understanding your plight makes your note that much more special to the class of ’37.

Donna Callar (Don) wrote a nice note and a couple e-mails, sharing information on her recent adventures, which run the gamut from volunteer organization activities to tinkering with “Puddle Jumper,” her pampered Cessna 172.

Donna related that her husband encouraged her to immerse herself in pursuits he desired as a younger man. It was one of the ways he found contentment during his retirement years – living vicariously through Donna’s recreational diversions. Donna keeps “Puddle Jumper” parked at Martinsburg’s airport, which also is home to a West Virginia Air National Guard Unit, the 167th Airlift Wing. These guys and gals fly the cargo aircraft, known as the “Heavies.” The unit recently upgraded from their C-130 Hercules to C-5 Galaxy aircraft. So, here’s a big shout out to these service men and women who keep our military forces around the world supplied with essentials! Donna explained that the “Heavies” necessitated facility and apron (parking ramp) modifications. Since the overall airport footprint was limited, a portion of the east-west runway was appropriated for new C-5 hangers, eliminating the crosswind runway. Reliance on a single runway presents little problem to the big aircraft, upon which crosswinds have little effect. The same cannot be said of light aircraft. Once in place, the presence of the new hangers and loss of the crosswind runway present new skill challenges to general aviation pilots. As a result, this past summer’s unpredictable winds provided ample opportunities for Donna to test her take-off and landing skills (and her nerves) as frequent cross currents swirled around the airport. Her Cessna is rated for a 15-knot crosswind, and she’s comfortable anywhere up to a 10-knot side current. However, once she found herself wrestling her plane onto terra firma with 12-knot gusts, which was not as fun as it sounds. All readers are reminded that any landing you can walk away from is a good one … so, good on you, girl;

keep flying! I understand better than most why Donna likes to have her head and body in the clouds. I wish I were up there with her on those CAVU (ceiling and visibility unlimited) flying days!

Donna also shared that she had been considering retirement after (only) 48 years in the education industry; so the day the school year ended, she scheduled an appointment with the retirement office to discuss options. Although she didn’t plan to close that life chapter so abruptly, she learned she would be paid more in retirement then she would if she continued working. She signed her retirement papers on the spot and hasn’t looked back! Thanks, Donna, for your many years of service to all those students, faculty and parents. I know you will be sorely missed. She’s now volunteering with a community outreach organization affiliated with area churches. The organization assists families in need of food, clothing, transportation and sometimes even monies for utilities, medical bills, etc. Donna relates that the need is so great, she’s found herself working half a day, five days a week. If that’s not enough, she’s actually thinking about going back to volunteer her time in the school district she just left! Some retirement you’ve got going, Donna!

Toward the end of September, I received a short note from Margery Couper (John) in Lexington. While acknowledging receipt of her birthday card, she shared that she took a trip to visit her older son in Maryland over her birthday and ended up staying a month!

Margery said she will never move from Lexington, but the long visit was a very nice change of pace and scenery. Margery, I know exactly what you mean. I’m comfortable where I am, but it sure is nice to get out and see a bit of the world every now and then! Margery went on to say that although she seldom gets to many Institute functions these days, she reports that the Institute is well cared for and we all should be proud. “Gen. Peay ’62 has it looking the best ever!” Margery finished her note with the comment that she will be so happy when the presidential election is over. “Since Virginia is a ‘swing’ state, we’re getting more than our share of TV ads!” Colorado is 35

CLASS NOTES also considered a swing state. I believe we have had at least one TV commercial for every man, woman and child residing in this state!

And then, I received an e-mail from Anne Townes (William) via her granddaughter, Courtney Townes Good, to son John. Anne sends her greeting to all class members from her Louisville, KY, home.

She relates that all is well these days, informing us that her bit of news is a recent hip replacement. Since her surgeon has a policy not to perform hip replacement surgeries on patients 95 and older, she felt she needed to go ahead and get it done. She reasoned that although she was several years away from being impacted by her doctor’s criteria, the last time she checked she wasn’t getting any younger. So, she decided to have the surgery instead of waiting. Anne still enjoys outings and family trips to the property that she and Wakey’s son (Wave) and his wife (Brenda) have near Lexington, VA, on Kerr’s Creek, and she wants to be in the best shape possible for such excursions. While there, they take the opportunity to visit the Institute and interface with Keydets. Anne, thanks for the note.

Feel free to use your granddaughter, Courtney, and son, John, anytime to get news to the class. I always enjoy the communications. I’m sure the rest of ’37 share my feelings.

I don’t have much in the way of news out here in the Wild West. John and I did get to a Rocky Mountain Chapter summer picnic/meeting for a few minutes at Creigh Kelley’s ’68 place. Thanks much to Creigh and Chapter President Tom Clark ’73.

Reviewing the chapter’s roster, I was chagrined to learn that I’m the oldest alumni in the chapter …can’t understand how I let that happen. However, seniority does have its perks. For example, the younger alumni run for a beer if I find my hand empty! All seem more than happy to oblige!

About that time, my daughter-in-law, Leslie, was enduring the postoperative effects of a fourth knee replacement surgery (same knee). I decided she and John needed a break, and I probably needed a break also! Sometimes it’s a challenge to be on your best behavior constantly.

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So, with John’s assistance, I looked into appropriate accommodations where my few needs might be better managed by professionals. Although it was initially to be a temporary respite, I believe it’s best that I have a little space of my own, while remaining close enough for family to stop by when and as they can. I was familiar with Heritage Club of Greenwood Village, because Kitty and I stayed here during our 2010 Colorado visit, and I was pleased that the community had a private room available, which met my needs. Upon my arrival, I recognized several staff members from my 2010 stay, and some even remembered me!

So, I’ve been here since July. I find assisted living has its benefits, e.g., all the female staff members are good looking, much younger than me and some have not heard my jokes. Besides, I get all the chocolate ice cream I want, beer cans magically appear in my refrigerator and I don’t have to battle John for control of either the TV remote or the thermostat!

Of course, there are some drawbacks: the dining room serves too much pasta and not enough red meat; staff members wake me too early each morning; and my computer access is a ways away on another floor. If anyone wants to e-mail me directly, my personal e-mail address is frankforsyth@connectedliving.net. I can’t guarantee I can reply. However, I’ll ensure John can collate any class news that arrives in my inbox. Of course, his e-mail address remains johnf061167@ msn.com.

I thank Bunny, Donna, Margery and Anne for taking time to check in and share a bit of their lives. Please, keep those cards, letters and e-mails flowing my way. I’ll share what I receive through our ’37 notes!

’38

Glenn Foust

8320 N. Lee Trevino Dr. Tucson, AZ 85742 520/797-4320 303/758-7677

In trying to locate one of the five BRs who haven’t been heard from, I was informed that Moncure Nelson Lyon Jr., who resided in Blue Ridge Summit, PA, died on Sept. 29, 2012. He died at his home surrounded by family, friends and

his beloved dog, Spud.

He joined the U.S. Air Force, MD, 110th Field Artillery where he volunteered for flight school. Monty requested overseas assignment and was sent to China where the Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional) was formed. While with the CACW, Monty piloted B25s and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Monty’s love for flying kept him in the Air Force until his retirement in 1973.

He was married to Edwina (Tot) Gonzalez, and they were married for 65 years.

They had three children: Moncure III, Edwina and Kelly and four grandchildren, Marie, Reid, Claire and Katharine.

He had a Mass of Christian burial on Oct. 5, 2012, at St. Rita Catholic Church in Blue Ridge Summit, PA.

’39

Frank Parker III ’64

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1939 for this issue.

’40

Robert Smith

Getting this report together is always a pleasure, because as we Brother Rats talk, I am reminded of that wonderful time when we were all in the fullness of life. At the same time, it is hard to feel good about the reason writing this is getting easier and easier all the time, because there are so few of us. Fortunately, our number has not diminished in the past three months as it did before each of the last several reports. So, we can all be thankful for life going on – and many are expressing enjoyment about the things they are doing, as well as the peace that comes with our age.

The only upset this time was when I called Bud Irwin and Ruth, and daughter Courtney, who lives in Florida, answered. She has been staying with Ruth since Bud went into a skilled nursing home VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES recently. Ruth visits him every day and their other daughter, Kathy, who lives nearby, was accompanying her visit when I called. Courtney said that Bud had a difficult heart problem, but he is being well taken care of. He gets around with a walker, and his ladies take him out often in a chair.

Earl Brown was quite chipper when we talked and said he was just about as usual.

For recreation, he plays bingo on Friday nights in a Carolina Meadows game, and he is fond of other games that he plays on his computer. Three times a week, he goes to the gym, where he uses their NuStep recumbent cross trainer. He also enjoys their library. His daughter comes out from Raleigh to see him each Sunday, and they go to church and dinner. These pleasant routines have been going on for some time.

Jinny and Frazier Baldwin were looking forward to his 95th birthday on Oct. 30, a few days after I called. Their family is assembling for the occasion, so it will be well attended with lots of support and celebration of his advancement to the next level of seniority. We had a most pleasant conversation, and both of them were in good spirits.

As usual, Dan Flowers was at his office in the morning when we talked – I had talked to Jeanie at home beforehand.

Both of them were enthused about having a grandson in the Corps and the pictures and news they were getting from that source. Rat Flowers is quite musical and has reported two enjoyable activities – doesn’t he know that Rats are not supposed to enjoy themselves? First, he is playing drums in the piper band, and second, he is singing baritone in the a cappella group, Men in Gray. Apparently, he is not minding the rigors of being a Rat, because he gets such pleasure from these music programs, and he knows that he is going to enjoy his future years. Dan and I talked a little philosophically about our school and the principles on which it is based. He believes the behavioral principles of the Institute are inspired

by Leviticus. In a passing moment of philosophical pretension, I decried the passionate distortive disagreements in the current public discussions (election time) with the comment that making Gestalt philosophy an important part of 2013-Issue 1

everyone’s education and understanding would be helpful. Then, we reminisced about the time that he served on the Board of Visitors –1986 through 1994.

Those were some of the most critical times for change at the Institute. We observed that considerable changes are still taking place in the academic curricula, as demonstrated in the just received October Institute Report publication, which featured articles about research in biology, botany, medicine and other fields that are so much broader than the engineering and chemistry subjects we were exposed to. We rejoiced in those kinds of changes that reflect the new strength of the curriculum. To conclude on a personal note, Dan has given up driving and has someone to take over that chore for him now.

I was delighted to receive a call back from Jerry Totten’s son, Bill, who visits him about three times a week. He said Jerry does not have much to say these days but loves his Oreo cookie treats and is almost holding his own. Jerry is in a New Braunfels, TX, care center, and Bill lives nearby (phone 210/454-4735).

Jerry moved there from San Antonio about a year ago when his wife died. Bill has a brother in Arkansas and a sister in Ft. Worth.

Sol Rawls was doing well and had just had an exciting lunch with his 3-year-old granddaughter, who lives in nearby Virginia Beach. All of his family either lives there or in Richmond, so he enjoys seeing his progeny frequently.

Betty-Jane and I are now on an even keel, once again, after a lightning strike hit two trees next to our home, plus the dish antennae on the roof at the end of August.

Mucho damage was done to our own electronics, and the retirement community regime had to replace our HVAC motor, elevator controls and other items. For two months, we had to not do things we would have much rather done. On a happier note, perhaps some of you remember that I was in on the restart of the Glee Club our Rat year and did some singing. Betty-Jane also sang throughout her life, and so we have had our music in common all these years – choirs and choral groups. A few days ago, there was a program of two outside talented singers and piano players, and they

asked us to do something. I did Sinatra’s arrangement of “New York, New York,” and BJ was Laverne in a performance using the Andrew Sisters’ arrangement of “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.” Her big solo part was to sing the line “No, No, No, No” whenever it came up in the lyrics. She did that well, and I was proud of her.

You may recall that in the last report, I told you that Robert A. Heely ’69, now president of The VMI Alumni Association and the son of our great class Vice President Dale Heely, had made a cassette of sea chanties with his siblings back in the 60s. Bob was sent a copy of my report, and shortly thereafter, he wrote, “Jim, Susan and I still sing the same old songs … My mother, Beau, is living in a nice assisted living community called Churchland House in Portsmouth. She enjoys hearing the news from VMI.” Great to hear from Bob and to get this news of Beau.

Virginia “Ginger” Merchant of Kerrville, TX, daughter of our Class President Bob Merchant and Virginia, has written that she has established the Colonel Robert A. Merchant Jr. Class of 1940 Memorial Scholarship, the purpose of which is to provide assistance to cadets on the basis of financial need, with the first preference to go to cadets pursuing a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps. I replied that this was a very fitting thing to do in her father’s memory, because it will contribute so much to the continuation of the great traditions of VMI and of the Marine graduates from the Institute. Also, I noted that our class has a scholarship fund as well and that the objectives for this new fund were very consistent with those many members of our class who have been supporting it down through the years. I’m sure you all agree that she is wonderful to set up this new scholarship in her father’s name.

The previous report told about the death of Jim Cheek. After the column was sent to the publisher, I heard from his son, Jim Cheek III, who wrote that his father loved VMI and his Brother Rats and left a nice gift to the VMI Foundation. Of course, we wrote to thank him and also wrote to Dick Knight ’70 to let him know all that Jim III had said and to again thank Dick for writing about our BR Jim Cheek with remembrances of what Jim did for the Nashville Chapter. I’m sure all alumni that 37

CLASS NOTES are aware of it appreciate Dick’s caring efforts for the older classes, as I do. It is a great thing he is doing.

Last July, John Augustine ’68 sent a note with enclosures, and I wrote him to say, “I so much appreciate your note sending the music for the Spirit and the wonderful photo of the surveying class with my dear Brother Rats.” His father is in the photo with one of the Post dogs sitting in his lap. It is such a genial looking bunch of fellows, almost all of whom can be named off-hand. One special thing about the photo is that it reaches into that part of our memory bank that is so pleasant and vivid.

It helps us recall the wonderful way it was when life was all before us and filled with great expectations. I don’t think we were aware of the war clouds threatening us, and all were smiling, buoyant and in our prime of life. It is a great picture to have, and I told him when I thanked John ’68, “I did so enjoy talking to your father over the years. Most of the time, I called him first as I began to gather information for the class notes for the AR. That started me off most pleasantly and reminded me again of how enjoyable it was going to be to call all the rest … Give my love to your mother.

She is a great Sister Rat, and my BettyJane and I are praying for her.”

In my last report, I told that Matt and Jacqueline Friedlander were moving from their home in Atlanta where they had lived for many years. That was incorrect – the home they are moving from is in Moultrie – they are keeping their Atlanta home, and when I called in late October, they were winding up their summer stay in Cashiers, NC, and packing to go to Atlanta. They are both well enough so that each will drive a car when they leave. They like to keep two cars so they can be free to do different things when they wish.

Ben Hardaway was in Alabama running coyotes with horses and hounds when I reached him – except that he doesn’t ride.

While the others were mounted, he was using a four-wheel pickup to follow in the field. He has a driver, Evelyn Miller, who also keeps him in touch through her cell phone when they are travelling. It was interesting that he said he has worn out two or three Jeep-type vehicles and recently made the switch to a pickup after getting advice to do so from people who have 38

organized the safaris he previously went on. His plan for the next week was to go to Atlanta to see his country singer friend, Shannon Whitworth, perform. He will have a couple of dozen friends join him on the trip – I guess that they will see her during her gig at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, which I see on her website begins Nov. 4. Some of the people coming are young members of his family who live in the UK. Ben says that his health is fine, and he has been told to be as active as he pleases. Sounds like he is following doctor’s orders!

Please everybody, if you can, do what Ben’s doctors prescribe, and keep on keeping on.

’41

Alfred Rooklin

We lost three Brother Rats in the last year: W. Willis, Bunny Baldwin and Jack Ayler. Twenty-four are still with us.

(Editor’s Note: Jack Ayler’s obituary appears in the Taps section of this issue.)

We had an event of great importance at the

Institute – Mitt Romney coming to VMI! Russ Elliot ’62, my neighbor, called me to see if I wanted to listen to Romney who was going to make a speech. He went to VMI and learned that no tickets were available to alumni and others. It was open only to the entire first class and VIPS – NO MORE! 500 total – NO EXCEPTIONS. Romney was escorted by many “suits” – Secret Service protection.

It would have been great if some of us alumni were allowed to be present, but we were pleased that TV and radio remarks and photos from start to finish were shown. It was gratifying to see Romney mingling with all the cadets down the line and back – a delight to all.

Of course, his remarks were pertinent to his run to oust the then-present White House president.

I spoke with Stuart Seaton today. We stay in touch. He reports that Frank Kirby is the only ’41 living in the Norfolk area and doing the best he can.

Frank Louthan is doing OK and was planning on attending the Institute Society Dinner.

Class of 1942: Clockwise, starting at bottom, center, with Junior Chiles (back of head shown), holding a photo of Anne Folkes; Charles Miller; one of the King twins, either Ed or Everett; Carroll Bounds ’43 (who was a ’42 Brother Rat at the time); unidentified Rat at attention; and unidentified cadet on right.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Carter Beamer is still with us in southwest Virginia.

Our class president, Minton Albert Prideaux died in Graham, TX, on Nov. 9, 1955. He never returned after two years at VMI. Does anyone know why?

“Ripper” Walker died on July 8, 1986, and “Son” Shelby died on Sept. 20, 1980.

Vaya con dios, ’41.

Al

’42

Charles B. Miller

I will start off with some sad personal news. My ring figure date and wife of 67 years, Anne, died in September. Ours was a “war time marriage,” the kind people said would not last. Anne had dated other cadets before – and after – I got to the Institute. In November 1939, the Saturday Evening Post ran a feature on VMI with a picture of Joe Edens’ brother, Walter Edens ’40, on the cover.

There was a picture of several of us sit-

ting around a table in my room. On the table was a picture of my Anne. I was told later that the same picture of her was at UVa, VPI and several other colleges. I beat out the competition. Anne enjoyed the reunions and made them all, until this year.

Jack Whitmore, my last first class year surviving roommate, died in October.

Jack had been using a wheel chair for some time. The obituary said he died from complications of a fall at home.

Ed Jones, Tish & Ernie Keppel, Geline Williams, Marilyn & Frank Louthan ’41, Virginia & Stuart Seaton ’41, Ken Perry ’53, Clay Terry ’54 and I were at the funeral. Maybe 20 years ago, Jack started the tradition of a First Wednesday of the Month VMI Alumni Lunch in Richmond. It is still going strong.

And here is some good news. Kitty Sue and Clyde Hooker have made a very substantial gift to the Foundation. Clyde died in 2010. Here, in part, is a quote from his obituary: “At his beloved VMI, he established and endowed the ‘J. Clyde Hooker Jr. ’42 Scholarship for Merit’

Class of 1942: Richmonders graduate one month early from VMI. From left, seated, Jack Woodward, Charles Chewning, James McDonough, Jack Randolph, Wortham Spilman and James Satterfield. Row 2: Joe Mullen, Charlie Miller, Alex Williams, James Hume, Lancaster Guy and Louis Heindl. Row 3: Ernest Keppel, Alfred Goddin Jr., Rutherford Spessard Jr., Stan Harrold, Sutton Mullen and Meriwether Jones.

2013-Issue 1

and was instrumental in raising $1.4 million for the Foundation as national chairman in 1979-81. At his 50th Class Reunion, he and his fellow graduates presented the school with the largest gift raised in the history of the school, $5.7 million. For this and other service to his alma mater, he was awarded the school’s highest honor, The VMI Foundation Distinguished Service Award.”

Blair Major celebrated a major birthday with her four children, two from Atlanta and two from out west. Unfortunately, she also had a flood in the basement where Russell’s office had been. Fortunately, most of Russell’s papers had already been donated to Emory University, where he taught, and to VMI. Blair gave me her e-mail address: BlairMajor@att.net.

It is nice to get another e-mail contact.

I have 17 so far: nine Brother Rats, five Sister Rats and three daughters of Brother Rats. If you do not have a computer, maybe a child or grandchild would have one and would accept mail for you.

Please give me their address so that I might pass on information for you from time to time.

Jack Woodward spends May to November in his high-rise apartment in Virginia Beach and the rest of the year in Florida, where he still enjoys playing golf. At the beach, he gets his exercise walking the boardwalk every day.

I called Lloyd Stallings’ son, Bill Stallings ’71. He gave me Lloyd’s address: 9156 Cherry Court, Fort Myers, FL 33908. He said Lloyd was doing all right, but he had round-the-clock help.

Harry Siebert, who left our reunion early because he was feeling badly, is back in Florida and feeling better. He got out of North Carolina just in time; Sandy dropped 27 inches of rain on their place there in late October.

Ed Jones met his wife, Ursula, in Germany after the war. Some of her memories of the American bombings and strafing are coming back to haunt her. She is getting counseling.

I stop by to see Jed Wilson once in a while. He seems to be doing all right but says he cannot get any information from Gabe Horne in Williamsburg.

I received an e-mail from PX Geary.

He has moved again. His new address is: 39

CLASS NOTES 25210 Village 25, Camarillo, CA 93012, 805/482-4975 and cell 805/263-5895. His e-mail address is pxg45@hotmail.com.

PX said, “Being old sure isn’t for sissies.”

Kent Graybeal’s widow, Mary Ann Graybeal, called and said that her brother and our Brother Rat, Frank Lee, died in his sleep Oct. 21. Frank had planned to come to the 70th Reunion and had reservations, but his doctor told him not to do it. Frank was to bring both Mary Anns -- his wife and his sister.

Diane Jacob, head, Archives & Records Management at the Institute, thanked Harry Siebert for the photographs he had sent her of VMI activities. She asked Harry to ask his Brother Rats to do the same. Harry says clean out your files, and send those old pictures to Diane. I do not want my children to toss them when I am gone.

’43

Jeffrey G. Smith

I lead with reporting the sad news that Dr. Frank Bilisoly died on 30 Oct. (2012) after a very long struggle with encephalitis (water on the brain). Frank’s balance was severely affected as a result, and lately he had developed a series of skin cancers on his scalp. It was not an easy existence. We will all miss him for his quiet humor and even disposition.

Peggy Gibson called me 7 Nov. to report that Baylor died a few hours earlier, ending his long struggle with cancer. He was a great cadet and Marine aviator. I called on him in the Pentagon long ago, when he was the aide-de-camp as a lieutenant colonel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He will eventually be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. As I explained to Peggy, there is a wait of several months between time of death and burial, caused by the shortage of troops to provide suitable military honors.

With Frank’s and Baylar’s passing, my unofficial account is 35 surviving Brother Rats – which is not to say 35 able-bodied men, a fact of life of which we are all keenly aware.

Bill Winter, one of our esteemed physician Brother Rats, called in September to tell how fortunate I was in the attack of 40

giant cell arteritis which resulted in the loss of sight of my right eye. Bill told me that 30 percent do not survive such attacks, which develop suddenly and come to full bloom in those afflicted within 90 hours (a bit less than four days). I am slowly adjusting to my one eye life, but adjusting is the name of my game, and I intend to persevere.

Seems to me that I might have reported this in months or years past, but it bears retelling. In the late 1980s, Bob Reveley and his family and the Winter family rented neighboring cabins on one of the San Juan Islands in western Washington (state) – not far removed from Victoria, BC, Canada.

Jane and I once visited the Islands for several days. A delightful experience. It was among the San Juan Islands that (so Bill told me) the expression arose, “Where in the Sam Hill have you been?” I am a bit unsure of Bill’s explanation, but as I understood, one of the islands has long been associated with a man named Sam who was very active in surveying along the U.S.-Canadian border. Sam was apparently here, there, everywhere. He was constantly being sought by his contemporaries, so much so that his name became commonly evoked, not only to ask a question, but to express being irked at having to be so persistent in asking.

Speaking of Bob Reveley, his whereabouts and welfare remain shrouded.

Neither the VMI Alumni Office nor I know where he is or how he is. His son ignores requests for updates.

I’ve had several pleasant and informative chats with our Brother Rats during the interim but continue to deplore that most in our class remain parsimonious with info on their comings and goings. Come on.

If I can hunt and peck on my computer with only one eye and survive a brush with mortality from giant cell arteritis, yet provide you with Class Notes, surely, there are many of you who should feel guilty by sitting on your respective “duffs” rather than pass on news. What might seem trivial to you personally is of interest to your classmates – simply to report you are alive and well.

Nelson Holden sent me an e-mail on 29 Aug. that might prompt some of you to follow his lead. I quote, “Don’t have a heart attack; just take a deep breath. We

have finally joined the 21st century and gone electronic. Last March, Josephine had a minor stroke or TIA (transient ischemia attack) and was in the hospital for three days. Fortunately, 911 was prompt, and the fire department, as well as the local first responders, were here in 10 minutes.

No after effects, except blood pressure fluctuations which we monitor regularly.

About three weeks ago, my cardiologist picked up atrial fibrillation (on me), so I am on meds for that. All this leads me to the fact that we are not traveling anymore.

We had planned on flying into Staunton for our reunion next year, but the medicos say ‘stay close to home.’ Sorry to hear of your eye problems. Jo has glaucoma and takes drops every night. Sounds like all of us are falling apart. I’m 90 and Jo is 88 …

This sounds more like a medical review than anything else. [I] enjoy your newsy class updates for the Review. … Nels.”

And Nels, we enjoy hearing from you very much.

Speaking of our 70th Reunion, planning continues. Betty Haskins has been of great help with her suggestions and advance planning. (In case you wondered, Betty has given up on plans to leave Lexington for a new location nearer her daughters in Pennsylvania.) As you might know or recall, the sons of two of our Brother Rats – George Pickral and Duke Ellington – are both physicians, practice medicine in Lexington and are Brother Rats of the class 1971. They plan to invite us attendees for cocktails our second night in Lexington – and we, in turn, plan to have them as our guests for dinner that evening.

To review the schedule for the 70th, the classes gathering for their 50th and more senior reunions arrive in Lexington 22 April 2013 – a Monday. The VMI Alumni Association will host a dinner for all the classes. Seating will be at class tables. The next day (23 April, Tuesday), we will have lunch at Betty Haskins.’ That afternoon, class photos will be taken preceding the usual parade at 4:30 PM. As I mentioned, we will be guests for cocktails and have dinner at Café Michel (where we ate dinner at our 65th Reunion). Once again, we plan to have a class bus to facilitate keeping us all together and not left to wander.

The Alumni Association is setting aside a block of rooms for us and has already sent VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES us reminders on how to make reservations.

Early in September, I was delighted to receive a call from Vince and Betty Thomas who reported that all was well with them, which is to say, their morale and spirits were high, notwithstanding Vince’s being confined to a wheelchair.

Vince keeps active, as best he can, with plans to improve transportation in the Hampton Roads area. Both Vince and Frank Bilisoly had lived in the medical assistance section of their Norfolk Harbor’s Edge retirement home. Their respective wives have apartments therein, where their respective husbands break bread with them in the evening. The hubbies – now down to one – can dine the rest of the time in the assisted living area. Vince and Betty are doing their very best to devise a plan that would enable them to attend our 70th Reunion in Lexington. We wish them every success in that!

On 20 Sept., Gordon Smith called me from his downtown hotel in Alexandria (about 30 minutes from our home) to invite Jane and me to dinner. We had to regret, sadly. Gordon and several others attended the VMI-Navy football game. Gordon was in town with some former VMI basketball stalwarts who told him – much to his delight (and ours) – that he was walking pretty well and in a straight line. Much improvement since his stroke. Encouraging, which, as you know, did not apply to our football team. VMI lost to Navy 41-3.

A few minutes ago, I concluded a very pleasant chat with my Brother Rat and longtime fellow career Army officer, George Snead. All goes well, as I write, with both Kitty and George – all things considered – in their Westminster Canterbury Lynchburg retirement residence.

On 5 Nov., he should have undergone a procedure to control better his arterial fibrillation. A device was to be guided through an artery in his groin. Once it reaches the right point, it is disconnected, and his afib should calm down. Blessedly, George’s semi-annual knee injections have kept him pain free. No need for surgery. On a more serious note, George spent nine days in the Lynchburg General Hospital – most of it in the intensive care unit – where he, at one point, “crashed” on the operating table but was brought around quickly. He now has a pacemaker 2013-Issue 1

and is into physical therapy. In sum, he is better! George and Kitty plan to make our 70th Reunion with the able aid of one their several fine sons. Hooray!

For the first time since the advent of the Institute Society Dinner and gala, no Brother Rat attended the event this past 9 Nov. 2012. We had planned to do so, but family matters interfered. Johnny Van Landingham, our other loyal attendee, called to tell me. He is fine, but in recent months, he has supper with Shirley every evening. She now counts on it, enjoys it but, wistfully, soon forgets it.

A couple of issues past, I wrote of Dick Niess ’44 regarding the loss of one of his eyes by an errant fragment from a bomb (in the courtyard) thrown by his class in accordance with that long ago (and now properly extinct) “tradition.” Dick wrote me in early August of how he coped. And coped he certainly did, in spades. He was and remains a man to be admired.

General Kilbourne (one-eyed himself) tried unsuccessfully to get Dick a waiver to be commissioned. He served during WWII as a defense contractor. In 1951, he started flying lessons. In 1953, he was awarded a private pilot certificate. He joined the Civil Air Patrol and flew many hours, primarily on patrol and search and rescue missions, primarily in an O-1 Birddog. He still flies as co-pilot and observer in a Cessna 182. A superb example of determination!

It is much too early to report how our class is doing in donations. VMI numbers sent to me were only as of 30 Sept.

2012 – only a month into the VMI Fiscal Year which began 1 July 2012. This is not to say nor imply that contributions are not important. They are in many respects VMI’s lifeblood, given the ever-lessening (percentage-wise) financial support of the commonwealth of Virginia.

For those that might wonder, we (Jane and I and our house and grounds) weathered the simply dreadful effects of Hurricane Sandy.

There were many hours of uncertainty, but in the end, it was Atlantic City and New York that truly suffered. We lost no power but had two days of heavy rain.

Our major family event was the occasion and kudos given our son, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey G. Smith Jr. ’79, as he retired from active duty. As I write, he will soon start

his terminal leave, prior to his official retirement at the end of 2012. He was honored with a splendid review by the Army’s Old Guard, the 3d Infantry Regiment, in the indoor ceremonial hall at Fort Myer, VA, on 31 Oct. 2012 and received his second award of the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), the Army’s highest non-combat award. The advent of 2013 ends an unbroken string of more than 101 consecutive years of active duty as Army officers, starting with my father, followed in turn by me and our son. It will end there. Young Jeff’s only child, a secondyear student at UVa, loves the Army but has no interest in serving in it.

Along the Army way, young Jeff picked up a Ph.D. from Princeton, was an associate professor at West Point, and served with distinction in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Several of young Jeff’s class of ’79 Brother Rats attended the Old Guard ceremony and other events surrounding his reaching the end of his active duty years.

They submitted a photo and an account under their Class Notes in this issue of the Review, if you are interested.

Goodbye until 1 Feb. 2013, when I am due to submit my next class notes. I hope and trust that you had a Merry Christmas in 2012.

’44

Robert P. Jones Jr.

As you can tell from the relatively recent flurry of post cards I’ve sent, we’ve had a lot of bad news in recent months. This gives me some extra work, and that included a lot of family stuff and the increasing demands of old age on my body, which are going to limit the details I have time to furnish with the news this time around.

Back in mid-August, Rosa Thompkins called to express her thanks for the flowers the class had sent in George’s memory. She hated to leave Virginia but was planning to move to a retirement community near Rock Hill, SC, to be near some close family members and enjoy the benefits of retirement community living.

About the same time, Juliet Hupp called to thank me for my class agent 41

CLASS NOTES efforts. She has found many new friends at Westminster-Canterbury in Richmond.

One is Tina Ryland Royster, our BR Joe Ryland’s sister. Juliet says Tina loves her copy of the war Bomb and enjoys reading all of Juliet’s VMI mail. She also said that Rose Tucker can’t drive herself any longer but has a nephew who is a willing and faithful chauffer. Rose has found many new friends since moving to Richmond and is still having fun adjusting to big city living.

Later in August, Marguerite Ellett called to thank me for Taz’s birthday card.

They had celebrated with lots of family at a fine weekend on Whay’s Creek near Reedville, here in Virginia. The day after coming home, Taz had a fall. Fortunately, he broke no bones but ended up with intense back pain. He was admitted to the healthcare unit at Westminster-Canterbury retirement community, where the doctor gave him strong pain pills and the nurses could do all the things for him that he was unable to do for himself.

After the hurricane went by Mobile in August, I talked to Ezra Trice who informed me that the media had blown its effects there out of reality. He did say his friend, Lucy Sommers, was recovering well from her knee replacement, and they sat on the porch, had a toddy or two and watched the wind blow.

I had a couple of very nice notes from Judy Beam. She wanted to thank the class for the lovely flowers they sent in Joe’s memory. She had always kept flowers in his room; it was something he really liked. His memorial service was wonderful with music, the presentation of the American flag, the playing of “Taps” and a review of his military service by Tom Peyton. Judy says she often thinks of the fun times they had enjoyed at various reunions and seeing all of us. She remarked that Joe was a beautiful man who had lived life to the fullest.

Dick Niess called to express his sadness over Joe Beam’s and John Poindexter’s deaths. They were a couple of BRs he had known really well and liked. He also said that Ann had fallen and broken two bones in her pelvis. She is healing well in a wheelchair with limited walking possible.

Her book is now being published. I’ve forgotten what he told me about buying 42

one. If you are interested, call the Niesses at 239/530-0786.

I think Hap Irby told me that last fall he had taken his seven grandsons to VMI for the William & Mary football game and to visit the Institute. They stayed in Natural Bridge. William & Mary won the ball game in the rain. The tour of VMI evidently wasn’t impressive enough, and Hap couldn’t get any of his grandsons interested in the Institute. He did say that he and Margaret are doing OK with all the normal old age troubles.

A nice note from Harry Ratrie announced that he had enjoyed the celebration of his 90th birthday. Nancy had arranged a party with friends on Friday, and Hank (his oldest son) arranged a family party for Sunday. He said, “A wonderful way to become 90.” Harry said that Ike and Chris Eickelberg were among the missing. He understood that Ike had fallen and was unable to come to the party. I talked to Chris and Ike. They said that was true, but Ike had now recovered and was headed back to being his “normal” self.

That kind of talk is always good news.

John Poindexter’s daughter, Abby, wrote me to thank the class for the lovely flowers the family had received from the class of 1944. She said her mom was very touched. In talking to Gina later, she told me that she and John had really enjoyed a wonderful relationship over the years. It’s great to have and hold wonderful memories. At our age, memories play a much larger place in our lives than dreams!

Mabbot Warren wrote to thank me for all the class news and her birthday card.

She still misses her Joe. She remarked that in one’s declining years, the goal is staying alive. She tries to stay vertical and she hopes viable. Mabbot says she is blessed with grandchildren and greatgrandchildren, all of whom are adorable.

We have lots of folks who would say that for those members of their families! With fall rolling into western Virginia, she is really looking for the maple trees to begin strutting their stuff.

Over the past couple of months, Jim Doss has kept me up to date on his planned visit to our area in November.

Recently, he called to tell me that Tom Gentry had just died. I want to remind you all about the message I included in

my class notes written in August. I plan to have available full obituaries of our Brother Rats for any of you who request them within two weeks of your receipt of my “bad news” post card.

Jim keeps me pretty well up to date on the Lexington crowd. Betty Bond Nichols is pretty well over her problems and now serves as the driver for that group’s weekly dinner together. It seems Ruthie Miller Ellinghaus’ ancient Buick will start out but frequently likes to die along the way.

Her husband, Bill, is hoping to be able to arrange to get his ancient Cadillac to Lexington from its home in New York.

The problem is – he doesn’t drive.

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

’45

Richard A. Matheis

This issue is one of joy and sadness.

Let’s start with the joy part. It was triggered by a phone call I received from Rosemary Pritchard in August.

She started the conversation with, “You are always looking for good things for your class notes, and do I have good news for you! My namesake and granddaughter, Rosemary Willis, has just been selected as this year’s Miss Virginia and will represent our state in the Miss America Contest to be held in Las Vegas Jan. 12, 2013.” Wow! And just think – she is a family member of our class of ’45. I’ll bet we are the first VMI class to ever have that privilege. Thanks to both Rosemarys for allowing us to share in this honor.

I immediately asked Rosemary if a picture of her granddaughter was available to accompany these notes, which it obviously was. (See page 44.) What an absolutely beautiful young lady she is. I related this information to a BR recently.

His response was, “If you knew her grandmother when she was young, you would understand why our Miss Virginia was destined to receive the award.” No, VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I had a brief conversation with John appreciated as such, I hasten to add.)

Rosemary Pritchard, I will NOT tell Coppedge. Our chat, after the roster I do have my own roster, based on you who made the comment! information I gathered initially two years matter, was mainly geographic in nature Rosemary Willis was attending Wilago and updated since. There were difliam and Mary at the time she was … John assuring me that Annapolis and ferences, which I attempted to reconcile selected but took a leave of absence and the surrounding waters of Maryland are by phone. Why am I telling all of this is presently under the guidance and care as beautiful as ever. All is well with John to you? Well, it gave me an opportunity of the Pageant Committee while sequesbut no details requested or given. to pick up additional material for these tered in Roanoke.

Then on to Jim Lewter, now residing notes.

Let’s all hope that, by the time this in a suburb of Atlanta. He is a widower First call went out to Bob Allen down edition of the Review is published, our and receiving much attention from his in Oklahoma. Got the address thing out 2013 Miss America is the former Miss daughter and son-in-law. of the way and then obtained the usual Virginia. Go for it, Rosemary!

Jim told me about his unusual service tidbit from Bob. He was planning to RAMblings: days. Being a pre-med at VMI, the Army give an address in Oklahoma City on oil I received a rather philosophical note first assigned him to Walter Reed Hosform Jess Reed shortly after the deadline shale exploration in Oklahoma. I found pital for training as a medical assistant. that interesting, since I’ve known for for the previous issue. His comments Next stop was a hospital in China for the years about all that shale existing out in bore the title of “Old Age Ain’t for Sisduration. Wild. Upon returning home, Wyoming but not available economically his mother (the first female registered sies.” What followed was a summary till just recently … the same thing in of 2012 physical problems dealt with pharmacist in Virginia) asked him to successfully and written only as a doctor Pennsylvania and now Oklahoma. Just enter the pharmacy business, which he passing it on. can write them. What particularly saddeclined. Instead he entered the U of PA I called Charlie Bigger in Baton Rouge and then Wharton School of Business dened me, though, was knowing Jess as for the same reason. I caught him listenthe great mariner he has been for many followed by a career with Shell Oil. ing to Wagner through his headset. If it years, to learn he found it necessary to And now for the somber and sad porweren’t for his wife, Anne, answering sell his fishing cruiser and waterfront tion of these notes. On Aug. 15, I was the phone, I would have struck out. After in the process of sending a letter to Bob property. Being a boating enthusiast, the address issue was covered, Charlie I can “feel the pain” on that issue. At Osborn requesting a summary of his was Charlie. Great conversation but just least, Jess, you have a ton of memories activities since cadet days, in keepfun stuff. that no one can take away from you. ing with the program of presenting this A quick comment from John type of information on living Williams who has become an former class agents (he served avid reader. He just read and 1950-52). That afternoon, I highly recommends Class of received a phone call from 1846. It’s a narration of the John Williams. He and Mary military careers of that class at Ballou left Richmond that West Point and how those camorning and had flown to reers ran parallel and, at times, Quebec City, Canada. He had conflicted with those of fellow just checked into his hotel classmen. He is looking for and immediately called me similar suggested readings from to advise what he had read in his BRs. Are you listening, Bob the paper he had picked up in Pettigrew? the Richmond airport. It was Last month, I received an an article reporting the death e-mail from Pat Webb of the of our Class President Bob Alumni Office requesting my Osborn on Aug. 13. assistance in verifying their I was shocked. Bob was not roster of our class and our only our president but also sisters. This included names, my only living roommate. As addresses, phone numbers and such, I probably knew Bob as e-mail addresses. I was of well as any of us. In our room little assistance on the sisters, of four, he was clearly the since we have little contact, best academically of the four in spite of my wishing it were wearers of academic stars. otherwise. (There are a few of From a military standpoint, he Class of 1945: As depicted in the 1942 Bomb, class ofyou out there, though, who are was head and shoulders above ficers, from left, Sarge Wise, Bob Osborn and Jim Morgan. notable exceptions and much us and the rest of our class.

2013-Issue 1

43

CLASS NOTES From a personal standpoint, he was a “man’s man” – a natural leader who, in later life, continued to exhibit those leadership talents.

Due to his being our president, an excerpt of his obituary as published in the Virginian-Pilot follows, plus a eulogy, written by our class historian, Jim Morgan. A picture of our class officers as depicted in the 1942 Bomb, is also included (on page 43). As we all know, the officers were: Bob Osborn, Sarge Wise and Jim Morgan.

Obituary “Smithfield, Virginia “Robert M. ‘Bob’ Osborn, 90, died Aug. 13, 2012, in Smithfield, VA. He was the only son of Robert M. and Eva Osborn of Suffolk, VA. He graduated from Suffolk High School and attended Virginia Military Institute before volunteering service in the U.S. Army in 1942.

He served with the Signal Corps in the China-Burma-India Theatre, establishing and maintaining communications along the Ledo-Burma Road. He was promoted to captain and was honorably discharged in 1945. Following WWII, Bob completed his formal education at Pennsylvania State University, graduating with a B.S. in forestry. After graduation, he worked with the Virginia Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Forest Service Station in Birmingham,

Class of 1945: Miss Virginia, granddaughter of the Pritchards.

44

AL. In 1952, Bob began working for Union Camp Corporation (later International Paper) in Franklin, VA. He held many positions and was a valued employee. Bob retired from Union Camp in 1984 as manager, Franklin Region, Woodlands Division.

“After retiring from Union Camp, Bob spent much of his time volunteering in the communities where he lived.

In Smithfield, he assisted Becky Farmer with the Christian Outreach program, repairing homes for people in need. While living in Waynesboro, he volunteered at the Rockfish Gap Visitors Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway and was active in the Salvation Army for many years. Bob was an avid swimmer and one of his greatest joys was spending time at the YMCA in Waynesboro and the Luter YMCA in Smithfield.

“He is survived by his wife, Shirley; one son; two daughters; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two stepdaughters.

“He was predeceased by his son, Robert.”

A Tribute to Our President: Robert Osborn is the man who did the most to preserve the traditions and uphold the standards of the class of 1945.

His outstanding achievements have always been an inspiration. He was a gentleman whose sincerity and firmness of purpose won the undying admiration of every classmate.

After Pearl Harbor, when he and Sarge Wise were elected our class officers, our country was at war, during which he served as a captain in the United States Army. Before he left the Institute, he led our class through turmoil and uncertainty without hesitation. While our cadet days were written in sand, our friendships were in marble, thanks to him.”

At the end, Jim suggested that at the forthcoming 70th Reunion, we commemorate the departure of our class president with a suitable action that would be long lasting – a photograph, a painting, an Osborn fund or other honor, perhaps a living tree marked.

His suggestion has my support, and hopefully, I will be in a position to exhibit that support at the 70th.

God bless VMI, the class of ’45 and please take care of Bob for us.

’46

William A. Eliason

It is early November here in the birthplace of our country as it is everywhere in the world; only here, it is a beautiful Indian summer day, and all is at peace.

In just a day or two, we will elect or re-elect our nation’s president. With our nation so widely and evenly divided in our perception of what the federal government should provide, I have no idea who it will be. Someone suggested that we write in “P.T. Barnum” so we can get some “straight talk.” Anyway, as you read this, we have survived and know who it is.

I have very little to report this time. I wish that I could just once write these notes without including a Brother Rat death notice, but this is it. I received a note from Hinton Williams’ daughterin-law, Leslie, that both he and his wife, Winnie, are deceased. She did not say when or give me any details, but I am writing her to get some and will report next time.

The report of first quarter FY2013 is out, and for the first time since our association started rating us by decades, we were the leaders, thanks to a very generous 5-figure gift from Nancy Chandler in memory of Web. Congratulations to all benefactors.

You’ll have received my end of the year letter last month, and if you haven’t already sweetened the pot, let’s do so, and maybe we can hold on to our lead.

I want to express my deep gratitude to my Brother Rats and their families who have been so generous in their condolence and comments on the passing of my beloved Nancy Carol. By the time you read this, I hope to be able to acknowledge each of you individually. It makes the loneliness easier to live with.

Finally, BR John Naill sent me one of his original cartoons. John always has an earthy perception of current affairs. Comes from being a career farmer and digging in the dirt all of his life.

Give me some notes, and I will relay them around.

See ya’ next time.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’47

Gus Robbins

Here we are, just a few days until election day, and I am sure you, like me, will then be glad to be rid of the campaign commercials and incessant telemarketing with which we have been bombarded. On the more positive side, I am sure we are all grateful that we live in a free country where it is acceptable to have opposing views and that as a nation we will accept the will of the electorate and move on.

Unfortunately, the sad news of the class of ’47 continues with “Taps” again in the background. Brother Rat William F. Watkins Jr. died on Aug. 15, 2012. Bill grew up in Farmville, VA, and matriculated with the class of ’47 in June 1943.

He completed three semesters at the Institute before leaving for service in the U.S. Navy. After WWII, he attended Duke University and later graduated from Hampden-Sydney College and the law school at University of Virginia. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Norma, and a son, Richard F. Watkins.

He is survived by a son and a daughter.

Bill was very active in civic affairs in his home town of Farmville, being mayor for two terms and also serving as town attorney. He was also commonwealth attorney for Prince Edward County, VA, for over 28 years. While at Duke, he was a classmate and roommate of Brother Rat Dick White. Ironically, they both passed away this year within three months of each other. Many of our brothers will remember Bill as “super bunny” Watkins who, with his white cape, would run around Rat Barracks celebrating being out of Ratline in November ’43.

Brother Rat, Robert K. Turner Jr. (nicknamed “slow freight”) died on Oct. 16, 2012, at his home in Isle of Palms, SC, with his wife of 65 years, June, at his side. Bob and June had relocated to SC in 2001 after his retirement as professor emeritus of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is survived by his wife and a son and daughter.

After completion of two academic years, Bob joined the Navy and served as 2013-Issue 1

an ensign. Returning to VMI after the war, he graduated in 1948 with a BA in English. He worked in Baltimore for a while for C and P Telephone Company before returning to school to get his MA and PhD in English from the University of Virginia. He joined the VMI faculty and taught for a number of years before leaving to become professor of English in Milwaukee. This very meaningful quote was shared by his son, Robert K. Turner III: “My family attended the 60th Reunion of the class of ’47 with my father, and it was a wonderful experience for all of us.

We had spent our childhoods growing up on Letcher Avenue in Lexington when my father, fresh out of UVA with his PhD, took his first teaching job at VMI. It was an honor for us to meet many of his Brother Rats of the Old Corps who were there in attendance and see them march through Jackson Arch, some for their final formation.” On a personal note, I attended the wedding of Bob and June in August 1948 in Baltimore. Also present and serving as groomsmen were John J. Salley and Robert G. Cabell V. It was a fine occasion, and June shared pictures from that day with Betty Lane and me when we visited them two years ago in Isle of Palms. Some good memories of the “good ole days!”

Another Brother Rat of ours as well as ’49C, Stock Fleming, lost his wife, Jean, in September 2012. She is survived by her husband and two sons, Marshall and Stewart, and one sister. Jean and Stock resided outside of Lexington, VA, on a lovely farm and were fortunate to have family live nearby on the same tract of land.

Bill Hallett had a note from Fred S. LeBlanc’s son, Warren, confirming Fred’s new address. Warren says his dad has lots of VMI items in his new living quarters.

In Hallett’s words: “It is remarkable what memories remain after little more than a year of exposure to VMI and his Brother Rats.” So true of so many of our brothers from ’47.

Bill Phillips has some good news and some bad news … bad news is that he had a fall several months ago and broke his hip ... the good news is that the surgery was successful, and though he is in still in therapy, he is able to be up and around. By happenstance, Doug Hamner

’48B was in the same physical therapy clinic with Bill and had suffered the same injury.

Sarah Newsom called to report that she and all her family were well. Sarah, her daughter, Bootie, and son-in-law, Peter McGinnis, took a three-week motor trip at the end of last summer to Colorado to visit son Tommy and his family. All was well out west. She reminisced that she and Jim made the same vacation trip for a number of years and were able to visit all 48 states during those trips.

Betty Lane and I did get up to the Institute for a football game in September and are planning to be there on the 10th for the Citadel game. As always, The Institute Society formal dinner is on Founders Day, the night before, so a busy weekend is in store. Your class agent will go to a workshop for class agents on Saturday morning, so maybe he will get some tips on how to nudge his classmates into sharing more news in the next quarter with him!

As I close, I do want to wish you and your families the best for the New Year and hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving and Christmas. At the end of each year, it seems like it was just yesterday that we were welcoming the year in … they say that is a sure sign of aging … could that possibly be true of us? Let’s always try and be young at heart, even if our bones say otherwise!

In the spirit, Gus

’48A

Dale E. Wykoff

I have temporarily lost track of Marian Andrews who I believe is living in Saint Louis. If anyone knows her telephone number, please pass it to me. Billy Bond is preparing for a fishing trip to the Gulf of Mexico, where he says he expects to make a few catches that even his trusting Brother Rats will likely not believe.

Billy gave me some good news about Betty (doing well) and about our 65th Reunion next year (“I’ll be there!”). Mike Calhoun still attends all the Blountsville, FL, Commission meetings and is active in opposing construction of a new sewer line 45

CLASS NOTES out to the airport. Mike can’t stand to see all that money wasted on a project which will be of little value to his community.

His message to his Brother Rats, “Bless them all!” The telephone number for Peggy Kritzer rings but no one answers in Lexington. The telephone in Bethesda has been disconnected. If anyone knows of her whereabouts, please let me know. Bev Laws, out in Houston, says he is moving about better now, using his wheelchair infrequently. Katie is taking good care of him, he says, and we know that is certainly true. Dora Meler has been working at home, because her eyesight is just now improving following major surgery. We all hope you’ll be back in your New York office shortly! It is always a pleasure to talk with J.Y. O’Neal. He promises himself that he’ll be right there for next year’s 65th anniversary party. It was good to hear him speak, knowing it to be certain proof that his throat cancer has subsided. Irene Sadler and I have been playing telephone tag, but she has now mailed me a letter, which seems lost in the mail. In any case, she sounded great when I last talked with her! Paul Stagg continues his dialysis three times a week, and just for fun has added physiotherapy on his arm which he injured in a recent fall. He is looking forward to being at another football game soon and perhaps a basketball game, too. Janet Timberlake was out when I called, but her son, John, told me that all is going well with both of them. One thing I will certainly miss is the lunches with John and Barbara Trumbo. Every lunch reminded us about some long-forgotten exploit of our early VMI days. We always have lively stories to tell about the most unusual happenings back in our Rat year. I imagine that some of them are even true! Lamar Whitmore says she is doing well in their house (and two and one-half acres), with nine grandchildren and a cantankerous yardman to keep the place neat and tidy. She has promised me that she will keep waking up every morning (as long as I do!). Anne Whittemore Patterson was out when I called, but I understand from others that she is managing reasonably well since the death of Bob in July of this year.

Gilly Williamson is now in his fourth year in his retirement home in Edinburg, 46

VA. Mary Ann says he is doing well and enjoys knowing the many people with whom he is in daily contact there. As for Dale Wykoff, I have now relocated to the Deerfield Retirement Center in Asheville, NC. The accommodations are excellent, and with the help of my two kids (daughter here in Asheville and son in Johnson City, TN) I have settled in well.

’48B

Louis Castellano Jr.

I have reached out to some of our Brother Rats to contact Bell, Blackwell, Brand, Brown, Cortright and Iszard to hopefully have them attend our April 2013 reunion. The opportunity to get together to renew old friendships quickly passes under the title of “old age.” The listing of some of the names is not by any means a preference but just an attempt to generate interest in those that, for one reason or another, may find it difficult to attend.

I was able to reach Richard Blackwell who went from VMI to the Naval Academy. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. He was discharged as a lieutenant commander. Richard and his wife, Patsy, live in Kingsport, TN. Unfortunately, he has heart problems, and Patsy has cancer. Richard did say his experience at the Naval Academy was like a country club compared to the Ratline.

I called Bruce Brand but was unable to reach him. His wife, Eleanor Brand, told me Bruce was in the service for a year and a half and then was in the cooling towel business for 40 years.

Charlie Brown was in the Navy for one year, secured a degree in geology and went to LSU for his master’s degree in geology. Thereafter, he went to work for the Magnolia Petroleum Company and is presently employed by the Bayou State Petroleum Company.

I contacted Angus Crook who is still practicing part-time. His specialty is OB/GYN. After becoming a doctor, Angus was called back into the service and served three years. He tells me that when he was at UVa Medical School, our Brother Rats Lieberman, Gorman, Wil-

son and Jones were also in attendance.

I spoke with Doug Hamner who went through open-heart surgery with replacement of a valve, and during his recovery, fell and broke his hip. He is living at home but still going to rehabilitation on a regular basis. Doug said he will be at our April reunion.

’49A

James Harrington

Joe Fil called me to assure himself that we had survived the most recent hurricane (“Sandy”). I assured him that while the northeast U.S. was hit hard, we in the south escaped with only some wind and rain. In the meantime, Joe has brought us up to date with his family: “You caught me at a bad time. Susie had a bad fall and broke her femur at the top of her leg. It shattered at the top and snapped off. This happened last Saturday, operated on Sunday and when she can be moved, will go to a rehab facility.

They knitted the upper section together and inserted a rod from the top of the leg to just above her knee. Poor Susie – she has recently had a knee replacement and a hip replacement. In spite of all that, she remains positive and anxious to get home. At the same time, I have been faced with a huge government bureaucracy. I have been trying to sell a small industrial building – have received many offers and the city has found all sorts of reasons to avoid issuing a conditional use permit – very frustrating! My oldest son, at his wife’s insistence, has retired from the Army and is now living in Alabama. One daughter will be graduating from the U. of Alabama and will continue on for an advanced degree. His younger girl is graduating from high school in Huntsville and will soon join her sister cheering on the Crimson Tide.

I have been able to speak with Stan [Millimet] and Charles [Tiller] a few times by phone. All seems well at both places. It’s very nice being able to hear voices. I should try to use Skype. My computer skills are really minimal. Even if I take notes, I soon forget everything.

Don’t get old. I continue with my county VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES vector control board activities and public works volunteer duties (quite minor as of late) and try to stay out of mischief.

Sue and I have hardly visited the lake this year, and other than paying taxes and upkeep, we haven’t been able to get there. I hope that we can enjoy it when things settle down a bit.”

In his phone call, Joe said that Sue was recovering, if slowly. He has the misfortune of living in California, so does not share the excitement of the election year. That hurricane “Sandy” marked the end of a quiet summer for us (the Harringtons). While we had no damage from the storm, the two days of high winds and heavy rain brought the cold weather aftermath, so we’ll fold up our tent, close down our “castle on the Cape Fear” for the winter, and go into hibernation at our Pinehurst hideout. Don’t hesitate to write – your Christmas cards will be forwarded, and my e-mail account remains the same. So does our family – no new grandchildren (or great-grandchildren), two young’uns still in college and one still in the sandbox. We’re hoping for his safe return in February.

All I know about Stan Millimet and Charlie Tiller is that they talk with Joe by phone. They don’t write. Bill May does. Here’s his note: “Dolores and I had a great trip the end of August on the American Cruise Lines new stern wheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, on the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Object was to study the Civil War in that part of the Confederacy. Also, we got a good dose of country and blue grass music. Had enough good food to feed both the Confederate and Union armies for a year. Next big event for me will be opening day of rabbit hunting.”

Thanks to Allen Penniman (and his long-suffering secretary), we have a little more to offer for these notes: “Since my last class notes were written in August, I have looked at my September and October calendars, trying to find something of interest about the activities of the Penniman family. It seems there is not much really going on, and it appears we are slowing down a bit, but that is fine because we are comfortable here at home, and Joanie and I enjoy our time together.

“I finally decided to bite the bullet and close my office, which I have maintained for almost 60 years. Some will recall that 2013-Issue 1

I was in the convenience store business for most all of my life, and of course, we operated seven days a week. Years ago, someone asked me why I was not capable enough to make a living working just six days a week. Obviously, I did not have the answer to this question. I now find myself asking why I have maintained an office for 60 years. Most of us work 20 years and retire, and it has taken me three times that long, and I am still not fully retired. There must be something a little slow about the way I do business.

I do admit that it seems to take me a very long time to get the least little thing completed. Nonetheless, I have closed my office, and I have moved home. I had to secure permission from Joanie to do this, and I am happy to advise our class agent that Mrs. Ray will remain with me.

This at least assures that Harrington will receive my reply to his requests. (Thank you, Mrs. Ray!) “Closing an office after as many years as I have occupied one is a huge thing.

You come across things that you have forgotten about; deals you have made; people you have assisted; and a myriad other things. It is almost like living your life over again. In ways, it is a good thing, and in some ways, there is regret. I am sure I will be better off and certainly more comfortable here at the house, but I do miss the activity and visits and people that come when you have an office. I will get used to the sound of a vacuum cleaner running rather than the buzz of an incoming phone call. To say that it is an adjustment is an understatement.

“Joanie and I did have a wonderful trip to Montana. We flew to Billings and spent a week nearby in a place called Paradise Valley. It is absolutely spectacular, and the few friends who were there with us made it very enjoyable. The phrase that explains the pleasure of our trip goes like this: “What did you do today?” “I didn’t do anything and enjoyed it very much.”

And that is the way we do Montana.

Beautiful scenery … the bluest sky in the world … and aspen trees turning golden all around. It is such a change from Louisiana, and it is a spectacular place to visit.

I recommend it highly.

“There is not much news from our family, other than to tell you we are all well.

Two college graduations, two grandchildren entering college, one in Connecticut and one in Alabama. The Penniman family continues to spread out. There is one date that will be important next month when I celebrate my 85th birthday.

It is going to be a family thing, and it will be fun to have as many as can come.

Everybody asks me what I want for my birthday, and I tell them a five-point win for LSU when we play Alabama on Nov. 3rd. What a gift this would be! A hug from Joanie and a piece of birthday cake and I will be good for another year.

“Joanie and I are in good health, and I still tip my hat and say, ‘Yes, ma’am’ to ladies when we pass on the street. Lesson learned at VMI.” As with Allen, I’ll probably make age 85 by the end of the year. If you want to wish me a happy birthday – please do so by e-mail. And that’s it for these notes.

’49B

Dan Smaw

Harv Bradley called in August and said he had a degenerative disk in his neck, which caused his feet to turn cold.

He was given some strong medicine to cure the problem, so he was ready to play golf again.

Sylvia Patterson called in August to say she had received lots of warm wishes for which she was appreciative. We had a several-minute conversation, and she sounded good.

Tommy Challoner called in August.

He and Glad were doing okay and either had been, or were going, to a wedding at St. Simon’s, GA. Looks like I only have several one-line notes about people.

Rose Anne Hurd’s mid-August e-mail said Clint had his fifth chemo treatment, and his energy level and a couple of other things were low, so he was given two units of blood, which made him feel better. The blood came from an 18-year-old, so she expected him to jog later in the week. They had a friend, like a daughter, visit from Japan for a week. Their children and a niece came to see her, since it had been two years since her last visit. It was good therapy with all of them there.

47

CLASS NOTES In September, Ding and Nobbie Patton had a visit from Joe Spitler who was in Virginia visiting family in a couple of locations. They had a fine time, as former roommates do when they get together.

On 24 Sept., a memorial service was held for Mark Casey in Memorial Gardens at VMI. It was a lovely fall day with plenty of sunshine and perfect temperatures for 10:30 in the morning. The service was conducted by the VMI chaplain, Col. Jim Park, who did an excellent job. After the scattering of Mark’s ashes and looking at the plaques on the parapet wall, everyone repaired to Moody Hall for a delicious lunch hosted

by Helen Casey and their two sons, Allan and John. Several people shared memories of Mark, and his sons told of their early lives with him. The following were in attendance: Helen, Allan and John Casey; Buddy Bryan ’71; George and Jane Dooley; Nux Enochs; Ben Harmon; Buddy and June Marshall; Greg and Kitty Nelson; Grover and Teancy Outland; Jim Parks; Ding and Nobbie Patton; Dan and Louise Smaw; Bill and Nada Sweeney; Mack and Inge Van Hook; and George Wolfe.

The Marshalls, Outlands and Smaws were in Lexington the night before the ceremony, so we got together for a few “adult beverages,” lots of stories and finally dinner. It was a most enjoyable evening.

I had an e-mail from Betty Lu Stephens in early October, saying she had made a trip to Albuquerque in late September, as another relative had passed away. She wrote from Opelika, where she had gone to lend her support to Rose Anne and Clint.

Greg Nelson wrote after he, Kitty, Ben Harmon and a granddaughter had been to a football game at VMI – they won, and it was homecoming weekend for our grandson, Andrew ’07. George and Jane Dooley hosted a tailgate party with beef tenderloin, shrimp, chips, cake and all kinds of goodies. George Wolfe brought fried chicken, and Nux Enochs stopped in Lovingston and picked up nine bushels of apples, some of which he distributed in paper sacks to one and all. Jane gave everybody an applesauce cake and a jar of Damson preserves. The weather was good, as were their seats. I wish we 48

lived close enough to go to these affairs.

Ding and Nobbie Patton left 18 Oct. for an eight-day cruise to New England and Canada. It leaves from and returns to Baltimore. That is a bit easier than some of the ones we went on that left from New York or Miami.

Lon and Doris Walter are moving in late October to the Army Community Residences in San Antonio. They had been in their home in Austin for 31 years. Their two daughters came to give them a hand, for which I am sure they are grateful. Their new address is: 2107 Peninsula Dr., San Antonio, TX 78239 Ph. 210/646-5701.

Rose Anne Hurd wrote on 17 Oct. that Clint had his eighth chemo treatment on 16 Oct. He was to have blood transfusions on 18 Oct. They hope the “new” blood will help with the overwhelming fatigue, so they can plan a fun trip somewhere.

I talked with Izzey and Vaughn Maxwell in mid October. Vaughn is on a walker but wishes he could just use a cane. He goes to the V.A. three times a week for therapy and does exercises to improve his balance. He sounded good throughout our lengthy conversation, which included things from long ago Keydet days. I had forgotten a lot of the things Vaughn brought up. He talks to Nux Enochs from time to time and hopes to have him visit before too long.

George Dooley called on 22 Oct. to say that Jack Evans had called to tell him that Pat died on the 20th. Jack called me the next day, and we had a long conversation, during which Jack sounded good.

He said Pat’s cancer came back several months ago with a vengeance. She spent time in the hospital, at home and finally in hospice care. They had been married 40 years, and Jack said they had a very special relationship. A memorial service on the 27th had been planned, with internment a week later in the cemetery at Ft. Hood, TX. Our sincere condolences go out to Jack and his family on their great loss.

Leo Soucek called in late October and said, since June, he has spent most of his time between Walter Reed and a nursing home, where he was when we were talking. He hopes to go home in a couple

of weeks. He sounded lots stronger than when we talked in August, the day he was being released from Walter Reed.

Leo has COPD, atrial fibrillation, and several other major and minor ailments.

The day we talked, he had also talked to Bobby Thomason and Tommy Bowers – they had been roommates with Jack Evans at some time.

Last week, Louise had the ball pop out of the socket, where she had hip replacement surgery last year. This is the third time it has happened. She had surgery 25 Oct. to put it back in place and hopefully strengthened enough so it does not recur. So far, she is doing well and will be home where she can receive in-home physical therapy.

Thanks to all who have supported Annual Giving.

God bless America, VMI and ’49B.

’49C

Haywood France

The class of ’49C continues to shrink with the loss of Jean Fleming. We will surely miss her cheer and presence at our infrequent gatherings. I think our number of Brother/Sister Rats is 31. The Institute is working on new class rosters, and I will get you a copy as soon as they are available. If you know of any recent corrections, please let me know so they can be included in the new edition.

I had a great note from Lib Hathaway recounting Tom’s problems from years back, when he held the daunting task of class agent. Lib and Tom’s family are dispersed, so Lib says she doesn’t have to babysit the numerous grandchildren too often. However, she does remain busy with her volunteer work at the Scott Center Navy Medical refill pharmacy (over 8000 hours since 1988).

Bob Ellett called to say that he and Mary were doing as well as could be expected. He said that Lynchburg had taken a pretty hard economic hit from the storms, which came their way over the past year. They are slowly cleaning up and trying to get back to normal.

Bruce Taylor reported that he and Anna May were doing well. They are VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES considering moving back to Maryland for good, maybe in 2013. Two homes are creating more problems than they need at this stage in their life.

DR Kate reports that her dad, Cappy Moncure, had surgery in early September for removal of a lymph growth in his neck. Her latest report is that Cappy came through the surgery well and is making a good recovery. She also reports that she and her back are still fighting, but she does see some improvement after her surgery and hopes that it continues.

One other problem has come up, and I am asking for any help you can give. For the last several months, several letters sent to Charles Davis have been returned as unable to be delivered as addressed.

I have written to him but received no answer. I have called his number but can get no answer. If you have had any contact with Charlie, please let me know so that his information can be updated.

’50A

Bill Moore

None of the Brother Rats or gals report any significant damage from Hurricane Sandy, although Harriet and Jennings Bunch were directly in Sandy’s line of fire, west of Philadelphia. They did say that their granddaughter, Jennifer, has property on the Jersey shore and, as of this writing, has no idea how it fared.

Others close enough to the hurricane’s path to have suffered damage, but didn’t, were Nan and Elliott Hudgins (New Bern, NC), Joanne (Ed) Miller (Springfield, VA), BJ and Kenny Stagg, and Mary (Joe) Ripley (Richmond, VA). As yet, I haven’t been able to reach Judy and Ralph Mooney up in the mountains of Virginia. News reports of nearby areas indicate that, at the worst, they may be snowbound.

Other than no storm damage, Harriet and Jennings Bunch tell me that it seems that they have to see too many doctors, what with maintenance issues and so forth. Don’t we all!? Harriet still has discomfort from her knee and hip replacements. Jennings has had a successful cataract operation on his second eye.

2013-Issue 1

Otherwise, Jennings says, “We’re doing well for our age.” Beverly and Syd Stealey report a late fall for them in Fairbanks.

Consequently, they’ve had an abundant and tasty tomato crop. They have a new family member, a mostly Australian Shepherd sheep dog. I haven’t heard anything about sheep, yet. He (she?) has fallen right in and goes everywhere they go. The dog is so friendly that it might help a burglar rather than bite him.

Mary (Joe) Ripley enjoyed her family reunion recently near Danville. It’s always nice to reconnect with the cousins, in-laws and outlaws. She’s planning a trip this winter with some friends. It’s scheduled for around Feb. 15th. A good time for a break. She was well prepared for Sandy but fortunately didn’t need it. Joanne (Ed) Miller went to Europe this summer for two weeks with her two girls, Maria and Adrian. They spent two weeks at Nice and the same at Venice.

A good time was had by all. Except for fighting the volume control on her phone, she sounds great and ready to go again.

Last time I talked with Gene Witcher, he was scheduled for an aortic valve replacement, like I had. His surgeon recommended the relatively new transarterial valve replacement (TAVR) instead of the open heart procedure that was done on me. However, after a cardiac catheterization the surgeon determined that Gene’s valve was not bad enough to warrant the procedure. Good news? He still has the murmur. Gene feels good with few symptoms – some increase in shortness of breath and tiredness over the years but apparently nothing to have heart surgery over. His travel and visitation activities have been curtailed in anticipation of the heart procedure. Now he’s ready and able to cut loose.

BJ and Kenny Stagg have been hanging out lately in the Holy City (Richmond) and are both doing well. Not much in the way of travel lately, except a trip to Tarboro, NC, to do maintenance work on BJ’s brother’s plot in a local cemetery – mostly cleaning up, planting and mulching. When I talked with Kenny, just before Sandy, he was hoping for some rain. Well, he got it.

Nan and Elliott Hudgins say Sandy

gave them some rain, minimal flooding, with very little wind. Nothing like the damage they and the area suffered from Irene a year ago. Elliott is recovering nicely from a TIA and has his cane, which he resents using. Nan says he walks down the street with the cane hardly touching the ground. Both sound good and tell everybody that they are “hanging in there.” Beats dragging. His son, Reed ’00, is now stationed at Fort Lee, and his wife is out of the Reserve and working there as a civilian. They have bought a house near the intersection of I-95 and State Route 10. Very convenient to Fort Lee. Nan and Elliott own Nan’s family farm at McKinney, VA, which is near the intersection of I-85 and State Route 40. They abut Fort Picket.

Anne and I have had a series of adverse events this year. I’ve mentioned some of them, but now is probably a good time to summarize. In February, Anne had serious gastric bleeding from the drug Pradaxa. She had barely recovered from that when she fell out of bed. No serious injuries, but she had a huge knot on her head and was very self-conscious about it for a long time. It was a beaut. Then a heavy door that I was holding for her slipped out of my hand and bruised her knee. She walked just fine that afternoon and night. The next morning, she couldn’t stand up, much less walk. I was nursemaid, dishwasher, you name it for the following month. Then a month later, I had to either have the aortic valve operation or postpone it. Postponing it was almost not an option, because of scheduling problems, so Anne spent the next month in an assisted living facility while I was operated on and in recovery mode. Then early this week, Anne fell again and broke her right wrist – she’s right-handed which complicated things ever more. Her care is not as difficult as it was before. She can get up with help and walk unassisted, other than a cane.

So, I’m nursemaid et al once again and am glad my own recovery allows me to do it. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln ...

I had planned on recounting the Great Cannon Theft of the fall of ’46, or was it ’47? But it’s better saved for another day. Besides, I’ll have time to get the date correct.

49

CLASS NOTES

’50B

Robert White

In October 1947, the entire Cadet Corps went to Atlanta, GA, to attend the football game between VMI and Georgia Tech. The presence of VMI came to the attention of Ralph McGhill, the editor of the Atlanta Constitution. He wrote the following wonderful article about VMI: “Under the Brooding Sky – Traditions of Glory “VMI Has Fought on Other Fields; in Darker Days, a Shining Lance “by Ralph McGhill “Grant Field – It was a day for brooding. The football field was a bright green; the uniforms were colorful and sharp, and the crowd was gay despite the day. But the clouds hung low over the field, and there was such a slight wind that it hardly blew the occasional mists of rain. Virginia Military Institute had a gallant team on the field – she always does. Gallantry has been a part of her bone and blood ever since she has existed as one of the nation’s great schools.

It was nothing new, either, to be fighting an uphill fight against great odds. And so sitting there under the dark brooding skies, watching the charge of lines and rush of backs seeing the flung ball and the booming kicks downfield, it was not possible to keep the mind on footfall, and one could not help sitting back and shutting out the noises of the cheering sections and letting the mind flow along with the stream of history. “‘Tom Fool Jackson’ – he was from VMI. The students of his day called him that because he was a stuffy, dour professor of physics and instructor in artillery. Serious-minded persons at Lexington respected Thomas Jonathan Jackson, as a devout Presbyterian deacon, stern as the Old Testament, by which he was to fight, and vowed to the New Testament, by which he lived. They liked, too, the fact that he was interested in the welfare of the Negro slaves and tried to give them instruction, especially religious instruction. The students thought him a curiosity, and there were many to say, 50

when the testy professor was called to service when Virginia joined the Confederacy, ‘What do they want of that old fool?’

“He was just past 35 but bearded and a man of moods. He was to be regarded by his troops as a reincarnated Joshua and, by those who had read Carlyle, as Cromwell came back to earth. At times, his associates seriously discussed whether he was sane enough to command; always regretted their doubts.

“He was to emerge as the most brilliant man of tactics in the army. The mediocre teacher became the iron general, strict disciplinarian to a degree called merciless, respected by his troops but hard on them, as he was harder on his foes.

“He wore an ill-fitting old coat, a faded one he had brought from VMI; he carried Napoleon’s Maxims and a Bible in his saddlebags; could be tender with children; loved his wife deeply; and was loved in turn. His heart was flint, yet it could give off sparks of poetry. His last words were poetry.

“And so, sitting there in the stands, as the cry of the crowd goes up, you think of him emerging from the halls of VMI, and going forth to lead the troops whose victories in the Valley campaign occupy students of military strategy and tactics today.

“He was [chief] among those who went from VMI to form a reservoir of strength upon which the Confederacy could draw.

There were 433 of these, and they were a part of that amazing military structure which lasted for four years without adequate supply, equipment; harassed by bumbling from the top and by political generals.

“So this ‘Iron Sabre vowed to an Iron God’ intrudes upon the day, and you think of him and the long hard death there in the wilderness and Lee, weeping, saying, ‘The sun never shown on such an officer.’

“Anyone who saw the armies in Europe, the infantry, the artillery and the aircraft crews, remembered the first shock of how young they were.

“The pictures of the men and officers of the Confederate armies are confusing.

The bearded officers often were in their twenties. And Jackson, dead at 38, stays in the thoughts of persons today as a

bearded old man already near death from age when the volley from his own troops struck him that fateful night.

“The VMI cadets, come in full strength to Grant Field, look young. Some of them, the first-year men, look like children. As indeed, they are, if measured by their years.

“Looking at them, leaping to their feet when one of the passes went true to the mark or when one of their backs got loose through the Georgia Tech line, another scene thrust itself upon the memory.

“The history books tell how, on May 9, 1864, the Union forces marched out of Martinsburg up the Valley pike. The action had begun.

“At Staunton, the Confederate commander, Gen. Breckinridge, hearing of the movement, collected what he could.

The Confederacy was in need of a blood transfusion then, being bled white by many battles, but there were no more troops.

“By May 14, Breckinridge had collected 5,000 men, including the cadets from VMI. The cadets, with the 62nd Virginia, were in the vital center of the line, two miles from the town of New Market, VA. “Looking at the cadets at the football game, one knew them blood brothers of the cadets who waited through the long night of May 14, 83 years ago, for the dawn and battle. Some of them were children, frail and tense, clutching muskets taller than they and weighing almost a fourth as much.

“At daylight on May 15, the two forces were joined in battle. The Union flanks were turned, and the full force of their central batteries were then turned on the center of the Confederate line held by the VMI cadets. They were under artillery fire for the first time, and it was fierce and destructive.

“The story goes that older men on both sides, seeing the boys hold their ground, although they were falling in great numbers, sobbed aloud.

“They say, too, that when Breckinridge, seeing the desperate situation, had to call on them for a charge, that tears streamed down his face as he gave the order.

“But it had to be given.

“They got the order, and they went VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES forward, the 62nd with them. They were met with grape and canister, but they went on despite heavy losses and captured the battery, commanded by the famed artillerist, Von Kleiser.

“It is a small story in the great panorama of the war. But it kept the dying Confederacy alive a little longer than otherwise would have been true.

“Had the Union Army not been driven back, the wheat crop in the Valley would not have been harvested. Hunger would have come sooner. The western end of the Virginia Railroad would have been lost. Lee, committed to battle in the deadly fighting at Spotsylvania, would have had to send part of his troops to New Market, because the railway was vital.

“It was a short, small engagement but an important one.

“And while the VMI cadets were to render other service, they carved there at New Market, VA, a place in the affections of all men everywhere who appreciate discipline and courage.

“And watching the game, you knew that the men there on the field and the men in the stand would, if called, answer as well as the Corps had answered on May 15, 1864.

“It is perhaps significant, too, that out of VMI came the great commander of the war – the man who could command a global war, involving problems of supply never before dreamed of – George C. Marshall [’901]. Now, as Secretary of State, he is rendering great service to his country in time of world chaos.

“The South long has had an affection for VMI, but the influence and service of the school and its graduates have been national in scope … in war and in peace.

“So, sitting there with pencil and paper for notes, the football game seemed very secondary indeed, and the brooding day brought back the stories of old glories, of old dreams and legends, and the raw courage of the charge at New Market.

It brought back, too, the legend and the saga of the awkward teacher of physics, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, who went from obscurity to fame at First Manassas; of the many who served as officers in the war with Mexico; and of those who were the reservoir of the Confeder2013-Issue 1

acy in that great struggle … and of how the breed still holds, as George Marshall and the cadets who served and died in the recent war testify so eloquently.

Someone else can tell the story of the touchdowns.”

Editor’s Note: The VMI Alumni Association received word that Samuel L. Hayes Jr. ’50B died on Nov. 3, 2011. Mr. Hayes was a very private person, and at his request, there is no obituary. This notification is being printed at his family’s request, as they know of his love for VMI and his Brother Rats.

’51

John Ross

These notes cover the period of Aug. 13 to Oct. 29, 2012, and are basically in sequential order.

I had lunch on Aug. 14 with my Alexandria neighbor, Jim Close. He had just returned from California where he and Alice had attended a family wedding. We reminisced about our Brother Rats in the medical field, which is quite a number, considering the small size of our class.

After our graduation, the following BRs received M.D. degrees – Don Bennett, Henry Bryan, John Evans, Russ Green, Jim Hamlin, Johnny Lyden, Irvin Perry and Henry Pitot. Our BRs Cooper Kunkel and John Batsakis, who left during our first year, also received M.D. degrees. Then, surprisingly some years after graduation, our BRs Gardner Edwards, Ike White and Bob Wick received their M.D. degrees.

In the dental field, Gene Held, after graduating with us, received his D.D.S. and practiced as a pedodontist.

Joe Dougherty, who was admitted to dental school after two years with us, became an oral surgeon. And Bob Martin, who left in our third class year, became an orthodontist and, after retirement, was recruited by UNLV to establish an orthodontia program.

Noteworthy that many of these medical professionals were prominent in the academic field.

Jack Evans called seeking contact info

for Jack Davis in North Carolina, which I furnished. He and Joyce are both well.

When I called John Batsakis in Houston to extend birthday wishes, his wife, Mary, informed me he has COPD and is on oxygen.

I had a phone call from Joe Tom Howard, who was just back from a family reunion in West Virginia and a stop in Lynchburg to help his daughter move.

On Aug. 20, I wished Cooper Kunkel in Trent Woods, NC, Winston Baber in Omaha and Jake Wamsley in Tucker, GA, a happy birthday. They share the same natal day as Marie, who received a birthday call from Carolyn McCallum.

Cooper is fully retired from his medical practice. Jake enjoyed a visit from a grandson, and Winston still is active with his lawn work.

Paul Shrader called from Pensacola to respond to my birthday wishes. He and Polly had attended a granddaughter’s wedding in Annapolis. On their return

Class of 1951: Homer Ambrose displaying a quilt completed by his daughter, Angela. On the reverse side of the quilt is ’51.

51

CLASS NOTES trip, they stopped in Washington and to Normandy, France, accompanied by a Bridge to see if the hurricane had been were very impressed by the Pentagon granddaughter. a problem. Doc assured me that his area 9/11 Memorial. I concur.

I wished Fred Watson in Weatherford, had very little damage, and we then had I wished John Evans in Greenville, SC, TX, a happy birthday. He and his wife a long visit. Doc has been diagnosed a happy birthday. He and Ann are doing are doing well and had visited family with a rare form of leukemia and has well. in Hershey, PA, and Vermont. He raves been undergoing chemotherapy, which I had a call from Paul Robinson in about a wine tasting trip to Argentina he has tolerated very well. He is as Wisconsin seeking contact info for and Chile with Elder Hostel. optimistic and effervescent as ever. Doc Woody Woodward’s daughter. He reI wished Gerry Eggleston a happy 87th reported that he enjoyed a visit from ports Jean is not feeling well. birthday, which he celebrated with his Bounce and Sally Carstens.

Johnny Gray in Richmond reports he two daughters, while enjoying a VMI A couple of days later, Earl Patton is ready for the football season and that football win of the previous day. He called and confirmed he had suffered no Pat’s ankle is healing well. reports seeing Peggy and Willard Hays damage. He also reported that he had a Pete Philp in Dallas is doing very well at the game. recent visit from Jimmy Gonzales. in his recovery from knee surgery and I wished Jack Evans in Virginia Beach I forgot to mention that Jack Nichols, recently enjoyed a fishing trip with his a happy birthday and left birthday mesin his note to me, continued his annual grandchildren. sages for George Maxwell in Savannah, tradition of enclosing a check for the I reached Mrs. Hamlin in Danville, GA, and Lee Duvall in Lewisville, TX. Institute.

VA, to wish her a happy birthday.

For some time, Duane Holloway had On Saturday morning, Sept. 22, Marie I missed Jack Nichols in Asheville, been fighting various health problems and I had a pleasant surprise. Jack and NC, and left birthday wishes on his necessitating on and off hospitalizaNancy Hill, who were visiting their son voicemail. Shortly thereafter, I received tion and treatment in a rehabilitation in Arlington, VA, called. I gave them a short note from Jack, thanking me for facility. When authorized by Pat, his directions to our house, and we had a my call and card and reporting, “I’m dowife, I notified the class via an e-mail in nice but all too short visit with them. ing well for 86!” mid-September. Pat also suggested that They both looked great but had to rush I reached Cindy Marshall in Melcards and notes from Duane’s BRs might home to Chester, VA, for a scheduled bourne, FL, with belated birthday wishes be helpful. appointment. for Jim. She reports Jim is doing very When I called Medford Canby, who Toward the end of September, I well in his rehab. was with us for one year, to wish him a reached Peggy Hays and learned that I wished Frans Kasteel in Lancaster, happy birthday, I was shocked to learn Willard is still having a problem with VA, a happy birthday. I then had a nice from his wife, Peggy, that he had died his back and is under the care of a pain visit with him and Shirley, both of whom on Feb. 2 of this year during a heart management doctor. are very active and looking forward to procedure. I expressed condolences and I had a nice phone visit with Sid Hanthe next reunion. subsequently did so, on behalf of the nah, who is doing a great job as our I reached Homer Ambrose with class, and made a contribution to the e-mail coordinator. He inquired about his birthday wishes. He reports his mobilFoundation. roommate, Fred Anson. ity is bad and that he “is going downhill I failed to reach Earl Patton in New I received a note from Homer Amas fast as a snowball approaching hell.”

Iberia, LA, with birthday wishes, so I brose reporting on a family reunion of Homer appreciated a call from his room- called Doc Laville in nearby Breaux 105 members at the Rockbridge Baths mate, Russ McCarthy, who firehouse. He and Marie “had graduated in 1952 and lists a ball.” He also enclosed pichimself with that class. tures of his daughter, Angela, Jack Evans visited Stonepresenting him with a VMI wall Davis in Southern Pines, quilt she had just completed.

NC. Jack says Stonewall has a When I called Rav Margreat house and looks good but shall, who is not on the requires a walker and sleeps Internet, to inform him of with oxygen.

Duane Holloway’s status, I When I reached Johnny learned that Sheila had fallen Lyden in Perdido Beach, AL, and sustained a broken leg. with birthday wishes, I learned Rav reported she is recoverhis rehab from a heart problem ing well, and he expects to is going very well but that he bring her home from her rehab has macular degeneration. He facility in the near future. was preparing for a trip to Italy Class of 1951: Dick McFarlin with his granddaughter, Rav remembered that he and a USNA senior, at the Navy game. to visit with a son and then on Duane were at the same table 52

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES in the mess hall in our first class year and said he would get a note off to Duane that day.

George Cohen called from Connecticut at the beginning of October and reports all is well with Marty and him. He reports that Sam Scott is on the road once again – to West Virginia to pick up a load of stone for his South Carolina house. Sam evidently is the same as ever – never at rest, always on the go.

I received a copy of a letter of encouragement that Dick McFarlin sent to Duane Holloway. Dick recounts his medical problems – TIA last May, knee replacement in June, hernia repair in August and a recent cataract operation. He concludes, “I know you have experienced some medical problems lately. I know it’s discouraging, but keep your chin up. You’ve got plenty of company!”

Marie learned in a call with Sheila Marshall that her leg is not healing correctly, which will necessitate an operation.

I failed to reach Jim Enochs and left birthday greetings on his voice mail.

I had a nice visit with Roger Little in St. Louis when I wished him a happy birthday. He is facing a possible heart valve replacement but fully intends to make our March reunion.

Jim Enochs sent me a nice note thanking me for my birthday call. He reported on his annual hiking trip with his two adult daughters. This year, it was a week of hiking in the Swiss Alps, which “nearly killed” him, or as Jim put it, he “was glad to be back on the couch.”

I reached Bill Caldwell in Roanoke with birthday wishes. He hopes to make the mini reunion next March for at least a day.

He hears regularly from his roommate, George Cohen.

In the middle of October, I left birthday messages for Dick McFarlin and Mrs. Pauline Gorman Lyng.

I connected with Phil Barton in Garden Grove, CA, on his birthday and learned he had a serious heart incident last January – ventricular fibrillation, which has been controlled with an implanted defibrillator.

Phil has contracted for the VMI Caribbean Cruise, which will preclude him making the March reunion.

Toward the end of October, I made my last birthday call for these notes – Kay 2013-Issue 1

Bennett in Omaha. She very much appreciates her VMI contacts and reports she is doing well, subject to some age related eye and orthopedic problems.

Paul Robinson called to report on Sheila Marshall’s injury, of which I was aware, and I provided an update. He and Jean will remain in Wisconsin through the Christmas season before returning to Florida.

Marie and I both talked to Pat Holloway. She reports Duane is now walking and eating and may be allowed to come home in the near future. However, he still will require surgery after he regains strength.

Rav Marshall reports Sheila’s leg repair surgery was completed, and she is now in a rehabilitation facility.

I reached the Lecks in Rockville Center, NY. Maureen reports they are doing well, considering age, which often is the refrain for our class. I then had a nice visit with Bill who is recovering from a prostate treatment. They intend to return to Florida after the holidays.

I checked on Gloria Cowherd in East Brunswick, NJ, and she is well and very much thankful for the care and concern of her adult children. She inquired about George’s roommates, Dick Cole and Bill Sacra. Gloria is a faithful and generous supporter of the Institute, and I urged her to consider our next reunion.

I had a nice visit with Pete Philp in Dallas, who had recovered very well from his knee surgery. We had a long discussion concerning the Archdiocese for the military services, which provides Catholic chaplains to the armed forces.

Marie and Sally Carstens have visited back and forth on the telephone, and I am glad to report the Carstens are doing well.

I had a nice visit with Ellen Nelson, who lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and was preparing for a possible hurricane. She intends to make the March reunion.

I also made contact with Mary Ellen Connolly, who lives in our vicinity. She had just returned from a two-week visit with her daughter and family in California and is staying quite active.

Marie and I hope you had a joyous holiday season and wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Semper Fi – Jack

’52

James M. Mecredy

While my class notes have a lot of sad news about Brother Rats dying, I want you to know that I hear from many of us who are active and doing well at 80-plus years old (including Lucette and me).

Joe Webber just wrote to me about his many activities and urged me to ask about activities when I talk to each of you. As you will see in these notes, that is what I am doing. Joe’s activities include: two concert series a year with The Wesley Singers; a columbarium for their church members in a closed environment (places for urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains); past president of a chapter of Dollars for Scholars providing interest-free loans to Lancaster County students pursuing a college education; and computer geek recycling systems to configure packages for needy people.

Joe also downloads movies from the Internet, and last but not least, he works out at a fitness center three days a week to keep limber. Some of the rest of us include keeping limber in our weekly schedules.

I received an e-mail from Jim Martin asking about Bob Lambert’s name missing from the class picture in the recent Alumni Review. That was an oversight, because Bob was very much there, as I mentioned in the class notes. Jim Martin also asked about Swede Larson who lives in the Virginia Veterans Center in Roanoke. I cannot reach Swede directly, so I haven’t heard from him recently.

I have Cecil Webb listed in Frankfurt, KY, but I haven’t heard from him. I did find out that he is in a rehab center and has his cell phone, so I left him a message to call me.

Rob Gerdetz called to let me know that Pat Barry has glaucoma and is in danger of losing sight in his left eye. Pat lost sight in his right eye several years ago as a result of an injury. I have a call in to Pat. I talked to Raynell (Pat’s wife), and she told me that he is in the VA hospital in Waco. He is in classes every day, so I will learn more when I talk to him.

53

CLASS NOTES I asked Rob Gerdetz what he is doing, and he spends most of his days caring for Mary who had a stroke and suffers from dementia. She has some good days and some bad days. Rob also told me that he has a grandson in the class of ’14, who is doing very well majoring in civil and environmental.

I talked to Pat Barry on Sunday, Aug. 12, at the V.A. hospital in Waco. He is there to receive therapeutic training to live and function with blindness. Pat has been there for five weeks and has one or more weeks to go to complete the training. He has mastered the difficulties of basic living with blindness and the skills needed, such as cooking and functioning. He has been learning to operate a talking computer and is now developing skills with an I pad, which will give him hundreds of skills. Pat tells me he is working as hard as he can, including studying on weekends to be able to share his experience to help other people who are dealing with blindness. I find it hard to convey the enthusiasm that he has, approaching life with a new handicap.

Jim Spellings called requesting the phone number for Nutz Navas. Jim wants to call Nutz to provide some help for Nutz’s son who is a pilot for American Airlines. American Airlines is in bankruptcy, so the outlook is dicey. Jim also told me he has written a book about his experiences in the Air Force flying B26s. He said it wasn’t a best seller, but it sold well enough that he only has two copies left. The book is entitled The Navigator. The story begins on the last day of his Rat year at VMI and covers his third class year (2nd year) and briefly two years at Texas Tech. He volunteered for the U.S. Air Force. He was accepted for the “Observer” program (navigation and bombing). He finished the two programs, got wings and a commission.

They were on orders to go to Korea in B-26s (called back from WWII because the jets were to support the troops in the mountains). Before going to Korea, his group had eight weeks of Combat Crew Training at Langley Field, VA. Four weeks into the program, a major came in and said, “Gentlemen, they have just signed the armistice. Where would you like to go?” They were sent to a new 54

NATO base in Lyon, France (half way between Paris and Brussels). They were put in rough lumber, tarpaper covered huts with a coal potbelly stove, and the showers and latrines were 50 yards down the outside way. However, after about a month, the base commander called a meeting, and said, “Gentlemen, these quarters are not very nice. You can take your planes, and go wherever you would like on Friday morning and be back Monday morning. They went to the Cannes Film Festival twice, Fasching (pre-Lenten celebration) in Munich twice, Tulip Festival in Amsterdam three times (four of them dated international fashion models from Amsterdam … two got married), the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, and a lot more. They chased women and drank whiskey for two years. The last year, he was transferred to Ramstien Air Base in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and had as much fun for the final year. The book ends at his discharge. Jim came back to Dallas, got in banking and married a schoolteacher.

Fifty-five years later, they have a son, a daughter and five grandchildren. He realizes how blessed he has been.

I had reported in earlier class notes that Charley Shoaf was in a nursing home. I learned from Rob Gerdetz that Charles is in the nursing home, because he fell when a ladder broke under him about five years or longer ago. In the fall, his head was injured. Mary Shoaf reports through Rob that she has moved into a condominium near the home she and Charlie had in Vero Beach, FL. She was able to sell their house in five days, which had become an overwhelming burden. Mary went through hip-replacement surgery in March and has regained a full range of motion and stability. Her new address is: Apt. 305, Turtle Cove Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32963-6402.

Her phone number remains the same: 772/492-0519. Mary reports that Charles continues to manage in his circumscribed world. The nurses take great care of him, and he manages very well as long as his routine is unvaried. His memory is still evanescent, but he is able to get around without a cane or walker.

Boyd Guttery gave me some good news when I called him on Aug. 25. His

son has been healed of a brain tumor, which was identified a couple of years ago. I talked to Boyd a few weeks ago and was told about the tumor at that time. Also, his son’s wife had an operation for colon cancer which was successful. Boyd’s daughter and grandson recently left for Kenya with a group of eight others to dig a well. Last year, she spent 10 days in Spain with a medical team. She is a veterinarian. A grandson went to Haiti last spring. Boyd has three daughters and two sons, plus 12 grandchildren.

On Aug. 30, I got an e-mail from Chris Holland regarding an e-mail he received from Tennie and Austin Bridgforth.

Tennie writes that they are fine.They have been spared major damage during Hurricane Isaac. They are without electricity, house phone (cell phone: 225/202-4479 still works), TV or Internet, and the toilets would not flush due to so much rainwater runoff. They lost some fences, tree branches and shingles, hopefully from neighbor’s houses. They are told that it may take a long time to get back on line. Austin keeps them going with his generator. By the time, you read these class notes in February, Austin and Tennie should be back to normal.

Charlie Hansrote wrote to me asking for help in identifying each individual in our class picture from the 60th Reunion.

He had been able to associate most of us with our locations in the picture. I was able to identify the rest with considerable effort. I also learned that the alphabetical list I had submitted was incomplete. First, I left out Bob Lambert’s name from the list, even though Bob was front and center in the picture. I also left out Charlie Hansrote’s and Dave White’s name. I apologize, and I will try to get it right at our 65th Reunion.

By that time, I will be able to recognize each one without trying to compare back to pictures in the ’52 Bomb; not that you have changed that much! Charlie says that he and Melva are OK now.

She has completely recovered from an emergency operation last fall. Charlie has been treated for basal cell cancers on his ear and face, some of which have required skin grafts. He has one left, that is scheduled for treatment.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Chuck Haley took Scurvy Patton to a football game recently, and he visits Scurvy every month or two. Chuck really enjoys helping people and especially sharing conversations with many people through the outreach efforts of his church group.

I called Scurvy Patton, and he thinks life has passed him by, because he has been in a wheelchair for five years. Give him a call at: 214/618-0859. Let him know that he is not forgotten. I called Scurvy in the middle of October and found him as sick as he could be, with all of the symptoms of flu. He was too sick to talk. He called me back today (Oct. 27) and sounded 100% better. It turns out that he had a bad reaction to a flu shot. Scurvy said that, while in the Army, he skipped flu shots by reporting an allergy to eggs, but in the current environment of an assisted living home with a lot of old men, Scurvy feels that flu shots are necessary. He is in a power wheelchair as the result of a stroke to his left side in 2007. Up to that time, he was very active, including golf games two or three times a week. Until the stroke, he lived in Florida. Following the stroke, his wife took care of him for three years. When she died, he moved to the home in Dallas, where he could be near his son in Dallas and his daughter in Houston. I was very glad to hear from him, especially that he sounds like his old self again.

Dave Harvey called to thank me for the birthday card. He has three children, two girls and a boy, all of whom are doing well. One girl is a nurse anesthetist.

His son, David, started at VMI playing football and in the band, but the son decided that he liked having his car, so he left VMI for Furman. He now has a business doing sampling for water, mold, asbestos and lead and stays very busy.

Dave now lives across the road from the home in which he grew up. He has eight acres, which he can handle better than the 72-acre home he had before.

Dave has had a knee replaced, which helped prompt the move from 72 acres to 8 acres. Dave’s wife died last May. His children live close enough to keep in touch.

I talked to Joe Craven’s wife, Sara, 2013-Issue 1

to get up to date on Joe’s situation. As I reported last spring, Joe is in a nursing home in California. I have left messages with the home, but he has not returned my calls. Sara informed me on 9/15 that Joe is clinically and chronically depressed, so it is not surprising that I do not hear from him.

I called Clark Britton to confirm his mailing address, as I had an old address in my records. Clark and his wife, Pauline, are in an independent living community, having moved from their old address. At the time of my call, I had been watching the Saints-Chiefs game. Clark, who lives in Kansas, had also watched the game, which the Chiefs finally won by three points in overtime.

Clark keeps busy writing and illustrating small books, which he has printed in small numbers and sells or gives away.

He prints books on poetry, design and other subjects. He had a heart problem some time ago and has a pacemaker. He still rides almost daily on his 3-wheel bicycle (less risk of falling than with a 2-wheel bike). His first wife, Regina, died in 2001. He has married Pauline, so they have a number of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I called George St John to confirm his address. The address I had was his old business address, which was closed a few years ago. George continues to care for his livestock. His horse died recently, and he is getting another horse. He still has some dogs and feeds wildlife. He will get some more cattle in the spring.

George will not give up walking, even though he finds it difficult. He knows that if he stops walking, he will soon not be able to walk. His wife has been in a nursing home for several years with limited physical health. However, she keeps very active with a computer and Internet correspondence. George’s grandson graduated from high school at age 17 with an excellent record. He was captain of the football team, played soccer and other sports. His goal is to be a wildlife biologist.

That is all the news at this point, as I have to turn in the notes on Nov. 1. As Nutz always said: Keep fit and trim.

Jim

’53

William C. Noell Jr.

Once again, regretfully, we lost BRs during the past quarter. This time, it was our old first class barracks sandwich concession salesman and recent novelist, Jules “Bromo” Seletz, in Marblehead, MA, on 27 Sept. (Editor’s Note: His obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review.) I talked with Bromo’s wife, Rilda, periodically over the last year, and she kept me up to date on the status of Bromo’s Alzheimer’s progress, which I reported in past class notes.

Bromo had expressed, at the onset of his illness, his disappointment at not being able to attend our 60th in person.

We also lost Chuck Dininger in Grove City, PA, on 13 Aug. (Editor’s Note: His obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review.) I had not heard from him via e-mail in a couple of years, but he did attend a reunion 10 years ago, and we had a nice visit. As of now, we have lost 91 Brother Rats – count starts at those completing the Rat year.

Herold Hofhimer is now in an assisted living/nursing home in the west end of Richmond, since early September. When I was in Richmond for the 27 Sept. reunion committee meeting, I did visit Herold and Ellen, also. Herold seems very comfortable there, well taken care of, in an excellent facility. I did send out via e-mail Herold’s mailing address for those that might like to drop him a note, which I am sure he would appreciate.

By the time you read these class notes, you should have received all the information needed for the 60th Reunion … the hotel reservation announcement and the schedule of events, etc., starting with the early arrival gathering on Sunday, 21 April, and the reunion on 22-23 April 2013. A number of various preliminary notices have been sent out over the year, so ALL should already know the scheduled dates and thus have put them into your schedule for returning to Lexington for the 60th. Warren Koontz accepted being the Reunion Committee chairman; the initial meeting was held at his home 55

CLASS NOTES in September. Then, Warren Koontz, Spider Evans and I met with Carole Green here in Lexington. The next meeting will be in Lexington in December to work out final details. This reunion, we are inviting our BR widows as class guests in regard to their registration, since we do have some funds left over from past reunions. An e-mail went out to the class about 1 Oct. requesting old photos of BRs, that you might still have on hand, to be sent to John Lund for producing a CD/DVD of photos of our days at the Institute. John’s son is going to do this for the class, and the CD/ DVD will be passed out at the reunion.

The photos are needed by the middle of December, and they will be returned after copying.

An e-mail from Wes Gray noted that he and Elizabeth were at the VMI-Navy game with a neighborhood Annapolis grad and his wife — they both live about 30 miles away on the Eastern Shore.

Although the game was not the greatest, especially the second half, they did enjoy all the pre-game activity. Wes and Elizabeth usually are in Sarasota at this time of year, but Elizabeth had a recurring medical problem and will have to undergo some extensive repair this fall at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. Wes says his golf game is OK, but it seems his clubs lose a couple yards every year. They are planning on making the 60th.

E-mails from Bob Cheatham keep me posted on Beb’s status with her medical problems. She is in and out of the hospital with her chemo treatment these days and, at the time being, seems to be making good progress.

Mickey Woodward said that he had a great cruise in late September up the Norwegian coast with Betty, their son and his wife, and two grandchildren for two weeks. He said that his daughter-inlaw ran into a VMI person but did not get the name, so Mickey was not able to make contact.

Page Murray says that, for years, they have been loyal Philadelphia sports fans—Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, Union, Flyers, etc. However, after last year’s football season, they have decided to become San Francisco 49ers fans. We gave up the 56

Colts, once Petyon Manning departed—still try to be Redskin fans, as I grew up with them during the WWII and HS days when my father was at the Pentagon.

I had a nice newsy e-mail from Tom Colvin’s daughter, Carey, about her family. Said that she visits her parents’ gravesite often and that it is hard to believe that it has been three years since she said goodbye to Tom. I had written to her about Tom not being in the Hall of Valor.

I have had a couple of snail-mails from Oz Bellinger recently, and he says he is looking forward to the 60th. However, since he does not fly these days, he plans to take the train from Birmingham to Lynchburg or Charlottesville, then rent a car. Oz says he has had some great train trips around the country since his retirement. Oz noted that he flew a lot for his job and jumped out of those planes when in the service, but he is just fed up with having to take his shoes off, and such, before getting on a plane. Of course, he commented on having to sit next to certain “underdressed” people in planes, so now he likes Amtrak with a bedroom.

He listed many of the deluxe trains he has ridden in recent years. At last report, he was heading for Memphis and then on to somewhere else.

Judy and I have been to only one VMI football game this year and did not see any BRs there. However, we will be at the game on Nov. 17th—maybe find a BR then? Did get to visit with Bill Crumpler’s son and daughter at Moody Hall after the game. Otherwise, we have been at the UT home games, most of which have not been too good this year. We both love football season very much, but the downside is we have to pull in the boat

Class of 1953: Seated in a booth at the Palms in Lexington, Virginia, prior to a ’53 Reunion meeting in September 2012 were Bill Noell, Spider Evans and Warren Koontz.

and give up boating on the lake. Just before coming back to Lexington the last of September, we took our last sunset cruise for a couple of hours on the lake with another couple … wine, cheese and assortments for dinner, then back at the lake house at dark for ice cream cone dessert and cards – “99,” learned from Bebe and Bob Cheatham on one of their visits to our lake house.

Institute Trivia ... Matriculation Date: Judy and I attended matriculation for the class of 2016 this year, and it is quite different and more detailed than when we signed in on 12 Sept. 1949. This year, that date was Saturday, 18 Aug., and about the only similarity to our matriculation day was that they still signed in, in the same type of ledger book which we signed in—no computerization there. No longer is it in JM Hall. It’s now in Cameron Hall, and they process in by numbers, received at arrival—Rats being split up by an alphabet division as to when you should arrive ... morning or afternoon. They process on the floor of Cameron Hall, going through many “stages”— set up for the various selected academic majors, the various ROTC choices, receive gym dyke, company assignment, their room assignment and finally signing the Matriculation Book. They then go to the upstairs back of the Mess Hall and meet representatives of the various churches in town, as well as the chaplain. After this, the Rats and parents bring their personnel effects to Barracks and are escorted to their assigned room. They then change into gym dyke, have a short break with family, then report to Cameron Hall and fall into company formation. After a few instructions from Institute staff, they are marched off, leaving parents in the stands, to begin their life at VMI. Rats are not allowed cell phones until after Break Out, nor can they switch roommates until after breakout, and then they must still room with company members until the third class year. Quite a contrast to our matriculation, when we did not room by company, had make-overs in two weeks and entered the Institute through Jackson Arch from signing in -- with the whole Corps lined up inside Barracks greeting us, as we processed to our assigned room, luggage in hand. I recall VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES of us were disappointed recently when VMI was battered by a better University of Richmond football team. How much better? Well, at least four touchdowns better. Once again, the team gave all it could give; the problem is, it just didn’t Bill Turner have much to give. VMI has some good players. It just doesn’t have enough. The lack of depth was especially telling in the second half. I feel bad for the team. I really do. How long should the team, the “Do not go quietly into that good night.

Corps and the alumni realistically expect Old age should burn and rage at close of its team to compete successfully with day; rage, rage against the dying of the schools able to attract far more quality light.” – Dylan Thomas players than can the Institute? Maybe Got an interesting e-mail from that old it’s time to consider stepping down a philosopher, Ollie Hux, waxing rhapsodinotch. I understand the football program cally about things both morbid and munsubsidizes much of the school’s athletic dane. (But at least Ollie hasn’t forgotten program, but at what cost? how to write, and his mind seems reasonYou know, Jack Sanguigni is a “Hoot;” ably clear.) Ollie says his summer has been really no other way to describe him. We hot and dry and that there are definite negatalked a little while ago, and he contives in building your house in the middle of the forest. He says he recently attended vinced me that there’s more to living a barbecue hosted by the Rocky Mountain than just “putting in time.” Jack’s still Chapter and was the “Senior Member” playing “competitive” golf and drinking present for duty. In several conversations good scotch. He has one before dinner with members of various classes, includand a good cigar afterward. He says as ing a rising “third,” Ollie says the latter long as he can continue that routine, all hadn’t a clue when he tried to discuss such is well. “Life is (still) good,” accordesoteric concepts as being “taken in” and ing to one of the best third basemen the “Bloody Sunday.” (Class Agent’s Note: OlInstitute ever produced. lie, in all frankness, I don’t remember much Just talked with Jay Langhammer. about “Bloody Sunday” either. Perhaps it Haven’t seen Jay for too long a time, was because, for me, they were all bloody a deficiency I hope to remedy soon Sundays.) According to Ollie, some knew when we’ll meet at the Homestead in what he was talking about, but many of Hot Springs, VA. I’ve always had high those exotic events had been regard for Jay, an opinion phased out over time and were first formed when we walked considered verboten when they “The Line” together. I thought were there. (Maybe it really he was a class act then, and was the “Old Corps” when we I’m sure he hasn’t changed were there.) Ollie concludes by much. Jay’s still involved in saying his health continues to be his business from his home much better than it’s supposed to in Roanoke, VA. I’m looking be at this stage of his developforward to seeing him again. ment. And he praises the result Should be fun. of recently encountered cataract Caught up with BR Don surgery, saying that “I can now Ferry and had a great conversee the salt I’m not supposed to sation. Don sounded good, said put on my food.” As usual, a real he feels good, still working joy hearing from you, Ollie. You and playing low handicap golf. are a ray of sunshine in an often On a sad note, Hugh White cloudy world. Hang in there. died recently after a long and Got a great e-mail from Al courageous battle against Class of 1954: Bill Turner and daughter Erin on stage at overwhelming odds. As Mattox. Al begins: “Bill. You the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. are always fussing because I many of you know, Hugh that the guy in line directly in front of me did an about face and left before he got all the way through the arch—did not seem to like all that yelling.

’54

2013-Issue 1

don’t send any news. I have some. My first class year dyke surprised me with a phone call which led to a visit to my house today. Jay Musser ’57 and his friend, Sonja Watkins, came by my house for the first get-together Jay and I have had in 57 years. I had hoped we could take a flight around the Staunton Weyers Cave area in my old airplane, but the weather wouldn’t cooperate. I wanted to show off my Wright Brothers “Master” pilot award presented by the FAA for flying for over 55 consecutive years without killing myself.” Al says he’s still working part time on Collision Avoidance Systems for ARINC. A visit from your dyke after 57 years? Good grief, Al. What an honor!

What a great impression you must have made. Congratulations. I’m envious.

I’d have a hard time even remembering my dyke’s name, and I’m sure he doesn’t remember mine. I do remember he was instrumental in breaking up the last fist-fight I ever had, with my beloved “Roomie,” no less, one Joseph Carney, a somewhat pugnacious and rather combative Massachusetts kid. Oh, it wasn’t really a real fight; it was an early morning thing, and neither of us was in a very good mood. We quickly “made up,” had a good laugh and double-dated a couple of West Virginia “chicks” the following Friday night. Now, I do remember their names. Thanks for the report, Al. Always a joy hearing from you.

Reflections on a football game: A lot

57

CLASS NOTES was an attorney and a good one. A lot’s been written about Hugh and his many accomplishments recently, so I’ll not repeat those well-deserved accolades, but the last time I spoke with Hugh, he exuded the same quiet confidence and optimism which seemed to personify the man. There was simply no quit in him.

Hugh was laid to rest with full honors.

The church was packed. It was more than moving to hear the “VMI Spirit” played on the church organ. All three of Hugh’s boys spoke and did well. Their dad would have been proud. Among the pallbearers were Claiborne Terry and Bill Schubmehl. Also attending with their spouses were John Mapp, Jock Wheeler, Jack Tiller, Tommy Williamson, R.B. Barnes, “Mud” White and Bruce Gottwald. Some of you may not know that Hugh became a fighter pilot after leaving the Institute. Although he didn’t make the military his career, Hugh was an American patriot and strong supporter of the military. I remember once during a brief conversation, when Hugh learned that I had served in Vietnam, he was more than generous in telling me how much he admired and respected those who had served their country in such a way. Hugh was a “Class Act.” We were lucky to have known him.

“In great deeds, something abides.” – Maj. Gen. Joshua Chamberlain, Gettysburg, 1863 Perry Archer e-mailed me a poignant but fitting tribute to Hugh. I share it with you here. Perry wrote … “So passes my company commander. (I believe Hugh commanded Able Company when we were first classmen.) Hugh’s in heaven, while we (who are still here) are poor little lambs who have lost our way, but my guess is that Hugh was never a black sheep, unlike some of us. God rest his soul. You have a sad duty.” You’ve got that right, Perry, and it doesn’t get any easier. Our prayers are with Mary, Hugh’s widow, and the children during this moment of great loss.

(Editor’s Note: Hugh White’s obituary appears in the front section of this Alumni Review.)

Just had a nice chat with Jeff Robertson. Jeff said he’d just returned from a family reunion in the Tidewater, VA, area, where he was born and raised. Had 58

a chance to visit some old “Roomies,” John Mapp, Lou Drake, et al. Also saw George Ramer. Jeff agreed that he was, indeed, fortunate to still have his old VMI room “intact.” We are both aware that’s an increasing rarity. Jeff sounded good. Still very active. I asked if he was still wrestling. You might recall that Jeff wrestled at the Institute. Quick, fast and agile, Jeff won his share of matches. He said he still wrestled a little; only this time, he gets to pick his competition. It really was great talking with Jeff. His performances on the (wrestling) mat have always been some of my favorite memories.

“The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey their children.” – Edward, Duke of Windsor Got a couple of great e-mails from BR Tom Kane recently. One of Tom’s messages was in response to my invitation that he consider the role of class agent.

He declined but did it in a most gracious manner. Tom said he felt the CA should be someone geographically centered such that he is able to “keep his finger on the trigger,” someone close enough to the Institute to be able to “feel the pulse” of the place and react quickly to changing circumstances. He felt that I was probably a good example of one who would fit that description. While agreeing with Tom’s major hypothesis, I believe that one further removed than I from the field of battle could still perform adequately, given the state of current technology. It might not be easy, but it could be done. Still, I appreciated Tom’s thoughtful analysis of the problem. Tom would have done a great job.

Congrats to our very own answer to McEnroe, Connors and Rod Laver! Bill Kingery has won the state tennis title, both singles and doubles, for the 80s and older championships! Featuring a blistering serve, an unbreakable backhand and his patented “Moonbeam Lob,” Bill continues to display almost providential feats of artistry on the courts. Almost spellbinding, for one of his tender years. Amazing!!! And he ain’t finished yet. Bill will compete in the Nationals. Congratulations, Bill. Once again, you’ve demonstrated rather convincingly that “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over!”

This one’s for my old pal, Prince Rupert “Tex” Ricker, Big Springs, TX, who died

much too soon. “No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that’s right and keeps on a’comin.’” – Capt. Bill McDonald, explaining the philosophy of the Texas Rangers.

Just had the most wonderful conversation with Swan Yerger, whom I had neither seen nor talked with for far too long a time. Swan left VMI after a couple of years, graduated from Ole Miss and the University of Virginia School of Law, and was a Mississippi circuit court judge for more than 13 years. But he’s never left the Institute, not really, and remains a loyal supporter. Now, he’s in retirement but staying active, both physically and intellectually. I wanted to discuss such things as “judicial activism” with him, but that’s a topic for another time. It goes without saying that I enjoyed talking with Swan more than I can say. He’s “Top Drawer;” always has been.

With so many of my Brother Rats and their significant others experiencing the loss of loved ones, I came across a quotation when I was preparing for a lecture on the Civil War that seemed so apropos, I’d like to share it with you. It was found on the dead body of a young Confederate captain on the Antietam battlefield and goes something like this: “For grief is felt not so much for the want of what we have never known, as for the loss of which we have been accustomed. For it is the love of honor that never grows old, and honor it is, not gain, as some would have it, that rejoices the heart of age and helplessness.”

Got a lovely “Thank You” note from Betsy Berry today. Betsy, please know that what I had to say about Bill in a recent column was, if anything, understated. Bill was everything I said and much more.

When my dad, and best male friend, died at age 53, I wrote, again, lines from Shakespeare: “He was a man, take him for all and all, I shall not look upon his like again.” I think I knew instinctively, from the beginning, that Bill was very special, whether as a superb athlete or leader of men. I am not surprised that he did so much with his life; no one who knew him would have been surprised. No, Betsy, you need not thank me. It is I who should thank you. Thank you for nurturing and bringing out the very best in a VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES remarkable man. God bless.

Flash! Have just been informed that our class reunion is scheduled for spring 2013.

Exact dates not yet available. Stay tuned.

With that, I’ll close this set of notes with a reminder that it’s still not too late to submit your applications for class agent. The pay’s not that great, but it looks awfully good on your resume.

That’s a wrap for now; only five more to go. To paraphrase another great journalist and communicator, Ed Murrow, “Buenos Noches Compadres y Buenos … Luck.”

What the heck’s Spanish for “luck”?

Where the dickens is Ed Rojas when you need him?

’55

know he is in a better place.”

Shifting gears, I’ll move on to other things.

Our class sponsored four holes at the Fourth Annual MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) George C. Marshall [’901] Chapter’s Wounded Warriors Golf Tournament, held in Lexington in August. Three holes were dedicated to our classmates Walt Draeger, Bill Martin and Moon Osborne, who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. A fourth hole was sponsored by the class of 1955. The tournament generated a goodly amount of money to help support

Read Hanmer

This issue’s class notes will be a somewhat random collection of inputs from all of you. Keep those cards and letters (and e-mails) coming!

Sadly, I must report the passing of John Marvin (Marv) Lekstrum. (Editor’s Note: His obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review.) According to his daughters, he died peacefully, surrounded by his many close friends. I sent a short bio to those BRs for whom I have e-mail addresses. If anyone else would like to see it, please let me know.

Leon Cock, upon hearing of Marv Lekstrum’s passing, said, “[I] knew Marvin Lekstrum was in trouble, but we are never ready for the end of any Brother Rat. For the last several decades, mini-reunions were held among Marv Lekstrum, Joe Moore, Lamar Coleman, Jack Sidney and myself. I hosted one in Las Vegas, Jack hosted one in Palm Springs, Lamar hosted one in San Francisco and Marv hosted one in Idaho.

We will miss Marv, a real free spirit, a smart guy, and a fellow physics major of yours (ed. note: me.) and others. May God bless the Lekstrum family! Joe and I met again in June, and our little group is now down to two. Time changes everything.”

Mike Belenky wrote: “Thank you for passing on the sad news of the passing of our Brother Rat Marv Lekstrum – All 2013-Issue 1

that he accomplished is quite a tribute to the Institute’s Physics Department. I remember him well. One cannot but reflect upon the reality that there is an end to this beautiful privilege called life. May the Red, White, and Yellow continue to float on high, and may ’55 continue the march.” Tom Williamson added: “With Marv’s passing, there are only four of the followers of Cols. Foster and Heflin (i.e., physics majors) left.”

Helen O’Neill responded to my birthday card with a nice note, saying, “Yes, I’m still here. I can’t believe Randy has been ‘away’ now for six years, but I

Class of 1955 Above: At the Sandbridge mini reunion in September 2012 were, from left, seated, Tom Tait, Read Hanmer, Dick Sutherland, Bill Wainwright and Ron Bryan. Standing: Sam Segar, Bob Timms, Bill Davidson, Fielding Tyler, Bill Cridlin, Mac McCants, Dusty Rhodes, Marty Fisher and Bob Bowden. Below: Also at the Sandbridge mini reunion were, from left, seated, Betsy Gilliam, Pattie Davidson, Evie Sutherland, Boots Wainwright and Pat Timms. Standing: Lois Hanmer, Jane Bowden, Clara Rennicks, Rody Rhodes, Ann Segar, Nita Bryan, Anne Holup and Margaret Tait.

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CLASS NOTES the nation’s current “Wounded Warriors.” Tom Tait reports that the tournament grossed $16,729 and should net about $12,000 for the wounded Warriors project. There were fewer big donors this year, so the take was about $2,000 below previous years. Bill Davidson and Ron Bryan again participated in the tournament.

The Bryans again hosted their Annual Bryan Beach Bash at Sandbridge Beach in the Norfolk area. (See photos on previous page.) Fourteen BRs and their “escorts” assembled for a grand time exchanging old war stories, discussing current events and telling a few whoppers, as well. There was a great seafood dinner at a local restaurant one night, a gathering at Jane and Bob Bowden’s house and the main event at the Bryan’s. Attending, in no particular order, were: Ron and Nita Bryan, Tom and Margaret Tait, Dick and Evie Sutherland, Bill and Boots Wainwright, Sam and Ann Segar, Bob and Pat Timms, Bill and Pattie Davidson, Bob and Jane Bowden, and Fielding Tyler and Betsey Gilliam. As usual, Nita’s son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter provided immensely helpful assistance.

Everett Irby sent me a letter noting that he, Frank Boxley and Chip Lazarus visited with Jimbo Thornton in Athens, GA. Everett said, “Bo has not been doing well for some time now. He went through a couple of close calls, and when we heard he was doing better, we decided to visit him and his family. Lynn has not changed at all. What a super lady.” Everett continued, “I am still healthy enough to continue my hunting and fishing endeavors and have been travelling a lot with Julie. Both my boys have graduated from VA Tech while wishing that they had a degree from VMI!” Fielding Tyler has a new book! He writes: “My second book was released in September [2012] and is titled Service in Two Armies: The Diaries of Henry Little.

The small book is the first account of the military activity of my fifth generation ancestor Henry Little. I painstakingly transcribed his handwritten entries from thirteen small leather-bound unpublished volumes in my possession and presented the accumulated story in a single 60

small book. I merged information from diaries of Henry Little and dovetailed it with primary and secondary sources. A number of photographs and drawings are included.

“Little was from Baltimore and obtained a Regular Army appointment and served on the American frontier. He experienced his first combat in the war with Mexico while serving with the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment. He later commanded an infantry company and served with the soldiers through expeditions in Florida and the expanding American frontier. He participated in expeditions to Bent’s Fort in Colorado and later an extensive expedition to the Utah Territory. The diaries document his westward marches as well as daily activities.

Following the Utah Expedition, he made up his mind to enter Confederate service in Missouri. A diary entry notes, ‘put on a new coat ... wish I was in Old Maryland.’ He was made a colonel in the Missouri Militia and later given command of a brigade and performed well at the Battle of Pea Ridge, AR. He was then promoted to brigadier general and given a division command. While leading that division in 1862 at the Battle of Iuka in northern Mississippi, he was killed by a bullet between the eyes. He was buried in town after the engagement.

“Little encountered many gut-wrenching experiences in his lengthy career, and as a combat leader in both the Federal and Confederate Armies, he did not flinch from his duty. By the end of his life, he had become a seasoned tactical officer who would command a combined force at division level. Had he survived, he would have been a strong leader at higher level of command.

“The book was first released in September 2012 at the Tishomingo County Courthouse Museum in Iuka, MS, directly across the street from the cottage where Henry Little’s body was buried after he was killed in action 150 years ago.” Well done, Moose. A fascinating bit of history.

Dick and Evie Sutherland reported on a wonderful trip to Virginia Beach in September, where they joined in the Annual Bryan Beach Bash. (See previous, related item.) After that weekend, the

Sutherlands drove to Savannah, GA; Dick says that Savannah is a “beautiful and quaint city.” Their “off and on” bus tour of the city is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to see the entire city without doing a lot of walking. “We got ‘shucked’ at Uncle Bubba’s and had lunch at Paula Deen’s ‘The Lady and Sons’ restaurant.”

A nice, “newsy” note from Frank Brooke: “Greetings from Jacksonville, FL! We returned to the sunshine state the last week in September after a pleasant summer at Lake Gaston in NC. This was the 10th summer we have spent at the lake since we moved to Florida, although we spent much more time there while living in Franklin, VA. As a matter of fact, we have been going there since 1966 when we used to camp in a tent. Any BR in or visiting that area during the summer is always welcome (ed. question: To live in a tent?)! Before coming home this year, we went to Lexington for the Richmond football game. The game was disappointing, but the company was delightful, with Tom and Margaret Tait, Dusty and Rody Rhodes, Ron Bryan, Curtis Lucado and Bill Davidson in attendance. We stopped briefly before the game to visit with our grandson, Ralston Brooke, who is a freshman at UVa. Tried to convince him to go to the Institute, but he had his eye set on Virginia, his father’s alma mater. We have another grandson, Will Robertson, who also looked at VMI, but chose the University of Florida where he is also a freshman. Only one grandson left, so there is still hope!

“We have two granddaughters: one is a graduate student at NC State, and another is a junior at The Bolles School here in Jacksonville. I don’t think the latter is a VMI candidate. Also, our youngest grandson, Arch Brooke, is a sophomore at Bolles and plays football and baseball for them. His maternal grandfather was an outstanding football player at Florida, and I think Arch has inherited his talent.

“Judy and I are plugging along, putting up with our old age problems. I had kidney stones in my one and only kidney (right; I lost my left kidney in 1996 due to a malignant tumor). Had the stones ‘blasted,’ broken up into small fragments, so I could pass them successfully.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES “With our attachment to several schools and a pro team (Jacksonville Jaguars), we are bound to have a winner from at least one. At this writing, it’s Florida. Anyone on their way to Florida this winter and coming through Jacksonville, please let us know.”

Joe Brenner passed on to me the letter he sent to Gen. Peay ’62. It reads: “General Peay: Let me add my congratulations to you, the Institute Staff and the Corps of Cadets for an outstanding display in front of a vast and far-reaching audience in the hosting of Romney’s foreign policy speech yesterday at VMI. The setting was ideal for this important event, the audience wellmatched to the speaker’s focus and direction, and the enthusiastic engagements afterward a genuine example of pride in performance. The results reflected exceedingly well on the governor, the cadets and the underlying demonstration of leadership established by yourself. It was an excellent day for VMI, the legacy and traditions of General Marshall [’901], and the hopes and prayers for a strong and honorable America. With best personal regards, Joseph Brenner.” Well said, Joe! Ken and Becky Carstens sent along the following note: “Another great golf trip by the Central Louisiana and Mississippi VMI Alumni Club. Ken Carstens, Carl Carstens ’51, Jim Enoch and Randy Carstens (Carl’s son) went to Kiawah Island in South Carolina and played four different golf courses, ate at four different restaurants and had a wonderful four days. The weather was terrific, and the alligators were big and numerous. We played the Ocean Course that is played by many professionals, and I was lucky enough to par the 17th hole to break us even on a bet. Becky was hoping the women would be included, but it was a man’s thing, so she stayed home with our dog, Subedi.

Becky and I went to Dallas to celebrate the big 80 with my youngest daughter, Sarah, and had a great time.”

My discussion of the Washington Nationals’ baseball team in earlier class notes inspired Dave Woolwine to send in the following note: “It’s very interesting to read of your interest in the Washington Senators/Nationals. I had an early interest in the Senators. We made a high school senior trip to D.C. in May 1950. We went to a Senators/Tigers night game. I still have the scorecard for the game. (Dave 2013-Issue 1

listed the lineups.) I remember that the Tigers won, naturally (LOL). There are some interesting ads on the card – one was for a restaurant in Colmar, MD. Aftergame special: broiled lobster (all you can eat) $1.75/person, jumbo boiled shrimp (all you can eat) $1.25/person, etc.’” Dave went on to say that he hoped the Nationals would meet the Dodgers in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the saga of the 2012 Washington Nationals ended with their defeat at the hands of the Saint Louis Cardinals in the first round of the National League playoffs. The team had a good run and will likely continue to do well next year, given the youth of the team. Dave won’t mind me pointing out that the Dodgers didn’t make the playoffs.

In closing, I’ll pass on a great idea from Joe Brenner. He suggests, with respect to these class notes, we might begin a special focus on some of the interesting things we’re doing in our retirement years – things that represent the passionate outlets so necessary to life after the professional world and the activities we’re pursuing that reward others, perhaps, more than ourselves. This sort of series might serve to illustrate the productive ends still within our reach and the extraordinary opportunities for individual contribution still ahead.

I think it’s a great idea! I know most of us have short bios that could be dusted off and focused on after-retirement years.

Who would like to start it off?

’56

Richard M. Smith

Once again, I begin this edition of class notes with the sad news of a Brother Rat passing. Joe Marangi died of a heart attack on Aug. 16, 2012, in Glen Rock, NJ. His obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review. On a happier note, I was in contact with Walt Donovan about my request for memories from matriculation in 1952. He sent me some of the best pictures of our class I have seen. They show us with suitcases marching into Barracks, being fitted for uniforms, in the mess hall straining, studying in the rooms, at the Rat picnic and marching guard around the sentinel box in the snow. Walt has one of

the best collections of VMI memorabilia I know of. I was very pleased to receive some nice notes from a number of people as a result of the 60th Anniversary info sent out. Susie McKinnon Griffin (Frank McKinnon’s widow) wrote that she was so pleased to view his signature in the register, she shed a few tears. It has been 16 years since he died. She wants to keep receiving anything about VMI. Dick Fencel writes that the football picture was special, but he didn’t remember his number being 35 the Rat year. He enjoyed reviewing the class roster. He says the Fencel family is all doing well.

Ed McCall wrote a note from his home in Lexington saying the matriculation sheets brought back many memories of the day and those that followed. He was in room 463 and roomed with George Weir and Ben Huger. Ben went on to UVa after our first semester. He has been my financial adviser with Payne-Webber Inc. for many years, although he has recently moved to Colorado Springs, CO, with his new wife.

A gathering of seven BRs and their ladies occurred Sept. 12th at a nice restaurant in Stony Point Shopping Center in Richmond. Present were Amos Dickinson, Jim Mann, Jim Dillard, Bill Lamb, Don Heslep, Dou Gottwald and me, along with Motsy Foster.We talked so long, we made Don late for his golf match! The Dillards were here from CA at Frances’s home in Tappahannock. She is recovering nicely from chemo treatment for cancer.

Everybody looked good, in spite of all our aging problems. I received another nice note from Ann Shibut describing how she was in high school with John but didn’t date until after his Rat year.

She was excited to see his signature 3rd on the matriculation list and showed it to her older son, who was in town for a chess tournament. She plans to show it to their other son and said she wants to keep receiving info on VMI, which she enjoys reading. I had a great e-mail from Linda Brophy saying she was enjoying her grandkids (Lauren’s), five and seven years, who live nearby, and she enjoys dog sitting for others. Her place is still on the market and hopefully will sell, if things improve after the election. She won’t make the mini-reunion, as she and a number of classmates from her Coral 61

CLASS NOTES Gables High School class are having one at the same time. She sends her best to all of Jim’s and her friends. I talked with J.P. Moore who had just returned home from a hospital stay to remove a blockage in his intestines that has “taken some wind out of his sails.” He was glad to hear about the group of us who got together in Richmond recently. He was invited to come to Lexington during the VMI Institute Society Dinner in November when his scholarship cadet, who is captain of the wrestling team, as well as First Captain of the Corps, will receive special recognition. I insisted he make the effort to be there to benefit from his long investment in athletics. I received a wellworded letter from Jon and Jane Roach concerning the upcoming presidential election. A screening of the movie “Cou-

rageous” at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the Congressional Prayer Caucus was seen by a friend who was stunned to see so many congressmen in attendance. I called Scott Boland to thank him for subscribing me to the magazine Florida Sportsman, which I am enjoying reading. He said he didn’t have any major damage to his boat when the storm from the Gulf passed through last summer. He has had it out and caught a nice number of trout recently. He and Artis are still busy with their fireworks and blank ammo business. They send their best to everyone and are sorry they won’t make it to the mini-reunion. Dick Justice writes that his thoughts going back to our class of 1956 matriculation are that lasting strong relationships occurred that day with roommates and other class members.

Class of 1956 Photo below: Attending a luncheon in Richmond, September 2012, were, left side, Jim Mann, Doug Gottwald, Jim Dillard, Motsy Foster and Jo Heslep. Right side: Amos Dickinson, Don Heslep, Dick Smith, Bill Lamb, Irene Myers, Honey Rector, Betty Mann and Frances Dillard. Photo above, right: Some of the Richmond luncheon attendees, from left, Bill Lamb, Amos Dickinson, Jim Dillard, Doug Gottwald and Jim Mann.

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He goes on to discuss when and how the “red, white and yellow” colors were discovered. Col. Cooper in his One Hundred Years at VMI commented that they were originally “black and white,” but he didn’t know when they were changed.

The late 1800s Bombs said they were chosen for the Army, Artillery and Cavalry but were red, white and orange. The 1900 Bomb was the first to have them red, white and yellow. Honey and I attended parade and went to the VMI-Presbyterian football game with Motsy Foster. It was the first win we had seen for a long time. We also were with Hoppy and Sally Holsinger on the bus to the stadium. Hoppy will have a tumor removed from his brain, which is the result of all the chemo taken in the past. He looked fine and was in good spirits. I talked with J.P. Moore who still hasn’t gotten his full strength back to take on Bill Tolley in a wrestling match but is working on it by walking his dog. He says he won’t make it to VMI this year but is looking forward to our 60th Reunion. Pete Jennette sent me a picture of Sue and him in the U.K. with a note on their places of travel. Bob Irby was planning to attend the VMI-Charleston Southern game until he broke a toe doing the “Charleston” with Sara. We need to slow down a bit as we get older!

Fifteen BRs came together in Lexington on Oct. 23rd for two days of camaraderie at the mini-reunion of the class of ’56, along with their ladies.The weather was exceptionally warm for that time of year, but the fall foliage was gorgeous.

We spent hours renewing old friendships over “sips and chips” in the hospitality room at the Wingate Inn. While many of the women shopped, a group of us guys, along with Don and Jo Heslep, attended a presentation at Moody Hall by Col. Dale Brown, who is engineer in charge of all capital construction on Post. We received a video of each major project, either completed or under construction over the past eight years. Col. Brown also showed us architectural concept renderings of other proposed projects being currently presented to the state for design funding. Greg Cavallaro ’84, chief executive officer of the Keydet Club, joined us on Wed. afternoon to give an update on the current status of athletics at the Institute.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES He had just come from a meeting with VMI Superintendent GEN. Peay ’62 and the football coaches. Concern is certainly apparent with the continued losing status of football in the conference we are in, but other sports are doing well. Consensus is that we will never be able to recruit players of the caliber of schools that have less demanding principals than VMI. We all got together for a dress-up dinner and final goodbye at Café Michel’s Wed. night.

Those attending were: Jere Real, Pittmans, Quinlans, McCreedys, Morris, Farthings, Mathews, Allisons, Belshas, Hesleps, Penns, Motsy Foster, Larry Weinerth, Bossards, Wingates, myself and Honey. Accidents or health problems prevented the Barks, Thurmonds and Blairs from attending, unfortunately. This completes my report for the quarter.

Yours in the Spirit … Dick

’57

Clayton M. Thomas III

When Johnny St. George asked me to replace him as our class agent in 1991, I had no idea that I would continue for 23 years. I also had no idea that I would have such fun being our agent. This is a position that I truly enjoy. I never tire of writing our Brother Rats and widows.

All the October birthday cards are in the mail, and I have 14 November birthdays and 17 for December. In two weeks, I shall start on the Christmas cards, which I enjoy most of all – even though I often begin writing at 4 a.m.

Annual Giving has sent the giving totals for FY 2013 as of Sept. 30, 2012.

The class of 1957 has 10 donors to whom I must write a thank you note as soon as I finish these class notes due Nov. 1 instead of Nov. 15.

When we returned to Florida from our great 55th Reunion, we mailed 86 Reunion Booklets between April 30 and June 8. We have distributed 163 booklets. All the widows have a copy, but 28 Brother Rats do not. We gave one box of booklets to Martin Andersen, as our car didn’t have room. In September, we met Martin for lunch at the Rain Forest in Walt Disney 2013-Issue 1

note from Dolores, Clint Parker’s wife.

Clint had a long and distinguished career in the civil engineering department, first at VMI, then at UVa and lastly served as chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas in Arlington from 1982 until 1999. Clint has been bedridden for 14 months and sick with Alzheimer’s for 10 years. Dolores reports, “It has been very difficult, and he is nearing the end.

He can no longer eat food – only drink liquids.” Please keep Dolores and Clinton E. Parker in your thoughts and prayers.

Bob and Alice Garrett live in Roanoke and drive to VMI to watch the Keydets play baseball. They have a grandson, Reed Garrett ’15, on the team. He is a third classman, so they can watch him play for two more years.

Frank and Ann Gilmore have left Oxford, MS, and moved to Alexandria, VA. He has gone back to work, and his new job is president of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation in Springfield, VA. (See the last Alumni Review, 2012-Issue 4, page 15 for a feature article about Frank.)

George and Helen Niedermayer have moved into a new apartment but continue to live in Philadelphia, PA. John Poffenbarger sent a copy of his and Susan’s picture from the Charleston, WV, newspaper of their 50th wedding anniversary. With them is their greatgranddaughter, Olivia. John has talked with Ken and Katie Dickinson in Roscoe, SD. It’s getting cold out there, and he believes they will return to Florida a bit earlier this year.

We sadly report the loss of another Brother Rat. Edwin Pomeroy Whitfield passed away on Oct. 1, 2012.

(See obituary in the Taps section.)

Windy Whitfield lived in Eagle, ID, since his retirement from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. He and Pat have two children. She passed away some years ago.

Finally, I finish with the hope that all of us survived the Super Hurricane Sandy. Dawn and I are grateful it passed us by without harm. We Class of 1957: Susan and John Poffenbarger celebrating their 50th anniversary have blue sky and sunshine and lots at the beach with great-granddaughter of candy for the trick-or-treaters on Olivia.

Halloween.

World Village, and he brought the box of Reunion Booklets. Now, everyone in the class should have a copy. I believe this is our best booklet yet, and Dawn did the lion’s share of the work. The class of 1957 has had a booklet for all 11 reunions.

Every November for the last few years, Dawn and I enjoy a trip to VMI for the Founders Day events. We also attend several meetings such as the Class Agents, Reunion Committee and Bereavement Committee. This fall, we will not attend. Mosby, our 19 “plus”-yearold cat, is in failing health. And we cannot in good conscience leave her in the care of a cat sitter. We do hope to attend the Class Agents Conference in April.

Bill Moore, chairman of our Bereavement Committee, has added new members to the Bereavement Committee to fill the vacancies caused by the passing of Wally McKeel and Buzzy Snyder in February 2012. Also, Bill will schedule a meeting for November 2013. Bill and Florine are doing fine in Smithfield, VA, and they suffered minor damage when Hurricane Sandy came through. They had minor flooding and a few leaks in the roof of their venerable old home.

Bill Benson in Rome, GA, was in the Redstone, AL, PX when he saw a copy of Combat Handguns with Wiley Clapp’s name on the cover. In the magazine, Wiley has an article on his Wiley Clapp Ruger .357 Mag, a quintessential streetworthy combat revolver for serious defenders. Bill sent a copy of the magazine for our class archives. Wiley and Nancy Clapp live in Minden, NV, and have been happily married for 40 years.

Russ Davis, our class president, sent a

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CLASS NOTES Navy game on live HDTV in the Northwest. (Welcome to the 21st century, BR. Wasn’t sure you had electricity!) Roy says that he has a couple of test flights in November, one to Shannon, Ireland, and one to Vienna, Austria. “Joyce will probably accompany me on the Vienna trip.” They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November. Roy is really looking forward to the VMI Alumni Cruise from Barbados in March. He said it is a fantastic Hello, BRs! As you read these class trip and the third such cruise that they have notes, know that the editor and his asmade on the Royal Clipper. sistant are basking in beautiful sunshine, BR Ted Henry reports that he and Becky while the Northeast is bracing for the spent “a great two weeks in Japan. The “Frankenstorm,” also known as Hurricane hardest part was a long, 12-hour flight Sandy. Bill Kump sent a submission relafrom the coast. The first time I went, in tive to the storm just today. He and Agnes 1960, it was 21 hours in a C-54. We stayed were on a cruise in the Caribbean when mainly in Honshu, going from Tokyo on Sandy was first forming. It seems that Santhe Pacific side to Kanazawa on the Sea of dy, which Bill describes as a “red blob” on Japan side, ending up in Kyoto. We even the weather map, chased their ship with its stayed a night in a typical Japanese inn, growing size rather than its forward movewhere we slept on a futon on the floor. ment, until they were forced to make a (Easy to get into bed but hard to get out!)” beeline back to port in Norfolk a day early.

Ted sent a photo of himself and Becky, This race came complete with rough seas taken overlooking a village of thatched and a huge dose of seasickness! As Bill roof houses in the “Japanese Alps.” put it, “We indeed had a memorable cruise Onza Hyatt checked in with the followbut a great experience.” We hope this class ing report: He and Becky were invited to submission finds you all safe, with properParis in September to the World Insulation ties undamaged, victorious veterans of the Conference. They went early to Venice and battle with Mother Nature. seven other European Union countries.

The Gim List report shows Bill Thomas’ Onza recommends the trip to “any who are wife, Mary Jo, recovering from a broken still able to travel.” (Editorial comment: shoulder and undergoing physical therapy This report was from a man of few words!) three times a week. Mike Smeltzer was Another world traveler, Sandy Yon, realso in recovery mode from a fall at their ported she is still traveling. As lake residence. Nice job, Mike: planned, she visited the British torn tendons to the kneecaps of Isles and Ireland in September both knees! and had an “absolutely wonderWe hope both Mike and Mary ful voyage up the west coast of Jo are fully recovered now. I Norway to the north cape above imagine lots of therapy was rethe Arctic Circle” at the end of quired for both of them. the month. She said, “I became Mike Smeltzer sent notice that a great-grandmother twice over our BR Jack Woodson passed the winter. I really don’t mind away Oct. 28, 2012. Lee Mcbeing a great-grandmother.

Cown forwarded an obituary and What scared me is the fact that offered the following comments: Danny is a grandfather … just “Sad news about Jack. He was when did that happen!” a roommate for several years BR Drew Troxler reported at VMI (along with Paul Royer that he did make it to the VMIand Frank Hancock) and previNavy game in September but ously a high school classmate not because he was careful about in Roanoke. He always had Class of 1958: Ted and Becky Henry on an overlook in where he put his tickets. As you a smile on his face and was a Takayama, Japan – an area known as the “Japanese Alps.” may remember, Charlie Hayes happy warrior at VMI, whether

Wes Roberts

’58

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battling the CE academics or finding a date for Paul or Jan Woodman. I am glad he came up for the 50th. He enjoyed it immensely and was looking forward to the 55th.” Jack lived in Roanoke and had retired from the city of Roanoke engineering department.

The Investigators Award of the Year goes to BR Sam Woolwine, who found and reported Duke Johnston’s current e-mail address. (It is: dukeanet.f16@att.net.) Duke’s e-mail address was one of the e-mail “MIAs” that we continued to pursue. The Johnstons are still living in Ft. Worth, TX. They also have a condo in Destin, FL, which we hope escaped any damage from Hurricane Isaac.

Speaking of Sam, our BR gave me something to crow about: his grandson, who is the VMI soccer coach’s Number One recruit!

Says Sam, “He will make a Keydet. He verbally committed himself to VMI without any suggestions on his family’s part. This is the only school he wants to attend.”

BRs, do you remember BR Charlie Hayes -- you know, the quiet one? BR Charlie has been in contact with Col. John Brodie (Hon), VMI Band director, regarding the sound of the drums in the Regimental Band. He is pursuing ways and means of getting new or refurbished drums, which will enrich the sound of the drum line. Col. Brodie has expressed interest in Charlie’s pursuits. The two are working toward an end that will, hopefully, please everyone.

BR Roy Palmer reports that he was surprised at being able to watch the VMI-

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES organized a group of BRs to attend the game. Drew ordered two sets of tickets and promptly misplaced one set. He ended up sitting with Lee McCown and Laura Cameron in the “high altitude section” of the stadium.

Unfortunately, they did not meet up with the other BRs who attended. Lee and Laura did attend a pre-game tailgate party with the USNA Class of ’67. Lee said it may have been the best part of a very hot day. Lee also shared that he recently spent some quality time with Paul Royer and Onza Hyatt, when they attended a meeting of the VMI Club of Richmond. The speaker at the meeting was Rear Adm. Terry McKnight ’78, USN (Ret). He spoke of his adventures chasing pirates around the Arabian Sea. Lee says the admiral wrote a book, titled Pirate Alley, which was announced in the last issue of the Alumni Review (Alumni News section).

Warren Yaun reported that three more Brother Rats attended the VMI-Navy game: himself; Charlie Hayes with his wife, Joan, daughter, Claire, and her fiancé; and Julius and Sheila Berman. Charlie added that Joe Gray’s grandson and date were also in attendance. They were invited by Charlie Hayes’ high school chum, Tom Fleming (USNA ’58), and Gordo Gerson (class president, USNA ’58) to a tailgate party … “a very friendly and hospitable group.” Charlie presented Gordo with a VMI baseball hat to wear, whereupon Gordo offered to wear the hat bill forward if VMI won or bill to the rear if Navy won. Said Warren, “As everyone knows, the team held its own during the first half, but in the second half, VMI couldn’t match the difference in size of the Navy team. All in all, it was a very enjoyable day and a welcome chance to visit with the BRs.” Gene Grayson noted that the notes in Issue 3 of the AR from class of ’61 mentioned two of our BRs, John Schmidt and Don Walker, who were in attendance at a golf outing in Southport, NC. It’s good to know they are still alive and well.

Tarn Rosenbaum, son of our late BR, Fred Rosenbaum, submitted the following report. Tarn writes, “I want to share with you an unexpected encounter with folks from the Institute that happened last April.

My daughter attends the University of Findlay. She and a group of her fellow students volunteered at a three-day Eventing Competition at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2013-Issue 1

Lexington, KY. My wife and I joined them as volunteers, where we worked a course crossing on Saturday morning. During our shift, I caught sight of a couple of kids wearing VMI garb. I caught their attention, and they came over. I mentioned that my dad attended VMI, and they mentioned that they were members of the new riding team, which is working to bring horses back to Post. It was a quick chat, and they were on their way. About 30 minutes later, they came back – with the rest of the riding team and the coaches. They all came and, one by one, introduced themselves to me.

I’m seriously impressed with all those fine young people. During the remainder of the weekend, when we came across them again, they remembered and greeted us. I don’t know about you, but I just don’t find a lot of that sort of behavior in the world today.”

Tarn says he follows our class notes regularly and enjoys reading about “the exploits of your and Dad’s other Brother Rats.”

And now, a word from your class president, none other than Stirling Williamson.

We are reminded to do the following: 1. Plan to attend the reunion: April 22-23, 2013.

2. Reserve a room at Col Alto.

3. Complete and return the questionnaire to Bill Gee for our reunion booklet.

Hope you had Happy Holidays! See you all at the reunion!

Keep the Spirit, Wes

’59

Shep Shepard

Ron and Mary Alice Marley traveled to Elmira, NY, for a family get-together and on the way stopped by to visit the famous Failte Inn, run by the equally famous Brother Rat Jim and Sarah True. Ron and Mary Alice had not seen Jim and Sarah in over five years, so they had a lot to talk about. Sarah continues to look like the young co-ed that Ron remembered from Buena Vista, and Jim, the Lowber Flash, is on his way to recovery. He does have his strength back, and with Sarah’s fine cooking and excellent care, he says he is slowly putting on a little weight. Whenever VMI guys get together, there is a lot of

talk, and there might be a little exaggeration. This get-together was no different.

Everyone in the class was discussed, and some of the tales were true, but what was so astounding was that neither Mary Alice nor Sarah knew that Ron and Jim were the co-valedictorians of the class of ’59. Go figure! What a delightful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Jim and Mary Lew Edmunds are improving in Walnut Creek, CA. Mary Lew had her gall bladder removed and is on the mend. Hopefully, this will correct the stomach pains that she was suffering. Thank goodness Jim is in good health and can take care of her.

Sonny Eskridge’s wife, Nancy, is going through some serious health issues and as of this writing is currently in rehab in Prattville, AL. Sonny is doing well but, as you can imagine, is worried about the future of Nancy. Please continue to keep all of our Brother Rats and their families who are suffering from illness in your thoughts and prayers. Jo Anne Dreelin Anstett has VMI provisional appointments for all three of her grandkids. Can you imagine three more Dreelins at VMI? I’m not sure if the Institute could survive.

Bill Traylor recently met one of his newest neighbors who had recently moved to Winter Park, FL, from Lexington, VA. Bill told him that he was a VMI graduate and asked if he knew Bobby Ross. Turns out he is a building contractor who worked on Bobby’s house in Lexington. Needless to say, they had very complimentary conversation about Bobby.

Bill and Yvonne took their daughter, Elizabeth, granddaughter, Buckley, and grandson, Andrew, to Islamorada in the Florida Keys this past summer for snorkeling, eating incredible seafood and watching unbelievable sunsets over the Florida Bay. The weather was perfect. Andrew has become quite a fisherman, so the presence of a huge Bass Pro Shop store on the island stocked with every item of fishing gear imaginable was a huge plus for him.

This store has a beautiful wooden fishing boat on the floor that is almost identical to the one Hemingway owned. This alone was worth the trip to Islamorada. Bill had some surgery done on his scalp to eliminate a couple of potential melanoma areas. So far, all is well. Bill said that the doctor dug a little deep but, in the process, 65

CLASS NOTES discovered that his brain was intact, a and moved on, Don commented on how able to gain entrance and a tour of Dodona, fact that would have probably surprised struck he was by her beautiful blue eyes. George Marshall’s ’901 former home. As Colonel Ritchy.

John made the valid point that Don should they pulled up in front of the home, all Speaking of Bobby Ross, he attended have declined the invitation and suggested their thoughts were that they would be in the annual Scholarship Athletes Recognithat, rather than taking our picture, he and out in about 45 minutes. Their docent tion Banquet in October at VMI. Cadet should have asked to take one of her. Due and guide was Evan Haberman ’76 who Adam Morgan was recognized in the name to Don’s slow-wittedness, we are stuck with led them through the home while providof the Class of ’59 Football Scholarship, a picture of Don and John, but fortunate ing innumerable anecdotes and snippets of and Bobby ably represented the Stonewall for us, we also got Chris and Carol in the information on Gen. Marshall, his wife, Class. Adam Morgan was recruited as a picture. Later in the month, Don and Carole their children and associates. The narration quarterback but has since been moved and joined Mike and Julie Vargosko for a short and discussion was fascinating, and Evan is our starting strong safety this season. A stay at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, VA, where gave them all the time they wanted. Since fine representative of our class and a win they relaxed, imbibed, tried some golf and they were the only people there, they had a for the Keydets. visited the eclectic museum set up next to personal tour directed by someone who obJohn and Pat Van Kesteren have been the New Market Museum. It is a tribute to viously shared their interest and esteem for looking forward to attending our 55th Class one man’s passionate desire to collect a one of our truly great Americans. All would Reunion for some time, provided their health bit of everything from Civil War weapons, very much recommend a tour of the place. remains passable, but like many of us, they uniforms etc. to cap pistols and tributes to Mike and Julie Vargosko plan to spend are not sure if they will be able to make it if it Tom Mix, Gene Autry and the rest. After their 52nd wedding anniversary with John interferes with Easter. I am still working with that respite, they moved to Mike and Ju- and Chris Patane at their home in Moneta, the association to come up with another date, lie’s home in Gainesville, VA. From there, VA, located on a cove at Smith Mountain so hang in there. John and Pat often spend thanks to Julie’s efforts, they were finally Lake. Mike said that what Don failed to Easter with their youngest grandmention about their time at child who lives in Albuquerque, Mimslyn was that Mike learned NM. Last year, they spent the what all engineers have always holidays with their daughters in known – centrifugal force. Julie Charlottesville, VA, where they was a passenger in the golf cart were kid-sitting so she could go when Mike attempted to traverse “down under” to Melbourne for a steep hill, unmarked, on the their great grandchild’s birth. It first fairway. It had rained during was so much fun for them but the night, and the hill was like a fear it might become a yearly sheet of ice. Mike couldn’t stop request, so that her daughter and the cart, and away they went husband can spend birthdays going faster and faster. They hit with their first little Aussie grandsomething that caused the cart Class of 1959: In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were, from child. Time will tell. to take a 90-degree turn to the left, Don and Carole Messner with Chris and John Don and Carole Messner got right and out went Mike. Julie Patane. together with both of Don’s managed to stay in the cart. The former roommates last fall. golf cart did two fast u-turns and John and Chris Patane made followed Mike down the hill, the sacrifice of leaving their sideswiping him as it passed. idyllic Smith Mountain Lake Fortunately, he suffered no browaterfront site to visit them in ken bones and even luckier that the big city of Pittsburgh. They Julie managed to hang on to the explored some of the sites they cart. Had she been thrown out, don’t have in that rural setting, there is no telling what condition including the Heinz History her back would be in. All’s well Center and Phipps Conservathat ends well. tory, home of some truly exotic John Reed is still up to doflowers and plants. Don had just ing good; he recently took a placed the group for a photo 14-person med mission team when a very attractive young to Haiti where they treated lady asked if he would like her over 540 children. They also Class of 1959: From left, Bud and Sue Mease, Shep to take a picture of all of them took 1500 pounds of med and Ann Shepard, Jeanette Reynolds and Tex Carr in together. Don, of course, agreed, supplies, 150 pairs of glasses Jacksonville, Florida. and after she took the picture and 11 violins for the music 66

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES a not-for-profit leader in lifelong learning, on-Avon taking in a play and sightseeing school John and Anne started years ago. and is highly recommended by Bruce and in William Shakespeare’s home town. It The offer is still open for other BRs, esNorma. Bruce keeps in touch with Nevins was a quick week but a wonderful time pecially those with medical experience, Wilburn who is living with his daughter in and relaxing, despite the long flights. to accompany John on his next trip.

Elizabethville, PA. Nevins is doing alright. Nowell and Sallie were doing some John is enjoying resurgence in Scouting house cleaning recently and came across Jimmy and Linda Johnson have not with son Jack, after a 30-year hiatus. He an LP record of Jud Strunk’s “Jud Strunk heard from any BRs recently, but they is also enjoying the wonderful life of and the Coplin Kitchen Band.” He plans do hear from Bill Fuqua from time to “grandfather” for the third time. to get in touch with Marti and send it to time, and he seems to be doing alright.

Larry Wood participated in the her. This was a find in a collection of old Jimmy’s health has been improving, and Regional Transportation Commission records they had, dating from the 60s. he has been in sinus rhythm since his (RTC) bike ride which began on the Las Rusty “The Bear” Loth is frequently last cardiac ablation over a year ago.

Vegas Strip all the way out to Boulder Dam, a distance of 75 miles. Since Larry He continues to take strong medications invited to attend football and basketball but is still looking at the green side of rode his bike from home, which is 5 games at UVa with BR Jack Barnett, the grass, and what could be better than miles from the Strip, he got a workout who became an ardent UVa sports fan that? Hang in there, Jimmy, and take for the day. They started at 0500 hours after attending law school and business care of Linda. in the dark. Larry’s brother, Jim Wood, school there. Recently, Rusty attended Bud and Denyse Kramer stayed at a reminded Larry that, after his recent the UVa/Wake Forest football game with campground located right on the beach bike accident, he had certified that he Jack and his son, John, who is a successat Myrtle Beach, SC, this summer. wouldn’t ride in the dark anymore, but ful hedge fund manager in DC. At halfThey enjoyed the days by just lying on Larry claims he had no other choice, time, they ran into Ina, widow of BR Jim the beach and getting a good tan while since all 2500 riders started out in the Ingram, whose grandson, Jake McGee, splurging in the evenings by attending dark. If anyone wants to join Larry next is an all ACC tight end and standout several good stage shows. They also ate year, let him know; he’ll send you info. on the UVa team. Unfortunately, Jake their fair share of good South Carolina Bill Kirkland has experienced several played well, but the “Hoos lost.” Ina is seafood. On the way to the beach, they health problems causing him and Susie doing well and asked about everyone in took some time to visit the beautiful and to stay close to home so he can make his the class. She hopes to attend the 55th, doctor appointments. Hang in there, Bill; historic cities of Charleston and Savanas she did the 50th Reunion, with Jack’s nah. Weather was fantastic, and they get well soon. assistance, of course. had a great time. Bud and Denyse have Bill and Connie Nebraska did an Spence and Beverly Tucker recently put their motor-home on the market, but Elbe River cruise from Hamburg, DE, hosted Jack and Joy Angolia who were it won’t be the end of their traveling – to Prague, HU, followed by a land tour in Lexington for the marriage of their albeit by car in the future. to Krakow and Warsaw, PL. Germany grandson. They had a great visit. Jack Nowell and Sallie Loop were fortunate has recently donated his outstanding and Poland were Bill’s favorites. Bill recently returned from his annual salmon to take a quick trip “across the pond” to collection of books on the Third Reich attend a friend’s wedding in Bath, UK. fishing trip to New Brunswick, CA, – many of them in German and signed, The weather was great for this time of where he caught just enough fish to first editions – to Preston Library. The year in the UK, and the reception, or make it a good trip. Bill and Connie met 3-volume encyclopedia Spence has “Wedding Breakfast” as it is called, was with Carl and Phyllis Kasko in Helen, edited on the Mexican-American War of held at the Roman Baths. What a neat GA, for a few days of sightseeing and 1846-48 has just been published. More experience, and that was followed by eating a little scrumptious German food. important, though, is that the Historic two days in the Bard’s town of Stratford- Lexington Foundation will publish BevThey also have planned a cruise to the western Caribbean out of erly’s book of oral histories Tampa over Christmas. Both of older African American are doing well but slowing residents of Diamond Hill. down just a little bit.

Many of the stories are about Bruce and Norma Mackenzie their experiences while workvisited Canada this past summer ing at VMI. for another wonderful canal Ralph and Janice Rae Lawcruise, this time from Big Chute son are keeping the Cobbs to Peterborough. They also Creek sports facilities jumpspent some time in Crisfield, ing. Ralph recently won the MD, the crab capital of the 2012 Piankatank Club SuperClass of 1959: Ron and Mary Alice Marley with Tex Carr world, on a Road Scholar educaSenior Flight Championship and his friend, Jeanette, at the Outback Crab Shack near tional adventure. The adventure Tournament, low net winner.

Green Cove Springs, Florida. was created by Elderhostel, Inc., Janice Rae also spends a lot 2013-Issue 1

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CLASS NOTES of time on the golf course but mostly keeps fit with her water aerobics classes and tap dancing, whereas Ralph excels in racquetball and swimming. Their next out-of-country trip will be a Viking River Cruise on the Elbe River from Berlin to Prague. With all of the hip, knee, heart and back surgery going around, Ralph and Janice Rae are proud to say that they still have all original parts.

Ralph and Janice Rae noticed Ann’s brother’s obituary in the paper and were kind enough to drop by the funeral to express their condolences personally. We found that we would overlap in Hilton Head for one day. Ann and I tried to connect, but when we arrived at their timeshare, they had already departed for home. Sorry we missed them.

Mort and Audrey Eggleston have finally made the big address change; they have moved to the Garden Apartments in Westminster Canterbury, Richmond, VA – a retirement home. They had a great welcome, but why not? Audrey has been an alternations volunteer for almost 20 years. It hasn’t stopped them from traveling, though. They plan on attending their granddaughter’s graduation in Camp Hill, PA, and maybe visit their son and his

Class of 1959: Mike Vargosko and Don Messner enjoyed a few days together with their wives at the Mimslyn Inn in Luray, Virginia.

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family who live in the San Francisco Bay area. From an article that appeared in the Westminster Canterbury Tales, traveling is not a novelty for Mort. During his career, working for different heavy industry companies, he visited over 30 countries at one time or another. Mort and Audrey, enjoy your new home; now, get some rest.

Ann and I had a busy quarter beginning with a sad trip to VA to attend Ann’s brother, Jimmy’s, funeral. Jimmy passed away after suffering for some time from some severe heart problems.

Heart problems seem to be the norm in Ann’s family; you’ll recall that Donnie Dreelin passed away in ’85 after a heart transplant. After the funeral, we drove to Hilton Head where we joined my brother and his wife and brotherin-law and Brother Rat Bud Mease and my sister, Susan. We spent a great week playing golf, eating and cavorting about the island and surrounding area. Bud and Susan returned home to FL with us and spent a few days, before visiting friends and relatives in parts unknown. On the way back to FL, we stopped by Jacksonville and had lunch with Tex Carr and his lady friend, Jeanette Reynolds. Ron and Mary Alice Marley were invited to join us, but Ron was doing community service – feeding the homeless, I believe. I’m not positive, but I think his community service has something to do with an incident involving Mary Alice, the vice squad and Las Vegas. Far be it from me to start any rumors, but we did miss them. We enjoyed our time with Tex and Jeanette. Jeanette is a wonderful and talented lady, and we wondered how she ever got tied up with the likes of Tex. It must be that VMI charm and savoir-faire that we all possess. Tex is in the process of renovating his place on the beach, and Jeanette is giving him some sagacious decorative advice.

The following week, Ann and I took off again, headed for Lexington to spend part of Parents Weekend with our grandson, Connor Shepard ’16, a Rat at VMI. We had a great time, albeit too short. It was made even shorter, because Connor is on the swimming team, and they had a meet that evening. None the less, we got to spend some precious hours with him, our son Phil Shepard ’83 and his fam-

ily. While there, we had a serendipitous event; we ran into Bobby Ross who was visiting his grandson, Billy Joe Wheeler ’16, also a Rat. Unbeknownst to us, Bobby underwent some pretty extensive and serious surgery to remove cancer on his face. I’ll leave it to Bobby to tell you all the details, but it did involve extensive plastic surgery. He looked great to Ann and me, and it was good to see Bobby again.

Ann and I then made our way back to Hilton Head, where we joined an old high school classmate of Ann’s from Dirty Gertie’s (St. Gertrude’s High School in Richmond) and her husband.

First time we have spent much time with them alone, so it was a welcomed retreat.

On our way back to FL, we stopped by Jacksonville again and had a delightful lunch with Ron and Mary Alice Marley.

Ron had just completed his community service and was on parole, I think. He was wearing some silly transmitting device on his ankle, but I didn’t ask him about it. I’m very discrete about things like that and would never write anything unless I had a least three corroborating sources. It was great getting together with Tex, Jeanette, Ron and Mary Alice, albeit, not at the same time. It’s not that we didn’t try. We were supposed to all meet on our first trip to Hilton Head, but due to a change in plans everything got messed up. I suppose I must take responsibility for the mix-up. Having confessed to that, keep those cards, letters and e-mails coming in.

Yours in the Spirit, Shep

Class of 1959: Jim and Sarah True at their home, the Failte Inn, in Athens, Pennsylvania.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES ankle surgery and could only dream of days on the golf course. He is on the mend and will be back whacking whitey, as Peanuts Elliott shovels other whitey. Jay Jarrett was in San Diego collecting a jack pot from his favorite casino, while I made another deposit at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas. Jay will Brother Rats: I’m very sad to report to you be back in Arkansas for Thanksgiving and that Brother Rat Al Walker, colonel, USAF a visit to his great-grandson! On my way, I retired, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 10, stopped off in Lockhart, TX, to visit with my 2012. As many of us do, Al had medical great-grandson, Sutton Schultz. He was just problems that were the cause of death. I had trying to walk and by now is on the fast track spoken to Al several years ago after he had everywhere. both knees replaced. At the time of surgery The trip was made in response to a call on the knees, Ruth “Cookie” Patterson Walker, Al’s surviving wife, alert to previous from my son, Bruce Tolley ’86, who was medical conditions, informed the physicians, remodeling his home and “needed some cheap labor” and to ferry a couple Labrador and they stopped the surgery at the very last retrievers and a vehicle (Toyota SUV) to minute! Al was a career Air Force man who Murita, CA, for William “X” Parsons ’66. served several tours in Vietnam and earned many awards, including the Legion of Merit, The trip was uneventful, since the dogs were well trained and no problem. I didn’t get as Distinguished Flying Cross and Meritorious much work done as anticipated and did have Service Award. He obtained a master’s detime to gamble a little bit. gree from Troy State University in 1972 and The class of ’60 had a group of 10 at the numerous certificates from military training programs. He married “Cookie” in 1990, and Institute Society Dinner in the Leadership and Ethics building, Nov. 9th. Those in attenbetween the two, they have five children, 10 dance were Henry and Linda Brown, Fudd grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. and Charlotte Caldwell, Peanuts and Jan Al will rest in Arlington Cemetery with a springtime burial, date to be announced. Rest Elliott, Jack Horgan, Bill and Sue Knowles, Dave and Ethelmary Maddox, GG and in peace, Brother Rat. Frances Phillips, Steve and Pat Sewell, The Tidewater squad of our Brother Rats Bolling and Theresa Williamson, and Joyce met again back in August, and Bill Knowles Marano, my guest, and me. Everyone was in sent me a picture of the mini reunion held good health and very chatty. It was especialannually, this time at Howie Moss’ resily nice to see Fudd and Charlotte Caldwell dence. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive the who made the trip from Vivian, LA. I didn’t photo until after the 15th of August 2012, thus I couldn’t have it included in the last Re- get a chance to talk one-on-one for very long, since everyone was in very high spirits, view’s notes. So, it accompanies these notes. chatty and full of information.

I made a trip to California back in early By the way, the VMI Foundation proOctober and called Reed Myrick in Tempe, duced an excellent video concerning VMI AZ (no answer), Carl Benner in Anthem, that you may have gotten. It was sent to all AZ, who returned the call later, and Jay good e-mail addresses on record. (Send the Jarrett in Huntington Beach, CA, who also Alumni Association, Hap Miller and me any returned the call later. Reed was, no doubt, fishing, and Val must have been shopping revisions you may have to e-mail, address or at a political rally. Carl had a sad story of or phone numbers.) You’ll like to watch it.

Brian Crockett, CEO of the VMI Foundation, is a very enthusiastic mover, shaker and speaker for VMI, even though he is not an alum. He told me the story of how he got the job of CEO and interviews related. When news got around that he would be hired, Class of 1960: The Tidewater, Virginia, squad he laughed and said some alumni met in August 2012 at the home of Howie Moss. grumbled when they heard he was

’60

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L. Edward Tolley

not associated in any way with VMI prior to his appointment, saying, “We needed a VMI man there.” Then, when it was further revealed that he had been working at West Point and graduated from Massanutten Military and Rutgers, there were more wrinkled brows. Not to worry; he is a worker for VMI now and is doing a great job. I like him.

A continuation of the gathering occurred at the Palms restaurant where the decibel level allowed Henry Brown to remove his hearing aid and caused hoarse throats for Bolling, Jack, Henry and Peanuts. They were all very quiet at the football game on Saturday.

The game against the Citadel, although a loss at 27-24, was an exciting one, with our possibility of a win at the 3:00-minute mark. I sat with Howard “The Mississippi Gambler” Dyer ’61 who asked about all our class members of the team. He named every one, and we relived several memorable moments of the glory years of VMI football. He has retired from Mississippi and now lives in Brevard, NC. I ran into Walt and Margaret Witschard and their son, Kevin, on the parade ground just after the parade and prior to the Institute Society Dinner. They made the trip just to visit the Institute but were also able to visit relatives in Lynchburg. They were again impressed with the beauty of the Post and the outstanding weather. Walt e-mailed me upon his return to Oregon, stating that he realized that alumni return to VMI as it is a sanctuary from much of the disorder, lack of discipline and lack of integrity so prevalent in much of the world today. Good assessment. Thanks, Walt.

Bill Knowles ran into BR Bill Tatterson, who finished at VMI in 1962, at their doctor’s office. Bill says that the two looked at each other with the same “I know you from somewhere” look, before Tatterson hit the right memory button. Tatterson still lives in Matthews, VA, his hometown.

Tom and Barbara Daniel were still mulling over the future as a result of the recent election. Tom had recently spoken with a Citadel grad who commented on the action taken by the Citadel administration to revamp their athletic programs to the benefit of minority cadets.

I trust that everyone read the article on page 11-13 in the VMI Alumni Review, 2012-Issue 4, titled, “Across Europe with 69

CLASS NOTES the ‘Spearhead,’” written by BR Bolling Williamson. The article is similar to articles also authored by Bolling about VMI citizen-soldier personalities. Go back and read the article, if you missed it. It is a very informative and easy read. Thanks, Bolling.

George Salaita returned my call and said that he has scaled back significantly on his involvement in the business and civic/social activities, thus he did not come to the Institute Society Dinner. I missed seeing Cheryl, also. Come on, George; we need to see your smiling face and get your latest political views. As Tom Daniel suggested, you and he should load up and drive to Lexington for lunch, dinner or a visit with Hap Miller, Jim French and me one day.

Mentioning Jim French, he has a bad knee that has limited his mobility, hopefully for a short time. He was out on the hillside doing some lawn work, only to return with significant pain in the knee. It grew in size overnight and still has him in pain. Hap Miller brought him some overthe-counter medication that is working.

A little more about Hap Miller. I may have mentioned in the Review several issues ago that Hap has been traveling with the basketball team, providing tutoring services to the players. He gets to watch the games and also gets to know the players in depth. Needless to say, his services help cadets to keep up with course work, while traveling overnight or longer. I spoke with Wayne Whiting ’12, a basketball team member last year. His appreciation and respect for Hap is significant. Wayne was the cadet who called me on the evening that cadets assist the VMI Alumni Association in contacting alums to give updates on events and solicit funds. Wayne is a quiet, big man and good listener and a BIG Hap Miller fan. Hap is very active as a tutor and mentor for many cadets – my grandson, Tyler Tolley ’14, being one of them.

Hap just keeps on going, doing many good deeds for VMI. Jim Greathead and Alex Dunlap had a series of e-mails flying a month or so back.

I’ve reported about Alex’s a-fib problems, but as the e-mails get longer, they also got more technical and out of my scope of knowledge. But it is interesting, and I’m glad I don’t have that condition. We pray for your improvement, Alex.

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Got a photo from Sam Horner as shakea-leg went for posting notes. Sam, Otis Pool and Joe “Bananas” Sisler met for three days of golf at the Robert Trent Jones Trail course in Alabama in September.

Handsome trio, eh? Scores were not mentioned, nor were sorting of wagers.

I caught Don Duncan, roommate of Frank Bruce, Darryl Markland, Ashby Chamberlin and me, who has been going through a battery of chemo treatments to combat pancreatic cancer and “spots” on his liver. Those are not fun, but ole Dunk is weathering the storms and was very upbeat. I went down to Richmond recently and walked with Don, Liz, Kevin, Christie and Heather in an event to raise funds for cancer. It was a beautiful day, and there were thousands involved in the event.

Dunk’s whole neighborhood turned out and joined in a luncheon afterwards.

At a recent doctor visit, Dunk ran into Bill Giles who had delivered Eileen, his wife, to the emergency room for a cast for a broken bone! I don’t have the details but hope that Eileen does well and is back hitting on all four (two arms, two legs).

John Hilliard sent a photo that appeared in the Florida Today newspaper, Oct. 1, 2012, with an article that tells the story of John’s work as a historian, guide and promoter of the space program from its infancy to today. His compilation of information is bound in 48 binders that he started as a teenager and continued covering during time in the Air Force at Vandenberg AFB, California, and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The volumes include 500 different missile systems and every missile description. John is one of seven guides at the 45 Space Wing’s facility. Having served at the Pentagon, CIA, National Reconnaissance Office and Office of the Secretary of Defense where he was involved in negotiations of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, John can honestly be classified as an expert on the subject of missiles and U.S. programs. Needless to say, those in charge at Cape Canaveral value John’s service very highly. I have the article that expands what I report and can make it available to anyone who would like a copy.

That’s the news, guys. Keep the info coming my way.

Rah VA Mil

’61

Sal Vitale Jr.

It is Oct. 29, and Hurricane Sandy has passed us by with little or no damage.

The water rose above the top of our dock about 18 inches, and the total rainfall was 10.6 inches. It was exciting to watch the waves breaking on the lawn. I did hear from Bill Haeberlein last night.

His family made it through the Aug. 30 hurricane with only minor damage and a little water in a daughter’s house. A special thanks to all of you who called to see if we were all right. What a class!

There were many Brother Rats who commented on the Farewell to a Warrior write-up I sent you. I forwarded all comments to Virginia Dabney. Virginia sent me a note and said Bill was buried in the family plot in Virginia. It was a very private ceremony.Virginia is still using Bill’s e-mail account, indiasix@hughes. net, and would like to stay in touch.

E-mails, snail mail and telephone calls have been light, and this is the news: Honey Tarrall and Marilynne completed a class III scramble to Sky Pond in the Rocky Mountains National Park. It was an exciting climb, and they plan to do it again. Larry Wetsel has been scrambling to the top of mountains for years, and this year was no exception. Larry and his friends spent a week hiking in Austria.

Those of us who live here in Virginia Beach wonder why Larry and Jerri have a VB address when they are always on the road. Lee and Betsey Badgett were joined by Jeri and Larry Wetsel (see what I mean?) an early August week in Cancun. The ladies read, talked, shopped and sunned. Larry and Lee read, compared varicose veins (Lee won) and decided not to press charges against the Institute for sports-related injuries. It would seem from Bill Hala’s e-mail that Bill is having trouble trying to decide whether he should spend Thanksgiving in Florida or New York with Monica and/or spend Christmas in New York and then a few months in Florida with Monica. We should all have that problem, and in Bill’s case, it could be easily VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES decided by asking Monica. George Van Orden has been cleared for driving again, and he drove to Indiana and back for the USMC Distinguished Shooters Association reunion. No problems, as long as he takes his medication religiously. George has been a regular at the BR breakfast at Joes along with Wyatt Durrette, Dennis Curtis, Bill Nelms, Bill Daniels and Dick Youngblood. Bill and Connie Nelms visited with Sue and me the weekend after Labor Day. We were invited out for steamed blue crabs dinner, and we had an enjoyable time.

Lou Shuba’s son, Lewis, completed the Iron Man Canada Challenge in 10:53:10. He was 51 out of 350 in his age division and placed 281 out of the 2800 athletes. Needless to say, Lou is very proud of Lewis. Still very competitive is Fred Ayers. Fred invites all BRs to come to Vail and ski this winter. Fred will again be leading mountain ski tours and would consider it an honor to ski with the class of ’61. Over the years, Fred has had several great days skiing with Paul Johnston. John and Linda Moore are doing fine, life is good and they manage to stay busy. John is at the gym three or four times a week and, when not pumping iron, is trying to learn how to play bridge. The Moores took a 30-day cruise around the Baltics,

Scandinavia and British Isles and said it was fabulous. Even though John was term-limited off city council, he still sits on several boards, is active in the Yacht Club and serves on their church vestry. Our Sister Rat Gaylia Hudgins is still on the go. Gaylia left Jackson Hole, where she was volunteering, and went to Colorado, and then she was off to Flagstaff, Sedona and Tucson, AZ, and finally flew home from San Antonio, TX. During her travels, she met a lady from Gwynn Island who was a patient of Bland’s. What a great trip! Our other Hudgins, Brother Rat Rod Hudgins, and Doris say most everything is OK. Rod is still working full time (in between trips) and occasionally sees Battle Haslam. In early October, Larry and Joanne Respess enjoyed two weeks driving through Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, it rained a lot, but the scenery was beautiful, the food good and the people delightful. Larry called Roy Schall and said that Roy sounds good, is in good spirits and was going on a cruise to the Caribbean. Don Rishell has been traveling around the country trying to bring projects to closure.

Tough time for business, but Don is very optimistic. Mitch Kot is still on schedule to return to the U.S. in December 2013, and Jennifer is making sure the schedule will not slip. It will be nice to have

Class of 1961: Enjoying the VMI-Navy football after-game party on Sept. 22, 2012, at the Wild Orchid Restaurant in Annapolis, Maryland, were, from left, front row: Ray and Sally Hanlein; Becky and Carl Hirsch; Nancy Birindelli; John Wiggins and his friend, Jean Logan; Dave Harbach; Clara Gilbert; Judy Youngblood; and Sue and Sal Vitale. Back row: John Tharrington and his friend, Lois Lawler; Ben Birindelli; Donna and Ed Doleman; Sandra and Tim Bryant; Charlotte Harbach; Bill Redd; Raine Gilbert; and Dick Youngblood.

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them back home again. Stu and Sylvia Woodcock spent a week with Larry and Jerri Wetsel in Hilton Head. Stu needed a rest, because the Woodcocks moved at the end of November from Cobbs Creek to Windsor Meade in Williamsburg. Stu said he was ready for a little downsizing. I also heard that Gates Richards is downsizing and looks forward to the Foundation dinner to learn more about where he will go.

Bill Maurer’s passion is the Revolutionary War, and he has a great interest in the Sept. 28, 1778, Baylor Massacre. On Sept.

28, 2012, a memorial stone was placed in front of the Dutch Reformed Church in Tappan where many of the men were buried. What a way to commemorate even this early American sacrifice and courage! Bill and Shon have been doing a lot of babysitting for their son, Adam Maurer ’95, and to quote Bill, “Love them but can’t wait to see them in college or married.” Mike Carmichael received a good e-mail from Bob Winslow, and all is well with Bob. Irv Wells and Mike have been trying to get Bob back to the Institute but no success yet. Maybe some of you BRs who have influence with Bob could give him a nudge. Mike’s son, Tucker Carmichael ’91, returned from his second tour in Iraq and was operated on again. The surgery was again performed on his lower left leg with great success by a great orthopedic trauma surgeon at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Carmichael, like “Rocky,” started training and getting stronger, so that he and Dick Weede can watch VMI’s home football games. (Thought that took mental strength, not muscle training?) Mike and Frank Oley broke bread together when Frank and his family visited Lexington, but I still don’t know if Frank will be moving back east. According to Mike Carmichael, the Browning-Huddle mini-reunion (T.C. Bradshaw does all the work) was scheduled for the weekend of the Richmond game, but no one has sent any details. Dick Stone has recovered from his heart surgery, and he and Dianne played golf for the first time on a par 3 and played 9 holes! Dick said he was pleased with his performance, except for pulling the golf ball quite a bit to the left. (I don’t believe that heart surgery causes the ball to pull to the left, do you?) Dick and Dianne 71

CLASS NOTES Stone traveled to Hilton Head and visited with Ray and Sally Hanlein for a couple of days and, of course, played golf. Sue and I saw Dick Stone when he came to his Norfolk Academy 55th high school reunion and joined us at the Gibbings on Friday afternoon for beer and cookies. I understand that Don Kern, Ashby Taylor and Dorsey Pender also attended the class reunion.

Sue and I have been making as many BR events as we can. In August, we attended the golf outing at Olde Mill in the Blue Ridge Mountains. J.C. Miller organized a great event and Dude Copenhaver did a recon mission to Olde Mill before our arrival. He reported that the facilities are better than what we have experienced in the past, and the course appears to be in great condition -- it was. The best part of this outing was that you did not need to be a golfer to play with this group and have fun, as has been proven time and again. Captains’ choice (best ball) was how we played the game, and we had a blast! Dude provided golf balls, for all of us to lose in the many water hazards, and we did not disappoint the water god. Golfers included: Dude and Kathy Copenhaver, Sal and Sue Vitale, Ray and Sally Hanlein, Spike Callander, J.C. Miller, Jim “Peaches” Miner, Jim Bickford, John Gangemi, Don Wilkinson, Walter Stokes, Jud McLester and Bud Alligood. There was also a table for bridge, and the players identified were: Dave and Charlotte Harbach, Terry Fridley, and Mary Callander. In addition, there was Scrabble with Irene Gangemi who is a word master, and the art of painting and instruction aimed primarily at beginners like Vitale, Wilkinson, Alligood, Sally Hanlein and Irene Gangemi, led by world-renowned artist Jim Bickford.

For those who enjoy eating, we had a great dinner Tuesday at the golf club and a private dinner Wednesday at the Chateau Morrisette, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. George and Edna Henning drove from Roanoke to attend the dinner. Several weeks later, Sue and I went to Annapolis, MD, for the VMINavy football game. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great first half. Those attending the football game were: Ben 72

and Nancy Birindelli, Tim and Sandra Bryant, Ed and Donna Doleman, Raine and Clara Gilbert, Ray and Sally Hanlein, Dave and Charlotte Harbach, Carl and Becky Hirsch, Doug Popp, Bill and Danya Redd, Ken and Dot Templeton, John Tharrington and his friend, Lois Lawler, Sal and Sue Vitale, John Wiggins and his friend, Jean Logan, and Dick and Judy Youngblood. Bill Braithwaite came by on his bicycle to

say hello but had to leave go to another function. After the football game, most of us gathered for drinks and dinner at the Wild Orchid Restaurant in Annapolis. We had a fabulous cocktail hour and dinner. I was very pleased that my four grandsons and granddaughter, along with their parents, came to the game. With two potential VMI cadets for the fall of 2014, it was good for them to see how well we, ’61, get along. The next event

Class of 1961: Above: Gathering for a golf outing held on Aug. 21, 2012, at the Olde Mill Golf Course in Virginia, were, from left, R. McLester, Fridley, Stokes, Hanlein, Miner, Harbach, Copenhaver, Miller, Callander, Vitale, Gangemi, Bickford and Alligood. Wilkinson was present but is not pictured. Below: Also at the golf outing were, from left, Charlotte Harbach, Kathy Copenhaver, Blair Bickford, Sue Vitale, Terry Fridley, Mary Callander, Sally Hanlein and Irene Gangemi.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES was the VMI “Old-Corps” luncheon at I can’t. However, what some of us have mentioned in these notes (as of Nov. 1, the Norfolk Yacht Club. This was the gone through is minor compared to the 2012). Ed Fox, who, as I notified you, second time that VMI has held one in wounds I saw on four wounded warriors. had open heart surgery, and the doctors Tidewater, and it was well attended.

I had an opportunity to spend four days also inserted a pacemaker. Ed is back The guest speaker was RADM (USN, helping four wounded warriors from the home and feeling good. Ann HolRet) Terry McKnight ’78, author of Fort Belvoir Wounded Warrior Rehabilita- lowell, Sleepy’s wife, had both knees the new book, Pirate Alley: Commandtion Battalion go crossbow hunting. Their replaced and had just finished her first ing Task Force 151 Off Somalia. It was ages ranged from 19 to 33, and they were three weeks of therapy, when she fell a very interesting talk, and lots of his both enlisted and commissioned. Their and tore the tendons in both knees and books were sold. Attending were Robert wounds were both physical and mental, had to have surgery again. We hope Williamson, Charlie Stevens, Willard and they didn’t mind talking about them, if that when you read these notes, Ann Hoskins, Ken Patrick, Jim Bickford, you asked. To a man, they wanted to return will have started her knee rehabilitation Bill Gibbings and Sal Vitale. Charlie to Afghanistan and rejoin their units. What again. Sleepy, thankfully, does not have Stevens is finally standing straight and a privilege it was to serve them, and two any new issues and has started a new walking without any assistance, and of the soldiers did harvest a deer. program to try and get some strength in it is so good to see him smiling. Will Again, I ask you to consider includhis legs. He is, however, still on home Hoskins has finally retired from Merrill ing in your prayers the Brother Rats dialysis. Sleepy’s shoulders are bad, and Lynch and is enjoying it. Jim he feels it won’t be long until Bickford has moved from he has a reverse shoulder proNorth Carolina back to his cedure similar to the one Pris former home in Norfolk. Jim Shuba had. Joyce Gibbings painted the sailboat scene for had her hip replaced, and she the Norfolk Y.C., and you can is almost completely mended. see it behind our “Old-Corps” Stu Woodcock is still having group picture (below). While hip and knee problems. Bill we learned about pirates, Fout is back in Tucson, AZ, our wives met for lunch at and doing OK. Should you Kincaids and shopping at the call him, Bill will tell you MacArthur Mall in Norfolk. he is having an issue with Finally, Sue and I attended his short-term memory, so a 75th wedding anniversary be patient with him. Clayton celebration for Joyce GibSmith’s son, Jeff, has been bings’ parents. Now that is diagnosed with cancer and something to shoot for! has started chemo. Keep Jeff Class of 1961: Attending the monthly BR breakfast at I wish I could tell you that as Joes Inn in Midlothian, Virginia, on Aug. 20, 2012, were, in your prayers. Others still we are getting older, we will from left, seated, Wyatt Durrette and Dennis Curtis. coping include: Henry HuntStanding: George Van Orden, Bill Nelms and Bill Daniels. still have our good health, but sberry, Anne Ayala, Ann

Class of 1961: Attending the VMI “Old Corps” luncheon on Oct. 24, 2012, at the Norfolk (Virginia) Yacht Club were, from left, Robert Williamson, Charlie Stevens, Willard Hoskins, Ken Patrick, Jim Bickford, Bill Gibbings and Sal Vitale.

Note Jim Bickford’s painting in the background.

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CLASS NOTES Woodfin, Jim Harrison, Floyd Roberts, Jepp Housley (Haslam’s Rat roommate), Gerry Eubank, who is still fighting Lyme disease, and Nelle Gouldthorpe. For those in remission, we need to continue to pray for them to make sure their condition stays that way and includes: Carl Hirsch, Sue Wells, Bill Daniels, Hugh Gouldthorpe, Bill Keech, and “JD” Jack Miller and many others who prefer not to be mentioned.

And finally, those pesky stomach issues, joint replacements, stents or medications like Coumadin, etc., we pray for the continued recovery of: Danni Redd, Charles Manly, George Ward, Bob Huddle, Len Martin, Ken Patrick, Don Kern, Rita Huneycutt, Mike Payne and Sue Vitale.

I know from the comments made by those who have received cards and e-mails that their spirits were lifted. So, please keep up the good work, or even better, call or visit them. An updated BR list was emailed in December, so if you deleted it, I will resend it, or if you don’t have e-mail, let me know, and I will snail mail it.

I do not have e-mails for the following BRs or know their current status. Should you have information please send it to me. They are: Wayne Andrews, Al Barger, John Booth, Bob Copeland, Charlie Duke, Bill Eubank, Dick Gravely, Bob Keim, Tom Lento, Al Massengill, Curtis McDowell, Dick McMurry, Bob Stoy and David Yerger. E-mail is the quickest way I have to announce events.

It is nice not to have to report on any Brother Rat deaths. VMI did lose Col. Dobyns ’41 who taught us civil engineers. Sam attended our 45th and 50th dinners and was especially proud of our class. I was very proud that Brother Rats Bickford, Berger, Orndorff, Fridley and McNemar attended Sam’s funeral service.

Notes are due on Nov. 1, so there will be no Brother Rat information on attendance at the Institute Society Dinner or the Citadel football game. (Editor’s Note: See page 15 for a photo of BRs at the IS Dinner.) Should I have forgotten something, let me know and I will include it next time. Till we see each other again, stay well, and may God Bless the U.S.A., our Troops, the Institute and the class.

Call a BR. I know you will enjoy the experience.

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Tony Curtis

’62

Jerry Burnett

Those who missed the FANTASTIC 50th REUNION and have really enjoyed watching the great DVDs say, “It’s just like I was there!” So, if you still haven’t purchased your reunion DVDs, contact Stephen Hanes at 540/241-5195 or stephenhanesvideo@gmail. com, and order yours ASAP – you’ll really be glad you did!

All too soon, our ranks are thinning! We have lost the following Brother Rats: Richard Plogger – 4/15/12. Richard Bartlett – 5/22/12. George Meredith remembered him well as a Rat roommate, exceptional athlete and very good student!

He went to law school and is remembered for his dry wit and quick, easy smile. We shall miss him. Clyde Glover – 5/26/12.

My fellow chemistry BR. He had a smile for everyone and was Clifton Forge’s finest.

William Hope – 8/10/12. His firm had been selected as the best general contractor in eastern Virginia. BRs Weldon Eddins, Danny Kiser, Pat Morrison, Robert Evans and Mott Robertson attended his service, which was decked out with red, white and yellow flowers! Clyde Bryant – 8/10/12. He missed his 50th anniversary with Faye by one day.

He was assistant deputy director for Policy and Program Management for the Department of Defense HUMINT system. Burial service was with full military honors at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. Eugene Wilson – 9/12/12. Interment was at Arlington Memorial Park, Atlanta, GA; he is survived by his wife, Martha. (Editor’s Note: The obituaries of Clyde Bryant, William Hope and Eugene Wilson appear in the Taps section of this Review.)

Jim Richards and Flo still live in the paradise of Floyd County, VA. He chairs the County Board of Social Services. He’s also on the Session of the Presbyterian Church and is still doing some insurance adjusting. His nephew, Andy Richards, is a third classman and visits him often. While at the Institute, he met BR Jerry Wagner, who just led the “Ride to the I” to Lexington on his Harley.

Jim said Jerry looked mighty fine decked out in his “touring gear.” They both met with “our great Superintendent” and Pam. (BTW –

Richards’ phone # is incorrect in the Reunion Yearbook – it should be 540/651-3554. Any other errors, please let us know ASAP). Gary Gilmore sold the farm in NE and moved to 37694 S. Boulder Wind Dr., Saddle Brooke, AZ 85739 (just north of Tucson).

After the reunion, Buck and Louise Bradley took off for Norway and spent three weeks touring the coast on a ship and finished with several days in Oslo. He never found Ragnar, the king of the Vikings, but did see his famous ship and sword. Had a great time, because it was also Louise’s birthday and her family was from Norway. Earl and Joan Severo traveled to Greenwich, CT, in October for his mother’s 99th birthday on the 23rd.

Small gathering; no Chip & Dale! Cal Seybold went to Yemen in August to help write a performance work statement (PWS) for a transit facility in Sana’a. This was two weeks before the Mideast rioting. He was in the embassy before it was attacked – doesn’t plan on returning there soon. He went with family (minus son, Lt. Col. Clint Seybold, who’s in Kuwait) to Pasadena, CA, to see the landing of Mars rover, “Curiosity.” His eldest daughter, Calina, worked on the “arm” of the rover, and her family was invited to the launch at NASA, FL, and the landing from Cal Tech.

Then Cal, wife and widowed sister went to the headwaters of the Mississippi River in MN, enjoying the Mall of the America and walking across the headwaters on a log.

Fred Shirley wrote he missed the reunion because of a must-trip to Minot AFB, ND. In late May, he and Judy went to Denver where daughter-in-law Amanda is a captain in the Air Force / Missile Command. Their son, Kent, is the branch manager of Rain for Rent, which provides the water source in the fracking (yes, that is spelled correctly) process in the Bakken oil fields. They toured through the Black Hills of SD and snow, which made the Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorials even more incredible. As they drove to ND, it was obvious to see the great economic boom that the oil rush was creating.

At the AFB, they toured an active nuclear alert facility and went through the unclassified steps to launch a missile. From there, they headed west, through more oil fields and infamous “MAN” camps than they had ever seen. A trip through Yellowstone National Park was cancelled as advised by son, who had driven through there in the snow. They visited the site of Custer’s Last Stand, and Fred, being an old cavalryman, concurred that Gen. Custer had made just about every mistake in the book. Back to Denver and the Rocky Mountain National Park. Fred worked as a park ranger the summer after graduation,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES and it brought back a lot of fond memories.

In August, Fred had a stent put in his right coronary artery (how many of us are now carrying one?) and is feeling great. Still working part-time for Merrill Lynch, playing golf and racquet ball and sends his best to all BRs. Dick Carlisle sent a photo of his BSA training at the Philmont Training Center with the comment, “His approach to the BSA uniform was as casual as his was to those at VMI.” Marcus Muth is still trying to compare “Tony & Jerry” to “Tom & Jerry.”

Carl Jordan wrote about the dedication of the new South Norfolk “Jordan” Bridge, Oct. 26th.

BR Rosser Bobbitt “encouraged” Carl to do this, because the bridge is named after Carl’s father, who conceived, financed, built and managed an earlier bridge which opened in 1928 and served the Tidewater community for 80 years until 2008.

That earlier bridge was the first major bridge built to facilitate travel in and out of Norfolk. (Now, do you see what civil engineers can do?)

Lou and Sue Ritchie, along with another couple they have traveled with for over 30 years (anyone else with friends like that?), took a spring river cruise from Amsterdam through Holland and northern Belgium. The tulips were at their best at the Keukenhof Gardens.

They visited several WWII historical sites (read A Bridge Too Far). In August, they took a “first-time” 12-day cruise of the British Isles and especially enjoyed London and the scenery and history of northern Scotland and Ireland. The “bucket list” still includes South America and the Holy Lands. After the annual pheasant hunt in SD in mid-October, they’ll head south for Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Ed Vinieratos (the traveling Greek) writes from Mother Russia, where he just returned from renewing his Russian Visa in Riga, Latvia.

He also picked up his copy of the 50th Reunion Yearbook and read it from cover to cover. He’s been in Russia for 18 accumulated years, since 1993. He still enjoys teaching English, math

and physics. Ed’s looking forward to finally returning to the U.S.A. (probably southern CA coastline), hopefully in time for our 55th Reunion. Last summer, he took a three-week educational tour of Italy, Greece and Turkey, following the footsteps of Apostle Paul. They were led by three professors of Christian theology, fluent in Latin and Greek, who could make the stone ruins talk. Don Arey (last man standing) and his son, Weeb (Tampa ophthalmologist), biked from Miami to Key West over the Labor Day weekend. Tough ride with the heat, humidity and six flat tires but a great father and son adventure. (In case you’re reading closely, they took Amtrak from Winter Haven to Miami and the Key West Express boat back to Ft. Myers, where Ellen picked them up!) Rosser and Kate Bobbitt visited their son, Max, and his wife, Kasia, in Warsaw, Poland, last summer. They will be moving to Brussels soon, where Kasia has accepted a position supporting the EU. Max is working on a master’s in environmental protection at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, teaching English as a foreign language and doing media relations for a charitable foundation. Kate does interim Episcopal ministry between jobs. Because of the economy, old clergy are not retiring. Rosser is still working (it’s the paycheck!) evaluating weapons systems for OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense): new carbine (to replace the M4 and M16), a rifle that fires an airburst projectile, a remotely-operated weapons station and Nett Warrior (loving it!). Ed and Margie Strickler visited his niece, Annie Suttle, in Oakland, CA (his brother, Stephen’s ’68, daughter).

Annie and her husband, Geoff Suttle, had a son, Archer Pilson (Ed’s dad’s middle name) Suttle, born March 10th. Ed immediately enrolled him in the class of 2035 (Provisional Appointment). This was a big sacrifice for Annie, as she went to Sewanee, and Geoff, who went to Yale, but Annie thought it was nice that, at about two months, Archer already

knew where he was going to college! Weldon and Nancy Eddins have been busy with other BRs. In May, Pat and Sharon Morrison enjoyed steamed crabs and rockfish, caught

by Weldon on the Chesapeake Bay. In June, George and Maureen Collins joined them for the grand opening of Nancy’s brother’s hotel in Connecticut on Long Island Sound. The next day, they enjoyed a marvelous cruise on their boat. In August, they went to Mississippi for the 50th wedding anniversary of Dick and Jackie Ward -- theirs was this past December.

They went to Europe for a two-week cruise on the Danube River and then to Krakow, Poland.

They are now preparing to return to Hawaii; it’s getting too cold in VA. Hams Hamner remarked how much he enjoyed the reunion, just catching up with some BRs he had not seen in 50 years. He especially enjoyed talking with Tony and Norma Jean Bueschen who invited Hamner to join them at the Chautauqua Institution (Try making a cheer with that name!) for a week. They enjoyed prominent speakers at national and international levels, concerts, plays, the ballet, wonderful dinners and long conversations, golf, and sailing! VMI does provide the settings for friendships that do last a lifetime, even with the interruptions of going our separate ways – God Bless Reunions!

Hams is finally leaving Whitefish Bay, WI, for the new home of his dreams in Hillsborough, NC. He says he’ll miss Wisconsin but not his snow blower and the reasons he had one! Mike Lilge’s new e-mail is mlilge62@outlook.com, and he again repeated that those reunion DVDs are great, especially if you weren’t there! Joe and Theresa Weakly, with another couple, took a cruise to Bermuda in June. Great trip, and they celebrated their 30th anniversary, renewing their vows with friends as witnesses and participants in the ceremony. They plan on repeating this in another 30! Doug Fielder is very pleased to report a significant improvement in his health after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s

Class of 1962: Photo above, left, Rosser and Kate Bobbitt visited their son, Max and his wife, Kasia, in Warsaw, Poland, during summer 2012. While there, the Bobbitts also visited the Warsaw Memorial, pictured above, right.

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CLASS NOTES Atlanta, GA. It’s hard to tell which to admire the disease in 2011. A combination of medications Michael J. Curley most -- their VMI room, their customized wine has enabled him to resume nearly all of his cellar or Mary’s magnificent gardens! normal activities. (A BIG HOO RAH!) A friend We thank all of you who took the brief time to of 30 years has the same problem, and working send us a quick note (and photos) of your recent with their wives, they have started a support activities. It isn’t that hard, and the rest of us group in Oneonta, NY. They found a great need Greetings, everyone! Once again, I must really enjoy reading about your experiences. We for information and support. In 2012, Doug and begin this installment of the notes by anhope to have a complete list by state and city Dorothy have visited Clearwater, St. Augustine nouncing the loss of another of our Brother with your latest phone and e-mail info out by and Orlando, FL, in February; San Diego, CA, in Rats, Phil Marley. (Editor’s Note: His Christmas, so next year when you get out, you March; the reunion and the Blue Ridge Parkway obituary appears in the Taps section of this see how many BRs you can see/talk with along in April; Sacramento and Yosemite Park, CA, Review issue.) On Oct. 4th, Sue wrote, “It your routes to fun and adventure! in August; and Cape Cod in September. They is with deep sadness that I let you know that In the Spirit of ’62! participated in the Road Scholar Program on Phil passed away tonight from heart failure.

Tony and Jerry photography in October in the (BEAUTIFULHe has been very sick for the past 10 years ed.) Pocono Mountains of PA and have made two with many serious conditions. I’m just glad shorter trips planned for Boston and New York he went suddenly.” Our hearts and prayers City in November (depending on post-Sandy are with you, Sue! In an attempt to lift the recovery-ed.). Are any of you getting this? Get mood, I requested stories from the class about out of your homes and go see something! some of Phil’s past antics, and we received a Len Collins wrote that he and Shannon were number of e-mails from his buddies relating married on May 3, 1969, at St. Mary’s Catholic some of the finer points of Phil’s character.

Church in Alexandria, VA, and that they’re workTrue to his nature, there were a couple that ing on the 50-year thing. John Glenn in Mexico could not be printed. However, I was touched concurred we lost a good man in Bill Hope and

by Pam Traugott’s story about her early life reflected on his two years on the Montana State with Rick. She writes, “Rick Traugott loved Board of Pardons as to what makes a “good Phil! I met Phil about the same time I met man.” Bill and Donna Fisher went to Spain, Rick down at Virginia Beach. I lived on 82nd Morocco and Portugal for 18 days (free of politiStreet in 1966-67 with three other schoolcal ads!). They saw Madrid, Segovia, Granada, teachers. Phil lived across the street from us, Costa Del Sol, Cordoba, Seville, Salamanca and and I kept running into the two of them quite Toledo. They also visited the British Colony of often at some party up and down the beach.

Gibraltar and went on to Lisbon, Fatima and It was at one of these parties (I can see Phil Belmonte in Portugal. In Morocco, they toured right now, looking straight at me) when Phil Tangiers, Fez, Marrakesh, Casablanca and Rabat. said, ‘Can’t you see that Rick is in love with Note: Stay out of the Medinah in Fez with its 12,000+ streets. They now have a new carpet you?’ Much later when Rick was having a (not free). They walked over 65 miles – much weak moment, he shared that he had put Phil uphill or on steep stairs. on to how he felt and would have Phil ‘report’ George and Maureen Collins have been busy, as my comings and goings during the week at Class of 1962: Ed Strickler holding grandson Archer, class of 2035. usual, from China to St. Tropez, where he bought Virginia Beach. In other words ... spy on me! a Swan 601. It was raced by Sir Peter Rick was a traveling salesman Ogden and on the market, so George even then, and he wanted to know sold his Morris 42, which was not how much I was going out! Fast a cruiser racer like the Swan, and forward to right now, I love these bought it. This is an offshore boat, memories of the young days and and he wants to get some sailing my connection to Phil. He was grandchildren to experience racing at one of a kind. Poor Phil is now a much higher level than dingy racing able to be free. His spirit soars.” around buoys. His Chessie Racing 4 Sue Marley later wrote, “Phil’s is on its way from the Med. He has ashes will be cast as an eternal a brief racing schedule: Palm Beach reef and placed at the bottom of Race in early Dec., Key West in Jan., the Gulf of Mexico on Oct. 22nd.

Swan Regatta in BVI in March, AnHere is a website that shows a napolis Newport next June, and a video of this type of burial http:// few races in New England next sumwww.eternalreefs.com/videos/ mer and fall. NO MORE VOLVO index.html.”

OCEAN RACES! ON THE GIM: After a beautiful week in TN, Jerry Bennett recently survived Tony and Judy Curtis stopped by some very serious brain surgery, Class of 1962: Maureen and George Collins during a and visited with Walter and Mary and the latest report from Derith visit to China.

Perrin in their beautiful home in said that he was out hunting at

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES the moment. (mjc: What?) That was utterly spectacularly good news … please keep us posted! Unfortunately for Denny Marchant’s dear wife, Karen, things are not going so well, as she faces brain surgery related to her cancerous tumor. She is currently in the cancer ward at Duke. Most of the recent news has been discouraging, but as she approaches cranial surgery, we are all praying for her.

Hadn’t heard from Charley Talbott until he recently burst onto the scene within the past couple weeks. “Reading your notes and seeing all the guys and gals on the GIM made me think about giving you a tidbit for the next notes. I underwent neck surgery on Jan. 12, 2012, for spinal stenosis, narrowing of the spinal canal due to arthritis. The procedure is designed to relieve the pressure on the spinal canal and do away with pain. It was successful but left me with extremely stiff neck muscles, making it difficult to turn my head left or right. However, it surely beats the alternative, so there are no complaints. I’m back to riding a horse and playing golf, so all is well. (My golf game still stinks.)” Buff DeLeo and Pat Kelly recently shed some light on Frank Kennedy’s situation in NC. Says Pat: “When Buff and I visited Frank about three weeks ago, he was in the hospital recovering from a bout of ‘hospital illness’ contracted at the V.A. hospital during a recent stay. He’s had an organ transplant, and due to the anti-rejection drugs (in addition to his weak lungs), he is easily infected by the sorts of bugs with which hospitals abound.

Further, he’s been on oxygen for the past few years and can’t walk without a tank dragging along. He also sleeps with one at night.

When I asked Buff if Frank would be able to make the 50th, he said he’d do what was necessary to get him up there and back, but Frank would need the assistance of oxygen for the weekend. I assume there are places

to get the tanks refilled in Lexington, or the hospital would know what to do. Both Frank and Buff plan on making the 50th.” (mjc: We’ve got that covered, Pat!) Update from Buffy: “Frank is back home from the V.A. hospital after a week’s stay. He is still in the same condition but able to breath a bit better.

Not good news, but he’s not given up. I’ll tell him you were asking for him. Thanks!” (mjc: Remember when we all thought we were immortal?)

LET’S TALK VMI FOOTBALL. First, the University of Richmond game Sept. 15th; next, the Navy game in Annapolis on Sept.

22nd; and then Coastal Carolina on Oct. 20th.

No, on second thought, let’s don’t. Sorry, guys; I’ve about had it with winning football the VMI way, because what seems to be missing are the “wins.” Because we’re VMI, we will support our young men all the way, no matter what, until this carnage is assuaged, but really, there has to be some limit, some reason or, perhaps even, a change of plans.

I have an idea – let’s start playing some teams our own size so that we might have a reasonable expectation of a win or two. It just doesn’t seem as if these poor young men are getting a fair shake. After the UR game, a friend here in Richmond commented to me, “Your teams were pretty well matched … until the kickoff!” (mjc: The preceding tantrum was an editorial, of sorts, for which the Alumni Review is certainly not responsible.)

Now, LET’S TALK VMI FOOTBALL … as

Class of 1963 Photos clockwise from top, left: -VMI Cadet Cole Spicer ’16, grandson of Mike Curley.

-VMI Cadet Maggie Straub ’16, daughter of Charlie Straub.

-Cadet Straub modeling her new, oversized coat.

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CLASS NOTES great job at nearly convincing her but couldn’t out where Maggie was in the Band Company a social event. The VMIAA indeed provided a get around the hair issue. It’ll be fun watching photo – dead last, next to the tallest guy in the wonderful buffet at the Navy game, and as it them.” (mjc: Chuck, I remember Britt’s $800 company, and she is the shortest! Lynn also was a Corps trip, many were there to support haircut received just before leaving the Institute put a couple of photos on her Facebook page.” the team, most notably Missy Alden-Ogle after two days! Be happy, you were spared.)

Also, Tom and Yvonne Myers have a large who drove over from D.C. to see everyone. We I’m fascinated by some of Si Bunting’s stories portion of their travel, personal and VMI lives made elaborate plans to meet but certainly not from his tour as superintendent that he shoots posted at www.tomandyvonne.com. There are during a rapid restroom break did I expect to to me from time to time on his Blackberry. some fascinating VMI pictures on that website! closely avoid a full frontal collision with her “Favorite memory from my second VMI tenure: This might be a good spot to recognize one under the stands. Charlie Straub was there to Matriculation Day. The commandant screams at of the most prolific authors in our class, Will snatch daughter Maggie Straub ’13+3 away a young woman still in civilian clothes, wearing Crisp. Will writes, “For what it’s worth, at your for a day’s break from the Ratline, as were my a big earring. ‘Take that damned thing off!’ The discretion, if you choose, no stress, you might son, Paul Curley ’94, his family, my daughassistant commandant then quietly said to him, want, well, er, to disseminate to Brother Rats ter, Debbi Spicer, her husband, Greg, and her ‘Sir, she goes to Clemson!’ (The young woman on your e-mail list that my book Air Assault family, to snatch grandson Cole Spicer ’13+3 was a visitor at Matriculation. Commandant Sharing Military Experience is now available. from the Institute’s grasp for an overnight in was my buddy Eric Hutchings ’77 -- 6’3”, 230 This is a discussion of military issues ranging Richmond. We’re running pictures of these two lbs., ex- Ranger, etc.)” With the advance of from fighting to chow, enlisted men and NCOs, Brother Rats, as I believe they are somewhat of technology, we are now privileged and able to commo, influences – THE RATLINE included a phenom: Maggie Straub, daughter of Charlie take nice long looks at the comings and goings Straub and Cole Spicer, grandson of Mike – (then) Capt. Lewane’s ’50B VMI ranger of cadets, both from our years and from today’s Curley. I believe the generational split might platoon, goin’ out, goin’ home, profanity and life, to include print media, photos, the Bomb be some sort of an oddity … do we have a chalR&R. Based on my experience as a rifle platoon and the Cadet newspapers from long ago up lenge from among our readers? leader with the 1st Bn (Airborne) 8th Cav, First Lynn Ross, Charlie Straub’s wife, sent along Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in ’Nam, 66-67. until today. Go to www.vmi.edu and check it some comments with one of Maggie’s photos.

Available online from: Xlibris.com, barnesandout … it’s fascinating! Also, there are a number “Apparently, because she is so small, VMI has noble.com and amazon.com.” (mjc: How’s that, in our class who are publishing photos on their problems finding clothes for her. She was so Will? Subtle certainly doesn’t work for you, Facebook pages like Becki and Bill Wells: thrilled (?) that the Army issued her a size large does it?)

“Fireside Productions – I posted some photos wet-weather jacket for FTX … said she could Although I have attended only once, some of of the Rat Mass march from Cameron Hall to use it as a pup tent. Rifle manual is a challenge our Tidewater Brother Rats get together monthBarracks. Lynn Straub and I actually figured ly at the Hampton Yacht Club … the rifle is as big as she is, but with Charlie Amory serving as she says she’s improving in that host. Bill Pearson writes, “Mike, department.” Charlie continues, “Is I advised them that you would not my daughter intense or not? This be able to make the meeting today summer, she talked three boys into and that you would like to have joining the band and playing the a photo for the class notes. The bagpipes. One of them is in the common response was, ‘I’ve got pictures, and of course, since they a phone, but it’s just a phone.’ So, have all, at one time or another, no pictures of today’s get-together. been in the band, they know how to Sorry, Billy Bob.” He continued, march. Peggy and Steve Riethmill“Sat beside Jan Gray during lunch. er were walking on the Hill yesterWe were all talking about ‘things’ day, and there was Maggie, so they when Jan leaned over to me and took this picture. Hobbs Goodwin said, ‘You know? When we used already called me and told me to to get together, we’d always talk get it in the Alumni Review. Of about girls, cars, football games, course, I have no control over that, money and work. You may have but I did tell him that I would send noticed that none of those subjects it to you.” Notably present at the are discussed any longer. Now, it’s Coastal Carolina game was Gil about medications, aches and pains, Minor, looking super trim and fit. operations, those who have passed, Gil came down from the superinand those who are not doing well tendent’s reception area to spend health-wise.’ It’s just not the same some time with Peggy and Steve Riethmiller, myself and Carol … nevertheless, it was good to see Baldwin, Bob Baldwin’s wife. everyone.”

Chuck Weddington comments, Got to feel sorry for Pete Brunel “Congratulations, Brother Rats. I who obviously lives a challengwish I could have gotten Lauren ing life. Pierre recently wrote, Class of 1963: John Mitchell, Sleepy Moore and Pete there with them. I had a chance “Cannot open your last e-mail on Brunel outside of John’s 1904 cow camp cabin in the until she found out about the my iPhone with only one bar here Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. haircuts. GEN. Peay ’62 did a in WY, but John Mitchell, Bill

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Moore and I are having great time in the Big Horn Mountains of WY. Best, Pete.” (mjc: So where’s my picture, I thought?) Then a funny thing happened today as I was finishing up these notes … Pete called! I let him talk for a few minutes, then sensing my chance, I jumped him! “Where’s my picture?” I asked. And now, may I share Pete’s coerced response. “The Motley 3 at John’s Wyoming cow camp cabin built in 1904 in the Bighorn Mountains. Activities? Trout fishing, playing cowboy, drinking Scotch – bourbon for Bill – eating unhealthy food, quality time with quality friends – VMI friends are the best friends – doesn’t get any better! John shared some Wyoming wisdom, such as, ‘98% of attorneys give the rest of them a bad name.’ Elk hunting was the objective; fortunately, we didn’t kill one and ruin the whole trip by having to work.” (mjc: Don’t make me work so hard getting a picture next time, Pete, OK?) As a footnote, I must say that Pete’s photo is terrific (see previous page) and perfect for printing in the Alumni Review (4MB). Please remember when you are sending me pictures, all it takes is a one-time adjustment to your camera, Smartphone or iPad and you get terrific, shareable shots every time! A “high quality” or 1 MB (minimum) is all it takes to get your shot published.

You know, I owe an apology to Mike Smither who for almost 10 years now has been my most dependable correspondent. As a steadfast supporter of my class agent post, he makes sure that I avoid missteps with frequent e-mails.

Mike dutifully submitted his regular quarterly contribution two days before the August notes deadline. On Aug. 15th, I gathered all the correspondence into one location, then commenced to write and organize the material into the finished product … missing Mike’s contribution in the process! Don’t you hate it when that happens? It bordered upon sacrilege! Sorry, Mike, and now almost 2-1/2 months later, here’s your August news: “Betty and I flew to Hawaii for a wedding in May, spending enough time in Honolulu to see the memorial in Pearl Harbor and the Punchbowl cemetery, both very inspiring.

Hawaii is one of our finest states with wonderful native people, friendly to a fault. We flew to Florida in June and drove back with friends, visiting Charleston, Asheville, Nashville, Louisville and Lexington. It was not long enough but a great trip nonetheless. We’ve otherwise enjoyed a nice summer, sailing (me) and visiting friends. Come see us!” (mjc: Thanks for your understanding, Mike.)

Kent McCraney, a regular at the monthly Tidewater mini-reunions, reports that “Si Bunting recently visited our community to talk with us (an audience of 125 or so people) about a book he is writing on George Catlett Marshall

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’901 and his generation. The audience consisted of retired Governor Linwood Holton, retired professors from different universities, retired clergy, retired military and many other highlyeducated people who thirst for knowledge. Si has an extensive knowledge of Marshall’s skills, especially his dealings with and working with people. During his talk, Si also mentioned and discussed the mentality of our younger people. Bob Powell and I attended and had lunch with Si afterward. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him more relaxed. We videotaped his talk (about 45-50 minutes long), and I have 12 or so copies of the DVD that I can share with you.

If you’d like to see it, I’ll mail a copy to you, and you could mail on to another interested classmate. Let me know.” (mjc: Thanks, Kent … great coverage!)

On a personal note, Peg and I, along with Britt’s mom, Marian, would like everyone to know that our beautiful daughter, Britt, eloped (mjc: rather publicly) with her fiancé, Deak Roh, a DOD employee at the Pentagon, to Gretna Green in Scotland and were married Oct. 13, 2012. The couple currently resides in Washington, D.C. DID I MENTION? These are the last class notes to be published before our 50th; another is due Feb. 15th but will not be published until May, after the reunion. My point is that I need news of what’s happening in your lives NOW with pictures of high quality (1MB or better), in particular. The Alumni Review has readership far and wide and ends up in some of the strangest places, according to my fellow class agents. Please remember that the Alumni Review is also available online, just in case you lose your copy – http://www.vmialumni.org/ page.aspx?pid=1369 is the web page to go to for the Review.

REUNION REPORT: The 50th Reunion Financial Committee leadership team headed

by Gil Minor, Bob Troxler and Beau Walker, along with the rest of the team will meet in Lexington on Nov. 8th to discuss our fund raising progress. The Social Committee is putting the finishing touches on festivities for the 50th Reunion to be held April 26, 27 and 28, 2013. Many of us plan to be in Natural Bridge on Thursday, the 25th, to make sure everything’s as good as it can be for all the returnees. This has truly been a labor of love for us all over the past year, and we look forward to seeing as many Brother Rats, wives and Sister Rats there as possible. Please consult our website at www.vmi63.net for a full Schedule of Events courtesy of Artie Phaup, who works humbly and quietly in the background. Please pray for our deceased Brother Rats and those on the GIM. LAST MINUTE: Just spent a few minutes

on the phone with Bob Earle who said he had talked with Ian Tissot last night. Ian and Pat live in or near Breezy Point, NY, where 100+ homes were destroyed by fire. They made it off the Point into the city where they are now staying with family. They won’t know the fate of their home until they are allowed back into the area. Let us pray that they and our other Brother Rats and friends in the area can tell us later of a good ending to this frightening tale. May God watch over all the victims of this terrible storm.

In the Bonds … Curleyrat

’64

John R. Cavedo

On the day I have to “put the notes to bed,” using a newspaper phrase, word is coming in about our Brother Rats caught up in Hurricane Sandy. Those south of Tidewater, usually the ones affected, missed this one. But from D.C. and north, it is a big son of a gun. Hopefully, no one was hurt or experienced damage. But we know from reports that a huge number are without power. Ed Seager reported that they’ve had no power for several days but are coping well. Even though in New Jersey, they’re high enough and far enough from the coast that they suffered no damage.

Also, as I finalize these notes, 50 of us are preparing to attend the VMI-Citadel game the weekend of Nov. 9-11. Details and photos will be in the next class notes. At present, in addition to the game will be a tailgate party put together by Marion and Bill Garber, plus a dinner following the game at Buzz and Jane Birzenieks’ home.

In the meantime, if you still haven’t joined our completely private and secure (19 months and counting) Facebook page, you’re missing out on a very large number of photos. Interested? Give me a call or drop an e-mail.

For his birthday, Penny sent Tom Sebrell on a trip out west to work on a ranch on horseback. He wrote, “ I have always wanted to go to a working cattle ranch to actually do the work for a week. I have helped a friend in Montana several times and done it in other places but only for a day. This was the real thing for a solid week. I went to the Box R Ranch in Cora, WY, to help move a herd of over 6,000 cattle from their winter range to the summer range in the Briger Teton National Forest. We started by getting up at 3 a.m., having a light breakfast, saddling horses and loading them in trailers to leave by 4:30. We moved cattle until just before noon every day.

Why so early? They won’t move once it gets

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CLASS NOTES warm, and the calves can’t go much further than 4-5 miles at a time. This is an annual cattle drive that the Upper Green River Cattlemens Association does every year. It can take over three weeks, and they need all the help they can get. Great business plan; we pay to do their work! I had a great time and would love to do it again. I will get Penny to send you a picture, if you want. I don’t know how.”

George Warren wrote that he is consider-

ing pulling up stakes and leaving Lexington: “Paula and I are looking at properties in the Delray Beach area, which is about 40 miles north of Ft. Lauderdale and about 15 miles south of Palm Beach (Donald Trump and all that). The Carsons and others are just a short drive north of the area. And we have 6-8 friends in the Delray area (all lawyers – but I guess we can stand it somehow).

“Our older daughter, who lives in Raleigh,

will deliver her second child the end of September, early October. So, we have to juggle that with our anticipated move.”

Ron Rogers retired in April after 45 years with Newport News Shipbuilding as Nuclear Engineering manager. Ron hasn’t said what he’s going to be doing, but we hope some of it will be to spend time with Brother Rats.

Bill McVey e-mailed, “Millie and I continue to be blessed with great health and wonderful,

Class of 1964 Counterclockwise, from top, left: -From left, Ron Rogers; Glenn Morgan, director of Reactor Services; and Matt Mulherin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding on the occasion of Rogers’ retirement in April 2012.

-John Thornton, Bill Taylor and Hank Cronin boating on the Rappahannock in June 2012. This is Thornton’s boat.

-Tom Sebrell on horseback at a working ranch in Montana, July 2012.

-From left were, seated, Sherrel Cavedo, Yvonne Myers and Sandy DeForrest. Standing: Dan DeForrest, John Cavedo and Tom Myers. The group was at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, in October 2012.

-Dan DeForrest, W.J. Kitchen and Tony Munera on safari in Africa, August 2012.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES loving family and friends, including, of course, our Brother Rats. Millie had a very successful hip replacement in January and is able to do all the things that the old hip had curtailed.

We thank the Lord for the advanced state of medicine that is available to all of us in this most wonderful country.

“We are off to the infamous, but still fun, Tailhook Reunion in Reno in September. Have been going every other year for the last 10 years, attending a mini-reunion with old mates from a large Navy squadron I was in for a couple years. The convention itself is great, getting to see all the latest that defense contractors are producing, including simulators for the F18 and mock-up of the F35 cockpit. My favorite booth is a contractor who provides aircraft for inflight refueling. They have a refueling ‘boom’ extending out of a photo of the plane on the wall, which dispenses beer! Oorah!”

Doug Walker and Tom Allen have both had problems with blood flow in their legs, requiring surgery. But prior to his surgery, Doug had an issue with his carotid artery which had to be dealt with using even more surgery. Then, before that could be completed satisfactorily, he needed a heart by-pass. Weeks in the hospital meant Doug had a pretty miserable AugustSeptember. Last word is that he’s home and recovering.

Tom also reported that he and Carol took a cruise from New York City to Montreal. No details or photos but sounded like a great trip.

Marty Stango, who recently completed his move to the Jacksonville, FL, area, sent in, “Just a quick update. Hilda and I completed the construction of our new home and moved in last week. Although we only moved 1.5 miles away, we are still in the unpacking mode. Downsizing is a bitch. So we are also in the decision tree of what do we keep. Our three German Shepherds are adjusting to a much smaller backyard, going from 1 acre to 1/4, but the addition of many new squirrel neighbors has enlivened the task.

“The fact that my 95-year-old mother came three days after the move for a two-week visit has added to the excitement. She lives with my sister who had a wedding to attend out of state, so there was no postponing this visit.

She usually comes every three months and stays for 3 to 4 weeks. Unfortunately, this time she had a toothache that had to be attended to. Luckily, we not only had a dentist specialist, but were in an ongoing relationship that facilitated her visit and a plan. Unfortunately, that plan included a needed root canal and extraction of two teeth. The latter requires the need for an oral surgeon, due to an issue with the prior use of medication that complicates issues with oral surgery. Noth-

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ing like some added stress to get the brain functioning.

“I was unaware that our stellar Postal Service no longer forwards anything but first class mail. So, magazines and other mailings are just left at the old address. Luckily, as noted, our old address is minutes away, and the owners of that property are having major structural repairs done in contemplation of selling the property, so we still have unfettered access to the mailbox and all of the non-forwarded mail.

Another benefit of a government-run business.

“Anyway, the change in our address is only the street and the +four zip addition. We did get to keep our phone number, so that helps.”

As you may have read in previous editions, a group of Brother and Sister Rats took a trip to Africa and a safari, etc. The total group consisted of 14 people, three Brother Rats, their spouses, one Sister Rat, and several friends and family members. Lauranne Kitchen provided a description of the trip: “Embarking on our most adventurous trip yet, a group of VMI Brother Rats, spouses, relatives and friends set out to explore regions of southern Africa.

We left on Aug. 22 and flew to Johannesburg.

Our pre-trip to Pafuri Camp in South Africa was undertaken by Dan and Sandy DeForrest, Mary Jo Jordan and her fiancé, Bill Bandy, WJ and Lauranne Kitchen, Tony and Barb Munera, Jim and Marilyn Anderson (brother and sister-in-law of Mary Jo Jordan), Carrie Iblings (friend of the Kitchens and Muneras), and Rufus and Carolyn Shumate (Barb Munera’s brother-in-law and sister).

“After a four-day exciting introduction to the African bush, we flew back to Johannesburg, met up with Dan DeForrest’s sister, Theresa Herms, then flew and were driven by bus to our next destination in Botswana, the Chobe National Park and our Baobab Lodge. Game drives and more excitement were experienced there. Three days later, still in Botswana, we flew to the Okavango Delta and rode in trucks to our third lodge, Moremi Tented Wilderness.

Again, unbelievable experiences in three more days.

“Then we flew, rode in a bus, were ferried across a river, took another bus and a small plane ride to Zambia in Lufupa Camp. We didn’t think the days could get more fantastic, but each day offered new and different experiences. Three days later, we flew to Zimbabwe and were jeeped to our fifth camp, Linkwasha Lodge. More bush wonders, and three days later, we flew to Victoria Falls, spending an extraordinary two days with adventures galore! Finally, having bonded with Africa, the people, the animals and the terrain, most of us headed home on Sept. 11, 2012. Dan and Sandy DeForrest, Theresa Herms and Carrie

Iblings spent four days on the post-trip to Cape Town, South Africa.”

In follow-up phone conversations with WJ, Lauranne and the DeForrests, I have heard many tales from their trip. Close up meetings with lions and elephants sounded probably worse than they were. But getting within six feet of a lion and within 50 feet of an angry elephant seems right on the edge to me. It reminded me of the old joke, “I don’t have to be able to run faster than a lion, just faster than you.”

Roxane Spitzer, widow of Lee Fleshood, shortly after his funeral, sent the following which she wanted to share with the class: “What a very special group of people. I cannot adequately express how much I appreciate your wonderful words about Lee and your words of condolences. As you well know, Lee was very proud of his alma mater, but it was the people that he said made it such a great place and a worthwhile experience (except for the Rat year). Lee and I had been together 17 years and during that time, I had the honor of getting to know many of you so well. We loved to have the mini-reunions in concert with the Carsons, and it made Lee’s experience that much more real to me. I am so glad to still be a part of the class and activities. I am hoping to attend the 50th Reunion, and I am sure Lee will be watching and cheering us all on. Thanks to each of you for your support and friendship.”

Bill McVey, always a reliable correspondent, shared, “Millie and I just had a great couple days visit with Dick Atkinson after he completed his attendance at an Obesity Convention here in San Antonio last week. We showed him around this area of the Texas Hill Country and even got in an afternoon of sailing on my J22.

(Dick sailed it the whole time ... he’s a natural!)

“Anyway, I have always been greatly impressed with his medical pursuits, so thought I would see what the Internet might have – a goldmine of information on our esteemed Brother Rat! Just Google Dr. Richard L. Atkinson if you want to see more.”

In the middle of September, Tom and Yvonne Myers, Dan and Sandy DeForrest, and Sherrel and I met at a cabin in the North Carolina Mountains on Lake Toxaway. The cabin is owned by Yvonne’s brother, and he’s very generous in allowing others in his family to use it. With three-plus bedrooms and baths, plus a large wrap-around deck overlooking their private dock and the lake, it’s an idyllic spot.

Butch and Joan Nunnally were supposed to join us, but his knee surgery prevented it (lots of stairs getting back and forth to the lake). At the last minute, Kevin McCarthy had to cancel since, as he said, someone actually offered

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CLASS NOTES him money to do a job for them. Cash is hard for any of us to pass up.

During the three wonderful days and nights, we ate well, played lots of card games (I still think Sandy has x-ray vision; she wins all the time), took a wonderful “spin” around the lake on a pontoon boat and took a day trip to a quaint nearby town. Additionally, as you might expect with three such laid back personalities, we solved all the problems of both the modern and ancient worlds. Of course, with six of us present, each problem had six separate and distinct solutions.

Several mini-reunion trips are already planned for 2013: Western Caribbean cruise in January, India in March, the fourth annual North Palm Beach mini in February or March, the Dalmatian Coast in May, and Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands in September.

If you want any details, let me know, and I can get you connected with our Brother Rat hosts.

Different Brother Rats are beginning to put together more and more possible trips and gettogethers. Have a specific destination in mind?

Organize a group of Brother Rats and go!

These notes are shorter than normal since the Institute requires November’s input two weeks early. Hopefully, a lot of you guys and gals will write me with details on what you’re doing, so the next submission will be overflowing.

For those who did correspond, thanks so much.

’65

Mickey Finn

It is a crisp fall day here in Wilmington as these notes are assembled. This time of year, the notes are collected early in order to meet the deadline for this, the first issue in 2013. As you read this, please consider volunteering to serve on the Reunion Committee for our 50th Reunion. Time is just flying by, and we will be celebrating that event in April 2015.

What follows is a great story about the VMI family!

Al Orgain reports, “It was a great day on Riddick Feld at RMA yesterday. RMA triumphed over the favored Massanutten 48 to 34. The salute cannon was heard on many occasions. Gen. Mac Hobgood loved it. The crowd loved it. The opposing team did not.

President Craig Jones ’80 of Massanutten Military Academy was walking up and down the end line, shouting encouragement to his losing team where I was firing. He seemed frustrated with their performance and irritated with the

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cannon. Finally, after about seven or eight shots with our team in the lead, he said the next time I fired to just shoot him. It turns out Craig is a famous football player from VMI, coached by our own Donny White. He agreed to be photographed with me holding the cannon. Further, he commented that the photo will certainly end up in the VMI Review! I had met Craig 30 years ago when he was a cadet and one of the all-time best kickers at VMI.” Donnie White added, “While at VMI, Craig set most all of the records and played in the NFL for a short time. He later went to law school and is now the president of Massanutten Military Academy. Craig’s father, the late Royce Jones ’55 and also a former star in football for the Big Red, was the athletic director and head football coach at Norfolk Academy when his sons played there. He later moved to VMI to be head of Cadet Life while his wife, Margaret, worked many years for the Alumni Association and did all of the coordination for Moody Hall, reunion weekends, etc. We tried to recruit both of Royce and Margaret’s sons for VMI football ... we lost the oldest, Chip, to the Naval Academy, but we got Craig. Now, however, Chip’s son, Zach Jones, is a third classmen and a hard working member of our football team. Additionally, Craig’s sister, Trish, sent her daughter, Liz Affronti, to VMI where she is an outstanding soccer player and a Brother Rat to her cousin, Zach Jones. Craig’s mother, Margaret, is now married to Royce’s Brother Rat, retired Lt. Gen. Tom Tait ’55.”

Thanks to Al, Donnie and Craig. The salute cannon was provided courtesy of Proctor’s Virginia Battery of the Princess Anne Light Artillery whose motto is: “Disobedience to Tyrants is Duty to God.” Aldie Whitmore reconnects with “Hi, Mickey, fellow Tar Heel. This is the first time I have

Class of 1965: On Sept. 7, 2012, while fishing in the Chesapeake Bay off the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Bill Wilburn landed a 7-lb., 7-oz. speckled trout. The fish, which measured 29 inches, earns him a Virginia 2012 saltwater citation.

written you since our graduation. I have been retired for four years now from NCDOT. I would recommend retirement to everyone. My wife, Kathie, and I have lived in Albemarle for nearly 26 years but are ready to leave here to be closer to our kids and grandkids who live south of Charlotte in South Carolina (Ft. Mill area). We will move as soon as we sell our house which has been on the market for 20 months; it is difficult to sell a house in Albemarle or anywhere during this economy.

“We have four grandchildren, the oldest being seven and the youngest being six months.

What is significant is the close birth dates of the other two grandkids. We celebrated their fourth birthdays two weeks ago. They were born 24 hours apart. My son’s boy was born on 10-9-08 at 5:00 p.m., and my daughter’s girl was born on 10-10-08 at 1:00 p.m. All four are miracles of God and loved beyond anything else.

“That’s my news for now. I do enjoy reading about my Brother Rats. Keep up the good work you do.”

I asked Dees Stallings (Ph.D. in English) for a report on the VMI-Navy game. “The VMINavy game was an inspiration. The Keydets did a superb job the first half but got worn down by the Goats in the second. With a bit more depth, we would have beaten Navy. Met up with Jim Hall, Dave Frantz, Joe Kruse and Rick Bernstein at the VMI tent, which had a good turnout – our Brother Rats looked good, and their dates were all charming.”

Should have asked Jim; he was a double E. Alex Schultes called about the VMI-Navy game, which he attended with members of the USNA Class of ’71, the 13th Company, for which he had served as their tac officer when he was a captain in the Marines. Alex told me how proud he was when the VMI Corps of Cadets marched onto the field and how great they looked. Many USNA grads around him were commenting upon how sharp the VMI Corps

Class of 1965: Charlie Smith holding a large cod fish which he caught off the coast of Newfoundland on Aug. 1, 2012. Behind Smith is Ed Harris, a professional fisherman.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES looked and when the Mids marched on the field, the comparison was stark and noticeable. Alex then took the time to seek out some of the VMI cadets and talk to them and was even more impressed by each one that he spoke to. What a great tribute to all of us these cadets are!

Oh, boy, does the fun erupt when we hear from Bob Morgan! “In Lisbo and Barcelona since the 13th; leaving on a transatlantic tomorrow. Great cities to visit. I’m in a pensao in Barcelona in a two double-bunk co-ed room. I AM IN EUROPE. The other bunks are occupied by a young Braziliera and a Chinese and a German student arriving for or leaving semesters abroad. All attractive young ladies.

Where in the h--- is my youth. UA for so long, I’m putting it on the desertion list. Lots of must-sees, but the Gulbenkian in Lisboa and the fort on Montjuic in Barcelona are on the list. If the roadshow had the Gulbenkian, no computer could calculate the value. Incredible and eclectic. The contrast between the classic and the modern art (separate sections) is not complimentary to the ‘modern’– to this curmudgeon, anyway.”

Ron Obenchain is on the move – again.

“You asked for it, so here is a tidbit or two.

I am in the middle of a move from Bedford to Winchester, VA. Why make such a move?

To track down Porterfield, of course. And to follow my heart (throb) ... of course. Some things never change. This is my 31st move since graduation. No wonder wife #2 called me a gypsy (among other less favorable things). Speaking of moving, daughter #2, a lovely would-be actress and model, has moved to Hollywood hoping to find fame and fortune. I salute her grit but worry about her

being prepared for the obvious challenges in that particular sinner’s haven. If any Brother Rat lives in the area and would be willing to do a little surrogate Dad duty, please contact me ASAP. I am still serving a church, part time, in Danville. The above mentioned move will necessitate that I become the longest commuting minister east of the Mississippi.

What an honor! (And what terrible stewardship! No sermon is worth 12 gallons of petrol.)

But some liberal-leaning padre must keep my congregation’s far right feet to the fire, and no one is more qualified than I in that regard.”

Thanks Ron – great to hear from you. Moon – look out, here he comes!

Received this kind invitation from Reed McDowell – “Ann and I are doing great living in retirement on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

We spend our time watching grandchildren, playing golf and traveling. Life is Great. Anybody in this area (45 min. from Ocean City), we would love to see you.”

John Lee sent a nice note – “Nola (Bob’s wife), Helen and I were able to get together with Hank Wittel over Memorial Day 2012 in Jonesboro, GA. We were visiting our cousins in Jonesboro, and so we called Hank to see if he and Sonja were available for a picnic and some ‘catch-up.’ We were sorry that Sonja was sick and could not come, but Hank did make it over. We had not seen Hank since Bob’s funeral, but Hank and I have kept up with each other through e-mail. The family and I really appreciate Hank representing the class at Bob’s funeral. It is hard to believe that that was 10 years ago. We enjoyed seeing Hank again in person. He has not changed a bit – but neither have we. I think that we solved all of

the world’s problems in the afternoon, discussing everything from politics, to Vietnam, to our time in the Ratline, to the old Corps at VMI. We hope to be able to get together with them again when we are in Georgia. Helen, Nola and I send each of you our very best. We are hoping that we will be able to make the 50th Reunion.”

From Canada, Charlie Smith reports, “We are having a great time here in Newfoundland – finally got into our new home in Bay Roberts and have lots of space, should any Brother Rats like to visit this area of the world.

I have attached a picture of the cod (known here as fish – Ha!) I got this past season. [See photo on previous page.] Tell all that I am still working (too young to give up) and have just started a new position with the Research & Development Corporation (RDC) here in St. John’s. (RDC is a provincial government agency sponsoring research to increase the technology capacity within Newfoundland and Labrador – to include offshore oil and gas developments.) Hope to get at least one or two more years in before I call it quits (only turn 70 this October – Ha!). Say hello to all, and I will send my new work contact information later. (Home telephone is 709/786-8652, should anyone want to contact us.) Elaine and I will attend our 50th (so far, I haven’t missed any), and we look forward to meeting old friends and Brother Rats – it is really a very important gathering and one to be celebrated by all. Just wish I were closer to be more active in its planning, etc.”

Johnny Mac Marshall has been traveling: “In August, we were in Lexington on our way to D.C. for a convention, and of course, we

Class of 1965: Above, left: Al Orgain, right, presented a cannon to the president of Randolph Macon Academy (RMA), Gen. Hobgood, center, and his wife. The cannon was fired each time the RMA football team scored against Massanutten Military Academy. According to Orgain, a 1961 RMA graduate, RMA won 48 to 34. Above, right: Before presenting the salute cannon to RMA President Hobgood, Al Orgain, right, showed it to the president of Massanutten Military Academy, Craig Jones ’80, left, a VMI football legend. According to Orgain, the dog didn’t appreciate the cannon, either.

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CLASS NOTES stopped by the Institute. The highlight, though, I are flying up to VMI this weekend, Nov. 2-3, We had a brief celebration with grandchilso he can attend a prospective cadet program. If dren’s costumes at Halloween and will see was on the way back from the convention, we any of my BRs have had any experience with them again at Thanksgiving.” had a chance to visit Lou and Joan Siegel in Many thanks to all who have taken the time amylidosis, I would like to hear from you.”

Williamsburg. What is so amazing is how little to donate, write, call and just be there for Our Brother Rat Cliff Freeman passed away any of us have changed since graduation! each other. We are truly blessed! Each time on Sept. 25, 2012, after a long bout with can“In early October, I was elected chairman of we interact, we are reminded of the times we cer. Please take the time to read his obituary the board of a corporation that develops and spend together in the bonds created by the in the Taps section of this issue of the Review. markets coatings for vehicles that improve mutual experiences in our lives that began speed and economy, as well as mobile art. Isn’t That brings us to 33 deaths from an original with our first day together on Sept. 13, 1961. total of 353 on the matriculation roster of the it amazing what happens to history majors? ’65! ’65! ’65! class of ’65.

In my case, I just tell people that my résumé Please remember Harry Bartosik in your simply reflects a hard-core unemployable with Al Carr prayers, as he lost his lovely wife, Lynn, to severe ADD. Albert Conner “Well, as usual, Jamie and I just returned from cancer on Sept. 24, 2012. A copy of her obitua late October visit to Poland. This time, I had ary as well as Cliff’s was sent to my active been invited to speak to a conference of Polish “Blast” e-mail list. If you did not receive it, and German judges about the ethics of relations please send me your preferred e-mail address, between lawyers and judges in the courtroom. and I will make sure you are included on the These notes were due on 1 Nov. (as will future Needless to say, it was a short speech. The next “Blast.”

November submissions in order that the Alumni Charlie Russell says, “We’re still travelweather was beautiful, what the Poles call the Review staff will get some well-deserved time ‘golden autumn.’ It usually happens during the ing, after having been down the Danube from last couple of weeks of October when the leaves Prague to Budapest on the Viking River cruise. off during the Christmas holidays). So I won’t be able to wait until the Institute Society and turn. Poland has a lot of birch trees, so the leaves We went out to Montgomery, AL (what a difinclude latest news on BRs and SRs there and are a bright yellow. During the last week, they ference!), and are now headed to Hawaii for a provide information from the November class all fall, so that the earth is carpeted in gold, and week off and a week of work for me. Then, in agents’ get-together. I’ll send out my usual eit is fantastic. We were there in the Renaissance December, to San Diego for some more work. report and update and then include town of Kazimierz Dolny on the that information in my following Vistula River just before they fell, (February) notes. Once again, that and you can imagine what the rest all points to my need for a current of the country looks like. e-mail address for you in order to “Jamie, of course, had to meet keep you up-to-date and informed. with the officials of the alumni The big news for this year’s foundation that she created at the Founders Day will be that our university in Lublin, as well as the new head of the university. On such Brother Rat Tom Slater is receivoccasions, difficult as it may seem, ing the VMI Foundation’s DisI am merely a ‘spear carrier in her tinguished Service Award. Tom’s chorus.’ Tough duty, but we felt that service as president of the VMI this was a suitable reward for having Board of Visitors, president of the survived the drought and heat this VMI Foundation, and president of past summer.

The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. “We will be going through Lexingis certainly both “distinguished” ton later this autumn to visit my twin and unprecedented. Atop a remarkgreat-nephews, Rats, what can I say, able legal career and leadership to be sure that they are alive and well. in civic organizations such as the I just hope that Sandy hasn’t wiped Virginia Historical Society and out the highway system in Virginia.

4-H, he’s led a remarkable life Best wishes to all the BRs.” and is someone whom all the VMI Bill Cather needs our prayers and family, but especially his Brother support. He writes: “This has not Rats, can be endlessly proud. (Edibeen a good year. Last December, tor’s Note: See the front section of Mia had a dissected aorta, and I this Review for coverage of Tom rushed her to the hospital just in Slater’s award.) time to save her life. Then, three I received a very nice and months later, she was diagnosed encouraging (hand-written!) note with a rare chronic kidney disease, from BR Herb Chittum in Meamylidosis. She has been in and out chanicsville, VA. Thanks, Herb. of the hospital and on chemotherapy Also thanks to Nick Hoskot for Class of 1965: Jamie and Johnny Mac Marshall, center since then. On a happier note, my contacting me. and right, visited Joan and Lou Siegel, left, in Williamsdaughter, Anna, is staying with Mia Also heard from Bill Gregory burg, Virginia, on Aug. 5, 2012. while my grandson, Matthew, and in Richmond. Bill says, “I have

’66

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CLASS NOTES enjoyed very good health so far – some good days, some not so good, but no complaints and extremely fortunate. Just so in hopes I will make the 50th Reunion. I am also planning to attend the Institute Society Dinner in November and be there to support Tom [Slater] in receiving the Distinguished Service Award. Even though we are close neighbors, I don’t see a lot of Tom and Scotti due to their non-stop schedules. That’s what you get when you are still working, and he seems to love it. Beyond me at this point.”

I agree, Bill. Retirement seems to be the best job I’ve ever had. But even a half-century later, we’re all in different lanes, and Tom is still blocking, running, tackling and sprinting – by the way, I didn’t mention that he still operates an old family farm in his spare time!

Received an interesting note from Jim Hannah: “Al, I would like to offer an interesting event concerning G.P. Michael last weekend. While attending his high school reunion in Clifton Forge, he stayed with us in our cabin in Botetourt County, and late Saturday afternoon, we decided to take a James River fishing trip in our canoe.

Glenn was having a good day, having caught about a dozen bass or so, when he accidentally hooked himself with the barb deeply embedded in a finger. By then it was nearly dark, and everything was closed in Buchanan, so I offered to take him to an emergency room in Roanoke. He declined, saying he didn’t want to ruin everyone’s evening, and so, with only ice to numb his hand, and stone cold sober, Glenn operated on himself, to the amazement of a crowd that had gathered, by driving the hook through his finger to get it out. I think he’s still as tough as ever.” I told Jim, I think we all know that is the approved solution to remove an embedded hook. However, actually doing it is a far different matter! Way to go, G.P., although the phrase “sharp end toward enemy” rings suddenly in my ear.

Then, something happened that almost never happens for me: immediate arrival of “the other side of the story.” I guess G.P. got wind of Jim’s note. Here’s what he wrote: “Al, don’t believe all that Jim Hannah tells you about the fishing trip. What he didn’t tell you is he finally caught one fish, stood up in the canoe and turned it over – throwing me in the river, losing box of flies and a camera. All of this happened on one fishing trip, plus only God knows what he sent to you.” Well, now we all know (sort of).

Then I received a nice newsy update from Pete Charrington: “Anna May and I had the opportunity to go to Seattle in July. I gave Randy Urmston a call to hopefully connect up with him when we were there. Connect we did, and Randy gave us the grand tour of Seattle, as well as having us over for breakfast with his lovely wife, Eliza. We had a great time, and Randy and his wife really put the cherry on

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top of the trip. Anna May and I then had the opportunity to join Tom Morris and Barbra Lyn in Washington, D.C., for the wedding of their youngest, Rosa Lyn. Tim Manahan and his wife were also there. It was a great event with a lot of toasts and a good time being had by all. In August, Peter Farley and Paul Maini and I got together in Wintergreen for some golf and some fishing. Coming home to Peter’s ‘mountain house,’ we found that it had been visited earlier by a bear who had helped himself to that which we had in the refrigerator. Fortunately, he didn’t like the rum we had there. Always a great time – with a lot of remembrances for Ray Cullen. We’re planning another get together for October in St. John in the USVI with wives and friends for a week to enjoy some sun, snorkeling and each other.” I always tell my grandkids they can never have enough bears in life. Of course, I mean the stuffed teddy bear variety of the species.

Cliff Martin is off to another bang-up year as our class sports reporter. In addition to details on teams and games, and in this case weather, he passes along BR-sightings: At the VMI-Chowan game he noted: “Randolph Williams popped up just before the game and said hi. Ray and Mary Melton sat with me for the first half before the monsoon hit. We, the fans, were very lucky that the storm waited until the half before the skies opened up. Had a 20-yard dash to the truck before the wall of water hit. Sat out halftime in the truck, and by the start of the third quarter, the rain was just a light drizzle, so I got out the golf rain gear and went back to the stadium. By the start of the fourth quarter, the rain stopped and the skies cleared off. Then it was just a matter of seeing whether we would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory one more time.” It turns out we did win. Incidentally, if you’re wondering (as I certainly did) about Chowan University, it is a 1,300-student, Christian-focused school in Murfreesboro, NC, founded in 1848.

Got a really good note from Hugh Adams.

He related, “Deane and I were in Lexington yesterday. The weather was great. The Institute was groomed. Reunions were in progress (although none could have held a candle to ours). The parade was impressive. There’s more parking if you arrive early enough. The game was somewhat less glorious, and I await Cliff’s review. No matter what the outcome is, it always makes me proud when the team is recognized with the ‘Doxology.’” He also sent along lots of news on ’66ers spotted: “Anyhow, one of the best parts of the day was the opportunity to see many of our BRs. We saw Paul Maini, Jerry Homiller, Jamie Browder, Knox McEwen, Bobby Cooper, Rich Hines, Tom Slater, Eddie Willis, Doug

Richard, Cliff Martin and Al Carr. Most were accompanied by the lovely ladies who keep us all straight. Didn’t get to visit with all of them. Rich Hines said he had seen [Rich] AtLee earlier in the day, but we missed him.

Aside from the loss to Richmond, it was a really nice day.” Hugh also passed along an update on two others. He reported the Dictors have relocated to a new home in New Kent County. They are awaiting the arrival of twin grandchildren. And what’s this? Cousin Rats?

Hugh adds, “Randolph Williams and I are now fourth or seventh or twelfth cousins by marriage, twice removed. We both had the pleasure of attending the wedding of a bride on his side and a groom on ours last month. It is indeed a small world.”

Exchanged e-mails with Bernie Halloran – one of those rare people I can disagree with completely on politics and still like. Go figure.

I should have known when Bernie intentionally moved from the Old Dominion to the Peoples’ Republic of Maryland. Well, no sense rehashing all that stuff. By the time you see this, the hash will be settled, and we can see which America we’ll be living in. However it goes, our 11 BRs from VMI ’66 will once again go with me to the polls, and all of you will remain in my heart and prayers.

I remain, your proud class agent.

’67

Jan Abernathy

This is meant to be a sort of after action report on the reunion. Overall, it was a fantastic event, and from the messages Joan and I have received, it was the best ever. It will be hard to top when our 50th rolls around.

Many things made it memorable: –the extra day option of Thursday arrival gave much appreciated time for additional visiting. With many of us being retired, the extra day was a viable option.

–the Thursday reception got rave reviews … about half of the overall 215 BRs and wives and guests enjoyed the reception, but Friday arrivals missed out.

–NO MUSIC at either the Friday or Saturday group meal provided audible relief.

–The “hospitality” room in the Holiday Inn, set up and hosted by the Abernathys, was a welcome gathering place and waterhole for after-hours visiting. Many thanks for those who anonymously set out a collection cup to offset our cost. Extra funds were deposited into the “VMI 1967 account” for flowers and relief.

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CLASS NOTES People began arriving Thursday morning. The first (except for locals stuffing the packets in the basement of the Holiday Inn) were Dan and Arlene Wells, who had spent Wednesday night at the Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Stonewall Jackson House tours were informative. I learned a lot from our guide, Tom Gritzmacher, more than I thought I would, as I have read a great deal about Gen. Jackson.

The 5:30 Medicare Medley by seven of the ’67 swim team members was a hoot to watch.

The VMI swim coach halted team practice early (by pre-arrangement) and had his cadets

watch and cheer. It was sort of like old times, but everyone, male and female, did wear suits. I am not sure there were any attempts to break any records, but a baseline was established for future classes to work toward.

Kent Easty was the official starter and Fink, Beaulieu, Hedquist, Quick, Wright, Burckard and Keblusek did the pool work.

The Thursday evening 6:00 to 7:00 reception ran until the food ran out in the Holiday Inn. Then, revelers enjoyed our room, the Orrison’s room and some others until late into the evening. Friday was free until the parade.

The weather was perfect, and the band was

great. The only observation I would make is that the marches were not any of John Phillip Sousa’s that we used back in our day.

Friday SRC at the Lexington Country Club was delicious, with pork and turkey carving stations. No mashed potatoes and peas, and the hard rolls remained in their place on plates or were eaten, and none became missiles. A tradition has hopefully passed into history. After hours again saw additional visiting in several Holiday Inn rooms.

Saturday started with the traditional photo in front of Preston Library. Then, the parade, and Doug Mills formed us up with Barrett

Class of 1967 45th Reunion, Sept. 14-15, 2012 Photos counterclockwise from top, left: -Mike and Marci Bagnulo, Jim and Barbara Joyner and Doug and Carol Ann Mills at the Welcome Reception on Thursday.

- Bill and Jo Fleshood, Arlene and Dan Wells, and Tubby and Judy Wilkinson at the Friday night dinner.

-On the steps of Shell Hall, Jan Abernathy and Marie Wertz, front row left and center, joined the class’s chemistry majors, including Don Brown, J.B. Farley, Wharton Ramsey, Lynn Beaulieu, Bill Fleshood, John Gupton, Tubby Wilkinson and Tom Coughenour.

-Standing in front of their 1965 Southern Conference Championship banner was the 1967 “Medicare Medley” swim team, including Lynn Beaulieu, David Fink, Mel Wright, Kermit Quick, Al Burckard, Charles Keblusek, Barry Hedquist and the team’s starter, Kent Easty.

-At Cocke Hall Memorial Garden, Sam Heltzel, Bob Randolph, Rick Irby and Jan Abernathy read aloud the names of deceased Brother Rats.

-Rick Irby had a firm grip on Jan Abernathy as they joined Sam Heltzel and Bob Randolph on top of the sentinel box.

-Kip and Judy Jones, George Sanborn, and Hollace and Bruce Weiner at the Lexington Country Club dinner.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Class of 1967: Those who attended their 45th Reunion are listed in alphabetical order, as follows: L. Jan Abernathy, John C. Anderson, Michael A. Bagnulo, William J. Baker, Lynn P. Beaulieu, Randolph M. Blanks, Paul A. Bouis, Patton H. Breland Jr., William F. Brent, George M. Brooke III, Richard N. Brooke Jr., Don A. Brown, Colin M. Campbell Jr., Phillip M. Cannon, Malcolm A. Carter Jr., Kenneth N. Chun, James B. Clarke, Thomas R. Coughenour, William C. Creswick, Henry P. Dickerson III, Kent M. Easty, George T. Elmore III, Thomas L. Engelman, John B. Farley, George S. Ferrell Jr., David F. Fink, William M. Fleshood, Robert J. Flynn Jr., James G. Fromm, Skidmore N. Garrett Jr., J. Thomas Gillette III, Philip J. Gioia, Douglas K. Goodall, C. Barrett Graham, Franklin B. Green, Robert L. Green, Thomas A. Gritzmacher, John T. Gupton III, Thomas F. Hancock III, William E. Harman Jr., Barry E. Hedquist, Samuel B. Heltzel, Robert W. Hess, Bryan W. Holloman III, John H. Holt, John S. Horner, Michael J. Ingelido II, Richard M. Irby III, Ray E. Irvine, Thomas E. Jenks III, J. Kipling Jones, James N. Joyner Jr., Charles W. Keblusek, W. Lane Kelly IV, Robert W. Klink, William P. Korink, Charles A. Krebs Jr., Robert P. Kyle, H. John Lee, Roderick P. MacKinnon Jr., James H. Mangan Jr., Wayne Marshall, T. Carter Melton Jr., Ted N. Mervosh, Douglas H. Mills, Terry L. Moore III, Robert A. Morin Jr., Robert L. Nablo Jr., Ronald B. Niedermayer, Patrick D. O’Brien, Frank E. Oliver, John I. Orrison, Lewis F. Payne Jr., James S.C. Phlegar Jr., Willard G. Plentl Jr., Elias D. Poe III, Bob Poland, Eugene K. Potter Jr., Vance D. Powell Jr., Kermit E. Quick Jr., A. Wharton Ramsey, Robert C. Randolph IV, Thomas B. Rhodes Jr., James A. Robertson, James E. Rogers, James L. Rutherford, George E. Sanborn, John J. Sheeran, Frank J. Sheme, C. Frederick Smith, Joseph P. Stafford, Victor J. Tambone, James P. Tate III, Douglass A. Taylor, Dennis L. Telzrow, Thomas L. Thompson, Jack L. Thompson, Maximilian Toch, John W. Vaughan, David J. Veazey Jr., John E. Vest III, James F. Waehler, William D. Walker, S.P. Waskiewicz III, Bruce H. Weiner, Daniel F. Wells, Peter D. Wells, David S. Wilkinson, James Gleason Wilson, James A. Wojcik, J.R. Worsham III, Melvin G. Wright III and Robert G. Young.

CLASS NOTES

45th Reunion — Sept. 14-15, 2012

Class of 1967

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CLASS NOTES Graham carrying the ’67 guidon. A special compliment goes out to Dixie Walker, Dave Fink, Ted Mervosh and Mike Bagnulo for taking a slower pace and walking with J.I. Orrison and his new knees.

Our Old Yell in Barracks was thunderous. I recall at our 20th Reunion we were referred to as the “Hoard of ’67.” It is safe to say we outdid ourselves. Bob Randolph, Rick Irby, Sam Heltzel and Jan Abernathy managed to climb the portable stairs to the top of the new reinforced sentinel box, and with the helping hands of a couple of sturdy cadets, we were also able to get back down. I have been told that was the first time a kilt (VMI New Market tartan) had been up there, and thanks to all who took my picture to prove it. I know what you were really trying to do, but trust me, there is little to see.

The football game was good for more visiting. I was disappointed that the initial kickoff was returned by Richmond for a TD. The team gave it all they had, and the Corps cheered, and Little John spoke once but it was not enough that day. Saturday SRC in the new Marshall Ethics Hall was again a wonderful meal … salmon, beef, chicken … who knew the ARA folks could put on such a feast? I did notice some of the leftovers being served in Crozet the next morning at breakfast. It was still good then.

Once again, the hospitality rooms were busy late into Saturday evening, as even more BRs found where partying was going on. I will make a note to do the hospitality room again next time, as it was a good gathering point and allowed so many to catch up on the years since last they met.

Sunday’s memorial service was respectful, and Reverend John Horner (Episcopal) conducted the event. He gave an appropriate homily (not a sermon) regarding his artillery training after graduation. He referred to the military practice of firing a salvo to bracket a target and went on to talk about what happens between the first bracket and the last, as being the full measure of our lives. We moved from J.M. Hall to the Cocke Hall Memorial Garden, and a red, white and yellow wreath was placed in front of our ’67 plaque at the parapet wall. The names of all deceased BRs were read, “Taps” was sounded by a cadet bugler and “Amazing Grace” was played by a cadet piper. Many of us moved to Crozet and had a long visit over BRC. Tom Engelman was looking forward to having SOS as he remembered it, but I don’t think it was on the menu. The four double-sided serving lines (and a central double fruit, cereal and salad/taco line) had several options for bacon, sausage, eggs, our Saturday night leftovers of

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beef, salmon and chicken, potatoes and then you had liquid options of Coke/root beer/ Hawaiian Punch/Hi-C/diet soda/milk/O.J./tea/ coffee/cappuccino and ice cream (multiple flavor choices). Rats do not double time, and they sit by themselves while straining but without being trifled with – at least they were left alone that morning. They apparently get to eat plenty but still did not look happy.

I am finishing these notes at the end of October and am still getting notes, e-mails and photos from you. We get extra photos in this issue of the AR as a reunion bonus. I will submit the best ones and let the AR editor pick the best ones, based upon clarity and pixels, etc. There will be good ones in this section of overall notes in any case.

Observations about things on Post in general cover a wide range of subjects. Parking is always a subject of interest. VMI does now run shuttle buses from the Wal-Mart to sporting events to ease the congestion, and it helps. On game day, the tailgating folks lined the parade ground in an “L” configuration, leaving just enough space for the Corps to march in the morning review parade. Most of you know that, several years ago, a first class buckle was introduced for non-saber firsts.

It is an oval cartridge box plate copied from a style used at New Market. Now, all classes of “other ranks” are wearing an antique style that is rectangular with an old style VMI hat brass applied to it. Actually, it is a cast piece made by Hanover Brass of Virginia.

You can see it online with their dozens of cast products for civil war re-enactors. The VMI QM cannot sell you one, but you can buy one directly from the supplier, if you like the design. Our reunion was the first one for most Rats to experience. I noticed most of them stood in some combination of attention and awe on the fourth stoop, as they were not certain what to do while the classes gave Old Yells in the courtyard. Not knowing how to act or respond is still common in the first few weeks of all Ratlines. Some things have changed, but Rats still spend a lot of time standing in line in Sally Port, waiting for their turn to be flamed by thirds (new lingo for extreme straining). I spoke with several Rats as to why they were at VMI. Most were on a positive career track, whether planning a military or civilian future. All said that VMI offered them the best shot at a job after graduation during these uncertain times. A few among us asked how the Regimental Staff had blossomed into eight captains.

Frankly, I also lose count after the first three or four. But there are ones for training, athletics and academics, plus others I do not recall, but their chevrons are certainly impressive

and the Rats know what they mean.

I visited one of the rooms in Barracks housing a female cadet that Joan and I are mentoring. The four women (seconds) all have cell phones, each hay has at least one stuffed animal, there is an “extra” bookcase that has on top: a coffee maker, a popcorn popper, a Brita water filter pitcher and a stereo/CD/DVD player, and the two shelves have baskets full of pink bottles of every conceivable brand of shampoo/hairspray/conditioner along with other personal items. And there were boxes of food snacks that would not fit into the traditional boxes we will recall. I cannot imagine what they do with all of this stuff during an inspection.

The following will be repeats, for the most part, of e-mails received just before our reunion. In the last few days before our weekend, I managed to stir around 25 BRs into last minute action to correct their status for attendance. I will not tell you who thought registering for the hotel in early spring would get them on the reunion list. These messages are primarily for those who did not join us to get a flavor of what they missed. Pardon if things are not in absolute sequence.

Kip Jones: “Thanks for the info. I am now registered, thanks to you and Klink. I guess this qualifies me as one of the 10% who never get the word.” Anne Guthrie Anderson ... like so many among us ... registered for a room at the Holiday Inn months ago but is just now completing her formal reunion registration. Dust off your memories of Bland, as she will have a recorder with her and wants to learn about the part of her dad’s life she never knew. Just a few minutes ago tonight (Wednesday, 29 Aug.), J.I. Orrison convinced Skid Garrett to register. I found him a room at the Comfort Inn across the street.

Bob Nablo’s lament: “Thanks for the updates, Jan! As has been the case in recent years, I’m disappointed not to see people like John Goode, Hunter Taylor and Taylor Roberts on the list. Thought sure they would come this time. Not even Rod MacKinnon, who has come in the past. Oh, well ... NOTE FROM JAN: Read on for more on some of these guys. John Shea says, “I will not be attending the 45th. Maybe the 50th? Would you pass on to Burt Palmer my e-mail and ask him to drop me a message. After 46.5 years, I should catch my roommate up on the years. Hope the reunion is a good event for all. Gene Potter has taken over Karl Kanitz’ room at the Holiday Inn and is registered. Bob Poland says he is late but registered. Dave Veasey says he is also.

SOME REGRETS and OTHER STUFF: Larry Adams will be in Singapore on

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES business; Charlie Brooke has a business commitment; John Burgess is working on coming, depending on his wife’s work schedule ... trying to convince school board she needs some time off; Mike Hall is recuperating from a perforated ulcer, a subsequent infection and then a respiratory challenge ... spoke with him today, and he is doing well at home; Skip Hathaway has a new pacemaker ... also spoke with him today at home ... still recovering; Dave Gwaltney has a conflict; Bob Ward’s niece is getting married that weekend; Jim Massie is wavering between the reunion and taking his coon dogs to Louisiana for an international coon hunt; Perry Ritenour has a health challenge ... more on this soon; Tom Mustard is preparing for colon cancer surgery; Mike Miley has a conflict; Chuck Shorter wants to come, but it seems to depend on if Tennessee has a home game (Ruth is a rabid UT grad/fan ... never met a UT who isn’t); Richard Stanard has a conflict.

Bill Kiniry: “Hey Jan, As usual I’m late to ranks. Turns out I will be back from taking my 18-year-old, Spencer, to school at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, so that I can make it to Lexington on Saturday.”

Hank Ratrie: “Thanks for keeping us up on the reunion plans. Sadly, I will not make this one, because I am hosting a Maryland crab feast for my dad’s (VMI class of ’44) 90th birthday that weekend.” Burt Palmer is recovering from a hernia surgery and is not allowed to drive/ride or lift more than 10 pounds until 1 Oct. The swimming medley started exchanges heating up long before arrivals in Lexington, Hedquist and Burckard especially: “Dear BR Headboink – Now, don’t you superstars start getting all technical and competitive about this thing. Coach Arnold let me go to all the meets, because I always showed up for practice. I only joined the swim team anyway because it got me out of military duty. I always sat on the bench during all the meets and watched you guys win all the stuff, but if you’re going to start getting all serious about this thing, one (or more) of us is going to have an MI. But I guess that’s OK, too, as long as we get that brass plaque in Memorial Garden! – Sincerely, BR Burckard.”

On Thursday afternoon, Jim Ferrell called my cell to say that he and Brenda were broken down on I-64 west of Charlottesville, and while I was reminding him to call AAA, he started yelling that he saw a car approaching with a VMI flag, and off he went chasing it.

They arrived in time for the evening reception … with a new battery. Tom Rhodes also sent a text message to Joan’s droid saying

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he and Suzy were on the runway in Atlanta with a delayed flight but felt all would be OK, as the pilot had just asked if anyone on board had a really big roll of duct tape. They arrived in good shape. I phoned Pat Conley and Doug Mills about the hurricane. They live near Mobile and Pensacola, respectively.

Pat says they have escaped most of the storm and had not much rain, but he had storm shutters installed on the house Tuesday, just in case. Carol Ann said they were OK, also. In the past, Doug has been worried that a storm would blow away his pool liner, but most times the pool just overflows and attracts extra frogs and then frog-eating snakes. Kermit Quick asked if anyone would like to join the golfers to photo the group and their antics on Friday. My understanding is the photo person might ride in the beverage cart, so it could be a fun time for a photographer. (Have you seen the young lady that operates that cart?!) Call Kermit to volunteer.

I spoke with Jake de Steiguer on Thursday morning. He was in his car on the way to work (waiting for the ferry that crosses to Seattle) 10 days after crunching his Land Rover.

The stitches are out, and his complaint was that sleeping is difficult with four broken ribs on one side and a bruised lung on the other side. He feels certain his doctor will give him the all clear to fly to the reunion. He also said he is going into the office to give Bonnie a chance to rest after her long week of nursing him back to upright status. His final words were about how well the USAA insurance folks had been.

Steve Young: “I plan now to be at as much of reunion as I can ... Our grandson, Tyrus Lloyd Young, was born in Columbia, SC, on Aug. 24th. SEE YOU SOON.” Taylor Roberts, Proud Member of Class of ’67: “Tell Nablo I’m still kicking and trying to keep up with my young wife. Haven’t heard from Goode in a number of years but believe he is still around Richmond. Aimee and I played bridge with Hunter and Cathy Taylor for a few years, when he had a second home in Leesburg, and have recently lost touch with him. (Rogers will know everything.)

We are now Florida residents living on the west coast in Bonita Springs to escape the winter weather that makes my joints ache so badly. Also still living in our home in Vienna, VA, but less than six months a year in case the state reads this. Valucom, the database business I started in 1981, is still operating via the ‘web.’ Still playing lots of golf, most with Aimee. Fantasy football draft tonight with my son, who will call in to keep the old man straight and still heavily involved in the non-profit called Vienna Youth where I spend

most of my time these days.” Hunter Taylor: “Responding to Nablo: Cathy and I are not attending due to conflict with family wedding in Philadelphia (Cathy’s niece). I tried unsuccessfully to get a permit. Otherwise, I would be there to get on Nablo’s case, to put it politely. I hope all have a great time. The last time I saw Bob he was sober.” Bruce Bodner: “Hi, Tartan Man. Guess I, too, will miss the 45th due to conflicts and a health matter. Just finally got my ring resized, too! Now I can wear it till the 50th celebration, and I truly intend to. Please extend my thoughts to our BRs and my wishes for a wonderful reunion.

Wharton Ramsey: “Jan, forgive me if I’ve asked you this before: your ‘@iglide’ .... what does that mean? Reason I ask is that gliding has been a life-long passion for me. Thx. PS. I’m bringing Ellen to the reunion. She’s never been to one but already loves VMI!” Jan’s answer: “Iglide.net is the handle of the server, and I have no idea where they got it.

I have often thought I would like to take a hang glide flight, however.” Tom and Michele Gillette: “We have been able to get a room at the Best Western, and I have submitted the registration form and payment online. Thank you for your help, and we will see you there.”

Jim Robertson bumped into Jack Mundy at their Lions Club meeting. Somehow, Jim has not been in the loop. “Jan, I am trying to talk him into coming up on Saturday. He was originally scheduled to be at the beach on that weekend, but they just cancelled, so his weekend is free. Jim” Terry Moore reports on Isaac: “Looks like Hurricane Isaac just left us with a lot of rain/water and tree branches down. We also got a bay water surge of about 6’–9’, but I had had the boat pulled out and placed on dry land. It stayed dry, so all is well. Beth and I will see y’all on Thursday at the reunion.” Ed Jones may have to miss part of the weekend after all, as a trial date for a large case has been moved up, and there is a lot of prep work to complete. I have calls in to a number of voice mails. Frank Kuchuris: “I spoke with Patsy, and I think she wants to come to the reunion. Oh, congratulations on having FIVE Kuchuris grandchildren.”

I will close with this retrospective from Jay Mangan: My 45th VMI Reunion: I travel through 50 years of expired futures…

To look into the faces of men I can barely remember.

A two-hour’s drive… to go back half a century.

In the mirror, I see an old man’s face.

And now struggle to reconcile my mortality.

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CLASS NOTES Tom Hickey

’68

Ron Gallagher

Rick Brothers (Sedona, AZ) (via snail mail): “Jane and I retired to Sedona, AZ. Hiking, golf, tennis and travel with friends keeps us busy.

We went to Coronado, CA, to see friends and I stopped by the Prescott VAH and had a good visit with Jim Burg (Prescott, AZ). I sold my airplane – too expensive a hobby in retirement.

I’m doing some ‘part-time’ urology in Flagstaff.

I guess I will never totally retire. Jane and I are going on 44 years together and have seven grandchildren (four boys and three girls, all under 8-1/2). They are a kick and keep us young.

We hope to make the reunion next year.”

Tom Boyd (Washington, D.C.): “Had lunch with Walt Jeffress (Fairfax, VA) and Bryan Barton (Oakton, VA) in mid-September.”

Buck Miller (Wilton, CT): “On my birthday (9/19), I underwent lumbar back surgery to correct serious spinal stenosis. I had apparently broken a vertebrae in a rowing collision in the mid ’70s, and that started to move around, causing arthritis and stenosis. By the time of the surgery, I could not stand or walk for any length of time, was bent over like a really old dude and was in constant pain. I had a complete laminectomy of L4 and partial laminectomy of L3 and L5, then fusion of L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1.

So far, a complete success and zero pain! This is the culmination of a terrible summer from a health point of view. I tore my left hamstring at the end of June, then my right biceps had to be surgically re-attached in the beginning of August, and then my back pain became excruciating. Good news is that I am alive and well, and the doc assures me I will be rowing in the spring. Karen is doing all the outside work, since I have been an invalid all summer.

Without that woman, I’d be dead meat!

“Present count is four grandchildren under three: two little boys, in Park City, UT, and a little girl and baby boy in Chicago. They are all so far away that we see them very infrequently.

All the kids and grandkids were here when my biceps surgery took place, so I was out of it.

They are all coming at Christmas, and I intend to be healthy!

“Krita and Gee Kritakara (Bangkok, Thailand) came to Chips and Cathy McCallum’s (Suffolk, VA) wedding at the end of March and spent a week with us. Had a blast shepherding

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them around, and the wedding was phenomenal! Also spent time with TK and Mary Norment (Williamsburg, VA) and Mike and Carol Smythers (Chesapeake, VA) at the wedding.

Lots of VMI folks there!

“Was fortunate to reconnect with BR George Squires (Richmond, VA) last spring and gained some clarification on some of the adventures of our cadetship including the lowering to halfstaff of the Post flags when Otis Redding died!

What a wonderful guy George was and so sad to lose him so soon.

“Playing lawyer again by handling my own case in the Connecticut Appellate Court, defending the approval we received from zoning to build a small cabin on our island in Long Island Sound. So far, I am enjoying the process, and I am looking forward to oral argument in the spring, then 3–6 months until the decision.

I am sure whoever loses will seek review by the Conn. Supreme Court, so it will be years before we can build, but I am confident we will ultimately prevail. The other side is almost half a mile away, so they should have no right to dictate what we do on our property, but they are rich and have too much time on their hands.”

Ned Harris (Ipswich, MA): “Your birthday POSTcard card reminds me of day 1 and Jim Williams ’66 telling us to ‘hit every step.’ I did.

“Cornelia and I are here in Ipswich, MA, until the end of the month. Then we’re headed to Maddock, ND, for a couple of weeks. It’s my mother’s hometown, and we have a small house there. Then, we’re off to Phoenix for the winter.

We spent most of the summer in Maddock, having a great time with my cousins and few uncles and aunts that remain. Dad was from Massachusetts, but Mom came from a Norwegian farm family of 15 -- 8 girls and 7 boys. There are around 50 of us in my generation, so we usually have lots of fun company. The oil boom hasn’t hit Maddock, as it’s in the eastern half of ND, and the oil is in the western half – darn it! If you haven’t been to ND, I would encourage a visit, as it’s beautiful in the summer, but a little chilly in the winter. The summer before we matriculated, I spent out there working the farms of my uncles, so I was in pretty good shape for the Ratline.

“I’ve seen Larry Ryan (New Braunfels, TX) and Joe Smith (Annapolis, MD) earlier in the year, and we’re sorry not to have made the New Market get-together at the Crims (New Market, VA). Kudos to John Crim and his wife for hosting us all! Next year, we’ll make it, if they manage another event. I keep trying to keep up with Dean Kershaw (Fairfield, VA), my old roommate, but he’s too fast for me. I think he’s back in Dubai. Guy Drewry (Virginia Beach, VA) is hard to find, too. And one of these days, I’ll figure out why Bob Farrenkopf (Grantham, NH) decided to become incommunicado.

“My two kids live in Pittsburgh, where my daughter Juli (29) is a medical assistant, and son Alexander (31) and his wife, Dalena, have our granddaughter, Natalie. He’s a stay-at-home dad and has done a great job raising Natalie.”

Paul Quillen (Cartersville, GA): “Between us, Lydia and I have five daughters, 13 grandchildren, one more grandchild on the way and two great-grandchildren. That keeps the phone ringing. I’m involved with the Atlanta IEEE chapter, Atlanta VMI alumni meetings, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Cassville Historical Society (a town that Sherman burned to the ground in the middle of the winter), two Vietnam Veterans organizations, four ham radio clubs, two Tea Parties in different counties, church, reloading, target shooting, day-trading, occasionally teaching day-trading to aspiring day-traders and occasional workouts at the gym (need to increase that). I’ve got a web server at a 40 Gbps data center near Georgia Tech and maintain my 180 domains on it.

“As I age, the V.A. has become a more frequent part of my life. I want to thank BR Don Lynch, MD, for coaching me through prostate cancer treatment, which was successful. I enjoy being busy, and my work is fun and intellectually stimulating, so I have no motivation to quit.

However, we are getting out of Dodge for short trips a little more frequently.”

John Van Landingham (Eugene, OR): Still working a lot as a legal aid lawyer. Wife Martha is also working a lot as an Oregon Supreme Court justice. Our big excitement of the year was in January when she fell on a remote beach in Spain and broke her lower leg – think Joe Theisman – and had to be rescued by helicopter.

Five days in a Spanish hospital, with two metal plates and 14 screws. She’s just now walking without a boot.

“Still feeling sad about George Squires’ death. Spoke at his memorial service in Richmond in early April and sang the VMI fight song with about 15 BRs in George’s honor.

He loved VMI, though he also felt torn about his treatment at the end of our four years.

Skip Roberts (Lexington, VA), Creigh Kelley (Centennial, CO), John Augustine (Burke, VA), and Steve Hubbard (Maplecrest, NY) were wonderful to George over the last months of his life. Have visited with George’s widow, Kitty Sue, since then.

“Both of our kids are in grad schools in the D.C. area – Johnny #5 at the University of Maryland in astronomy and Cassie at Johns Hopkins/ SAIS in international development. Plan to visit them over the next two years and hope to see D.C.-area BRs like Dave Gibbons (Washington, DC), Tom Boyd, Rick Siegel (Bethesda, MD) and John Augustine. My father, John #3, VMI class of 1943, turned 90 this week.”

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Tim Underwood (Hampstead, NC): “Had reverse shoulder replacement three weeks prior, and recovery is in progress. Have continued to work seasonal at HR Block, Surf City, NC (four months a year) and try to relax rest of year.

Looking forward to re-connecting with Brother Rats next year at the 45th. Am continuing to enjoy retirement from Army and Ford and relocation to NC (since 2007).”

Kitty (George) Squires (Henrico, VA): “I have been fortunate to have had the help of a hospice bereavement counselor. I think I am doing well and am enjoying living in a comfortable senior apartment building. I keep in close contact with George’s sister and brother-in-law.

In June, we all had lunch with John Van Landingham and his wonderful son, Johnny, while they were in the area visiting John’s parents.”

Billy Seargeant (Fredericksburg, VA): “I had a wonderful visit with Jim Burns (Henrico, VA). Also, I received a nice ‘atta-boy’ to share with you – one of my projects – from Col. William Wanovich (PMS, VMI Army ROTC) to John J. Brown (VWIL): ‘I want to put you in touch w/ Mr. Billy Seargeant, VMI ’68. He is a great friend of the Institute and has done so much to assist Robbie in procuring and manufacturing parts for the M14 weapons and bayonets, scabbards, etc. I can say with great assurance that the weapons at VMI are in great shape compared to what they would be without all of his personal time and financial assistance.

Billy has a contact that may be able to assist VWIL with their artillery piece.’”

Jim Burg (Prescott Valley, AZ): “We sold our house and are moving to a rental in Prescott Valley, an adjoining town, effective 11/15.

We’re moving to the premiere planned community StoneRidge which has a beautiful clubhouse with two pools and a fully contemporary exercise room. Renting rather than buying will reduce our maintenance and yard work costs and give us greater serenity of mind knowing that we don’t have to pay for anything but rental fees. The others are just getting to be too much for both me and my wife.”

Later in October, Jim wrote: “I’ve been asked to represent the U.S. Army as the Grand Marshall in the 11/11 Veterans Day parade for Prescott and the VA hospital.” (Editor’s Note: See Alumni News section, page 150.)

Jim Polley (Stafford, VA) (from Facebook): “Once again, greetings from Guantanamo Bay. Going to start the next session of US v KSM et al (911 case) on Monday – basically going to pick up where we left off when we had to evacuate in August because of a hurricane.”

Steve Vaughan (Chestertown, MD): “Had a great birthday. I ran a ‘warrior dash’ (similar to an obstacle course/ 5K run combination) with my son.”

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Dee Biggs (Acton, MA): “All is well with everyone in our family. I am going to retire from Welch’s in November after 34 years. Just back from a big retirement party with our marketing and sales organization last night in Newport, RI. Looking forward to retirement, as I will be coaching fifth grade travel basketball again this winter, in addition to doing some light consulting and visiting our grandchildren.”

George Sebren (Niceville, FL): “Here’s most of the video my tandem dude shot during the parachute jump, http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cMpuRikxzlQ. Some fun. Short ride from 10,000 feet. Kay’s putting the rest of it together. This was her anniversary present to me this year. I survived, so the insurance is still in force. One more thing off the bucket list.”

Now, a note about myself. I retired from Honeywell at the end of June 2012 thinking I would be playing a lot of golf to fill the rest of the summer. Almost immediately, my left knee started acting up, culminating with arthroscopic surgery in mid-October. On a happier note, my daughter, Katie Dexter, gave birth to the most perfect granddaughter ever born – at least, that is my assessment – on Oct, 1 and named her Harper Adair Dexter. Between helping my daughter (and son-in-law) and taking care of me, Rosemary (aka, The Queen Mother) is frazzled.

A closing note: Our 45th Reunion, an “extreme event,” is scheduled for the weekend of 6–8 Sept. 2013. If you haven’t gotten it already, you’ll be getting a note in early 2013 from Carole Green giving you instructions on hotel reservations. The reunion package will be put in the mail to you in the May-July period.

’69

Walter Judd

Greetings, Brother Rats and friends of the VMI class of 1969. Fall is in the air as the days get shorter and drier, and guys gather for football and golf outings. The talk this time is about sharing matriculation tales and then avoiding controversy when a presidential candidate came to VMI to speak. As is the norm, EVERYONE had an opinion!

On Oct. 12th, Tommy Thompson invited a bunch of BRs from all over the East Coast to his golf club in Petersburg for his annual golf and cocktail party. Thirty-two golfers showed up from ’68, ’69, ’70 and ’72. Spunky Butler and Doug Marks did not play but had a good time riding around the course harassing golfers. Gene Beale came for the after-golf festivities. Winning the competition was the team of Lee Swats, Bob Flowers, Bunny

Paulette and Ned Caldwell, with others not far behind. The following ’69 BRs came to the event: Jim Chapman from Salem; Larry Seekford and Bob Waldo from the northern Valley area; John Hardy and Bob Flowers from northern VA; Bob Heely, Gary Mackey and Lee Barnes from Norfolk/VA Beach; Glenn White and Tommy Catlett joined me from Yorktown area; Knox Hubard from the Northern Neck; Pat Branch, Bunny Paulette, Lee Swats, Bruce Gregory, Dick Jeter, Tommy Thompson and Ned Caldwell from greater Richmond area; Peyton Brown from Lynchburg; John Sebrell from Lexington; Al Pond from Atlanta; TC Jones from Macon; and Al Kaliski came up from Charlotte for the first time and appeared to enjoy himself.

John Kemper ’68, Dick Wise ’68, Howard Donald ’68 and Kevin Henry ’68 represented the Good-to-me’s. Bob Copty, Herb Braun, Bill O’Connor and Bill Gearhart were the ’70 reps. Chris Foster, William Irby, Roger Hart and Lindley Vaughan ’72 endured again the pain of playing the match from the longest distances anyone could set up on the course.

Director Thompson had to recognize the youth of the ’72 guys and let them hack away!

At the University of Richmond football game at VMI’s field in the middle of Sept., our class was honored at halftime when Greg Cavallaro ’84 of the VMI Keydet Club presented us to the crowd as the class best meeting the Challenge for gifts in FY12. Cav’s words: “Ladies and gentlemen – This past fiscal year, the Keydet Club created the VMI Alumni Class ‘Above & Beyond’ Challenge, encouraging all alumni to consider giving a gift of $100 above what they contributed the previous fiscal year. A total of 1,287 alumni participated, while helping the Keydet Club raise $3,280,000 in support of athletic scholarship and operations. The class of ’69 won the competition with a total of 73 Brother Rats rising to the challenge. For their efforts, the class received a $50,000 endowed athletic scholarship, which will be forever known as the Class of ’69 Athletic Scholarship at VMI. VMI football tight end Mario Thompson ’13 is the first recipient of the scholarship. Additionally, ‘Moe’ the VMI mascot, will wear the # 69 for this entire school year.” Alumni Association President Bob Heely joined Keydet Club President Bunny Paulette and me as your reps on the field. A photo appeared on page 168 of the last Alumni Review, 2012-Issue 4. Joining Moe the Mascot wearing number 69 and Rat football player Joe Kluckowski wearing his jersey number 69 were: Jay Hoenig (visiting his sister in Roanoke from China!), Knox Hubard, John Sebrell, Bunny Paulette, Dave Prugh, Ron Wall, Tom Hickman, Courtenay

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CLASS NOTES Welton and me. Jimmy Long, Dave Bush and Bob Heely were there, as well.

Because of its timing and great generosity, I must also point out that Jamie Totten, almost immediately after we won the Challenge competition, gave a matching gift to the athletic scholarship and started a new academic scholarship in the name of the class. Thanks, Jamie, for your good timing and thoughtful gifts to the “I.” Anyone else wishing to add to the two scholarships is welcomed to do so, as we now have two funds started in the name of our class. Ron Wall was invited to represent our class at the 20 Oct. athletic scholarship banquet and was able to meet the scholarathlete who is benefitting already from the new class scholarship.

Jim Long was kind enough to report on the crowd attending the Presbyterian College football game played on 6 Oct. in Lexington: “In attendance were Jim and Ruth Chapman, Jim and Beth Long, Tommy and Nancy Catlett, Peyton and Gail Brown, Dave and Susan Prugh, Ron and Betsy Wall with their son, Robin, and his fiancée, Lisa, and Chuck Becker with his daughter, Cindy, and granddaughter, Emma. The beautiful day was only enhanced by a victory.” John Sebrell and I both watched the game on our computers from other locations and enjoyed the broadcast made available by a sports network.

At the Richmond game on 15 Sept., Tom Hickman started to apologize to me for starting the avalanche of e-mail messages following his innocuous statement on 10 Sept.: “Brother Rats, 47 years ago today we became Brother Rats.” As it turned out he was a day off, but who would have believed the outpouring of memories. I sent him and the class a gentle reminder of the facts of the day (as recorded in the matriculation book being used that day): “I checked the records; 9 Sept. 65 was the date. I spent a day in the library a few years back recording all sorts of trivia – 82 of us matriculated that day: Gary Market was first; Danny Locklair was last; and Jacob Pence right in the middle. I found several ‘two-days-there’ guys and a few with more than five years ...” Tom asked right away how many of us graduated. “Had to do the math: 261 got degrees from VMI. Two others got medical-related degrees soon after VMI (Jack O’Donnell - MD - and Biker Bob Ladd - BS Pharm. Of the non-grads, many got degrees from other places. That part of my research is not very good, and I would appreciate any info about those individuals.”

I quickly told Tom he was the instigator of a great dialogue.

I was interested in finding a way to cheer up Charlie Bryan after his kidney removal

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surgery in mid-September. Win Winfree and I discussed our options and decided a large batch of e-mail messages might do the trick.

Like a confluence of big storms moving across the country (similar to what is happening this weekend as we await the arrival of Hurricane Sandy!), Tom Hickman’s short question and my interest in wishing Charlie good health joined forces for a terrific exchange of info about our collective memories of VMI and that fateful first few days. For the next several weeks, BRs from all around the world sent in tales of their memories of the first day and first hours of their cadetships.

And some even remembered to give Charlie best wishes! That line of messages turned eventually to the food and other fond memories of the first weeks in the Ratline. I was amazed at how much info different guys remember. If anyone needs to know where they were in the line of Rats entering the system that day, I have the matriculation sheets with names and hometowns listed in order. There was a lot of talk about first night roommates.

I suggest you can probably find who those BRs were by looking at who was in front or behind you that fateful day. Spunky Butler even suggested we start sharing lists of our roommates, as we can remember, and the room numbers, if such is possible. Spunky told of starting on the fifth stoop in a large room with many others and moving down only when there were rooms available on the third and fourth stoops. He talked about the numbers of guys he roomed with as the year progressed and came up with a large number.

Before I forget, remember to congratulate Tom Morris and Bruce Gregory who became grandparents in Oct.: Tom for the third time and Bruce for the first. We also want to wish Webb Hatch good health as he received four stints on 7 Sept. after complaining of chest pains to his family doctor. A morning appointment turned into afternoon surgery and a couple weeks of recovery. All reports since have been good, and Webb resumed his normal work schedule just in time to start preparing his Frostburg State basketball team for another season.

Back to the memory walk. About three weeks after the initial messages starting flying, Rudy Segaar mentioned he had married his high school sweetheart and asked who else had done the same. Bob Flowers and Dennis Witt admitted quickly they were in that group. Scott Rhodes then changed the question slightly and asked who else had married their ring figure date. Bruce Sharp, Frank Novakowski, Mike LaMar and Thornton Newlon jumped on that one and answered positively. Jim Tucker soon after added his affirmative reply. (Jim’s address info lists

him as Chief of Emergency and Hospitalist Medicine; Director of Medical Education, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center; Director, Family Medicine Residency, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center; Professor, Department of Family Medicine, SUNY UMU. I think that translates as him staying pretty busy most days!) Dave Couch said to include him in both categories: high school sweetheart and ring figure date. Terrific stuff, this.

Earlier in the message traffic, someone had mentioned that a BR on the way to the fourth stoop on that fateful first day had dropped his golf bag full of clubs and caused a ruckus.

Dr. Couch stated it beautifully: “Malone Parham told me he dropped the golf clubs off the fourth stoop. I remember it well, as I witnessed it from the courtyard and couldn’t stifle a laugh. I believe my current hearing impairment dates from that moment.” What memories …

From the ring figure dates and longtime relationships conversation, Don Nelson switched to mid-winter dances our first class year. He met his wife on that occasion when seven gals from W&M came up for the weekend. Bar Delk arranged the dates (I think I told this story in an earlier class notes), and Don was the main benefactor. Somehow, we jumped from winter dances to the prospects of coming back to Lexington after Christmas break Rat year. Jim Long, Scott Rhodes and Ward Carr all shared the not-so-pleasant thoughts hitting everyone as they came up route 11 and saw the back of Barracks: the Dark Ages, exams and Resurrection. What joyful memories …

The thoughts of “family-style” meals in the mess hall brought all kinds of reports. Food fights, antics by upperclassmen in “correcting” Rats, the food itself and how it was served.

Snorkeling chocolate pudding and jello: interesting way to eat. “Cadet Waiter” bread and Sunday morning cinnamon rolls got prominent notice. Reb Anderson and I still remember fondly the smell and taste of that big loaf covered in cinnamon, sugar and butter.

Recurring theme for many of the messages was how the stress of the Ratline and discipline prepared guys for their lives after VMI. We don’t have enough room here to mention them all, but apparently the training helped many get through the trials of family and jobs with wit and understanding. Drew Brantley gets credit for the funniest retort: “I have read the memories of ‘that day’ and wondered why anyone would want to remember the horror of it all. I happen to work in an organization that has many VMI grads, one of whom is Dave O’Connor ’68, one of my Cadre corporals.

Whenever nostalgia overcomes rational thought, I go over to Dave, and he screams in

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES my ear to ‘rack my slimy chin in and tell him how many links are in the chain around the statue of Gen. Washington outside Washington arch.’ This usually brings me back to my senses. I tell him that was ‘Good to me’ and go back to my work. My site manager is John Cummings, a ’62 grad and commandant in the mid-80s, who has the disconcerting habit of telling me Big Toot has sounded, and I had better get my posterior in gear. I am probably the only grad who still has to answer ‘Special Reports’ and be reminded that quibbling is not allowed. Consequently, I do not win any contentious issue discussions.” Who says you cannot have fun with this stuff every day?

And Mav Long gets second prize with this tale from the first minutes of our time at VMI: “Since Preston Painter hasn’t checked in to tell this story, I will tell it for him. We all knew very little about the place but possibly thought we knew a few things. Preston did know that, for each year you were there, you received another stripe at the cuff of your blouse sleeve.

We are barely through THE ARCH when an upperclassman sticks his nose in Preston’s ear while running his fingers up and down between his shoulder blades and asks, ‘Rat, I have five stripes on my sleeve; do you know what this makes me?’ Preston, being the sharp knife in the drawer, has it figured out and says, ‘a POST GRADUATE, sir.’ He did get a bit of a chuckle from Lloyd Leech, the battalion commander, before the pushups started!”

To show the impact of the memory exchange, here is a listing of the BRs who were part of the discussion. If you wish to participate in such e-mail exchanges, send me your current e-mail address! Rebel Anderson, Courtney Apperson, Bill Bailey, Gordon Bailey, John Baker, Lee Barnes, Bruce Beaulieu, Chris Brothers, Drew Brantley, Peyton Brown, Charlie Bryan, Larry Brydon, Tom Buckner, David Bush, Art Bushey, Spunky Butler, Ned Caldwell, Jim Campbell, Ward Carr, Rusty (“Wilt”) Chamberlain, Jim Chapman, Warren Childress, Bob Clingenpeel, Brant Collins, Dave Couch, Paul Curs, John Dick, John DuBose, John Edenfield, Bill Ellerman, Marvin Fayman, Joe Flanz, Ken Fleming, Bob Flint, Bob Flowers, Fred Ford, Rebel Good, Bob Graham, Bruce Gregory, Glenn Hammond, Mike Hanna, Mike Harper, Webb Hatch, Bob Heely, Tom Hickman, Don Hinshelwood, Hugh Hopkins, Joe Howard, Knox Hubard, Jay Jennings, TC Jones, Al Kaliski, Wayne Keesee, Pat King, Bob Ladd, Mike LaMar, Bob Leibecke, Jim Long, Joe Lynch, Gary Mackey, Mike Maguigan, Doug Marks, Paul Mascot, Paul Mathewson, Lloyd McGrady, Don Mercer, Tom Morris, Rick Morris, Don

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Nelson, Thornton Newlon, Frank Novakowski, JJ Oliver, Bunny Paulette, Marty Parks, John Power, WIP Priest, Dave Prugh, Scott Rhodes, John Robins, Tom Ruffin, Mike Santoro, Rich Schmidt, John Scott, John Sebrell, Rudy Segaar, Bruce Sharp, Lou Sidney, Bob Slay, Rick Snow, Bob Sparks, John Stann, Roy Swatts, Tom Thompson, Jamie Totten, Jim Tucker, Randy Vass, Bob Waldo, Ron Wall, Courtenay Welton, Glenn White, LR Williams, Win Winfree, Wade Wineman, Dennis Witt, KC Woodroof and John Zunka.

If you have photos from the past and wish to share them, Dr. Pat King has volunteered to prepare a show or a book of images for our 45th Reunion. Pass to him anything you want to share. DrPD123@aol.com.

Although I missed this year, WIP and Barbara Priest held their annual Bena Day party in late August. Bob and Lush Heely and Bob and Ruth Waldo represented our class and ate their share of freshly steamed crabs!

Tom Morris and I did speak later to Josh Priest ’80, WIP’s younger brother, at a local Williamsburg BBQ spot in early Oct. He was heading to Lexington to witness the win over Presbyterian College with BRs and friends.

In early Oct., Marty Parks sent this message from SW VA: “I thought I would let you know that after 32-1/2 years of private law practice in Galax, I am hanging up my shingle. I was recently offered the position of assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Grayson County. The time seemed right, so I accepted. I’ll begin November 1. I didn’t know how much I was looking forward to the change until I had the job.” Don’t mess up in Grayson County, BRs. The prosecutor is way too efficient!

Pvt. Bob Slay (VMI Corps of Cadets; later Col. USA, Ret) announced he had another TV show coming out. “It will be on the Discovery Health and Fitness channel on 20 Oct. This is the sixth one I have done, but this may be one of the best. Yet I’m still keeping my day job.

EPISODE PREMIERE! UNTOLD STORIES OF THE ER – EPISODE 703 – ‘FRAT BOY BLUES.’” Keep watch for Dr. Slay on late night TV… We finish our latest stroll down memory lane with this tale from John Sebrell:“I really want to know who it was standing in front of me that memorable day, who, when the world caved in and he was asked, “What are you looking around for, maggot; do you want to buy this place?” responded, “Got change for a quarter?” The hundreds of pushups that those of us who heard it had to do were worth every ounce of energy we had! Who was that guy?

He was my hero.”

In the Spirit, Walt

’70

Warren Grasty

As with the last class notes, this also begins with very sad news. In August, we lost Walt Ivkovich and in October, Jeff Guild. Walt, who was living in the Pittsburgh area, passed away from liver disease, which was complicated by a bacterial infection and the effects of a bad fall. Jeff, who was living in Vilnius, Lithuania, succumbed to cancer. Jeff’s funeral arrangements at Arlington National Cemetery are being made as I write. Our deepest sympathies go out to both of their families. One of the things that Walt and Jeff had in common was a great sense of humor, honed to a razor’s edge by four years in Barracks. As Walt was a fellow EE, summer school attendee and sometime golfing compatriot, I had more recent exposure to his dry wit than to Jeff’s, but both will be remembered with a smile. (Editor’s Note: The obituary of Walt Ivkovich appears in the Taps section of this Review issue.)

October also brought the funeral of Jack Kern, who was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Among the many paying their respects to Melanie and Bob and Kathy Kern Candido were Dewey and Brenda George, Reed and Carol Heddleston, Glenn Kuntz, Russ Marshall, Paul and Lynn Munch, Bill O’Connor, Cameron and Mary Seay, Carl Strock, and Jerry and Jeanne Woo. As the caisson was waiting to head to the gravesite outside the Fort Myer

Class of 1970: Bobby Brown with twin grandchildren, Clara and Jack.

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CLASS NOTES Old Post Chapel, the U.S. Army Band played the most moving version of the VMI “Doxology” these ears ever heard. Rest in peace, Brother Rats.

On a much more positive note, I was able to find e-mail addresses for 10 Brother Rats to add them to the class e-mail list, which now numbers 253. This includes Larry Dempsey, Larry Fisher, Chuck Forrest, Jesse Glidewell, Dick Marshall, Artie Pates, Terry Smith, Sonny Sowers, Conrad Strickland and Gary Tyler. Jesse tagged me back from his home in scenic Eden, UT, altitude 5,400 feet, to say that life is good for him and Bobbye. Living at the base of Powder Mountain, they are able to get in as much hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and powder skiing as they can stand. He recently hiked up Ben Lomand with a friend, a 17-mile, 4,000-foot climb.

Sometime during that week, he also had a horse fall on him. I don’t know about you, but if I had a horse, you wouldn’t catch me walking 17 miles, much less uphill. Anyway, plans include a trek back to Brunswick County, VA, to spend Thanksgiving with their sons.

The Richmond football game in Lexington in mid-September brought BRs out of the woodwork. Herbert and Susan Braun, Tommy and Jill Cooke, Ralph and Marsha Costen, Lee and Connie Moon, Bill and Marsha O’Connor, Lew and Judy Reynolds, and Neil and De Ste-

verson were there, due to their winning bid on the Richmond football weekend package from the Keydet Club Online Auction. Fortunately, there was still significant debris remaining from a strong storm that blew through the area a few weeks earlier, which masked the damage done by this crew to Lexington Country Club. Also attending the game were John and June Bailey, Peel Dillard, Waite Rawls, and Gary and Lynn Weishaar. Neil says that he occasionally spies Peter and Brantley Knowles cruising around Richmond taking respite from the Florida summer heat.

Reporting from the Navy football game in Annapolis the following weekend, Bill O’Connor said he ran into Mike Carruth, Ralph and Marsha Costen, Dick and Dee Hamlet, T.O. and Arlene Palmer ’69, and Damiso Alexander ’10, the first Class of 1970 Scholarship recipient. Also reportedly in the stands were G.W. Flinn, Dave Nuckols and Julian Smith. Dick stays busy in the Tidewater area, working in construction, doing numerous projects replicating conflict theater settings for pre-deployment troops. He says that Dee will be retiring after this school year, which is her 39th. This event was the final public appearance by Rufus before his second hip surgery, which, I am happy to report, went well. Then again, it wasn’t my hip; so how bad could it have been?

Class of 1970: At Marathon Key, Florida, were the Bott family, Ann Marie, Carter ’32, Wescott ’99, Reed ’30, Bill, Brigette, Connor ’26, Charles ’96, Owen ’24 and Caroline.

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Speaking of our class’ scholarship fund, I had the pleasure of representing the class at the 2012 Keydet Club Scholarship Athletes Recognition Banquet on 20 Oct., following the Coastal Carolina football game in Lexington.

There were over 600 attendees, including the current Class of 1970 Scholarship recipient, Cadet Parker Cherlin ’15, and his proud parents, Lisa and Alex Cherlin of Richmond.

They are all most appreciative of our class’ support of Cherlin’s education, as he works toward a degree in economics and business.

Parker told me that he is still finding it difficult to gain the extra weight the coaches want him to put on in his switch from defensive to offensive lineman. Sorry, Parker, but you are unlikely to find much sympathy from the likes of us on that point, as we simply can’t relate to this situation. Also attending the banquet were Steve and Sherrie Craddock in recognition of their scholarship cadet, Conner Mays ’14. Joining us earlier in the day for the game against Coastal Carolina were Bill O’Connor, Lew and Judy Reynolds, Gary and Lynn Weishaar, and Chuck and Penny Wills.

Lexington also provided the backdrop for the wedding of Roland and Jeannie Vaughan’s daughter, Kallie, on Oct. 13th. The reception was held in Moody Hall, just as Mom’s and Dad’s was, way back on May 18, 1970.

Fortunately, they beat Hurricane Sandy by a few weeks.

I am pleased to report that Bobby and Betty Brown achieved grandparent status in style with the birth of twins Clara and Jack to their oldest daughter, Spencer, in Pittsburgh. Another a newbie grandfather is Dave Nuckols, whose daughter, Beverly, had granddaughter Brynn in Abingdon, VA, last year. During the summer, Cameron and Mary Seay trekked out to Wyoming to help welcome grandson #2, Theodore Joseph Martin, their youngest daughter’s first child. On Oct. 5th in sunny Florida, Tom and Sheryl Love welcomed their fifth grandchild, who is their first grandson.

While out in Montana, John and Carolyn McLemore’s youngest daughter had her first grandchild, which was also their fifth. Needless to say, Facebook is awash in pictures.

During the McLemores’ visit to Montana to assist their daughter, Smack invited Ed Trinkle to join him in traipsing around the western part of the state with John’s VMI flag in tow. Reportedly, after venturing deep into Kootenai National Forest to a fire lookout on top of a peak, they encountered two hunters, complete with campfire and high-powered rifles. Cue the banjos. Anyway, they asked one of them to take a picture, after which witnesses recount sighting two geezers with a flag, scurrying down the peak at a record pace.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES I’ll let Ed describe a scene from the last part on the second hole were Terrell and Sarah Wilof their trip, which he does so eloquently. “We liams ’74. Gordon was supposed to have been did travel, very early one morning (through assisted by his former roomie of four years, the snow, naturally) to the confluence of the Mike Carruth. However, Mike got pressed Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison Rivers (at into action as a Hole Captain on another hole Three Forks, MT) to experience the dawn due to the sudden illness of the scheduled caplight where the three rivers form the Missouri tain. I guess you could say that Mike became River. The stillness and solemnity made it a their ace in the hole. I know, it’s not one of my memorable experience … We had the entire best, but I’ve got to do something to keep you state park to ourselves for two hours and just people awake. treasured every moment. It was the highlight Meanwhile, from the other, darker end of of my journey.” the golfing spectrum, Bill O’Connor sent in Also trekking through the woods recently, a picture from the annual Two-Bellies golf these being in the Great Smoky Mountains of tournament in Petersburg, VA, in October, feaNorth Carolina, were Phil and Carolyn Anderturing himself, Herb Braun, Bob Copty and son. They did three, day hikes totaling over Bill Gearhart. Fortunately, the picture quality 17 miles. One can reasonably infer from this was too low for inclusion here. After all, this is that they don’t own a horse. Anyway, an early a family publication. snowfall drove them to nearby Asheville for In early October, Jerry VanLear went on his some much needed R&R at the Biltmore and church’s mission trip to Haiti to help rebuild a in the city’s numerous shops and restaurants. church damaged in the 2010 earthquake. Even They extend an invitation to any BRs who find after almost three years, there is still much to themselves within shouting distance of Big be done. Although he has volunteered for his Canoe, GA. Bill and Brigitte Bott sent indisputable video evidence of their family vacation last summer on Key Colony Beach in Marathon, FL. One could say that they were really keyed up for this trip. At the rate they are going, VMI may have to consider creating a separate Bott Company for all their grandsons, who, at the most recent count, are Carter ’32, Reed ’30, Connor ’26 and Owen ’24.

Gordon Williams sent in some nice pictures of his experience marshaling at the 2012 Ryder Cup golf tournament at Medina Country Club outside of Chicago in Class of 1970: Ed Trinkle and John McLemore September. Helping him and wife mountain in western Montana.

Kim fulfill the Hole Captain duties

Class of 1970: Jerry VanLear in Haiti during a mission to rebuild a church damaged by the 2010 earthquake.

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church’s missions before, this was the first one outside of the U.S. As reported by others who have visited Haiti, Jerry was impressed by the friendliness, generosity and work ethic of the Haitian people he encountered.

Also in October, Dick and Linda Knight were able to check one more item off of their bucket list, which was to see a Notre Dame football game in South Bend, IN. They shamelessly latched onto the Stanford Alumni Association’s package deal, via their old friends, that included a chartered train to and from Chicago. I’ll have to agree with Dick that Notre Dame has one of the best fight songs, as one might expect from a mob of intoxicated Irishmen.

Ben Dick reports from Charlottesville that the Stonewall Jackson belt buckle validation project, or SJBBVP to insiders, is progressing nicely. The next step is a presentation to a panel of experts, to be pulled together by Waite Rawls, at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond to assess the wealth of information accumulated to date. One assumes that somebody along the way has checked the back of the buckle for a “Made in China” stamp.

Riker Purcell dropped a note from Richmond saying that he is spending some of his retired time teaching poetry and philosophy classes through the University of Richmond’s adult education department. Ginny is still a fundraiser for Westminster-Canterbury Richmond, a continuing care facility. They are now empty nesters, as their two daughters have flown the coop. One daughter is married and practicing law in Melbourne, Australia, while the other was atop a married in May and moved with her husband to Kansas City. Riker

Class of 1970: Mike Carruth and Hole Captain Gordon Williams at the 2012 Ryder Cup, Medina Country Club, hole #2.

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CLASS NOTES says that he gets together with Rich Clary from time to time.

Trying to return to Richmond from the Dominican Republic in the wake of Hurricane Sandy were Paul and Judy Dickinson, who tagged me while trying to sort out their cancelled flight. Paul says that at least the tennis was good down there.

Dave Nuckols is still with VDOT’s Structure and Bridge Division in Richmond where, if you weren’t careful, one could easily trip over a VMI CE graduate. Dave’s compatriots include Dave Volgyi ’66, who was also a CE instructor our third and second class years; Mal Kerley ’71, VDOT’s chief engineer; Ashton Lawler ’71, head of Geotechnical Programs; and State Structure and Bridge Engineer Ken Walus ’85. It’s certainly nice to have friends in high places, but what could you actually ask a structure and bridge engineer for?

Also reporting from Richmond was Dick Cheatham, who says that his business has held up very well this year in spite of the weak economy. And Bob Hawthorne reported excitedly about the trip he took this summer with his 1-year-old granddaughter, London Brougham, and family to the Washington zoo to see the alligators, lions, baboons, gorillas, snakes and elephants! Hayroll, have you no shame, playing the granddaughter card just to get to go to the zoo? Honestly!

On a more respectable note, A.C. and Beth Arnn are now the proud parents of a U.S. Air Force Major, a.k.a. Patrick Arnn. Daughter Sara and hubby Michael should be moving into their new home near Burlington, NC, before Christmas. We are looking forward to partying with the Arnn’s (and hopefully many of you) at the VMI-Citadel football game.

Joining the ranks of the retired at year’s end is Ned Snead, who has worked nearly 42 years in the addictions treatment field for Chesapeake County, VA. Most recently, Ned was program manager of Adult Substance Abuse Services for the county. This should give him more time to carouse around with the likes of former roomies J.C. Hanks and Taze Taylor, which will surely include their annual roomie reunion junket to Galax, VA, for HoustonFest next spring.

Phil Jornlin is wrapping up his second year handling security at Department of State facilities throughout Iraq and is in line for a third year. The tragedy at the Benghazi, Tripoli, U.S. Consulate is certainly not easing the job stress.

Fellow EEs Don Crawford and Fred Phillips met for lunch recently. I, like Don, am of the opinion that Fred is one of the few, if not the only one, of us actually using their engineering education -- in Fred’s case, the design and installation of the automation electronics that

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make museum displays do stuff. As if on cue, another fellow EE, George Yurchak, piped in from Biloxi, MS, saying that he holds a private Greek Glendi (Party) every month at Mr. Greek’s Restaurant, where they enjoy an evening of Greek food/drink/music/dance and breaking plates while imbibing plenty of ouzo.

Having recently attended a similar Russian dinner/drink/dance/plate-breaking party, George is now learning to speak Russian. I rest my case.

From the Left Coast, Ben Morris wrote in to say that he, Dave “Beast” Payne and John B.C. Hill got together for lunch in San Diego in October in an attempt at trying to figure out exactly where all those years went.

Things were also busy with Bill and Barbara Scherer just up the coast. Barbara recently retired, and they are adjusting to life as empty nesters. During a visit to their daughter, who is a freshman at Columbia University, they had dinner with Al and Susie Bast following a grand tour of the East Coast. This included hotspots such as Gettysburg, Mount Vernon, the Air & Space Museum, the World War II and Vietnam War Memorials and Dixie Liquor Store, which Bill evidently still holds near and dear to his heart. Unlike in the good old days when he lived in Arlington, he can now provide them with a valid ID. Bill also related his disappointment in not being allowed to take aerial photographs of the opening game of the World Series in San Francisco in October. It seems his pre-approved flight plan got lost somewhere deep within the bowels of the FAA, so he was called off within a few miles of the stadium.

Sadly, what we have here is just the latest in a long history of run-ins with the authorities.

And finally, just in time for Halloween, Frank Cleaton provided the following horror story. It seems that he was involved in a situation in Florida where, due to some shady business dealings, his professional engineering license in that state was at risk over a design he had proposed on a project. Although he had lined up two other P.E.s in the state to be expert witnesses at the hearing, they both got cold feet due to the politics involved. So, at the 11th hour, Frank called up former roomie and fellow CE Tom Campbell in Pennsylvania to see if he could help. Tom quickly pulled together a team of engineers who successfully defended Frank’s design in court. A classic case of the power of the Brother Rat spirit.

Well done, Tom! Hey, it just occurred to me that our new neighbors have really become a nuisance with their incessant late-night parties, so maybe you could … oh, never mind.

That’s about it. I hope the New Year is off to a great start for all of you.

In the Spirit!

’71

James Kelly

These notes will cover the period between Aug. 15 and Nov. 1, 2012.

Last summer, when I worked on the August edition of notes, things had been pretty nasty in terms of the summer season … the derecho and assorted other events of nature. Today, I begin my work with the “Frankenstorm” affecting the entire East Coast and points west with a mixture of just about everything one can imagine. I know there are many Brother Rats and their families out there today that are having a really bad time right now. My hope is that, as you are reading this, it will all be behind us, and that all is well again … or at least getting better.

I am saddened once again to report the loss of another Brother Rat. Rich Stegemerten died Oct. 30, 2012, as the result of a heart attack. At the time of his death, Rich was a government teacher and an assistant football coach at Matoaca High School near Richmond, VA. A memorial service was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Midlothian, VA. Rich will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He is survived by his daughter, Renee, and son, Brian. On behalf of the class of 1971, I extend our sincere condolences to Rich’s family.

Shortly after the August deadline, I received a note from L.R. “Rick” Padgett who has been practicing law in the Roanoke-Salem area for the last 36 years. Rick did not finish with us at VMI but remarked that he “remembers his Brother Rats and the lessons learned from experiencing the Ratline.” Rick lives in Salem, and I hope that he will become a part of our class activities in the years to come.

According to a press release from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture have named Steve Sanetti to serve a second term on the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council. Steve is one of 18 people appointed to the council, which helps promote and preserve America’s hunting heritage for future generations. Steve still continues his “day job” as president and CEO of the NSSF. For more details on Steve and his work, see pages 150 and 151 of this Review and nssf.org.

After many years as an attorney, Craig Biegel is looking forward to a little different career. Craig is nearing completion of his doctorate in history. His dissertation will focus on attorney influence in occupational disease research in the 20th century, but he is also

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES doing some writing on a few other subjects, including an article on the impact of training received at VMI by soldiers in the Civil War and a chapter on oceanography at Oregon State University for a book to be published later. He hopes to “give something back” by teaching for about five years. He also shared that his work on the history of science has made him a believer in global warming … a topic that we all know is a “hot” button for many of our BRs. Also looking for new ground to cover, Jeff Carver has announced his second and “final” retirement … this time from software development. He and Ginny have no grand plans for the future, other than enjoying simple pleasures like not getting up at 0400hrs to beat the beltway traffic. His report is “so far, so good,” and he hopes to have more time to catch up on some games and other activities at VMI. Sept. 7th marked the 45th anniversary of our matriculation at VMI and an absolute barrage of e-mail traffic followed. I could not begin to share (again) all of the stories and memories of that day that lie within each of us … some make us laugh, and others make us cry. In no particular order, the following BRs all came to life on that day with something: Sloan, Pearman, Price, Roder, Strickler, Patterson, Siebert, Morefield, Willis, O’Donnell, Golden, Haywood, Wiese, Hanke, Rush, Bryan and Fogleman. Thanks to all of you for keeping our memories alive.

As of this writing, our football team has had some rough sledding. The team is on their way to Stony Brook to face the ninth ranked Seawolves … in one of the few dry spots on Long Island. Lanny Gault has provided the bulk of the information that I have on various games and members of ’71 that were spotted or suspected to have been at one or more events. At the Chowan game in Lexington (W) …Coleman, Golden, Morefield, Wall, Littleton, Kennedy, Fraim, Strickler and Bryan were on the scene. For the Richmond game (L) Lockridge, Strickler, Kennedy, Golden, Bryan and (via telephone) Acuff were on board. John Noon hosted a tailgate in Annapolis for the game up there against Navy (L) with Schriver, Schelhorn, McEwan and a “mystery guest”… see photo on 71 Facebook page. Bryan and Gault were also at that game.

The Presbyterian game (W) weekend in Lexington coincided with the annual “Ride to The I.” Bikers Paton, Littleton and Honeywell took part. Also present, we had Metzger and Schelhorn and, most likely, our distinguished Brother Rats up in the press box. Coastal Carolina (L) rolled in to Lexington for Parents Weekend. Lanny and TS Gault were guests at the Acuff estate near Goshen and joined

2013-Issue 1

Mikula, Ellington, Padgett, Littleton, Gearhart, Kirby, Strickler and Bryan in Foster Stadium. I do not have a report from anyone about the Gardner-Webb game (L). A couple of big home games (Citadel and Liberty) remain and will appear in my next report.

As I mentioned in the last edition of our class notes, Lanny is now a member of the Keydet Club Board of Governors (as well as Acuff). The BOG met on Saturday morning prior to the Coastal Carolina game, and a wide variety of topics regarding VMI athletics (and football in particular) made up the agenda. In short, Lanny reported that everyone associated with VMI athletics is aware of the frustrations that our alumni and supporters have expressed, and that no stone was left unturned with regard to ways to improve our situation … programs, conference affiliations, etc., etc. There are pluses and minuses that exist at every turn.

Saturday night, a dinner was held in Crozet Hall for our scholarship athletes and their parents. Featured speaker at the event was Willie Lyles ’02, a scholarship baseball player while at VMI. Willie has lost both legs in his service to our country. Lanny described his remarks to the group about the value of his VMI experience -- made possible by his scholarship -- as inspiring and which made “the entire VMI community proud.” The message in all of this is much more about the quality of our cadets and a VMI education than any won/loss record will ever be. The young men and women in the Corps need our continued financial support and that, my friends, is what we should keep in mind.

Many of you have probably heard that our Brother Rat John Adams has been experiencing some serious health issues. John is now in Aurora, CO, in Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and is making good progress. Jim Adams has been keeping in touch with John and members of his family and provides updated information from time to time. John hopes to be able to build a home in Florida and move down there when he is able to do so. Although John did not remain with us through our time at VMI, he has been a major supporter of the Institute.

Bill Ginder checked in from Texas and reports that he and Margaret are doing well.

They were in Lexington in September for the wedding of Jim Adams’ son, Colin, and plan to be back in town this month (November) for the Institute Society Dinner and the Citadel football game. Bill now has a personal trainer that he says “delights” in punishing him and making his life worse than being back in the Ratline.

From Tampa, FL, Lew Rea e-mailed that he is still hard at work “selling cement and visiting military bases” but that he and Angie have started to chip away at their “bucket list.”

They visited Israel for 12 days back in March and plan to be in Germany for an extended trip during October and November… this trip includes his son, Travis, daughter-in-law, Jessica, and her family. Angie and Lew met and married in Berlin as well as, according to Lew, “unknowingly” started a family, which now includes 12 grandchildren.

I see Buzz and Jan Booker pretty often here in Pulaski. Buzz is the social director for our SWVA 71 Alumni group, and I recently boned him for failure to come up with a group activity lately … he assured me he would get something together soon. Son David is still serving in the Army and is training in California for future deployment, while Armistead and his new bride are still in New York. The William & Mary side of the family had plans to be in Williamsburg this month (November) for a couple of class reunions. This would be the 10th reunion for Armistead and “30-something” for Jan. On the 71 Facebook, page you can find a picture and description of the mini-reunion held at John Metzger’s Lodge in Vesuvius. All of the happenings spanned a total of five days for the group. John said it was a “resounding” success. Here is the lineup: Lindsey, Padgett, Dunlap, Barksdale, Jolissaint, Littleton, Honeywell, Fogleman, Wright, Biersack, Piernick, Golden, Haywood, Whitley, Strickler, Schelhorn, Nelson, Adams, Paton, Hanke and Stith.

Big John also called a while back and said that he had run into Ad Hagan ’68 while turkey hunting on House Mountain. Ad is building a home on the mountain and has hired Laura Metzger to be the interior decorator. I don’t know if John had any luck hunting, but Laura landed another job.

Sometimes a ghost will appear from out of nowhere. Such was the case when Tom Fitzgerald ran into Brett Watterson. Brett admits to having dropped off the radar for the last few decades but now is seeking to reconnect with our Brother Rats. Brett spent 26 years in the Air Force (some of that with Fitz) working on national security satellites. He and wife Ruth have two sons, one that is an intern at VCU in Richmond. Brett is now on our master e-mail list, so we can keep up with him a little better from now on.

It is a little cold right now for frozen yogurt, but it is still available in two locations in the Atlanta area at Menchie’s, owned and operated by “Spooky” Mays and family. The business and family are doing well. Spooky keeps in touch with Billings, Schelhorn and Lindsey but has been looking for his old “roomie” Mark Thompson … so if any of you know where Mark might be, then please let us know, and we

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CLASS NOTES can round him up to go along with Brett.

I hope that everyone had a great holiday season and that 2013 will not be unlucky but rather a great year instead. Kathryn and I are still doing well and watching our grandchildren, Lauren ’26 and Ryan ’27, grow up ever so quickly. As always, I want to thank every one of you that has supported VMI Annual Giving this past year … every gift helps to make VMI a better place.

Let me hear from you and let VMI be heard from today.

Jim

’72

Larry Houseworth

Brother and Sister Rats, families, friends, observers and passers-by – Greetings and salutations to all – These notes cover mid-August through the first of November. I write these with what may be our last hours of power, as Hurricane Sandy does her best to obliterate fall’s palette in your nation’s capital ... and we’re just days from the blessed quadrennial cessation of sound-bite politics’ 60-second solutions to society’s ills.

I now so much appreciate Col. “Ace” Byers’ pronouncements from his Fine Arts Lab throne – “Gentlemen, I AM the last apolitical [guy] on the planet – and I say, a pox on all their houses!” God bless you, Ace. News is light this quarter, although I will be sharing news soon of November’s Class Agents Conference. A major conference topic will be the Alumni Association’s enhancements to its databases … one of which is “VMI Alumni Mobile.” If you haven’t done so, check out and download this app. It’s packed with Turnouts, news and calendars of events in local chapters. But the greatest feature is its capture and presentation of alumni by location – it overlays name, graduating year and contact information for all alumni in the area onto your local Google Maps screen.

Its inverse is a search-by-name function that allows you to track down a long forgotten contact in those “… whatever happened to old ….” moments. Do check it out – your technology-challenged scribe relies on it heavily and loves it.

The Keydet Club shared an interesting article from Richmond Business Sense ranking average starting and mid-career salaries of undergraduates from Virginia’s colleges and universities (http://www.richmondbizsense. com/20/10/05/wl-moves-to-the-head-of-thepayroll/). While the article fawned over W&L, UVa and Tech and made no mention of us,

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the numbers showed VMI as #1 in the state for average starting salaries and #2 (behind W&L) for average mid-career salaries – well ahead of Tech, UVa, William and Mary, and all the others. As a matter of fact, VMI’s average starting salaries are only $6K a year less than Princeton’s, ranked #1 in the nation. To me, this is a profoundly clear indication of the quality of a VMI education. The marketplace clearly recognizes the value and benefit of the VMI experience.

You have a direct effect upon this success, BRs. Every dollar you donate supports, among many other activities: • Institute Professorships and Professorial Chairs – the recruiting, recognition and retention of outstanding professorship.

• Internationally recognized facilities – classrooms, laboratories and conference facilities that draw outstanding professors, lecturers, conferences and symposia.

• Club sports and cadet activities that instill the demands and responsibilities of leadership for all cadets.

• The internationally recognized Center for Leadership and Ethics.

• Scholarships, both Merit- and Need-Based.

• The “ready money” power of Unrestricted Funds – many Unrestricted Gifts are small, but their composite net effect is equivalent to the income from an endowment of more than $50M. Once again, BRs, ’72 has stepped up to its role in supporting the Institute. For the first quarter of the new FY, only the class of ’70 exceeds our throng in total giving. While our percentage of participation fell after our postreunion giving (FY12), we still contributed a respectable $15k for the quarter. Again, I ask all of you to consider those aspects of your life that you attribute to your connections with Institute – and to acknowledge them with whatever level of support you can provide.

Remember, even the smallest unrestricted gift can pack a powerful punch … thank you, BRs. On to the news – and yet another “mortality tap.” John Freiermuth’s kept me posted on an unexpected discovery during routine care and maintenance. His doc discovered some major cardio-arterial blockages and quickly scheduled an angioplasty – where he discovered evidence of a heart attack. Short story is all’s A-OK, and John was home hours after the procedure. But the lesson’s all too familiar – in spite of his excellent physical condition (soccer coach and diabetes well under control), this challenge appeared out of nowhere. Please pay attention, BRs – a diagnosis and fix can be so simple; the downside can be tragic.

I had a delightful extended conversation with ex-Professor Rob-bo Murray. We reminisced

about the summer of ’69 and our colorful summer-school compadre Bill “Fat Rat” Powley (P.S. – I’ll pay a bounty for any contact or news of “Rodentus Rotundi”). As is the case with all of us now, our conversation turned to families and particularly our kids. In spite of life’s surprises and inevitable sticks in the spokes, we do a damn fine job of passing along all that’s good (well, hopefully…) to the next generation.

Bob Patrick – who would be quite the history prof with his delivery – sent the following: “HOUSE—You’re the one I know with the most pull at the Institute, being a high-profile class agent and such. So, I thought that I’d come to you with one of those strange requests. To make a short story long, I have the honor of being the executor of an estate in Columbus, GA. It became a squirrely situation, and so, in the time-honored tradition, I hired a local lawyer who’s on first names with all the judges and secretaries to smooth things out. Well and good, but we got to talking about each other, and he got excited when he realized that I was a real-true-life-ex-VMI cadet.

Graduated sometime after the Civil War, as I tell people. Turns out he’s a Civil War history buff and has actually marched up the hill from the Bushong house—dragging his wife along—no less than three times. In short, a real nut. But a nice nut and really into the New Market battle thing. So, he did some research on the cadets there and where they wound up, and it turned out that one was buried right down the street from his office. R.J. Binford, class of 1867, was a private in company A (making him near to my heart), and he managed to make it all the way to the top of the hill. Lived out the War and became a merchant in Columbus. He’d of course used his VMI training to dominate the retail business but died early on his father-in-law’s plantation in SW Georgia in 1882, at the age of 35.

Otherwise, you’d get your woolies today at Binford’s instead of Macy’s, I bet.

“But back to the lawyer and the dead alumnus. Larry the Lawyer wants to go to the grave of Reuben Joseph Binford every New Market Day and put a VMI flag on the grave.

I didn’t tell him that our superintendent’s middle name was Binford, because I didn’t think that he could survive that excitement. So, the question is -- can you find someone to send a small number of VMI flags -- the little ones that might ride on a parfait or in some idiot alumnus’ hat -- to him, so that Reuben Joseph Binford can be remembered once a year on that appropriate day?” This is a mission worth pursuing.

Girlfriend, Linda Stephenson (Fauquier HS classmate of Jim Yolda and Buzzy Chacey) and I ran into Dick Valentine and Tip and

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CLASS NOTES T.O. Palmer ’69 at the Navy game in Annapolis. The three of them absolutely charmed her – each in his own inimitable way -- and she laughingly blushed away the “proposal” offered – one guess from whom. The game was impressive – VMI absolutely wiped the turf with the complacent Middies for the first quarter – but it didn’t last long. Still, it was a beautiful day, a beautiful venue and great fun.

I want to begin energizing our planning for our 50th Reunion’s gift to the Institute. As Jim Barnes said in the spring, it will be here in the blink of an eye … and it is our opportunity to step up and make a significant statement, en masse, showing our support of the Institute.

Please give some thought to how you may contribute to this effort – any and all offers of time and resources will be gratefully appreciated, BRs. The lovely and gracious Ms. Mierzwa, Hennessey and Stoner’s deadline is sounding … keep you and those you love safe – and keep in touch, BRs. In the Spirit, Larry

’73

Mike Kelly

Well, BRs, fall has come and November is almost here as I write these notes. The news at this time is mostly about Hurricane Sandy as it hits the Jersey shore, and I worry about all of the folks out there in harm’s way. I guess we’ve been pretty lucky this year and not had any other bad storms, but this one appears to be wreaking havoc on the Northeast. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who are in the path of this big storm.

Founder’s Day is just around the corner, along with the Institute Society Dinner and Citadel football game. Doesn’t look like I will be able to make it this year to the Institute for this wonderful occasion, but I hope a lot of you are there. My youngest son, Derek, is moving back to the D.C. area from State College, PA, and I am going up to help him get settled.

It has been a busy summer and fall for Pat and me. We’ve spent a lot of time at my home in Pulaski, VA. Dad fell down some steps in late June and has been in and out of the hospital for several months, so we’ve been staying there a lot, along with my brothers and sister helping out, as Dad gets back on his feet. It’s been pretty rough for him lately, but he’s recovering. We also were able to take a couple of weeks’ vacation in September and traveled out west. We started out in Spokane

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and went into Canada to Jasper and Banff National Parks, then down to Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. It is absolutely beautiful out there. The Canadian Rockies are magnificent, and the people just as nice and friendly as you would want people to be.

I highly recommend that trip for anyone! We had a great time. We have also spent a couple weeks in Atlanta keeping the grandkids, so we’ve been on the road for much of the past four months.

Bob Vanderspiegel sent me a note as we were getting ready to leave for out West to say that he and his wife spent some time out there last September and said how much they enjoyed it. He suggested taking along some bear spray, as they stayed in Many Glacier Lodge and encountered several bears. Well, Bob, we ate dinner at the lodge and did some hiking around there, and yes, we saw several Grizzly bears and black bears! I didn’t have the spray, but I made a lot of noise! It was truly a wonderful experience.

I continue to get some really great news from Dave Northcraft. Dave has been such an inspiration to us, as he has battled cancer for the past few years. He had a visit with his oncologist in July, and fortunately for him, it was a short visit. His doctor told him, “Your counts are good. You’re healthy as a horse. See you in two months.” Wow! That is so wonderful. Dave, we’re really happy for you, Susan and the family. And to add to the good news, Dave had his one-year post-transplant review on Oct. 8th, during which his nine-page report was condensed into one sentence: “Your blood counts are fine; see your oncologist every 3-6 months and we’ll see you in a year!” Dave sends his thanks to all for the good wishes, gifts and prayers for his recovery. And most important, he is so looking forward to seeing us in April at our 40th Reunion!

As a result of the commitments Pat and I have had this fall, we were unable to make the Navy game as we had originally planned.

Corey Regelin offered to host a tailgate party, since he had a parking pass at the stadium, but I don’t know if that actually happened. Milt Salter said he went to the game, where he linked up with Gary Shope and his wife, Lynn, as well as seeing PX English, John Pinner and John DiGiovanni at the VMI alumni tent.

While I don’t think it was much of a game for the Keydets, I think everyone had a good time.

I have heard from a number of BRs in the Maryland area. The class of ’73 is well represented in recruiting in the state, as a number of our BRs are very active in the VMI outreach in Maryland. Ed Hall, along with PX English, attended one of the college fairs for this season’s recruiting and ended up with more

than 30 folks signing up for information relating to VMI. They also attended a new cadet reception in Baltimore in October, along with Grover Outland ’81 who said that it was nice to have the “old geezers” along, as the parents paid more attention to what we say! I guess that was a compliment, Grover, but thanks for all of your efforts.

Ed Hall also sent a note about a trip he had to Naples, FL, recently, where he saw a “classy Corvette” parked in a neighborhood with a VMI “spider” on it. He rang the doorbell and spent a nice afternoon with Dick Matheis ’45, class agent for the class of ’45. Isn’t it great being an alumnus of VMI? Ed also said that in addition to PX, Scott McCarthy has been a big help with the recruiting efforts in Maryland. Way to go, guys; keep up the good work!

Don “Hap” Reisch sent a note to say that all is well in Nashville. He is now in his 40th year with DuPont and says he is doing just fine.

Don said he was really looking forward to our reunion next spring.

I had a nice note from Dale Kitchen, whom I had not heard from in a while. Dale and his wife, “Toots,” are trying to get used to the “empty” nest way of life. Their oldest daughter, Kaitlin, has graduated and is working in northern Virginia. Cody is a junior in college and enjoying life. Dale asked, “Where does the time go?” He mentioned that he runs into Mark Weiss at football games and that he also saw Stuart Seaton, Billy Stephens and Tim Gundlach before the Richmond game. He sees Dave Woody frequently at the golf course, working on his game! (Which reminds me, Dave has switched e-mail, and I don’t have his current address. So, please, guys, keep me informed with your e-mail addresses so I can maintain an up-to-date list!)

Tom and Bonnie Clark had a great vacation in France, visiting with some of their friends in Bordeaux. They also went to Orleans where Tom’s dad was a combat engineer battalion commander from 1960-63, and Tom said that one French soldier’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when he told him his dad was the commander there 52 years ago! Tom said their next trip is in April to Lexington, VA, for our 40th Reunion!

As you all probably know by now, Scott Lingamfelter is running for lieutenant governor in Virginia. Scott has been an active House of Representatives member since retiring from the Army, and he has decided to branch out in his political career. While he and his wife, Shelly, have managed some time to themselves, Scott said that the campaign trail has really kept them busy. His campaign manager, Matt Tederick ’89, keeps him hopping around the state. You can follow Scott and

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CLASS NOTES his campaign at www.vote4Scott.com. Good luck, Scott. We are pulling for you. Scott and Shelly recently attended the wedding of their son, John, class of ’08. John’s wife, Erika, is a USAF graduate, class of ’09. Scott said his other son Paul, class of ’12, recently went to work for a local bank, and their daughter, Amy, has gotten engaged! Sounds like a lot going on with the Lingamfelters!

Doug Huthwaite sent me a note in August to say he had moved to Kure Beach, NC, and was retired and fishing. He said his wife, Pat, was going to follow him in November and that their house in Fayetteville was on the market.

A few days after that message, Doug said Pat had been named the new “broker in charge” for the Fayetteville ERA real estate company, now the eighth largest in the country, and she has delayed her retirement. Well, Doug, congratulations to Pat, and I’ll be glad to come down and go fishing with you if she is still working!

I had a note from David Schwab who had been discussing his recent trip to Garmisch, Germany, with Doug Huthwaite, as Doug and Pat were vacationing there last year. David stayed in the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort, which is the only hotel belonging to the Armed Forces Recreation Center, and it is open to all retired military folks.

He highly recommends it but said one requirement is to stop in and see a Brother Rat while there. (David lives in Germany.)

I don’t know if you saw the latest photo of Roland Tiso floating around, but it certainly generated a lot of conversation! I’m not sure if it went “viral” or not, but it was close. I’ve reported on Roland’s body-building contests over the years and how he keeps winning whatever category he is in. Well, someone got a picture of him, during one of the competitions, in his “speedo” suit, flexing his muscles, and it hit the Facebook page. It was titled “Little Roland Tiso,” and several BRs posted comments. Both PX English and Michael Burke talked about how “cute” Roland was.

I’m proud of you, Ro, to stay in shape like that and compete the way you do -- that takes a lot of willpower! Roland won the masters division at the St. Petersburg Muscle Classic on Sept. 15.

Roland sent another note to say he was going to be in Germany this month (October) and then at Ft. Campbell in December to do some training and intelligence exchange. He and his wife, Judie, will spend Thanksgiving in Chicago with their daughters, and then they plan to spend Christmas with his parents in New York. Unfortunately, Roland is scheduled to head back to Afghanistan after Christmas. I was hoping he wouldn’t have to go back over there. We will all keep you in our thoughts and prayers, Roland, and you be careful and stay

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safe. Roland is very disappointed about missing our 40th Reunion, but it is what it is.

I had a note from Tom Jennings to say things were pretty hectic for him at the time but in a positive way, and he was doing well. Several folks post regularly on Facebook and share lots of information. Klaus Worrell and M.B. Adelson often are posting pictures and notes.

Ray Burton has put a series of VMI videos online, to include one of my favorites of the “Echo Company shuffle” on the way to the mess hall. Pete Walters has been doing a lot of research and has posted some neat historical stuff, including the cost of a VMI education for us in 1969! Do you remember?

Ralph Littreal said he was doing well but nothing new was going on in San Jose, CA. I bet he’s glad to be out there right now instead of our home in southwest Virginia where Hurricane Sandy has helped dump lots of snow in the mountains. And I hope that those of you in the Northeast are getting through this storm with minimum damage. It has been a major storm for sure.

Well, that is about it for now. You should get these notes in early February, and I hope that they find you having a wonderful New Year and things going well for you. And in case you haven’t done so, please register for our reunion which will be April 26–28. Our headquarters will be at the Holiday Inn Express. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

In the bonds, Mike

’74

Snookie Parker

Greetings, Brother Rats. I am drafting these notes while Hurricane Sandy is hammering our coast. Impact in Wilson, NC, was minimal – some wind and rain, but we did not lose power or cable, so we survived. Class notes in the fall are usually thin, and this fall was no different. So, here goes!

Seven BRs made the July Tidewater Breakfast Club event: Al Rasper, Chip Beaman, Mic Ernzen, Sam Turner, Paul Van Doren, Bill Pennypacker and Steve Ham. George Van Laethem made a relatively short visit to the hospital … removed an infected gall bladder! Anna planned a big surprise 60th birthday party for George … glad he survived long enough to see his 60th.

George and Anna are still very active in local and state politics. Anna is still at Western Branch High School. Daughter Ashley is in her first year of law school in Charlotte, NC,

and is engaged to be married … May 2014.

I understand Artist Mark Shively’s sculptures and photography were on display in the Centre Gallery East at Artworks Studios and Galleries in Richmond in a show entitled “Transitions.” I’m sure it was a huge success!

Well done, Mark!

Received a short note from Mike Mahoney. Mike is still with Loudoun County Fire Department. His assignment for last five years has been safety officer/paramedic.

Mike has been a traveling man this fall. He went to Myrtle Beach at the end of August to play in World Amateur Golf Tournament. I wonder, does one have to qualify for such an event? In September, he traveled to Orlando for a weeklong safety officer seminar. Marla and I sat close to Mike during the VMI-Navy game in Annapolis in September. In October, he went to Hawaii – Maui and Kauai -- for two weeks and is planning a trip to Ireland, England and France in June 2013. Mike has been keeping up with Bob Slupik in Texas.

Slup – send me a note! Mike offered the following small world story: Mike stopped by the Luckett’s Fair (Loudoun County) to check on some of the Fire Department people who were working the fair, and while walking around, he saw a book at one of the booths called Mosby’s Keydet Ranger. Well, you can guess which word caught Mike’s attention.

The author, Lt. Col. Eric W. Buckland (Ret), and Mike started talking. The author’s son is serving overseas and is VMI 2010. Then, another couple walked up, heard them talking and asked if Mike remembered Jim Cottrell.

Apparently, Jim and the couples’ father, VMI ’55, were law partners. Mike and the other couple bought the book. In the book, Mike says a Walter Bowie, class of 1862, attempted to float the first torpedo ever used in the Civil War in a ship in the Charleston Harbor. Mike also notes that a member of the class of 1849 was co-founder of the Pony Express. Thanks for the update, Mike.

Sam Mattocks’ son, Ryan, has joined Duggar Baucom’s staff as the third assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at VMI. Ryan is a Duke graduate and was one of the men’s basketball student managers for Coach K while a student at Duke. He has been coaching both at the AAU and high school level for the last few years and has always wanted to be a college coach. He was hired the first of July and has been on Post since then. His duties include being the academic advisor to the Rat basketball players, as well as being involved in recruiting. Sam says he is very excited about being part of the VMI family and has happily settled in Lexington.

Sam and wife Colleen are still in Petersburg

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CLASS NOTES illustrate with a picture any gravesite of folks but have been traveling this past fall to Art Nunn III that you know are interred there. Arlington Charleston, SC, with friends for a little R&R National is truly a national treasure, and this during Labor Day and out West for Colleen’s site – FINALLY – starts to make it truly an acson’s wedding in October. Sam continues cessible one. Paste this in your browser: www. to be involved in his local church activities arlingtoncemetery.mil. On left side – select find and has been entertaining the possibility of a gravesite, select browser kiosk on right side running for city council in 2014. I say, run, of next screen; select “find a gravesite” and These class notes are being prepared earlier Forrest, run … I mean run, Sam, run! Thanks enter as much info as you know. Gary offers a than usual due to publishing deadlines related for the note! favorable report on the current management of to the holidays, so they will be pretty short, by Marla and I spent our anniversary weekend the cemetery. I understand BR Bob Johnson comparison. As you read these, though, it will at a bed and breakfast in Annapolis and atwas detailed to the Arlington Cemetery Task be the middle of winter, so I hope you will all tended the VMI-Navy football game. I have Force to help fix the management problem, and have had a wonderful holiday season. to give kudos to Jim “Space” Huddle for I believe is still there refining the processes.

In August, several of us did have the opsecuring tickets to the game for us – front portunity to have a partial roommate reunion row seats on the 50-yard line, right behind the Thanks for info, Gary, and kudos to Bob! A short note regarding individual bricks at in Roanoke, as Randy Frank ventured to the VMI bench. I was gushing over the influence the Institute. If one donates a certain amount to East Coast for some family related occasions, he achieved at Annapolis as a tenured physics the Institute, one qualifies to have a brick with and he carved some time out of his schedule professor, as demonstrated by the quality of your name on it. At some point of individual to visit the Star City. Mike Fleenor drove up these tickets. Jim finally admitted that they gave him these lower level tickets because of giving, one can qualify for a total of five bricks from Bristol to join Randy, Dave Schuyler and me for a brief get-together and dinner. his AARP age – didn’t want to make an old and can specify names on the four remainOnly missing from the room was Ed Spain. man climb to heights in the stadium. None ing bricks. We have 11 deceased BRs, 3 of I was not able to join Randy, Mike and Dave the less, Jim, these were great seats, and which had bricks and 8 did not. We have had until late afternoon, but the three amigos had Marla and I did appreciate your assistance in a BR step forward and specify his four bricks a stimulating day of going to craft shows securing them. We ran into several BRs while for four of our deceased BRs: Mr. Wayne E. with Dave’s wife, Tanna. I am not makat the game: Donnie and Barbara Ross, Bill Worman, Mr. Thomas F. Clise, Capt. William ing this up! An exciting day of craft-show and Linda Faistenhammer, Wilson Johnson, E. Clore and Mr. Charles E. Feddeman III. hopping formed the daytime activities of my Mike Mahoney and Pat, John Valenstein, We have four deceased BRs who do not have three roommates. I do hope that the reunion Charley and Debbie Banning, Mike Cole, bricks. We have several BRs who have several committee for our 40th Reunion never talks and, of course, Jim Huddle. Craig Smith and unspecified bricks. Please contact me if any of to any of these guys when seeking activities Mike Fisher were at the game, but we never you would like to donate one of your bricks to for our weekend together! After dinner, we made contact. Saw Kimo Wong ’75 at the one of our deceased BRs. did make up for it by watching football and Keydet Club tent – the last time I saw Kimo, CLASS AGENT PLEA! Don’t be caught drinking beer.

I was with Craig Smith at Ruth’s Chris’ in without your class coin. If you need one, In other news, Guy Conte reports that all Crystal City. We had a great time in Ansend $10 (cost of coin and postage). Please is well for Mary and him. They are spending napolis … I have to say, the seats were much forward any news regarding births, deaths, the summers in their house in Seattle, WA, to better than the game. Thanks, Jim Huddle. illnesses, marriages and other significant escape the heat of the Arizona desert during Speaking of Wilson Johnson, Wilson is in events concerning your family and/or careers. the July-Aug.-Sept. timeframe. That seems to the Fredericksburg Dinner Theatre production Brother Rats are interested and do care. I work well, as the golf is great up there in WA of “The Sound of Music” as the butler. The know e-mail addresses have a half-life of state during the summer. Other than that, they play opened Oct. 20 and ran through Jan. 6. about six months. Keep us current. Send your are enjoying life in Scottsdale.

Wilson notes that Dale Shrader ’77 is also in updated e-mail address to me at snookieparkGuy was in New York earlier this year and the play. I understand that Dale was Roland er1974@earthlink.net, Charley Banning at spent a great evening with Jerry DeWaters Lazenby’s dyke. Break a leg, Wilson! cbanning@cox.net or Kevin Nettrour (our and his wife, Alice. They celebrated their Glenn Greene’s wife, Grace, has published webmaster) nettrour@accessus.net. Check 37th anniversary in mid-September. Guy also her third novel, A Stranger in Wynnedower. out the website. Send me a note. Yada, Yada, attended Jim McCriskin’s daughter (Kate’s) Her first two novels (Beach Rentals and Yada and Yaba Daba Dooo! wedding in Connecticut. Jim’s son, Brendan, Kincaid’s Hope) were very successful. I read Warm Regards … Snookie is Guy’s godson and is a major in them as soon as they were availthe U.S. Army. He is a doctor and able. Marla really enjoyed them currently finishing his orthopedic both. Can’t wait to read her new surgery residency in El Paso, TX. one. That’s right; I’m a fan!

Guy also hears from and stays in Gary Trinkle passed on some touch with Taylor Slate often. He interesting information regarding received his professional engineer’s the new Arlington National website. license and now designs concrete I understand the site is a result of forms for a big construction compathe Army’s tragic mismanagement Class of 1974: At the July 2012 meeting of VMI 1974 ny in Fort Worth. Guy also stays in of the cemetery, discovered over Tidewater Area Breakfast Club were, from left, Al close touch with Jim Hobbs whose the last few years. Gary reports that Rasper, Chip Beaman, Mic Ernzen, Sam Turner, Paul daughter, Morgan, just received her the site is incredible and has a very Van Doren, Bill Pennypacker and Steve Ham. MBA and is starting a job with Ernst unique feature. It can find, map and

’75

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CLASS NOTES & Young. No doubt, she got both her beauty and brains from her mother.

Guy’s son, Chris (VMI ’11), should be completing his deployment to Afghanistan about the time these notes are published. I know that all of us who have had sons serve in combat zones understand the relief that Guy will be feeling at that time.

Dean Armstrong wrote that he went to VMI recently to introduce his girlfriend, Denise, to VMI. She really enjoyed the experience and saw the new Rat class. They also visited New Market and found it to be very interesting, as always.

Bo Temple completed the first phase of his clinical trial at National Institutes of Health with the next phase scheduled to be completed prior to the end of 2012. Bo is hopeful that, after this is done, he and Nancy can get back to figuring out what their postretirement adventure will be.

Clayton DePuey has been promoted to Sgt. and was named Soldier of the Year for the California State Military Reserve (CSMR).

They are attached to the Guard and train at Fort Irwin, CA. He has also acquired his senior MEMS badge. Not bad for a chronologically challenged soldier!

Tad MacGowan lives in Annapolis, and his next door neighbor is a Naval Academy graduate and the comptroller at the academy.

They went together to the VMI-Navy football game. Tad reports that the Corps looked sharp and team requited itself well through the first half. But then the line started to weaken, and the backs failed to gain, the ends ... well, you get the general idea. Other than that minor setback in neighborly relations, life is good in Annapolis.

Rick Davison sent a “Howdy from Texas” note recently. Rick and Stella have been outside of Houston for 20 years on what they thought would be a temporary assignment. Rick is working as a geophysicist with BP – dealing with drilling wells onshore in the U.S. Most of the work he has done in the past few years has been in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Rick feels that he will have to retain his position for a few more years, as he and Stella have three kids in college – two at Texas Tech and one at Arkansas Tech.

Bob O’Connor sent a note from Baltimore. Seems he was reading his ASCE Civil Engineering magazine and saw that Bo Temple has been awarded the Opal Award for lifetime achievement in civil engineering. To use Bob’s words, Bo is “standing in amongst some tall cotton.” I think that means it is a good thing. As a lowly chemist, I don’t use those fancy civil engineering terms.

Harley Myler contacted me so that he could get in touch with Harry Broaddus. Harley said that life is pretty much the same-old, same-old right now. He was happy to report that he was finally over what he calls the “semester hump,” as well as the school’s accreditation process, so life is good.

I hear periodically from Ellet Smith and John Maples. Nothing new from either of them, but it is nice that they stay in touch.

Greg Stultz travelled from the tundra of Cleveland to D.C. for the AUSA Convention and had lunch with Salvo Lape and Barry Hughes. Greg said that they had a great time and that Salvo and Barry both look good and are doing likewise. According to Greg, the Stultzes are OK, too. Good to hear.

Bernie Cobb wrote that nothing much is

Class of 1975: Jim Seitz, left, and Michael Mulligan during reunion weekend at VMI.

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new at work but that he and his wife have been renovating a house in one of the older sections of Decatur (in Atlanta) and have moved in. Since then, they have found another one they like better, so they’ll be starting the renovation on that one. That, by itself, has been keeping them busy.

Some of you may remember that last year, the team of Oliver and Bonnie Way, Ben and Anne Vanderberry, Allen and Sandy Morgan, Kimo Wong and his girlfriend Shelly, Steve and Sherry Chapin, and Judy and I put together and won a Keydet Club Fundraising bid for a weekend together in Lexington, around the William & Mary football game. Well, this year we could not make our schedules work for the weekend that was part of the fundraiser, but we decided to get together and do it again on our own, which we did the weekend of the Coastal Carolina football game. It started on Friday, and while the ladies enjoyed lunch together, followed by a tour of the campus of W&L (I have no idea why), the guys were joined by Stu Fleming and Tom Mason for a round of golf at LGCC (again, I have no idea why). A great time was had by all, but I want to take a moment to dispel some vicious rumors that could be started about an alleged tee-off on No. 10. You may hear rumors to the contrary about my performance on that specific tee box, but I assure you that the official story is 280 yards right down the middle. That is my story, and I am sticking to it. Any stories to the contrary should be ignored.

Moving on, after the afternoon activities we gathered back at the Pond House at Maple Hall for a bit of liquid refreshment, after which we returned back to the Lexington Country Club for dinner and were joined by Tom and Judy Baur. Believe it or not, and this is actually true, we were all very well behaved this year at dinner. The police were not called, and a professional clean-up/decontamination crew was not needed. We must be getting older.

Because of that, as well, the evening closed out quietly after a short additional gathering back at the Pond House.

Saturday, we were treated to a tailgate hosted primarily by Anne and Ben Vanderberry, which was a great deal of fun. The football game – maybe not so much fun – but the day as a whole was great. Some other Brother Rats who we ran into include Chip Louthan and Billy Hunter. We also had a chance to talk with Harry McKnight’s little brother, Terry (VMI ’78), who was on Post signing copies of his book about his days commanding the Navy task force combating pirates off the coast of Somalia. The day was then topped off by gathering again at the Pond House for a pulled together dinner and, yes, more adult beverages. Sunday morning, we gathered for

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CLASS NOTES breakfast before saying goodbye and created grandiose plans for next year. Of course, the Morgans and the Chapins were not present for this discussion, so that either means that we did not have a quorum, or they just don’t get to express an opinion. Not sure where that one is going. One thing is sure. We had another fantastic weekend.

That’s about it from this neck of the woods for this quarter. I am typing this in October, but you will not be reading it until February, so let me just say that I hope everyone is having a good and safe winter. Please continue to stay in touch, because it makes my job much easier when I can just cut and paste your messages. It keeps me from having to think very much, which you all know is not the easiest of tasks for me. Stay safe, and I hope to see some of you at various basketball games.

Lastly, I once again ask for e-mail addresses from all of you who are not on the class e-mail list. I know I have asked several times before, but what can I say? It would be nice to get everybody on the list, if at all possible.

In the Spirit, Art

’76

William Bhatta

Brother Rats, These notes were written with a nostalgic touch on Nov. 1, 2012.

Mike Martino triggered BR flashbacks to Aug. 24, 1972, after he transmitted this e-mail message on Aug. 22, 2012: “Tomorrow will mark 40 years since a group of honorable youths pressed up the hill of science, with noble emulation.” (OK, so he missed the anniversary by one day; it’s the thought that counts!) BR responses to his e-mail follow.

Mack Curle -- “I can guarantee you that I’ll be a heck of a lot more comfortable tomorrow than I was 40 years ago.” Bill Ryals -- “It’s a good thing I got in then. I could not get in now. The kids today are much smarter, stronger and faster than we were then. It’s so much better to watch a parade than to be in one.”

Rocky Glass -- “Yep, and I had enough hair on my head when I went through Washington Arch that could have stuffed a mattress!”

Rory Walsh -- “I didn’t turn 17 until November 1972. When the Delta Co. cadre found out I was 16, they descended on me like a hobo on a ham sandwich.” Henry Foresman -- “All I remember of that day/night was the incredible noise coming from Barracks when Echo Company marched up from the mess hall.”

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Carroll Warner -- “Actually forgot it was my birthday. I think it dawned on me a few days later when I was sitting in the main Sinks and finding a bit of peace and quiet.” J.R. Mott -“I stopped by the Lexington Restaurant/Hotel where my folks and I stayed the night of the 23rd. Sat in the booth where we had breakfast the morning of the 24th and had a coffee.

Good memories. Later that night, Cliff Tuday and I were sleeping with our M14s courtesy of the class of ’73.”

Andre Koneczny -- “The one thing that sticks in my brain from that fateful day was feeling and smelling the heavy breathing (on the back of my neck) of the guy behind me, Scott Thibodeau, while watching the guy in front of me standing on his tip toes making sure he was tall enough to get into F Company (Dexter Gilliam). I was thinking he must know something that I don’t know. After that, the next several days were a blur.”

Dexter Gilliam -- “Thanks for bringing this historic day to everyone’s attention. I have enjoyed reading the responses and memories.

Sevanne (my bride of 36 years who shared many of our VMI experiences) and I both send our best wishes to all of you. Although we don’t see each other very frequently, I think of all of you guys and the experiences we shared quite often. I wish all of you the best and hope to see you soon.”

Jim Martin’s first message -- “Let us not forget those on that day who are no longer with us. ‘God Bless our Team and VMI.’” Jim Martin’s second message -- “You guys are going to have to stop [this e-mail discussion], before I get the urge to run up to Lexington and jump into the Ratline for old time’s sake!

Actually, I remember having a hard time getting that ‘about face’ down. I also remember being marched into Cocke Hall around the upper track for our initiation into sweat parties and meeting Scott Lingamfelter ’73 for the first time!”

Grigg Mullen --“Just chased this year’s crop of advisees out of the CE Dept. and into the loving arms of Cadre. The cycle continues.”

Jim Mallon -- “I remember who signed the matriculation book behind me, Mike Martino.” Ares Koumis -- “We put on uniforms for the first time, and what a day it was.”

Lee Bradshaw -- “Gents, thanks for all the reminders of the great day 40 years ago. Now the nightmares begin again: Rack your chin in!

Drive the stairs! Get down and give me 10!”

Charlie Archer -- “My graphic memories from that first day: Rare emotional moments from my dad when he read the inscription on the Parapet out loud and watched me sign into the big book (first time he had been back to the ‘I’ since his own graduation). Line-up on the parade ground for company selection: Paul

Class of 1976: Jim Simpson, sitting in front, with his family in Annapolis, Maryland, before the VMI-Navy football game on Sept. 22, 2012. Standing, from left, were daughter-in-law Mary Ann; sons Chris, Alex and John; and daughter Maria, who painted the t-shirts. At the game, Simpson ran into Doug Hines, Ray Brooks, Rocky Glass and Alan Pyke.

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CLASS NOTES Beach was the last Rat in Company C; I was quite a bit of time in my face. Jerry Eggleston possibly be going on in there.” the first Rat in Company B. Facing the wall and I had a hard time not laughing at some Still reminiscing about our class 40 years and reading my Rat bible in the concourse, of the remarks our Cadre made. We tried to ago? Listed below are historical events from waiting in the QM line. Meeting cadre hold in our laughter the best we could but to our VMI era. Information was copied from a sergeant Randy Frazier ’74. That first strain no avail, causing us to spray in our Cadre’s variety of VMI sources. in room 411 with Buzzy Moncure, Byron faces when we couldn’t hold it in any longer.

1971 Adams and Jay Foertsch.”

That caused a few more laps around the parade VMI Superintendents, 1839-present: “Lt. Gen. Bill Brown --“I distinctly remember walking ground for Tiger Echo.”

Richard Logan Irby [’39] (b. 1918 d. 2002) into Jackson Arch the first time with the thirds John Street -- “I was in Echo Company, and graduated from VMI in 1939 and immediately hiding behind the turn, as my mother stood what I remember was the roar in the mess hall accepted a commission in the U.S. Army. His there crying, and suddenly some guy bolting when they announced the last parents had left military career encompassed more than 30 out of the line, running across the parade and the Ratline was to begin; the beating on years of active duty and three wars – including ground, catching his parent’s station wagon, the tables with the spoons; and the ‘Poor Rats’ service in China and Burma during World War and jumping in and going home. What had I chant. Then, being outside of Barracks on the II; battalion commander with the 1st Cavalry gotten into? Doubt anyone knows the guy’s Washington Arch side, waiting for our turn, Division during the Korean War; and assistant name and probably no one remembers the listening to the screaming coming from the division commander and division commander incident, but I do.”

Barracks and thinking what in the world could with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) John Swain -- “I remember a during the Vietnam War. In 1969, few things from that day: I wrote he became commander of the U.S. my very first check for $2189.00, Army Training Center, Infantry, tuition for one year including all at Fort Polk, LA, and in 1970 he the haircuts I could stand. Bill was named commanding general at Favier was beside me and got Fort Knox, Kentucky. Irby became laundry number 673, and I got VMI’s 10th superintendent on July 672. My first DRC, Robby Ham1, 1971, and retired on June 30, mond, squeezed a ham and cheese 1981. He died on March 6, 2002.” sandwich, and filled a glass half 1972 full with grease. Ah, yes, nothing VMI History, Timeline of Sigbut the finest at the Club. When nificant Dates: “The mandatory they yelled ‘dump it’ at SRC so we commissioning policy is explicitly could get seconds, we dumped it established by VMI Superintenon the floor – who knew?” dent Lt. Gen. Richard L. Irby – in Nike Tarzia -- “The first BR I 1972 the VMI Catalog carries for met was Mike Martino. I sat next the first time the statement, ‘If ofClass of 1976: Randy Pekarik ’79, left, and Jim Joustra to him during the signing of the fered at graduation, a commission on the USNS Vandenberg – a dive boat – 6.5 miles south matriculation book. The first day must be accepted with its obligaof Key West, Florida, on Aug. 18, 2012. we stood in line reading our Rat tion for active duty.’ Although this bibles facing the walls as uniforms idea was a widely accepted part of were being handed out and then VMI culture prior to this date, and that night we went to bed. I felt enrollment in ROTC classes was lucky to be in room 412 with only already mandatory, the requiretwo other roommates. Tom Watjen ment to accept a commission was was one; the other eventually left, not codified until 1972. (Mandaleaving us a huge room later that tory commissioning was abolished year. During that first night when Jan. 27, 1990).” our door was kicked in, our stuff Sept 8: The VMI Cadet: “Maj. thrown on the floor, the yelling, the Josiah Bunting [’63], a 1963 screaming, etc., I found too funny. graduate of VMI, recently left the You see, being raised in an Italian Army in the midst of a good deal household, yelling, screaming, of publicity. A Rhodes Scholar and throwing things and name calling author of The Lionheads, the widewas a way of life for me. So, I ly reviewed novel of the Army in didn’t realize those Cadre were Vietnam, Bunting is the second serious, and I got in mucho trouble alumnus to gain wide recognition those first few days. Having to while leaving the ranks of the walk around the perimeter of the armed forces in the last year.” mess hall holding my ankles and Sept 8: The VMI Cadet: “The Class of 1976: J.R. Mott holding Renee Faith Mott, acting like a frog made me realize new professor of military science born on Sept. 9, 2012, while sister Yvonne remains these guys were serious.” and commandant of cadets at nearby. Mother Mei is doing well.

Rick Tufaro - “I recall Barry VMI is Col. William J. Buchanan and Larry Lineback ’75 spending [’50B], USA, Armor. Originally

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CLASS NOTES from Wheeling, WV, Col. Buchanan is a graduate of the Institute, class of 1950B. During his cadetship, he was a history major, vice president of his class and the First Captain. He has served three tours of duty in Vietnam and has attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, and the National War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. Prior to his assignment to VMI, he was the commanding officer of the 194th Armored Brigade at Fort Knox, KY. He has earned the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star with “V” and two Oak Leaf Clusters.”

Aug 24: Matriculation Day: There were 359 paid reservations as of Aug. 15, 1972, 347 of us actually matriculated. Rand Sompayrac and Carroll Warner celebrated their 18th birthday entering the Ratline.

Nov 7: Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern in the presidential campaign.

1973 Jan 17: The VMI Cadet: “At approximately 7:50 p.m., Jan. 17, 1973, the class of 1976 finally gained recognition as being a class.

The recognition came about as a result of the Rats’ successful completion of the traditional ‘breakout.’ As usual, this year’s ‘breakout’ was ushered in by a very demanding ‘resurrection.’

A few moments after the 1925 CCQ, the Rats were taken into the old courtyard, where they circled the sentinel box upon which stood the class officers of the first class. After giving a class yell for each of the upper three classes, the Rats charged the stairways which would lead them to recognition as a class.”

Jan 19: The VMI Cadet: “The Supreme Court decision of Dec. 18, 1972, ending compulsory chapel at the U.S. military academies, led to the abolition of the compulsory chapel rule at the Virginia Military Institute.”

Jan 19: The VMI Cadet: “A contingent of 244 cadets will represent VMI in tomorrow’s Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. The Inaugural Parade, which will be broadcast on national television, will be the eighth in which the VMI Corps has participated.”

Jan 22: Former President Lyndon B. Johnson died in his Texas home.

Apr 20: The VMI Cadet: “Last Monday night, April 9, 1973, the class of 1976 met to make their final decisions of who would be their class officers. At this meeting, speeches were given by the remaining eight candidates out of the 62 that had been previously nominated. From these speeches, the class heard what each man had to offer his class and, from these, were to determine which three men would represent them for the next four years. After four elimination ballots, three men were picked. They are: President - C.L. Shaffer, Vice President - Dexter Gilliam and Historian - Frank DeLaine.”

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May 20: The VMI Cadet: “The 136th graduating class in the history of VMI received their diplomas today after hearing a commencement speech delivered by United States Senator Harry Flood Byrd Jr. [’35]. Approximately 170 members of the class of 1973 were graduated in today’s ceremonies. The valedictory address was delivered by Cadet Michael Burke, an English major from San Diego, CA.” First year down; several to go! And now, the BR minute: Jack Christy has managed to attend three of only four Seattle Mariners no-hitter games in team history. The latest one was Felix Hernandez’s at Safeco Field in Seattle on Aug. 15, 2012. The Richmond BRC Club met on Aug. 31, 2012; attendees were: Rocky Glass, Tom Moody, Charlie Keen, Alan Kinker, Mack Curle, Lee Bradshaw, Bill Danzeisen and Jim Mallon. Doug Hines, Ray Brooks and Rocky Glass attended the VMI-Navy football game in Annapolis, MD. Doug said Rocky’s daughter was engaged to an alumnus from ’13.

His dad is a Navy graduate and lives in Annapolis, so everyone tailgated with them. Doug said, “Surprising, that the Navy graduate and his wife both were routing for VMI. I think they saw the light. Anyway, it was a beautiful day, except the outcome of the game.”

’77

Steve Neas

If you have not heard the news, yes, I am the new class agent! I figured that 35 years were long enough to heal the wounds of my tenure as First Captain; now, I seek redemption.

For those that missed the 35th Reunion, it was a wonderful affair. A big thank you for the hard work in arranging the reunion and serving as class agent the last five years to Scooter … ah, Bland … ah, Moe Massie (I will just say the former class agent known as Moe*). The weekend began with a cookout at Denise’s and my house in Rockbridge. Thirty-five of our Brother Rats and dates showed, to load test our new deck. Much to Denise’s relief, the deck passed the load test, and no one was hurt. Thanks to Paul Ferrell for arranging the “Poison Bottom Boys” to play old timey music. The PBBs consist of guitar, fiddle, banjo, chairs and three men to play them, but this night, there were only two gentlemen, because the banjo player was in Spain. The fiddle player was none other than Bo Hughes ’75.

Bo was awesome. Ed and Carolyn Anderson showed up first. Ed said, after reading my directions, he planned on about an hour to find the place. Clearly, he didn’t follow my direc-

tions, because it only took him 20 minutes. A special shout out to Tommy Cole. Evidently, he and Ilene were the only ones to actually use my directions and, as such, ended up lost and late. Many people said they had a good time. We will do it again next time to see who comes back. We will be moving to Lexington permanently in January. You all are welcome any time -- well, most any time.

We had 91 Brother Rats in attendance, most with spouses and significant others. Friday started with a fabulous day weather-wise and not so fabulous golf. To tell about the golf, on to our sports announcer who prefers to remain anonymous. So, respecting his request to remain anonymous, take it away, JJ: “The 35th Reunion Super 77 Golf Championship was held on Reunion Friday (simulcast on ESPN360.com for those unable to attend) and featured a star-studded field, highlighted by Team Chattanooga -- Dr. Ed Anderson and his co-pilot “Joe The Grinder” Joe Brown – who buzzed up in their G5 for the day, dragging tons of strokes with them. The Grinder sat safely atop the leader board for more than the first hour, until he broke Col. Jamison’s ’57 kitchen window with a wayward tee shot – which then forced him to spend the rest of the day hiding behind Steve Billingsley’s head. Col. J assessed a 4-stroke-penalty on Team Chattanooga, and that was simply too much for the stellar play of Johnny ‘One Putt’ Marshall and ‘Dog’ Mark Bryant (the silent half of the team, albeit the heart and soul of same) to overcome, as they drifted to the rear of pack. Well, not quite the rear – as that spot was predictably nailed down early on by the Busta Chop Pace lead Petersburg’s Shankapottamuses, which team included Steady Eddie Rodriguez and Tomcat Underhill. Their last place fate was sealed as soon as their 4th – Ralph GP George – cleared waivers and was claimed by Super 77’s D.C. Area Road Building Kings of JT Anderson and E. Paul Boomer Farrell. Farrell cannot play a lick, of course, but he is dependable at signing his team up for all events before shake-a-leg, though NEVER prior to Little Toot. Alas, Ralph’s prodigious drives – and the cocky attitude he carries as a two-time defending Super 77 Does Vegas Champion (surely a title LOST by the time you read these notes!) – was not enough to earn this team a single par all day … though JT easily took home the best-dressed award (how many of THOSE were won out of that room during our cadetship??!!). Messrs Hupp and Allner arrived with pegs in hand and an aggressive game plan designed to bring their team a trophy … but – back to that evil word fate again – found themselves paired with Rich “Whose on First” Howell and Moe-Ron Massie (the former class agent known as Moe*). The

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The Class of 1977: Those who attended their 35th Reunion are listed in alphabetical order, as follows: Frederick Allner III, G. Edgar Anderson Jr., James T. Anderson, Stephen A. Billingsley, C.F. Blackley III, Donald S. Browder, Joseph M. Brown Jr., Michael W. Brown, Mark H. Bryant, Henry R. Bungay, Bruce C. Cann, Thomas A. Cole, Michael H. Conaway, Charles A. Conner III, John R. Cutright, Glenn T. Davidson, Michael W. Davis, Felix E. Deacon III, Michael E. Dick, E. Paul Farrell Jr., Craig T. Forbes, Michael J. Freeman, Randy S. Gates, Ralph H. George, Keith E. Gibson, Howard L. Grant, Robert G. Gutjahr, F.H. Hagreen III, Mark A. Halfacre, Clifford Hamilton II, Robert B. Hartzell, Gary J. Haste, Jerry T. Haste, Larry W. Heim, Stephen D. Heinrich, William F. Holzgrefe, Robert J. Houser, Richard C. Howell, James L. Hugar, Mark O. Hunt, William T. Hupp, Eric D. Hutchings, John D. Johnson, William S. Kelly, John E. Krovic, Kimber L. Latsha, W. Timothy Liles, Michael E. Lindsay, Rodney J. Lynn, John J. Marshall, Bland Massie Jr., Lawrence N. Mauck III, Robert L. McQueen, Timothy A. Mitchell, Richard H. Moore, Kerry J. Mullin, Jeffrey M. Munsey, Wesley W. Naff III, William H. Nay, Stephen L. Neas II, I. Thomas Orrell, John T. Pace IV, Christopher M. Perry, Yanyong Phataralaoha, Raymond J. Pietruszka, William E. Powell, Eric M. Radford, David L. Ralph, Jeffrey W. Reynolds, Augustus Robbins IV, John R. Robertson, Edgar D. Rodriguez, W. Gary Roundy, Douglas W. Sebert, Paul M. Seufer, Robert S. Sherrard Jr., William A. Short, Roy I. Siegel, W. David Slomski, Timothy B. Snyder, Mark W. Stagg, St. Clair Streett III, William H. Talley III, Glenn A. Trimmer, Thomas S. Underhill, Allan S. Wagner III, W. Mark Waldrop, Kurt Weidenthal II, Robert C. Wilson, Terrence E. Wolfe and Steven F. Woodis.

CLASS NOTES

35th Reunion — Sept. 14-15, 2012

Class of 1977

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CLASS NOTES sight of Moe-Ron on the first tee with that Kangaroo head on threw most into hysterics and had Huppster reaching for his wallet in a failed attempt to buy the rights to Ralph from JT. Brother Rich showed the patience of Zeus while watching Moe-Ron hop between shots, but the visual was just too much for him to overcome.

The forgoing nonsense left the door open for 77s very own barbershop quartet to waltz to victory – Lyrch, Stanley, Slim and Weird Harold … errr, make that Bodene, Munce and the best two defensive backs Super 77 ever saw, McQueen and Radford. A stellar performance and well-deserved victory … albeit still under a stern handicap review! Back to you, Steve.”

Later that day, the class gathered for the afternoon parade, and the Corps never looked so good, except for August ’76-May ’77 and maybe May 15, 1865. Cocktails and dinner at Moody Hall. The guest of honor for the dinner was none other than Ms. William J. Buchanan.

Ms. Buchanan was transported to and from Williamsburg where she now resides by Mark Hunt. I imagine Ms. Buchanan is still recovering from 91 of us coming up to her (some being a little over served) and telling her the impact her husband had on their life. Brother Rat Keith Gibson gave an outstanding talk about some historical matters. Keith was given a stand ‘o’.

Keith is Super ’77s newest discovered Rock Star.

Saturday morning began with photos and a memorial service in Memorial Gardens. Kimber Latsha led the service. The names of all our fallen Brother Rats were read.

Then, to the alumni parade and our ramble into Barracks. Speaking of Kimber, you are asking yourself right now, did he or didn’t he?

The answer is, yes, Kimber and the former class agent known as Moe* made it to the top of the sentinel box without aid of stairs. Kimber did confide in me that he still does 10 pull-ups every other day in preparation for this once-infive-years event. How many pull-ups can you do these days?

The former class agent known as Moe* arranged for a lunch at Moody Hall and then the football game (enough said about that).

The finale for our 35th Reunion was a gathering at McKethan Park. For those that do not know, McKethan Park is property VMI obtained in return for giving White’s Farm to the state for the horse center. The park has a nice pavilion with fireplace (lit and fueled by Chuck Conner). Again, a great dinner and a talk by another VMI ’77 rock star, LG JD Johnson. Seeing JD again after all these years, I now understand why Kim Jon II decided to assume room temperature and turn things over to his very capable 29-year-old son, Kim Jon Un. We can all be proud of our highest-ranking BR.

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In other news, Don Browder has a 20-minute DVD made from clips of events during our first class year. The DVD shows ’77 putting ’80 in the Ratline, a football game, the ’78 Ring Figure parade, breakout and some graduation clips. If you are interested in a copy, let me know.

Mike Parish is living in Lincoln, NE. He lives down the street from Mike Smith. I hope you guys can make it to the 40th. Mike reports that John Coe is deputy consul general for our embassy in Cairo. I would imagine John was busy on 9/11 this year. While John was defending the embassy in Cairo, John Quackenbush had to cancel his trip to the reunion to keep the western part of the U.S. safe after the 9/11 festivities.

The former class agent known as Moe* reported that the Keydet Club had their scholarship banquet on parents weekend (Oct. 20, 2012). Super ’77 was represented by Trish and Will Bynum, Diana and Billy Hupp, Janine and Eric Hutchings, Jane and Bland Massie, Patti and Chris Perry, and Lurline and Allan Wagner.

Tim Snyder did not make it to the reunion due to a medical problem. Mike Freeman stopped by to see Tim in the hospital after the reunion. Mike said that Tim was in good spirits.

I hope by this time he is better.

I had a chance to talk with many of you during the reunion, but without anything in writing in my hand at this time, it is hard to recount each conversation. The one thing I remember from the reunion was the BR who traveled the farthest was Phataralaoha from Bangkok! If Mr. P can fly halfway around the world for a reunion, then the rest of you have no excuses.

Please send me e-mails to update me on you and fellow Brother Rats. I assure you they will be in the next installment.

I know many of you are on Facebook. I count 91 of our BRs as friends on FB. Chris Manno frequently has posts. If you want to know what the flight crews for American Airlines are having for dinner any given evening, “friend” Chris. He will usually let you know. Many others post frequently, as well. It is a good way to keep up with many of our Brother Rats.

Now on to bricks. Many of you have a brick in your name placed in the sidewalk around Barracks. I would like us to consider insuring that all of our fallen Brother Rats have a brick placed in their name. That would mean some of us stepping up to contribute in that BR’s name. Please e-mail me, and let me know your thoughts and if you are interested in participating this effort. Remember, mini-reunion September 2013?

Sincerely, Steve Neas P.S. Mini-reunion September 2013?

’78

Tom Brown

Greetings to all. As I compile the latest news from around the class, many of you have just endured the wrath of Hurricane Sandy.

I pray that all of you managed safely during that arduous time. Facebook postings from many of you showed your sense of humor and resolve in the face of a new challenge. As summer came to an end and the new school year started, I found myself at the first home game against Chowan where several BRs had gathered. Glenn Dallinger, Danny Thornton, Bert Loflin and Rick Wolffe were all on hand to see the first victory of the season. The gathering was abbreviated by a lovely storm that rolled in around half-time. All reported that they were doing well and looked forward to a good football season.

Phillip Fore checked in and wanted to share a VMI event that took place. On Oct. 6, 2012, his niece was married to Thomas Gottwald ’09. The wedding was in Richmond at St. James Episcopal Church. The rehearsal dinner was at the Commonwealth Club. The reception was held in Windsor Farms at the Gottwald’s home. Phil says he has never attended any event with so many VMI alumni, from 21 to 95 years old. He saw Bill Hardy and many other people he had not seen in 30 years or more. Scot Singletary says all is well in Greenville, SC. He planned on coming up for the Citadel game. Scott spoke to Pat Wilson in Memphis and Bruce Mason in Winston Salem and hopes they can join him. Scott says they seem to be doing well. Scott’s 3-year-old grandson, Colton, lives in Charlottesville. He hopes to have him and the kids come for the parade. Ron Dolan sent along that he and his wife were planning to be at the game, as well.

Rob Traver says he had a wild visit to Lexington. Turns out it was the class of ’77’s 35th Reunion. Rob is glad we are not nearly that old. Turns out, his second cousin, Capt.

Andrew Upshaw ’06, is an aide to Lt. Gen. John Johnson ’77, who was his Band Co. Corporal. So, Rob got to talk to the general and see his cousin! Also, Rob’s other second cousin, Captain Alex Litz ’07, is also under Lt. Gen. Johnson’s command as a company commander, but he wasn’t there; someone had to stay there and defend. Rob is looking forward to next fall. Mike Oelrich reports he is still working as a test engineer for Jacobs Technology Inc. at Eglin AFB, doing flight tests on the F-15. Mike says, yes, it looks like the F-15 will be around in some version long after he

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CLASS NOTES retires for the second time. His kids have both the next day’s Baltimore Sun, which was kind istry study group at VCU. They reconnected graduated from high school, and his daughter of cool. Kathy and Jimmie Cure hung out with in 2011 via Facebook. In other news, Paul is just completed her master’s degree. Mike’s son them for a couple of days at Jay’s dad’s Potomac thrilled with his 2013 Hyundai Sonata, sold is going to veterinary technical training and River cottage, also in early October – just blue by our Brother Rat Phil Fore, a salesman for working as a graduate assistant on the local jeans, beer, boat ride and bonfire, which was West Broad Hyundai in Richmond. Once when high school football team. Mike hasn’t run into really nice. Jay says he chatted with Terry McK- they were thirds, working out side-by-side on any classmates in quite a while, and he only night in the VMI PX and bought one of Terry’s the punching bags, Phil stated that he could looks at Facebook on occasion to see what our books, Pirate Alley. Jay had a terrific time at run three miles in under 18 minutes. Since BRs are up to. He is looking forward to catchthe JK Whitmer wedding in September. It was Phil had a little gut and smoked, Paul says ing up at the 35th Reunion in the fall. great having JK and his crew in Lynchburg. he challenged that claim. Phil accepted the Joe Cafarella reports he is still working as an Intel analyst at NASIC at Wright-Patt AFB for Ball Aerospace. Joe was thinking about how many more years he can put up with it all. Serving his country for the last 34 years has been an honor, but Joe says it’s time to enjoy life before he is staring up at daisies.

Alec Earle took an “extended sabbatical” from the rat race of working in civil service. Some would call it, “retirement.” However, Alec does not think anyone is ever truly retired.

Class of 1978: In Lynchburg, Virginia, to celebrate J.K. Whitmer’s son’s They just pursue other interests. The past six wedding were, from left, Whitmer, Bert Loflin, Danny Thornton, Tom Brown, months have flown by, and he is having a Garry Spencer, Bill Roberton and Jay Hutt. blast. Sheila plans to work a few more years, so Alec’s main job has changed from “civil engineer” to “domestic engineer.” They have He had a good chat with Ned Riester while in challenge. The following Saturday afternoon, taken numerous weekend trips in their motor Lexington. Says it was good to have most of the after stretching beside the Stonewall Jackson home, as well as a few other trips to places. old ’32 Crew together; the only MIA was Dave statue, Phil took off, way too fast, across the While Alec would like to say his golf game has Ring. Jay also coordinated a terrific lunch get- parade field with Paul right on his heels. Paul improved, he still has a long, long way to go together of BRs for JK’s visit. In attendance were knew he couldn’t keep up that pace and would to make the senior tour. One of his interests is Garry Spencer and Bill Robertson, who drove stick with Phil till he slowed to a reasonable photography. So, he took a four-day National from Wirtz and Richmond, as well as Danny pace. Phil never slowed. Pride demanded that Geographic photography course in Washington Thornton, Bert Loflin and me. It was a great Paul stick with him. Paul’s time was 17:40; D.C. The following week, they were taking he was thrilled. Paul commented that when time, Jay; thanks. their motor home back to Texas for the winter. he looks at how fat he and Phil are now, it is Paul Mitchell has some real news this time.

The route will take them through some great a marvel that they were ever that fit. Since Victoria Rennie, M.D., director of physician golfing areas: Myrtle Beach, Jekyll Island, following Phil had worked so well that time, training for Patient First, and Paul became enGulf Shores and Lake Charles. Hope the trip when it came to selecting a new car, Paul told gaged last July. Paul popped the question near was great, Alec!

Phil that he wanted the same Hyundai model the top of Edinburgh Castle during a Scotland Tim Pishdad reports he has challenged himself vacation. Their wedding is planned for July Phil had selected, with the same features and to be in better shape at our 35th than when we 2013. Victoria and Paul first became friends 30 the same deal. This was done, except Paul’s graduated. Tim is staying busy this election sea- years ago as members of an organic chemdeal was better. In October, Victoria and Paul son as campaign manager for a Florida took a week-long Central Florida State Senator. He gets to meet lots vacation during which they met of folks and is enjoying learning all our former class agent, Glenn the workings of a campaign and how Dallinger, for a great dinner elections are won or lost. His youngand conversation at a Greek resest is inking a deal with the Marines. taurant in Tarpon Springs. The So, after graduation, he is off to boot following evening, they met Tim camp. That will be the last one out of Pishdad and his lovely wife, the house. Tim and Cynthia are doing Cynthia Watkins, as well as Jim well and hope any BRs in the area take Doyle for another great dinner a moment to let them know. They had and conversation at Baja Tavern a mini class get up with Paul Mitchell & Eats in Port Canaveral. Paul and Jim Dole at a local eatery at Port was very pleased for Victoria to Canaveral. See photo at right. meet some of our Brother Rats Jay Hutt took wife Paula to the Oriand hear a few of our stories. oles last home game in early October Congratulations, Paul! and bumped into Bob Jenvey, who That brings to a close the latest Class of 1978: Paul Mitchell, Jim Doyle and Tim was there with his son. Jay and Paula from around the class. Hard to Pishdad at Port Canaveral, Florida. were in the background of a photo in believe, but our 35th Reunion

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CLASS NOTES is this coming fall. No specifics on dates as of this writing but should be in September. I will keep you posted. If you would like to help with our reunion, please let me know. A few of you have already graciously offered your assistance, and I thank you. Keep in contact through the class Facebook page, VMI78.

As always, In the Spirit

’79

Michael Ogden

Hope this finds all of you and yours well.

Notes from the class …

Tammy, Lee Moise’s wife, who obviously does all the correspondence for the family, writes in: “Lee is pretty much covered up with work. He is still working as the county attorney for Buchanan County. The kids and I are all well, and our oldest son, Kell, has just accepted an assignment with Blackwater in Afghanistan for a year. All we know is that he is working with Special Forces and Marines in a “security” role. Our daughter, Ashlea, graduated from high school last June with honors and is now in college in Kentucky.

So, all is well for the moment on the “Moise Family” front. Lee is hoping to get to more football and basketball games this next season, so be on the lookout for us at those games!”

Thanks, Tammy! Blackwater? Really?

Kewl!

Time for a missive from good ’ole Uncle

Stosh that just missed the last Review: “After many years of living in my lonely hovel and wearing my hair shirt, I finally received an invitation to the Annual Spotts Picnic in the ‘Holy City’ of Richmond before it occurred.

In the interest of full disclosure, I must say that Meade did invite the whole class. So, in effect, I just slipped in under the radar.

“I’d never actually been to ‘The Annual Spotts Picnic,’ so I was not sure what to expect.

“Imagine my delight when the first sight that greeted my eyes as I enter Che Spotts was a real life ‘bouncy house.’ Flushed with a flashback of one of our Rat sweat parties (Get DOWN MAGGOT! No GET UP! No, GET DOWN!) I amused myself quite nicely until some 6-year-old kicked me out.

“For those who did not attend, it was quite the event. Whole roasted pig and burgers.

Even free ranging chickens with stacks of ammo cans standing by, near an open fire pit, for those of us who longed for the old days of wilderness survival when men were men ... “Out on the majestic and peaceful banks of the James River, I was greeted by the epitome of what I’ve come to know as true Southern hospitality.

There they were: BRs from all classes strolling along the shore with their golf clubs, driving balls out into the river in a gentlemanly game of ‘who can hit the tube floaters as they go by.’

Among them were some old thirds, including Denton ’80 who, much to everyone’s delight, was not getting first classmen confinement for disrespect to the football team.

“As I sucked down my mint julep, a peace-

Class of 1979: After 33 years of service, Brig. Gen. Jeff Smith Jr., second from left, completed his last tour of duty as the deputy commander, U.S. Army Cyber Command. At his retirement ceremony were, from left, Bob Morris, Smith Jr., retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jeff Smith Sr. ’43, John Arthur and a close friend of all three ’79 BRs, retired Col. Howie Cohen. The ceremony was held at Fort Myer.

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ful sense of relaxation flowed over me ... Ah, the peace of it all.

“Soon, I came upon our BR Albro. We spent most of the afternoon drinking Spotts’ beer, using a formula roughly equivalent to 1 pitcher every 15 minutes until someone passed out, then one every 10 minutes after that.

“At first, I was a bit envious that Albro has the pleasure of staying in the Spotts’ guest house – historic place where Pete Alvarez, Brian Tollie and a rather large quantity of Pete’s illegal Cuban rum once resided. I was less envious when I learned that to earn his keep, Spotts forced Albro to bush-hog all 10,000 hectors of the Spotts’ Plantation. ...

“Although this was impressive, what I most admired was the revelation that the Spotts annual picnic was not really the Spotts annual picnic. Apparently, Spotts opens up the estate annually, and the Richmond VMI contingent puts on the picnic, right down to the bouncy house and the pig. A massive party someone throws FOR YOU … Spotts is definitely the man. If I tried that, all you’d end up with at the Morris bunker is a homeless hobo with a half-eaten can of SPAM. “Following the picnic, Meade’s lovely, charming and gracious wife took Albro, his wife and me to a very fine dinner. She let Meade come, also, although I don’t know why, as he ate all the custom made éclairs that he forced Albro to bring all the way down from northern Virginia. I tried to do my part by bringing Spotts some hand-rolled cigars of which he gave Albro one … Seems he missed a spot bush-hogging the yard.

“So, to recap … Big party, much beer delivered to your door; Albro bringing you handmade éclairs and bush-hogging your entire lawn; and your wife taking you to dinner – what a deal! ...” (whew) How’s THAT for free entertainment!

Steve Lyon sends greetings from Charlotte, NC. He reports that his daughter, Sarah, was married recently! She had been engaged for 12 months to a transplanted Yankee that he and Beth both adore! Sarah continues to work at Ernst and Young, and her husband, Mike, is at Bank of America, and they both live in Charlotte. The wedding and reception were held at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte. Both the bride and the weather were a perfect 10!

Lots of friends from Roanoke came to the wedding, and Steve says it was great seeing so many family members, too! Congrats, Steve and Beth!

Doug Doerr checks in: “Pretty quiet in the Doerr household. Work, scouts, the museum, church and that is about it. On 29 Sept., I did

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CLASS NOTES a metric century bike ride on the Northern Neck with one of my [oldest] Marine Corps friends, Dave Wassink. Dave was in our TBS class. Also, on the same ride with me was Doug Ashton ’76 (my dyke) and Granny Amos ’65, my former CO on my Grenada/ Beirut cruise of 1983 and 1984. Anyway, we did the bike ride in fine fashion and made a day out of it in celebration of Granny’s birthday.” Thanks, Doug. Give Rug and Granny my best next time you see them!

Hank St Pierre, like quite a few of us these days, feels the urge to reconnect. Hank recently retired from the Army and decided to stay in the Kansas City/Leavenworth area.

Like most military retirees, he immediately went to the dark side and took a job as a contractor. Some of us would say that becoming a civil servant is going over to the dark side, right, Albro?

Hank first went to work for BAE Systems but left that job after one year. Way too much like the Army – corporate structure was way too regimented and the bureaucracy was too inflexible for him.

A year ago, he was hired as a program manager for one of the companies with a contract vehicle at Leavenworth. A great company with only 50 employees that wants to grow and realizes that flexibility is a key to that growth.

Hank relates that the average Army colonel has five jobs in five years after retiring, before finally growing up. Speaking from

retired from the Department of Homeland Security, and his ceremony was held on Sept.

14th at the Officers’ Club at Ft. Myer in Arlington, VA. With the help of his staff, it turned out to be a fantastic day full of surprises for him. The room was filled with friends and colleagues that Rich had worked with during the last 33 years of his military and federal career, including many that he had not seen in 10, 20 or 30 years. Says wife Dawn, “It was a wonderful day, and I am so grateful to the awesome group of BRs that were there to share the day with us! The ceremony was full of laughter, tears, great memories and heartfelt congratulations for a job well done.

We are looking for more opportunities to get together!” Congrats, Rich. Sorry I was unable to make to the grand event!

Jeff Curtis will be transitioning from the chief of staff position next July; this is his fourth year. He’ll be switching jobs to be the executive assistant to the superintendent and secretary to the Board of Visitors. Meanwhile, he and Betsy are working long hours on weekends and in the evenings, fixing up the house they bought in the local area.

Thanks for your outstanding service as COS, and we are all glad that you are staying on in the inner circle at the Institute!

Another e-mail from Bill Albro that I will once again leave up to all of you to translate!

And I quote: “OK – so, yes, you caught me in the picture playing golf w/ Doug and the gang – it was a grand day, and the Black team of Doug, Chip and I won the round over Dave, Dickie, Hal and Kendall. Weather was perfect and course only had a few rough spots. I have been monitoring the e-mail from Stosh on giving away cases of beer.

No, Meade – Guinness is not in my basement – I haven’t made the pilgrimage down to Williamsburg w/ the truck to make a pickup – YET. I had dinner w/ Sput at ‘Comfort’ on Broad Street the other day, and that was fun. Sput has the cottage all ready for the winter storms and is back in Richmond until spring.

I haven’t seen anyone else since Gleb’s retirement and Jeter’s BBQ in front of Tom’s house.”

Fred Bailey’s mother, Martha Wilson Bailey, passed away on Oct. 27, 2012. She was married to Robert G. Bailey ’40. Her youngest Class of 1979: Rich McGruder’s retirement ceremony was held on Sept. 14, 2012, at son, Robert Martin Bailey, attended the Fort Myer Officers Club in Arlington, Virginia. Attending were, from left, seated, VPI. Two other sons attended John Poffenbarger, Randy Hawkins and Doug Doerr. Standing: Eric Swartz, Gleb Taran, VMI, Gordon Bailey ’69 and Fred.

Kurt McCabe, Bob (Stosh) Morris, McGruder, Jim Pigg and Tom Manley. McGruder She had two daughters, Susan had worked for the Department of Homeland Security.

Mitchel and Carolyn Shackleford,

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experience and observation, that is not too far off the mark. I started in the contractor world, too, after retirement; moved over and up through four companies in six years before settling in as a GS. A quick note from Jim Owens: “Not much happening at the Owens household – the summer went way too fast. I’m still doing my Reserve gig with Army Africa as DCG. Spent half of September in Tanzania and a week in Italy doing my part. Only have about six months left till I have to retire but am having fun in this great assignment. My real job with Northrop in Suffolk keeps me out of trouble the rest of the time. Sherry and I did go up to D.C. a couple of times – first to watch her Hokies get stunned by Cincinnati and then to attend the funeral of my old boss from Iraq, BG (Ret.) Jack Kern ’70 (who, by the way, was the brother-in-law of everyone’s favorite TAC … Bob Candido ’70). It was a great celebration of Jack’s life and a real tribute to a good friend.” Thanks for checking in, Jim! J.K. Hudgins retired from the San Diego Police Department in July with 33 years of service. He has since been hired by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office as an investigator and should start with the DA’s office in early November. In the meantime, he has been really enjoying his retirement. He recently hiked Mt. Whitney, CA, the highest mountain in the Continental United States at 14,505 ft. Impressive! Some “retirement”!

Speaking of retirements … Rich McGruder

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Turkey where they plan to visit Troy, the who attended Madison University. VMI was John Gibney Jr. Hellespont and the Gallipoli battlefield. They obviously a major part of her life. She was also plan to spend Founders Day in Istanbul. witness to a lot of VMI history during the Paul Lachmanek relays that wife Amy past century. Our condolences to you and continues to improve and test results have your family. been good so far following chemotherapy Susan Vordermark, Jeff’s wife (love it in her battle with cancer. She is winning! when the wives write! No BS!), writes in Paul says that “Amy’s hair has made very with: “Not much going on here, Mike, but I Hello, Brother Rats, good progress growing back, but it will be a can say, ‘Jeff shot an antelope, Jeff shot an LONG time before it will be back to the over antelope!’ He was so jazzed. He took a trip These notes cover the period Aug. 16, 2012, 36 inches long it was before.” All our best in with an officemate to Wyoming. It’s being through Nov. 1, 2012, two and a half months Amy’s continued recovery! shoulder mounted as I type, and it will have that included both Hurricane Isaac (how soon Several members of the class were in ata place of honor in our basement which is we forget) and Hurricane Sandy. tendance for the retirement ceremony of BG affectionately known as ‘The Dad Room’ (the The period began with an e-mail from Andy Jeffrey G. Smith Jr. John Arthur and Bob dead animal den).

Ludlum. Andy, a pilot for Southwest Airlines, Morris made the trek to Washington, D.C., “PFC Vordermark, Seth, is at NTC as I was in Cleveland where he had dinner with from the Yorktown/Chesapeake area for type. He is on the PSD (personal security Larry Hupertz. Andy also wrote that he and detail) for the battalion LTC and sgt. major. ‘I the ceremony after Hurricane Sandy passed Nicki attended the get-together in August through the lower Virginia peninsula area. carry the SAW mom. That’s a big automatic hosted by Walt and Mary Lynne Wood and Jeff completes his last tour of duty as the weapon.’ Jeff will be graduating his sixth that they planned to attend a football game in deputy commander, U.S. Army Cyber Comclass of majors in December. He is now Lexington in October. mand, and is one of the remaining members teaching electives on the Middle East and Tom Gelles sent a “Mr. Bold” e-mail. The of the class on active duty. is still the best-dressed and best-educated message contained a YouTube link of Tom The ceremony was manned and conducted instructor in DJMO!” appearing on a local TV program in 2006 at Ft. Myer by the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Pete Underwood had dinner with Doug and explains that his comments have come to “Old Guard” ceremonial unit. These profesand Corrine Doerr in early September while fruition in 2012. I will send the link to anyone sionals honored Jeff’s 33 years of service, attending a conference at Quantico. He and who asks. and as any good English major would do, Anita also spent a late September day with Pat Griffin called. Pat planned to attend the he eloquently “wove” his years at the “I” Phil and Carmella Southers at Duck, NC. VMI football game at Navy in September. He throughout his entire retirement speech.

They also stopped by at our place (in the also hosted a send-off for 11 Rats from the Also attending were his father, U.S. Army pouring rain) before our VMIAA ESVA New England chapter. Ed Carter and Dennis Lt. Gen. Jeffrey G. Smith Sr. ’43 (Ret).

Chapter pig cookin’ in August. The point Maguire were also in attendance. Pat, Beth Congratulations, Jeff! being, after all this time, “some” of us were and their two sons also attended a picnic at I have run out of room, BRs, and that’s a unsure that Anita actually existed (other than Phil Munisteri’s house on Long Island in July. good thing! the picture in his wallet). Can now faithfully Gary Levenson, VMI’s deputy commandant, Appreciate all the inputs this time ’round! attest that Anita does, in fact, exist and that called. He said that Doug Burton has two sons Stay well, and lest I forget, how go those anPete definitely “married up!” in the Corps of Cadets. He also said that he nual physicals?!

John Kailey writes that things “continue saw Josh Priest and Ken Trotman. to move toward the mundane.” He retired I had a brief phone call with Elliott Wolffe from the Army on 1 Oct. and who was riding out Hurricane Isaac now, believe it or not, is officiatat his home in New Orleans. ing football. His oldest son will Rob Dalessandro sent an be wrestling this year – 6’2”, e-mail after having dinner with 225 lbs. He sends his personal Joe Brown, Mike Knapp, Jay Mcthanks to BRs Jim Pigg and Dan Connell and Tracy Wilson in the Kornacki for helping out with his Washington, D.C., area. Joe Brown retirement. sent a follow-up e-mail thanking Brian Tollie is still living in Jay for picking up the tab.

Cambridge, UK, and working in September brought a weekend nearby Molesworth. He just revisit to our house in the Poconos turned from a four-month deployby Matthew and Tanya Keys. The ment in Djibouti in October.

Redskins and RGIII were playing His wife, Laura, and he took a their opening game, and Matthew trip to France, visiting battlewas yapping about how well “his” fields in Normandy and along draft choice was doing. More on the Somme. They also followed that below.

Henry V’s route of march and The messages related to the Class of 1979: J.K. Hudgins with girlfriend Corinne Hard were in Agincourt on St. Crispin’s annual trek to VMI that Mike in July 2012 on the summit of Mount Whitney, California, Day. Luning and Rob Quarles organize the highest mountain in the continental United States In November, he plans to link were flying throughout the month. at 14,505 feet. up with Pete Underwood in Each year, Mike and Rob choose a

’80

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CLASS NOTES weekend, usually in October, to return to VMI for a football game. The weekend activities have grown to now include a golf outing, tailgating at Gary Levenson’s quarters on Post before and after the football game, and an evening party hosted by Gary. The planning and coordination are impressive.

Don Bradshaw sent an e-mail from his quarters in Brooklyn. Don is stationed at Fort Hamilton where he is the deputy to the garrison commander. Karyn is still in Mechanicville, but Don now has an apartment on post. Don is also becoming active in the local Alumni Association chapter and has offered to host an event for our NYC-area BRs. Tim Hodges sent an e-mail from VMI where he is a professor in the Engineering Department. Tim attended the football game against Richmond with David Humphrey who was visiting from Denver. They tailgated with Dan Sweeney and saw Doug Burton and Gary Levenson at the game.

Jack Keane sent an e-mail with a photo that appears below. Jack got together with Larry Ciacci, Pat Griffin, Bruno Loefstedt and Phil Munisteri in Connecticut. Note – Jack sent three pictures with a group request to publish the least flattering photo of Pat. Request granted.

Frank Leech sent an e-mail from Abu Dhabi with news that his company was transferring him to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The family will follow after their annual Christmas visit to Albuquerque.

October began with an e-mail from Steve Andrews. Steve and Cathy live in Connecticut and are both chemists with large pharmaceuti-

cal companies. Work has both of them doing a lot of business travel.

Pat Griffin called. He attended the VMI football game at Navy. He said that he saw Gary Fellows, Boyd Gaines and Mark Pauls.

As many of you know, Scott and Mary Sayre own and operate Sayre Enterprises in Buena Vista. In e-mail correspondence, they noted that their daughter, Mary Scott, has joined the company in the commercial division. They were also scheduled to take an out-of-town family vacation at the end of October.

Josh Priest sent an e-mail announcing a pre-game party on Nov. 21 at the Ted Constant Center in connection with the VMI-ODU basketball game.

Rob Quarles sent an e-mail following the annual gathering at VMI mentioned above.

The photo taken in front of Gary Levenson’s quarters did not meet publication requirements. Rob wrote that the weather cooperated, many of our BRs’ wives attended, and Bill Roelofsen and Dixon Tucker were the primary cooks at the tailgate. Our BRs who made it to Lexington included: Ed Baker, Paul Burkholder, V. Dunn, Larry Hupertz, Mike Luning, Jay McConnell, Yves Pollart, Rob Robinson, Ken Trotman and Preston Vock.

As the period ended, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, including the New York metropolitan area. Matthew and Tanya Keys live in lower Manhattan but were not evacuated. Beth Jones, Robby’s wife, was scheduled to fly to Taipei but was stuck in a hotel just outside JFK airport, which was shut down. My office in lower Manhattan had the power shut down, and as of the submission date of these notes,

Class of 1980: Attending a mini reunion in Old Lyme, Connecticut, were, from left, Phil Munisteri, P.J. Griffin, Jack Keane, Larry Ciacci and Bruno Loefstedt. The photo was taken by Nick Gelles (VMI ’12).

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the power was not restored. I did not have access to my office e-mail for the last several days of the reporting period. Since many of our BRs communicate through my office email, there may be messages that were sent but not received prior to submission. I will address any in the next set of notes. Thanks to Tuck Masker and Elliott Wolffe for calling to check in. I hope all of our BRs who were impacted by the hurricanes during this period made it through OK. In closing, it is Halloween, and the Super Bowl champion New York Giants are 6 and 2 and sit atop the NFC East. The Keys yapping has subsided.

This is the last set of notes for calendar year 2012. The next set of notes, covering the period that ends on Feb. 15, will include the many cards and letters that typically arrive at Christmas and year end. I look forward to hearing from you and wish everyone well in 2013. Thank you for your support.

’81

Trip Lloyd

Dear Brother Rats and Families, The holidays are done in the Lloyd house, and the ski season was better than last year.

We were able to get to our ski house in West Virginia for a week at the end of January. We wish everyone a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Brian Quisenberry has taken a new position with Birmingham Southern College as of Oct. 15th.

Bill Grigg writes from Charlotte, NC, that he recently ran into Pete Foster ’82 whom he had not seen since graduation. They grew up in Richmond together. He shared that Sammy Woolwine is a grandfather (his son, Trey, had their first). The Charlotte Chapter recently hosted a cadet recruiting event, and it was a great way to meet lots of the recent graduates.

He finds it interesting to hear what Barracks issues are 30 years after we left. Bill is looking to see a few football games this year, but with one child in college and two in high school, it is hectic with all of them playing sports. Bill was with Mark Gonzales recently, as they went to VMI and FUMA together. Bill encourages anybody in Charlotte to give him a call.

Marty Cristo wrote to say that Bernie Banas, John Goode, Andy Kolesar and he had a mini Class of ’81 Reunion in September at the Richmond-VMI football game in Lexington. John and his wife, Carol, hosted a terrific tailgate party, and they all got to see

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES John Owen Goode ’13 in action for the Keydet footballers. Brian Quisenberry and his family joined them, and Bruce Kitchen and his family shared their tailgate with them, too.

Mike Shupp, Dave Openshaw and Grover Outland hosted a mini-reunion at the VMINavy football game in Annapolis. Chair Mike Shupp and his crew spent Saturday night after the game at the Pusser’s Dockside Bar downtown (in the Marriott Waterfront), where Mike and Sherrye moored their new yacht, Miss Chesapeake. Pre-game activities were held at the The Rams Head Roadhouse just outside of Annapolis. Reports of activities by our assembled class were plentiful and undoubtedly exaggerated. Your humble class agent has been sworn to secrecy. Needless to say, great times were had by all attendees.

Dave Taylor writes that the mini-reunion at the VMI-Navy football game was outstanding.

Rich Wagner, Tim Hesson and Dave came up from Richmond, and Gary Won was also there. He also wrote that Rich Wagner got married, and Dave got to be his best man.

Mike Placzek wrote that his daughter, Rachel, and her new Army husband (corpsman), PFC Erik Johnson, are settling in Camp Vilsec, Germany. The wedding in August and the move in September kept everyone busy.

Plaz shared that things are a little challenging for Rachel, as she is adapting to Army life as an Army wife.

Ann and Greg Wolven wrote that it has been a busy fall for the family in Indiana. Their son, Chris, accepted a job at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, IN, about 2-1/2 hours from home, so they spent the fall moving him and some of the things he “forgot” that he needed. He is a biomedical technician there. Greg got back from Washington, D.C., in early October, where the MultiSpeak Advisory Board met; Greg is the chairman. He left for San Diego in late October to attend an automated meterreading round table. Their daughter, Katie, is

in her senior year at Saint Joseph’s College and is finishing up her volleyball career. Ann is busy between school, kids and working on her doctorate.

Vincent Wood went to the VMI Club of Richmond networking event to hear one of his dykes, RADM Terry McKnight ’78, speak about his book. There were several members of the class of ’78 there, as well as ’81. Mike Denton, Tim Nitz and Moose McCue were all there. The classes of ’79 and ’80 had members, as well. Terry did a great job.

’82

Charles Kause

O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stain’d With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest, And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe, And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.

—William Blake, To Autumn Oh, how I long to sing lusty songs of fruits and flowers, but the remnants of my fruits and flowers were blown away by Superstorm Sandy’s less than jolly voice. At the same time, my editrixes in Lexington truncated my timeline to bang out your quarterly report, leaving me gasping and grasping for information. Yet, like roving through ravaged WalMart aisles looking for enough batteries and Beefaroni to get me through the storm, I was able to scrounge enough material from your notes, pictures and Facebook entries to slap together a worthy epistle for your amusement.

My second class roomie, John “Hollywood” Hargreaves, dropped me a line out of the blue to tell me that VMI grads are everywhere.

Class of 1981: Marty Cristo, Bernie Banas, John Goode and Andy Kolesar met at the VMI-Richmond basketball game in Richmond in September 2012.

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Last November, John was accompanying his wife, the NATO Joint Military Intelligence and Operations officer (J2/J3), at a NATO conference in Zagreb, Croatia. During a break in the conference, John was chatting with 1st Lt. Hrvoje Glasnovic ’04, Croatian Army, when he happened to notice the big, vulgar ring on his right hand. They quickly discovered that they were both VMI grads. And of course, this meeting had to have taken place on Founders Day. September arrived with the promise of a new school year and the excitement of VMI playing football at the Naval Academy. Mrs. Kause was giddy with excitement at the promise of a day trip to Annapolis, topped off by the football game. The Keydet Club must have seen her coming from a long way off. When Mrs. Kause called for tickets and said she wanted good seats, she got rock star tickets on row two behind the team. Meanwhile, the Corps was seated on the upper deck, along with several BRs. Doug Burdett posted some pics and amusing bon mots about his trip to Maryland from Norfolk. Were it not for the FA-18 flyover before the game, Doug thought he may have been lost in a Virginia Beach Wal-Mart parking lot. He ran into his dyke from ’85, Graham Shirley, with whom he took second semester Rat chemistry. Doug was never a detail-oriented Keydet as a Rat, and he surmises he never got the memo stating he was required to take two semesters of chemistry to receive a diploma. Fortunately, Graham pointed him in the right direction.

While my uncovered bald pate was burning in the noonday sun from sitting on the sunny side of the stadium, Doug was busy flitting about, running into BRs Frank Rosenthal, Duke Addison and Brad Walker. Duke now has a son who has already graduated and another still in the Corps. Of note, Doug wrote that Duke’s current son is sporting academic stars, which makes us believe that trait came from Duke’s wife, Penny.

Doug posted on Facebook that his ’79 dyke, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey G. Smith Jr., was scheduled to retire from the Army in a ceremony at Ft. Myer on Halloween. Given the disruption caused by Superstorm Sandy and the lack of photographic evidence, I will withhold judgment on whether this august event actually took place. As a proud member of Fierce Fighting Foxtrot, Jeffrey G. holds a special place in my heart, as he was our Rat platoon commander.

(Editor’s Note: See photo on page 109.)

Les Rose reports that he and wife Gwen are first time proud grandparents. Parker Elias Rose was born on Aug. 9, 2012. According to my memory, Les is the first BR to report his status as a grandfather, since I have undertaken the class

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CLASS NOTES agent duties … but I suspect several of you have reached that milestone. Parker’s parents are Les’ son, Ryan Rose ’08, and his wife, Kay. I trust Les secured a Provisional Appointment for grandson Parker. Les also recently went to Rat Day at New Market and the first home football against Chowan this past September. Les’ nephew, Trey Rose, matriculated at VMI this year, so the Rose family has been to visit him several times. His father is Andrew Rose ’89. Thus, the long line of Roses continues to parade through the arches.

I received Les’ info through Mrs. Kause, as both work at ExxonMobil. Mrs. Kause joined an ’82 Wives Mafia during the 30th Reunion, when a few conniving wives got together to force their husbands to socialize more often than just at five-year reunions. Mrs. Kause was attempting to convince Les to join this klatch, but he politely declined to sign up for a planned dinner party, as he was scheduled to be out of town. But this mafia did connive, inveigle or browbeat Jim Hickey, Mark Shifflette and your gentle correspondent into a very fun evening of booze, steak and smokes in McLean. Of course, it took the combined powers of Maureen Hickey, Debbie Shifflette and Mrs. Kause to shame their husbands into action. After cocktails and dinner, Maureen suggested the party move to the Hickey’s home. Jim and Maureen live in Shaun Gillilland’s old neighborhood of north Arlington; in fact, right around the corner from Shaun’s childhood home. Being an old Army couple, this is the first home they can call their very own. The boys went out to the back yard to smoke and swill and tell stories from our illustrious pasts, while the ladies remained indoors to complain about their husbands. One lesson I learned the hard way is to never entrust Jim with your drink order. He has a heavy pour that compares with that of Moody Hall’s bartenders. The poor souls who sat in front of and behind me at church the next day were graced with a malodorous scent akin to garlic, scotch and gastric distress. I am placing all northern Virginia BRs on notice: the ’82 NoVa Wives Mafia will come calling soon, and you will comply with their demand to meet and fete.

The social highlight of the season appears to have been Parents Weekend down at the I. Several BRs from up and down the East Coast and over the ocean and across the waves gathered in Lexington to be with their progeny and families, while enjoying a perfect fall weekend. One of my more prolific correspondents, George Mayforth, came up to Lexington with family in tow from Florida. George wrote, “George Mayforth ( wife Tansy Moon and daughters Taylor and Isabella), Jeff Judkins, Jack Wainwright (wife Colleen, two sons, father and mother …

Bill …class of 1955 and Boots, wife’s parents,

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and Rat’s girlfriend), Dave Shutt (wife Lisa), and Mark Ciarrocca (wife Janet) were in attendance. Along with them, Emmet and Lynn Heltzel, Scott Crumpler, Bobby Louthan, Steve Fudge and Duke Addison were also spotted. I could have not scripted a better visit to the Institute. The weather, the foliage and, of course, the company! Jeff Judkins and I, along with my family, negotiated House Mountain and enjoyed a spectacular view from the rock ledge, which peers down on Post, Friday prior to the Parade. A quick change and we were walking onto Post from our uptown B&B and walked right into the middle of our mini-reunion of sorts to include most of those mentioned above! Those garrison flags waved in the horizontal (good breeze), and the Corps marched and played beyond my recollections … perhaps the gin and tonic martinis poured

by Ciarrocca influenced my opinion?!” By the way, that is the second time in a year that George has assaulted House Mountain and won.

George continues: “A few of the highlights which come to mind include the following: “1. Both Dave Shutt and Carson Irvine (Carson’s son is on the football team, and Carson’s mom worked in the bookstore during our cadetship) hosted a top notch tailgating party (Virginia Irvine catered to us all throughout the morning) on the Parade Field … great to have those parking passes! Both Dave’s and Carson’s sons are first classmen.

“2. Jack Wainwright managed to juggle family, in-laws and parents throughout the entire weekend … never was there a better host! The Wainwrights have placed a lot of cash into VMI … Father is class of 1955, brother Doug is class of 1984 and now Jack’s son, Jay, as a Rat. “3. Jeff Judkins attended Sunday service at JM Hall with George and family … Steve Fudge was there, too, with his family … Steve called to George several times prior to the service from behind, but his voice kept projecting from above … George thought he was about to be disciplined by the Almighty (for not regularly attending), until he figured it out!

“4. Mark Ciarrocca had the opportunity to discuss apathy with Scott Crumpler’s son, also known as ‘Son of Crump.’ Apparently this second classmen wished to complain about conditions at the ‘I,’ but Mark would only ‘one up him’ with comparisons to conditions in ’79 thru ’82 … at closing, ‘Son of Crump’ realized he was not worthy of a complaint!

“5. Because George’s daughters sported VMI tattoos on their cheeks at the football game, they were photographed and entered into the ‘events’ section of VMI’s web site!”

I received independent reports that J.J. McCo-

nnell, Paul D’Antonio and Bill Caulfield, fresh from overseas assignment, were also present and accounted for at the tailgate on the parade deck. Also, when last we heard from the Honorable Judge Ciarrocca on Facebook, he was still out of power but in good spirits in New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy ripped up the joint.

I received an excited call from Ron Mecredy one evening. He announced that he finally left Booz Allen and landed a gig with Computer Science Corporation doing the same work for the same client at the same location for more pay. In the annals of government contracting, that is one impressive feat.

In closing, I realize I have crossed a threshold in my life. On Halloween, I watched as the Daughter of Darkness stayed at home to fill trick or treaters’ bags as they knocked on the door, instead of going out roaming for sugar. I thought to myself, hmmmm … perhaps she is starting to mature. I was right …to a point. I soon realized most of the trick or treaters who stopped by were not children but teenage boys.

I made sure those louses saw me standing behind her with a grimace on my face and malice in my heart. Looks like I will be shopping for a shotgun to go along with my other side arms.

So now, every night before I turn in, I silently enter the Daughter of Darkness’ cave beneath my shady roof and whisper in her ear with my jolly voice, “Boys lie. Boys lie. Boys lie,” in vain hope she will not dance to lusty songs of fruits and flowers.

’83

Jim Outland

Greetings, BRs. Fall is a terrific time of year to be a class agent, because there are more updates than usual to report. Usually, I don’t think about hurricanes now, but as I write these notes, “Sandy” is banging on my door, and she promises to be very angry – kind of like the disappointed first-time date you took to Zollman’s who cares neither for the venue nor the ambiance.

Anyway, we kicked off the season at the first home football game on Sept. 8th which included a victory over Chowan. Your agent began the ’83 camaraderie with a hot and humid review-parade on Friday, while perched under the shaded awnings of Moody Hall’s second floor balcony. Watching with me and providing valuable insight into the regimental formations, customs and commands were BRs Ben Cottrell, Franklin Hudgins and Bobby Edwards who made the pilgrimage back to the Mother I from his home in California.

We all agreed the comfort of the Moody Hall

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES shade was waaay better than marching and sweating in coat-tee and full-dyke with arms – even though Edwards, Hudgins and I had to explain to BR Cottrell what marching in a parade actually feels like.

A subsequent dinner with Brother-Ratin-Law Wade and Elizabeth Branner and their family at the scenic outside patio of the Lexington Country Club also brought back fond but somewhat hazy memories of our 25th Reunion back in 2008.

The night-capper was a visit over to the “Sandbox” – a little playground hosted

by Teddy Gottwald which included John Dodge, Owen Peery and Owen Dunlap as well as the erstwhile Cottrell, Hudgins and Edwards. Next morning’s rise and shine saw class of ’83 well represented at the pre-game parade and tailgate. Thanks to Cal Murray’s operations order and coordinating instructions, we had a number of ’83 tents aligned and grills cookin.

It was great seeing so many BRs there including Todd Tudor, Dave Warriner, Gray Carter, Mark Sykes, Rich Hewitt, Gene Warren, Jay Williams and Steve Ross – not to mention the ever-present Cottrell, Hudgins and Edwards who had all successfully rallied from a late-night cory-ball affair. At the game, I caught a glimpse of the massive 6’8” 313-pound Rat Kluckowski, son of BR Ed, who is an offensive lineman for the 2012 Keydets.

Also at the game, I was fortunate to be sitting with Tim Craul, Chip Shirley and Mike Laughon as the announcement was made over the Foster Stadium PA concern-

ing our class-win of the Keydet Club’s Gridiron challenge. Efforts such as this enable the Keydet Club to further support VMI’s cadet-athletes as they compete in Division 1 athletics, and for the second year in a row, we have lead all classes in this initiative. With 59 BRs joining this year, we blew away the class challenge, besting our closest challenger by

Class of 1983: Mark Pappas of Sea Bright, New Jersey, reports that as a result of hurricane Sandy, he lost everything in the garage, including two vehicles, except for his father’s VMI jacket and stickers from 1983.

Class of 1983: Gathering for a pre-game tailgate on the VMI Parade Ground were, from left, Dave Warriner, Franklin Hudgins, Calvin Murray, Mark Sykes, Miles Manley ’16, Jay Williams, Teddy Gottwald and Jamie MacDonald.

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16 members, and I am especially grateful to many of you who have not been back to VMI in many years but who have signed on with your support. Mark Pappas also stepped up in a meaningful way to honor our deceased BRs. As Robert Crumpler ’07 of the Keydet Club reported, “A special congratulations to the class of 1983 for winning the Class Challenge. They have won the challenge for the second year in a row, and on Saturday, both the PA announcer and the best radio crew in the country, Wade Branner/Cal Murray, announced on the radio that their class won the class challenge for all to hear.” In other news, Joe Leonard sent me a nice picture of his promotion to commander USCG. Joe was promoted

by Army Maj. Gen. Ben Hodges (USMA ’80) who had been present in 1986 when Joe was promoted to first lieutenant, U.S. Army, which was before Joe servicetransferred to the USCG in the 1990s.

(Editor’s Note: This announcement also appears on page 152.) Also attending the promotion ceremony were BRs Matt Waring and Col. Jamie MacDonald (USA).

Since settling into D.C. from his prior station at Galveston, Joe reports having attended a social hour held by the Potomac River Chapter – “Kind of neat going to one of these after 18 years as president of the Southeast Texas Chapter, which I turned over to Steve Weiss ’86, upon my departure.” Joe also expects Dave Powell may visit the area in November to do a battlefield tour around Fredericksburg. As some of you may know, Dave authored the acclaimed book The Maps of Chickamauga a few years back and holds tours of battlefields from the War Between the States. Joe has also traded e-mails with Carl Gibeault on a wide array of issues, even though Joe says Carl is still in the Millinton, TN, area “and needs to move somewhere civilized.” In addition, Joe has been in contact with Marc Guevremont who works for the Department of Homeland Security as a senior intelligence analyst with Customs and Border Protection.

BR Bryan Henderson also dropped me a line after stopping by VMI on his way down to NC and picking up some suitable beach-gear at the X. Bink was recently selected to be the base civil engineer of New Boston Air Force Station in New Hampshire. He is not only thankful for the opportunity but also that no one asked to see his VMI transcripts. After an attendee at one of Bryan’s meetings mentioned working with a guy named Phil Gemmati at Patrick AFB, Bryan halted things to confirm it was THE Phil Gemmati being discussed and then to admit that they were

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CLASS NOTES classmates. A follow-up call enabled Bryan to get some good feedback from Phil on a contractor recommendation. This reminds me of the wise old alumnus who once said, “VMI grads may be few, but we are everywhere.”

BR Keith Sawyer is also one who fits that description these days. Keith updated me that he recently landed a position as quality technician in Dubai with Flour Corporation.

He is expecting an additional follow-on assignment with Flour in Afghanistan, but the exact location there will be determined later.

Skip Goodwillie reports his son, James ’12, launched a new company called Bluebaggs. com, which is a business based on the merger of e-commerce and social media. Skip says we should describe the venture to our kids as “Pintrest with shopping” – and they’ll get it immediately.” I sure as heck don’t know what that means, and I guess Skip didn’t either, because his son just told him, “Dad, you’re from a different generation.” I’ll just echo Skip and say, damn, it’s come to that.

Unfortunately, bad news seems to come in threes, and the past months have been no exception, with the untimely deaths of Alan Toler’s wife, Ann (Spike), and Ivan Marcotte’s son, Mitchell, as well as the passing of Bubba Hazelgrove’s father. I wish these BRs peace as they mourn their loss and know they appreciate so many of you who have reached out to express condolences and offer assistance. Our reunion is approaching in the spring. I hope you all are able to clear your calendars to attend during the dates of April 26-27, 2013. Look for more information in the mail from the VMI Alumni Association, as well as other information we will distribute via the VMI83 distribution. That’s all for now.

In the Spirit of ’83 – Jim

’84

Barry Coceano

What a better way to spend the day than hunkered down over the computer writing class notes, while Hurricane Sandy wreaks havoc outside. I want to start off with an apology … the notes are short this time. No, not because the hurricane is destined to knock out my electricity shortly, but because I only received a couple updates this time; hence, there isn’t much to work with. I’m optimistic that I’ll get a flood of notes prior to the next deadline! Speaking of next deadline, do you all realize that our 30th Reunion will be one year from this coming spring? That means

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I’ll only have four more set of notes to write before handing the baton off to the next class agent. Yes, that’s right. I’ll be looking for a replacement as class agent, so if you would like to nominate your next class agent, here are the names of a couple guys that I believe would excel in the opportunity. To vote, please send me an update with one of the following names: Chris Caplice, Tom Anthony, Mike Locher, Tom Graham, Alex Thompson or a write-in candidate of your choice.

Your vote will only count if it’s accompanied by an update. Hey, if I have to use bribery to get updates, then you at least have to give me points for initiative. Tried that “initiative” line with Dr. Chang once … didn’t work, still got a “D” and decided that majoring in history would be more conducive to an on-time graduation! Now, for some updates: A few weeks ago, I attended the VMI-Navy football game over in Annapolis. Wish the outcome had been better, but it was great seeing a number of BRs. Those who I either saw or spoke to were (to the best of my memory): Carter Jordan, Carlos Zamora, Bill Janis, Doug Nichols, Cecil Criss, Steve Ljubenko, Steve Hupp, Andy Protogyrou, Craig Peacock and Cyril Lepecha. I’m sure I missed some, so please don’t be offended if I failed to mention your name. My 51-year-old brain no longer has the memory capacity it once did, and even then, some would challenge that there was much capacity to begin with.

Recently, I had the opportunity to represent our Class of ’84 Athletic Scholarship at the annual Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet. Greg Cavallaro and the great team of professionals he has in the Keydet Club front office did a tremendous job organizing and executing a 5-star event for over 650 scholarship athletes and their families. I am proud to announce that the new recipients of our class scholarship are Rats Daniel Bull ’16

Class of 1984: Mark Collie ’15, son of Dave Collie, and Mary Carter Jordan (USNA ’14), daughter of Carter Jordan, at the VMI-Navy football game in September 2012. Collie and Jordan were roommates as cadets.

and Austin Bull ’16. Both are members of the VMI lacrosse team, and they are cousins from the state of Ohio. After meeting these two wonderful young gentlemen and their families, I know they will do a tremendous job representing the Class of ’84 Athletic Scholarship. Also on hand for the banquet were Mo Khandan-Barani and Steve Hupp.

Both Mo and Steve have graciously donated and/or endowed annual athletic scholarships.

Additionally, both have sons who are Rats this year. To Steve and Mo – thanks for your generous contributions and efforts to make VMI the great school that it is today!

Ken Gill sent me the following update: “I am retiring from the Marine Corps on 1 Nov. 2012 with 28 years and seven months service.

I have loved every minute! Pam and I are staying here in Hampton Roads and have a home in Chesapeake.” Ken, congratulations on your retirement from the Corps, and thank you for your 28+ years of service. I know there are many companies out there who’ll be fighting over you as a potential hire, so don’t stress the job hunt.

Jim Dixon sent me the following note the other day: “My daughter (Gingy) is a freshman at W&L, and that provides Leslie and me with the opportunity to visit Lexington from time to time. I see lots of cadets when in town and observed that they look sharp and seem to be full of pride. I’m hoping my daughter will get to attend Ring Figure one day, but only if her date is a complete gentleman!” Jim, no doubt Gingy will be going to Ring Figure. If you don’t mind, I’ll head up the selection team reviewing potential dates – water-boarding will be part of the interrogation (I meant interview) process.

Frank Kollmansperger checked-in from Richmond with the following: “Hi, Barry, hope you are doing well. Life is good here. I was watching our boys hit golf balls a couple of weeks ago and looked up and saw Chris Bruch there. He has recently picked up the game, and while I am not a golfer, his swing looked very good. Have tried to keep up with all the men, and I mean men, from room 101. Mark Morgan, Alex Thompson, Bruce Hauck and Jamie Shoemaker are great.

Selman is Selman. He is a very proud papa of a Benedictine sophomore. Thomas Selman loves it. Be good.”

See, told you they were short this time.

Don’t forget to send in your ballot (and update) for class agent … need to keep in the spirit of the seemingly never ending presidential election season. Until next time, goodnight Manny Mendez, Barry Mines, Bobby Rosedale and Steve Pilotte, wherever you guys are.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’85

Matt Daniel

This was a short session this time, Brother Rats. Less data than normal. I will get right to it.

Banjos, Beer and Bubbas: In early October, Mark Jackson, Paul Marsenison and Bill Wieners visited the frozen tundra of Saskatchewan Canada on a hunting expedition. Jackson sends me a note: “Matt, I shot a 434-1/8-inch bull elk in Saskatchewan, Canada, on 11 Oct. 2012 with my Matthews Helium bow. Bill Wieners and Paul Marsenison were in tow, and both shot a nice squirrel with rifles. It was quite a mess.

Good time had by all.”

I also received a note from Paul Marsenison: “Jackson shot this squirrel. I wrestled down a moose, and Wieners just sat around the campfire stinking it up like in that scene from ‘Blazing Saddles.’”

This is how Bill Wieners tells the story: “Matt, all I heard was squealing and banjos.

I had to get out of there ... Holy frijole, dude; how did you room with those dudes?!”

(Agent note: Not sure who to believe.) *BTW: I made some of that up. Paul and Bill both shot a whitetail deer, but they had to do it with rifles. Jackson is a real hunter ... he regularly hums the “Deliverance” theme when he meets new people.

Random Name Drop (RND): Shawn Oliver Speaking of Bohunks – Jim Begley is now Brig. Gen. Jim Begley! Congratulations, Jim! I received a note from Mark Bornhorst: “Sorry I have been out of touch, but the computer has been out of arms’ reach, and I have been too lazy to get up off the couch once I get home from work. I got a call from Wieners a few hours after I talked to you. A guy from Cleveland called him for info on prefabricated parking garages. Wieners said he had a good friend in Cleveland (me) and as an amazing coincidence, the prefab guy knew me! Well, the dude DOES run a small microbrewery here in town, so was it really such a coincidence? I think not.

(This is still Bornhorst) “Costa Rica and the ACCGS – My folks are taking my family to Costa Rica after Xmas.

We need to move the Safari down there, and make it a week! (Kerry Kirk, Jake Spivey, Steve Hagan, what say you?) Put it this way – Beach house in Virginia Beach that sleeps 20-25 people runs about $15K per week vs.

12,000 sq. ft. villa on the beach with two pools, spa, maid service, sleeps 25 for $5k

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per week ($200 per person, and we get Hugh Hill to ship us down there via UPS next day air). We’re going to be on the north end of the Pacific coast, south of ‘Ollie’s Point,’ named after Col. North and his escapades in Nicaragua. (Look at that; just tied in BR and military reference in last two sentences).

Anyone having any experience (vacation -not black ops) in Costa Rica, let me know.

(Yes, still Bornhorst) “Football – tried keeping up with the Keydets, but it just depresses me. I don’t know what they need to do to be more competitive, but I hate to see them drop down divisions. If you want to watch some good football, check out my HS alma mater Cleveland St. Ignatius.

(Still Bornhorst) “Swing state politics – How’s that going for you? Ann, working for the city of Cleveland school system, drank the Kool-Aid long ago.

It’s like living with Rachel Maddow and having NPR on in the background all day.

Pleeeease, just make it stop!

(Yup, Bornhorst) “Sleep – It is 4 a.m., and I gotta get to sleep Nice talking to ya!” (Bornhorst complete) (Agent note: It’s always good to talk with Borny.)

RNDs: Glenn Frank, Cary Westin and Kevin Holland.

Funny Dudes Who Don’t Talk Much: I ran into Byron Ross at a high school football game again. Man, that dude cracks me up. He has a dry and clever wit that is hard to keep up with. He made fun of me for being so loud, and I didn’t even realize it until I got home!

Mike Lamore sent me a nice note: “We have a daughter at UNC Chapel Hill and two identical twin boys who are high school seniors, which keep my wife and me busy.

“Had lunch with JJ Wranek a few months ago, and we shared some great stories.

“Over the past eight years, I have been building a company named Barrier1 Systems, Inc. that designs, manufactures and installs crash-rated vehicle barriers systems and provides perimeter security protection. We have worked throughout the U.S. and in five countries abroad. When working for U.S. Armed Forces and DoD agencies, I have encountered many VMI graduates. All of those guys have been helpful. Building a company and competing for work is a daily challenge.

“I read the Alumni Review regularly and, in particular, your class notes for VMI ’85. It is good to hear about our BRs and what they are doing. I hope to catch a few football games in Lexington this fall. Good luck during the remainder of 2012 and into 2013. OBTW, for my own RND: Mat Brown and Todd Southard.”

(Agent note: Wow, this RND thing is catching on!)

RNDs (from the class agent this time): Jesse Waltz and Steve Green Another: Jack Rose and George Halages And to Top It All Off: Jerry Brooks says: “Here is the latest update from me. I am currently the head of military programs at the Army’s Center of Military History. My wife, Kristin, is pregnant with our third child. She is due at the end of January. We found out we will be having a daughter to go with our two sons. I will have three kids under the age of 3 at the age of 50. (Agent note: Eyebrows in arc-raise and exclamation points a go-go) It definitely keeps me young. I am still doing the Army historian gig. I will be heading out to Afghanistan in April 2013 to be the command historian at ISAF/USFOR-A. I am scheduled to be there for a year, but there is always the possibility of being extended. I ran into BR Pete Mangerian at the barbershop on Fort Belvoir. He is doing well and is up at Carlisle Barracks for senior level training. Jim Chartier is alive and well and living in Italy.

He currently does contract work for the U.S. DoD. His two kids are grown and out of the house. Well, this is all for now. (Agent: Mangerian always needed a haircut. Congratulations and stay safe, BR Brooksie!)

RNDs: Fred Coons and Jeb Wilkinson and Kevin Flynn And as a couple of fall away jumpers: *JJ is going to grad school (that’s all he told me). *Pat “Mags” McGuire is (home) brewing beer, so make sure you hit him up for some samples when you see him. *I homebrew a good bit myself. I think I will be brewing a Keydet Red (ale) sometime this winter. Visit http://uranusandsuns.com to check out the Daniel boys’ beer when you have a chance. *Brent Harder is in Australia now.

Thanks for your notes, gents. Jeff Golembiewski and George Halages send their best.

Keep your information coming!

Semper fi, mates, Matt D

’86

Clint Hubbard

Don’t say you haven’t been forewarned, but here’s a name you haven’t seen in a while.

This quarter’s blast from the past is another

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CLASS NOTES long-lost BR: one each, Walton, E.M. That’s right, Gene Walton checked in after getting a birthday card. And actually he hasn’t been that far gone; just flying under the radar.

Here’s the Tim Perez-style (brief) update: After graduation, Gene returned to his hometown of Powhatan (just southwest of Richmond) and then landed a job with Dominion Virginia Power. He’s been at Dominion for about 25-1/2 years now and says it only feels like it’s been 40 or 50! BR Walton works as a fault analyst in the Electric Transmission Reliability Department, where he said he can identify with Dilbert as a cubicle dweller.

Outside of work, Gene is very involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in honor of a good friend and former co-worker who succumbed to a brain tumor in 2006. It was great to hear from you, Gene, and hope we’ll see you at the next reunion! In the meantime, it’s good to know where you are…

In the event you need a reminder of your advancing years and are closer to retirement than you are from graduation, one of our boys has become fully retired at the ripe old age of 48. Jay Thompson checked in from southern Rockbridge County, where he has hung up his USAF Class A uniform for good and says he is fully retired. Jay’s latest tour was as a JAFROTC instructor at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, VA. He has retired to his ranch near Natural Bridge and is building

an addition, which will house his in-laws.

I’ve never met his in-laws, but are there any bets BR Thompson will be scouring the want ads shortly?

One of the BRs who is still serving as a JROTC instructor is Dan Hooker; BR Hooker’s post is at a high school in New Jersey. Dan left us after third class year and graduated from Cornell University. He was commissioned in the USMC and later served a hitch or two in the New York state legislature. In between all that, Dan also did a load of graduate work – he has an MBA and finished his second master’s (in religion) at Fordham University in 2011. Dan says he is now working on a doctor of education degree from Seton Hall University. And if that is not enough, BR Hooker also serves as a Knight of Malta and visited Rome, where he saw the Pope. Well done, Dan! See, if a man that busy can send in an update, what about some of the rest of you deadbeats?!

Speaking of academic deadbeats, the tales of our academic prowess, or lack thereof, make for some great stories. I always felt that the professors in our day were pretty hard-nosed, and you earned your grades; they didn’t give anything. Let me recount a tale for you that recently unfolded on an e-mail thread. For the sake of our story, let’s call our main character “Cadet Hatchet,” who was also a townie on football scholarship. Can

Class of 1986: The class of ’86 was well represented in Team VMI at the Wilson Cup. From left were Mark Muldowney, Al Comer, Rob Meador, Roy Woolwine, Tim Keilty, Dan Monahan, Mike Colletti and Jim Frazier.

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you picture him? It took several attempts for Cadet Hatchet to make it through Calculus II at VMI. You might even say he got hung up in Mallory Hall, but then again, who didn’t?

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

On the first try, Cadet Hatchet had a young, preppy, civilian professor, Mr. Warwick. On the first test, our champion scored an 88, and the future looked bright. On the second test, his fortunes diminished, and he scored somewhere in the 20s (out of 100). By the third test, he scored somewhere in the teens and started bringing a newspaper to class. “Never say die” notwithstanding, our protagonist accepted the inevitable – summer school. (Or as I put on my resume, the “VMI Summer Scholars Program.”)

In summer school, our hero found himself under the tutelage of Col. Bolen. A different professor but essentially the same result as the first round. On the final exam, Cadet Hatchet needed a score of 130 out of 100 in order to get the magical “D” which is shorthand for “Diploma.” As your tour guide through this sordid tale, I will readily admit that I ain’t no “mathemagician,” but you couldn’t get 130 out of 100 without arousing the interest of some of the fellows who hung around the Buildings and Grounds building.

So, as Cadet Hatchet executed the “sign the exam and done by 9:05 a.m.” maneuver, he told the professor, “I’ll see you next week.”

At this juncture, we have to introduce a new character into the story – a parent. In this case, it’s an irate mother who is pretty chapped about her son’s infirmity with higher mathematics. She lays down the law, as only an irate mother can: “I’m not paying for another session of summer school unless you ask for your grandfather’s help with the class.” It turns out that the grandfather of our leading man is a retired math professor of over 30 years from the very same Mallory Hall where Cadet Hatchet is struggling. If it were in Scott Shipp Hall, we’d talk about the irony of the situation. At any rate, the third time proved to be a charm, and after a heavy dose of tutoring from the grandfather, Cadet Hatchet finally conquered Calculus II with a ‘D” – which again stands for “Diploma.”

Cadet Hatchet says he can still remember the looks of bewilderment from his grandfather when it was obvious that the tutoring sessions were over his head. Despite his accomplishment, his feeling of inadequacy was magnified by those looks from his grandfather that Cadet Hatchet interpreted as “There is no way in _____ this kid is my grandson.”

Most of you have by now guessed the real identity of “Cadet Hatchet;” the real moral to the story is the tale of perseverance and

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES how each of us learned the “never say die” lesson of VMI. We learned to keep getting up off the mat no matter how many times we got knocked down. That is the real essence of what makes the VMI bond so strong. And I don’t know about you, but I’m grateful for it.

Well done, Cadet Hatchet!

One of “Cadet Hatchet’s” former roommates, Mike Lakos checked in from Buda, TX, after the “worst move in his 26 years in the Air Force.” Mike assumed the billet of director, Cyber Requirements and Integration at Headquarters, 24th Air Force at Joint Base Lackland in San Antonio, TX. After three great years back in Colorado Springs and after watching that city almost burn down from the wild fires in June, BR Lakos and family bought a house in Buda, TX, just south of Austin. Mike is working in San Antonio, has an apartment there during the week and goes home to Buda on the weekends.

BR Lakos joins BR Steve Gray who has also recently moved to San Antonio. I had the opportunity to catch up with Steve for a bit while we watched a football clinic delivered at Alumni Field by the Richmond Spiders earlier this fall.

Speaking of the Air Force and our beloved boys in blue, I made mention in the last installment about Father Troy Lanier having two cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Henry Tabur having one at the VMI of the North (USMA at West Point). In the interest of fair play, Rob Mason and Jon French have sons who are at USNA at Annapolis.

BR French’s son plays football at Navy and is one of their leading tacklers on defense.

Midshipman French had a particularly stellar game against the Keydets from his linebacker position. And BR Mason actually administered the oath of office to his son when the younger Mason reported as a plebe. There may be others, as well, but that is pretty impressive to have that many progeny from our class at the service academies. I guess Tom FitzPatrick and Byron Childress set the bar in marrying West Pointers.

Speaking of the Naval Academy, it was the venue for the Corps trip this year. Not to be out-done, Wayne Fuller also organized a corps trip from Richmond for the event – he chartered a bus! Yes, Fullermania became mobile and across two states this year. The trip included BRs Wayne Fuller, Gordon Poindexter, Tim Spivey, Bobby Rainer and yours truly. Also on the bus were Jim Elliott ’79, Bob Louthan ’82, Dave Taylor ’81 and a couple of other gents from the class of ’81, as well as some parents of current cadets and some wives and children of those mentioned above. Confirmed for the trip but missing the

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stick was Smith, MB, whose “Correct, but wish to quibble” response for missing the trip involved some cock-and-bull story about his kids took his car, and he didn’t have a ride to get to the departure point. This, mind you, after a night out on the town with one Andrew Mason. Is it just barely possible, Botts couldn’t find the car because of the pink elephant or the Grape Ape he was seeing?

The Fullermania bus trip was a blast; we had a great time on the bus, although the projection for how much alcohol needed was overestimated. There were Bloody Marys and Mimosas along with a lot of other liquor (although the infamous Fullerita machine was missing!), and BR Rainer brought three cases of Corona.

Never ones to drink on an empty stomach, BR Fuller brought some chicken biscuits, and BR Spivey supplied some Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Gordon Poindexter observed that (A) Spivey probably got the doughnuts with his professional courtesy discount, and (B) it was the first time Gordon had ever known a cop to give up a doughnut. For the record, at the end of the trip, the biscuits and doughnuts were gone, but there were a few beers left.

Actually, Fullermania has become much tamer than it used to be. It is now suitable for children to attend, and there were no reports of any misdemeanors – no reports, I said.

What happens at Fullermania stays at Fullermania. You gotta know there are risks when you run with that crowd.

While the game was a disaster, the setting was excellent; Navy-Marine Corps stadium is a wonderful venue for a football game, and the Navy crowd was cordial to us. I sat and/or visited with Steve Thacker, Scott Bradley, Bob Cabell, Al Comer, Dave Grimm and Dan Monahan. There were a host of other guys from other classes there, as well. BRs Monahan and Comer were connected to a group of guys from the Naval Academy class of ’86 with whom they had served on active duty. In fact, shortly after half-time with the outcome pretty well determined, they repaired to the USNA ’86 “class tent” for a few cocktails and were never seen again – that day.

Speaking of eating some doughnuts, our favorite son of Virginia Beach, Redmond J. Thompson Jr., checked in. Remy said he recently visited his doctor for a check-up and was told he needed to do some more push-ups; that is, push up from the table and drop a few pounds! I suggested that he dust off his fatigues and boots, and start earning aerobic points four times per week. Actually, BR Thompson might follow suit of his old Rat roommate, Dave Grimm. Papa Grimm

recently completed a tour through PX90 where he trimmed off about 30 pounds and is now a lean, mean, fighting machine. There is a wild rumor of a list of guys who have been recommended for that program – watch your mailboxes to see if you’re one of the chosen ones.

Speaking of the Naval Academy, Dan Monahan had sent in some news about the 17th Annual Wilson Cup held in May 2012 in Tampa, FL. It is a 3-day event to honor Lieutenant Mark Wilson (VMI ’88), a Navy SEAL who was tragically killed in a training accident. Dan says, “It is a great time of fellowship, camaraderie and competition … loads of laughs and lots of beer. The Wilson Cup is a Ryder Cup format that pits Team Naval Academy vs. Team VMI. This friendly and spirited rivalry started out in San Diego as junior officers in the Navy and the Marine Corps and has grown into quite an event to maintain the legacy of a great man. It is held at a different location each year. This year, each team had 18 guys on it. VMI got pummeled by Navy this year due to Navy bringing in some ringers. However, VMI still maintains an overall lead in the series.” BR Monahan further reports that Team VMI was represented well by the class of ’86, including Mark “I’m going to South Bend” Muldowney, Al “AC” Comer, Rob “Townie” Meador, Roy “Wooly” Woolwine, Tim “TK” Keilty, Dan “DP” Monahan, Mike “Kid” Colletti and Jim “Chink” Frazier.

In other news, BR Monahan reports that the new professor of Naval Science (a USMC colonel) is his brother-in-law; the colonel is married to Dan’s sister. So, if you get in a tight spot in Lexington, I’m sure DP’s sister and brother-in-law would love to hear from you. After all, if she is Dan’s sister, she’s used to it! Interestingly, I believe Dan’s sister lives just down the street from Todd McCullough’s mother in Lexington. Todd reported that a few of the boys gathered at an early football game this past fall.

While on the subject of relatives at VMI, Jeff Morgan has his second son as a cadet in the Corps; Cadet Morgan is a Rat this year.

After the Corps trip to the Naval Academy, the Rats came home, and then BR Morgan took a car load of them back to VMI on Sunday night. Among the Rats he transported was one Rat Manley, who is the son of the late Jack Manley ’83. Jack, of course, was on the RDC when we were Rats, so Jeff said he thought about making Rat Manley ride back to the Mother I on the front three inches of the car seat as a payback for a luncheon engagement Jeff recalled from 1982, but he decided against it. BR Morgan did say he

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CLASS NOTES enjoyed hearing their stories of the Ratline, straining and sweat parties, etc., but he did note that when they got to the bridge across the Maury River at East Lex where they could see the lights of Barracks on the hill, the Rats got deathly silent. As Jeff remarked, “Some things never change.”

Well, that’s about it from here for now.

Take care, Brother Rats. Enjoy the Dark Ages and send in some news about what’s going on in your world.

’87

Gerry Tertychny

Brother Rats: As I write my inaugural submission of the class of 1987’s class notes, I’m thinking back to our recent 25th Reunion and what a magnificent event it was. Clearly, it was the hard work of Mike Maxwell and Bill Wanovich, who led the fundraising effort for our class and made our contribution to the Institute a significant one. Some unsung heroes are all those who manned the hospitality room at the hotel, sometimes well into the night. In addition, Renny Renshaw was responsible for a successful golf outing on Friday, and of course, we all owe a great debt of gratitude to Ernie Edgar who served as class agent for the past five years and was the driving force behind our reunion. Gentlemen, thank you all.

As I take over the duties of class agent, please know what a great honor it is to represent our class to the Institute and the Institute to our class.

I have already met some truly impressive and dedicated folks at the Alumni Association, the Foundation and the Keydet Club who do their very best every day to make our relationship with the Institute a strong one.

John Ferguson checked in from Afghanistan, where he was able to get together with Adrian Bogart ’81, Tom Talley ’90, Dan Hill ’93 and Jim Wanovich ’91.

I was recently out at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE, and was able to participate in a hallway mini-reunion that included Col. Dean Kratzenberg, USA; Joe Coughlin; Col. Todd Eckloff ’90, USMC; Lt. Col. Jamie Jeter ’97, USAF; and LCDR Dale Durlach ’99, USN. You never know who you’re going to run into.

In addition, I work in the same building as John Cummings ’62 and see him several times a week. That’s right – Colonel Everywhere is alive and well.

On that note, my contact info is listed above.

As you can see, Lynn and I live in Yorktown, VA. We’re close to Newport News, Hampton and Williamsburg. Please stay in touch, and if you

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happen to be in the area, stop by for a visit.

In the Spirit, Gerry

’88

Drew McKone

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1988 for this issue.

’89

Nathaniel L. Cross

So, it’s late fall, and I’m feeling sorry for myself, since I have class notes due and Hurricane Sandy is coming up the East Coast. But then, I check the VMI e-mail, and Brother Rats come through again! First, there is Dave Clement with the following: “… a few weeks ago, I finally started reading the most recent Alumni Review that had been sitting on the back of the throne for two months. I almost fell off laughing when I read your quip about my normally reading it in the porcelain temple. I did look up and around to make sure you hadn’t installed a hidden camera.” (Class agent’s note here: I have not gotten so desperate for news that I have started using hidden cameras. However, I will keep their use an option. Now, back to Dave.)

“Things are great here. I see Tom Hernandez fairly regularly and am meeting him tomorrow for lunch. He had set up a BR night out with Rob White and John Adametz at one of the final Tides games of the season a few weeks back, but we got rained out. We’ll try again with the Admirals, and I’ll try and get Ike Matenopoulos (I need to point out right now that the Yahoo spell check wants me to change Ike’s noble name to postmenopausal) and Seth Ainspac, who are both local, to go, too. Speaking of Seth, I asked him if he wanted a ride to Larry Nathan’s retirement at Camp Lejeune. He couldn’t make it, but we talked for a while. Turns out, he owns a farm around the corner from the stable where my daughter rides in Chesapeake. At the retirement, I saw Dr. Neil Heimer who is stationed there. I ran into Joe Grealish a few times this spring, but he’s now attending War College (I can’t remember if it’s the National or Industrial) in D.C.” Dave, no hidden cameras, but you do need to read this sooner rather than later! Also, from last edition’s notes, both Joe and Al Versoza are attending the Industrial War College. Lastly, thanks for the picture

of you, Mark Joynt and Mike Monfalcone.

(Editor’s Note: Turn to page 9 of this issue of the Review to see the picture of Mark, Dave and Mike taken at the U.S. Fleet Forces Change of Command.)

So, how many of you guys remember Cpt. Jim Dittrich ’76? As I recall, he was an Army Tac our Rat year. Anyway, through the always amazing Internet, I found out he served with my father-in-law in the 25th ID out of Hawaii. I only mention this, because he wrote a very nice note to Lori and me after her dad had a stroke this year. It’s great how the VMI bonds continue to reach, even when you don’t expect them to.

The following update is from Steve Joern: “My bride, Melissa, took this picture of me on the Blue Ridge Parkway on our recent motorcycle trip to the beautiful South. It is mile marker 89. We had a great trip that covered about 3500 miles where we rode through 11 states. Although we did not go through VMI, due to some last minute changes, we did visit earlier in the summer with our kids and two of their friends when we were vacationing near Radford, VA.” Steve, you need to leave that cold environment of New York more often, and visit with your southern brethren!

Thanks for the update, and I hope you make it south at least once before our reunion. Guys, there is a great picture [below] of Steve in his leathers (motorcycle, that is) next to mile marker 89 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Back in September, we heard from Pedro DeJesus: “I have been working for MC

Class of 1989: Steve Joern on a motorcycle trip in summer 2012. He covered 3,500 miles on the trip and is pictured here at mile marker 89 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

The Class of 1987: Those who attended their 25th Reunion are listed in alphabetical order, as follows: Claude A. Abernathy Jr., Charles M. Allgood Jr., Scott R. Armstrong, Jeremy O. Arnaiz, Steven L. Baird, Kevin D. Barker, John H. Barnard, Dean A. Barr, Mark A. Barth, Mark C. Bartholf, James E. Bean, William A. Berneski, Thomas B. Bones, Anthony S. Brads, Earl F. Braunlich, James M. Bright, James C. Bunn III, Harold B. Byrne, Steven G. Cade, William E. Callahan, Andrew C. Campi, Bradford Chandler III, Timothy M. Chester, David C. Cochran, Craig H. Covert, R. Alan Cowan, Owen J. Curley, Raymond J. Davis Jr., Eric J. Davis, Michael K. Dawson, Edward P. Devens, Kenneth R. Devero II, Charles D. Early, Robert A. Eaton, Charles E. Edgar IV, Jonathan T. Eubank, Michael R. Evans, Carl A. Feddeler III, Monte C. Ferguson, John L. Fischer, Edward A. Fishback, Lapthe C. Flora, R. Danner Friend, David J. Furness, Adrian A. Garcia, Reid A. Garst II, Alan S. Greene, Stuart F. Halasz, Daniel S. Hall, William P. Hancock, Carl L. Hardee, Kurt W. Hauk, Michael E. Hooper, Ralph R. Hudson Jr., C. Scott Jewell, John C. Johnson, Denis J. Kiely III, Andrew V. Korol, Dean A. Kratzenberg, John F. Lightner, Mark E. Lund, Bradley J. Maak, Kenneth L. Marsh, Michael W. Maxwell, William J. McCarthy, John T. McCarthy, Michael D. McDaniel, Jonathan M. McLean, Manuel R. Melendez, Robert C. Merkel Jr., Douglas R. Messner, Michael C. Moore, Matthew H. Morgan, Tom R. Murray III, Neal J. Naff, Samuel F. Nelson, John H. Nolan, Stephen M. Owens, Nathaniel W. Pendleton III, James C. Pennington Jr., Robert E. Phillips, John R. Pilloni, John E. Poast III, Tracy M. Porter, Kevin T. Price, Kevin P. Reardon, Reynolds B. Renshaw, Paul D. Russo, Jon E. Sachrison, Gregory A. Scott, Brett P. Shepard, Gary D. Smith, Macon S. Snowden III, Thomas K. Struckmeyer, Terrence P. Sutherland, Matthew C. Sutton, Robert D. Sweaney, John H. Taylor, Jeffery A. Temple, Gerard P. Tertychny, Scott A. Toler, George A. Tolley, H. Craig Walker Jr., William J. Wanovich, Stewart B. Wharton III, W. Todd Williamson, Steven W. Wilson, Doanld T. Wood Jr., M. Gray Wooten Jr., Michael R. Wright, Scott S. Yum, Richard B. Zgol and Andrew C. Zolper.

CLASS NOTES

25th Reunion — Sept. 14-15, 2012

Class of 1987

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CLASS NOTES Dean for almost two years now. This is a design build electrical contractor in the D.C. area. I am building a design group for the service division and am looking for an electrical engineer to work in my group in Sterling, VA, and an electrical/ comm. engineer to work in our Stuttgart, Germany, office. “So, when are we having our next D.C. area class of ’89 gathering?

For a while, we were having happy hour gatherings in Loudoun County, VA, but it fizzled out about eight months ago. I’ve been working most weekends lately, so this is the first weekend I have taken off in a while, and I am going to do a little boating today. Going out from Pohick Bay Park near Ft. Belvoir.” Pedro, I hope your boating trip was good. I know there are a bunch of guys in NOVA that can start a monthly get-together. Like I have mentioned in the past, the boys in Richmond get together for breakfast the first Friday of the month.

Through Facebook, I got an update from Steve Breheny. Seems after 23 years with AT&T, Steve is hanging it up with them.

He is now working as president of Managed Services/Solutions Globally with Mycom. He is still living in the LA area but will be traveling frequently, with a scheduled trip to Dubai to start with. His oldest daughter is taking up where Steve left off, as she has just started her career with AT&T. His 14-year-old twin girls are in the 8th grade this year. Steve, it sounds like you are going to be busy, whether you are working for a living or keeping up with your girls.

That’s all for this issue. I hope all of our NJ/NY boys are surviving Sandy tonight as she hits the northeast. If you haven’t seen your name in the Review, it’s because I have not heard from you. Drop me an email before the next issue.

’90

Robert Clark

Some brief notes this round, gentlemen, as I didn’t get too many updates this quarter. Keep the cards, letters and e-mails coming – it’s always great to hear from you and pass along the latest news from our class.

First, let me extend our prayers and support for those BRs in the path of Hurricane Sandy.

I heard from Andy Weening that he rode out the storm safely and was back up with power within a couple of days.

I also saw on Facebook that Doug Spitz’s

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hometown in New Jersey (he lives elsewhere end in D.C. catching up and experiencing the now) saw extensive damage.

D.C. nightlife.

I’m hopeful that any of our BRs affected are Terrence Kerner, whose son is a Rat this able to return their lives to normal soon. Let me year, has seen several games this fall. Over know if anyone is in need. the course of the season, he’s run into Sam I was pleased to hear from Jeff Millican, who Stocks, Fred Minnigerode, Kelly Musick, let me know that he is currently mobilized with Rich Duke, Greg Hatchett, Kenny Robthe Navy Reserve and deployed as the director inson, Matt Schwarzmann and Charles of Intelligence at the Joint Information Support Plageman.

Task Force (Special Operations) in Camp As Terrence has also run into James Tavenner Sayliyah, Doha, Qatar. ’91 quite a bit, as James’s son is in the same Jeff says it’s been an interesting and exciting “mass” as Terrence’s son. tour with some outstanding men and women Charlie Cathcart ’91 lives at the Institute, from all the services working together on a and he and his wife, Cheryl, have been very fascinating mission. kind to host Terrence’s son for some “Sunday Jeff Kaster checked in from MacDill Air afternoon R&R” at their home. And finally, Force Base in Tampa, FL, where he is an assisTerrence was fortunate to play golf recently tant staff judge advocate at U.S. Marine Corps with Barry Johnson at Pinehurst. Didn’t get a Forces, Central Command. Jeff recently saw score but sounds like it was a great round.

Pete Finan who was in Tampa on a trip. Both Until next time, all the best to you and your Jeff and Pete have been selected for promotion families! to colonel, along with Chuck Ellis.

Rob Garrett Thompson also e-mailed to pass George Petty III along that he has rejoined the Army Reserve.

Garrett will be the movement officer for the 518th Sustainment Brigade out of Cary, NC. Garrett also indicated that his daughter, who turns 13 in November, is an avid swimmer and plans to someday swim for the Keydets!

Not much to report this time, but there is George Palomar continues to train like some big excitement. Heath and Jocelyn a Rat, running his second half-marathon Wells are expecting their first child in April recently in the inaugural 2012 Navy/Air Force Half-Marathon in Washington, D.C. George checked in just as he was heading to Manila to do some mission work with his church.

I know a number our BRs were able to take in several football games at the “I” and on the road this year –’90 had a great turn out at the Navy-VMI game in September at Annapolis. I’ve posted some pictures of Greg Hatchett, Tim McLaughlin, Chuck Smith and Rob Gudz. I was thankful to meet up with two of my roommates – Steve Linder and Chris Huff – at the Class of 1993: On a trip to Japan, Heath Bono visited a Navy game, as well.

WWII-era tunnel in Okinawa.

We had a great week-

’91

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 2013. Congrats! Heath tossed his hat into the political arena this summer. He was on the ballot in November for a school board seat in Alexandria, VA. Heath said he should be retiring from the Army Reserve in about one year.

Todd and Wendy Hubbard are doing well.

Their oldest daughter is now attending JMU. As he drives by, Todd has waved to us in the house. Made for a good laugh, when he called as he drove by.

Joe Sokolowski planned to tailgate and attend the Citadel game at VMI in November.

Rob Johnson is still in Pensacola on active duty, until he returns to his civilian piloting job in March 2013.

Steve and Shannon Dudar are still in northern VA. Steve said that Hurricane Sandy was a nonevent in D.C. I’m certain our BRs in NJ and NY will be able to share some stories from the storm, though.

Chris West sent me a link to a very funny blog article about some of the unsung skills learned at VMI. I won’t say what it was about but do encourage you to reach out to him for the link and discussion.

I have begun to settle down into my new position at the V.A. Hospital in Richmond. If any of you find yourself there, do come on over to MRI and say hello. I saw one of our BR’s father there the first week; that was quite the treat.

Adam Gregory

’92

Andy Tate

Gentlemen, Hurricane Sandy passed through this week and the presidential election is next Tuesday – things I’ll miss about as much as conduct pro and my Ring Figure date. I hope these notes find all of you well. Here are the most recent updates from your Brother Rats: Larry Nevel writes that he retired from the Navy and is “now back at the Pentagon working for Engility (L-3 Communications) as an Electronic Warfare and Cyber Warfare Plans, Policy, and Strategy subject matter expert. Hard to fit that on a business card. Still living in Alexandria, VA, and [I] occasionally run into Todd Viar at work and Kent Gring at bars.”

CDR Marc Orgain, who is the CO of a Navy training squadron in Corpus Christi, e-mails that “one of my instructors thought it

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might be good idea to get a pre-game photo of the rival alumni in the squadron [for the VMI-Citadel football game]. We could only muster two Keydets to their three Bulldogs, but we could still take them. Needless to say, I did not bet on the game.”

Col. John Brodie posts that “things are good, BRs. Thanks for stopping in when you come see VMI. It is like my favorite thing – saw Jeff VanSanford a few months ago with his nice family. Alex Jackson a few weeks ago stopped by. I see Todd Pegg every other day or so. He is the band TAC officer and a great one. Hope everyone is well … my 25th year at VMI!” Notes are thin this quarter, so that wraps it up. Going forward, please consider sharing an update and a recent picture with your BRs. Send to me at rvalaw@gmail.com. Stay safe.

Regards, Adam

’93

Bill Cox

I hope this edition of the class notes finds everyone in good health and good company. I have a good bit of news to share this time, so I will jump right into it. Thanks to all those who sent information in.

Joy and Mitch Copenhaver are in Lynchburg, VA, and doing well. I saw Mitch recently when I was running the Virginia 4 Miler with my daughter in Lynchburg.

He was standing on the sidewalk and not running … slacker … Mitch and his family recently caught up with Bryan Newman and wife Jenny with the kids at Twin Lakes State Park. Mitch says Bryan and family are living outside of Richmond and doing well.

Scott Eanes wrote in and said he had just completed a tour as mini-boss on the U.S.S. John C. Stennis and checked back into U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha. Scott will be there for the next three years.

I caught up with Eric Eversole, as well as Granville Higgins, Gerry Bingeman and Hunter Hutchens. We all met up at Higgys place for a day of cross bow hunting. It was a terrible day for hunting but a great day for drinking beer and telling stories. Eric is now in the Charlotte office for the Secret Service.

Hunter is in NOVA, is still a postal inspector and had some rather terrifying stories to share around the bonfire. Sadly, Gerry’s mother passed away a few days later, and I saw Eric and Higgy at the memorial service. I spent that Friday night with Gerry and his wife,

Lara, solving the problems of the world.

We are getting together again the week after Thankgiving to go hunting. I can’t wait to try out my new used deer rifle.

Addison had a very successful cross country season. She was running alongside Col. Dabney’s ’61 granddaughter, which I thought was pretty cool.

I talk to Craig Chwojdak on a fairly regular basis, and he had just returned from Italy on business. He has made several trips overseas in the past six months with his company.

I didn’t get much news together in this edition. I will try to keep better notes on people over the next quarter.

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.

’94

Christopher L. Doyle

I recently went back to VMI with my family for the football game against Presbyterian College. It happened to be the class of 1997’s 15th Reunion weekend. I was great to see our dykes. They made sure to give us a very loud Old Yell in the courtyard. There was a lot going on in Lexington. If you haven’t been back in a while, I would certainly encourage you to make the trek. You will be amazed by the construction and very impressed with the cadets that you meet.

Chris Cooldige is living in Alabama and working on AT&T’s corporate headquarters staff. His wife, Mandy, has been working as flex discharge planning social worker at UAB Highland Medical Center in downtown Birmingham. They have two boys and a girl.

The boys, Wyatt, age 6, and Brodie, age 10, play baseball year round and made the all-star teams for their age group this past season. Last summer, the kids went to New Hampshire and visited with Chris’ parents for two weeks. On the drive back to Alabama, they stopped at Arlington to visit JR Teal’s grave. Chris was planning to link up with John Campbell and Curt Crowder for a few days of fun in Lexington this fall.

In the fall, Chris traveled to Hartford, CT, for work and had a great visit with John Cunningham and Mark Cameron. John is in charge of a large manufacturing plant

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CLASS NOTES On a positive note, the losses of Rich and please remember that our 20th Reunion will near Hartford and is overseeing a very large Kevin did pose an opportunity for some be in the spring of 2014. From that reunion expansion of the facility. Following dinner Brother Rats to gather and catch up. Dan on, the odd numbered reunions (25, 35, 45, one night, Chris asked Mark for some Marine Williams and I traveled up to Pennsylvania etc.) will be in the fall, while the even numCorps Martial Arts Program pointers and for Kevin’s funeral, and we saw Tim Miller, bered reunions will take place in the spring. ended up with a busted nose and lip. Mark Dave Fleck, Dave Mitchell, Chad Tester, recently married Dawnell Pavano. Shortly Drew Bissell, Rick Killmeyer, Austin Clark after the wedding, the new couple shipped out Thomas A. Brashears and Mark Hagan. Despite the occasion, we for a tour at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. For two all did share a few laughs and were able to years, Mark will be in charge of all Marine honor Kevin one last time.

Corps security forces on the base. CongratuAt Rich’s funeral in Las Vegas, Dan Willations to Mark and Dawnell! liams and I were able to catch up with Ken Todd Witt and his family are living in Dan Williams Jambor, Kip Averett, Ralph Ragosta and South America, and he is working at the Scott Jewell. We sat around and enjoyed a embassy. He is married to John Vasquez’s beer or two in Rich’s honor. sister. They have a daughter, Celina, who Moving on … I have failed to mention in is a senior in high school, and a young son, Dominic, who is active in swimming and previous updates that Jeff Godby has been Brother Rats … bottom line, up front … karate. doing quite well with his plumbing business these notes are tough to write. It has been a Carter Davis is living in the Virginia Beach down in South Carolina. He and his lovely difficult fall to this point. We lost two great area and is working for the U.S. Marshall wife even hosted the VMI baseball team for Americans, two great Brother Rats, far too Service. dinner one night, as the team was down there early. Rich Hauben and Kevin Price have Max Bulloch is living in Alabama and last season playing the University of South both left us with great memories, served working for U.S. Steel in Birmingham.

Carolina in a three-game set.

Kit Badger is working at Bates Engineering their country admirably and will forever be Recently Ken Jambor provided me with outside of Denver as a structural engineer and cherished Brother Rats. several updates on BRs who we really (Editor’s Note: Their obituaries appear in is very active in competitive mountain biking. have not heard much from recently. First, the Taps section of this issue.)

He and his wife, Kim, have three children: Ken Jambor was activated back in 2009, Jacob, Emma and Conner. and since then, Ken and his Sean Lanier, Sean Harrington wife, Kerri, have been living in and I attended Vince Porter’s Denver, CO. He’s the director of promotion to lieutenant colonel Operations for a geographically on Oct. 4. Congratulations to separated unit out of Centennial Vince, Stacey and the kids on this Airport, flying flight test sorties great accomplishment. all over Colorado. They have two Adam Strickland is in the boys. When not busy with his Marine Corps and stationed in USAF duties, Ken is busy coachWashington, D.C., where he is ing his boys’ baseball teams. working with the 4th Civil Affairs Hopefully, 10 years from now, Group. Last fall, he graduated Marlin Ikenberry will be looking from the National War College for a switch-hitting catcher for the at Fort McNair in D.C. In early Institute’s baseball team ’cause October, Adam, his wife, Diane, Ken knows just the player. and daughter, Virginia, welcomed Some great news from the a new addition: Hawthorne Cabrera household … after five Cash Strickland, born on Oct. years and numerous interviews, 3 at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Elvin finally received orders to the New Jersey State Patrol’s Congratulations to the Strickland Aviation Bureau. He will be family! flying the Augusta 139 airframe, Kevin Miller is working at Old providing air support for law Dominion Electric Cooperative enforcement, as well as flying as the manager of Engineering.

MEDEVAC missions, as necesKevin reported that Brian Hingst sary. Elvin and his wife, Marzena, also works there as a project a registered nurse, live in Columengineer. When not working, bus, NJ. Kevin attempts to keep up with Mike Paruti and his wife, his 2-year-old. On June 19, Kevin Loretta, live in Fairfax County, and his wife, Amy, welcomed Ari VA, where he is the county fire Holten Miller, who weighed in at Class of 1994: Joe Casey and Jim Hewitt got together marshall. When he’s not busy 7 lbs., 14oz. Congratulations to with Sean Burke ’95 while working in Chicago for the working for the fire department, the Millers!

NATO Summit.

Mike spends time coaching his I know it is a little early, but

’95

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES daughter’s competitive soccer team. Hopefully, we’ll see his daughter playing on the U.S. Olympic Team in 2020. Loretta is a real estate agent, so if anyone is moving up this way to northern Virginia in the future, a friendly phone call might not be a bad idea to get tied in to the real estate market here.

Maj. Scott Jewell recently moved to Las Vegas, NV. Scott is flying Vipers (F-16Cs) as part of the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB. His primary job is to provide air combat maneuvering training to Blue Forces during Red Flag and Mission Employment exercises. He loves Vegas and is living the dream, flying Vipers versus sitting behind a desk at some headquarters.

Lt. Col. Ralph Ragosta has been busy after a recent move to Fort Bliss, TX, in June 2012.

He serves as the Security Forces Assistance chief for the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division. When he and I talked recently, he was busy prepping for a deployment to Afghanistan. Ralph’s wife, Lori, is a registered nurse in Richmond.

Joey Schenk has been living in Germany for the past several years. Currently, he resides in Holzgerlingen, Germany, working for BAE Systems Intelligence. Not surprising, he was in the running for the Triple Crown in his softball league, while his teammates barely hit above the Mendoza line. As we all know, Joey is a prolific athlete, so his winning all sorts of sports accolades is a given, rather than an exception.

Lt. Col. Kip Averett, his wife, Shamein, and two children recently moved to Tampa, FL. Kip works at the U.S. Special Operations Command’s J-4 section at MacDill AFB. Before Kip moved to Florida, he was a maintenance squadron commander at Davis Monthan AFB, supporting EC-130 Compass Call operations.

Brother Rats … a reminder that we have two BRs currently residing and working in Lexington for our beloved Institute. Bradley Coleman is now in the History Department, and of course, Marlin Ikenberry continues in his role as VMI’s head baseball coach and one of the winningest coaches in all of VMI athletics history, let alone baseball.

Also, Lt. Col. Andy Johnson recently took battalion command of 5th Battalion, 14th Marines in Seal Beach, CA. He is doing quite well and is enjoying being back out that way.

He also let me know that he heard from Guan Juin Jang. He is back from his command tour in Taiwan and is at the Army War College.

I continue to serve in my role as the public address announcer at home football and basketball games for VMI and always appreciate seeing BRs. Recently I was able to catch up with Joe Doyle, who was in town for the weekend and

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renewed his wedding vows in JM Hall, prior to catching a VMI football game. During the same weekend, I caught up briefly with Noel Gorospe. It was good to catch up with both Joe and Noel. If any BRs are ever in town for a game, please do let me know.

As always, take great care, keep the updates coming and I hope to see all soon … only two and half years until our next reunion!

’96

Peter Segersten

Brother Rats, I hope everyone is doing well out there, especially those on the East Coast, avoiding “derechos” and hurricanes. I hope you all enjoyed the fall and holidays. This September, as you probably already know, VMI played Annapolis in football. A bunch of our classmates made it up to the game. Christian Hoff, John McElroy and Chris Jones met up for the weekend and had a great time at the game. At the VMI tent before the football game, they ran into Ricky Mattoso and Colin Boynton. Colin is currently stationed at X-1 in Pax River, MD, doing Operational Test flying in USN MH-60R and MH-60S helos. He frequently runs into Bryan Smith who is a contractor test pilot.

Mike Ohleger checked in to give me the latest news. Mike says, “I just graduated from NPS with an M.S. in computer science. Spent graduation day hanging out with Carl Lowe, who is heading to Hawaii. We just moved into our new house in Stafford a couple of weeks ago, and I will be starting work this week at MARCORSYSCOM. In August, I found out that a paper I wrote for the HICSS conference in Hawaii was accepted for presentation and for publication, so I will be heading out to Maui in January to present it. I finished my sixth Marine Corps Marathon yesterday in 3.50:56 and my eighth marathon overall, looking forward to the next one.” Congratulations to both Mike and Carl on graduating from Naval Postgraduate School, and enjoy Maui, Mike!

Joe DuBose checked in to say the following: “Pinned on lieutenant colonel in May after getting back from my third deployment. Finally getting married in May (to a Virginia girl, of all things ... my Texas family is skeptical :)). Will be PCSing summer 2013 to do another fellowship, this one in vascular surgery at UT Houston (what can I say ... I am addicted to training) which will push my time commitment with the Air Force to 21 years total.” Congratulations on the promotion, Joe! Paul Dickinson wrote in to say he is settling in at his job at PriceWaterHouseCoopers and will

be in India for the next three years.

Jon Dano and his lovely wife, Kelly Buckingham, were married on Sept. 2nd in Delta, PA. In attendance were many classmates and other alumni: Stew Holt, Josh Lewis, Phil Alicia, Matt Creech, Trey Kirby, Geoff Blum ’95 and Johnny Weekes ’97. He had a blast celebrating this very special day with them.

Thank you once again for all the inputs and pictures for the class notes, and I look forward to continue hearing from you all in the future.

In the bonds, Pete

’97

David Zirkle

The leaves have changed, and my hope is that everyone on the East Coast has successfully overcome Hurricane Sandy. We, at least, got lucky, and I hope everyone else did, as well. On a happier note, you do not have to endure another reminder about our 15th Reunion. It has come and gone, and I, for one, want to reiterate my thanks to Candice and Blair Gregory and Matt Linderman for getting everything put together for a fine weekend back at the I. Attendance was a respectable 54 Brother Rats, with wives and children bringing the total up to 132. I did have the uncomfortable realization that we were the senior class at our reunion weekend. Hopefully at our 20th, we will be able to forgo that honor. Johnny Weekes wrote today to send his regrets. They have twins that are still shy of their 2nd birthday and didn’t think they could manage the trip, but he “can’t wait for the 20th.” I agree completely, and rather than prattle on about the reunion, I will let the pictures (starting on next page) tell the story. All photos except for the one in Third Barracks are courtesy of Dave and Willy Harback. The Alumni Association has pictures available for purchase, as well. You can find them on the site where you registered for the reunion. They make for a decent slide show, even if you don’t plan on decorating your office with photographs of your BRs. They still have the pictures up from our 10th, too. Well, that’s all the news that’s fit to print (though I did get some offers for some that wasn’t).

Take care, and see you in 2013.

’98

Hamel Reinmiller

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1998 for this issue.

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The Class of 1997: Those who attended their 15th Reunion are listed in alphabetical order, as follows: Michael F. Belenky, Edward T. Bonham V, Michael L. Brown Jr., Tyler W. Chase, Andrew K. Clark, Gary H. Compton Jr., Ralph L. Costen III, William W. Edmunds III, Christopher P. Farrar, Derek R. Fix, Michael J. Freer, George E. Gaulding III, Blair Gregory Jr., Berchman L.J. Grinage, Jason K. Gruse, J. Addison Hagan IV, David P. Harback, Richard F. Hezel II, Oliver R. Johnson Jr., Eric R. Jones, Joseph V. Kmiecinski, Joel A. Kusterer, Matthew L. Linderman, William M. Moody, Tim O. Moore II, Troy Mosby, Chad G. Neely, Brett M. Ogletree, Matt Pelton, Matthew J. Perry, Lyle J. Peters, Kenneth L. Pierce Jr., Jack L. Polce, Edward F. Ramatowski, Daniel A. Roach, Michael D. Russell, Scott M. Saunders, William J. Scott, Joseph R. Shy, Noah S. Slemp, James C. Smythers, Anthony J. Spevak, G. Jason St. Clair, William S. Stagg, Jason Stracqualursi, Dave E. Sullivan, Brett B. Thompson, Kevin J. Vallerie, Thomas R. Wagner, Christopher S. Weisiger, Eric W. Woolley, Robert A. Worrell, David W. Zirkle and Phillip H. Zoffuto.

CLASS NOTES

15th Reunion — Oct. 5-6, 2012

Class of 1997

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’99

William Steinbach

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1999 for this issue.

’00

Matthew McComas

Brother Rats, As I write this, the mid-Atlantic region is

cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy. We faired pretty well here in Virginia, but things appear much worse in the New York and New Jersey area. By the time you read this, hopefully everything will be back to normal, but know that our thoughts and prayers are with the Brother Rats in the areas hit hard by the storm. I have a short list of updates for this

Class of 1997 15th Reunion, Oct. 6, 2012 1

Photo 1: Noah Slemp in Barracks during the Old Yells.

Photo 2: Phil and Jenny Zoffuto at the Reunion Parade.

Photo 3: During reunion weekend, Maggie Compton made an effort to sneak up on the sentinel in Third Barracks.

Photo 4: Joe and Erin Kmiecinski at the Old Yells.

Photo 5: Addison Hagan leading the Old Yells.

Photo 6: Matt Perry, Tim Moore, Kevin Vallerie, Mike Belenky, Dave Harback and Eric Wooley at the class barbeque.

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CLASS NOTES edition, so I will get right to them: In September, Meredith won a free week in a condo in Ocean City, MD, so we invited a few friends to join us for the week. Keydets and childhood friends, Jon Palmer and Jim Bourie ’01, were among the attendees, and it was a blast! We spent the bulk of the week relaxing and, of course, helping the beer industry’s bottom line. Jon rode his bike the 200+ miles from Leesburg to OC (somewhat of a short trip after his cross country trip in 2010), and Jim was enjoying his last week of freedom before beginning his first new job, after recently leaving the Army after 10 years of service with the 82nd Airborne and 3rd Special Forces Group.

Jon joined us a couple weeks later for an OctoberFest party at Shawn and Erin Segreti’s house in Arlington. The party involved watching the VMI-Navy game on TV, burgers and dogs on the grill, more beer, and talking politics until late in the evening.

It was a great opportunity to catch up with Scott Kuebler, Matt “Fat Head” Williams and Tony Esteve, whom I had not seen in quite a long time. In October, Shawn and Erin welcomed their second girl, Charlotte Anne, and I am sure they will have their hands full with her and big sister, Margaret May, in the years to come!

Just two days earlier, the stork visited Georgia, and LD and Joe Carter increased their family size with the addition of a son, Evan Winston. LD is an avid Facebook poster, and it has been fun to see the updates of Evan being welcomed to the family. Joe is working for Wharton-Smith, and at the time of their update, he was working on two projects in North Carolina and Georgia. Next time you guys are in the northern Virginia area, give us a ring, so we can meet the little ones in person!

Rich Baltimore reported that his son, Cyrus, recently received a Provisional Appointment to VMI class of 2034 from his uncle, Vince Wood ’81. With all the recent additions to the families of our Brother Rats, Rich pointed out that there will likely be several mini-reunions and fun tailgates at the Institute in about 20 years. I will be sure to add that to my calendar!

Tony Cerella checked in from Australia, where he will be finishing his two-year exchange posting in early 2013. Twins Tony and Sophie turned 4 in September, and soon the family will be moving on to an unknown, new assignment. Hopefully, it will be as exciting and fun as I am sure the past two years have been living in the land Down Under!

News from Atlanta, where Pat Haddock reports that he was promoted to a new posi-

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tion at Coca-Cola in June, began a term on the VMIAA Board of Directors in July and went back to school in September for an executive M.B.A. at University of Georgia. As if that was not a full plate, Pat continues to serve as a battalion S3 in the Army Reserve. In September, Pat was joined by Micah North and John Archer at the LSU-Auburn game. He reports that the three of them were “not as rowdy as we used to be, but good times nonetheless!”

Micah North checked in from Dayton, OH, where he was recently voted to the board of directors at his new company. Business is going well, and I am sure that under his leadership they will continue to succeed. Micah reports that Nadia and the kids are healthy and happy and that he recently took over as VMI alumni chapter president for Southern Ohio.

Last, but not least, I have a bit of old business to attend to. In June 2011, I received, and promptly overlooked/misplaced a report from Jay Kearney who reported in from Chantilly, VA. Jay said that the family and work were going well. He added that he had recently met up with Ross Fuller and his family at their place in Williamsburg, VA, and they took the kids to Busch Gardens for the day. Ross and his family are doing great, and his dental practice is keeping him busy.

Jay had also meet up with Will Warthen and Scott Johnson for some dinner and reported that they were doing well, too. My apologies for overlooking the update, and I hope to hear from all mentioned soon.

That concludes the notes for this time. I wish everyone the best for 2013 and look forward to many more updates! Take care.

’01

Brandon Farris

Greetings to all. Hope everyone enjoyed the fall and hope that Hurricane Sandy didn’t affect any of our BRs too badly.

I wanted to start out with the Marine Corps Marathon. Several of our BRs made the trip to D.C. last October to run in the marathon: Charlie Bunting, Dan Schindler, Tim Hackler, Ben Griffith, Ken Harman, Jenny (Boensch) Somogyi and Quin Piper (and his wife, Kristine) all made it out for the ridiculously early start time, and I am happy to report that they all finished the race. Kim Herbert, Victor Zottig and I also made it out to cheer them on and remind me why I haven’t run long distances since we left the

“I.” To make it even more impressive, Jenny completed the run while pregnant. She and her husband, Ben, are expecting their first child in spring 2013. Also, I am not sure how much training time Ben Griffith got, as he and Alyssa got married on 25 Aug. 2012 at Holland Lake Lodge in Seely Lake, MT. Continuing with the theme of keeping fit and running long distances, Victor Zottig and Dan Campbell both ran the Army Ten Miler in Washington, D.C., last October. Kenny Carmichael also recently led his wing in the weekly 5K run at Fort Meade. All of that running makes me feel pretty lazy.

Nick Pomaro is living in VA Beach with his wife, Nancy, and their two kids. Nick is still in the Marines and wrote in the following update: “Both kids are doing great with soccer. My wife, Nancy, and I ran our second 5K together in Sept. She’s been incredibly supportive in getting me healthy again after my last deployment. Our house is open, if anyone would like to drop by for coffee, beer or s’mores!”

Greg Martin checked in to let me know that after 2-1/2 years of living abroad in Paris, France, he has officially repatriated back into the U.S. as of Oct. 19th. His family (Caren and Skylar) had moved back over the summer, and he is glad they are all back together. They are in Charlotte, NC, and are excited to enjoy the awesome North Carolina weather and seasons.

Greg is still with AREVA, playing with nuclear power plants but, over the remainder of 2012, will transition into a new position.

Caren and Greg are expecting and excited for the imminent arrival of their soon-to-be new addition to their family, a baby girl. Greg said that Caren has been doing quite well while he was away and that he is grateful and blessed that she has been such a trooper through the past few months, as they have transitioned back into the U.S. Will Felvey’s wife, Laura, delivered their second child on Aug. 22nd, a daughter named Catherine May Felvey. Also, in related news, a story that should shock no one: BR Brady Daniels and his wife, Jessica, welcomed two baby boys on the 22nd. Kellan Arrington Daniels arrived at 5 lbs., 2 oz., and Henry Pierce Daniels arrived at 5 lbs., 8 oz. According to Brady, both have full heads of hair, just to make me jealous. It indeed was a good day for the old roommates of 115!

Adam Love and his wife, Rachel, had their first child, Brooklyn Paige Love, on 20 Sept.

2012. Both mother and child are doing great!

Oscar Alfaro’s second child was born in June, this time a boy. His name is Lucas Oscar Alfaro, and according to Oscar, hopefully, a future Keydet!

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES In October, Drew Dickinson and his family re-located to Lynchburg, VA. Drew has been working in Lynchburg for about two years now (still with Carter Machinery Co., Inc.), but Erin and Drew just recently sold their home in Roanoke and moved in June.

Drew and Erin have two sons, the youngest

just turned one in October. Both boys have received their provisional appointments, and Drew has been working on indoctrinating both of them to the Institute…his oldest son Billy went with him to the Presbyterian game a couple weeks ago and informed him that he thinks VMI is “fun” (I’m not going to correct

him on that…he’ll have a better assessment in 15 years). Drew also still keeps in touch with Ferg (Brian Ferguson) and Parker Reeves.

Ferg is still working for Marshall Stone…according to Drew “tells me that he is working all the time, but every time I speak with him he’s out at the Outer Banks fishing. Sounds

Class of 2001

Clockwise from top, left: -Finishing the Marine Corps Marathon were Kristine and Quinston Piper, Charlie Bunting, Ben Griffith, Ken Harman and Jenny (Boensch) Somogyi.

-Rachel and Adam Love with their daughter, Brooklyn Paige.

-Josh Turner married Erin Walbright on Oct. 13, 2012, in Luray, Virginia. Shown at the wedding were Brian Frank, the groom, Michael Gantert (wedding officiate) and Seth Ford.

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-Standing, from left: Ben Griffith, Charlie Bunting, Kim Herbert, Jenny (Boensch) Somogyi, Kristine Piper (holding daughter Virginia), Quinston Piper, Ken Harman, Kevin Fromm and Victor Zottig. Kneeling: Ben Somogyi.

-Ben and Alyssa Griffith were married on Aug. 25, 2012, at Holland Lake Lodge in Seely Lake, Montana. Attending and holding the bride were, from left, Carl Haas, Vic Zottig, the groom, Kevin Fromm, Mark Bauserman and Chris Tyree.

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CLASS NOTES hauntingly like that wood-chopping permit.”

Josh Turner married Erin Walbright on Saturday, Oct. 13th, in Luray, VA. Fellow classmates in attendance included: Michael Gantert (officiant for the wedding), Brian Frank, Seth Ford and Jeff Akers. The ceremony was outside on a perfect fall day in Virginia. Good luck to Josh and his new bride, Erin!

Ben Norris has a few more opportunities to visit VMI again; his brother is a Rat in the mass of 2013+3. Ben visited his brother during the first Parents’ Weekend in October. “He’s in Hotel Company and doing very well ... exciting to have him there and a good excuse to get back to Lexington every now and then.”

Melissa Williams is still working as a doctor for the U.S. State Department, currently assigned to the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India. Melissa said she finds it very interesting, with lots of travel and the opportunity to see (and get) many infectious diseases. She also encourages any of our BRs who want to visit India to look her up. She has plenty of room and would love to see familiar faces. (She also promised me she has plenty of antibiotics.)

Megan Portavoce recently passed the European Qualifying Exam and is now a European patent attorney.

Kelly Sullivan recently accepted a job with Comcast Communications in West Palm Beach, FL. She is the director of Project Management for the Florida Region. Kelly got back in contact with Phil Weismiller and can report that he and his family are doing great in Washington state. She is also looking forward to spending time with Maria Vasile and her new husband, Rob, who live in Florida, as well.

As for me, my wife, Lorin, and I followed Pearl Jam across Europe this summer, with stops in Prague and Berlin. I had a great response for these class notes; please keep the updates coming. I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Look forward to talking with everyone soon.

Brandon

’02

Salmaan Khawaja

Brother Rats, I hope this update finds you and yours well.

I can’t believe the 10-year Reunion has come and gone so quickly, and I’m sorry that I was not able to attend and enjoy reminiscing about our cadetship, meeting your new families, and laughing about all of our aging and living life the past 10 years. Jason Breeding was kind enough to write these notes this time around,

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with help from Matt Thompson. I personally thank both of them for their hard work and all those that supported them in making our 10year Reunion a success. What follows is Jason’s note regarding the reunion, and I have a couple of things to add after that. Enjoy the pictures, also. There were many to share, but the space is limited. I will keep sharing those reunion pics, if you send them to me at: Salmaan.khawaja@ gmail.com. Here is what Jason wrote: “All I can say is ’02, ’02, ’02! What a reunion weekend our class had. We were blessed with wonderful weather, an even rarer football victory, and more importantly, we had over half of our graduating class back at the ‘I’ to share in the festivities. Our weekend began with our class dinner, which was held at the relatively new Marshall Hall. Chaplain Jim Park provided the invocation for our meal, and Adam Volant ’88 spoke to our class regarding the changes that have taken place at the Institute since our graduation and even shared a special message from RDC President Robbie Trent ’99. Matt Thompson thanked and acknowledged the work of the Reunion Fundraising Committee.

Reuben Trant spoke directly to the establishment of the 2002 Memorial Scholarship and said that our focus for the reunion was to get the scholarship endowed. During the meal, videos of our time at VMI and pictures of both past and present were shown throughout the evening. Col. Brodie (Hon) and the VMI Commanders provided entertainment for us.

“On Saturday, we gathered in front of Preston Library, where even more BRs appeared than the night before, pushing our final count to at least more than 150 BRs in attendance, which just goes to show how strong our class bond really is. As the honored class of the reunion weekend, Matt Thompson, Blake Witherell, Keenan Entsminger and I [Jason Breeding] presented our campaign gift to the superintendent and the Alumni Association before taking review of the parade. We had set a goal of $250,000 for our campaign, and going into Friday of the reunion, we were at approximately $244,000. When it came time for the big reveal, the class of 2002 presented a check for $269,200.20 – we raised $25,000 in one night! On behalf of all class agents, I am happy to announce that from all of the donations and pledges, our final amount is $270,032 and that the 2002 Memorial Scholarship will be endowed before our next reunion.

“After the parade, the class was led into Barracks, where Jackson Castleberry, Keenan Entsminger and I led the Corps for Old Yells.

After Old Yells, members of the class tailgated or had a lunch BBQ in Moody before the football game against Presbyterian College.

The Keydets went on to win 17-7, and our class

headed to McKethan for the final dinner of the reunion weekend.

“As a reunion side note, congratulations to Mark Grigsby and his wife for welcoming their second child sometime after dinner Friday night and before the parade on Saturday.

“As a point of personal privilege, I would like to thank Matt Thompson and the fundraising committee for all their effort in making the ‘once thought impossible’ happen. I would like to also thank Salmaan Khawaja for the class notes and what not. [Salmaan wrote, “I probably could do more than I do.”] As I mentioned at the Friday dinner, I would like to especially thank my wife, Amberlea, for letting me do all the ‘stuff’ needed to complete the numerous class agent conferences and the reunion planning. Finally, Salmaan, Matt and I would like to thank the members of our class, as it has been a privilege to serve you in the capacity of class agent for the past 10 years. We hope that we have served you well, and for those who attended the reunion, [we hope you] felt that you couldn’t ask for a better weekend. It is a job that we all have enjoyed tremendously, and I will miss somewhat, as I take a break for a while. The next birthday and Christmas cards will be signed by someone else.

I wish ’02 all the best and please keep in touch with me (Salmaan and Matt, too)!”

William Talley

’03

Phil Kerns

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 2003 for this issue.

C. Justin Roberts

’04

Ryan Shealy

Hey, Brother Rats!

First off, I want to apologize for the delay in getting a new set of notes out. It’s been a while, so this one is pretty lengthy!

Dave Coleman sent in a monster update (thanks, Dave!) and is still living in Raleigh,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 10th Reunion — Oct. 5-6, 2012

Class of 2002

Class of 2002: Those who attended their 10th Reunion are listed in alphabetical order, as follows: Berton G. Austin Jr., David A. Baber Jr., Brandon J. Bennett, Matthew R. Blanchette, Sean M. Bolling, Benjamin W. Bowman, Kevin I. Braine, Christopher G. Brander, Jason W. Breeding, Matthew R. Brooks, Dominik A. Browne, Timothy J. Burke, Jeffrey L. Bushman, Samuel D. Carney, Jackson S. Castleberry, Arthur E. Cauthen III, Walter S. Chalkley, Sopheap Chan, Daniel J. Chung, Matthew D. Cichy, Stillman S. Clark, Timothy A. Cole, Nicholas A. Compher, Jared M. Conrad, Virginia U. Conville, Louis J. Cowardin III, Ryan M. Davis, Frank H. Deerr III, Charles C. Dekeyser, David B. Ellington, Jake A. Elsass, Michael K. Entsminger, Matthew D. Erwin, Layne M. Fielder, Brendan T. Fitzpatrick, Brian T. Francis, Nathan E. Gabor, Sergio L. Giacchetti, Joseph P. Gibson, Jason M. Goldstein, Keith L. Graham, Mark D. Grigsby, Travis C.J. Guidt, Andrew L. Harrison, Bryant D. Harrison, Robert J. Hendricks, Gabriel A. Hensley, Ryan P. Hickey, Sean W. Hoover, James L. Howard, Ronald G. Hull, William S. Huntsberger, Matthew L. Hylton, Darian L. Lafferty, Jason M. Lamendola, Ryan J. Lapsley, John S. Leake II, John W. Leon, Jose M. Leoncio, Tasha J. Lowery, Ryan P. Manor, Brian K. Meadowcroft, Benjamin J. Midura, Devon S. Miller, Mark D. Mills, Anthony W. Montgomery, Christopher L. Morris, John M. Nemish Jr., Theodore C. Nevatt, Richard L. Palmer, Henry S. Papiano, Ryan N. Peay, Jonathan P. Pogranicy, Thomas B. Prillaman, R. Jarrett Rice, Bryan J. Rodriguez, David M. Ross, David R. Rossi, Oliver A. Ruiz, Daniel E. Runion, Thomas B. Schillo II, Ronald G. Sebeck Jr., Gregory T. Settle, James B. Smith, Adam K. Soller, Corey J. Stavinoha, Phillip D. Stracener Jr., Anthony H. Sturgill, George F. Swenck III, Tri B. Tang, Timothy A. Tendall, Matthew S. Thompson, Jonathan A. Tibbs, Clarence B. Toney, John H. Trant II, Reuben F. Trant II, David D. Troxell, Jacqueline B. Tugman, James E. Vik, J. Nathan Wahlgren, Stephen P. Ward, Jerry T. Whitlock, Nicholas J. Wilborn, Shane C. Wilhelm, Joseph M. Williams, Edward B. Witherell and Timothy B. Wolford.

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CLASS NOTES dispensing justice at Ft. Bragg with the XVIII to captain in January 2012 and finished the Risk Assessment Cell in July. He and Anya Airborne Corps. He’s currently being farmed AG CCC in May – and his wife, Anya, gave will be raising Anya literally a mile away out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Dave also birth to their daughter, Anya. Scott was pulled from my childhood home in Richmond. Crazy reports that he now has an heir -- Sam, who onto active duty as the OIC for the Army Web small world! Bree Adams Guiterman and her “is 100th percentile in the only husband, Justin, brought little Isaac category that matters ... looks.”

Adams Guitarman into the world Chip Satterlee is still chaplaining on July 30th. Ike made an incredat Ft. Polk, LA. Dave would like ibly adorable lobster for Halloween to point out that Chip, too, has a this year, hah! Bree was selected wife named Carrie and son named as lieutenant commander in the Sam and that he was first in both Reserve for FY13 and will be movbut is flattered Chip would emuing to NYC in December. Drew late him. Joe Doane is temporarily Hardin and his wife, Megan, are in Ohio with an engineering firm. expecting their second child, a little Dave gives him another winter boy, in late February. Drew also before he gives in to the lure of reports that Matt Sanders came the South and returns to Raleigh. down for his Rat’s wedding in DalTony Miller is married and is still las over the summer. Drew went a structural engineer. Ed Chen dove hunting with John Ginder is still in California working with over Labor Day and is heading shipping tankers and imports. He down to Houston to do a charity plans to climb Kilimanjaro in early skeet shoot with him. The Jennings 2013. Josh Mulford now has two clan has been stationed at Fort Polk daughters, Anais and Laurel. He was now for the past seven months, picked up as a foreign area officer where Harley is assigned as an with the Army and is at the Defense OC/T (observer, coach, trainer) Language Institute in Monterey. for JRTC. He and wife Sarah just Mike Scott has hung up his uniform had their second daughter, Lillian. and is out of the Army, residing in Everyone is healthy and doing Kansas. well. He was picked up below the So, it seems the last few months zone to major on the 2011 board were busy in the baby department! and looks to pin on in November Joel Andrus and his wife, Joy, 2012. It will be a quick stay in welcomed their daughter, Mary Louisiana, as they will ship off to Class of 2004: Ryan Shealy running in the 37th Marine Garland Virginia, in April. Scott ILE this coming Aug. “Fort Polk Corps Marathon race.

Campbell – who was promoted isn’t as bad as everyone says,” claims Harley. “It is professionally rewarding to train those next at bat to go overseas, and it gives me the chance to see several of our Brother Rats.” Harley currently works with Chip Satterlee and sees Stacy Rostorfer and Jeff Van Cleave often. All are doing very well.

Dave Bruton just wanted to let everyone know that he and his wife are expecting their fourth child in mid-November. They are being told that they are having a boy, so that will even things up, giving them two girls and two boys. My fellow EE, Chris Johnson and his wife, Erin, have baby #1 on the way – due at the end of February. Little Greyson Hepfer was born on July 26! His father, Eric Hepfer, got his M.B.A. from Harvard and moved to San Diego to join Hines as a commercial real estate developer.

Jason Dorn and his wife had a baby boy in April, and Landon Winkelvoss and his wife had their second daughter in August. Sean Duggan, his wife and baby boy moved to the suburbs of Boston. Sean is enjoying playing rugby and darts Class of 2004: Matt Sharpe received the NASA Space Flight Awareness Award by himself in his garage. On March 11, Derek in August 2012. He is shown above with Astronaut Terry Virts, left, and Robin Raymond and his wife, Lilya, had their first Henderson, associate center director at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. child, Parker John Raymond. He and mom were

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES both healthy after the ordeal, and he is growing Scotland and the Czech Republic. They have Ryan has had some amazing opportunities to be like a weed! Seven months, and he’s crawling also hit up some typical sites around Germany, the lead staffer for Congressional hearings, help everywhere and trying like hell to start walking. such as Oktoberfest in Munich, Rothenberg, write legislation and get a front row seat to the They still live in Tennessee, and Derek is still Constatter Fest in Stuttgart, Berchtesgaden (the political theater in Congress. stationed with 5th Special Forces Group (AirEagle’s Nest) and other various fests. It turns Jessica (Remick) Schmaus finished her master’s borne) at Fort Campbell, KY. He is waiting on out that Nadia Wendlant lives not too far from in public administration degree and is enjoying an official word as to what his next job will be, Jim in Germany. He is in Heidelberg, and she having her life back! She was in touch with Maja so he’s just biding his time. Derek also reports lives near Manheim. She, her boyfriend and Cavlovic via Facebook. Maja recently took a that Tim and Lisette Price had a boy (Jackson) several other German friends attended a winetrip to the states and stopped by VMI during her about six weeks after their son was born. Cute fest together in Deidesheim. It was great, as it travels. Unfortunately, Jess wasn’t able to drive little kid! Tim and Derek had their photo taken allowed them a lot of time to catch up, as VMI down that weekend to see her. with their boys by Lisette, and he will see if folks usually do.

Matt Mikula wanted to announce his recent he can get a hold of that to send it in. Matt and My old STP roommate, Matt Sharpe, is livengagement to Elizabeth Bradshaw. They met in Cam Vogel just had their second daughter about ing the dream out in California. He and Alexis Charlottesville while he was in law school and a month or so ago. Rylee was born healthy, and traveled some earlier in 2012, to Paris in April are now residing in Richmond. They’ll be getMom came out unscathed, as well! Congrats to and then Hawaii in May. Matt’s continuing to ting married on Nov. 17, 2012, in Roanoke, VA. both of them. Last, but by no means least, JB teach yoga and was named a Lululemon Yoga Along with Matt’s dad (Ned Mikula ’71) and and Summer Rosson are still in Harrisonburg, ambassador earlier this year. He’s also still her dad (Jim Bradshaw ’77) and her brother (JB and they welcomed a little girl into their family working at NASA and was awarded a Space Bradshaw ’09), as well as all their VMI friends, last summer. Ava Nicole Rosson was born on Flight Awareness Award (SFA) in August, the wedding will surely be a Rah Virginia Mil 06/15/12. JB also has accepted a new position for work the previous year in integrating the experience. with Merck Pharmaceuticals in Elkton, VA. He International Space Station’s problem-reporting Eric Damon, Justin Sloan, Clarence Smith, is the associate director of Biotech Operations, system, failure mode analysis system, and their Andy Harris and Landon Winkelvoss tailgated supporting the production of a cholesterol drug hardware part and drawing systems. The SFA is at the VMI-Navy game in September. Justin and a lifesaving antifungal. Mike Gregory left one of NASA’s highest honors. Congratulations, Sloan recently became engaged to Karin Lipinhis old job as a police officer in Lynchburg, Matt! Matt’s old roommate, Ryan Consaul, has ski, and they are set to marry in May. The entire VA, at the beginning of 2012 and entered New been detailed from GAO to the House Homecrew is preparing and will be in attendance. As Agent Training at Quantico with the FBI. He has land Security Committee since January 2012. always, it should obtain good enough ratings since graduated from the academy to be an epic Comedy Central and is a special agent currently asseries filled with trust falls, ruined signed to the Joint Terrorism Task clothes, bad dancing and broken Force with the Charlotte Division wine bottles/glasses. From what in Charlotte, NC. He’s living down Landon hears, John Berg continues in Charlotte and expecting his first to be a mountain man in Denver. child at the beginning of the year.

On Sept. 2, 2012, Stephen LinkI don’t know about y’all, but that ous was ordained as a transitional seems like a LOT of diapers. deacon in Christ’s Church by The Jim Bean wrote in with his Rt. Revd. Derek L.S. Jones, bishop normal epic update e-mail (which of the Armed Forces and ChapI’m always thankful to get, Jim!). laincy for the Anglican Church in Rich Connaroe passed the BAR North America and the Convocain Virginia. Jessie Stuart ’05 and tion of Anglicans in North America.

Jim are going to have supper and He is pursuing chaplaincy in the catch up with Mihaela Froehlich U.S. Air Force after his graduation (Guberovic ’03) in Heidelberg, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Germany. Erica Ardolino got Seminary in Charlotte, NC, which married this month. Libbi Olson, will be in January 2013.

Mariah (Green) Goodall and Sarah Tim Felts started a new job. He is Johnson Bartholomew were there. working for Caterpillar as an engiJeff (Hocutt) Donahue is planning neer in their Global Mining Division. to head up to VMI for the Citadel He started in January 2012. So, he game/Founders Day. Jim linked has been at it for almost a year and up with my Rat, Kathleen Krenzel really enjoying it. Also, he just fin’07, in Stuttgart over July 4th ished his M.B.A. Graduated in July weekend, while she was on leave 2012, receiving his degree through in Germany, to hang out and have Radford University (RU). lunch before she returned to Fort As for me, things in D.C. have Bragg. Jessie Stewart ’05 and Jim been going amazingly well. Still were travel buddies in Germany loving my job with the Navy, Class of 2004: Harley Jennings, his wife, Sarah, and and have taken trips to France, Belwhich will be sending me to daughters, Addison and Lillian (newborn). gium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Groton, CT, from the beginning

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CLASS NOTES of December through the end of February. At least I’ll be guaranteed a white winter – hah.

I successfully completed the Marine Corps Marathon in October (my first marathon)! Such an awesome experience. Still kind of in shock that I finished it – haha!

Thanks to everyone who sent in updates, without which, we’d have no class notes. Those who didn’t, send some in, I’d love to hear from you! ’04! ’04! ’04!

Ryan Shealy

Timothy Johnson

’05

William Ray

Brother Rats, Rather than regale you with tales of the fall and the weather, I want to get straight

to the notes. I promise more vivid, lustrous details in the next edition, and away we go …

Brian Bowman was married to Kimberlie Marie England in June 2012 at Kelly’s Ford in Virginia. The happily married couple currently live together in Loudoun County, VA. Kim and Brian continue to work for the Fairfax County Police Department, and they originally met at the academy in 2005.

Shelby Sears came over from Kentucky and served as best man.

Anthony and Elizabeth Boone welcomed a son, Caleb Daniel Boone, into the world on Sept. 4, 2011. The Boones are currently residing in Albuquerque, NM, where they have been stationed since November 2010.

Paul and Dana Bryan are now the proud parents of a baby girl, Anna Marie Bryan.

She was born on Aug. 13, 2012, in Roanoke, VA, and is doing very well. Paul is looking forward to bringing her up for her first trip to the “I” sometime soon.

That’s the Bryans’ big news for us right now. Everything else is pretty much the same. They are still living in Roanoke, where Paul still works as an engineer and business development manager for Froehling & Robertson, Inc. He gets up to VMI as often as he can, but visits have been limited since

Class of 2005: A daughter, Anna Marie, was born to Paul and Dana Bryan on Aug. 13, 2012, in Roanoke, Virginia.

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Anna’s arrival. No matter -- she’s definitely a blessing.

Sean Matson wrote: “I know it’s been a very long time since my last e-mail, and I apologize. Between family, work and MATBOCK (the company my buddy and I started) I have been extremely busy -- and very happy.”

On Oct. 5, Sean and Casey welcomed a healthy little boy, Sean Tyler Matson (calling him Tyler), into the world. He was born at 1305 and was 7 lbs., 12 oz. and 19.5 inches long. Shelby and the rest of the family are all adjusting well to the new addition. Shelby enjoys being a big sister but is still dealing with not being the only one. With one girl and one boy, Sean says they “are done.”

As for Shelby, she was swimming all summer long at just 3 years old. She jumps off the diving board and swims to the side without any help. Sean is still working to get her arms out of the water more but extremely proud about how well she is doing. She started her second year of preschool and is doing very, very well. Two of her really good friends are in her class, which always her parents, but she behaves.

Casey is so happy to be done with this pregnancy and having a new bundle of joy around. Between Shelby and Tyler, they’re keeping her very busy, and Sean is trying to help where he can.

Sean returned from his latest deployment just in time to be home with the family. The first thing Shelby asked Sean when he walked in was, “Can we wrestle?” She loves to roughhouse but also play with her dolls -- great balance.

At the end of the day, the Matson’s are

Class of 2005: Casey and Shelby Matson play with the newborn addition to the family, Sean Tyler, at their home in Virginia Beach, VA, in October 2012.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES doing really, really well and will be in the Virginia Beach area for at least another two years.

As for Sean’s company, MATBOCK, in November, they reached their first year of equipment on the market. With this, they are anticipating the release of some very exciting products. The first is a night vision goggle (NVG) accessory that will allow users to have objects from a few inches to 1000 yards (and beyond) in focus, all at the same time -- ambient light will not affect the brightness because of the aperture design. This will be a game-changer in NVG technology and how we [the U.S.] win wars at night. The second product is SkyFins, which will allow military freefall personnel the ability to have more power, more control and track further during freefall. This has been in the civilian skydiving world for years, but they are adapting this technology and gave it a military design. Currently, they are finalizing the design before another round of testing. The last round of testing went very well, and the only significant changes were to ensure that MATBOCK had the sizes correct. The third product will allow users to have water and air combined into a simple package. Lastly, early to mid2013, they should be ready to roll out a rigid medical litter that will be half the weight of the current rigid litters. All in all, things are looking good for Sean.

As for your class agents, there is nothing new to report. It’s the end of the first quarter, and grades are due tomorrow, so I’ll save my update for February. Keep the updates coming. Until next time …

In the Bonds, Tim Johnson

’06

Clark Dudley

I dedicate these class notes to the great man we have lost, Capt. Shawn G. Hogan. Shawn was an amazing man. His academic, athletic and military achievements were the highest of our class. Shawn set the bar very high for all of us to be measured against, and we salute you, Brother Rat. The following is the obituary that was posted in his home town: “U.S. Army Capt. Shawn G. Hogan, age 28, of Salem, NH, died Wednesday, Oct. 17th, at the Land between the Lakes Recreational Area, Golden Pond, KY, from injuries sus-

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tained in a training exercise. Shawn was born in Albany, NY, and grew up in Salem, NH. He graduated from Salem High School in 2002, where he was co-captain of the cross country team. After graduation, Shawn entered the Virginia Military Institute. He was captain of the cross country and track teams and graduated as the class valedictorian in 2006.

Shawn entered the U.S. Army in 2006 and held the rank of captain. In 2012, he received his Green Beret. Most recently, Shawn was serving as the commander of a Special Forces operational detachment headquartered at Fort Campbell, KY. Shawn enjoyed the outdoors, especially hiking, rock climbing, running and skiing. He was also an avid reader.

“Shawn is survived by his parents, Richard and Jean (Joly) Hogan of Salem, NH; sister, Nicole Hogan of Salem, NH; significant other, Karree Emmons of Clarksville, TN, and her daughter, Kaylynn; maternal grandmother, Dorothy Joly of Colonie, NY; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services were Thursday, Oct. 25th, at the Mary Queen of Peace Church, Salem, NH, with military honors immediately following. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the: Green Beret Foundation, P.O. Box 8250, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.”

Additionally, regarding the loss of Shawn, on Oct. 30th, the flag at VMI flew at halfstaff in his honor. Also, with the help of class leadership, Christopher Brandriff, John Fox and Nick Mazzenga, there has been a scholarship set up in his honor.

Please consider making a donation to the Captain Shawn G. Hogan Class of 2006 Memorial Scholarship using one of the following methods: Gift online by going to www.vmialumni.org/vmigive, or send a check to the VMI Foundation at P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450. Be sure to enclose a note indicating that your gift is in memory of Shawn and is designated to the Captain Shawn G. Hogan Class of 2006 Memorial Scholarship. Start a recurring credit card gift by contacting Pat Webb of the VMI Foundation at 1-800/4441839 or pwebb@vmiaa.org.

Moving on to lighter matters, some updates from our class are as follows. Mark Searles sent me a note stating the following: “I’ve had quite a few run-ins with the boys over the last weeks and months. First off, I’m writing you from my first day of deployment as an infantry company commander in AFG with 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. In most recent news, I attended Shawn Hogan’s memorial at Fort Campbell with Paul Welsh, Phil Hahn, Tommy Upton, James Wicker, Chris Chase, John Kennedy, Josh Taylor, Jordan Pagones, Ben Melton ’05 and Andrew Wal-

ton (apologies if I left anyone off, especially an F-Trooper, of this list). It was a great memorial and a great send-off for an amazing BR. Oct. 10-14 was an unofficial reunion in NYC with me, Jon Kelton, Paul Welsh, Mike Carney, John Anderson and Rob Lydon. We celebrated mine and Paul’s going away and John Anderson’s return home in true VMI fashion – so I don’t remember much of the weekend. I’ve bumped into a few classmates running around Fort Campbell over the last few months: Kirby Smith, Chris Chase, Dave Raser, who just moved to Fort Bragg, and Andrew Walton. I’m also in the same brigade as Jordan Pagones and Seth Enterline. As for Nashville: I bumped into Sam Wallace during Halloween weekend. He was some sort of deranged surgeon, and you can catch Josh ‘Scotch’ Taylor slinging drinks behind the bar at Crossroads off of Broadway.”

By the time you have read these class notes, Todd Wilson will have had another pro fight where he was the main event. Looking into my crystal ball, he will have won yet another fight, keeping him undefeated. He was also married to Brigit McEvilly on 13 Oct. 2012 in Warrenton, VA. The wedding party included three VMI BRs: Matt Oliver, Bobby McGraw and Grant Harris. Also in attendance were Graham Alley, Erik Uber, Colin Adams and Christian Hoff ’96.

Tony Cavalero will have appeared in an episode of the FOX show “Ben and Kate” this past fall, as well.

I attended the wedding of Dan and Nicole Wilmoth. It was a great wedding in Philly.

The VMI guys had a lot of fun, and all of our wives got angry at us, because we had “too much fun.”

BRs in attendance were Adam Rosenbaum, Tyler Monger, Marc Antonelli (who got through a few rounds of “American Idol”), Adam Glassick, Seth Enterline and Andrew Walton. Speaking of Walton, he wanted to let us all know that Taylor Swift has ignored his last few date requests in Nashville, but she will cave soon, and we will get a full report of the date when that occurs. Seth Enterline let me know that his kids, Parker and Ellie, seem to be getting bigger every day, and Jamie, his wife, is continuing to make sure that they are the smartest kids their age.

They have been in Clarksville, TN (Ft. Campbell), for almost a year and are really getting settled in pretty well. Seth is set to deploy sometime in the middle of November.

I also received an e-mail from Jonathan Everiss. He let me know that he just got to Afghanistan about a week ago (late Oct.) and is located on FOB Sharana in the Paktika Province. He is a civil affairs officer on a

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CLASS NOTES Provincial Reconstruction Team. They are advising the Afghans on rule of law issues.

Jonathan says that it is shaping up to be pretty interesting work. He has his VMI flag with him and we are looking forward to some pictures. He is looking forward to coming home soon to his wife in Virginia.

Chris Stolle let me know that he obtained a master’s degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas. He also has moved to Monterey, CA, going to Naval Post Graduate School with Nick O’Connor.

I also got an e-mail from Andrew Upshaw, and he is still in Seoul, Korea, serving as the aide-de-camp to the 8th Army Commander until sometime next spring / summer.

After that, he will be looking to command a military intelligence company in Korea or anywhere else. He ran into Chris Stone while he was in Raleigh on leave. Per Andrew, Chris is doing well after a tour in Afghanistan with the 82nd.

I would like to thank the class leadership for all of the communication over the month of October. Mike, Chris and Mark, much appreciated.

Thank you to all BRs who continue to send pictures and e-mails, texts, FB messages, etc.

RIP Capt. Shawn Hogan. The Institute and

the class of 2006 have lost a great man.

RAH VA MIL! (Editor’s Note: Shawn Hogan’s obituary will appear in the Taps section of the next Alumni Review, 2013-Issue 2.)

’07

Sally Bushore

Brother Rats, It was great to see everyone at the 5th Reunion this past October. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and that we will have an even better turnout at the next one. Unfortunately, many BRs were unable to attend, due to work obligations (military or otherwise), but they were ever-present in our thoughts.

Because everyone was able to catch up at the reunion, I didn’t anticipate many updates for this submission of notes, but I received some good stuff, nonetheless.

I received an update on Tyler Freeman from his wife, Meghan. She wrote that Tyler

Class of 2008: The VMI family at the Curle wedding were Sean Ruppert, Jake Vishneski, Ed Crews ’76, Keith Dickson ’76, Clyde Furr ’76, Megan Curle, Mack Curle ’76, Ben Curle, Keith O’Donnell ’11 and Billy Angle ’05.

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is currently a FAST platoon commander with the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment.

He is preparing for a deployment to the Far East with his platoon in December. Tyler and Meghan welcomed a son, Colt Jackson, to their family on 10 Aug. 2012. Their daughter, Remington Lee, is now 2 years old, and the family is living in Hampton, VA. Quincy Washa e-mailed to say that she is currently in her second year as the Marine officer instructor at the University of Minnesota NROTC unit.

Newly returned from Afghanistan, Bryan Stange assumed command of A Co. / 508th BSTB at the end of November. He is stationed at Ft. Bragg with the 4th BCT, 82nd Airborne. Bryan says that when he was stationed in Afghanistan, he worked with Thomas Stevenson ’06, Brandon Price and “the Hutch’s son.” According to Bryan, Brandon is in the G3, working on the TOC floor at RC South. He also writes that Dan Strasser is at Ft. Leonard Wood, and he just returned from a tour in Afghanistan, as well. He has a baby on the way due in December. Bryan has a daughter, Chloe, who will be turning 2 this fall.

Nate McCall had his wedding ceremony on 2 Sept. to Ms. Katherine Elizabeth Stanley.

In attendance were Jon Schmidt, who served as best man; Danny Plitnik, who conducted the ceremony; Quincy Washa; Kyle Francis ’06; and Justin Tammelin ’08. He is also in the process of adopting his new stepdaughter, Audrey, and is living in San Francisco, CA, where he is working in executive protection.

Congrats, Nate!

Karen Bill Thomas wrote with several updates. She informed me that Justin Trowbridge married Ms. Laura Crowe on 13 Oct. 2012 in La Jolla, CA. Neal Sutliff wed Ms. Julie Solar on 1 Sept. in Huntington, NY. Present at Neal’s wedding were fellow Keydets Matt Treadwell, Steve Prugh, Dave Riedel, Scott Pistochini, Wes and Karen (Bill) Thomas, Justin Trowbridge, Ray Mattia, Beau Mason ’00 and Andrew Czapliki ’08. Also tying the knot this year were Anthony Raffaele and Ms. Carmen Berges in Breckenridge, CO, on Aug. 18.

Trevor Mitchell, Dustin Dodge, Eri Kamura McMullen, Rob McMullen ’10, Karen Bill Thomas, Wesley Thomas and Austin Hunt ’10 were all present at Anthony’s wedding.

She was kind enough to send some pictures of the ceremonies.

Last but not least, Jen Farkas wrote to say that both she and Justin Blanks will be moving on from Minot, ND, this fall. They stood their last alert in October, and Jen is headed to Colorado, where she will be stationed at

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

The Class of 2007: Those who attended their 5th Reunion are listed in alphabetical order, as follows: Robert B. Allan, Corey R. Bafford, Vanessa M. Berrios, Karen A. Bill, Justin A. Blanks, Daniel T. Brock, Colin R. Burns, Salome E. Bushore, Christopher P. Chang-Lo, Joshua B.T. Copes, Maury A. Denton, Robert A. DiDomenico, Deuntay T. Diggs, Erik H. Dupilka, Byron E. Faidley, Jenifer M. Farkas, Nathan W. Fifer, Graham T. Forbes, Thomas R. Goehring, Casey P. Grey, Laura E. Hash, Wesley F. Haynes, Sean P. Hingley, Colby W. Hollingsworth, Michael W. Huggins Jr., Zachary K. Huson, Robert A. Jacaruso III, Brandon D. Kelly, Cory C. Knick, John M. Lento Jr., Michael D. Lloyd, Patrick T. Magno, Raymond D. Mattia, Patrick R. McGill, Eri McMullen, Kenneth K. McWilliams, Patrick E. Melshen, Richard P. Meredith Jr., David M. Metzler, Andrew B. Milford, Mark W. Miller, Charles C. Nweke, Liam T. O’Brien, Michael L. Peranski, Tabitha S. Pinter, Joshua T. Prible, Stephen C. Prugh, Samuel Nathan Rasnick II, Alexander J. Rawling, Daniel T. Rickmond, Tyler J. Russell, John B. Schluge, Gregory R. Schwartz, Salvatore Sferrazza Jr., Ryan C. Smith, Neal O. Sutliff, Wesley A. Thomas, Robert B.P. Thompson Jr., Andrew E. Timpner, Matthew E. Upchurch, Mira A.Y. Veis, Kevin F. Vic, Christopher L. Waddell, Maitlin D. Wade, Jamaal O. Walton, Abigail S. Ward, Quincy M. Washa, James M. Watson, Robert G. Weatherford, Brian J. Welch, Matthew A. Williams, Rhys D. Williams, Jacob F. Willis, Elise G. Woodworth and Ryan R. Young.

CLASS NOTES

5th Reunion — Oct. 5-6, 2012

Class of 2007

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CLASS NOTES

Class of 2007 Photos clockwise from top, left: - Anthony and Carmen Raffaele at their wedding on Aug. 18, 2012.

- Celebrating at the Raffaele wedding were, from left, Dustin Dodge with Eri Kamura and Rob McMullen ’10.

- Neal and Julie Sutliff’s wedding on Sept. 1, 2012.

- Wes Thomas, an unidentified guest, the Sutliffs, Scott Pistochini, Steve Prugh, Matt Treadwell, Karen Bill Thomas, Dave Riedel and Ray Mattia.

- Attending Justin and Laura Trowbridge’s wedding were, from left, Karen Bill Thomas, Wes Thomas, the Trowbridges, Travis Pantaleo, Greg Kosh and Scott Pistochini.

- Nate and Katherine McCall were wed in summer 2012.

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Brandon DeLong has returned to his base in Italy after a deployment to Afghanistan with the USAF. Brandon and wife Jessica will be in Italy for the next two years. While in Afghanistan, Brandon ran into Jonathon Tishman.

Ben Curle and wife Megan checked in from Philadelphia. Since we last spoke, Ben has moved from South Carolina to Virginia and now is settled in Pennsylvania. Ben and the former Ms. Megan Clark were married on April 21, 2012, in Greenville, SC. Quite a Robert Hill few alumni attended the wedding, including Sean Ruppert, Jake Vishneski, Ed Crews ’76, Keith Dickson ’76, Clyde Furr ’76, Mack Curle ’76, Keith O’Donnell ’11 and Billy Angle ’05. (See photo on page 136.) After the wedding, Megan and Ben Greetings, all! As I mentioned travelled to Sante Fe, NM, for a in my e-mail to the class in Octohoneymoon. Ben is now working ber, I am going to begin working for Pepsi Beverages Company on our class reunion, which will and is a transport manager for be next fall. If you have an interthe Philadelphia Metro Area and est in helping plan, please let me Wilmington, DE. Additionally, he know. I’ve heard from a few of was promoted to captain in the you already.

National Guard. Congrats to Ben Seth Berkowitz is engaged to and Megan!

Lauren Connor of Knoxville, TN. Ben also provided an update on They will be married on Oct. 5, a few other BRs. Sean Ruppert is 2013, at the King Family Vinestill working for Bank of America yards in Crozet, VA. Seth also in Charlotte, where he is a VP in shared that he was promoted to the Regulatory Compliance Departsales manager at Specialty Beverment. Nick Cutting is engaged to age, based out of Richmond, VA. Christina Parasole and is living in Seth’s parent company is the fifth Class of 2008: Brett Skoog holding Capri Stephanie Australia for his job. Jim Andrews largest beer wholesale company Skoog (born Aug. 26, 2012) while older brothers watch. is living in Florida and doing well.

Marcus Carlstrom checked in from East Lansing, MI, where he is serving as an officer selection officer with the USMC. He was promoted to captain on June 1, 2012. Marcus and the former Ms. Samantha Cornell were engaged on Oct. 23rd and are planning a wedding for next August/September.

Samantha and Marcus are expecting their first child in April 2013.

Congrats to the Carlstrom family.

Alexander Gray said hello from Fort Benning, GA. He had the pleasure of pinning Ying-chie Hseih, a captain in the Taiwanese Army, with his U.S. Army Ranger tab at his school graduation. Alex is currently attending the Captain’s Career Course at Fort Benning.

Jason Pettengill and his wife, Sarah, are doing well in Great Falls, MT. They have been at Malmstrom AFB for the Class of 2008: Garrett Evans ’11 and Jason Pettengill standing atop the Highwood past year and a-half. Jason is flying the Mountains in Montana.

UH-1N for the AFGSC doing nuclear Peterson AFB. Justin is headed back to sunny California and Vandenberg AFB. Jen also wanted to give props to Justin, as he finally finished rebuilding his house, which received substantial damage during the Minot floods of 2011. She said it took over a year to fix it all, but he persevered. Congrats for escaping North Dakota, guys!

Well, that’s all for now. Looking forward to hearing from everyone next time.

’08

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in the U.S. Seth plans on pursing his M.B.A. at UVa’s Darden School of Business. Congrats to Seth and Lauren!

Jonathan Schmidt and his wife, Emily, added a baby girl, Margaret Louise, on Sept.

11, 2012. Also, Jon is being promoted to captain in November and will be PCSing to Wright-Patterson AFB in March 2013. Congrats to the Schmidt family.

Brett Skoog and wife Andrea welcomed their third child, Capri Stephanie, to the family on Aug. 26, 2012. The Skoog family recently relocated from San Diego to Beaufort, SC. Brett is assigned to the VMFA 333 as an F-18D weapon system officer. Brett mentioned that Mike Golike ’07 is a pilot in the squadron, as well.

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CLASS NOTES security and search and rescue. The Pettengills plan on going on their long-awaited honeymoon via a cruise to the Caribbean.

Also stationed at Malmstrom AFB is Garrett Evans ’11. Garrett and Jason have been hunting and camping together.

Lauren and I travelled to Emmitsburg, MD, in September to watch VMI’s mens soccer team battle Mt. Saint Mary’s. Lauren went to high school with Kip Zechman ’13, captain of the team, and we had a nice showing from the VMI family. As I mentioned in my e-mail to most of you for this edition of the notes, our reunion planning will be underway shortly and will occur next fall during a home football weekend. Keep your eyes out for more information.

God Bless and Rah Virginia Mil!

’09

Ian Williams

the fall season. I’m sure I speak for the class when I say that if you are ever in need of any help, please reach out to your Brother Rats. It is moments like these when we need to pull together and help out in any way possible.

There was a small gathering of Brother Rats down in Hampton, VA, for Doug Trask’s wedding. Doug married Loisann Buchanan on the 16th of June. In attendance from the class of 2009 were Rammy Barbari, Reza Eftekhar, Gordon Holloway, Kip Joerdens, Jed Miller, Nick Cooper, Tom Duncan and Chris Brown. Doug’s brothers, Carl Trask ’99 and Scott Trask ’03, were also there with their families.

There was another Keydet wedding.

However, this one took place across the pond. Greg Lippiatt was married to Sophie Caldecott on the 20th of Oct. The wedding was held in Oxford at the Oratory of St Aloysius. I want to say congratulations to both the Trask and Lippiatt families. To the brides, Loisann and Sophie, welcome to the VMI family!

Back in the states, Tom and Kathleen Duncan are expecting their first son, scheduled to be born on Dec. 25th! This winter will be a busy time for the Duncans. Prior to their son’s birth, Tom will be traveling across the country attending various military trainings.

Then, in January, Tom will be deploying as a mortar platoon leader for his second tour.

That’s all for now. Stay safe.

Ian M. Williams

’10

Matthew Allen

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 2010 for this issue. Please see photo from the class on next page.

’11

Allen McCown

I want to start these notes off with congratulations to Matt Parmer. Matt was recently engaged to Courtney Morris, his longtime girlfriend. The two were engaged in Myrtle Brother Rats, Beach, SC. Matt surprised Courtney after I hope all went well during the holiday seaflying from Ft. Irwin, CA, and promptly son for everyone. I know many of our Brother proposed to her on the beach upon his arRats on the East Coast were affected in one rival. After the two were engaged, they had a way or another by Hurricane Sandy during family get-together at Courtney’s uncle’s restaurant. Mario and Antonia Giordani held their wedding reception on family land in Leesburg, VA, in October. Congratulations to you both, as well!

Congratulations are also in order for Savannah and Clarke Morgret, who are expecting a little girl in March! They are now living in Pensacola, FL. Chris and Christina Cashen are also expecting! Soon, we will have a quite a few babies around at class gatherings.

I kicked off the fall with Roy Hunter and Ethan Price at Ethan’s family farm. We shot skeet, and after a number of “best of five” with the clays, all that was determined was that I was not the best shot.

Ethan is doing well and is with VAMAC, currently in Winchester.

He also recently purchased some land and is hoping to build on it in a few years. Roy is living in Lynchburg and is counting the days until Class of 2009: Doug Trask was married to Loisann Buchanan on June 16, 2012, in duck season.

Hampton, Virginia. At the wedding were, from left, row 1; the bride, Loisann. Row 2: I had the good fortune to catch up Daniel Brewer, Reza Eftekhar, the groom and Ian Williams. Row 3: Nick Cooper, Rammy with Zach Kier, when he was on Barbari and Chris Brown. Row 4: Tom Duncan, Gordon Holloway, Kip Joerdens, Carl his cross-country trip from South Trask ’99 and Scott Trask ’03.

Carolina to VMI to see his brother,

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Ben Kier ’14. After stopping for dinner at my place, he made the drive to Ft. Carson, CO. He had recently finished Ranger school and just reported to his duty station out west.

Zach chronicled his trip, done in 500-mile legs, with photos of big stops along the way, including the St. Louis Arch and Pikes Peak. He is enjoying Colorado to its fullest, with hiking and seeing the scenery that is quite different than Fort Benning. He is also actively enjoying outfitting his bachelor pad.

Hopefully, some of us can make it out there to see Zach and enjoy the Rockies.

Trent Gordon and Jarrod Girod have both continued to scuba dive – Jarrod recently got his cave certification. At printing, Trent had completed a dive 1900 feet into a cave!

Congratulations to you both, and continue enjoying such an exhilarating sport.

Chris Moser recently made a trip from Korea to the U.S. to compete in the Army Best Medic competition. Chris and his partner placed 17th out of 32. I would like to note, the two also placed above an SF team.

Congratulations to Chris for completing such a grueling competition and being one of the Army’s best in the med services corps!

Ryan Byars sent me an e-mail and reported that he and Kurt Zimmerman are living the dream in Hawaii. Ryan is currently a PL in 522nd MP CO; Kurt is serving as the S2 with the 303rd EOD Battalion. Neither is set to

deploy soon. Enjoy the sun, guys!

Lizanne Carlos sent me an e-mail and let me know she is employed with SAIC in McLean, VA. Lizanne has stayed in contact with BRs in the area and has seen Burton Bacheller, Angela Redmond, Chiesopher Gyamfuaa and Ben Martin. She also added that if anyone is in the northern Virginia area to let her know!

I’ve been well. I made it to a few football games in Lexington and ran into some BRs. Rob Cole stopped by my tailgate; sadly, he was still wearing the uniform. Rob is set to finish in the spring. Hold on, Rob! Behind the stadium at the Keydet Club area, I ran into Chad Lawson, who is working for an electrical contractor in Richmond. As I was walking into the stands, I also ran into Tracy Hairston and Byron Allen. Tracy is working in Roanoke for Norfolk Southern, and Byron is currently working for the VMI Admissions Office. I also saw Erin Lime in the bookstore.

Erin is well; her husband is going to school in North Carolina after spending a number of years in the Army. Erin said she had seen Zach Pittard, and he is well.

Last week, I was making plans for the Citadel football game and I caught up with Tom Pace. Tom is doing well and recently completed the Tough Mudder. Tom Louderback has continued to race, as well. In the last month before printing, Tom ran in two

marathons, the Air Force Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. Tom recently served as the logistics manager for a race in Shepherdstown, WV, called the Freedoms Run. After his performance at the Freedoms Run, Tom was promoted to logistics manager for the JFK 50-miler ultramarathon, a race he has run a number of times and plans to do again this year. Tom will also serve as co-director for the Freedoms Run next year. Keep Running, Tom!

’12

Bruce Howard

BRs, Now that everyone is getting used to life outside of VMI, I urge you all not to forget about this place. We have had a good turnout at most of the football games this year, as well as several members of our class donating to the Keydet Club. It’s a great sight – that, even as recent graduates, our class continues to play a role in giving back to VMI. Not much has happened since the last edition. Andrew Deal keeps me updated on Keydet Club information as well as our class participation. Thanks for the help.

Robbie White has accepted a transfer offer to move from Richmond, VA, to Charlotte, NC. He is working with Timmons Group, a civil engineering firm, and I wish you the best of luck. Also, Robbie is engaged and plans to be married on June 22, 2013. Congratulations, Robbie!

I encourage all of you to send me information that you would like included in the next edition. If your VMI e-mail does not work, please contact the IT department so that you will not miss out on pertinent information regarding our class. Also, remember Class of 2010: Racheal Toman married Casey McElligott ’11 on Sept. 9, 2012, in Glen Allen, to update your informaVirginia. At the wedding were, from left, row 1, Bryan Mayberry ’11; Adam Woloshuk ’11; Casey tion on the VMI alumni McElligott, the groom; the bride, Rachael; Jessica Snead ’13; Sarah Hunziker ’13; and Kelly website (vmialumni.org).

Vickery. Row 2: Caleb Gibson ’11; John Digan ’11; David Perry ’11; Rob Allen; Ross Hussmann; Thanks again, and take Keslie Carrion ’13; Chris Martin; Jared Lawson; Catrina Helsel ’07; and Beatrice Charles. care.

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CLASS NOTES

MARRIAGES

BIRTHS FILIPIAK – A son, Nolan Boone, to Viranya and Barton P. Filipiak ’96 on Aug. 26, 2012.

SUMMERS – A daughter, Abigail Grace, to Betsy and Benjamin K. Summers ’97 on April 18, 2012.

CARTER – A son, Evan Winston, to Laura and Joseph W. Carter ’00 on Oct. 5, 2012.

SEGRETI – A daughter, Charlotte Anne, to Erin and Shawn T. Segreti ’00 on Oct. 7, 2012.

BRYAN – A daughter, Anna Marie, to Dana and Paul T. Bryan ’05 on Aug. 13, 2012.

SCHMIDT – A daughter, Margaret Louise, to Emily and Jonathan F. Schmidt ’08 on Sept. 11, 2012.

MARRIAGES DANO – Kelly Buckingham to Jonathan M. Dano ’96 on Sept. 2, 2012.

GRIFFITH – Alyssa Ammen to Benjamin F. Griffith ’01 on Aug. 25, 2012.

TURNER – Erin Walbright to Joshua P. Turner ’01 on Oct. 13, 2012.

KOSH – Victoria Clemmons to Gregory W. Kosh ’07 on Aug. 4, 2012.

CARLSTROM – Samantha Cornell to Marcus J. Carlstrom ’08 on Oct. 23, 2012.

CURLE – Megan Clark to Benjamin A. Curle ’08 on April 21, 2012.

GEDE – Michaela Vaporis to Nathan J. Gede ’08 on June 10, 2012.

TRASK – Loisann Buchanan to Douglas C. Trask ’09 on June 16, 2012.

TOMAN – Racheal E. Toman ’10 to Casey T. McElligott ’11 on Sept.

9, 2012.

DEGREES Nathan J. Gede ’08 Law University of Baltimore Law School Baltimore, MD June 2012

J.D.

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 staff if any errors are noted.

William E. Cantrell ’26 Richard D. Schmitz ’31 Ernest C. Johnson ’29 Thomas M. Zeledon ’30 Howard J. Bell ’33 William R. Landrum ’34 James Heine ’34 E. Lane Whitley ’34 Emmett J. Heerdt ’34 Richard H. McCormick ’34 James E. Kirk ’36 Edwin T. Arnold ’35 James C. Sherman ’35 142

Oct. 17, 1905 Feb. 24, 1908 May 19, 1908 Dec. 21, 1908 Nov. 25, 1910 Dec. 3, 1910 Mar. 18, 1911 April 1, 1911 Feb. 27, 1912 Dec. 4, 1912 Oct. 25, 1913 Feb. 7, 1914 March 31, 1914

Gardner F. Goodwyn ’36 Randolph Tucker Jr. ’37 John A. Gialanella ’36 John H. Divine III ’36 Harry F. Byrd Jr. ’35 Joseph H. Keller ’36 W. Barton Baldwin ’37 J. Frank Forsyth III ’37 Hansford McLeod ’37 J. Terry Taylor ’37 Robert N. Mathews ’38 Henry B. Johnson

April 27, 1914 June 29, 1914 Aug. 28, 1914 Nov. 13, 1914 Dec. 20, 1914 Feb. 5, 1915 July 26, 1915 Nov. 7, 1915 Dec. 19, 1915 Jan. 23, 1916 Feb. 26, 1916 Aug. 9, 1916

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

James S. Utterback ’85

Father

Thomas Tolbert ’66

Grandfather

2018 James Patrick Allen

2020 Emma Lauren Washenko

2022 Campbell Noel Hamilton

Jon A. Roach ’56 Jon A. Roach Jr. ’82 Jeffrey L. Roach ’84 Daniel A. Roach ’97 Leo A. Roach Jr. ’64

Grandfather Uncle Uncle Cousin Great-uncle

Clifford C. Hamilton II ’77

Father

2023 Febian Maurice Crosby

C.M. Moyer Jr. ’43

Great-grandfather

2025 J. Patrick Creech

T. Matthew Creech ’96

Mark L. Baltz ’97

Father

2027 K. Grayson Creech Carter Wilson Hammond Lucas J. Piazza

T. Matthew Creech ’96 Carl B. Hammond Jr. ’00 Timothy V. Johnson ’12

Father

Matthew Thomas Fuller

Andrew D. Fuller ’99

Father

Colton Ray Rondeau

Anthony E. Rondeau ’01

Father

Christopher Paul Fidelibus II

Sean P. Wilson ’93

Grandfather

Sean Alexander Lewis

Cyrus A. Dolph IV ’70

Grandfather

Jacob W. Tong

William Tong ’97

Father

Floyd Xavier Barnes

James R. Spacek ’70

Grandfather

Evelyn Joy Bowers

Terry L. Bowers ’68

Grandfather

Matthew T. Bowers ’93

Uncle

Brooklyn Marie Bushore

Salome (Coffman) Bushore ’07

Mother

Elijah Henry Carter

James B. Bartley ’72

Grandfather

Phillip R. Anderson ’70

Great-uncle

John W. Pinner III ’73

Great-uncle

James A. Derrick

James D. Boggs ’69

Grandfather

Jacob Turner Gruse

Jason Gruse ’97

Father

Landon Christian Keech

William H. Keech ’61

Grandfather

Liam Nathaniel Martin

Timothy A.J. McGreer ’78

Grandfather

Edgar J.T. Perrow III

Edgar J.T. Perrow Jr. ’96

Father

John B. Adams ’36

Great-grandfather

John B. Adams Jr. ’66

Great-uncle

George M. Brooke Jr. ’36

Great-great-uncle

George M. Brooke III ’67

Cousin

George M. Brooke IV ’94

Cousin

Edgar J.T. Perrow ’70

Grandfather

Vincent C. Adamson III ’96

Cousin/Godfather

Sean S. Small ’94

Father

Stephen J. Beeken ’56

Cousin

Charles Deyerle ’842

Great-great-

Sean S. Small ’94

Father

Stephen J. Beeken ’56

Cousin

Charles Deyerle ’842

Great-great-

Declan Jones Szvetitz

Patrick J. Szvetitz ’03

Father

Tucker Holden Thompson

John Marshall ’77

Grandfather

Harry G. Lee ’47

Great-grandfather

Harry G. Lee Jr. ’81

Uncle

Terry L. Bowers ’68

Uncle

Matthew T. Bowers ’93

Cousin

2032

2033

2034

Father Father Cousin

2028 Christian Gunner Carlsen Ashlyn Marie Price

Thomas A. Carlsen ’93 Edward Carlsen ’62 Terry L. Bowers ’68 Matthew T. Bowers ’93

Father Grandfather Grandfather Uncle

Zander Weil Small

2029 Grant Michael Andriliunas

Riley Caroline Baltz Isabella Donna Ruohomaki Paige A. Tong

Michael J. Andriliunas ’02 Carter N. Catlett ’42 Charles T. Catlett ’69 Charles T. Catlett Jr. ’07 Mark L. Baltz ’97 Davin D. Ruohomaki ’89 William Tong ’97

Father Great-grandfather Grandfather Uncle Father Father Father

2030 Henry Dodson Poe Hannah Jane Price Anthony Bryce Rondeau

2013-Issue 1

RELATIONSHIP

T. Matthew Creech ’96

M. Brady Creech

Father

2026 Regan Elisabeth Baltz

ALUMNUS-CLASS

2031

2017 Scott Dillon Utterback

APPOINTEE’S NAME

Elias D. Poe III ’67 Thomas H. Tardy ’14 Terry L. Bowers ’68 Matthew T. Bowers ’93 Anthony E. Rondeau ’01

Grandfather Great-great-uncle Grandfather Uncle Father

great-uncle Zern Deyerle Small

great-uncle

Garrett James Waddell

Jackson Alexander Whitmore Paul H. Whitmore ’94

Father

143

TAPS TAPS Donald L. Holt IV ’932 Donald Leroy Holt IV ’932 of Austin, Texas, died on June 8, 2012. He was 102.

Holt matriculated from Beaver, Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for one year.

He is survived by his daughters, Peggy Holt Burch and Mimi Holt Buzbee (Bob); grandchildren, Scottie B. Humphrey (Randy), Jeb Burch (Laura Jack) and Lindsay B. Thompson (Rob); and great-grandchildren, Brayden H. Humphrey, Grantham S. Humphrey, Corey B. Humphrey and Charles P. Hall.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Kerr Burns Holt.

Joseph R. Ross ’39 Joseph Rosario Ross ’39 of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, died on Sept. 28, 2012.

He was 97.

Ross matriculated from New Kensington and attended VMI for one year and five months.

He is survived by his daughters, Cynthia Koch (Robert) and Cathy Jo McGrath (Dennis); son, Charles Ross (Sharren); sister, Annetta Magliocco; grandchildren, David and Kevin Koch, Kristen K. Patel, Jennifer K. Slade, Brian Ross, Rochelle R. Bires and Kelly McGrath; and great-grandchildren: Kathryn and Kristina Koch; Grayson and Addison Koch; Mia, Alexa and Luke Patel; Christian, Bennett and Avery Slade; Tyler and Emily Ross; and Brooke, Brynn and Bria Bires.

He was predeceased by his wife, Elda Mona Quadraccia.

John W. Ayler III ’41 John “Jack” William Ayler III ’41 of North, Virginia, died on Sept. 2, 2012. He was 92.

He matriculated from Hilton Village, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his daughters, Jane Bottorff (Cliff), Peggy Mueller (Gary), Nancy Ayler and Ann Cary Shortridge (Tom) and six grandchildren, Sara, Brian, Harrison, Rachel, Hayley and Christopher.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Hathaway Callis Ayler; son, John William Ayler IV; and sister, Mary Wat Holt Robinson.

J. Edwin Hensley ’41 James Edwin Hensley ’41 of Richmond,

144

Virginia, died on Sept. 13, 2012. He was 92.

Hensley matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He is survived by his son, James Edward Hensley (Lynne), and two grandsons, Jason Campbell Hensley and James Andrew Hensley (Kristen).

He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Catherine “Katie” Hensley.

Robert B. Ragland ’41 Robert Barclay Ragland ’41, M.D., of Jacksonville, Florida, died on Sept. 27, 2012. He was 92.

Ragland matriculated from Jacksonville, Florida, and attended VMI for two years. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Florida and his doctor of medicine from Duke University.

He was preceded in death by his father, Reuben Ragland Sr. ’904, who died on Aug. 5, 1954, and brother, Reuben Ragland Jr. ’39, who died on Aug. 5, 2002.

J. David Beam Jr. ’44 Joseph David Beam Jr. ’44 of Wilmington, North Carolina, died on Aug. 9, 2012. He was 90.

Beam matriculated from Hamlet, North Carolina, and attended VMI for three years.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Ann; sons, J. David Beam, George B. Beam, Charles S. Beam and their wives and children; and sister, Martha Beam deVos.

Donald D. Davis Jr. ’44 Donald Derby Davis Jr. ’44 of Minnetonka, Minnesota, died on Aug. 2, 2012. He was 90.

He matriculated from Wayzata, Minnesota, and attended VMI for one year.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet; sons, Donald Scott (Susie), Arthur and Jeffery (Mary); grandchildren, Ryan, Katie and Paul; and great-grandson, Lucca.

Thomas B. Gentry ’44, Ph.D. Former Professor of English at VMI Thomas Blythe Gentry ’44, Ph.D., of Lexington, Virginia, died on Oct. 5, 2012.

He was 89.

Gentry matriculated from Danville,

Kentucky, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from VMI. He later earned both his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Kentucky.

He is survived by his daughters, Louise Brennan and Margaret Clegg, and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gentry ’44 Mary Erskine Gentry, and cousin, Peter G. Caldwell ’901, who died on March 1, 1931.

Andrew W. Hargroves Jr. ’44 Andrew Wentworth Hargroves Jr. ’44, M.D., of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died on Sept. 20, 2012. He was 89.

Hargroves matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He attained his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Harrison Hargroves; son, William S. Hargroves; and daughter, Elizabeth H. Munford, husband John and their children, Sarah P. Munford, William D. Munford and John B. Munford; stepdaughter, Beverly B. Coleman, husband Robert and their children, Alexander W. Coleman, S. Taber Coleman, W. Teague Coleman and C. Cutler Coleman.

John E. Poindexter ’44 John Eldridge Poindexter ’44 of Newport News, Virginia, died on Aug. 30, 2012.

He was 89.

Poindexter matriculated from Newport News. He earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI and a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia “Gina” Shackelford Poindexter; son, John E. Poindexter Jr.; and daughters, Abby P. Bing (John) Poindexter ’44

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS and Amanda P. Wood (John); six grandchildren, Alexandra Joy Poindexter, Leanna Ruth Poindexter, Kelsey Elizabeth Bing, Allison Amanda Bing, Madeline Virginia Wood and Parker William Wood; and cousins, Edmund R. Strickler ’62 of Livingston, Texas; and Michael M. Strickler ’71 of Lexington, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his brother, William Poindexter.

William J. Smith ’44 The Reverend William Joseph Smith ’44 of Columbus, Georgia, died on Dec. 23, 2010. He was 88.

Smith matriculated from Ashland, Kentucky, and attended VMI for one year.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Marshall University and held a master of divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Furgeson Smith; two children, Sharon Johnson (Steve) and Steven D. Smith (Amelia); 10 grandchildren, Jacobs Breedlove, Reid Johnson, Paul Johnson, Allison Laws (Kyle), Joseph Smith, Samuel Smith, Luke Smith, Austin Childs (Brittany), Ashley Childs and Andrew Childs; and great-grandchildren, Story Childs and Madison Laws.

Smith was preceded in death by a grandson, Travis L. Smith.

Robert M. Osborn ’45 Robert Marion Osborn ’45 of Smithfield, Virginia, died on Aug. 13, 2012. He was 90.

Osborn matriculated from Suffolk, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years and four months. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Penn State University.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Osborn; son, Christopher Osborn; daughters, Sallie Justice and Trina Miller; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two stepdaughters, Debra Coster and Marianne Hawthorne.

He was predeceased by his son, Robert.

Lawrence N. Mauck Jr. ’46 Lawrence Newbill Mauck Jr. ’46 of New Kent, Virginia, died on Sept. 14, 2012.

He was 88.

Mauck matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

2013-Issue 1

He is survived by his wife, Neville Gibson Mauck; children, Caroline Grumbine (Francis), Lawrence N. Mauck III (Rebecca) and Douglas A. Mauck; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

William F. Watkins Jr. ’47 William Forbes Watkins Jr. ’47 of Farmville, Virginia, died on Aug. 15, 2012. He was 86.

Watkins matriculated from Farmville and attended VMI for one year and four months.

He is survived by his daughter, Sally Anne Watkins Bobbitt (Thomas); son, William N. Watkins (Jean); daughter-in-law, Donna V. Watkins; and grandchildren, Eddie Watkins, Henry Watkins, Andrew Watkins, Lucas Watkins and Kate Watkins; brother-in-law, Carl Soyars; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Soyars Watkins, and son, Richard Forbes Watkins.

Duncan J. Sinclair Jr. ’48B Duncan James Sinclair Jr. ’48B of Laurinburg, North Carolina, died on April 25, 2012. He was 85.

Sinclair matriculated from Laurinburg and attended VMI for two years. He held a bachelor of science degree from Wake Forest University.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Blake Sinclair; sons, Jim, Bill, David and John; sister, Emma Ingram; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

F. Vaughn Tweedy ’50B Franklin Vaughn Tweedy ’50B, M.D., of Sun City, Arizona, died on Aug. 19, 2012.

He was 85.

Tweedy matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in pre-med from VMI. He held a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; her sister, Darlene Fontaine, husband Richard and daughters Robin Dodds and Susan Fontaine and their husbands; nieces Bonnie Fuller and Rena Chauffe and their children; and sisters-in-law Gerry Thompson and Bertha Thompson. He is also survived by the sisters and brother of his first wife, Gladys and Eugene Johnson and Sue Packer.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Gray Johnson Tweedy.

Medford P. Canby Jr. ’51 Medford Parr Canby Jr. ’51 of Washington, D.C., died on Feb. 2, 2012. He was 85.

Canby matriculated from Washington, D.C., and attended VMI for one year. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Maritime Marine Academy.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Ann Canby; daughters, Susan Lee Canby, Annette C. Bresnan (Peter); son, Medford P. Canby III (Beth); and grandchildren, Alex J. Canby, Emma Louise and Claire Elizabeth Bresnan.

Robert C. Tripp ’52 Robert Campbell Tripp ’52, D.D.S., of Savannah, Georgia, died on July 7, 2012.

He was 83.

Tripp matriculated from Detroit, Michigan, earning a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI. He held a doctor of dentistry degree from the University of Detroit.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Huber Tripp.

Charles F. Dininger Jr. ’53 Charles “Chuck” Francis Dininger Jr. ’53 of Grove City, Pennsylvania, died on Aug. 13, 2012. He was 81.

Dininger matriculated from Freeport, Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Allely Dininger; daughter, Joni Carpinelli; son, Charles F. Dininger III; and four grandchildren.

Jules M. Seletz ’53 Retired Col. Jules Mortimore “Bromo” Seletz ’53, M.D., USAR, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, died on Sept. 27, 2012.

He was 81.

Seletz matriculated from Charleston, West Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI. He held a doctor Seletz ’53 of medicine degree

145

TAPS from Chicago Medical School.

In addition to his wife, Rilda, he is survived by his former wife, Sukky Seletz; three sons, Carl (Susan), Jay (Gayle) and Andrew (Kari); daughters, Sippy Olarsch, Patricia Parker and Susan Parker; and 12 grandchildren: Matthew and Max Olarsch; Nikki, Chloe, Issac, Jacob, Ari and Asher Seletz; Jason, Bradley and Alyssa Isaacson; and Dakota Smith.

Lawrence O. McGovern ’54 Lawrence Owen McGovern ’54, M.D., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died on Dec. 10, 2011. He was 79.

McGovern matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years. He earned a bachelor of science degree from MIT and his doctor of medicine degree from Jefferson University.

He is survived by his daughters, Anna Ashcroft and Molly McGovern.

Hugh V. White Jr. ’54 Hugh Vernon White Jr. ’54 of Richmond, Virginia, died on Aug. 6, 2012.

He was 79.

His obituary appears in the front section of this issue.

William W. Whitehurst ’54 Retired Capt. William Westwood Whitehurst ’54, M.D., USA, of Richmond, Virginia, died on Aug. 7, 2012. He was 80.

Whitehurst matriculated from Winter Garden, Florida, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI. He held a doctor of medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

He is survived by his sons, James, Bo (Mauri) and William (Florence); grandsons, Matthew, Samuel and Charles Whitehurst; brother, Clinton Whitehurst ’48B (Marion); and sisters, Ann Crawford (Roger) and Elizabeth Hare (Wilbur).

J. Marvin Lekstrum ’55 John Marvin Lekstrum ’55 of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died on June 10, 2012.

He was 79.

Lekstrum matriculated from Twentynine Palms, California, and earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from VMI. He is survived by his daughters, Valerie Hoover (David) and Tamara Lekstrum 146

(Josh Korman), and grandchildren, Jeremy, Anna and Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Peggy, and his second wife, Shirley.

Hale H. Byrd ’56 Hale Houston Byrd ’56 of Ford City, Pennsylvania, died on Sept. 29, 2012.

He was 78.

Byrd matriculated from Warm Springs, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Valasek Byrd; sons, James D. Byrd (Chris) and Daniel W. Byrd; daughter, Debora Krochta; grandchildren, Richelle and Greg Horn, Adam, Michael, Andrea and Patrick; sisters, Dolly Jackson (Charles), Nancy Hiner (Wayne) and Diana Brinkley (Jerry); and nephew, T. Scott Jackson ’87.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Duncan M. Byrd Jr. ’65, who died on July 17, 2003, and son-in-law, Steve Krochta.

Joseph A. Marangi ’56 Joseph Anthony Marangi ’56 of Glen Rock, New Jersey, died on Aug. 16, 2012.

He was 78.

Marangi matriculated from West Englewood, New Jersey, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Scheffler Marangi; daughters, Lisa Marie Marangi and Michele M. Ring (David); grandchildren, Collin, Danielle, David, Savannah, Elizabeth and Olivia; sister, Marie Raso; two nieces; and a nephew.

Clyde M. Bryant Jr. ’62 Clyde Matthew Bryant Jr. ’62 of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, died on Aug. 10, 2012. He was 71.

Bryant matriculated from Newport News, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Faye Hitchens Bryant; daughters, Gale Stanford (Edward), Barbara Seward (Richard) and Stacey Praschunus (Robert); son, Clyde “Chip” Matthew Bryant III (Tracy); seven grandchildren, Eric and Valerie Stanford, Joshua and Katelin Seward, Bryant Romerstein, and Cassidy and Skyler Bryant; great-granddaughter, Trinity Seward; and sister, Dru Davis (Richard).

William C. Hope III ’62 William Cameron Hope III ’62 of Irvington, Virginia, died on Aug. 10, 2012.

He was 73.

Hope matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Pattie Lacey Hope; daughter, Kimberly Ann Hope; son, Dr. William C. Hope IV (Virginia); and granddaughters, Lacey Adair Hope, Mary Virginia Pegram Hope, Frances Monroe Hope and Cameron Campbell Hope.

Eugene K. Wilson III ’62

Edwin P. Whitfield Jr. ’57

Eugene Kelsey Wilson III ’62 of Jonesboro, Georgia, died on Sept. 12, 2012.

He was 72.

Wilson matriculated from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Martha.

Retired Lt. Col. Edwin Pomeroy Whitfield Jr. ’57, USAF, of Eagle, Idaho, died on Oct. 1, 2012. He was 78.

Whitfield matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his daughters, Beth Whitfield Masters (John), Paige Whitfield Lee (Dwaine) and Kelley Whitfield Southworth (Tim); sons, Ed Whitfield III (Traci) and Clay Whitfield; six grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Mae Kelley Whitfield, and a grandson, Bryan Richard Frost.

Phillip Barbour Marley ’63 of Sarasota, Florida, died on Sept. 4, 2012. He was 72.

Marley matriculated from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Susan Burke Marley; daughter, Tina Palmerton (Doug); son, Mark Sausser; grandchildren, Taylor and Samson Sausser and Max and Jacob Palmerton; brothers, William Marley (Juanita), Ronald Marley ’59 (Mary Alice) and David Marley.

Phillip B. Marley ’63

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS Donald F. Prystaloski ’63 Donald Francis Prystaloski ’63 of Beavercreek, Ohio, died on July 31, 2012.

He was 71.

Prystaloski matriculated from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Candy Tononi Prystaloski; daughters, Diane, Donna Dempsey (Tim) and Debra; granddaughters, Krystal Prystaloski and Tiffany Jordan; sister, Louise Prystaloski; and sisterin-law, Toni Bebe Chambers (Robert).

George C. Freeman II ’65 George Clifford Freeman II ’65 of Portsmouth, Virginia, died on Sept. 25, 2012.

He was 68.

Freeman matriculated from Bayside, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years, as well as Old Dominion University and the College of William and Mary.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah Smith Freeman; daughters, Amelia Freeman Rohrer (David), Sarah Elizabeth Freeman, Catherine Clelia Freeman, Mary Margaret Gillon Freeman; sons, George C. Freeman III and Hunter P. Freeman; two grandchildren; mother, Clelia Thompson Freeman; and brother, Richard R. Freeman.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Col. George C. Freeman ’35, USA, who died on Jan. 11, 2012, and a grandchild.

and Neil Hayes; grandchildren, Presley, Nate and Ava; and former wife, Dianne.

Tucker C. Watkins ’68 Tucker Carrington Watkins IV ’68 of Randolph, Virginia, died on Oct. 6, 2012.

He was 66.

Watkins matriculated from South Boston, Virginia, and attended VMI for three years.

He is survived by his sister, Ruth Porter Watkins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, William R. Watkins Jr.; sister, Louise Watkins Moore; and nephew, Lt. Col. William R. Watkins III, USAF.

Walter M. Ivkovich Jr. ’70 Walter Michael Ivkovich Jr. ’70 of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, died on Aug. 27, 2012. He was 64.

Ivkovich matriculated from Aliquippa and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his son, Michael Ivkovich; daughter, Amy Caspersen; three grandchildren; and brother, Michael Ivkovich.

Ross V. Jernigan ’71

James E. Hayes Jr. ’67

Ross Vincent Jernigan ’71 of Big Canoe, Georgia, died on July 11, 2012. He was 62.

Jernigan matriculated from Newport News, Virginia, and attended VMI for three years.

The Reverend James Ernest Hayes Jr. ’67 of Midlothian, Virginia, died on March 29, 2012. He was 65.

Hayes matriculated from Memphis, Tennessee, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI. He held a master of divinity degree from the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.

He is survived by his daughter, Lee Lindsey (Jason); sons, Mark Hayes (Holly)

Timothy Joseph Patrick DeSalvo ’78 of Norfolk, Virginia, died on Aug. 8, 2012.

He was 57.

DeSalvo matriculated from Norfolk and earned a bachelor of arts degree in modern languages from VMI and an associate degree in applied science from Tidewater Community College.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie Lu-

2013-Issue 1

Timothy J. DeSalvo ’78

bernacki DeSalvo; brothers, Thomas J. DeSalvo ’77 (Candy) and Mike DeSalvo; sister, Bobbie Burbic (Ben); and their extended families.

Christopher A. Tognoli Sr.’89 Christopher Arthur Tognoli Sr. ’89 of Allentown, Pennsylvania, died on Oct. 1, 2012. He was 45.

Tognoli matriculated from Allentown and attended VMI for two years.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Demidont Tognoli; daughter, Amelia Rose Tognoli; son, Christopher A. Tognoli Jr.; parents, Carolyn and Yaroslav Tognoli; grandmother, Ann Rishko; sisters, Nichole Yeager and Natalie Tognoli; and niece, Annalise Marie.

Richard T. Hauben ’95 Lt. Col. Richard Tran Hauben ’95, USAF, of Henderson, Nevada, died on Sept. 15, 2012. He was 39.

Hauben matriculated from Islamabad, Pakistan, and graduated With Distinction from VMI, earning a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering.

Hauben is survived by his wife, Joy Hauben; sons, Eugene and Bruce; daughter, Vivienne; parents, Michael and Thu-Mai Hauben; and brother, Frank Hauben.

Kevin D. Price ’95 Kevin David Price ’95 of Richmond, Virginia, formerly of Manakin Sabot, Virginia, died on Sept. 1, 2012. He was 41.

Price matriculated from Oxford, Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his father, E. Dean Price; brother, James D. Price (Janice); and nieces, Ashley and Sarah Price.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lee Ann Brooks Price; sister, Lori Price; and brother, Scott Price.

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

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

First Vice President

Edgar J.T. Perrow Jr. ’96 PO Box 3133 Lynchburg, VA 24503-0133 tperrow@wwassociates.net

Second Vice President Robert P. Louthan ’82 809 Lindsay Ct. Richmond, VA 23229-6823 rlouthan1@gmail.com

The VMI Foundation, Inc.

Executive Vice President

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

Immediate Past President

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

Brian S. Crockett

The VMI President

William A. Paulette ’69

Historian

Thomas W. Davis ’64 davistw@vmi.edu

Chief Executive Officer

President

Walton M. Jeffress Jr. ’68

Keydet Club, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Gregory M. Cavallaro ’84

Terms Expire June 30, 2013 Terms Expire June 30, 2014 Jamel Lynch Jr. ’94 region2aetchair2003@yahoo.com Kenneth Herbert ‘81 kherbert81@cox.net Michael Soares ’75 mLodington@gmail.com Dallas Clark ‘99 clarkdb@vmi.edu

Directors at Large

Terms Expire June 30, 2015 Jessica J. Schmaus ‘04 jessica.schmaus@gmail.com Matthew Hemenez‘90 mhemenez@surefire.com

Region/ Director

Chapter Name

Chapter President

President’s E-mail

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

Russell Shun Takata ’74 John D. Bolt ’99 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 Thomas R. Clark III ’73 Micah T. Wei ’99 Andre J. Gibson ’78 Trent L. Boggs ’83 Matthew L. Wilson ’89 Kenneth S. Krynski ’89

russell.takata@yahoo.com jdbolt@hotmail.com tearris@gmail.com seattlefarmer@comcast.net vmiman@comcast.net mwei100@yahoo.com andrejg@aol.com tboggs@gci.com mwilson@goldfc.com krynskiks@pendleton.usmc.mil

Russell Shun Takata ’74 Matthew R. Hemenez ’90 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 William V. Trumpore ’89 Nathaniel P. Ward IV ’65 Peter H. Lyons ’54 Trent L. Boggs ’83 Joseph S. Howard III ’97 John D. Christie ’59

Region II Midwest

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 Christopher L. Haney ’00 Jeffrey D. Vordermark ’79 Robert L. Manteuffel ’77 Alexander E. Woelper ’80 Joseph J. Leonard Jr. ’83 J. Micah North ’00 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 haneycl@yahoo.com vordermark@juno.com rlmanteuffel@sbcglobal.com alexw@enconinternational.com Joseph.J.Leonard@uscg.mil j.micah.north@gmail.com 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 Patrick J. Griffin ’80 George T. Mosby ’97 Richard C. Wolffe Jr. ’78

magsvmi@email.com anchors80@comcast.net gmosby@liquidnet.com RWolffe@tspcapitalmgt.com

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

Thomas M. Wirth ’98 Duane E. Williams ’66 Frederick J. Killmeyer IV ’95 Allan R. Berenbrok ’80

twirth@mragta.com dwilliams@pa.net rkillmeyer@mcintyre-group.com allan.berenbrok@tetratech.com

Thomas J. Hickey Jr. ’68 Lester C. Martin ’68 John T. Pace IV ’77 Robert A. Lane ’75

Terence L. Bowers ’68 Thomas N. Daniel Jr. ’60 Charles C. Schoen IV ’86 John R. Savage ’74 Robert P. Quarles III ’80 William E. Kirby III ’96 Christopher R. Jones ’96

terrybowers@vmialumni.org tomdaniel60@charter.net cschoen@ironwoodins.com

Raymond R. Lawson ’81 Campbell C. Hyatt III ’65 Charles C. Schoen IV ’86 Steve E. Hively ’72 Philip J. Altizer Jr. ’80 Charles S. Sanger ’82 Kevin L. Snell ’82

Region I Far West

Jim Dittrich ’76

jim.dittrich @leisurearts.com

Region III Northeast

Felix Wolkowitz ’75 fwolkowitz@ wolkowbraker.com

Region IV Mid Atlantic

Baltimore Central Keystone Peter Charrington ’66 Delaware Valley pcharrin@ Western PA - Pittsburgh comcast.net

Region V Southeast

C. Pat Haddock ’00 vmitranspo@ hotmail.com

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

rpquarles@buckman.com ktkirby@comcast.net crj2112@gmail.com

Chapter Representative

Walter E. Woelper Sr. ’42 Steven P. Weiss ’86 J. Micah North ’00 Robert C. Polk ’61 Mark A. Benvenuto ’83 Hugh R. Hill ’85 M. Douglass Payne ’73 David R. Yockel Jr. ’90

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 Camp Lejeune/Crystal Coast

Jeffrey B. Morrison ’99 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 Michael S. Anderson ’88 Stephen L. Skakandy ’01 (C) John Moder ’98 (AD)

roo1999@gmail.com toomeyl@pinehurst.net jda@restorationexpertsofnc.com mike.anderson@allentate.com Stephen@SkakandyGroup.com

Charles H. Alligood ’61 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 James A. Sharp ’93

Brendan A. Kearney ’03

bakearney@hotmail.com

Birmingham Central Florida Mobile NE Florida - Jacksonville Southern Florida Tennessee Valley West Coast FL - Tampa Southwest Florida-Fort Meyer Greater New Orleans Mississippi The Villages - Florida

William H. Cather Jr. ’65 J.C. Nagle IV ’87 Charles M. Rogers IV ’83 Jason M. Goldstein ’02 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 Walter L. Chalkley ’72

billcather@bellsouth.net jay.nagle@parsons.com max.rogers@mobileinfirmary.org jmgoldstein@mactec.com jweekeslaw@gmail.com huf2000@aol.com lfluty@tbegroup.com vmigrad1@hotmail.com rhys.david.williams@gmail.com wellsgriffith@gmail.com waltchalkley@aol.com

New River Valley Lynchburg Roanoke

bmadison@themadisonfamily.net William A. Madison ’90 Christopher M. Boswell ’00 chrisboswellvmi@gmail.com Christopher D. Copenhaver ’99 chrisc@protossecurity.com

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 T. Keith Jarvis ’82 T. Troy Barbour ’89 Jason K. Gruse ’97

wdtllt@comcast.net jim@realcentralva.com weastham@carrhyde.com jarvistk@vmi.edu troy.barbour@hcahealthcare.com jasongruse@hotmail.com

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

Eastern Shore

vmi79classagent@aol.com dtyler4@cox.net joshua.p.priest@navy.mil ed.plucinski@hanson.com ghaste@associatedcontracting.com jrowe66@cox.net

Thomas F. Wilson ’80

Norfolk Peninsula Virginia Beach Western Tidewater

Michael S. Ogden ’79 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 Christopher J. Whittaker’90

douglas.warner1@gmail.com cwhittvmi@gmail.com

G. Anthony Esteve ’00

Richmond Tri Cities

Maury A. Denton ’07 William H. Talley IV ’77

maurydenton@gmail.com wht4@whts.com

Samuel N. Stocks ’90 Augustus Robbins III ’47

Rappahannock Richard Duke ’90

Fredericksburg - Quantico Rappahannock Williamsburg Southside

Carl J. DeBernard Jr. ’94 Stephen E. Wilson ’68 Peter J. Kokolis ’96 George D. Dyer ’66

carl.debernard@dhs.gov sewilson68@verizon.net pkokolis@cox.net spookfive@aol.com

R. C. Thompson III ’74 Robert B. Powell ’63 Jim E. Henry ’68

Region XIV Pacific Rim

Thailand Taiwan

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

chingpu@saturn.yzu.edu.tw

Region VI Carolinas

Charles Ramsburg ’66

clramsburg@gmail.com

Palmetto, South Carolina Coastal Carolina, SC

Region VII Deep South

Walter Chalkley ’72

waltchalkley@aol.com

Region VIII Southwest VA Bland Massie ’77

super77@vmialumni.org

Region IX Shenandoah Valley

Thomas K. Jarvis ’82 jarvistk@vmi.edu

Region X Hampton Roads Asa Page III ’79 vmi79@verizon.net Douglas Burdett ’82 douglas@ artillerymarketing.com

Karl L. Klinar ’54 Steve E. Hively ’72 William H. Cather Jr. ’65 John Nagle ’87 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

William A. Madison ’90 John T. McCarthy ’87 J. Patrick Henderson ’99

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

Region XI Metro D.C.

Sean Boyle ’91

boyle100@comcast.net

Steve Nakazawa ’03

steve.nakazawa@gmail.com

Region XII Central VA

Hilbert Wilkinson III ’94 vmirichmondnetwork @gmail.com

Samuel Stocks ’90

sstocks@kbsgc.com

Region XIII rduke@ mcguirewoods.com

2013-Issue 1

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

149

ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS G. Marshall Mundy ’56 has been The organization’s mission is to protect ton Sunrise Rotary Club. selected by his peers for the 2012 edi- and preserve the Chattahoochee River, With a motto of “Service Above Self,” tion of The Best Lawyers® in America its lakes and tributaries for the people, Rotary works to improve the lives of in the specialty of representing plaintiffs fish and wildlife that depend upon it. people around the world, including in personal injury litigation. This is the Budd matriculated from Atlanta, GA, the organization’s quest to eradicate 26th consecutive year that Mundy has and spent two years at VMI. He earned polio, help prevent disease, eliminate been listed in this publication. a bachelor of arts degree from the Uni- human suffering and aid in community For several years in a row, versity of Georgia. development. Members from Lexington Mundy has also been rechave gone overseas to inoculate children ognized by Virginia Super Albert M. Orgain IV ’65 against polio, built water systems in Lawyers in the area of plainhas been selected by his peers Guatemala and facilitated eye clinics in tiff’s personal injury: medifor inclusion in The Best Haiti. Besides humanitarian projects, cal malpractice, and he has Lawyers® in America 2013 Rotary promotes education for peace earned the AV® Preeminent™ (Copyright 2012 by Wood- and conflict resolution through its eight Peer Review Rating, which is ward/White, Inc., of Aiken, Peace Centers around the world.

Martindale Hubbell’s highest South Carolina), along with Sadler matriculated from Colonial rating for legal ability and 19 other lawyers from the law Heights, Virginia, and graduated from ethical standards. firm of Sands Anderson PC. VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil enMundy ’56 Mundy is a fellow in the Orgain was recognized for gineering. He went on to earn a master’s American College of Trial his specialization in insurance degree from the University of Southern Lawyers and an advocate in the Ameri- law and transportation law.

California. can Board of Trial Advocates. MemSince its inception in 1983, Best Lawbership in these two organizations is yers® has become universally regarded In Prescott, Arizona, James C. Burg limited to 1 percent of the attorneys in as a definitive guide to legal excellence. ’68 was asked to represent the U.S. each. He is also a fellow in the American Because Best Lawyers® is based on an Army as grand marshal in the Nov. 11, Bar Foundation and the Virginia Bar exhaustive peer-review survey in which 2012, Veterans Day Parade.

Foundation. more than 39,000 leading attorneys A retired Army captain, Burg was seIn addition, Mundy serves as a member cast almost 3.1 million votes on the verely wounded in August 1970 while of the VMI Board of Visitors. legal abilities of other lawserving in South Vietnam. At Mundy matriculated from Roanoke, yers in their practice areas, the time, he was not expected Virginia, and graduated with distinction and because lawyers are not to live for more than a week, from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in required or allowed to pay a but he survived, remained English. He graduated from the Uni- fee to be listed, inclusion in hospitalized for a year and, versity of Virginia Law School in 1962 Best Lawyers® is considered miraculously, returned to acand has practiced law in Roanoke for a singular honor. Corporate tive duty. He retired from the 50 years.

Counsel magazine has reArmy in 1980. ferred to Best Lawyers® as a Burg has been serving as a Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) highly respected referral list volunteer at the Bob Stump Orgain IV ’65 VA Hospital for the past 18 honored Warren C. Budd Jr. ’64, a of attorneys in practice. former member of Georgia’s Board of Orgain matriculated from years, accumulating nearly Natural Resources, with its River Stew- Richmond, Virginia, and graduated 22,000 hours in assisting veterans and ard Award at its 18th Annual Patron Din- from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in their families. ner held on Sept. 13, 2012, in Atlanta, English. He earned his law degree from Graduating from VMI with a bachGeorgia. Budd, an insurance agent, spent Washington and Lee University. elor’s degree in history, Burg matricuseven years on the board and is described lated from Clark, New Jersey. He also as a “force for progress in Georgia, givCol. Woodson A. “Woody” Sadler Jr. earned a master’s degree from American ing voice to Georgia’s rivers …”. ’66, USMC (Ret), has been installed as Technical University.

Each year, CRK recognizes individu- the district governor for Rotary District als, organizations and companies that 7570, which encompasses the western U.S. Secretary of the Interior Salazar have made a significant difference in ef- half of Virginia – from Winchester to and Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack forts to protect the Chattahoochee River. Danville – and eight counties in Ten- have named Stephen L. Sanetti ’71, The CRK welcomed 450 guests to nessee. Founded in 1914, the district president and CEO of the National the Patron Dinner and raised a record consists of nearly 4,000 Rotarians in 83 Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), to $235,000. clubs. Sadler is a member of the Lexing- serve a second term on the Wildlife and 150

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Maj. Gen. Merdith W.B. “Bo” Temple University and is a graduate of the U.S. (WHHCC). Sanetti is one of 18 people to ’75, former deputy commanding general Army Command and General Staff Colbe appointed to the council, an advisory of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lege and the U.S. Army War College. group established in 2010 that helps (USACE), retired from the Army on promote and preserve America’s hunting Aug. 31, 2012, after serving for more Keith D. Dickson ’76, Ph.D., faculty heritage for future generations. than 37 years. member at the Joint and Combined Staff The council provides a forum for sportsPrior to his retirement, Temple had Officer School of the Joint Forces Staff men and women to advise the federal held the position of deputy commanding College in Norfolk, Virginia, has regovernment on policies related to wild- general of USACE since January 2010. ceived the Richard Slatten Award from life and habitat conservation endeavors He also had served the longest stint as the Virginia Historical Society (VHS). that benefit recreational hunting, sport acting commander in the hisThis award – made possible shooting and wildlife resources. It also tory of USACE – from June by a bequest from the estate serves to encourage partnership among 2011 to May 2012 – between of Kathleen L. Slatten and the public, the sporting conservation the retirement of Lt. Gen. the Slatten-MacDonald Fund community, the hunting and shooting Robert Van Antwerp and the of The Community Foundasports industry, wildlife conservation assumption of command by tion Serving Richmond and organizations, the states, Native Ameri- Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick.

Central Virginia – recognizes can tribes and the federal government to In addition, Temple has distinguished contributions to responsibly manage federal lands for all served as deputy commanding Virginia biography. Dickson’s appropriate uses, including hunting and general for Civil Works and book, Sustaining Southern recreational shooting.

Emergency Operations and Identity: Douglas Southall Temple ’75 The six federal agencies playing a deputy commanding general Freeman and Memory in key role in supporting and maintaining for Military and International the Modern South, has been America’s outdoors heritage – the U.S. Operations (both at USACE Headquar- highly praised.

Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land ters in Washington, D.C.); commander Dickson is the 15th winner since the Management, National Park Service, of North Atlantic Division in New York Richard Slatten Award was created in U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resource City; and commander of Transatlantic 1997. He joins a list of recipients that Conservation Service and Farm Service Programs Center in Winchester, Vir- includes Civil War historian James I. Agency – and the Association ginia. of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Other Army assignments will also appoint organizainclude theater engineer (C7), tional members to the council.

Combined Joint Task Force Formed in 1961, the NSSF Seven in Iraq; assistant chief is the trade association for of staff, Operations (G3), the firearms industry and has XVIII Airborne Corps; and a membership of more than commander of the 20th Engi7,000 manufacturers, disneer Brigade (Combat) (Airtributors, firearms retailers, borne Corps) and the 307th shooting ranges, sportsmen’s Engineer Battalion (Combat) Sanetti ’71 organizations and publishers.

(Airborne).

Its mission is to promote, Temple’s achievements and protect and preserve hunting and the awards include the Distinguished Sershooting sports. vice Medal, Legion of Merit (two oak In addition, NSSF has taken the lead leaf clusters), the Bronze Star Medal in developing initiatives that promote (two oak leaf clusters), Joint Service the educational benefits of outdoor Commendation Medal, Defense Merirecreation for young people through the torious Medal, and other service and expansion of opportunities for youth unit awards. He also holds the Master participation in shooting sports.

Parachutist badge.

Sanetti matriculated from Hicksville, Temple, who matriculated from RichKeith D. Dickson ’76, Ph.D., left, with Virginia Historical Society New York, and graduated from VMI mond, Virginia, graduated from VMI President and CEO, Dr. Paul Lewith a bachelor’s degree in history. In with a bachelor’s degree in civil engivengood, right. Photo courtesy addition, he holds a law degree from neering. He also holds a master’s degree Virginia Historical Society.

Washington and Lee University. in civil engineering from Texas A&M 2013-Issue 1

151

ALUMNI NEWS Robertson Jr. and Robert E. Lee scholar Elizabeth Brown Pryor.

The VHS presented a total of nine awards, including Dickson’s Slatten Award, to individuals who have made significant contributions to research, education and the mission of the society.

After completing 33 years of active duty military service, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Charles E. Smith ’79 was honored during his retirement ceremony on Oct. 5, 2012, at the U.S. Navy Museum in Washington, D.C. Smith, a native of Piscataway, New Jersey, graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and was commissioned an ensign in the U. S. Navy.

Following commissioning, Smith attended flight training and earned his “wings of gold.” He qualified for aircraft carrier flight operations, was a flight instructor and a U.S. Naval test pilot. Smith later qualified as a Navy nuclear surface officer and served as the executive officer of the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN 73). During his career, he was the commanding officer of both the U.S.S. Inchon (MCS 12) and U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on Dec. 1, 2009.

Prior to his retirement, Smith served as the program executive officer for Enterprise Information Systems, overseeing enterprise-wide information technology programs that support the Navy and Marine Corps.

In addition to his degree from VMI, Smith holds a master of science degree from the University of Tennessee.

James C. Cosby ’82 has been selected

by Virginia Lawyers Media for inclusion in the class of 2012 “Leaders in the Law.” This awards program recognizes lawyers for significant contributions in changing the law, serving the community, advancing the practice of law or other-

152

wise improving Virginia’s justice system.

The award recipients were honored at a reception on Oct. 25, 2012, at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond.

Cosby is a partner in the Richmond office of Vandeventer Black LLP. He represents business clients in commercial litigation, employment and regulatory matters.

Cosby matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He earned his law degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond.

Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in history. In addition, he earned a master of business administration degree from the Regent University School of Business.

John F. Weeda ’93 has been promoted to managing director and named head of Latin American client management and sales for J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services.

Since joining J.P. Morgan (then-Chase Manhattan Bank) in 1994, Weeda has held increasingly more senior positions, including a role in which he led a national team of sales and client executives Joseph J. Leonard Jr. ’83 has been focused on private equity fund sponsors; promoted to commander in the U.S. Coast a client solutions manager for short-term Guard (USCG). The ceremony was con- investment and liquidity products; and a ducted in June 2012 by Army Maj. Gen. client executive for corporate plan sponBen Hodges (USMA ’80). Hodges was sor relationships. present when Leonard was promoted to Additionally, Weeda has recently been an Army first lieutenant in 1986. Leonard appointed to serve as recruiting liaison is stationed at USCG Headquarters in on the global leadership team for “Voices Washington, D.C. for Employees That Served (VETS),” a J.P. Morgan-sponsored group tasked with Ronald H. Williams Jr. ’92 has re- providing a forum for military veterans, turned to the city of Norfolk, Virginia, retirees, reservists, National Guard and as assistant city manager, having previ- their supporters; engaging members in ously served the city from 2002-10 in community outreach programs; providthe positions of director of ing networking opportunities Budget and Grants Manageand exposure for members; ment, special assistant to the strengthening the firm’s abilcity manager, and director of ity to attract, develop and Intergovernmental Relations. retain military veteran emHis area of oversight includes ployees; focusing attention on the administration and infrathe contributions that military structure of the city. veterans make to the comPrior to returning to Norfolk, munity and the company; and Williams was a senior project promoting the values of J.P. manager with Architectur- Williams Jr. ’92 Morgan Chase & Co. al Graphics, Inc., a signage An active member and leader manufacturer for large corporations, in the North Jersey Chapter of The VMI airports, hospitals and stadiums. He has Alumni Association, he also participates also held the positions of vice president at in the VMI Alumni-Cadet Career Netthe Hampton Roads (Virginia) Chamber working Forum. of Commerce and administrator of the Weeda matriculated from Burke, VirVirginia Maritime Association. ginia, and graduated from VMI with a Williams matriculated from Suffolk, bachelor’s degree in modern languages.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS UVa Accelerated Master’s Program Seeks Veterans and VMI Graduates Leach ’10 Earns Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering

by Thomas S. Brett, AMP Veterans Coordinator and Elizabeth D. Harrison, AMP Program Manager

Christopher M.P. Leach, a 2010 Leach also serves as a pioneer for VMI alumnus and varsity football VMI and UVa Systems Engineering. player, helps other young men have He is the first participant in the a positive experience by coaching program under a memorandum of at his local high school. Leach beunderstanding (MOU) between the lieves football teaches life lessons two institutions. VMI recommends in discipline, honor, character and the AMP to alumni, and UVa grants perseverance. He shares these values expedited admission consideration with his players and practices them to qualified applicants who graduhimself, as he earns a master’s deated in a technical field from VMI. gree through the University of VirThe MOU started when AMP Vetginia Accelerated Master’s Program erans Coordinator Tom Brett and in Systems Engineering.

VMI’s Athletic Director Donny White The Accelerated Master’s Program ’65 were reunited in Lexington. Both (AMP) enables working professionTom and Donny were Army artillery als to earn a master’s degree in one officers who met at Fort Sill, Oklayear (May-April) while continuing homa, and served in Vietnam. The to work full time. Students from MOU took effect on Dec. 1, 2011, with diverse backgrounds and industries the enthusiastic support and official travel to Charlottesville for classes signatures of VMI Superintendent at UVa’s Darden Graduate School of Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, VMI Business. The accelerated schedule Deputy Superintendent for Academincludes two weeks in residence ics and Dean of Faculty R. Wane Christopher Leach ’10 is earning a master’s – one at the beginning of the Schneiter, UVa Dean of the School degree through the University of Virginia program in May and another, the of Engineering and Applied Science Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) in Sysfollowing April – plus 20 alternate tems Engineering. The AMP allows working James H. Aylor, and UVa Professor Friday/Saturday class weekends in professionals to earn a master’s degree in and Chair of the Department of Sysone year (May-April), while continuing to between. The AMP instructors are tems and Information Engineering work full time. Photo by Thomas Brett. full-time faculty of the Department Barry M. Horowitz. of Systems and Information Engineering and the Darden Graduate School of Business.

As of this writing, Leach has completed two thirds of his AMP and is enthusiastic about his experience. “You are in class with people in other professions, not just engineers …

The Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) adand the broad spectrum makes the learning experience much ministrators are actively seeking veterans and more enjoyable,” Leach said. “The work load is very chalVMI graduates to participate in the next AMP lenging, as you would expect, but I already see myself using cohort, which begins in late May 2013. The what I have learned in my job at Munters. Without a doubt, program will host an open house in Charlottesmy time in the program has made me a better engineer.” ville, Virginia, on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, and The AMP in Systems Engineering is a great vehicle for military veterans to transition to the civilian workforce. Curalumni are invited to AMP’s VMI Alumni Visit rently, a dozen veterans are pursuing a degree through the Day on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Learn more program, and 12 veterans graduated with the AMP ’12 cohort about the program and register for information in May 2012. Studying with a cohort of talented classmates and events at http://amp.sys.virginia.edu. is a key asset of the AMP, and relationships built during the program create long-lasting friendships and professional networks.

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INSTITUTE INSTITUTE Gates Receives Harry F. Byrd Jr. ’35 Award

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ormer Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates received the Harry F. Byrd Jr. ’35 Public Service Award in a ceremony conducted in Cameron Hall on Oct. 26, 2012, with the entire Corps in attendance.

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, introduced Gates with a recounting of his long government service.

That service, he said, qualified Gates for the award. “The award that the Virginia Military Institute will bestow on Secretary Gates was made possible by the generosity of former United States Senator Harry Flood Byrd Jr.,” said Peay. “It was established to honor distinguished public servants whose careers best Having received the Byrd Award, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, seccharacterize the ideals of the ond from left, shook hands with former Sen. Harry Byrd Jr. 35, center. Norfolk Mayor Institute: selflessness, integrity, Paul Fraim ’71, far left, president of the VMI Board of Visitors, presented the award. patriotism and courage.”

Standing with them are Byrd’s son, Scott Byrd, and VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, far right. VMI photo by Kevin Remington.

The award consists of a medallion inscribed with those ideals and a cash honorarium of $20,000, which Gates presented back ceived a standing ovation as he saluted tober 2001, and former recipients include to the Institute just prior to the parade. the assembled Corps immediately before John O. Marsh Jr., Harry Lee Carrico, Former Senator Byrd, for whom the the ceremony.

Gerald L. Baliles, Sandra Day O’Connor, award is named, was present and reThe Byrd Award was established in Oc- Elmon T. Gray ’46 and Sam Nunn.

Remarks by

Byrd Award Recipient Robert M. Gates Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Thank you, Gen. Peay [’62], for that kind introduction and for your half-century of service to our country and to VMI. My thanks to the Virginia Military Institute for this great honor. I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of the persons who have received this award, most recently Senator Sam Nunn and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor – both old friends and great Americans.

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I met Harry Byrd a couple of times during the early 1980s when he was a senator and I was at the CIA. I am glad to see he is still going strong and nearing the century mark. Sen. Byrd’s life and career – both during and after his time in the U.S. Senate – embodied the highest values of public service and this commonwealth.

On that note, I also want to say it is a real pleasure to be back in Virginia, a state that was my professional and personal home for many years back in my CIA days. And it is a special honor to, once again, be back at the Virginia Military Institute. The last time I strode these grounds was for the spring graduation ceremony of the class of 2008. Back then, I was expecting to be on the job as defense secretary for another 8-1/2 months – at most. That turned out to be the second of several failed retirements – and escapes – from Washington, D.C. – a city that, with good reason, has been described as a town of northern charm and southern efficiency.

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INSTITUTE My congratulations to all the cadets, the Rats especially, for having made it through a VMI experience that tests you in every possible (and impossible) way. Your motto “no ordinary life” is an understatement. On a lot of campuses, bricks covered with ivy are a nice architectural feature, but as Rats you had to “stand on the bricks,” in formation, and get to know your upperclassmen up close and personal. Keeping students on their toes, elsewhere, might have meant giving a pop quiz or asking the occasional question to the guy half-asleep at the back of the class. For you, it was more literal: penalty tours, push-ups, buddy carries, running up and down stadium stairs without end.

VMI’s is a culture grounded in patriotism, religious faith – however expressed – love of family, loyalty to one another, an old-fashioned work ethic, a sense of duty and the importance of service to others and to the country, and a shared belief of the supreme importance of character and integrity.

Almost 100 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt gave a now-famous speech called “Citizenship in a Republic.” He observed: “In the long run, [our society’s] success or failure will be conditioned upon the way in which the average man, the average woman, does his or her duty. The average citizen must be a good citizen if our republics are to succeed.” Roosevelt then went on to say: “The average cannot be kept high unless the standard of the leaders is very much higher.” The graduates of this institution are not average citizens – and so you can never be content to be merely “good citizens.” You must be great citizens.

Each of you, upon leaving this place, will go out into the world to pursue a wide range of callings and careers – military, civilian or a combination of both. Whatever path you choose, the common denominator is that here at VMI you have learned the importance of public service and duty to your fellow citizens.

We hear a lot of cynical and jaded talk these days about the state of our country and the character of its people. My advice is: don’t succumb to that kind of thinking. Consider instead the millions of Americans who have chosen to serve with the belief they can help make this country and the world a better place. We know all too well about the achievements and sacrifices of those who wear our nation’s uniform. Think also about the diplomats like the late ambassador Christopher Stevens in Libya; Peace Corps volunteers; intelligence officers; police and firemen; teachers; nurses; elected and appointed officials – local, state, and national; and countless more. All too often, the pay and working conditions are challenging. All operate in the public spotlight and often find public criticism to be the reward of their labors.

They are each, in their own way, reflecting the values of this institution and the experience of its most noble graduate.

When Gen. George Marshall [’901] retired as Army chief of staff in November 1945, he had been on active duty for more than 43 years – a career in which it took him 15 years to make captain and 34 years to get his first star. He had been chief of staff through 74 months and a world war. If there was anyone who deserved a leisurely retirement with his family – it was Gen. Marshall.

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A week after retiring, he arrived home at Leesburg, and the phone rang. It was President Truman, and he wanted Marshall to be his special envoy to China. As his biographer put it, “Arms were stacked, but the soldier’s task was not ended.” Marshall accepted on the spot. And as a result of taking on that assignment and others that followed – secretary of state, secretary of defense – George Marshall, the great architect of victory in World War II, would be practically tarred and feathered. Joseph McCarthy and others vilified him for allegedly “losing” China and for supporting President Truman’s firing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. A newspaper cartoon of the period depicted Marshall as a senile clown cutting out paper dolls.

Despite the sacrifices, the hard work, the calumnies to which a person can be exposed, what drew Marshall, and countless others from this institution and from every corner of this country, is a willingness to serve a cause higher than their own comfort, their own convenience and their own self-interest. If you scratch deeply enough, you will find that most of those who serve, no matter how outwardly tough or jaded or egotistical, are, in their heart of hearts, romantics and idealists. And optimists.

We actually believe we can make the lives of others better, that we can make a contribution to the life of the greatest country in the history of the world.

The single best decision I ever made – after marrying my wife, Becky, of course – was deciding as an undergraduate to pursue a career in public service. I joined CIA in 1966 to defend our country against the former Soviet Union and, with any luck, to help bring down the entire rotten structure. Twenty-five years later, as director of central intelligence, I watched the Soviet empire crumble, liberating hundreds of millions of people and ending what had been a near constant threat of nuclear Armageddon. Talk about closure.

In a national radio address on the anniversary of VMI’s founding, Marshall spoke of the Institute and the values it instills.

He said: “Our graduates seldom amass great wealth, but just as seldom do they display weakness or indifference to their duties as citizens. They are trained to be soldiers, if there be need for soldiers …; but what is far more important, they are trained to be good citizens.”

Four years ago, Jonathan Ives, class of 1980, commanded about a thousand NATO troops in Afghanistan. Col. Ives, an Army reservist, named his organization, “Task Force Cincinnatus” – after all, what else would a citizen soldier and VMI graduate call his unit? The Afghan troops thought the name was strange until they learned a little more about its origin and the citizen-soldier tradition – taking up arms when you must, putting them down when you can. Many of these Afghans, after all, had left their village, farms and families first to fight the Soviets and then later the Taliban.

Then, last year, as leader of the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, now Brig. Gen. Ives would help oversee the final withdrawal of U.S. troops and equipment from Iraq. More than 4,000 vehicles carried about a million tons into Kuwait in less than three months – arguably the largest and most concentrated feat of military logistics since World War II. 155

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Following the ceremony, Gates and Gen. Peay took review of the Corps of Cadets. VMI photo by Julie Rivera.

In all, roughly half of VMI graduates have taken military commissions in recent years and some 1,500 have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Thirteen of them have not returned. One of them was Marine Corps Captain James Edge, VMI class of 1996, and a former classmate and Rat-year roommate of one of my senior special assistants at the Pentagon, himself a combat veteran with the Rangers in Afghanistan. As defense secretary, I made it a point to surround myself with people – military and civilian – with direct experience fighting in the post-9/11 conflicts or commanding those who did.

These young men and women – all of whom joined knowing what would be asked of them – represent the tip of the spear of a military that has been at war for nearly a decade – the longest sustained combat in American history. The Iraq and Afghan campaigns represent the first protracted, large-scale conflicts since our Revolutionary War fought entirely by volunteers.

Indeed, no major war in our history has been fought with a smaller percentage of this country’s citizens in uniform fulltime – roughly 2.4 million active and reserve service members out of a country of over 300 million, less than one percent.

This tiny sliver of America has achieved extraordinary things under the most trying circumstances. It is also true that for most Americans, whatever their fond sentiments for their military, the wars remain an abstraction – a distant and unpleasant series of news items that does not affect them personally. In the 156

absence of a draft, service in the military, no matter how laudable, has become something for other people to do. With each passing decade, fewer and fewer Americans know someone with military experience in their family or social circle. According to one study, in 1988 about 40 percent of 18-year-olds had a veteran parent. By 2000, the share had dropped to 18 percent and is projected to fall below 10 percent in the future.

The nearly four decades of all-volunteer force has also reinforced a series of demographic, cultural and institutional shifts affecting who is most likely to serve and from where. In this country, that propensity to serve is most pronounced in the South and the Mountain West and in rural areas and small towns nationwide – a propensity that well exceeds these communities’ portion of the population as a whole. Concurrently, the percentage of the force from the Northeast, the West Coast and major cities continues to decline.

The military’s own basing and recruiting decisions have reinforced this growing concentration among certain regions and families. With limited resources, the services focus their recruiting efforts on candidates where they are most likely to have success – with those who have friends, classmates and parents who have already served. No doubt, VMI and this corner of Virginia are considered target rich environments. For otherwise rational environmental and budgetary reasons, many military facilities in the Northeast and on the West Coast have VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE been shut down, with their functions and people relocated to the South, leaving a void of relationships and understanding of the armed forces in their wake. On the other side of the equation, these trends have created a military force that increasingly feels separate from, and in some cases superior to, the country and society they have sworn to protect.

I would urge those going into military service to do what you can to keep yourself – through the assignments you take in your career and choices you make in life – better connected to an American society of which you are an integral part. It is of particular importance to graduates of this institution, who, like the service academies but unlike many of your ROTC colleagues, will have been steeped in a monastic military environment pretty much since leaving high school.

Reconnecting the citizen with the soldier – or the airmen, sailor or Marine – is so important, because a civil-military divide can expose itself in an ugly way during a protracted and frustrating war effort. One of the achievements of the postVietnam Army leadership was preventing a corrosive “stabbed in the back” narrative from putting down roots within the service at a time that many officers were inclined to blame American society, the media and politicians in particular for allegedly tying their hands and not seeing the effort through.

When I came on board as defense secretary at pretty much the low point of the Iraq war, I worried about the recriminations, finger-pointing and resentments – over a lack of support by civilian leaders and agencies, over a non-mobilized, unengaged civilian society – already starting to crop up … a situation that might have turned toxic if the U.S. military were to experience a humiliating retreat from Iraq.

Military and civilian leaders alike must be cognizant of this as we enter a delicate and difficult transition phase in the Afghanistan campaign, an effort of which the American public and increasing number of politicians have grown weary, even as so many of our military leaders believe that we are finally on the right track.

A little over two centuries ago, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son, John Quincy: “These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are found in contending with difficulties.

Great necessities call out great virtues.”

Once again we live at a time of “great necessities” and great challenges for America. Around the world we see: • The rise of China as our preeminent economic, political and potentially military competitor; • Rogue nations like North Korea and Iran adding to their nuclear arsenal or seeking to build one; • A destabilized Middle East spawning Islamist regimes more hostile to Israel and less friendly to the U.S.; • A nuclear-armed Pakistan with a weak and corrupt government dominated by its military and threatened by radical Islamists; and • A vicious Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan where, let there be no doubt, America’s military remains very much at war.

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At home, we see: • Sluggish economic growth and stubbornly high unemployment; • Massive annual budget deficits that threaten national solvency and, I would argue, our security as well; and • A political system unable to come together to put America’s finances in order or to accomplish the most basic functions and purposes of government.

Yet, through it all, I remain optimistic about the future.

Though we have a lot of work to do to put America back on track and enormous obstacles ahead of us, we also have the power and means to overcome them – just as Americans have, time and again, over the past two centuries – think of the Civil War, the Great Depression, Vietnam, Watergate and 9/11.

Since I entered government 46 years ago, I’ve shifted my views and changed my mind on a good many things as circumstances, new information or logic dictated. But I have yet to see evidence that would dissuade me from this fundamental belief: that America does have a special position and set of responsibilities on this planet. We must not forget what Winston Churchill once said, that “the price of greatness is responsibility … the people of the United States cannot escape world responsibility.”

This responsibility provides enormous benefits – for allies, partners and others abroad, to be sure. But in the final analysis, the greatest beneficiaries of American leadership around the world are the American people, in terms of our security, our prosperity and our freedom. One thing we cannot do is repeat the mistakes of the past, when, during tough economic times or in the wake of major conflicts, our government sharply cut back on America’s ability to defend our interests and engage with the rest of the world – a pattern repeated in the decade prior to 9/11.

The prospect of the United States going down that path again sends chills through much of the free and civilized world. All told, whether the United States sustains our global economic, political, cultural and military pre-eminence depends not on the success or failures of others – on what other countries do – but what we choose to do. On the decisions made by our leaders, on the courage and determination of the American people.

And it is precisely during these times that our country needs its best and brightest, from all walks of life, to step forward and contribute to the great cause that is America – in or out of uniform, in sectors public or private. In your choice to attend this great institution and in having the grit and gumption to make it this far, you are already well on your way – as good leaders, as great citizens. My thanks again to VMI for this great honor.

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.

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INSTITUTE Display at Kilbourne Hall Honors Alumni Decorated for Valor A ceremony on Nov. 14, 2012, marked the completion of a project to recognize the 71 VMI alumni who are recipients of the nation’s second-highest award for valor through a display of citations in Kilbourne Hall.

Kilbourne Hall houses ROTC detachments from all of the services.

Forty-four alumni received the Distinguished Service Cross for service in the U.S. Army, five received the Air Force Cross, eight received the Navy Cross, and 14 Marines received either the Navy Cross or the Distinguished Service Cross.

The project, which took six years to complete, was funded and organized

by John Bolling Williamson ’60, who received a citation for his efforts and then addressed those gathered for the ceremony. Col. Keith Gibson ’77, executive director of the VMI museum system, worked closely with him to complete the display.

“This project required an enormous amount of research on the part of Bolling Williamson,” said Col. Mike Strickler ’71, assistant to the superintendent. “Each individual plaque has a replica of the medal with either the full citation or information regarding the act of heroism which led to the honor.”

About the project, Williamson said, “VMI has a heritage

of valor that I daresay is unmatched by any school its size in the nation, and my objective in putting the exhibit together was to increase awareness of it – both by alumni and by the cadets. By locating it in Kilbourne Hall, cadets will have the opportunity to pass by and be reminded of it frequently. They’ll see pictures of those men wearing the same uniform, reflect on the fact that they walked the same stoops and marched on the same parade ground as the Corps does today, and realize that they have a real connection with those men.”

Williamson added, “I also hope that when they read the citations for those

J. Bolling Williamson ’60, who was honored for his work to fund and organize the project, addressed those gathered for the ceremony.

Photo at right: The eight living alumni recipients of the nation’s second highest award for valor: Thomas Kirk Jr. ’50B, Robert Beale ’55 and James McCarthy ’52, Air Force Cross; William Huffcutt II ’57, Navy Cross; and Norman Bissell ’61, Dixon Arment ’65, Bromfield Nichol ’51 and Arthur Nunn ’43, Distinguished Service Cross.

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From left, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent; Brig. Gen. Norman Bissell ’61; J. Bolling Williamson ’60; Robert Beale ’55; Arthur Nunn Jr. ’43; and Col. Keith Gibson ’77, who worked with Williamson to complete the project.

Nunn, Bissell and Beale received a photograph of the display honoring their award, which they are holding above.

Williamson is holding the citation that he received for his efforts.

awards, they feel a sense of pride because of that connection and understand that when they put on their uniform, they’re representing those alumni, along with those whose decorations are displayed in the Hall of Valor in the Center for Leadership and Ethics. It’s important for us to remember their example and sacrifice, and I hope that their accounts of valor will be incorporated in cadet orientations in the future. Our heritage defines us – it’s what sets VMI apart and makes it special,” he concluded.

Three of the eight living award recipients – Arthur B. Nunn Jr. ’43, Norman M. Bissell ’61 and Robert S. Beale ’55 – attended the ceremony, and both Bissell and Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, VMI superintendent, spoke. Each of the three received a photograph of the display honoring his award.

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The valor award, from left, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross.

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INSTITUTE Presidential Candidate Romney Visits VMI

VMI photos by Kevin Remington.

On Oct. 8, 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney used VMI’s Marshall Hall as the venue to present his views on foreign policy. Some cadets, along with a limited number of faculty and staff, were on hand to hear him speak.

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, met with Romney and other distinguished guests prior to the speech and introduced the morning’s speakers, who also included Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Congressman Bob Goodlatte.

“Since its founding in 1839, this institution has been incredibly dedicated to the causes of honor and service,” said McDonnell, as he introduced Romney to the stage.

Romney spoke at length about America’s role in the Middle East, emphasizing the need to support allies in the region that “share our values.”

Romney said, “It is a struggle between liberty and tyranny, justice and oppression, hope and despair. We’ve seen this struggle before.”

While Romney’s speech was not open to the public, it was widely covered by local, national and international media organizations, and select cadets had the opportunity to talk with members of the press about their impressions of the visit.

In addition to sharing foreign policy insight, Romney’s visit provided educational value, as cadets were given the chance to see the campaign process firsthand.

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“The Corps [was] definitely excited about Romney’s visit,” said Cadet Sarah Hoover ’13. Regardless of the message, the cadets’ experience is being enriched by the leaders who visit VMI. “Going to VMI, which is such a small school with only 1,600 cadets, it’s really cool that we’ve done such a great job of consistently bringing in important and influential people, from Secretary of State [Hillary] Clinton to Romney,” said Thomas Irvine ’13. “That speaks to how prestigious VMI is – that these people want to come and speak to us.”

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INSTITUTE John A. Luke Jr., president and CEO of MeadWestvaco Corp., offered an employer’s Science, Technology, Engineering perspective on the education of America’s and Mathematics (STEM) Education Conference workforce.

“You know that STEM is not strictly an “Math is the Gateway to STEM Success” academic exercise,” said Luke. “It’s about real people learning real skills to get real jobs and The goal of VMI’s Science, Technology, Following Peay’s remarks, Virginia Secre- have a real impact here in Virginia and across Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, tary of Education Laura Fornash offered an our country.

“The question, of course, is how do we get Education Conference was to solve “Amer- overview of the educational challenges the ica’s toughest math problem.” The opening nation faces and the steps the commonwealth there? How do we close the gap? How do we prepare a next-generation workforce? I know session defined that problem as the lack is taking to address the issue. of students concentrating their studies in “Here in the commonwealth, we want to that the answer begins with everyone here in STEM disciplines. ensure that our children and grandchildren the auditorium today.”

Luke ensured participants that industry The conference, sponsored by VMI’s Center are provided with world-class education that leaders are committed to supportfor Leadership and Ethics, was ing the efforts of public leaders to held Oct. 1-3, 2012.

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, “Simply put, we are being out-educated.” direct attention and resources to STEM education. superintendent, defined the Addressing the many teachers challenge and set the stage for present in the audience, Luke said, “Ecoconference participants. will prepare them to be the future scientists, “We believe that the conversation that hap- nurses, computer scientists and teachers,” nomic growth in our country depends on pens here this week can serve as a platform for said Fornash. “It starts here. It starts with what you’re doing here today and every day in your classrooms. Suffice it to say, all of a much-needed larger discussion,” said Peay. us today.”

Peay highlighted the hands-on STEM learnFornash demonstrated that, as a nation, we us are counting on you.”

The conference is the first in a series that ing happening at VMI, including studies in are falling behind the rest of the world when will bring together students, educators, robotics, fractals and the fourth dimension, it comes to education. but he also emphasized the importance of “Of the 34 most advanced nations in the employers and policy makers to have a encouraging and enabling the study of STEM world, the U.S. ranked 17th in science and conversation about how to improve STEM disciplines at an early age.

25th in math. Simply put, we are being out- education.

“May your experience this year prompt “This national problem cannot be solved educated,” said Fornash. “We have a major you to join us next year for a second confersimply by convincing college students to problem that requires real leadership.” suddenly major in STEM disciplines,” said Solving that problem will result in a work- ence that we know some of you will help us Peay. “The early preparation must take place force that can be employed in growing job sec- design,” said Peay. “Together, we’ll assemble in the K through 12 classrooms.” tors requiring education in STEM disciplines. the building blocks and chart the way.”

To Lead the World Once More, STEM Literacy a Prerequisite VMI’s STEM education conference ended with a bang on Oct. 3, 2012, as Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, brought conference attendees and cadets to their feet in a passionate round of applause.

During the course of his talk, Tyson examined what happens when communities and nations care about aptitude in STEM fields and what happens when they don’t.

“The talk should be titled, ‘Adventures in Science Illiteracy,’” said Tyson. “I’ll [give] you examples of what I’ve seen in my walks through life that drive home why I think science literacy is not just important for STEM literacy in general.

“It’s not just important for the training of the mind; it’s important for all manner of

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Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson offered the closing address to VMI’s STEM education conference.

VMI photo by John Robertson IV.

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INSTITUTE subjects, including national security, including economic competitiveness. So, it’s not just for personal intellectual enlightenment.

It goes much deeper than that.”

Tyson noted recent infrastructure failures, including the levies in New Orleans breaking during Hurricane Katrina, the Interstate 35 bridge collapse and steam pipes rupturing in New York City.

“Let’s wake up and smell what’s going on here,” said Tyson. “People die when this happens.”

In addition to looking at tangible issues like crumbling infrastructure, Tyson examined some of the products of irrationality in America, such as fear of the number 13 and the belief that the world [was supposed to end in 2012].

“Here’s a book: How to Defend Yourself Against Alien Abduction. I bought this book. I

read this book. I heeded its advice. That’s why I’m here to talk to you,” said Tyson. “Somebody got this put on shelves. What country is this, and what year is this?”

Tyson displayed currencies from other countries which feature those nations’ contributions to science as a way of demonstrating the national enthusiasm for science around the world.

“In Germany, they have math on their currency,” said Tyson. “If you’re a kid looking at that, you wouldn’t understand it when you first saw it. You might be curious about it. It might trigger later an interest in what you end up studying.”

There was a time when that kind of national enthusiasm was present in America.

Tyson pointed out that when America had a strong space program, it wasn’t necessary to set up special initiatives, such as this very

VMI Joins Statewide Virginia STEAM Initiative Virginia Military Institute and the Virginia Science Technology Engineering and Applied Mathematics (STEAM) Academy are forming a strategic partnership to address critical education needs in the commonwealth of Virginia.

VMI is joining with three other state colleges and universities in a partnership with the Virginia STEAM Academy and in the proposed statewide initiative to establish a public residential academy with an eventual enrollment of approximately 1,000 students in grades 9 through 12, as well as a summer residential academy for highly able students in grades 6 through 8. Other institutions that have signed agreements are Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University.

Academy leaders have identified Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, as a potential location for the school.

“VMI and Virginia STEAM are committed to an enduring and fruitful partnership,” said Academy co-founders Judy Stewart and M. Caroline Martin. “Already we have benefited from participating in VMI’s STEM Conference series and receiving input from a professor of mathematics to the STEAM Academy student learning standards. We could not purchase this level of collaboration and dedicated human capital expertise. It is a valued gift.”

Leaders at the Institute and Academy recently signed a memorandum of understanding calling for VMI’s faculty to assist in grant writing and in developing curriculum for the proposed academy, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

“We’re excited about the collaboration of the Applied Mathematics Program at VMI and the Virginia STEAM Academy,” said Col. Troy Siemers, head of VMI’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.

“Many political and educational leaders – in our state and nationally – worry about the implications of declining abilities among students to master subjects in the sciences, technology, engineering and applied mathematics,” he said. “This partnership gives VMI the opportunity to contribute to a demanding curriculum at the Virginia STEAM Academy, to help mentor students through summer projects involving real-world scenarios and to nurture talented students for the academic rigors they will face in college in these important fields.”

The inaugural summer camp for middle school students is set for the summer of 2013.

The residential academy for high school students is scheduled to receive its first freshman class in 2014.

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conference, to convince individuals that STEM fields are interesting.

“In the 1960s, we didn’t need such programs, because we were going to the moon.

We were reaching for an unreachable target that all of history said could not be done,” said Tyson. “People were climbing over themselves to get into the physics classes, into the math classes.”

Tyson sees hope in the next generation of graduates to reverse the trend of STEM illiteracy.

“All of you are uniquely positioned to not only reverse that trend but restore America to what so many of us remember it to be firsthand and so many of the rest of us read about: those days [when] America essentially led the world in every possible way we could measure it. It’s in your hands to make that happen again.”

Alumni Mission Trip to Peru Summer 2013 The VMI Chaplain’s Office will be sponsoring an alumni mission trip to Peru in summer 2013. Chaplain Jim Park has teamed with Walt Wood ’80 and his wife, Mary Lynne, to guide and lead VMI alumni on a 10-day mission experience intended to challenge your faith and deepen your relationship with God. Walt, who is the class of 1980 president, has been a missionary with his wife in Peru for more than 12 years.

If you are interested in taking this trip, learning more or making a donation to the Chaplain’s Office to help defray the costs, please e-mail Chaplain Park at parkjs@vmi.edu.

Above, top: Walt Wood ’80 and his wife, Mary Lynne Wood, in Peru.

Above: The Woods, Chaplain Jim Park and Eric Hunter ’08 at their first alumni mission trip planning meeting in Ashland, Virginia.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE The Department of Mechanical Engineering: Then and Now Part III: Major Accomplishments and the Future

by Richard S. Trandel ’59, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering, P.E. (Emeritus)

Editor’s Note: The following is the third and final of three parts in an historical account of VMI’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, written by Richard Trandel, Ph.D., professor emeritus.

Today, the Department of Mechanical Engineering remains popular with cadets. As shown in a recent VMI catalogue, the department has had the third highest enrollment among 14 majors. The department offers 50 courses taught by 12 faculty members, eight of whom are licensed professional engineers. Seven engineering laboratories are used for instruction, including a renovated machine shop and a wood shop. These shops employ a laboratory technician and a machinist.

In retrospect – considering the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the founding of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1880; and the voracious need for mechanical engineers (ME) in today’s society – the Institute would have been well served to establish a Department of Mechanical Engineering much earlier in its history.

The degree-granting department’s beginning can be credited to many individuals, including Maj. Gen. Richard L. Irby ’39; Brig Gen. James M. Morgan Jr. ’45; Mr. I. Russell Berkness of Richmond, Virginia; Col. Arthur C. Taylor ’44; and Col. Richard S. Trandel ’59, along with the VMI Board of Visitors, dedicated secretary, Mrs. Lori Parrent, and the multitalented Mr. James Glass, laboratory mechanic. Berkness was honored by the Institute and the department for his devoted and steadfast service in 1982.

Major Accomplishments In terms of accomplishments, the Department of Mechanical Engineering is particularly proud of the following: • It is the first engineering department in the state of Virginia to require that all seniors take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination to become an engineer-in-training (EIT). The FE exam is given by the Virginia State Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Certified Landscape Architects. This professional requirement was initiated with the first graduating class in 1985. In 1992, the Engineering Division (all three engineering departments) followed the direction of the Department of Mechanical Engineering by requiring all engineering cadets to take the FE examination to become an EIT. The exam is given in April of the cadets’ senior year.

• The department developed the innovative Cooperative Engineering Center (CEC) program. The CEC program is linked with ME 444, Mechanical Engineering Design, which is a challenging, capstone, design course that provides senior mechanical engineering students with an excursion into the exciting, real world of engineering. Projects are supplied by local industries who are members of the CEC. The CEC director – a senior faculty member – solicits engineering projects, teaches pertinent design topics and meets weekly with engineering design teams, along with an assigned faculty adviser. Mechanical en-

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gineering faculty members who serve as design advisers are licensed professional engineers. The director also maintains a pool of talented faculty members who can develop and present short classes and seminars and conduct research through the research laboratories at VMI. These resources are also available to the industrial clients involved in the CEC. A complete listing of design projects is posted, by year, on the department’s VMI website home page.

• The department developed an internship/externship program which functions as an extension of the CEC. During several school years, the department offered more summer internships than cadets selected.

• In 1983, the department created a foreign study initiative between VMI and the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS) at Shrivenham, England. While functioning as an escort to the superintendent of RMCS, then-Cadet William Anderson ’86, a ME student, commented that he “would love to have the chance to study at RMCS.” With the help of Dr. Alex Brown, dean of RMCS, a foreign study program was developed. Cadet Anderson was the first exchange cadet to attend RMCS. This relationship, as well as others, continues today with the exchange of faculty as well as cadets.

• A cadet chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) was formed in 1985, and all ME cadets became members.

Cadets attend meetings of local ASME chapters and take part in the society’s paper presentations and design competitions.

• The department offers a study concentration in aerospace and nuclear engineering. To enter these concentrations, cadets must apply for and receive permission up front.

• The department works closely with the VMI Placement Office and successfully places its graduates seeking employment within the field of engineering in jobs with highly competitive salaries. Graduates seeking advanced graduate degrees have been accepted at prestigious engineering schools.

The Future of Mechanical Engineering What about the future? There can be no doubt that this century will hold many challenges for humankind, especially in the areas of energy and product design. The Department of Mechanical Engineering helps to educate citizen-soldiers who are ideally prepared to meet these challenges. The graduates leave the program with the skills needed to deal effectively and morally with the technological, sociological and humanistic demands of the 21st century. In this way, the Department of Mechanical Engineering will continue to work to improve the quality of life for us all.

Mechanical Engineering Department Heads Col. Stewart W. Anderson ’908 1935-41 Head of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (service dept.)

Col. R.J. Trinkle ’914 (service dept.)

1941-53 Col. Stewart W. Anderson ’908 (service dept.)

1953-57 Col. Arthur C. Taylor ’44 (service dept.)

1957-80 Col. Richard S. Trandel ’59 1980-90 1980-82 service dept.; 1982 degree-granting dept.; 1986 ABET accredited Capt. Michael Sexton 1990-95 Col. Charles D. Morgan 1995-2001 Col. Timothy H. Hodges ’80 2001-10 Col. Jon Michael Hardin 2010 to Present

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ATHLETICS ATHLETICS Okoye Named Big South Preseason Player of the Year Stan Okoye, the 6-foot, 6-inch senior all games ranked third in the BSC in forward from Raleigh, North Carolina, scoring (17.1), ninth in rebounding (7.2), who has helped propel VMI basketball third in FG pct. (.519), seventh in steals success the last three years, was tabbed (1.5), 12th in blocks (.78) and fourth the Big South Conference (BSC) Pre- in defensive rebounds (5.1). He ranked season Player of the Year for 2012-13 at second in the BSC in league games in the league’s media day event on Oct. 9, scoring (19.5), fourth in rebounding 2012. VMI was also picked to finish sec- (8.2), third in FG pct. (.543) and fourth ond in the North Division preseason poll. in defensive rebounds (5.8).

Okoye received the most voting points “This award lets me know that people among a panel of the Big South coaches and selected media members.

It marks the first time a VMI basketball player has attained the elite honor since the school joined the conference in 2003-04.

Okoye, a second team All-Big South member last season, has been a model of consistency and production over his collegiate career. In 2011-12, he led the team in rebounding (7.2). He was second in scoring (17.1) and had twelve 20-point games on the season and six double-doubles. Okoye led or co-led VMI in scoring 11 times last year and led or co-led VMI in rebounding 19 times.

“This means a lot to me, my family, the VMI community and especially my teammates,” said Okoye about the honor. “I definitely wouldn’t have been in position had it not been for them. It’s pretty important to me that Senior Stan Okoye was voted the 2012-13 the coaches have recognized me as a Big South Preseason Player of the Year. threat on the court, but I also have to recognize that it’s not all about me; it’s about my teammates, too. I have to look at this as motivation to play harder throughout the season, because it doesn’t really mean anything until the end of the season. I hope I can win that, and we can win a championship.”

It wasn’t hard to find Okoye’s name listed among the conference stat leaders last season.

The versatile forward in over164

have high expectations of me, so I have to live up to that,” said Okoye. “I was pretty surprised when Coach Baucom came up to me in workouts … and let me know about it.”

Other Okoye highlights during 2011 included a season-high 27 points against Presbyterian on Dec. 31st and a careerhigh 18 rebounds at Campbell on Jan. 21st. He also blocked three shots and had a career-high seven assists against Gardner-Webb on Jan. 2nd and hit 11 of 16 shots against HPU on Jan. 19th.

He showed a flair for the dramatic as his dunk against #2 ranked Ohio State was selected as ESPN’s No.1 Top Ten Play for Nov. 23rd. Okoye scored in double figures in 28 games last year including 19 straight.

“We are very excited about Stan’s recognition,” said VMI Head Coach Duggar Baucom. “He epitomizes what a cadet-athlete should be. Stan is not only a warrior on the court; he is a scholar in the classroom and a role model in the Corps. He is the type of young man that every parent would be proud to have as a son.”

An academically distinguished cadet who has been named to the Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll, Okoye serves as vice president of the Honor Court, one of the most respected positions in the Corps of Cadets.

VMI posted a 17-16 mark in 2011-12 for its third winning season over the last four years and reached the Big South tournament championship game for the third time in the last six years.

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

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. VMI FOUNDATION, INC. A Place of Pride: $1 Million Donors at Jackson Statue If asked to name the most emblematic place at VMI, that location on Post that signifies the Institute to alumni and friends alike, most would say it was the Barracks. If further pressed to give a more specific location, they probably would say that area that contains Jackson Arch as well as the statue of Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and the four guns with which he trained cadets in artillery tactics. Indeed, many have termed that area, “The Heart of VMI.” Given the prominence of that location on Post, it makes sense, therefore, that since the late summer of 2002, those donors who have provided at least $1 million in immediate gifts to VMI have been recognized with the placement of a brick bearing their names in an area around the base of the famous statue of Thomas J. Jackson.

“Those familiar with the history of private support at the Institute will recognize these people as the top philanthropic leaders in support of VMI,” said Brian Scott Crockett, chief executive officer of the VMI Foundation. “The reasons they gave are numerous. Many, for example, gave to help meet short-term but vital needs at the Institute. Some provided critical support that brought to fruition VMI’s plans for long-term academic improvement. Some directed their gifts to support our intercollegiate sports program. Not a few did all of the above – and more.”

Crocket continued, “Whatever specific project or program they supported, however, all of them gave for one underlying reason: they wanted to see VMI prosper, not just survive. It is undeniable that, taken together, the gifts that these donors

entrusted to VMI had a profoundly decisive effect on the Institute’s progress.”

The location for recognizing these alumni and friends of VMI was chosen because the statue of Stonewall Jackson is an enduring symbol of VMI, and according to Crockett, “For many years, it represented The Institute Society and, therefore, leadership in support of VMI.” Finally, although the bricks are a tangible manner of honoring these exceptionally generous donors to VMI, anyone who looks at these bricks and the accompanying plaque should take to heart the advice that Samuel B. Witt III ’58 provided when, as president of the VMI Board of Visitors, he addressed those attending the dedication ceremony in September 2002, saying, “If you seek their greatest monuments, look around you.”

Currently, there are 59 bricks recognizing alumni and friends who have given at least $1 million to VMI in immediate gifts.

Those honored are: Mr. and Mrs. James H. Adams ’923 Keith and Valerie Alessi John C. Allen ’62 Oliver B. Andrews Jr. ’925 Anonymous ’50B Bernard B. Bossard ’56 Ann Lee Saunders Brown Robert F. Buchanan ’924 Bruce B. Cameron Jr. ’38 Daniel D. Cameron ’42 Camp-Younts Foundation B. Lewis Clark Jr. ’923 Maureen and George Collins ’62 Lt. Col. Albert D. Davis ’35 Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Davis ’930 E. Stuart James Grant Ethyl Corporation Angeline P. Ferebee J. Smith Ferebee ’927 Mr. and Mrs. P. Wesley Foster Jr. ’56

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John G. Gamble ’918 Charles B. Gilbert ’921 Bruce and Nancy Gottwald ’54 Bill and Libby Gottwald, Jr. ’43 Pamela B. and Elmon T. Gray ’46 Mr. and Mrs. J. Clyde Hooker ’42 Frank A. Liddell Jr. ’49B Eugenio Lopez Jr. ’51 Charlie and True Luck ’55 Mr. and Mrs. James S. Magoffin ’39 Dr. and Mrs. O. Hunter McClung Jr. ’35 Lizora S. and J. Clifford Miller Jr. ’928 Mr. and Mrs. G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Moore ’922 Alfred A. McKethan ’930 Stanley R. Navas ’41 Mary Moody Northen ’70 (Honorary) Mr. and Mrs. Laurence L. Oakes ’917 Dr. John B. Payne III ’58 David B. Perrin ’925

W. H. Pettigrew ’933 Mr. and Mrs. George G. Phillips Jr. ’60 Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Raeburn ’51 Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Reveley ’43 John and Jane Roberts Robert B. Rust Jr. ’934 J. Larry Rutherford ’67 Lucy P. and E.A. “Mike” Sale Jr. ’919 Mr. and Mrs. James C. Sansberry ’916 Jane Quinn Saunders Thomas A. and Jordan Saunders III ’58 Patricia C. and Stephen H. Sewell Jr. ’60 Howard V. Shipley ’921 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Stanley Jr. ’47 Henry M. and Gerda Stewart ’35 Dolly Hardee Turman Solon B. Turman ’920 Luly and Don Wilkinson ’61 To Honor S. B. Witt Jr. ’918, Given by S.B. Witt III ’58

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. How “Mr. VMI” Used Planned Giving Visitors to VMI’s Moody Hall often pause in its lobby to look at a painting of a distinguished older gentleman who is holding a small, three-legged stool on which is emblazoned the VMI monogram. It is somewhat incongruous among the uniformed portraits and military prints. Those whose curiosity is spurred by the painting turn their attention to the citation from the Senate of Virginia that extols the virtues of the painting’s subject: Giles H. Miller Jr. ’924.

Those who knew Miller – and there were many, because he was 102 years old when he died, as VMI’s oldest living alumnus, in October 2005 – were familiar with his many accomplishments as a banker and as an active citizen in Culpeper, Virginia, and throughout the commonwealth. For members of the VMI family, however, he was widely known as “Mr. VMI.” He was known by this title for many good reasons, such as his frequent presence on Post and his often solitary but always enthusiastic participation in reunion parades, carrying his class’s guidon.

He also originated the now-familiar metaphor of the VMI education being a three-legged stool, held up by academics, athletics and military.

Few might know, however, the extent of his service to VMI. He is the only person in VMI history to have served as president of the VMI Board of Visitors (1960-62), the VMI Keydet Club (197577) and The VMI Alumni Association (1967-69).

In these positions and as a trustee of the VMI Foundation, he proved himself a pioneer when it came to improving the support that the VMI Alumni Agencies provide the Institute. He was a founding member of the VMI Sportsmen’s Club, as the Keydet Club was known until the 1970s. In 1970, he also helped create the Alumni Annual Fund (known now as the Foundation Fund) and the Office of Alumni Publications and Public Relations within 166

The VMI Alumni Association.

His service to VMI and its agencies was such that he is one of the few people who received both the VMI Keydet Club’s Spirit of VMI Award and the VMI Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest honors of both organizations.

Also, in September 2003, the Giles H. Miller Jr. ’24 Basketball Award was established in his honor.

Not surprisingly, Miller was a generous supporter of all aspects of the VMI education. Although he passed away more than seven years ago, Miller continued that legacy of service and generosity in fall 2012 with a gift to the VMI Keydet Club Endowment. That might seem impossible until one realizes that it was given using a planned giving vehicle known as a charitable remainder trust.

Terrie Conrad, the VMI Foundation’s vice president of Planned Giving, described such a trust. “Essentially, it is a way that a donor can provide income for

beneficiaries, like children or grandchildren, for a certain amount of time at the end of which the remainder of the trust is then donated to a designated charity.”

Conrad continued, “Although the trust is irrevocable, meaning that, as soon as a donor assigns assets to a trust, they cannot be removed from it, the donor and the beneficiaries gain substantial tax advantages.”

In Miller’s case, he established the charitable remainder trust (CRT) 20 years ago with the instruction that it be dissolved in two decades and the money directed to the support of VMI. At press time, the value of the CRT is estimated to be approximately $780,000.

“Mr. Miller’s gift comes at an excellent time,” said Greg Cavallaro ’84, chief executive officer of the VMI Keydet Club. “The Institute has assigned a high priority to the building of endowments related to athletics, and this gift helps VMI get closer to its goal. Appropriately, therefore, the Keydet Club will use this gift to create the Giles H. Miller Jr. ’24 Athletic Scholarship so that the man so many knew as ‘Mr. VMI’ will be forever remembered and honored for his service and generosity to the Institute.”

According to Conrad, Giles Miller also provided an example of the power of planned giving. “Charitable remainder trusts are just one of the numerous planned-giving vehicles that can be used to help VMI,” she said. “Anyone who wants to realize substantial benefits for his or her family, as well as make a significant charitable donation to the Institute, should investigate thoroughly the full range of them.

“Any member of the VMI family who is interested in using planned giving to help the Institute should check our own planned giving web page, Giles H. Miller Jr. ’924 in November 1986 after being presented with the Spirit of www.vmilegacy.com, or contact me VMI Award, the VMI Keydet Club’s highat tconrad@vmiaa.org or 1-800/444est honor.

1839, ext. 238,” she concluded.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. The Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation Supports Stonewall Jackson House and VMI Museums Family The Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation of Charlottesville, Virginia, was founded in 1953 by the late Jay W. Johns, who greatly admired Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson for their prowess as commanders and, even more so, their distinguished traits of character.

Since both Lee and Jackson were involved in higher education, the foundation’s primary effort is the administration of a program that increases educational opportunities for young Virginians.

It does so by providing college scholarships that are awarded through an annual essay competition. Scholarships are given for outstanding essays “which demonstrate an appreciation of the exemplary character and soldierly virtues of Generals Lee and Jackson.”

The foundation also supports other activities, including the Stonewall Jackson House. The foundation’s current president, John P. Ackerly III, boasts three uncles who are VMI graduates: Blandy Clarkson ’914, head coach of the undefeated “Flying Squadron” of 1920 and VMI’s athletic director from 1926-46; James Clarkson ’923; and Ralph Clarkson ’925. Ackerly recently answered some questions about why the Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation supports VMI, as follows:

Answer: The war was one of the pivotal events in American history, and there is a tremendous interest in the Civil War throughout the country.

It seems that a new book related to the war is published every day.

Stonewall Jackson is considered to be one of the best generals in the Civil War. So, it is natural that he remains a featured figure in our history.

Question: For how long has the Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation supported the Stonewall Jackson House?

Answer: The Lee-Jackson Foundation established the Jackson House as a museum in 1954, and even after giving the house to a local preservation group, the foundation continued to support the site in significant ways, beginning with the $100,000 challenge grant in 1978 to help pay for the initial restoration of the property.

Question: Most people see Stonewall Jackson primarily as a military commander. The Stonewall Jackson House focuses on him as a professor, a citizen and a family man. Why is this important?

Answer: Being a house museum, the Stonewall Question: Why is Stonewall Jackson still a Jackson House can emphasize what you might call significant figure in American history?

Jackson’s “civilian characteristics.” It is important

“Few foundations provide unrestricted operating support to museums. The Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation is a wonderful example of one that does. I think this demonstrates the foundation’s understanding of the real needs of institutions like the Stonewall Jackson House.

“There is a deep bond between the foundation and the Stonewall Jackson House that goes back more than 60 years to the creation of both organizations. In 1954, one year after its creation, the Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation acquired Thomas Jackson’s home and opened it to the public. This effort directly led to the creation of the historic house museum we have today. We are grateful for the foundation’s founding vision and look forward to continuing our mutual commitment to Gen. Jackson and his home that has been so productive.”

The Stonewall Jackson House in Lexington, Virginia.

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– Col. Keith Gibson ’77, Executive Director, VMI Museums

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. to do so, because it brings people to a deeper appreciation of the whole man and the times in which he lived.

or, worse, being sold. Furthermore, it allows for economies on common services.

Question: What benefits do you see in the Stonewall Jackson House joining the VMI Museums family?

Question: Why is it important to the foundation to continue its support of the Stonewall Jackson House?

Answer: First, it is a great fit, considering the presence of Jackson on VMI’s Post. The merger of the Stonewall Jackson House with VMI Museums also provides economic stability for the house. No one needs to worry now about the house closing

Answer: First and foremost, it fits our mission of promoting the character of both Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

Second, our support helps keep the Stonewall Jackson House in top condition during the years when visitation declines.

Fall Reunion Campaigns Raise Initial Total of $1.5 Million Each year, during the first and second fall reunion weekends, the classes celebrating their 25th and 10th Reunions present VMI with the initial proceeds of their respective reunion campaigns.

In 2012, the class of 1987 and the class of 2002 continued this tradition on Sept. 15th and Oct. 6th, respectively. For both classes, fundraising continued until Dec. 31, 2012.

Class of ’87 Check Presentation Photo at right, above: Representing the class of 1987 as it presented its initial 25th Reunion gift of $1,301,987 were, from left, the two co-chairmen of the Class of 1987 Reunion Campaign, William J. Wanovich and Michael W. Maxwell, and class agent and chairman of the Class of 1987 Reunion Committee, C. Ernest Edgar IV. Accepting the gift on behalf of VMI was the superintendent, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, far right. Walton M. Jeffress Jr. ’68, president of the VMI Foundation, far left, and Robert A. Heely ’69, president of The VMI Alumni Association, left, accepted the gift on behalf of the VMI Alumni Agencies.

Class of ’02 Check Presentation Photo at right, below: Presenting their class’s 10th Reunion campaign gift of $269,200.20, which came from 120 Brother Rats or 34% of the class, were, from left, Reuben F. Trant; Matthew S. Thompson, co-class agent and Reunion Campaign Committee chairman; Michael K. Entsminger; Edward B. Witherell; and Jason Breeding, co-class agent and chairman

of the Class of 2002 Reunion Committee. Robert A. Heely ’69, president of The VMI Alumni Association, far left, and Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, far right, accepted the gift on behalf of the VMI Alumni Agencies and the Institute, respectively. Both photos by Julie Rivera.

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

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VMI 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 Aug. 12 through Sept. 12, 2012.

Col. John A. Augustine III ’40, USAF 22nd Bomb Group Association Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Carlin Mrs. Robert H. Deaderick Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Dewan Mr. Robert E. Martin Mr. Sol W. Rawls Jr. ’40 Mr. John B. Wells

Mr. William W. Berry ’54 Mr. Felix E. Deacon III ’77 and Mrs. Deacon Lt. Col. J.D.P. Fuller Jr. ’54, USAF (Ret) Mr. E. Jeff Robertson II ’54 Scott & Stringfellow Inc. William O. Turner Jr. ’54, Ph.D.

Mr. George T. Black Jr. ’52 Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Lindsay U. Bruce Jr. Mr. Douglas P. Bartlett

Mr. Charles F. Byrd Sr. 55 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret) and Mrs. Tait

Mr. Peter R. Candler ’71

Mr. Raymond C. Cullen ’66 Mr. R. Bruce Gregory ’69

Col. William H. Dabney ’61, USMC Lt. Col. Michael S. Castellano ’95, USMC Mr. Thomas A. Saunders III ’58 and Mrs. Saunders

Col. Charles H. Dayhuff Jr. ’931, USA Lt. Col. Charles H. Dayhuff III ’59, USAR (Ret)

Deceased Brother Rats – Class of 1972 Mr. Lawrence E. Houseworth ’72

Mr. Timothy J.P. DeSalvo ’78 Mr. Wadsworth Bugg III ’78 Ms. Caryl Ryan

Mr. Richey S. Dickson ’50B Mr. John C. McCoid II

Cpl. Alan L. Diedricksen ’66, USMC Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Col. Herbert N. Dillard Jr. ’34 Mr. Carson L. Tucker ’70

Mrs. June B. Dillard Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz ’00, ANG Mr. David D. Troxell ’02

Mr. William L. Ginder ’71

Mr. Webster M. Chandler Jr. ’46 Mrs. Nathaniel Beaman III Ms. Ann D. Brockenbrough Mr. and Mrs. Brian N. Friedman Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Lawrence Mr. Lawrence N. Mauck Jr. ’46 and Mrs. Mauck Bruce & Kelly Tunno and Patrick Byrne ’13

Dr. and Mrs. L.A. Colquitt Dr. Landon A. Colquitt IV

Col. James P. Connolly II ’51, USMC Mr. John S. Gray ’51

Mr. W. John Cowart ’40 Mrs. Robert H. Deaderick

Mr. George T. Cowherd Jr. ’51 Mrs. George T. Cowherd Jr.

Mr. William E. Crumpler ’53 Mr. W. Scott Crumpler ’82

Mr. Ira C. Crytzer Jr. ’49C Col. Maximilian Lamont ’49C, USAF (Ret)

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Lt. Jefferson S. Dotson ’66, USAF Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

The Honorable M. Patton Echols Jr. ’46 Mr. H. Waldo Forster Jr. ’46

Mrs. Nancy C. Eliason Mr. Lawrence N. Mauck Jr. ’46 and Mrs. Mauck

H. Lee Fleshood ’64, Ph.D. Buzz and Jane Birzenieks ’64 Col. James H. Brittingham ’64, USAF (Ret) Col. John R. Cavedo ’64, USA (Ret) Col. Thomas W. Davis ’64 Mr. Parker W. Duncan Jr. ’64 W.J. Kitchen Jr. ’64, D.Sc. Mr. C.P. MacDonald III ’64 Mr. William A. McVey ’64 Mr. Michael Kevin Murphy ’64 Mr. Thomas C. Myers ’64 Mr. Thomas E. Sebrell IV ’64 Mr. J.V. Taylor Jr. ’64 Mr. John S. Thornton Jr. ’64 Mr. Gary T. Thrasher ’64 Mr. William E. Welsh ’64

Mr. Douglas C. France III ’71 Class of 1970

Lt. Col. John R. Frankeberger ’52, USA Col. Clarence J. Brauner Jr. ’52, USAR

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

William & Isabella Gearhart Mr. James D. Gearhart ’71

James Samuel Gillespie III ’94 Col. and Mrs. George Piegari

Mrs. Bridget Goode Mr. John Goode ’81

1st Lt. Douglas B. Green III ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Col. Oscar W. Gupton Mrs. Clentis M. Gupton

Mr. Lomax Gwathmey Jr. ’58 Mr. G. Brooke Doggett ’58

Lt. Harry B. Hambleton III ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Guy H. Haskins Jr. ’43 Mrs. Guy H. Haskins Jr.

Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove Jr. Bank of Clarke County Mr. Damian S. Barnes The Kevin L. Beale Family: Beth, Kevin, Thornton and Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Beattie Jr. Mr. McGuire Boyd Brandywine Realty Trust’s Richmond Regional Office Mr. Lemuel W. Cheatham Commonwealth Architects Mr. and Mrs. Steven M. Edmonds Mr. and Mrs. David B. Goode Ms. Essie B. Gordon Mr. Bruce C. Gottwald Sr. ’54 Mr. Thomas E. Gottwald ’83 Mr. and Mrs. Patrick D. Hanley Jil and Hiter Harris Mrs. Christie G. Hartsock Mr. Ewen J. Hill ’51 and Mrs. Hill Mrs. Sarah C. Hoggard Mr. and Mrs. H. Winston Holt III Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Innes Mrs. Catesby B. Jones Mr. Clinton E. Jones Jr. and Ms. Sylvia Whaley Lt. Gen. John W. Knapp ’54 MWV Facilities Family of Julian N. Major III ’69 Ms. Stasia M. McDowell Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Merhige Sr. Mr. Robert S. Miller ’53

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mrs. Nancy C. Mitchell Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Modena Bill, Brenda and Kristen Morris Mr. William T. Nolley ’55 Mr. Newton A. Perry Mr. and Mrs. Douglas E. Quarles III Mr. and Mrs. J. William Reid Mr. John B. Schroth ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Bob Smalley T.J. Class of ’46 Mr. Richard G. Tilghman Ms. Anita G. Towell Virginia Bankers Association Mr. and Mrs. Cameron D. Warner Jr. Ms. Mary P. Williams Mr. Vincent A. Wood III ’81

Lt. Col. Dale H. Heely ’40, USMC Mr. Robert A. Heely ’69

B. Richard Hill ’68, D.D.S. Richard H. Wood ’68, D.D.S.

Mr. Edwin Y. Hines ’66 Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. William C. Hope III ’62 Betty L. Barrack and Sarah Jones Mr. and Mrs. Andrew D. Bogle Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Callaghan Dehnert, Clarke & Co. PC Ms. Betty Parker Featherston Mr. Dennis Johnson Mrs. Barbara B. Watson

Lt. William D. Huyler Jr. ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Thomas B. Inge Jr. ’59 Mr. Mark W. Williams ’85

Col. Kurt W. Iversen ’85 Mr. J. Clifford Foster IV ’93 Mr. Kenneth W. Iversen ’54

Mr. Walter M. Ivkovich Jr. ’70 Mr. and Mrs. Paul Adams Jr. Mr. Robert R. Copty ’70 Mr. Bob Diglovine Mr. G.T. Durvin Jr. ’70 Ms. Ann M. Krotec-Baltalini Ms. Sheila Leydig Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Leydig Mr. Matt McDaniel Dr. Pete Milos Mr. Edgar J.T. Perrow ’70 Mr. Mike Rebich

Col. Royce E. Jones ’55 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. David N. Kaliski ’64 Class of 1969

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Brig. Gen. John H. Kern ’70, USA Mr. Robert R. Copty ’70 Mr. Richard H. Knight Jr. ’70 and Mrs. Knight

Clark King, Ph.D. Mr. J. Clifford Foster IV ’93

1st Lt. John H. Lattin Jr. ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. J. Marvin Lekstrum ’55 Mr. Ronald M. Bryan ’55 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. Lawrence R. Lenz ’69 Mr. Paul D.C. Marks Jr. ’69

Col. Dennis H. Long ’68, USA Col. James D. Polley IV ’68, USA (Ret)

Mr. Phillip B. Marley ’63 Col. Ronald W. Marley ’59, USA (Ret) Mr. Howard I. Reynolds ’63

James D. Massie ’55, M.D. Mr. David T. Massie ’92

Capt. Donald J. Mattaro Jr. ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. L.N. Mauck Jr. ’46 Anonymous Mrs. Margaret R. Christian Mr. Tazewell Ellett III ’44 and Mrs. Ellett Mr. A. Brooks Hock Mr. John J. Marshall ’77 Ms. Janet H. Mauck Courtney and Herb Pelley Mr. and Mrs. Morton G. Thalhimer Mr. and Mrs. Walton W. Vaughan Jr. Mr. William J. Wallace III Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Welbourn III Ms. Nancy A. White John Williams ’45 and Mary Williams Mrs. Thomas E. Williams Mr. and Mrs. George F. Winks III

Mr. Walter R. McCarthy Jr. ’53 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

John H. McClung ’44, M.D. Class of 1944 Mrs. Clentis M. Gupton Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones

John W. McDowell Jr. ’55, Ph.D. Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. J.B. McKemie Jr. ’55 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. Richard W. Moncure ’40 Col. and Mrs. Thomas B. Moncure ’72, USAF

Lt. Daniel L. Mullins ’66, USA Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. Patrick Noon Mr. John P. Noon ’71

Mr. Robert Novakowski Dr. Frank Novakowksi

Mr. Robert M. Osborn ’45 The Class of 1945

Mr. Robert H. Patterson Jr. ’49C Mr. Robert Adams Albemarle Foundation Mr. Bradley L. Alexander Mrs. Frances W. Arehart Mr. and Mrs. David L. Armistead Mr. Frank B. Atkinson Mr. Tyler W. Bishop Mr. John M. Blankenship ’80 and Mrs. Blankenship Mr. William D. Boan Mrs. Roberta B. Bocock Mr. and Mrs. Mark T. Bowles Austin and Jane Brockenbrough III Mr. L. Preston Bryant Jr. Mr. Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Catlett Mr. Robert R. Copty ’70 Mr. Peter J. Covington Col. Edward P. Davis ’49C, USA (Ret) Mr. Felix E. Deacon III ’77 and Mrs. Deacon Mr. Christpher D. Donald Mr. Frank J. Donatelli Mr. Walter Dunn Mr. David E. Evans Mr. and Mrs. John W. Fain Mr. William A. Forrest Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Forrest Ms. Susan K. French Mrs. Carla S. Gibson Mr. Floyd D. Gottwald Jr. ’43 Mr. Thomas E. Gottwald ’83 Dr. William M. Gottwald Mr. James H. Hodges Mr. William H. Hoofnagle III ’67 and Mrs. Hoofnagle Ms. Margaret F. Howerton Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Innes Mrs. Robert D. Kilpatrick Mr. John E. Laurino Mrs. Theresa K. Lee Mr. Maclean Limehouse Mr. Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41 and Mrs. Louthan Mr. Charles S. Luck III ’55 and Mrs. Luck Ms. Amy Manning Mr. Gary C. McGee Mr. Thomas J. McGonigle

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. John H. Milne Mr. G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 Mr. James W. Morris III ’55 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Newell Jr. Mr. Jimmy W. Nokes Ms. Prince C. Norfleet Mr. Robert H. Patterson III ’79 and Mrs. Patterson Mrs. Mary Bryan Perkins Dr. and Mrs. Watson O. Powell Jr. Mrs. Vincent J. Ragunas Mr. R. Coleman Rice III ’90 Mr. George A. Roche Mr. Raymond F. Scannell Jr. Mr. and Mrs. D. French Slaughter R. Gordon Smith, Esquire Mr. and Mrs. James Stutts T Rowe Price Foundation Inc. Tee Taggart and Jack Turner Col. and Mrs. Douglas E. Taylor Mr. John W. Trumbo ’48 and Mrs. Trumbo Mr. and Mrs. James E. Ukrop Ms. Betty G. Ware Dr. and Mrs. H. Hudnall Ware III

Mr. Vernon W. Patterson Jr. ’49B Capt. Benjamin Hassell ’04, USA and William K. Hassell Mr. S.W. Nelms ’49B

Mr. John E. Poindexter ’44 Basic Construction Company LLC Mr. and Mrs. George Goodson Jr. Dr. John R. Hogg Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Mr. Erah H. Kliewer Ms. Laura E. Kostel Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Meehan Mr. S.W. Nelms ’49B Mrs. Nelson T. Overton Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Palmer III Pembroke Construction Company Inc. E.C. Pendleton, Janet K. Pendleton and Family Mr. W. Ballard Preston Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis S. Stone Jr. Mrs. Sam E. Waddill Jr.

1st Lt. Chase Prasnicki, USA Mr. T. Bryan Barton ’68 Blackbaud Inc. BNY Mellon Mr. Jon Bolt Mr. Robert R. Copty ’70 Mr. and Mrs. Rick A. Dietrich Mr. Derek Drockelman Mr. Alan Eager Mr. J. Clifford Foster IV ’93 Mr. Richard L. Goodall ’66 Mr. Stephen E. Hupp ’84 Mr. Charles S. Luck III ’55 and Mrs. Luck George C. Marshall Foundation Maury River Middle School Faculty and Staff

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Mr. John C. Miller II ’61 Mr. Steven D. Mills ’94 Maj. Gen. Stephen H. Sewell Jr. ’60, USAR (Ret) Mrs. Tammy H. Shomo Mr. Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait Mr. William E. Welsh ’64 Mrs. Frances M. Williams

Mr. Donald F. Prystaloski ’63 Warren T. Anderson ’63, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas G. Boyd Col. James H. Brittingham ’64, USAF (Ret) Ms. Cynthia Budig Dr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Burke Tom and Ann Marie Chambers Mr. John S. Cockey Jr. ’63 Mike Curley ’63 and Peg Curley Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. DePhilip Mr. and Mrs. Harold L. Ericson Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Fetzer Jr. Mr. H. Hobbs Goodwin ’63 Mr. and Mrs. James P. Gordon Mrs. Patricia Harootyan Ms. Nancy Harvey Dr. Nabil Hassan Ms. Darlene Lampley Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Landskroener Mr. and Mrs. P. Wayne Lauderback Mr. Daniel T. Leech Mr. R. Dennis Marchant ’63 Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Mentzer Mr. Harry A. Meredith Mr. G. Gilmer Minor III ’63 Mr. Thomas C. Myers ’64 Mr. Jeffrey R. Peterson Ms. Gayle L. Reed Mr. Howard I. Reynolds ’63 Mr. and Mrs. Kevin L. Rudolph Mr. and Mrs. Stephen W. Shick Ms. Nancy A. Wood

Mr. Vincent C. Scott Jr. ’66 Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Jay R. Sculley ’62, Ph.D. Mr. Spencer H. Elmore ’62 Col. and Mrs. George Piegari

Mr. Nicholas J. Servidio ’55 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Lt. Col. Howard J. Simpson ’47, USA Mrs. Nathaniel Beaman III Ms. Ann D. Brockenbrough Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones

Mr. William D. Sink ’58 Mr. Timothy A. Cordle ’79

Mr. Frederick M. Smith ’69 Col. Paul A. Curs ’69, USAFR (Ret) Mr. Gary W. Mackey ’69

W. Mayo Smith Jr. ’38, Ph.D. Mrs. W. Mayo Smith

Col. Harold B. Snyder Jr. ’57, USA Ms. Carolyn W. Yates

Mr. Joseph A. Sosbee Jr. ’41 Class of 1941

Maj. Gen. John W. Squire ’917, NG Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mr. George W. Squires ’68 Col. James D. Polley IV ’68, USA (Ret)

Col. Robert Steidtmann ’38, USMC Mrs. Elizabeth S. McNichols

Capt. Rodney H. Stone ’66, USAF Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Mrs. Leontine M. Trappey Mr. Randolph J. Trappey Jr. ’50B

Franklin V. Tweedy ’50B, M.D. Mr. Jack W. Nurney Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Nurney

Mr. Frank B. Walter ’55 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Col. Kenneth A. Walters ’87, USAF Anthony S. Brads ’87, Ed.D.

Mr. Douglas R. Webb ’52 Mrs. Douglas R. Webb

Mr. Larry W. Wertz ’67 Mr. Warren H. Grasty ’70

Mr. Hugh V. White Jr. ’54 Mr. Robert B. Barnes Jr. ’54 and Mrs. Barnes John and Joanne Berkley Mr. Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Catlett Collegiate School Mr. Bruce C. Gottwald Sr. ’54 Mr. Harry G. Lee ’47 Mr. Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41 and Mrs. Louthan Mr. Charles S. Luck III ’55 and Mrs. Luck Mr. Howard T. Macrae Jr. The Maida Family Mr. G. Gilmer Minor III ’63

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. Jack Molenkamp The Richard Posey Family Mr. R. Coleman Rice Jr. ’49 and Mrs. Rice Mr. R. Coleman Rice III ’90 Mr. Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 Mr. Joseph M. Spivey III ’57 Sally (Deaderick) and Gary E. Thompson Mr. John K. Tiller Jr. ’54 William O. Turner Jr. ’54, Ph.D. Mr. and Mrs. James E. Ukrop Mrs. Lori Verbel (David, Justine, Lori, Monique and Nicole) Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57 Henry G. White Jr. ’54, M.D., and Mrs. White Edward J. Wiley Jr. ’52, M.D.

Mr. Richard M. White ’47 Mr. William A. Hallett Jr. ’47

William W. Whitehurst ’54, M.D. Mr. John K. Tiller Jr. ’54

2nd Lt. Mark C. Whittier ’66, USMC Mr. George D. Dyer ’66

Lt. David L. Williams ’91, USN Mr. Hans C. Peeders ’91

Joan Williams Lt. Col. James L. Williams Jr. ’83

Lt. Mark R. Wilson ’88, USN Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Wilson Jr.

Mr. John H. Woodfin Sr. ’61 Mr. J. Clifford Foster IV ’93

Col. R.T. Woodman ’50B, USA Mr. Yerbury G. Burnham ’50B and Mrs. Burnham Mr. Thomas D. Kelly ’50B and Mrs. Kelly Mr. Macon W. Michaux ’48B Mr. Jack W. Nurney Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Nurney

Mr. DeWitt S. Worrell ’62 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Archie Mr. Spencer H. Elmore ’62 Mr. J. Clifford Foster IV ’93 Col. and Mrs. George Piegari

Mr. Gregory R. Wright Jr. ’95 Mr. Thomas Citrano

Capt. Luke C. Wullenwaber ’02, USA Mr. Gregory G. McDearmon ’99

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Matching Gifts The following companies or related foundations have made contributions to VMI, matching the gifts of alumni and friends listed under each.

These gifts were received during the time frame of Aug. 12 through Sept. 12, 2012.

Alcoa Foundation Mr. T.F. Drumwright Jr. ’50B

Altria Group Inc. Mr. William K. Bhatta ’76 Mr. Heartwell L. Bradshaw ’76 Mr. Michael A. Moore ’78 Mr. John R. Munno ’84

American Electric Power Mr. and Mrs. William T. Holdren

American International Group Inc. Mr. John W. Frazer Jr. ’65

AT&T Foundation Mr. James M. Outland ’83

Bank of America Foundation Inc. Mr. Isaac B. Cecil ’06 Mr. Alfred B. Cramer IV ’79

Bechtel Foundation Mr. Hunter F. Taylor ’67

BHP Billiton Lt. Anthony N. Bravo ’01

The Boeing Company Col. Randolph M. Blanks ’67, USAF (Ret) Lt. Col. Marvin O. Herbaugh ’66, USA (Ret)

BP Foundation Inc. Mr. Frederick Davison Jr. ’75

C.B. Fleet Company Inc. Mr. W. Gregory Robertson ’65

Capital One Mr. Jason W. Ancarrow ’97

Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program Mr. Robert R. Laville ’51

CITGO Petroleum Corporation Mr. Paul J. McCusker ’83

Coca-Cola Company Mr. Daniel F. Wells ’67

Constellation Energy Group Inc. Mr. Edward M. Mosher Jr. ’92

Daiichi Sankyo Inc. Capt. Vince A. Morton ’86, USA (Ret)

Franklin Federal Savings and Loan Association Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Wiltshire Jr.

The General Electric Foundation Col. John W. Lowden Jr. ’51, USA (Ret)

The Medtronic Foundation Mr. Thomas F. Reimann ’88 Mr. Patrick M. Wilson ’78

The Merck Company Foundation Mr. William Terpeluk ’75

Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Wiltshire Jr.

Pitney Bowes Company Mr. Benjamin W.L. Semmes III ’88

Procter & Gamble Fund Col. Donald B. Kirchner ’70, USA (Ret) Mr. John P. Noon ’71 Mr. Reginald O. Smith ’84

The Prudential Foundation Mr. Ernest L. Martin ’59

Raytheon Company Mr. Joseph S. DeKeyrel ’86 Mr. Fredrick L. Jones ’77

Reynolds American Foundation Mr. Charles A. Brintle

State Farm Companies Foundation Mr. John D. Greene ’75

SunTrust Foundation Mr. Vincent A. Wood III ’81 Mr. Stephen M. Yarbrough ’90

Verizon Foundation Mr. Edgar R. Bare ’54 Mr. Edgar L. Brown Jr. ’53 Mr. Scott Lee Fraser ’74 Mr. Glen N. Jones ’78 Mr. Ralph T. Minor ’97 Mr. and Mrs. Louis D. Scarpa Mr. J.H. Van Deventer Jr. ’62 Mr. Michael C. Zirkle ’97

Wells Fargo Foundation Mr. John T. Piper

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB KEYDET CLUB Bossard ’56 Establishes New Scholarship

I

n fall 2012, Bernard B. Bossard ’56 signed an agreement that created a new scholarship within the Keydet Club – the Bernard B. Bossard ’56 Athletic Scholarship.

By doing so, he continued what is an amazing record of support for VMI. As a cadet, he was known for the long hours of study he invested, as he pursued his electrical engineering degree. That strong work ethic certainly helped him when, after Army service, he worked for the Bossard ’56 U.S. Army Research Laboratories and then RCA Communications, specializing in the development of radars and microwave communications.

In 1968, he left RCA to found National Electronic Laboratories, which developed various solid-state devices. The company merged with KMC Semiconductor in 1970, manufacturing microwave transmission devices and helping to develop a critical component for the Patriot air-defense missile.

In 1977, he joined Horizon House-Microwave, Inc. and I/ TTIC. At the former, he was responsible for publishing three publications related to the electronics industry, including The Journal of Electronic Defense, which had a combined circulation of 200,000. As president of I/TTIC, he oversaw the design and installation of various internet and microwave communications systems.

In the 1980s, while a partner in the Suite 12 Group, he invented and patented broadband wireless technology, including a revolutionary television system that could broadcast television, voice and data. He is a former executive vice president and chief technical officer of CellularVision USA, Inc. and CellularVision Technology & Telecommunications LP, which developed various applications for the technology. Because of his extensive knowledge and research in the telecommunications industry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) awarded his company with “pioneer’s preference” which ultimately resulted in ownership of the lucrative New York territory.

Between 1959 and 1994, he wrote more than 50 professional articles and delivered 11 formal papers to the FCC. He was a consultant on projects related to the manned space program, including Apollo, as well as to the National Security Agency. Due to the pioneering nature of his work, he has been awarded 11 patents.

Not surprisingly, Bossard is recognized as a leading American scientist. Popular Science recognized his achievements by presenting him its “Best of What’s New Award”

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in 1994. The following year, Popular Mechanics presented him with its Design and Engineering Award. He also received an FCC Pioneer Preference Award for his television system in the New York Metropolitan Area.

Naturally, his expertise and knowledge have been widely sought, and as a result, he was a guest lecturer at eight universities and received over 30 guest speaker invitations from technical groups in the field.

In addition to science and technology, he has taken an active interest in international affairs. His support of the State of Israel was recognized in 1998 when he was one of only two recipients of Israel’s 50th Anniversary Tribute Award; the other awardee was former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

He also has given VMI many years of volunteer service. From 1994-2002, he was a member of the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He took a year-long break and then joined the Keydet Club Board of Governors, serving through June 2009.

His colleagues on these boards are quick to praise the service he rendered. “I served with Bernie on the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees,” recalled VMI’s superintendent, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62. “He always was keenly interested in what would make VMI a better place to live and learn for cadets. The experience in business that he brought to the board of trustees gave us someone from whom we all learned a lot.”

Keydet Club President William A. Paulette ’69 said, “Unlike many of our board members, Bernie wasn’t an intercollegiate athlete as a cadet. But that didn’t matter to him, because he never saw what the Keydet Club does solely in terms of supporting VMI athletics.

For him, it is support for all of VMI and for every cadet, period.”

There is, however, one aspect of VMI to which Bossard does pay particular attention: its music programs. According to Col. John Brodie, VMI’s music director, Bossard has been a staunch supporter of VMI’s cadet-musicians. “He was a member of the band his entire cadetship,” said Brodie, “and he always told me that the band was ‘a great place’ for him.”

Bossard has sponsored numerous trips of the band and the Glee Club to New York City. Whenever he came to VMI, Brodie recalls, he would visit the band’s offices and pay close attention to its parade performances. In 2007, when he heard that the VMI Regimental Band had been selected to perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Bossard was determined to help raise money to support the band’s trip. “He first made a sizeable donation,” remembers Brodie. “Then, he challenged the VMI family to match it, and they did.” It is interesting to note, however, that he did not want people to know he had made the initial challenge gift.

According to Greg Cavallaro ’84, CEO of the VMI Keydet Club, who has worked with Bossard for decades, Bossard’s request for anonymity was quite normal. “When it comes to VMI, Bernie is never interested in getting credit. He focuses entirely on helping VMI and especially her cadets, faculty and coaches.”

Bossard has compiled an enviable record of giving in support of

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KEYDET CLUB VMI. “Bernie has been a very generous supporter of VMI basketball,” said Cavallaro. “He has supported academics in many ways, including the establishment of The Bossard ’56 and Nichols ’44 Electrical Engineering Scholarship for Merit. Typical of Bernie, he used the scholarship to honor someone else, specifically long-time professor Col. Lee Nichols ’44. His brick at the base of Stonewall Jackson’s statue in the front of Barracks – where those who have given VMI at least $1 million are recognized – is a well-deserved honor for his selflessness.”

As for the new scholarship, Cavallaro says, “Except for a preference that the scholarship be awarded to cadets from Pennsylvania, New

Jersey, Massachusetts or New York, he placed no restrictions on its use. That means that VMI can use the support it generates where it is most needed. This reflects Bernie’s understanding that giving VMI flexibility in using the money will increase its impact substantially.”

“The establishment of this scholarship adds another chapter to the long story of Bernie Bossard’s support of his beloved alma mater,” said Gen. Peay. “I thank him for his time as a volunteer and his generosity as a donor, both of which have contributed much to VMI’s advancement. I thank him, too, for the example of service to VMI that he has set for alumni and friends alike.”

Paulette Family Creates Endowed Scholarship at VMI The Paulette ’69 & ’05 Athletic Scholarship has been established through the generosity of William A. “Bill” Paulette ’69 and his son, William H. “Will” Paulette ’05.

Bonded in part by their collective love and appreciation for VMI and VMI athletics, they wish to assist the VMI Keydet Club with its efforts to ensure that scholarship funding is available for future generations of VMI cadet-athletes.

Bill Paulette, better known by Brother Rats and friends as “Bunny,” played baseball for the Keydets for four years and football for one year while earning his civil engineering degree at VMI. He is the founder and president of KBS Inc., one of the largest construction contractors in the mid-Atlantic region. He served on the VMI Board of Visitors from 200210, and in 2011, he was named president of the Keydet Club Board of Governors.

Will Paulette played baseball for four years at VMI and graduated with distinction, earning a bachelor’s degree in

English. He is a project manager with KBS Inc. and serves on the Keydet Club Board of Governors as an associate member.

The donors elected to not place any restrictions on the scholarship, so that VMI may use the available funds to recruit the best cadet-athletes. Ideal candidates are those who will be successful both on and off the fields of play and who exemplify attributes and characteristics for which the donors have modeled their lives and careers – spirit, determination and a commitment to excellence.

“Once again, Bill Paulette has stepped forward in support of our intercollegiate athletic program,” remarked Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent. “Through his contributions, both financially and in service to VMI as a member of the Board of Visitors for eight years and now as president of the Keydet Club, he has set a wonderful example for others … and now, he is joined in that legacy by his son, Will. The Institute is indebted to the Paulettes for their generosity.”

Classes of 1965 and 1969 Endow Athletic Scholarships The Keydet Club is pleased to announce that two endowed scholarships have been funded in the names of the classes of ’65 and ’69. These scholarships become part of the Keydet Club’s permanent endowment in support of athletic scholarships.

The class of 1965, in conjunction with its 45th Class Reunion in 2010 and in anticipation of its historic 50th Reunion in 2015, wishes to recognize its love for VMI and the memory of its deceased Brother Rats. The resulting endowed scholarship will be known as the Class of 1965 Memorial Athletic Scholarship at the Virginia Military Institute and will be awarded to a cadet who participates in a VMI Division I athletic program.

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As stated in the last issue of the Alumni Review (2012-Issue 4), the class of 1969 was the winner of the Keydet Club’s first ever VMI Alumni “Above & Beyond” Challenge, which was held in fiscal year 2012. Since the class of ’69 had the most participants giving a minimum of $100 “Above & Beyond” what they gave in fiscal year 2011, the class received a scholarship bearing its name from the Keydet Club – The Class of 1969 Athletic Scholarship at the Virginia Military Institute. It will be forever symbolic of the Brother Rat spirit and love for the Institute shared by members of the class.

The Class of 1969 Athletic Scholarship was established through a transfer of available funds totaling $50,000 from the VMI Keydet

Club and by an additional $50,000 which was added to the scholarship through the generosity of Brother Rat James P. Totten ’69 to encourage other Brother Rats to add their own support to the class fund.

Those interested in making a gift to either of these scholarships in honor or memory of a Brother Rat may do so by sending their tax-deductible contributions to: The VMI Keydet Club; P.O. Box 932; Lexington, Virginia 24450.

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

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB Rockbridge County Star Quarterback and USMA Graduate Chase Prasnicki Memorialized through New Scholarship In June 2012, 1st Lt. Stephen Chase Prasnicki, USA, was killed in action while serving with the 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province. Chase is the son of the VMI Alumni Agencies’ long-time chief financial officer, David Prasnicki, and Mrs. Debbie Arthur.

Shortly following Chase’s death, the former president of the VMI Foundation, Conrad M. Hall ’65, initiated an effort to establish a scholarship in Chase’s honor at VMI to which many members of the VMI family already have made generous gifts.

Chase was born in Lexington, Virginia, on Feb. 9, 1988. While at Rockbridge County High School, he was a solid student and a stand-out athlete as the school’s quarterback. In his senior year, he was recruited to the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) by legendary VMI alumnus, Coach Bobby Ross ’59. At West Point, he played three years as a backup quarterback before transitioning to defense and special teams. Playing as free safety against North Texas on Nov. 21, 2009, he made seven tackles in Army’s 17-13 victory. Chase excelled off the field, as well, making the Dean’s List six of his eight semesters at West Point.

After graduation in 2010, he served as a graduate assistant for the USMA Preparatory School football team during the 2010-11 academic year. In 2011, he reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course from which he graduated with honors.

Later that year, he earned the Army’s Basic Parachutist Badge and the coveted Ranger Tab. Assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in February 2012, Chase graduated from the U.S. Army Pathfinder School in Bamberg, Germany.

Thus, he earned three of the Army’s special skill badges in less than one year.

In recognition of his service in Afghanistan, the Army presented Lt. Prasnicki

with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge, along with other service and campaign medals.

Along with his wife, Emily (nee Nichols), and his parents, Chase is survived by two Chase Prasnicki, left, with his father, David siblings. The first is his sister, Prasnicki, the VMI Alumni Agencies chief fiLauren, who is a junior at nancial officer.

Longwood University, where she plays lacrosse. The second is his brother, Tyler ’15, who is a member of in the 2012-13 academic year, he also the VMI lacrosse team and is a scholarship earned academic stars as an economics Army ROTC cadet. A member of the cadre and business major during his Rat year.

The outpouring of support for the Prasnicki family from the VMI family since Chase’s death has been matched by generous contributions to the scholarship established in Chase’s honor. Known as the Stephen Chase Prasnicki Memorial Scholarship, it provides grant-in-aid assistance to a cadet-athlete who is a member of VMI’s football or lacrosse teams. Preference is given to a cadet-athlete who is a resident of Rockbridge County and/or who is an Army ROTC cadet-athlete. Cadet Clark Irvine ’13, a member of the VMI football team who plans on commissioning in the Army and attending law school, is the first recipient of the scholarship.

“All who knew Chase Prasnicki, his infectious smile and ‘can do’ attitude were effected by his tragic and senseless death.

This scholarship will forever perpetuate his memory and ensure that all he stood for, loved and represented – God, family, friends, Rockbridge County, USMA, the U.S. Army, football and a zest for life – will never be forgotten,” commented family friend and Keydet Club Chief Executive Officer Greg Cavallaro ’84.

Those interested in making a gift to the Chase Prasnicki in football uniform scholarship in honor of Chase and his with his U.S. Military Academy service may do so by sending their taxteammates. At West Point, he played three years as a backup quarterdeductible contribution to: VMI Keydet back before transitioning to defense Club; P.O. Box 932; Lexington, Virginia and special teams.

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VMI Keydet Club Mission Statement: To contribute to the SPIRIT and development of a successful Division I athletic program that benefits the whole of VMI. 2013-Issue 1

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KEYDET CLUB Life-long Friendship and Admiration Inspire Creation of Wong ’75 Baseball Scholarship Through gifts from Craig Floro and Vaughn Vasconcellos, the M. Kimo Wong ’75 Baseball Scholarship at the Virginia Military Institute was established in June 2012. It provides grant-in-aid for a cadet-athlete who is a member of VMI’s Division I baseball team. Floro and Vasconcellos are the administrators of the scholarship’s memo of understanding.

Floro and Vasconcellos have been lifelong friends of Wong.

Floro is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and is the chief executive officer of Ke’aki Technologies. Vasconcellos is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He founded Akimeka LLC and is an award-winning entrepreneur in the state of Hawaii.

M. Kimo Wong ’75 matriculated at VMI from Kailua, Hawaii, in 1971. He was a four-year member of the VMI baseball team, a three-year member of the Monogram Club and a one-year member of the VMI football team. Wong graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in English and accepted a commission into the U.S. Air Force. He served for 10 years as a captain in the Air Force Reserve. He holds the chartered life underwriter and chartered financial consultant designations which he earned from The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Wong is a senior vice president at Armed Forces Benefit Association/5-Star Life in Alexandria, Virginia. He is also president of the Alaka’ina Foundation in Hawaii, and he serves as a member of the VMI Keydet Club Board of Governors.

“Mr. Floro and Mr. Vasconcellos have provided a fitting tribute to their good friend, Kimo Wong, with the establishment of the Wong Scholarship,” noted Keydet Club Vice President Donnie Ross ’74. “I was a baseball teammate of Kimo’s during the ’73 and ’74 seasons. He is a passionate and devoted alumnus, as evidenced by his genuine support and love for the Institute.”

Showalter ’82 Establishes Football Scholarship James Carlton “Carl” Showalter Jr. ’82 from Charlotte, North Carolina, has established the James Carlton Showalter Jr. ’82 Football Scholarship at VMI. Showalter matriculated from Savannah, Georgia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. An athletic scholarship recipient, he played football all four years of his cadetship. During his first class season, the Keydets defeated top foes Virginia Polytechnic Institute (known as Virginia Tech), Army, William & Mary, and The Citadel. Showalter was Monogram Club president during his first class year. He also served as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers for four years, and he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Throughout his entire professional career, Showalter has served as president of his family business, Showalter Construction Co. Inc., in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“Carl achieved success at VMI in the classroom, on the gridiron and in his professional life with Showalter Construction Company,” said Keydet Club Vice President Donnie Ross ’74. “He has chosen to establish this scholarship so that future cadet-athletes will have the same opportunities as he did at VMI. The Keydet Club is eternally grateful to Carl for answering our call to give back to the Institute”

Scott P. McCumber ’88 and Brian K. McCumber Memorial Athletic Scholarship Established In July 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin H. McCumber ’65 chose to honor their late sons with the establishment of the Scott P. McCumber ’88 and Brian K. McCumber Memorial Athletic Scholarship at VMI. The endowed fund will provide grant-in-aid for a cadet-athlete who is a member of VMI’s Division I football, basketball or baseball team.

“Irwin McCumber is a great friend, and naturally, as Brother Rats, we go back a long way,” said VMI Athletic Director Donny White ’65. “Irwin is a true VMI man. He loves the Institute and knows, as I do, that athletic scholarships are the lifeblood of our NCAA sports, and we need endowed money now more than ever. I am very pleased that Irwin has decided to honor future cadet-athletes with this scholarship,” White concluded.

Photo at left: Keydet Club Vice President Doug “Coach” Bartlett, left, with legendary college coach and now college football commentator Lou Holtz, right. Holtz was the guest speaker at the 10th Annual Gene Corrigan Golf Tournament in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Oct. 7, 2012.

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