Alumni Review 2013 Issue 2 by VMI Alumni Agencies

VMI

ALUMNI REVIEW 2013-Issue 2

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Inauguration Parade Jan. 21, 2013

Contents

VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE Alumni Review 2013-Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE . . .

This issue includes class notes and articles covering the time period of Nov. 2, 2012, to Feb. 15, 2013.

FEATURES 7

160

Inauguration Parade 2013

11 In Memory of Ellett III ’44, Hallett Jr. ’47 and Thackston ’55 14 Legacy of Valor in the Air by Williamson ’60 17 Carson ’64: Helps Local Kids 19 Evans ’02: Business for Ugandans 21 Waldman and Wagner ’12: Research Lab Internships

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NEWS AND UPDATES 3

Alumni in Theater: An Update

Our Alumni Serving

Association/Chapter News

Class Notes

146 Births, Marriages, Degrees 146 Most Senior Alumni 149 Taps 158 Alumni News

DEPARTMENTS 2

156 Association Directory 160 The Institute 166 VMI Athletics 180 The Keydet Club

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PUBLISHER The President of The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. Editor: Hope Hennessey Editorial Assistant: Brenda Stoner PUBLISHING OFFICE The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., Alumni Review Office VMI Moody Hall, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450; 540/464-7224 review@vmiaa.org PRINTER Progress Printing Co., Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia The VMI Alumni Review (USPS 954-740) is published four times yearly in fall, winter, spring and summer by The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450. It is sent to alumni and friends of the Institute without subscription. ATTENTION POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450 Periodicals postage paid at Lynchburg, VA. PURPOSE OF THE VMI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION To organize the alumni, the better to keep alive the memories of Institute life and—by their united efforts—to aid in the promotion of the welfare of the Institute, and the successful prosecution of its educational purposes. VMI ALUMNI AGENCIES TELEPHONE NUMBERS The VMI Alumni Association: The VMI Foundation: The VMI Keydet Club:

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

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

President’s Letter

168 The Foundation

Volume 90, No. 1

183

ON OUR COVER The Corps of Cadets marched in the Presidential Inaugural Parade on Jan. 21, 2013, in Washington, D.C. All cover photos by VMI, Kevin Remington. Correction: The persons on the cover of the last issue were Col. Dave Honeywell ’71 and his wife, Donna, instead of Dr. and Mrs. Kent Schlussel ’70. Our apologies to both couples.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Greetings from the Institute! In this Review, we honor two extraordinary men, both dedicated to serving the Institute: the late Tazewell Ellett III ’44, who was the 48th president of The VMI Alumni Association, and the late William A. Hallett Jr. ’47, also a former Alumni Association president and a former trustee of the VMI Foundation, as well as a recipient of the VMI Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award. Their obituaries appear in the front section of this Review. Also in the front section are an article and photos of the Corps, as they assembled and marched in the January 2013 presidential inauguration parade. We were all very proud of the cadets and their performance that day. As in previous issues, this Review includes feature articles about the following alumni: •

J. Bolling Williamson ’60 has contributed another excellent article to the Review. This one is titled “Legacy of Valor in the Air.” In it, he writes about five heroic alumni who were awarded the Air Force Cross. Each story that he tells is fascinating and reminds me of our proud heritage.

•

There is also an interesting article about Donald D. Carson ’64, who, in the years prior to his retirement, identified a need in his New Mexico community to bring math and science programs to children who lived in under-serviced regions of the state. Read how he and others were able to do this with great success.

•

Don’t miss the article about Conor Evans ’02 whose non-profit organization, “The 31 Lengths Campaign,” uses business to create sustainable opportunities in third world countries. Specifically, his group provides high school students with a business education and resources to overcome poverty.

•

There’s also an article about two class of 2012 graduates, 2nd Lieutenants Craig Waldman, USMC, and David Wagner, USAF, who were fortunate to land internships at two premier, national defense research laboratories.

Heely ’69 and wife Lush Heely

The VMI Foundation announces its newest trustees in the Foundation section of this Review, and in the Keydet Club section, there is an article about the Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet at which Capt. William Lyles ’02, USA, former Keydet baseball star and recent war hero, was the guest speaker. Also in the Keydet Club section, read about the dedication of Fiorini ’64 Field, named after Albert E. Fiorini ’64, who has established the largest, individuallyfunded endowment in VMI athletics history. As in the past, I remind you to view 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, let me extend an invitation to each of you to visit Post, look up a Brother Rat or become involved locally. Chapter leaders and class agents serve to assist you in connecting with alumni, and we benefit greatly from their hard work. We know you are proud of your school and hope you will have an opportunity to rekindle those memories of the Institute through these pages and alumni who are near. Rah Virginia Mil!

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

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Photo at right: Vic Tran ’93 wrote to his class agent, Bill Cox ’93: “I am assigned to the 41st Calvary, Unit 1-9 Head Hunters SFATT8 [in Bagram, Afghanistan]. Our mission is of diplomacy … [to assist] the Afghan Government [in becoming] more efficient and stronger. We are merely advisors and mentors. It will change your life once you have experienced another country in this condition. … I have met a lot of great American soldiers and Afghan people. The Afghan people are very generous and willing to learn.” Referring to the photo above, Tran wrote, “The mountains surround the base.”

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, 2013-Issue 1, 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 3. 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. 2013-Issue 2

Not all alumni listed on the website 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). 3

Class of 2003 Brother Rats Dave Woody, left, and Andy Alissandrados during a night aerial refueling flight.

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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Updates from Rankin ’05 Recently, Derek Rankin ’05 wrote his class agent, Tim Johnson ’05, after being out of touch for some time. With his e-mail, Rankin provided several photos, which are shown below. At the time that he submitted these photos in early February 2013, he was writing from Afghanistan.

Eric Bliss ’06, left, and Derek Rankin ’05 at the Air Force Ball while the two were attending Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.

Ken Cooper ’05, left, and Rankin at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. According to Rankin, the two reunited when he “flew a bunch of cargo and troops for an exercise that [Cooper’s] RED HORSE [civil engineering] detachment was running.”

During the eight-week Squadron Officer School program at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, were, from left, Jonathan Schmitt ’07, Clark Moncure ’06, Ryan Loucks ’06, Ken Cooper ’05, Rankin, Daniel Schreiber ’05 and Brandon Strickland ’05.

John Anderson ’06, right, and Rankin in front of Anderson’s F-15E at Columbus Air Force Base.

Stationed at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, Africa, are, from left, David Woody ’03, Josh Robinson ’03, Brian Tollie ’79, Brian Desautels ’03 and Joseph Carl Turner ’05.

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While at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, on a unit deployment program assignment, Sgt. Jake Maier ’10, far left, met up with other alumni assigned there, including, from left (after Maier), 1st Lt. Dave Padgett ’10, Sgt. Jehan Keitt ’07, Lt. Col. James Cherry ’92, 1st Lt. John Krahling ’10, 1st Lt. Samora Leacock ’01 and 1st Lt. Julie Markow ’10.

Cmdr. Pete Ehlers ’96, USN, who is commanding officer of the U.S.S. Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49), is pictured on the way to Sicily in support of 6th Fleet operations.

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Sense of Pride and Accomplishment Marks VMI Corps of Cadets’ March in Inaugural Parade It was, said Sgt. Maj. John Neel, “a moment in history” – a moment the 1,447 cadets who marched in the Inaugural Parade shared with the nation and the climax of perhaps the longest day in the cadetship of the classes of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. “They were just into the moment and having fun and happy to be there,” said Neel, who, for the third time in his career, supervised the training of the Corps to march the 15-cadet front and to perform the “eyes left” and “align left” maneuvers. “The biggest thing was, as soon as we walked by that reviewing stand, it just made everything real. I cannot believe I was that close to the president,” said Cadet Ashley Gernhardt ’13, 2nd

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Battalion operations lieutenant, [the day after]. “You felt the energy.” Cadet Thomas Shumar ’13, who marched on the left side near the reviewing stand, recalled the moment with pleasure. “That was special, because I got a really close look at the president and the vice president,” he said. “It was a sense of pride and accomplishment.” That special moment followed a grueling day of hurry to be in the right place long before the right time, over and over again, just in case. The cadets had formed up for BRC at 4:30 a.m. after, in some cases, very little sleep. It was Gernhardt and her staff, for instance, who worked late into Sunday night assembling security badges for the Corps. The cadets boarded 28 buses and departed post at 6:30 a.m., and most slept for much of the nearly 200 miles to Washington, D.C. They waited on the buses in the Pentagon staging area for nearly two hours to go through the Secret Service security check, eating

boxed lunches provided by VMI’s Aramark dining services. “The Secret Service was fantastic,” said Neel. “They were very understanding of our special needs, that we had weapons.” After dyking out, the cadets boarded the buses once more, for more waiting, in overcoats, with sabers and rifles. At around 4:00 p.m., the cadets disembarked

once more, this time at the National Mall assembly area, and formed up, ready to wait for the start of the parade and the long –1.6-mile – march to the reviewing stand. Marching through unfamiliar streets, the last marching unit behind so many others, was itself a challenge, said Gernhardt. “You’ve never seen where you’re going to march before, so having to go past the obstacles and dealing with the constant accordion effect between the people marching in front of us – … it was both mentally and physically exhausting.” Sparse crowds became much more dense as the Corps approached the

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reviewing stand, with bright lights confirming their arrival. “It was nice to see a lot of VMI folks. … We got cheers all along the route,” said Neel. “The people that we were parading for stayed there until the very last cadet. … It was really, really good.”

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While the Corps experienced their moment in history among the lights at the reviewing stand, a member of the commandant’s staff, Lt. Col. Mitch Fridley ’89, experienced a moment of his own in the darker streets nearby, trying to corral 28 buses snarled in traffic, so they’d be ready for the exhausted cadets. Though the buses were out of order and strung out over two streets, Fridley faced the cadets, standing in formation in the middle of the street, with confidence. “The [cadet] bus captains did a great job,” said Fridley. “I said, ‘Here’s the location of the buses; make it happen.’ … It was pretty impressive. We crossed the reviewing stand at 1832 [6:32 p.m.], and at 1932 [7:32 p.m.], I was driving out of D.C.” The buses headed for Post, with one astonishingly quick stop at Manassas to pick up boxed dinners prepared, transported and efficiently distributed by Aramark, to a famished and appreciative Corps and staff.

“That dinner was delicious,” said Neel. “I had a nice big roll with a big old piece of chicken in there. It was very tasty, very good.” The buses arrived back on Post between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m., greeted by VMI Physical Plant staff ready to deal with the trash and recycling generated by the trip. Some of the cadets hurried to bed, and some, like Gern-

hardt, worked on homework due in class the next day. Many shared their reflections and recollections of the day with friends and family, through Facebook and text-messaging, before settling in to sleep. Members of the commandant’s staff reflect with satisfaction on a challenging, grueling effort that came off beautifully. “This was a cadet-run operation,” said Fridley. “Getting people on and off buses, getting people formed up, making people look good when they march – that’s all cadets.” “It was an 18-hour day, and we marched for about 45 minutes,” he continued. “And the cadets never lost their smiles and really seemed to enjoy it.” “The Corps,” added Neel, “looked fantastic. We looked great. We looked really, really big. We were a great finish to the parade.” Editor’s Note: The preceding article was written by VMI Communications and Marketing. All Inauguration Parade photos by VMI, Kevin Remington.

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In Memory Tazewell Ellett III ’44 by Scott E. Belliveau ’83, Director of Communications, VMI Foundation

On Dec. 9, 2012, Tazewell Ellett III, the 48th president of The VMI Alumni Association, died at WestminsterCanterbury in Richmond, Virginia. He was 90. A native of Richmond, he was the son of Tazewell Ellett Jr. ’906 and the grandson of Tazewell Ellett ’876. A graduate of McGuire’s University School, Ellett matriculated at VMI in September 1940. As was the case with many cadets of the wartime period, his cadetship was somewhat Ellett III ’44 interrupted. In his case, it was by enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. Over time, Ellett became an officer in the Marines and served with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, a unit of the famous 1st Marine Division. He fought in the two-month battle for Peleliu in 1944 and the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and served in occupation duty in Tientsin, China, after the end of the war. He returned to VMI after leaving the Marines in 1947 as a captain. As a cadet, he was involved in sports, playing football in his Rat year and managing the track and baseball teams in his second class year. A cadet captain in his first class year, he also was a member of the Hop Committee and the staff of the cadet humor magazine, The Turnout. He graduated with the class of ’48A, earning a degree in civil engineering. He devoted his business career to real estate. He was the owner of Ellett & Co. Realtors for more than 25 years and, later, was an associate broker at Neville C. Johnson, Inc. He was active in his profession, serving as the president of the Richmond Board of Realtors and on the boards of the Virginia Association of Realtors. In addition, he was a director of Metropolitan National Bank. Ellett also devoted much time to civic affairs through the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Better Business Bureau, United Givers Fund, McGuire University School Foundation, St. Christopher’s School Alumni Association and a number of other organizations. He was a charter member and president of the West Richmond Kiwanis Club, and the chapter hon2013-Issue 2

ored him by establishing a college scholarship in his name. He was a lifelong member of St. James’s Episcopal Church. There, he served on the vestry for three terms, as senior warden and as president of the Men of St. James’s, and he taught Sunday school. Known for his intense devotion to the Institute (his history in the 1948 Bomb mentioned that his first visit to Post as an alumnus occurred two weeks after his graduation), he was a long-time director of The VMI Alumni Association and served as president from 1987-89. He also served as president of the VMI Club of Richmond and was a consistent and generous supporter of the Institute. Ellett is survived by his wife of 64 years, Marguerite Rucker Ellett; three children; four grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.

William A. Hallett Jr. ’47 by Scott E. Belliveau ’83, Director of Communications, VMI Foundation

On Dec. 11, 2012, William A. Hallett Jr. ’47, former president of The VMI Alumni Association, former trustee of the VMI Foundation and, in 1999, the recipient of the VMI Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award, passed away in Richmond, Virginia. He was 86. Hallett was born on March 24, 1926, in Kiptopeke, Virginia, on the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore. He entered VMI in June 1943 as a member of the class of 1947 – at a time when the Corps of Cadets numbered approximately 250 men. In mid-1944, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and, in 1946, was assigned to Japan and the headquarters of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. He returned to VMI in September 1948. When he graduated in 1951 with a bachelor of arts degree in history, he was the last member of his class to receive his VMI diploma. He also was a Distinguished Military Student and the humor editor of The Turnout magazine, and he wore academic stars his last two years at the Institute. After graduation, Hallett was commissioned in the field artillery and soon was dispatched to Korea for what he once termed “13 glorious months” as a forward observer and an artillery liaison officer with the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion supporting the Republic of Korea Army’s 6th Division. He returned to the United States in 1953 and began working in the insurance industry. In 1957, he joined The Life Insurance Company of Virginia, a corporation from which 11

William A. Hallett Jr. ’47 In Memory Continued ...

he retired in 1982 as its vice president of Marketing Ser- for life. And more will be expected of you … The Ring speaks vices. After his retirement, Hallett established The Hallett silently. And yet it tells much about you. It says that you Associates, a consulting firm for employee benefit programs. possess uncommon dedication. You strive for excellence and He served on the Insurance Accounting & Systems Associa- achieve a goal. You have lived by a code that thousands of tion’s board and as its president. His public service included young men have not. Your example is a continuing reminder work with the United Way of the Greater Richmond area and that – when challenged and when given a goal – men of service as a member of Virginia’s Retirement System Review stature are capable of achieving much … and of inspiring others to do their best. The Ring will set Commission from 1984-90. you apart. It indicates that – to borrow Anyone who knew him knew that he was a phrase from a school to our north – unshakably devoted to VMI. His loyalty you are a man to whom duty, honor and to the Institute was manifested in many country are enduring and permanent ways – an illustration of Washington Arch values. These are values which are not graced his personal stationery, for examsubject to compromise.” ple – but especially through his decades Hallett’s service to VMI has been recof service to the VMI Alumni Agencies. ognized by many of his fellow alumni Hallett became a member of The VMI and those who worked with him on the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors Institute’s behalf. The VMI Alumni Asin 1972 and, during his time on the board, sociation’s current president, Robert A. headed many committees, including the Heely ’69, said, “As a past president and Association’s Legislative Advisory Coma member of our board for 40 years, Bill mittee. In 1983, he was elected president Hallett remained very actively involved of the Alumni Association and helped in the work of the Association. He was, reorganize it to be more cost-efficient in fact, in attendance at our September and effective. Four years later, he was 2012 board meeting. So intent was he elected to the VMI Foundation’s Board Hallett Jr. ’47 on arriving on time that he got a speedof Trustees and, during his six years with ing ticket on Route 11 on the way up. that body, served on its Executive ComWe will miss his wise cracks and good mittee and its Nominating and Awards Committee. He was chairman of his class’s 50th Reunion humor that always seemed to keep us and even the superFund Committee and served as its class agent from 2006 intendent on our toes.” For his part, Warren J. “Buddy” Bryan ’71, a vice president until his death. He also was the Friends of Preston Library’s first chairman and, from 1978-90, a member of the Leader- of the VMI Foundation, recalled Hallett as “a man who ship Gifts Committee of The VMI Campaign. In 1999, the embodied the reputation that, as a group, VMI alumni have VMI Foundation recognized his service and leadership in for loyalty to the Institute and a willingness to sacrifice for support of VMI by presenting him with its Distinguished it. I remember that he received many nominations for the Distinguished Service Award and that one of those who put Service Award. Although he never explicitly stated why he gave so much his name forward said, ‘You could always find him in the to VMI, a speech he gave at the class of 1986’s Ring Presen- midst of any worthwhile Institute undertaking.’ Another tation Ceremony provided a glimpse of the strong sense of described him as ‘a stalwart in all of the VMI endeavors,’ and still another remarked that Mr. Hallett was ‘always there in meaning he saw in being a VMI alumnus. In part, he said: “Once you put on the VMI Ring, your life will never again tough times as well as good’ for VMI.” Hallett is survived by Martha “Marty” Frierson Hallett, his be the same. You will be looked upon as a breed apart. The world will continue to be your classroom … And because wife of 60 years; their three daughters; and three grandyou will have learned how to learn, you will be better fitted children.

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In Memory Carroll Thackston

Alumni Association Board of Directors and as a member of the Military Affairs Committee. As adjutant general, he oversaw deployment of 10,000 troops by The VMI Alumni Association to the Sinai, Bosnia and the no-fly zone of Iraq. Thackston is the recipient of two Virginia Distinguished A Concord, Virginia, native and 1955 VMI graduate, Carroll Thackston served on active duty for six years and spent 35 Service Medals, one bestowed upon him by Allen and the years in the National Guard, the last four and one-half years other by Gov. Jim Gilmore. “The commonwealth has lost a great Virginian,” said Maj. as adjutant general of the Virginia National Guard under Gov. Gen. Daniel E. Long Jr., the current George Allen. Shortly after his retireadjutant general of Virginia. “He ment from the Guard, Thackston was a highly respected and admired took on another role, serving his general officer, and he remained a community as mayor of South Bosstrong supporter of men and women ton, Virginia. in uniform in his retirement.” In his 40-plus-year career with the Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell isU.S. Army, Thackston rose to the sued the following statement regardrank of major general. He served ing Thackston’s passing: “Virginia on active duty for over six years has lost a true patriot and a dedicated and spent 35 years in the National public servant. Maj. Gen. Thackston Guard. dedicated his life to helping protect In 2010, he testified in Washington and serve others, from his six years before the House Committee on Vetof active duty in the United State erans Affairs on the looming impact Army, to his 35 years in the Virginia of full integration of the National National Guard, during which he Guard into Veterans Affairs, noting was appointed to the top position the extensive use of National Guard by Gov. George Allen, and then his units in overseas deployments and public service as a town councilman the strain that may cause to the V.A. and mayor of South Boston after his health care system. retirement. As the mayor of South Boston, “Maj. Gen. Thackston also focused Thackston was a constant presence on helping others in his civilian life, in his community, weighing in on having a long career as a human a range of local issues. He was first Thackston ’55 resources manager for Daystrom elected mayor in 2004 and was Furniture. serving his third term at the time “Virginia is blessed to have so of his death. many strong and dedicated public servants among its citizens, In his professional life, he was a retired human resources manager at Daystrom Furniture, helping to organize a re- but some, such as Maj. Gen. Thackston, truly stand out. He union of the employees of the defunct manufacturer in 2012. demonstrated to us all that a career in public service and a He also was a former manager of the Virginia Employment dedication to one’s fellow man can make a lasting difference Commission in South Boston. During his extensive work in the lives of all Virginians.” career, he once worked as a locomotive fireman and engineer Editor’s Note: Quotes and information in the above article with Norfolk & Western Railroad. Thackston was a member of the VMI Board of Visitors dur- were obtained from The Gazette-Virginian and South Boston ing his term as adjutant general and later served on The VMI News & Record. Photo from the News & Record.

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Legacy of Valor in the Air by J. Bolling Williamson ’60, Contributing Writer

everal years after the creation of the United States Air Force, Congress authorized the Air Force Cross, to be awarded for “… extraordinary heroism not justifying the Medal of Honor while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.” It is the equivalent of the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross. Recipients of this award include five VMI alumni, and a brief description of their actions, together with a portion of their citations, follow.

sional skill, led his force to a precise ordnance delivery point, placing his own bombs directly on the target. During recovery from the bomb run, his aircraft sustained a direct hit from the extremely intense anti-aircraft fire. He courageously flew his burning aircraft until it became completely uncontrollable, and he was forced to eject over hostile territory. Kirk was captured and spent the next five and one-half years as a prisoner of war. In addition to the Air Force Cross, his decorations include four Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Bronze Stars with V.

Thomas H. Kirk Jr. ’50B Operation Rolling Thunder, an intensive bombing campaign against targets in North Vietnam by Air Force and Navy aircraft, was well underway in July 1967 when Kirk assumed command of a squadron of F-105 fighter bombers based in Thailand. Carrying a bomb load that exceeded that of the B-17 of World War II, the F-105 performed the majority of the strike bombing missions for the Air Force during this phase of the war. Pilots flying over North Vietnam faced an increasingly strong and sophisticated air defense system which included MiG fighters – a tough environment, made even more challenging by rules of engagement that restricted how the pilots could respond to the threats they encountered. Kirk’s squadron was regularly assigned targets in the area around the capital city of Hanoi, where the air defenses were the most intense. A combat tour consisted of 100 missions, and the odds of completing a tour were not good. He had already completed 66 missions when he took off on Oct. 28, 1967. The following portion of Kirk’s Air Force Cross citation explains what happened next: On that date, Lt. Col. Kirk planned and led a 24-aircraft strike force against an important and heavily defended railroad and highway bridge near Hanoi. Despite seven surface-to-air missiles being fired at him and extremely poor visibility, Lt. Col. Kirk, with undaunted determination, indomitable courage and profes14

The F-105 fighter bomber performed most of the strike bombing missions for the Air Force at the time that Kirk assumed command of a squadron in 1967.

Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas H. Kirk Jr. ’50B was a prisoner of war for five and a half years. The photo above was taken on the day of his homecoming.

James R. McCarthy ’52 In early December 1972, major American involvement in Vietnam was nearing the end of its seventh year, truce negotiations were bogged down and Washington was becoming exasperated. President Nixon concluded that the North Vietnamese needed some motivation to return to the table with a more constructive attitude, and he ordered an intensive 12-day bombing campaign (“Linebacker II”) with an expanded list of targets. The use of B-52 heavy bombers was also authorized; heretofore, they had been used only on targets in South Vietnam. By this time in the war, North Vietnam had put together the most extensive and strongest integrated air defense system in history. It included a new, fire-control radar that improved the accuracy of its surfaceto-air missiles, and many in the Air Force believed that the B-52 would not fare well in encounters with it. Nevertheless, the VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

scope of the bombing campaign necessitated that the bombers be used, and after seven days, 11 of the big planes had been lost. A stand-down lasting 36 hours was ordered. The next raid was assigned to McCarthy, who commanded the 43rd Strategic Wing and who revised the tactics that would be used. A portion of McCarthy’s Air Force Cross citation reads as follows: … Col. McCarthy commanded the largest force of B-52s ever assembled on a long-range bombing mission over sophisticated and complex air defenses. Applying his exceptional knowledge of aerial warfare tactics and through his personal courage and technical expertise, Col. McCarthy led this mission through intense anti-aircraft fire and heavy salvos of surfaceto-air missiles to deliver the ordnance of the entire force on assigned targets accurately without sustaining a single loss. Air Force Col. James R. McCarthy ’52 (later promoted to brigadier general) led the largest force of B-52s ever assembled on a long-range bombing mission.

McCarthy retired as a brigadier general. In addition to the Air Force Cross, his decorations include two Distinguished Service Medals, two Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Bronze Stars. He wrote a book about his experience titled, Linebacker II – A View from the Rock.

Robert S. Beale ’55

In 1972, President Nixon ordered an intensive 12-day bombing campaign that included the use of the B-52 heavy bomber.

in, last-out”). Beale later noted, “As a Weasel, I knew that the strike force’s success depended on how well I did my job. I did everything possible to get the SAMs to shoot at me and not at the strike flight.” Their mission was near suicidal: they literally placed themselves between the enemy guns and the strike pilots. Once the enemy realized what these airplanes were doing, they attracted a great deal of attention. A portion of Beale’s Air Force Cross citation states: … Maj. Beale braved many concentrations of heavy anti-aircraft artillery fire and 18 surfaceto-air missiles as he successfully led his missile suppression flight in diverting the hostile defenses away from the main strike force. He contributed to the destruction of one missile site only three miles from the center of the heavilydefended target area and damaged at least one other missile complex. As a result of his actions, the main strike force suffered no losses …

Among the most dangerous missions were those flown by squadrons tasked to suppress enemy air defenses. They were known as the “Wild Weasels:” two-man crews flying fighter-bombers which had been especially equipped for their mission. One crewman operated electronic equipment, enabling His crew member who operated the electronic him to detect and home in on enemy radar equipment was mortally wounded on this missignals; he would then direct the pilot to the sion. anti-aircraft site so that it could be attacked Beale retired as a colonel. In addition to the with missiles that were guided to the targets Air Force Cross, his decorations include two by the enemy’s radar signals. Air Force Maj. Robert S. Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit and two DisBeale ’55 (who retired as These crews either offered themselves as bait tinguished Flying Crosses. a colonel) flew in a squad(known as “trolling for SAMs,” aka surface-toron which was assigned air missiles) – when they let themselves be Walter F. Draeger ’55 the mission of attacking tracked and fired on so that the sites could enemy anti-aircraft sites. be located and attacked – or they supported On April 4, 1965, Capt. Draeger was flying an bombing missions by flying into the target A1H Skyraider – a single-seat piston-engined area in advance of the strike aircraft to attack the gun sites and attack aircraft used to help protect downed American pilots, then remaining until all other aircraft had left safely (“first- as well as fly cover for rescue helicopters. He was on a Rescue 2013-Issue 2

The A1H Skyraider was used to help protect downed American pilots and fly cover for rescue helicopters.

Combat Air Patrol mission, supporting a major strike on a railroad bridge in North Vietnam known as the Dragon’s Jaw which served a strategic supply route for the North Vietnamese Army. The target was well defended by several shore batteries of anti-aircraft artillery. The fire was fierce; several planes were hit, and Draeger’s flight leader was shot down. A portion of his Air Force Cross citation reads: Draeger immediately called for search and rescue assistance. Although completely alone and within range of the hostile ground fire, he orbited the area of his downed flight leader

In an A1H Skyraider, Air Force Capt. Walter F. Draeger ’55 flew cover for his downed flight leader until rescue aircraft arrived, and then he made the strafing run.

until the unarmed search and rescue aircraft arrived in the vicinity. Upon arrival in the area, over which Capt. Draeger was flying protective cover, the unarmed rescue aircraft requested fire suppression assistance. Capt. Draeger commenced a firing pass to allow the rescue aircraft to safely enter the area. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, he made the strafing run into the hostile fire. Ignoring the air bursts from shore batteries, Capt. Draeger pressed his attack and in doing so, sacrificed his own life. Draeger’s plane crashed in flames; no parachute was seen.

William R. Martin ’55 In 1964, it became clear that North Vietnam was using routes in the neighboring country of Laos to transport supplies to its allies in South Vietnam, and the Air Force was called upon to conduct aerial reconnaissance. After two planes had been shot down by anti-aircraft fire, fighter escorts were added and tasked to attack any sites that fired on the unarmed reconnaissance aircraft. On Nov. 18, 1964, Capt. William R. Martin, flying an F-100 fighter plane, took off from DaNang to join up with a photoreconnaissance plane and escort it to Laos. Martin’s Air Force Cross citation reads, in part:

The F-100 fighter bomber saw extensive action in Vietnam from the early 1960s until it was withdrawn in 1970.

Capt. Martin was leading a flight of two F-100 aircraft escorting an RF-101 aircraft on a mission of major importance. As they approached the mission area, a major barrage of hostile ground fire was VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Escorting an RF-101 reconnaissance aircraft in his F-100 fighter plane, Air Force Capt. William R. Martin ’55 diverted hostile fire away from the unarmed aircraft.

Above is a portion of the display in Kilbourne Hall of the recipients of the Air Force Cross, Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross. The display – dedicated in November 2012 – recognizes the 71 VMI alumni who received the nation’s second-highest award. The five Air Force Cross recipients are on the top row (although, at the time of this photo, one citation had yet to be added). An article about this display appeared in the 2013-Issue 1 Alumni Review, Institute section.

directed at the unarmed aircraft. With complete disregard for his own safety, Capt. Martin reacted immediately and repeatedly flew his aircraft at extremely low altitudes over the gun emplacements to divert hostile fire. His aggressiveness and determination in pressing his attack allowed the RF-101 to withdraw safely. On his third over-flight of the hostile positions, the full force of the gun emplacements was directed at

his aircraft, resulting in the sacrifice of his life. Martin died of his wounds after being picked up by a helicopter. The bravery and determination exhibited by these five men continued the tradition set by their predecessors in the Army Air Corps and added to VMI’s legacy of valor in the air.

Carson ’64: His Proudest Achievements Were Local by George Abry, Contributing Writer

t turns out VMI was just the place for a history major like Don Carson ’64, who was not sure what he wanted to do for a career. “I have done many different things in my life, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them, but I still have not found out ‘what I want to do when I grow up,’” Carson said. “One thing VMI taught me was that you can do anything you want, as long as you work hard enough at it. Thanks to VMI, I have never been afraid to try something new.” Upon leaving VMI, Carson spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot, senior level operations officer and public relations officer. He flew 131 combat missions over Vietnam as an F-105 pilot, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. On the ground, he served as chief of staff, as well as chief of Strategic Planning for the Air Defense Command. He was editor of Air Force Magazine and editor-in-chief of the Air Force News Service. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1984. Turning to the private sector, Carson held executive-level positions in business development, communications, and public and government relations at corporations such as United

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Don Carson ’64 speaking at a community outreach awards event in New Mexico.

Technologies, Martin Marietta and Lockheed Martin. Despite his high-flying credentials, Carson’s proudest achievements occurred at the local level. In 1996, Carson moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, as part of a small group of Lockheed Martin executives who managed Sandia National Laboratories under a contract with the Department of Energy, which owns the nuclear weapons research lab. As Sandia’s director of communications and marketing, Carson was responsible for, among other things, business development, media relations and community outreach programs. Carson was selected by New Mexico’s governor to chair the state’s Distinguished Public Service Council, a group that

identifies and recognizes outstanding community service. across New Mexico now are being outfitted with computers Carson also served as a board member of the Albuquerque and online access, Walther said the Internet is starting to Hispano Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of the board replace van visits. of the Central New Mexico United Way. Even though Carson retired professionally in 2003, he re“While working with these groups, it soon became clear to mains active in several VMI alumni chapters, and he and his me that there was a great need to wife, Margaret, periodically bring exciting math and science host Founders Day events programs to children who lived and VMI mini-reunions at “ … it soon became clear to me that there was a in remote and under-serviced their home in Tequesta, great need to bring exciting math and science proregions of the state,” Carson Florida. He also plays guitar grams to children who lived in remote and undersaid. “One night, as I lay awake in a local band, restores serviced regions of the state.” thinking about this, the idea antique cars and wooden of bringing engineering and boats, tends a large vegetascience training directly to the children came to me.” While ble garden, and takes extended trips to the Bahamas each year. New Mexico has more Ph.D.s per capita than any other state, Carson has this to say to prospective cadets: “I encourage young high school dropout rates are very high, and many residents people to go to VMI. At VMI, I received an excellent education and are mired in poverty, he said. also learned values that have guided me through life’s challenges. Carson contacted what was then known as the National I am convinced my life has been more rewarding because of what Atomic Museum. He proposed a summer science camp for I learned and the friends I made at VMI.” kids, as well as a “Mobile Science Van” that could bring science and technology to rural areas of the state. Carson, who managed a $3 million annual community-outreach budget at Sandia, set aside $1 million in funding and then set to work finessing the details. “We endeavored to develop a camp that would have a cultural sensitivity, as well as bring science forward,” said Jim Walther, director of the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque. Working with Carson and members of the local Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Hispano Cultural Center, Walther came up with a series of science-centered activities to accompany swimming, field trips and other outdoor activities that might involve robots and rockets and other fun items for kids between the ages of six and 13. “It’s called the ‘Science is Everywhere’ summer camp, and it’s going into its 16th year The Lockheed Martin “Up-n-Atom Mobile” science van, driven by a science/engineering college student teacher of operation; it has been very successful.” (shown at far right), traveled to schools around New Carson and Walther also developed a sister program known Mexico. This program was the brainchild of Don Carson as the “Up-n-Atom Mobile” – a van that would deliver science who worked with the current director of the National kits and lesson plans to teachers and students in remote areas, Museum of Nuclear Science, Jim Walther, to implement it. such as pueblos and reservations. Since more and more schools

One of the programs envisioned by Carson was the summer science camp, held at the National Museum of Nuclear Science. Shown above and at right are students taking part in experiential learning during camp.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Evans ’02 Helps Create Entrepreneurs in Third World Countries by George Abry, Contributing Writer

in war-torn Northern Uganda. Through collaboration with the school, NGOs and economic development experts, it grew into so much more – it became an entrepreneurship and business skills training center, which could help meet a systemic need that has been plaguing the economic growth of the region.” After soliciting potential projects and partners through an extensive vetting process, Evans was introduced to St. Mary’s College Lacor high school outside of Gulu, Uganda. He and his staff connected with the school administration via Skype and e-mail throughout fall 2011, before their first trip to Uganda in Conor Evans ’02, right, with his wife, Lauren, and one of the Lacor Entrepreneurship Center faculty members, center. winter 2012. Initially, the group discussed a new library. However, after the dean of Notre Dame’s graduate business school encouraged Evans to consider how the structure could help onor Evans ’02 doesn’t get a lot of sleep. address the region’s economic needs, Evans pulled together a Living in Dallas, Texas, he works in the strategy and team of Lacor school representatives, NGOs in the region and corporate development office in the North American economic experts to design the plans and programming for an headquarters of an international construction firm located entrepreneurship center. in London. This is his day job. To date, funding for the project has been provided through At night, he manages “The 31 Lengths Campaign,” a nonprofit organization that uses business to create sustainable opportunities in third world countries. More specifically, 31 Lengths provides high school students with a business education and resources to overcome poverty and economic adversity, thus making them less vulnerable to exploitation by negative influences who are recruiting throughout the Central and East Africa regions. As a cadet at VMI, Evans would sneak off Post to work on construction projects for the faculty and staff of VMI and Washington & Lee – he loves to build things. Later, as an MBA student at the University of Notre Dame, Evans used the two years while in the program to initiate and build a “micro-infrastructure” project in a developing country. For Evans, what started as one project grew into a non-governmental organization (NGO). Ugandan young men and boys in front of the center’s founding principle “While I was in business school, I which they had just finished stenciling on the center’s wall. The principle wanted to use my passion and skills for reads: “Empower students to believe in and achieve their own boundless construction to positively impact the potential by encouraging them to try, to not fear, realizing that success is world,” Evans said. “I decided to build a fruit of failure.” what began as a library for a high school

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private donations, ranging from $5 to commerce is not an inherent evil; and $20,000. Evans and his staff are also that business can be a force for good.” starting to look for funding through Expanding on his philosophy, Evans grants. borrows a portion of the well-known The center was built by local workers. quote by ancient Chinese philosopher “They are from the Gulu and Lacor comLao Tzu, who said, “Give a man a fish; munities, and they received fair market feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; value wages,” said Evans. “The Lacor feed him for a lifetime.” According to community donated the equivalent of Evans, “Many humanitarian organiza5% of the construction cost to the projtions are aid-driven – handing out fish ect by supplying materials which would – while 31 Lengths is about develophave otherwise been sold on the open ment – teaching people how to fish.” A student named Daniel was tasked market. This was a significant contribuMuch of the success of the entrepreby his art teacher to draw something tion on their part and an important one, neurship center depends on regional that made him happy. He drew the Entrepreneurship Center and in order to help foster local ownership and global strategic partners. So, Evans brought it to the center to proudly of the center.” is targeting organizations such as the display it. (The art class is part of The Lacor Entrepreneurship Center Gulu Agriculture Development Company the larger secondary school and not was dedicated in February 2013, and owned by Acumen Fund, a non-profit that related to the center.) Evans reports that business skills trainseeks to end poverty by investing in social ing for the high school students has been enterprises. Evans has been inspired by designed and implemented. As of this the work of Jacqueline Novogratz, the writing, the center serves 750 students. philanthropist and author who founded Students have an opportunity to take Acumen Fund and who spoke at VMI in field trips, attend a speaker series and January 2012. enter a business plan competition. StuDuring 2013, Evans plans to take on dent plans are judged by a panel of 31 more of a board of director’s role by Lengths strategic partners. The winning transitioning much of the day-to-day plan is implemented by students, with management of The 31 Lengths Camoversight by a program manager. Along paign to newly hired staff members who the way, students learn real-world busiwill oversee outreach, grant writing and ness skills by operating a small business general management. through the center. As a cadet at VMI, Evans said, it was Faculty working collaboratively, In encouraging kids to learn and apply hard to see past his cadetship to imagine during a training session that was skills, such as business planning and cash what has become his life’s work. “After delivered by one of the center’s strategic partners. flow forecasting, Evans said, “We hope to VMI, I knew I wanted to build structures create a domino effect – helping to proand organizations in a way that would duce more business-savvy entrepreneurs, serve others. Beyond that, the details which could spur economic activity in the region and help were unknown. But because of what I learned at VMI, I am with job creation.” able to operate in shifting and fluid environments,” Evans A belief in the restorative qualities of business underpins said, and that skill appears to be serving him well. Evans’ mission. “I truly believe that a significant number of this world’s problems can be solved through business; that Editor’s Note: For more information, visit www. The31LengthsCampaign.com, or contact Conor Evans at Conor@The31LenthsCampaign.com.

The Lacor Entrepreneurship Center under construction. Evans is shown second from right.

In June 2012, the first weekly entrepreneurship seminar was held at the center, despite the fact that construction was still underway.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Internships Bridge the Gap for Waldman ’12 and Wagner ’12 by George Abry, Contributing Writer

or would-be military officers, the downtime preceding a erything from electronic attack systems – jamming radar – to systems commission can be frustrating. For two recent VMI gradu- engineering. It’s a lot of fun. I still get to blow things up,” Keane said. ates – 2nd Lieutenants Craig Waldman ’12, USMC, and At APL, Wagner worked with a team of researchers developing David Wagner ’12, USAF – that time was well-spent at two premier systems that detect and prevent improvised explosive devices (IEDs) national defense research laboratories. from detonating by keeping insurgents from using radio-controlled “Normally, when a new Marine officer commissions, there is a devices to set off IEDs. “I worked on a number of projects, but the most waiting period of a few months to report to the Basic School in rewarding and fulfilling was the counter-IED program,” Wagner said. Quantico,” said Waldman. “Because of downsizing, most new of- “It was a great experience, and I have to thank Jack Keane for giving ficers have had to wait almost a year to report.” me that opportunity.” As of this writing, Wagner is working as a lead Waldman mentioned his predicament to Maj. John David, an test engineer at Hansom Air Force Base near Boston, Massachusetts. assistant professor of applied mathematics at VMI. “He (David) “I’d like to get more VMI cadets in here for summer internships,” said he had friends in the defense industry and would forward my Keane said. “The lab takes it very seriously, because we know many resume if I was interested,” Waldman said. of them are going to commission, and we “A few weeks later, I had an interview with are planning for the future. Cadets have an the Massachusetts Institute of Technology opportunity to apply their undergraduate (MIT) Lincoln Lab.” Originally, Waldman work to real-world military problems and interviewed for an internship position but programs that are being fielded.” ended up getting hired at the lab through a Wagner said his decision to attend VMI contracting firm, Apex Systems, Inc. and commission into the Air Force was an MIT’s Lincoln Lab is a federally funded easy one. Wagner is a fifth generation VMI research laboratory sponsored by the Degraduate whose father, David T. Wagner Sr. partment of Defense (DOD). The lab focuses ’82, also served in the Air Force. Wagner’s on solutions to problems that are critical to grandfather is Armand Wagner ’57. U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Craig national security. “What I took away from VMI is the work Waldman ’12, right, at his commisPrior to teaching math at VMI, Maj. David ethic I developed, along with friendships,” sioning ceremony in May 2012. spent a number of years working as a defense said Wagner. He said the two VMI professors contractor. “It’s a good way to work in nawho influenced him the most were Col. Shawn tional defense without commissioning,” David said. “You do a lot Addington and Col. David Livingston. “Col. Addington provided me of technical work, developing radar and ballistic missile defense great guidance while working on my independent research, while programs. A lot of people who end up commissioning go into a job Col. Livingston provided mentorship for my senior design project.” like that when they are finished.” Waldman said he, too, had planned to pursue a commission when he Since July 2012, Waldman has been working in The Ballistic Mis- entered VMI. “I think my interaction with the exceptional officers and sile Defense System (BMDS) Integration Group which supports the NCOs in the Marine ROTC program, and my time training Rats as a DOD’s Missile Defense Agency in the development and testing of cadre member prepared me to receive my commission. So, when you ballistic missile defense. This system is currently being developed ask what I took away from VMI, more than anything else, I would have to defend the United States, its deployed forces and allies from to say a strong foundation of leadership formed through experiences ballistic missile attacks. in the VMI system, as well as excellent mentors in the ROTC unit.” “My job is to assist in the refinement of BMD simulations and analyze data run through these simulations,” Waldman said. “I don’t expect my time here to directly prepare me for my future as a Marine officer. However, it has taught me a lot about a different side of national defense and has added a layer for me to consider when examining defense from a strategic viewpoint.” In April 2013, Waldman reported to Quantico to begin his career in the Marines. David was able to use another one of his contacts, Jack Keane ’80, to secure an internship for David Wagner ’12 at the Applied Physics Lab (APL) at Johns Hopkins University. Keane, a retired Navy officer, has worked at APL since U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. David Wagner ’12, center, at his commissioning cer1997 and is the branch supervisor for preciemony in May 2012 with his father, David T. Wagner ’82, left, and grandfather, sion engagement systems. “I’ve got about 185 Armand W. Wagner ’57. people [reporting to me], and I [supervise] ev-

2013-Issue 2

The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. P.O. Box 932 Lexington, Virginia 24450

Adam C. Volant ’88 EVP & Chief Operating Officer E-mail: avolant@vmiaa.org

Telephone: 540-464-7221 800-444-1839 Fax: 540-464-1011

Dear Alumni and Friends of The VMI Alumni Association, Showing your pride in VMI can come in many forms. You might display a window sticker, wear Red, White and Yellow, visit the Institute, attend an alumni event and, of course, root for the Keydets. Here’s another way to show your pride: Use the new VMI Alumni Association USAA RewardsTM credit card available from both American Express® Card and MasterCard®. The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. is pleased to announce a very special affinity program through USAA for VMI Alumni, Cadets, Parents, Family and Friends. USAA is a leading financial services provider that has proudly served military members and their families since 1922. Their foundation in military values and commitment to customer service has earned them a high level of regard within the military and business communities. As the new preferred provider of credit card services for The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., USAA Bank contributes to our organization with every credit card account opened and each time the card is used to make an eligible purchase. These funds support a variety of programs that benefit cadets and alumni, including: • • •

VMI admissions efforts Career resources Support and recognition for alumni and cadets

The VMI Alumni Association credit card also offers you competitive variable interest rates and rewards points that you can redeem for your choice of gift cards, merchandise, travel discounts or other exciting rewards. We urge you to consider getting and using the card as a way to show your VMI pride and to support The VMI Alumni Association conveniently with everyday purchases.

Available from both American Express Card and MasterCard.

To apply for the card or to learn more about the new relationship between The VMI Alumni Association and USAA, call 855-744-VMIA (8642) or visit usaa.com/vmiaa. Sincerely,

Adam C. Volant ’88 EVP & Chief Operating Officer The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

VMI ALUMNI 143390-0313 REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS ASSOCIATION NEWS Founders Day 2012 Little Rock, Arkansas Celebrating Founders Day in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Nov. 10, 2012, were, from left, Jim Dittrich ’76 and Tish, Brice Strickland ’04 and Susi, Mark Conley ’05, Herb Guyton ’66 and Laurie, and John Eldridge ’48B and Kitty. Also attending but not pictured were Dave Walsh ’90 and Lori. Dittrich, who is the Alumni Association Midwest Region director, submitted this photo.

Partnership Between Two Colleges Promotes Opportunities for Alumni Wranek ’85 and McGonegle ’06 Enrolled in Grad Program Mary joined in a memorandum of understanding to establish a mutually beneficial partnership to promote graduate business opportunities for VMI cadets and alumni and to recommend the Mason School of Business as a place where men and women are trained to become the next generation of principled business leaders.

Announcing Graduate School Partnerships Matt McGonegle ’06, pictured above, left, and John Wranek ’85, right, paused for a photo during residency week at The College of William and Mary’s (W&M) Mason School of Business. Both men are enrolled in the class of 2014 executive master of business administration (EMBA) program at W&M. The EMBA program is a 20-month curriculum, which includes five semesters, approximately four months each. A new cohort begins each January and finishes the following August. Classes meet all day Friday and Saturday, two weekends a month. Students also participate in two domestic residency periods and two international trips, the first being a trip to China in November 2013 as part of the global economics course required during the third semester. In February 2011, VMI and The College of William and

2013-Issue 2

Virginia Military Institute has forged relationships with some of the best graduate and professional schools in Virginia and across the United States. These agreements offer a range of opportunities, including admissions concessions, internships, guaranteed interviews and, in some cases, guaranteed admissions. Partnership institutions include Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, College of William & Mary, Florida State University, Norwich University, Arizona State and the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Programs vary but include law, medicine, business, engineering, communications and other fields. If interested in learning more about the available partnerships, please contact Wade Bell at bellwe@ vmi.edu.

ASSOCIATION NEWS The 14th Annual Hampton Roads Military Classic of the South Golf Tournament On Nov. 12, 2012, 144 golfers gathered for the 14th Annual Hampton Roads Military Classic of the South Golf Tournament held at Kiskiack Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. This tournament has become the premier golf event on the Virginia peninsula. All proceeds from the event go to scholarships for local VMI and Citadel students. This year’s tournament raised $6,000 which will be applied to the Virginia Pilot/Massenberg Scholarship. The event’s success would not be possible without the support of local VMI alumni

and their companies: Jessie Waltz ’85 of JES Foundation Repairs; John Blankenship ’80 and Ed Plucinski ’86 of Hanson Pipe & Precast, Inc.; Jeff White ’91 of Commonwealth Epoxy Coatings; Butch Manning ’79 of Hassel & Folkes PC; Rob Steele ’68 of Suburban Grading & Utilities, Inc.; John Pate ’74 of Cascade Contracting; and Richard Atlee ’66 of Hall, Fox & Atlee PC. If you would like to be a part of this annual event, contact Ed Plucinski ’86 at edwardplucinski@verizon.net. Photo above: Ed Plucinski ’86, left, presented the “Most Mediocre Team” award to Buddy Green ’66, right. Photo at left: From left, Ben Wiggins ’57, John St. George ’57 and Linwood Knight ’60 received the “Silver Putter Award” for the best VMI or Citadel team. Ed Plucinski, far right, presented the award. Jim Wood ’74 was also on the winning team but is not pictured.

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

McCarthy ’52 Correction An article appeared on pages 158-159 of the 2013-Issue 1 Alumni Review describing a display at Kilbourne Hall which recognizes the 71 VMI alumni who are recipients of the nation’s second-highest award for valor: the Air Force Cross, Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross. In the display, the Bomb photo of Joseph McCarthy ’52 appears, instead of Air Force Cross recipient James McCarthy ’52. Apparently, the two photos are reversed in the Bomb. Those who created the display are correcting this error, and they have asked the Alumni Review staff to extend their apologies to both Joseph and James McCarthy. See pages 14-15 of this Review for an article about Gen. James McCarthy and his Air Force Cross award.

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.

Help Us Recruit New Cadets!

Share with us that really great photo of you with your dyke that shows how important the dyke system is to VMI and to cadets. E-mail photos to crossmankl@vmi.edu. Include your name and class as well as that of the other cadets in the photo. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ASSOCIATION NEWS Michigan Chapter Founders Day Eve Dinner

Michigan Chapter President Dave Hagemann ’80 and Mark Benvenuto ’83 teamed up to gather alumni in their area for a Founders Day Eve Dinner near Detroit on Nov. 10, 2012. Attending were, from left, Benvenuto, Fred DeRose ’12, Victor Karpov ’07, John Cooper ’83, Hagemann and Tom Hathaway ’72. Benvenuto, who submitted this photo, wrote, “... it’s hard to get us together, since we are scattered all over the state.”

New England Chapter Holds New Cadet Recruiting Event The New England Chapter hosted a New Cadet Recruiting event on Nov. 16, 2012, in Framingham, Massachusetts. Nineteen prospective cadets and parents attended, along with seven alumni, including New England Chapter President Pat Griffin ’80, Jack Keane ’80, Dennis Maguire ’80, Joe Barra ’83, Jack Wainwright ’82, Derek Bogdon ’01 and Nick Gelles ’12. Griffin welcomed the group and introduced two video presentations: one about VMI and the other about Admissions. Jack Wainwright ’82, a Rat cadet parent, spoke to the group, and then other alumni offered their perspectives and experiences. According to Griffin, “We had five [high school] seniors and three juniors present. All five seniors had applied to VMI, and four of them had attended an [Admissions] Open House. … All juniors planned on attending an Open House in 2013. The program was very successful. The parents and prospects remained for 45 minutes after the event to speak with alumni.”

Photo above: New England Chapter President Pat Griffin ’80 addressed the group at the chapter’s New Cadet Recruiting event, held on Nov. 16, 2012.

Photo at right: Dennis Maguire ’80 spoke to the group and offered his perspective. Photo above: Nineteen prospective cadets and parents attended the event, as well as seven alumni. “The program was very successful,” said Griffin.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS Alumni Recruiters Keep the Legacy Going by Nichole Kramer ’03, New Cadet Recruiting Officer

The Rats have … met … their …. alumni recruiters! Thanks to these motivated and hard-charging alumni, their legacy will go on, and the class of 2017 is bound to be another one for the record books. Our alumni recruiters support VMI by donating, possibly, the most important gift of all – their time. In this way, alumni recruiters are sure to continue their own personal legacy by fostering relationships with prospective cadets through support of college fairs, application interviews and high school visits. This type of networking encourages the right type of student to seek out more information about the unique educational experience that VMI provides. Chapters that garner the interest of local students then host a New Cadet Recruiting Reception with the intent of peaking the students’ interest in attending an Open House in Lexington. In fall 2012, our alumni recruiters coordinated with their local chapter leaders to host 23 events along the East Coast, yielding more than 900 attendees and an overabundance of RSVPs to Open House events. One way our alumni recruiters connect with students is by showing that VMI’s long-standing important traditions can be infused with the technological advancements of today. Attendees are greeted by alumni and cadets and asked to

complete their check-in on an Apple iPad, using both wi-fi and QR code technology. A video presentation shows and describes the outstanding facilities afforded to cadets who study in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field. Skype also has been used to successfully introduce prospective cadets to current cadets for personal questions and answers; more formal video teleconference capabilities are being developed for the next recruiting season. The most successful tools our recruiters have in the bank, however, are a shared experience and passion for their alma mater. Every alumnus has the expertise, no matter how long it’s been since last setting foot on Post, to help prospective cadets decide if VMI is the best place to achieve their longterm goals. New Cadet Recruiting Committee Chair Bob Clingenpeel ’69 (who is also the Alumni Association’s Far West Regional Director and Arizona Chapter leader) encourages chapters to stay engaged with their inbound Rats by hosting a Rat Sendoff or Yield Party this summer. If your chapter is interested in becoming an alumni recruiter or hosting a recruiting event in summer or fall 2013, please contact Nichole Kramer ’03, New Cadet Recruiting officer, at nkramer@vmiaa.org to learn more.

Young Alumni Committee Sponsored Event

Class of 2013 Reception Moody Hall Monday, May 13 6:00 - 7:30PM

(Hot Dogs, Chips, Drinks, Games, and Door Prizes)

RSVP by May 6, 2013

RSVP and Attend for a Chance to Win One of Three Prizes

The VMI Alumni Association, Inc.

Nichole Kramer ’03 | nkramer@vmiaa.org | Eric Hunter ’08 | ehunter@vmiaa.org

The Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Committee encourages our alumni who graduated from one to 15 years ago to toast the class of 2013 in a hearty welcome to the alumni ranks! Each spring, during “Dead Week,” graduating cadets are invited to Moody Hall for food, drink, raffle prizes and more. This year’s first class reception will be held on Monday, May 13, 2013, from 6-7:30 p.m. in Moody Hall. Please contact Nichole Kramer ’03 at nkramer@vmiaa.org or Eric Hunter ’08 at ehunter@vmiaa.org to find out how you can help support the event.

VMI Veterans Transition Program Are you retiring or planning to transition from active duty military service to another job or career? If so, The VMI Alumni Association, Inc. can help. Please contact Placement and Career Networking Officer Eric Hunter ’08 at ehunter@vmiaa.org, and discover how you can find a rewarding career in the civilian workforce through networking with other alumni.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASSNOTES NOTES CLASS

’35

Richard H. Knight ’70

Greetings to the great class of 1935! I hope everyone is enjoying spring, a time of renewal. I received a nice note from Doug Newman ’75, whose father, Maj. John Ayres Newman, was a distinguished member of ’35. Doug (Seattle, Washington) wrote to say that he enjoys the class notes and was delighted to learn that Jim and Peggy Sherman were prospering in the “Old North State.” Doug recalled that his mother, Elizabeth, would often speak with Jim during the fifteen years that Jim was writing the class notes. Thanks, Doug. I also received a nice note from George E. Steinemann, whose father, George C. Steinemann, was likewise a member of ’35. George (Sandusky, Ohio) recalled his father telling him that the class entered Barracks in 1931 during the deepening depression. He also recalled his father explaining that, as the eldest of five children, he had to return home after just one year to help support the family. However, that early departure did not diminish his father’s devotion to the Institute. George wrote that his father eventually graduated from Ohio State and law school. During World War II, he was stationed in the North Atlantic and in the South Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard. George wrote that his father passed away in 1997 “playing tennis.” He added that his mother and father were happily married for many years. Thanks, George. Sen. Harry F. Byrd, Jr. returned to the Institute last fall to participate in the presentation of “The Harry F. Byrd Jr. ’35 Public Service Award” to former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Senator Byrd attended both the ceremony and the parade. Harry could have worn his cadet uniform. He is fit and trim. Senator Byrd was not quite 15 years old when Winston S. Churchill visited Richmond in October of 1929. Churchill – who was then a washed-up politician with no political future – stayed at the Governor’s Mansion, where he met Harry Jr., who was living there. 2013-Issue 2

Harry’s recollection of Churchill’s 1929 visit has generated considerable interest among the Churchill family and Churchill students, scholars, and admirers, especially in the last 25 years. Churchill’s granddaughter, Celia Sandys, met with Sen. Byrd in his Winchester, Virginia, home a few years ago to hear (and film) his account of that long ago visit. I recently purchased the third and final volume of William Manchester’s highly acclaimed “Churchill” biography, The Last Lion: Defender of the Realm, which was actually written by Paul Reid (with Manchester’s blessing). In the “small world” department, I contacted Mr. Reid to tell him how much I enjoyed his book. Mr. Reid replied, and before long, we discovered that we lived just blocks from one another during our junior high school days in Winchester, Massachusetts. Having established that connection, we were in no hurry to conclude the conversation, and eventually we got around to Sir Winston’s 1929 trip to Richmond. Mr. Reid wondered whether I might be able to arrange an audience with Sen. Byrd, but I said I would have to get back to him on that! I received not one, but two, handwritten letters from Jim Sherman. One of them was written on “expensive stationery” torn from a legal pad. The fact that the paper was “lined,” Jim reasoned, would help me to read his writing, as the lines forced him to write from side to side instead of up and down. (Happily, Jim wrote from left to right.) Thank you for this professional courtesy, Jim! Jim (a “Green Mountain Boy” in earlier days) noted that his daughter lives in

Class of 1935: Madge and Eddie Arnold circa late 1942 or early 1943.

Vermont – “great ski country” – and that his son and daughter-in-law live on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Jim and Peggy plan to spend much of the spring and the summer at Emerald Isle on the Carolina coast. I heard from Dr. Tom Arnold, who wrote that his dad, Eddie Arnold, enjoyed Christmas and New Year’s in New Mexico’s high desert climate. Tom sent a recently discovered photo of Eddie and Madge taken in late 1942 or early 1943. Eddie is wearing the patch of the 8th Armored Division, which fought without rest from Jan. 22, 1945, to V-E Day, ten weeks later. It is always wonderful to hear from you. Until next time, here is wishing you and yours the very best in all things. Respectfully, Dick ’70

’37

Frank Forsyth’67

J. Frank Forsyth III, 97, departed this life Jan. 14, 2013. He was born in 1915 to Susan Madison Crawford and John Franklin Forsyth Jr. in Front Royal, VA. Mr. Forsyth attended Warren County, Virginia, schools; graduated from Randolph Macon Academy in 1933; and attended the College of William and Mary. He was a member of the Virginia Military Institute’s class of 1937. His home heating oil business provided comfort to thousands of families in the Front Royal and northern Virginia areas. In 1947, he was appointed agent of The Texas (oil) Company. Frank served with the U.S. Navy at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center during WWII and was a member of the American Legion. In the 1960s, Frank and his wife, Catherine (Kitty), made Staunton, Virginia, their home where he worked as a Rightof-Way agent with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Upon retirement, he continued serving the community as an active member and warden of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was a charter member and officer of the Shenandoah Valley Food Bank and a volunteer with Staunton’s Meals-On-Wheels program. An avid flyer for more than 55 years, Frank 27

CLASS NOTES spent 35 years volunteering with Civil Air Patrol units (the U.S. Air Force Search and Rescue Auxiliary) on search and rescue missions throughout Virginia. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, the OX5 Aviation Pioneers Club (a group of individuals who flew WWI aircraft, powered by the unique OX5 engine) and the Ham Radio Operators Club (call sign WD4LES). In 2011, after 72 years of marriage, Kitty passed, and Frank relocated to his son’s Colorado home to be closer to family. Frank is survived by his three children, Ms. Susan Parsley with fellow aviator Randy Williams of Moneta, VA., Mrs. Bea Oettinger and her husband, Melvin, of Charlotte, NC, and Lt. Col. John Forsyth ’67, USAF (Ret), and his wife, Leslie, of Lone Tree, CO; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Service arrangements are incomplete at the time of this writing. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrance contributions to local institutions near to Frank’s heart: Virginia Military Institute Alumni Association, Staunton Ham Radio Operators Club, Trinity Episcopal Church, The Shenandoah Valley Food Bank or a charity of choice. Editor’s Note: John Forsyth’s son, John F. IV ’67, has graciously offered to continue to submit the class notes for ’37, if Brother and Sister Rats will provide input to him. His contact information is in the title block at the top of this class notes column.

’38

Glenn Foust

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1938 for this issue.

’39

Frank Parker III ’64

I had a great visit with Howard Golladay at his home in San Diego recently. He has slowed a little but is doing amazingly well. We went out to lunch and had a wonderful chat. His granddaughter, Jenifer, is still living with him and providing great support. 28

Ira Saxe e-mailed me to say that his hip is acting up which is slowing him down. Otherwise, he is doing fine. Hopefully, spring weather will help all our old bones feel better. John W. Chiles Jr. ’67 sent me the following information concerning how the Institute honored his mother: “Jan. 15, 2013, was my mom’s 96th birthday. GEN. Peay ’62 and VMI held a wonderful citation ceremony and luncheon for Mom. The citation to Elizabeth Talman Chiles is in appreciation of her lifelong support of VMI and recognizes the contributions of the Talman and Chiles families to the Institute. My two sisters, Beth Svee and Judith Chiles, and brother, David Chiles, attended along with many other family members, including Bill Talman ’66. As Bill said, the citation really recognizes all of the girlfriends, fiancées, mothers and grandmothers who have always supported VMI and their cadets. Talman alumni include William T. Talman ’929, Woods G. Talman ’931, John E. Talman ’39 and Dr. William T. Talman ’66. After the citation and luncheon, Mom thanked GEN. Peay. She said, ‘This is the high point of my life!’ “Mom met Dad at VMI. Mom tells of finally getting to dance with John Chiles ’39 when her brother, John Talman ’39, would immediately break in. She told her brother, John, to stop breaking in when she was dancing with John Chiles. John Talman said, ‘I don’t want my Brother Rat getting stuck with my sister.’ Mom and Dad were married in California on Jan. 3, 1941. They were devotedly married for 70 years. “Dad [John W. Chiles ’39] and one of his brothers [Earl N. Chiles ’42] also graduated from VMI. Mom’s great uncles, the Maupins from Charlottesville, went to VMI before the Civil War. I don’t know their full names or classes but the following Civil War story has come down through the family. “During the Civil War, a general threw his well-worn dress uniform in the rubbish pile. His aide retrieved it and saved it. My grandmother, Bessie Maupin Talman, known to all as ‘Pom Pom,’ once told me Mom used to play dress-up in Gen. Robert E. Lee’s old dress uniform. I excitedly asked if his uniform was still in the attic.

She said, “That old thing got full of moths. I cut the buttons off of it and threw it away!” As a child, I played with a cigar box holding Gen. Robert E. Lee’s gold Confederate uniform buttons. “When Pom Pom died, the family donated several items, including a framed handwritten note to the Confederate Museum in Richmond. The museum said our claim wasn’t possible. The document they already possessed had been verified by a handwriting expert. The expert checked our brown, scratched-through and rewritten paper. One of the Maupins, a Mosby’s Raider, had snatched the crumpled paper out of the trash. Pom Pom had the rough draft of ‘The Gray Ghost’ parting speech to his men. “Dad’s mother, Ellene Stoner Chiles, Dad and Mom set up a scholarship at VMI over 30 years ago. The scholarship was in memory of Uncle Earl and in honor of Dad. (Dad died on Feb. 2, 2011, so now it’s in Dad’s memory, too.) The scholarship gives preference to cadets from Rockbridge County and Lexington. The scholarship is still going strong and has benefitted many cadets.” By the time you read this, Marcy and I have returned from our trip to Portugal and Spain. We are traveling with a group to study the Jewish Diaspora and the Spanish Inquisition. It should be very interesting, and besides, they have great wines.

Class of 1939: Howard Golladay at his home in San Diego, California, January 2013.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Class of 1939: Elizabeth Talman Chiles Receives Citation for Lifelong Support of VMI

VMI Superintendent Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 presided over a citation ceremony and luncheon for Elizabeth Talman Chiles, widow of John Chiles ’39, on Jan. 15, 2013, in appreciation for her lifelong support of VMI. Photo above: At the citation ceremony were Elizabeth Talman Chiles (seated), Mary Margaret Mason and Tom Evans, Tori Chaney, Helen Chiles Mason, Daniel Chiles, Addison Noelle Chiles, Elizabeth Chiles Svee, John Chiles Jr. ’67, Gen. Peay, David Chiles, Judith Chiles, Michelle Chiles, Chiles Bentley Mason, Fran Chiles, William Talman Jr. and Mike Strickler ’71. Photo above, right: Mrs. Chiles’ children, Elizabeth Chiles Svee, John W. Chiles Jr., David N. Chiles and Judith T. Chiles. Photo at right: Mrs. Chiles with Gen. Peay who is holding the citation that he presented to her.

’40

Robert Smith

For this report, the inspiring things may be the information about how our class scholarship fund has grown and about all the scholarships that the Foundation has awarded in our name. The worth of what we are accomplishing and the sure knowledge that the means to continue the work of this fund has been established within our fine VMI Foundation are great things to think about at this stage of our lives. But in spite of that rewarding situation, we must begin with the mortal side of our class news. In late December last year, a notice came from Bill Totten, the son of our Brother Rat, Jerry Totten, saying that Jerry had died on Dec. 17. His awareness had been compromised for some time, and 2013-Issue 2

Bill reported that he was sleeping when he passed away. His wife had died about a year ago. He served 30 years in the Air Force before retiring. News of him has been reported here regularly. Look for his obit in the Taps section. Then a note came in December from Patricia Cook Gallagher of Olympia, WA, that Doug Cook’s wife, Barbara, died last Aug. 2. Patricia said in a note about her mother that she and her sister, Jenny, are convinced that one can die of a broken heart. Those of us who attended our past reunions will remember fondly how these three ladies were so lovely and gracious when they came with Doug. Their support of their father was delightful as a fine example of a loving family. And, of course, we all appreciated Doug’s family’s interest in his Brother Rats and everything about VMI. Also, it is with great sadness that we must record that Earl I. Brown died Jan.

15. E.I. was certainly among the most accomplished engineering graduates in our class. His reputation was outstanding in the academic field, but he was also known internationally for his research and development in pre-stressed concrete design and fabrication, which special field made great advancements in the years after our graduation. He was the oldest among us at the time of his passing, and in spite of that, I must say that experiencing his ebullience over the years whenever I called him always gave a lift to my spirits. Lt. Col. Gordon Bailey ’69, USAF (Ret), son of R.G. Bailey, has written that on Oct. 27 his mother, Martha Wilson Bailey, passed away in Belton, TX. Her funeral was in Lynchburg, VA, on Nov. 17, and she was buried next to our R.G. They had two of their five children graduate from VMI, Gordon who was their first, and Fred W. Bailey ’79. Martha was, of course, one of the very outstanding “Prom Trotters” – 29

CLASS NOTES to use our endearing term for them – that some of us may remember coming to the hops. With that lovely history, early on, she became an integral part of our class as a Sister Rat. As I started these calls, then came the shocking news that only two weeks before, on Jan. 17, Bud Irwin had died quietly in his sleep. His lovely daughter, Kathy Conway, and her husband have given up their home and are moving in with Ruth to be with her, which, of course, is a splendid thing to do. We remember well that Kathy and her two sisters, Courtney and Dulcy, were with Bud and Ruth at the 70th Reunion. Kathy spoke to me warmly of Bud’s and Ruth’s VMI friends and said how much those friendships had meant to all of them through the years. When I next told her the news that Barbara Cook had died recently, she already knew. A letter of Jan. 18 from Brian Scott Crockett, chief executive officer of the VMI Foundation, kindly gave us a fine report which told us, “In this academic year, private financial support makes up more than 23 percent of VMI’s operating budget, almost one of every four dollars that VMI spends. Private scholarship support, which benefits hundreds of cadets, will total more than $8.5 million.” Then, for our class’s information, he tells that the class of 1940 Memorial Scholarship Fund is and will continue to be an important source of assistance for members of the Corps, and in the current year, this fund is providing a total of $21,280 in support to the following cadets: Anthony J. Augustine ’13, an economics major from St. Petersburg, FL; Paul O. Dugger ’15, a mechanical engineering major from Lynchburg, VA; Daniel F. Flowers ’16, a mechanical engineering major from Houston, TX; Edward P. Gottwald ’14, an applied mathematics major from Richmond, VA; Samuel J. Guidry ’14, a modern languages and cultures major from Leesburg, VA; Christopher B. Louthan ’14, a history major from Richmond, VA; Miles E. Manley ’16, an English major from Glen Allen, VA; Ryan T. Spencer ’14, a civil engineering major from Cape Charles, VA; Sterling H. Taylor ’14, an economics major from Virginia Beach, VA; Charles H. Vaughan ’16, a mechanical engineering major from Richmond, VA; and John I. Williamson ’13, a history major from 30

Carrollton, VA. To conclude about our fund, he says, “As of June 30, 2012, the close of the fiscal year, the Class of 1940 Scholarship Fund had a market value of $482,661.” Of course, we recognize the class connection for many of these men, and this is very gratifying. John Cowart especially, with his great devotion to this fund, would have been very happy with what has been accomplished in developing the fund. When I called Frazier Baldwin, Jinny took my call and told me that Frazier has been in their care center for several weeks and is not doing well. He has been losing weight, and they hope to find out what is the matter. Their facility has good capabilities to take care of them. Matt Friedlander and Jacqueline were found in their Jupiter place, as is usual for them in the winter at this time. Matt had a rough January because of a fall and infection but is recovering, thanks to his therapists. They expect to return soon to their normal bridge games and other activities. They are keeping their place in Highlands, NC, for the summers. Sol Rawls was doing well, and both times when I talked to him recently, he seemed very content with the arrangements he has made to transfer his 16 acres of farmland, home and buildings to his family while he continues to reside there. This relieves him of responsibilities, about which he is very glad. He is often visited by grandchildren who live nearby in Virginia Beach. While we were talking, one of them dumped a puppy in his lap to his great delight – and mine, as I visualized what was going on! On a serious note, he brought up the impact that the federal budget reduction considerations are having on the huge, nearby Hampton Roads area with all of its military installations. He has always been active in doing what he can to improve his local economy, and since Franklin is peripheral to that area, he is afraid of what it will do to the local businesses. Of course, he has family in the area, too. He was especially upset that, as a part of the reductions, the nuclear aircraft super carrier, U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, had just been ordered not to go to the gulf as had been planned. This ship, with a crew of up to 10,000, is based in the area, and it has a significant effect on the economy.

Dan Flowers was in his office, as usual for him on a Monday afternoon. He had enjoyed the lunch service there and was going that evening to a church discussion group. The topic, as I understood it, would be the modern day use of computers in the churches by the pastors, ministers and rectors. I then brought up the subject of cyber warfare and the role of his graduate school, MIT, in it, but we didn’t seem to know enough to really talk about it. It was fun, as usual, to talk to Ben Hardaway about his zestful and unique activities and interests which continue to be so interesting, as compared with most of us who are just now, as he would say, “Circling the Drain.” He was looking at his entertainer friend, Shannon Whitworth’s, performance schedule for the next few weeks, which he told me about. Her career is going well, and she was to be in South Carolina, Virginia and New York. I believe he was deciding whether to go to all or a few of her gigs. Then, he told me about a party for 25 that he had given at the Sherry Netherlands Hotel in New York a few weeks before. And he told me how many coyotes his mounted hunting parties, with hounds, had found in recent weeks. What an eclectic bunch of activities! No wonder he is filled with such zest – if that is the right word. In case you wonder, we talked about the propriety of my reporting his fun activities in this serious publication, because it might diminish his reputation. But he then agreed that, in his case, that oft used quote applies: “I don’t care what you print about me as long as you spell my name right.” Finally, I did an introspective interview with Bob Smith, which was quite a convenient thing to do! He reports that his and Betty-Jane’s health is such that they enjoy life. BJ spends a lot of her time on her computer in which she may have about 10,000 persons entered in her family trees. Bob is just going to press with a new family history of recollections, data and pictures relating to his grandparents who were tobacco farmers in the Bright Belt of Virginia from about 1900 until 1930 – including all the economic trials of that business. He is doing other things and is now trying hard to reorder his priorities so as to soon post to Ancestry [.com] his accumulated data of family history records. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES This stuff has been gleaned from years of research in England and in the seaboard states in this country. Those of us BRs who are in touch have been reduced now to six in number – there could be one or two others. So, bless you all!

’41

Alfred Rooklin

A month ago, I received a letter from Mrs. Martha Goolrick, Bill’s wife, who sent me a copy of his obituary from the New York Times published on Dec. 4, 2012. That, in my knowledge, was the first info on him after all these years since June 1941 finals. He served five and one-half years on Gen. Patton’s ’907 staff and volunteered for combat service assigned to the 80th Infantry Division … What do you expect of a B Company man? He was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge on the last day of 1944. He spent two and one-half years in U.S. Army hospitals recovering. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart. He earned a master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University. He worked as a reporter for The Saturday Evening Post as chief editorial writer for 10 years, and later he served as editor for Time-Life Books. Now comes this … how it happened, I don’t know. I was in Patton’s headquarters at the same time. Never saw him. My duty was to truck supplies from Cherbourg, France, to Metz prior to the Bulge Battle. After the war, I lived and worked in Manhattan. I was active in the New York VMI alumni chapter. He was not known there, either; so it goes! Does anyone know why? This was extracted from the ’41 Bomb: William K. Goolrick Jr. Editor Bomb, Academic Stars, Editorial Staff, Cadet and Turnout, Press Club; Nickname, “Slugger” Liberal Arts, “B” Company Since his obituary in the Review will be brief, I will include some statistics about Bill. William K. Goolrick, 92, died on Nov. 29, 2012. He was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is survived by his second wife, Mar2013-Issue 2

tha Turner Goolrick; his two children by his first wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1968, John and Page; and two stepsons, John and Charles Horoshowski. On my first duty as a new officer, I was lucky to have a first sergeant with eight years’ experience who told me not to volunteer; just accept what comes your way and do the best you can. So, I did. Vaya con Dios! Hail ’41! Al

’42

Charles B. Miller

Please note my new address above. I married Mary Easterly, widow of Harry Easterly ’44, on Feb. 11, 2013, and have moved into her house at WestminsterCanterbury Richmond. With no thoughts of ever getting married again, I went on a Caribbean cruise in January with Mary, another widow, two couples and a single lady, all from Westminster-Canterbury. We sailed on the Wind Surf, a 187-crew, 287-passenger, five-masted ship out of St. Maarten. We had fun as a group and with many of the other passengers. Mary and I had such a good time, we decided to get married on her birthday in November but agreed later not to wait that long. Her VMI sons are Cap Easterly ’67 and Frank Easterly ’69. Thanks to e-mail, Bob Goodman was able to reminisce with Charlie Purdum. It started with an e-mail from Charlie’s daughter, Jan Lent, who wrote, “My dad hit a snag in August and ended up with a pacemaker. He is living with me and [my] husband for now. All seems quiet. He would enjoy hearing from Brother Rats.” That led to this e-mail from Bob: “Just got a note from Charlie Miller about you and thought this might be a good time to say ‘hello’ and remember the days we were on the rifle team at VMI. I remember well that, on one of our trips to Washington, we wandered around downtown one evening, and I marveled at some of your experiences on the motorcycle. Seems like we took a bus to Baltimore, but I’m not certain. Anyway, it’s interesting to remember some of the VMI days and unusual experiences. I hope this recent change in your health

is not serious, and I wish for you a rapid recovery.” Blair Major continues to swim a third of a mile each day during the summer. I am not sure I have ever gone that far. During the winter, she goes to the Senior University at Emory University, where Russell taught history for 41 years. I was surprised to hear that Jack Woodward died. I was concerned when he did not resume e-mailing after he went back to Florida in the fall. I ran into Jack’s son, John, and his new wife at The Homestead the night before our wedding. I invited him to the join us at the church the next morning, without telling him about our secret plans to get married. No surprise, he did not show. Harry and Joan Siebert are giving up their summer home north of Ashville, NC, due to his lack of mobility. He will miss the seldom, over-80-degree temperatures and great country club. He is enjoying his Jan. 25, 72-degree temperature in Florida and his daily Jacuzzi.

’43

Jeffrey G. Smith

(Note: New address above.) As has become all too frequent, I start with the sad news of three deaths among our Brother Rats. First to die was Nelson Holden on Oct. 13, 2012, whose cheery message from Las Cruces, NM, I quoted in the preceding issue of the Alumni Review. He was followed by my close and dear Army comrade Brig. Gen. George M. Snead Jr. on Dec. 13, 2012. The most recent death was that of Hugh Birchett on Jan. 11, 2013. Their obituaries are elsewhere in this issue. And that leaves (according to my unofficial records) 32 surviving Brother Rats, some of whom we hope to greet at our 70th Reunion in Lexington this coming April 22 & 23. The Alumni Association has already mailed info on accommodations and reservations to each of you. Our class will be at the Hampton Inn (aka Col Alto). Vince Thomas mailed me a lengthy obituary of Frank Bilisoly with info, some of which I doubt the Review will include. Among some unusual interests of Frank, 31

CLASS NOTES who was a widely admired practicing physician, was a checkered venture in tree farming. The work to cultivate the trees (required by Frank and the other “boys” who were Frank’s associates in tree farming) included a daily, prolonged lunch. As the “boys” filled their tummies, they paid little heed to the growth of the trees. When it came time to move the trees, the individual trees were too large to sell. To sell the trees, Frank and the “boys” had to sell the entire tree farm. The obit Vince sent me stated that Frank was both an avid golfer and a downhill skier whose medical skills far exceeded – in a comparable sense – the skills needed for his favorite sports, notwithstanding Frank’s assiduous sport practice. I can readily empathize when it comes to golf, a sport I thoroughly enjoyed but which nonetheless frustrated me by my failure to improve, despite the hours of play and practice and – most precious of all – time. I invested (as had Frank) many hours in a game, the craving for which had become nearly insatiable near the end of my active duty in the Army. Many of my Army comrades retired and wallowed in the delights of an increase in free time to golf, although their non-golfing wives had hoped for an increase in activities they could enjoy together. In my last year of active duty,

Class of 1943: Jeff Smith, Whitey Kahn (not an alumnus) and Ned Brantly at Fort Brown, Texas, which bordered the Rio Grande River and Mexico. About the photo, which was taken in April 1944, Smith wrote, here were a few “cavalry troopers before they lost their horses to become cavalry (special) – infantry.”

I was hurrying through Dulles Airport (which serves the greater Washington, D.C. area) when I slipped and wrenched my left knee. I limped along and had the Army doctors look me over at the various posts I was visiting, but the pain remained. Once home, I was ordered to quit golf till I healed – forecast to be a year or more. Jane and I recall that as my Emancipation Day – from golf. I gave up the game and soon learned to be grateful for the time made available for other pursuits – such as

Class of 1943: From left, Jim Anderson, Allen Potts, Harry Jones and Murray Forbes circa 1963-73. Photo courtesy Lella Jones.

being your humble class agent. Vince called me yesterday (Feb. 2) to report that he is still “on my team.” I’d be tremendously down-hearted if he weren’t. He and Betty can’t make our 70th Reunion. Vince remains bound to a wheelchair, and although Betty gives him tremendous aid and comfort, there are limits – such as a trip to Lexington. He commented that, although his spirits are generally high, there are declines now and then. Sounds like most of us. Old age is not for sissies. The Suters, Bruce and Joan, celebrated their 20th anniversary in their retirement residence in the Garden State of New Jersey. Bruce is chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, and with all due modesty, states that he keeps things jumping as if it were a garden party combined with an Arbor Day celebration. Joan, too, is busy as secretary to the Activities Committee, which concerns itself with such things as tea parties and – yes, you read it right – Sock Hops. The Suters would love to hear from you – telephone 732/4155486. I attended the Alfalfa Club’s 100th Annual Dinner the evening of Jan. 26, 2013,

as a guest of club member Bill Gottwald at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event is noted for its political satire delivered by honored guests, who often include the president of the U.S. President Obama didn’t show up personally, but he sent his brief greetings on the several huge video screens suspended from the ceiling. Although I won’t attempt to summarize what he had to say or what I think of his politics, I gave him high marks on his humor aimed at both political parties. VIPs were a dime a dozen – great night for people watching. Dinner was leisurely, taking about two and one-half hours interspersed with speakers, of which the most impressive and humorous was Henry Kissinger. He is close to 90 years old, but his verve and appearance seemed those of one 20 years his junior. Bill’s Christmas card featured a great photo of Helga and Bill dressed for a gala night out. Bill says his arthritic joints ache mightily at times but, fortunately, not on our night out. He drives without trouble – day and night – but prudently left it to limousine drivers to guide us through the crowds that night. Defying the bitter cold outside the hotel were several noisy groups advocating, among other things, various sorts of gun control. No one seemed to be paying any attention. Settle Frank sent me a very welcome Christmas note to report that things are going quite well for him at the Mt. Pleasant Retirement Village in Monroe, OH, which is near Cincinnati where his son lives. He is the only Virginian in the facility, but there are many WWII vets. Polly, who also lives there, has not regressed but remains wheelchair-bound. She always smiles when their paths cross at least twice day. The Franks were able to celebrate their 65th anniversary on June 15. Settle and his son visited the Shenandoah Valley to visit old friends and, along the way, picked up some Virginia cured ham. When he wrote, the Village and its residents were into the Christmas spirit with decorations all ’round. He followed with a telephone call to me on Feb. 2, basically to say “hello” and state no improvement in Polly’s condition. As with so many, he now relies on a cane for balance. Although Settle didn’t commit, I am counting on him for our 70th. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Gerry Asch, whom I had always viewed as ageless and never changing, called from Boca Raton, FL, on Feb. 2. He was in his usual ebullient spirits and intends to attend our 70th but will do so with the aid of a cane. I can only guarantee that he’ll not be the only one. Johnny and Shirley Van Landingham and Jeff and Jane Smith had been, until 2012, constant attendees at the Institute Society’s annual dinner at VMI on/near our Founders Day, Nov. 11. None attended the most recent dinner. I begged out, as I was still getting used to the loss of sight in my right eye – and still am. And sadly, Shirley Van Landingham’s loss of nearterm memory caused her and Johnny to cancel. Shirley is in a care facility where she and Johnny have their evening meal – a pleasant evening ritual that lingers only briefly in Shirley’s memory. I interrupted Gordon Smith as he was cooking chili for a neighborhood Super Bowl party. He was in his usual high spirits but admitted to his disappointment in the residual leg weakness from the stroke he had well over a year ago. He wants to attend our 70th and needs to find someone to help him through the airport maze en route to Lexington – but believes he will solve that problem. I admire Gordon for his “can-do” attitude. I think it was Gordon who wondered who could lead us in an Old Yell at the reunion from atop the Old Barracks sentinel box. A very good question, but I think there are several of us who could climb (slowly) up the stairs. As far as belting out the Old Yell, there will be two or three cadet cheerleaders on top of the sentry box to help. I predict we will rise to the occasion. Lella Jones sent me a photo in July 2012, and I promptly misplaced it. However, I rediscovered it – great photo of when we were all much younger. In the picture are Jim Anderson, Allen Potts, Harry Jones and Murray Forbes. Murray was the first to die – Feb. 10, 1980. He was just past 60 – much too young. Lella wrote that Harry is in a wonderful closeby nursing home where his children and grandchildren often visit. “He still has that beautiful smile and faith in his Lord and lovely nurses 24/7.” Bill Johann’s daughter, Jane Gresham (120 E. Severn Rd, Norfolk, VA 23505), 2013-Issue 2

sent me an account in The VirginianPilot featuring Vince Thomas’ grandson, Vincent J. Thomas III. Young Vince, who graduates from high school this spring, is captain of his school’s baseball, volleyball and basketball teams. Young Vince III adopted an entire team in the Challenger (handicapped physically or mentally) Division of Norfolk’s Azalea Little League baseball team. The handicapped players use a soft, spongy ball, and no strikes or outs are called, the emphasis being on allowing the players a great chance to “smack” the ball. He’s raised $1,375 for equipment. When Vince III graduates from high school, his siblings, Cabell and Wren, plan to adopt the team. I recall our Vince telling me that he had hoped to recruit some of those grandsons for VMI. I’m sure that all of the class of 1943 would vigorously cheer if any of those fine young men became VMI cadets! Frank Williams (on Feb. 3) says its “day to day” on whether he’ll make the 70th Reunion. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” His son, Frank (whom many of us have met), wants to take him, but our Bro Rat Frank’s energy level at the moment seemed a bit low to me. On the plus side, he feels “good,” has a good appetite, enjoys watching the ebb and flow of the tides from his water view – as do we from our home. It’s addictive. Jim Tapley called Feb. 6 to exchange news. He is very much looking forward to our 70th Reunion. He sounded chipper and says he’s in good shape for his 91 years. Has a daily walk of at least a mile. That’s exactly my Rx for keeping the blood flowing and the lungs expanded. Martha continues to have “essential tremors” which primarily afflict her left hand. Fortunately, she is right-handed. She has had five unsuccessful operations, so it’s understandable that she has chosen to forgo any more. Bill Gottwald: I just received a summary of contributions (it is far from complete) made to VMI. Mind you, the VMI 2013 Fiscal Year is from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. As of Dec. 31, 2012, $1,500,967 has been donated to VMI. Of that, Bill Gottwald gave $1,500,250. Our class should be very proud of Bill, not only for what he has donated to VMI, but for his World War II service as a brave soldier

who, until wounds felled him, was leading his platoon in close combat against a Japanese position. Lest we be complacent about the total contribution from our class, there is a possibility that many of our Brother Rats might be inclined to let it go at that. If so, shame on you. For the period July 1 to Dec. 31, 2012, only six Brother Rats contributed. There is time to make amends – but only till June 30, 2013. Please keep those dates in mind. That these notes are shorter than previous ones and involve only a few classmates reflects the lack of input I have been able to gather. Sorry. One can only reap what has been sown.

’44

Tom L. Peyton Jr.

By now, most of the members of the class of 1944 family have read the note of our esteemed class agent, Bob “Egypt” Jones, announcing his retirement from that position after 25 years of exemplary service. What a performance! I know that I speak for all of us in thanking and praising him for his outstanding devotion to our class and VMI. This is also a good place to express our appreciation to Faye Jones for her many contributions over time. To get me started, Bob has given me the holiday cards and notes that you sent him. I hope that passing on your remarks in this format is acceptable to you. Otherwise, this initial effort by me would be very skimpy. Near the end of his tour, Bob sent to those on our mailing list announcements of the passing of Bob Nay, Taz Ellett and Harry Ratrie. Look for their obituaries elsewhere in this Review. Bob Nay was one of us who was called to active duty with the Army Reserve in 1943 at the end of our second class year. He was subsequently commissioned in the infantry and served in Europe with the 100th Infantry Division. In January 1945, he was captured and remained a POW until the end of the war. He later pursued a successful career in real estate in the northern Virginia area. A class gift was made to the VMI Foundation in Bob’s memory. 33

CLASS NOTES Rose Tucker’s Christmas card was filled birthday, and on Mother’s Day, Shirley and Taz Ellett was one of our classmates who Cabell were remarried. Cabell said, “with new with positive news about her life at Westham was commissioned in the Marine Corps Green. She said that she has a lot going on rings and everything.” immediately after completion of our second during the holidays with new and old friends. Congratulations to the newly re-weds. class year. He fought on the Pacific islands Martha McIntyre reports that the McIntyre I am a regular recipient of e-mails from of Peleliu and Okinawa, attaining the rank household is doing well and that she is in Dick Niess, which keep me constantly of captain. Taz returned to VMI in 1946, good health. She has scheduled a shoulder informed, entertained, amazed and amused. finishing his last year and graduating in replacement to take care of a problem needDick is one of the few classmates that I hear 1947. Returning to Richmond, he spent the ing attention. Luckily, family members will from via e-mail. However, as your new remainder of his career in a successful real help her during the planned recovery period. class agent, I am hopeful that will change. estate practice. Taz was always a strong Peck Chambers has moved from AlexIn recent years, Dick has found a great way supporter of our class and VMI, which andria, VA, to an assisted living facility in to stay active through the Civil Air Patrol. included service as president of the Alumni Reston, VA. If you would like to have his He has been honored for his achievements Association. His wife, Marguerite, wrote in address, please drop me a line. by being named “Member of the Year” by December, thanking the class for flowers Greetings and short notes have been most the Marco Island Squadron. Anne Niess has sent in Taz’s memory. written and published a second book. This Harry Ratrie was also commissioned in welcome from the following: John Ingles, one, a novel, stems from the haunting memo- Dick Doom, Fran and Dick Meade, Lois the Marine Corps upon completion of three years at VMI, serving in WWII and attaining ries of her childhood home. Both wonderful Whitehurst, Betty Metcalf, Edwina Ragexamples of staying active in our golden the rank of captain. Harry also returned to land, Mabbot Warren, Maryann Munroe years. VMI in 1946, graduating in 1947. He was a and Cameron Pratt, Mardi Gillum, Mary Bob Smothers wrote in December that successful construction contractor, with opEasterly, Patricia Wen, and Victoria Doom. erations centered in the Baltimore, MD, area. his wife, Hazel’s, health had required them Louise Brennan and Margo Clegg wrote to to move her to a healthcare facility in La Harry was always generous with his support thank the class for our donation to the VMI Jolla. He is able to visit her almost every for our class activities. He is particularly Foundation in memory of their father, Tom remembered for his outstanding leadership in day and to observe the excellent care that Gentry. Those who attended our 65th Reheading the class of 1944’s 50th Reunion gift she is receiving. Bob comments: “As we all union would remember that Margo attended know, Hazel is a lovely, classy, loving and to the Institute. Our class has made a gift to some of our reunion activities. caring woman with amazing achievements, the VMI Foundation in Harry’s memory. Speaking of reunions, our 70th will be A recent note from M.C. Wilhelm, observ- especially her flying. She is still determined, coming up next year. It will be our last full of spirit and doing the best that she can ing the move of many to retirement comformal one, so it is important that as many as munities, advises that he and Jean still live in in a difficult situation.” Bob, many of us possible plan to attend. For obvious reasons, have fond memories of you and Hazel at our their Charlottesville home thus far, with help the number attending a 70th Reunion has reunions. I admit to unashamed envy at your to make it easy. Jean is still very involved been very small. I ask that you start thinking dancing abilities. We wish you our very best in the arts council and the opera guild. M.C. about it now. at this trying time. has finished editing works at Monticello One consideration, if appropriate, could and is now active at the medical be to have a younger member library – waiting for golf to begin of your family accompany you. in earnest. This has been done quite a few Shortly after learning of the class times for our earlier reunions, agent change, Cabell Brand gave with what I think was great me a call. The conversation was success. A visit to VMI today is rather brief, mostly exchanging a great treat, not to be missed. I pleasantries. However, more rehope to see you there. cently a review of his Brand family In November, I attended the Christmas newsletter provided Institute’s Founders Day activimuch news about Shirley and ties. It was a great opportunity to Cabell’s amazing family – 24 in observe and learn about the truly all. Fortunately, Cabell reports that remarkable progress being made. he is in reasonably good health. The Corps and the individual caDespite severe hearing problems dets that I encountered were very and reduced mobility, he is almost impressive. The activities inas active as ever. Unfortunately, cluded a convocation in Cameron Shirley’s mobility has become Hall, featuring a Distinguished limited. She is comfortable at Class of 1944: At his 90th birthday party in September Service Award by the VMI 2012 was Hank Ratrie Jr., seated, with his three sons home with Cabell and some help- (Ratrie III ’67 is second from right) and son-in-law. Foundation to Thomas Slater Jr. ers. The family celebrated her 85th ’66; a Corps of Cadets parade; 34

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES an Institute Society formal dinner at the new Center for Leadership and Ethics; and a football game, VMI vs. The Citadel. All went exceptionally well, except the game. At dinner, I was seated with John Williams ’45, his wife, Mary Ballou, and Jess Reed ’45. John is the younger brother of our late Brother Rat, Tom Williams, and Alex Williams ’42. All four of us were members of C Company at the same time, so I especially enjoyed a bit of a reunion with John. During my visit, remarks made by GEN. Peay ’62 and others were highly informative and reflected a very positive tone of continuing advancement of the success story that VMI today has become. Visiting VMI is not always possible, so I hope that many of you receive the Institute Report, published eight times a year. It provides an excellent insight into the many and varied activities at the Institute that merit you attention. As I write this, we have 36 Brother Rats on our active mailing list and 49 widows. In terms of our class participation in the VMI Foundation’s Annual Giving Program, we have a participation rate of about 50 percent. With the end of the fund’s fiscal year on June 30, 2013, we obviously have to make up some ground to bring that rate up to 100 percent. That’s it for this time. Please let me hear from you. The class of ’44 cares.

’45

Richard A. Matheis

As time goes by, your class notes continue to be more daunting. No longer do we have, as we did as recently as 2010, 55 “young” dashing Brother Rats. No longer do we have candidates for Gulliver’s Travels, as we did in the heydays of the likes of Sarg Wise. And no ex-jock stories. Only recollections and health issues, it would seem. BUT there is still enough spirit and limited actions to uncover to match the needs of our notes (please, no sighs of relief). To supplement what I receive by phone, e-mail and regular mail, I decided to send 2013-Issue 2

a letter to all the widow sisters. We hear so little from them, and as a result, we know as little. The Alumni Association records contained the names of 44. A questionnaire with a self-addressed and stamped envelope was enclosed with the letter. The responses were numerous and interesting. Some of the information obtained will be reflected in these notes and others to follow. Let’s dispense with negative items first. You may remember in the previous issue I mentioned the phone call I received from Rosemary Pritchard which started with, “Do I have good news for you.” She then announced her namesake and granddaughter had been elected “Miss Virginia” in the Miss America contest. (How could anyone not remember her beautiful picture?) On the afternoon of Dec. 8th, she made another call to me. This one started off with the statement, “I have bad news for you this time. Doug passed away this morning.” Total joy followed by such sadness in such a short span of time. During the following 30 days, I learned of the loss of three other BRs. I tried to reach Bob Williams by phone, only to learn from his wife, Shirley, that he passed away on Dec. 2, one month before his 90th birthday. In an attempt to contact Bill Taylor, a member of his family advised he died in 2010. The last on the list is Ray Batten. The Alumni Association received word that he just died [in February] at his home in Spokane. His obituary appears in the Taps section of this Alumni Review. The question at this point that might come to mind, and logically so, is how are we doing as a class? We are a strong and unified group of 42. I hasten to add that 18 of us will reach 90 this year, with 22 to follow next year. Considering all factors, I think that’s a pretty impressive number and reflects on the disciplined lifestyle instilled in us as cadets. Keep up the great work, guys! Karen Redwine has been one of the great sister correspondents during my tour of duty as class agent. She has also been the source of a bevy of pictures to support the written word. As has been the case so often, there is limited space available for photos, so one must pick and choose.

The most recent picture of Bucky is one contained in an article written by the publisher of his hometown paper in Athens, GA. It is all about Bucky and is tremendous. So that you all can see it in its entirety, it will reach you as an enclosure with the advance copy of these notes, thanks to the Alumni Review and Foundation staff. As mentioned earlier, I received a gratifying number of responses to my survey of the widow members of our class. One was from Janet Russell. She has lived in Kansas City all her life and, as a result, is very active in a number of organizations. What really caught my eye was that she has a great-granddaughter who just enrolled in Washington and Lee. More significant is that Janet is wishing that the young lady someday soon meets “a nice young man from VMI.” May all of the class of ’45 wish her happy hunting! The survey form sent to the widows requested their “current activities.” The returns indicate there are a number of movers and shakers among the widows. To cite a few – Cathie Yow, Marjorie Turner, Mary Frances Kastelberg, Martha Coleman, Shirley Osborn, Joan Edmonds, Jean Pates, Rosemary Pritchard, Jo Pittman and Ann Freidell. Ann, bless her heart, added a comment to her report, “It is difficult to be so far away, but keep your notes coming – I’m always very interested. I try to support the VMI sports program each year.” I am certain many others are similarly blessed and can be included in subsequent notes. This situation brings to mind the story of the destitute janitor named Tony who had a host of family problems. He prayed to the Lord for help and begged for help to win the lottery. The Voice from above said, “OK, Tony, your wish will be granted, but you must first meet me halfway – BUY a lottery ticket!” Same deal here, Ladies. You can join the list of movers and shakers but first must meet me halfway. Return the survey, or simply send me a note. I’d love to hear from you. The downside of this survey is that it has revealed the names of some of the widows who are no longer with us. Notes from family members reflect the losses are Jane 35

CLASS NOTES Buford, Olga Edens, Carol Morrison, Katherine Cochran, Frances Winston and Joyce Burress. Sheila Burress, Joyce’s daughter-in-law, added a lengthy note stating how much Joyce loved VMI, its traditions and the class of ’45. Thank you, Sheila. RAMblings Our phone line was really busy as I “moussed around” among the BRs, searching for information worthy of your esteemed attention. Sandra had to forego usage of the phone for hours at a time – no small matter in our household. The results, however, made it all worthwhile. I first had the pleasure of talking to Dabney Waring in Charlottesville after a number of unsuccessful attempts. Nothing to report, however, other than he is doing very well and sounds great. He is enjoying his relocation after he and his wife, Jennifer, had spent their entire lives in Alexandria. For whatever reason, I mentioned that he and Frank King were both difficult to contact. Much to my surprise, he quickly told me Frank was his roommate at VMI and that Frank also was a native of Alexandria. He had not seen or talked to him, though, for many years. If you should be reading this, Frank, please give me a call. While looking at the roster, I noticed Walt Weber’s e-mail address is spndrft@aol. com. Is he referring to himself as a spendthrift type of guy? I had to call him. Turns out he is referring to the nautical term of “spin drift.” I thought I had something going for a minute. Walt did tell me he is still commuting to his law office in New Jersey from his home in Catskill, NY. Lawyers have all the luck! What other profession makes that situation possible? Another of the calls was to Bob Wilson in Berlin, MD. Another interesting e-mail address. His is twobythebay@juno.com. No surprise here. The two are Bob and his wife, Carol. And the bay involved is named Chincoteague, a real tongue twister. In fact, Bob even had trouble spelling it for me! It was fun checking out his location in my atlas. He has an A-frame home with over a dozen windows facing the bay. The bay itself is one of five behind a barrier island and is about halfway between Norfolk and Ocean City, MD. Sounds absolutely beautiful, Bob. How about converting it into a B&B 36

with special rates for your Brother Rats? Moving on to our favorite city, Lexington, I tried to reach Bob Moore. No luck there – he was out hunting wild turkey. Guess we know where he stands on gun control. A call to Hugh Dischinger in Gloucester contained no surprises. He is just enjoying life. He did deny that he is spending any time in pool halls. Actually, with the volume of e-mails he spews out on a daily basis, I doubt he has time for anything else. The last call to report was actually initiated by Jess Reed. He informed me that he joined John Williams at the Founders Day Banquet in November and that they were seated at table #1. The reason – they represented the oldest class in attendance and were seated with the other dignitaries. That brought to mind how John constantly reminds me that every new issue of the Review finds our class notes getting closer and closer to the front cover! While typing this, a piece of mail was put in front of me – it was from Giles Upshur. Most of his note revolves around his enjoyment of the facilities at The Hermitage in Onancock, VA. But let me recite his first paragraph to you: “This brief note is intended to merely let you and the other members of the VMI class of ’45 know that I am still alive and well, as best I can ascertain.” Obviously, he also has not lost his sense of humor! For some time now, résumés have been included of living, previous class agents, covering their experiences since departing VMI. We are now down to only two remaining – Jack Newcomb and John Williams. The next issue will cover Jack, with John following him. I must confess that I notified Jack too close to this issue’s deadline. Thanks to all who are “still reading to this point!” God bless VMI – and the class of ’45! Dick

’46

William A. Eliason

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1946 for this issue.

’47

Gus Robbins

The mournful notes of “Taps” continue to be heard much too often, as three more of our Brother Rats have departed since I wrote you last. Meade Gregory, Bill Hallett and Dan Williamson are gone. However, their good deeds and accomplishments live on in our memories. Meade was a native of Richmond, VA, and matriculated with our class at the Institute in June 1943 and, like most of our class, left after three semesters to serve in the Navy during WWII. He returned to VMI after the war and graduated in 1948 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. Having received a commission from the U.S. Army, he was called to serve again on active duty in the Korean War. He returned to Richmond after that stint and became an owner and operator of a construction and industrial equipment sales and service business. He and his lovely daughter joined us for the 65th Reunion in Lexington in April 2012.He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Retired Brig. Gen. Dan Williamson, USA, was a native of Georgia when he entered VMI with our class. He left VMI in the fall of 1944 to accept an appointment to USMA in July 1945. Dan roomed for a semester in the spring of 1944 with Brother Rat Jim Willson who, by coincidence, also took an appointment to West Point. Both were in the class of 1949. Dan was commissioned in the armored cavalry and, in a 30+year career, became one of the Army’s foremost armored experts, serving six tours commanding armored units on the East German border. He later received a master of science degree in engineering from Georgia Tech. Dan served a tour in Vietnam and then was assigned as senior project manager for the M60A3 tank which proved so successful in the first Gulf War. After retiring from the Army, Dan served as chairman of the board of Goodwill Industries of Atlanta and also worked for the VMI Foundation during its very successful sesquicentennial fundraising campaign some 20 years ago. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Dan’s wife, Linda, died in 2009, and he is survived by four children and 10 grands. In a newsy letter regarding Dan’s death, Brother Rat Jim Willson remarked that “dying on one’s birthday (Oct. 27th) was as a good day as any for one’s final parting.” William A. Hallett Jr. was from Kiptopeke, VA, and entered VMI in June 1943. He completed his Rat year before joining the U.S. Army. His Army service included a three-year assignment to Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters during the occupation of Japan. He returned to VMI and graduated in 1951 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. His business career was centered in the insurance industry, beginning with Liberty Life and ending after 30 years with Life Insurance Co. of Virginia. He retired as a vice president in 1982. Active in national insurance groups, he was, for two years, president of the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association. Bill dedicated many years of service to VMI and its alumni agencies. He was founding chairman of the Friends of Preston Library and board member of VMI Research Laboratories. He was a long-time member of The VMI Alumni Association and was president from 1983-85; he also served for six years as a trustee of the VMI Foundation Inc. Bill’s dedication to his classmates was evident in his clever class notes that are fondly remembered by all of us. Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Martha Frierson (Marty); daughters, Patty, Kathryn and Mary; and three grandchildren. For some years, there has been an informal VMI lunch group in Richmond, meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. Usually, there are around 20 to 25 alums from the area, and Bill Hallett really enjoyed being part of that group. Brother Rat Henry Scott and Brother Rat Harry Lee attend quite often, and I have recently enjoyed being there, as well. Henry Scott’s son was VMI class of 1981 and is now retired from the USN as a commander. Henry’s grandson is now in the Rat class at the Institute. Don Doherty has moved, and his new address is: 1 Old Farm Lane, Caszenovia, NY 03035. Don says he and Anne recognized that it was time to downsize, so the move was from a 32-acre, wooded hillside to a 0.2-acre condo. He has for sale a tractor, a six-foot snow blower, a bush hog, a field 2013-Issue 2

rake and a York rake. He will give special pricing to Brother Rats. A note from a dear friend of Brother Rat John Steele reports that he is now residing at a New York City nursing home but would be greatly cheered by any word from his Brothers in the VMI spirit. Cards or notes should be addressed to John at the address shown on our recent mailing list. John Ewell is keeping up with Brother Rat Louis in doctor visits, as he recently had three stents installed in his arteries and two angioplasties performed. He reports that he is in a cardiac rehab program and doing much better. We all wish him well. Max and Hilma Lamont report that they are sorry that they missed the reunion but are doing well … it was just too long a drive for them last April. Bill Glass wins the medal for most active Brother Rat. He still plays tennis regularly, has an active CPA practice and was able to take a two-week motor trip through the French countryside which began with a ride through the Dover-Calais tunnel. He also enjoys play times with his five grandchildren. Eva Simmons also reports on her good health and certainly lives quite an active life. It took two pages to list all the activities she enjoys with her children and grands. She particularly enjoys the music programs available in the Baltimore and Washington area. A lovely note from Margaret Nichol reports that she and Ridley had a good Thanksgiving in Atlanta, enjoying Margaret’s mother’s company. Her mother is an amazing 95+ years! Such a good, long letter from Jim Willson has a lot of information of his last 65+ years for me to share with you. As mentioned before, he roomed with Dan and then left in May 1944 to go into the Navy V-12 program. They met again at West Point but were in different companies, so they only saw each other occasionally. After graduation, they were again together at Fort Riley, KS, in basic officer class. Jim went on to engineer school at Fort Belvoir and Dan to Fort Knox, so they did not see one another again for 30 years, although they did correspond sporadically. Once in a while, they met up at West Point for reunions. Jim and Carol had a good last visit spring of last year with Dan at his retirement home in Raleigh, NC. Dan was not well, and Jim said their parting was

sad: “We both felt, unspoken, of course, that we would probably not see each other again.” Jim served five years in the Corps of Engineers and resigned his commission in 1954. He had a varied and successful career in the business world. He was a research engineer for the Stanford Research Institute, sales rep for the Okonite Co. (a high voltage power cable start up), and ended up spending 20 years as a stockbroker with Dean Witter and Co. Jim and Carol enjoy retirement living in Danville, CA, playing golf, bridge and traveling abroad. In an e-mail from Garvin Jones’ wife, Lucie, we hated to hear that Garvin had been hit by a car while crossing the street in early December and sustained a broken neck, right hip and many painful bumps and bruises. By the time you read this, he will be in rehab, hopefully well into treatment there. They hope to be able to travel again in the fall. Sue Garrison reports that 2012 was a good year, since she only had one operation! She does stay busy with children and grandchildren. Dick Spencer writes that he is still getting around OK, but several medical problems kept him away from the reunion last year. He stays busy doing ancestral and historical research. He is active in the Sons of the Republic of Texas and Sons of the American Revolution in which he is chapter president and state registrar. He volunteers four mornings a week at the county archives and museum. He also has joined the American Legion Post which is very active with a weekly luncheon meeting. I also joined the Legion this year … 67 years after my first opportunity! Betty Lane and I had a delightful lunch in Baltimore in mid December with Anna Mae and Bruce Taylor. They have had wonderful twilight years living in Hilton Head Island, SC, and Severna Park, MD, but have decided to finish retirement in their lovely home in Severna Park and will be selling the Hilton Head property this year. So many of Bruce’s VMI buds will miss stopping by for an island break in their travels. Bruce is a loyal alum of the class of ’49C but loyal to us ’47s, as well. Within the last seven months, Betty Lane and I have become great-grandparents again. My son, Gus IV’s, daughter, Kate, had her third. His daughter, Allison, has 37

CLASS NOTES a daughter, and Betty Lane’s grandson in Virginia had a boy, as did her granddaughter in North Carolina have a son. Our travels are now focused on visiting the children and grands more than visiting abroad! We are going on a Holland America cruise to the islands and visiting the Panama Canal … I am eager to see the new construction first hand. We would welcome visits from any of you whenever you are in this area. Virginia is truly a great place to visit, and our welcome mat is always out. Many thanks to those of you who have contributed to the VMI Foundation and a reminder that the fiscal year runs through June 2013; so plenty of time left for those of you procrastinating. Support the Corps – support VMI. In the spirit, Gus

’48A

Dale E. Wykoff

After three months here at the Deerfield Retirement Community in Asheville, NC, I am beginning to remember the names of some of the 500 residents (slowly, since my memory doesn’t seem to be what it was!). There are several retired military whose paths I have crossed during my 32 years of active duty, and just last week, here in our dining room, I met the physician to the Peace Corps whom I knew well in Kampala, Uganda, where my sergeant and I were stationed 47 years ago! In any case, much time has passed, and it seems worthwhile to review several class matters. First, the 1948A Scholarship Fund is alive and growing, thanks to the donations of the Brother Rats. Because of my recent move to Asheville, I failed to pay close attention to current donations, but now I see that major amounts have been given by J.Y. O’Neal, Paul Stagg and John Trumbo. Many thanks are due to Dora Meler who in the last several years has made a number of significant contributions, thus allowing us to provide our annual cadet scholarship. Next in class matters are the VMI bricks. The sidewalk in front of the Old Barracks is now paved with bricks, each bearing the name of the donor or in memory of a de38

ceased Brother Rat. The bricks are grouped by classes and each single brick represents a minimum donation of $2,500 since July 1, 1998. Presently, bricks are inscribed to the following Brother Rats: Andrews, Bond, Casey, Davis, Donnelly, Dooley, Finamore, Kritzer, Lacy, Mahone, Mason, McGehee, Meler, Mills, O’Neal, Sadler, Schad, Shahun, Stagg, Timberlake, Trumbo, Whitmore and Wykoff. Bob Patterson, at his request, is shown with 1949C. There are no bricks for the following deceased Brother Rats. Shown after each name is the time spent at VMI, except those staying less than 30 days are omitted: Arcaro (five mo.), Deyerle (16 mo.), Farwell (16 mo.), Franklin (36 mo.), Goldman (16 mo.), Goldbarth (16 mo.), Hasler (three mo.), McFadden (12 mo.), Moore (three mo.), Sagar (12 mo.), Spieker (12 mo.) and Steers (four mo.). If you wish further information about the bricks, please contact me. Now, the big news is that the class of 1948A has survived long enough to be celebrating the 65th Reunion! Invitations have been mailed out for the April 22-23, 2013, meeting. (Editor’s Note: Since this Alumni Review will be mailed in May 2013, the reunion will have already occurred.) Our ’48A reunion dinner is being held in the Executive Dining Room of the Alumni Hall on the evening of April 23, and our parade is the previous afternoon. I shall report all the memorable happenings in the next edition of the Alumni Review. In the meantime, please contact me with news of our diminishing class!

’48B

Louis Castellano Jr.

Lou Schwartz sent me a note that his wife passed away, and he is now living in an assisted living facility. Our Brother Rat, Arthur Pinkston, advised that his son passed away on Jan. 9, 2005, but we never received the news until recently. Arthur had rather significant limitation problems, but he is feeling much better and hopefully will attend our reunion. I contacted our Brother Rat, George Bell, who lives in California. He and my roommate, Floyd Stevenson, went to West Point at the same time. Floyd came to visit

my family and me at Hempstead, NY, over a weekend after his graduation from West Point. Unfortunately, Floyd died in the Korean War. The latest medical report on Doug Hamner was that he is recovering after a very complex heart surgery and subsequent fractured hip. I spoke with Marguerite Adams, the wife of our late Brother Rat Lawrence. They were married for 38 years. Between them, they had 16 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. As you may or may not know, Larry was a neurosurgeon and then, later on in life, went to law school. Libby, the wife of our Brother Rat Clarence Danforth, lives in Richmond, VA. Clarence, during his life, was employed by Virginia Power and Light. Libby and Clarence had five children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Joanne and John Ayres have been married for 62 years. John is still active in the real estate and construction business. At one time, he was involved in transportation of petroleum products. He and his wife have four children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Our Brother Rat Bruce Brand is still playing golf. He has been married 60 years, is retired, had four children (now down to three) and has a bunch of grandchildren, according to his wife. The only way news comes to a class agent is when a class agent reaches out to the surviving Brother Rats or spouses. However, I always have to start my introduction off by saying, “I am not looking for your money.”

’49A

James Harrington

Allen Penniman has several advantages over me. First is his efficient office staff, who makes sure that he writes us something on schedule. Second is his opportunity to make up interesting activities to report. Here’s his latest: “In answer to your, ‘here we go again!,’ I have reviewed my activities since I last wrote. Either one of two things is happening to me. First, it may be that Joanie and I are doing less, or time is flying by, and VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES your requests seem much closer together. It is possibly a bit of both, but fortunately, I do have a few things to report about our activities and those of the family. “After many years of having family gatherings at Thanksgiving time, Joanie and I decided not to do that this year. All of our children’s families have their own activities, or they do not live in Baton Rouge. The point is, we found ourselves alone at home and decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity. So, just the two of us packed a few things and took off to my farm just north of Baton Rouge in a beautiful part of the state. We were there for three days and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The weather was perfect with bright, sunny days and chilly nights, just right for a fire in the living room or one in the early morning in our bedroom. It’s a very small house but comfortable, and we spent three days reading, walking and enjoying the beauty of Penniman Oaks. It was interesting that we did not have a television set or radio, and I made no arrangements to receive newspapers. Cell phones were available, but they were turned off – just Joanie and me in a beautiful environment, together, with no interference from the happenings of the outside world. It was peaceful, and we enjoyed it very much. It was a real getaway for the two of us, and I recommend it highly. “In mid December, we packed up and flew to Santa Fe, NM. We were there to spend the holidays with our family who live there. We were also joined by family members from Albuquerque and our granddaughter, her husband and two great-granddaughters who flew in from Denver. We had a house full, with ages ranging from mine – ancient – all the way down to a 3-month-old great-granddaughter named Claire. Of course, it was tiring, and not having been around little ones for awhile, it took its toll on both of us. It was great fun, but at times I must admit I longed for the peace and tranquility of my farm. “After Christmas, we flew home and spent New Year’s in Baton Rouge with family and friends, watching Clemson defeat LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl football game. It was a bitter loss for my Tigers, especially when my Clemson 2013-Issue 2

Tiger granddaughter called me six times during the game to give me a full report on how things were going. The worst call of all was the one I received when the last-second field goal was kicked, and her Tigers defeated my Tigers, 25-24. At least I lost to one of my favorite granddaughters. The New Year has started off very well, although we have been experiencing the most unusual amount of rain here in Louisiana. I believe we received more than 13 inches of rainfall in January. This is above average and has caused crop damage as well as flooding in some areas. Looking back at last year, it seems that the weather has been very unsettled, and I wonder if this could be the result of global warming. “When I take a look at last year, I believe that the Penniman family had a good year. The children in school are progressing well, and some of those in college are truly outstanding. The married children are still married, and of course, this is a blessing above all. The market performed well, and Joanie and I enjoyed good health. To say the least, we have much to be thankful for. In closing, let me wish everybody health and happiness, and Joanie and I send you our very best regards.” As did Allen, I made it to age 85 in December, but the Harrington family activities are much more mundane. We plan our annual medical reviews for the winter period when we’re in Pinehurst, where there is a large medical service complex. Our travels, then, consist of a series of visits to various doctors – about three miles away from where we live – and, hopefully, returning. This year, I’m pleased to report that neither Ann nor I lost any more body parts and have been cleared for further aging. I’ll also report two events in the larger family – our number one granddaughter has told us to expect to be great-grandparents later this year, and our number two grandson has returned from Afghanistan safely. Perhaps I should comment that the aforesaid granddaughter lives in Newtown, CT, as do her parents and siblings. We shared the national horror of the events in that town and now share the continuing dismay at the opportunistic political moves that have ensued. As the president’s advisor has stated, they will not miss any oppor-

tunity to take advantage of a tragedy. As for me, I’m still bound by my (multiple) oaths to protect and defend the Constitution. Joe Fil called to check up on my condition, and I persuaded him to submit the following: “For someone who hasn’t received a paycheck in over 25 years, there still isn’t enough time in the day. It might have something to do with nap time or procrastination. I hope this gets to you on time. I received a call from Sunny while Stan [Millimet] was in the hospital. I spoke to Stan when he returned home, and he seems to have recovered fine. He was in his usual good spirits. Charlie Tiller and I get together on the phone and try to keep in touch. He still has some major ankle problems. I also received a nice letter from Herb Johnston. He was happy to have Jeannie home from the hospital. The whole family was there to help – particularly at Christmas time. My two older boys have purchased homes. Joe Jr. is located in Huntsville, AL, and Paul in Warrenton, VA. I Googled their homes, and they should be very comfortable. It’s nice that they are finally settled. Sue had an interesting experience while I was attending a conference in Disney World Central (sometimes known as Sacramento). It’s amazing how little good can come out of such a beautiful capitol building. While Sue was sitting in our hotel room, a man in the next room committed suicide, with the bullet piercing the wall and landing on the floor in our room. The maid had discovered the event and went ballistic. This commotion was followed by a large contingent of police and hotel security personnel. They immediately checked on Sue and spent about three or four hours checking things out. I missed the whole thing, being in meetings. Sue had a few goodies and coffee which she offered. A very pleasant officer said, ‘Ma’am, this is an official police investigation and not a social occasion, but thanks very much.’ The conference ended with a talk by the finance man on Gov. Brown’s staff telling us that the state is in great shape – that we will have a surplus and a balanced budget. All our debts will be handled. We will have high-speed rail, and southern California will get the water they need by building tunnels through the 39

CLASS NOTES Tehachapi’s and moving water from the north. Sue said it reminds her of the fairy tales I used to tell the kids. However, they were meant to delight and not to deceive. Hope all is well in the Carolinas with you and Ann.” Most of you know from Herb Johnston’s holiday letter that Jeanne is involved in a slow healing process from some rare condition. Herb has updated that but with little change: “I haven’t sent anything since I thought you might use what was in the holiday card. Sorry I don’t have much new, except that Jeanne is improving, but it’s going to take some time before she is back to something close to normal. We just hope it doesn’t take the four to six months they told us several weeks ago. I’d like our next input to the newsletter to be Jeanne is doing great.” And Charlie Tiller has responded: “Nancy and I have started to move around a little bit more. Your son-in-law has been able to get some of her problems under control, and she is working on the rest. I have finally learned that my job can be easily handled. I carry the bags and order the wheelchairs in the airports. Now we can travel a little more. We went to Austin, TX, for Christmas, so that was an outstanding time. We always enjoy visiting with our daughter and her wonderful family. Our second oldest granddaughter was married on Dec. 1, 2012, in Glenview, IL, to a fine young man. They met while attending dental school. He graduated last year and is beginning his time as an officer in the Navy. He has been selected to specialize in facial reconstruction. She graduates in May ’13 and has been accepted in a specialization in pediatric dentistry – not in the Navy. We are very proud of both of them. Our oldest granddaughter has her second, a boy, making us great-grandparents times two. This makes us realize that we are getting older. The only ones this is news to is us. We will look forward to seeing you and Ann when you finally make your plans to travel – and don’t say that you are too old to travel. I have used that one up.” And Christmas notes from Bill and Margaret Anne Noftsinger, Stan and Sunny Millimet, and a nice note from Margaret Butler complete the reports for this issue. 40

’49B

Dan Smaw

These notes cover the period Nov. 1 to mid February. Susan Hill, Gerry Henderson’s longtime companion, called in December to say Gerry died Dec. 4 after extended illnesses. He was at home in State College, PA. His survivors include Susan, three sons, one daughter, three grandsons and two step-granddaughters. Our condolences go out to all the family on their loss. Ding Patton wrote that he, Nobbie, Grover and Teancy Outland, and Nux Enochs attended the Institute Society Dinner on Nov. 9 and had a great dinner and program. They sat with Brig. Gen. Bob and Carole Green ’67 and Jack Ross ’51 who had dyked Jack Neunhoffer. It was a great evening with a report by Gen. Peay ’62, a film clip about the Institute and several selections by the Glee Club. George and Jane Dooley hosted a tailgate party before the Citadel game Nov. 10. Greg and Kitty Nelson, Benny Harmon, George Wolfe, Nux Enochs, and Grover and Teancy Outland helped out with the eating and drinking. Each of them brought something to add to what the Dooleys prepared. They had a fine time – only thing wrong was the score of the game. Joe Spitler wrote that the solicitation letter he received was the best one he had ever seen asking for funds. I called him to say I could not take credit for it but agreed it was so good, I had not edited anything in it. He said he and Shirley celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in October with a trip to the Grand Canyon and several dinners with family and friends. In talking to Tommy Bowers in early December, he said he had talked to Jack Evans who was very appreciative for the calls and cards he received after Pat’s death in October. Greg Nelson wrote that they had a wonderful Thanksgiving, primarily because his son and family came for a four-day visit which is rare. They brought a turkey and all the trimmings from North Carolina, and the son spent most of Thanksgiving Day in the kitchen fixing a great

meal – he obviously enjoys cooking. Mack Van Hook wrote that Beanie Branch’s sons had moved Beanie into a nursing home in the Charlottesville area. His address is: Our Lady of Peace #226, 751 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901, phone 434/984-3001. The reason for the move was that Beanie can no longer drive safely. Mack also mentioned that his grandson, Tyler Corcoran, will be entering the Ratline in August. As far as I know, he will be the only ’49B grandson at VMI? What follows is from the Christmas cards and notes you were kind enough to send. Benny Harmon said about the only news he had was that his grandson, Jud, relocated to California while his girlfriend pursues a doctorate degree at Berkley. John (Jack) Hayes said he and Paula are fine and had recently returned from a trip to Thailand which is her home. They also visited Korea and had a chance to see the DMZ. Bobby and Jean Thomason said they are hanging in there. He was to have a new pacemaker in a couple of weeks. Their daughter, Jane, and her husband have moved from Connecticut to Charlotte, so Jean and Bobby are thrilled – I must say they got out of Connecticut at just the right time. Their two granddaughters have been in Charlotte for several years. Grover Outland said Tommy and Pam Bowers spent the night with them recently, and they had a great time. No doubt, a great many adult beverages were consumed. Harv and Barbara Bradley had some good and some difficult times in 2012. Harv has had a number of medical problems with numerous doctor visits and tests – worst of all, he couldn’t play golf. Barbara has become his medical assistant but still finds time for lunch with friends. She has developed tennis elbow – strange because she has not played tennis in 30 years. She says it is garden or housework elbow, and the doctor said to refrain from those activities. Their youngest son, Colby, and his girlfriend enjoy traveling and visited Barcelona and Tokyo last year. They also enjoy cooking which is hard to understand, since Barbara does not like to cook – go figure. Tom and Glad Challoner had two grandchildren’s weddings, a family reunion and constant going within the 10-mile bubble VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES around their home last year. Glad fell in October and fractured her pelvis. She is a patient in a rehab center where she is learning mobility skills as well as increasing her strength. For safety purposes, she is confined to a wheelchair. She is working hard, as her goal is to go home. We wish you well, Glad. Tom and Virginia Cooke attended an oyster roast Thanksgiving weekend in Goshen and learned how to open oysters – a sometimes tricky business. Growing up in eastern North Carolina, using an oyster knife was second nature to me. They are doing fine in Richmond and exercise daily and stay busy. They keep in touch with Benny Harmon. Nux Enochs said his situation remains unchanged, which suits him fine – works five days a week and enjoys it. Takes off every now and then to go on a fishing trip and tries to row his boat a couple of times a week. He spent some time with the Maxwells in Augusta, which he had been looking forward to, but it was only recently that Vaughn felt up to having anyone other than family. Nux said Vaughn is working hard to go from a walker to a cane and is determined to make the 65th. Nux said the past two and a half years have been the toughest he has ever seen in the construction business, but he has a good work program which is setting him up in the right direction. He was looking forward to Christmas dinner with his oldest son and his family, which he always enjoys. Mack and Inge Van Hook said their first Christmas together 61 years ago was at the home of Inge’s parents in a small town about midway between Munich and the Alps. They visited Inge’s family in Germany in 2012, with a side trip to Italy with friends. Their grandson, Clark, is in Germany with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based near Nuremberg. When his schedule permits, his second cousins are giving him a hearty introduction to Bavaria. Sam and Julie Marty sent a picture of them with their two great-grandchildren – they all looked good. They have slowed down a bit due to Sam’s Parkinson’s, but with their whole family on the West Coast, they still see the family often at the Marty Motel. They are still involved in church activities, playing bridge, and going to 2013-Issue 2

lunch and dinner with friends. Dick Rawles wrote that Dot is having some eye and joint problems which are of some concern. He is having some minor concerns. They are still planning travels while they can. So far, their plans include: April in Maui and Oahu, September in Cancun, and October in Branson. They are looking forward to our 65th. Axel Bolvig is doing well and living comfortably at Hanover House, a rehabilitation skilled nursing home in Birmingham, AL. He went to his son’s and daughter-in-law’s for Christmas Eve cocktails and dinner, but he does not get out as much as he would like. He would enjoy hearing from his BRs at this address: 3914 Old Leeds Rd., Birmingham, AL 35213. Lynne lives nearby and keeps up with the cat and her weekly bridge game. She had a bout with shingles but loved the Christmas ornament someone gave her that was inscribed “Shingle Bells.” A perfect gift to match her entertaining wit and sense of humor. Bill Sweeney wrote that Nada is awaiting an operation to replace or repair her previous hip replacement. She is on a walker, so Bill is learning survival skills like housework and cooking which he is not too good at. My suggestion – let Omaha Steaks give you a hand. He and Max Feinman started a monthly luncheon group of the four Lynchburg BRs – George Dooley, Bob Massie, Max and Bill. Max calls this group meeting “The General Committee.” They had lunch the day Bill wrote and had so much fun and laughed so hard that someone at an adjoining table said VMI was heard from today. Leo Soucek wrote that he was home from the hospital and nursing care, at least for now, which brought back his faith in miracles. He has been in and out of hospitals for much of 2012. We hope that is a thing of the past, and 2013 will be a good year for the Souceks. Lon and Doris Walter wrote that they are pretty well settled in the Army Residence Community in San Antonio thanks to the help they got from Terry, Beverly and the family. There are some things they can’t find but will turn up later, since everything got to their quarters. I am sure that moving from a house you lived in for 31 years takes some adjustment.

Pat and Betty Bridges stuck pretty close to home last year, since life at Atlantic Shores Retirement Community is much like being on a cruise all the time, and the need to travel is not as great as it once was. They stay active by participating in the exercise programs offered and choose from various cultural opportunities available. Pat continues to work with his bonsai, and Betty works with her orchids and tries to keep something blooming year around. Clint and Rose Anne Hurd wrote that after Clint was diagnosed with lung cancer in May, the rest of the year was spent with chemo treatments and short outings in between. After 18 chemo treatments, the cancer has been reduced by two-thirds, and as of February 2013, further treatment has been suspended, at least until another CAT scan is taken in six weeks. That is great news. For Rose Anne’s 70th birthday, they went to Charleston, SC, to see the Broadway performance of “Mary Poppins.” Betty Lu Stephens went with them for the two-night stay in Charleston. The highlight of the year was their 50th wedding anniversary brunch which Betty Lu and their children arranged in June. In August, their “adopted” daughter from Japan came for a week. They had a nice Thanksgiving with their children, Betty Lu and friends from Mobile. Bob and Barbara Jeffries wrote that it seemed like their year had been dominated by weather. With a cold, snowy winter, a rainy summer, a hurricane and a premature snowfall, they have been coping with power outages and no heat or water. They did not know what was coming this year – all-time record snowfall. Their son and family from Manila visited in the summer and were to be with them at Christmas. A son in the roofing and siding business is profiting from the bad weather. Their third son has a big musical in the works, hopefully for this year. Barbara has staged a revue in a speakeasy, complete with a raid by the New Canaan Police. Bob continues to do work for the senior center. Ed and Deegee Watling’s year was clouded by the death of Ed’s younger sister in February and his older brother in April. Deegee’s sister spent the first week in July with them to help celebrate Deegee’s 80th birthday. At the end of July, they had their annual family vacation at the beach 41

CLASS NOTES in Southern Shores, NC. In November, Deegee had hip replacement surgery on the right side. She had had one 12 years ago on the left side which had gone well. The day after this surgery, she was walking and has done well ever since. In fact, she barely needs a cane. John and Mary Haggerty said 2012 was a good year for them – healthy and full of activity. They still play, sing and dance with the ukulele band. In fact, they had so many performances at the senior center, libraries and center for the blind that they ran late with their Christmas letter. Their major family event for the year was a reunion at Maryann’s (daughter-in-law) and Mike’s second home on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. A large gazebo served as the kitchen, dining room and meeting room all hours of the day. Jackie Prillaman wrote that she is doing well and staying busy. Margret Lee Overton wrote that she is doing well these days since recovering from a fall in the summer. Her three girls from Greenville, NC, were to be with her for a week at Christmas. The cruise that she and Peggy took last summer was great – from New York, through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. She visited her son and family in Fresno, CA, for three days and is now ready for another cruise. Joe and Shirley Spitler ended 2011 with oyster stew and began 2012 by going to church. They both are in amazingly good health for their years. Joe continues working out regularly and riding his bicycle to stay ahead of the aches and pains. He still works at Kitt Peak as a docent. Shirley still knits and crochets. Joe went to Virginia in September and visited relatives in Richmond and Luray, as well as attending a high school reunion. Their son, Dan, and family were to be with them at Christmas. Louise and I were fortunate, in that our two children with spouses, two grandchildren and spouses, and one great-grandchild were all with us at Christmas. This ends the Christmas cards and notes. Boyd Guttery called in January, and we had a catch-up conversation, since it had been a while. He had a fall which tore a rotator cuff, causing him considerable pain. To avoid surgery, he has been using a muscle relaxant with some degree of success. His driving is limited due to this, but 42

he can drive around town. He is hoping to get to Atlanta before too long to visit his sons who live here. That will give us a chance to get together. Greg Nelson put together a postcard as first call for our 65th Reunion March 2425, 2014. He had the Alumni Office send it out, and I hope it reminded you to put the dates on your calendars. It worked for Fred Duggan – he and his wife read it and thought, since they had never been to a ’49B Reunion, this was their chance. Fred called, and we had a nice chat, in which he indicated he would probably attend – I hope he will. Ding and Nobbie Patton will be gone most of the month of February, cruising. They are taking two cruises – I don’t know to where, but they follow each other, so that fills up the month. I talked to Jimmy Shepherd just before sending these notes in, since we hadn’t talked in quite a while. He sounded good and said Frances was doing well. He sees Axel Bolvig every once in a while. I called Vaughn Maxwell and talked to Izzey, because Vaughn was unable to get to the phone. She said his spirits are good, and he is determined to get from the walker to a cane. I hope he makes it soon. I talked to Jack Evans who said he was doing well. He had talked to George Dooley recently and heard about the Lynchburg lunch group, “The General Committee,” which was mentioned earlier. Jack’s daughter was coming for a visit, so Jack was busy getting the house straightened up. He said his children and grandchildren have been good about coming frequently. Thanks to all who have contributed to Annual Giving – if you haven’t yet, do it before June 30. God bless America, VMI and ’49B.

’49C

Haywood France

I’m ready for warm weather and for all flu and cold bugs to hibernate. By the time you see these words in print, hopefully, this will have occurred. The Institute sent an e-mail stating that the 2014 spring reunion dates of April

21 and 22 were right after Easter and therefore were being changed to Monday, March 24, and Tuesday, March 25, 2014. This will be our 65th class reunion, and I will contact you later for your plans. I received a note from Mary Ellet saying that she and Bob were better off than I indicated in the last notes, saying they were “as well as could be expected.” Mary had just completed a four-part art history lecture series for the Virginia Museum where she is on the adjunct faculty. She and Bob reside in Lynchburg’s Westminster-Canterbury and really enjoy the people, opportunities and surroundings that are available. Georgia Hening wrote that she had spent a wonderful Christmas with her son in St. Augustine, FL, where she toured the world golf museum, among their many activities. Eddie Davis called last December to say that his lung surgery went well and that he, Rosemarie, his oxygen and added baggage were taking the auto train to Florida. I could visualize him basking in the sun while we were all thinking about it. He just called to say he had some health problems and had to return home the day after Christmas. He was present for the big snow in the Northeast and has been housebound since. He is doing fine and feels great. They are still working to determine and resolve his problems. Max Lamont called to say that he and Hilma Anne had slowed to almost a standstill but were still plugging along. Stock Fleming had his second surgery at UVa Hospital on Feb. 8, 2013, to stop some bleeding in the brain. The surgery went well, and by the time you see these notes, hopefully, he will be home. I’m sure he would appreciate receiving your cards and letters. The family requests that you do not call, as that confuses him. He is presently taking speech therapy and is doing well. I received the following information concerning the ’49C Scholarship Fund. At the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 2012, the fund had a market value of $580,220. This year, the fund is providing a total of $24,340 in support of nine cadets. As of Dec. 30, 2012, the class participation for alumni Annual Giving was 68.75 percent which was better than last year. We have until June 30, 2013, in this fiscal year to improve. VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’50A

Bill Moore

Early in January, Anne and I got cabin fever. I had just finished my cardio rehab sessions, and she had no doctor appointments for a week. So, we just took off and put 1300 miles on the wagon before we returned. First stop was in New Bern, NC, to visit Elliott and Nan Hudgins. We spent a delightful afternoon with them, even though Nan had to juggle some appointments to accommodate our visit. A last minute phone call from Durham was when she learned that we were heading their way. Nothing like giving folks advanced notice! Even with the short notice, we had a wonderful afternoon together. Nan is fine, as always, and Elliott is much like Anne and I are – enjoying everything in spite of having to cope with a lot of “stuff.” Seriously, he has recovered remarkably from strokes, gastric bleeding and other “stuff.” He says he feels good, and he looks it. So, on to North Litchfield, SC, to close the beach house for the winter – close and drain the water lines, put antifreeze in the traps and toilets, cut off unnecessary electric circuits, and so forth. This is the latest we’ve ever been able to keep the place open in the winter. Usually, Thanksgiving is the limit. Global warming, anyone? Above and beyond the closing routine, we spent the next two days enjoying the beach, eating good food and resting. We’d had a hectic year health-wise and needed some R&R. The weather was warm, clear and gorgeous the entire trip. Much like Indian summer in January. The trip back to Lynchburg started in the opposite direction – south through Charleston and then to Clinton, SC. The Keydet basketball team played Presbyterian College in Clinton, so we took it in. We won. Then, on to Charlotte. I have a brother and his wife who have retired on Lake Wylie just west of Charlotte. We spent two days visiting them and got to see some old, old friends from the oil patch days in Wyoming who have retired to a Sun City development at nearby Fort Mill, SC. As we headed back, we stopped 2013-Issue 2

to visit Dick Mandt and son Richard in Mooresville, NC, just north of Charlotte. Dick looks, sounds and feels good. No more health episodes like those he’s gone through over the past few years. Now the problem is Richard. Dick is so dependent on Richard for much of his care that it was a shock to learn that Richard had a serious stroke himself a few days earlier. I’m glad to report that Richard is recovering nicely but that both he and Dick are in an assisted living facility in the Mooresville area – Richard, because of stroke recovery, and Dick, because around the clock care at home is so much more expensive than the facility. The belief among their health professionals is that, in a couple of months, both will be able to return home with some in-home care, rather than constant care. We all hope and pray so. Dick doesn’t have a phone yet. I’ll tell you when he does. For now, I’m in touch with his son, David. I’ve covered the big news – now for the “little” (thankfully) news. Everybody else is the same or better than when I last wrote. Barbara (Hugh) Barnes is now volunteering at a local cancer center. While there, she ran into old friends of mine, who you may know – Marilyn and Jim Morris ’53. Barbara doesn’t know the exact nature of their visit to the center. Her granddaughters, Sarah and Brooklynn, don’t keep Barbara as busy with their activities as in the past. Judging by my own granddaughters, that’s to be expected. They grow older, learn to drive, discover boys (or rather, boys discover them and conclude that girls are a lot of fun – I could have told them that!). Jennings Bunch has news for us. Harriet has suffered mightily with her hip and has recently had it replaced. She is recovering with no serious problems. As I write, they are preparing for NEMO but expect no more than three inches of snow and some wind. Gene Witcher is doing well with the watchful waiting of his aortic valve stenosis. After doing a cardiac catheterization, his doctors have concluded that the valve isn’t as bad as the echocardiogram indicated. So, they have recommended that he not undergo the replacement just now, perhaps never. I hope they’re correct. So does Gene.

Kenny Stagg and I talk about everything under the sun when I call him, but we don’t generate much news. Which, at our ages, is a very good thing. He and BJ are trying to line up a trip to the Alaskan islands, and I hope they can set it up. BJ tells Kenny that the Richmond real estate market is heating up and has tipped upward since about last September. Same thing is happening in the Lynchburg area, as far as I can tell. I’m hoping these sorts of indicators continue, albeit unevenly, around the country. I’m so afraid that our (not really ours, it seems – every special interest comes before constituents in D.C.) representatives realize that we didn’t get in our economic mess overnight, and we’ll not correct it overnight. Easy as she goes, boys. At least the mentioned indicators are encouraging, even if fragile. Mary (Joe) Ripley and two of her friends got away from the first Virginia cold snap by fleeing to Key West. Mary says she didn’t want to come back. I asked her what she was doing for excitement, and she said, “Reading a book.” Yeah. Joanne (ED) Miller is planning a cruise from Key West to Cozumel and back to Miami at the end of this month (February). Daughter Adrienne and granddaughter Alexandra are going with her. I know they will have great fun. Joanne is doing great and says she is just trying to get through winter. She had a nice 10-day visit from her grandson, Michael, over Christmas who fixed all her broken stuff while he was there. All of you know how hard it has been to catch up with Nancy (Hank) McWane. This time, I caught her on the first try! I caught her before she could get outdoors in this lovely weather to work on her yard, garden and farm. No news, except that she and her daughters are all doing well. Guess it’s about time for another story from the collective memory of 1950A’s escapades when we were cadets. Fall 1946: We were out of the Ratline. (’50Bs took our place, as you couldn’t have two different Rat masses in the Ratline at the same time.) We had no privileges. We were still fourth classmen but not Rats. We did get to go uptown on Saturday afternoons, if we had no confinement or penalty tours to walk. These conditions eliminated a lot of us, especially the two nameless 43

CLASS NOTES Yankee BRs who are the subjects of this tale. These two went uptown, bought two gallons of unpasteurized apple cider, added some raisins and sugar for extra kick, put the caps back on tight and hid the jugs behind their hay rolls. Illicit apple wine, oh boy! Sunday morning, two weeks later, 40 minutes before SMI (Sunday morning room inspection) – Bam! Bam! If you lived on the west side of the third stoop and didn’t hear the explosions, you sure as blazes got that unmistakable smell. Talk about kicking over the top of an ant hill. That would be small, compared to the activity on the third stoop just before SMI that day. Jap Dinwiddie and the other class leaders and agitators swung into action. “Confiscate everybody’s shaving lotion. Mop the floor with it. Sweep up the glass. Dump it in the PE (post exchange) trash can. Put on fresh hay roll covers. Stash the soaked ones somewhere (I don’t remember where).” The west side of the third stoop never smelled so sweet. Only minor bones (infractions) were meted out. And some people wonder why VMI produces so many decisive leaders and crisis managers! Also, Yankees don’t know a thing about fermentation, except to drink the product. Bill Moore

’50B

Robert White

Unfortunately, 2012 was not kind to 1950B. We lost five great Brother Rats: John G. Davis, Richey S. Dickson, Wilson (Dee Dee) E.D. Shepherd, Richard Talford Woodman and Nathan Thatcher Watson. We will miss all of them. There were pleasant things that happened, as well. Mary Virginia Harwood was in Richmond for a wedding, and because she was there for such a short time, she wanted to see as many people as possible. So she, Ann Witt and Marty Michie decided to host a lunch at the Commonwealth Club. The short description is that the lunch was a home run. First of all, the location is elegant, and the service and food could not have been better. Anne Lane Witt, Foster and Ann Witt’s daughter, who is an Episcopal priest and Mary Virginia’s godchild, gave the 44

prayer and blessing before lunch. It was with the Department of Defense Schools just right and set the tone for the whole System in Europe. We chose Vail, CO, day. The guest list was perfect, and it took as our retirement area, built a wonderful all the people that the club could hold: Ed home and lived there until October 2008. and Sarah Smith, Tom and Joyce Handy, I continued my business as a certified John and Ruth Taylor, Ralston Brooke, financial planner until leaving Vail. While Marty Michie, Bob Michie (son of Marty, there, we both worked on the mountain for father of Chap (who is in his second year Vail Associates – [me] as a ski instructor at the Institute) and a proud member of the and Ann as a guest hostess and guide. I was Parents Council at VMI), Betty Wagner, very active in music, playing with the same Mary Virginia Harwood, Ann Witt, Sally small band for 15 years, principally aprèsHarwood, Mary Buchanan, Jim and ski at the fine hotels, and for weddings and Nancy Flippin, Bill Moorman, Hoge and parties. For several years, I joined with Laura Sutherland, Braxton and Judith a partner and built 18 homes in the Vail Green, Jones and Connie Felvey, Luke community – a learning experience that Witt (son of Ann and who heard stories taught me a great deal. We both thoroughly about his father and other Brother Rats enjoyed life and the people in Vail. that his father had carefully concealed), “In October 2008, [I] had turned 80, and and Joe Kohen (who just happened to be we figured it was time to move to a warmer in Richmond and who just happened to climate. We chose Anthem – a wonderful run into John Taylor the night before and community on the north side of Phoenix his lady friend, Joanne Roos). It was the – which has two golf courses, two health warmest of occasions with lots of stories clubs and two country clubs. We have a (some true) and laughter. Ann Witt said lovely home on the 16th hole of Persimthat she, Mary Virginia and Marty were so mon Golf Course and have made many glad that their husbands went to VMI and great friends during the four years since were in the class of 1950B. we moved in. We plan this to be our final The good stuff goes on. Tom Kelly wrote home. to say that he was watching a Phoenix “Both of us are still in good health, play a lot of golf, work out five days per week and TV station when it showed a segment of a enjoy the life of retirement. First son, Tom Veteran’s Day parade, and the grand marIII, is with Smith Barney in Wichita, and shal of the parade turned out to be Tommy the other, Robert, is an ex-pat living and Kirk. Tommy was also interviewed, and working in London. Our two grandsons he spoke of the importance of serving his are through college and work for Koch country and the virtues of the U.S.A. Tom Industries. Life is really good, and we are Kelly called Tommy Kirk to congratublessed far beyond what we deserve. There late him and learned about a number of you have it for now with the Kirks. Thank speeches Tommy had recently given. Interestingly enough, almost at the same you again for your work on our behalf. time that I received Tom Kelly’s letter about Warmest regards and good health.” This comes under the heading of “was Tommy Kirk, I received a letter from Tommy pretty bad but has got a lot Kirk. I think it is worthbetter.” Bill Kelly writes while to quote some of it: that after 84 years of main“As the years go by, I realize ly good health, things took how positively my life has a turn for the worse when been impacted by being a he spent three months in VMI graduate. Jokingly, I the hospital and personal have many times said that therapy, because he conVMI was the best training tracted cellulites. Recovery I could have ever gotten to was complicated by his prepare me for the rigors of body, which was low in sothe Vietnam POW Camp. dium, and highlighted by “Ann and I moved from an accidental fall which reMadrid, Spain, in 1992, sulted in some injury, plus following her retirement Dickson ’50B a bout of pneumonia. Bill from an executive position VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES was finally released to a recovery institution close to home – Marietta, Georgia. He made good progress there and was released to go home with personal therapy there twice a week. Needless to say, through all of the above, he had the love and care of Catherine which had to be the major part of Bill’s therapy. I heard from Bill just before Christmas, and he tells me that he is much better. Catherine, however, has been suffering from rather serious vertigo, but she is receiving regular and intensive therapies with the hope of positive results. If you ever had any doubts about the value of the 1950B scholarship, I enclose for your benefit a copy of the letter written to me by First Classman Nathaniel R. Gant. It will make everybody in our class glad: “Dear Mr. White: “My name is Nathaniel Gant, and I am a

Davis ’50B

Woodman ’50B

first classman at VMI. I am writing this letter to personally thank you for your class’s contributions to VMI. Your support enables me to finish this last year and prepare for my future endeavors. “I major in civil engineering. With this degree, I plan to pursue a master’s in structural engineering as soon as possible after graduation, as well as getting my professional engineering license. I am also commissioning into the Maryland National Guard, where I will lead an engineering unit. I live in Columbia, MD, and I plan to stay in that area after I graduate. My current grade point average is 3.498, and I have had academic stars since third class year. This semester, I have been elected to be inducted into Tau Beta Psi, a renowned engineering society. In addition, I run track 2013-Issue 2

for VMI, and I compete in the 60-meter dash, 100-meter dash and long jump. “Again, your support is a true blessing, and I cannot thank you enough. “Very Respectfully, “Cadet Nathaniel R. Gant “VMI class of 2013 “VMI Track & Field Captain AY 20122013” Bob and Nancy Lynd are back in Sanibel for the winter. The really good news is that Bob’s cancer problems seem to be in remission, or gone, whatever is the proper way to say it. He is due for another checkup the first week in February, but to date, everything seems OK. George and Nell Oliver, for years now, have been splitting their time – winters in Florence, SC, and summers in Scaly Mountain, NC. But age has dictated a change,

neither consumes nor wears any animal or animal byproducts. She says it lowered her blood pressure and cholesterol. Jack went to Rome for five days and Florence for three. He went alone – Leah will not fly over the ocean. Even so, he said both trips went very well. He said that all the children and grandchildren are also doing very well. David and Karen Kovarik are our world travelers. They took a 14-day cruise through nine time zones from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Too many great places to list, but it was a marvelous trip on a 500-ft. Viking ship, with all meals and amenities. Back in the United States, the traveling continued with destinations in Myrtle Beach; Bastrop, TX; Shades of Green, Tarpon Springs; and Destin, FL. Their August trip was to Nashville, and their final trip

Shepherd ’50B

and they have now moved full time to the Presbyterian Retirement Community in Florence, SC. Their new address is: 23510 West Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501. Alice and I will miss our summer lunches with them in Highlands, NC. Some of our Brother Rats already know of Ed Oast’s Alzheimer’s, but Jean asked me to inform the rest of the class. It is sad to learn that one of the best minds in the class has been diminished by that awful disease. We cannot know why God tolerates bad things happening to good people. We can only care and hope that that care helps those involved. I have a nice letter from Jack Comerford. He says that he and Leah are both blessed with good health. He says that she has been a vegan for several years; she

Watson ’50B

for 2012 was to Massanutten. Wow! Russell Morton writes that he and Genene are doing well – a couple of aches and pains but nothing serious. One of their grandchildren finished law school last May [2012], but Russell thinks that we on the East Coast are in no danger. Here, in Miami, the town was excited about the Orange Bowl game on Jan. 1st (Florida State vs. Northern Illinois), although it did not turn out to be the greatest contest. But the big game here was supposed to be on Jan. 7th; it was the BCS National Championship game between Alabama and Notre Dame. It was a disappointment also; Alabama – 42, Notre Dame – 14. Many people here wanted to see both teams lose, but the financial impact was appreciated. It was fantastic. 45

CLASS NOTES Ann Guthans in Mobile, AL, to see how she weathered the storm flooding and to thank her for her continued and substantial support of the Institute. Fortunately, she reports no damage. I furnished Tom Green, Clyde’s son, with contact info for Doc Laville and This note covers the period of Oct. 30, Gene Held. 2012, to Feb. 11, 2012, and is in sequential I wished Janet Lemley in Stepside order. Beach, SC, a happy birthday. Shortly after submitting my last note, I Sheila Marshall is doing well at home was surprised and delighted to receive a with physio after her orthopedic surgery. call from Duane Holloway. He sounded George Cohen called from Connecticut great and expected to be discharged from to report that he and Marty are doing well. his medical facility in the near future. His “big news” is that a grandson is being Duane was very appreciative of the many sent to Auburn by the Navy for an enginotes and cards he received from the BRs. neering degree and then commissioning. Johnny Gray called from Richmond to I wished Dave Kneessy in Indianapolis a report that he has a debilitating and painhappy birthday. He will be unable to make ful arthritic condition. As a result, he had the reunion – not transport, but he sends missed the last three home football games, best wishes to all. which must be a record of some sort for I left birthday greetings for Walt Carhim. raway in Plano, TX, and Barbara Ann Marie and Nancy Hill exchanged calls, Guthans in Mobile on their voice mail. and I talked with Jack. I am glad to report I wished Sid Hannah in Cincinnati a they are doing well. happy Thanksgiving and thanked him Rav Marshall reports that Sheila is dofor the great job he is doing as the e-mail ing well in her recovery from orthopedic coordinator. surgery. Sam Scott called from Atlanta to wish Sally Carstens visited by phone with Marie and me a happy Thanksgiving, and Marie, and I was glad that they are doing we had a long reminiscing session. Sam is well. In fact, Bounce was preparing to definite for the reunion. leave on a golf trip. Johnny Gray called from the beach, I wished Harry Bailey a happy birthday. where he and Pat were celebrating ThanksHe is doing well but has a minor eye probgiving with 23 members of the family. He lem. Harry appreciated a call from Duane is doing somewhat better after a shot for Holloway. his pain and was delighted with the VMI I reached Desmond Wray in Staunton win over ODU the previous with birthday greetings. Fran night. and he are in good health. He I wished Bill Leck a belated reminisced how Smoe Perry happy birthday. He is doing use to beat the heck out of him well in recovery from various at wrestling practice. medical problems. Maureen is I left for Lexington on Nov. 8 fine, but their attendance at the to attend a two-day Class Agents reunion is doubtful. Conference and the Institute SoI reached Paul Robinson ciety Dinner. Marie was unable in Wisconsin on his birthday, to make it. where he and Jeanne are remainOn the first day, we received an ing for the winter to be near update on the alumni database her doctors. He reported on a from the IT staff, followed by telephone conversation with the questions and answers. We then daughter of our deceased BR were able to catch the Corps Class of 1951: Joe Tom and Frances Howard during an October 2012 cruise from New England to Canada. DurWoody Woodward, who is the and the usual Friday afternoon ing their trip, they stopped at Peggys Cove on the Eastern godchild of Rav Marshall. Paul, parade. Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Its famous lighthouse is Woody, Rav and Cab Pratt were The evening of Nov. 9, I in the background. roommates. attended the annual Institute

’51

John Ross

Society Dinner. I was the only ’51 in attendance and sat with Ding Patton, Jim Enochs and Grover Outland – all of the class of 1949B – Gen. Bob Green ’67 and Mrs. Green. The dinner and the Glee Club were great. When I returned from Lexington, I had an e-mail from Roger Little wishing all Marine BRs a happy birthday – unfortunately, we are down to six (Eggleston, Shrader, Wornham, Gray, Wray and me). I also returned two telephone calls. Paul Shrader was dressing for a Marine Corps Birthday Ball and informed me that Polly and he cannot make the reunion. When I reached Taylor Hay, he reported on a successful film production by Joanna and that Rufus Lazzell will make the reunion. I received a phone call from Jack Lowden reporting that he ran into Pat and Duane Holloway at a Williamsburg hospital and that Duane did not look good. Jack also reports that he and Barbara are doing well. Nancy Hill called on Nov. 12 to report that Tom Carozza ’50B, who graduated with us, died the previous day in Baltimore. I reached Mrs. Whitlow in Vinton, VA, with belated birthday wishes. Ellen Nelson, Accomac, VA, on the Eastern Shore, escaped any damage from Hurricane Sandy and is good to go for the reunion. I had a nice visit by phone with Barbara

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Hill, Barbara and Jack Lowden, Steve Sheila and Rav Marshall reported she is I had a long chat with Peter Philp when Meader, and Frans and Shirley Kasteel. improving in her recovery from surgery, he called for an update on the status of his I called Johnny Gray and learned he is and they intended to spend Christmas in roommate, Duane Holloway. doing better and answered his inquiry con- Williamsburg. Mary Ellen Connolly called to give me cerning Duane’s memorial service, which Lee Duval was looking forward to a contact info for Beano and Ann Graf. She he was unable to attend. granddaughter’s wedding and a visit from also reported on a nice visit with Jesse I also reported to Pete Philp, Duane’s her daughter from England. Atkinson. roommate, on the memorial service. Polly and Paul Shrader had a busy year I failed to reach Ken Crisp in HuntingI ran into Don Baldwin at a social func– a visit with a daughter in San Francisco; ton, WV, with birthday wishes. tion and learned that Jody is scheduled for then on to Yosemite; a granddaughter’s Robert (Beetle) Travers called the first major surgery. wedding in Annapolis; a visit to West week of December to thank me for my I reached Bounce Carstens at work to Virginia; and a Caribbean cruise. birthday card. It was only the second time wish him a happy birthday and learned Beverly Beazlie checked in from her I talked to him after our graduation – the he and Sally are doing well and intend to new address in Ohio. first being our mini in Richmond, which make the reunion in March. Cindy and Jim Marshall report that she he attended with his two daughters. He I reached Peggy Hays and learned that is very busy. Jim is recovering from stenoinquired about many of the BRs, and it Willard is still experiencing substantial sis surgery and has two grandsons at VMI. was obvious that he keeps abreast of the discomfort. He is scheduled to see a new Glennie Brown had a busy and athletic class through the Alumni Review. He will year in Central America – Panama, Costa make the reunion. specialist in January. Rica and Honduras. All through December, I was following Sam Scott called right before Christmas Dick McFarlin was looking forward to a the health of Duane Holloway, as Pat reto wish Marie and me a merry holiday, as family reunion. ported. Back into the hospital; pneumonia he was not doing cards. Dick Cole thinks the nation is going to and bad news; then improvement; and on On Christmas Day, I called Jigger and pot and intends to show Louise VMI. to hospice care. Finally on Dec. 11, 2012, I Ursula Baxley to wish him a happy birthJim and Joy Gonzales report that Jimmy received the word that we had lost our BR. day and both of them a Merry Christmas. had a cardioverter defibrillator implanted I immediately notified the class by e-mail They are both doing well. in early December and is doing well. and called Peter Philp and Harry Bailey, Backing up to early December – when I Anita and Richard Chaplin in Tarzana, as requested. finished and mailed 134 Christmas cards CA, report that his gait and cognitive Flash was a great BR, a true friend and to the Brother and Sister Rats – Marie and facilities have worsened. as described in the Bomb – “one of the I received in return numerous cards and Eday and Jake Wamsley profoundly boys.” He had a distinguished legal career notes that wished us well and provided a declaim, “Getting old is not a whole lot of and was the only BR to rise to the judiwealth of news: fun.” ciary. Duane was a strong and consistent Homer and Marie Ambrose sent a long In Bill and Jackie Moore’s note, Bill supporter of the Institute. I shall miss him. note, “Communion on the Moon.” I wrote a note of condolence to Pat on Jigger and Ursula Baxley described a trip proclaims, “I will never forget my Brother Rats.” behalf of the class and made a contribution to New York City for the Thanksgiving Jim Evans reports he hopes to get his to VMI in his memory. Day Parade. driving privileges back but is Hap Higby called me from doubtful about the reunion. Bolling AFB, where his son, an Kay Bennett in Omaha Air Force colonel, has quarters. reports she is getting along Hap will be unable to make the OK with minimal orthopedic reunion as he has a bad back. problems. I received an e-mail from Jane Catlin is enjoying her Bill Moore in response to my retirement home, which is near solicitation letter indicating his her two sons and families. continued and generous support Harry Bailey notes his family of VMI and the class of 1951. is doing well but that he has On Dec. 15, I traveled to Wilmemory and gait problems. liamsburg with Marie and my George and Marty Cohen are daughter, Kara, for a memorial enjoying life at the beach with service for our BR Duane Holfrequent family visits. loway. There was a very large Julie and Henry Pitot are turnout of at least 150, including Class of 1951: Joe Tom and Frances Howard with their grandson, Thomas Kopp, at the Boy Scouts of America both recovering from surgery. a VMI contingent of: Glennie ceremony in Houston, Texas, where Thomas received his Julie required a revision of Brown, Jim Smith, Harry BaiEagle Scout award. her left knee replacement, and ley, Sam Bass, Sookie and Nancy 2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES Henry had a hip replacement. Bonney Schowalter included in her card a copy of the invitation to the dedication at the Col. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Hall at Fort Benning, GA, which she notes is appropriate, as Ned taught leadership for three years. I forwarded this info to VMI. Fred and Rose Anson’s note said that Fred is still recovering from left knee replacement surgery. We also received some very attractive and interesting cards from: Steve Meader, Vic and Gracelyn Parks, Don and Jody Baldwin, Jack and Barbara Lowden, Henry and Joan Bryan, Jackie and Ted Taylor, Joe Stump, Sally and Bounce Carstens, Gib and Marilyn Gay, Peggy and Willard Hays, Fred and Marilyn Watson, Patty Blackwell, Ellen Nelson, Sid Hannah, Vanetia Friend, Bob and Jeanne Nolley, Ann Penner, Pete Philp, Bill Dawson, Charlotte Marr, Robin Jordan, Billye Henson, Carolyn McCallum, Rog and Betty Little, Paul and Jean Robinson, Phil Barton and Joan, and Win and Betty Baber. On Dec. 28, I made my last birthday call to Tom Wornham in LaJolla, CA. I was able to talk with him for the first time and learned that he and Pinkey are doing quite well. I received a very nice note from Bounce Carstens at the end of December and then a telephone call on New Year’s Day wishing Marie and me a happy and prosperous year. I made my first birthday call of the New Year to Jack Lowden, and we discussed various aspects of our March reunion. Jack, our vice president, is organizing our memorial service. Then, on the next day, Jan. 4, I was unable to contact Ray Moncrief in Georgetown, TX, as his phone was temporarily disconnected. I left birthday greetings for Bob Nolley with Jeanne, who said they had a great but hectic holiday season. On Jan. 8, I received word that our BR Bland Wilson passed away on Oct. 22, 2012. When I confirmed this, I informed the class and subsequently posted his obituary. I have been unable to contact any family member to express our condolences but did make a contribution to VMI in Bland’s memory. Bland shall be missed – as stated in the Bomb, he was “always 48

ready for fun, frolic, party, laughs … ‘Nubs’ has won a place in our hearts, never to be forgotten.” I learned that Johnny Gray has a hip problem that is very painful and severely impedes his mobility. Nevertheless, he will try to make the reunion. Marie and I talked with Pat Holloway, who is quite busy with legal and administrative details. I wished Johnny Blakemore a happy birthday and learned that Eleanore was hospitalized as a result of a bad fall. I failed to reach Hob Richey in Orange Beach, AL, but did leave birthday greetings. Henry and Joan Bryan are temporarily in a convalescent facility but expect to return to their home in Port Huron, MI, in April. They will not be able to make the reunion, as Henry’s mobility is quite limited. As it was Inauguration Day when I wished him a happy birthday, we naturally reminisced about our participation in the 1948 Inauguration Parade. In response to my Christmas card, I received a nice note from Tom Twitty, who was with us for one year. He subsequently graduated from University of Alabama and is “not interested in remaining on the VMI ’51 class list.” I notified the Institute and confirmed this to Tom, as requested. On Jan. 27th, I left birthday greetings for John Phillips on his voice mail and did likewise for Jim Smith, although belated. I also tried to check on Doc Laville and Ray Moncrief but was forced to leave messages. Johnny Blakemore reports Eleanore was discharged from the hospital and now faces a four- to five-week rehab period. I wished Straud Davis in Southern Pines, NC, a happy birthday. He was celebrating that evening with his family. Jack is fighting multiple health problems and may not make the reunion. He inquired about Jack Nichols and was glad to hear he is doing well. At the end of January, I wished Johnny Gray a happy birthday. We discussed VMI basketball and the forthcoming reunion, which we are both anticipating. I wished Gibson Gay, who graduated with us, a happy birthday. He is fighting arthritic limitations but will make the reunion. When I called John Batsakis on Feb. 5 to wish him a happy birthday, I was shocked

to learn he had passed away on Jan. 20. John, who was with us one year, was a prominent pathologist in Houston and a consistent and generous supporter of the Institute. I expressed condolences to Mary, his wife, and notified VMI and the class. Mary Ellen Connolly had a nice holiday season with her daughters and West Coast family. She inquired about Gerry Eggleston and Pat Holloway. Gloria Cowherd also reports that she had an enjoyable holiday season but is now struggling with some damage due to Sandy. I wished Jimmy Gonzales in Kenner, LA, a happy birthday and was glad to hear that he is doing well after receiving a defibrillator implant. He hears regularly from Earl Patton in New Iberia, LA. We reminisced about several football BRs – George Crowson, A.J. Marchand, M.J. Foster and Kirby Bernich, all from Louisiana, and Bill Stewart from Mississippi. My final birthday call for this note was made to Doc Laville in Breaux Bridge, LA. He is tolerating his chemotherapy regime quite well, and there has been some improvement in blood tests. Doc is his ever-optimistic and enthusiastic self and a joy to visit with. Doc was looking forward to a weekend visit with Sally and Bounce Carstens. George Cohen called to report that his roommate, Bill Caldwell, was moving into an assisted living facility and would probably not make the reunion. I had a long call with Johnny Lyden in Mobile, AL, who has a significant eye problem. He reported on a very enjoyable European trip with a granddaughter. Because of his medical problem, he will not make the reunion. Before closing, I would like to remember our BRs who left us in 2012: Steve Carlon (1/7/12), Medford Canby (2/2/12), Woody Woodward (3/10/12), John Herring (4/20/12), Richard Owen (5/24/12), Bland Wilson (10/22/12), Duane Holloway (12/11/12) and John Batsakis (1/20/13) right after the first of the New Year. May they rest in peace. Marie and I want to thank everyone who so kindly remembered us during the holiday season and hope everyone is having a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013. Semper Fi – Jack VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES

’52

James M. Mecredy

Here is some news about Brother Rats caught in the path of super storm “Sandy.” Bob Lambert tells me that they experienced some rain for three or four days with an occasional 40 mph wind gust. No trees went down in their neighborhood, and they never lost electricity. Bob says they were very lucky. Dick Valack lives two blocks from the Chesapeake Bay, but the water never reached them, even though the storm came at high tide and with a full moon overhead to cause the tide to be even higher. There was some erosion but nothing serious. Dick asked if I remembered Joe Archer. Joe’s son, Charles, was in the class of ’76. Dick met Charles at a recent VMI gathering of about 20 people living in the area of Cape Charles. Walt Ames reports some downed trees and high winds, up to 60 mph, in his neighborhood – also some power outages in the larger area. Skip Nay lost power which came back on Oct. 5, and other than that, they had no problems. Most of the damage was further south in New Jersey. Bill Baber lives in western Pennsylvania and had no effects from the storm. He had a hip replacement on Oct. 1 and was able to walk into his home the next day. He is learning to walk properly, because he hobbled so long with the bad hip that he has to get used to walking without a limp. Bill and Margaret report little effects from storm “Sandy” – some snow, rain and some wind. They are both doing well. Bud Becker tells me they had four inches of rain but not much wind. I think I reported that Bud moved into an apartment last June, but it took a while to sell their house. They have sold it and, at the time of this writing, were planning to close in two days. They have been busy with the move and maintaining their house, so Bud only got to play golf three times in the past year. Now, he can relax and do more of the things he enjoys. Nutz Navas and Barbara had a large tree (four-foot diameter) fall across their lane 2013-Issue 2

during the storm, which took five hours to saw up and move out of the way. Their son-in-law and his workmen took care of removing the tree, so the only result is lots of firewood. Otherwise, they are in good shape and ready to help any Brother Rats who are having trouble. Joe Webber reported a thunderstorm. On the Wednesday after Sandy hit, they were expecting some snow, but they expected no problems. Ray Gilchrist in Virginia Beach says they had some yucky weather which passed quickly without any lasting effects. Ray has a pacemaker which keeps him going pretty well. Shirley Buchanan (Buck’s widow) lives in Chesapeake, VA, and came through the storm very well. She said they had several trees down in the back of their 70-acre farm which will be cut up for firewood. She was very familiar with the tall ship Bounty which went down in the storm and was very sad about that. She had been on the Bounty several times and knew the captain personally. Shirley is very active gardening and keeping the developers off of her 70-acre property. In fact, she played a part in getting an amendment passed – with over 80 percent favoring – that would make it much more difficult for developers to obtain right of imminent domain to protect farmland. Andy Dickinson tells me they had the highest tide ever at Virginia Beach. However, they were able to stay above water. Their floating dock got loose, and they reconnected it a couple of days later. Jim Martin was out when I called, but his wife told me that they suffered no more than lost power. There were a lot of trees down in their area, even big trees, ripping up 20 feet of curb or sidewalk. They have relatives on Staten Island who had great losses but were not hurt. Zeke Finney says they did not have as much flooding from Sandy as they had earlier from Isabelle. Their barn is on low land, so it gets flooded often. The only effect was debris around their property. They are in the process of building a new house which will be handicap accessible, if and when they might need it. They will be selling their house on the river, if anyone is interested. Scurvy Patton and Charlie Hogge

both called me to let me know that Root Hopkins has been released from the nursing home. They were following up on my class notes in which I said, call Root. Charlie learned that Root is in a home on his daughter’s property and has full-time care. His new address is: 249 Butterpad Road, Hartly, DE 19953. I immediately called Root and enjoyed a short conversation. Root is still flat on his back and weak with full-time care. His nurse answered the phone, and I asked to speak to “Root.” She did not know who I was talking about, until I explained who I was and we called him by his middle name. At that point, she let me talk to him after telling him that she did not know his middle name. The doctors want him to be able to walk again, but he has doubts. I told him that we would pray that he would begin to walk again. I learned from Charlie Hogge that Root had received the Silver Star in Korea. I asked Root if I had permission to report this in the next issue of the Alumni Review. Some of you may know, but I did not. Root and his team were forward observers on a hill in Korea when they were attacked. Root had to call down artillery fire on his own position to drive the enemy off. They were able to hunker down during the artillery fire which broke up the attack. After the attack, they were all able to get off of the hill with no injuries. Charlie Hogge went to Florida to see his first great-grandson. The great-grandson was 1 year old in October. Charlie says he is having some trouble walking, but he still visits a nursing home a couple of times a week to share with the folks and pray for them, as needed. He is a certified ombudsman, and he also holds chapel services a couple of times a week. I tried to call George Bookman but found out his phone has been disconnected. Joe Webber gave me his new address and phone number. On reaching Bookie, I learned they had moved into a retirement community where they are able to get any help when they need it. They are served three meals a day. At this point, they do not need any help, but they are comfortable to know it is there, if needed. Bookie has a pacemaker and has had his knees repaired over the years. Their son lives nearby, and their daughter moved into the area from northern Virginia. 49

CLASS NOTES I received an e-mail from Red Austermann thanking me for the update on Root Hopkins. He also thanked me for the birthday card, as he feels he is approaching the age when it is no longer nice to have a card appear to mark the occasion. Henry and Betty Nanninga sent me a Christmas card with a picture of the Color Guard on parade that he took at our 60th Reunion. His Christmas message is that they are in good health and looking forward to another year. Gary and Sandra Pittman write that their family enjoyed another very nice year. All the grandkids are having good times with travel, softball for Samantha and Jessica, high school golf for Thomas, 8-year-old football and baseball for Tyler and Jackson, and a master’s degree for Julia. Their family gets together for summertime at the cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and to celebrate holidays together. They have done a lot of traveling in the past year: cruise to the Bahamas, cruise out of Galveston, transatlantic cruise to Normandy beaches and Rotterdam, and college reunions. Sandra says they both are enjoying good health. Joe Webber is a long-time member of the Wesley Singers in Lancaster, PA. Joe sent me a newspaper clipping of Joe and Tom Cozzoli, the Singers’ conductor. Joe says they share tales of derring-do about serving in the military and piloting their own aircraft, between songs during Wesley Singers rehearsals. “We all love to tell stories,” said Webber, “It’s a wonder we have time to sing.” The one-and one-half-hour concert was a stroll down memory lane, said Webber, who has sung with the chorus for 21 years and is its “unofficial” general manager. “We’re going to be singing all the songs we like to sing,” he said. I got a call from Pat Kelly ’63. He had been a friend and neighbor of Scurvy Patton for a number of years but lost touch with him when Scurvy moved to Texas. He read in the Alumni Review that Scurvy and I had been in touch, so Pat wanted his phone number. Pat told me that he first met Scurvy when he was a Keydet and Scurvy was a spit and polish TAC officer. Thanksgiving has just come and gone. We usually go to Birmingham to be with my brother’s family. It is a five-hour drive straight west on I-20, so it is a nice drive, as the weather was good. We made the drive 50

Thanksgiving morning, spent the night and drove back on Friday. The traffic was light, and on Friday, the traffic was even lighter, because everyone and his brother were at one of the many malls we passed. I got an amusing Thanksgiving e-mail from Chris Holland. The e-mail contained some cartoons about Thanksgiving, as well as good wishes. The most amusing cartoon was of a blind farmer with an axe in his hand and a group of turkeys all saying “moo … moo.” Martha Leighty sent us a nice card wishing us a very happy Thanksgiving. Charlie Piper writes from South Dakota that they both are in good health and enjoying the “Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.” I wrote back to Charlie to say that they must enjoy cold weather and snow, as I remember from his time in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Charlie replied that there is no comparison between Wisconsin, Minnesota, and, for that matter, eastern South Dakota and the Black Hills. He says they are a world apart, as [in South Dakota] they don’t get too much snow, and the deep freezes are rare. They are more similar to Denver. They have had mild weather with only three inches of snow, and it was gone in a few days. So much for the Chamber of Commerce spiel. I got a call from Barbara Navas about a file they have of many things in our ’52 class history. It seems the file was started by Walt Robertson (Poot Head) and continued by Nutz with pictures, letters and news articles that he received over the years. They do not have room to keep it in their small house, which they moved to a year ago. In thinking about what to keep and what to discard, I asked my son, Ron Mecredy ’82, to visit the Navases and look over the file. I did not think it would be worth shipping from northern Virginia to Augusta, GA, without a review. Barbara also told me that they had finally sold their large house, and the sale was scheduled to close on Dec. 19. I am sure it is a relief to get this move behind them and complete the downsizing. Nutz and Barbara were looking forward to spending Christmas at their daughter’s mountain home in Virginia. Incidentally, Lucette and I are planning to spend Christmas at our son’s (Tim Mecredy ’80) mountain home in North Carolina, near Boone and Banner Elk. It is a large, threestory cabin, so Tim and Becky’s children, with their wives, will be joining us.

One of the fun things about being class agent is that I receive Christmas cards and notes from many of you. I heard from Clarence Brauner, Jim Spellings, Howard Williamson, Sandy O’Connor (Ted’s widow), Jean Zollman (Sparky’s widow), Sally Birge (Tommy’s widow), Chris and Sugar Holland, Gary and Frances Colonna, Ann Brown (Bris’s widow), Roberta Simon (John’s widow), Ted and Kitty Ball, Dick and Mary Catherine Valack, Walt Ames, Turk and Mary Lane, John and Betty Taylor, Ed and Lila Wilbarger, Genie and Red Austermann, Ray and Vi Hart, John and Mary Dillon, Bill Massie, Jeff and Gayle Hanna, Martha Leighty, and Ann and Hutch Hutchinson. Cecil Welsh sent me a photo from our reunion that included Gary Pittman, Bill Kearney and me. I also heard from Rich and Nancy Falwell, Pat Powers, Boyd Guttery, Sarah and Zeke Finney, Ann Wells, Scurvy Patton, and George and Mary Hutter. Bob Yore writes that his time at VMI seems more important as the years go by, even though he did not stay to graduate. Army and Barbara Welford write that they drove to San Antonio to see their son, Landon Welford ’80, probably driving for the last time. Next time, they will more likely fly. While there, they drove up to Austin to visit with Bob Gerdetz. Old age is not stopping them. They made a number of trips this past year, and Army still plays tennis. Their garden does grow smaller, and Army sold his 28.5-ft. sailboat. Bob Gerdetz called me with Christmas greetings. He is doing well, but his wife, Mary, is not doing so well. Bob also told me about the visit he had with Army Welford. Mary Shoaf writes that she had a successful hip replacement and is walking without a cane. She sold their home and moved to a condominium a block from the beach. She stays very active. Charles is content at the nursing home. He is frail but is still able to walk without aid. Bill Ruffin writes that Anne has fully recovered from her operation last summer for cancer of the pancreas, which is something of a miracle. Bill says that he is having trouble recalling names. Otherwise, the fitness center keeps him in reasonable shape. Bill, Andy Dickinson and George White ’54 went hunting in Saskatchewan. Birds were scarce, and their legs were pushed to VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES the limit, even though they were all in good shape. Howard Williamson writes that Bernie is recovering from a health crisis last summer, but she is recovering very well, in spite of continuing effects of Alzheimer’s. Friends are amazed at the improvements she has made. Howard dislocated the middle finger on his left hand. An orthopedic doctor popped it back in place, but a month ago, his doctor noticed that Howard could not make a fist, so the doctor sent him for physical therapy. The clinic is run by mostly young, single women. Howard reports that Bernie says nothing about him holding hands with these much, much younger women. Russ McCarthy and Patricia write that they have had a busy time this past year, and they are still in good health. They started with our 60th Class Reunion, followed by a mini reunion of the Daytona Beach Lifeguard Corp. Next, they attended a reunion of Russ’ Vietnam CIA outfit in Colorado Springs. Then, they joined Patricia’s brother, Mike, and his wife, Cathy, to tour Pikes Peak, The Garden of the Gods, the Pueblo Indian Village and Denver and took an observation car train ride to Glenwood Springs. Next, it was off to Patricia’s high school reunion in Milwaukee. Following that, Russ was invited to the Air Force Academy to talk about Operation Linebacker II and the bombing of downtown Hanoi by B-52s to force the peace treaty. Then, they drove to Barksdale Air Force Base for another Linebacker II event dedicated to all of the aircraft and crews lost during the operation. That was quite a year, Russ. I hope you have time in 2013 to rest up! I heard from Lou Delisio. His military record has recently been declassified, and he would like to get his record in the Hall of Valor along with the other Brother Rats who received notable awards. So, I promised to find out what the procedure is after Christmas when the staff members are available. Lou reports that he now has three great-grandkids and was looking forward to seeing them the day after Christmas when the family was planning to get together. Charlie Hansrote tells me that trying to describe the past year has been a challenge. They had a good trip to the VMI 60th Reunion; a 59th celebration of their marriage in June; a visit from family, including their great-granddaughter; and a visit from 2013-Issue 2

friends in November. Along with all of this, Charlie’s wife, Melva, has learned to live with colitis, plus an emergency operation and high blood pressure. She now has it all under control. Charlie had two bouts of surgery for skin cancer on his left and right ears. They recovered from the surgeries by staying home and watching NFL, soccer, and old black and white movies. They ended the year by having two bathrooms remodeled in November. Charlie Hogge receives much joy in serving God by providing advocacy for residents at a nursing home. His wife, Joan, provides private language therapy for three students which brings joy and satisfaction to her life. They celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary and Charlie’s 80th birthday. They continue to be very active. Bill Kearney spent a few weeks in Colorado between Pueblo and Denver with his daughters, daughter-in-law and grandkids. Colorado is a beautiful, big country, but it is nice to be back in Wisconsin. That fills my allotted five pages for the class notes, and I have to turn this report in soon, so I will start another report for more recent news. I will be calling those of you who have birthdays between now and the time you receive this in the spring. Your Brother Rat, Jim

’53

yl and Steve Goddard ’83. The services were attended by 13 BRs, some accompanied by their wives, and Ann Artz, along with Judy and me. I did send out a class e-mail with more details, as well as listing those BRs in attendance. However, I did not learn about Bob Rutschow’s passing until after the first of the year, thus Judy and I were not able to attend his service. I did send both Illene and Ann a note about their losses on behalf of the class. Since then, I received a very nice note from Ilene saying she was sorry that I did not get the word on Bob and that she should have called me. As you know, from past class notes, Bob had been periodically in contact with me about his cancer and his treatment. Ilene enclosed, with her note, a picture of the flowers on the casket … red, white and yellow, as suggested by their sons. Ilene said she would like to make the reunion but is not really sure yet … maybe the Tuesday memorial service and dinner.

William C. Noell Jr.

It is with great sadness that I have to announce to you the loss of two more of our Brother Rats: Warren Goddard in November in Richmond and Bob Rutschow in December in Charlottesville. Warren was laid to rest in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, overlooking the James River on a beautiful fall-like day. The graveside service was conducted by our BR Luke Witt’s niece, Ann Witt, the daughter of T. Foster Witt ’50B. Ann Goddard’s brother, Joe McCarthy ’52, gave a very humorous accounting of their days together on family vacations, and son John Goddard parted with some warm memories of his father. The service was completed with the playing of “Taps” by a VMI cadet. Afterward, there was a reception at the home of Cher-

Class of 1953: Bill and Judy Noell say, “Come to the ’53 60th Reunion.” The Sunday early arrival gathering is to be held at the Noell’s home: 3 Woodduck Road.

Class of 1953: Bill and Judy Noell at a University of Tennessee football game. About the photo, Noell wrote, “In the other-than-VMI life, [we were in] row 4 on the 50-yard line with 106,000+ in orange.”

CLASS NOTES I received a very nice note from Rilda Seletz, saying how much Bromo wanted to come to the 60th and was looking forward to it before he got sick. I stayed in contact with Bromo over the last couple years since our 55th, and Rilda thanked me especially for keeping in touch this last year. On the back of Rilda’s note card, there is a picture of Jules (Bromo) in his Army uniform, and underneath is written the expression by R.W. Emerson, “It is not the length of life but the depth of life.” The Alzheimer’s malady has also been very hard on some of our Brother Rats, due to their wives having the affliction. Jack Trigg says he is planning on coming to the 60th, as he has someone to stay with Peachy while he is gone. Dave Stuart and Lou Hibbitts are going through all of this with their wives, Betsy and Jean, down in Portsmouth. Frank Wootton was having trouble with cardiac conversion in November in Virginia Beach. In fact, he had two conversions which did not hold and an ablation since then, so they now expect the next conversion to work. Lois says it seems they are going round and round in circles, as nothing has worked, but at least Frank does not feel bad. Parker Cross has been in contact with them, as he had Afib corrected at the Cleveland Clinic, as well as a valve replacement at the same time, a MAZE procedure, which has taken care of

the Afib since June 2010. However, Frank is now out of Afib as far as he can tell, and they have plans to come to the 60th. After the November Reunion Committee meeting at Warren Koontz’ home, Warren and I attended the visitation in Richmond for Bobby and Keith Miller’s 50-yearold son, who died in Deltaville of a heart attack in November. Also attending the visitation were Parker and Annah Cross, Ann Artz and Ann Goddard. I was not in Richmond for the funeral the next day but did send Bobby and Keith a note about their untimely loss on behalf of the class of ’53. Bob Cheatham says that Bebe is still recovering from all her treatments, and they certainly hope they are now over – that all is in remission – allowing them to come to the 60th in April. Bob says he has been working on Macon Brown to see if he will come to the 60th but says it does not sound like he is physically able to come this far. An e-mail from Norman George said he has been busy nursing his wife, Joy, who recently had hip replacement surgery. I advised Norman that Tyler Miller, who I have never heard from since becoming class agent, has now moved to Raleigh. Norman said he was going to try to contact Tyler. Walt and Emily Sanders are planning on coming to the 60th and spent Christmas

Class of 1953: A 60th Reunion Committee meeting was held in November 2012, at the Richmond, Virginia, home of Warren Koontz. Seated were, from left, Ken Perry, Ed Brown, Warren Koontz, John Evans, Jim Morris and Parker Cross. Present but not pictured was Bill Noell.

in Charlotte with family. They had a great country ham there, which they ordered from Felts Southampton. Ann Goddard sent me an e-mail saying that she and Ann Artz are planning on coming up from Richmond together for the reunion – at least the Tuesday memorial service and dinner. Art Moncrief called Warren Koontz about the reunion and says he is coming, although he has had congestive heart failure, but he is doing much better with constant 02. He is chartering a plane in order to get here. So, now BRS must get him, once again, on top of the sentry box to lead the Old Yell, as well as push him in front of us in his wheelchair at the march to the courtyard. Judy and I have been to the Kendal retirement home here in Lexington a couple of times since Christmas to visit people from our church, R.E. Lee. While there, we have had very nice visits with Eleanor and Tom Wright ’54, Gen. Jim Morgan ’45 and past neighbor, VMI Biology Professor Lou Hundley ’47. In January, Ursula and Fred Hauser came down to Lexington to visit the Wrights on a Sunday afternoon, and Judy and I had lunch with them at the Southern Inn before their Kendal visit. Eleanor and Ursula are both from Germany. Fred is still working as a building/home appraiser in the Harrisonburg area and surrounding counties, and Ursula is still doing her book writing. As you recall, she had two books/ volumes published: one in 2001 titled Memories of VMI, to which alumni contributed various interesting articles about life at the Institute, and also a novel. Jim Meek e-mailed me that he and Marilyn plan to be here for the 60th but could not make it for Sunday, as they are in New Mexico the week before. They do not return home until Saturday and cannot drive down to Lexington until Monday. In Gene Jackson’s Christmas card, he says it is unlikely that they will attend the 60th, as his West Point son is receiving his master’s at UVa in May, and his grandson graduates from the Naval Academy in May, too. So, he does not think they can make another trip in April from Mississippi. An e-mail from Russ Horne advised that he and Helen could not make the VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES in those days was slightly over 900, as home basketball games, watching the fast60th. Russ says his doctor advises not to compared to about 1500 now. The alumni paced Keydets working toward the top of make such a long trip by car from Florida, Register of Former Cadets indicates that the conference – having season tickets on and he has too much medical equipment we graduated 158 in our class that June the second row behind the coaches. This to bring along for his urostomy to place 60 years ago, but this does not take into year, together with our daughter’s family, in the overhead compartment of a plane. Jennifer and Brad Beacham, we “adopted” account the 16 BRs that graduated the Russ did say that they are mobile but must following June. As best as I can calculate, walk around at least every hour. Russ says, a “Rat” from West Virginia – now a fourth we started off our third class with only classman – Jack Wilkins ’16. His grand“I really feel bad about missing all of the 204 BRs – losing eight during that first mother and Judy have been very good stories and reminiscences, embellished or not,” and he said, “Please tell all BRs I still friends since they were 2 years old. Jack is semester of our third class year. This left about 53 that did not even stay through majoring in mechanical engineering, was think and pray that we live life no matter the Rat year. Then, there were 28 that did a walk-on for football this year and has what it throws our way.” not return after completing the Rat year. already earned academic stars. An e-mail from Peggy Skinner says she It is hard to realize that this coming June, As of these class notes, of those BRs that is planning on coming to the 60th, even completed the Rat year, we have lost 93 though her JMU reunion is the same week- we have been graduated from the Institute end … says she prefers VMI. Also says her for 60 years … a “lot of water over the in deaths, 14 of whom only completed dam,” as the saying goes. Also, hard to daughter wants to come up from Virginia the Rat year. Our current mailing list believe that I have been retired from the Beach with her. holds 92 BRs and 38 wives of departed Air Force Reserve for 30 years come July, In a Christmas card from Faye AnBRs – 130 total. However, there are a finishing as deputy commander of a C-130 couple of BRs who do not choose to be drews, she said that in the fall she made Tactical Airlift Wing, and as I write these a trip with her daughter, Tamara, to San in contact with VMI and therefore are notes this month, I have now been your Francisco and the Napa Valley on a Food not on our mailing list. The e-mail list class agent for 26 years … boy, does time Network sponsored excursion. Said the now holds 56 BRs and 10 widows. Pefood and wine were very good, and having fly! But now it is “on to the 60th.” riodically, some of you delete or change Class Trivia – Data: Can you remember her daughter along made the trip special. your e-mail – thus no longer receive the marching through Jackson Arch with the A note from Webb Maddux said that periodic class e-mail news/announcewhole Corps yelling at your back on that they are trying to age gracefully and have ments/obits, etc. matriculation date … Sept. 12, 1949. Achad a good year in Danville. Also, he said Bill Turner cording to the records, we had 258 Brother that, fortunately, nothing major in the Rats sign in the Registration Book that health department has occurred that is not day – of course, some did not even last but manageable. a day or so, with one doing an about face John Lisella sent a picture at Christmas right in front of me. Pete Cox was right of their family reunion in Las Vegas in May at a son’s home … a photo of the men behind me and became my roommate for “I am not young enough to know four years. If I recall correctly, the Corps (seven) and women (seven) separately, all everything.” – Oscar Wilde dressed in Hawaiian outfits. One of the Brothers asked This comes from John and me recently what I do in my Natalie’s great first trip, finally, “spare” time, how I keep to Hawaii in February 2012. busy, besides being class Jack and Meredith Townes agent. Well, let’s see. For had a great trip to Russia last starters, I travel as much as summer. They flew to Moscow, I can. For example, recently, then boarded a ship for a fourmy “significant other” and I day stay in Moscow and then cruised to Nova Scotia on the steamed down the Volga River QM2. Fun. Very British. I’m for 10 days. They also visited St. planning a trip to Nashville in Petersburg for four days – said October, meeting my number the gold dome cathedrals were one daughter, Erin, to hear a absolutely exquisite. little “pickin’ and singin,’” and Then, closer to home, John do a little clogging. I was raised and Doris Gilbert were with us on that kind of music. In fact, at the VMI Alumni Association until I was in high school, I Rockbridge Chapter Christmas thought the two most important Class of 1953: Judy Noell, Jack Wilkins ’16 who was Party/Dance at Moody Hall. people in the world were Frankholding 2 and one-half-year-old Mary Jude Beacham, And here in Lexington, Judy lin Delano Roosevelt and Roy and Bill Noell at the Noell’s home in Lexington, Virginia. and I do attend all the VMI Acuff.

’54

2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES I’m writing a couple of books: Bethel, a historical fiction novel based on the first major land battle of the Civil War, and a shorter work. And I’m still giving lectures. Following up on my three months series on the American Civil War, I’ve just concluded a series on “The Events That Transformed America.” Very rewarding. Oh, and I’ve agreed to do a little guest lecturing this fall at Virginia Commonwealth University. I manage to make most “Happy Hours” here at the “Old Folks Home,” and I’m still bowling and playing a little tennis. In fact, recently I rolled a 212 and averaged about 180 for a three-game set. Not too shabby. Life is good – despite the occasional heartbreak or disappointment. I’ve decided that “growing old is nothing more than a bad habit that a busy man has no time to acquire.” Oh, I almost forgot. A couple of months ago, I had an endoscopy, and after my return from the Homestead in Hot Springs, VA, I’ll undergo a colonoscopy. So, you see, I am staying busy. Len Wagner told me that he fell and broke his hip a little while ago and is recuperating at Patriots Landing Convalescent Center in Williamsburg, VA. As some of you may know, for several years, Len’s been struggling with a problem that has required his reliance on a wheelchair. However, now he tells me he’s walking with the help of a cane. Len’s a tough guy; no quit in him. Hang in there, Len. Shake it off, and get on with life and living. Know that you have a whole lot of friends pulling for you. Just finished an interesting telephone discussion with Jack Gary. Jack, a retired Marine brigadier general, sounded good. He said he had just contracted to teach at South Florida University. We agreed that the 2012 presidential elections may be the most important since 1860, determining how the country will go for the next several years … of major significance. “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” – M.L. King Spoke with Jack Fuller a short time ago. He sounded pretty good. He also said he’s still battling a 15-year battle with prostate cancer. He says he’s now on some experimental drug, along with a placebo 54

alternative. Jack, I read recently that practically all men over 65 can expect to have prostate cancer during their lifetime. I know that’s small consolation, but it does indicate that more men live with the disease than die from it. Hang tough, Jack, and know that you are in a lot of prayers. Called George Ford and learned that George has a heart problem that was exacerbated by anesthesia used in his surgery. A lot of things can happen to you in the hospital, not all of them good. Ask any reputable physician. George sounded weak but confident enough to say he would consider my offer for class agent in time for our next reunion. Speaking of a new CA, I asked one BR recently if he would consider the job; he said he’d “think about it.” He did, for at least 10 seconds, before telling me he’d thought about it but decided he didn’t want it. I asked another by telephone recently, and the line went dead. Isn’t there anyone out there who needs/wants the notoriety? Looks good on your resume. Just had lunch with Bill Schubmehl. Nice. Among other things, we talked about our next reunion, scheduled for spring 2014. Hope most of you can make it. Especially want the “Widows of ’54” to know we look forward to their being there. We’ll have more to say about this later. When Bill returned home, he sent me an e-mail. He said he had taken a look at the ’54 Bomb and re-discovered that 160 Brother Rats had graduated in our class. Of these, approximately 85 had passed away. Bill says, “It gets personal when you look at the pictures,” adding that he won’t be doing that again. I fully agree, Bill; it does get very personal. It does indeed. Continue to get Christmas cards, calls and e-mails from the Brothers. Most have nice things to say about my tenure as CA. Very gratifying. You know praise is like money, only too much is ever enough. My BW, Sonja, says this is especially true about men in every area of their existence. Oh well, what can I say, except that she’s probably right. And I hate saying that. Anyway, know that I am very appreciative of your kind remarks. Means a lot. My grandpappy used to say, “Appreciation without signs of approval is like whistling at a good-looking girl in the dark; you may know what you’re

doing, but no one else does.” Also got Christmas cards from Jack Fuller, Tom Kane, Tom Mayo, Lois Windle, Webb Davis, Ray Helmer, Jack and Betty Tiller, Shirley Cockes, Anne Scott, Leonard and Betty Wagner, Alan Siff, Connie Via, Kay Dunlap, Larry Cockerille, and Don and Maureen Walden. (Please forgive me if I have inadvertently overlooked anyone.) Kay wrote a beautiful expression of her appreciation for my interest in her loss of her late husband, Don. Well, Kay, as I’ve told you on more than one occasion, Don was a very special kind of man. I think I knew that, instinctively, from the first day I met him in the Ratline. So long ago and only yesterday. He had a certain quality, an aura of character, that could stop you in your tracks and make you think, really think, about what you were doing or saying. At that age and stage of my life – my “development,” I suppose – I didn’t really respect a lot of people; my father, a couple of favorite uncles and my grandfathers were the exception. But I respected Don from the beginning, because I did know, understand and respect character, and Don Dunlap personified that appellation, “character,” with a capital “C.” Anyway, thanks for all your cards, notes and letters, and thank you for thinking of me in such a special and often very personal way. You really are the best. Bob MacGregor only attended the Institute a year but remains a loyal alumnus. In a recent note, Bob remarked, “Although I attended (VMI) only my Rat year, I remain a great admirer of the school.” To me, it’s kind of ironic that among the strongest supporters of the Institute are those who did not “stay the course” for whatever reason. Apparently something at the place rubs off on you, notwithstanding the duration of one’s stay. Says something about the VMI ethos, I think. You don’t think too much about it while you’re there, but after you’re gone, boy, do you think about it. Do you ever! In my case, although I “quit every day for four years” while I was a cadet at the place, I now believe that God had me exactly where He wanted me, and every single (modest) accomplishment I have ever achieved is directly related to my attending such a special place. Anyway, it was great hearing from you, Bob. Thanks. Got a nice card and note from my old VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES “Roomie,” Jack Fuller. Jack said that he and Molly would be in San Antonio visiting their youngest daughter, her husband and their two children over Christmas. He actually admitted to having read my column in the Alumni Review and finding it “interesting.” He said my referencing his dad, “Whiskey John,” reminded him that he was called “Little Whiskey” early in his career. Great hearing from you, Jack, and if you wore that title half as well as your dad, you did all right. Recently, I got to thinking about Dave Hengel, Jim Bramlet, Art Jenvey, Walt McCarthy (one of the first to die in Vietnam), Buddy Addison and others who gave all they could give, and I was reminded of that famous line from Pericles’ magnificent funeral oration, honoring the Athenians who died in the great war with Sparta: “For heroes have the whole world as their tomb.” And today, when about 2 percent of the population is fighting our wars, in effect defending the other 98 percent, I wonder if anyone, other than those few families who have loved ones in harm’s way, really cares. I care. I care very much. I hope you do, as well. Flash! Have just learned that our own “Mud” White has been appointed to the VMI Board of Visitors by Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonald. Smart move on the part of the guv. Couldn’t have done better. Congrats, “Mud.” We’re all so very proud of you. Know you’ll do well; anything you touch is a sure winner. (Editor’s Note: An article announcing Dr. White’s appointment appeared in the 2012-Issue 4 Alumni Review on pages 145-146.) Romney at VMI: The VMI got another boost in October 2012 when the Republican candidate for president delivered a major foreign policy address at the Institute. Following in the footsteps of one of VMI’s most illustrious sons, Gen. George C. Marshall ’901, the man who Winston Churchill once called the “Architect of Victory” during World War II, Romney outlined his general strategy for confronting America’s enemies and supporting America’s friends. Interesting but not surprising that VMI continues to attract major players on the world stage, even over more publicized and “hyped” institutions of higher learning in the country. Secretary of State Hillary 2013-Issue 2

Clinton also addressed the Corps during visit last year. Again, thanks to all who sent Christmas cards and, most importantly, messages. Many thanks to the Borings, the Waldens and the Chandlers. Please forgive inadvertent omissions. Ed Chandler wrote an especially poignant note. He said his wife of many years is in the eighth year of her battle with Alzheimer’s and second year of Parkinson’s. But he says she’s still feisty and keeps him straight on her medications. What’s the old expression? I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet? You are a true hero, Ed, many times over. I’m sure the thoughts and prayers of all your BRs are with you. KUTF! (Keep Up the Fire!) With that, I’ll close with the reminder that it’s still not too late to submit your application for class agent. But hurry; it’s getting late. You’ll need references and all that jazz. Hasta la vista, mi compadres, y vaya con Dios! How am I doing, BR Ed Rojas, el jefe? Comprende?

’55

Read Hanmer

I am in receipt of a warm letter from Brian Crockett, the chief executive officer of the VMI Foundation, in which he writes: “In this academic year, private financial support makes up more than 23 percent of VMI’s operating budget, almost one of every four dollars that VMI spends. Private scholarship support, which benefits hundreds of cadets, will total more than $8.5 million. In that regard, the class of 1955 Scholarship Fund is and will continue to be an important source of assistance for members of the Corps. In the current year, your class fund is providing a total of $14,860 in support of Cadets Spencer K. Buettner ’15, a biology major from Chesapeake, VA; Nolan F. Landers ’15, a physics major from Concord, VA; Kevin M. Marshall ’16, an economics major from Idaho Falls, ID; and Nishant Singh ’15, a computer science major from Henrico, VA. As of the close of the fiscal year, the Class of 1955 Scholarship Fund had a market value of $348,608.” We all can take great satisfaction in the knowl-

edge that the Class of 1955 Scholarship Fund is having a very positive impact on the Corps. What follows is a compendium of inputs I have received: Marty Fisher reports: “[Tell] BRs who may have said a prayer for me after they heard I had prostate cancer – I am happy to report that, one year after my proton treatments were completed, my PSA stands at 0.9. A human interest story: My granddaughter, Lt. Kristi Melendez, is the chief engineer aboard the destroyer, U.S.S. Decatur, deployed in the Persian Gulf. Through a series of improbable events, she got the chief of Catholic chaplains to celebrate midnight mass on her ship.” Dave Woolwine writes: “We went to Baton Rouge, LA, on Dec. 14th to attend our granddaughter’s graduation from LSU. She had fallen off a horse eight days before (she broke her ankle) and was unable to walk to receive her diploma with her classmates. She was disappointed, but we celebrated the occasion anyway. She has now applied to the LSU Veterinary School. There were over 250 in-state applications, with 75 selected for interviews. She was one of those selected for an interview, and we are praying that she will make the final selection. It’s a very competitive process, to say the least.” We are rooting for your granddaughter, Dave. Jim Skinner sent a brief note to let me know that he and Sue have moved to a retirement facility in Huntsville, AL. Sadly, Jim reports that he can no longer drive. Jim’s and Sue’s address is Apartment 174, 2815 Carl T Jones Boulevard, Huntsville, AL 35802. Jim’s e-mail address remains the same: jlspfs@juno.com. Al Stuart asked me to forward to the VMI library a copy of a report he helped compile of a fascinating expedition in which he participated. The report is titled “Impossible Journey: The Story of the Victoria Land Traverse, 1959-60, Antarctica,” published by the Geological Society of America as Special Paper 488. It contains dozens of color photos from a four-month, 2,400-mile scientific trek across the Antarctic ice cap as part of the International Geophysical Year project. Al writes: “I initially developed my interest in earth history when I took Walt Cormack’s geology class at VMI.” After reading through the 55

CLASS NOTES report and viewing the spectacular pictures (all-terrain vehicles almost disappearing into the ice, etc.), I had to reevaluate my “worst winter,” spent in Korea in 196061. Antarctica clearly beats the Korean cold. Contact Al at 1037 Greentree Drive, Charlotte, NC, 28211, or awstuart@uncc. edu if you would like to purchase a copy of the report. Christmas mail brought a number of responses to my cards. First came a nice card from Rosemary Coleman, with wonderful pictures of her growing family. H. Ross Ford sent a picture of the cover of his book, Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of the American Expeditionary Forces 1918-1919. Ross apparently has had some health issues but is now recovering. Rudi and Tissy Ansbacher reported another busy year with various travels which included trips to the Cayman Islands and Canada and Rudi’s fifth mission trip to Haiti. Rudi sent a snapshot of him and Pete Roberts ’61, taken on Grand Cayman Island. Demitri Cozanitis sent a nice card from Athens, Greece, saying, “I stopped my clinical work three years ago, but otherwise, I am keeping busy. My second ‘History of Medicine’ paper is in print and the third well under way.” Congratulations, Demitri. Tony Russo responded to my birthday card, saying, “[My] ministry is running smoothly, although I have had to reduce some of the pastoral work that I was doing. The parish here [ed. note: in Philadelphia] is large and very active. It includes three language groups: English, Spanish and Vietnamese.” Tony asked that I send his warmest greetings to all. Here is an extract from Emily Filer’s card: “I work as a chaplain in three and sometimes four Sentara Hospitals. I love the opportunity to offer whatever gifts the Lord has given me to help others who are suffering, whatever their needs are.” Well done, Emily. A long Christmas note from Mike and Mitzi Belenky: Seems Mike has been experiencing a series of medical problems related to the early onset of Parkinson’s disease. He, together with Mitzi, has been undertaking extensive physical therapy, including dancing, and that seems to be having beneficial effects. Mike, I find myself in a similar position, and I can empathize. George Locher writes: “I live in Richmond and don’t get to Lexington very often. The three years I completed at VMI 56

did a great job for me, and the two sons of mine who went to VMI feel the same as I do.” Thanks, George, for the input. Meng Chi Tsen sent a contribution to the VMI Foundation, along with the following information: “Life in a small New Hampshire village is peaceful. My life is dedicated to the collecting and preservation of British Army artifacts from 1880 to 1960, the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign and the early part of Queen Elizabeth’s.” Thank you, M.C. Ben Angle sent a nice contribution to The VMI Alumni Association. Thanks, Ben. I need to correct an error in the previous class notes. In a picture of those who had attended the “Bryan Beach Bash” at Sandbridge, VA, last September, I misidentified Bob Rennicks as Bill Cridlin. Mea culpa! As I closed the previous class notes, which arrived in your mail boxes with the February 2013 Alumni Review, I passed on a great idea from Joe Brenner. He suggested, 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

Class of 1955: Rudi Ansbacher and Pete Roberts ’61 on Grand Cayman Island, January 2013.

idea! I know most of us have short bios that could be dusted off and are focused on after-retirement years. The response was great, and I include some of them here, starting with input from: Pete Haake: “Retirement? This word is one that, while we were young, led to much speculation about: Will I (we) make it? How old would I be when … ? What will I do then? Will I have enough money? What about health? What about friends; will they be there? So far, I can answer ‘yes’ to all or at least most. I can no longer lift or shovel all day and limit it to a few minutes and the weight to 25 pounds, but that is easy to live with. I have been ‘retired’ since 1999 and enjoying every minute, except when I have a back problem or kidney stone on a very few occasions. I am playing golf when the snow is gone; fishing in the spring, summer and fall; and hunting in the fall. Cathy and I travel with a group of friends, and our last trip was to Prague and then to the German Rivers – Mein, Rhine and Moselle. We went to Luxemburg and visited Gen. George Patton’s ’907 grave. We ended in Paris – always a wonderful part of any trip. Our summers are spent one half in Scottsville and one half on the St. Lawrence River on Grindstone Island. It is a seven-mile-long island, and the only way to get to it is by boat. If you are ever summer cruising on the river, show up at 43346 Point Angiers, phone 315/686-1712. We can sleep 11 comfortably. Better call first; we are there every other week. While at home, I work about one day a week doing medical examinations for insurance companies on people with spinal problems. I think that will end when 2014 arrives. Golf is three times a week at 9 a.m. We have about 24 in the group and usually have about 12 people to play on any one day. In my (spare) time, I work in my wood shop doing small and big projects. All in all, I wonder how I ever had time to work, and I’m enjoying retirement. Oh, by the way, I spend a lot of time on the computer with e-mail (so good to get the mail from BRs), doing photography and other projects. All in all, I am enjoying this time of my life.” Leon Cock: “Our retirement began in August 1990, nearly 23 years ago. I retired from decades in the aluminum business with Alcoa, and Zella retired from decades VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES of managing huge shopping centers in several areas of California and Nevada. The first 14 years in retirement were spent in Las Vegas playing craps and video poker. The last eight years have been here in Robson Ranch, TX, wishing we could play craps and video poker. We have been fortunate to have been able to visit all 50 states, all the provinces of Canada and many continents. We are going to Shanghai, China, for my 79th birthday, so we then will have been in all the continents except four. (We probably will never get to Africa, Antarctica, Australia or South America.) We are in reasonably good health, and our marriage of nearly 54 years has been a super delight. We hope to make a post-death contribution to society, as we both have contributed our bodies to the willed-body program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX. We plan to be cremated and our ashes placed in the school chapel. I want to thank Joe Brenner for this idea. To all my Brother Rats, I say, in the words of Bob Hope, ‘Thanks for the memories.’” Leon also referred to some of the earlier dialog in these notes: “An aside, the first major league game I ever saw was in 1948 at Seventh and U Northeast between the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Senators. The Cleveland lineup was Hegan and Feller, with Keltner at third, Boudreau at short and Robinson at first. Mitchell was in left, Doby in center and Kennedy in right. Cleveland went on that year to defeat the Red Sox in a one-game playoff at Fenway Park and defeated the Boston Braves in the World Series. The only Senators player I remember was Mickey Vernon at first. Did you know that our Texas Rangers were the original Washington Senators, and Ted Williams was our first manager?” Yes, Leon, I saw several Senators games before their move to Texas. Barney Lawless: “With regard to my post retirement activities, I retired from Potomac Electric Power Company as manager of civil engineering where my engineers and I were responsible for civil, structural and environmental engineering for everything except power plants – I didn’t have enough people to do a power plant. My own specialty was high voltage transmission lines [in which] I was able to maintain a ‘hands-on’ approach, in addi2013-Issue 2

tion to managing the department. In making interconnections to Virginia Power, I had to meet and deal with Tootie Sherry, and that contact made my job a lot easier in many respects. I retired early, because Anna May, my first wife, was quite ill, and I spent nearly eight years caring for her, even for the last three years of her life which she spent in a nursing home. About the time she died, I got a call from my high school alumni secretary for a class reunion which put me back in touch with my high school and Rat year girlfriend, Helen McCune, (who, at the VPI game our Rat year, saved me from being boned by Maj. Lee Nichols ’44), and I hadn’t seen her in over 50 years. To make a long story short, we picked up where we had left off in 1951 and were married 10 years ago. In my absence from the field of engineering, I lost most of my contact with the engineering profession and the people. I surrendered two of my professional engineer licenses. On reading the engineering literature today, I’m not sure I could resume a place in an engineering profession. But I still drive down roads, looking at the sag of the wires and counting the insulators on transmission lines. During Anna May’s time in the nursing home, I met a retired Navy chaplain who got me started in ministry, particularly to older folks. Having been active in church work most of my life, I assumed the position of chaplain’s assistant with no hesitation, and after he died, I became chaplain and kept that position for over a year and a half after Anna May died. I still preach on occasion at nursing homes and in my own church. Thus, this engineer sort of became a liberal artist. I kept up my rifle competition shooting after graduation and kept it up until 2010, winning a few matches and losing a lot more. I transitioned from the .22 caliber rifles at VMI to the M-1, then to the M-14 and then to the AR-15. As a civilian high-power shooter, I earned the Distinguished Rifleman Medal in 1983 from the director of civilian marksmanship, which was then part of the Department of the Army. I had to hang it up when my doctor found in an MRI that my shoulder and neck were deteriorating – not necessarily caused by shooting, but the recoil from the high-powered rifles wasn’t going to help it. My biggest thrill in shooting was the year at the National

Matches at Camp Perry, OH, when I got to shoot on a team with my son, Ed Lawless ’81, and my grandson, Pete Lawless ’12 – I treasure the medal I won more than any other. Pete is the best shooter of the family – got his Distinguished Riflemen Medal in 2012. I note that he should be the family coach! After Helen and I were married, we took up Scottish Country Dancing, and we do that every week and at other balls and dances through the year. Thanks to Read Hanmer, I have joined the St. Andrews Society. I wear the kilt in the VMI New Market Tartan, which maybe I’ll wear to our next reunion. I have been active in the Boy Scout program since about 1943, holding many positions over the years. My activity is now restrained [due to] various medical restrictions, but I am still active as the Tiger Cub Den leader. If any of you guys want to cut out your Pinewood derby car, my shop is available. One last admonition – if you retire, don’t throw away your pocket calendar, because you’ll be busier than you ever were.” Dick Sutherland: “Since I retired in 2006 from the chemical distribution business in California, Evie and I moved to Mobile, AL, to be closer to our daughter, Nanci Smith. Evie and I have enjoyed our retirement by being active in a number of activities. Evie has made new friends with the New Mobilian Organization here in Mobile and has been very active in a number of activities, especially their Mardi Gras Ball which was held in January. In 2011, she was one of four Maids selected for the Royal Court. Prior to coming to Mobile, I was active in the Exchange Club of San Clemente, CA, and when we moved to Mobile, I joined the Mobile Exchange Club. We have been active in Child Abuse Prevention, and over the past six years, we have raised well over $100,000 for this project. Our primary recipient for these funds is the Exchange Club Family Center which educates and trains parents in the care and handling of children to help prevent child abuse. In my spare time, I have another project that is not so worthy of doing for others but more for myself. In 2008, I joined the staff at the local Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail where I work as marshall. The privileges are wonderful – I get to play unlimited golf on any of the 13 57

CLASS NOTES physical ailments pretty well. A call to Bob course sites in Alabama for a very nomiRichard M. Smith Brickner, after seeing the name of Afton nal fee. Life is truly good in the other LA Brickner – the first woman on VMI’s skeet (lower Alabama), and we bless the Lord and trap shooting team – in the Institute every day for our health. We always welReport, found that she was not a relative. come visitors; give us a call at 251/662As always, we had a lengthy conversation 3504 or dicksuth@bellsouth.net.” The holidays are over, and it’s time to go about different BRs and Bob’s training Walt Reed: “Briefly stated, I retired efforts, as well as some concerns about back to the old grind (retiree style). Here’s from the Air Force at my last assignment, his health. He has put off the move to hoping this year will be more favorable Travis AFB, in 1983 and, not wanting to Oklahoma for the time being but hopes to than the past. However, we aren’t going to move but still desiring to be productive, eventually get closer to his relatives. complain! tried managing the office for a friend at Our class tough guy, Tiger Jackson, sent I received an epistle from Ron Herring my church who owned a small trucking the following news. He went to Driggs, who, along with his daughter, Holly’s, operation (which ended when one of our ID, to participate in a Nordic ski race at family, survived Hurricane Sandy in New leased trucks hit a bus in Oakland). Then, the 18K Teton Ridge Classic on Jan. 12th. Jersey. Ron’s children and grandchildren [I] ran the County Food Bank briefly and It was minus 21 degrees Farenheight at are heavily involved in the education finally signed on as purchasing agent field, teaching at Colorado State Univerfor the County Health (later Health and the start and minus three degrees FarenSocial Services) Department for 10 years. sity, University of Maryland and seeking height at the finish. Tiger was last in the My sweet Loli turned to her love of dance graduate degrees at University of Pittsburg 70-79, but the big news was that the only and opened a School for Flamenco Dance and Penn State. About 15 family members participant in the 80+ group was Charley planned to be together for Christmas in which became extremely popular among French, 86, who beat Tiger’s time. Tiger Howell, NJ. the many Flamenco devotees in Northern says not to worry; he will be eligible for I feel overwhelmed by the number of California for nearly 20 years. Ten years the 80+ category next year and intends to Christmas cards and notes received from after my full retirement in 1995, Loli beat Charley. If there ever was a grown BRs, SRs and widows. Thank you all for developed several major health problems man who was a “glutton for punishment,” remembering me so kindly. On Dec. 14th, that ended her dance career and with it has to be Jackson. Honey and I joined Jim and Frances Dilwhich we are still struggling. We pray I chatted with Les and Pat Belsha and lard, Doug and Betsy Gottwald, and Bill for her continued improvement and hope learned they were on the go quite a bit. Les Lamb and Irene Myers for lunch at Hobbs spends time each month with his daughter for our ability to reunite with our two Hole Golf Course restaurant. This was daughters in Hollywood, FL, sometime and grandkids in North Carolina. He and a follow up of the call I received earlier in 2013. Since so many of our Brother Pat were planning on attending the Lynchfrom Jim before they left California for Rats have passed and our own times will burg VMI Chapter Annual Valentines Christmas at their home in Tappahannock, come someday, I have turned to reading Dance at Boonsboro Country Club. The VA. We spent several hours catching up books on those who have had near death music was to be provided by the Keydet on each other’s lives. So far, all of us seem dance band, with Col. Brodie (Hon) experiences and just finished reading a to be weathering the storm of old age and most convincing book entitled Proof of directing. They have another trip to Paris Heaven, written by a brain surand riverboat cruise planned. geon working at a hospital in Les helped me get permission Lynchburg, VA, of all places. to quail hunt the old Jones farm It is most convincing!” in Brunswick Co. Remember, you, too, can be I received a phone call from featured in these pages. Please Jess and Elizabeth Runyan. send me notes, career highThey had just watched the lights, and anything that would Obama inauguration and saw be of interest to your Brother VMI’s marching Corps bring Rats and their families. up the final unit in the parade. I’ll close on a sad note. The last It brought back memories of several months have marked the a half-century ago when we passing of three Brother Rats: marched in Eisenhauer’s inauWard Johnson, Holt Rutherford guration. Jess was impressed and Thornton Burns, as well with the performance of the as Jerry Bourke’s wife, Julie, Corps. I recalled how I had and Dino Cademartori’s wife, gotten out of the infirmary to go Pat. I have sent donations to the Class of 1956: About this photo, Dick Smith wrote, “from on the bus to attend and ended Class of 1955 Scholarship Fund my deck, a shot of the sunrise across the lake during up back again, almost with winter. I’m still an early riser.” in their names. pneumonia.

’56

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES My old fishing buddy, Scotty Boland, called from Winter Haven, FL, to check on my plans to come down this winter. I said I would be there in March and wanted to “drown a worm” with him. He advised me that his son, Mal, had gotten a new boat recently, and they were in the process of outfitting it, so we could use it when I arrive. They have a spot in a fishing camp on Lake Kissimmee where we will go. Scotty is somewhat concerned with Obama’s plans for gun control. His family has the company that furnished blank ammo and look-alike weapons to the movie industry, as well as pyrotechnics to other places like Disneyland. He and Artis still go to Miami for doctor’s appointments in February, and he hopes nothing new will be found with the upcoming visit there. I talked with Fred Farthing, and he and Mary Jo plan to join Honey and me in March to visit Spider and Anne Allison at their home in Melbourne, FL. He has some issues with doctor’s appointments which we are hopeful won’t get in the way. Paul Gronroos continues to find many interesting revelations concerning the present administration and keeps me up to date. I wonder how he comes up with all the information, and I will ask him when we get to golf together in Florida. Since I don’t have any more information to pass on to you, I will close by passing on a couple of photos from the area (pictured with these notes). Being Valentine’s week, I decided to get a picture of one of Brunswick County’s

most famous landmarks, the post office at Valentines, VA. People have traveled there from many miles to get their cards stamped by Mr. Wright. The other picture is a shot of the sunrise from my deck during winter across the lake. I’m still an early riser. Yours in the Spirit, Dick

’57

Clayton M. Thomas III

Now, in February, we continue having an extremely mild winter. Many days in the last six weeks, the temperature was in the 80s. Day after day, we have blue sky, bright sunshine, and trees and bushes in bloom. The lanai is covered with yellow dust, and it is hard writing with my eyes watering, so I retreat into the breakfast nook. Even our 20-year-old cat, “Mosby,” can remain outside only for a few minutes. Dawn and I had a happy and quiet Christmas, and we received a plethora of cards from Brother Rats and widows. Bob and Ginny Alexander spent Christmas with their daughter, Sue, and family in Arizona. They pivot between Arizona and Pennsylvania every year, because they have kids in Pennsylvania, also. Martin Andersen has great news! He married a wonderful lady. Lynne and he had been dating for over a year, and Martin’s daughter and granddaughter love her very much. Lynne is from South Africa. Dawn and I met her, and she is delightful. We are happy for both of them. Martin still keeps in touch with Charlie Schwindinger’s widow, Kay. Kay

is doing well, and Martin takes her out to dinner at least once a week. Joan Atkeson in Monterey, VA, with a friend is expanding her shop this year. Joan says that nothing is worse than two old women with too much stuff, but they are having fun. Al and Carolyn Baumgartner from Powder Springs, GA, had great joy in 2012 with the birth of a great-grandson, Andrew Morgan, and great sadness, as their son, Mark, lost his six-year battle with cancer. Al’s big change was a move to the euphonium from the tuba, which takes much weight off his ankles. They were happy to celebrate the 55th Class Reunion at VMI and also their 55th wedding anniversary. Sam and Betsy Barker from Murrells Inlet, SC, made only one trip to central Pennsylvania in 2012. Dawn and I hope to visit them when VMI plays Coastal Carolina in football. Sam warns that they are beefing up their program to compete with Clemson and the University of South Carolina. Poor VMI! Bill and Martha Batten are doing fine in Simpsonville, SC. Martha takes her sister every three months for medical treatment in Houston, TX. In April, we plan to visit Bill and Martha on our trip to the Class Agents Conference. My days of driving straight through to VMI are over. Bob and Susan Christopher are so busy on Northern Neck, I got winded just reading all of their activities. Both have recovered from knee surgery. They also care for two homes, seven dogs and 20 cats. Wiley and Nancy Clapp in Minden, NV, wish the class well. He had total knee replacement. Someday, they should come back to VMI. It has been a long time. Bill and Helen Colvin are both well in Martinsville, VA. They missed out on all the Institute activities in 2012 but promise to do better in 2013. Don and Judy Coombs from Kerrville, TX, still enjoy life in Texas Hill Country. He continues as moderator of the deacons of their church, and both play golf. Judy had surgery on her left knee in June, which laid her up for a couple of months. Once

Class of 1956: The Post Office in Valentines, Virginia. According to Class Agent Dick Smith who submitted this photo, “People have traveled there from many miles to get their cards stamped by Mr. Wright.”

2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES picture celebrating their 50th anniversary and one-half months. “The cold just kills again, they cancelled their trip to Yellowin Las Vegas at the Bellagio. At Christthe old bones anymore.” stone. Some year, they will make it. mas, two of their sons joined them. Their Frank and Ann Gilmore are in AlexanClaiborne and Linda Coupland in third son is in Germany with his frau and dria, VA. Dawn and I will get together with Norfolk were “hunkered down” for super kinder. Dick and Christine have seven them on April 20th, following the Class Hurricane Sandy and fortunately received grandchildren. Agents Conference at VMI. only slight damage. They had tidal water Nick and Carmen Kallelis in Gastonia, Patti Hammond, Roy’s widow, continues in their yard and much debris. “It is hard to NC, invited us to stop by on our way to to enjoy life in Lexington. She is healthy fathom the hit that the Northeast took!” VMI as they are just off the exits from I-85. and happy and spent Christmas in Spring Ken and Katie Dickinson left Roscoe, SD, Gus and Ira Kline had a quiet year in St. Canyon, CO, with family and friends. This in December for their home in sunny, warm past summer, she traveled to France and Merritt Island, FL. We still haven’t gotten Louis. They did take one trip to Charlotte took a river cruise from Normandy to Paris together with them. The first Sunday Dawn to attend the Anglican Dominican Chapter. on the Seine. “Roy would have loved visitdoesn’t work, we will join them for brunch Gus had three stays in the hospital this past ing all the World War II points of interest.” at Patrick Air Force Base Officer’s Club. By fall for surgery for a lump on his neck that Lionel and Carole Lee Hancock from then, they should have thawed out. was malignant. Hopefully, they got it all. Tidewater sent a photo of them and four Lew Diuguid sent us an antique ChristTheir best news is that Ira became a U.S. beautiful granddaughters and one grandson. citizen in September! mas card of VMI Barracks, vintage 1950s. They are all dressed up to attend a wedding. Lew and Kay had a grand year following John and Loretta Kuchnia from Raleigh, Milt and Nancy Hargrave in Dinwiddie, the O’s at long last. “If Kay is up to it, we NC, had a wonderful 10 days last OctoVA, were looking forward to their annual may breeze down to spring training.” ber in Europe, touring Munich, Salsburg, pre-Christmas family dinner gathering at Ben and Damaris Elmore in Pensacola, Innsbruck and Northern Italy. They had their home. They expected about 30 in all. FL, sent us a beautiful 3D Christmas card. perfect fall weather with snow in the higher Bill and Betty Huffcut in Tallahassee, FL, elevations. When Dawn saw it, she said we have to sent a photo of their clan at Christmas 2012. save it, and put it a special place. Thank Marilynn Landis in Arnold, MD, contin“The Lord is good!” you, Ben and Damaris. ues on the go. In December, she flew to Las What a wonderful surprise! After all these Vegas and spent five nights at the Bellagio. Billy and Chloe Elmore from the Outer years, we heard from Dick and Christine Banks have had a bit of “wanderlust.” They In May, she flew to Cape Town, Africa, and Hunt from Oceanside, CA. They sent a recently returned from Italy and Sicily and joined her tour group. There were miles of are spending three months in sand dunes in Namibia, and in Sarasota, FL, before a two-week Zimbabwe, she saw Victoria trip to Spain. Billy claims this Falls. My favorite picture was may be their last trip across the Marilyn walking a three-month“pond.” old lion. We received another beautiMo and Cindy Levine conful card, “The Adoration of the tinue to enjoy life in Colorado. Magi,” Stefan Lochner c1450, They are happy that I have a from John and Connie Emmerich cousin in Grand Junction. Mo in Louisville, KY. John writes, suggests we should fly to Den“See you all in ’17.” ver, spend a few days with them Carroll and Vicky Ferrell write and take the train to Grand Juncfrom Portsmouth, VA, “It is tion – an enjoyable and relaxing incredible that so much time has trip – all in daylight. passed.” Ed Martin reports the sad Bob and Edie Fiske live three news that he has cancer and is miles away and wished us a presently undergoing treatment. great holiday. Dawn dropped by He feels fine at this point. and left their cat a catnip mouse, Carroll and Darrel Mason in which the cat greatly enjoyed. Manakin Sabot, VA, report they Joanne and Drew Fox in Haverare still traveling – Maine, New ford, Pennsylvania, sent a photo York and Myrtle Beach. of nine grandchildren all dressed Ron and Patty McManus in in blue. I bet several of them Lexington, VA, inform us that would look good in cadet gray. they continue to struggle with Bob and Connie Fravel in Port Patty’s Alzheimer’s. Class of 1957: Garland and Sally Sullivan welcomed the Clinton, OH, headed south to Betty Mixson sent Christmas New Year 2013 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Florida after Christmas for three greetings from Texas. She had 60

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Neck, VA, were delighted to see so many Joe and Ann Spivey in Lexington, VA, such fun at the April reunion and getting at the 55th Reunion. They are thrilled that went to the cocktail phase of the Institute to know some of us better – the Douthats, another grandson will matriculate at VMI Society gala and then went to dinner with Murrays and Gilmores, along with many in 2013. Harry and Sis Warner and Drummond others. She also singled out Dawn for the Ben and Lynn Wiggins in Portsmouth, Ayres and Claira. It was a thoroughly 55th Reunion booklet. George and Helen Niedermayer are “cliff delightful evening in which Joe couldn’t get VA, have lived in the same house for 45 years, and they are downsizing to a small in a word edgewise. dwellers” in Philadelphia. He is amazed by cape cod. Armand and Rita Wagner from Ware our cat, Mosby, who he believes may be the Bob and Dot Wood in Orange City want oldest cat in Florida. George reports that to get together for lunch with us and MalHelen and he are in good shape. colm Smith. Nat and Chris Pendleton from Fort Sadly, we must pay our respects to two Myers, FL, are hanging tough with Nat’s Brother Rats who passed away in late 2012. surgeries and cancers and Chris wanting to William S. Dean Jr. died Nov. 30 in Cedar work until she is 90 years old. Nat is headGrove, NJ, and Clinton E. Parker passed ing for snow country to visit with children away on Dec. 14 in Arlington, TX. Both and grandchildren. They still live in the obituaries appear in the Taps section of this house on the water, but Chris looks at all Review. the garden work without enthusiasm. Finally, we want to recognize the VMI Dudley and Pat Price have the best of two Corps of Cadets who marched magnificentworlds – a home in the Shenandoah Valley ly in the president’s inauguration on Jan. 21, and a place in Punta Gorda, FL. Stonewall Jackson’s birthday. VMI was by Ed and Betty Powell from Burlington, far the best unit in the entire parade. NC, sent a picture of their handsome group, which includes two grandsons who look like excellent candidates for VMI. Wes Roberts Skip Richardson sent us a bottle of pure maple syrup from Monterey, VA, along with his Christmas card. He now has a good crop of grandchildren and a good crop of winter wheat in Virginia Beach. Carl Schladitz wrote in November that Class of 1957: At the Edison & Ford he had misplaced (lost) his 55th Reunion Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida, booklet and asked if I could send him a were, from left, Nat Pendleton ’57, a Hello, BRs! I have to excuse myself, second copy. I mailed Carl his second book statue of Henry Ford and Coach Doug as I come in out of the sun. It’s a bit too on Nov. 28. Bartlett, Nov. 16, 2012. Malcolm Smith in Deland, FL, warm to stay out too long in thought our 55th Reunion was this 74-degree temperature. It is great. Lately, he has a problem more comfortable inside to sit with cancer and expected more and compile class notes as I go radiation after the holidays. through the “mail bag.” By the Ruth Smith, Ron Kaye’s caretime you get this, spring should giver, enjoyed in 2012 a Western have arrived where you are, Caribbean cruise on the Holland along with our 55th Reunion, American Line, and she and her which was in April. sister toured both the north and BRs, I have sad news to share south rims of the Grand Canyon, with those of you not on the Inplus a side trip to Zion National ternet. Brook Doggett advised Park. The weather was great. that Linda Holland, widow Ruth still misses “her sweetie” of our late BR Bill Holland, every day but keeps in touch with passed away on Jan. 19 followRon’s sons, and they consider her ing a long and painful struggle as their second mom. with cancer. Garland and Sally Sullivan As I revisit some of your from Hattiesburg, MS, sent a holiday letters, I find one Class of 1957: Lionel and Carole Hancock with their classic Christmas picture which from Hunter and Betty Jean family for a wedding in spring 2013. is shown on the previous page.. Clarke at the top of the stack.

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2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES Hunter has received a good report from his doctors on a lung condition that he has been battling for a while. The meds he is taking are having a proper effect on the infectious organism. Though he may have to take these drugs for many months to come, the Clarkes are pleased with the progress that has been made. Their children and grandchildren are doing well. Who could ask for more?! Scanning the gim report, it looks as if a lot of us are ailing with one condition or another. Tony Williams, my former CO in F Company, is lately playing tag with arthritis, which, to date, is unchecked. As if that weren’t bad enough, Tony developed a blood clot in his right leg and ended up in the hospital for a while. All seems to be under control now, with the help of, you guessed it, medication. The Williams did manage a few trips during the year to visit family in Ohio, New Mexico and Washington state. Our ever-traveling and international reporter, Sandy Yon, states she had a “fairly quiet year.” Along with trips to Africa, the British Isles and Norway, Sandy managed to continue her volunteer work at the hospital and aquarium. She did decide, however, that she is “too old” to spend six months with a bunch of college kids traveling with the Around the World Semester at Sea and has given

Class of 1958: Tom and Ru Nance on a European Rhine and Main River cruise, before Christmas 2012.

up on her quest to do so. (Sandy, you should have been a travel agent and benefitted by all the free trips you could have taken!) Giving Sandy a run for her money, Ken and Lorna Godfrey are “traveling in excess,” to quote Ken. They hit spots in the United States (Arizona, San Jose and San Diego), as well as Italy, Spain, Monaco, Sardinia and Croatia. To coin a phrase from the movies, “If it’s Tuesday, it must be … ” you can fill in the rest! Ted and Becky Henry spent a lot of time with family last year, visiting their active triplet grandchildren and dogsitting for their granddog, Xena … a dog who, evidently, has “happy hour” every afternoon! Ted and Becky didn’t offer any details on this, so we will leave it to your imagination. Reporting in from North Carolina, Dave and Anna Pai continue to sing the praises of their retirement community, The Pines. They were able to take a trip to Russia for a river cruise tour with some friends from The Pines, starting in Moscow and cruising the Volga River to St. Petersburg. Upon their return, Dave had a fifth aneurysm repaired. Anna says that Dave continues to “battle with grit and determination against the bad cardiovascular genes he inherited.” Dave still has a couple of medical procedures to go before life can go “back to normal.” Both Gates and Janice Sykes spent part of last year recovering from health and mobility issues: Gates from shingles and Janice from hand surgery. They state they are back working on the cabin (a job never done). Gates also has participated in some local Habitat for Humanity builds. They had a trip to Florida to visit with friends and took their “usual two weeks” to Emerald Isle, SC, with their combined families. I received a New Year’s card from Hans Meinig – you all remember that big German – wishing all the normal amenities for the New Year. Truth be known, the card was written by Hans’ lovely wife, Rusty, enclosing a photo of their grandson, age 13. Rusty said that grandson Michael is smart and sharp, at the top of his class. She did not say, however, that he aspired to attend VMI

… at least, not yet. Hans, you have your work cut out for you. Young Michael looks like a good candidate! Talk to Hull Negley. He’s good at indoctrinating grandchildren. In fact, a number of our Brother Rats are good at this. BR Gene Grayson seems to have a number of surgical procedures lined up for 2013. He had the audacity to challenge me to fishing in “my” river, knowing that, usually, the water is too low. My reply is, if you want to fish, bring your own water. Although Gene is doubtful about attending our 55th, we hope he won’t let these surgeries get in the way. It was a treat to hear from Jan Woodman, who finally “pulled rank” on his various physicians and took a trip on the Queen Mary II to the Caribbean during the holidays. Jan had a third abdominal surgery, followed by months of strenuous physical therapy to help him improve his mobility. He said he will be riding his scooter down the sidewalk at the reunion parade rather than “ruining” the march into Barracks. Our next correspondent, known by his participation in every tennis event possible, is Tom Nance. He says he is still healthy enough to play tennis and participate in all the things that Florida offers. Tom and Ru got to Europe twice last year, seeing Paris and London in May. They then took a two-week river cruise in Germany just before Christmas. Both children are fine and are employed! “Captain” Roy Palmer entered the following in his flight log, a copy of which appeared in the mailbag. Capt. Roy said he recently completed a couple of jobs in Europe and is anxiously awaiting the VMI Alumni Cruise leaving from Barbados in mid-March. He said he is amazed that no other BRs have signed up for these cruises, as they are fantastic vacations on the Royal Clipper. (Roy, maybe if you sponsored a cruise, some of us “frugal” Brother Rats might be inclined to join you!) Roy is getting ready to ferry some older Boeing 737s from China back to the U.S.A. He will, undoubtedly, have lots to talk about at the reunion. A short note from Bobby and Diana Jordan advised that they had a nice visit VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES with Billy and Mary Jo Thomas at their home in Naples, FL. The Jordans were vacationing in Fort Myers Beach, FL, at the time of their note. BR Dave Camper wrote that he and his wife were headed for “our neck of the woods,” as their grandson was getting married in Tampa, FL. He said they were hoping for some of that good Florida weather, since Virginia had been rather cold. Dave noted that Carol (Maurice) Menefee had taken a fall and broke her ankle this past winter. “Moon” has become Carol’s caregiver; he must be doing a “fair to middlin’ job,” as Carol seems to be doing OK. At this writing, she was scheduled to see the doctor “soonest.” I had spoken with Carol, who seems be an old hand at such injuries. Seems she had broken this ankle before! (Class Agent’s Note: “Caregiver Moon” wasn’t home to answer the phone, as he was off tending to golfing matters.) In an e-mail, which was lost in cyber space for too long, Duke and Annette Johnston sent the following updates: BR Duke joined the gim list and is being treated for Parkinson’s disease. Seems a number of our BRs are dealing with this condition. Fortunately, this has not kept the Johnstons from being able to travel. They made trips in April 2012 to North and South Carolina to visit Air Force friends. In September of last year, they had a much needed vacation at their Destin, FL, condo, again spending time with three couples from the Air Force. All the guys were fighter pilots, so the stories must have been “flying.” Their son, Mark ’84, and family live in Fort Worth. Their grandchildren are doing them proud; their granddaughter, Hannah, will graduate college in May with a degree in chemistry. Grandson Ben, 16, is a junior in high school. Duke and Annette are “encouraging” (read “pushing”) Ben to think about VMI. Well, BRs, this report has been a little slim in its content. Hope you won’t be so niggardly in the months ahead. When you read these notes, our 55th Reunion will be history. I hope to have seen most all of you. Note: I’ll be taking attendance. In the Spirit … God’s Blessings, Wes 2013-Issue 2

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Shep Shepard 1270

We lost a Stonewall Class stalwart this past quarter. Steve Barcik passed away a week before Christmas. Steve was a friend to everyone in the class and will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with Paula and his family. Both Sonny and Nancy Eskridge are doing better. Both are out of the hospital and back in their home in Prattville. Prayers are in order for Bruce and Norma Mackenzie. Norma is in her sixth year of Alzheimer’s but is holding her own, albeit zero long-term memory and no confidence. Physically, she is fine and Bruce can do a lot of things for her, not 24/7 yet. They still have fun and laugh. Hal and Barbara Dayhuff feel it’s too early to commit to the 55th Reunion, but if their health holds out, they’ll be there. Hal has Agent Orange complications but knows if he follows the doctors’ instructions, he will be alright. Barbara is experiencing problems managing their home, but she loves her gardens so much, it’s hard to leave. They spend their time in their basement offices where Barbara does genealogy work, and Hal just piddles

around. Future plans call for a final move to a retirement home for the Dayhuffs. Rogers McCall reminisced about his days at VMI. Rogers was a Keydet for only two years, because he could not change majors and graduate on time. He transferred and graduated from Vanderbilt. Following our 55th Reunion, Rogers attended his “second 50th” at Vandy. His first time back, he hoped to see his frat brothers. However, none showed. He is amazed that, after 50+ years, the bonds with BRs are strong and still persist today. Jack and Joy Angolia continue to uphold the honor of the class Globetrotters. Jack also continues to publish. Volume I of his history of the WWII U.S. Airborne Forces will be released soon. It will run 525 pages and approximately 1,600 photos, most of them in color. Volume II and III will be published later. We’re proud of you, Jack. Good luck. Fred and Lee Cavanaugh don’t know if they will make it to the 55th but will, if possible. They stay pretty busy caring for Lee’s 93-year-old stepfather, family matters, Lee’s business and Fred’s responsibilities as mayor of Aiken. It makes it hard to get away. Royall and Geri Geis will attend the 55th and look forward to seeing everyone. Both are enjoying retired life, staying healthy and traveling often. Geri still works with

Class of 1959: The LAME + P Group met at Benny’s BBQ in Richmond for their monthly meeting. From left: Mort Eggleston, Ned Addison, Rusty Loth, Harley Pate and Marv Myers.

CLASS NOTES Barbershop Choruses, teaching men how to sell any song to each person in the audience! Cecil MacArthur is still in Conroe, TX. Son Gordon works at Luby’s Restaurant and has been promoted to wait staff. He sings in the church choir, plays Frisbee golf and bowls. Daughter Kristen works for AT&T and loves to travel. She’s taking courses on nutrition which Cec said made for an interesting Turkey Day dinner. Grandkids are the joy of her life. She’s looking forward to a sibling family reunion in St. Johns this summer. Chuck and Margo Cotton are doing great; they just take life one day at a time. It’s a new lifestyle for both of them, but they are adapting, with God’s grace. Their whole family came to Frankfurt for Thanksgiving, where they also celebrated Christmas with the family members who live far away and won’t make it back for Christmas. The gathering was great fun, very crowded and exhausting, but they wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars. Jim and Mary Lew Edmunds celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, albeit three years late. Originally, they planned a celebration in ’09, but illness caused them to postpone it. This year, the whole family was home and healthy, so it seemed like the ideal time to spend the weekend at a local hotel, tour San Francisco, lounge by the pool and eat lots of unhealthy foods. Wonderful memories! Mary Lew’s health is still a concern. She has been through radiation treatments for lung cancer, blood transfusions, gall bladder removal and lots of meds. Our prayers continue to be with

her, as she bravely fights each challenge. They both are looking forward to trips this year: Kauai, Colorado Springs and that trip to Santa Barbara that they had to cancel last year because of Mary Lew’s health. Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson confess that the years have been good to them, and they continue to be thankful for their good health and the retirement life. Janice Rae missed the Kappa Alpha Theta’s grand convention for the first time in 32 years but is looking forward to the 2014 convention in Florida. Ralph continues to play golf twice a week. John and Pat Van Kesteren take much joy reminiscing about the times they shared with friends and family, but it is tempered with sorrow for those BRs and family members with serious illness, especially those who have lost their lifetime partners. John and Pat made a decision to make another move while they are still young. They plan to relocate to Albuquerque this year and have already contracted to purchase a home. The reason for the move is to be closer to their western kids but also gives them the opportunity to spend more time on the Eastern Shore of Virginia to visit with their East Coast kids. Good luck! John and Betty Ann Tompson were not sure they wanted to spend another Christmas in cold, wet and dark Paris, but their son prevailed, and they packed their bags. John is convinced that “April in Paris” is far better than the freezing temperatures and rain they endured. It was quite a shock, after enjoying the beautiful weather in San Antonio. John called Zeke Blake-

Class of 1959: Gathering for a Virginia mini-reunion at the Southern Inn in Lexington, Virginia, were, from left, first row, Dick and Linda Phillippi, Alice and Bobby Ross, Jim McFalls, Billy and Sue Kornegay, and Carolyn Barnes. Second row: Baldy and Joanne Fall, Jim Sam and Lucy Gillespie, Art and Ginny Brandriff, Barbara and Harley Pate, and Eddie Barnes.

more suggesting they have lunch someday, but Zeke just didn’t want to get together. Too bad, but don’t despair; bringing BRs together is what it’s all about. Spence and Bev Tucker had a wonderful Christmas. Spence cut wood for the fireplace, while Beverly hung the wreaths, baked the cookies and wrapped the gifts. Seems to be an imbalance here, but I’ll let them work that out. Good to hear from the folks in Lexington. Don and Judy MacWillie have been providing the U.S. Army bright young recruits for over 30 years. The latest is grandson 2nd Lt. Kyle who deployed to Afghanistan as an Intel officer with Special Forces. Kyle said it was interesting but decided to transfer to Army aviation, just like his dad, Skip. Skip is the senior commander of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley, where he is responsible for seven combat brigades spread out over Forts Riley, Leonard Wood, Knox and Sill. Don and Judy travel a bit and recently visited Skip during Fort Riley’s Little Apple Festival, a weeklong celebration where Fort Riley hosts local area leaders in order to improve community relationships. The festival coincided with the annual U.S. Cavalry Association national competition, which made the week all the better. Lee Southard confesses that this year has been one in which the acute grief of Marilyn’s passing transitioned to a renewal of mind, body and spirit. He felt it was time to get on with life, and get on he did. He spent time walleye fishing in Canada and took four grandchildren on a history trip which included the Air Force museum, Gettysburg, Valley Forge, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Fort McHenry, Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam Memorial Wall, Korean War Memorial, Museum of Natural History and much, much more. They capped off the trip with the whole family enjoying one last hurrah at their former home on the Outer Banks. Future family reunions will be in Sanibel. Lee spent another vacation in Colorado, fishing with friends. It was a great year for Lee, and the best thing was, he has a dear, sweet, attractive lady friend by the name of Nancy Mattei who has already passed the test of baiting her own hook and removing the fish once caught. Bonnie Pomponio spent Christmas in VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Charlotte, NC, enjoying her grandchildren. back – scary. After inserting several rods and as Gideon area directors and Hospice pins, Bill has progressed from a wheelchair, volunteers. They feel blessed to have such She attended school programs and Nativto a walker, to a cane and is now walking wonderful children and grandchildren and ity plays at church and, of course, baked Christmas cookies with the boys. She feels short distances on his own. We wish Bill a were fortunate to have most of them home for Thanksgiving, 22 total. Son Greg and blessed to have her son, Matt, and DIL, El- speedy and successful recovery. his family could not make it from Arizona, Bob and Lois Hobson are fine and len, living so close. Bonnie is considering and son Lee and his family were stuck in enjoying the challenges of aging and their coming to the 55th Reunion but will make Qatar for the holidays. Never-you-mind – assignment at the Missionary Training that decision later. there will be a family reunion when they Bud and Susan Mease gathered the fam- Center in Provo. They feel blessed to have all return to the good ole U.S.A. ily together and enjoyed a White Christmas their children close by, but it’s a bit dauntBilly and Sue Kornegay have in Sandy, UT. As much as Bud crossed something off their wanted to get on the slopes, he “bucket list;” they visited severhad to hold off for a while until al tourist attractions in Virginia. his partial knee replacement Before wandering off to places healed and his rehab was comoverseas or outside the state, pleted. This doesn’t mean Bud they felt it only right to enjoy will miss the major portion of what was close by. So far, it has the ski season; he has his rehab been rewarding and educationmapped out, so he will be on al. They saw the re-enactment the slopes before it comes to an of the Patrick Henry “Liberty end. Both Bud and Susan are or Death” speech at St. James’s doing great. Church in Richmond, visited Walt Ferony spent the First Landing Park where the holidays “Up North” and had English settlers arrived in 1607, a good time. He managed to visited the Bacon’s Castle, took make his way back to the scene tours of Civil War sites, and of the crime, VMI, and finds revisited the D-Day memorial that things are quite different. and USMC Museum. They Bill and Jennifer Lee have had a trying year. Bill experienced Class of 1959: Ann and Shep Shepard bid bon voyage also visited several wineries strange behavior, falling down, to Lee Southard and his friend, Nancy Mattei, as they on their way to historical sites. and severe pain in his back and boarded a Disney ship at Port Canaveral, bound for the They continue to be active in Caribbean. local civic and social groups, abdomen. After many false starts as well as their hobbies – Sue’s with several doctors, they finally chocolates and Billy’s wine making. What found an “angel” next door in Destin – a ing to realize that their oldest is almost the neurologist who referred them to a neurosur- age at which Bob retired. The Hobson tally a great combination. Ron and Mary Alice Marley find that geon. He immediately admitted Bill to the is 13 grandchildren married, 11 greatthe years go faster as we age, but the years hospital to repair a broken back. All those grandchildren and two on the way. seem to get better as time goes by. Ron has Harry and Terry MacGregor stay busy doctors, and they couldn’t diagnose a broken been recovering from a bum knee and is now, with constant harassment from Mary Alice, out of his recliner and enjoying his grandchildren. Mary Alice recently left poor Ron all alone and took off to upstate NY and PA where she claims she was visiting relatives and former school friends. I recall the rumors from the last trip that she took alone; the aftermath was not pretty. As I recall, it took several lawyers and some under the table stuff for Ron to get that straightened out. Their kids and grandkids are doing great and continue to make them proud parents and grandparents. John and Teddi Martin have kids scatClass of 1959: Jim and Mary Lew Edmunds celebrated their 50th wedding tered from Virginia to Texas to Colorado, anniversary, three years late, with their family in San Francisco, California. making it a little hard to get them together. 2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES They solve the problem by visiting them. They traveled to Colorado to visit their two grandsons but spent most of the year with their daughter and her twins in Richmond. John attended the Richmond Annual VMI Alumni Club dinner, and our class was well represented, including the guest speaker, Bobby Ross. Others there were Lloyd Thacker, Dave Goode, Truman Baxter, Rusty Loth, Baldy Fall, Marv Myers, Mort and Audrey Eggleston, and John and Teddi. Not a bad turnout for the Stonewall Class. Larry and Nancy Wood have only good news to relate. Larry continues to mend, and he is close to his goal of biking 100 miles a week. He practices every day. Nancy had so much fun at her 55th high school reunion in Newport News that they have included it in their annual activities and just returned from her 56th. Nancy discovered eBay and has redecorated their home with Turkish carpets and is very active in the Turkish-American community. They are so proud of their children and grandchildren and how they have conquered their trials and tribulations. They celebrate their successes every day. Mike and Julie Vargosko are healthy and happy to be living in the beautiful state of Virginia. Not that they haven’t had their challenges this year, including torn muscles, pneumonia, cancer and painful shoulder injuries, but all seems to be well

now. The shoulder injury came from a golf cart mishap, described in the last class notes, but rumor has it that Julie broke her foot kicking Mike after the crash. Life is good for Mike and Julie. Can you believe that Bobby and Alice Ross are spending their second year in their new digs? Where does the time go? The rocking chairs on the porch are still waiting to be used. Good thing is that three of their children live within a 2-hour drive, and they have the joy of spending precious time with their grandchildren and participating in their early lives. It’s been a great experience to see them develop into young adults. They spent Christmas in New York with son Kevin and his family and were joined by daughter Teresa and her family from Richmond. It was particularly enjoyable, because a grandchild still believes in Santa. When they returned home, they were joined by Robbie and his family from Atlanta and Mary and her family from Lexington. A wonderful family holiday with lots of love. Max and Lee Ann Blanchard have curtailed their travels because of Max’s health, but they have been blessed with many visits from their family and friends. The children and grandchildren are doing great, and they can’t believe how fast they grow up. Skip and Linda White have permanent backstage passes to a couple of Broad-

Class of 1959: The Florida group met in Cedar Key, Florida, for a mini-reunion. From left, seated: Phyllis Kasko, Monique Harnetty, Mary Alice Marley, Denyse Kramer, Ann Shepard and Carole Messner. Second row: Jean Anderson, Connie Nebraska, Jeanette Reynolds, Phil Sellers, Don Messner, Nancy Mattei, Linda Phillippi and Betty Sellers. Third row: Dick Phillippi, Carl Kasko, Ron Marley, Bill Nebraska, Bob Haines, Mel Anderson, Tex Carr, Bud Kramer, Lee Southard and Shep Shepard.

way shows. Granddaughter Kenzie is in an off-Broadway show, and her husband is in a Broadway show. The rest of the grandchildren are involved in everything from American Girl dolls to wrestling – quite a versatile group. Linda continues to host everything she can find, including the Thanksgiving family gathering, the church staff Christmas party, family reunions and a New Year’s Eve game party. Both Linda and Skip have had many of the maladies we all have experienced, but Skip says he became very good friends with Dr. Percocet during his kidney stone episode. They feel God has been most generous to them. Eddie and Carolyn Barnes are pretty healthy, even after a year of ups and downs. Carolyn has recovered from her broken wrist. This required Eddie to prepare for Christmas. He accomplished this with great flair and grace. Eddie still works four days a week, is active in Kiwanis and church, and loves golf. Carolyn keeps busy with volunteer activities and helps with the grandchildren who are all teenagers and don’t require much supervision. Russ and Karen Orrison have generously offered to host an event at their Natural Bridge farm for our 55th Reunion. You will recall this was sponsored by Bobby and Alice Ross before they moved to Richmond. Billy Kornegay, chairman for the 55th Reunion, and Russ are collaborating now and will make an announcement soon. They both are in good health, due to their two children and four grandchildren living closely in the Lexington area. Robert and Priscilla Martin celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and that trumps everything else that happened. They celebrated by going on a Caribbean cruise, visiting several interesting places, including Belize. Robert enjoys working part time at St. Peters in Plant City, FL. He also enjoys working on his computer and iPhone. The kids are doing great, and their accomplishments make them more proud every day. Robert and Priscilla have good health. They are blessed with their many faithful friends and family. Dick Bingham enjoyed lunch with Bill Lee in Destin, FL. They shared stories about VMI and reflected on life in general. Bill is progressing well and starting to drive again. Dick enjoys winter in Florida but is hoping to sell his home in West VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Virginia and relocate to Florida soon. Ann and I are doing well and feel so fortunate that we have been able to visit with so many BRs this quarter; it really starts the year off right. Lee Southard and his lady friend, Nancy Mattei, spent the night with us before they departed on a Disney cruise. Both Ann and I were mesmerized by Nancy; she is such a warm and wonderful person, and most important to us, she seems to have given our dear friend, Lee, a new lease on life. Lee and Nancy said they had a great time on the cruise, despite the fact that it was the first time Nancy had met Lee’s family. All went well, and why not? She is such a great lady. Bill Traylor was in town for a conference, so we got together for lunch. We had a great time updating old stories and talking about the good ole days at the Institute. We covered a lot of ground, and it brought back many happy memories of our time in the Corps. Shortly after that, the Florida Group met for our annual mini reunion in a small coastal village west of Gainesville, called Cedar Key. It is filled with fishing shacks, crab traps, colorful hotels and funky restaurants and is what we call authentic Florida. We commandeered all 10 rooms in the Island Hotel, circa 1859, each room decorated with old fashioned claw-foot tubs and all original hand-hewn walls and floors. For the most part, everyone had satisfactory rooms, although a few 6’ 4” BRs had a hard time fitting into those 5’ 10” beds. We had a great turnout, with 12 couples making the trek. Carl and Phyllis Kasko drove over from Mobile, AL, even though Phyllis was recovering from painful shoulder surgery. The prize for longest distance traveled went to Dick and Linda Phillippi who drove from Wytheville, VA. The majority of people arrived on Friday and stayed until Sunday, enjoying in the interim a boat ride to Lighthouse Island, a visit to the local museum and many great meals at the local dining facilities. The most fun, however, was just sitting around the anteroom in the hotel, sipping wine and beer and rehashing the stories we’ve heard for the past 50 years. They never seem to get boring but get better each year. Bill and Connie Nebraska drove over from Hernando, just a stone’s throw away, while Lee Southard and Nancy drove all the way from Sanibel. Although Don and 2013-Issue 2

Carole Messner also live in the same area, they cheated and came up the week prior and spent the week with friends just down the road in Crystal River. Phil and Betty Sellers came down from Tallahassee; Bud and Denyse Kramer from Sanford; Tex Carr and his girlfriend, Jeanette, from Yulee; and Ron and Mary Alice Marley from around the same area, Jacksonville. Mel and Jean Anderson and Bob Haines and his girl, Monique, came up from the Tampa/Sarasota area, while Ann and I drove over from the Space Coast. The weekend went entirely too quickly, but that’s how it goes when you are having such a good time. Credit for selecting Cedar Key for our mini goes to Mel Anderson who suggested it about 10 years ago, and no one listened to him. We are all looking forward to our next mini, location yet to be determined, but you can bet it will be someplace exciting. Keep those cards, letters and e-mails coming in. 55th REUNION IS SCHEDULED FOR 24-25 MARCH 2014. Write it on your bathroom wall. Yours in the Spirit, Shep

’60

L. Edward Tolley

Brother Rats, very sadly we lost another of our class of ’60, Donald K. “Dunk” Duncan, who passed away on Jan. 31, 2013. Dunk had been diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer back in July ’12. He put up a heroic fight, succumbing after much treatment, testing and “trying anything.” Dunk’s home is in Manakin Sabot, VA, in the near west of Richmond. Don came to VMI from Mount Hope, WV, where he was a leader in both academics and sports. As many of you know, Dunk’s career was totally in the electrical engineering field, having worked for Stone & Webster Engineering Company and with Dominion Virginia Power’s system of power generation and distribution. He also worked for Foster Wheeler for a brief period. After his retirement, he was recalled by Dominion Power to serve in various positions at various sites, based on his professionalism, excellent reputation and dedication

to perfection. Don is survived by his wife of 43 years, Elizabeth, two daughters, Kristie Bonovich and Heather Patterson, and one son, Kevin Duncan. Don had three grandchildren. Don had one brother, Ted Duncan ’47, who was also an engineer. Like many BRs, Don’s loves were family, VMI and golfing. Don was much appreciative of the calls and notes from all Brother Rats who sent wishes of Godspeed. Howard Moss, Jim Gibson and Bill Giles were present at the funeral services held on Feb. 9, 2013, at the Bliley-Central in Richmond. And Mr. Clement “Mickey” Woodward ’53 called to advise me that he had seen an obituary concerning our Brother Rat Martin B. Williams in the Richmond Times Dispatch. I received a copy of the notice from Ms. Brenda Stoner in the VMI Alumni Review office. Martin, a civil engineering major, was at VMI only one year. He and I were in the same civil section. He was a very smart cadet and finished up at the University of Richmond, became a CPA and worked in the banking industry throughout his career. He lived in Beckley, WV, and is survived by Sue, his wife of 53 years; three sons, Martin, James and Christopher; and six grandchildren. Well, Frank and Alice Bruce finally became homeowners! They escaped the roar of the traffic in Annandale for the peace and quiet of Timberville and a 55+ community, and they love it. I guess so, since others do the mowing, mulching snow removal, roof repairs, etc. So, what are you going to clutter your two-car garage with, Frank? No fair! Darryl Markland wrote from San Antonio that it has not been a very good year. Jean, Mark’s wife, has continued to decline and that has made for some challenges. Mark compared it to our class in thermodynamics. Hey, Mark, call or e-mail me. I’m coming back to Texas soon. The Ashby Chamberlin crowd gathered for yet another wedding – this time, daughter Amy being married to Dave Davis. Ashby had the lifetime dream fulfilled when he flew a P-51D Mustang fighter down in Orlando with all the clan present and waving him on. Let’s see, Ashby, you still haven’t made a space flight, gone down into the Marianas Trench nor have you visited the Zulus. How’s the schedule? 67

CLASS NOTES front property, and they will head to their I think Bob and Betty Gianella have got- were off shopping when I called. I was Mesquite, NV, place for keeps. Just don’t interested in their grandson’s efforts in ten hold of some bad coffee beans. Both slide into the Pacific, George. starting school at the Institute. Seems that are now hog wild in Waco, TX. They are And Jim Schaaf says he is still working the young man had a change of heart, and now into raising hogs, make that singular. part time in the ballistic missile defense he is not there, yet. But there is no truth to the gossip that they arena, since he “just couldn’t quit cold turGeorge and Judy Miller sent a great bought the Branch Davidians ranch. letter with their card. They are tending two key.” He also volunteers as a math teacher Lin and Jon Hilliard are still at guiding of project kids who missed a lot during grandchildren as they go through college; tours and raising poodles. They now have normal class periods. He and the family a live-in poodle sitter when they are away! one lives with them in San Clemente. I will go to Utah for skiing in January. Not guess the next big storm may very well Grandson Zachary Hilliard, son Jeff’s son, having skied since way back when, Becky make their San Clemente house a beachdeployed to Afghanistan prior to Christhas cautioned him about being mas. God be with him. 75 and rusty on the slopes. Not Carol and Jimmie Seeley had to worry; his son signed up him yet another eventful year. They and a grandson for a beginner’s celebrated son Richard’s return refresher course. from Afghanistan where he was Got a nice card from Mary imbedded with coalition forces Lou Overman who remains in just prior to Christmas. And son Virginia Beach. She is doing Jimmie II has been promoted to well, but I’m sure the loss of lieutenant colonel in the Army Billy, our dear Brother Rat, Reserve, thus he is no longer the leaves a big hole in her previ“oldest major in the Reserve.” ous good days. The entire family was under one I also got a nice card from roof for Christmas; the family Bettina Graham, Lenny’s included six big dogs. widow. She spent the summer Helen and Vaughn Foxwell Class of 1960: A ceremony on Nov. 14, 2012, marked the visiting her home in Germany collected thousands of air miles completion of a project to recognize the 71 VMI alumni, where she and Lenny met and again last year visiting Texas, who have received the nation’s second-highest award for which became one of Lenny’s Colorado, Florida, California, valor, through a display of citations in Kilbourne Hall. The project, which took six years to complete, was funded and favorite places to visit and live. Maryland and France! organized by J. Bolling Williamson, who received a citation Barb and Alex Dunlap are Jayne Seamon says that back for his efforts. Three of the eight living award recipients were well and happy down in Woodin May 2012, she had returned present, including Brig. Gen. Norman Bissell ’61, Arthur stock, GA. Well, maybe that to Virginia from Florida, while Nunn Jr. ’43 and Robert Beale ’55. Each of the three received is a stretch, since Barb has a Jack remained there to get in the a photograph of the display honoring his award. Photo above: From left, were Bissell, Williamson, Beale and Nunn. “pesky autoimmune disease and last couple rounds of golf, only Also present but not pictured were Gen. J.H. Binford Peay some osteoarthritis,” and Alex to have him check himself into III ’62, superintendent; Col. Mike Strickler ’71, assistant to has had “his second cardioverthe emergency room with heart the superintendent; and Col. Keith Gibson ’77, director of problems! Lots of tests, meds and VMI Museums, who worked with Williamson to complete sion since his cardio ablation.” doctors caused many changes in the project. For more about this ceremony and Williamson’s Alex, why don’t you just have project, see the 2013-Issue 1 Alumni Review, Institute sectheir lifestyle, as Jack returned tion. Photo below: The citations as they appear in Kilbourne the flu or a cold? I can spell that to Virginia. Jack has lost weight, Hall. Photos courtesy Thomas S. Williamson III ’54. and understand what you feel lowered his blood pressure and like when it happens. And Barb, now is on reduced restrictions. forget the tummy tuck and face The golf course cry is calling him lift, you are beautiful, and we back where he belongs. Jayne love you just the way you are. works with a group, Caring Cards Tom Kurkoski was at home Ink, that makes cards and sells when I called, and we had a them at their craft festival. great chat. He sounds super, Jan and Peanuts Elliott had considering the stroke he another good year. They tried a suffered just prior to our 50th visit to Florida, only to have to Reunion. His voice is back to cut it short, since the warm and normal, and it is as if nothbalmy weather caused Peanuts to ing ever happened. I cannot suffer from painful and swollen over-emphasize how good Tom joints. The heat did it! sounded. Ed and Kathleen Robertson Jeep and Linda Goodwillie 68

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES 904 Old Camp Road, Millboro, VA 24460, the start of a cruise down to the Florida keep on keeping on down in The Villages. and will be effective April 1, 2013. The enKeys where they remained until August. A bad cataract operation has turned golf tire family has been busy living the good courses into just another pretty lawn, sorry That was followed by a cruise through life with schools, new jobs, relocations, the Panama Canal up to Vancouver and to learn. And his old ticker has taken its occasional vacations and whatever fills in toll on activities, as well. Linda is still very Oregon and then down to Mexico and the “free” time. I made a count of people Costa Rica. active with her interior decorating busiDick and Mary Ann Murphy are enjoying and dogs in the photo. The people outnumness. Son Skip Goodwillie ’83 is retiring their new environs in Winchester, mainly for bered the dogs 16 to eight. I wonder how from active Reserve as a bird colonel and the closeness of their children and grandchil- big the new dog house will be. 30 years in May. Are you really that old, From their snapshot, I gather that Betty dren. Daily walks and Monday classes in Tai Jeep? Hudgins and Mike Pitt are Chi are routine. Grandson Another tale of woe from an avid golfer true water bugs and let no Michael is a cross country came from Carl Benner. He reported that the left foot injury he suffered back in May runner and just finished small shower deter cocktail Eagle Scout requirements. caused him to stagger all summer long in hour. The water was only Our concern is that Dick has a cast or boot. Carl says it is a bad omen 12 inches deep, as they been diagnosed as having when the golf cart becomes “her cart!” rested on the park table in a Alzheimer’s that is being Barbara is a good golfer, too. driving shower at their nortreated with medication in John Olsen’s card got my curiosity, mal time for a refresher. I hopes for slower progresresulting in a call to him for explanation. suppose the rains depicted sion of the effect. John has “retired” as president from the on their card were the HurPhil and Carol Hamric company he formed in 2001, “Leadership ricane Sandy shower that had an uneventful year. No Solutions Inc.” The company evaluates hit the East Coast. new dinosaur discoveries. operations and processes at the VI sigma Reed and Valerie Myrick Carol had a heart scare back level to eliminate errors and defects. The are surviving! Val had a in the summer, but with Pentagon and manufacturing plants are his so-so year that included clients. John was with Honeywell for most blood thinner and pressure Class of 1960: Ed Davis a couple visits to the pills, she is functioning as of his career. emergency room, once for she always has, expertly. Bill Knowles called to update me on his pneumonia, the other for Phil continues to slow down bit by bit. His the break of her right femur just below the and Sue’s cruise to the western Caribactivities in the outdoors have taken a hit, but ball joint. She nixed the pneumonia and bean. The two-week journey with balmy he still hunts, in most cases, without a gun. had a new hip and accessories replaceweather, beautiful sights, new friends and The big news from George and Frances too much good food all came at a wonderment and now can leap tall buildings. Reed Phillips is that they have sold Windy ful time of the year. Bill, are you getting is humming along on his five-per-week Cove, but the good news is that they will soft? workout schedule. The Myricks received not be leaving the area. They are buildIt sounds like Bill Driver has outdone their 13th grandchild awhile back, and first ing a new home on part of the acreage not all you dog, cat, horse and assorted animal steps are many now. Clear the way! included in the sale. Their new address is: lovers, since he and Beverley now ride I got a nice letter from George Uhlig. herd on seven horses, eight Even in retirement, George dogs, two chickens and numeris still very busy in research ous fish. Bev still has time for and development of his very shopping, and Bill does his promising lithium battery fire ranch maintenance. retardant material. He already I was sorry to learn from Ed has a different retardant that Martin that Ingrid has had some is “on the shelf” and ready for health problems, but he is optiuse. Unfortunately, Evie has mistic that, in a month or so, they been placed in an assisted livwill be resolved. His card had a ing home due to her debilitating picture of two granddaughters, illness. George is healthy as a Cheyenne, 15, and Karen, 17, at bear and still can roar. the Christmas tree. Hopefully, Andy Wise sent a photo Ed is not in charge of these two (which appears at left) taken beauties! during our 50th Reunion of Howie and Nancy Roth had a “Two Great Brother Rats,” Class of 1960: At the 50th Reunion were Dan Marston, left, and Bolling Williamson. Class Agent Ed Tolley wrote healthy, fun-filled and bang-up those BRs being Dan “Polar of the photo, “Shown [are] two great Brother Rats.” Photo year that included February in Bear” Marston and Bolling courtesy Andy Wise. Vermont skiing and, in March, Williamson. 2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES This past year was one to stay at home, for a change, for Ed and Sheila Davis. Both are busy with local activities involving their Old St. Andrew’s Church, Boy Scouts, Canterbury House senior’s citizens’ home, Episcopal/Anglican prayer group and several civic discussion panels. The family is growing and prospering. There is a trip back to Indonesia scheduled for June. Bon voyage. Ed and Linda Duncan in Reva, VA, say the herd is growing, but time is growing short for Charlie, the bull. Son Brian married his sweetheart back in April, and that was a glorious day! The family is doing well. Ed is still punching cows, and Linda runs the whole operation! Retirement for Bud and Jeanne Frith is still in the distant future, as they both busily continue their faith-based activities. They have multiple online opportunities for spiritual growth and ministry. Jeanne has a six-week trip scheduled to the Philippines, where she will team up with her college roomie to provide food and ministry to less fortunate children. Jimbo and Ruth Smith, having had a similar experience, sent a thoughtful note, conscious of the time of year and what it means to me. All of us who have lost loved ones share the void created when a partner or member of the family passes. Yes, Jimbo, Easter sustains us and brings us closer to our Creator. Jim and Reba Greathead retraced the year’s events, and two caught my eye as being most notable. In June, Reba, having a condition called “fundilication,” went through robotic surgery to place her hyeatal hernia back in the stomach. There were only six very small incisions made for the “Star Wars”-like robotic arms to negotiate the twists and turns necessary to complete the surgery. All’s well now. No more GERD, no heartburn, no dietary restrictions and, best of all, no medications! But before the June trips to the doctors, in March, Jim, looking pale around the gills, had some shortness of breath and chest pains checked out. That stitch-in-time may have been none too early, as his widow-maker vein was 90 percent blocked! A heart catheter procedure has Jim back hitting on all four cylinders; he feels better and looks much better. And the gim list gets longer, as Henry Shirley reports that Ginny had to have hip replacement. No problems with the hip, but 70

once home, blood oxygen problems caused by COPD and blood loss during surgery required that she remain on oxygen all day and all night for two or more weeks. Scary! An excellent physician took care of things. Now, as I go about doing my reports for the Review, there are several people I’d like to introduce you to who, as they say, go beyond the call of duty. They are: Traci Mierzwa, Brenda Stoner and Hope Hennessey who take all class agents’ quarterly notes, read, correct and format pictures to create the Review. Brenda collects and notifies class agents of obituaries. All three make the final copy to be the very professional magazine it is! You have all enjoyed the final product, I am sure. And there is Norma Robinson and Marilyn Dudley who work with Col. Pat Webb, the Aggie on parole to the Institute, for alumni fundraising. There’s Brian Crockett and Buddy Bryan ’71 at the VMI Foundation and Greg Cavallaro ’84, Coach Bartlett and Donnie Ross ’74 at the Keydet Club – they and others in those organizations do miles of footwork for the Alumni Agencies and VMI. Also, there’s Carole Green at the Alumni Association and countless unnamed and dedicated men and women who do so much to maintain the very high standards set for VMI. Each does truly outstanding work in keeping the VMI Alumni Agencies vibrant, alive and well in support of cadets, the staff, the faculty and all of VMI. And then I cannot say enough about the truly satisfying work Gen. Peay ’62 continues on behalf of the Institute. I feel privileged to be able to rub elbows with such good people. Rah Va Mil

’61

Sal Vitale Jr.

Preparing the class notes this time of the year is most enjoyable. Sue and I read all the cards and especially enjoy looking at the family pictures and how the families have grown. Sue maintains an album of all VMI family photographs, and looking back to the old pictures is most interesting. From the letters and notes on Christmas cards and e-mails, I have the following to report: Hony and Marilynne Tarrall are still hiking and

had an exciting trail trip to a place called Sky Pond. Pictures of the trail look looked pretty rough to me, and I’m glad to see that Hony still has the stamina to take these hikes. Tom and Annette Jones report all is well in Maine. Tom loves basset hounds, and a red bone coonhound was added to liven up the bassets. Lee and Betsey Badgett spent a lot of time on the road driving cross-country five times and are now intimately familiar with the Interstate system. They were in their North Carolina house during Sandy and are happy to say there was no damage, but there were periods during this storm when their attention was quite focused. Congratulations to Brett Badgett, who graduated from Fort Bragg’s warrant officer school and became “Mr. Badgett.” George and Edna Henning have had a busy year. They spent a few weeks in Key West (previously reported), took a trip to Montréal and also took the trip of a lifetime, which was the Rocky Mountaineer train ride through the Canadian Rockies, including a helicopter ride and a visit to Lake Louise. Jim and Connie Oliver had a great year visiting with friends and family and, of course, grandchildren. Their granddaughter, Cary (Mary Beth’s daughter) spent two weeks with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, as did our granddaughter, Victoria. What a coincidence. Bob and Jeanne Burks have had a pretty busy year, between working and traveling. Bob still greets travelers at the Atlanta airport. The Burks enjoyed dinner with Barry and Betty Orndorff. Bill Hala has been cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy and plans to spend a few months somewhere in Florida. Lynn and Shirley Hartford have had a rather interesting year. Shirley’s construction project for the cat sanctuary was opposed by neighbors, so the Hartfords sold the land, leased two side-by-side stores in their town, and opened a thrift shop and a center where you can adopt cats. Both the thrift shop and the cat adoption facility have been very successful. John and Linda Moore took a 29-day cruise to Norway, Amsterdam, London, Germany, Russia, Scandinavia and the British Isles. They also managed to spend some time in Napa Valley and Virginia Beach. Since John’s retirement from the Venice City Council, John stays busy doing historic preservation work and is on the board of Venice Heritage Inc. and on their church vestry. Linda is still managing the church VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES gift shop and was the first woman elected as president of the “Bath Club” on Casey Key, an old Florida-style beach social club founded in 1942. Lynn and Kay Martin had a nice 10-day cruise to England on a small 66-passenger ship and made many new friends. David and Edwina Thomas had several trips this year to include a river cruise from Brussels to Amsterdam and a trip to Singapore for the installation and investiture of the ninth Bishop of Singapore (Anglican). Edwina especially enjoyed renewing fellowships with persons she knew from all over the globe. John and Irene Gangemi took several, long weekend trips, and one was at the BR golf outing in Virginia (previously reported). Lou and Pris Shuba spent Christmas in Germany with their son, Louis. Lou will be biking again this spring with the Wounded Warriors, so those interested in participating, don’t forget to get in touch with Lou. George Van Orden’s grandson Jack will be going to VMI this year. He is on the Broadway HS football team and getting himself into good shape for Rat year. Jack is also an accomplished five-string banjo player, and I hope he gets the opportunity to entertain his peers, as Jud Strunk ’59 did ours. Bob and Suellen Reitz’ son, Rusty, graduated from college in December with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, emphasis on broadcasting, and the family is very happy. I hear Suellen has taken up golf and will be tournament-ready for the next VMI outing. She has learned Bob’s rules which are “high score wins; he who finds the most balls

trumps the high score; and he who brings the most beer trumps the other two rules.” Sounds correct to me, except I say, he who swings the most gets their money’s worth. Bob Reitz also sent me an article from Patrolling which highlighted the history of the 2nd BN 75th Ranger Regiment and the incident which took the life of Brother Rat Col. Bill Powell. It is nice to know that, even after 30 years, Bill is still remembered. The Wilmington, NC, golfers Dick and Dianne Stone, Kent and Bert Modine, and John and Irene Gangemi have worked real hard to make spring golf a pleasant outing, and plans are in the works for 2013 golf in South Port, NC. I understand the planning sessions take place at the City Club in Wilmington, NC, where John Gangemi’s son, Chris, is the chef. Should you want to have fun with the BRs, let Dick Stone know. The Clarksons and Bickfords spent three wonderful weeks together in South America. Upon returning, Jim Bickford enrolled in a theology study class to examine “The Dogmatic of Christian Disbelief.” Sure sounds heavy to me. Hilton Head is a favorite place for BRs to visit, and the Woodcocks, Wetsels and Keeches enjoyed their time together. Bill and Shon Maurer lost power during Hurricane Sandy but no damage. Bill is enjoying being an elder at his church, Tappan Reformed Church, which was organized in 1694. It is an honor to be elder, especially when you realize the church is steeped in history and is where

Class of 1961: On Jan. 16, 2013, Jerri Wetsel hosted a dinner party in honor of Hugh Gouldthorpe at the Wetsel’s home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Seated: Sue Patrick, Sue Vitale, Joyce Gibbings, Sue Wells, Jerri Wetsel, Sylvia Woodcock and Pat Williamson. Standing: Ashby Taylor, Ken Patrick, Stu Woodcock, Bill Gibbings, Irv Wells, Larry Wetsel, Robert Williamson, Gouldthorpe and Sal Vitale.

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Major Andre was tried for trying to work a deal with Gen. Benedict Arnold. Howard and Dianne Dyer took an early Christmas trip on the Queen Mary II to celebrate Dianne’s birthday. They went from NYC to England and spent five days in London. The highlight of their trip was a tour of Canterbury Cathedral, where they visited the chapel where Jonathan Daniels is honored. They were able to light a candle and spend time reflecting on “John’s gentle, selfless soul.” Fred Stephenson, our other Culpepper BR, came back into our lives a few years ago. Since then, we learned that Fred was in Vietnam and was awarded medals for valor. Just before Christmas, VMI informed Fred that his medals had been added to the 1961 section of the Wall of Valor. Fred said it was a great Christmas present. Congratulations to Harrison and Terry Fridley, who learned that their son Mitchell Fridley ’89, is on the list for full colonel (O6). Mitchell is the deputy commandant of cadets and a very active reservist. Harbert Alexander just published his new book, Autumn Memories, Recollections of Fall Days Afield. The stories are about his experiences hunting, and the paintings used for the color illustrations were by Ralph J. McDonald. I enjoyed reading the book and suggest it to those who, like me, have been hunters since our teenage years. Taking the Reins, Leadership, Supervision & Management Lessons from a Horse, authored by Harold Kurstedt, is his contribution to up and coming managers. I enjoyed reading about the similarities between leading a horse and managing people. Harold dedicated the book to his deceased wife, Pamela Sue. (Editor’s Note: Both books are in the Alumni News, Book Announcements section of this Review.) By the time you read this, Dick and Judy Youngblood and their children will have completed seven days in the Virgin Islands on a 50-foot catamaran with four bedrooms and heads. Dick likes to pilot his own, so a simple, big-ship cruise was not even considered. Roommate Floyd Roberts is a gutsy person. He and Mary Jane took a trip to Alaska, notwithstanding Floyd’s current health and physical limitations, and had a great time. Then, Floyd, with help from friend Pat Ankuda, was off to visit Civil War sites in Tennessee 71

CLASS NOTES and, of course, a stop at Jack Daniels Distillery. Carl and Becky Hirsch attended grandson Travis’ U.S. National World Cup fencing competition in Louisville, KY, and Travis held his own against competitors five years older than him. L.P. “Pete” and Carole Roberts had a wonderful time in Grand Cayman with Rudi Ansbacher ’55 and his wife, Tissy. Rudi is a retired colonel in the Medical Corps and is currently a physician working at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor. This past year, our class celebrated many 50th wedding anniversaries. At a time when over 52 percent of married couples get divorced, this is something great to report, and they are: Len and Brenda Kasel, Fred and Sheila Kressierer, Paul and Debbie Johnston, Joe and Nancy Preston, Tim and Sandy Bryant, Ed and Phyllis Hollowell, Ron and Fran McNemar, Tom and Barbara Phlegar, Sue and I, and probably a bunch more that I don’t know about. Fred Kressierer volunteers at a crisis center in Cleveland, where they serve food to over 650 families monthly. Paul and Debbie Johnston attended the Citadel game, and as an anniversary gift, they are booked on the VMI tall ship trip.

Joe and Nancy Preston are doing OK, even though they say something new arises every month. Tim and Sandy Bryant experienced the birth of their first grandson and granddaughter. Ed Hollowell continues his Coast Guard auxiliary duties, including his time at the Coast Guard Academy, working with the Coast Guard’s AIM program. Phyllis Hollowell is still the head gardener and continues with painting classes, quilting, and sewing and still has enough time to take care of Ed. Ron and Fran McNemar attended Christmas carols in the VMI courtyard, and that brings back memories to me. Tom and Barbara Phlegar took their 50th anniversary cruise with their entire family, and it was great. In February, they were again on a cruise in the Western Caribbean. Tom has started planning for the 2014 class cruise that will include a visit to the Panama Canal. Trip information will be available in early spring or summer. Finally, the Old Time Music Jam at Tom’s farm in New River will have its final performance this July 26-28. Save the date, and let’s make this final performance a great BR turnout. Sue and I were guests of Harrison and Terry Fridley in their

Class of 1961: Attending the Institute Society Dinner at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, Nov. 9, 2012, were, from left, first row, Carolyn Ayers, Terry Fridley, Nelle Gouldthorpe, Becky Hirsch, Sue Vitale, Leola and Graham King, Phyllis Hollowell, and Sal Vitale. Second row: Kathy and Warren Copenhaver, Fred Ayers, Harrison Fridley, Hugh Gouldthorpe, Carl Hirsch, Judy Youngblood, John Tharrington, Ed Hollowell, and Betsy Badgett. Third row: Marci and Bill Keech, Sally and Ray Hanlein, Edna Henning, Dick Youngblood, Jerri Wetsel , Sylvia Woodcock, Ben Lynch, Battle Haslam, and Lee Badgett. Forth row: Margaret and Gates Richards, Elaine Werner, Don Wilkinson, George Henning, Dick Lindquist, Larry Wetsel, Stu Woodcock, Diane Lynch, and J.C. Miller.

beautiful new home in Lexington for the Institute Society Dinner. I am pleased to tell you that we had the largest turnout of all classes, with 21 Brother Rats in attendance. Those in attendance were: Warren and Kathy Copenhaver, Harrison and Terry Fridley, Hugh and Nelle Gouldthorpe, Graham and Leola King, Battle Haslam, JC Miller, John Tharrington and Lois Lawler, Ed and Phyllis Hollowell, Fred and Carolyn Ayers, Ray and Sally Hanlein, Dick and Judy Youngblood, Sal and Sue Vitale, Bill and Marci Keech, Gates and Margaret Richards, Don Wilkinson and Elaine Werner, Lee and Betsy Badgett, George and Edna Henning, Dick Lindquist, Larry and Jerri Wetsel, Stu and Sylvia Woodcock, Ben and Diane Lynch, Carl and Becky Hirsch, and representing, Ann Woodfin, her daughter, Susan, and son-in-law, Tony Villani. Hugh and Nelle Gouldthorpe are looking and doing great. The next morning, I had a class agent meeting, and then the Fridleys had a brunch, and Battle Haslam and George and Edna Henning joined us. Thanksgiving found Sue in Georgia with family and our annual lunch and dinner with Skip and Harriotte McDannald. Harriotte prepared two gourmet meals, and we had a good time. Skip was recently asked to serve on the board of directors of their local hospital. And since his teaching at Hawkinsville High School has ended, he has the time. From Georgia, we drove directly to the Cleveland Clinic to see Sue’s doctor, and then it was home to prepare for a VMI BR party. We had the privilege of hosting a party for Brother Rat Paul Thompson and his wife, Mary. Paul was in the U.S.A. for the first time in years and visited friends in Virginia and at the Institute. To visit us in Virginia Beach, they took a train from Roanoke to the Newport News train station, where Willard Hoskins met them, took them to lunch and then brought them to our home. Paul Thompson retired from teaching several years ago, and he and Mary live in a retirement community in South Africa. As you may recall, Paul has written several books about the Zulu, and Bill Gibbings owned several copies, which Paul gladly signed. Attending the party were: Hosts Sal and Sue Vitale, Larry and Jerri Wetsel, VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Ken and Sue Patrick, Paul and Mary Thompson, Charlie and Ann Stevens, Irv and Sue Wells, Bill and Joyce Gibbings, Robert and Pat Williamson, Charlie Fuller, Ben Lynch and Willard Hoskins. By the way, Will Hoskins has finally retired from Merrill Lynch and now spends his time volunteering. Both Charlie Fuller and Ben Lynch are still working. Unfortunately, the Thompsons could only stay the night, and after breakfast, we brought them to Newport News for their train to D.C. Hopefully, this was not Paul’s last trip to the U.S. The following week, Skip McDannald made his annual trip to Virginia Beach to purchase crab, oysters and clams for folks back in Georgia. As in past years, I went with him to the Eastern Shore, and as soon as Skip left our house, Sue and I packed our car and headed for Fayetteville, NC, to pick up Warren and Kathy Copenhaver. The Copenhavers decided to accompany us on a 14-day western Caribbean cruise. We welcomed the company, and the four of us drove to Fort Lauderdale to take the cruise. On the way, we called Bill Keech, and he and Marci were spending Christmas in northern Virginia with the family. We also called John Purner and learned that his bypass operation was delayed. The cruise was wonderful, and the Copenhavers are great traveling partners. Immediately upon

returning from Fayetteville, we packed the “sleigh,” went to Annapolis, MD, and had Christmas with our children. This is the first time Sue and I did not spend Christmas with our children or New Year’s with Gibbings, and next year, Christmas will be celebrated in Virginia Beach. Bill and Joyce Gibbings had their New Year’s Eve party, and Larry and Joanne Respess, Robert and Pat Williamson, and Larry and Jerri Wetsel enjoyed Joyce’s elegant New Year’s Eve dinner. Robert Williamson is very active with the yacht club at Fort Monroe, and Larry Respess is doing some consulting, and of course, Larry Wetsel is still traveling. Activities in January got underway very quickly. Larry and Jerri Wetsel had a dinner party in honor of their house guest, Hugh Gouldthorpe. As it happened, we also needed to acknowledge two BR birthdays, Larry Wetsel and Ken Patrick. We tried to get Larry and “Rabbit” to run the gauntlet, but the wives objected. Oh well! Those in attendance included hosts Jerri and Larry Wetsel, Pat and Robert Williamson, Ashby Taylor, Ken and Sue Patrick, Sue and Sal Vitale, Bill and Joyce Gibbings, Sue and Irv Wells, Hugh Gouldthorpe, and Stu and Sylvia Woodcock. Jerri prepared a wonderful meal and the desert was to die for. Again, I ask you to consider including in

Class of 1961: Paul and Mary Thompson celebrated their return from South Africa with a gathering at the Vitale’s home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Dec. 3, 2012. From left, seated: Sue Vitale, Jerri Wetsel, Sue Patrick, Mary Thompson, Ann Stevens, Sue Wells, Joyce Gibbings and Pat Williamson. Standing: Sal Vitale, Charlie Fuller, Ben Lynch, Ken Patrick, Paul Thompson, Larry Wetsel, Willard Hoskins, Bill Gibbings, Charlie Stevens, Irv Wells and Robert Williamson.

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your prayers the Brother Rats mentioned in these notes (as of Feb. 10, 2013). Between joint replacement and heart issues, we have had a bunch. John Purner had open-heart surgery and has recovery issues. John is still in ICU and said thanks to all those who called him or sent cards. He was overwhelmed. Ray Hanlein had rotator cuff and muscle shoulder repairs and will be taking it easy for a few months. Stu Woodcock needs a second replacement of his hip, and the operation is scheduled for the day these notes are due, so I cannot tell you anything. Jack Bell had a heart attack on Election Day, and he is recovering nicely. Kent Modine underwent knee surgery and is doing well and, by the time you read this, should be playing golf again. Bob Reitz had congestive heart failure and pneumonia and is again learning how to breathe. Ed Fox is still recovering from open-heart surgery and is feeling good. Ann Hollowell, Sleepy’s wife, had both knees replaced and is still in therapy. Sleepy Hollowell is coping with all his issues and has great difficulty walking without help. Bill Fout is back in Tucson, AZ, and doing OK. Others still coping include Henry Huntsberry, Ann Woodfin, Jan Hartman, Floyd Roberts and Gerry Eubank who is still fighting Lyme disease. 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 and Nelle Gouldthorpe, Bill Keech and many others who prefer not to be mentioned. Lou Grazulis, our most senior Brother Rat, has been diagnosed with cancer, and his time left with us is uncertain. And finally, regarding 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 (who has been doing real well), Rita Huneycutt, Mike Payne, and Sue Vitale, who finally knows what her problem is and is trying some new medication. As I have said before, I know – from the comments made by those who have received calls, cards and e-mails – that their spirits were lifted. As for me, these notes went in early, because I am having a shoulder replacement and will not have use of my mouse 73

CLASS NOTES arm for a while. So, please keep up the good work of encouraging those who have issues or even better visit them. An updated BR list was e-mailed in January so if you deleted it I will resend it or don’t have e-mail let me know and I will snail mail it. What a treat it is to hear from our Brother Rats’ widows. Paul Thompson knew of the whereabouts of Geraldine Nicholas, Denis’ widow. I wrote to her and I was pleased that she agreed to again be on our class list. She lives in Seaford, VA, and their daughter, Karen, lives nearby. Donna Tyler has become a social animal since she moved to an over-55 community, Windsor Gardens in Denver, CO. Maria Anjier said she had the travel bug again this past year and visited England, Wales and Scotland. Then, it was off to Amsterdam and Germany to visit family. Still with plenty of energy Maria took a barge and bicycle trip from Amsterdam to Bruges, Belgium. Finally, Maria said that Lou’s girls are well. Jeanette is living in Colorado, and Bonnie is in Virginia. I was sad to learn from Mary Franklin Fulghum’s husband, James Palmer, that Mary Franklin is in the early stages of dementia. Carolyn Brown and Hannelore Garrison also sent Christmas cards and are fine. It was also nice to hear from our adopted Brother Rat, Ed Duncan ’60. So that you know those Brother Rats who only communicate at Christmas are still breathing, we received cards, family pictures and e-mails from: Alexander, Alligood, Anjier, Artman, Ayala, Ayers, Badgett, Bell, Bella, Berger, Birindelli, Bissell,

Brown, Browning, Bryant, Burks, John Butler, Caples, Carmichael, Christie, Coen, Coltrane, Copenhaver, Curtis, Daniels, Doleman, Drescher, Durrette, Dyer, Elliott, Fout, Fridley, Fulghum, Gabbert, Gangemi, Garrison, Gibbings, Goldman, Grazulis, Haeberlein, Hala, Hanlein, Harbach, Harrison, Hartford, Haslam, Henning, Hill, Hirsch, Ed Hollowell, Dunbar Hoskins, Willard Hoskins, Jep Housley, Huneycutt, Jarvis, Johnston, Tom Jones, Kasel, Keech, King, Kressierer, Lisiecki, Magee, Len Martin, McLester, McNemar, Miner, Modine, Moore, Morris, Murray, Myruski, Nelms, Oliver, Orndorff, Parker, Bill Phillips, Phlegar, Popp, Preston, Puette, Redd, Reitz, Respess, Rice, Floyd Roberts, Pete Roberts, Rutledge, Beverley Scott, Shuba, Stephenson, Dick Stone, Tarrall, Thomas, Tyler, Van Orden, Wash, Weede, Wells, Wetsel, Whalen, Wiggins, Williamson, Winiker, Woodcock, Zick and Duncan. I really appreciated my dyke, Ancher Lee Madison ’64, not forgetting me. We lost two Sister Rats in 2012. It was recently brought to my attention that Sally Lackey died in October 2012 at her home in Louisiana. Bill Lackey predeceased her, and both remain in Louisiana. Anne Ayala left us on Dec. 27, 2012, dreaming peacefully in her sleep, as family gathered around her bed at home. She did not let blood cancer slow her down and kept busy with Ti Chi during six years of remission, when horse riding had to stop. There was a celebration of her life, and Brother Rats Buddy Alligood, Battle Haslam and Bob Reitz represented the class. Ken Ayala was really appreciative to have Brother

Class of 1961: On Oct. 24, 2012, members of the class gathered for dinner at the Alexander Restaurant in Hilton Head, South Carolina. From left: Marci Keech, Jeri and Larry Wetsel, and Sylvia and Stu Woodcock.

Rats attend the service, and the class made a contribution to her favorite charity in lieu of flowers. As many of us remember, Ken was in love with Anne from his first day at VMI. May both of our Sisters rest in peace! We are a very unique class, and we should be very proud of it. During our Rat year, we had a winning football team and, therefore, were out of the Ratline most of the time during the football season. We are also very unique that we were never officially let out of the Ratline by the first class. Thinking about this a little more, we realize that the Rats in the classes of 1962, ’63 and ’64 benefited from our Brother Rats’ contributions on the football field. As we move into our senior years, there are many among us who don’t want the memory of those wonderful football years forgotten. Brother Rat Bill Haeberlein has taken steps to ensure that those years will be remembered and has established a Class of 1961 Endowed Football Scholarship to memorialize those wonderful years. To make it a viable scholarship, funds are needed. Should you be of a like mind and are in a financial position to help, please contact Bill at billhvmi61no60@aol.com. Hopefully, members of the classes of 1962, ’63 and ’64 will join us. I am also happy to report that our class participation for the first half of the fiscal year led all the other ’60-decade classes. Thank you! I hope that you saw the cadets marching at the Inaugural Parade. Except for a few squirrel hunters, they looked good. I still remember we were named the outstanding marching unit at the President Kennedy parade. I wonder if they placed in the parade? Stay well, keep in touch and God bless the U.S.A., our soldiers, VMI and our class.

Class of 1961: On Nov. 9, 2012, John and Irene Gangemi, Bert and Kent Modine, and Diane and Dick Stone enjoyed dinner at the City Club in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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CLASS NOTES Tony Curtis

’62

Jerry Burnett

After a long battle with Alzheimer’s, BR Jay Bierman passed away on Dec. 13, 2012. A memorial service was held for Jay on Jan. 4, 2013 at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, VA, where Jay and his family had spent several tours of duty during his career as a Marine officer. In attendance were Jay’s lovely wife of 48 years, Carol; their four children, Kristen, Kim, Beth and Chip (full colonel USMC, VMI ’87); and 13 grandchildren. Also paying respects were nine BRs: Bill and Cynthia Bryant, Bowles and Patsy Pender, Mott Robertson, Lewis Graybill, Columbus Cartwright, Jerry and Candy Wagner, Bob Miller, Bill Sydnor, and Dennis and Barbara Easley. One hundred other friends and relatives also paid their respects to Jay. The highlight of the service was son Chip’s eulogy, which very definitely brightened everyone’s spirit, as he shared some of his favorite moments with his dad. Following Jay’s interment in the exceptionally beautiful USMC Cemetery, everyone returned to the base for a reception, hosted by Carol, the highlight

of which was Bill Bryant’s very moving tribute (and great stories filled with lots of humor!) to his life-long best friend. An Old Yell was given for Jay by all the VMI alumni present! Don Deluca sent a short and to the point video about the USN SEALS’ dedication to serving their country. George Meredith wrote a wonderful letter to Stephen Hanes, thanking him for his wonderful and professional DVD set of our fantastic 50th Reunion. He compared them to the tapes of his “Airway and Dentofacial Symposiums,” which are still in use, and hoped that many of our class will feel the same way about these DVDs. Bob and Nancy Miller went to the VMI-Navy game in Annapolis, MD, with Charlie Talbott ’63 and his wife, Suzanne. After the game, they went downtown to Pusser’s Restaurant for dinner. While waiting along “Ego Alley,” a channel where boaters parade their boats, they ran into Walt and Mary Perrin. They were waiting for a water taxi to go to another watering hole. Bob and Walt discussed VMI’s reasons for staying in Division 1 football – other than that, it was a very pleasant evening! Ed Northrop wrote he had spoken with Bob Tyson who had made it to the 50th Reunion with his wheelchair and family. Bob was in rehab after a bad fall, and the procedure was long and complicated. Fortunately, he has Marianne, but he’d love to hear from his BRs: 706/447-3980 or Tyson.marianne@gmail.com. Dan Prall is still growing the hottest

Class of 1962: During a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, rafting trip on the Snake River were, from left, Carroll Worrell, Signe and Doug Marechal, and Shirley and Dave Wagner.

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habaneras (peppers) in Texas. He sent me (Tony) a small batch of his latest growth with the warning that they were very hot! I stuck a toothpick gingerly into one of the skins and then to my tongue. The pain went away in two to three hours! He is also still driving the hottest cars. Dan went to Austin, TX, in November for the debut of the “Formula One” at the Circuit of Americas. His first race was back in Germany in 1966 at the Nurburgring. He recommends it as great fun for all VMI alums anywhere near Austin next year. Contact him for tips: dan@riverdan.name. Old roommate and English major, Pat Lang, is still writing and, this time, has started an amazing in-depth ancestral history with his “Laine (old spelling) Stories,” which many of you have been privy to. His accuracy and descriptions are every bit as good as those in his recent trilogy of the Confederate Secret Services, called Strike the Tent. The trilogy includes The Butcher’s Cleaver, Death Piled Hard and Down the Sky. Rosser Bobbitt brought to our attention a brand new book – Valley Thunder: The Battle of New Market and the Opening of the Shenandoah Campaign, May 1864, by Charles Knight. “He gives us a little ‘meditation,’ as it were, on the reason for the battle’s unusual fame, due primarily to the celebrated action by the VMI Corps of Cadets that helped turn a seeming Confederate disaster into a success.”(Although some historians say this was the last battle won by the Confederates.) What makes this announcement even more interesting was that I and about half of the “Villages VMI Chapter” had just attended a 90-minute class on “The Battle of New Market” on Feb. 14, 2013, here at the Village’s Lifelong Learning College. There was a very interesting exchange of information about this battle between a well informed teacher and over a dozen VMI grads! Dave and Shirley Wagner went to downtown Richmond, VA, with Howard and Nell Cobb and Dave and Nancy Plageman for the Christmas lights, Happy Hour and dinner at the Jefferson Hotel. They apparently were all behaved, no food fights and didn’t need a taxi to take them back to quarters! The neatest part was that these Brother Rats live within three to five miles of each other. 75

CLASS NOTES We are still working on the list of ’62 Brother Rats by state and city, so you, too, can go out with BRs near you! Such as the following group which went Jackson Hole Rafting on the Snake River last summer: Carroll Worrell, Doug and Signe Marechal, and Dave and Shirley Wagner. Mike Lilge is currently enjoying retirement in Bourbonnais, IL (pronounced Burr-Bon-Nay with accent on the last syllable). His two daughters live in the Carolinas, as does his current lady-friend, Rosemary. He has integrated into her family and takes part in all of their family functions. He has three grandsons who are all high school seniors and who have applied to non-VMI colleges. When Mike returned from our 50th Reunion, he called two of his Rat year roomies, Jack Rowell and Marcus Muth, and shared with them how great the reunion was. (Thanks, again, Jerry!) He highly recommends the reunion DVD set which really fills in the blanks for those who missed it! (For a copy of the DVD set, call Stephen Hanes – 540/2415195.) He still keeps in touch with Doug Fielder. Most of Mike’s activities are health-oriented. He has a congenital

Class of 1962: Jerry and Joy Burnett on the beach in Kauai, Hawaii, February 2013.

transmitted kidney disease (PKD). Diet and exercise are essential for having had a closed head injury in an auto accident while teaching in the Physics Dept. at VMI in 1962. He still claims to be blessed every time he turns around … and why not? He’s got King Jesus in his corner! Left out of Cal Seybold’s Christmas letter (sorry Cal!): Cal and Roxanna met their daughters, Calina and Celisa, for Thanksgiving at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN. It was a family fun time. Son Clinton ’92, promoted to lieutenant colonel, returned from Kuwait, where he was the USA Reserve Command (USARC) liaison to Army Central (ARCENT). He returned in January to the G-3 Operations USARC. Celisa is working on her fourth children’s book, called the Keys to Adventure series which can be found on the Lulu, Barnes & Noble and Amazon websites. Skip Prillaman wrote to thank us class agents for keeping the class updated and close! (What else do you think they pay us for?!) Skip and Lois are still in Martinsville, VA, and in good health. He remarked that he still has letters from his oldest brother, Richard, telling about all his trials and tribulations in the Ratline during 1945-46; it was really rough! Jim Wood says he and Anne are retired and still keeping busy. He enjoys his hobby of making walking sticks and staffs (see bio in Reunion Yearbook) and reading, cutting firewood and doing yard work. He was diagnosed with cancer and had robotic surgery in 2011 and pronounced cancer free in 2012! (Can we hear an Amen?) Oldest grandchild is at the Rochester Institute of Technology with two majors! (no lieutenant colonels) Jerry and Joy Burnett just returned from their umpteenth vacation to Hawaii where they continue to do all the standard tourist stuff and enjoy life to the max! Tony Curtis is still the chief operations officer for the Village’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and honchos 12 Annual CERT Training Weekend drills to review all the basic emergency classes. Like he tells them all, “We train our butts off and hope we never have to use it!” Many of you have asked why your photos don’t show up in the class notes – sim-

plest answer: “space.” However, we have started a class of 1962 album in which we put every photo and memorial item you send to us, and at the 55th Reunion ( April 25-26, 2017), we’ll post them all on big posters for all to see. Keep those cards and letters coming in! In the Spirit for a great summer! Tony & Jerry

’63

Michael J. Curley

For the period: Nov. 1, 2012, through Feb. 15, 2013: With the passing of Charlie Hammond on Jan. 6, 2013, many stretched for a way to express their loss. Si Bunting said it best: “An exemplary American life. What the Founders had in mind. God shed his Grace upon this fine son of VMI.” No doubt, Si was referring to Charlie’s two years of service in the U.S. Army followed by 33 years teaching and coaching in the Covington, VA, school system. In retirement, Charlie remained active in his community as a member of the C&O Historical Society, Covington Education Association and as a Cub Scout leader. Charlie and his beloved wife of 44 years, Karen, were members of the Central United Methodist Church in Clifton Forge where he sang in the choir. He is survived by a daughter and two sons. Looking for the proper definition of a true citizen soldier? That would be Charles Barnett Hammond Sr. ’63. Tom Snyder contributed a note saying, “I remember Charlie well from the Youth Group at First Presbyterian Church, and after our 40th Class Reunion, he sent wood-backed, mounted photos of Lynda and me. Gentle, giving, first-class person! Was he in the Glee Club? (mjc: I don’t remember, but, funny, he was still singing in Clifton Forge, wasn’t he?) All the best to you in 2013. Tom” (mjc: Tom and I, fellow basses in the Glee Club, are both still singing in the choir; Tom even sings in a community chorus.) We also buried our Brother Rat Don Prystaloski with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 15th and paid homage to his life at a great reception afterward, hosted by his beautiful wife, VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Candy, and his lovely daughters. What a erly thank each and every one for supporting issues; I will keep everyone updated on his fabulous tribute! Earlier in the week, Denny Karen, Scott, Kristine and me during this progress.) Kent McCraney wrote, “Last week, we Marchant, his children and a large crowd horrible seven-month journey. 11/9/2013.” of adoring friends buried his bright and bub- (mjc: Denny is now having some health had a memorial service for my brother-inlaw, George L. Barton IV ’66. bly wife, Karen, near their new George was wounded severely home in North Carolina. Losing in Vietnam, had many mediKaren to cancer was a tragic loss. cal problems through the years I will always remember her sitsince and passed away on Nov. ting behind Peg and me at VMI 24th. Some of his classmates home games with a big smile on attended the service, as did Al her face and wearing that goofy Conner ’66, their class agent. looking James Madison sorority Al wrote a nice summary about beanie! Denny Marchant wrote, George and then continued with “Karen’s funeral was absolutely a treatise on what the typical beautiful, without being overVMI man is like. I asked Al if done – just the way she would he minded if we shared it with have liked it to be. The funeral our class, and he was fine with home, Hall-Wynne in Durham, that.” That interesting article Trinity Episcopal Church, Vicar is available from me upon Roxane, Kristine and Scott took request. care of everything. I could not Miracles of miracles, we have done it without their help heard from the Reverend Dr. and support and the support of S. Strother Smith IV! Strother all Karen’s friends who attended writes from his home in the funeral and Karen’s friends Abingdon, “Mike, I’m doing who were unable to make the well (considering the ravages trip. I also had four Brother Rats of aging … ha ha). Daughter and spouses who attended and was just listed for promotion to one high school classmate and bird colonel. She is G4 for the his spouse who attended. I was 82nd Airborne Div., going to overwhelmed at the outpouring Class of 1963: John Anastas, right, and James Anastas War College. Her husband is a of love shown to Karen and me. ’94 visiting Pointe Du Hoc in Normandy, France, May 2012. lieutenant colonel and battalion Words are not adequate to propcommander in the 82nd. I’m hoping to come to the reunion. Looking forward to seeing you and other BRs. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.” John Cloe is drumming up support for “a 70th anniversary commemorative tour of the Aleutian World War II sites and battlefields, with focus on the Valor in the Pacific sites of Attu, Kiska and the B-24 on Atka. The tour begins with a flight from Anchorage to Adak on June 20, where the group will board the 10-passenger Pukuk for the trip to Kiska and Attu. From there, the vessel will steam for Dutch Harbor stopping at Tanaga, Atka and Umnak. The tour ends at Dutch Harbor with a full day there to spend visiting the museums and exploring the World War II sites there. Everything is, of course, weather dependent. Further details are provided in the attached brochure. Everyone flies to Anchorage on Class of 1963: Beth and Harry Redd at Machu Picchu in Peru on Feb. 2, 2013. June 2nd.” 2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES house – knocked out an outdoor light but as it was at the most recent meeting. This I also heard from Buff DeLeo that he no real damage. Our next-door neighbor discussion has gone far enough. Please received an e-mail “from Lenny Peters had a large tree fall and smash his deck, digest what I have said, and I will report down in Charleston, SC, telling me Joe just missing the house. Due to the recent more goodies later.” (mjc: Sounds like fun Miller hadn’t contacted him since last frequent storms, we have lost or removed to me, Jimmy.) summer when I gave him Joe’s contact many trees around the house. So, we have “We have had many contacts from those at Corning Glass. Joe was retiring from slightly less concern on that issue but still of you concerned about the effects of the CG in December and moving to Charleshad fear for our boat at times like this. storm, Sandy,” writes Bunny Reynolds. ton. So, he asked if I would connect him, She is on a floating dock which rises and “In most cases, I responded briefly from because he knows Cheech (mjc: uh, that falls with the tide, and since an extreme my smartphone, but it is a real pain to would be Frank Kennedy) and Kenny storm surge was forecast, we worried that type on that little keyboard. In one case, Reeder were Lenny’s roommates. I gave the docks would rise over the pilings and I composed a lengthy letter, only to have Joe the contact, but after one e-mail, no float away to who-knows-where with all one has heard from Joey since. If you have it disappear when I probably hit the the attached boats. Fortunately, the surge wrong button. So, this is a more complete one, can you please give me an update as stopped two inches from disaster – a close response, composed on the desktop (to to your latest contact info for Joey, so we call. So, we are basically fine. We installed be sent whenever we get cable/internet/ can all reconnect from down here to make a standby generator last December which landline restored). We had the strongest our plans for the 50th together? Thank will power the whole house, so we have winds from about 6 to 10 p.m. on Monday you, sir. Give our best to the guys up thadlights and heat. We have also sent limited night – 76 mph recorded in the adjacent daway, and God willing, I’ll get Cheech power to our neighbor via extension cord town. Several trees (and/or parts) came and me there in April. Thank you, sir.” from the generator, but they and many down around us, but only one brushed the From Jim Hickerson: “Within the last others are still without heat year, VMI has asked its alumni or electricity. The utility lines to organize Old Corps subwent down at 6:30 Monday organizations consisting of evening, and at 11 a.m. on Satmembers within a chapter who urday, we still have no service. have had at least their 40th The same is true for our cable reunion. So, the Charlotte boys service, but that is relatively (no girls have had a 40th) were minor. The generator was one of the first to put together expensive, but at this point, it such a group. It consists of seems to be worth every penny! classes from the beginning of So, there you have it – thanks time to the class of ’72. Somefor your concern, thoughts and how, I got anointed to lead the prayers.” Charlotte group. I am proud to I wish I had a more complete report that we have 60 memreport of Ian Tissot’s situation bers, 40 of which have e-mail which, according to Bob Earle, addresses. Put yourselves at ease … this is not a plot by the was pretty drastic. I understand Institute designed to shake you that he is still not back at home down for money. It is designed on Long Island. to make sure that the senior So, Harry and Beth Redd alumni in our area are not ever thought they’d sneak away for forgotten. We of the class of their idea of a quick weekend ’63 have taken the point guard trip, and this is where they in order to see that the seniors ended up! “Beth and I got back are not forgotten. In a year, we yesterday from an almost threewill pass it to the next class for week trip to Peru and Ecuador. them to administer. [Recently], The trip was split into three we had our second meeting. main parts: Peru’s Amazon The ‘TO’ of this e-mail are the River basin and rain forest; Maattendees. The missing one is chu Picchu (also in Peru); and me. The ‘CC’ are the ones who Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. we wish would attend the next All three parts were terrific! We one. There is no agenda at these thought we’d better go now, Class of 1963: Bromby and Bob Earle with Mike Curley meetings. We just wing it, and before we got old. The altitudes at the Rumble Seat Grill in downtown Oilville, Virginia. anything is open for discussion, involved (up to 9,100 feet for 78

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Cusco), and the steep, well-worn steps just volunteer advisory council here, so I’m stay- planning session here, at our place, on Feb. ing pretty busy. If some of our Brother Rats 17th, three days from today and just 67 aren’t made for old folks. We’ve attached are looking for a meaningful and rewarding days before the big event! Sorry to disapa picture of us in Machu Picchu taken volunteer opportunity, I recommend that point but thanks! shortly before noon on Feb. 2nd. What a they check into their local guardian ad litem In the Bonds … Curleyrat beautiful place! program. In some states, we’re called court We’re looking forward to reunion – not appointed special advocates. (mjc: a very long now!” John R. Cavedo admirable endeavor, David!) Hope to make I absolutely love it when the son of one it to the reunion this year. Fifty years? How of our Brother Rats who hasn’t been in is that possible?” (mjc: Beats me, but I sure contact for months, years, maybe a decade like still being here!) or so gets in touch. Such is the case of I placed the dates of the activities reJohn Anastas whose son, James, ratted Thanks to all who wrote or called with your counted in this issue of the notes at the top him out! “My name is James Anastas comings and goings. There was a plentiful of this column for a good reason. Although supply for me to deal with. Plus after my last ’94. I was in your son, Paul’s, class at those of you with e-mail will read them VMI, and my father, John Anastas, is minute plea, good choices for photos. prior to the 50th Reunion, those without your BR.(mjc: Yeah, I vaguely remember The mini reunion during the Citadel game will not see them until the next issue of the weekend at Lexington was a terrific success. him … ) I wanted to send in a picture for There were five different events. A total of VMI Alumni Review is published in May consideration to print in the class notes on 26 Brother Rats plus 24 spouses showed up 2013, and that will be after the reunion. my dad’s behalf. This was taken at Point for some or all of the festivities. A wonderful Forewarned is forearmed, so don’t any of Du Hoc in Normandy, France, last May.” turnout. you clowns be writing me in May wanting All kidding aside, James, nice job and At the Founders Day Dinner Friday night to know where to find news of the 50th thanks! We all love John and look forward were Tom and Carol Allen, John and Sherrel to seeing him. Reunion! That won’t be forthcoming until Cavedo, Tom and Helen Davis, Floyd and DonLast sighted in Buenos Aires, Denver August. na Duncan, Al and Pat Fiorini, Bill and Marion Perkins and his new wife (mjc: waiting Thanks to everyone who sent me ChristGarber, Wally Hawkins and companion for confirmation … ) surfaced in Utah. mas cards and especially newsletters. George Rapport, Ed and Janice Seager, and Hobbs Goodwin called me for some infor- I know I usually give an accounting of Bob and Cathy Warren. This was our biggest group ever. We took over three full tables. mation and remarked that he was in touch those interesting and sometimes amusing I spent three hours Friday afternoon at the with Denver, telling me he was somewhere writings, but planning for the 50th takes Class Agents Conference; followed by another in North Dakota. Here are the facts: “Hey, precedence, as we get ready for our last three hours Saturday morning. Mike, Hobbs is darn close – it’s Though there is a lot of data/ Moab, Utah. The inflation rate information put out, I don’t like of 25 percent per year in Bueto bother you with details. Most nos Aires finally drove us out of everything is covered in various Argentina. My wife has a sister mailings you already receive. who lives here, and we wanted Saturday, beginning at 10:30 to be close to some family. a.m., we assembled in the main I think I’m going to make it room of Moody Hall for our tailgate party. The entire group from to the 50th. Hobbs and I are Friday night reconvened, joined by working on it.” (mjc: Their new Dick and Susan Atkinson; Butch address is on the class website, and Joan Nunnally with his son www.vmi63.net. ) and two grandchildren; Bob Neely; Until recently, we hadn’t heard Tom and Penny Sebrell; Bill from our Brother Rat Dave and Betsy Taylor; Jim and Joyce Dibbs since he lost his wife and Brittingham plus their daughter, best friend, Judy. He writes: Laura; Kerry and Marianne Hines; “Mike, still living in Tampa Pete Mazik; Jerry and Sandra and enjoying being so close Reid; John and Ronnie Thornton; to my four grandchildren. But Buzz and Jane Birzenieks; Mary they’re growing up way too fast. Jo Jordan and her husband, Bill I’m a guardian ad litem (child Bandy; Walt and Karen Sykes; advocate), looking out for the and Hank and Elizabeth Cronin. Class of 1964: Standing in front of VMI’s Jackson Arch best interests of kids who have in December 2012 were, from left, Bobby Watson’s widow, Additionally, nine couples from Deidra, with their twins, Leigh and Chandra; Lois Watson been removed from their homes the Citadel class of 1964 joined Ford, Bobby’s sister; and Bobby’s oldest daughter, Angela us as our guests. In addition to the because of abuse or neglect. And Watson Sartore. excellent food and drink arranged I chair the guardian program’s

’64

2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES by Marion Garber, we entertained the Citadel folks with their own “Old Yell” followed by one for the class of 1964. The football game itself was quite raucous. One bad call by a referee gave the Citadel seven points. Then, a poor coaching call by our staff late in the game gave the Citadel another field goal. As it was, they only won by three points. So close. A good game with great sportsmanship showed by players and fans alike. Then, it was off to the Birzenieks’ for an after-game barbecue. Thank goodness for GPS. Navigating in the dark would have been a real challenge. Almost everybody stayed in town for this relaxing event. Buzz and Jane provided a full meal with lots of beverages. A highlight of the weekend was at halftime of the game. The superintendent marched onto the field with Al and Pat Fiorini. They dedicated the practice field and named it the “Al Fiorini, Class of 1964, Practice Field.” This was due to an extremely large donation made by Al. We all thanked and acknowledged him that evening at the Birzenieks. There are some photos taken during the Citadel game weekend and others submitted with these notes but many more on our Facebook page. In early December, the 50th Reunion Fundraising Committee met in Lexington. Those on the committee are Al Fiorini, George Rapport, Dan deForrest, Andy Tucker, Ken Dice, Dick Dean, Bill Welsh, Parker Duncan, Bud Duryea, Tom Davis, WJ Kitchen, Don Giles and me. Assisting us and a full member of the committee is Lois Ford, sister of Bobby Watson. Most everyone was present or on conference call. Those who couldn’t make it have each been provided full details of all discussions. Over the coming months prior to the 50th, the committee will be in touch with each member of the class and will try to provide information

and assistance with our efforts to raise money in support of VMI. We established goals and were briefed extensively by members of the VMI staff with their suggestions and the assistance they could provide. Jim Crawford e-mailed, “John, it’s been a long time since I updated the class on what I have been doing lately so here goes. “As you can tell, I’m still working but I have slowed down to only three days a week. I am trying to slow down to no days per week but am having a problem getting someone I can trust with my Air Force contracts. I hired a young lady (Tech grad) who was a really good worker, but after several years, she decided to transfer to our Tampa office. The next employee I hired was good technically but had problems with work load and interfacing with clients. Had to let her go. I have a new employee coming in next week from our Columbus, MD, office but I don’t think he will work out either – too hyper. “I play golf on Thursday and Saturday with my group of military and civil servant retirees, about 25 of us. They make me hit from the senior tees which I hate, but I do score well. Right now, I am a 9 handicap, but I expect that to go up. Last week, as I was leaning over the green to read whose name was on closest to the pin, I put some weight on my 8 iron, and the shaft snapped. The club pro said I needed to lose some weight, but he did send it back to Ping for a replacement. “Three years ago, I started a new expensive hobby. I started back tournament bass fishing. Bought a small, 16-ft. bass boat and quickly saw that it was too small and unstable. So, I bought a new one this year. It’s a 17.5-ft. Nitro with a 90 hp. First time out, I managed to put it into the marsh. No damage except to my ego. “My wife and I usually go on vacation in November

Class of 1964: Harvey and Dolores Sargent, W.J. and Lauranne Kitchen, and Sherrel and John Cavedo in the dining room aboard the Carnival Liberty, Caribbean Cruise, January 2013.

and February. Most years, we go on a cruise or go to a resort in the Dominican Republic. This November, we are going to San Antonio instead. We have never been there, and the wife has read a lot about Riverwalk, so we’ll go there this year. “My wife’s cousin invited us to Calgary Alberta Canada for the Calgary Stampede, so we went up on the fourth of July for a week. Saw all the chuck wagon races, bull riding, bronco riding, etc. We took one day off and went to British Columbia. The mountains there are a lot bigger than in the states. The lakes were a lot colder, also. “We came down your way [recently] – well, maybe not too close. We came to Myrtle Beach to watch my granddaughter perform with others at Coastal Carolina. Some type of chorus competition for the state. “OK, that updates me for at least a year. Hope I stay around long enough to attend the 50th.” Joe Chompaisal also e-mailed, “In our part of the world, Pongsri and I went to Myanmar for about two weeks. It certainly was an eye-opening trip for me. As you may know, Myanmar is changing. We expect that the Burmese who came to work in Thailand will slowly drift back to their own home if and when their economy improves. The political situation in Thailand is still bad. We are moving up on the corruption ranking from the politicians and some government officials. “Pongsri and I also went to Laos and Southern China called Sipsong Panna (an area that used to belong to Thailand before we lost it during the colonial days). People from Laos are certainly no different from the Thai people in the northeast. I think I can understand them better than some of the caddies here in Bangkok

Class of 1964: Aboard the Last Dance – Margaret and Don Carson’s new boat – in Tequesta, Florida, were from left, the Carsons, Lauranne and W.J. Kitchen, and John and Sherrel Cavedo, January 2013.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES until I figure out where I want to live. I plan to the very high sea and had their houses damwhen they speak to one another in the northeast dialect. We used three buses: one from Bangkok retire in June. During the move, I lost or misplaced aged again after having repaired them after to Chiangrai, one in Laos from our border to the addresses from VMI Brothers and Sisters.” Note Irene. Our house sits at 25 feet above mean sea level, and we overlook a salt marsh which from John: I sent her a complete file. Chinese border and another one in China. The empties into Long Island Sound. The marsh George Rapport reported on the damage people of Sipsong Panna can speak Thais to absorbs a great deal of the wave force. I quesfrom Hurricane Sandy: “Fortunately, the only us. They are no different from some of the hill tion why anyone would want to pay a premium damage we sustained were two trees knocked tribes in Thailand, but since they live with Chifor beach front?” down (not causing any further damage) and nese, they become very good merchants. China Joyce Brittingham sent a report in on Jim’s a fence panel blown out. Power was out for is certainly developing with breakneck speed. health. His diabetic related problems are about a week, but our generator worked. As a “Toey, our daughter, is now a lieutenant comstable. His vision is terrible, but he still enjoys result, we sort of hosted a neighborhood block mander in the Royal Thai Navy. She is working using his computer with the 27-inch screen, party for the week, with friends coming over on IT security for the Thai Armed Forces Hqs. driving his lawn tractor and playing golf, for showers, coffee in the morning, dinners, She is quite serious with her job. We are trying thanks to his friend, Jim. He is a true believer etc. People who lived directly on the water to persuade her to go to India with us in Februin the insulin pump and is one of the coordina(about a quarter-mile away) got hit again by ary, but she is not sure whether she’ll be able tors for Dayton Area Insulin Pump to go. Support Group. The recent surgery “Ed and Janice Seager are planning to remove a melanoma above his to come to visit our (relatively) new ear was successful because of home in January. It’ll be fun to have early detection and should act as them for a week. I just got Pongsri a a reminder that it is important to new Nissan March (a small eco car) get checked out on a regular basis. on her request. Still playing golf two He continues to enjoy pet therapy to three times a week. Walk in the activities with Laura and Nino. morning for two hours before going Since that report, Jim had to be to the office on no golf days.” hospitalized (over Christmas) and Penny Kaliski sent the following: had a really rough time. Latest “I received the Alumni Review and (as of Feb. 15th) is that he is still enjoyed catching up on all the news. recovering. I still have many fond memories of Class of 1964: W.J. and Lauranne Kitchen with Joan and Joyce is doing well and enjoying meeting everyone on the Thailand Butch Nunnally at the Kitchen’s home in Green Valley, good health. She has taken on the trip. I recently sold my house and Arizona, November 2012. endless project of scanning and now live in an apartment temporarily,

Class of 1964: Attending the VMI-Citadel post game social in Moody Hall on Nov. 10, 2012, were, from left, seated, Jan Birzenieks, Jim Brittingham, Penny Sebrell, Joan Nunnally, Sherrel Cavedo, Ronnie Thornton, Joyce Brittingham, Betsy Taylor, Susan Atkinson, Kathy Warren, Marianne Hines, Marion Garber, Carol Allen, Elizabeth Cronin, Mary Jo Jordan, Sandra Reid and Janice Seager. Standing: Pete Mazik, Bill Taylor, Tom Davis, Tom Sebrell, Walt Sykes, Bob Warren, Bill Garber, Karen Sykes, John Thornton, Floyd Duncan, Kerry Hines, George Rapport, Tom Allen, Ed Seager, Donna Duncan, Buzz Birzenieks, Jerry Reid, Bill Bandy (not an alumnus), Bob Neely, Dick Atkinson, Butch Nunnally, John Cavedo and Hank Cronin.

2013-Issue 2

CLASS NOTES sorting the thousands of pictures, slides and movies taken by family and her dad. Lots of memories. She takes care of Jim and accompanies Laura on her dog transports. Laura’s thriving online book business allowed her to travel around the country and to Brazil and Costa Rico. She is a behavior evaluator for Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association and a certified Positive Reinforcement dog trainer. She has found it very rewarding to be involved with transporting dogs as they journey to new homes. If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity that only takes several hours out of your day, consider driving one leg of a long trip to get the dogs to someone who wants them. She just came back from Tampa where she volunteered with the Wounded Warrior Project at a Tough Mudder event. Don Stickles said, “I received your preliminary schedule for our 50th today, courtesy of John Manley. I’m visiting John and Ginger (Matt Jablonka and Parker Duncan, as well) in Tennessee. En route, I made contact with Andy Tubbs at the Glorious Twelfth in Lexington. He was training units of the UAE Army at the time. We expect to meet on my return trip to Connecticut in late February, and I’ll update you on a possible ‘leisure option,’ as you put it.” Rick Beirne e-mailed, “If I’m still vertical in May 2014, I plan on being at the 50th. I hope to drag someone along, just not sure who, as relationships come and go. Can’t predict who will be the flavor of the month that far away. Wanted to let you know, so you can shorten the call assignments.” Dick Atkinson, always a great correspondent, wrote, “I am about to leave on an extended trip to Copenhagen as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for a large EU grant; then to India to give a couple of talks and meet with the chief minister (head of state) of Goa as a ‘state guest’ to talk about obesity and how India might approach it; then on to Abu Dhabi to give a talk and meet with the minister of health to talk about a vaccine for the obesity virus; and then on to Dubai to give a talk at a drug development conference. All this, and $4.53 gets me a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but I will get a pretty good number of frequent flyer miles.” Gary Spoden sent a handwritten note in which he indicated his house on Delaware Bay survived Hurricane Sandy, though he saw extensive damage among those on the beach in his area. He also reported that recent cataract surgery was successful. His surgeon was recommended by Hank Cronin. He was in Naples, FL, with his two adopted dogs when he wrote. His previous pet had died

suddenly. He is dating a woman from South Korea. They will be cruising the Caribbean in February. Vern Eling wrote a long letter detailing his driving trip west from his new home in Texas to visit property in Oregon. He had bought an 80-acre tract in Oregon out in the boondocks. During the trip, one of his dogs had a puppy (unexpected) which added a lot of time to the travel. He is trying to sort out all the problems with ownership. In the meantime, he reported that his daughter and her Air Force husband are in Germany, where he flies a G-550. His grandchildren are fully involved in soccer. In January, Sherrel and I visited Tom and Yvonne Myers at their home in Plantation, FL. We spent time at their house with drinks and just catching up. Then, they took us to dinner. After dinner, Sherrel and Yvonne went shopping, while I accompanied Tom to a meeting of his homeowner’s association. He warned me it would be boring. But it wasn’t. You can’t imagine the petty bickering. But maybe you can. Tom was almost the only reasonable and calm person present. I found it entertaining, since I didn’t have a dog in that fight. Late that same night, we picked up WJ and Lauranne Kitchen at the Fort Lauderdale Airport. (They had flown in from San Diego.) We stayed in the same hotel for two nights. The next day we spent with Don and Margaret Carson. They took us aboard their new toy – a really great boat. They were great hosts. Margaret is a great cook and Don a gifted tour guide. Then, the next morning, WJ and Lauranne and Sherrel and I drove to Miami to board a Carnival Cruise ship. We met Harvey and Dolores Sargent on board. It was a peaceful, relaxing seven-day cruise in the western Caribbean. The six of us joined a nice couple, their two daughters and another related couple for dinner every night. During the days, we mostly went separate ways to enjoy the varied options available on board and ashore. During the cruise, we visited Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City and some Mayan ruins; Roatan, Honduras; and the Grand Cayman Islands. Climbing the ruins and snorkling clear waters and coral reefs were highlights. And no, ours wasn’t the ship that was stranded in the Gulf. Next week (February), a group leaves for India. Wish them safe travel. And consider joining one of many mini reunions scheduled for this calendar year. It’s hard to describe how wonderful these trips turn out. Mostly because of simply being with Brother Rats. Finally, as always, thanks to everyone who got in touch with me.

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Mickey Finn

Winter in Wilmington means the grass is not green except around the golf club house. There is a forecast for a winter mix but no accumulation. Just thought all of you who are in the snow-belt would want to know what the options are! The big news is that we are starting to plan for our 50th and that Lou Siegel has volunteered to chair this committee! Please consider getting involved. Contact Lou at: louissieg@cox.net. Larry Rose knows how to retire in style! “Connie and I have decided to take the Big R on June 30th of this year – we figure it’s high time! Our daughter lives in Sombernon, France, and our eldest son is currently living in Santiago, Chile ... we need more than a couple of days when we visit them, and come June, we’ll be able to do just that. Planning some road trips, too, in particular to see BRs Palmer and Scott. Rah Virginia Mil!” Harry Bartosik has challenged my memory: “Thanks for the birthday card. I really liked the inscription. Did you invent that or see it somewhere?” I believe it is my invention, but since I do not remember what it was, you are free to use it! Michael Ben Carlson reports from Alaska, “Nothing to report from Fairbanks, Alaska. The weather prediction from Groundhog Day ended up meaning a relatively warm February and a continuation of snow. Normally, this time of year it is about -40, but the last few days we have actually seen the daytime low in the 0 to10 bracket. All the bears are sleeping in, except the polar bears. Up here ‘bears’ actually means ‘bears,’ not police. Mostly we call them ‘browns’ because of the color of their fur, from dark brown to honey blond. In your neck of the woods, you probably call them grizzly bears. Browns are distinct from black bears which we also have plenty of. The browns are enormous by comparison, and they are far more unpredictable than the black bears. You can take out a black bear with a .45 automatic, but don’t try it on a brown. The brown will soak up all your ammo and then have you as fast food. A brown requires the personal attention of a 45-70 or a 458 magnum. Magnum pistols are usually useless on a brown. You will get one shot off, and before you can accurately re-aim to fire the second shot, the brown will be on top of you. So, generally, pistols are almost useless up here, unless you are taking out something light, like a black bear, assuming you know how to fire a pistol. If you were trained by the Air Force, Army, Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, the National Rifle Association, a Home Firearm Safety Class,

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES a Hunter Safety Class, the Salvation Army, a para-military outfit, the American Red Cross, Green Peace or the Peace Corps, then, as they say in some places, ‘Mazel Tov!’” A quick thank you to Russell Proctor for his assistance in obtaining a good picture of Bill Wilburn for the last issue of the Review! Russell commented, “Did you see how good the photo of Bill Wilburn came out? Great! We had to allow the Review to publish three pictures of Orgain to get the one of Wilburn in!” Not to mention one of your cannons, Russell! Robert Whaley is in the warm spot – the Keys! “Watched the UNC-Ashville game – was looking good, till the shooting went cold. Not too much to report from the Keys. In years past, we’ve had visits from Jeff and Debby Wilkins, Bob Morgan and Pete Rondiak. This February (last week), my late roommate, Buck Lyons,’ wife, Ame, and her husband, Dr. Patrick Irving, paid us a visit. Patrick had known Buck for years, so we enjoyed meeting him and shared some stories of one of the best friends I’ll ever have. Stevie Morris reports that Sam is moving into a care facility for Alzheimer’s. That situation breaks my heart.” No good deed goes unpunished department reports that Barry Walker wants to reach out to JJ Sinclair: “Could you send me Jim Sinclair’s e-mail address? My life is so boring. I have nothing to add for the Alumni Review column. Maybe next issue.” Barry, now you see that at “mid-term” – half way between reunions – I’ll publish whatever I can! JJ, what is it with your e-mail? Share the secret … Floyd Taylor reports, “As usual, you are doing good work, Cadet Finn. Thanks! I heard from Imre Lipping who lives in his home country, Estonia, with an attractive younger wife. At our age, though, most wives are younger. He is braving the winter with his Sauna and, I bet, a nip or two. Gene Marshall is enjoying the milder clime of South Georgia and is still trying to improve his golf and fishing skills and attending to the needs of various children and grandchildren. I am doing much the same minus the golf (too hard for me) and am doing well health-wise. I have six grandchildren from age 20 to 1 – all fine specimens – ranging from Georgia to California. So, overall, thumbs up from here!” Glad Imre writes to someone! Hope he will come to the 50th! Charles Price has a major update for us all: “First off, Barbara and I hope to make it to the ‘round ball’ thing. I report a number of changes in my status. First, I retired from my medical/ cardiology practice on Dec. 31, 2012, after 34.5 years. I had been doing cardiology as a part of Bay Internists Inc. all these years. In the past, the most invasive thing I did was new pacemaker implantations. As pacemaker practice evolved

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in more recent years, more folks required more invasive electrophysiologic testing to confirm the need for just a pacer and not a defibrillator. I had, thus, in recent times, mostly limited my pacemaker work to generator replacements for patients who our surveillance data showed had electrodes that were stable and did not need to be replaced. Second, on Nov. 12th, without recognized prior warning, I had the onset, at the office, of pain in my back and down my right leg. Two and one-half weeks later, I had a left lumbar laminectomy at the L 4-5 level (a ‘disk’ job) at MCV. I have really done well in recovery. I have a bit of stiffness when I get up each a.m. with a bit of low back discomfort but nothing down my leg, and by the time I get to the breakfast table, I have no pain at all. I sleep through the night. I am still taking it easy, but every week is better than the one before, so I am hopeful that very soon I’ll have no discomfort at all. This adventure had a lot to do with my retirement on Dec. 31. If this had not happened, I would have tried to continue to practice until June 30 (35 years) or until October 1 (age 70). All in all, I believe it was time to hang up the shingle. However, I enjoyed my work and looked forward to going to the office every day.” Danny, thanks so much for all those you helped through the years, and thanks for bringing us up to date! Johnny Mac Marshall brings us up to date and closes out this edition of the notes: “Well, it has been somewhat slow for us since the last newsletter [Ha!]. Later in the autumn, Jamie decided to go back to school to study dental assisting. This was something that she had done

before going to law school, so it was a ‘brushup’ course for her, which her grades [all A’s, of course] reflect. For my part, I can only envy grades like that. While she was doing that, I was invited to give a guest lecture at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Center for Values in Medicine and Technology concerning robotics and ethics. Needless to say, having roomed with Bob Palmer and Will Scott for two years, I had absorbed some engineering and technical lingo, so was able to be understood. In December, UTD asked me to join the center’s advisory council, which is rather interesting for a liberal artist, but there it is. “December was a big month in our family, also. My younger daughter, Victoria, who matriculated at VMI with the class of 2005 and graduated from Old Dominion, completed her duty in the Reserve as a captain, after her tour in Iraq. At the same time, she was accepted at The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and will start in July. Needless to say, we are proud of and happy for her on both counts. “Earlier [in February], I had to go to New Orleans for a conference, just in time to leave before the Super Bowl. This is an annual event where I participate in a demonstration trial that teaches engineers what it would be like to be an expert witness. It was really tough duty to have to eat on an expense account for three days down there, but someone has to boost their economy. “On the 19th [of February], Jamie and I will be in Lexington for a very special event at the VMI Museum. When I was a Rat, Lou Siegel and I purchased the first class cape that had

Class of 1965: Jack Mountcastle with students from the University of Richmond Jepson School of Leadership at Little Round Top in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, fall 2012.

CLASS NOTES belonged to Jonathan Daniels ’61, and I later bought out Lou’s share. The cape sat in our coat rack until we were first classmen, and then I wore it from time to time, especially on guard duty. At the time, it was the only privately-owned cape in Barracks. Anyhow, after Daniels’ death, it assumed an entirely different character, since it was an artifact associated with a martyr to the Faith. I felt that it should not be in private hands, so I put it in the custody of the church ‘temporarily’ in 1993. Recently, after talking with Col. Keith Gibson ’77 at Lou’s suggestion, I reclaimed it, and we are going to put it in the custody of the VMI Museum where it will undoubtedly be cared for long after we are gone. Daniels was a brave man who exemplified the level of integrity that VMI expects of all of us, and it is only fitting that this be there. “Wish I had a photo of some of this, but it won’t happen until after your deadline. Col. Gibson will, I am sure, have a photo, so you may be able to pilfer it from him. Best wishes to all the BRs, and in the meantime, let’s pitch in with Lou for a great 50th!” ’65! ’65! ’65!

’66

Albert Conner

The earlier submission of my November notes caused a bit of a communications problem in notifying the class about the losses of Brother Rats Randy Smith and George Barton. I was able to e-mail the information at the time to those I have addresses for. The information on the passing of Brother Rat Jim Guy came in immediately before these notes were due, and I’ll be sending that out via e-mail ASAP. Please persevere through the sad news and pay attention to an important message from me at the end. I received a sad call from David West ’76, a funeral director, that our Brother Rat A. Randal “Randy” Smith had been killed in a hunting accident. Randy, of Butler, PA, passed away while hunting on Nov. 13, 2012, in Chautauqua County, NY. He was killed in a fall from a tree at the height of about 20 feet. BRs will recall that he was a civil engineering major, in “C” Company and in infantry ROTC. As a cadet, he was active in intramurals, Newman Club and the Glee Club. He served in the U.S. Army as an infantry first lieutenant, including a Vietnam tour where he received the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor. After military duty, Randy was an industrial engineer at Armco/AK Steel for 37 years, retiring in 2003. He was an

active member of the East Butler Baseball Association and Junior Achievement. He was also an avid bow hunter and loved outdoor activities, generally. Randy was and will be remembered as “a true Brother Rat.” Our sympathies go out and our prayers will be raised for his grieving family and friends. We can only recall and conclude that, however tragic his end, he died doing what he loved. Randy is survived by his wife, Devonna “Bonnie” Mackey Smith; sons, Timothy Allen Smith, and his wife, Michele, of Henderson, NV, and Dean Randal Smith of Henderson, NV; and daughter, Amanda C. Sekel, and her husband, Peter, of Verona, PA. His funeral was on Nov. 17th with full military honors burial in North Side Cemetery afterward. With regard to Randy’s passing, I heard from Jerry Lazaroff, Charlie Schmaus, Clark Reifsnider, Bill Dermott and Dave Adkins. John Walters and Mike Burton sent longer reflections. John wrote, “Randy was one of my Rat roommates (447) first semester. After Christmas break, two of Evan Farmer’s roomies next door did not return, so I was drafted by cadre to ‘move,’ and Jim Szymanski joined us from a little farther down the stoop. Our third class year, we roomed together again (Smith, Hazelwood, Woody Miller, Dwight Sessoms and I down in 335), but again, attrition set in during second semester, and I was moved in with Odom and Gore. Even before he came to VMI, Randy was an avid hunter. I remember how mad he was when, on one of his hunts, his dogs caught a scent and got out ahead of Randy, only to be shot by person or persons unknown. He was terribly upset about that … But our first class year he roomed two down from me with Mike Burton and (I think) Bob Solomon, so I hope your e-mail reaches them. If you have one of the reunion booklets from my era, you could probably piece it all together, if he returned the form. I think he only came to one reunion (might have been the 5th or 10th).” Mike Burton wrote: “Thanks for sending this notice about Randy Smith to me, and it greatly saddens me, as I was close to him during our first class year. Unfortunately, Randy had stopped coming to VMI reunions about the time Jessie and I got married 30 years ago and may have been embarrassed by his appearance. He suffered from the effects of Agent Orange, and this caused some sort of skin problem. I have talked with him several times in past years and attempted to get him to come to our reunions with no success. Still, I feel very guilty for not going to visit him in Pennsylvania, and this shows the wisdom of doing what you want to do now, while you can. I remember visiting him in Butler years ago and going trout fishing with him. He had picked out a good spot where I

could cast without getting tangled in the trees. We had some luck with the trout and other fish there. The funny thing was how we had to restrain my seeing-eye dog, Lucky, who was a lab and water lover. After she tried to grab the fish we landed for some time, we let her go in, and she had a wonderful time, while scaring all the local trout. Randy was a great deer hunter and even made his own arrows. He traveled to other states on hunting trips and never tired of it. Most of all, he was a really nice person who always had a friendly word for his friends and classmates. It will bother me a long time that I did not see him in recent years.” Mike also sent an update (see below). Wayne Gray wrote: “Accidents are never planned, and Randy’s death is so surprising, coming unannounced by a long illness, etc. We were in the Glee Club together. Perhaps things like that are why my brother, Jan ’63, is fond of saying, ‘Life is short; drink the good wine first.’ Here’s hoping that Randy considered VMI and his family the good wine, and he enjoyed them both.” Also sad news was received in the death of George L. Barton IV. I received a call from George’s brother-in-law, Kent McCraney ’63. George had passed away in his sleep, apparently of a heart attack, while on vacation in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Kent also kindly contacted George’s roommates, John Jumper and Jim Whitehurst. I asked Kent if there had been any apparent medical causes which might explain George’s death; he conjectured that it might have had something to do with his war wounds. Later, he related that George had suffered a massive infection which left him with congestive heart failure and Crohn’s disease. Our condolences go out to all of George’s family and friends. It will be recalled that George was a state cadet, a Distinguished Military Student, sergeant in B Company, managing editor of the Bomb, business manager of Sounding Brass (Cadet Literary Magazine) and was on the Ring Figure Committee and active in intramural wrestling and volleyball. In addition to his VMI BA English degree, he later earned an MA from the University of Virginia, an MA from the American University and an Ed.D. from George Washington University. He had an exemplary military service record. Achieving the rank of captain, he had been awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals with “V” for valor, the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and four Purple Hearts. He had also earned the Senior Parachutist’s Badge and Pathfinder Badge. His Vietnam service was with the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) in 1967 and 1968. George had been the editor, Loudoun Times

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CLASS NOTES Mirror; chairman at-large, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors; and served on the state’s Virginia Baseball Authority. After leaving political life, he became president of George Barton Enterprises and was an English teacher at Park View High School in Leesburg, VA. After only three years at Park View, he was named 2005 Teacher of the Year, and in 2009, he was asked, due to his exceptional warrecord, to be the honorary captain for the coin toss in the Veterans’ Night game with Freedom High School. George also became a professor at Northern Virginia Community College–Loudoun Campus in Sterling, VA, where he taught English courses. The ratings he received from students are online and very revealing. I last saw George at the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne School at Fort Benning. We exchanged some e-mails between December 2010 and February 2011. He had responded to our Ring Story e-discussions, and then, responding to my question, he reflected on the fact that his grandfather had taught at VMI and that his father (who is 95 and still living with the family, per Kent McCraney ’63) grew up at VMI. George’s father moved with the grandfather’s family to New York and went to college there. He had wished to attend VMI, and when the

time came, he urged George to and then served as president of the Parents Council during our time at the Institute. In one e-mail, George related, “My modest contribution to the … museum is an official state storm flag, sent to me in Vietnam by Gov. Mills Godwin in 1968. I carried it through the Tet Offensive and Counteroffensive with the 101st Airborne Division. Having survived a number of firefights and other actions, my recollection is that it is in rather poor shape. It came back on the stretcher with me.” He added that John Jumper, Jim Whitehurst and he “were roommates all four years, including the first night. Like all of us, we were thrown into a room (eight-man) the first night. The next day, we were counted off and ended up in a three-man room. The three of us stayed together in three-man rooms the entire four years.” Along with John and Jim, as well as Randolph Williams, I was privileged to attend George’s funeral in Leesburg. John and Jim shared very moving and bittersweet happy memories about George, and there was also a great outpouring of sincere and heartfelt feelings from family, friends and students. The combination of warm reflections, amid surprise at his sudden passing, and testimony about his impact on so many

lives was very moving. We’ve lost another remarkable BR in our lives. I’m glad that I was able to reach out to him and make contact but saddened that the communications dropped off. He said in his first e-mail that, although he didn’t contribute much in the way of news, he always enjoyed reading about our class in the notes. Let this be another lesson and reminder to all of us. Please reach out to each other and to our class as a whole. Just two days before these notes were due, Mike Talley e-mailed to let me know that Brother Rat Jim Guy had lost his long and heroic struggle with cancer. Details were still sketchy, but Mike had found out that Jim had been in hospice care since December and that he died surrounded by his beloved family. Jim was in F Company and a basketball player on some of our great ’60s teams. I’m doubly pleased that, as previously reported, he was able to get together with his roommates, and we were able to exchange a number of meaningful e-mails. Our primary subjects were about cancer struggles and faith, and believe me, Jim had more than his share of both. I can tell you that he was a great inspiration – not only to me, but I also shared his story and reflections with members of my Sunday School class. Mike subsequently related: “Al, it is with great sorrow that I report the passing of our Brother Rat Jim Guy on Feb. 13th. He fought a seven-year battle against cancer. His body has been cremated, and there will be a memorial ceremony at 11 a.m., Feb. 18, at Sharon First Baptist Church on State Street, Sharon, PA 16146. Another service will be held in Ridley Park, Class of 1966: Attending Jim Upton’s retirement celebration in December 2012 were, from left, photo at left: Upton, Jim Smith and Dick Goodall. Photo below: Upton, Rusty Smith ’93, Jim Smith, Dick Goodall, Rob Bowman ’73 and Tom Hawthorne ’76.

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CLASS NOTES PA, at a later date. I will pass on the obituary as soon as get it.” On a far happier note, on Friday the 9th and Saturday the 10th of November 2012, I attended class agent meetings at VMI, along with the Institute Society Dinner on Friday night. We had a good class turnout at the dinner, with John and Ellen Jumper, Frank and Carey Louthan, Jay Adams, George Dyer, Rich Hines, Bill Gregory, Parky and Mary Fran Parkman, Paul and Joanne Robblee, Spence and Dorcas Wilkinson, Randolph Williams and fiancée Priscilla Knight, Doug and Arona Richard, and my Jane with yours truly. Tom Slater was the Distinguished Service Award recipient and so was at table two, while the rest of us were at 34, 42 and 43. Charlie Ramsburg also made it to the convocation that day. Charlie passed on that John Turner, Larry Wilkes and Gerry Wilkes were also present at the convocation. Unfortunately, Dick and L.T. Goodall had to cancel at the last minute and were missed by all. Several BRs listening to Tom Slater’s speech at the convocation on Friday related that it was very moving; he provided a copy: “That’s enough reminiscing; let me turn to my topic of what VMI has meant to me and my family. It has always been and always 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-soldier concept is the blueprint for the VMI graduate: defend our nation in time of peril; serve our nation, state and communities in time of peace. You learn very quickly at VMI that there are no gifts in life – that to succeed you must work extremely hard and be prepared to accept defeat but not be defeated by your setbacks, mistakes or adversities life imposes on you. As a cadet at VMI, you learn that you and your Brother Rats are all equal. It does not matter how rich or poor your family is, what your race is or what your religion is, you are all treated equally, and you all must perform your duties and responsibilities to the best of your ability. There are no shortcuts; there are no easy ways to meet the demands placed upon you seven days per week, 24 hours per day. You learn that a lot is demanded of you, and there is no time to feel sorry for yourself. In his commencement address to the VMI class of 1940, Gen. George C. Marshall ’901 summed up his VMI experience and the values of a VMI education as follows: ‘The Institute gave me not only a standard of my daily conduct among my peers, but it endowed me with a heritage of honor and self-sacrifice.’ I am not too old to recall that, while I was a cadet, especially as a Rat, it was sometimes hard to appreciate the demands and restrictions the VMI system

imposed on me. In fact, in my case it was not until later in life, working as a young attorney, that I came to fully appreciate the value of a VMI education. I came to realize very quickly that a lawyer’s reputation is his greatest asset. I learned that to gain the respect of my peers and judges and juries I had the privilege of appearing before, I relied on the values that are the hallmark of VMI: always keep your word and work tirelessly to serve your clients within the boundaries of the legal system … As graduates, it is our solemn duty to uphold those values. I would suggest that the crucible all VMI cadets are required to endure provides each of us with a burning desire to succeed in life. Whether it’s as a member of our armed services, like Gen. 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. Diedricksen, USMC; J. Scott Dotson, USAF; Douglas B. Green III, USA; Harry B. Hambleton III, USA; William D. Huyler Jr., USA; John B. Lattin Jr. USA; Donald B. Mattaro Jr., USA; Daniel L. Mullins, USA; Vincent C. Scott, USAF; Rodney H. Stone, USAF; and Mark C. Whittier, USMC. 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.” I must also pass on some bad (not yet sad) news in my own case. My latest PET/CT scan found that my old pal cancer has invaded the lumbar region of my spinal cord. My oncologist believes we have a shot at adding radiation treatment to two different daily chemo pills and

monthly infusions of a bone-strengthening drug. So, in short, I’m still in the game. However, it’s the fourth quarter, and I’m behind in points. I’ve got good offensive and defensive coordinators and a good team, but the plays will have to work, and everyone will need to execute. As always, we’ll need the Corps to root louder and pray a bit. In the end, the game will be decided by Supreme Headquarters, and I’m content to be obedient to God’s will. That said, it is only prudent for me to start asking for volunteers for a class agent replacement. I’ll be e-mailing this portion out with the report on Jim Guy’s passing. So, if you’re reading this and haven’t heard about a replacement, please consider volunteering. For what it’s worth, I don’t regret a single moment of “class-agenting” during the past 10 years. It has been a remarkably rewarding and satisfying experience, and I will treasure every memory and every contact with you. Your prayers and encouragement have sustained me, and I am eternally grateful to you. And don’t forget to work on those long-lost BRs, especially the missing roomies, and start talking up their attending the 50th in 2016.

’67

Jan Abernathy

As I compose this column in the chill of February, I am warmed by the wonderful renewal of friendships that still resonates with those who were able to attend our reunion. And I begin with an envious “hello” to BR snowbirds that moved to Florida. Howard and Sandy Seal moved to The Villages, and Connie and Carter Melton divide their time between the sunshine state and Virginia. You learn a lot from the cards that come at Christmas. Ken and Monica Chun sent their card from Mama’s Fish House in Paia, Maui. Doug and Carol Ann Mills were off to New York to visit the family and granddaughters. Don and Cheryl McMenamin spent their holiday with son Steve and his family in Louisiana. Major Steve just completed Air War College. Alison and Dave Bristow’s letter included photos from Spain, Greece, China, Italy, Turkey and Malta. Once again, they win the award for most photos in their Christmas letter. Rick and Nancy Brooke sent me a CD with reunion photos, which I will hopefully uncover when I clear my desk for tax preparation. I have the clearly marked jewel case, but it is empty. The longest letter usually comes from Ski and Carol Ann Waskiewicz, and they did not disappoint. I am still deciphering it, but the best news is that they have a new grandson, Oliver. Pete Wells sent a message that he was going to retire and

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CLASS NOTES a later e-mail that he did retire and a further message that he had retired, along with a new e-mail address. Karen, what are you going to do with all of his time and energy? I recently had an e-mail exchange with Susan Aldrich. She had mailed me some of Terry’s photos, asking for help identifying the BRs shown. One photo included Bob Hess, Bob Flynn, Terry and possibly F.O. Moore. That last one is being mailed to F.O. to be certain. Another is Sonny Fox and his date. Terry’s daughter, Sandy, is now married and is the proud mom of Ryan Joseph Mackensie Burt. A phone call with George Elmore caught me up with all of the babysitting duties he enjoys, as both daughters live near him in Richmond. From John and Sandy Lee: “Hi, Jan. Just a short note … Barney has gotten his provisional appointment to VMI (early decision). He’s very happy, very pleased and possibly a little scared. We are relieved.” John also added that daughter Kathryn will soon graduate from MCV-VCU as a nurse, and son Johnathan is at Eastern VA Med School studying to become a physician’s assistant. He closed with the family deer count as of December … a full freezer this season. In January, John Forsyth’s dad passed: Frank Forsyth ’37. Frank recently found he was lonesome for news about his Brother Rats. John volunteered to write to all those who were still alive, including widows and any family for which VMI had a contact. Frank was in his

element with notes and e-mails coming in to share, so long as John (and Leslie) would read, transcribe, reply, etc. Their last joint column was in the February AR issue. I thought you would want to know what a gift John was able to give to his father. John also sent me a packet of Cadet newspapers from our era. He found them while cleaning out his mom’s effects. I will try to remember to bring them to the next reunion. Hank Ratrie’s dad, Harry Ratrie Jr. ’44, passed in December. Hank missed the reunion, as he was hosting a 90th birthday party for his father and all of the family. Mr. Ratrie was a well-respected businessman in the Baltimore area and a Marine during WWII. His obituary is in the Taps section of this issue. A photo of Hank and his dad is in the ’44 class notes section. Ray and Anne Irvine’s Christmas card included a photo of them in Florence, Italy, from April 2012. It is a good picture but not of the quality to be used in the AR. I am also trying to get a usable shot of Bill Kiniry and his sons, Liam and Spencer, in Scotland. Spencer was enrolled in St. Andrew’s University last fall. This also reminds me that I am still waiting on Don Brown’s photos of his around-the-world trip to deliver a plane to Australia last year. Max and Terryann Toch’s card had a super family photo and lots of info on the triplets’ sports and scout adventures. Daughter Maria was recovering from a concussion suffered during basketball. Hollace and Bruce Weiner spent much of their year skiing in places like Jackson Hole, WY, and cycling through the Alps in Austria. They also managed a trip to visit son Mark in Israel, where the Air Force has him stationed. Hollace received a Presentation Achievement Award for

Class of 1967 45th Reunion, Lexington, Virginia September 2012

her latest book on the centennial history of Fort Worth’s oldest country club. Bruce says he is still doing his pediatric dentistry and finds he is working on the grandchildren of some of his early patients. Ray Gosney made a connection with Wayne Marshall for lunch on Founders Day last fall. They discovered they live about an hour from one another. Nancy Wojcik asked me to pass this along: “What a crazy Tuesday over at Durham Regional Hospital. I am sitting there waiting (because that’s what caregivers do), and all of a sudden, the PA comes on and the lights are flashing, telling us there is a ‘gray alert,’ because some guy with brownish/grayish hair in a sweat suit needs to be apprehended. First thing I thought of was, OMG, Woj jumped off the gurney and started a ruckus, but then I remembered he can’t jump off anything. They say this happens often … I will be retrieving the old guy today from the hospital! His doctor said, ‘The hospital is for sick people,’ and then released him … Woj is no longer walking like a blithering/drooling old man.” In other words, his hip replacement went well. Just this week, during the Valentine’s season, I reported Don Harrison was to have a triple bypass and double heart valve repair. No news update as of yet. But I have received great updates on Marie Waehler and Patsy Lowry, as they continue to return to vibrant health. I was able to connect John Shea and his roomie, Burt Palmer, after 46 and one-half years. John went to Normandy last fall and had researched VMI men interred in the cemetery behind the beach. I hope to see an article with photos on his discoveries in a future issue of the AR, as that is the plan. I called Larry and Jane Photo at left: Paul Bouis and Mike Ingelido at the 45th Reunion parade. Photo below, left: Bob Hess, Tom Brown and Carter Melton enjoyed a day of golf during the reunion weekend. Photo below: Tom Rhodes and Bill Fleshood stopped for a photo on the Parade Ground during the 45th Reunion.

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CLASS NOTES Adams to see if they had returned from Singapore and had any photos to share. Granddaughter Maria answered and said they were in Puerto Rico. She said Gramma was coming home in a week, but she had no idea when Grandpa was returning. My guess is that Maria is around five. She and I had a delightful chat. Last fall, Beth and Terry Moore invited Joan and me to a pig roast here in Atlanta. They were in town visiting their grandchildren. Other BRs were invited, but we were the only couple who were able to join them. In January, Joan surprised me with a dinner at our favorite restaurant for my birthday. I was further surprised to find Mike and Marci Bagnulo were waiting for us. We had a really nice visit, reviewing our time at the reunion. Joan and I do volunteer work for the Atlanta Symphony, and just by chance, we again saw Mike and Marci at a performance in February. Richard Stanard asked for Bland Guthrie’s daughter’s contact information. Richard was not able to be at the reunion and wanted to share some stories with her. Tom and Betty Coughenour are celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary with a cruise in the Caribbean. From Tom: “Between Medicare, Social Security, pensions and the IRS, we’re having a peachy time! At least our health is on an even keel at this time. Ah, well ... We depart on the 16th for our seven-night anniversary cruise to the Western Caribbean on board Freedom of the Seas. The same boat we took for the honeymoon cruise last year -- and in the same stateroom, even. I didn’t know I could be so romantic! When it gets a bit warmer, I have promised Betty that we would hit the

road in our mini motor home and head for the mountains in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia (trailering the trike, of course). Perhaps we could mosey on by the Abernathy’s for a short visit – we’ll even bring our own bathroom! I have no idea when this would occur, since I have received instructions that we are also to go to Savannah and Charleston (via trike, of course). Especially Charleston, since that’s where Betty’s granddaughter, Jordon, is going to school. My cup runneth over.” The news this week is all about the Carnival Line troubles. Good luck, Tom. Hope you took some extra water and snacks, just in case. And speaking of weddings, you will notice a great photo in this set of notes showing Jim Wilson with his new bride. “Ms. Liep Thi Pham (a one-time boat person who escaped from Vietnam in the mid-80s and who is now a computer programmer with one of the local counties) decided she could stand me. It is certainly a semi-shock to the system, given the amount of time I have been a singleton. But it is a ‘willing experience!’ We are heading out to cruise from Rio to Miami on Feb. 11 and home on March 2. And then we will muddle through … Jim.” Cruising seems to be all the rage among the class. I see Dave and Judy Wilkinson are joining the Alumni Association’s cruise in the Caribbean this spring. And while it is not a cruise in the tropics, Marie Wertz is again joining her church group for a mission trip again this year. I had a nice phone visit with Larry Hardy. He still has dialysis five times a week, but with the help of miracle medical technology, he and Daleen are able to do this at home. I have been trying to find some information on William Brent Bell. I know he matriculated from Essex Falls,

Class of 1967: Wayne Marshall and Ray Gosney celebrating Founders Day 2012.

NJ, and was a first lieutenant helicopter pilot who died on March 21, 1969. Can anyone provide any additional information? In closing these notes, I want to mention that Jay Mangan and Dave Veasey probably enjoyed our reunion as much as anyone. They made connections among us that had been dormant for decades. This is a reminder that there are many BRs who did not stay with the class for four years but belong with the friends of their youth. I also want to recognize Tom Engelman for his participation in our celebrations last September. He had just completed his teaching career, consisting of more than 30 years working with deaf and blind children. By choice, Tom lives in the mountains of West Virginia in a modest cabin that has no electricity or running water. My last letter exchange with him ended when he said, essentially, that he was signing off, as he needed to cut some more firewood. It was a real pleasure to see him after so many years and letters and to meet Patti for the first time. He lives a life of simplicity that would give many a time to pause and reflect.

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Tom Hickey

Tom Hickey (Clarksville, MD): Seen at the Institute Society Dinner: Bryan Barton (Oakton, VA), Dave Gibbons (Washington, D.C.), Larry Ryan (New Braunfels, TX), Ron Gallagher (Poquoson, VA), John Warburton (Middletown, VA), Steve Wilson (Mathews, VA), Chandler Williams (Midlothian, VA) and Walt Jeffress (Fairfax, VA). At the VMICitadel football game, I also ran into John Hart

Class of 1967: Jim Wilson and his new bride, Liep Thi Pham. The couple was married in January 2013 and celebrated with a honeymoon cruise.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES (Staunton, VA) and Howard Donald (Richmond, VA). Everyone seemed to be doing well. Wayne Burton (Saint Marys, GA): “Carole and I joined our son who lives in England and attended the London Olympics. We also spent a week in Ireland. We made most of the football games in South and North Carolina this fall.” Ran into Howie Chapman (Mount Pleasant, SC) at the Charleston Southern game: “I finally graduated into full retirement after retiring in March 2010 and working half time as a consultant for the Navy until January 2012.” Skip Roberts (Lexington, VA): “I now have Kay getting a check from our government, and I have two Medicare cards – don’t ask me why – maybe I can get double benefits.” The Farmers (Edmonds, WA) were with us for the weekend attending their son, Kyle’s, last soccer game. We joined them for the team dinner. It was a very impressive group of cadets. They make us all proud. Jim Burns (Henrico, VA): “Going up to ‘The I’ this Saturday (Dec. 1) to catch the baseball game and may get to take my grandson, since he is provisionally accepted for VMI ’33. All is well.” Greg Wall (Keswick, VA): “I am doing fine, semi-retired and working three days a week, well more than that at the moment, but that’s the goal. Feel fortunate to be in good health and in ‘reasonably’ good shape.” John Warburton: “Retirement is going great guns! We had an 18-day driving trip in early September to the Black Hills, Yellowstone and the Tetons. I took my BMW on one of ‘National Geographics’ Drives of a Lifetime,’ traveling the Bear Tooth Highway from Red Lodge, MT, to the NE entrance to Yellowstone. The road is nearly 70 miles of driving fun and wonderful views. Leaving Red Lodge, the road climbs several thousand feet and crosses Bear Tooth Pass at just under 11K feet elevation. After Yellowstone, we headed south to Jackson. As I was having morning coffee at a B&B there, a huge bull moose just wandered into the yard. I stared him down, and he just stood there and posed for pictures for several minutes. Now that we are back to reality, I spend most of my free time tutoring high school kids in math, and Anne is busy with volunteer work for the local free clinic and hospice.” Dick Wise (Richmond, VA): “Joyce and I bought a new house in May 2011. Have done some minor renovations and enjoy it immensely. Also, I got a new knee last May and am walking better than I have in a long time. See BRs Walton (Richmond, VA) and Donald on a regular basis, and we grouse continually about politics and the state of the VMI football program. Speaking for myself, if I had any sense, I wouldn’t bother about it, but blood’s

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thicker than water, and I grew up rooting for the Insty! My love/hate relationship with golf has grown exponentially, and I played recently with BRs Kevin Henry (Winston-Salem, NC), Johnnie Kemper (Richmond, VA) and Howard Donald as the fourth member of our team in the Two Bellies Tournament in Petersburg. Kevin had just returned to the ranks of the healthy, as he had been pretty much disabled by a ruptured disk in his neck, but surgery repaired it, and he was swinging his clubs OK. However, his tongue was as acerbic as ever. BTW, he was promoted to president of RMIC in WinstonSalem about a year ago. Don’t know if we should congratulate him or sympathize. Coach Kemper is still rolling along very successfully with his consulting business. However, his real love is the VMI baseball program. Howard is enjoying his condo, which he gutted completely and renovated. We play golf often, as we’re both retired, and he’s very patient with me on the course, as I continually slice, hook and nub. BR Walton is still behind the plow, so to speak. However, there’s no point in his retiring, as he’s the only person I ever heard of who works for the government out of his own house!” Steve Wilson: “I retired from SAIC on Oct. 31 after 10 years. Am beginning to enjoy retirement, but we’re still staying busy! Have started a second year as Rappahannock Chapter president. I finish up the second year as Mathews Yacht Club Commodore on Dec. 31 and will remain on the board of directors as the immediate past commodore. I also remain active volunteering with the county’s New Point Comfort Lighthouse Preservation Task Force and the Mathews County Historical Society.” Bob McDowell (Friday Harbor, WA): “I retired from Microsoft in January 2012 after 22 years and 44 in the IT business. I have joined the board of ACTA in D.C. and plan to get more involved in efforts to stem the crazy growth in higher education costs. I am working on a book that will focus on my years at Microsoft and what I think I learned about the impact of culture on the success of an organization. Lissa and I will be spending regular time in Scotland, as I am serving on boards related to higher education there, as well. Will also continue some consulting and public speaking. We see Pete and Patty Farmer often, as well as Skip and Kay Roberts.” Creigh Kelley (Centennial, CO): [The VMI postcard picture of a hurdler is] how I am right now. (You may not remember, but Coach Cormack made me be a steepler, and I might’ve held the VMI record for a very brief time!) I feel much like I’m trying to clear hurdles and am part way through the 3000 meters. Many of our BRs have fought and won their cancer fight, and they serve as an inspiration to me right

now. It was wonderful to watch Don Lynch (Virginia Beach, VA) spring into action when he learned of my cancer! My journey officially started in mid-September, and I’m now in the midst of eight chemo infusions. No one has suggested that this is easy, and it isn’t. I plan to be back training in the next month. (Going from four to eight hard miles/day and racing, to zip and walking has slapped me a bit!) From Tom Burnett (Midlothian, VA) to dozens of other BRs, the support has been fantastic and provides me with the kick in the pants that I need.” John English (Richmond, VA): “Don’t have a lot of news to report. My mother passed away in June. I’d been in a caregiver situation with her over the last 15 years. I still do the software developing/consulting thing and work on my music when I can find the time. Been thinking of retiring but probably won’t for a while. I run into Dave Law (Reston, VA) and Jack Bagby (Floyd, VA) from time to time – all of us are moth-eaten geezer pirates these days but with a few good stories between us.” Larry Ryan: “It is always good to return to the Institute. The Corps looked great on parade, and my visit to the Barracks reaffirmed that things keep getting better. Every cadet I passed offered a greeting, and no one was cutting the Rats any slack. The Institute Society Dinner was enjoyable. It was great to catch up with Ron Gallagher, but we missed seeing two of the usual suspects – Jim Burns and JB Timmons (Winston Salem, NC). I had planned to retire at the end of the year, but as the date approached, I lost my nerve. So, I’m negotiating for a new assignment, and it looks like it will be in Central Asia – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. But one of the requirements is that I have to be able to spell it without using spell check. I will also insist that my leave is pre-approved for early September next year. “I work at Fort Sam Houston but live in New Braunfels – about a 40-minute commute but a really wonderful community with both German and Hispanic heritage. Barry and Iris Archer (New Braunfels, TX) are over in the rich part of town. I can usually find them Saturday afternoons at Greune Hall – the oldest dance hall in Texas. They sit out about every fifth dance, and Barry and I alternate telling each other tall tales. The fact that we have heard them all before is immaterial, as our memories are not that great either. Barry and I occasionally ride our motorcycles in the Texas Hill Country, but Barry refuses to take me to Bubbas Big Deck, the local Bandito handout, because I just have a puny 1200cc bike. “Last spring, I did some hiking in the Tucson area and spent some time with Ned and Cornelia Harris (Ipswich, MA) at their winter residence in Phoenix. (They split their summers

CLASS NOTES between Ipswich, MA, and North Dakota.) Ned and I drove up to Prescott and had a nice visit with Jim Burg (Prescott Valley, AZ). Jim looks good and has amassed an incredible number of volunteer hours at the local veterans hospital, helping a new generation of vets make their difficult transitions.” John Kemper: “This past week, Steve Powers (Malvern, PA) and I went to Morgantown to watch the Keydets play WVU. Prior to the game, WVU honored our former VMI coach, Gary McPherson, for his 40 years of service to WVU. Steve and I participated in the event at mid-court and presented coach a framed picture of our 1967-68 VMI team.” Hal Hostetler (Portsmouth, VA, from his Christmas letter): “After 30 years serving Uncle Sam’s Army (active, Guard, Reserve), we are enjoying supporting our current and past defenders of the nation in Richmond and Washington. Besides membership in the VFW and American Legion, I am enjoying serving with our local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Brenda and I’ve enjoyed serving our Lord together, as we have done since back at Cradock High. We’ve tried to keep physically fit swimming, run-walking, bowling and shooting pool and have enjoyed yard work and firewood splitting and hauling. Except for little stuff, we’ve remained in good health. I’m still playing clarinet in The Tidewater Concert Band (rehearsing every Tuesday night and performing 28 times last year.) The Virginia Baptist Male Chorale performed five times this year.” Bob Schmalzriedt (Marietta, GA): “The kids pestered me for two years, so I put together a family reunion. Twenty-two of us were at Seaside Heights, NJ. On the last day that the boardwalk rides were open, Sept. 10, all the kids got to ride the roller coaster before it landed in the ocean from Hurricane Sandy.” Ron Stultz (Fairfax, VA, from his Christmas letter): “Elliot Steven Cook was born to our daughter, Julie, and Paul Cook in October. Julie and Paul now have two children, Rylen and Elliott. Our daughter, Zooey, and Dan Smith have two children, Olivia (5) and Reese (3). Our son, Jeff, and Mia Riddle were married in May in upper state New York. Candy Stultz is now manager of the Locker Room restaurant and bar in Richmond. Wife Priscilla, like the Energizer Bunny, keeps going and going, with a tourist trip to Alaska and a special flight to the Arctic Circle; exploring and expanding her creative, artist talents; selling various creations at local craft fairs; attending various craft guild meetings; and eBay shopping for the grandkids. I continue to add ‘how to’ and, now and then, ponder an article on my website: www. ronstultz.com.”

Jim Polley (Stafford, VA, from his Christmas letter): “Wife Jessica made her annual pilgrimage to the mid-Atlantic quilt show in Norfolk – her 19th straight year. Other trips include a trip to Fort Hood, TX, to promote Charles to captain. Jessica and I each got to pin a captain’s bar on him. The one Jessica pinned on was one that both she and I had worn as captains. The one I pinned on was worn by my grandfather in World War I.” Later, Jim posted on Facebook: “Small World Dept. – am at Guantanamo Bay working on the 9/11 trials. I wear my security badges on a VMI lanyard, and as I was leaving the court yesterday, got stopped by an Army major. He asked if I went to VMI, and when I responded yes, he asked if I knew a Denny Long. Said I did, and the major told me how great our BR had been to him as a mentor and had convinced him to go into the Army JAG. The major said that when he was commissioned, Denny was the one who swore him into the Army. Nice to know that Dennis left such legacy.” Kit Tyler (Midlothian, VA): “In May 2012, our youngest son, Chandler, graduated from UVa. It was a grand celebration with our three children and five grandchildren.” Di Johnson (Humble, TX, from his Christmas letter): “Suzie maintains her keen love of tennis and plays at least three times a week. Suzie and I increased our activities in our two churches, one in Texas and the other in New York, as we travel a lot more often between the two homes.” Walt Jeffress: “Suellen is retiring after 34 years with the federal government. We are going to Hawaii for a month to celebrate. VMI recently added Bob McDowell to the Foundation Board of Trustees to join me, Bryan Barton and Dave Gibbons (four from VMI ’68 – not bad!).” John Ivy (Austin, TX): “Just retired from my faculty position at The University of Texas. I was awarded emeritus status (Teresa Lozano Long Endowed Chair Emeritus) and allowed to keep my research laboratory. I plan to continue my research until I have graduated all of my graduate students and my research funding expires. Hopefully, they occur simultaneously.” Mike Robertson (Richmond, WA): “I retired for the second time July 31, 2012. Took a voluntary retirement from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory here in Richland, WA, after 23 and one-half years. So after 21 years in the Army and 23 at the lab, we shifted to the role of full-time grandparents. After years of wondering if Sally and I would ever see any, we now have two, with a third on the way. Hope to make the reunion. Sally had major back surgery in October and healing has been a painful process. Will have to see how that plays out.” Bill Bouck: “We are now residents of Florida

– we sold our home in New York and bought a smaller place in Deerfield Beach, FL. We are just 15 minutes from Bill and Vicki Cobb (Pompano Beach, FL). Bill and I golf and fish together all the time. Fishing has been very productive on the ‘Good to me.’ Ask Rick Brothers (Sedona, AZ) about his 10-foot hammerhead during their last visit.” Bill Millan (Arlington, VA): “Susan and I remain in good health and working full time, she as a teacher and I for the Nature Conservancy. I recently visited our conservation work in the Dominican Republic. I helped author a piece of legislation, the Global Conservation Act, which got 50 members as sponsors but ran out of time in the 2012 Congress. We hope to see it re-introduced in 2013. Over the holidays, Susan and I visited New Jersey and, while there, bought the house in which she was raised. We may retire there (2014 at the earliest) or may keep it as an investment. In June, I will go with Joe LeVine (Panama City, FL), and Hal Switzer (Cambridge, MD) to England for a 10day walking tour of the countryside. In 2014, probably in October, I plan to go to Spain and hike at least 100 kilometers of the pilgrim way to Santiago. Anyone interested in joining that later scheme, please contact me.” Bob Crenshaw (Fletcher, NC): “In 2009, I got married to a wonderful gal, Veronica. After getting married, Veronica and I lived in Plumtree, NC, where I worked for the County of Avery until we decided that we needed to be closer to an airport, since Veronica’s work requires quite a bit of travel. We wanted to stay in the mountains, so in 2011 we moved to a small town called Fletcher which is only a few miles south of Asheville. As a ‘retiree,’ I have been fortunate to be able to tag along on Veronica’s travel and recently spent time in Berlin and Paris. I also volunteer at the Asheville V.A. Hospital about one or two days a week. This has been a tremendous experience for me, since I work with the wounded vets and help out in the executive office, doing everything from answering phones to computer projects.” Skip Anders (Mesa, AZ): “Marta and I continue to enjoy retirement in Arizona. Substitute teaching gigs are few and far between here in the East Valley/Mesa area. Marta is singing in a local chorus, and I frequently make it to a local firing range. We did return to the East Coast briefly for Christmas with family in New York.” M.L. Buchanan (Salisbury, NC): “Valerie and I have finally made the full transition from federal employment (we were both w/CIA) in northern Virginia to full retirement in Salisbury, NC. We have been in the new home since October, and our home of 27 years in Virginia was sold in November, after a four-hour listing! We had a wonderful Christmas with the extended

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES to their neighbor, Maj. Gen. John Knapp ’54. Bob Sparks announced in late November that he had “retired from the practice of law in the northern Virginia area after many years.” He and his wife will split their time between Annapolis, MD, and Delray Beach, FL, “following the sun.” Good move! I tracked down Dr. Jerry Fresia with a lot of help from the Alumni Association and was very glad I did. Jerry has changed his life work in a meaningful way: from political science professor to professional artist! “Briefly, I went from EE at VMI to getting an M.A. in poly sci at Purdue … then after four years in the Air Force, Walter Judd I returned to grad school at UMass, Amherst, where I got a Ph.D. in poly sci … I then went on to teach here and there … Meanwhile, I had always studied painting; in fact, I did it at VMI. So, when I was 40, I decided to drop out of academia and try to become a professional artist in Greetings, BRs and friends of the class of San Francisco. Long story, but it sort of worked 1969. Winter is predicted to leave soon, but out. Then, in 2004, my wife and I moved to the groundhog forgot to tell Mother Nature. Italy. I had Italian grandparents, so I am now It is mid-February in Tidewater, VA, and still a dual citizen. I teach painting workshops on blustery. Lake Como, and we will be opening a gallery Eugene Wynne Browning lost his three-year in Bellagio in the spring … we had one on this battle with cancer on Dec. 19, 2012. His wife, less-touristy side of the lake for two years, so Pat, called me the first week in January and we hope to do better in Bellagio, which is the passed the word. I sent out the message, and commercial center on the lake. I have been several BRs went to the associated activities. making my living as an artist now for 23 years. Tom Buckner, Tom Hunt, Paul Curs, Bob It’s a hustle.” See this website for more info: Flint, Harold Fleischer, Win Winfree and Knox http://www.fresia.com/paintings/ or http://jerryHubard shared messages about or with Wynne. fresia.fineartamerica.com/. Glenn White went to the visitation on Jan. 17, Joe Howard sent this update: “Volunteered where John Sebrell and Bob and Lush Heely, for retirement in April when Los Alamos along with Buddy Bryan and Mike Strickler of needed to reduce the rolls from 7,500 full-time the VMI staff, were there for his memorial service … they received 565 retirees with a ‘golden on the 18th. Pat Browning told me she apprecihandshake.’ So, after 36 and one-half years ated all the e-mails that BRs sent to Wynne and (and two years of accumulated sick leave!), I said he enjoyed the memories of which you guys left the work that I thoroughly enjoyed. I kept reminded him. Apparently, Wynne was a real the badge as a ‘guest scientist,’ but expert in, and enjoyed very much, I think I will give that up after the model railroads, donating his time Christmas break … I have so much and experience to several clubs and to do and am really enjoying doing groups. Harold Fleischer replied to the things that I want (and, around the first message, “Paul Bross and I the house, need) to do.” When I roomed with Wynne when we were mentioned I was getting closer thirds. The three of us then went into to that phase, Joe replied: “Look a five-man room with Jim Boggs and forward to it, Walt; it is really a Larry Reigner. I have not seen him in wonderful new phase of life.” Joe a long time, but he has always been also had successful cataract surgery a good BR.” Win Winfree pointed and was pleased with the results. out he had roomed with Wynne, as Thanks to all who sent Christwell, for a spell. mas cards and greetings. One from Spunky Butler sent me a tale I Bruce Gregory arrived via e-card. believed totally. He went to a Civil It was an interesting way to send War show just after Thanksgiving greetings. Bob Ladd sent his letter in the Richmond area and found for Class of 1969: Attending the Lynchburg, Virginia, Chapter via e-mail and mentioned he had sale a VMI coatee for only $18,000. Valentine’s Hop on Feb. 2, 2013, were, from left, Bob Watts, The tag with the coat said it matched purchased Ransone’s Drug Store Lush Heely, Elizabeth Watts and Bob Heely, president of uniforms worn in 1864. Other than its in Buchanan, VA, so he is back in The VMI Alumni Association. tiny waist, Spunky said it could have the pharmacy business. His new family in Cape Cod, a trip to NYC at the end of the year, and have entered 2013 lien free, almost healthy and blessed beyond our expectations. We welcomed a second grandchild, Matas Jonas, in March and baptized him on Dec. 29 in Brooklyn. He joins his older sister, Gabija Anastasia, both of whom have provisional appointments in the 2030 time frame! Our son and daughter-in-law are still in law enforcement with the USG in Washington/Maryland/northern Virginia, and our daughter continues as an RN in an OR in Portland, OR.

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been one of ours! Save your old stuff and pass it down, so your great-great-grandkids can pay for a month or two in college! When VMI played the Citadel in early November, a lot of BRs came to the game. Jim Long helped me keep track of everyone at the game. “By my count, I believe we had 15 BRs at the game: Jim Long, Bunny Paulette, TO Palmer, Dave Prugh, Ron Wall, Peyton Brown, Tom Catlett, TB Thompson, John Sebrell, Ned Caldwell, Bob Heely, Courtenay Welton, Walt Judd and Charlie Bryan. Great turnout, and we almost pulled it off.” I checked with Mike Santoro later and learned he was also in the crowd. At the early season basketball game the weekend before, Jim saw John and Sallie Sebrell, Ralph Wright and Mike Hanna in the crowd. VMI beat the Frostburg State University team coached by BR Webb Hatch. Also, in late November, I went to Norfolk to witness the Keydet victory over Old Dominion University. TO Palmer, Drew and Carol Brantley, Bob and Lush Heely, John Ishon and I first ate dinner and drank a few libations and then cheered loudly, as the basketball team won one on the road. After the formal VMI Institute Society Dinner the night before the Citadel football game, Bob and Lush Heely invited all BRs attending the dinner to his (president of the Alumni Association suite) in Moody Hall for a nightcap. The formal attire and friendship of the BRs and their wives made the short affair a delightful occasion. Mike and Martha Santoro, Dave and Susan Prugh, Courtenay and Ellen Welton, Charlie and Cammy Bryan, Bunny and Carolyn Paulette, and Beverly and me joined Bob and Lush for the occasion. John and Sallie Sebrell attended the dinner but had to miss the postdinner activities, as they provided transportation

CLASS NOTES ganized crime is an interesting shift. eight Hannas together and said five were medihome project is a cool roadster featuring a In my cards sent out in December, I requested cal doctors! Mike, Bobbi and three daughters 1937 Ford body and a large 1957 engine. Doug e-mail addresses from anyone not getting reguwere in one shot. Quite a feat. Glenn HamMarks took a few moments on Christmas lar messages from me. Ralph Wright responded mond and Charlie Bryan both sent the same Eve to reflect on good fortune and life well right away. So did Bob Hixon, Tom Hunt and sentiment: grandkids are great! Roy Swatts lived. The next day he reported was fun: “The Hugh Tompkins. When I asked Bob about what did them one better and sent a photo of him five grandkids here ranged in age from 6 and he was doing after completing the underground and his grandson fishing on New Year’s Day. one-half to almost 2. They were an excited visitors’ center on the Washington, D.C., mall, For the record, I did obtain for my grandson bunch! We had a great time.” He also reported he said, “Surprised you knew about CVC. Lot a provisional appointment into the VMI class his latest granddaughter had been born just of fun turning that project around. Retired from of 2034 and noted John Sebrell has done the a few weeks earlier, so six is his total of same for his granddaughter. Col. Vern Beitzel grandkids at this time! Doug is now recovering the government after CVC and went to work in the private sector as a construction manager, ’72, director of Admissions, can help anyone from hip replacement surgery and hopes to be who wants to follow our lead. ready to play golf this summer. Sending cards working first for Hill International running the Tom Morris sent his big news at the end of were Peyton and Gail Brown, Rich Roberts, D.C. office, and then for the past year and a half last year: “I sold my practice at 2:20 p.m. toJohn and Carol Edenfield, Larry Riegner, with McDonough Bolyard Peck. Just starting day! I will help with the transitions until July 1 Webb Hatch, Gordon and Pat Bailey, Pat the Cannon House Office Building Renewal when I will be officially retired.” In later conand Tricia Branch (with pictures of kids and project which will take 13 years to complete.” versation, I learned he had started actions that grandkids!), Mike and Mary Giles, Courtney As I mentioned to him, it is good to have a way in the summer and gained the opportunity and Ellen Welton, Geoff and Frances Taylor, long-term project as your end-of-career job. to sell to a professional from northern Virginia Sam Hoffman, Wayne Keesee, Harold and I also sent our family Christmas letter to who had family in the Williamsburg area. Tom Jane Fleischer, Jim and Beth Long, Mike some BRs and heard back from many. Al gave a shout out to Dustin DeVore ’94 for and Leigh Harper (the same guy who rode Pond, Mike Hanna, Biker Bob Ladd and Don handling the details. Way to go, Dustin! Not his bicycle 66 miles on his 66th birthday!), Mercer checked in. Mike sent a picture of bad for a Marine! Bob and Sandy Clingenpeel, and Lew Henderson sent an update Eileen Nohava. from California: “We have moved Paul and Marsha Kowalski are from our vineyard to a house now both retired and enjoying three in Paso Robles … still have the grandchildren, all living near their vineyard, just needed to be in Lexington, KY, home. Tommy Hudtown a lot more, since I retired son had full shoulder replacement from Northrop Grumman.” When surgery this past year and according I asked him if his grapes were to Ginger, Thornton Newlon and any good, he replied, “‘Good’ is a Spunky Butler assisted in the PT relative term. Our grapes have been after the surgery. Not sure if they just sold to Bogle, Lineshack and othgave him a ride or stayed to encourers. I make about a barrel of wine age or yelled at him to shape up! for our own consumption and gifts. Ken Houston’s update included: Because we only have Cabernet “Just wanted to let you know I’m Sauvignon grapes, we have nothing still alive and kicking. I’m running Class of 1969: From left, Hugh Hopkins, Bob Clingenpeel with which to blend. Cab Sauv is my seniors-only insurance business and Dennis Witt in Phoenix, Arizona, September 2012. a strong-flavored Bordeaux, often very successfully and teaching as an referred to as a ‘Big Red’ (sound adjunct instructor at the local comfamiliar?). So, bottles of pure Cab munity college. I teach reading and are an acquired taste. Some folks writing to the substandard level. (We like it and ask for more. Others used to call this remedial, but now it’s (like my own wife!) would prefer ‘developmental.’) I teach 085 and something a little less ‘mouth 095 classes in English (mathematics filling.’” I also mentioned Rick has 065, 075,085, 095!) to students Snow grew grapes and got paid in trying to get to the 100 level (basic bottles of wine. Again, Lew: “We college 101) courses, and what I see have six acres of grapes and four is a disaster.” Ken is challenged by of oak trees in a part of southern his students and their lack of preMonterey County about 80 miles paredness for college classes. south of Monterey. Rick’s is a great Dr. Rick Morris wrote about his solution, but I enjoy the hands-on present assignment – to El Paso, TX: part of making the wine. We do “I am working counter transnational often have a harvesting party for organized crime issues in support of friends, and that is the grape juice law enforcement agencies for U.S. Class of 1969: Scott Rhodes, left, and Don Mercer got we use to make our own wine. If Northern Command in a three- to together shortly after Thanksgiving 2012 in Tidewater, you get out this way and are into four-year excursion to El Paso.” Virginia, for a short visit. wine, Paso Robles is the new Napa, From Army doctrine to counter- or-

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CLASS NOTES and Monterey County sells more wine grapes than Napa/Sonoma.” I need to schedule a visit to the left coast! Tom and Karen Buckner sent a newsy letter in December. All kids out of school and two grandkids set the stage for their life. The other relevant sentence was, “Tom and Karen are still working with no plans to retire.” I noted before Christmas that Courtney Apperson had a South Carolina address versus one near London, so I asked him: “Yes, we recently completed our UK assignment and have returned to our home in Lexington, SC.” Joe Flanz sent an interesting tidbit. He discovered VMI had an exchange program with the Japan Defense Academy and met the visiting cadet from Hakkodate, Hokkaido Island, before Thanksgiving. He invited the young man to his home for the holidays, and Michie ensured he got traditional Japanese dishes every day. Cadet Takada (family name) Shintaro, a second classman, lives in Barracks but wears his own uniform and does not have to parade. Joe also took him to the Marine Corps Museum and Arlington Cemetery during his break. Hugh Hopkins had a good vacation trip in September: “Dennis Witt, along with his wife, Anne, Adrianne and I went on our Wild West Trip. Dennis and Anne attended a wedding in Denver, CO. We flew out to meet them the last week in September. From there, we went to Moab, UT, and spent time at Arches NP and Canyon Lands NP. We traveled by rented SUV to Bryce Canyon NP and onto the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for two days, including a side trip to Zion NP. Then we saw the South Rim of the Canyon and spent a night in Flagstaff, AZ. We continued to Sedona, AZ, and finally into Phoenix where we visited with Bob and Sandy Clingenpeel for several days. We had a great time and highly recommend the trip to anyone. Those parks are awe inspiring and truly worth the trip.” Dr. Bob Slay is staying creative: “I have written a book, soon to be published, on lifestyle and diet. Those of you with waists at or above 40 inches should [try hard to] make the next reunion, because you will be dead or too infirm to travel for the one five years later. Impressive studies have shown that much of the hypertension, diabetes, joint disease, cancers and hyperlipidemia you are suffering from can be reversed. See the documentary, ‘Forks over Knives’ available on Netflix. ‘The Doctors’ Diet for Doctors’ consists of only four large food groups: (1) Grains and cereals, (2) Vegetables, (3) Fruits, (4) Protein, nuts and healthy fats.” Ask Bob or me for more literature about the new book. In an entirely different conversation, I helped Bob connect with his dyke from Rat year. John Turner ’66

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of Virginia Beach was at the ODU game and told outrageous stories about his inept Rat – one Bob Slay. I assured him his Rat had done pretty well for himself after VMI … One more “outrageous” story. This time from Dr. Tom Jones about him and his wife and fellow tri-athlete, Elizabeth: “Nov. 3rd, E[lizabeth] and I, with 3000 others, began the Florida Ironman in Panama City, Florida. Despite Elizabeth crashing and fracturing the head of her arm bone, we swam 2.4 miles in the ocean – not calm, rode our bikes 112 miles and then ran a marathon. I did 13 hours, 56 min., and E was 13 hours, 59 min. I was 4th in age group 65 to 69 and so stood proudly at the awards ceremony. I ran into VMI ’90 and VMI ’59 grads.” After the race, E had the arm X-rayed and learned of the hairline break in her elbow. When I saw her two weeks later in Lexington, her arm was still black and blue. Apparently, she broke the arm in the bike ride when another racer ran into her, but she kept on moving. I do believe there really is “mind over matter” for this group of athletes. As I wind down in this quarter’s news, I go back to last Friday evening in Lexington. VMI basketball had an early February Friday night game on ESPNU, and the crowd was gathering. Keydet Club President Bunny Paulette was in a pub in Key West with the game channel tuned in. Members of the Keydet Club met for a light dinner in Moody Hall, and the excitement grew. Ralph and Mary Alice Wright, Jim and Beth Long, and Ron and Betsy Wall joined John Sebrell and me for the party. VMI’s seventh largest crowd (over 4,100 fans) nearly filled the Cameron Hall facility and the newly minted (just “broken out”) fourth classmen were out in force. The game was exciting and close for the first half. Although the second half was not as good for the home team, all of us there enjoyed the game and the level of play. For the record, Mav went up to singer Bruce Hornsby after the game to congratulate him on his son’s spirited play. The excitement of the game was a terrific counterplay to the news about feet of snow dumping in New England that night and jump-started my fine mid-winter visit to Lexington and the Institute. Time to advise you to put this save-the-date reminder on your calendar: Sept. 18-21, 2014. That is our next reunion weekend. If you want to help in some way, contact committee chair Ron Wall, rwall2@nc.rr.com, and volunteer your services. If you have photos you want to share, contact Dr. Pat King at drpd123@aol. com. And for certain, keep those contributions coming to VMI on a regular and frequent basis. All of them count toward our 50th Reunion totals. In the Spirit, Walt

’70

Warren Grasty

Before getting to the meat of this issue of class notes, I must take this opportunity to make a confession. I can no longer hide from the truth and must admit that I lip-synced the previous class notes. In my defense, it was very cold back then. Luckily, none other than Aretha Franklin has weighed in on this issue and opined that, under those conditions, lip-syncing is perfectly acceptable, a sure sign of r-e-s-pe-c-t. While I am at it, I should also admit to my use of PEDs (i.e., Performance Enhancing Doughnuts). But hey, all the class agents do it. Now that I have cleared my conscience, I want to say “thank you” for the many Christmas cards we received during the holidays, from which some of the following updates have been extracted. One of the most memorable was from Dave and Pam Lawrence, who wrote that Dave is still with Lockheed Martin “selling things that don’t exist to customers who can’t afford them.” Which has to be a more profitable strategy than the Manti T’eo method of selling things that do exist to customers who don’t. Anyway, at least Pam is providing a net benefit to society through her volunteer work in their church’s Women’s Ministry. Down the coast in San Diego, son Brian should have his M.B.A. in hand this spring at about the time wife Danielle receives her master’s in education, whereupon they could be considered masters of their own fate. Meanwhile, son Greg graduated with honors from San Francisco State University in molecular biology with a minor in chemistry. Graduate school looms. Dave was joined at roommate Jeff Guild’s memorial reception and funeral on Feb. 5-6 by Jeff’s other roommates, Bob Grossman and Dave Trenholm. Also attending were Mike Carruth, Ralph Costen, Ben Dick, Dewey George, Chad Lash, Russ Marshall, Bill Richardson, Bill O’Connor and Roland Vaughan. By all reports, it was a moving and inspirational service. After the funeral, Mike Carruth graciously hosted our Brother Rats for lunch at the Army-Navy Club. Quite a few of us had the pleasure of meeting Jeff’s son, Navy SEAL Jeff Guild ’94, last November at halftime of the VMI/Citadel football game in Lexington. Brother Rats in attendance included John Bailey, Herb Braun, Tommy Cooke, Don Crawford, Ben Dick, Bill Gearhart, Jim Gillespie, Paul Munch, Bill O’Connor, Kent Schlussel, Carl Strock, Donnie Wheatley, Chuck Wills and Tom Zarges.

CLASS NOTES nate case with many of us, Bob says his son is the Powhatan County administrator, he ran into The overwhelming response from our class smarter and more athletic than he is. Carson Tucker. Unfortunately, they only had during the elongated process impressed Jeff so Gary Bubb chimed in saying that he and time to exchange pleasantries, which, as you much that he now wants to start rebuilding his Janice recently retired to their farm in Georgia, may know with Gary, doesn’t take all that long. relationships with his Brother Rats, which had where they now enjoy a much slower pace of gone dormant for years. I am sure they will ben- As you may also know, Carson has served on life. Hedging their bets a bit, they have kept the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors for efit from this as much as Jeff will. their home in Jacksonville, FL. Somewhat a number of years. Sadly, November also brought the passing surprisingly, Gary finds spending his days with From the Left Coast, Bob Grossman reports of Richard Cabaniss in St. Kitts on the 26th. his Black Angus cattle much more enjoyable that he has been keeping relatively busy in the Richard was buried in his family’s cemetery in than doing so with other lawyers, as was the Williamsville, VA, at a private service. The only two-plus years since he retired. Wife Tari is in case before retirement. Gary keeps occasional her 13th year as a California Superior Court thing he wanted on his headstone other than tabs on Mike Snead and looks forward to chatjudge. After recently finishing a five-year asdates was “VMI ’70.” A memorial service will ting up other Brother Rats now that he has been signment in charge of child dependency, where be held this spring. Our deepest sympathies go ensnared by the class’s BR e-mail list. she had the responsibility for handling cases to Nancy, daughter Courtney May and the rest After spending Thanksgiving in Maine, Ned involving abused children, she now presides of Richard’s family. Haley and Fricka Raycroft returned via State The annual VMI Foundation Institute Society over much less emotional civil trials in Ventura College, PA, to witness son Adam receiving his Dinner was held in George C. Marshall ’901 Hall County. Son Tommy is 15 years old and attends Ph.D. in English literature. For Christmas, they on Post the evening of Nov. 9. Joining Liz and me Foothill Technology High School but plays flew to Qatar (which translates roughly to “our for this impressive event were Bill and Marilyn sports at Ventura High School. As is the fortubuildings are shinier than yours”) Huffman, Kent and Judy Schlussel, to spend the holidays with Patrick and Carl and Julie Strock. If you and his wife, Jennifer, where have never been through the Hall of Patrick is a pilot for Qatar Airlines. Valor in Marshall Hall, you should Their return was delayed two make an attempt to do so. It contains weeks, until standby seats finally over 4,000 medals awarded to over became available on the once-a-day 1,000 VMI men. A very impressive flight. Daughter Caitlin and hubby display. Justin live in Richmond, where The first weekend in November Caitlin joined mom in a play during saw a later-than-usual recurrence of the year. Ned has finally crossed the fall Outer Banks golf weekend over into full retirement mode, at Charlie and Margaret Walker’s which is good because he was beach home in Corolla, NC. Joining already doing pretty much full time Charlie in this cathartic event were volunteer work at their church. John Bailey, Herb Braun, Jim MawAlso gallivanting around the yer, Gary Weishaar and yours truly. Class of 1970: Visiting Don McQueen at his home in world over the holidays, A.C. and Speaking of Gary, in early Marietta, Georgia, fall 2012, were, from left, Cameron Beth Arnn traveled to visit son November, he e-mailed me that, Seay, Ed Trinkle, Don McQueen and Phil Anderson. Patrick in Aviano, Italy, where he while trolling for business from

Class of 1970: In Vero Beach, Florida, were, from left, Mark and Sandy Albright, John and Carolyn McLemore, and Marky and Ed Trinkle.

had recently returned after seven months of flying surveillance missions over Afghanistan. Daughter Sara teaches fourth grade in Burlington, NC, while hubby Michael serves on the fire and rescue squad. Having gotten reasonably settled near Columbia, SC, Beth plans on spending full time on her artwork this year. Season’s greetings also came wafting in from Jay and Liz Tice in Ridgeland, MS, where Jay had a major ablation procedure for atrial fibrillation early last year. Luckily, all is well. In November, Jay was promoted to vice president of Innovate Mississippi, the parent company of the not-for-profit engineering, training and consulting organization for which he has worked for the past seven years. In September, son J.J. turned seven, and after reading half a page about his numerous exploits and activities, I am exhausted. In late December, I met up in D.C. with Reed Heddleston, Glenn Kuntz, Russ Marshall and Ash Ormes for the Keydet Club pre-game

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CLASS NOTES brunch and basketball game against George Washington University. And in mid-January, John Bailey and I trekked to Lexington for the mid-week game against Campbell University, where we met up with Kevin Handford ’90. The Keydets put on the best performance I have seen from them in quite a while. Also in late December, Liz and I had the pleasure of joining John and June Bailey, Charlie and Margaret Walker, and Margaret’s twin sister, Katherine, and her husband at the Kennedy Center for “Million Dollar Quartet.” It recounted the historical evening of Dec. 4, 1956, in the Sun Recording Studio in Memphis where Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash happened to meet up. The show revolved around their impromptu jam session. Quite a show and quite an evening, even for the non-Tweets present. George Ritko writes that he attended the funeral of Macon “Mo” Michaux ’48B in January. As a result, George is now the senior VMI alumnus in Goldsboro, NC. Not that this qualifies for the key to the city but a notable distinction nonetheless. He also admits that, during his three-month recuperation from knee replacement surgery, he “didn’t miss work at all” (Hello George!), ergo his planned retirement on April 11, which will be his 65th birthday. From nearby Fayetteville, NC, I am glad to report that we can all hold our heads high knowing that Diehl Jones had a big, bold “70” painted on the latest entry in his collection of racing automobiles. Actually, it is a 1957 BMW Isetta one-cylinder 13 Hp dynamo that looks even lamer than it sounds. Prior to seeing a picture of this creature, I had always been under the assumption that a racecar had a rather pointy front end, not a flat slab of glass and

metal, but not to worry – it has bug-eye headlights, too. Thanks, Diehl. I think. Meanwhile, in the great state of Utah, Jesse and Bobbye Glidewell attended the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, where it was below 0 degrees every morning. Jesse reports that the valleys were colder than the mountaintops and that they had to resort to skiing just to keep warm. Not to quibble, but I think I would have resorted to the fireplace. But then again, I’m a warm weather wimp. Speaking of cold, while in the midst of a nearly week-long string of sub-freezing days, both Ed Trinkle and John McLemore had the audacity to send me postcards from their Caribbean cruise with wives Marky and Carolyn in

Class of 1970: Attending the Institute Society Dinner at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, Nov. 9, 2012, were, from left, Kent and Judy Schlussel, Bill and Marilyn Huffman, Julie and Carl Strock, and Warren and Liz Grasty.

Class of 1970: Brother Rats met Jeff Guild’s son during halftime of the VMICitadel football game on Nov. 10, 2012. From left: Tom Cooke, Carl Strock, Kent Schlussel, Warren Grasty, Jeff Guild ’94, Bill Gearhart, Ben Dick, Bill O’Connor, Chuck Wills and Don Crawford.

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celebration of the McLemores’ 42nd wedding anniversary. Upon their return, Ed sent me a blow-by-blow write-up, which, mercifully for you people, exceeds my page limitation. However, while in Florida before embarking, they were able to meet up with Ed’s former roommate, Mark Albright, and his wife, Sandy, who live in Melbourne where Mark works at nearby Patrick AFB. Mark and Smack also worked together on The Cadet staff. The cruise included stops in the Bahamas, Aruba, Cartagena, ColonPanama and Costa Rica. The good news was that Marky won the cruise’s grand prize of a one-half carat yellow emerald. The bad news was that the only bag to fall off the luggage pallet into the drink during loading was Smack’s

briefcase, which included all his travel documents, books and iPad. At least he was safely wearing his 26-pocket Filson photographer’s vest, in which he stows his infamous VMI flag (see previous class notes) in a “secret” compartment. To add insult to injury, on the flight home to Nashville, one of John’s bags ended up in Pittsburgh. Further proof, as many of us have long thought, that Smack carries around just a little too much baggage. The week after their return home to Marietta, GA, upon completion of the cruise, Ed and Marky were invited by Don and Tucker McQueen to join them for dinner at their home, also in Marietta, with Phil and Carolyn Anderson and Cameron and Mary Seay who were visiting the area. The Andersons reported on their several trips to Tallahassee to see 3-yearold grandson Stanley, as well as their ongoing efforts as volunteers and budding pianists. Cameron relayed that he has recently submitted

CLASS NOTES not one, but two, applications for provisional appointments to the Institute for grandsons Joseph Cameron Shomo and Theodore Joseph Martin. Sadly, the highlight of the evening was the wives going through Don’s 1970 Bomb after dinner to determine which Brother Rat had aged the least gracefully. Next stop, the bingo parlor. Displaying somewhat better timing, Kent and Judy Schlussel waited until it warmed up again to tell me about their December trip to the Panama Canal. During their stay, they explored the local flora and fauna and even got in some zip lining. In January, they took their third trip in 18 months to Haiti, assisting doctors providing medical services. During their five days there, they saw over 3,000 patients, with Kent taking vital signs and Judy running the pharmacy. He says that there were a few signs of progress since their last visit – less trash in the streets and a few more paved roads. In Cap Haitian, where they stayed at night, three traffic lights had been installed. Of course, two of them did not work, and no one paid any attention to the third. Back home, Kent was called back into service, teaching at the community college after the instructor quit four weeks into the semester. Over the next few months, we will ponder some kind of class get-together in Charlottesville when the Keydets come to town to play football on Sept. 21st. Via our VMI ’70 Facebook page, Jerry Nickelsburg says that daughter Monica is a senior at NYU working toward a degree in history and journalism, and her senior thesis is based upon weaving a history of war through the eyes of veterans. Ned Snead also documented his end-of-year retirement as manager of Adult Substance Abuse Services at Chesterfield Mental Health Services. And Bill Scherer posted a disturbing photo of his own self and roommate Steve Waters taken in their room in Barracks

while assuming Hulk Hogan poses, wearing only their skivvies and aviator sunglasses. For once, I am at a loss for words. Just like clockwork, the annual Brother Rat golf outing in Myrtle Beach, known as GOMBACS, was held again in early February. Attendees were A.C. Arnn, John Bailey, Herb Braun, Gray Chandler, Tom Cooke, Tom Massey, Jim Mawyer, Bill O’Connor, Mike Snead, Charlie Walker, Gary Weishaar and yours truly. The level of golf talent on display was simply appalling. We are thinking of hiring Gordon Williams as an on-site golf instructor at future events. February also brought the relocation of Ben and Val Morris from San Diego to a waterfront home on Discovery Bay in northern California. Not only are they now near their daughter and three grandchildren, but Ben no longer has any horses, farm chores or a lawn to worry about. Which should leave time (and money) for a new boat. To paraphrase the old saying, the only thing better than owning a boat is having a Brother Rat who owns a boat. In April, our very own Dick Cheatham is scheduled to speak at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics during the Environment Virginia Symposium banquet and in a breakout session the following day on classic leadership lessons from history. This relates to a series of presentations Dick has been commissioned to do as John Clayton, author of Virginia’s first Flora in 1762. Although virtually unknown in America, Clayton was a highly regarded scientist in Europe and palled around with the likes of Carl Linnaeus and Benjamin Franklin. So, just for the record, let me see if I understand what’s going on here. Dick is being paid good money to impersonate a man whom no one can remember what he looked, sounded or acted like. Brilliant! Finally, we may have found just the man to negotiate peace in the Middle East.

Class of 1970: At the Army-Navy Country Club following the funeral of Jeff Guild were, from left, Bob Grossman, Dave Trenholm, Bill O’Connor, Roland Vaughan, Mike Carruth, Ralph Costen, Ben Dick and Dave Lawrence.

Finally, as this goes to press, I am pleased to share that Reed Heddleston has decided to run for the Virginia House of Delegates in November as a Democrat representing the 51st District, which encompasses Prince William County. Even more impressive, he recorded his first hole in one while playing golf in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in January. As it turns out, the 177-yard Par 3 over water was simply no match for him and his trusty wedge. A wedge? From 177 yards? We are not worthy. That’s about it. Have a safe summer. In the Spirit!

’71

James Kelly

These notes will cover the period between Nov. 1, 2012, through Feb. 15, 2013. It is hard to believe that we are already six weeks into a new year. The Rats had their breakout last weekend, and the class of 2016 is now official. Of course, back in the Old Corps, our breakout was still a long way off … March 22, 1968, as I recall, keeping the class of ’71 in the record books with the longest Ratline in “modern” times. Things are fairly quiet in Pulaski today (like most days, actually), and our part of the world was spared from the huge winter storm Nemo and the violent storms in the South. Our resident groundhog has predicted already that spring is indeed coming once again. I hope that all of you are doing well. As I look over my birthday list, it would appear that many more of you will be thinking about how to transition into retirement. Being retired is not as easy as it looks, so plan carefully. On Tues., Nov. 27, 2012, our class lost one of its most storied Brother Rats. John Willis died that day at his home in Rome, GA. John was known to most of us as “Cheeks” … so nicknamed (we think) by Jerry Acuff. A local “fraternity” … Delta Cheeks Delta … followed soon afterward, and the official logo was forever imprinted on the wall at Zollman’s. After graduation, John served as the first class agent for ’71 and began his career in journalism. By all accounts, John became a much respected reporter and editor, as well as an individual who was devoted to his family, church and the communities he served. He loved VMI and his Brother Rats. The class of 1971 extends its condolences to the members of John’s family. His obituary appears in the Taps section of this Review. The end of the football season produced a

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CLASS NOTES couple of pretty good games, but the “Ws” still escaped the Big Red. In November, the Citadel Bulldogs came to VMI on an absolutely beautiful day, and our Keydets gave a tremendous effort on the field. On hand, there was a good turnout of Brother Rats including Gault, Golden, Kennedy, Mikula, Padgett, Strickler, Strickland and, most likely, Bryan and Fraim. Lanny reported that Acuff called during the afternoon and that Jerry’s plan to attend the VMI basketball game at the Citadel the same day was dashed because of a broken ankle which was going to require some surgery. The following weekend was the Liberty game, followed by the Mikula wedding in Roanoke. It took some doing for a few people to actually attend both events. This past week (February) was National Signing Day for high school recruits. VMI apparently did pretty well and landed 15 quality student athletes for next year’s team … including one good-sized young man from Pulaski County. As always, we have hope that our team finds a way to be successful this coming fall and that Little John will need many rounds of ammo. I received a long e-mail from Tom Hall around the middle of December with Christmas greetings and some news. Tom went through some heart surgery last summer and will have additional procedures done in the next few years. He is recovering well and is able to get on and off his boat without too much trouble. Tom still experiences some back problems that he attributes to his frequent trips to the RDC during our Rat year. These days, most of the time is spent with writing for a number of news/political blogs … and he makes clear his feelings on a number of issues. He shared that he corresponds with Carl Biersack from time to time and also with Paul Fraim … two Brother Rats who don’t necessarily sit on the same side of the proverbial political aisle. A couple of other classmates also have been on the gim recently. John Paton had some unexpected heart surgery to correct a slight defect, and Charlie Lindsey got himself a new knee. Jim Gearhart’s wife, Mary, has also been in recovery for a rotator cuff problem. I hope that these folks are doing well and that anyone else facing personal or family issues will also improve. Kathryn and I were glad to hear from a good many of you during the holidays. Our custom is to display cards, pictures, etc. from all of you as part of our Christmas décor. This year’s list included Sanetti, Zirkle, Rose, Patrick, Wadsworth, Jacoby (Elizabeth), Caul, Gearhart, O’Loughlin. Good (Jo Ann), Turner, Rovito, Stallings, Coble, Schrader,

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Neville, Berkness, Berglund, Truesdell and Kelly (Jerry). Dan Czupryna and wife Lori both retired recently from Saratoga Hospital (New York) and have since relocated to Statesville, NC, where their youngest daughter teaches elementary school. Dan and Lori had their New York home on the market for all of two days before it sold, and they bought their new retirement digs. Things are going well for their family, and Dan says the opportunity to spend time with Lori, the grandchildren and play golf three times a week trumps any time that he ever spent working. They have gotten together with Bill and Sara Gentry and have signed on as a part of our SWVA ’71 Alumni Chapter (our borders are loosely defined). I also heard from Ed Frothingham to let us know that he is no longer with the DoD and is now with a company called PAE. Not sure what Ed does there, but he says that he “refuses to grow up.” So, hopefully he is doing something that he enjoys. Our basketball team jumped off to a great start, and for now, they are still contenders in the Big South. We have had several BRs who were regulars at many games, and the gang from old room 139 had a weekend get-together in Lexington. For the Radford game played Jan. 30th, our local alumni group, under the leadership of O’Donnell and Booker, made plans to get a group together for a meal and evening at the game. Unfortunately, high wind and heavy rain prevailed much of the day and into the night. Out of 20+ who made reservations, only John Saunders is known to have actually made it over there. There was a smoke alarm during the second half, and the building was evacuated into the rain. Almost no one came back, but VMI did pull off the win 70-69. After the game, the New River flooded, and about 100 cars were under water in the Dedmond Center parking lot … mostly students’ cars, and they are hitting up their parents for a new ride. I attempted to contact John but did not reach him to get his heroic story. My sources tell me that he made it home in one piece. The last weekend in March has been announced as the next gathering at the Metzger Lodge in Vesuvius, and I feel sure we will get a full report and some photos for our next edition. After 38 years of service to VMI, Mike Strickler is retiring at the end of this academic year. Mike started his career at VMI with the Keydet Club, then Sports Information and on to Public Relations after that. For the last 12 years, he has been assistant to the superintendent and secretary to the board of visitors. He has worked for every superintendent since Gen. Irby ’939. Now that, my friends, is quite

a career, and I know we all join in thanking Mike for his service and loyalty to VMI and wishing him the very best in his retirement. It will be hard to imagine going up to Lexington and seeing Mike as a civilian. Heck, he has been there about as long as the Jackson Battery. Mike and others will be honored at the parade on April 19, 2013, and we hope to have several Brother Rats on hand for the event. The class of ’71 still has a large footprint at VMI, both in paid and unpaid status, but Mike’s departure will leave some big shoes to fill. Many of you may have received an unwanted e-mail or two (in early February) originating from my account. It appears that I may have been hacked, and I sincerely hope that none of your computers got the same virus as I had. After the better part of a day on the phone with people not from around here, I think the problem was solved. The truth is that my computer is “very old,” according to those who have worked on it, and it is way too slow to have ever sent out a bulk mail to four to five hundred people. When something “official” comes out, it will usually be courtesy of Buddy Bryan. Most of you guys probably have computers that could fly the space shuttle or give directions to the Mars rover from the palm of your hand. I will get there someday, but rest assured I will not be part of sending you any bad stuff. I recently received the latest figures from VMI on Annual Giving. Once again, I am proud to say that ’71 is right up there on the leader board … trailing only ’70 … in the number of donors and percentage participation. Thanks so much to every one of you for your continued support. I also want to encourage you to look at the last Annual Report of the VMI Alumni Agencies and notice the large number of our Brother Rats who are listed as donors for as many as 20 consecutive years. My hope is that everyone will be able to find something they can and will support at VMI. I hope you saw the Corps as they marched in the inaugural parade in January. They were awesome, and on that national stage, they made us all proud to be a part of VMI. It truly is “no ordinary college.” Warm weather and vacation times are around the corner, and I hope things go well for all of you this summer. Kathryn and I will be in Lexington in April for the Class Agents Conference and hope to bring grandchildren Lauren ’26 and Ryan ’27 along with us for part of that weekend. Now that they are older, it is time for a little more “orientation.” Be safe out there. God bless our team and VMI. Jim

CLASS NOTES loves Florida and especially his promotion in the USCG Auxiliary, where his unit provides safety, license and permitting inspections and other big deal services backing up the Coast Guard in the Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral, FL, area. And again this year, he and Donna donated time and culinary skills on Thanksgiving Day to feed the on-duty Coasties … we salute you, BR. Jim Van Landingham sent a quick note with his new e-mail address – jim1233@verizon.net. Linda and I joined Phil and Carol Wilkerson for a white chili and gourmet dessert soiree at Karen and AJ Fojt’s beautiful Clifton, VA, home on the occasion of the Browns-Redskins slobberknockin.’ As Phil’s loyalties to the Burgundy and Gold are the stuff of legend, and AJ is a vocal font of Browns lore, it was a wise move on Karen’s part to have some semblance of stabilizing influences present. All survived unscathed, well-fed and better people for the absolutely delightful experience. While you won’t see these until early spring, we’re heavy with news from holiday cards. We are a busy and, thanks mostly to the ladies, prosaic lot. Elise and Paul Gorski – Elise’s note (by tradition, the first received each year) began with the sad news of her mother’s passing in July. Again, while belated, please know our thoughts and prayers go out to you and the family, Elise … as of the letter’s date, Paul was back on the market (familiar refrain for many) after his position with MARTA was eliminated. Any of you CEs with any ideas, leads, etc., please let him know. (I have their number if you don’t.) Elise is in her 11th year with the Media Center at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, GA.

Congratulations to son Thomas ’03, who married Janelle Baldwin in Charlottesville in June! (Their reception can be found on the Trump Winery Reception Center website.) Elise says Thomas proposed after a hot air balloon ride, taking off from the Boar’s Head Inn -- where they spent their honeymoon night. Then, it was off to Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Janelle’s a These notes cover early November through nurse practitioner/nurse navigator in the Cancer Valentine’s Day. Us mid-Atlantic-ers were Resource Center at Martha Jefferson Hospital spared last week’s Snowmageddon, yet “no in Charlottesville. Daughter Christine turned significant accumulation” is an annoyingly per23 and graduated from GA Tech as a civil sistent pronouncement in drive time. My voices engineer, like her dad. One of the lucky ones to tell me, “soon, grasshopper, soon.” be working before graduation, she’s now full To open on a serious note, “Taps” echoes time with Wolverton Engineering in Duluth, have rarely faded in the last quarter. While it’s a GA. Son Joseph, daughter-in-law Jennifer and natural and certain portent of the future, I want grandson John welcomed a new Pomeranian to encourage you all to reach out and contact and Chihuahua. Life is good. – maybe the BR who left after our Rat year, Betsy and Chris Foster – Betsy’s always that ranker/grub that just irritated the hell out cheery note said their slow 2012 picked up of you, the jock/brainiac that you just couldn’t steam “ … in February at the annual Orthopedic relate to and maybe even that lowlife who Academy meeting in San Francisco when I snaked your Hop date – yes, that may have been texted Katie and Anne that their ‘boring’ mother true then, but look at what we share now … try and her tour group had been refused service at reaching out, even if it’s just a note or e-mail. the last of three Napa Valley wineries that had you’ll feel better for it and you may be very been included in a tour package. (Your scribe pleasantly surprised at the results. I know that says “hmmm.”) Some of the group had not been Linda Cioffi, JB Ashcraft’s widow, very much pouring the balance of the sipping wine back appreciated contact with members of the class into the urn situated in the middle of each table … thank you. and a lot of wine had been consumed causing Bob Stransky and I had a long conversation unsteadiness in some of the participants. Needlast week after Billy Stephens’ funeral services. less to say, Chris enjoyed hearing this ‘shockI was unable to attend, but he said that he, Bob ing’ news and commented that he ‘didn’t know Gore, Chris Foster, Lindley Vaughan and I could be so much fun!’” An orthopedic meetRalph Redmond were in attendance. Sadly, ing in Cleveland gave them an excuse to visit Bill’s life took some challenging turns as he family and indulge in some literature-inspired dropped out of sight – it was heartening to have exploration and late road trips to Indian Town, ’72 so well represented at the service. with stops at the Rock and Roll Bob filled me in on goings on in the Hall of Fame and Great Lakes’ SciStransky world. He retired from Loence Museum. In November, they gistics Management Resources Inc. were off to Prague in the Czech (Joel McGrady was a founder; Herb Republic for the annual Connective McCulloch is VP of Contracts and Tissue Oncology Society Meeting Jim Chalkley ’73 is VP-Business and diving into the art, architecture Development) in November 2011. and lifestyle of the ancient city. He and Linda have been able to And … they celebrated their 30th travel extensively, including time in anniversary … whew! Vicenza, Italy, to visit son Vincent Penny and Herb McCulloch – A (Army sergeant with the 173rd Airwedding, a new grandchild, Florida borne Brigade) and daughter-in-law … and Penny calls this a quiet Paige. Linda and Bob are first-time year!?! Daughter Krista was margrandparents – daughter Margaux ried in early January to the tune of and husband Matt Sprinkel (Murphy bagpipes at Richmond’s historic St. Sprinkel’s ’71 son) are the proud Andrews Episcopal Church with parents of one Mason Robert Sprina reception at the Bolling-Haxell kel … big congratulations to all! house. Krista, husband Paul and And Bob wanted to remind me that Class of 1972: Carol Wilkerson, Larry Houseworth, Linda their dogs are settled comfortably, Jim Reed is now in that rare comStephenson and Phil Wilkerson at the Wilkerson’s home while Krista continues her work pany of BRs with kids in elementary on Dec. 16, 2012. Also present but not pictured were as an adoption officer for the Chilschool – ages 6 and 10 … very, very A.J. Fojt, who provided the roses, and Karen Fojt, who dren’s Home Society of Virginia, impressive, Jim. took the photo. and Paul works as a supervisor in a “Captain” Jack Miller clearly

’72

Larry Houseworth

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES sleep clinic, aiding those with sleep problems. (Your scribe assumes he never heard of Saturday morning Rat chemistry lecture … ) Daughter Kara and son-in-law Ben became parents of “Jack” Kowalik in May – Penny and Herb’s first grandchild. Daughter Kelly and son-in-law Joe are in West Palm Beach, FL, where Kelly continues her work as a speech pathologist for the school system. Their home “zoo” includes Bruno, a French bulldog; Moose, a Bull Terrier; two cats and three chinchillas. Penny says her and Herb’s “quiet” year included her 15th anniversary as supervisory RN at Richmond Pediatric Associates and Herb’s ninth year as vice president, Contracts, at Logistics Management Resources Inc. They spent a week in New Bern, NC, and a week in Palm Beach Shores, FL, visiting Kelly while Joe worked in Detroit. They’re planning 2013’s vacations in Music City USA (Nashville) and a week back in Palm Beach. She closes by saying there’s room at the McCulloch’s, and the beer fridge is stocked – be careful what you offer, Penny. Pam and Bill Collier – Pam’s note opened saying their holidays would be joyous with both sons, 1st Lt. John ’09 and Capt. William ’06, home from Afghanistan (second tour) and Fort Bliss, respectively. William was bringing fiancée Karen O’Donnell home, and John was to be promoted to captain in January, with training keeping him stateside for at least two years. William completed a master’s from the University of Maryland and has been accepted into the Acquisition Corps. He’s getting married in June, and Pam is delighted to finally have a girl in the family. All seems well in the Collier world.

Jan and Bob Benson – Jan’s beautifully written letter opened with the sad news that she lost her mother just days before Christmas. Though belated, Jan, please know our thoughts and prayers are with you … Bob and Jan are very, very busy! Air Force son Rhett was married in early May in a Houston, TX, ceremony featured in Southern Wedding V5 magazine. He completed his four-year residency, and he and Hailey reported to Eglin AFB to learn of his imminent deployment to Afghanistan. Grandkids Carter (7), Cruz (6) and Cane (3) are dynamos – soccer, baseball, gymnastics, dancing, homework … and Carter, while hunting with dad Shane, bagged himself a nine- and 10-point buck! Daughter Lana graduates from TCU in May and was invited to be a member of the TCU Rangers. Jan says Lana’s so sad to leave her Fort Worth “Frog Family” that she wanted to know if she could do a victory lap semester, to which Dad’s wallet said – No! Joy and Norm Worrell – Joy’s note and photo montage recounted their month-long trip to Luxembourg and Germany to visit Norm’s mother’s family – with a side trip to Paris, just the two of them. She writes of a penthouse on the Belgian coast, dinners and wine, and mountain walks. Norm’s mother (one of our teachers back in the Annandale HS days) turns 88 this year, and she’s expecting a great-grandchild (Jessica’s and Jon’s) in March. (I’m constantly reminded of how good this girl is for our BR … thank you, Joy; you’re an angel … ) Ann and Dave Condon – Ann should be a travel photographer … their card shows them horseback riding and high atop Whistler Mountain in British Columbia. They’ve hiked

Class of 1972: Bob and Jan Benson, far right, and family at their son, Rhet’s, wedding in Houston, Texas, on May 5, 2013.

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and camped extensively, with jaunts to Grayson State Park, Mount Rogers (Virginia’s tallest peak) and to Blue Bear Campground in Boone, NC. She writes, “Dave has been busy this year doing honey dos in the yard and house. He spent about four months helping the Goshen, Otarri and Claytor Lake Boy Scout camps in Virginia repair their fleet of day sailors. This was quite a job, but Dave had great satisfaction knowing the kids would have refurbished day sailors.” She said he’s researching information on modern warfare’s first use of rail transportation (Stonewall Jackson at the Battle of Bull Run) in order to build a diorama (location classified until the details are worked out). Her job as supervisor of microbiology at GlaxoSmithKline in Zebulon has consumed her life – so, she stepped herself down to senior scientist in microbiology to begin the retirement glideslope. You, too, Ann, are good for our BR – thank you. Mary Jane and George Williams – As does everyone else, Mary Jane opens saying they have “ … much to be thankful for, and we hope you’ve had the same good fortune. And as with others, a wedding … the obvious highlight was the September wedding in Richmond of our son, Phil, to Lauren Grant. Everything was perfect, from the wedding ceremony to reception (obvious Mom’s bias at work!). Check out their wedding video at http://philpluslauren. tumblr.com.” She says Phil still works at the Martin Agency in Richmond as an advertising account manager for Wal-Mart, but his focus is now more on social media aspects, which he really enjoys. Lauren is finishing up getting her teaching certificate and hopes to be teaching in an elementary school next year. Son Clayton is with Integrity Applications Incorporated and enjoys his contract support work for the Naval Research Lab. When he’s not playing hockey or the piano, he’s remodeling his home in northeast D.C., where assisting is great therapy for Mary Jane. As I reported after the reunion, George had quite a year. A somewhat spontaneous decision to “have something checked out” led to the discovery of significant blockages in three of four coronary arteries and quadruple bypass surgery in February. There were additional unrelated complications that drove him back into emergency surgery while he was still in recovery. After 10 days in the hospital, “haydown and bed rest” at home for a month, and three months in cardiac rehab … he recuperated with six days of whitewater rafting down the Green River through Desolation and Gray Canyons, UT. Due to all the goings-on, Mary Jane says they made a little less use of their RV and, instead, spent a week in Cape Hatteras with extended family and then a week in West Virginia. And in late October, they scratched two entries off their bucket list with trips to Machu Picchu,

CLASS NOTES Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. N-i-c-e! Sue and Dave Hall – Sue says they “ … were sitting down together to come up with an exciting, newsy Christmas letter that was going to keep you all on your toes and envious of our year … however, let’s face facts and admit it was a regular year, and we seem to be getting older and more sedate.” (Your scribe says – not hardly!) She speaks of the 40th Reunion with its highlight being the “ … recruiting film that classmate Lou Welker made and Dave narrated back in school that was shown at our formal dinner … as always, the Institute looked great, and the Shenandoah Valley had that ‘home’ atmosphere.” Their travels included Sue’s yearly girls-trip to Vegas and to Ottawa to visit a dear friend battling Lou Gehrig’s disease. On her return, she and Dave hosted “ … friends from London who wanted to experience Texas. We piled seven of us into the Expedition and started our tour of Dallas (the famous Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk, the Fort Worth stockyard, etc., Fredericksburg, Luckenbach and San Antonio (Riverwalk, Mission Trails and, of course, The Alamo). There was another trip to Vegas with Canadian friends, where we took in ‘Jersey Boys’ which was ‘fabulous’ (your scribe agrees) and ate our way through the strip.” Then, Sue was off to Virginia to visit her family and see her dad who turned 91. Dave travels extensively as director of performance excellence, LendLease Multi-Site Group (that tour as garrison commander, Fort Hood, has served him well). Sue keeps a frenetic pace with her charitable and civic organizations and gourmet club … I’m exhausted just re-reading this. (Thank you, ladies – now, from the guys) Phil Clayton and Ava Tucker – Within a card faced by a beautiful snowy sunset shot of their House Mountain home, Phil recounted a busy and well-travelled year. “ … We had several exciting highlights. The first was a wonderful trip to Seattle for me to see the next Usain Bolt -- my nephew, Owen, ran in the Seattle City Championship where he placed third in the 50-meter dash! He has definitely inherited the Clayton ‘speed genes!’” A week after he and Ava returned from London and Copenhagen, chez ClaytonTucker (as most of the mid-Atlantic) was hammered by the Derecho storm of June 29th. “Nine o’clock that night it hit without warning, with hurricane force winds that tore down hundreds of trees on the mountain and kept us huddled in our ‘safe’ haven -- the log and stone utility room -- for its two-hour duration! We fortunately were able to engage one of Virginia’s finest logging companies, who happens to be our neighbor, and they have been hard at work clearing the debris. They will be in the forest for at least another five months!” There was a trip to northern California for a wedding and a visit with Ava’s daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Christopher. Phil says

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they continue to market and maintain their rental properties, looking forward to the uptick in the real estate market, and their Christmas Tree farms are making money. I couldn’t agree more, BR – there is much to be thankful for … Zeno and Jo-Ann Henninger – Our Bitburg, Germany-based scholar, “The Fox,” writes from Landhaus Henninger – (ref: the Beguinage (Convent) in Brugge, Belgium) “ … a peaceful place – quiet oasis in the middle of a bustling town. After meditation here, I go out and gorge on Flemish feasts. Found a restaurant here called ‘Zeno,’ no relationship … he is a hero in a 16th-century Flemish novel. The meal was one of the most fantastic gastronomic experiences I have encountered.” He apologizes for missing the 40th, but Jo-Ann was directing a school play, and his services were needed and “ … weekend stateside trips do not sit well with my physiology … perhaps I need to do the Ratline again.” He reports he is “ … still staffing the elementary school quarter guard in Bitburg. Our community is evaporating due to force realignment. Our school held 1,200 students in 1982 [and is] now down to 170; we’ll be sounding taps in a few years. If I’m offered a decent location, I’ll move. More likely, it will be Korea or a quaint location abeam nowhere. Then, I will retire and live on beans and rice. We have had a decent ride here in a tremendously scenic part of Europe. We considered retiring in West Flanders, but tax issues, insurance issues and other money issues said, ‘Warning, Warning, [Will] Robinson: Danger! Danger!’ Something about lying on a beach in Knokke, Belgium, penniless makes one reconsider. Proximity to a beach in down east Maine appears more probable.” He bemoans the lack of contact with VMI-ers but takes comfort in the fact that their owning air base, Spangdahlem (calls it Spangla-desh), has a field house named after the 1977 wing commander, Col. Richard Skelton ’50B. He closed wishing a “ … fit, trim and keen 2013. Don’t ever change ... Fox” Additionally, there were beautiful communications from Rick and Karen Bishop, Clay and Susan Murray, Buzz Chacey (message passed, BR), Dick Valentine, Karen and AJ Fojt, Barry Garland, Sandy and Diane Edens, “Moon” Mullen, Pat Moore, the Pools, Harry and Susan Gore, a beautiful wedding photocard from the Griffiths, and a wedding – travel montage from the Pagones. My deadline nears, and I’ve already begged Ms. Traci’s indulgence once today – it’s not wise to push my luck … again, hold those you cherish close, be safe, reach out, remember our sons and daughters in harm’s way, and – until next time – Rah Virginia Mil! In The Spirit, Larry

’73

Mike Kelly

I hope these notes find all of you well and enjoying the spring. While it is February and wintery as I write them, it will be spring when you read them. I expect that, when this 2013-Issue 2 of the Review comes out, we will have had our 40th Reunion and will be getting ready to celebrate New Market Day. This has been a busy week for me, as I’ve been working to get all of the last minute items put together for our reunion. Registration should go out in the next few days, and I’m hoping we have a really big crowd there in April. I’ve heard from a lot of you about the reunion and anticipate a good group. Pat and I seem to stay really busy. When I first looked at retiring, I thought I would create a job jar for myself, so I wouldn’t get bored. Well, I haven’t had time to do a job jar, much less pick a task to work on. At least we can still take off pretty much when we want to, so that part is good. We certainly enjoyed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Lots of family time and parties. One of our highlights was the birth of a new grandson, Daniel Walter Garcia, born Dec. 19, 2013. I am working on his appointment – class of ’35. Wow, that seems like a long time out there. We spent some time this month in Atlanta, helping with the Pinewood Derby cars for the other grandsons, and had a great Super Bowl party! This weekend, we are going to the Campbell-VMI basketball game, will meet up with Doug and Pat Huthwaite and then go out to eat after the game. We were hoping Randy Marshall and his wife could make it, but it doesn’t look like it will work out for them. I’m sure we’ll have fun! This is our second year doing this, so maybe we can get others to join us in the future. As usual, I received a lot of cards and letters from folks at Christmas. I had a really nice card and letter from Mrs. John (Clissa) England. Our BR John passed away last August of a sudden heart attack, and as you can imagine, it really was a jolt to Clissa and the family. She writes that she is doing well and adjusting, still lives in their house in North Chesterfield, VA, and recently went back to work at Virginia Commonwealth University with the alumni relations director. Clissa says the girls are doing well. Elspeth graduated from UVa law school last year and works in the D.C. area. Leatha manages Chef Geoff’s restaurant in D.C., and Emma is living in Chicago, where she works as a coordinator with

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES a boutique spa. Clissa said that she really appreciates all of the responses from the class of ’73 following John’s death and promises to stay in touch with us. Two of our Brother Rats lost their mothers recently. Roland Tiso’s mother passed away the week of Thanksgiving. I remember Mrs. Tiso’s wonderful Italian home cooking, especially those great meatballs she used to send back with Roland after our breaks. What a wonderful lady! Roland’s “Pop” is doing well and will remain in New York. Roland and his wife, Judie, spent some time with their daughters after Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh and Chicago, and as Judie said, with Mrs. Tiso’s passing, Christmas and the holidays didn’t seem quite the same, but the gift of being with family and friends will always be the best of gifts! Roland has since deployed back to Afghanistan and hopes to be home in May, unfortunately after our reunion! Ro was positive, though, and said he doesn’t plan to miss any more! We look forward to your safe return home, Ro. Doug Huthwaite also lost his mother in January. She lived in the Baltimore area, and Doug said the family was getting along fairly well. After her funeral, Doug said he decided to get away for a few days and went to Sarasota, FL, to spend a week following the Baltimore Orioles during their spring training. He said he really had a good time going to games and visiting with some of the Hall of Famers who came to visit during what was called “Dream Week.” After he returned, he stopped by VMI on his way back home from Baltimore and visited with some folks, including his mentor and eighth grade English teacher, Ron McManus ’57, who got him interested in VMI and the military. Doug’s wife, Pat, continues to excel in the real estate business in Fayetteville. As we get older, our lives change, and our focus sometimes is very different. Many of us are now retired, especially out of the military, although some folks, like Roland, continue to work in different capacities. Pete Walters sent a note recently to say that his son, Robert, USMA ’07, deployed late last year to Afghanistan as an Army helicopter pilot flying a Blackhawk medevac. We need to keep all service men and women in our prayers, especially the families of our Brother Rats. Wes and Ivonne Carr sent me a note to say they were doing well and were thankful for their many blessings. The recent shooting at the North Harris campus of Lone Star College was very disruptive to their lives. Their daughter, Flavia, goes to school there, and Wes himself has taken some courses there. Fortunately for them, Flavia goes to another

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campus on Tuesdays and was not at the North Harris location when the shooting occurred. Wes said they were very grateful, although saddened by the events, and it seems to have a different meaning when something like this happens in your neighborhood. We all should count our blessings and be thankful. Michael Burke is thankful that his daughter Emilie, who will finish her associate degree this spring, will be transferring in August to Missouri State University where she wants to major in anthropology. Michael is also happy that he recently was promoted to associate professor at the St. Louis Community College. Art Pendleton said he had made his reservations for our reunion and was really looking forward to it. Like many of us, now that he’s retired, he has found that he stays very busy. He and his wife, Phyllis, still live in Botetourt County and spend some time in northern Virginia with their three grandchildren. One of our BRs who cannot make the reunion is Randy Gordon. Randy has just been moved from Orlando to Indianapolis by his employer, Raytheon Technical Services Company. He said this move has kept him busy, and he has not seen or communicated with many folks lately. I wonder how he likes the Indy weather versus Orlando’s sunny skies? Randy did say that he was closer to his mother who lives in Bristol, which is nice, as she turns 90 this year. He also said that he is still waiting to hear from Tim McConnell who was looking for him last year on a trip to Orlando. Maybe you guys can link up now, as you are a little closer. Milt Salter took time off last year after a meeting in Salt Lake City, UT, to travel around for some vacation. Milt is still in the financial planning business and hopes that, this year, the business will continue to grow and prosper. He said he picked up a “crystal ball” made from salt in the lake and has it displayed on his desk. So, when his clients ask about the financial future, he picks it up and lays it out for them! Milt said his company had hired a couple of new planners, so he doesn’t have to travel quite as much and would welcome any visitors to the Mobile area. M.B. and Mary Adelson continue to stay busy, especially with three grandkids in high school. They have been traveling some since M.B. finished his LLM degree last year. Mary is planning a trip to Europe to attend a special music concert that will allow backstage privileges to “meet and greet” the artist Joe Bonamassa. Sounds like fun! M.B. provided the tickets, however, Mary picked the Munich concert as the one to attend. Not sure that is the plan M.B. had in mind? Hope you have a great time.

One of our BRs who really travels a lot is Blake Thomas. He and Sandy are on the move all the time. Of course, having your own planes and being a pilot for Southwest Airlines helps considerably. Their Christmas card had a picture of their latest creation, a 1915 Sopwith Schneider, which they built with some other folks in Holden, MO, last year. They spent more than 100 days at the Airdrome Aeroplanes facility working on their new addition. Beautiful plane! Sandy and Blake and Pratt, the cat, really put true meaning in the “Life is Good” phrase and are enjoying themselves. Great to hear from you guys. They still live in the Richmond, TX, area. From Brownsburg, IN, I received a nice note and Christmas card from Dave Sutherland. He continues to work on recruiting for VMI in the area and occasionally will catch up with Dave Northcraft who recruits further south in Missouri. Dave said VMI is well represented in the area and encourages all of our alumni to get involved with recruiting in the area where you live. One of the good things about Christmas is that I hear from a lot of folks with cards and letters. Neil and Jeannie Carlson sent best wishes from Shreveport, LA. Klaus Worrell and his wife, Sue, are doing well in North Chesterfield, VA. Dale and Toots Kitchen still live in Lexington, VA, but spend time with their daughter, Kaitlin, who lives in Arlington. Their son, Cody, is studying architecture overseas in London. From Bluffton, SC, I heard from John and Michaela Sykes. Larry and Debbie Mays sent a nice card. Scott McCarthy is still in Bethesda, MD, and is hoping for a big turnout at the reunion. I received the annual great Christmas family photos from R.B. and Becky Newman, Bob and Sharon Bushnell, Dick Bugbee and his family, and Bill and Mary Stoner. Hank and Leisa Weatherford always send a nice card with a picture of their daughter, Savannah. This year, Savannah is on her horse, and both of them are donning Santa hats. It is fun watching all of these families grow over the years. Others who sent cards include Ralph and Becky Littreal, who are still in San Jose, CA; Tom and Lois Jennings who live in Chesterfield, VA; Glen and Renee Younes sent their season’s greetings from Jeffersonton, VA; John and Kathy Riding wished everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; from Springfield, VA, Tim Hassell sent season’s greetings; and John Kearney sent best holiday wishes from Springfield, PA. Great hearing from everyone, and I hope all of you are having a wonderful year.

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CLASS NOTES Recently, I have begun to get additional information from Scott Lingamfelter in his run for lieutenant governor in Virginia. Scott has been involved with the political scene in Virginia since retiring from the Army and has decided to step it up a notch. Please follow along with Scott and provide him support, as you can. He’s done a lot for the commonwealth and the Institute, and we wish him well in his future endeavors. I had a note and picture from Mac Kirkpatrick, and you should be able to see it on our class Facebook page. Mac’s son, Clark, is a third at VMI and was “captured” in a photograph during the recent fourth class breakout, sitting on the railing and taking pictures of the event. I also hear regularly from other folks on Facebook: Jeff Minch, Bill Spencer, Sandy McNamara and others regularly post notes and pictures on the site. If you have not joined it yet, you should do so. I also encourage all of you to keep your contact information current using the VMI alumni web page. This makes it so much easier to keep up with everyone. I don’t remember when I heard from him last, but I got a letter in the mail one day before Christmas from an attorney in Washington, VA. I looked at it and shook my head, wondering what in the world I’d gotten into now. Without looking at the name (only the “Attorneys at Law”) on the outside of the envelope, I opened it up to find a nice letter from Doug Baumgardner. He had taken a minute to write me an actual letter to say hi and thanks for his birthday card and said that all was well with him and his wife, Margaret. They have four children and live in Rappahannock County. Anyway, it was great hearing from you, Doug, and I’ll give you the “Lost Brother Rat” award for this edition of the Review! Well, that about does it for now. The next issue will have super coverage and photos of our reunion and should be out around the first week in August. I will remind you to visit the Institute for New Market, or if you can’t be there, at least be sure the red, white and yellow colors are flying high! I will also be sending you a letter in June regarding the end of the VMI fiscal year. I encourage you, particularly in this 40th year since our graduation, to consider supporting the Institute, so it can remain strong and a voice for the future. Special thanks to all of you who are such great supporters! Take care. Have a great summer, and be careful out there! In the Bonds, Mike

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’74

Snookie Parker

Feb. 15, 2013, Class Notes: Greetings, Brother Rats. Thanks for all the cards and notes. Lots to report with limited space, so let’s get to it! Received a nice note from Terrell Williams. His daughter, Bane, married last May to Mr. Chris McLellan and is living in Arlington, VA. Terrell and Sarah were marshals in the Ryder Cup Tournament at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago in late September – what a highlight! Terrell sees Ricky and Page Kastelberg, Weldon and Jane Neal, and Tommy Anderson with some degree of regularity. Terrell has become a huge “die hard” Nats fan since the Washington Nationals moved to D.C. about five years ago. Terrell’s interest in pro football was regenerated this past year, primarily due to Russell Wilson, a graduate from where Terrell went to school. Thanks for the note. Hall Brodie writes that his son, Kyle (27), married wife Meghan Stahlings in July … church wedding with a reception at the house, where I understand Hall put on a “Donnie Ross @ Zolloman’s” show, just so those youngsters understand that having a good time didn’t come from the Internet!!! Hall and a partner formed IAQ Consulting Partners LLC in spring 2011 and are still in business 21 months later!!! Party on, Hall!!! After 39 years, Steve Crump contacted his class agent with an update. Steve and Sharon recently enjoyed a short but entertaining visit

with Clint and Cheryl Anderson. Steve reports being fortunate enough to retire early from the banking industry, and now life consists of hiking, skiing, tennis and biking. Steve is living close to Breckenridge, CO, so he says if any BRs in that area want to get together and ski, that would be great. Tom and Ann Parker moved back to Colorado Springs from Rhode Island in March – could no longer tolerate the corruption and nonsense associated with a state that has been run by one party for the past 60 years. Tom works at NORAD/Northcom in the plans shop, doing Russia stuff. They have moved into a new house on the side of Cheyenne Mountain, have deer looking through the windows and have seen bears in the yard. Phil Parker visited over Christmas. Phil’s son is stationed close (Fort Carson) and took the opportunity to visit. Thanks for the note, Tom! The Tidewater Area Breakfast Club met once again: Bill Pennypacker, George Van Laethem, Sam Turner, Paul Van Doren (The Grand Poohbah), Al Rasper, Chuck Cayton, Dave Sheppard, Steve Ham and Chip Beaman. Paul reports the following: “Sam Turner started out the meet with a coin challenge. Several of us were desperately excavating the debris in our wallets, while others nonchalantly displayed their treasure. Meanwhile, Al Rasper was hoping someone would also fail to produce a coin. All doubts were removed when Bill Pennypacker finally arrived with his coin in hand. So, the coffee and OJ, etc. were on Al. Snookie, expect a check from Al soon.” The Potomac Area Breakfast Club met recently with the following BR attendees: Clint Anderson, Mike Mahoney, Bill Minor, Charlie

Class of 1974: In November 2012, Carol and Mike Fisher, Craig Smith, and Betsy and Ken Terry went to the Montpelier Races in Virginia. Photo by Sarah Fisher.

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CLASS NOTES Received a nice note from John (JFW) and Had an impromptu note to encourage relaGardner, Arnie Leonard, Don Whitten, Mike tively local BRs to attend the VMI vs. Campbell Diane Caldwell who are currently living in Andriani, Jim Cottrell and Charley Banning Madison, AL … just outside of Huntsville. basketball game. Heavy snow at game time (The Grand Poohbah). Charley reports, “Clint’s John and Diane got to take their four grandbut Pete and Susan Shelley, along with John younger brother, Bill Anderson ’77, was presdaughters (Elizabeth, Emma, Brianna and White, persevered to joined Marla and me at ent from our dyke’s class to strain for us. Steve Jessica … 6-10) to Orlando (Disney World, Campbell’s Gore Arena. The company was Fogleman ’71 appeared to strain us for a while. Universal and Sea World) for a week in Februmuch better than the weather and the game. Big Strangely, not a single chin went in. Although, ary … what fun! Big Caldwell news – after plans for next year! it might have been a little hard to tell with all four granddaughters, the arrival in August of a Christmas Notes: Mike and Lera Andriani the extra chins we’re all sporting.” Some news: grandson – Jeb Stricklin Jr. sent holiday greetings from Alexandria, VA. Charlie Gardner’s practice has separated Bill and Judy Candler sent holiday greetings Mike continues to work for DoD in the unglamfrom the MDVIP program to create their own from Port Byron, IL. Their son, Dan, got marconcierge-style (Charlie’s description) health orous but necessary field of program protection ried in June to Ms. Maggie Lyon, a wonderful care for their patients. Don Whitten left Booz planning. Mike spends time in Lexington visityoung lady working on her Ph.D. in psychology Allen and Hamilton Mitre. Mike Andriani is ing his first class son, Mike III (classmate of at the University of Iowa. Dan is a mechanical still with the NGA, but the real news is with John Wilson, TJ and Kerri Wilson’s son). Mike engineer at Rock Island Arsenal. Dr. Bill has Lera, who is now working with the FBI and has sings the praises for Shelley Undercoffer for been on two medical mission trips: northern been on a raid! Pretty cool. the kindness she has shown Mike III during his Belize and northern China near the North Korea Walt and Karen Wilson visited Pat and Sue time at VMI. Kudos, Shelley!!! Lera is enjoyborder. Bill has also been busy backpacking Flynn in St. Augustine Beach, FL. They spent ing her job as a nurse investigator with the VA portions of the Appalachian Trail. Friday night walking around observBoth Bill and Judy volunteer at a ing old St. Augustine’s “The Night local free clinic. Thanks, Bill! of the Lights” and dined at the A1A John and Tracey Crawley sent Ale House, a place graced by many season’s greetings from Newport a BR! News, VA. John continues his work Bill McDonald has relocated to in Norfolk with the joint staff J6 the Washington, D.C., area to supand volunteers to help struggling port his 92-year-old mother. elementary students in the East End Glenn Greene presented Barof Newport News. Tracey is enjoybara Heiderman and family a healthy ing her job at the Genesis CounselChristmas gift donated by our BRs. ing Center. Son John continues his Grace Greene’s new book, A Stranger Class of 1974: Attending the Tidewater Area Breakfast studies in nursing, and daughter in Wynnedower, is doing well! Kudos! Club meeting in January 2013 were, from left, Sam Danielle (and fiancé) has set a date Cathy and Chip Beaman received Turner, Bill Pennypacker, Chuck Cayton, David Shepof December 2013 – great news in wonderful news that they will soon pard, Paul Van Doren, Al Rasper, Steve Ham, George the Crawley household. Thanks for be grandparents. Rob and Betsy are Van Laethem and Chip Beaman. the note, John! expecting twins in July. They are Mike and Sarah Fisher sent greetexcited beyond words. ings from Uno, VA. A highlight for the Fishers attorney general’s office. Thank you for your John Smithey sent news clippings from The was the Montpelier Races with BRs Craig continued service, Mike!!! Roanoke Times – Roland Lazenby, author Smith and Ken Terry (with Betsy). I underRob and Joan Bacon sent holiday greetings of the forthcoming book, Black Jesus, The stand Mike and Sarah were at the VMI vs. Navy from Jacksonville, FL. Rob and Joan are stayLife of Michael Jordan, due out in 2014, was football game in Annapolis, but I was unable to ing busy. Rob is consulting and volunteering a speaker at the Roanoke Regional Writer’s connect with them. Thanks for the card, Mike! for the homeowner’s Chain Gang, keeping their Conference held at Hollins University! Kudos Received a holiday greeting from Jim and gated community beautiful, and Joan is teachto Roland!!! Robin Garten sent from Oro Valley, AZ. Jim ing at LaVilla School of the Arts. However, Edgardo J. Vazquez-Bruno sent a short and Robin celebrated their 30th anniversary their current passion appears to be grandparent e-mail note. Edgardo has been involved in in Destin, FL. Jim says he is keeping his hand duties for Sarah (8), Chris (5) and Ryan (22 scouting most of his life. His son is an Eagle in the investigation/consulting business and is months). Tough duty, but someone has to do Scout, and Edgardo has helped 18 other kids staying in touch with Mike Davis, Gary Trinkle it!!! Enjoy!!! become Eagle Scouts, while working as a troop and Ronnie Vigneault. Jim, I liked your idea of Charley (Buff Daddy) and Debbie (SWMBO) scoutmaster, chaplain, etc. Edgardo is currently setting up a cigar stand on the beach and watchBanning sent holiday greetings from Anactively engaged in the fight to prevent BSA ing the “sights” as the days idle by!!! Need a nandale, VA. The 15th issue of the “Banning from being destroyed – a worthy cause. So, Christmas Gazette” was entertaining, as always! partner? join in when and where you can! Noble effort, Received a season’s greetings from Don and The Bannings (31 years of marital bliss) are Edgardo!!! Charge on!!! Patti Kilcullen, sent from Richmond, VA. Don adjusting to the empty nest, as their son, Will, Tom Mascot is still flying for Southwest is enjoying his substitute teaching experience is enjoying his experience at VA Tech. Charley (SW) – has four more years before mandatory … from remedial reading for first graders to keeps himself busy with home improvement retirement. He sees Clark Peele often, as they projects and gigs with his two-man band. are both based in Phoenix with SW. Clark’s Shakespeare and calculus for AP high school Debbie continues to work to support her horse son also flies for SW, and Clark has gotten to seniors. Understand Don is the substitute of habit – pics suggest a pretty good barrel racer!!! fly with him several times. Nice note, Tom – choice to break up fights in the hallway … Great issue, Charley!!! thanks! highlights the need for more male teachers in

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CLASS NOTES the public school system. Don, Patti and son Michael have been on a home improvement adventure … new windows, new front door and paint, with Mike taking on the second-story work!!! Thanks for the note, Don … I mean, Patti!!! Craig and Debbie MacFarlane (Woodbridge, VA) report the arrival this year of their fifth grandchild, Griffin Kyle Dollenger. Congrats! Thanks for the card! Sam and Colleen Mattocks sent their season’s greetings from Petersburg, VA. His son, Ryan, is an assistant basketball coach at VMI. Daughter Dana will be a mother for the second time in April. Thanks for the brief update!!! Received holiday greetings from Ike and Susan Mushall sent from Columbus, NJ. Ike is still working at Mannheim car auction and teaching at the community college. Son Matt returned safely from an Air Force deployment to the United Arab Emirates, followed by another deployment to Oahu, HI. Sue reports surviving Sandy with minimal damage and no power for 48 hours … and traveling to Disney World in November, giving high marks for Disney Christmas finery and the Harry Potter exhibit at Universal. Thanks for the card! Received a card from Clarke and Brenda Peele sent from Glendale, AZ. Clarke had planned to visit VMI in March to help motivate his grandson to excel in high school, so he can qualify. Clarke reports that his son, Justin, is a first officer with Southwest Airlines and, as mentioned earlier, they have gotten to fly together on several trips - a proud papa moment, for sure! Received a holiday greeting from Mark and Michelle Prentice (Williamsburg, VA). Mark reports grandchild number two – grandson named Preston Ryan, born 13 July – with parents Preston and Kristine and little sister Reagan. Michelle is enjoying retired life and gets to babysit for Kristine, when not volunteering to read to the children at the elementary school where she used to teach, traveling with Mark for his job or taking one of their “mini” vacations. Thanks for the note, Mark! Russ and Cheryl Takata sent a short card/note from Waipahu, HI. Russ says he is spending the winter in Chicago babysitting his first grandson … a great job for a retiree. I don’t know … winter in Chicago, coming from HI … has to be at least a 100-degree temperature change!!! You can do it, Russ!!! Received a holiday greeting from Ted and Susan Telle, sent from Germany. Ted says he’ll teach for three to four more years and then retire. Susan plans to retire in two years. They plan to retire in Glendale, TN. Sounds like a plan to me! Received the 2012 family Christmas letter from Ken and Betsy Terry, sent from Williams-

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burg, VA. Ken is still with JetBlue and counting the days to retirement. Betsy still teaches water aerobics to her geriatric cliental, plays in a couple of tennis leagues, takes flower class and plays Bunko. Daughter Jacque, husband Adam and their boys, Tristan and Landon, are living in Raleigh, NC. Son Trevor is selling contact lenses for Bausch & Lomb in northern VA. Son Taylor is a red-shirt footballer at Bridgewater College. The Terry family Christmas letter is such an entertaining read … thanks, Ken! Gary and Alison Trinkle send holiday greeting from Yorktown, VA. Truth be told, I believe the card was actually sent from Gary’s Lazn & Gazn beach cottage in Duck, NC. Gary is still working at the Army’s TRADOC HQs and is supporting a new general, as of August 2012. Gary and Alison made it to Montana and Wyoming, marking Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and the National Bison Range off their bucket list. I agree with Gary … if you have not been, it’s a must see!!! Andy and Pat Young (Franklin, MA) are still working – Andy is the director, Military Nutrition Division, for the Army Medical R&D Command laboratory in Massachusetts, and Pat is the senior marketing manager for Water Corporation. Andy reports fewer trips, due to funding constraints, but did make it to Taiwan for a series of lectures. Andy says Pat’s overseas visits have been curtailed, as well … but did get in trips to Japan, England and Switzerland. Andy says that they have no firm plans for retirement but admits, rarely does a day go by that it is not a topic of discussion. Thanks for the note, Andy! George and Anna Van Laethem had a challenging holiday season, due to George’s gall bladder surgery in November. George joined CGI Federal in January and still serves on the Chesapeake Planning Commission. Anna continues her work (eighth year) in the Guidance Department at Western Branch High School. Anna has given up her job as president of the Elizabeth River Republican Woman’s Club after four years of service but has joined the Chesapeake 50th Year Celebration Committee. Daughter Ashley has completed her first semester at Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, NC. George – wishing you a speedy recovery! JW and Pam Simms sent season’s greetings from Midlothian, VA. JW was happy to report that the family was fine and that he was still vertical – this side of the grass but crying in his beer, given his “Go Irish – Beat Bama” note at the bottom of his card. Pete and Susan Shelley sent their greetings from Raleigh, NC. Pete has crested the 20-year mark with Kruger, and Susan continues her IT work at CapStone Bank … and celebrated her 32nd year of Jazzercise – wow! Son Ryder has

left San Francisco and its symphony for New Orleans to be with Sheryl, a French horn player with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra who he met at the Spoleto Music Festival (Charleston, SC). Sounds like a plot for a good chick flick. Daughter Taryn has one semester of classes at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill. All is well in the Shelley household! Received Christmas cards from: Alan and Teresia (Trixie) Beaty (Franklin, TN), Bob and Lisa Braren (Marco Island, FL), Craig and Cathy Carlock (Lexington, VA), Rich and Ann Forbes (Nashville, TN), Pat and Sue Flynn (St. Augustine Beach, FL), Randy and Martha Gleason (Salem, VA), Russ and Mary Stuart Harlow (Lexington, VA), Bruce and Sue Jones (Richmond, VA), Ricky and Page Kastelberg (Richmond, VA), David and Jan Lester (Midlothian, VA), Pete and Penny Meredith (Norfolk, VA), Kevin and Cindy Nettrour (Mascoutah, IL), Steve and Pat Orr (Walkersville, MD), John and Suzanne Pate (Virginia Beach, VA), Frank and Jeanee Richardson (Newport News, VA), Charlie and Tommie Toler (Panama City Beach, FL), Lane and Karin Toomey (Southern Pines, NC), Kent and Brenda Wheeless (Rocky Mount, NC), Don and Barb Whitten (Manassas, VA), and Ted Zajac (Elyria, OH). Sad news regarding Bob Trost – His “celebration of life” service was well attended by family, friends, 100-200 Harley Davidson owners, 20 BRs and three class of ’71 roommates: Steve Fogleman (Bob’s dyke), Geof Schelhorn and Charlie Lindsay. BRs in attendance: Charlie “Puna” Toler, John Valenstein, Mark Levine, Glenn Greene, Charley Banning, Charlie Gardner, Steve Orr, Don Sharpe, Arnie Leonard, Kent Wheeless, Bob Cunningham, Mike Mahoney, Jim “Space” Huddle, Clint Anderson, Tom Puskas, Dave Stormont, Snookie Parker, Tom and Robin Cunningham, and Russ “Herbie” Harlow. Bob’s remains were in an urn that had been escorted by the bikers on a ride from his home in Frederick, MD, to the church. Several attendees got the opportunity to tell stories … Charlie Toler was lead-off. We left a class coin on Bob’s urn in his honor … donated on the spot by Russ Harlow. As an inspirational leader, Bob positively touched many, many people’s lives … from all walks of life. As an example, Bob started riding Harleys about 10 years ago but had established almost legendary presence in the Harley owner’s community in the D.C. area. Our prayers continue for Sue, Erin, Caitlin, Carol Dodd and family. Rest in peace, Brother Rat! Class Agent Plea! Don’t be caught without your class coin. If you need one, send $10 (cost of coin and postage). Please forward any news

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES regarding births, deaths, illnesses, marriages and other significant events concerning your family and/or careers. Brother Rats are interested and do care. I know e-mail addresses have a half-life of about six months. Keep us current. Send your updated e-mail address to me snookieparker1974@earthlink.net, Charley Banning cbanning@cox.net or Kevin Nettrour (our webmaster) nettrour@accessus.net. Check out the website. Send me a note. Yada, Yada, Yada and Yaba Daba Dooooo! Warm Regards, Snookie

’75

Art Nunn III

Well, it is the middle of winter, though you will not be reading this epistle until spring, when the flowers will be blooming, and winter will be fading into the memory banks. I hope everybody had a great holiday season, and you are all off and running for an exciting 2013. I am going to start these notes with a short story. I am writing these notes from the great city of New Orleans, where Judy and I are visiting our daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. It just so happens that we have also been able to take in nine or 10 Mardi gras parades. Well, about four parades ago, who should go marching by but a contingent from The Citadel. At that moment, my lovely wife went to the front of the gaggle of onlookers and somehow managed to get a group of total strangers to gather together and begin chanting, “VMI – VMI – VMI.” I have never been more proud. To their credit, the Citadel boys took it in stride with a laugh. In other news, Greg Stultz wrote to tell us that he had lunch last October with Barry Hughes and Salvo Lape in D.C. Greg attends the AUSA convention there each year, so lunch with Barry and Salvo has become a bit of a tradition. Greg reports that both guys look great and are doing well. Dean Armstrong stays in touch with me frequently. He has been flying a lot, mainly to European destinations, Amsterdam and Paris. Though the trips are all-nighters on the way over, Dean gets to enjoy himself when he gets there, and he finds that his VMI language education gets him into places that he might not normally get to in France. You may remember the story of Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division and their drop into Normandy and the fight at Brecourt Manor. Dean met the owner of the manor in Normandy, and he took Dean on a personal tour of the battle (on his

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farm land) and of the manor itself. Dean said that it was truly a moving and very interesting visit. This gentleman is also the owner of the Utah Beach Museum and allowed Dean to go inside their wonderfully restored B-26 bomber in the museum. Dean, the aviator, found it to be an awesome experience. Oliver Way wrote to report that he had nothing to report. That is a good thing, I guess, considering that he and Bonnie have celebrated what seems like about 60 weddings over the past couple of years. Good to have some down time. Also experiencing some down time was Steve Chapin, as he was recovering from aneurism repair surgery in his leg. No fun at all, I am sure, but all went well. The Whale is making bold predictions about our next round of golf together. Chuck Wohlrab was pleased to report that he had actual news to report. After eight years, Chuck has departed the frigid climes of Afghanistan for the sunny shores of Abu Dhabi. Seems the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces cannot do without his great expertise in military doctrine! Chuck helps write their doctrine for their emerging military. I am not sure how long this will last, but he is finally out of the warzone. In family news, Deb and all the kids are fine. Older son Philip is completing his EMT certification in North Carolina. This is largely because Virginia doesn’t give constructive credit for his training and experience (including two tours in Iraq), while North Carolina does. In Virginia, he would have had to take a full two-year program, while North Carolina will certify him in about five months. Older daughter Kirkland is still with Sigma Nu but has had two job offers recently, so may be moving. Deb and the younger kids are still in New Zealand and doing fine. Conor is a sophomore in high school, and Seren is an eighth grader. Bo Temple reported the outstanding news that the initial results from his NIH clinical trial in the fall have been positive, and his recovery is going well. In fact, Bo is starting to look for some post-retirement employment – from engineering, to leadership development, to academic institutions, to museum executive directorships. If any BRs hear of anyone needing someone like Bo, he would be happy to hear of it and will follow up. He said that sitting still is not his cup of tea. Nancy is well, and the fused glass business that she runs with her sister continues to do well. Allen Morgan has been making his presence known at various VMI basketball games, and he has seen the likes of Tom Baur, Jelly Bear Taylor, Dave Schuyler and Tom Mason. Allen has suggested that Uncle Dave should go bone himself for being out of uniform, and he was

seen removing his shoes during the game. Glad I wasn’t sitting next to him! I have also made a few games and seen such dignitaries as Lowry Tucker and Mark Hall. Larry (Lurch) Hendry checked in from sunny Florida. After a five-year hiatus of traveling, boating and fishing, he has opened a new dental practice. Larry has actually continuously practiced filling in for other dentists but did not have his own practice. He has been pleasantly surprised at the number of previous patients who have contacted him. Larry also reports that The Villages, where he lives, is now getting a quite active alumni chapter. Walt Chalkley ’72, Alan Vicory ’74 and Bernie Groome ’71, as well as our very own Bill Robson, are all people from our time-frame who live in his area. Lurch had a surprise not too long ago and had to have his gall bladder removed. He said that it really was not too bad, although he does enjoy embellishing the story. Anyone visiting the area is invited to give Larry a call. He highly recommends The Villages for retirement! Maybe one day I will learn what that word means. Harry McKnight reports from the star city that all is well and that his youngest daughter will be getting married in Florida in June. Interestingly, she will be getting married on the day that Harry married her mother. Harry spoke to Ben Vanderberry during the holidays, just to stay in touch. Speaking of Mr. Vanderberry, I would be remiss if I did not offer a sincere thank you to Ben and Anne, as well as Billy and Lee Hunter, along with a host of other Hunters, for setting up great tailgate tents at all home football games. Deputy Class Agent Allen Morgan and I spent our time on Saturdays wandering between the two tents, sampling a bounty of epicurean delights, to which we contributed absolutely nothing except our smiling faces and dynamic personalities. Much appreciated, folks! Tom Mason sent me a note after a good Keydet win. He said that the VMI basketball team makes him feel, and I am quoting here, “tingly.” I think I will leave that comment alone. After all, Tom lives in Roanoke, so he could easily find me. Another Brother Rat made an appearance in Roanoke recently. I was sitting in my office working away, and who appeared at my door, but Bill Witherow. Bill, who lives in Carlisle, PA, was in town, making some calls on area customers, and he stopped by to say hello. It made my day. Guy Conte has been busy socializing with BRs lately, while wintering in Phoenix. He has spoken with Clayton DePuey, and he reports that Clayton and Alicee are doing well. Guy has also spoken with Jim McCriskin. Jim has cut back his hours at the hospital to 3.5 days

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CLASS NOTES per week, so that he and Nancy can have time for other activities. Lastly, Guy has played golf with his doctor, one Keith Frey, and he said that Keith is well. It was great to hear from David Bohon for the first time in a while. Some time ago, David and his wife decided to buy some property and build a house. Life was good and simple; then, they thought they might need some little animals to share their land. That was when simple went out the window. They now have the following menagerie: 11 Pygmy goats, 10 dogs, two horses, one pony, two cats and one bird. Most, if not all, were taken from places where they could not be properly cared for. Pretty cool. Keeping the animal subject alive, Dave Schuyler is planning to retire at the end of this school year. I am not sure why, since it seems that every time Tana leaves the house, she comes home with another dog. I think they have four now, but that is a very fluid number. In a blast from the past, I received a nice note from Raleigh James recently. Raleigh left the Institute after two years and enlisted in the Air Force and served for four years. Currently, he is a high school math teacher at Dan River High School in Ringgold, VA, and an adjunct professor at Danville Community College in Danville, VA. Raleigh worked in industry 20 years before retiring and becoming a teacher 17 years ago. He coached football, basketball and track for 20+ years, during which he ran into Harry McKnight as a referee on several occasions. Raleigh had to give up the coaching after suffering a second heart attack and receiving a pacemaker in 2010. He and his wife also run a mentoring program, and they were able to take about 20 of their kids to the Coastal Carolina football game this past season, thanks to Donnie White ’65, who was able to make the arrangements. Heather Janes was elected to the Leadership Council (LC) for the Progressive Christian Alliance last October. The LC serves as the general board and as regional elders. Heather’s area of responsibility includes all of New York and the six New England states. Bill Terpeluk has had a series of life-changing events over the last several years, which included a move to St. Louis and now a move to the D.C. area (Rockville, MD, to be specific). Bill is glad to be back near Virginia, though he randomly came across more VMI alums in the Midwest than you might think. He is in touch with Scott Risser, living contently in the suburbs of Lexington, and Ellet Smith. Bill also wanted all of us to know that this October will the 10th anniversary of the passing of Mike Smith, and he is interested to see if any of our BRs would want to go to his grave site in Dayton, OH, to pay our respects. Contact Bill directly, or let me know if you are inter-

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ested, and I will pass it along to him. Dan and Laura Schultz, along with John and Cathy Maples, celebrated New Year’s Eve at the Marshall House in Leesburg, VA. They had a great time, tried a few of the general’s favorite drinks and woke up late the next morning … feeling just great! Randy Frank is now officially working 0.7 full-time equivalents. As a consequence, he works either a three- or four-day week, but because of the difficulty recruiting any doctors willing to work weekends, he ends up working frequently seven or eight days on and seven to 10 off. Randy is spending his off-time training for the Eugene Marathon which he is running on his 60th birthday, 28 April. I don’t even like driving that far! Rick Hening now has been with McLane Carolina for 17 years. It’s Upward Basketball time again, and he is officiating for his 16th consecutive season. Since he is having a “significant” birthday in March, he has backed off and is only doing 15 games this season. Suzanne continues working for The Braswell Memorial Library and goes into daycares and pre-schools and reads to the students. What a great job: read fun stories to kids and get paid! Rick stays in touch with a number of people via Facebook. Not only has he reconnected to many of our class of ’75 BRs but also upper-class or even some “Old Corps” alumni. One that stands out is Stuart Ashton ’74 who was a third classman our “Rat year” and was the first upperclassman to issue Rick a card to the Rat Disciplinary Committee. The loquacious Robert Mills sent a note that had me scurrying to find the definition of several things that may or may not be real words. According to Robert, the nuptial celebration of Jelly Bear Taylor’s daughter, Marty, was quite the affair, and everybody had fun showing off their sterling dance moves! Robert spent several weeks in Jamaica practicing his patois and working on his vibe, Mon! (huh?) Then, it was off to Mexico to polish up the Spanish which still needs work. He is also still trying to decide if the Tamarind Margarita is better than the Hibiscus. Exhausting but important research. Robert saw Ben and Anne Vanderberry and their young corporal, along with Popeye Lewin and family, at the VMI/ODU b-ball game, wherein the Keydets opened up an extremely satisfying can of whup---! He is also looking forward to May, when he will be joining his offspring and their significants on a sail through the Greek isles and the azure waters of the Aegean! He is boning up on his Homer in preparation. Once an English major, always and English major. On Jan. 29, 2013, Greg and Melody Diamontopulos delivered Peter’s ’53 Chevy Bel Air to him at VMI. After all that happened to him

last semester, the smile on his face was worth all the long delays and frustrations of the car’s resurrection. One happy Keydet first classman, class of 2013. Peter crushed his jaw last fall and has endured a long series of procedures to repair the damage. Through it all, last semester, Peter showed he has grit. He made the Dean’s List in spite of everything going on with him. That is very impressive, to say the very least. Well, that is about it in terms of news that I have received for this issue, so let me close by telling you another little story. It seems that heredity and geriatrics have combined to provide me with an arthritic right knee that has gone the way of my hairline, to become a small semblance of its old self, and a painful one at that. Now, let me tell you about my orthopedist. A nice gentlemen with a sterling reputation here in the valley, yet he has certain personality disorders that make him quite interesting. Several months ago, my knee was swollen and very sore, so I actually broke down and went to see Doc. After looking at my knee and after insulting my VMI heritage, which he gleaned from the jacket I was wearing, he told me that he needed to drain the old joint. As he started to leave the room, he looked back at me with a huge grin on his face and told me I should know that he is a graduate of W&L. A few minutes later, this clown returned, still with a grin on his face and carrying two syringes. One was just a normal looking instrument of torture, but the other was roughly the size of a Volkswagen, with a needle strangely reminiscent of a No. 2 pencil. This, obviously, was the device with which he intended to drain my knee. Just before inserting said item into my anatomy, the good Doc looked up, still grinning, and said those immortal words that I shall long remember: “I love it when I get to hurt VMI guys!” He then proceeded to ram that needle into my knee and withdraw a considerable amount of fluid. Now, I know that, in reality, the needle only went in about an inch or two, but at the time, I was reasonably certain that it had gone through my right knee, through my left knee, through the exam room wall, out of the building and into the doughnut shop down the street, from which he withdrew a quantity of day-old cooking oil. I guess he knew what he was doing, though, because the flexibility returned to my knee immediately, and the pain subsided somewhat, as well. Doc may be a smart-mouthed Mink, but I guess he knows what he is doing. Anyway, long story short (way too late for that), my old joint has continued to deteriorate, so I went back to see the Mink, and we agreed that the time has come to break out the hack saw, chewing gum and duct tape; to send my old knee to the nearest dumpster (probably

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CLASS NOTES at the doughnut shop); and to replace it with something made of steel and plastic. His unmitigated glee at the opportunity to slice open a Keydet was unmistakable, but I guess I will have to trust him. Oh, well, I am not the first in our class to get a new joint, but I hope I am the only one to have to trust a smart-mouthed Mink to do it! By the time these notes are published, I should be fully back to abnormal, so this will all be old news. Hope to see or hear from many of you in the coming months. Have a fantastic summer. In the interim, please stay safe, stay healthy and stay in touch. In the Spirit, Art

’76

William Bhatta

Brother Rats, These notes were written on Feb. 12, 2013, while I watched the state of the union address and listened to Metallica. I published the “Lost BR” list last December. The good news: the list shrunk to 58. The bad news: there are 58 BRs on the list. Remember, there is a $10.00 reward credited toward your 40th Class Reunion registration fee for every Lost BR status report you send me. The reward is good through December 2013. Mark Havelin was first to turn himself in, so he could get off of the Lost BR list. His comment about the reward was, “I guess everybody has a price, but I never thought my price was as low as $10!” Mark has been working as a Department of Defense employee for the past 34 years. Mark said, “I can retire any day that I want, but I’m just not ready to do so.” The only bad news he reported was his nephew graduated from VA Tech. John Swain was the first to earn $10.00 toward his next reunion registration fee. He said “… I see at least two of your MIAs on a fairly regular basis. Doug Ashton lives here in northern VA and works at Quantico. He is doing well; a great BR. Lawrence Tayon comes by about once a month, and we have managed to solve most of the world’s problems. I am glad he takes time to drop by.” (For his report, I should have rewarded John $20.00. Unfortunately, I had to fine him $10.00 for lack of details.) David Lowe recently joined Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., as a construction manager. He also has settled down – marriage and children helped push him in that direction. Dave married Caroline (they met in Thailand

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several years ago) in Le Mans, France. Bill and Cathy Ryals attended the wedding. The Lowes have an 18-month-old son named Marin. Dave said, “… that, of course, has put an all new spin on life!” Steve Hiner is the director of product development for Rinker Materials in Houston, TX. Steve said, “Nothing interesting has happened over the past 37 years. Been with the same company for 35 years, even though the name has changed several times. The first 13 years were in Baltimore, and the past 22 years have been in Houston.” Steve travels quite a bit for the company to approximately 35 different plants throughout the United States. For something to do, Steve practices martial arts. He has a titanium plate and 13 screws in his left ankle to prove it. Steve said, “I was told by a number of people that I need to grow up, act my age and stop thinking that I am still in my 20s. I don’t plan to listen to them. Been practicing for over 22 years and hold a third degree belt.” Mike Hancock reported in. Mike and Sandy celebrated their 30th anniversary in September. They have lived in Fredericksburg since 1989. Mike has been working in the site construction and asphalt paving industry. He is currently an estimator / project engineer for the Virginia Paving Company in Stafford, VA. Mike has three children and five grandchildren. His grandsons have provisional appointments to VMI. Mike hopes they will consider attending but said, “... I’m not holding my breath.” Pete Gabriel is living in the Netherlands, but

he may be moving back to the United States soon. He works on and off in Africa, training United Nations/African Union peacekeepers for the State Department. Pete said he is looking for something more stable. He was in Nigeria over Christmas and New Year’s. Pete said, “Nigeria is experiencing a lot of internal and external turmoil. I have spent a lot of time there, but it is not the most fun place to be right now.” Jim Mallon has a habit of running into BRs. Last November, Jim ran into Mark Sculley at the Atlanta airport. Then, in December, Jim and Susan ran into Wayne and Caren Eastham in Old Town Alexandria. The Mallons were taking their daughter to a birthday luncheon when they ran into the Easthams on the street. Mark Sculley is still enjoying his assignment at NATO in Brussels, Belgium. Mark’s son, Christian, won his first two wrestling matches at 106 lbs. in England last November. Mark’s oldest son, Julian ’09, will complete his Ph.D. in chemistry this May. He is already reviewing job offers. Julian is getting married in June; his fiancée is also getting her Ph.D. J.R. Mott left his teaching job in Lexington, VA, in January for Stuttgart, Germany. J.R. accepted a Department of the Army job in AFRICOM. At the time of this note, he was inprocessing and looking for a place to call home for Mei and their two daughters. Ron Lagrone is getting settled back at home in Alabama. His teaching job at the Baltic Defense College ended last October. Paul Parker became the town manager for

Class of 1976: At the VMI-Citadel football game, Nov. 10, 2012, were, from left, Doug Hines, Betsy and Rocky Glass, J.R. Mott, Grigg Mullen, and Ray Brooks. Bill Bhatta is front and center with Mei, Mott’s daughter, sitting on his lap.

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CLASS NOTES Glasgow, VA, on Jan. 2nd. The Internet link to the announcement read: “The new town manager brings a wealth of experience to the southeastern Rockbridge community, including serving as an engineer for both the Virginia Department of Health and the federal government and working as both director of public works and county administrator in several North Carolina communities. He is also a licensed wastewater treatment and water plant operator in North Carolina.” We might have to move the 40th Reunion class headquarters to Glasgow. Mack and Paula Curle’s fall vacation in Massanutten, VA, included a weekend visit by Clyde and Mary Furr. They had a great time together. After the Furrs went home, the Curles visited Civil War battlefields near Winchester, VA. Mack found his great-great-uncle’s grave in a Confederate cemetery; he was mortally wounded at the Battle of South Mountain in 1862. It was Mack’s last vacation as a Dominion employee – he retired in January after 36.5 years. There were three “gim-riders” since my last class notes. One BR had open heart surgery, one had a right hip replaced plus knee surgery and another had a heart valve repaired. Fortunately, everyone is doing well! Finally, many of you know Mark and Libbie Swank lost their son, Wes ’03, last December. He was involved in a single car accident that took his life. Wes left behind his wife, Allison, and daughter, Charlotte, who was born on Aug. 19th. Thanks to those who attended the funeral and supported the Swank family: the class of ’03, Eric and Lorena Briel, Oscar Cammuse, John and Teri Coleman, Tom Diggs, Mike Conley, Steve Joyce, Jim Joustra, Grigg Mullen, Jeff and Mary Totaro, Mark Conley ’05 and Julian Sculley ’09. A special thanks to John Coleman for coordinating and supporting the VMI color guard’s appearance at the funeral and to Jim Joustra’s efforts to establish VMI’s Galen Weston Swank ’03 Memorial Scholarship.

Class of 1976: Sixty-year-old Mark Sculley, taking a break in the Austrian Alps, after skiing downhill at 60 miles per hour.

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’77

Steve Neas

I occasionally have meetings at my corporate headquarters in Chantilly, VA. I always am pleased when the meetings end between 3 and 4 p.m. I consider this the “sweet spot” on I-66 West. There is a lull in the traffic around this time. Leaving earlier or later can add as much as an hour to my drive home. One particular day in November, I avoided the hold-up on I-66, only to be delayed on U.S. 29 somewhere around Culpepper. Ahead, I saw a red pickup with VMI stickers all over it. I worked my way through the traffic to pull up beside the truck to see the friendly face of Brother Rat Chris Perry … the serendipities of life. Has anyone ever seen Chris when he was not smiling? Along the same vein, I was sitting in the lobby of a hotel in mid-town Manhattan, when I felt a strange disruption in the Force. A shadow passed by with the same build and gate of JJ Marshall. I put down my laptop and rushed to follow, only to find the apparition

had disappeared. On a whim, I e-mailed JJ, asking him where he was that day. Ever tired of my calls and e-mails, JJ responded that he was busy that day but could possibly take a phone call, if I made it short, and it was really important. (JJ has never recovered from Buck picking me for regimental commander and not him.) I replied that I only wanted to know where he was that day. He said NYC. It wasn’t a spirit; it was really JJ! My first time in New York City, and I scored a JJ sighting. We arranged to meet the next morning for coffee. Being my first trip to the Big Apple, my traveling partners decided to show me the town. So, when I met with JJ, I was a little under the weather from a late night. I am not sure what he said but something about several of you and a trip to Costa Rica. I learned through a trusted source – Bert Deacon – that the party in Costa Rica consisted of Bruce Cann, JJ, Buster Pace, Buzzy Northen, Billy Hupp and Tom Underhill. If I did not get that right, it is due to the combination of me being hungover when I met with JJ and my relying on Bert. I checked the State Department Web page, and as of this writing, there was no mention of an international incident in Costa Rica. So, I am assuming that the trip went well. Lowes in Lexington is a good place to meet members of Super ’77. I have found Keith Gibson there several times and Chuck Conner once. I am sure if I keep up my visits, it is only a matter of time before I run into Eric Hutchings, unless he is one of those “buy local” guys, in which case, I do stop by the locally owned TruValue store from time to time. I did receive a nice call from Lisa Kelly. Lisa tells me she has been receiving nice birthday cards, Christmas cards and solicitations from the class of ’77 for years and does not know why. I don’t either. She seemed nice; maybe I will keep her on the list. Who knows? We may get a donation out of it. John Coe was kind enough to e-mail. John confirmed something that I suspected for years. In 1992, a young man named Michael Fey was arrested and convicted for mischief in Singapore. He was sentenced to a caneing. There was much in the news at that time about the horror of this. Reading my local paper the day after the beating, there was a photo of the U.S. official assigned the duty of inspecting the young man to confirm that he wasn’t too badly abused. You guessed it; that U.S. official was none other than our Brother Rat John Coe – yet another Super ’77 rock star. As I mentioned in the last notes, John is deputy consulate general in Cairo. Keep him in your prayers; things are rough over there. Maybe his next assignment could be Costa Rica to keep an eye on “Traveling Pros from Richmond.”

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CLASS NOTES Facebook (FB) is a new way to keep up with several of our Brother Rats. From FB, I have learned that Max Floyd now lives in Russia. Most of his photos include deep snow. I have leaned from FB that Phil Galing has moved with his wife to her family’s farm in Waynesburg, PA. They have taken up raising alpacas. Visit his website http://lippencottalpacas.com for all your alpaca-wear needs. I had a conversation with Snookie Parker ’74 during the fall Class Agents Meeting. Snookie has a brother, Chris Parker, who matriculated with us. I know this, because he was one of my roommates. Chris did not make it back from Christmas break. That is why many of you may not remember him. Regardless, Snookie tells me Chris is a retired police officer in Phoenix. What do you think of that, Bob Atkinson, Stan Stout and Eric Radford? Rod Lynn and I have exchanged a few e-mails. Rod sent me a photo of him, Chuck Conner and Keith Kowadlo taken after their Ranger School haircuts. Rod now lives in Orlando. He reports he has taken up a vegan diet and feels great as a result. One day, I may take the plunge, but if we were not supposed to eat animals, why do they have so much meat on them? Ed Anderson is one who has frequent postings on FB. When he is not doctoring, he is flying. He has flown Tommy Cole to Atlanta Falcons games a few times. He has posted some great photos on FB. Bill Powell, after much consideration, I have an answer to the question you asked me at the reunion. I hope you are enjoying retirement. Fred Wiggins called. Fred is living in Lumberton, NC. Being from North Carolina and knowing the area, you have to have a really good reason to want to live in Lumberton. Fred’s reason has to do with an ailing father. The interesting thing I learned in talking to Fred is that he is writing poetry. Some of his work is published in an anthology named, In My Lifetime, Yesterday, published by Eber and Wein. Fred is working to complete his own book to be titled, Depression from the Inside. If you Google Fred’s name, you will find some of his work. I dare say we have all suffered some pain in life; Fred’s work speaks to some of that pain. Hank Bungay sent me an e-mail recently. Hank attended our 35th, and I think I remember him saying that was the first time he had been back since graduation. Hank is retired and passes time playing cards. He would like to arrange a Super ’77 game here in Lexington in the near future. He will bring the VMI ’77 poker chips. He promises it will be a “friendly” game. More information on that later for those who are interested. Bert told me in his e-mail that there has been another Las Vegas trip, so maybe you guys

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are warmed up enough to take on Hank. Speaking of the Las Vegas trip, that trip included Billy Hupp, Ralph George, Joe Santelli, JJ Marshall, Buzzy Northen, Jim Bentley (in spirit only … gim list), Buster Pace, Tom Underhill and Bert. Looks like some of the same guys who traveled to Costa Rica … hmm. Are you guys on the run from something? Many of you know that Norm Stevens has not been well. Bert reports that Norm hopes to be released soon but would love to hear from us. Norm can be contacted, as of this writing in February, at Norm Stevens, Huggins Hospital, 240 South Main Street (Room 264), Wolfeboro, NH 03894. Bland Massie gave me a call. Bland attended the Virginia legislature reception in Richmond. He saw Eric Hutchings, Allen Wagner, Bob Hartzell and Bill Talley at the reception. Thank you, gentlemen, for representing VMI and Super ’77. I am sure you all are aware of the Brick Program – if you give $2,500 to the VMI Foundation, you get a brick with your name on it put in the walkway in front of Barracks. One of Bland’s last acts as class agent was to contact several of our BRs who had exceeded the $2,500 and ask if they would contribute their extra bricks, so all our BRs who have died could have a brick placed in their name. Several of you agreed. All of our Brother Rats who have passed on now have a brick in our class’s section with their name on it. Thank you, Bland, for making this happen and a special thanks to you who have donated your brick. Soon-to-be Dr. Manno (Col. Buchannan ’50B can only shake his head) continues to fly the iron pig coast to coast, play music and draw cartoons and still has time to report all this on FB. A true renaissance man. Dr. Shelton Rhodes sent a nice card. He is living in Centreville, VA, and is dean of the College of Business at Delaware State University. Shelton is also on FB. Danny Bradach says “hi” from Gainesville, GA. Steve and Alice Turley send their regards. Steve is working for Jacobs Technology in Colorado Springs and is sweating government cuts. Mike and Debbie Davis sent out their annual Christmas letter. You may all know that he is defending the Valley from New Market. He, like many of us, is becoming a grandparent. So, that is all at this writing … wait! This just in: an e-mail from JJ … the Pros made it home safely from Costa Rica. JJ reports no one was caught doing anything wrong. I guess that is what happens when you bring your wives. Sincerely, Steve Neas P.S. We will do a mini-reunion in the fall, so start saving your dimes.

’78

Tom Brown

Salutations to all. As you read the latest news from around the class it will be warmer and the memories of winter a blessed memory. Many of you endured the trials of Sandy and winter storm Nemo, and I hope all are fully recovered. Now, for the news. Just after the last notes deadline, there was a good gathering of BRs at the Citadel game. Kevin Callanan, Ronald Dolan, Scott Singletary, Glenn Dallinger, Terry Dorn, Scot Singletary, Stu Gitchell, Pat Wilson and Don Robey were on hand to see a good game. All had a great time seeing the parade and game. We had fine fellowship up on the ridge behind the stadium and even saw some of the game. Rob Traver sent news from his post at Villanova that he is now president of the American Academy of Water Resources. Rob says he has got to learn to say no. It’s just water under the bridge now, Rob. Chip Schelhorn sends along that his daughter is graduating from high school this year. She has been accepted into the Honors College at Florida State University starting in the fall. As you can see, he is very proud of her. Chip also has a 12-year-old to get to college. So, like the French Foreign Legion, he says, “March or die.” Chip still works for Wells Fargo Insurance Services and will be marking the six-and-a-halfhour drives to Tallahassee this fall to watch the ACC football games. His sister’s son plays for VA Tech, and he will go to that game this year. Chip was out skiing in Aspen/Snowmass for three weeks. Ken Singleton reports he is still in Minneapolis with Express Scripts as a product engineer for the pharmacy claims processing system. He is planning to visit VMI in September for the fall reunion. Mike McCarthy has had a busy time over the past six months. He lost his dad last summer. The interment ceremony was at Arlington during Thanksgiving week. Mike also had several trips and speaking engagements related to the work he has been doing as lead for the Army Mobile Computing / smartphone project. Mike went from being anonymous on the Internet three years ago, to being all over it now. The last time his PAO checked Google, the “Army Smartphone project + McCarthy” had 7.8 million hits. Wow! Mike says the fix they put on his stomach has worked well. His diabetes has been in complete remission for almost 12 months. His weight has also been stable for the past eight months – the same weight he was in

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CLASS NOTES junior year of high school, about five pounds less than he weighed at matriculation. He says it is still a bit strange looking in the mirror. The only down side Mike reports is he still cannot drink beer or soda. Kevin Callanan reports that life is fine and not much going on. Dave Mecredy sends that he and daughter Felicity are going a one-week mission trip to Hinch, Haiti. They are with a team of 20 from their church who will be conducting medical clinics, hospital visits, prayer ministry and teaching in the Haitian churches. Dave says there is no doubt it will be a life-changing experience for both of them. He will have a little more to tell for the next issue after they get back. Dave is making plans to attend the reunion in the fall, pending vacation time and work schedules, not to mention finding someone to take care of all the animals (cats, dogs, rabbits, turkeys, geese, ducks and chickens). Just bring them along; it will be a zoo anyway. Jeff Yates says all is well. His exciting news: Jeff’s son, Tyler, graduates from VMI with a CE degree in May. Jeff is a proud dad and now has an alumnus in the family! Congrats, Jeff! Mike Oelrich checks in with a report of not too much new. He is just trying to ride out what the budget sequester is going to bring to the support contractor world. Mike says it doesn’t look too promising for the government civilian side right now. On a positive note, his daughter is getting married in New Orleans on May 11. Hang in there, Mike. Joe Tulskie says he and Rob “Chops” Parker were at the Flyers Game. Chops went to Block the Doctor and almost spilled his bourbon! Ronnie Milligan continues to do an outstanding of job coordinating support for BR Mark Gentile. For those of you who did not receive Ronnie’s letter, support for Gino continues to be strong, thanks to your generosity. Unfortunately, Mark’s condition continues to deteriorate. Continued support is still needed to help our Brother Rat.

Jay Hutt hosted a Pre-Valentine’s Hop Party for the Lynchburg crew and others that was loads of fun. Jay says he never had so many “beautiful people” under his roof! Danny Thornton, Stu Gitchell, Bert Loflin, Andy Faulconer and I all had a great time. Jay and Paula are always such gracious hosts. Everyone then headed off to the Lynchburg Alumni Chapter’s event and had a great time socializing and enjoying the VMI Commanders’ performance. Jay still wants to know how long ‘til Opening Day and wants to bring on baseball season – and weather! It is here now. Now, it is time for the “Mitchell Report” – the latest news from field correspondent Paul Mitchell. Nancy Milligan – mother of Ronnie Milligan and a big supporter of VMI – passed away on Jan. 13, 2013. After a gathering at Woody Funeral Home on the eve of Nancy’s funeral, Ronnie invited those Brother Rats and spouses in attendance back to his home for a little reception. Despite the sad circumstances, it was a pleasure to be among so many of our classmates. In attendance were Bill Hardy, Steve Oddi, Billy Way, Bill Grove, Jay Kinnier and Jerry Harris, as well as Ronnie’s nephew, Christopher Milligan ’11. Every year, usually in mid-January, roughly this same group of guys gathers at a Richmond pub to select a Class of ’78 Brother Rat of the Year. Since most members of the selection committee all happened to be at this reception, we held an impromptu committee meeting. Ronnie opened the floor for nominations. Steve, who had recently read Pirate Alley: Commanding Task Force 151 Off Somalia, stood and nominated its author, Rear Adm. Terence McKnight, USN (Ret). Steve read notes gleaned from U.S. Navy and Amazon websites promoting the author and his work. Ronnie interrupted Steve to call on Jay Kinnier who had his hand up. “Didn’t Adm. McCombs write a book about piracy?” Rolling his eyes, Steve said, “It’s McKnight, not McCombs, and I was just getting to that.” He continued. We are very

Class of 1978: Gathering in Richmond, Virginia, were, from left, Ronnie Milligan, Bill Hardy, Steve Oddi, Billy Way, Bill Grove, Paul Mitchell, Jay Kinnier, Jerry Harris and Milligan’s nephew, Christopher Milligan ’11.

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proud to claim Rear Adm. Terry McKnight as our Brother Rat. Choosing him as our Brother Rat of the Year for 2012 was a no-brainer. Afterward, I asked Steve if I could borrow his copy of Pirate Alley to read. He explained that his copy was signed by the author, making it too valuable to loan out. I understood. I ordered my own copy via Amazon.com. Thanks, Paul, for that excellent report. I have some sad news to pass along. As I was compiling the notes, I received a call that Craig Badalaty had passed away on Feb. 14. Craig will be remembered for his wit and great heart. Our sympathies go out to his wonderful family. Thanks to all of you for your support and input, without which this column is not possible. If you are not getting the e-mail notifications, please send me your current e-mail. As you read this, our 35th Reunion is only four months away, Sept. 6 - 7, 2013 – details to come.

’79

Michael Ogden

Hello again, Brother Rats, from Virginia’s Eastern Shore. On with the news … Some sad news. For those of you who have not heard, Paul Ramey passed away in December after a long battle with throat cancer. Thanks go out to Chuck Fanshaw ’82 who was instrumental in making sure we all knew about Paul’s passing and his service. Stosh Morris attended and provided this report: “The memorial service for Paul Ramey was a first class event and well attended by his many friends and a good number of his co-workers from the USACE. They gave many stirring tributes to Paul, not only for his work at USACE, but also in the community and especially with AIDS Action Baltimore. Everyone in the class can be very, very proud of all Paul accomplished and how he lived the VMI ethos. There was not a single speaker who did not describe how kind and generous Paul was, dedicated to his job but always willing to help out others. These were the same great stories we heard when we spoke to people personally. They read out the e-mail Paul sent his boss when he received his terminal diagnosis and promised he’d finish the project he was working on before his disability retirement and ensure everything was transitioned. Pure class. Pure class. They also spoke about how great a cook Paul was and much about his talents as both a gardener and an artist. The VMI contingent consisted of Pete Alvarez, Jay Gede and me. My eternal thanks to them, because they were the real classy guys in the room, preventing me from making the class

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CLASS NOTES structional methodology. Last summer, Ed was in the cards. So, he figures he will be going at look like doofs. Thanks to their adding a touch elected to the board of governors of the Keydet this for at least another 10 years. of class, Paul’s friends never picked up that I Club, and he is in his first year as an alternate. John Blake and wife Deb made it to Myrtle needed to travel with my own ‘support group.’ This will lead to two, one-year terms on the Beach during Hurricane Sandy the weekend Paul was honored by a table of mementos and board. Congratulations, Ed, and thanks for givof Oct. 29, 2012, for Deb’s 40th high school photos of him all around the room. VMI figured ing back to the “I” with your time and efforts! reunion. Evidently, John was disco dancing like prominently, from his shako to photos of him in John Kailey says that things “keep rockhe did during his cadet days. (Insert visual!) his VMI days. It was obvious that VMI meant a ing along.” He finally won his battle with the Deb wouldn’t watch John dance for fear he lot to Paul and that he talked about it a lot with Veteran’s Administration. Now, it is on to would miss a step and break a leg! John says he his friends and co-workers.” officiating lacrosse (evidently, Jim Pigg does didn’t miss a step and enjoyed dancing to the Now, no discourse with Stosh is complete this, too) and football. John is trying to pretend disco music and feeling young again. Also, Deb without some form of outburst. He continues that he is not 55 years old (with a bad back and taught John how to slow dance when the music …“BUT the MAJOR bone of contention I knee). Think we can all commiserate with John slowed down! Hey, John! Just hold on and have is an extremely disturbing trend that we … except maybe Dan Kornacki and Farshad make small circles! Even a football player can respectfully request that you, as class agent, use Majidian! John’s oldest son wrestled this year do it! (B-E-N-D-A!) all the powers of your office to stop before it at 6 feet-2 inches and 220 lbs., and John thinks Ben Bauman writes that his son, Ben III, and gets further out of control. It is bad enough that maybe he needs to open a grocery store! his wife, Becky, are the proud parents of Ben’s Biviano is now a world-class painter and taunts Doug Doerr reports, “The Schwarz and Dofirst grandchild, Ben IV (Duh!). He was born on all with promises of gourmet pizza he never err family had a meeting engagement at GiorDec. 11, 2012. Ben’s two daughters are doing intends to deliver, but now we have these epic gio’s Family Restaurant in Montclair” in early well and are still in college. Ben underwent stories of Paul Ramey as an artist, gardener February. Doug is being awarded his Wood successful knee surgery in February to correct and gourmet cook … BOTH of these BRs are Badge beads for his dedicated work in Scouting his blown-out knee. He says his arthritis is bad, ENGINEERS. As such, and speaking for all of at the end of February. Congrats, Doug, and but bottom line is, the doctor said he should not the English majors and other liberal arts majors thanks from all of us for your dedication to our run anymore and to reduce impact exercises on in our class, you need to tell these engineers to youth. his knee, and he will be able to walk normally get and stay OUT OF OUR GENRE! Do they Bart Cramer and wife Susan celebrated again, which is good! see Alvarez or me building bridges or museums their 10th wedding anniversary last May. In Dave and Carrie Taylor got a visit from Dave (blowing them up does not count)? I don’t think November, their first granddaughter (Hayden), and Cindy Jeter in Dayton, OH, to meet their so. Next thing you know, the engineers will be from his oldest daughter, turned 4 (time is new grandchild, Raye Lee, and attend the VMI schmoozing politicians and chasing ambulances vs. Wright State University basketball game like Meade ‘the Hammer’ Spotts. I don’t expect flying), followed by the birth of their second on Dec. 8th. While Dave and Cindy made the we will see that sort of behavior again from the granddaughter (Callie) on Dec. 13th (just misstrip successfully, the Keydets appeared not to, engineers.” ing out on the 12/12/12 thing) to his youngest as they were soundly defeated! But all was not Tom Baltazar checks in from Afghanistan. daughter. In March, Bart will celebrate 32 years lost! A group of alums are beginning to make He is in Kabul this time, as the deputy chief of with what started as a small financial institution a push to get more VMI alumni together in the staff for Stability Operations for the ISAF Joint and is now a large institution. Bart wishes that Cincinnati-Dayton-Columbus area, and they Command. Tom writes, “I oversee the comretirement was close at hand, but that is just not used this game as a catalyst to jump mand’s outreach to the Afghan nonstart their efforts! Kind of like we security ministries, as well as the do here in the Tidewater area with international community. Last time the VMI-ODU football and basI was here, it was with a subordiketball games. There were over 45 nate command in Kandahar, and I VMI alumni and family members did not think much of IJC ... now, that showed up to the game! The it’s my turn to make it right.” Tom coach met with the group before has run into two VMI folks already: the game and talked about the team Adrian Bogart ’80, who runs the and several of the players. Dave Special Operations Command’s came away with a greater appreciaNational Civil-Military Operations tion for Coach Duggar Baucom: Center, and Glenn Dickenson ’90, “He’s more than wins and losses. who is deputy to the deputy chief He’s impacting our cadets daily and of staff for Intelligence. Tom says, turning them into men that we can “All are doing well and enjoying be proud of for years to come!” the beautiful Kabul air ... not!” Jeff Smith is catching up on Ed Johnson and wife Judy are many loose ends that he says he still in the same jobs and enjoying left hanging for decades during his some travel to visit family and distinguished Army career. He will friends. Their daughter, Kate, is probably start looking for work finishing up a Ph.D. program at Class of 1979: Tom and Elizabeth Jones ’69 with Dan later in the spring. Jeff says he Michigan State and is heavy into Kornacki, right, at the VMI-Citadel football game, Nov. can’t believe he is saying this, but the job search, looking for a tenure 10, 2012. All three competed in the 2012 Ironman Florida he is really looking forward to our track faculty position to teach event at which Kornacki set a personal record of 11:51. 35th Reunion! I think he means he educators and do research in in-

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CLASS NOTES can’t believe it’s our 35th Reunion – not that he is not really looking forward to seeing all of us. I think. Chuck Smith and wife Roberta retired from the Navy on the first of the year and are currently enjoying the winter at Smith Mountain Lake. Their offer remains open to any BRs on the lake to tie up at “Safe Landing.” Thanks, Grunt, and congratulations to you both. Many thanks to you two for your dedication, service and sacrifice to our country. I got a letter from Bob Arnold (and I do mean letter, as in written on paper with a pen) who now lives in Tallahassee, FL! He says that he is weathering the economic storm with steady, if not increasing, optimism. After working his way through a few difficult and bad years, he has settled into driving a taxi for about the past 10 years. Along the way, about five years ago, Bob started writing a book. (Bob, that’s spelled: O-g-d-e-n … Don’t confuse me with Mike Od-e-n!) Bob says that while driving the taxi, he does his utmost to not “lie, cheat or steal,” but unfortunately, he is somewhat forced to tolerate those that do! Great hearing from you, Bob, and best of luck with the book! Before I forget, congratulations to Tom (that’s E.) White and Mary Eileen on their 30th wedding anniversary! Dan Kornacki competed in this year’s Ironman Florida with a PR 11:51! Also competing in the event with Dan were Elizabeth and Tom Jones ’69. Iron Alumni!! Dan’s son returned from Afghanistan in January, and he is “PCSing” to Fort Benning in the summer, so he’ll be close to home. John Arthur has shamed Dan into the Bike Ride Across Virginia this June, and word has it that John expects to smoke Dan. Score card and pictures in next Review! I unfortunately missed a breakfast gathering (that I frickin’ arranged) in December with Bob “Uncle Stosh” Morris, Asa Page, John Arthur and Pete Underwood, due to having a bug that was going around, and thus, I was on the Gim. Stosh, our on-scene reporter, filed this: “Pete made it. He was 45 minutes early, waiting for you outside. He was accosted by six homeless people ... actually, they were members of Congress... they just looked homeless (and probably should be). Everyone forgives you, and no one used your name in vain. … No comment on the ‘bug.’ As you know, I have had that problem before when ‘the man’ tried to put me down a few years back. Best solution I found was to get an electromagnetic pulse shot at your house to neutralize them.” Thanks, Stosh. No, really, thanks. All is grand on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Renee presses along with classes, closing in on her degree, while continuing work as the Northampton Chamber of Commerce executive

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director. She is busy. B-U-S-Y! Eldest son James (29) was laid off from his position as an analyst at the II MEF Simulation Center in Camp Lejeune, NC, due to budget cuts but was quickly hired by Design Interactive (good) and will be moving to Williamsburg in the spring (really good). He will be receiving his degree in homeland security in the spring, as well! Youngest son Matt (26) and new wife Dani have relocated from Canada – where Dani is from and where she was working for the Ministry of Defense – to the lower 48. Matt, with degree in hand, was unable to find employment in Canada. Evidently, the way Canada protects its workforce makes it all but impossible to get work as a non-citizen. Their solution was to move south and have Matt enlist in the Marine Corps. That’s right, I said ENLIST IN THE MARINE CORPS! While Matt’s grandfather, father, older brother and two cousins are Marines, this was NOT expected! The Marine Corps could not get Matt into OCS until fall 2014, so he is going to work his way up to the officer corps via the enlisted ranks. Easy peasy, right! (sigh) Matt reports to MCRD Paris Island in late February for 13 weeks of camping, hiking, swimming, lots of picnics, sing-alongs and other such fun. Wish him luck. More on this saga in the next edition of class notes. Lastly, please keep Paul and Amy Lachmanek and family in your thoughts and prayers, as Amy is again battling cancer. I cannot begin to imagine. All our hopes for a win here. I have my annual physical scheduled for the first of March with a colonoscopy later this summer. How about you? Just sayin.’ If you are not hearing from me, I can be found on Facebook, along with over 100 BRs, via email (I have over 200 addresses) or via regular mail (over 300 addresses). Oh, I am also on LinkedIn. (Geeeez) Or you can just call or just stop by the house for a beer or some sweet tea on the porch. Stay well.

’80

John Gibney Jr.

Hello, Brother Rats, These notes cover the period Nov. 1, 2012, through Feb, 15, 2013. The period began in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, prompting a number of calls. Tolar Nolley called from Richmond, where he runs the Oyster Company of Virginia, to offer support. Pat Griffin called. He said that his beach community in Rhode Island was hit hard. His

son, Michael, applied, early decision, to VMI and was hoping to hear in December. Pat also said that Phil Munisteri, who lives on Long Island, was OK. Pat also spoke with Gary Levenson and planned to travel to VMI in November, at the invitation of Jack Keane, to participate in a mentoring program. Matthew and Tanya Keys, who live in lower Manhattan, were without power for over a week. They found hotel accommodations uptown. Patti and I hosted them for dinner, and in addition to giving us the flu, they discussed their plans to celebrate their 30th anniversary on safari in Kenya. Ray Joinson called. Ray is a retired Air Force colonel. He and Carla live in Tennessee. Carla recently received her master’s degree. Their son, Eric, is a lieutenant in the Coast Guard stationed in New Orleans. Tom Wilson sent an e-mail from Chincoteague Island asking about Sandy and noting that they were hit hard but are back up and running. Tom wrote that he and Bobbie are well and that he enjoyed reading about big wieners in a prior set of class notes. A photo of Tom surfing accompanies these notes. The big wiener comment also prompted an e-mail from Ed Bower. The printable remarks are that he and Cindy are looking forward to a return visit to the Poconos. Steve Andrews sent an e-mail from his home in Connecticut where he and Cathy lost power for four days. They also decided to skip the VMI vs. Stony Brook football game due to the storm. I received a Sandy-related e-mail from the NYC Chapter of the Alumni Association that praised Don Bradshaw and Larry Ciacci for their work during and after Sandy. Don is the deputy to the garrison commander at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. Larry is a FEMA operations officer. Finally, due to Sandy, Patti and I did not attend the Foundation Board Meeting or the Institute Society Dinner. Thanks to Robby Jones, Gary Levenson and Jay Melvin for their messages of understanding and support. Attached to Jay’s e-mail was a message from Josh and Karen Priest. They attended a football game in October and ran into John and Margie Caplice. They also planned to tailgate at the game against The Citadel in November. Jay McConnell (in the form of his wife, Marge) sent an e-mail with photos taken when a group of our BRs attended a football game in October. One of the photos appears with these notes. Ted Helmick sent a handwritten letter from his home in Panama City Beach, FL. Ted wrote (literally) of donating blood for the 250th time. He also wrote of skateboarding and skating, both of which resulted in minor mishaps and

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES noon and left on Sunday afternoon to return to Congrats to Pat Griffin. Michael was aclittle sympathy. Ted works construction and has D.C. in time to see the Redskins game. cepted and will enter VMI in August. kept busy despite the poor housing market. Thanks to all who sent Christmas wishes. Mark (really Nancy) Pauls sent an e-mail Andy Ludlum called. He recently celebrated Cards arrived from Larry and Lynn Avery; with a photo taken at the VMI vs. Navy football his 12th anniversary as a pilot with Southwest. Vince and Sheila Copenhaver; Hunter Davis; game in September. The photo appears with He and Nicki also welcomed their first grandPat and Beth Griffin and their sons, Michael these notes. Mark co-owns an engineering daughter, Audrey, on Nov. 11th. They also have and John; Tom “Gunny” Kelly; Glenn and company in East Syracuse, NY. Their daughter, two grandsons, Gabriel and Uriah. Kathleen, is a helicopter pilot in the Navy. Their Peggy McCabe; Rick and Therese Penn; Bill November closed with an e-mail from Phil daughter, Alicia, works in D.C. and was married Roelofsen; Preston and Shari Vock and their Munisteri who wrote that both kids were home children, Courtney and Preston Ryan; and Les in December. for Thanksgiving. and Carolyn Walsh. The VMI website posted an article on Doug December began with an e-mail from Brig. “Photocards” arrived from Steve and Cathy Burton and his family connection to VMI, Gen. Jonathan Ives and his wife, Whitney, with Andrews and their daughters, Virginia and complete with a picture of eight family memthe news of the birth of their daughter, 7-pound, Caroline; Paul and Ann Burkholder from their bers who gathered at VMI for the football game 21-inch Peyton Ann, on Nov. 21. Mayan bunker; Chris and Jen Dombalis and vs. The Citadel. Doug has two sons currently in Frank Leech sent an e-mail after receiving his their daughters, Taylor and Alexis; David and the Corps. birthday card, noting that at 54 he’s been living Diana Hagemann and Caleb; Phil and Kathy December closed with a visit to NYC from overseas for 21 years. The family is excited Munisteri and their children, Meghan and ConTuck Masker who arrived on Saturday afterabout their pending relocation to Malaysia. nor, and their dog, Sarge; Rob and John and Anne Alerding share a Traci Robinson and their daughters, wedding anniversary with me and Maddie and Caitlin, and their dog, Patti. John wrote in an e-mail that Buddy; Wade and Lannie Stinnette; he made his annual visit to Robby and Elliott and Amy Wolffe. Jones for a jewelry purchase. Cards with notes and/or letters Chris Dombalis sent an e-mail that included the sad news of the passing arrived from John and Anne Alerdof his father. Chris also wrote that ing who wrote that Johnny (class Sandy severely damaged his home of 2012) began his active duty Air on the Jersey shore but spared his Force career in October. Andy and full-time New Jersey residence. Sharon Brown sent a card with a Steve Andrews sent a text during photo of their sons, Joe, Casey and a last-minute visit with Cathy to Christian, and Andy’s dad, Papa NYC. This resulted in a few hours Joe. Andy is a rear admiral in the of beer and nachos at the White Class of 1980: Tom Wilson riding a wave in Chincoteague, Navy. They have returned from Virginia, summer 2012. Horse Tavern. Europe and are living in St. Louis. Joe and Sue Brown sent a card with photos of their children, Emily and Dan. Joe is a major general in the Air Force stationed in D.C. Emily graduated from William and Mary and is in graduate school at VCU. Dan is a first lieutenant in the Air Force stationed at Fort Meade. Aaron and Nancy Bush included photos of their grandchildren, Ava and Analeigh, and a group shot that included Wes (29), Zach (26) and Ashley, Kinsey (23), Jeremiah (20) and Lucas (15). They live in Hershey, PA, where Aaron, retired from the Army, teaches Algebra and coaches track and field and cross country. Jonathan and Whitney Ives sent a card with a photo of their newborn, Peyton. Jonathan has returned from a Kuwait deployment, and they live in Alexandria. Matthew and Tanya Keys sent a card with photos from their safari. Matthew is the Manhattan district manager for Sleepy’s. Tanya travels the world as the global director of operations for Alexander Mann Solutions. Walt and Carrie Kreitler sent an update from Class of 1980: Tailgating in October 2012 were Mike Luning, Paul Burkholder, their home in Fairfax that included a photo of Gary Levenson, Ed Baker, Jay McConnell, Rob Quarles, Preston Vock, V. Dunn, them taken on a trip to Australia. Robert is a Dan Sweeney, Dixon Tucker and Bill Roelofsen. program analyst at the Office of the Secretary

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CLASS NOTES of Defense. John was promoted to captain in the Army, and he and Alicia are stationed at Fort Hood. Tim and Becky Mecredy sent a card, a page of photos and an update from Augusta, GA, where they work together in Tim’s clinic. They wrote in their card about meeting Ken and Lisa Kovarik in North Carolina for a long weekend. Their daughter, Emily, is an English major at the College of Charleston and is engaged to be married. Michael and Ellie live on the west side of Nashville. Denis and Donna Milsten sent a card and an update from their home in Amissville, VA, a three-hour, round-trip commute from their jobs in D.C. They wrote that their children and pets are happy and healthy. Their year included a three-week trip to Italy, and they have a goal to visit Alaska. Brian and Kim O’Neill sent a card and a group photo (shopped) and an update on their extended family that saw two weddings in 2011 and will have another in June when their son, Timothy, gets married. They live in Virginia Beach where Brian, a retired Navy captain, works as a civilian as part of the submarine force. Bert and Peggy Schneider noted in their card that they continue to work in support of new cadet recruiting in Arizona. Their son, Chad, is a veterinarian in Phoenix. Their daughter, Elizabeth, represents a bio-tech firm. Mark and Darleen Sobota noted in their card attendance at a VMI vs. Wright State basketball game. Their son, Chad, was married in July and will relocate with Megan to Colorado Springs as an Air Force second lieutenant. Their son, Luke, will marry Kylie in March. Mark works at Wright Patterson AFB on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Robby Wheeler wrote that he is still flying for American Eagle out of Dallas. Finally (alphabetically), Tracy and Jennifer Wilson sent a card with an update noting that

2012 was a year full of good memories. Their daughter, Siena, is in second grade. Ellie is thriving in kindergarten. Jennifer was promoted to a management position at the IMF. The new year brought an e-mail from Matthew and Tanya Keys with a photo taken during their safari and a call with Wade and Lannie Stinnette who were driving their son, Walker, back to Furman. Elliott Wolffe called with the sad news that his father passed away. He also recalled seeing Tim Hodges at a basketball game in Lexington during Thanksgiving. Accompanying these notes is a photo sent by Jay (again, Marge) McConnell taken at the annual trek that Mike Luning and Rob Quarles organize each year. The 2013 edition has been scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 11. Chal Glenn, Larry Hupertz and Elliott Wolffe are planning to attend in addition to those who usually participate, including Don Bradshaw, Jay McConnell, Bill Roelofsen, Dan Sweeney and Dixon Tucker. Hal and Kathy Snyder sent a holiday letter including a side comment that their son, Conor, is considering attending VMI and playing lacrosse. Hal also wrote that his dad passed away last February. Hal is a periodontist in Fredrick, MD. Kathy manages his practice. Their daughter, Margot, received her master’s from the London College of Fashion. Their son, Hunter, graduated from Drexel with a degree in film and English and currently works at Yale. January ended with an e-mail from Jack Keane containing an article from the January 1980 Esquire magazine. I will forward it upon request. February has been quiet, except for the blizzard that blanketed the northeast with up to three feet of snow. Gary Levenson called following breakout for the Rat class. He

Class of 1980: Attending the VMI-Navy football game, Sept. 22, 2012, were, from left, Pat Griffin, Gary Fellows, Mark Pauls and Boyd Gaines.

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did not provide permission for me to disclose his mishap with a lawnmower, but for the right price, it can appear in a future set of notes. George Condyles sent an update from Virginia where he runs The Atlantic Group of Companies, a communications consulting firm. George and Harriet are now empty nesters. Their daughter, Laura, is an Army first lieutenant stationed in Alaska who deployed and has returned from Afghanistan. On a visit to Alaska, George and Harriett visited the church that sponsors the work that Walt and Mary Lynne Wood do in Peru. Their youngest daughter, Laura, graduated from VA Tech and works in D.C. for the Federal Reserve Board. George extended an invitation to any BR who would like to visit at Smith Mountain Lake. Lastly, Chris Dombalis called from Jacksonville, FL, where he has taken a position as the CEO of Trailer Bridge Shipping Co. Congrats, Chris. As you read this, we will be approaching our 33rd year as graduates. Our notes keep moving closer to the front of the Alumni Review! Thanks to all for your support.

’81

Trip Lloyd

Dear Brother Rats and Families, Things are going well in the Lloyd house, and the ski season in West Virginia was pretty good this year. The children are in the last months of school and are thinking about summer vacation. My bride, Anne, is getting ready to embark on another foray into professional theater. I continue making the world a little better while

Class of 1980: Matthew and Tanya Keys on a Kenyan safari in December 2012.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES operations from the Rockies to the Appalachians Alumni Career Networking Forum with the working with USAID. I wish you all a great and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico (including Office of Career Services on the Hill. spring and a wonderful summer. Also in December, Grover attended the the offshore oil rigs). After spending the last two Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta anyears sweating over the maritime security of New wedding of Mike and Katherine Denton’s only nounced that the president has made the followYork City, he is looking forward to a change of daughter, Allison, to Ryan Shumate in Riching nomination: Marine Corps Reserve Brig. scenery. Ken says it was great being in NYC. He mond. BRs (and wives) in attendance included Gen. Paul W. Brier for appointment to the rank got to reconnect with Sloppy Gonsalves while he Robert and Roberta Digby, Johann and Mauof major general. Paul is currently serving as was there and will miss the great times the Alumni reen Cooper, Ed and Jennifer Brown, John and the vice commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Club has. He is looking forward to getting back Jodi Locher, Dave and Lilly Openshaw, Jerry Command, Norfolk, VA. to the South and to getting his family re-engaged Manley, and Mark Gonsalves. The wedding Hal Scott shared that he ran across an article with Southern living. about John Judge, one of our BRs who went and reception were fantastic, and a great time Grover Outland shared that he saw Mac through Rat year and then transferred to the was had by all! Spears for the first time in years at the VMINaval Academy. He had a tragic accident at the Just before Thanksgiving, Grover headed Navy lacrosse game on Feb. 9 in Annapolis. Washington Navy Yard and passed away on back to his hometown, Norfolk, and watched Mac advised that he returned to the U.S. in Jan. 24, 2013. Hal ran into him at least once a the Keydet hoopsters get VMI’s first win over January from civilian government service year when John would attend his command’s ODU in basketball since our Rat year. BRs in overseas and looks forward to catching up with annual Anti-Submarine Warfare Conference. It attendance at that game included Jim Wareveryone. Prior to civilian service, Mac served was always good to see him, even if he did go ing and Hal Scott, as well as Hal’s son (then a on active duty in the Navy as an A-6 pilot. to the Dark Side on us and graduated from the Rat at VMI, but we understand that VMI ’16 In early December 2012, Grover drove to the Boat School. Feb. 27, 1959-Jan. 24, 2013, Capt. broke out the first weekend in February) and Ed Cadet-Alumni Career Networking Forum at John W. Judge, USN (Ret), of Fredericksburg, Brown. Grover says his brother, Jim Outland’s VMI, where five ’81s were among the alumni VA, formerly of Camp Hill, PA, passed away at ’83, oldest son, Matthew, has been accepted volunteers meeting with cadets: Grover, Ken the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., early-decision to VMI for the class of ’81+36. Morris, Judge Chip Johnson (all the way on Jan. 24, 2013. He graduated from Camp So, the Outland clan is excited to see another from New Mexico), Ken Herbert and Gary Hill High School and the U.S. Naval Academy, generation start the VMI journey. Morgan. Emceeing at the Cadet-Alumni Career class of 1982, with a bachelor’s degree in ocean For those who do not already know, I am Networking Forum was Ken Herbert, who engineering. His personal awards include the sorry to report that “Coke” and Glynis Savage founded his own company, Patriot Solutions Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, are at Sentara Norfolk General, where our Group. Last year, Ken also took over as chair Navy Commendation Medal (four awards) and Brother Rat was unexpectedly diagnosed with of the Alumni Association’s Career Networking Navy Achievement Medal (three awards). He a large cancer mass in his lower torso, now Committee, which co-sponsored the Cadetserved 34 years in the Navy as a submariner thought to be inoperable, after going through and worked in the development prolonged severe back pain. Lou of new technology for the future Rolan is setting up and forwardsubmarine force. He is survived ing a caringbridge.org website for by his parents, wife Molly and two messages and info. Ken Herbert, sons, Lt. John H. Judge, USN, and Corky Mitchell (roomie), Jeff Matthew C. Judge of FredericksDavies and John Locher have all burg, VA. been able to visit. Ed Brown wrote that his son, Clay Frank Reece also visited Coke, (Hampden-Sydney’14), and he atand met his wife, mother, sisters, tended the VMI-ODU basketball brother-in-law and niece. Coke was game in Norfolk back in November. in good spirits and is maintaining a Ed writes that Clay is as passionate positive outlook on his condition. a Keydet fan as you’ll find in a nonHe is on pain medication which is alumnus. Since he spent so much keeping him comfortable. Frank time at the “I” during the cadetship spoke with his sister who told him of his brother (Chris ’09), he knows that, although Coke is in a very what to expect and how to react to serious stage, they are still hopeit all. Clay was very pumped to see ful that aggressive treatment will Tidewater native D.J. Covington allow him to recover. His family slamming home a few dunks and asked that we remember him in our swatting a few ODU shots into the prayers. His family was very apseats to ignite the Keydet victory. preciative to have the support of his Ken Pierro shared that he has been classmates. Frank said, “He seemed really busy ever since Hurricane happy to see me, although I had Class of 1981: Brother Rats on Post in September 2012 Sandy hit NYC. This summer marks not seen him for about 25 years, so to watch John Goode’s son, John O. Goode ’13, and his another PCS for the Pierros. Ken is I am sure that a visit, even a short teammates take on the University of Richmond Spiders. heading to New Orleans for what will one, from any local BRs would be Pictured with their daughters were, from left, John Goode, most likely be his final tour with the appreciated.” Coke will probably Marty Cristo and Brian Quisenberry. Attending but not picCoast Guard. He is going to be the be in the hospital through the end tured were Bernie Banas, Andy Kolesar and Bruce Kitchen. operations planner for Coast Guard of February having treatments.

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CLASS NOTES In recognition of the effort our Maryland BRs have made to come to our Virginia breakfasts, the Northern Virginia IHOP Breakfast Crew had a class of 1981 brunch at a Maryland IHOP on Jan. 26. The NOVA IHOP Crew (Jeff Adler, Jerry Manley, K.C. O’Neil, Ken Herbert, Grover Outland and Joe Provenzano) drove up to Bowie, MD (just off the D.C. Beltway), to meet with Tom Albro and John Ferry (who drove down from southern New Jersey) for pancakes and eggs. A great time was had by all. At the end of the breakfast, Ken Herbert announced that he would be visiting our ailing BR, Bobby “Coke” Savage, in Norfolk, so an impromptu collection was gathered up for Ken to deliver to Bobby and Glynis at the hospital. Bogey Bogart is looking for his next assignment. It looks like he will be at Fort Eustis, near Williamsburg. His wife, Susan, will be staying in Colorado, so he will be a geographic bachelor for about a year. He is expecting to report the first week of April. If anyone knows of a studio apartment (above-the-garage deal – something real economical), he would be greatly appreciative for the lead. He expects he will be working early mornings and late nights and doing lots of travel. Dave Taylor proposes an idea for our 35th anniversary of Breakout ’81 centered on the “Tough Mudder” events. More details will be coming out later on this. John Locher sadly reported that Jeff “Wiver” White’s father passed away the first weekend in December. Funeral services were held Dec. 4 in Lynchburg, VA. On Dec. 7, Mike Shupp underwent major surgery to replace three disks in his neck. By the time you read this, he should be well on the way to recovery. The surgery went very well. A big thank you to Jerry Manley for helping Mike’s wife, Sherrye, in the waiting room. Jim Frishkorn sadly reported that John Holloway’s father, Duane Holloway ’51, passed away. Judge Gordon Duane Holloway of York County died on Dec. 11, 2012. He was born Jan. 10, 1931, in Newport News to Robert S. Holloway and Helen Amory Holloway of Poquoson. Judge Holloway is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia Grier Holloway; their four sons and their respective wives; and seven grandchildren. Judge Holloway graduated from Poquoson High School as senior class president in 1947, having won letters in football and basketball; from the Virginia Military Institute in 1951 with a degree in history; and from William and Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law with a BCL in 1955. In 1957, Judge Holloway was appointed as a substitute county judge for York County. In 1959, he was elected commonwealth’s attorney for York County and took office on Jan. 1, 1960, at the age of 28, the youngest attorney to hold that

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position in Virginia. He resigned as commonwealth’s attorney in 1971 and ran unsuccessfully for the state senate in the Democratic primary against William Fears. Gov. Mills Godwin appointed Holloway to serve on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission from 1968-72 and on the Hampton Roads Sanitation District Commission, which he served from 1975-80, including two years as chairman. In 1980, Holloway was elected by the general assembly to serve as a circuit court judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. He served two years as chief judge of the circuit, and he retired Jan. 1, 1995. Mat Merriman reports that, since retiring from the Navy after 30 years of commissioned service, he is working for Paul Boulden at Appendix R Solutions in Innsbrook, VA. He has an apartment nearby, as well as maintaining his home in Augusta, GA. As both his children are away at college, his wife, Robin, has been spending about 50-75% of her time in Richmond with him. He has now officially joined the antics of the Richmond Alumni Association. Mike and Tonya Hatfield report that the Hatfield clan has gone from one to seven grandchildren rather rapidly. They went from one to six in one year! Their second daughter, Katharine, married Gilberto Tirado and had a daughter, Hannah Lynn, on Aug. 24, 2011. This was exactly one year to the day since their first daughter, Elizabeth, had their first grandchild, Abigail Elyse. Katharine also inherited four stepchildren and this past Oct. 22 had a baby boy, Brayden Michael. (Yes, he is named after Michael.) So, they are kept quite busy. Michael is working for a firm out of Ohio called Cocca Development and also has his own business, Hatfield Engineering, Inc. They report life is good in Florida. Their daughter, Katharine, and her clan live in Florida, as well, and Mike and Tonya get to Virginia a couple times a year to see Elizabeth and her family. I am sorry to share that Clarkson Meredith’s mother passed away the beginning of November in Norfolk. Gabe and Lotte Mastrobuono share that all is well. Gabe earned his certified financial planner designation in 2012. Their family is living in southern New Jersey. Tim and Kim Nitz have gone through a very difficult time. Feb. 5, Tim gave a beautifully faithful eulogy for his sister, Joan Nitz Ackermann, who died unexpectedly the week before, after years of medical challenges, while she cared for their father in his twilight years. Jeff and Cindy Gill and Mike Denton attended the service at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Tim’s and Joan’s father, Mr. Gerald Nitz, sat quietly up front in a wheelchair. Tragically, Mr. Nitz also passed away on the funeral night of his youngest child, Tim’s sister. I am overwhelmed

relaying this news. Tim knew the dangerous strain his aged dad was under, and Tim has a strong Christian faith and is bearing up well, but he surely needs to feel the support of his Brother Rats now. Gerald F. Nitz died Feb. 6, 2013. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Nitz; wife, Ruth Holsten Nitz; brother, Robert Nitz; and daughter, Joan Nitz Ackermann. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Peggy A. Nitz. Also surviving are his children, 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Jerry was born in North Chicago, IL, on March 13, 1931. He attended Lake Forest College and served in the U.S. Air Force. For over 25 years, he was employed in the family business, E.A. Holsten Inc., as vice president. He started the Divine Mercy Cenacle at St. Benedict’s Parish where he had been actively involved. Services were held on Feb. 9 at St. Benedict’s Church, Richmond, VA.

’82

Charles Kause

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me. Admirer as I think I am Of stars that do not give a damn, I cannot, now I see them, say I missed one terribly all day. Were all stars to disappear or die, I should learn to look at an empty sky And feel its total dark sublime, Though this might take me a little time. — W.H. Auden, “The More Loving One” What always takes me a little time is to generate this quarterly note, especially when I have had an action-packed three months of labor, loss and love. On the eve of my deadline, Russia was attacked by a meteorite, and the good ship Earth came within 17,000 miles of being schwacked by an asteroid. So, perhaps, opposites attract, or celestial bodies find one another across the trackless emptiness of time and distance. The Mayan calendar ended with a whimper, but only because they ran out of stone. The Pope quits his day job but builds

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CLASS NOTES himself a cool retirement crib to crash in his golden years. Congress wants to commit seppuku and drag the economy along with it, just when things are looking up. There are mysteries wrapped in enigmas that I cannot understand. So, I just shrug my shoulders, strive for a little comfort and joy in a nutty world and regale you with the tales of our Brothers. The season began with a trip down to Lexington for Founders Day festivities. Mrs. Kause and I were honored to share a table with David Gallalee, on home leave from his tour with U.S. AID in Afghanistan, at the Founders Day Dinner. Always erudite, dapper and charming, David appears to have bathed in the fountain of youth. Most of us have grown wan and haggard or round and lumpy from the ravages of time. But David appeared the epitome of diplomatic savoir faire. Saturday was a brilliant fall day. The Parade Ground was crawling with Brother Rats. I saw Gary Mackin and Larry Williams at the reviewing stands. In the tailgate tents, Joe McConnell, Scott Crumpler, Jeff Modisett, Bob Louthan, and Emmett and Lynne Heltzel staked out the primo spaces with rock star seating and views of the parade. During the football game against Citadel, we sat with Rich Reisch, who showed off a video of his two-year-old grandson, George, blowing a vuvuzela. But the highlight of the weekend was the post-game party at Cookie Jarvis’ palatial estate outside Lexington. Cookie and Jeanne have a grandchild, as well. So, Larry Williams quipped, “Everybody standing around, sharing cellphone pictures of grandchildren. In my mind, we’re still sweating together through a sweat party in Cocke Hall! We’ve come a long way, guys.” Indeed. The stories that were told were all true, and the laughter shared was heartfelt. Dr. Scott Wooddell also showed up at Cookie’s door and provided me the picture of him in his VMI togs during a mud run that took place in Elizabeth City, NC, back in September. Scott saw the run’s website and thought to himself, “Gee, that looks fun. Look at all the photos of smiling, laughing, muddy 20- and 30-something-year-olds!” So, he journeyed down with his 16-year-old daughter, Cameron, and toed the line. Scott very quickly started having Rat training flashbacks. Low-crawling under muddy wire, carrying sandbags, climbing Breakout-style hills, wading through waist-deep mud pits of the most viscous, cloying liquid earth ever devised ... Anyway, it actually was a fun experience, once all the muck was washed off. Scott was tremendously upstaged by his jock daughter who took home a huge trophy for winning the 18 and under age group. When not wallowing in mud, Scott is quite busy as chief of foot and ankle surgery at his local surgical

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center. Patty, his bride of 2-1/2 years, has been thoroughly (over)exposed to VMI culture. Patty loves Lexington and its environs, and they find themselves there several times a year. Scott is either backpacking or fly fishing every other month. He, too, became a grandfather in July 2010, when his eldest daughter, Ryan (now a nurse in Roanoke), gave birth to the adorable Rylee Anne Poston, who is the light of Scott’s life! But Scott is also concurrently fathering his two teenage daughters, the aforementioned Cameron and 15-year-old Grier. And I thought I had my hands full with Mrs. Kause and the Daughter of Darkness. Mike Albert has been facing his own challenges. Mike’s wife, Heather, lost her job when her company’s division was eliminated. So, they left Tennessee and settled in Fate, TX. Mike says it is the smallest city in the smallest county in the Lone Star state. I looked it up on Google and discovered it is kind of off by itself on the prairie east of Dallas. Heather has a new job in financial services, and Mike has another middle school teaching gig. But this time, he is a math and science teacher, which is a challenge for a VMI history major and retired Marine grunt. Mike and Heather married off daughter Rebecca in Atlanta, where she is a paralegal. Younger daughter Samantha graduated from Sewanee, the University of the South, with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, and a dual degree in economics and Spanish. She also has a job working as a financial analyst for Mercer Capital in Memphis. If memory serves me, Samantha accompanied Mike to our 25th Reunion. Speaking of Tennessee, Will Council, of the hinterlands near Chattanooga, got together with Russ Stewart who was in town as a speaker at a real estate training seminar. Chuck Fanshaw dropped a holiday note. He continues to be the director of facilities at the National Defense University on Fort McNair in D.C. Chuck and wife Hope seem to have a full-time job corralling their three daughters. Kathlene is a sophomore at James Madison University, studying health services administration. Hailey is an eighth grader who studies dance. Mia, age 6, is now in first grade. Ed Keith has a new gig far from the lowlands of home. He was very excited to report that he accepted a new position at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. He will be running the Maintenance and Site Support Division starting March 4, 2013. The position is with the LLC responsible for running the laboratory (comprised of the University of California, Bechtel, URS and B&W). Talk about a life change. Ed traded his sports car in for a Silverado pick-up and his suits and ties for jeans and cowboy boots. He is going from sea level to 7,000 feet altitude and moving 1500

miles across the country. That said, he is thrilled to be back in a position to lead engineers and maintenance personnel supporting a critical Department of Energy mission. I am jealous and just downright envious of the awesome life of Dave Kohler. When not schlepping for Dominion Resources, Dave is slowly building his real estate empire in Richmond. He now manages 47 tenants, 28 HVAC systems and 37 commodes. Needless to say, Lowes sends him Christmas cards and preferred customer deals. Dave’s travels took him to a family wedding in Lake Michigan, Houston for Thanksgiving, and to Bremen in Germany for fun and beer. He has been nominated the perennial reigning “Grand Goblin” (master of ceremonies) for the West Avenue Halloween Street celebration and contest. Next year, we would like pictures of you at this august event, Dave. Kevin Smith saw a VMI bumper sticker the same day his copy of the VMI Alumni Review arrived, so he was motivated to ping his class agent with an update. Kevin is still with the Wilmington Police Department, six years, and is a juvenile crimes detective. He was promoted to corporal and was made the deputy public information officer for the department. Kevin tells folks it only takes 32 years in one uniform or another to make corporal! Kevin passes on that Guy Marangoni is retired from the FBI and

Class of 1982: Scott Wooddell participated in the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Mud Run in September 2012. Wooddell was pleased to have finished, and his daughter, Cameron, took home the championship trophy for the 18 and under age group.

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CLASS NOTES is teaching up at Quantico. He and his wife, Leslie, are doing well, raising their two young boys. George Seiferth is now retired from the Army and working as a contractor over in Germany. He and his wife, Anna, are doing well. Kevin also knows Dick Justice has retired from the USAF and believes Dick is working for a company in Florida – no doubt, close to fishing. Bill Vickers and Mike Burt, both Army retirees, pinged me to find Josh Goewey. With a little help from my friends on the Internet, I found Josh in Tampa. He is retired from the Army and serving as an Army civilian GS-15, supporting Special Operations Command in defeating improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Mrs. Kause and I have had quite the adventure this season. We were sued by a crotchety old neighbor over a fence that we erected when we purchased our home in 1994. The plaintiffs were original owners in our subdivision and have issues with “change” in the neighborhood. But as one of my friends put it, “Them boys kicked the wrong dog.” Mrs. Kause is a paralegal and has access to some of the best legal minds and databases. And I am plain mean and do not give up without a fight. In the end, as pro se defendants, we defeated our opponents when they claimed non-suit status two days before trial, after we won a motion to amend our defenses with five affirmative defenses, backed by evidence and case law. We also rallied the neighborhood to our defense. Nobody likes Neighborhood Nazis. The Clown Prince has “enjoyed” winter on the lava fields at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan, where he is on a long training deployment. At least he is away from the expensive fleshpots of Tokyo and may even be able to pay down his credit card bills, once he returns to Okinawa. The Daughter of Darkness continues her reign of terror against Mrs. Kause, though she runs hot and cold for good old Dad. My problem is I never know which girl I am going to awaken in the morning or come home to at night. And so, whether we live in a cosmos that loves us or is indifferent to us, we carry on with our lives as best we can. Drop a line, make the call and tell me how you are faring in this Universe.

’83

Jim Outland

By the time you read these notes, our 30th Reunion will have come and gone. I hope you were able to attend and enjoyed the camaraderie of our springtime together in Lexington. I intend to provide a full reunion update in the next installment of these notes and, for now, will focus on ’83 happenings at the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.

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Back in November, Mark Benvenuto checked in from Detroit about working with local VMI Chapter President Dave Hagemann ’80 to get some of the Michigan-area alums together for a Founders Day Eve dinner. Attendees included BR John Cooper, as well as Fred DeRose ’12, Victor Karpov ’07 and Tom Hathaway ’72. Mark indicated his intention to return to Lexington for our 30th, so I’m looking forward to seeing him. Around Christmas, I received a nice card from Mark Roltsch letting me know the family has settled in, and they are adapting to life in Texas, which he says is definitely different than Virginia. He is enjoying the new job on campus at St. Mary’s University and has lunch on occasion with some VMI guys in the San Antonio area. In December, Joe Leonard helped capture my view of the year-end with a Dave Barry piece, calling 2012 “a year that kept raising our hopes only to squash them flatter than a dead possum on the interstate.” One example is the cancelling of reality TV show “Jersey Shore,” “which for six hideous seasons has been a compelling argument in favor of a major earth-asteroid collision, and we dared to wonder if maybe, just maybe, we, as a society, were becoming slightly less stupid. But then, WHAP, we were slapped in our national face by the cold, hard, frozen mackerel of the new reality show ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,’ which, in terms of intellectual content, makes ‘Jersey Shore’ look like ‘Hamlet.’” Speaking of a cold slap (-26 degrees to be exact), BR Charlie King contacted me in December from his perch in Russia. Charlie sweated out our Rat year with us in ’79-’80 in Room 454 with Dave Hall, Brian Kowalski, Will Creekmur and John Eckert. He is not sweating anymore, since he’s been living and working since 2005 at Sakhalin Island in the Russian far east as an IT and telecoms engineer and project manager for Exxon. Charlie and his Russian wife have a 2-year-old daughter, and he says it is interesting to watch her develop, as she learns the two languages. One BR who couldn’t get enough of a Ratline is Tony Arnold who has moved on to an even greater trial, as he battles his “Pain in the Neck.” Diagnosed in October with stage 3 head/neck cancer, Snake and his family began 35 rounds of chemo which started on Dec. 3rd and continued through February. Throughout this time, Snake’s family and friends have provided outstanding support, and his sense of humor during this ordeal is a tribute to his spirit. Owen Dunlap nicely captured Snake’s resiliency in a manner only Disco can do: “Snake – any man that can survive watching me play Cocke Hall basketball AND golf AND seeing my chest plant while log rolling on a keg at our 10th is a tough sum batch.”

In January, Franklin Hudgins thoughtfully wished me a Happy Lee-Jackson Day. I had just been reading a piece about the discipline, mission-focus and never-quit drive of these two men when Merchant contacted me, and we agreed their example is well worth being remembered. In February, I heard from Frank Kollmansperger ’84 about a great quail hunt which was had by a number of VMI men in Surry County Virginia. John Karafa ’84, our BR Paul’s brother, was a main ringleader for the outing, along with Scott Horan who is usually not far from a bird hunt. I also understand BR Jim Henry came up from South Carolina with his dogs to attend. I’m not sure how many elusive birds were found, but it sounds like a good time was had by all. So, I hope they keep me on the invite list for next year. I also enjoyed hearing from Ray Johnston who I first suspected was going to take me to task for all the shout-outs I’ve made to him in previous class notes. Ray reports he is seeing VMI with different eyes these days, after having taken his youngest son to a Post visitation weekend. He says they had a great time but doubts the Rat guides for the weekend believed all the stories his son told of Dad’s time in Barracks. Tales of Kevin Caulfield’s RDC Gold Card invitation to see Tuck Masker ’80, John Sullivan’s midnight run from a TAC and Will Creekmur’s pet snake apparently struck today’s cadets as just dusty “Old Corps” mythology. Those kinds of things don’t happen anymore. Another BR seeing VMI from a different perspective is Mark Sykes whose son, Ben, is a cadet majoring in biology. The Sykes have been very helpful in sharing with me what it is like to be a Keydet parent and dealing with things such as course work, ROTC selection and securing the best parade-day parking (thanks to BR Jay Williams). I’ve become more interested in a parent’s perspective since our oldest son, Matthew, was accepted to VMI and announced his intention to matriculate in August. Also helping to answer some questions were Steve Amato and Joe Leonard. So, thanks to you all, too. I mentioned the response I’ve received from BRs, and Mark says he has enjoyed the same from folks like the Warriners, Danny Chu and others. In addition, I had some good back and forth with Warren Groseclose whose son, David, intends to matriculate in August. David has also been awarded an Army scholarship. Warren tells me he recently schooled an SMU student, who intends to transfer to VMI, about how to perform sit-ups and push-ups properly. Other BRs with sons currently in the Corps include Phil Shepard and Ed Kluckowski. Their boys

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CLASS NOTES broke out on Feb. 1st and officially became the class of 2016. Phil’s son, Connor, forwarded a link to a Wounded Warrior Internet fundraiser their mass initiated back in November to honor their dykes in 2013. I can’t imagine what some of our more imaginative minds would have done if the Internet had been around for us back in our day. Finally, Sykes has an innovative idea for reunion T-shirts which will incorporate the concept of “Old Corps” along with the vintage artwork created by John Holloway ’81 which decorated our original Rat T-shirts. Mark’s mention of including Holloway’s design prompted me to recall John’s outstanding work in the 1981 Bomb. If you want a great memorymaking chuckle, then check out the “It’s an Outrage” section of that Bomb which starts on page 394. I had not seen it in a long time and had a good LMAO during the re-read. GBR!

’84

Barry Coceano

Hope this edition of the notes finds everyone doing well. By the time you read these, we will have exited the “dark ages,” the leaves will be green and summer will be knocking at the door. Unfortunately, as I write these notes, we are still in the grasp of old man winter. Hope all you guys who live in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Maine fared well through winter storm Nemo. I guess, as the old saying goes, better you than me! This past Christmas, we had our 8th Annual – Zamora, Dixon, Coceano – Christmas Eve Dinner Celebration, hosted by Carlos and Meredith Zamora. This is always one of my favorite events of the year, and each year, we start the dinner celebration with a two-word toast … “Brother Rats.” Needless to say, after eight years of the same wonderful toast, our wives and kids cringe when Jim, Carlos or I raise our glass and say, “I would like to make a toast …” Carlos and Jim Dixon have recently both taken on new jobs. Carlos is still with British Telcom. However, the company promoted him from VP of the South America Division to the lead of the North America Division. Needless to say, this is another major career milestone for Carlos. Jim, too, has accepted a new position in a different law firm, WilmerHale LLP, as the chief operating officer. WilmerHale is a top law firm with over a billion dollars of annual revenue and 1,000 lawyers, among seven domestic and seven international offices. Additionally, Jim’s daughter, Gingie, is enjoying life as a W&L freshman and has learned to

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enjoy the virtues of small-town Lexington. Ken Gill sent me the following to update me on his post-retirement activities: “I finally went over the side Nov. 1, 2012, retiring after 28 years and 7 months with the USMC! Pam and I have a great place in Chesapeake on a lake and adjacent to two golf courses. I’m also blessed that I have been picked up by the Marine Corps in a civilian capacity, working information technology issues and policy in support of both garrison and Fleet Marine Forces. If anyone travels to Norfolk or Virginia Beach, I’d love to hear from them and “do” lunch and/or golf. Semper Fi.” Ken, good luck in the new job! Mike Locher sent me the following: “Life is very busy right now raising three kids, working in Charlottesville every day and just trying to cover all of the bases of work and home life. Jan and the kids are doing great. I have twins, Arden and Christopher, who are 17 and now actively starting the college search process. VMI has not bubbled to the top, but there is time, at least for Christopher, to see the light … it is not in the mix for Arden. Our youngest son is 10, and he just keeps us all honest, not to mention working into our 80s. As for our BR sightings, I got together for breakfast recently with Keith Mangum, Hank Selman, Bill Janis, Steve Reardon, Dave Adams and Steve Barsamian at the local Bob Evans. Fished last summer with Jamie Shoemaker, Alex Thompson, Dave Pruitt and my son out of Virginia Beach. Will Enochs, Frank Kollmansperger and I fished

the Shenandoah River last summer, which was a great day of sun and relaxation. Hal Hamner and I talk darn near every week, as we both tear up I-64 in different directions, driving back and forth to work. Watched Bill Janis’ son wrestle against Reardon’s ‘Cadets’ from Benedictine … young Robert Janis is a stud who everyone in the gym was scared of. Although Reardon, as head man in charge of Benedictine, was scared his Cadets might bring the roof down with their support for their team. It was a great evening that ended in a criteria tie break going to Reardon’s Cadets. My daughter goes to school with Mark Morgan’s son, Will, and both will graduate in 2014 … wished we got to see more of Mark and Mary Beth, but we are all so busy. Finally, Kollmansperger is making it a habit to stop by my house during his morning runs to use my facilities. Always good to see him, but one would think that he could SSS before he blesses us with his presence. Can’t figure out if he is trying to inspire me to run, or if he is trying to show off to my wife … either way, it appears that neither has been impacted by his timing. I did get up to the VMI game this past fall against The Citadel. It was a great afternoon, and I think I saw you, along with all of the other BRs in attendance, although we did not get a chance to speak. I had my dad (George Locher ’55) with me, and it was a perfect afternoon for all of us to enjoy Lexington and a competitive VMI football game.” Mike, thanks for the wonderful update. With all the BR

Class of 1984: John Karafa and his wife, Kimberly, organized the second annual VMI Quail Hunt at the Cypress Swamp Game Preserve in Surry County, Virginia, Feb. 9, 2013. Attending were, from left, John Trant ’02, Tim Trant ’98, Daniel Rickmond ’07, Karafa, Darrell Rickmond ’73, Frank Kollmansperger, Scott Horan ’83, Alex Thompson, Everette Irby ’55 and Jim Henry ’83. Attending but not pictured was Stuart Seaton ’73.

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CLASS NOTES sightings and interactions, it’s easy to see why you’re a leading candidate to take over the class agent responsibilities. Don’t worry – you’ve obviously mastered multi-tasking, and I know you will be happy to take on just one more small, additional duty in your life (hint-hint)! Todd Henderson recently checked in with the following update from the Music City: “I’m still managing a service and contracting company that covers the middle Tennessee area, and it keeps me hopping. I finished writing the novel I’ve been working on, and it is with the publisher being edited. Looks like it will release this summer. I’m hoping to plan some events in Virginia and around VMI, as they both figure prominently in the story. I am working on the second and third novels in this series, as well as doing some research on New Market for a new novel. There have been several books written on the subject, of course, and at least one novel, but I think I have a different twist (approach) that could make it both personal and interesting for readers. If any of you history majors (or others) have any research tips or info, let me know. I think we’ve added a couple more grandkids since the last update. So, for all who are counting, that makes seven kids and seven grandkids. Good times!” Alright, Todd … Lucky Sevens. Congrats on the upcoming release of your book. Please let us know the book title and event dates. I’m certain many of us will try to attend! Keith Buckley has been extremely busy with his new job, but his wife, Sharon, filled me in on what Keith has been up to. The biggest change in Keith’s career recently happened when he accepted a new position as a systems administrator with Cabela’s. Sharon reports that Keith absolutely loves the new job, as it is professionally rewarding, and he is working with a great group of folks. In addition to the new job, Keith reached a major milestone in his taekwondo career and was awarded his black belt in February 2012. His daughter, Amy, now 16, earned her black belt in April 2011 when she was 14, and Sharon received her black belt in May 2012, completing the Buckley Black Belt Trio. Congratulations to Keith, Amy and Sharon. I know it is no small feat to reach the black belt level. R.G. McManus sent me the following: “It’s been a crazy year. Good to see you again during football season. I have three former students who should be breaking out of the Ratline shortly – seems it gets shorter and shorter every year. We’ll definitely be in Lexington a good bit more next year. I have two more students heading to the ‘I’ next year; one of them will be my daughter, Ashley. She also has been selected for a USAF scholarship and plans to study electrical engineering. Her twin sister will be heading to William and Mary, so we’ll

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be between Lexington and Williamsburg on the weekends. I’m not sure how many of our BRs have sent a daughter to the ‘I,’ but I know I’m not the first. I met Ty Dawson’s daughter when we were down for an overnight visit. She is a second this year, and I’ll have to track down her dad to see how things went with having a girl at VMI. I saw T.J. Palmer and his wife when I was in Fredericksburg for their Christmas parade. Just [recently], I spent some time with Tom Gillespie at the Palms, catching up on the old days. It’s good to see some things remain the same, like cold pitchers at the Palms.” R.G., thanks for the update, and congrats to Ashley in selecting VMI and also for following in Dad’s footsteps – USAF. Seems like I run into Steve Hupp each time I’m in Lexington, so I know he is there often. Even though we’re able to chat each time and Steve gives me verbal updates, he was nice enough to send me the following note: “I am still living in Richmond, where I have been for the last 20 years. I am completing my 26th year with Estes Express Lines. Renee and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in October (2012) with a week-long trip to the United Kingdom, visiting England and Scotland with our daughter, Rebekah, who was studying abroad for a semester. We have three children. Rebekah is a senior at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, graduating in May 2013 with a degree in civil and environmental engineering. Stephen is a Rat at VMI, studying civil engineering while being a member of the VMI football team and hoping to break out very soon. Thomas is a freshman in high school at Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, along with children of two great BRs, Mark Morgan and Mike Locher. I am slowly adjusting to the new role of being a VMI parent. It is totally different from the role of cadet and the role of alumnus. The good news is that most of the adjustment has to do with learning to be extremely proud. Proud of what VMI is still doing today to mold young boys into great men and getting the privilege to watch this happen firsthand to my own son and his friends. Also, I am reminded that it will all be OK, knowing that if I can do this, my son can do it even better. I can promise you all, firsthand, that in spite of what you hear and what other colleges are doing, VMI is still working hard to do things the right way – the VMI way!” Steve, thanks for the note and for all you have done and continue to do for VMI. There is no doubt that Stephen will do just as well as his dad did at VMI, and that is no small feat! I know I can always count on Sam Browne to help make my life as class agent easier by sending in an update. Sam sent me this from his home in D.C.: “All is well on my end.

Part of the Browne contingent attended the 57th Inauguration and had great seats almost across from the president’s reviewing stand. And, yes, I was that guy waving the VMI flag as the Keydets passed in review. They looked great and made me proud! Other folks standing close by also commented how well the Corps marched. I wonder what Thor Haglund and Steve Fredricks (co-dyke) and Drew King (Rat roommate) are doing these days?” Sam, thanks for the note. Don’t know what those three guys are doing, but I do know that Sam Browne is doing great things representing the class of ’84 at the Department of Energy. Spruill Thompson got into the mix and sent me the following from Tar Heel land: “I hope all is well. We have a meeting tomorrow night for the Cameron Scholarship Committee. This will also serve as the first meeting for the Wilmington, NC, VMI Alumni Chapter. I will have more of a report after that. Side note: I met Mike Locher and Mark Williams ’85, along with their boys, in Chapel Hill for a basketball game over the Christmas break. Great time. I think we got a few pics. By copy of this e-mail, I will ask both of them to check for any pics we got that day.” OK, Spruill … who should I request these pics from – you or Locher? Better question … are they fit for printing? My main informant, Frank Kollmansperger, sent an encrypted e-mail that I was able to decipher and translate into the following: “Jamie Shoemaker, Alex Thompson and I had fun on a duck hunting trip at Alex’s hunting club in Chesapeake. The ducks fared much better than we did. We checked in with Mark Morgan and Bruce Hauck by phone. After telling them we were sorry not to have invited them, we ribbed them for a while. Bruce is just a few days from retirement from the New Jersey penal system. Mark is doing well. I have had lunch with Mike Melton a couple of times. Hank (Selman) is Hank – as good looking as he always thinks he is. Hope things are going well.” Frank, did you really think that Morgan and Hauck would take you up on the offer, if invited? Laurence Fahrney must have known that he was working his way up my closing paragraph list of “unaccounted for,” and he beat me to the punch by providing me the following update from his home in Arizona: “Living in Tucson, AZ, employed as a computer consultant. Nothing really exciting, besides the occasional diamondback or javelina on the back porch or in the garage. Helped to staff a table for a recent college recruitment event with Bert Schneider ’80. Was a new experience … [and] we did get some solid candidates. Hopefully, they will be in the Ratline soon.” Laurence, keep up the recruiting efforts out on the West Coast. It’s always rewarding to see those you helped recruit

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CLASS NOTES enter as Rats and even more rewarding when you see them graduate four (or sometimes five) years later. Thanks again for the note. Well, that’s about it from my end. If you haven’t had the opportunity to contribute to VMI this year, please give it some consideration … it’s a great investment. Each time I go down to Lexington and walk around the Institute, I’m always amazed at the quality of the new and renovated academic buildings, the state-of-theart military training facilities, the top-notch sporting venues and, most importantly, the wonderful cadets who are benefiting from the VMI experience. Just like it did for us 29 years ago, VMI is still nurturing cadets into model citizens and soldiers. VMI can’t do it on state support alone. That’s where alumni donations play an important role. Again, please consider a FY13 donation to your VMI … yes, it is and always will be your VMI. Let’s ensure the class of ’84 is heard from today. Until next time, goodnight Kevin Brooks, Mark Sossi and Taylor Smallwood, wherever you guys are.

’85

Matt Daniel

Hello, gentlemen and any ladies who may be your better halves. It’s time to start thinking about what you are doing this summer. The Annual Charlie Company Golf Safari (ACCGS) is coming up: ACCGS, Increment 2013. I know that, in these pages, I write or report a considerable amount about the ACCGS. For just the next few lines, I will explain why I spend so much ink writing about it. We have a structure for staying in touch that we inherited, being graduates of VMI. The structure is adequate: we meet every five years for a formal reunion, every 10 for a biggie. We have a class agent who writes notes quarterly to keep us all informed. (Often, he just makes stuff up and runs on and on, stream-of-consciousness-like.) This structure to keep us in synch, in touch, in step and aligned, at close interval, left right left, ready two, has the stick run yet ... this structure may be good enough for some classes. But we are not that “some class.” Every class likes to think it is different; not many really are. We are. And we are because of activities like the ACCGS. The ACCGS is representative of the best and most rebellious in us. It is not only coloring outside of the lines, but it is coloring where there ARE no lines. It is taking that coloring book, turning it upside down, and opening it backwards and coloring whatever the heck we want to color. Or not at all. Really, it is more like

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us sticking the dang coloring sticks in our ears and noses and running around giving each other pink bellies. Well … that’s weird, but you get my meaning, I hope. It is about making up our own rules, because … we will march to the beat of our OWN Bill the Bugler. With that, I ask you to clear your calendar and make time for at least one day of this most pure of brotherhood events that we have at our fingertips: the ACCGS. We ain’t getting any younger, men. One by one, we get picked off. Let us bind together, and celebrate us now and those not with us, our blessed brothers who have fallen before us. OK, enough of that. All that talk of coloring sticks has made me hungry, and now I am nibbling on a nice Periwinkle, Ochre and Burnt Umber. BTW: Sir Jake Spivey and I promise you a tshirt and maybe some other swag to be available for the ACCGS Increment 2013. The date is the WEEKEND OF 2-4 AUGUST. Please send me ideas for artwork. Here are some other notes: Pete Sniffin is now Col. Pete Sniffin. Several BRs went to his January promotion in the 5-sided wind tunnel. No one is more deserving of this. Pete Sniffin is made of the most solid stuff available. I am so sorry I missed it. A bunch of our guys did make it: Kirk and Green Thumb, among others. Random Name Drops (RND) work, gents, so here I go: Todd Thornes, Steve Marsh, John Douglas, Tate “Cowboy Hat and Sh** Kickers” Young and Big Wave Dave Barthol. And a big hello to my friends Mike Collins, Mike Milligan and Davis Estes. Shawn Oliver sends that he saw Chip Downey, Quintin Elliott and John Douglas at the NAS Oceana O’Club in February. Or was it Pat Donahue? Or wild Bill Engelson? Or maybe Mike Herndon? OK, none of that’s true. Really, he told me about his “out in town” exploits with Greg “WM” Enterline, Jay Lucas and Tommy “Distant Relative of Archie, Peyton and Eli” Manning. OK, none of that’s true, but Jim Chartier made me write it, or was it JJ Lee or maybe even Karl Marks? OK (3) – Shawn sends that he has opened a brewery in Albuquerque and has asked for my Uranus and Suns Brewing Co. recipes. He calls his brewery, “Fighter Foam Beer Company.” His signature creations are “Cat Shot Pale Ale,” “Broken Probe Lager” and “Bolter Blonde.” He plans on calling on Jackson and Marsenison to help him design and produce his newest concept, “Bingo on the Ball.” Call Shawn Oliver! On to other news: Kerry Kirk, Jeff Lane (Solon!), Tommy

GreenHead, Joe “Beef” Irby, John Eckenrode and I met in NOVA for a beer in January. I had a photo, but it showed too many “regulars” in this publication. Gotta get some new photo blood! Jeff Young, send me a photo! How about you, Jack Rose? Rockhead? Robles? Sawyer? Greg Williams? Steen? Stinebower? RND: Bryon Cole, Bob Chapman, Pete Delano and Glenn Degrote. Marc Boswell is working in the D.C. metro area, and we are overdue in getting together. Phil Pauquette has some interesting and enlightening posts on Facebook. I encourage connecting with him, Rob McIntire, Kerry Kirk and Jeff Hill on the “Book.” I have learned volumes. Dave Tingley also posts his most recent wood/art work. Love that stuff. He is a regular Ansel Adams. Well, in wood, anyway. Bob Lindgren is 50. So is Joe Pauley. Steve Hagan blew up his knee. On the mend. Get better, my very good amigo. JJ Wranek is making the pilgrimage to Williamsburg twice a month. He’s enrolled in W&M’s executive MBA. Brig. Gen. Cedric Wins should be back from AFG any time now. Hugh Hill has been watching too much of the TV show “Moonshiners” and is thinking about joining that bunch and starting his own distillery. At least he’ll have a full set of teeth! For now. Be careful what you send me, ’cause I will quote that shitake directly; I’ll prove it. Sorry, Danks Burton (but THANK YOU for the entry!): “Matt, I can’t believe I was a victim of your RND. I suppose that means I need to check in with you more often. So, what do you want to know about me? Living in Raleigh, NC, since 1986. Started a masonry construction business in 1992 – surviving. Three kids – boy, girl, boy. Oldest (Jake) is a ‘Rat,’ class of 2013+3. My daughter (Julia) will be attending Univ. of Alabama in fall ’13. Youngest (Drew) will still be at home with us for a few more years; he’s 13. My brothers, Jeb ’79 and Doug ’80, also have ‘Rats’ this year. Pretty cool to have three Burtons in the same class. There’s also a cousin in the second class. (Agent: “WOW!”) We attended all five home games this fall, plus the Navy game in Annapolis. I stay in touch with Ashley Cooper – we are next door neighbors. My vacation home is next door to his primary residence at Smith Mountain Lake. (Agent: Does he mow his lawn and not hang his underwear on the clothesline?) Ashley is doing well. He’s farming many acres in Franklin County, VA. Of his five children – one is married, two have completed college, one in college and one will go to college in fall ’13. That will leave the youngest, and only male, at home. If you ever get to visit Smith Mountain Lake, come up Gills Creek until you see a slalom ski course in a large cove. We’re at the end of

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CLASS NOTES the cove. The ski course is Ashley’s for training of his nationally-ranked daughters. During my many trips to VMI in the fall for matriculation, New Market Day and five football weekends, I ran into many BRs. I apologize if I leave anyone out – Joe Irby, John Wranek, Kyle Goldsmith, Tom Pully, Joe Rose, Chuck McCarthy, John Neblett, Father Fimian, Jim Spellman, Shane Sullivan, Stuart Taylor, David Tingley and Pat McGuire. On several of my visits to Lexington, I took advantage of Bill Wieners’ house. If you’re in Lexington for the night, I recommend his place on Furrs Mill (near the old East Lex). (Agent: YES, highly recommend!) Please, no more RND for me. (Agent: Well, now, maybe not!) I hope you are doing well. I expect to be around VMI a lot in the next four years, so I hope to run into you. We tailgate in front of Moody for every home game, so please stop in. Thanks! Danks (Hey, that rhymes.)” (Editor’s Note: An article about the Burton family appears in the Institute section of this Alumni Review.) RND: Greg Bond, Ken Cade, David Campbell and Mick Chang. And Col. Ralph Tremaglio sends to Lord Spivey about ACCGS Increment 2013:“I am in! Looks like I am heading back to Virginia this summer. Hope all is well.” Brian Augsberger is moving back to the states in July. We got this note from him: “We’ll finally be headed home around mid-July this year after spending seven years here in Spain. I think the ACCGS date will be a little too close to our transition period, so I will pass this year. Hopefully, next year and the following years I should be able to attend. Again, thanks for the invite. I’m sure y’all will have a great time. Please tell Matt Daniel that he is the coolest guy on the East Coast. Vr, Augie” (Agent: OK. I made up that last bit.) I ran into Chris “Juice” Welch in the Pentagram in February. He looks good and happy. He is on active duty in the USAF and will try to make the event in early August. And finally, from my roommate, Col. Stephen A. Medeiros, about attending the ACCGS: “I could revert to my Rat spitty (Agent: But he didn’t say “spitty.”) days and scamper back to our Mother I and look for beer or work on my journey home! Who knows? Could make it work, Jake. BTW, Greg Bond retires in a few months, leaving Jay ‘Cato’ Malik last man standing! I called him a few weeks back. He was camping on the banks of the Salton Sea with a cup of coffee as we talked! R/Steve” Steve retires from Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children in August. That’s it for now, gentlemen. I look forward to hearing from you. Sf, Check six and RVM! Matt Daniel

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’86

Clint Hubbard

This batch of notes is being written smack dab in the middle of the Dark Ages – mid February. By the time you read them, the grass will be green, the leaves will have returned and the flowers will be blooming, etc. The Corps will be back in white ducks, and the VMI Post will be awash with all the attractive college girls that seem to spruce up VMI in the springtime. You gentlemen, on the other hand, are getting older by the minute, pot-bellied, and with nose and ear hair growing faster than scum on Gordon McKinley’s class shoes. You’ve got no time to be dreaming wistfully about a fetching young lass in a sundress – for heaven’s sake, men, you’re old enough to be her father! Pull yourselves together, so we can get on with this edition. You remember the legend of Superman – able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Well, one of our very own supermen, Pastor Lou Florio, was able to rappel down a tall building for a very good cause – to raise money for the Special Olympics. BR Florio’s feat was accomplished in November in downtown Richmond on the Bank of America building. I am told that he planned to wear a Spiderman suit during the ascent, but they wouldn’t let him. Nevertheless, Lou rappelled down and raised a significant sum for a most worthy cause. We all expect ministers to do good things, but this was perhaps above and beyond the call of duty; he raised what would have been enough money to cover Tom deVenoge’s bar tab on a given evening. Well done, BR Florio; that’s no small feat. One of our most vocal BRs from the left coast and the political left, Sean Poremba, reached out with the following statement: “I’ve been slandered in the pages of the Alumni Review! I wholeheartedly approve of motherhood and baseball.” He actually had a smile in his voice when he protested; using Cocke Hall rules, that means no blood, no foul! Nonetheless, BR Poremba’s protest for being mis-characterized is duly noted and rectified herewith. Let the official record show that Sean Poremba fully supports motherhood and baseball. Jeff Smiley has made no protest of the claims levied against him, so I guess we may assume he still embraces totalitarianism in part or in whole. There are still some spirited political debates among our boys on Facebook and other places, but I believe everyone participates in the spirit in which we lived in Barracks – that is, nothing is off-limits, and regardless of the dia-

logue, in the end, we are all Brother Rats, and even when we disagree, the BR spirit is alive and well. Now, let’s all join hands (virtually), and sing “Kum Bah Yah.” Speaking of Facebook, much has been noted over the years of the famous Perez updates: that is a brief opine on where in the world is Tim Perez, and more often than not, what is the cocktail of the day? Well, taking his own note from Reader’s Digest – that is, condensed versions, BR Perez has taken his schtick over to Twitter and is now tweeting his updates, as opposed to posting them on FB. That figures; our favorite BR of few words found FB to be too verbose, so he went to Twitter! Not to worry, however, as Facebook still has value, in that it is our only real link to MIA-Valedictorian Jim Jenkins. Moreover, according to their posts on FB, BR Joe DeKeyrel stepped up to fill Perez’ void, and I can assure one and all that Darryl Agee and Chuck Steenburgh are eating well, if not often. One of those gents seems partial to “Arrogant Bastard Ale;” I’ll let you form your own opinion about which one of them should be drinking it. Before I forget, BR Poremba offered up a name that we haven’t heard in a while. Sean says that he had a brief contact with Ernie Oversen, which is akin to spotting the Loch Ness Monster or even Jim Jenkins. We know they’re out there – just have trouble confirming it. BR Poremba offers that BR Oversen surfaced briefly and then went undercover again. According to Sean, Ernie is living in New Jersey and working at Brookdale Community College. Good to know you’re alive and hopefully well, Ernie. Also alive and well in the Garden State is Tom Buckley. Tom checked in briefly to recount some of his international experiences and foreign relations efforts from a previous job that offered opportunities to interact on a semi-clandestine basis with some members of the Saudi royal family. Of late, Tom had a bout of free time on his hands in an anemic economy but is happy to be back gainfully employed now. Well done on all counts, BR Buckley! Speaking of the Jersey boys … Tom McCarthy has fully retired from the Army and is building a house near Wilmington, NC. Kenny “Tadpole” Walpole is hiding out near Atlanta, GA, as is Bernie Colacicco. Here’s the obligatory crack at Stew Barnes and his golf game – hope you hit the little white ball better in 2013 than you hit your political prognostications in 2012. Free advice to all: it’s fine to rely on BR Barnes for financial planning counsel; just don’t place any bets based on what he says is going to happen in politics! Thanksgiving is usually a time to just relax and watch football. Not so for Ralph Frye, as

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CLASS NOTES he was pretty busy over Thanksgiving coordinating his 30th high school reunion in Beaver, PA. From the pics on Facebook, it looked to be a great party. Such a bash provided BR Frye a reason (as if one were needed) to visit that famous emporium of alcoholic beverages – the world-renowned Beaver Liquor Store, Inc. With close proximity to Pittsburgh (about 35 miles from Beaver, PA, to Pittsburgh, PA), BR Scott Harbula has been known to make a trip to the Beaver Liquor Store, too. For you history buffs, this establishment gained notoriety as a speakeasy in the days of Prohibition for running a gin joint with a back-room gambling operation, too; it had the liquor up front and poker in the rear. To insert our obligatory Dave Grimm tribute phrase, I’m just sayin’ … Over Christmas, Chris Ashworth came across the big pond from Denmark to visit his BRs and see his folks (or was it vice-versa?). While the Old Asher was in town, Bob Rainer hosted a BR Christmas Party or, if you prefer, a Non-Denominational Holiday Gathering. That statement is actually the only thing about the event that even resembled political correctness. In addition to our host, the attendees included Chris Ashworth, Paul Burch, Wayne Fuller, Clint Hubbard, Jeff Morgan, Jon Moody, Robert Nussey and Tim Spivey. Bob’s new friend, Kirby, is quite a wizard in the kitchen and prepared all the food. She did a marvelous job, as it was an awesome, incredible, king-daddy, monster chow. As everyone jockeyed for position around the trough when a new dish came in from the kitchen, a spirited debate sprang up about whom among the attendees could best fill the physical role of Santa Claus. A discussion about comparison of cadet-weight and present-day weight ensued, and then accusations and counter-accusations began to fly, along with cries of, “Is that a certified statement?” As the “conversation” became more heated, there were additional charges levied that the Charlie and Delta Company BRs would be better suited being elves rather than Santa – portly elves, perhaps, but elves nonetheless. In the final analysis, there was no Santa, as it was determined that even though Rainer is obviously no longer cutting weight, he doesn’t have any black boots; Fuller’s beard is not quite grey enough; Spivey was never that jolly to begin with; Morgan doesn’t look good in red (or any other color, for that matter); Ashworth has been in Denmark so long that he no longer believes in Santa but rather in Julemanden (whoever that is); and Nussey has hit so many deer with an automobile that no one felt comfortable putting him behind 8-9 reindeer on a sleigh. Other than the perils of mixing alcohol with a bunch of rowdy used-to-be’s, the party was a great

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success. Of interest to BRs Malavet, Walpole, Rivenbark, Monahan, Weddle, Keilty, Frazier, et al., there was some discussion of offering Christmas carols “the Ghetto-corner way” to some of BR Rainer’s neighbors, but it was decided that, other than BR Spivey, we didn’t want to talk to the police that night – clothed or otherwise. (Besides, we were in Henrico County – out of BR Spivey’s jurisdiction.) Before the holidays were completely over, Art Ryan and his bride, Jan Hodges, hosted a New Year’s Day Open House, where I had an opportunity to visit with my old Rat roommate, Scott Wilson. Art relocated from Williamsburg, VA, to Richmond several years ago. His better half, Jan, is a former pastry chef at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, and although she no longer does that for a living, let me assure you, her skills are not diminished in the least – the food was fabulous. Are you starting to see a pattern here about BRs consorting with women who display a prowess in the kitchen? Just under the wire, an e-mail came in from Marc Moquin. Moke retired from the Army shortly after the 20th Reunion and is a civilian employee, supporting the efforts of his old outfit, the 160th Aviation group. BR Moquin and family live near Clarksville, TN. Thanks for your service, Marc. One of Moke’s old Rat roommates, Andy Ma-

son, recently moved from the Outer Banks of North Carolina back to his hometown of Richmond, VA. BR Mason has been a contractor and builder on the Outer Banks for 10-15 years but said the economy and work there has dried up. So, he’s going to re-group in a spot that isn’t as dependent upon vacation homes/income. Not sure how having GrapeApe and Smith, MB in the same town will work out, but it should make for some interesting future columns. To take this edition out on a high note, let me share a heart-warming story with you. Unlike most of my usual smart-aleck drivel, this is real. As part of the class roster, the families of our departed BRs are included. By affiliation of our Brother Rat, though he may be with us in Spirit only, they are stuck with us. At any rate, after a card was sent on behalf of the class to Mike Northrop’s family, I received a wonderful note back from his parents: Ed and Jean Northrop ’62. They were very gracious and pleased that Mike is still remembered fondly by his Brother Rats. Mr. Northrop noted that, as of August 2012, it was 20 years ago that we lost Mike; he left us way too early. His memory lives on with us, however, and I’m pleased to report that his wife (Dee) later remarried (in Mr. Northrop’s words) “a good man and friend” and, furthermore, that Mike’s spirit is carried on by their two children: Michael, who is now 24, and

Class of 1986: Class Agent Clint Hubbard wrote, “A mixture of Brother Rats and co-matriculants gathered at the healthful and pleasant abode of Bob Rainer …” in December 2012. From left were, Jeff Morgan, Tim Spivey, Wayne Fuller, Hubbard and Robert Nussey. On the stairs, from the top: Jon Moody, Chris Ashworth, Rainer and Paul Burch. “Of course, not pictured is Valedictorian Jim Jenkins who was neither present nor accounted for,” said Hubbard.

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CLASS NOTES Christine, who is 21. Mr and Mrs. Northrop asked that I pass along their regards and thanks to the class of 1986 for remembering their son and our Brother Rat, Michael C. Northrop. It touched me to think what a tie to their son could mean to any parent, so I offer this to all of you to share the feeling of brotherhood, love and family. We may not always agree with one another on our politics, religion or brand of bourbon, but we are all bonded together by a formative experience from our youth. I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I realize how fortunate we are to have such a bond. So, reach out to a BR to fan that flame and keep it burning bright. If you have a special memory of a departed BR, consider reaching out to their family, and let them hear about their loved one. I’m sure it would mean the world to them. That’s it for this go around. You may fall out of the Mess Hall, but remember that Rats don’t have GP.

’87

Gerry Tertychny

Not much in the way of notes for this period, but there are a couple of items of significance: I received an e-mail from Mike Moore shortly after the New Year informing me that Greg Scott suffered a heart attack in early January. I spoke to Greg during the first week of February, and he is doing well. At the time, he was still in the recovery mode, but things were looking up, and we talked a bit about his son, Brice, who is a third classman and is a roommate of Jay Arnaiz’ son, Damian. He’d love to hear from us. So, if anyone would like to call or text him, his cell number is 804/647-2586. Next, I recently received a phone call from my Rat roommate, Chip Bierman, who told me that both he and our old first captain, Dave Furness, were recently selected for promotion to brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps. This is truly fantastic news and goes to show that the Institute is still being heard from in the military through the class of 1987. Gentlemen, a heartfelt congratulations to you and your families, best of luck to you in all of your future endeavors and thank you for your continued service to our nation! Well done, and very welldeserved – we are all very proud of you! As always, if you happen to be in the Yorktown, Newport News, Hampton or Williamsburg area, please let Lynn and me know, and feel free to stop by for a visit. In the Spirit, Gerry

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’88

Drew McKone

As I write these notes on Feb. 15, I am reminded that we celebrated the 28th anniversary of becoming a class, AND by the time you read these notes, we’ll be less than four months from returning to VMI to celebrate our 25th Reunion! Like penalty tours through Barracks…time marches on! We held a mini-reunion during the VMICitadel game this past fall. Sixty Brother Rats and their families enjoyed a beautiful day that included a parade, the game and a lunch on the porch of Moody Hall. Many thanks to Adam Volant for organizing this event! Reunion Update: Our Reunion Campaign Committee met in December to get a brief from Gen. Peay ’62 and to organize our campaign efforts and decide on our goals. In February, each of you should have received a letter outlining those goals. I won’t rehash the entire letter, but I do want to point out a few highlights: 1. Our primary goal is to have maximum attendance at the reunion. 2. Our secondary goal is to present a class gift to the Institute in the amount of $1,988,000 and 3. Expect to receive a call or two from a committee member encouraging your attendance and answering your questions on our campaign. These committee members have volunteered their time and energy to help make our reunion memorable and successful. Please thank them

for their commitment when you get their call. Our Reunion Campaign Committee members are (in alphabetical order): Curran Bowen, Sean Cantrell, Bob Clark, Mike Coleman, Walt Coleman, John Doyle, Dave Hope, Tom Reimann, Dr. Scott Stachelek, Adam Volant, Ed Wetherell and Mike Wood. Thanks, Brother Rats! Adam will chair the Social Committee and will communicate the logistical details, such as hotel arrangements, class picture, dinners, etc. in a separate mailing and/or via our Facebook page. All of us should have a magnet on our refrigerators reminding us of our 25th Reunion Weekend on Sept. 6 and 7 … hope to see all of you there! Mike Owen checked in after seeing Wayne Sinclair over a great burrito just outside of MCRD San Diego. Wayne looked good, was very positive about his recovery and reports that he is about one month ahead of schedule. He has put his cane down, hopefully, for good! I look forward to seeing Mike and the rest of the “Quantico Crew” for lunch! Bill Gregory reports that the family is doing well. Karen is almost fully recovered from the benign tumor she had removed over two years ago. She will likely walk with a cane and have loss of smell the rest of her life, but that’s not so bad, considering the possibilities. Jessica started her first year of college. Abby is driving now and is ranked second in the nation in women’s third-degree black belt, according to Taekwondo America – she is an instructor at their local school in Roanoke. The family went down to Orlando, FL, for the national tournament. Nathan is in 8th grade and is heavily into Scouts. Bill’s been with AECOM for over 20 years

Class of 1988: Attending Lew Sigmon’s retirement ceremony in fall 2012 were, from left, Sam Kang ’11, Jim Florio, Drew McKone, Scott Stachelek, Sigmon, Steve Neary, Mike Owen, John Keppeler, Kirk Dewyea and Patrick Terhune ’11.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES part is picking out what to wear every day. Lew but spring training has yet to start. I know there at their Roanoke office. HSMM merged with still sees Scott Stachelek and John Keppeler is something called hockey, but BRs Gray and much larger AECOM in 2006. AECOM is the pretty often around Stafford. About his retirement Biliunas have not taken me to a Caps game, so largest MEP engineering company in the U.S., ceremony, Lew reports that it was a “great day I’m not sure what that is all about. with 40,000 employees around the world. Good and was totally amazing having all of my BRs Anyway, why don’t we start out with some to hear from you, Bill, and we look forward to there!” Attending the ceremony were Sam Kang good news that you guys continue to deliver. seeing you and Karen in September! ’11, Jim Florio, Drew McKone, Scott Stachelek, Steve Warren has been or soon will be promoted Mike McGraw has moved back to Virginia Lew Sigmon, Steve Neary, Mike Owen, John to colonel in the U.S. Army. I didn’t get the news and bought a house in Fairfax! Mike left his job Keppeler, Kirk Dewyea and Patrick Terhune from Steve, but somewhere in the e-mail chain, it as chief of the Military Liaison Office in Brus’11. I see Lew and others often in Quantico for a said something about “Frodo” being on the move sels (Aug 2008-Dec 2012) for staff assignment monthly lunch organized by Rock Keppeler. See up. Not sure what that means … Steve, feel free at INSCOM (Fort Belvoir). He deployed as you soon, Brother Rat! to send in a response. But congratulations on a special agent in charge, Kabul Field Office (AlMany of you have visited our Brother Rat successful career, and thank you for your service. lied Command Counterintelligence) from FebChristopher (Chris) Beck’s LinkedIn page and Speaking of service, I checked in with Andy Oct 2011 and did some work for NCIS in the are aware of his recent announcement. The Tunnard and asked how it went with Hurricane Republic of Georgia in spring 2009 and 2010 story is a little long and involved to do justice Sandy. He said he had little damage to his house (ship visits). Mike’s oldest son, Michael Aidan in this edition of notes. I recommend you visit but was without power for six days. But with McGraw, just accepted to VMI class of 2017!! Chris’ page and read the firsthand account of his job, he spent the month on the shore helping Mike’s oldest daughter (Madeleine) is a junior how Chris’ life has changed since retiring from those folks recover. Andy, I’m sure the residents at George Mason, and he has twin girls and of New Jersey were glad that you were there another son attending primary school in Fairfax. the SEAL teams. Suffice it to say that Chris has lived life with tremendous courage, both physiand leading the way to recovery. Mike spent time with Arm (Kultawat Vaijai) in cal and mental. I support you, Brother Rat, and I got a great update from Angelo Biviano: Mar 2012. He came by to visit Brussels on his look forward to seeing you in September! “I’m still teaching technical writing in Virginia way out to be the Thai defense attaché to South Take care, Brother Rats, and we’ll see each Tech’s Mining and Minerals Engineering DeAfrica. (He is now in Pretoria.) Mike has been other in September! partment in Blacksburg and do my best to mainkeeping in close contact with Dan Shrimpton tain a bucolic home life in rural Floyd County (OSD senior staff in the Pentagon) and Hugh Drew with wife Amanda and kids Hannah, Lydia and McGloin (retired now, working in the Pentagon Nathaniel L. Cross Augie. I’m blessed to have Tim Spence and still). In December 2012, Mike spent time with his family as my nine-mile-away neighbors, Mike Beyer who is also back in Virginia, workand together, we undertake all sorts of unrealing as director of Foreign Training for DEA. ized summer projects having to do with goats, Thanks for checking in, Mike … see you in gardens, bees and chickens. If you ever find September! yourself down in southwest Virginia, come up In January, Brian Hatheway transferred from I hope the spring sun is shining warmly on for a visit, and you’ve got a place to stay!” So, New Orleans to our embassy in Kuwait where your back as you sit on your deck, sipping a Biv, does this mean that we can count you and he is the deputy regional security officer. He has cold one and reading this. Me? It’s cold as I Tim as members of the ’89 Beekeepers? Let his family with him in Kuwait which is a much write this in February, but we missed the masme know how your hives make it through the different situation from previous tours in the sive blizzard that just nailed the Northeast. It is winter. Good luck with those Hokies. region! Brain and his wife added a daughter to that time of year when football season is over, Speaking of winter, the Cross the mix back in April 2012, so they family had the opportunity to spend are up to three. Brian saw Michael Thanksgiving week with Eric and McGraw. Mike and family PCS’d Meg Buchanan in Belize. We are back to the D.C. area from Brussels very thankful that the Buchanans just before Christmas. Best of luck allowed our two kids to join the to you and your family, Brian … adult trip. It was great catching up Hope to see you in September! with them. When we started taking Jim Anderson is living in Syrapictures, we realized it was the 25th cuse, NY, working as a software anniversary of Ring Figure, and we engineer for the Regional Transit had our dates with us. Authority. Jim has been out of the So, that means the next big anArmy since 1992 and has enjoyed niversary for us will be the 25th slumming it as a civilian! Stay warm, Reunion. If you haven’t gotten a Jim, and we’ll see you in September! Save the Date from me, it should I had the honor to attend Lew be coming soon. The good news is Sigmon’s retirement ceremony last that we have already started putting fall with a host of other Brother Rats some plans together, but we will be and VMI alumni. Lew checked in reaching out for help and any ideas to report that all is going well with you might have. What that means retirement. Lew has accepted a job Class of 1989: Nat and Lori Cross joined Eric and Meg is please ask your wife to e-mail as a contractor, supporting the Joint Buchanan for a week in Belize during the Thanksgiving me suggestions that she has for the Staff J4. It is a great job, and the 2012 holiday. weekend! commute is not too bad. The hardest

’89

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CLASS NOTES Sorry this edition is a little short; I know that the holiday time is busy. Maybe before you leave for summer vacation you can drop me a line. If you do, be sure to call a BR first, so you can give me two. Or if you want, put this down, and go pick up the phone. The Review comes out about two weeks before I have to submit notes for the next edition. Have a great summer!

’90

Robert Clark

Seneca Quarry. Garrett’s been busy launching his book with tours, speaking events and signings. If you are in the D.C. area, Garrett gives tours and book talks on the castle and the quarry. Make sure you pick up a copy of his book; his next one is already in the works. (Editor’s Note: A book announcement about The Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry will appear in the Alumni News section of the 2013-Issue 3 Alumni Review, due out in early August.) Weedon Gallagher checked in to let me know of his current transition. Weedon completed his tour with the 1297th Division of the Maryland Air National Guard. He is now on his way to the Army War College. Weedon’s roomies, Mike Manning and Laurence Farrell, recently attended his Change of Command ceremony. Their entire room, including Mike Swanson, will be teaming up for a room reunion in Lexington. Kelly Musick is also getting in a little advanced schooling at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, VA. He indicates that the school is fairly tough, with a heavy workload, but he’s making his way through it. He is joined in the school by Craig Price, who originally matriculated with 1989 and then returned with the class of 1993 after a stint in the Navy. Pete Tunnard e-mailed to say that he and his family are now living in Fort Worth, TX. He lives a few blocks from Bill and Debbie Arnold and sees them often. Sounds like the personal connection has made the transition to Texas a good one. Jeff Rawes made it down to the “I” for the VMI-Gardner Webb basketball game. He was able to see John Aydlette, Dave Bender, Matt Schwarzmann, Jeff Crist and John

Hahn. Sounds like they were all able to connect at the Keydet Club event following the game. Chris Whittaker checked in from the Pentagon where he is finishing up his third and final year of assignment. He is starting to contemplate life after the military and will be making his transition soon. Chris recently took over as the president of the Potomac River Chapter of The VMI Alumni Association, where he’s been leading the recruiting and alumni activities for northern Virginia. Chris runs into Andy Schaaf and Dave Osborne frequently in the Pentagon and often sees Trey Wetsel, Ken Robinson, Garrett Peck and Jeff Millican at the various VMI functions. Finally, some housekeeping issues for the class … Please drop me a line and keep me updated on your address, phone number and current email. I use a master e-mail list for my notices and updates to the class and don’t want you to be left out! I can also ensure the Alumni Association has this information. The 25th is not too far off, and I’d like to start formalizing our planning for the Reunion. Drop me an e-mail if you are interested in helping out. We’ll need people to help with fundraising and the events themselves. I’ve heard from many of you but want to start locking this down and planning in earnest. All for now folks … keep the e-mails, cards and letters coming, and have a great summer! Rob

Greetings, BRs, and I hope you are enjoying spring! I’m happy to pass along that Paul Kricorian is on his way home from Afghanistan after a seven-month deployment. Paul was doing counter IED support in the theater. We are thankful he is returning safely, and we are all proud of his service and contribution! Rich Mehl dropped me a line and let me know that he is now in Wilmington, NC. Rich retired from the Air Force a few years ago. At the time of his retirement, he was flying U2s out of Beale AFB, CA. Rich is now pulling much tougher duty as a stay-at-home dad with his 3-year-old, Alex. Rich’s wife finished her doctorate recently, and she is teaching at UNC Wilmington. The Mehls are excited to be back on the East Coast, and he’s looking forward to reconnecting with BRs in the area. Rich’s roommate, Daren Payne, wrote to say he has also been in contact with Rich and his other roommate, Sean Hoover. Sean is in Dallas and is splitting time in the Army Reserve with the 75th Division and the ATF. Daren is finishing up his battalion command this summer in Indianapolis and is expecting his next assignment soon – most likely, Fort Stewart, GA. Their entire room is looking for Bill Ratliff, so check in soon, Bill! Congratulations are in order for a number of our BRs. Mike Herbaugh and his wife, Cheryl, had their first child, Declan Ford Herbaugh, who was born Dec. 1, 2012. Mike’s been posting photos of Declan on Facebook, and he’s a terrific looking little boy. Janet Sandway e-mailed to let us know that Greg Sandway recently made O-6. He moved to Rota, Class of 1990: Mike Manning, Weedon Gallagher and Spain, for his new assignment in Laurence Farrell got together to celebrate Gallagher’s September 2012. Congrats, Greg! Maryland Air National Guard change of command. The Garrett Peck recently comsign is a keepsake that Gallagher had made and displayed pleted his fourth book entitled, during a tour in Afghanistan. The Smithsonian Castle and the

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’91

George Petty

Winter is fading, and gas prices are making their annual climb. Speaking of climbing, if you are fresh out of vacation ideas, Mike Milner highly recommends climbing up Mt. Kilimanjaro. He did so at the end of 2012 with National Geographic Adventures. The excursion was six days up the 19,340-foot-tall peak and 1.5 days back down. One of my Rats, Mike Eason ’94, sent an e-mail to say that he is now stationed in Turkey. You may recall an attack on the U.S. Embassy there back in December. His wife, Tamara, works at the embassy but was home the day of the attack. Their daughter was ill that morning. All are safe and healthy at present.

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CLASS NOTES Last week, I was shopping at the Richmond, VA, Costco when Cuong Nguyen came up to me in the milk and coffee aisle and said hello. What a pleasant surprise! I don’t think I had seen him since graduation. He is doing well and looks exactly the same, except for the glasses. We made some nebulous plans to get together soon. And that, folks, is all that I have this time. Adios until the New Market Day submission deadline.

Adam Gregory

’92

Andy Tate

Gentlemen, I’m afraid I must begin with some very sad news. BR Marr Snyder passed away after a brave battle with cancer. Steve Arnold, Marr’s former roommate and currently assistant principal at Southside High School, kindly shares his personal reflections, as follows: “Marr was a gentle soul. He was not at all the stereotypical hoorahshouting VMI guy. He loved that he went to VMI, but the regimen of military structure was probably not what he would have preferred. In fact, on any given occasion, I think he would have been happier sipping

a beer and listening to Jimmy Buffett than doing pretty much anything else. He loved to sing. Not well, mind you, but often. When I first moved into the room with him and Matt Swanson at the beginning of our 2nd class year, I was treated to regular after-“Taps” concerts in the room. Matt would play guitar, Marr would sing, and I was just along for the ride.” Steve continues, “While at the ‘I,’ Marr was dating a girl from New Orleans (or N’awlins, as he would correct me). One Thursday night, he suggested that we take a road trip to New Orleans – just for the sake of making the trip. It is so far from Lexington to there that we would have had to quick turn in order to make it back for the stick on Sunday night. But he thought it was a great idea. Just a few friends, covering miles and singing songs together. Cooler heads prevailed, and we did not make that trip, but if I could go back … Marr was my friend. Shame on both of us; we didn’t stay in close contact over the years. But Marr was the kind of guy who would open his arms to you, take you in as a brother and forever count you as family. I will miss him dearly. He left us too soon.” Thank you, Steve, for sharing such a thoughtful tribute, and thanks to the rest of you who passed along the sad news. I received other updates as well. Chuck Douglas updates that he graduated from the Army War College last summer is now at NORAD. Chuck writes: “My paper is being published from Carlisle, so no Pulitzer, but it’s nice to be recognized.” Congrats, Chuck.

Class of 1991: Michael Milner at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa, December 2012.

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They’re handing out Nobel’s these days, so just hope a lot. Neil Hennigan reports that Jabba Andricos “and family visited the ’Burgh over Christmas. He bought first, last and all rounds in between at a local bar. Good time catching up.” Derrick Lapp writes: “I live in Maryland, not far from the PA border, with my wife of 16 years (Andrea) and my 6-year-old daughter (Heather). I’m an account manager for a supply chain solutions company called CHEP and have been with them since I got out of the Army back in 1999. I work out of my home office and love it – no desire to ever be in a corporate office!”

Class of 1992: Mike Kirkmire running a 50K in the Owyhee Mountains south of Boise, Idaho, Jan. 19, 2013. Derrick continues, “I can’t believe it’s been over 20 years since we graduated. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the reunion last spring (personal stuff got in the way), but I do get to the ‘I’ now and then when my business travel takes me through Lexington. The last time I was down in that area, a few months ago, I caught up with Scott Price. We grabbed dinner and talked and laughed for a few hours. He especially laughed when I mentioned that, while I think the changes that have occurred at VMI are impressive, I’m a little distraught that my old rooms (389, 289, 189) are now female bathrooms! (I will pause for the comments.) Hopefully, when the next updates are published, the VMI basketball team will have won the Big South Tournament – Go KEYDETS!” Many folks turned out for Mike Starling’s retirement ceremony, held on Oct. 11, 2012, at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, VA. In attendance were: Retired Lt. Col. Dave McSorley ’91, Lt. Col. Jon Jacobs ’89, Rob Campbell ’88, Col. Chris Starling ’88 (retiring official), Maj. Buck Sessoms ’91, Lt. Col. Mike Starling, Lt. Col. Andy Tate, Lt. Col. Dan Shipley, Special

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CLASS NOTES Agent Neil Hennigan, Col. Dave Furness ’87, Phill Starling ’94 and Chris Batenhorst ’91. Mike writes: “Thanks to all those in attendance! Two quotes were inspirational to me early on. First: ‘Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less.’ – Gen. R.E. Lee, CSA. Second: ‘A country worth living in is a country worth sacrificing for.’ – Col. John Ripley, USMC. Greatest thanks goes to my wife, Jenny, and the kids for their sacrifice during the last 20 years! Thanks for making it possible. I appreciate all those who were influential during my formative years and throughout my career. It has been an honor to serve our great nation and a privilege to do so as a Marine. Semper Fidelis!” Many congrats, Mike. Your service is clearly greatly appreciated. Col. Race Chien-Feng Yu (ROC Army) updates that he is “now back in the states, so watch out for a crazy reckless driver on the road! I came back in July 2012 and met with Doug Vincent, Jon Jeffreys and V-man (Sa-

ranyu Viriyavejakul) in D.C. to look back on VMI good old days with nostalgia. Time does fly! I’m stationed here in D.C. until July 2015. Looking forward to meeting with more BRs during my tour here!” Mike Kirkmire e-mails that he “bagged another 50K a few weeks ago out in the Owyhee Mountains south of Boise. It was about -1 degree F when I started and about 10 when I finished. Have plans for three more, plus a couple of triathlons once the weather gets nice. Going to be in D.C., Charlottesville and Staunton over Spring Break (March 24-31). Taking the girls to see the monuments while in D.C.; visit my sister who lives in Charlottesville (she’s the dean of the Upper Division at St. Anne’s-Belfield … one of Col. Riethmiller’s ’63 daughters is her assistant); and see Teresa’s family in Staunton. A trip to Lex Vegas to see the ‘I’ and have a calzone at Franks is on the itinerary.” Thanks to everyone above for their updates. Best regards, Adam

’93 Class of 1992: Larry Nevel and wife Anne celebrated New Year’s Eve 2012 and James Bond’s 50th anniversary at the Washington Plaza Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

Class of 1992: In December 2012, Neil Hennigan and Greg Andricos got together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Bill Cox

February 2013: It’s hard to believe that our 20th Reunion is only a couple months away. When these notes are published, the reunion will have already come and gone. Wow, we are getting old. Dave Lehmkuhl touched base and sent in the following: “I currently live in Austin, TX, with my wife, Alicia, my son, Ryan (9), and daughter, Maddie (7). I work as an account executive for Orion International, the nation’s largest military recruiting firm for companies looking to hire veterans of all ranks and positions (shameless plug). I have been with them now for three years in Austin and love it. It allows me to keep connected with those returning from overseas and help them find jobs. I was actually published last year in a national Oil & Gas magazine on how and why companies should hire military veterans. I work with a class of 1988 grad – Chris Demmons – who is out of our Raleigh office. We tend to drink some beers and tell VMI stories when we get together. Nothing new there, I suppose.” Vic Tran also sent in big news. I have attached his e-mail here: “I have decided to take a break from fighting crime in northern Virginia and extend my skills halfway around the world to Afghanistan. This was a very big decision for Debi and me, but in the end, the good this will do outweighed the nega-

tives. I want to do my part. I am grateful for Debi’s love, understanding and support. I am assigned to the 41st Calvary, Unit 1-9 Head Hunters SFAAT8. Our mission is diplomacy, by assisting the Afghan government to become more efficient and stronger. We are merely advisors and mentors. It will change your life once you have experienced another country in this condition. Even though I keep my head down and on a swivel, I continue the mission and help our soldiers. I have met a lot of great American soldiers and Afghan people. The Afghan people are very generous and willing to learn. Right now, I am assigned to the Bagram area. If there are any BRs in the area, hit me up and we can sit down to a cup of chi.” Sadly, Vic will not be able to attend the reunion. (Editor’s Note: A photo of Tran and his Afghanistan base, along with much of what he wrote above, appears on page 3 of this Alumni Review, Alumni in Theater section.) On a totally different note, I was contacted by L. Scott Lingamfelter ’73. He is running for lieutenant governor of Virginia. I have included his biography, as follows: Delegate L. Scott Lingamfelter was raised in Richmond, VA, where he attended public and parochial schools. He then attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington Virginia where he earned a BA in history in 1973. After graduating from VMI as a Distinguished Military Graduate, he was commissioned in the regular Army of the United States and began a career as a field artilleryman. In 1979, the United States Army awarded him a full academic scholarship to the University of Virginia where he earned a master of arts degree in government and foreign affairs in 1981. After many assignments around the world during war and peace, he rose to the rank of colonel. His last military assignment in the Army was as military assistant to the director, Operational Test and Evaluation, of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army War College where he served as class president. He retired after 28 years of active duty service. Among his numerous awards and decorations are the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with battle star, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three battle stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Saudi-Kuwaiti Liberation Medal and the United Nations Service

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES Medal. Since retiring from the military, he has worked for the private sector, focused on strategic planning in support of the senior leadership for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he has worked in the emergency management and homeland security arena in support of Federal agencies, states and localities. If you are interested in joining me in supporting him and his campaign, please contact me. That is really all the news I have for this round. I look forward to seeing everyone in April at the reunion. It promises to be a great time. Then, we will pass the torch to the next class agent. I have enjoyed being your class agent and keeping up with everyone. It has been a privilege to serve the Institute and the class, but I am also ready to pass the baton. For the last time as your agent, I offer my old compliments … To those serving, 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

required to get a brick in his name, and we raised well over $8,000! This was a great effort on the class’s part. BR Neil Harrell contacted me and pledged a donation for Sam. Nov. 22nd marked the 20th anniversary of Sam’s passing. I think the brick is a perfect tribute to a great BR. On the same subject, Mrs. Gillespie ’59 sent me a nice note thanking the class for the flowers we sent on the anniversary of Sam’s passing. She and Mr. Gillespie were very appreciative of our gesture. Jim Tynan is living in Montgomery, AL, and doing well. He asked any BRs passing through Maxwell AFB to look him up. Jim is working as a postal inspector and keeps in touch with John Vazquez, Todd Witt and Geof Voorhees. Jim reports that all are doing well and are keeping busy with work and families. Doug Estes found himself in a bad spot this past winter. A few BRs jumped in to help him out. He wanted to pass along a word of thanks to those BRs. Scott Townsend wrote from Seoul, South Korea. He is stationed at 8th Army Headquarters as the Civil Affairs planner. He has about five more months until he heads back stateside. Scott mentioned that he ran into Charles Downs over Christmas in Roanoke, VA, while ice-skating with their families. Scott noted that Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson ’77 is the commanding general of the 8th Army. Steve Isola is living in Kentucky and working for Wausau Paper Company as a master scheduler. Steve and his wife, Amy, have two children. Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, is in sixth grade, and son, Lenox, is in third grade. Andy Blair recently married his wife, Melody. They are living in Jinju, Republic of Korea, where Andy is working on content for a language app. Andy finished his master’s in psycholinguistics. Dale Hybl and his family are currently living in Colorado Springs, CO. They relocated

there from Ohio last year, and so far, they’re really enjoying it. Just before leaving Ohio, Dale relinquished command of the 18th Intelligence Squadron. He is now the deputy commander of the 544th ISR Group at Peterson AFB. Dale reported that George and Kelly Schreffler spent a few days with the Hybls last September while they were on their way from Camp Pendleton, CA, to Newport, RI, for Naval War College. Dale also hears from Sang Yoo frequently and even got to see him while he was TDY in December. Sang is stationed at Fort Meade, MD, and is part of the same wing that Dale is attached to. Thank you again for your support of our BRs and generosity. Please be well, and stay safe! I’m looking forward to seeing you all at our 20th Reunion next spring.

Thomas A. Brashears

’95

Dan Williams

Brother Rats: As I write these notes, our Brother Rat Marlin Ikenberry has his Keydet baseball team down in Tuscaloosa, I am sad to report that Jake King lost his AL, getting ready to begin the season against life on Feb. 14, 2013, after a four-year battle the University of Alabama … good luck to with cancer. Jake is survived by his wife, Marlin and his team, and best wishes for a Brandi, and their children Virginia, Clair, successful season. Maybe when these notes Jacob Jr. and Lillian. I want to thank all of are published, he’ll be in Omaha prepping for the BRs who went to see Jake at the hospital the College World Series! in his final days. Paul Curly and Pat O’Neil Not much to report on this time but have arranged for a memorial fund to be set up for interacted with several Brother Rats recently. the family. If you would like to make a donaAt the end of January, Rich Hauben was laid tion, you can deposit a check, made payable to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. At the to the “Jake King VMI ’94 Meceremony were myself, Dan Wilmorial Fund” in any Wells Fargo liams, Noel Gorospe, Geoff TayBank branch. Please keep Jake lor, Garth Winterle, Matt Chapand his family in your thoughts man, Ken Jambor, Christian and prayers. Hoff ’96 and Matt Bogusky ’96. In light of Jake’s death, I want Apologies if I missed anybody. It to ask every Brother Rat to conwas a very nice ceremony. Chaptact another BR that you haven’t lain Park from VMI officiated, heard from in a while. I know we Col. Brodie (Hon) played taps are all busy with our families and and Band Company sent a small work, but there is always enough contingent of cadets, to include a time for a phone call or quick bagpiper who played a wonderful e-mail. rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Thanks to all those BRs who At a recent basketball game, I made donations in order to get ran into Chris Wills. He was in Class of 1995: VMI was well represented at the burial Sam Gillespie a brick in front of town for VMI’s Branch Orientaof Lt. Col. Rich Hauben at Arlington National Cemetery. Barracks. A gift of $2,500 was tion Day sponsored by the Army

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CLASS NOTES ROTC Department. He represented the Military Police Corps well. Chris is currently serving as the Law Enforcement planner for the Military District of Washington (MDW). We caught up after the game for a good bit. It’s always good to see a Brother Rat at a game. Chris, Ben Bird and Brian Kellner all worked together recently to support the presidential inauguration, along with the state of the union address. Chris also mentioned that Rob Davis recently moved up to the D.C. area and I believe is working at the National Guard Bureau. I think that Rob, Gary Bailey, John Byram and Chris are trying to wrangle up some BRs for a mini-reunion of sorts at the final VMI home basketball game on March 2nd. I’ll let you know if that happened in the next batch of notes. Speaking of basketball games, I do see Jamie Joyner at the games quite often; apparently, his daughter is quite the fan of VMI basketball. I talked with Alexis Bouchard recently. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children and is looking to reconnect with several folks. Also, I was in North Carolina recently for a business trip, stopped by Charlotte for a night and caught up briefly with Tim Miller. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to link up, but next time, for sure. During a recent trip to Fort Bragg, I ran into one of my former students, Dave Raser ’06, and found out that he’s a battalion fire support officer for Brad Moses. He said that it’s an adventure, but Brad takes good care of him. It’s been a crazy few months, so apologies if I missed any updates … please e-mail or call if you get the chance. I really would like to get the word out about how our Brother Rats are doing.

As always, take great care, and remember to let me know if you’re ever in Lexington for a basketball or football game.

’96

Peter Segersten

Good morning! I hope things are going well for you and your families. During the Christmas season, a few of us got together for the holidays at Lightfoot restaurant in Leesburg. It was a fantastic dinner and great conversation, catching up with people. In attendance were Christian Hoff, Scott Shropshire, Chris Antonelli and Geoff Weidner. Ben Venning wrote me a line from Afghanistan. He is at Camp Leatherneck with the 2nd MEF. They are extremely busy, working on Afghan National Security Force development and readiness. Ben’s wife and daughter have settled in the Quantico area while he’s on deployment and are doing quite well. Before deployment, he ran into two of our Brother Rats, Greg Bamford and Jesse Janay, who are both stationed in Quantico. He also got together with Holm Ankoma-Sey to watch the Washington Redskins in their pursuit of the playoffs. Holm is doing great and is living and working in the Springfield, VA, area. Ben also spoke with George Fountaine recently. George is living in Richmond with his wife and two kids. Carlton Mason and his wife, Dawn, welcomed into the new world a daughter, Gabrielle Koryn Mason, in December. Congratulations! Pete Ehlers dropped me a line from the Mediterranean on deployment. He is the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Robert G Bradley FFG-49 and is currently supporting Sixth Fleet operations in the Mediterranean Sea. He has corresponded with Chris McCallum who is the executive officer of the U.S.S. Laboon. Pete’s wife ran into Phil Alicea down in Jacksonville. Actually, Class of 1996: Ryan Glynn in Fort Myers, Florida, holding his VMI baseball jersey, a gift Phil literally ran her down as she from Coach Marlin Ikenberry ’95. According was driving through the neighborto Coach Doug Bartlett, who submited this hood. Always the track star. photo, Glynn is the only VMI baseball player That is it for the latest class notes. to make it to the major league and play for 17 Please keep sending me updates, years. Playing baseball allowed him to travel as I did not hear from many people from the Texas Rangers, to the Toronto Blue on this round of the notes. I have Jays, to the Oakland Athletics and to Japan set up a Facebook group, a twitter for four years, Bartlett said. feed and, just recently, a LinkedIn

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group. I’m working on getting the latest email list from the Alumni Association, also. In the bonds, Pete Segersten

’97

David Zirkle

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 1997 for this issue.

Hamel Reinmiller

’98

John A. Strock

With winter behind us, it should be another beautiful spring in Lexington. I hope that everyone is doing well and looking forward to our 15th Reunion! I have not heard from many of you this round, and hence, the notes are pretty tame. I trust that the updates will be flowing for the next edition. I am really enjoying keeping up with you on our class Facebook page! For those of you who are not aware, we have started a “VMI Class of 1998” Group on Facebook, and I invite all of you to join us. Please continue to call, write and send pictures and news on your lives. I look forward to hearing from, seeing and updating our Brother Rats on each of your lives. For those of you who are deployed or in harm’s way, we wish you all the best and pray every day that you will stay safe and return home quickly. We miss you all! Lastly, for those of you who may not be aware, our 15th Class Reunion is scheduled for Sept. 27-28, 2013, and we will be sharing our reunion weekend with the classes of 2003 and 2008. You will be receiving mailers in the coming months, so PLEASE continue to keep your contact information current on the VMI website at www.vmialumni.org, as that will definitely continue to serve as our primary means of communication, and that’s the memo! Life has been pretty crazy for me here in Tulsa, OK. Since my last update, I have accepted a position with Eagle Rock Energy Partners, which is a Houston-based full service energy company. I work with the upstream business unit and manage our Tulsa

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES office, which coordinates all of the land function for our Oklahoma properties. I have been active with our local Landman’s Association, serving as a past president, TAPL Scholarship and Awards Committee chairman. I am also active with the national association (AAPL) serving the Publications and Marketing Committees. I have been heavily involved as a member of the board of directors with a local charity (Family & Children’s Services) and now serve as a member of the Membership Committee at Cedar Ridge Country Club here in Tulsa. I am still serving as president of our Oklahoma Chapter of The VMI Alumni Association, which has been a blast. Life is extremely busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just this past weekend, I had a visit from Maj. Matt Baldwin who is currently stationed in Richmond Hill (Savannah), GA, and is contemplating an assignment at Andrews Air Force Base in D.C. As you know, Matt is married to the lovely Kristin Baldwin, and their two beautiful girls (Emma and Lilly) are growing like weeds! I got a quick update from Brendan Toolan who is in Korea (again) for two years. He is planning to return back to the states in June 2014. Timmy O’Bryant will be here soon, so I should run into him at some point. I did get an update from Ernesto Sampson who is on the VMI Board of Visitors. Ernesto was recently appointed to the board of J. Sargent Reynolds Community College. He and Savon (his lovely wife) moved from the city of Richmond to Glen Allen (arrrgggh, suburbia). Ernesto reports that he talks to Gyimah regularly who now lives in Japan and recently had a little girl. Ernesto is celebrating 13 years as a financial advisor in March. I would like to congratulate each of you on the exciting news in your lives and thank you for writing in to share your news with our class. I want to apologize for my lackluster performance in recent months. I have asked John Strock to assume the duties of preparing and submitting our class notes. I want to encourage each of you to make regular submissions, and help John as he puts together thorough updates on behalf of our class. Thank you so much, John, for stepping up to assist. Going forward, please send your notes updates to vmi98classnotes@gmail.com, or just put them on the Facebook page, as he will be monitoring it, as well. I will forward any update I get to him for future editions. As many of you know, we have started a Class Agent’s Discretionary Fund to be used for cards, postage, care packages, travel expenses, etc. If you would like to donate to

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our class fund, please send me a check made out to “BR ’98.” I hope that the next few months bring health and wealth into each of your homes. Please keep in touch, and let me know if you are ever passing through Tulsa in your travels. (My door is always open.)

’99

William Steinbach

Brother Rats, I hope this edition finds everyone well. Breakout has just occurred, and March Madness is only a few weeks away (although long over, by the time this issue hits your doorstep). Lots of updates, so here we go. Kevin Ryan is finishing up his tour with VX-23 at NAS Patuxent River where he has spent the last year as OPSO and all three years of the tour doing developmental flight tests for EA-6B, EA-18G and F/A-18A-F. He just found out that his next stop is Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, RI, beginning this August. His wife, Andrea, and the kids are excited about the upcoming tour. Rico Espinoza will be leaving Okinawa and joining Kevin at Naval Command and Staff College. Will Romm is still building houses in the Richmond area and frequently sees Jamie Meyer, Jake Abell and Will Sarsfield. Charles Faulkner is now a lobbyist working with former Mississippi Governor and RNC Chair Haley Barbour at BGR Group. He is handling lots of work with their international practice. He and his wife, Emily, are living in Alexandria, and the kids have started school. Both received provisional appointments, but Charles thinks their mother would prefer if they were Tar Heels (Bill’s note: God forbid). Cory Kearse sent me the following e-mail: “Talk to Andy Kratt fairly regularly. He is now working for Chevron and living in Houston, TX. I got a chance to see Willis Tatterson in D.C. last fall while I was attending a conference. We caught up over dinner. He’s doing well. Lives in a very cool area of D.C. and has a really cool house. Ned Frothingham texts me from time to time ... mainly to give me a ‘Roll Tide’ and talk smack about Saban leaving Bama. I am still doing banking regulatory work in Birmingham. We had another baby back in February 2012, which brings the total up to three. I hope to make a trip up to Lexington sometime in 2013.” Thanks, Cory. I ran into Willis in the lobby of my office building. Turns out, his office is in

the building, as well, but we are on different floors. We have been trying to get together for lunch but have not been able to make our schedules work. Powell Harrison sent me this update: “Greetings from very rainy (this winter, at least) Biarritz, France – though during the summer and fall months, it’s a surfer’s paradise here. Biarritz is a resort town on the Basque coast in southwest France, where the Pyrenees Mountains sink into the Atlantic Ocean, just a few miles from the border with Spain. I’ve been living here since fall 2010 as a missionary, serving in a tiny (by American standards) French Protestant church. I teach English to children and adults in a non-profit language school, and I’ve started a tap dance school, as well as an outreach of the church to the community. When I’m not teaching English or tap, I might be studying the Bible with a neighbor, spending time with one of the addicts or homeless people I work with or playing pétanque (my new favorite sport – look it up!). I have had a go at surfing, but I’m not so good that I’m looking to buy my own board any time soon. That being said, I’ve got some Aussie friends who have opened a couple small hostels, Surf Hostel Biarritz and Surf Hostel Bidart just south of here, and if any BRs are interested in a vacation in the Basque country, I’d love to play tour guide/translator and take them surfing. I come back stateside every September for several weeks to catch up with folks in Richmond and my family. I’ve had to close my men’s clothing business in Richmond, since it couldn’t run without me. All the French administrative hurdles don’t exactly encourage entrepreneurship, so I don’t know what the future here holds for me. I don’t have a work visa, so I can’t even accept pay for any of my activities here. It takes years to get that ... unless I find a French woman to marry who loves Jesus! For now, I love what I’m doing, and I know I’m where God wants me. Send some BRs my way for a visit!” I have to say it is very noble of Powell to give up his business in order to serve others. I know he was doing well and had several NFL players with local ties to Richmond as clients. Jeff Morrison moved from Greensboro, NC, to Cary, NC, in August 2012 to become a store manager of the Performance Bicycle store in Cary. He has also taken on the responsibilities of a district manager in training, coordinating the efforts of nine other store managers in stores from North Carolina to Georgia. He got engaged to Erin Holder (ECU 2010) in September and completed his third half-ironman triathlon in Wilmington, NC, in October.

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CLASS NOTES Jeff Golden, Dan Wilbun, Shane Stille, Patrick Henderson and Ali Morales rented a house at Lake Anna and got their families together. Jeff said everyone is doing well, and they had a great time. Barry Williams is in Kabul, Afghanistan. He is the executive officer of the Camp Phoenix contracting office. He has been working with the Afghanistan National Army as well as the police. They are in the process of training and mentoring them on establishing an acquisition workforce. I don’t think taking kickbacks and bribes is part of the planning, programming, budgeting and execution process, Barry. So, good luck with breaking them of that practice. Lee Pitts is living and working in the Middle East and welcomed his fourth daughter into the world in June 2012. He is currently working in alternative energy, project management and electronics. Good to hear from Lee. Charles Gallion is stationed in D.C. at the Puzzle Palace (Pentagon) in Army G-3/5/7, doing operational analysis on future combat systems. He has one more year there and is looking to stay in the D.C. area, as it is home for him and keeps him relatively near his son, Charlie, who lives down in Virginia Beach. Charlie is now 6, just started kindergarten and starts T-ball in the spring. Charles also just started a grad program at George Mason University for operational research. Jake Britt tells me he got promoted to captain in the Chesterfield County (VA) Fire Department. He and his family are doing well but are very busy. Jake and I lamented over the fact that Makers Mark announced they will be watering down their bourbon. Billy Gage tells me he met up with Sean Ross in Chicago on Election Day. They were both in town on official duty with the U.S. Secret Service. He sent me a picture, but it was via text message, and I lost it, trying to download it to my laptop. Robbie Trent and his family are doing well. Leroy got a New Year’s gift in the form of a deployment to Afghanistan. He is trying to stay in shape, and he ran the Table Rock 50-miler on Dec. 12 and spent a fun day in the mountains near Asheville, NC. He says he has an awesome mentor over there in Col. Chris Eubank ’91 who is also a VMI grad. He also heard that BR Aaron Bush is out there and is doing great things, but he hasn’t tracked him down yet. Jason Trubenbach said that, after years of talking about meeting up, he finally linked up with JP Pesare. JP is doing well and started up a side business dealing with stand-up paddleboards. Trube also met up with Mike

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Wright a couple times. Mike has been frequenting the Pentagon for work. Trube tells me that Mike and his wife, Deana, are expecting twins! Tube hopes to make it to the Joe Eads Golf Memorial that Randy Eads is running in April in honor of his brother. I ran into Mike Wilson and Brannon Howle at church on Christmas Eve down in Midlothian. Brannon’s daughter was performing in the children’s choir, and they did a wonderful job. I got a chance to sit with Mike before the service and catch up for a bit. It was good seeing both of them. Dallas Clark informed me earlier this year that Cadet Michael Moore ’13+3 is the recipient of the Cliff Flournoy ’99 Scholarship. I reached out to Cadet Moore to let him know the importance of carrying on Cliff’s memory. Here is his response: “Mr. Steinbach, “Sorry for the late response – finals and family matters have flooded my e-mail box since receiving your e-mail. I am very honored to be a recipient of this scholarship and will do my best to carry out his memory. Thank you for your outreach and thoughtfulness. “Very Respectfully, “Rat Moore” I love that he signed it, “Rat Moore.” I got a good chuckle out of that. As with everything else in life, the continuation of Cliff’s scholarship requires money. Please consider making a donation. Speaking of donations, a big thanks goes out to Wes Barrow for his work in raising money on behalf of our class for the Keydet Club March Madness Challenge. We had a very big showing, with several first time donors. That is all for now. Please send me current e-mail addresses if you are not getting solicitations for updates. I only have good e-mail addresses for about 60 percent of the class. In the Bonds, Bill

’00

Matthew McComas

By the time that you read this, we will be well into 2013. It is hard to believe that we have been out of the Institute for 13 years and have another reunion coming up in just a couple years!! I would like to start off by thanking those who sent updates and encourage everyone to join in for future editions. Here are the notes I received this time around: Recently, Matt Keller’s employer moved to

the Reston, VA, area, about a mile from my office, so we have met up for lunch a couple times. Matt, wife Suzy and son Max will also soon be moving their home and family to western Loudoun County, about 15 minutes from where Meredith and I live, so I am sure we will be seeing a lot more of our new neighbors. In February, Matt brought the family out to Berryville to join Meredith and me, Jon Palmer, and others for the 12th Annual Groundhog’s Day Party. As always, it was a great time. In January, Meredith, Jon Palmer and I travelled to Raleigh, NC, to spend some time with Leigh and Mickey Wing and attend a Willie Nelson concert in Durham. It was reminiscent of the early days after VMI when I would visit Jon and Mickey in Raleigh and spend the whole weekend drinking beer, listening to music and playing pool. Good times! In the last update, Tony Cerella reported that his assignment in Canberra, Australia, was coming to an end, but he did not know what his next assignment would be. Turns out, he and the family will be going to South Korea soon. I know the whole family has enjoyed the time in Australia, and I hope the new assignment will be just as exciting! Great news on another addition to the 2000 family … Kenny Denton shared that he and wife Kailen welcomed their first child, Henry Anderson Denton, into the world in November. The family is doing well and living in Williamsburg, VA. Congratulations, Kenny and Kailen! With another addition on the way, Derek Engelhard checked in from Atlanta where he and his wife live with their 1-year-and-a-halfold daughter. They are expecting a son in late February. In other news out of Atlanta, the ever-busy Pat Haddock (see previous Alumni Review) reported that he keeps in touch regularly with Micah North, Nick Castleberry and Jackson Castleberry ’02. Also, he had recently seen John Archer, Jim Boatright, Tony Esteve, Derek Engelhard and Paul Webber and ran into Ron Allen and his family at Busch Gardens when he was visiting family in Virginia for Christmas. Alec McMorris recently returned from a three-year tour in Germany with the Army and reported that, in 2010, he reconnected with a high school classmate, and in June 2011, he married that high school classmate, Crystal Waszk, in their hometown of Salem, NY. Alec is currently living in Colorado Springs and working at Fort Carson. Congratulations, Alec and Crystal!

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CLASS NOTES are planning a trip, let Chris know, so he can Grace and Thomas will be moving to Alabama Jay Kearney relayed that his kids, Gianna pass along some tips and tricks. and Jackson, had their first official tailgate this summer for the Air Force’s staff college. From Dayton, OH, Micah North reports for the Citadel game, where they were joined After that is complete in about a year, Dave that both family and business at his comby his Rat, Brian Gardner ’03, and his new is hoping his next assignment will bring him pany, Matrix, are doing well. His company wife, Mandi. Jay keeps in touch with Scott to the D.C. area. Sarah has returned to teachrecently hired Brian Pearson ’98 to help get Johnson and Will Warthen often. Last suming part-time and hopes to finish her teaching an airborne measurement division going, and mer, Scott, Will and Jay met up with Whit certification over the next year and find a job along with Brian and others, Micah started a Johnston and Jim Boatright for a weekend as a full-time teacher in their next assignment. new company centered around a plane called that presumably included some shooting and And lastly, Christian Arllen ran into Ian “Lucky Duck Aero.” Micah explained, “We improper use of Tannerite! I hope nothing Doyle recently in Herndon. Ian changed jobs named the new venture after the plane. The burned down, and everyone left with all of and is working for IBM. Christian relayed that plane is a Vietnam-era O-2. It took fire on six their hair and appendages! Jay also keeps Ian is “keeping up with a list of classmates occasions but was never shot down and was up with Greg Fedor, Ross Fuller and new longer than my memory.” Before the next class named the Lucky Duck.” Micah is heading neighbors, Clint Mundinger and his wife, notes are due, I will have to make it a point to the southern Ohio alumni chapter (along with Kristie. He reports that all are doing well and track down Ian and get a debriefing for incluSkusa in northern Ohio; we have got the state sion in the next Alumni Review! staying busy with family and work. of Ohio covered!) and recently had an event Checking in from New York, Don That does it for this month. Take care! at the VMI-Wright State basketball game, O’Sullivan planned to meet up in the city where they had over 60 people turn out. Also, with Chris Abbott at the International Toy Brandon Farris Micah got to hang out with guys who built Convention in February. Don also planned to the Red Bull Stratos capsule, and he was able attend the VMI versus Marist Bracketbuster to get into the capsule and check everything game in late February and reported that “life out. I am sure that was a thrill! is good, and our family is healthy.” That is Carl Hammond reported in from Columbia, about all we can ask for! SC, to say that wife Rachael and the kids are Brian Skusa and family recently relocated doing well. His son, Carter, who is 7, is into to Cleveland, OH, where Brian has assumed Greetings to all. This Review starts on a sad competition karate now, and daughter Anna note. As everyone may know, Dave Jackson responsibility for a Kforce practice and is in Catherine will be turning 3 in late February. II passed away suddenly on Jan. 1, 2013. Dave the process of starting an alumni chapter for Carl finished his MBA last year and saw left behind his wife, Bernadette, their children, northern Ohio. If anyone is in the area, let Brooke and Paul Webber and their son, Skip, David Jackson III, Mia Rose Jackson and Brynn Brian know, so he can add you to the roster. Always one for a great story and laughs, Will in October as they were passing through town. Elizabeth Jackson, as well as his parents David After five years of being stationed in Las and Norma Jackson. Our thought and prayers Moore checked in to give everyone on the class e-mail list a good chuckle with a fictional (at Vegas, Dave Hoffman, wife Sarah, and kids are with the Jackson family. least, I hope it was fictional) story Amanda Conway wrote in with that was not fit for printing. If you the following: “In November, are not on the list and want a copy, Tony (Conway) and I took our let Will or me know, and I am sure daughters, Cora and Louise, to we can forward it to you. Getting Disney World. It was something back to reality, Will reports that he on Tony’s ‘bucket list,’ and the is happily married and still workwhole thing was paid for by the ing as a lawyer in Gloucester, VA, families of the VMI men’s soccer where he is proud of his courtroom team. They surprised us with the victories. And in a side note, Will money at Christmas 2011, and we reports that he is working on a really never could have done it comedic screen play, which I am without their help ... it’s a great sure would be a blockbuster hit. So, VMI story all around!” Always if anyone has any contacts in the great to hear about the VMI movie or entertainment industry, family rallying around one of our give Will a shout! own. Also, the second year of the Chris Abbott checked in from Conway Cup is happening in LexSarasota, where he recently moved ington on Feb. 23, 2013. This is his seed capital fund company into a great event that was organized a new downtown office and is conafter Tony was diagnosed with tinuing to fund startups. This year, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or he hopes to solidify their position ALS, which is also known as Lou as the best seed capital fund in their Gehrig’s disease. Funds from the region of Florida. Chris reports Conway Cup are used to help that the family is doing great and cover the changes this brings to Class of 2001: Tony Conway, his wife, Amanda, and decided to get Disney passes this their lives, as well as medical their daughters, Cora and Louise, at Disney World, year, so they have been spending a expenses, and to create a fund February 2013. lot of weekends in Orlando. If you for their two young daughters.

’01

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CLASS NOTES To learn more about it, please visit www. conwaycup.com. Kevin Fromm is finishing up his last year of Army ROTC duty at George Mason University and should be done with his M.A. in political

Class of 2001: Greg Martin’s wife, Caren, with new daughter Anslee.

Kelly Sullivan is enjoying her position with Comcast and the weather in West Palm Beach, FL. She continues to teach group exercise classes after work and loves it. Kelly mentions that she saw Maria Vasile in October. Maria is a civilian working for the Air Force in Melbourne, FL. Mia Serena is headed out their way for work in March with Pepsi, and all three plan on getting together then. Greg Martin and his wife, Caren, welcomed their daughter, Anslee Paige Martin, into the world on Nov. 29, 2012. Greg reports that “even though she is now a little over two months old, it is amazing just how much she has grown. Skylar, her big sister, has taken an active role in getting Anslee prepped and ready before we leave the house each morning. However, Skylar is not very keen on changing diapers, after a couple of random peeing incidents! As a whole, we are all doing great and feel very blessed to have welcomed a healthy baby girl into our growing family.” Scott Miles recently started a new job with Amazon.com. He is an area manager in fulfillment, working out of Chester, VA. Also Scott and his wife, Lisa, were lucky enough to enjoy the Super Bowl in New Orleans this year. Look forward to talking with everyone soon. Brandon

’02

Salmaan Khawaja

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class of 2002 for this issue.

William Talley V

’03

Nicole Kramer

Well, Brother Rats, I first want to start out by thanking Nichole Kramer for helping me with class notes. We all have certain callings in life, and as you all are aware, the ability to get notes done is not mine. It is my hope and intent that she and I can and will continue to tag-team these for the class. As you all are aware, we suffered a great loss on Dec. 4, 2012, when Wes Swank was tragically taken from this world in an automobile accident. Wes is survived by his wife, Allison Gerard Swank, and his daughter, Charlotte Velle Swank, who will be about 9 months old by the time this is published. Allison is collecting stories about or involving Wes to compile into a book for Charlotte. She will give this book to Charlotte at an Class of 2001: Steve and Maddie Koappropriate time in the future, so that she can lenich’s son, James Stephen. get to know her father better. I would encourage anyone interested to do this, as I can only Class of 2001: Cannon and Mackenimagine what a wonderful and meaningful science around August. Kevin got a branch zie Moss’ daughter, Carter Leith. gift this will be. Services for Wes transfer to FA59 (Strategist) last were held down in Houston, TX, September and is heading to the and there was a large contingent War College in Carlisle Barracks, of Brother Rats who were able PA, for his Basic Strategist Course to attend. The loss of Wes not this coming September. Then, he only affected our class but also goes to Fort Bragg in January to the class of ’76. Wes’s father, his next assignment at FORSCOM Mark Swank ’76, is a member for two to three years. of this great class. Their support Brian Frank and his wife, Maryand efforts to the Swank family anna, had their first child, Gretchen and our class during the days that Lidia Frank, on Jan. 1st. Brian is followed the accident were nothstill working at the Air and Space ing less than amazing. As a class Museum in Washington, D.C. agent, it was a truly humbling Adam Burton and his wife, Adriexperience to see how tightly enne, had their first child, Jacob woven the VMI network is and Tyler Burton, in March 2012. how quickly it springs into action John Niederhaus and his wife, at literally a moment’s notice to Silke, also recently found out that Class of 2001: Scott and Lisa Miles at the Super Bowl help a member in his or her time she is pregnant with their first in New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 3, 2013. of need. Our thoughts and prayers child, a boy, due in July.

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CLASS NOTES we graduated that I’d have a magnet on the continue to be with the entire Swank family. Justin Vorrasi is doing well and working back of my vehicle that said “Swim Dad,” I for a defense contractor. He’s been spending There’s the hope that out of every tragedy would have laughed! Billy continues to be a considerable amount of time outside of the comes something positive, so that even in a wide open and is always looking to play some states but is hoping to be around in the fall for time of grief and mourning, there is somesort of sport or attempting some X-Games our 10-year. thing good that can be generated from it. It’s stunt off a piece of furniture. His smile and I got the following update from Jared my belief that the bonds we share as a class charm keep him from getting into too much Swanson: “My wife, Julie, and I just have grown much stronger and have been trouble for now. Amie-Anne and I are doing moved up to Boston after getting married reinforced since Wes’ passing. We’re all busy well. She enjoys nursing and attempts to keep on 10/11/12. It’s frigid; loving this area, in our personal, work and volunteer lives, me straight. though.” He also had the following to report but there’s been a renewed passion within For room 122, it will be a busy spring and for Band Co. Curtis Nieboer wrapped up the class to make sure we stay in touch and summer. Both Brandon Matthews and Andy two years and two deployments aboard the gather on a more frequent basis. ApproxiBiesterveld are getting married in April and U.S.S. Enterprise, where he served with felmately 20 of us gathered in mid-January with June, respectively. Brandon is engaged to the low alumnus, Cmdr. Chris Bergen ’92. He is our families at the residence of John Bocek’s wonderful Audrey Sastri and will be getting now in Omaha, with U.S. Strategic Command parents in Waterford, VA. I want to thank married on April 21st. Andy is engaged to (STRATCOM). Paul Quinn, John Bocek and Doug Warner the lovely Chesley Grove and will be getting Bob Cuthbertson’s wife, Meghan, sent me for taking the initiative on this gathering. The married on June 8th. As a side note, Audrey’s the following update from Bob: “I’m curweather couldn’t have been any better, and it sister, Andrea, is married to Brian Wacker. rently living in Fayetteville, NC, where I’m was an afternoon filled with camaraderie and I have no doubt that family gatherings will stationed at Fort Bragg as a team captain for catching up with one another. The gracious be fun! Blake and Jennifer Traina are doing 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces group. This hospitality of the entire Bocek family was well in NOVA. Both were at the gathering at year, I became a combat diver, deployed to wonderful and truly appreciated. I have heard the Bocek’s house, and Jennifer is enjoying Kyrgyzstan and am currently deployed to Afremarks about doing something in the Richbeing an administrator at a high school in ghanistan. On July 14th, I married Meaghan mond or Fredericksburg areas in the future. Loudoun County. Linker of Louisville, KY, and am looking Something else that’s taken flight since DeI’ve been in regular contact with Paul Quinn forward to our future together.” I understand cember is the emergence and use of our class who is based out of Fredericksburg with his from Meghan that they hope to be able to Facebook page. This has become the most wife, Lindsay, and their two daughters. Paul is attend our reunion this fall. commonly used forum for the distribution of out of the Marine Corps and is, in my opinion, Nichole Kramer stays as busy as the rest of information on various items and the gatheran entrepreneur and doing well. Not that I would us in Lexington, just without all the traffic! In ing of opinions and ideas for potential class activities. While I’ll continue to communicate have expected anything less of him, but Paul addition to spotting musician Bruce Hornsby did an amazing job helping Rob Sarver and at a VMI hoops game and Chris Green and with y’all via e-mail and mail, I’ll be posting others disseminate information regarding Wes’ Mike Lipari at a home football game, she information in this medium, as well. Also, services. Thanks in part to them, Chris Adams, also spotted the elusive Erik Wilkerson with the increased capability to take photos Matt McQueen, and Kyle and Julie Haire were and bear-like Ben Booth in town for the on the fly and the Review’s policy to accommodate up to five photos per class/per issue able to greet arriving Brother Rats at the airport. VMI/Citadel weekend. Erik is still smiling (except for reunions, when 10 photos can be It was great to see the whole Quinn family in through life as a husband, father and USMC submitted), be sure to check out the online officer down in North Carolina. Ben said he January at the mini-reunion gathering, as well. version of the Review, where you is enjoying being a home owner can have access to “extra” photos and transforming the place into a that didn’t appear in the Review. palace! By the time these are published, Nichole also gets a kick out of the planning for our 10th Reunion seeing Dave Tavenner’s nephew will be well underway, and you ’16 on a regular basis. all will have received informaNichole and Michael were tion regarding it. It will be held thrilled to host (among others): Sept. 27-29, 2013. It’s hard to David Grimm ’86, Chaz and believe that we’ve been out for Emily Wagner, Doug Warner, 10 years. You’ll be amazed at the Chris Mision, Steve Nakazawa, improvements that have occurred Nichole’s Rat Joe Gill ’06, Joe’s on Post, and I think everyone that father and Joe’s new bride, Dana, attended our 5th Reunion in 2008 for the weekend. will agree that this will be a great Chaz and Emily hosted an weekend to catch up and visit impromptu New Year’s Eve party with everyone. that included new law students, OK, now on with the notes and Vicky Ortiz and Howard Ho. Class of 2003: Bob Cuthbertson married Meghan Linker updates from the class! Good luck to Vicky and Howard! on July 14, 2012. Alumni in the wedding party were, Life in the Talley household is Chris Mision states, “I moved Joe Cuthbertson ’04, front row, second from left; Justin busy as ever. Savannah is now to San Antonio for company comBriggs, back row, third from right; and Jeremy Harper, 8 and a year-round swimmer. If mand of a military intelligence back row, far right. someone would’ve told me when company in December. I’m also

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CLASS NOTES the full-time second-in-charge and operations officer for the battalion. I’m getting to know the city slowly. If anyone wants to help me get to know the city, come visit in April for 10 days of partying, better known as Mardi Gras, Texan style!” Steve Nakazawa still lives in Arlington, VA, and works at U.S. Customs and Border Protection as an assistant program manager for a border security technology acquisition program. Steve will be finishing up his last term on the VMIAA Board of Directors and is looking forward to having some more spare time, especially with the reunion coming up! “Being on the board for the past six years was a great experience. I met a lot of awesome people, and it has truly been a privilege to serve alumni and represent our class in that capacity.” Steve, you have served us well; thank you for implementing so many new ideas. I have a feeling Steve won’t be able to stay too far away. Doug Warner, AJ Schmaus and wife Jessica Schmaus (Remick ’04) also serve on the board and/or in leadership roles. In cahoots with them, I think we will be able to drag Steve back more often than he thinks. Pat Szvetitz spotted a VMI flag and enjoyed some good tailgating with Nichole Kramer while in Philadelphia as part of the fly-over detail in support of the annual Army/ Navy football game. Dave Woody appears to be living the Army dream … with a loving family to come home to, he has made quite a few “visits” to many hot spots around the globe. In September 2012 while at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, Africa, he snapped a photo with fellow Brother Rats and alums Josh Robinson, Brian Desautels, Brian Tollie ’79 and Turner ’05.

More recently, in January 2013, Dave was able to ride along on a night aerial refuel, flown by none other than good buddy and USMC Captain Andy Alissandratos. Thankfully, they didn’t miss this Kodak moment either; Dave nabbed a photo of the two with a VMI flag in the cockpit. (I wonder if there was a resonating TIGER ECHO! heard across the tarmac?) Check out the “Our Alumni Serving” section in this Alumni Review for the photos. Paul Keddell and his lovely wife, Liz, welcomed their second daughter, Finley Evangeline, to the family in August. They currently live in California, where Paul has initiated some interest in a local alumni chapter and hopes to hold a cookout for the local alums. I’m sure the folks at AETC will be excited to celebrate their completion of training with a VMI cookout; great idea, Paul! The Keddells will be executing orders to the 34th Intel Squadron at Fort Meade. By the time you read this, they should already be East Coast bound and eager to catch up with everyone. Andy Onello got hitched on May 7, 2011, to Rachel Hitt (now Onello) on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. As Andy tells me, “Rach is from Columbia, MD, and we are living in Elkridge, MD, now. Had a couple people from VMI make it to the wedding: Nate Smith, John Bocek, Oscar Alfaro ’01 and Matt Tamillow ’06. We are expecting twin boys on March 4, 2013. I spent the last five years at DHS Headquarters as the Cybersecurity Section chief. I just started on Jan. 28, 2013, as the new deputy chief information security officer for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.” SPOILER ALERT – Facebook tells me that the Onello boys made a safe and early arrival on Feb. 8, 2013.

Class of 2003: Brian Holt with wife Chrystal and daughter Addison Belle.

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After the presidential campaign, John Noonan moved from Romney HQ in Boston back to the House Armed Services Committee. I am excited to announce that Ms. Rachael Johnson accepted John’s Christmas Day wedding proposal. Here’s the story: “In January, while the Corps marched in the cold, Drew Murphy dyked out in black tie and took Rachael’s sister, Grace, to one of the inaugural balls, suggesting that the honored VMI tradition of hooking up your BRs with dates continues long past commencement. Rachael’s engagement ring delivery vehicle was an eight-week-old cavapoo named Bentley, who trotted into her room on Christmas morning with the ring around his neck. Drew tongue-lashed this as deeply unmanly – five minutes later, he was holding Bentley like a baby and cooing at him. Still the fearsome cadre master sergeant, apparently. But Rachael and I are very happy and looking to set a date around 2014.” Brian and Chrystal Holt welcomed their first child, Addison Belle Holt, into the world on Dec. 2, 2012. Brian is still stationed in Las Vegas with the U.S. Air Force and is currently awaiting his promotion to major this summer. Being a school select out of his major’s board, he is excited to find out his school assignment this October. Brian also graduated last December with his second master’s in political science from The George Washington University. Rachael Forrest currently lives in Washington, D.C. She has spent four years active and four reserve as a captain in the Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, she deployed twice to Iraq as staff member and as combat convoy commander with the 13th MEU as part of the surge effort. While in the reserve,

Class of 2003: Brandon Waltrip and family during Christmas 2012.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES etc., for customers all over the New England class graduated and served as a submarishe was with 4th CAG and was the aide for area. Slade and Jerri finalized the adoption of ner. He ended his naval service in February the commanding general of Marine Forces two boys a couple years ago. This brings their 2007 and, shortly thereafter, began dutiful Reserve/Reserve Affairs. She then went on brood up to three boys total: eldest stepson, husband service to the lovely Jerri. He is to obtain her graduate degree from American Trenton (9), Joseph (5) and Alexander (3). now employed at Piller, which provides back University in Washington, D.C., in internaThey are thinking of doing foster care, as up and emergency industrial power, such as tional relations with a concentration in transwell. Being new homeowners in Ashford, CT, microchip fabricators, data centers, hospitals, national crime and terrorism. Rachael works will certainly aid in their desire to add to the at NASA, HQ Human Exploration Ops. family. Slade has also been very excited about Phil Hampton and wife Kari welcomed a new project and has been working diligently their first child, a baby boy named John toward an ’03 customized automatic rifle Philip Hampton III, on Oct. 14, 2012. (Belower receiver. Check out the class Facebook ing a #5, I am happy to see you continue on page to see the suggested designs, and place an your name, and I’m eager to meet #3!) They order. Last time I checked, there were at least quickly adjusted to being a family of three in 11 BRs who had placed a preliminary order. their new home in Lynchburg and have even Jim Hitch attended Wes’ services and also introduced young John to the glory of VMI made a trek out to Richmond to meet up with basketball. They can’t wait to see everyone at his dyke, Worth Burns ’00; Joe Ziadeh; and our 10-year Reunion, and Phil looks forward Joel Meeks ’02 for dinner. Attending Jennifer to many more trips to the “I” with son John. Pritchard’s (Dinneen) summer wedding was If you are in the Lynchburg area and drop in her younger brother, Geoff Dinneen ’11. on Phil, Kari and John, your chances are very good you’ll also get to catch up with Frank Jenny was glad Geoff could attend before Saul and his wife, Leah Gissy. Frank lives starting his Army career. With his enthusiasm and works in Roanoke but still remains close for things 180 degrees different than hers, she friends with Phil. sometimes wonders how they can be related. By the time you read this, Stuart and Lara April 7 will have marked the one-year wedClass of 2003: John Philip Hampton Chambers (Tyler) will have celebrated the ding anniversary for Brandon Waltrip and his III was born to Phil and Kari. first birthday of son Cole Mathew blushing bride. At the wedding last Chambers. They have been enjoyyear were groomsmen Justin Sayko ing keeping up with him and dog and Benjamin Anderson. Brandon’s Maya in their beautiful home in son, Silas Luke Waltrip, joined the Manakin Sabot. world Nov. 17, 2012, weighing in at Stuart continues putting his na7.2 lbs. I figure Silas might follow val service and engineering skills in Dad’s wrestling footsteps, so I to good use at Bank of America, wanted to be the first to introduce helping to build their critical him in good wrestling fashion. facilities. Lara is still in the land Thunder Dome, here you come, development business, focusing Silas; I can feel it! on the Richmond area, with her Justin Sayko lives in the Richfather, Webb L. Tyler ’73. mond area, doing his engineer thing. The year 2012 was a busy and He says “hey” and is excited about prosperous year for Jim Kuhn. the renewed vigor in the class. He On Oct. 17, 2012, he and wife is eager to see everyone again at Holly were blessed with a little the reunion. girl, Elen Ann Kuhn. Just two TJ Claytor, wife Holly and daughmonths later, he graduated with ter Ivey welcomed their newest adhonors from ORU School of Thedition, son Trey, into the world on ology and Ministry in Tulsa, OK. March 4, 2012. Ivey is enjoying her Vad Simakhov reports: “I am role as a big sister. TJ and crew look still in the Army. Lindsey (my forward to seeing everyone again at Southern bride) and I recently the reunion later this year. moved to Newport, RI, where I Dermot Gavin served with will be attending the Naval War Capt. Nick Tommaso ’07 in AfCollege for about a year or so. ghanistan last year and returned More to follow.” Hopefully, by home in September after five now, Vad has dug his way out of months in RC West. Dermot then this winter’s snow and is able to took command of C Co 2-108 navigate his way back to LexingIN (rifle company) on Jan. 10, ton for the reunion. 2013. Despite the snow and cold Class of 2003: Charlotte Velle Swank was born Aug. Slade Levenson enlisted into of New York, I’m sure he is pleased 19, 2012, to Wes and Allison. the Navy a few days after the to be back home with “wife and two

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CLASS NOTES kiddos,” all of whom are doing well. Joe Matkins is still a captain in the USMC. He has been selected for major and will be attending USMC Command and Staff starting in August 2013. For the past four years, he has been at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, first as a project officer, and is currently the C4 Branch head. His second son, Robert Paul, was born July 16, 2012, and joins his older brother, Junior, born Feb. 20, 2009. He and Lacey just celebrated their ninth anniversary. Ron Vaughns completed duty in the Air Force and married the former Ms. Carrie Conrad on Jan. 12, 2013, in Charlotte, NC, where the honeymooners currently live. Rollin Steele and Brandon Turner are finishing up their current tours at Camp Lejeune, NC. Brandon returned from his seventh deployment in spring 2012 and is planning to move to NOVA early this summer. Rollin got home from his last deployment in late 2011. He expects to PCS this summer, as well. Destination is still TBD. On that same note, Rollin has spent nearly three years as a company commander, thus his stress level and proven leadership are nearly unmatched! Doug Bahrns returned home from his seventh deployment in winter 2012 and is the operations officer for 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines. Clint Alanis is deployed and hopefully will be home by summer 2013. As Brandon states, “All the wives of the Four

Horsemen are doing great!” Brandon Turner and wife Jessica welcomed their first child, baby girl Savannah, to the VMI family in November 2011. Clint Alanis and his wife, Marybeth, welcomed their second boy, Bradley, to the VMI family in May 2012. All are holding strong with the Marine Corps and preparing for the next great adventures. Thank you to everyone who submitted this go ’round … let’s keep up the momentum! The next set of notes is due to VMI on May 15th and will be published in August. Easiest way to remember the schedule is to think that the next time you READ the notes, it’s also time to WRITE the notes. Until next time, BRs … WHOLE DAMN TEAM!

’04

Ryan Shealy

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the class 2004 for this issue.

Timothy Johnson

’05 Class of 2005: A son, Lennox, was born to Ian and Autumn Foley on Dec. 14, 2012.

C. Justin Roberts

William Ray

Brother Rats, I hope the latest edition of the notes finds you and yours doing well. As I sit here in the cold, Richmond winter, I close my eyes and dream of a warm autumn day on the Parade Deck, throwing back ones that are cold and tailgating with my Brother Rats. Until that

Class of 2005: Many alumni gathered for the wedding of Sarah Ellington and Will Paulette, center, on Aug. 4, 2012. To the right of the couple is Will’s father, Bill Paulette ’69, president of the VMI Keydet Club.

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CLASS NOTES day, I hope these updates keep you company and warm your hearts until we can reunite back on the Parade Deck. Ian Foley is happy to report that he and his wife, Autumn, welcomed their third child, Lennox, into the world on Dec. 14, 2012. Mother and baby are doing well, and everyone went home with no problems for a restful holiday season. Ian was promoted at Duke back in July, where he is working as a contracts associate, negotiating contracts in support of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. Jim and Whitney White welcomed their daughter, Ellie Katherine, into the world on Feb. 4, 2013. Mother and baby are doing great. Sam Johnson sends the following update: “I am currently attending Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA. There are numerous VMI guys in my class. Sean Matson joined our team for a six-week portion of the class that covers Navy expeditionary operations. Sean is a bona fide Navy SEAL who recently returned from a deployment from Chad. We had a mini reunion at the local BW3s. In the [class] with me and Sean are Ross Garnett ’04, Jay Coleman, Tim Riemann, Marc Lenzi and Jared Siebenaler ’08. It has been great reconnecting with so many of the guys. Ian Dunlap returned back home, and he recently took over as an executive officer for a Marine Special Operations company. It’s great to have him back on this side of the ocean. As for my roommates, I have only really talked to Andrew Stone. He just started a new job at a local bank in Chesapeake, VA, as the vice president for commercial lending. He is coming up to visit the first weekend in April. Streetman is working for Diamond Resorts in Las Vegas and is still really big into CrossFit. As for me, life is going well. The family and I will be moving back to Camp Lejeune, NC, this summer.” Aaron Childers changed command after two and a half years this fall and is now at Fort Benning, GA, teaching the Maneuver Captains Career Course. His wife gave birth to their second child, Abigail Joice Childers, on Jan. 18th. Cory Engelhard and Shawn Fisher ’00 had the opportunity to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) in Tanzania, Africa, on Oct. 8, 2012. Cory and his wife, Abbie, are still living in Richmond. Derek Rankin sends the following update: “It has been a wild and crazy couple of years for me and now for my wife, Lesley. I’ll start from 2010. While I was at Yokota Air Base, Japan, I found out that I was selected

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to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training with the Air Force. At the time, I was an instructor navigator in the C-130. Mark Conley was stationed with me at the time in my squadron, the 36th Airlift Squadron. I was notified in February 2010 that I was selected for pilot training by our wing commander, J. Marcus Hicks ’86. I PCS’d from Yokota to Columbus Air Force Base, MS, in July 2010. During that time, I met my wife, Lesley, in Birmingham. Pilot training was a grand time and a fulfillment of a lifelong dream. I had the company of a fellow VMI alum in my UPT Class, Eric Bliss ’06. I had a great time down South, getting to attend plenty of SEC games and partake in all the barbeque I could eat! After all, I did marry a Bama girl! I earned my wings on Sept. 9, 2011, and received my assignment to fly KC-10s at Travis Air Force Base, CA. Lesley and our dog, Willie, and I moved from Mississippi in November 2011 to California. Along the way, we visited Jason Reinitz and his wife, Jessi, in D.C., where he

Class of 2006: Abby Rosenbaum, daughter of Adam and Katie.

is an Air Force intel officer stationed at the Pentagon. Once we settled down in California, we bought our first home in Vacaville, CA (about an hour from San Francisco and 30 minutes from Napa – whoever is in town, give me a holler and come out and visit!), and I began KC-10 training. I finished training in April 2012 and was honored to attend Jason and Jessi Renitz’s wedding in Miami as Jason’s best man last spring. I also flew a mission to Nellis AFB and ran into Ken Cooper ’05 who is serving as an Air Force RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) civil engineering officer. Meanwhile,

I asked the former Lesley Gayle Paris of Talladega, AL, to marry me on Jan. 14, 2012. We were married at J & D Farms in Gadsden, AL, on April 28, 2012. In attendance were my best man, Christopher White; Robert Gibson; Mark Conley; and Jason Reinitz. Chris White is serving as an EOD officer for the USAF. He is currently deployed in support of OEF. Gibby is serving as an officer in the Marines, and Conley is currently a C-130 navigator at Little Rock AFB. Shortly after my wedding, I deployed in June in support of OEF again. About a week into my deployment, I received the great news that I was going to be a father! Lesley and I are expecting a little girl, Scarlett Elizabeth Rankin, on March 3, 2013. After my deployment, I attended Squadron Officer School this past summer at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. I lucked out and was able to reunite with some fellow Brother Rats during the eight weeks. I ran into roommate Ken Cooper, Brandon Strickland, Daniel Schreiber, Ryan Loucks ’06, Clark Moncure ’06, Robert Wilson ’04 and Schmitt ’07. After I graduated SOS, I was deployed again for OEF where I am currently writing you.” (Editor’s Note: Four photos that Rankin submitted appear in the “Our Alumni Serving” section on page 5 of this Review.) As for your class agents, not much has changed since the last update. As with the last set of notes, I have been too swamped to write anything of substance. So, I’ll save you the details of my life until the next set of notes. Please keep the updates coming. We would love to find out what’s going on in your life. Until next time … In the Bonds, Tim Johnson

Class of 2005: Corey Engelhard and Shawn Fisher ’00 reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, on Oct. 8, 2012.

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CLASS NOTES Stone returned from Afghanistan two months ago. He was also on an advisor team and is currently at Fort Bragg. Frank Dolberry got back from Afghanistan at the end of last summer (approximately) and was involved with force protection, and he just took his first troop command. Nolan Maxwell returned last fall from Korea, where he commanded a Class of 2006: I always find that the best battery, and will be going back to Fort Hood. way to start a new edition of class notes is to Also, James Wicker took command of an think about what we were doing at that time infantry company and is doing well with his of the year at VMI. Writing this edition, it wife and family, and Blake Faller is heading was brought to my attention by Christopher back to Fort Stewart. He’s in line to take a Chin that 10 years ago we broke out of the company command, as well. Ratline at about this time. Time does fly fast, As for our BRs about to ship out per Mike, he and we soon realized after breakout that we had the following info to provide. Mark Searles, almost had less privileges than when we had Dave Raser and Jordan Pagones are heading our chins racked in. back to Afghanistan, and all will be somewhere Last year, I included in the notes that in the same areas as Mike Pasquale on advisor Anthony Tolomeo participated in a bike ride teams. Mike, thanks for all the updates and info, during National Police Week in May. This and if any of the above is incorrect, well … help year, he will be doing the same ride again received from Mike Pasquale. and is expecting a successful and humbling Seth Enterline also deployed to Afghanistan ride again this year. They start in Reading, – Kunar Province. He is stationed back at Fort PA, and travel to Washington, D.C., over Campbell where his wife, Jamie, and his kids, three days. The ride honors the service and Parker and Ellie, are waiting for him. Seth is sacrifice of law enforcement officers killed with Jordan Pagones on FOB Joyce / Sarkani in the line of duty and supports their family Base. Also, Brandon Smith ’07 is in command members left behind. Please reach out to at one of the outlying COPs. Seth is advising two Anthony, if you would like to help with this doctors there as a PA and looks forward to being noble cause. home in the August / September time frame. Another great endeavor I heard about on I received a nice e-mail from Kyle Lynch, the Facebook page was from Todd Baldwin. and he let me know that he is living in North He mentioned that he opened a production Carolina and is assigned to the assistant brewery in Colorado Springs, CO. I believe operations officer for the 22nd Marine that I speak for the whole class when I say Expeditionary Unit. He will be getting off that we want more information, and we need Class of 2006: The son of Robyn of active duty in summer 2013, after seven Todd to sponsor our next class get-together. Schaperjahn Chatwood and John years, and will be attending business school Good luck with the new brewery. Chatwood ’05. at UNC Chapel Hill. He is hoping to get back Dan Wilmoth was married to Nicole on to Virginia in the near future. Sept. 22, 2012, in PhiladelJohn Diehl let me know that phia, PA. Tyler Monger, Adam he is in the southern Philippines Glassick, Seth Enterline and with 1st Special Forces Group Andrew Walton served as and should be back in Virginia groomsmen, along with my sometime in summer 2013. brother, Sam, W&L class of 2009. Speaking of Special Forces Clark Dudley, Adam Rosenbaum BRs, I got an e-mail from Andrew and Tom Innes ’05 were in atWalton, in addition to some tendance, as was Mr. and Mrs. pictures. You will notice none Thomas Walton ’74. of these pictures have been pubOn a different note, Dan PCS’d lished, and that is all I can really in December from Fort Meade to say about his current happenings. Fort Eustis where he will serve as If you are in Nashville, call Athe trial counsel for the 7th SusWalt, and have a good time. tainment Brigade. He should be Other updates are as follows: there for about a year. Dan also Matt McGonegle ran into John let me know that Tyler Monger’s Plachta at William and Mary Rat, Ryan Clark ’09, is in his Business School. I heard from unit, as well, at Fort Eustis. Robyn Chatwood, formerly Mike Pasquale wrote me back Class of 2006: Seth Enterline with his children, Parker Schaperjahn. Her husband, John in November (sorry, Mike; it was and Ellie. Chatwood ’05, is deployed in the after the notes were due) and let

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Clark Dudley

me know the following pieces of info. Mike is currently in Kyrgyzstan waiting to push to Afghanistan. Mike just got finished with two back-to-back company commands in Alaska, totaling 31 months. That’s a long time up in that big, cold state, but I guess Bill Keller would have loved that command. Mike wanted to also pass along some notes and updates about BRs. Ben Chovanec is at his Special Forces assignment at Fort Carson, CO. He was recently married to Becky. Jon Nagle is also at Fort Carson with the 4th Infantry Division. He recently returned from Afghanistan where he was on an advisor team. Chris

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES UAE right now, and they had a son. Robyn is a prosecutor in the Army JAG corps and is stationed at Fort Sill, OK, keeping the Army safe. I also ran into Adam Rosenbaum at the airport in early February. He sent me a followup e-mail detailing the following: “Katie and I welcomed our first child and, hopefully, future Keydet, Abigail Rosenbaum, to the world on Nov. 20, 2012. Our new family is doing well – enjoying finally having to be responsible and the sleepless nights. Thanks to all our BRs who have given us some great parenting tips! I am still working for Verizon Enterprise Solutions in Ashburn, VA, for Mike Zirkle ’97 and in the Army Reserve with the 275th CSSB at Fort Lee. Caught up with a couple of the guys supporting Team Wilson at his last fight in December – the fight didn’t go as planned, but it was great to see everyone and support Todd. I spent a magical weekend with Tyler Monger and Dan Wilmoth in Richmond during my February battle assembly – made it to drill … I have also been spending a lot of time working with my brother-in-law’s foundation, #TheMovement. Last summer, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He is recovering well and has started this foundation to promote healthy living, support cancer sufferers and survivors, and early cancer detection by ‘Getting ’em Checked.’ Check it out on Facebook, Twitter or at his blog, http://getemchecked.blogspot.com/ if you’re looking for tips on living healthy, supporting a friend or family member with cancer, or participating in some D.C.-area athletic events. #TheMovement trains every Saturday at CrossFit Impavidus in Ashburn, if anyone

Class of 2007: Erin Hottle Saucier and Nick Saucier welcomed baby Savannah on Oct. 7, 2012.

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in NOVA is interested. Team Wilson has been a great supporter in spreading the word, and the foundation is growing by the day. You can also catch #TheMovement arguing all things sports on Sports Debate Radio on Facebook and at SportsDebateRadio.com. I am looking forward to seeing our BRs this fall for some tailgating and the safe return of those serving overseas!” Everyone, thanks again for all the input, e-mails and Facebook posts. Cheers and Rah VA MIL!

’07

Sally Bushore

Andrew Williams returned from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan last March, and he says that he saw John Yohe, Quincy Washa, Rob Payne and Sean Day while over there. While he was gone, Andrew applied to an MBA program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and was accepted upon his return stateside. Elijah Huston married Andrew’s sister-in-law while he was deployed, but he was able to take R&R and act as best man for the occasion. Last September, Andrew left active duty with the Marine Corps, and he and his wife, Roz, moved to Raleigh, NC, where Andrew will be attending the MBA program. He says that the VMI chapter in that region is going strong and has been very helpful with employment searches.

Jessee Kopczynski wrote to announce the birth of his second child, Kate Elizabeth Kopczynski, who was born on Sept. 10, 2012, in Fairfax, VA. He says she is five months now and doing great. Also welcoming a new baby is Erin (Hottle) Saucier and her husband. Little Savannah was born during our reunion weekend on Oct. 7, 2012! Deuntay Diggs was promoted to sergeant of patrol with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 19. He is also newly engaged! Deuntay proposed on Nov. 10 to Benjamin Leitner. Jonathan Fredericks was deployed to Afghanistan as a military advisor to the Afghan National Army. As these notes were being written, he re-deployed to be back with his wife and 9-month-old son. He says he ran into Rhett Hutaff while deployed and that he is doing well. I hope that this year is turning out to be a great one for all!

’08

Robert Hill

Greetings, all! In just a few short months, we’ll be gathering for our five-year reunion. If your information is not updated with VMI, please take a moment to e-mail me, or let the Institute know. I’ve been sending out e-mails,

Class of 2008: Gathering for the VMI-Citadel football weekend in November 2012 were, from left, Dan Boyd, Lynn Larson, Jared Siebenaler, Robert Hill, Matt Russo, Matt Mitchell, Andrew Sullivan, Dan Simpson, Tyler Crockett, Jarrett Moran and Ben Anhold.

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CLASS NOTES as well. If you are not getting them, please contact me! First, I want to apologize to Eric Hunter and his wife, Zari. Eric sent me a picture nine months ago, and I mislabeled it in my e-mail. You’ll see it with this edition of the class notes! Congrats to Zari and Eric on both the marriage and the new addition to the family. We’ll have a picture in the next Alumni Review. Robert Kelly checked in from his captain’s career course in Fort Sill. Rob is due to graduate in March, and he will be moving to Fort Drum (NY) to be a part of the 10th Mountain Division. The 10th was Rob’s second choice, which made him pretty happy. He spoke with Dan Boyd recently, who is deployed in Afghanistan as part of an Afghan

training team from the 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, TX. Rob also passed the news that Zach West and wife Melanie are expecting their second child, a boy. They are stationed at Fort Stewart for the time being, before moving to Fort Gordon. A quick shout-out and congrats to Andrew Breer, as he has started his Ph.D. at King’s College, London. Matt Payne just returned from Afghanistan, and he’s out of active duty with the Army. He’s been assigned to the “Bedford Boys,” the 1-116IN as the BN FSO (replacing our own Peter Brookes). Matt also spent some time with Frank Louthan ’41. Frank helped Matt to attend VMI. Mr. Louthan received the New Market Medal last year, as well. Both he and Matt share a similar life story – born and

Class of 2008: Above: Matt Russo married the former Ms. Courtney Adel on Sept. 9, 2012. At the wedding were, from left, Matt Mitchell, Jarrett Moran, Lynn Larson, Russo, Jared Siebenaler, Tyler Crockett, Andrew Sullivan, Ben Anhold, Giles Hohn and Dan Simpson. Below: The Russo wedding party.

raised in Richmond, VA, both graduates of the Institute and artillery officers in the Army. The two took a picture, holding their respective weapons while deployed, an M1 Garand for Mr. Louthan and an M4 for Matt. Matt Russo and the former Ms. Courtney Adel were married on Sept. 8, 2012. The wedding was in Charleston (short distance from Courtney’s hometown of Summerville), and the two now live in Greenville, SC. In attendance at the wedding were Keydets Jared Siebenaler, Giles Hohn, Andrew Sullivan, Matt Mitchell, Ben Anhold, Jarrett Moran, Tyler Crockett, Dan Simpson and Lynn Larson. Lauren and I visited Lexington during the VMI/Citadel weekend this past fall. The weekend was well attended by our class as you’ll see by the picture in this Review. In addition to those in the picture, I remember seeing Robert Kelly and Kyle Adams. Kyle is living just across the river from me and working for Norfolk Southern in Enola. Matt Mitchell came to Harrisburg before Christmas, and we took in a local minor league hockey game, dinner with my parents and Matt graciously bought Eagles vs. Redskins tickets for Dec. 23rd. I was supposed to root for the Eagles (or my wife wouldn’t be happy), but I had enough of the Philly fans and gladly rooted for the Redskins who were victorious! Matt just found out he’ll be headed to Fort Carson after completing his career course in Georgia. Please continue to be on the lookout for reunion info. It will be here before you know it! God bless. Rah Virginia Mil!

Class of 2008: Eric and Zari Hunter at their wedding in 2012.

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CLASS NOTES class. Vince Abruzzese finished his master’s degree in U.S. history at George Washington University in May 2011. He has enrolled in law school at UVa and is beginning his second year. He also was accepted into the Air Force JAG Graduate Law Program, which will mean he will be joining the Air Force as soon as he Brother Rats: I hope this edition of the Review graduates from law school. Kurt Seidl is finishing up a year assignment finds everyone well. I first want to take the time at Osan AB South Korea. After that, he will and thank Ian Williams for all his work as class be heading back stateside, where he will be agent since we graduated. I know it has taken stationed at Eglin AFB attending EOD training a lot of time and effort, and we all appreciate for nine months. his hard work and time he gave to our class. I There have been a few weddings since the also wanted to bring it to the class’s attention last update. David Downing was married on that there is now a new class of 2009 Facebook Aug.11 to April Ratliff of Shawsville, VA. Dagroup. If you haven’t joined yet, please do. This vid is currently working with the Virginia Tech will be yet another way of sharing information ROTC department until late March, when he within the class, between issues of the Review. will PCS to Fort Sill for field artillery BOLC. It has been a busy couple months, catchRick Frantz got married on Nov. 5th to ing up on all that has been going on with our Kate Elizabeth Pennington in Kalamazoo, MI. They are living at Travis Air Force Base in California. I myself, Bradley Simpson, was married on June 16th to Ashley Blackman of Richmond. We are now living in Roanoke, VA. Other exciting news for our class is that some families are getting larger. Matt and Roxanne Hyatt had a baby boy, Weston Nicklaus Hyatt, who was born on Dec. 11, 2012; weighed in at 6 lbs., 15 oz.; and was 20 inches long. Also celebrating Class of 2009: Matt and Roxanne Hyatt a new baby is Tom Duncan and his wife, with their son, Weston, who was born on Kathleen. Thomas A. Duncan Jr. was born Dec. 11, 2012. Dec. 19, 2012. Little Tom weighed in at

’09

Bradley Simpson

Class of 2009: Bradley Simpson’s wife, Ashley, strained her husband’s Rat, C.J. McDonald ’12, center, at their wedding in June 2012. From left: Daniel Simpson ’08, Roxanne Hyatt, Kyle Johnson, Trent Blackman, Jake Riggs, Matt Hyatt, the groom and Chris Ford.

2013-Issue 2

8 lbs., 5 oz. and was 21 inches long. Tom got to spend about five weeks with the bundle of joy before deploying to RC East in the Ghazni Province for a nine-month deployment. Well, that’s the latest set of notes for this edition. Please drop me a line, so the class can know what you are doing these days. Feel free to e-mail or call me. I really do not want to leave anyone out. Best of luck to you all in the months ahead, and keep being awesome. Until next time, stay classy, 2009.

’10

Matthew Allen

I’d like to start off these class notes with an apology to the class of 2010 and to The VMI Alumni Association for neglecting to provide timely notes for the previous several editions. I’d like to kick off the notes with the announcement that Stephen Cary earned his CPA designation and is working for an accounting firm in eastern Virginia. J.T. Piribek is an account manager at AccuData Integrated Marketing and is living in Charleston, SC. Howard Abegesah is a post-baccalaureate student at IUPUI in Indianapolis, IN. Rory Alfree is a lieutenant j.g. in U.S. Navy Reserve. Chad Baker was married and is a mechanical engineer at B/E Aerospace in Anaheim, CA. Justin Brinkman is a project manager at Minton and Roberson, Inc. in Virginia Beach. Hunter Cantrell was recently promoted to first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and is cur-

Class of 2009: Thomas Duncan and his wife, Kathleen, with their new baby boy, Thomas Duncan Jr.

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CLASS NOTES rently stationed at Fort Eustis, VA, with the 690th Rapid Port Opening Element. Thomas Chapman is living in Richmond, VA, and is a financial services advisor at Union First Market Bank. Marshall Cox is working as a structural engineer at the Navy Crane Center in Norfolk, VA, and is happily married. George DeGennaro is working as a software developer and information technology assistant at ESRG in Virginia Beach, VA. Edward Desch was recently engaged and is a pilot in the U.S. Navy. Davis Garrett graduated from Virginia Tech with a master’s degree in engineering and is employed by Geosyntec Consultants in Richmond, VA. Matt Satterwhite also graduated from Virginia Tech with a master’s in mechanical engineering and is a graduate research assistant in the CRASH lab in Blacksburg. Ray Kirchner and Levi Swindell recently joined the U.S. Army. Ray is stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, while Levi is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. David Lottman is an account manager at Immix Group and currently lives in Reston, VA. Mitchell Messick is happily married and currently is stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany. Jacob Moore lives in Alexandria and is employed with the ATF. Tyler Romaine has moved to San Francisco, CA, and is now an associate account strategist at Google. T.J. Prioletti also lives in the Washington, D.C., area and recently joined on with Deloitte as a consultant. Johnathan Safrit was engaged and is living in Knoxville, TN, working as a project manager for Universal Builders. Paul Bailey and Jason Morgan were both engaged over the holidays to their respective fiancées. Jason is in his first year of law school at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Matthew Wright also was recently engaged. Jake Maier and his wife moved back to Powhatan, VA. Jake is working for a VMI family-owned plumbing, well and septic wholesaler in Richmond. Matt Sagar is a pricing analyst for Engility Corporation and lives in the Alexandria, VA, area. Karsten Bloomstrom recently returned from his first deployment and is reunited with his wife and son. Sean McCoy is finishing up medical school with the U.S. Army and is scheduled to start his hospital rotations at Fort Bragg starting July 29, 2013.

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Alex Houser is also finishing up medical school with the U.S. Army and lives in Fayetteville, NC. Preston Landt is at 29 Palms and is scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan with the USMC. Daniel Welsh was recently happily married and is finishing up his last year at law school at Washington & Lee University. John Duffy is living in Armenia, while Justin Ferrell is in medical school at VCU. Chris Dommert is happily married and also welcomed his first child before his deployment overseas. Ian Black is stationed in Qatar with the U.S. Air Force. Brandon Stratz is a first lieutenant with the USAF and is stationed in California. John Maurice is working for the U.S. Navy and lives in Norfolk, VA, while Austin Hunt is employed by the FBI and resides in Los Angeles, CA. Michael Casper was recently married and studies at the University of North Georgia. Chrissy Beach is expecting her first child with her fiancé, while Drew Horgan and Asia Pastor tied the knot on May 19, 2012, at an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas. Both Drew and Asia are commissioned as officers in the USMC. Drew was recently deployed to Afghanistan.

’11

Allen McCown

With all good comes bad. Happiness meets mourning, and loneliness taunts friendship. This was the story of my and our class’s year. Football season held some great weekends and good times. Roommates reunited, codykes pouring a drink during parade, the class of 2011, united again at the Institute. A week after Founders Day, however, our number shrank again by one. We lost our Brother Rat Tyler Secrest. Tyler and I were extremely close, and this came as a complete shock to everyone. I spoke to Tyler the day before he died, and I gave him the best of news – I had bought an engagement ring. As was the story of the fall, joy with sorrow, grief with love; a month later, I became engaged to Rebecca Dancy. A month after the worst day of my life came one of my best. This year, we have enjoyed marriages, births, promotions, job offers and new duty

assignments. Our class has also suffered two Brother Rats lost before their time. If I could ask the class to do anything, it is to stay in touch with each other, and above all, remember to remember the good times. Life is precious, full of ups and downs, and these sometimes come at the most unexpected and inopportune times. I sincerely thank everyone who provided support to each other during this awful time. Many of us needed it, and it did not go unnoticed. The showing at the funeral was a testament to Tyler but also to us. The bond that joins us is unbreakable. This is the same bond that allows us, in times of deepest peril, to lean upon the same brothers who will stand next to you when you say your vows. It is this bond that not only unites us in celebration, but also in mourning: for a true unity is one for the good, the bad and all the moments in between. I made it to a few games this fall, and I caught up with Vinnie Do, who flew in from Kansas for a game. We stayed in Moody and met up with Sharif Gray, Tyler Pumphrey, Burt Bacheller and Tom Hamlin, just to name a few. William Truscott also came up and, unfortunately, had a long drive back Sunday down south. William is now out in California. A great number of the class also made it up for the Citadel game – too many to list. It was a great weekend. I highly encourage you, if you are in Virginia or the nearby area, to make it up for a game. I’m hoping to single out a weekend to try to get a mini class reunion together. If you’re interested in helping me plan it, let me know! Rob Jones and his wife have some exciting news: McKenzie Beth Jones was born Nov. 22nd. Rob and his wife are living in Louisiana, while Rob is stationed at Fort Polk. They recently also purchased a house. Congratulations to them on their beautiful new daughter! Jenkyn Lee Kittrell is currently stationed in Okinawa, working as an engineer support platoon commander and an engineer services company commander. I was lucky over the Christmas season to catch up with Alex Crow, also stationed in Japan. Alex is in Sasebo and working as the ship’s maintenance officer. Alex said that being on an older ship keeps him quite busy, underway. Alex has gotten to see a lot of different areas and said he really enjoyed Guam. He is, however, looking forward to coming back stateside. Also during Christmas came some good news: Tommy Fields proposed to his girlfriend on Christmas night. Tommy is currently deployed in the Middle East. Matt Talbott headed to Destin, FL, to visit Tom Pace for New Year’s; the two had a

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

CLASS NOTES delightful time. Matt wanted to make sure everyone knew that these two have stayed up to speed on rifle manual, and Tom may soon be adopting a kitten. Matt is living in Richmond and taking courses at VCU, preparing for the MCAT. Tom is now serving as the XO for his unit. In January, Quinn Wicks was able to escape the rigors of medical school at MCV and went skiing with me in West Virginia. Quinn is in his second year of school, along with Chris John. The two are now beginning to study for their second-year boards. Chris sent me a nice note and said to future generations of med students that VMI had definitely prepared him for the stresses of medical school. It was great to hear from Kyle Goodale. Kyle is working in Oklahoma City for Smith Bits, a Schlumberger company. Schlumberger is the world’s largest oilfield service provider, operating in approximately 85 countries with over 188,000 employees. Kyle was able to help Adam Ralston get a job with Smith Bits, as well. I’m pleased to announce Kyle recently got a promotion at work and, to celebrate, promptly installed a sofa, with recliner, in his office. Keep up the good work, Kyle and Adam! Justin Simmons is about to depart Florida for another sunny state – Hawaii – for a joint Army/Air Force assignment. Justin is looking forward to kayaking and hiking the islands once he gets there. Make sure to look up Kurt Zimmerman who is in Hawaii, as well, with Ryan Byars. They seem to enjoy the island life! Matthew Lowe sent me an e-mail and updated me that he is now in Clovis, NM, at Cannon AFB. On Feb. 1st, Matt became the first VMI alumnus to wear RPA flight wings; what an honor for him! Matt will be deploying later this year, flying M9 Reapers. Matt flew one of his final flights with Lt. Col. Michael Weaver ’94 and would like to thank him for the beverages he and his classmates had after completion of their last flight. Matt commented that John Razack is in Alaska freezing his rear off. Curtis Register is enjoying life in Japan. Matt said that, should anyone hear from Alex Herzog, please let him know that a roommate phone call is long overdue. Casey Ward had great news to report; he and his wife are expecting a boy in early

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June. Casey is also opening a donut shop in Richmond that is expected to open March 1st. If you’re in Richmond reading this, the shop is now open. So, contact Casey, and go get a donut! Louis Papet sent me an update from Afghanistan. He is expected to be overseas through September, and Jared Claus is deployed over there, as well. Jared is doing some logistics work for Special Forces, as well as conventional units. While over there, Jared has run into Lane Pratt and Geoff Dinneen a number of times and reported everyone seems to be doing OK. Stay safe, guys! Before his deployment, Jared got married and moved to Georgia. He commented that he enjoys being lazy on the weekends. We can’t wait for you to be doing that stateside soon enough, Jared. Louis also informed me that Daniel Emery and his wife are expecting their first child! Larry Hill is stationed in Korea and has enjoyed it enough to sign up for another year. Larry has been there since April 2012. John Manning had some good news to report; he has started a new job as the staff assistant to the House Judiciary Committee. John and his wife are still living in Fairfax, and he is enjoying his time on Capitol Hill. I would love to hear from more people and look forward to all the great news that 2013 has to bring us. If I have forgotten anything, it is never too late to submit for the notes. I look forward to hearing from you. The notes can only be as long as the updates I receive. Rah VA Mil, Allen

’12

Bruce Howard

BRs, It is well into 2013, which means more updates and changes for members of our class and the VMI community. Before I get into any information about specific people I want to take this time to congratulate all our BRs who graduated in December. Congratulations on your accomplishment! Also, to those finishing up their fifth year and graduating in May, good luck.

Josh Visconti is now living in Richmond and working for Edward Jones. Karter Rivera is working as a head middle school teacher at the Massanutten Military Academy. He is also an assistant baseball coach under Coach Henkal, whose son is a member of the class of 2014 at VMI. Carrie Wortham is still working out of the country with Midwives for Haiti. She is doing a great job down there, and I encourage everyone to send her a message, if you get the chance. This year also marks the second trip down to Haiti for a group from VMI. Last year, several cadets went to Haiti during spring break, including a few members of our class. Tim Moore ’97, an engineering professor at VMI, will be taking another group down this year, and we wish them all the best. Lindsey Parkman is currently a recruiter for a government contractor in the D.C. area. She is working with both Byron Relyea and AJ Trujillo and has offered to help anyone searching for a job. If interested, you can contact her at LLParkman@gmail.com. Graham Neal is working at Bruce Howard Contracting in Charles City, VA. He works alongside David Tillar ’95, Tyler Suttenfield ’10 and me. Drew Stahling will be moving up to D.C. in April to start a job with Turner Construction. If you’ll be looking for a roommate in the D.C. area or know of someone who is, let Drew know. Sean Alexander is finishing up at Fort Lee, in Petersburg, VA, and will be moving to El Paso, TX, to Fort Bliss. Also, James Rivas is currently enrolled in nursing school at Bon Secours in Richmond, VA. Wayne Whiting is working to take his football talents to the next level. He recently caught passes from NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, while training in Atlanta. The two were performing workouts in the Atlanta area, and Wayne had the opportunity to catch a few passes. Wayne will be attending two NFL combines in March. Good luck, J! Continue to send me updates for our notes. I’m limited to what information I receive, so stay in touch. Also, if you have any e-mail troubles, let me know. Whether you use your VMI e-mail or not, please let me know what e-mail address you would prefer. See you next time.

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CLASS NOTES

BIRTHS

DUNCAN – A son, Thomas Andrew Jr., to Kathleen and Thomas A. Duncan ’09 on Dec. 19, 2012.

IVES – A daughter, Peyton Ann, to Whitney and Jonathan G. Ives ’80 on Nov. 21, 2012. COBB – A son, Henry Thornton, to Maria and Kenneth H. Cobb ’89 on Jan. 17, 2013. DENTON – A son, Henry Anderson, to Kailen and J. Kennedy “Kenny” Denton Jr. ’00 on Nov. 13, 2012. BURTON – A son, Jacob Tyler, to Adrienne and R. Adam Burton ’01 in March 2012. FRANK – A daughter, Gretchen Lidia, to Maryanna and Brian D. Frank ’01 on Jan. 1, 2013. MARTIN – A daughter, Anslee Paige, to Caren and Gregory L. Martin ’01 on Nov. 29, 2012. BOONE – A son, Caleb Daniel, to Elizabeth and Anthony R. Boone ’05 on Sept. 4, 2012.

HYATT – A son, Weston Nicklaus, to Roxanne and W. Matthew Hyatt ’09 on Dec. 11, 2012.

MARRIAGES MILLER – Mary Easterly to Charles B. Miller ’42 on Feb. 11, 2013. MCMORRIS – Crystal Waszk to Alec T. McMorris ’00 in June 2011. RANKIN – Lesley Gayle Paris to Derek R. Rankin ’05 on April 28, 2012. PAULETTE – Sarah Ellington to William H. Paulette ’05 on Aug. 4, 2012. RUSSO – Courtney Adel to W. Matthew Russo ’08 on Sept. 9, 2012. DOWNING – April Ratliff to David C. Downing ’09 on Aug. 11, 2012.

BRYAN – A daughter, Anna Marie, to Dana and Paul T. Bryan ’05 on Aug. 13, 2012.

FRANTZ – Kate Elizabeth Pennington to Richard T. Frantz Jr. ’09 on Nov. 5, 2012.

CHILDERS – A daughter, Abigail Joice, to Christine and Aaron W. Childers ’05 on Jan. 18, 2013.

SIMPSON – Ashley Blackman to Bradley J. Simpson ’09 on June 16, 2012.

FOLEY – A son, Lennox, to Autumn and Ian M. Foley ’05 on Dec. 14, 2012.

HORGAN/PASTOR – Asia T. Pastor ’10 to Andrew R. Horgan ’10 on May 19, 2012.

MATSON – A son, Sean Tyler, to Casey and Sean M. Matson ’05 on Oct. 5, 2012. WHITE – A daughter, Ellie Katherine, to Whitney and James R. White ’05 on Feb. 4, 2013. HOTTLE – A daughter, Savannah, to Erin Hottle ’07 Saucier and Nick Saucier on Oct. 7, 2012.

DEGREES John H. Miller IV ’92 Pharmaceutical Sciences Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA, December 2012

Ph.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 ’35 146

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 Hansford McLeod ’37 J. Terry Taylor ’37 Robert N. Mathews ’38 Henry B. Johnson ’38 Floyd S. Smith ’41

April 27, 1914 June 29, 1914 Aug. 28, 1914 Nov. 13, 1914 Dec. 20, 1914 Feb. 5, 1915 July 26, 1915 Dec. 19, 1915 Jan. 23, 1916 Feb. 26, 1916 Aug. 9, 1916 Sept. 7, 1916

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

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PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

2017 Griffin J. Campbell

2029 Paul W. Burch ’86

Uncle

David B. Tillar Jr. ’95 Jenkyn L. Kittrell ’11 Howard L. Kittrell Sr. ’922 Howard L. Kittrell Jr. ’66 Garrard P. Kramer ’60 Gregory J. Hall ’88

Cousin Brother Cousin Cousin Grandfather Stepfather

2018 William Preston Hughes Evan Marshall Kittrell

Thomas Garrard Paris Janie Austin Shannon

Anthony L. Baker ’90 Gregory J. Hall ’88 Anthony M. Marro ’91

Uncle Uncle Father

Eric A. Butner ’86 K. Weedon Gallagher ’90

Uncle Father

Timothy L. Hayes ’91 Garrard P. Kramer ’60 Garrard P. Kramer ’60 James G. Vermillion ’59 George C. Spence ’87 Belvey W. Mundy ’40 David Z. Stokes ’93

Father Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather Father Great-uncle Father

Steve D. Lee ’95 Douglas A. McGowen ’85

Father Father

2020 Keith Allen Butner Jem Kirby Gallagher

2021 Mary Alice Hayes Rebecca Ann Kramer William James Paris Michael Christopher Spence

Olivia Stokes

2022 Claire Lee Jackson Allan McGowen

Thomas Michael Shapiro

2030

2019 DeAndre Baker Derick Wade Hall Jessica Ashley Marro

APPOINTEE’S NAME

Megan Nicole Blodgett William Parker Hingley Ava G. Moder

2032 Gage Colton Allen Jason Michael Loomis Madeline Leigh Terry Max Carter Williams

2033 Ella Margaret West Finch Robert Truman Ware Finch Michael William Gore Finnigan T. Walburg

2034 Jon Mills Porter Allen Asher Michael Dunkel Rowan Edward Glossy Christopher Abbott Harvey Liam Kyle Hood Oliver Robert Smith Jones Christopher Gravely Lee

2023 Catherine Elizabeth Anne Jumper David A. Cortese ’68 Daniel Travis Marro Anthony M. Marro ’91 Charles McGrath Shapiro John T. Cunningham III ’58

Grandfather Father Grandfather

2024 Isaiah Conner Rachel Elizabeth Kramer

Anthony L. Baker ’90 Garrard P. Kramer ’60

Uncle Grandfather

R. Peel Dillard ’70 Woodson A. Sadler Jr. ’66 John A. Van Kesteren ’59 Garrard P. Kramer ’60

Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather

John T. Cunningham III ’58 David Z. Stokes ’93

Grandfather Father

David A. Cortese ’68

Grandfather

2025 Laurel Anne Barnes Arthur Mayhew Halle Skye Nordstrom Christopher Philip Paris

2026 Edward Scott Shapiro McCarver Stokes

2027 Ryan Nicholas Blodgett

2028 Aiden M. Walburg

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James D. Boggs ’69

Great-uncle

Nora Rose Loomis Jack W. Moder John Patrick Price Joel Santiago Quash Milo Jupiter Smith Enzo Richard Tozzi-Condivi Caleb Isaac Yannetti

2035 Vincent Cassel Adamson IV Ella Frances Creswick Harper Adair Dexter Cyrus A. Dolph VI Blaine Lewis Goldstein Maryanne Hazel Huson Caden Gabriel Lam

Mason Alan Midgett Lucy Wu Reynolds Jett Raleigh Spruell Gryphon James Waller Olivia Parker Woodruff

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

John T. Cunningham III ’58

Grandfather

David A. Cortese ’68 Sean P. Hingley ’07 Daniel M. Hingley ’09 John A. Moder ’98

Grandfather Father Uncle Father

Paul B. Maini ’66 Michael L. Santoro Jr. ’69 William T. Terry ’67 Daren M. Williams ’03

Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather Father

R. Peel Dillard ’70 R. Peel Dillard ’70 William A. Gore ’66 James D. Boggs ’69

Grandfather Grandfather Grandfather Great-uncle

Paul B. Maini ’66 Paul A. Faulconer ’78 Andrew L. Faulconer ’10 Walter T. Judd ’69 James M. Harvey ’09 Roger O. Hart ’72 Roger O. Hart Jr. ’99 Phillip N. Smith ’72 Peter M. Meredith Jr. ’74 Peter M. Meredith ’50B Richard P. Meredith ’78 Richard P. Meredith Jr. ’07 Henry W. Meredith ’15 Michael L. Santoro Jr. ’69 John A. Moder ’98 David G. Price ’02 Jason A. Quash ’04 Richard M. Smith Jr. ’56 John A. Van Kesteren ’59 Brian W. Yannetti ’06

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

Vincent C. Adamson III ’96 Stephen P. Adamson ’67 William C. Creswick ’67 Thomas J. Hickey ’68 Cyrus A. Dolph IV ’70 Jason M. Goldstein ’02 Zachary K. Huson ’07 James G. Vermillion ’59 George C. Spencer ’87 Belvey W. Mundy ’40 Clyde W. Bragg Jr. ’65 Howard I. Reynolds ’63 R. Wayne Spruell ’68 James J. Waller ’81 Jeffrey S. Beeby ’79

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

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS TAPS Moncure N. Lyon Jr. ’38 Retired Col. Moncure Nelson Lyon Jr. ’38, USAF, of Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, died on Sept. 29, 2012. He was 96. Col. Lyon matriculated from Purcellville, Virginia, and attended VMI for two years and four months. He is survived by his wife, Edwina “Tot” Gonzalez Lyon; three children, Moncure III, Edwina and Kelly; and four grandchildren, Marie, Reid, Claire and Katharine.

Earl I. Brown II ’40 Earl Ivan Brown II ’40, Ph.D., of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died on Jan. 15, 2013. He was 95. Brown matriculated from Carrollton, Georgia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He held a master of science degree from North Carolina State University and a doctorate from the University of Texas. He is survived by his daughter, Anne Brown Moody; sons, Ralph E. Brown and Earl I. Brown III; grandchildren, Diane Bilotta, Wesley Brown, Mary King, Steven Brown, Marc Houyoux and Charles Houyoux; 12 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Ralph A. Brown and Malcolm H. Brown. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna T. Brown, and brother, William C. Brown.

Gordon C. Irwin Jr. ’40 Gordon Cogswell Irwin Jr. ’40 of Worthington, Ohio, died on Jan. 17, 2013. He was 94. Irwin matriculated from San Antonio, Texas, and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Reamer Irwin; daughters, Courtney Boynton (John), Dulcy Michel (Bill) and Kathy Conway (John); five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Jerry M. Totten ’40 Retired Col. Jerry M. Totten ’40, USAF, of New Braunfels, Texas, died on Dec. 17, 2012. He was 94. He matriculated from Sherman, Texas, and earned a bachelor of science degree 2013-Issue 2

York, New York, died on Nov. 29, 2012. He was 92. Goolrick matriculated from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from VMI. He held Fletcher C. Booker Jr. ’41 a master’s degree in English litRetired Lt. Gen. Fletcher erature from Columbia University. Clement Booker Jr. ’41, He is survived by his wife, Martha USANG, of Tequesta, FlorTurner Goolrick; son, John, and ida, and Craigville, Massadaughter, Page; stepsons, John chusetts, died on Oct. 10, and Charles Horoshowski; and a 2012. He was 92. nephew, O’Conor Ashby ’69. He matriculated from Goolrick was predeceased by Kingston, Pennsylvania, his first wife, Elizabeth Shaw and earned a bachelor of arts Goolrick; grandfather, William B. degree in history from VMI. Goolrick ’868, who died in 1909; Booker is survived by his Booker ’41 son, Fletcher; daughter, and a cousin, Chester B. Goolrick Sally; and granddaughter, Jr. ’37, who died in 1991. Anne. He was preceded in death by his first Douglas B. Green II ’41 wife, Val Jean Relph, and second wife, Douglas Barton Green II ’41 of El Helen Carter Hall. Monte, California, died on July 8, 2012. He was 91. Green matriculated from Portsmouth, Samuel W. Dobyns ’41 Virginia, and attended VMI for one Retired Col. Samuel year. He held a bachelor of science Witten Dobyns ’41, degree from the College of William USAF, of Lexington, Virand Mary. ginia, died on Oct. 14, Editor’s Note: There was no formal 2012. He was 92. obituary provided. Dobyns matriculated from Norton, Virginia, and was a Distinguished Frank J. Lee ’42 Graduate, earning a Frank Jones Lee ’42, M.D., of bachelor of science deWichita Falls, TX, died on Oct. 21, gree in civil engineering 2012. He was 92. Dobyns ’41 from VMI. Lee matriculated from Wichita He is survived by his Falls and held a bachelor of science daughters, Elizabeth M. Dobyns (Gi- degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned rard C. Larkin Jr.), Rev. Mary S. Dobyns his doctor of medicine degree from the (Hugh W. Jernigan Jr.) and Martha E. University of Texas. Dobyns (David H. Kennedy), and grandLee is survived by his wife, Mary Ann children, Girard C. Larkin III, Matthew Andrews Lee; daughters, Genny Harris W. Larkin, Sarah Elizabeth Larkin, (Ron) and Sara Carmichael (Doug); son, Kathleen Witten Kennedy and Charles Nathan Lee; sister, Mary Ann Graybeal; Carpenter Kennedy. sister-in-law, Carolyn Lee; and grandHe was preceded in death by his wife, children, Sara Mayo, Parker Frost, Ann Doris Eldridge Dobyns; father, Samuel Carmichael, Lee Evans, Betsy Lee and F. Dobyns ’867, who died in 1901; uncle, Quincy Lee. Frank K.H. Martin ’919, who died in 1964; and cousins, John Roberts Jr. ’35, who John E. Whitmore II ’42 died in 1990, and Charles R. Joyce ’44, John Edward Whitmore II ’42 of Richwho died in 2001. mond, Virginia, died on Oct. 14, 2012. He was 91. Whitmore matriculated from Staunton, William K. Goolrick Jr. ’41 William Kinloch Goolrick Jr. ’41 of New Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts

in civil engineering from VMI. Editor’s Note: There was no formal obituary provided.

149

TAPS degree in English from VMI. He also held a bachelor of science degree from the University of Virginia. Whitmore is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Curtis Whitmore; children, John E. Whitmore III, Mary Lyndon Whitmore, Margaret Anne Eschenroeder (Cap) and Jacqueline Whitmore (Steve Whitehead); and grandchildren, Anne, Andrew and Lee Eschenroeder and Jackson and Wesley Whitehead.

John E. Woodward Jr. ’42 John Edwin “Jack” Woodward Jr. ’42 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died on Jan. 7, 2013. He was 92. Woodward matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth Noell Woodward, Carol Dickenson Woodward and John Edwin Woodward III ’78, and grandchildren, Annabelle Noell Woodward and John Edwin Woodward IV.

Frank N. Bilisoly III ’43 Frank Nash Bilisoly III ’43, M.D., of Norfolk, Virginia, died on Oct. 30, 2012. He was 90. Bilisoly matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He held a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Indiana Bain Lindsay Bilisoly; children, Frank Nash IV (Vickie), John Lindsay (Koggie), Harvey Lee (Molly) and Indiana Bain Cyrus (Stephen); grandchildren, Anica Bowdoin Bilisoly, Frank Nash Bilisoly, Thomas Bain Bilisoly, Benjamin Harrison Bilisoly, William Nash Bilisoly and John Beckett Bilisoly. He was predeceased by his uncle, Morgan H. Hudgins ’901, who died in 1973.

Hugh T. Birchett Jr. ’43 Hugh Temple Birchett Jr. ’43, of Apopka, Florida, died on Jan. 12, 2013. He was 91. Birchett matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Anne Murdraof, Karen Raulerson, Steve Birchett and 150

Tom Birchett, and grandchildren, Chris, Nick, Bobby, Jason, Tiffany, Kristen, Taylor and Daniel.

Baylor P. Gibson Jr. ’43 Retired Col. Baylor Price Gibson Jr. ’43, USMC, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died on Nov. 7, 2012. He was 90. Gibson matriculated from Pennington Gap, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He also held a master’s and a doctorate degree from Northwestern University. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Mary Montgomery Gibson, and sons, Baylor III, Clayton, Alexander, Eric and Scott.

Nelson M. Holden Jr. ’43 Nelson Miles Holden Jr. ’43 of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died on Oct. 13, 2012. He was 90. Holden matriculated from Brooklyn, New York, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Josephine Bland Holden; daughters, Jane Madrid and Ruth Wiley; grandchildren, Virginia Oxford and Robert Wiley; and sister, Virginia McGuire.

Julian B. Ruffin ’43 Julian Beckwith Ruffin ’43 of Papillion, Nebraska, died on Oct. 5, 2012. He was 93. Ruffin matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his son, Julian Jr. (Wanda); grandchildren, Mark Ruffin and Elizabeth Ruffin Koterba; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Eric and Evret Koterba; and niece, Patricia Ruffin House. Ruffin was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Jean Ruffin; brother, Edward H. Ruffin ’39, who died in 1950; and cousins, Theophilus F. Gilliam ’42, who died in 1976; James S. Gilliam ’930, who died in 2000; and George R. Gilliam ’933, who died in 2003.

George M. Snead Jr. ’43 Retired Brig. Gen. George M. Snead Jr. ’43 of Lynchburg, Virginia, died on Dec. 13, 2012. He was 90.

Snead matriculated from Lynchburg and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He held a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and a docSnead ’43 torate degree from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen “Kitty” Dawson Snead; sons, George M. Snead III ’70 (Suzanne), James M. Snead ’72 (Vicki), William M. Snead (Kathy) and Edward W. Snead (Kathy); sister, Virginia S. Trinkle; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, John “Jack” Penn Snead; his father, George M. Snead ’916, who died in 1980; and great-uncle, Phillip J. Winn ’842, who died in 1887.

Robert E. Nay ’44 Robert “Bob” Erwin Nay ’44 of Woodbridge, Virginia, died on Nov. 4, 2012. He was 90. Nay matriculated from Wheeling, West Virginia, and attended VMI for three years. He is survived by his wife, Jean Baylor Nay; sons, Robert F. Nay (Barbara), Richard E. Nay (Linda) and William H. Nay; daughter, Sara N. Dudzik; brother, Howard R. Nay; sister, Janet N. Carenbauer; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Harry Ratrie Jr. ’44 Harry Ratrie Jr. ’44 of Naples, Florida, died on Dec. 8, 2012. He was 90. Ratrie matriculated from Baltimore, Maryland, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Crum Pryor Ratrie; sons, Harry Ratrie III ’67 (Beth), Michael Ratrie and Tom Ratrie; stepchildren, C. Richard Bell, Scott Crum Bell, Mitzi Pryor Brandon, Shelia Pinsch and Pamela Marquess; grandchildren, Anna Hightower, Shane VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS Marquess, Corrynn Pinsch, Megan Tomlinson, Stephanie Bell, C. Richard Bell III, Alexis Brandon, Sally Ratrie and Maggie Ratrie; and great-grandchildren, Connor Hightower, Finn Hightower and Quinn Tomlinson. He was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his sons, Roberta Zerr; his second wife, Dahlia Biondini Ratrie; son, Robert Ratrie; stepdaughter, Debra Burgess; uncle, Charles Frederick Feast ’924, who died in 1996; and cousin, Turner Rust Ratrie Jr. ’931, who died in 1976.

Raymond M. Batten Jr. ’45 Raymond Manning Batten Jr. ’45 of Spokane, Washington, died on Jan. 13, 2013. He was 88. Batten matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and attended VMI for one year and two months. He held a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Denver. He is survived by his wife, Carol Batten; children, Susan Snyder, Raymond Batten III, William Batten, Elizabeth Murphy, Tammy Wheeler, Jere R. Batten, Chris Batten and Jessica Freeman; 13 grandchildren; and brother, Jere Batten. He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond M. Batten Sr. ’915, who died in 1951.

L. Douglas Pritchard Sr. ’45 Luther Douglas Pritchard Sr. ’45 of Hopewell, Virginia, died on Dec. 8, 2012. He was 90. Pritchard matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Elam Pritchard; son, Luther Douglas Pritchard Jr. ’72 (Mary); daughters, Jane P. Kelly (Kevin) and Patricia P. Willis (Larry); grandchildren, Sam Pritchard, Will Pritchard, Catherine Kelly, Michael Kelly, David Willis, Patrick Willis and Rosemary Willis; great-grandchildren, Joel Pritchard, Ruth Ann Pritchard and Kaelyn Pritchard; and nephew, Lane A. Pritchard ’75. He was preceded in death by his brother, Abisha “Bosh” Pritchard ’42, who died in 1996. 2013-Issue 2

M. Meade Gregory Jr. ’47

Macon W. Michaux Sr. ’48B

Monroe Meade Gregory Jr. ’47 of Henrico, Virginia, died on Nov. 30, 2012. He was 86. Gregory matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his sons, Joseph Monroe Gregory (Mary) and Robert Meade Gregory (Beverly); daughters, Marcella G. Sturtz (Richard), Leigh Anne G. Holmes (Harold), Alison G. Wayland (Charles) and Christian G. Ward (Lee); 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Mae Heeke Gregory, and granddaughter, Katherine L. Sturtz.

Macon Warfield Michaux Sr. ’48B of Goldsboro, North Carolina, died on Jan. 15, 2013. He was 85. Michaux matriculated from Goldsboro and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Anne Bradshaw Davis Michaux; children, Mary M. Coleman (Wiley), Macon W. Michaux Jr. (Martha) and Molly M. Simmons (Chris); stepchildren, Gary A. Davis (Patty) and Leslie E. Davis; sister, Betty Michaux Graham (John); and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Norma Hunley Michaux; grandson, Garrett Davis; father, Macon W. Michaux ’917, who died in 1952; and cousin, Charles B. Miller ’918, who died in 1980.

Robert K. Turner Jr. ’47

Robert Kean Turner Jr. ’47 of Isle of Palms, South Carolina, died Russell E. Weaver Jr. ’48B on Oct. 16, 2012. He was 85. Retired Lt. Col. Russell Edward Turner matriculated from Weaver Jr. ’48B, USAF, of FrederRichmond, Virginia, and icksburg, Texas, died on Oct. 27, earned a bachelor of arts 2012. He was 85. degree from VMI. He held Weaver matriculated from Rock a master’s and a doctorate Castle, Virginia, and earned a degree from the University bachelor of science degree in of Virginia. electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, He held master’s degrees from Janet Bridges Turner; son, both USC and MIT. Turner ’47 Robert K. Turner III; daughHe is survived by his wife, ter, Janet Gascoyne Turner Myretta Harris Weaver; children, Crouch; grandchildren, John Baker Erin Noskin, Natalie Borzotra (Tony), Crouch IV and Janet Gascoyne Turner Brent Jenkins and Julie Ridgeway (Chris); Crouch; and great-grandson, Drako and grandchildren, Michele and Steven Zander Machado. Noskin, Alex and Armand Borzotra, and He was predeceased by his son, William Hope and Cali Snead. John Gascoyne Turner; a cousin, Otho Vaughan Kean ’901, who died in 1940; Gerald B. Henderson ’49B and great-uncle, John Clifford Shelton Gerald Barnett Henderson ’49B of State ’867, who died in 1914. College, Pennsylvania, died on Dec. 4, 2012. He was 84. Henderson matriculated from Altoona, Dan H. Williamson ’47 Retired Brig. Gen. Dan Hugh William- Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for two son ’47, USA, of Raleigh, North Carolina, years. He held a bachelor of arts degree from Washington and Lee University. died on Oct. 27, 2012. He was 86. He is survived by his long-time companWilliamson matriculated from Winder, Georgia, and attended VMI for two years. ion, Susan Hill; sons, Edward (Kathy), Evan He is survived by his children, Alice Ann (Linda) and Matthew (Brandee); daughter, Williamson, Callie Williamson, Thomas Megan; grandsons, Evan, Charles and DanH. Williamson and Hugh S. Williamson, iel Henderson; and step-granddaughters, Jessica and Laura Schocker. and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, He was predeceased by his second wife, Richard Henderson. Linda Collins Williamson. 151

TAPS Michael H. Gustave ’50B Michael Henry Gustave ’50B of Aberdeen, Maryland, died on Nov. 30, 2012. He was 84. Gustave matriculated from Hudson, Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for two years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Wilkes College. He is survived by his sons, Michael Gustave (Rebecca) and Charles Gustave, and granddaughter, Mary Kay Gustave. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Mesko Gustave.

Anthony M. Ragunas ’50B Anthony Michael “Champ” Ragunas ’50B of Newport News, Virginia, died on Nov. 20, 2012. He was 85. Ragunas matriculated from Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for two months. He is survived by his wife, Mary M. Ragunas; sons, Michael Ragunas (Lara), John Ragunas and Tony Ragunas (Judy); son-in-law, Eric Hembree; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen R. Hembree; sisters, Mathilda Raklewicz and Genna Lloyd; brother, Vincent J. Ragunas ’49C, who died in 2001; and daughter-in-law, Gina Ragunas.

Carozza matriculated from Baltimore and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He held a master of science degree from Johns Hopkins University and bachelor of laws degree from the University of Maryland. He is survived by his wife, Marion Crowley Carozza, and son, Anthony Thomas Carozza III. He was preceded in death by his son, Frank Louis Carozza II.

Goddard matriculated from Richmond and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Ann McCarthy Goddard; sons, Warren M. Goddard III ’78 (Sonia), Stephen M. Goddard ’83 (Cheryl) and Dr. John G. Goddard; daughters, Katherine G. Bennett (Marshall) and Ann G. Pollard (Chuck); and 11 grandchildren.

G. Duane Holloway ’51

Robert Frederick Rutschow ’53 of Charlottesville, Virginia, died on Dec. 11, 2012. He was 81. Rutschow matriculated from Baltimore, Maryland, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He also held a juris doctorate degree from Washington and Lee University. He is survived by his wife, Ilene Carr Rutschow; sons, Robert C. Rutschow (Elizabeth) and William T. Rutschow; granddaughter, Amelie Savannah Rutschow; sister, Mary R. Allan (Abraham); and nephew, Phillip Z. Rutschow Jr. ’65. He was preceded in death by his halfbrother, Phillip Z. Rutschow ’931, who died in 2001.

Robert F. Rutschow ’53 The Honorable Gordon Duane Holloway ’51 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died on Dec. 11, 2012. He was 81. Holloway matriculated from Poquoson, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He held a bachelor of canon law degree from the College of William and Mary. He is survived by his wife, Roma Patricia Grier Holloway; sons, Steven F. Holloway (Karen Clancy), John E. Holloway (Andrea Burzyk), William G. Holloway (Kimberly Banks) and James S. Holloway (Anna Gibson); and grandchildren, Harrison J. Holloway, Gordon G. Holloway, Andrew M. Holloway, Robert F. Holloway, Jackson B. Holloway, Liam S. Holloway and Skyler Edwards.

Thornton A. Burns ’55 John R. Bland Wilson ’51

N. Thatcher Watson ’50B Nathan Thatcher Watson ’50B of Macon, Georgia, died on Dec. 11, 2012. He was 83. Watson matriculated from Macon and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Clark Watson; daughters, Murray W. Manocheo (Nic) and Layle W. Argo (Bill); son, Nathan Thatcher Watson Jr. (Gina); grandchildren, Sara Ann Manocheo, William Vernon Argo III (Madison), Thatcher Watson Argo (Emmy), Jenny Watson Barfield (Carter), Nathan T. Watson III and Thomas Clark Watson; and sister, Mary Watson Franke.

John Randolph Bland Wilson ’51 of Birmingham, Alabama, died on Oct. 10, 2012. He was 83. Wilson matriculated from Birmingham and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from VMI. He is survived by his daughter, Virginia Wilson Martin; granddaughter, Angela Christine Martin Mostafavi; great-grandchildren, Issabella LeighAnn Barber and Richard Leon Barber; brother, Thomas A.S. Wilson; and sister, Mimi Tynes. He was predeceased by his son, John R.B. Wilson, and brothers, Frank C. Wilson Jr. and William W.S. Wilson.

A. Thomas Carozza II ’51

Warren M. Goddard Jr. ’53

Anthony Thomas Carozza II ’51 of Baltimore, Maryland, died on Nov. 10, 2012. He was 83.

Warren Maynard Goddard Jr. ’53 of Richmond, Virginia, died on Nov. 12, 2012. He was 81.

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Retired Col. Thornton Akin Burns Jr. ’55, USA, of Forsyth, Georgia, died on Dec. 8, 2012. He was 80. Burns matriculated from Barnesville, Georgia, and attended VMI for one year before transferring to the U.S. Military Academy to earn a bachelor of science degree. He is survived by his wife, Susan Vaughan Burns; daughter, Katherine Basel (Craig); sister, Charlotte B. Adams; brother, Andrew D. Burns; and grandchildren, Christian Paul Basel, Nicholas Craig Basel and Kathleen Thornton Basel.

Goddard Jr. ’53

Ward W. Johnson ’55 Ward Wood Johnson ’55 of Glasgow, Virginia, died on Jan. 10, 2013. He was 80. Johnson matriculated from Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, and earned a bachelor VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS of science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Ward Johnson Jr., Sharon Keller (Greg) and Robin Hall (Bill); grandsons, Matt, Drew and Josh Keller and James, Clay and Tyler Hall; sisters, Beulah Ruble, Hester Brads and Mary Tomlin; and in-laws, Edward L. Brown Jr. (Clara) and Joyce Thomason. He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Brown Johnson; brothers, Robert, Sam, Ross, Jasper and Andrew Johnson; and sister, Betsy Claytor.

Edward H. Rutherford ’55 Edward Holt Rutherford ’55 of Naples, Florida, died on Nov. 15, 2012. He was 80. Rutherford matriculated from Miami, Florida, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from VMI. He held a master’s degree in education from the University of Florida. Editor’s Note: There was no formal obituary provided.

L. Eugene Johnson Jr. ’56 Lucius Eugene Johnson Jr. ’56 of Louisville, Kentucky, died on Sept. 11, 2012. He was 77. Johnson matriculated from Louisville and earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Flora Wymond Johnson; daughters, Missy Jordan (Mike), Lee Decker (Tom), Margaret Dry (Dan) and Betsy Touma (Yano); grandchildren, Bobbie, Tyler, Maggie, Mackie, Hayden, Meagan, Caitlin, Ty, Maddie, Mason and Parker; and brother, Wesley Johnson (Betty).

William S. Dean Jr. ’57 William Simpson Dean Jr. ’57 of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, died on Nov. 30, 2012. He was 78. Dean matriculated from Summit, New Jersey, and attended VMI for two years. He held a bachelor of science degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is survived by his wife, Adriana Sandonato Dean; daughters, Lisa E. Dean, Sandra D. Krumma (Tom) and Gina M. Dean; grandsons, Taylor W. Dean, Austin D. Krumma and Samuel W. Krumma; great-grandson, Carter W. Dean; and 2013-Issue 2

sisters, Dobbie D. Royce and Callie Dean. He was preceded in death by his father, William S. Dean Sr. ’925, who died in 1998, and uncle, Leonard Y. Dean III ’927, who died in 1997.

Clinton E. Parker ’57

Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He held a master’s degree from Troy State University. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Patterson Walker; daughter, Dawn Gatridge; and son, Craig A. Walker.

Clinton Eldridge Parker ’57, Ph.D., of Arlington, Texas, died on Dec. 14, 2012. He was 77. James W. Bierman Jr. ’62 Parker matriculated from Retired Lt. Col. James WilSuffolk, Virginia, and earned son Bierman Jr. ’62, USMC, of a bachelor of science degree Toano, Virginia, died on Dec. in civil engineering from VMI. 13, 2012. He was 72. He held both a master’s and Bierman matriculated from a doctorate degree from the Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, Parker ’57 University of Arizona. and earned a bachelor of arts He is survived by his wife, Dedegree in electrical engineerlores Turner Parker; sons, Eugene, Kevin ing from VMI. He also held a bachelor of and Christopher; grandchildren, Mariah science degree from the U.S. Naval Post Love Parker and Emily Nichole Parker; Graduate School and a master’s degree and brother, George Reginald Parker. in business administration from the University of New Haven. He is survived by his wife, Carol Martin Jack B. Woodson Jr. ’58 Jack Blair Woodson Jr. ’58 of Roanoke, Bierman; son, Col. James W. “Chip” BierVirginia, died on Oct. 28, 2012. He was 76. man ’87 (Beth); daughters, Kim B. NewWoodson matriculated from Roanoke man (Toby), Kristen B. Cook (George) and Beth B. Burns (David); brother, Ted and attended VMI for three years. He is survived by his wife, Donna Dowdy Bierman (Rene); and grandchildren, Woodson; grandson, Jason R. Woodson; Nathan Bierman, Sam Bierman, Noelle Bierman, Maelyn Bierman, Alaina Bierand sister, Claudia Thompson (Mike). He was preceded in death by his son, Jef- man, Finn Malloy, Cole Newman, Kaitlyn frey B. Woodson, and sister, Joyce Diane Malloy, Woods Cook, James Cook, Harry Cook, Jake Burns and Ace Burns. Woodson Childress.

Stephen J. Barcik ’59

Charles B. Hammond Sr. ’63

Stephen Joseph Barcik ’59 of Lakeway, Texas, died on Dec. 19, 2012. He was 77. Barcik matriculated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended VMI for four years. He is survived by his wife, Paula Sanders Barcik; sons, Stephen Barcik Amstel (Brandy) and Gregg Ueckert (Lisa); daughter, Beth Weldon (Frank); grandchildren, Samuel Holzbaur, Axel Weldon, Helena Weldon, Lars Ueckert and Linus Ueckert; and brother-in-law, Frederic E. Consolvo III ’61.

Charles Barnett Hammond Sr. ’63 of Covington, Virginia, died on Jan. 6, 2013. He was 72. Hammond matriculated from Covington and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He also held a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Karen Deaton Hammond; daughter, Lisa Deyerle Hammond; sons, Charles B. Hammond Jr. and his fiancée, Libby Rackleff, and Steven Preston Hammond (Alison Drennan); twin brother, Howard R. Hammond; and brother-in-law, Richard Deaton (Marilyn). He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank H. Hammond III; and his sister, Rebecca Deyerle Hammond Croft.

Alan E. Walker ’60 Retired Col. Alan Edward Walker ’60, USAF, of Ocean Pines, Maryland, died on Nov. 10, 2012. He was 74. Walker matriculated from Pittsburgh,

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TAPS He is survived by his wife, He is survived by his wife, Linda Cioffi; George L. Barton IV ’66 Patricia Ann Browning; sister, daughter, Heather Hibben (Hal); son, Sean George Lloyd Barton IV ’66 of Elizabeth Maia Browning; and Ashcraft (Lisa); sisters, Paula Kraft and Hamilton, Virginia, died on Nov. brother, Joseph W. Browning. Fredreka Prince; and four grandchildren. 24, 2012. He was 68. He was predeceased by his first wife, Carla, Barton matriculated from and son, Jonathan. Woodberry Forest, Virginia, and Jeffrey D. Guild ’70 earned a bachelor of arts degree Retired Lt. Col. Jeffrey Douglas in English from VMI. He held Guild ’70, USA, died on Oct. 5, Richard H. Deranek ’72 a master’s degree in English 2012. He was 64. Richard Harold Deranek ’72 of Montgomfrom the University of Virginia; Guild matriculated from ery Village, Maryland, died on Jan. 14, 2013. a master’s degree in journalism Metuchen, New Jersey, and He was 62. Barton IV ’66 from American University; and earned a bachelor of arts degree Deranek matriculated from Alexandria, a doctorate in education from in English from VMI. Virginia, and attended VMI for one year George Washington University. He is survived by his wife, Paula Rizzo and six months. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Flem- Guild, and children, Julie and Jeffrey D. He is survived by his wife, Julie Garrett ing Barton; children, Sara Barton, Ethan Guild. Deranek; his son, Richard H. Deranek III Barton (Cyndi) and India Barton Rose He was preceded in death by his father, (Heather); and his sister, Joy Hood (Dick). (John); grandchildren, Peyton, Corinne, Curtis A. Guild ’43, who died in 1987. He was predeceased by his daughter, John III and Cecelia; father, the Rev. George Rebecca L. Deranek. Barton III; sister, Cecelia Barton (Kent McRichard R. Stegemerten ’71 Craney); and brother, David Barton (Sarah). Richard Randolph Stegemerten ’71 of Robert W. Trost III ’74 Richmond, Virginia, died on Oct. 29, 2012. Retired Col. Robert Walter Trost III ’74, A. Randal Smith ’66 He was 63. USA, of Frederick, Maryland, died on Jan. Allen Randal Smith ’66 of Butler, PennStegemerten matriculated from Camp 2, 2013. He was 60. sylvania, died on Nov. 13, 2012. He was 68. Lejeune, North Carolina, and earned a Trost matriculated from Fairfax, Virginia, Smith matriculated from Butler and bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. and earned a bachelor of arts degree in hisearned a bachelor of science degree in civil He is survived by his son, Brian; daughter, tory from VMI. He held master of science engineering from VMI. Renee; mother, Harriet Stegemerten; sister, degrees from both the National Defense He is survived by his wife, Devonna Barbara Johnston; and cousin, William F. University and the University of Denver. “Bonnie” Mackey Smith; sons, Timothy Stegemerten ’94. He is survived by his wife, Sue Gough Allen Smith (Michele) and Dean Randal He was preceded in death by his father, Trost; daughters, Erin A. Trost and Caitlin L. Smith; daughter, Amanda C. Sekel (Peter); Walter Stegemerten; sister, Susan Boyce; Trost; brother, Scott Trost (Carolyn); sister, grandchildren, Peter Allen Sekel, Wayne and uncle, Leland Stegemerten. Barbara Woodward (Henry); father, Col. Randal Smith and Roxann Elizabeth Smith; Robert W. Trost Jr., USA (Ret); stepmother, brothers, F. James Smith (Toni) and JefBetsy Trost; and the mother of his children, John M. Willis III ’71 frey P. Smith (Beth); and sister, Lynn Ann John Mitchell “Cheeks” Willis III ’71 of Carol Dodd Trost. Hageter (Robert). Rome, Georgia, died on Nov. 27, 2012. He was 63. Paul W. Ramey ’79 B. Kennison Shafer Jr. ’68 Willis matriculated from San Antonio, Paul Wilson “Bud” Ramey ’79 of BaltiBliss Kennison Shafer Jr. ’68 of Laurel Texas, and earned a bachelor of arts degree more, Maryland, died on Dec. 29, 2012. Park, North Carolina, died on Dec. 13, 2012. in history from VMI. He was 55. He was 66. He is survived by his mother, Joyce WilRamey matriculated from Woodstock, Shafer matriculated from Roanoke, Vir- lis Lee; stepfather, John Lee; sister, Joyce Virginia, and graduated With Distinction ginia, and attended VMI for two years. He Willis Richey; ex-wife, Carol Willis; and from VMI with a bachelor of science degree held a bachelor of arts degree from Roanoke daughters, Molly Willis Lopez and Jennifer in civil engineering. College. Willis McNeil. He is survived by his long-time partner, He is survived by his cousins, Kathy He was preceded in death by his father, Dietmar Staab; brother, John Ramey; sister, Belcher, Lynn Belcher Fox and Dr. John John M. Willis Jr. ’36, who died in 1962. Roberta; niece, Nancy; and great-niece, Belcher. Erika. He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Bruce Ashcraft ’72 Hazel Belcher Shafer and Dr. Bliss K. John Bruce Ashcraft ’72 of Daniel J. Zacharias Sr. ’86 Shafer Sr. Leverett, Massachusetts, died on Daniel James Zacharias Sr. ’86 Sept. 3, 2012. He was 62. of Apex, North Carolina, died on Eugene W. Browning ’69 Ashcraft matriculated from Oct. 20, 2012. He was 47. Eugene Wynne Browning ’69 of Natural Atlanta, Georgia, and earned a Zacharias matriculated from Bridge, Virginia, died on Dec. 19, 2012. bachelor of science degree in Dumfries, Virginia, and attended He was 65. physics from VMI. He also held VMI for two months. Browning matriculated from Fort Sam a master’s degree in business He is survived by his wife, Houston, Texas, and earned a bachelor of education from the University Mary Zacharias; sons, Danny science in civil engineering from VMI. of North Dakota. and Henry Zacharias and Tony Ashcraft ’72

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

TAPS Michniak; daughters, Sara Zacharias and Noelle Zacharias; brothers, Robert Sullivan and Stephen Zacharias; sister, Kristy Lumley; and mother-in-law, Liliane Michniak.

David W. Jackson II ’01

David Whitt Jackson II ’01 of Sicklerville, New Jersey, died on Jan. 1, 2013. He was 33. Jackson matriculated from Spotsylvania, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics and business from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Profeta Jackson; son, David W. Jackson III; daughters, Mia Rose Jackson and Brynn Elizabeth Jackson; parents, David and Norma Perkinson Jackson Sr.; sister, Stephanie Gits (Clayton); and grandmother, Sue Perkinson.

Galen W. Swank ’03

Galen Weston Swank ’03 of Dallas, Texas, died on Dec. 4, 2012. He was 31. Swank matriculated from Houston, Texas, and graduated valedictorian of his class, at which time he was awarded the First Jackson-Hope Medal for “highest attainment in scholarship.” He held a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Allison Ge-

rard Swank; daughter, Charlotte; parents, Elizabeth and Mark Swank ’76; sister, Abbey Wing (Dustin); and grandmother, Nancy Stanley.

Shawn G. Hogan ’06

by his siblings, Connor, Spenser and Alexa Secrest; paternal grandmother, Marie Secrest; and maternal grandmother, Mildred Thiemann. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Robert W. Secrest, and his maternal grandfather, Frank H. Thiemann Jr.

Shawn Gilbert Hogan ’06 of Salem, New Hampshire, died on Oct. 17, 2012. He was 28. Hogan matriculated from Salem and graduated valedictorian of his class, With Distinction, earning a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Jean Joly Hogan; sister, Nicole; maternal grandmother, Dorothy Joly; significant other, Karree Emmons; and Karree’s Hogan ’06 daughter, Kaylynn.

Tyler R. Secrest ’11

Tyler Ryan Secrest ’11 of Lorton, Virginia, died on Nov. 18, 2012. He was 24. A Distinguished Graduate, Secrest held a bachelor of arts degree with a double major in international studies and modern languages and a minor in history. In addition to his parents, he is survived

Kyle H. Elliott ’16

Cadet Kyle Harper Elliott ’16 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died on Nov. 30, 2012. He was 19. He matriculated from Williamsburg and had just begun his fourth-class year at VMI. He is survived by his parents, Pamela and Kent; stepfather, Mike Hurley; Kent’s fiancée, Joan Mountain; brothers, Shawn, Brian, Connor and Liam; maternal grandparents, Bill and Dotty Healy; paternal grandparents, Kent and Nancie Elliott; uncle, Tim Healy, and sons Joe and Tyler; uncle and aunt, Josh and Kim Elliott, and their children, Hannah, Joshua III, Helen and Emma; and uncle and aunt, Dave and LeGrand Pound, and their children, Haley, Madison and LeGrand.

Deaths in the VMI Family Col. R. Marlowe Harper Sr. Former VMI Treasurer and Secretary to the Board of Visitors; Also Former Alumni Agencies Officer

Col. R. Marlowe Harper of Lexington, Virginia, died on Jan. 11, 2013. He was 90. Harper was a graduate of Northeast Junior College of Louisiana State University. He also attended the University of Alabama before entering the Army during World War II. He attended VMI through the Army Specialized Training Program and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1947. He served as VMI’s assistant treasurer and treasurer for approximately 38 years, while concurrently serving as secretary to the VMI Board of Visitors, Alumni Association treasurer and VMI Foundation assistant treasurer. He is survived by his son, Robert M. Harper Jr.; son-in-law, Charles W. Buchanan;

2013-Issue 2

grandchildren, Alicia M. Buchanan Shires, Jessica K. Buchanan, Ethan M. Harper and Rachel A. Harper; and great-grandchildren, Michael M. Shires, Christian G. Harper and Sebastian M. Harper. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, and daughter, Alice Harper Buchanan.

Randell O. Lawless Former Director of VMI Glee Club Randell O. Lawless, formerly of Lexington, Virginia, died on Nov. 13, 2012, in Conway, South Carolina. He was 79. Lawless founded the Rockbridge Area Vocal Ensemble and directed the VMI Glee Club. He is survived by his wife, Melanie Patricia Lawless of Conway; sons, Matthew Utz, Nathan Utz and Billy Utz; daughters, Sandi Rutan, Kathy Franz and Karen Mitchell; stepbrother, John Lawless; stepmother, Pearline Lawless; and 15 grandchildren.

Elizabeth Whiting Moseley Clark Hope Elizabeth Whiting Moseley Clark Hope of Albemarle County, Virginia, died on July 16, 2011. Her father, Col. Thomas Addis Emmet Moseley, was a VMI professor of French and Spanish from 1919 until his retirement in 1956. Mrs. Hope, also known as “Bim,” was the secretary of three VMI superintendents, Gen. C.E. Kilbourne ’894, Gen. R.J. Marshall ’915 and Gen. W.H. Milton Jr. ’920. Mrs. Hope was predeceased by her brother, Thomas Addis Emmet Moseley Jr. ’39, M.D.; her former husband and VMI faculty member, Benjamin S. Clark Jr. ’931; and husband Calder L. Hope. Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth Clark Gathright; three grandsons, T.M. Gathright III, B. Clark Gathright and Cmdr. Emmet S. Gathright ’86, USN (Ret); and three great-grandchildren.

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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

Russell Shun Takata ’74 John D. Bolt ’99 Todd E. Arris ’87 James R. Farmer ’68 William V. Trumpore ’89 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 vailkeydet@gmail.com 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

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

Baltimore Central Keystone Peter Charrington ’66 Delaware Valley Western PA - Pittsburgh pcharrin@

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

Region V Southeast

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 John R. Savage ’74 Philip J. Altizer Jr. ’80 Charles S. Sanger ’82 Kevin L. Snell ’82

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

Region I Far West

Region II Midwest

Jim Dittrich ’76

jim.dittrich @leisurearts.com

Region III Northeast

Felix Wolkowitz ’75 fwolkowitz@ wolkowbraker.com

Region IV Mid Atlantic

Chapter Representative

Nathaniel P. Ward IV ’65 Peter H. Lyons ’54 Trent L. Boggs ’83 Joseph S. Howard III ’97 John D. Christie ’59

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

comcast.net

C. Pat Haddock ’00 vmitranspo@ hotmail.com

156

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

rpquarles@buckman.com ktkirby@comcast.net crj2112@gmail.com

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 Palmetto, South Carolina Coastal Carolina, SC

Jeffrey B. Morrison ’99 Charles L. Toomey ’74 Jonathan D. Atkins ’98 Michael S. Anderson ’88 John Moder ’98

roo1999@gmail.com toomeyl@pinehurst.net jda@restorationexpertsofnc.com mike.anderson@allentate.com john.moder@gmail.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

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

New River Valley Lynchburg Roanoke

Christopher M. Boswell ’00 Alan G. Soltis ’79

chrisboswellvmi@gmail.com al@landordbros.com

John T. McCarthy ’87 J. Patrick Henderson ’99

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

W. Douglas Thomas ’65 James E. Duncan ’98 G. Wayne Eastham ’76 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

Henry J. Foresman Jr. ’76

Richmond Tri Cities

Hilbert W. Wilkinson III ’94 Samuel L. Mattocks ’74

bretwilkinson@gmail.com samuelmattocks762@gmail.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

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

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 2

Vaipot Srinual ’72 Ching-Pu Chen ’85

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ALUMNI NEWS ALUMNI NEWS A group of Augusta, Georgia, citizens that has preserved Cottage Cemetery, also known as “Carmichael Cemetery,” where New Market Cadet William Smith Carmichael ’867 is buried, is one of eight groups to receive the Preservation Award from Historic Augusta (Georgia) Inc. According to an article in The Augusta Chronicle, the “200-year-old cemetery was threatened by vandalism and lack of maintenance.” The volunteers restored broken headstones, some of which marked the graves of “Augusta’s most prominent citizens.” Of the nearly 120 graves in Cottage Cemetery, 95 headstones have been restored and are standing. The cemetery was initially discovered in 2004 by Terence L. Bowers ’68. Determined to find out if any of the New Market Cadets were from Georgia, Bowers’ research uncovered Carmichael’s grave location in Augusta. At that time, the cemetery was overgrown, abandoned and had been vandalized, but Carmichael’s grave was intact. In a winter 2005 Alumni Review article (pages 32-33) about this discovery, Bowers wrote, “[After locating the grave,] I now had the catalyst I needed to bring together VMI alumni ... I wrote a letter, distributed by The VMI Alumni Association, and received an enthusiastic response, which resulted in a weekend gathering of 10 alumni immediately following Founders Day.” The group, including G. Raymond Collins ’55, R.

Lynn McMahon ’65, Joseph H. Knick ’72, Raymond R. Lawson ’81, F. Kelly Berkhimer ’85 and Bowers, cleared brush and debris from nearly half the area. These alumni and their efforts were the genesis of the Augusta Chapter of The VMI Alumni Association. The Augusta citizens who stepped in to maintain Carmichael Cemetery in 2007 and who received the Preservation Award are descendants of some of those buried there. Their efforts are supported by a nonprofit organization.

companies, foundations, non-profits, individuals and financial institutions. He advises clients in a variety of business transactions and in the planning and administration of estates, foundations and trusts. Dolph matriculated from North Post Office, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in English. He earned a master’s degree from MarshallWythe Law School and a juris doctor degree from T.C. Williams School of Law.

James Michael Watson ’07 has joined Dewberry, a professional services firm, as the Cyrus A. Dolph ’70 has been selected by his peers for the company’s health and safety 2013 edition of The Best Lawmanager in Fairfax, Virginia. yers in America® in the Trusts In this position, Watson’s role and Estates practice area, as anis to enhance the existing health nounced by the Clarke, Dolph, and safety program by ensuring Dolph ’70 Rapaport, Hull & Brunick law standard operating procedures firm in Norfolk, Virginia. are maintained and followed, Also, in its 2013 edition, U.S. News & conducting audits, and managing the acWorld Report Best Law Firms awarded cident investigation process. its highest First Tier Ranking to the Dewberry, established in 1956, proClarke Dolph firm for Trusts & Estates vides architecture, in Norfolk. engineering, and Best Lawyers, which began in 1983, is management and exclusively based on peer-review, and consulting services for the 2013 edition, they received more to public- and privatethan four million evaluations on the legal sector clients. The abilities of other lawyers in their practice firm is headquartered areas. Lawyers are not allowed to pay in Fairfax, with more a fee to be listed, so inclusion in Best than 40 locations and Lawyers is considered an honor. 1,800 employees naDolph has represented large and small tionwide. Watson ’07

... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Captured: A WWII Experience of Air Force POWs in Germany by Richard A. Matheis ’45. GeneDel Co. St. Louis, Missouri, November 2011. ISBN: 978-0-615-588186, ASIN: B00AKH61T2. Available via www.Amazon. com and www.barnesandnoble. com. Available for e-readers. Captured describes the author’s life experiences related to flying, with emphasis on time spent as a member of the 158

8th Air Force during World War II. The first chapter is entitled “The Longest Day of My Life,” and it describes the day Matheis was shot down – facing death on the ground as well as in the air – and eventually imprisoned. He also describes experiences prior to the war and his life-long flying career, as well as his final liberation from the POW camp. Written in a light manner and intended as a fast-read, the book includes stories of some

unusual and amazing coincidences that the author says will intrigue readers. About the Author: Matheis spent his early life in Garden City, Long Island, New York. He graduated from Garden City High School in June 1941 and was the first to matriculate at VMI the following September. In March 1943, he was called to Army Air Corps active duty in Richmond, Virginia. He received his commission in February 1944 and eventually served in the 8th Air Force during WWII. His business career has relocated him to Lacrosse, VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ALUMNI NEWS ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Wisconsin; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; and St. Louis, Missouri. He presently lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Sandra. Autumn Memories: Recollections of Fall Days Afield paintings by Ralph J. McDonald; stories by Harbert Alexander ’61. Countryside Studio, Gallatin, Tennessee. 2012. ISBN: 987-0-9883208-0-2. Available via www.countrysidestudio. com/stores/store_christmas1.html. Set mostly in the mid-South, the 25 stories and paintings that combine to form Autumn Memories are filled with sights and sounds that stir the hunter’s heart each fall: the game, the landscapes, the dogs, the guns and the friends who share in those outdoor experiences and in the process make them more rewarding. Though nostalgic, every vignette and image brims with the kind of hope that is renewed each morning in a duck blind and each afternoon in the dove field. Autumn Memories is a fitting tribute to fall hunting seasons down south and the perfect showcase for many of wildlife artist Ralph J. McDonald’s finest paintings. These timeless images of mallards dropping into flooded timber, bobwhite quail flushing in front of pointers and mourning doves zipping over sunflower fields enjoy a homecoming amid stories that deepen the art lover’s appreciation of golden days afield. About the Author: Alexander is one of Tennessee’s premier storytellers. He has written three books on the early history and pioneers of west Tennessee, as well as numerous magazine articles and newspaper stories. An avid hunter since boyhood, he has pursued game from Mexico and Hudson Bay and from the prairies of Canada to the plains of Zimbabwe. A retired banker, Alexander lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife, Nora. Their three children also live in Jackson. 2013-Issue 2

Taking the Reins: Leadership, Supervision & Management Lessons from a Horse by Harold A. Kurstedt ’61 and Tim Thayne. Advantage Media Group, Inc., Oct. 17, 2012. ISBN: 978-159932-344-2. Available from any online bookstore, e.g., Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, etc. and e-books available on Kindle, Nook and iPad. For signed copies, go to takingthereinsbook.com. Taking the Reins is about management, supervision and leadership. In solutionfocused leadership, a leader recognizes, affirms, harnesses and encourages further development of the strengths of those around him or her, while guiding the team toward a mutually-agreedupon vision. Significantly divergent from traditional methods of horse training and management and supervision of people, natural horse training and the Theory Y approach to supervision and management are similar. Neither horses nor people are motivated by rules and organizational bureaucracies. Instead, getting through the day in peace, doing a good job, building enduring relationships with others, and finding joy in what they do helps people discover meaning and purpose in their lives. Like horses, people in the workplace want to be treated fairly and with respect, are willing to take responsibility, and want to productively contribute. They want to participate, be heard, trust and be trusted, and make a difference. Taking the Reins guides the reader in creating an atmosphere where people can feel fulfilled. Many top industry producers fail to become superior contributors until they learn to be other-focused. Through conscious and consistent effort, a producer’s relationship competence can be raised to the level of his or her technical competence, resulting in a highly-valued leader, supervi-

sor and manager. Written for readers who want better relationships and success at the office and at home, Taking the Reins encourages management techniques focused on relationships, supervision based on realistic expectations and leadership through recognition of the strengths of others. About the Authors: Kurstedt is the founder and managing member of Newport Group LLC, a leadership consulting firm that works with industry and government organizations and people. He has 30 years of experience teaching strategic thinking, management systems engineering, and relationship competence and now focuses on new approaches in leadership – oriented toward human relationships in an information-based society. Recently retired as the Hal G. Prillaman Professor Emeritus of Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, he is an award-winning professor. Kurstedt matriculated from Mountain Falls, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. In addition, he earned master of science and doctorate degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois and served on the faculty at VMI from 1961-66 in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Thayne has been a speaker, writer and pioneer in the field of marriage and family therapy for 20 years. From his doctoral work at Virginia Tech to his present work, his use of “Solution-Focused Leadership” has been instrumental in smoothing transitions inside corporations, partnerships and families. After founding successful adolescent wilderness and residential treatment programs, Thayne created Homeward Bound in 2004, leading the movement to educate and support families as they bring their teens home after therapeutic treatment. Thayne’s strength lies in guiding business leaders and parents in their crucial roles as culture builders and change agents. His book, Home Again, details the process. 159

INSTITUTE INSTITUTE He’d had a choice of three countries offered by an international exchange program. He chose Egypt and stayed with a family there. “I was smitten,” said Anthony, noting that the Anthony ’62 Brings 50 Years of Experience to VMI Classroom experience was also a “massive culture shock.” The next year he led a group of undergraduates to Iran as part of the same program, which was the beginning of a lifetime of service in and regarding the region. Currently the founding president and chief executive officer of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, he has for more than 35 years been a consultant and regular lecturer on the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf for the U.S. Departments of Defense and State. A life-member of the Council on Foreign Relations since 1986, he has also been an adjunct faculty member of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Institute for Security Assistance Management since 1974 and an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies since 2006. Anthony said he is an empiricist, not a theorist. Everything he writes and teaches is based on the reality he has experienced. He offers the cadets knowledge and understanding that they are not likely to get from the John Duke Anthony ’62, Ph.D., leading a class discussion. VMI photo by media, books and other academic curricula. John Robertson IV. The Arab countries, the Middle East and the Islamic world have been for Anthony like “a The perspective at VMI has changed much since Dean’s Visiting Chair university from which there is no possibility of graduating.” in International Studies and Political Science John Duke Anthony ’62, Among the views he offered cadets: That the single biggest obstacle Ph.D., graduated. Both he and his classmate, Superintendent Gen. to vastly improved American relations in the region is the unresolved J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, spent substantial portions of their careers in Arab-Israeli conflict, which includes Syria; and that the U.S. has used the Arab region of the world, a region that was given little emphasis its veto power in the United Nations Security Council more than 40 during their cadetships. “None of … us had any exposure to the cul- times since 1970, many of which vetoes, he maintains, effectively ture, people, economics or politics of the region when we were here aborted the democratic process of the council and served to block the as cadets,” said Anthony, who has brought 50 years of experience and upholding of international law as it pertains to Israeli’s occupation of observation to the course [he taught during fall] semester, Politics of areas including two-thirds of Syria’s Golan province. the Arabian Peninsula. “What makes anti-Americanism deeper and more widespread,” exAnd the cadets in the class, majors in an international studies de- plained Anthony, “is that we talk more than any people in the world partment that has existed only since 1997, devote three hours every about the values of democracy. … The U.S. is seen by others as the Friday afternoon to soaking up the unique insights that Anthony has No. 1 aborter of the process. You don’t find that in the newspapers.” brought to the department. He spoke also about the number of Iraqis killed or displaced dur“The coolest thing about the class is that he knows so much about ing the war in Iraq and of Syria’s initiative to feed, in past years, and the culture, because he’s lived there,” said Cadet Kimberly Gragg house more than a million of the refugees. Only 30,000 have been ’13. Gragg, an IS-Arabic double major pursuing [VMI’s] new national offered shelter in the United States. “We’re missing a piece, as far as security minor, should know, as she has taken advantage of every the truth in this,” he said. opportunity offered by VMI’s programs: study abroad in England and Anthony acknowledged the challenge that cadets face in his class, Morocco, an internship at the Marine Corps University, and networking which requires weekly critiques of the reading, class discussion in opportunities with the Defense Intelligence Agency through the minor. “He [Anthony] understands the way that Islamism is so important to which the questions often expose cadets’ lack of knowledge and a term these people, the way that tribal ties are so important to these people,” paper (choice of 100 topics). “Learning something is difficult enough, said Gragg. “He really emphasizes to be empathetic with these people but unlearning something is more difficult, because it’s emotions – to and to completely disregard any stereotypes we have. He gives us a lot be wrong all these years,” said Anthony. Yet knowledge is related to power. “There’s no shortcut but to study … as intensively as possible. of stuff you can’t find in a textbook.” After graduating from VMI, Anthony spent the next two years in the … The soft underbelly of unacceptable policy is public attitude. The Arab region. “Nobody was doing that [at the time],” noted IS Depart- key to public attitude is factual knowledge, insight and understanding” – precisely what he has offered to cadets during the fall semester. ment Head Col. Jim Hentz.

New Perspectives on the Mideast

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VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE Ground after the game, while the parents were up at Alumni [Moody] Hall,” added Jeb Burton, her eldest son, who is now president of Lynchburg-based Templeton Paving. Margaret Burton remembered a football weekend when all three of her boys were sporting the Institute’s colors. “I knit“The blood in our family pretty much runs Burton never gave other schools much ted each of them a red, white and yellow thought. “I never really opened my mind striped sweater,” she recalled. “I heard red, white and yellow.” That’s how James E. “Jeb” Burton IV ’79 to any other [school]. It was always in the somebody saying, while we were up at explains his family’s long tradition of VMI back of my mind that I would come here,” [Moody Hall], ‘Look at those boys with attendance – a tradition that now spans he said. their VMI sweaters on.’” John Burton’s uncle, Danks Burton, also three generations. Burton, a resident of And the Burtons’ support of the Keydet Lynchburg, Virginia, is the son of the late recalled knowing without a shadow of a football team didn’t stop with home games. James E. Burton III ’52, “We went to all of the who became the first in Thanksgiving games at a long line of Burtons Victory Stadium and to attend VMI. then to the Hotel RoaThis school year, Jeb noke after the games,” and his two brothers said Jeb Burton. His each have a son who mother recalled cleanis a fourth class cadet ing out the family home at VMI. Jeb Burton’s in Altavista and finding a youngest son is Louis sign of long-ago times – J. Burton ’16, while a banner reading, “VMI John E. Burton ’16 60, VPI 0.” is the youngest son The red-, white- and of Douglas B. Burton yellow-spangled week’80. The two cousins ends were buttressed are joined at VMI this by instructions from fall by another cousin, their father about how Jacob D. Burton ’16, to choose a college. “His son of Jeb’s and Doug’s instructions were that On the VMI Parade Ground during a fall 2012 football game day were youngest brother, we could look at three Burton family members, from left, Doug Burton ’14, Doug Burton ’80, Daniel H. “Danks” John Burton ’16, Margaret Burton, Louis Burton ’16, Jeb Burton ’79, in-state schools, and one Jake Burton ’16 and Danks Burton ’85. Photo courtesy Joanne Burton. Burton ’85. Roundof those had to be VMI,” ing out the picture Jeb Burton recollected. is second class cadet “We could apply to two Douglas B. Burton Jr., son of Doug Burton doubt that VMI would be the school for him. in-state schools, and one of those had to be “It turns out [VMI] was the only school VMI. We could go to one in-state school, and older brother of John E. Burton. To add to those ties, the three Burton I applied to,” said Danks, a Raleigh, North and that had to be VMI.” brothers’ lone female sibling, Stephanie, Carolina, resident who is also in the masonLaughing, he added, “That’s a little bit of married Jeb Burton’s Brother Rat, Robert ry business. “By the time I became a senior an exaggeration but only a little bit.” in high school and had to look at colleges, H. Patterson III ’79. Margaret Burton, meanwhile, is simply The Burton brothers and their wives, my two older brothers had already finished amazed that four of her 12 grandchildren along with their mother, Margaret Burton, here. I had been coming here for football are current cadets. “I’m very, very proud,” gathered for tailgating before VMI’s football games my whole life. …. I guess that’s what she remarked. “It bubbles over. I think game against The Citadel on Nov. 10, 2012, I get for being the baby in the family.” people around me get tired of hearing The middle generation of Burtons me talk about [the Burton cadets]. … where they shared their reminiscences of learned to love VMI from a young age I think my children are proud of their the Institute and its place in their lives. “The whole family always talked [about through frequent trips to Keydet football children, too.” VMI],” said Doug Burton, a masonry games. “We were bringing these boys [to Added Jeb Burton, “[VMI is] a great tradicontractor who now lives in Apex, North VMI] before they were in kindergarten,” tion and legacy.” Carolina. “I knew I always wanted come to said Margaret Burton, who raised her It’s a tradition and legacy that very VMI. It was always a big influence. I never children in Altavista, Virginia, and now well may continue – Danks Burton’s really thought about going anywhere else.” lives in Lynchburg. youngest son, Drew, is just 13 years old. “We used to play football on the Parade “I hope he will apply,” said Danks. Like his father, fourth class Cadet John

Generations of Burtons Raised at VMI

2012-Issue 2

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INSTITUTE New Philosophy Professor Asks Cadets to Ask Questions Jackson-Hope Funding Makes Professorship Possible

The cadet schedule at VMI is meant to keep cadets moving in one direction: forward – toward class, toward formations, toward achievement, toward graduation. VMI’s new philosophy professor is asking cadets to stop moving and to take time to think. “Philosophy,” said Assistant Professor of Philosophy Reshef Agam-Segal, “takes time.” In philosophy, he said, “We don’t make progress. If anything, what we’re trying to do is show people that progress is not always what they need.” Agam-Segal’s classes, which this year include logic, Greek and medieval philosophy, and one on minds and machines, challenge cadets to question Philosophy Professor Reshef Agam-Segal teaching a class in Carroll Hall. VMI photo by John Robertson IV. what they think they know. An example, he said, is skepticism of other minds. “How do you know that I see anything? You have Israeli military. He notes that the kind of the Philosophy Club), for which he and your senses to sense with, but you don’t thinking he asks of his students can be philosophy Professor Duncan Richter have mine. How do you know that anyone of particular value to those heading for serve as faculty advisers. The club, which else senses anything? … Maybe you are military careers. meets weekly to discuss topics of interest the only sensing person in the world, the Students facing moral questions are to the cadets, such as the ethics of drones, only one with a mind.” very like that fly in the bottle, he said. has been growing. In broad terms, he said, philosophy “When the world doesn’t make sense in Agam-Segal said he encourages cadets begins when students find themselves terms of good and bad, then the world to play devil’s advocate, to argue against someplace bizarre and unfamiliar; it becomes foreign and frightening, and themselves, and to force themselves to helps them find a way back. Along the cadets are thinking about ethics all the explain and give examples. Thus, they way, they learn to find meaning. time. … Having the right language, learn to see themselves through self“A lot of what philosophers do is try to knowing how to make sense of your examination. restore safety,” said Agam-Segal. Imagine question, is important. Just being able “When students discover that they can a fly entering a bottle with honey inside. to recognize that you’re stuck is tremen- do philosophy,” he said, “it’s like discoverThe fly cannot find the way out and be- dously important.” ing a new sense.” comes trapped. But, he said, “The way is The new professorship in philosophy Agam-Segal has been helping them do was funded through a grant from the open. The bottle is not sealed. There al- just that in the classroom and at meetJackson-Hope Fund. ings of the cadet Ethics Club (formerly ways is a way out. Solving a philosophical problem is not making progress; rather it’s returning to a place we have been Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles and photos in before, a place that is familiar to us.” in the Institute section of the Alumni Review are provided Agam-Segal, a native of Israel who came by VMI Communications and Marketing. to VMI from Auburn University, brings to his classroom his own experience in the 162

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INSTITUTE New CORE Program Offers Service Opportunities, Research Projects and Internships

Col. Jim Turner ’65, Ph.D., head of VMI’s biology department. The committee’s report found that approximately 800 cadets – more than half the Corps – were already involved with service projects. “With the launch of the VMI service website, cadets will be able to find service projects that align with their own passions more quickly,” said Maj. Meagan Herald, assistant professor of mathematics and chair of the Service Committee’s Activities Subcommittee. “Our cadets are supposed to be good citizens, and service is part of citizenship. We want to make sure that students are aware of that and give them plenty of opportunities.” Herald said the CORE program is reaching out to cadets using new media, such as QR codes to be read by cell phones, and developing a photo/video archive. “I have seen the difference our cadets have made by working with the local school children,” said Herald, “and can only imagine the positive impact VMI can make on a global scale.”

In November 2012, VMI introduced a 2013. [See Note 1 at the end of this article.] new service program that extends its reach The Shepherd programs also fall under the from volunteer opportunities to study of CORE umbrella. CORE has joined with Washington and the causes of and solutions for poverty to research and internships addressing Lee University’s Nabors Service League real-world problems. Called CORE – Com- [see Note 2 at the end of this article], munity Outreach and Renewal Experi- with cadets participating in Nabors Serence – the program also launched a new vice Day in September. Future plans include a service week, timed to coincide website, www.vmi.edu/service. At the center of these efforts are the founding officers of VMI’s new Rotoract Club, including its general chair, Cadet Michelle McCusker ’14. McCusker has put in her hours helping launch the CORE program, but she also plans to take full advantage of opportunities it offers, starting with her 2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) service project. “This was the first hands-on Note 1: As stated on the Instiexperience that I had,” said tute’s website, “VMI’s Shepherd McCusker, who worked with the Program for the InterdisciRockbridge Area Free Clinic, plinary Study of Poverty and which had received a year-long Human Capability integrates grant to do a community health academic study and learning assessment. through service and reflecShe used data the clinic had tion. The program’s focus is collected to write a community to inform cadets regarding the health improvement plan and issues related to poverty and to produced other presentation determine what can be done to materials herself, including foster human capabilities for a blog and video. She worked communities and individuals Cadet Michelle McCusker gave a presentation on her with her mentor, Col. Christina who have been left behind in Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) service McDonald, head of the Institute domestic and international project of summer 2012. VMI photo by Kevin Remington. Writing Program, to research development.” the rhetoric of health care. “It put a face on these issues,” McCusker with the service day, with speakers and Note 2: According to the Washington said. “It makes you more compassionate possibly a conference. Also under the and Lee website, “The Nabors Service – that’s what’s kept me interested. … I do CORE umbrella are cadet club service League is a student-run community the administrative work, and I go to all the projects, international projects such as service organization that promotes and committees because I have to, but this is the Engineers without Borders projects encourages a spirit of service and conin Haiti and Bolivia, and faith-based and nects service with learning. … In addition the stuff that I love doing.” McCusker hopes to keep on doing character-building programs sponsored to connecting W&L and VMI students with it – first, through the class offered this by the chaplain’s office. local agencies, the Nabors Service League The CORE program and website are the hosts two community-wide service days spring by the Shepherd Poverty Program, “Poverty and Human Capability,” and then culmination of a year’s work by members and a series of events to raise awareness through a Shepherd internship in summer of VMI’s Service Committee, chaired by of social justice issues.” 2012-Issue 2

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INSTITUTE Civil Engineering Cadets Place in National Competition Photo at right: Five first class cadets, Thomas Battiata, Peerawat Charuwat, Peter Kniesler, John Partin and Patrick Sexton – placed fourth in the Water Environment Federation’s 2012 Environmental Design national competition held October 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their project – a conceptual design for the treatment of wastewater generated at a medical center in town of Baptiste, Haiti – took first place in the Virginia Water Environment Association’s student design competition during spring 2012. The win was particularly notable, said their adviser, civil engineering Assistant Professor Maj. Tim Moore ’97, because the other entries were designs created by graduate students. Holding their first place award in spring 2012 were, from left, Cadets Battiata, Kniesler, Sexton and Partin.

Harvey ’15 is Tops in Marine Corps OCS Photo at left: U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Joseph Osterman, left, shook the hand of Cadet Anthony Harvey ’15 after presenting him with a trophy during halftime at the football game on Nov. 17, 2012. Harvey received the Gung Ho Award for best military spirit at Officer Candidate School and an academic award for the highest grade point average. Osterman, commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, also presented VMI with the Commandant’s Trophy, honoring Harvey as the top graduating cadet out of 235 in the summer 2012 OCS. Harvey enlisted after high school graduation and earned the top graduation position and promotion to lance corporal, upon completion of the Basic Combat Engineer Course. He is a reservist with Company B, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, in Roanoke, Virginia. VMI photo by Kevin Remington.

Army ROTC Cadet Ranked Third on National Merit List Cadet Sungkuyn Chang ’13 was ranked No. 3 out of 5,579 cadets in the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s national Order of Merit List (OML). The OML ranks all Army ROTC seniors, with the top 20 percent earning the Distinguished Military Graduate designation. The rankings are determined by criteria including grade point averages, college athletic participation, and performance in the Army Physical Fitness Test, ROTC training, and the Leader Development and Assessment Course. Three other Army ROTC cadets were ranked in the top 100, giving VMI four of the top five slots achieved by the six senior military colleges. This year, for the second time in the last three years, VMI’s Army ROTC unit expects to commission more cadets than any other ROTC unit in the nation. “Our commissioning projections for this year,” said Col. Bill Wanovich ’87, the unit’s commander, “are the largest since the end of mandatory commissioning at VMI [in the 1980s].”

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Class Unity for a Cause Photo above: The class of 2016 raised $24,168 in a “pushup challenge” fundraiser for the nonprofit Boot Campaign, which supports organizations offering assistance to veterans and their families. The fundraiser exceeded its goal – $20,130 – an amount selected in honor of the first class (2013). As part of the event, former Navy SEAL Jason C. Redman, who was severely wounded in Iraq in 2007, addressed the class. Redman is the founder of Wounded Wear, an organization supported by the Boot Campaign that offers free clothing and clothing modifications to wounded veterans. VMI photo by Kevin Remington.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

INSTITUTE Rat Integration Results in a More Disciplined Corps VMI graduates of the last couple of decades will remember a divided Corps during their time on Post. The regimental first captain was commander of the Old Corps, while the regimental executive officer was, in effect, the Rat battalion commander. Instead of a single chain of command, there were two. Efforts were duplicated, and the regimental commander operated for most of the academic year essentially without an executive officer. Col. Thomas Trumps ’79, commandant of cadets, recalls a different Corps – one in which the Rat platoon and the cadre operated as part of the company. And now, with the largest Corps ever in Barracks, he and the 2012 regimental staff have brought back that tradition. “We didn’t have a Rat battalion in my day,” said Trumps. “What has happened over the years is we’ve pulled all the best, the most talented, cadets out; we’ve called them cadre; we’ve segregated them for five months; and all they’re doing is training Rats.” This year, new cadets form up with their companies, for Breakfast Roll Call, for Supper Roll Call, for parades. “You have all of your top rankers that were reserved for cadre – they’re with the Old Corps formation, enforcing the same standards as with the Rats,” said Cadet Thomas Battiata ’12, regimental executive officer (XO). “So, now it’s one Corps, one standard.” Separating the Rats from the Old Corps, said Battiata, was meant to allow cadre the opportunity to train the new cadets intensively, while shielding them from cadets with more privileges. That strategy, however, came at the price of varied levels of discipline in the Corps. The benefits of integration are 2012-Issue 2

being felt in the greater consistency in discipline of the entire Corps, which this year numbers more than 1,600 cadets. That improved discipline comes in part from the stronger position of the corporals and sergeants charged with correcting their peers – peers who are often members of the classes above them. “Now we have the corporals who … have the fortitude to go up to an upper classman and say, ‘Your uniform looks bad’ – they’re in there with the Corps,” said Battiata. “They have to learn the difference between how they would talk to a subordinate versus how they would talk to an upperclassman. … They learn how to correct them with respect.” Discipline is improved throughout the Corps in the only way possible, now that it’s so large, said Trumps – through company-centric operations, where company commanders are working with their executive officers, not separate from them, and with all their corporals and sergeants in the company, as well. And many more cadets from the Old Corps now have the opportunity to work with the new cadets. “The rest of the Corps should engage

with Rats,” said Trumps. “It should not only be the cadre. Everybody should get to play.” Key to the success of the integration are changes to operations in Crozet Hall, especially the introduction of a hot food line on the second floor, where the third class now eats. “Part of our leadership retreat last year … was just dealing with numbers, and the mess hall is the biggest bottleneck at VMI,” said Battiata. “We had to figure out a way to feed everyone.” Additional “grazing” hours had been added earlier, and together, the two changes have improved capacity in a very crowded Crozet Hall, so that a single, integrated march down is possible. Apparently integration, so far, is all good. “I’m back as chief of staff, not completely consumed by the Ratline,” said Battiata. “We’ve kind of been able to make our efforts more uniform and work together. You don’t have two separate missions going on at the same time.” “It’s fallen into place much better than I anticipated,” said Trumps, “and I give the credit to the regimental commander [Sean Noll] and the XO.”

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ATHLETICS ATHLETICS Cowgill ’13 Returns to Complete VMI Education In fall 2012, VMI Athletic Communications met with Coby me to work out with the team. I still go down to the field a few Cowgill ’13, former Keydet ace who was drafted by the Texas days a week to hit fungos – my favorite thing to do when I’m not Rangers in June 2012. Cowgill began his professional career on the mound. In addition, I have my off-season workouts, along shortly thereafter but returned to the Institute this school with the normal academic coursework. When the season ended in year with the goal of working toward Hickory, I only had about 36 hours before completing his VMI education. Below I was required to report to the Institute. is a portion of the question and answer Luckily, my mom was able to organize session with Cowgill. my VMI gear, so I could visit with family a little before leaving. Once I returned to Q: Coby, what has it been like coming the Institute, it was an adjustment, due to back to VMI to work on finishing your the drastic change in lifestyle, but thankdegree? Not everyone does that, but fully, I had my roommates, teammates and you’ve gone from a mound in Hickory to Brother Rats for support and to get me up Barracks in a matter of a few August days. to speed with everything that I had missed. Tell us about the process of reintegrating. The biggest challenge for me was the difA: “Coming back to VMI has been my ference in sleep schedules. Minor League plan ever since the possibility arose of games often ran late into the night, and getting drafted and leaving after my junior Cadet Coby Cowgill ’13 I was not going to bed until 2 or 3 in the year. I made a promise to my coaches, my morning, but here at school, you better make sure you are up academic advisor (the one and only Col. Bush), myself and, and on time for BRC [Breakfast Roll Call] at 0700 – ‘0 dark 30.’” most importantly, my parents that I would finish my degree. Fans are invited to visit the baseball page on VMIKeydets.com My daily routine at VMI has not changed much from previous to read the remainder of the interview. fall semesters, because Coach Ikenberry [’95] has allowed

Cross Country Recap The VMI men’s and women’s cross country teams were led by Andrey Dmitriev ’14 and Jenna Moye ’13, respectively, at the Big South Championships, held Oct. 27, 2012, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Dmitriev crossed the line in 25:18 to finish in ninth place over the 8K course, which was the second time he had come home in that position at a Big South Championship (2010). With that, he became the first VMI men’s cross country runner to earn multiple All-Big South honors since Donnie Cowart ’08, who did so in both 2005 and 2008. The Keydets posted 100 total points in finishing fourth, eight markers behind Campbell. Liberty won the overall title with 28 points, while High Point scored 49 in finishing second. Junior Cabell Willis was VMI’s #2 runner, just missing all-conference honors by finishing a careerbest 11th (25:20). Willis would be named the Big South’s Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the conclusion of the meet – VMI’s second runner to earn that honor since the Keydets joined the Big South. Willis joined Anthony Harris ’07, who won the award in 2006.

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On the women’s side, senior Jenna Moye finished fourth in a schoolrecord time of 17:55. Moye’s 5K time broke the previous school record of 18:00, set in 2010, and exceeded her personal best of 18:06, set just two weeks before. It marked the second career All-Big South honor for the senior, as she posted the highest Keydet finish at a Big South Championship since that same 2010 season. Moye also earned a spot on the conference’s all-academic team, which marked the second straight year she had done so. All told, the Keydets finished in sixth place with 142 points, two points behind fifth-place UNC Asheville. The Keydets wrapped up the season two weeks later in November 2012 at the SE Regional Championships, where Dmitriev placed 40th to earn VMI’s first top-50 finish at the event since 2008.

Photo at left: Andrey Dmitriev ’14, left, and Cabell Willis ’14, right. Photo at right: Jenna Moye ’13 at the Big South Championships.

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

ATHLETICS Hoops Standout Gabriel ’12 Describes Life in Sweden that most of the time I do not need it. I rely on a handful of words, even if people are speaking English. ‘Tack’ means thank you, and ‘Varsagod’ means you’re welcome. Just attempting to show the Swedish people that I am at least trying to learn something, [Gabriel laughs]. Saying, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ has back fired on me a couple of times. For example, I said, ‘Tjena’ (which means, ‘Yo! Q: Is there a language barrier or similar chalWhat’s up?’) to a man working in the airport lenges? What are the living conditions? [when I was] going to Russia last week, and A: “The language barrier is not as bad as [he] just assumed that I knew fluent SwedI expected it to be. I’ve only met a handful of ish. Me, being myself, I laughed and acted people who could not speak English. I share a as if I knew what he said and walked off, two-bedroom apartment with a guy who is half [Gabriel laughs]. My coach walked up to me American, but he was born and raised in SweGabriel ’12 and asked if I knew what the guy had said, and den. He speaks very fluent English. I quickly told him I had no idea. He translated “The thing that gets me is that if I am around what the guy said, which was, ‘What’s up – you look like you play more than two of my Swedish teammates, they will talk in a lot of computer games.’ I started to laugh hysterically.” Swedish, and I feel kind of left out at times, because I don’t Fans are invited to visit the basketball page on VMIKeydets. understand all that they are saying. I try to learn words and com to read the remainder of the interview. sentences here and there, but they speak English [so well] In late January 2013, VMI Athletic Communications met with Keith Gabriel ’12, former Keydet hoops standout. At the time of the interview, Gabriel was playing professionally in Sweden, although his status as of this publication date is not known. Below is a portion of the question and answer session with Gabriel.

Jones and Garvin Named to All-Big South Football Squads Senior defensive lineman Charlie Jones (Hampton, Virginia/Phoebus) and redshirt sophomore inside linebacker Ty Garvin (Kingsport, Tennessee/Sullivan South) were named to Big South postseason football squads. Jones was named first team All-Big South Conference on the defensive line, and Garvin earned a spot on the conference’s All-Academic team. The conference office

Senior defensive lineman Charlie Jones, #95 above.

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announced the awards after the 2012 season. Jones ranked second in the Big South in tackles for loss with 11 for 36 yards on the year and ranked third among Big South defensive linemen with 50 tackles. He finished the year averaging 6.5 tackles per game and totaled 6.5 tackles for loss over his last four games. Jones posted a career-high nine tackles against The Citadel, with two tackles for loss for 9 yards. Against Gardner-Webb, he had six tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack for -3 yards. The economics and business major also posted six tackles against Liberty, with a sack, pass break-up, and extra point block. Jones also had five tackles against Navy, with a tackle for loss, and he forced a fumble. He finished his career with 124 tackles and 22 tackles for loss for 73 yards over his junior and senior years. Jones added to his accolades when he was selected second team All-State, as voted by the Virginia State Sports Information Directors.

Redshirt sophomore inside linebacker Ty Garvin, #33 above.

Garvin is a civil engineering major and made 11 starts at inside linebacker in his first year as a starter after playing as a reserve last year. He had 66 total tackles with 22 solos and 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. He posted a career-high 12 tackles against Richmond and also racked up 11 tackles against The Citadel. Overall, Garvin finished fifth on the team in tackles. Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherwise, the articles and photos in the Athletics section are produced by the VMI Sports Information Office.

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VMI INC. VMIFOUNDATION, FOUNDATION, INC. Message from the CEO by Brian S. Crockett, Chief Executive Officer, VMI Foundation

ithout a doubt, VMI is an inspiring place. It is, however, not just VMI’s beautiful physical setting and its many magnificent buildings that make it so, nor is it the stirring sight of the Corps of Cadets on parade that makes it so – although, let’s admit it, they help. In my position as the VMI Foundation’s CEO, I have the privilege of meeting many members of the VMI family. And there are very few times that I don’t come away from those encounters in some way inspired. I am inspired by the cadets who endure a semester or two of difficulty in the classroom but persevere and go on to earn academic stars, and by those who are dealing with personal troubles but meet every challenge VMI presents them, without a word of self-pity. I find inspiration, as well, in the cadets who devote hours of their limited free time to charitable projects and, of course, in those young men and women who volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces. How can anyone not draw inspiration from the many examples of professors, coaches and staff members who devote decades of their lives to VMI and its cadets? Alumni cherish the memories of professors who widened cadets’ horizons and whose constant encouragement and sound

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advice placed many alumni on their career paths. Hundreds of alumni were helped through their time in Barracks and the rest of their lives by what they learned from coaches and staff members. Another group of people who always inspire me is our donors. They do so not only because of their intense devotion to VMI, but also because many of them make gifts that truly constitute financial sacrifice. When I ask them why they dig so deep – no matter the direction of the gift – the common thread that runs through their answers is that they want to provide as many young people as possible with the opportunity to go through the unique experience of VMI. They think it is important that they can be educated in what Gen. Peay ’62 described in a recent speech as the “healthy mix of intellectual, moral and physical training” that VMI offers. Some of these donors support academic departments, strengthening cadets’ intellectual training. Others use their financial resources to aid the intercollegiate and club sports that help our cadets develop physically. Many direct their gifts to support the Center

for Leadership and Ethics and other programs that provide the moral element of the VMI education. No matter where these gifts are directed, they bolster the Institute’s efforts to ensure, again, to borrow a phrase from Gen. Peay, the “total development” of its graduates. Many alumni donors see themselves paying back VMI for what it did for them. Some of them do so even if they often ran afoul of VMI’s rules and regulations. As one of them said to me, “I got more out of VMI than VMI ever got out of me.” The non-alumni donors often support VMI because they seek to honor a parent or sibling who was an alumnus; others do so because they see in VMI an institution that is invaluable to Virginia and the country. I never know what new challenges will greet me when I go to work each day at VMI. I do know, however, that I am incredibly fortunate to support the extraordinary young people who make up the Corps and to work with the people on and off Post whose commitment to those young people is unwavering.

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

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. VMI Foundation Welcomes New Trustees In late 2012, three alumni joined the managed a wide array of federal cases, to give back to a very special place that has VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees: John including complex fraud, public corruption given them so much. It is the Foundation D. Adams ’96, S. Read Hanmer Jr. ’55 and and violent crime. that helps facilitate this important life Robert L. McDowell ’68. All three men had In June 2010, Adams joined the Gov- cycle of VMI cadets and graduates, and been alternate trustees before becoming ernment, Regulatory and it connects alumni in voting members. Criminal Investigations Dea real and meaningful In his history in the Bomb, John D. Ad- partment of McGuireWoods way to today’s Corps. I ams ’96 stated that “VMI does not yield its LLP. A partner in the firm, am honored to be part rewards easily … One must take on all that his practice focuses on litiof the team.” A four-year private as the ‘I’ has to offer.” As a cadet, Adams did gation at the trial and appela cadet, Stephen Read just that. He held rank in his third, second late level, with a particular Hanmer Jr. ’55 majored and first class years, serving as regimental focus on matters arising out in physics and was a executive officer as a first-classman. He was of government and criminal Distinguished Military a member of the Cadet Investment Group investigations. He also leads Graduate. After VMI, and, at graduation, was awarded the James McGuireWoods’ recruiting Ambassador Hanmer C. Wheat [’41] Medal for the highest grade efforts and has served as an had a distinguished 21point average in economics and the Robert adjunct professor of appelyear career as an officer Philpott [’35] Medal for the highest grade late and trial advocacy at the in the U.S. Army. He point average in business. A Distinguished University of Richmond’s served in field artillery Graduate in economics, Adams was com- T.C. Williams School of Law. assignments worldwide, missioned in the U.S. Navy upon graduation Adams’ professional acHanmer ’55 including command of and served as a surface warfare officer – con- complishments have earned ducting deployments to the Middle East and him wide recognition. In 2012, the national a heavy artillery battalion in Vietnam, and South America – until 2000. legal publication Chambers USA named a tour as associate professor of fluid meAfter his naval service, he entered the Uni- him a “Leader in the Field” in the category chanics on the faculty of the U.S. Military versity of Virginia School of Law, becoming of Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Gov- Academy at West Point. He retired from the managing editor of the ernment Investigations. active military service in 1977 with the Virginia Law Review. Upon Thomson Reuters named rank of colonel. As nuclear plans officer in the U.S. Misgraduation, he served as a him a Virginia Super Lawlaw clerk for Judge David yer “Rising Star” in the sion to NATO from 1978-81, Hanmer B. Sentelle on the U.S. category of White Collar served as the principal advisor to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Defense, Civil Litigation ambassador to NATO on nuclear forces and D.C. Circuit from 2003-04. Defense and Appellate, Nuclear Planning Group matters. He was Two years later, he clerked and Virginia Business the U.S. representative to NATO’s Nuclear for Associate Justice Clarmagazine named him one Planning Group Staff Group and later was ence Thomas on the U.S. of Virginia’s “Legal Elite.” the U.S. representative to the Defense Supreme Court. Adams is married to the Planning Committee. From 1981 through Following the Supreme former Lisa Fyock – his February 1984, Hanmer was the director Court, President Bush apRing Figure date – and of the Pentagon’s Office of Theater Nuclear Forces Policy, where he was responsible for pointed Adams as an associthey have four sons. ate counsel to the president As to the work of the development of policy initiatives concernof the United States. In that Foundation, Adams re- ing non-strategic nuclear forces worldwide Adams ’96 position, he represented marked, “There are so and for U.S. participation in NATO’s Nuclear the Office of the President many things that, as a Planning Group. From May 1985 to May 1987, he served as in congressional investigations and other cadet, we take for granted – a good fitness sensitive matters, primarily involving the facility or athletic field, a new and talented the personal representative of the secretary Departments of Defense and State. After professor who can impact our future, or an of defense to the Strategic Arms Reduction leaving the White House in 2008, Adams academic building that now contains state Treaty (START) talks between the United returned to Virginia and served as an as- of the art technology. Many of these things States and the Soviet Union, and from May sistant U.S. attorney. In that capacity, he exist because loyal alumni feel compelled 1985 to May 1987, he was the deputy U.S.

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. START negotiator. Subsequently, from January 1988 to June 1989, Hanmer was the chief U.S. negotiator for strategic offensive arms in the U.S.-Soviet negotiations on nuclear and space arms. During the 1988 Moscow Summit, he negotiated the agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union on notification of launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. From 1989 -93, Hanmer served as the deputy director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA). At ACDA, he had direct oversight of the agency’s substantive activities in support of the nation’s arms control agenda, as well as administrative operation of the 300-person independent agency. Hanmer participated in arms control negotiations at the highest levels, including the START I Treaty, the Lisbon Protocols, the START II Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Hanmer also served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security policy. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development, implementation and management of overall Defense Department policy in all matters pertaining to European and NATO affairs; international economic and trade security issues; negotiations policy; compliance and Standing Consultative Commission activities; and all aspects of strategic and theater nuclear forces policy. He participated in a number of highly sensitive negotiations with key allies concerning nuclear force matters and was a representative to the U.S.-Soviet bilateral talks on direct communication links that led to an agreement to upgrade the Moscow-Washington “Hot Line.” Since his retirement from the civil service, he has been a consultant in the field of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons policy, effects and arms control. He recently held the Mary Moody Northen Chair in International Studies at VMI. He has collaborated in a number of seminal studies of policies concerning the so-called weapons of mass destruction, including: “Rationale and Requirements for U.S. Nuclear Forces and Arms Control;” and “U.S. Nuclear Policy in the 21st Century, A Fresh Look at National Strategy and Requirements.” He frequently lectures on arms control and disarmament topics.

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Besides his degree from VMI, Hanmer Strategic Business Systems practice. also holds master of science degrees in However, McDowell truly moved into the aerospace engineering and mechanical forefront of what was swiftly becoming a engineering, both from the University technological revolution when he joined of Southern California. Recently, he has Microsoft in 1990. There, he established been the president of the Microsoft Consulting Saint Andrew’s Society Services. In 1995, he became vice president of of Washington, D.C., a the Enterprise Customer Scottish heritage and Unit, responsible for decharitable society, as well veloping the strategies as commander of the for selling and marketing American Legion’s AuMicrosoft’s technology gustus P. Gardiner Post and services to its largNumber 18. est corporate customers. He was the chairman of From 1996 through 2000, the class of 1955’s 50th he was, as vice president Reunion Fund Commitfor enterprise business tee, presiding over an relationships, working effort that raised more with many of Microsoft’s than $12.1 million in strategic large-enterprise support of the Institute McDowell ’68 customers around the and was supported by alworld. In 2000, he became most 90% of the class. He also is the class agent for the class of 1955. vice president of Worldwide Services, for Ambassador Hanmer and his wife, the both consulting and product support. In former Lois Eileen Boteler, live in Falls 2002, McDowell became vice president for Church, Virginia. They have three chil- Information Worker Business Value, leading dren, four grandchildren and three great- the corporation’s effort to help customers maximize use of current Microsoft Office grandsons. For Robert L. McDowell ’68, a desire to technologies and so add business value to serve the Institute is nothing new. In his their organizations. He retired from that history in the Bomb, he was described as position and Microsoft in 2012. McDowell’s interest in information being “highly interested in the betterment of the class as well as the Corps.” That he technology’s effects on business has never has remained so since graduation was been solely a matter of daily work. He has demonstrated by his time as a member of written prolifically on the topic, with his the VMI Foundation’s Board of Trustees articles appearing in such publications as from 1999-2001, which he followed with Fortune, InformationWeek and Computertwo, full four-year terms on the VMI Board world. He also is the author of two books: Driving Digital (2001), which focuses on of Visitors. As a cadet, McDowell was a Dean’s List how companies can take advantage of the economics major. Among his many extra- “e-business” era, and In Search of Business curricular activities was service on the VMI Value: Ensuring a Return on Your TechnolFirefighters as well as “the formation of ogy Investment (2010), which deals with the 1968 Automobile Club,” an indication how to translate technology investments of an interest in motoring that continues into business value. He has been a member to this day. McDowell has another long- of the Virginia Commission on Information standing interest: information technology. Technology and is in high demand as a lecHis involvement began in earnest during turer at professional association meetings, his eight years of service as an officer in universities and technology conferences the U.S. Air Force and was sharpened around the world. Besides his membership on the VMI further during another seven years in the financial services industry as an informa- Board of Visitors, McDowell has served on tion systems manager. In 1983, he became the board of directors of Visio Corporation a partner in the consulting firm Ernst & and Entevo Corporation, as well as the Young, where he founded and managed its International Advisory Board of Scottish

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Enterprise. Besides his VMI degree, he also holds a master of science degree in business administration from Boston University. In 2012, McDowell became a director of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni – an independent, non-profit organization committed to academic freedom, excellence and accountability at America’s colleges and universities. This is an indication of another one of McDowell’s long-standing interests: education. It is an interest that was fostered from his childhood by the examples of his parents. “Every two weeks,” recalled McDowell,

“they would sit down with my father’s pay envelope – when people were paid in cash. They always set money aside for my education and my sister’s, saying to us, ‘This is for your education.’” Further displaying his belief in the value of higher education, McDowell’s father also determinedly pursued a college degree for decades, receiving it at age 74. “My parents’ continuous encouragement and my father’s inspiration led me to become the first person in my family to graduate from college.” McDowell and his wife, Melissa, honored the elder McDowell’s inspiring example

by establishing the Andrew L. McDowell Scholarship in Economics and Business in 1997. The scholarship was first awarded in the 2000-01 academic year. In the current academic year, it supports seven cadets. “I am delighted to have these three men on our board,” said VMI Foundation President Walton M. Jeffress Jr. ’68. “Each of them has a truly amazing array of talents and experiences, and all of them share a deep-seated commitment to VMI and its cadets. They will help our other trustees and our staff build an ever-stronger VMI Foundation.”

Foundation Presents Check to Class of 2014

On Dec. 7, 2012, the VMI Foundation presented the class of 2014 with a mock check for $38,500. This gift represents the $100 that – thanks to the generosity of VMI alumni and friends – the VMI Foundation provided to each of the 385 Brother Rats of the class of 2014 who received their class rings in late November 2012. Sam Sorrells, the VMI Foundation’s associate director of Annual and Reunion Giving, far left, presented the check to the class. Accepting the gift on behalf of the class were, from left, Cadets Sam Guidry; Kyle Reavis, historian; Jon Mattingly, vice president; Wes Hitchcock, president; Andrew Daniels; Taylor Floyd; Morgan Walberg; and George Matthews. Created under the auspices of the Barracks Program, which is an ongoing effort by the VMI Foundation to educate cadets about the importance of private support to the Institute, this gift to each cadet has occurred since 2005. Photo by Jennifer Young.

2012-Issue 2

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Memorial Gifts The VMI Foundation, Inc., and the VMI Keydet Club, Inc., received the following gifts in memory of deceased alumni, parents and friends during the time frame of Oct. 1, 2012, through Jan. 31, 2013.

Mr. John B. Adams ’36 Mr. Michael L. Thompson ’75

Mr. Jerry Alberts Mr. Donald S. Schultz

Mr. Michael E. Amann ’00 Mr. Scott F. McInnis ’00

Mr. Walter C. Ames Jr. ’922 Mr. Walter C. Ames III ’52

Mr. Louis J. Anjier Jr. ’61 Mrs. Louis J. Anjier Jr.

Mr. Arthur J. Armstead II ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mr. Eugene Scott Jr. ’80

Mr. Thomas C. Armstrong Jr. ’54 Mrs. Thomas C. Armstrong Jr.

Lt. Col. John B. Ashcraft ’72, USAF Mrs. Linda Cioffi

Col. John A. Augustine III ’40, USAF Mr. Walter A. Edens Jr. ’72

Mr. John W. Ayler III ’41 Class of 1941

Mr. Robert Emerson Balch ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mary M. Ball Lt. Col. Alan S. Fojt ’72, USA (Ret)

Mr. Stephen J. Barcik ’59 Custom Sounds Lt. Col. Michael M. Irvine Jr. ’59, USA (Ret) The Bridge Club Mr. Frank H. White ’59 Mr. James C. Wood Jr. ’59

Mr. George L. Barton IV ’66 Mr. John S. Bolger Jr. ’66 Mr. Richard K. Hines V ’66 and Mrs. Hines Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66 Mr. James L. Whitehurst Jr. ’66

Mr. John F. Beadle III ’73 Mr. David P. Northcraft ’73

Mr. Joseph D. Beam Jr. ’44 Mr. John P. Irby ’44

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Mr. Francis Bell Jr. ’43 Mr. James G. Bell

Mr. Charles T. Benedict ’64 Mr. Bernie G. Hylton ’64

Mr. John W. Benson ’54 William O. Turner Jr. ’54, Ph.D.

Mr. William W. Berry ’54 Mr. Walter C. Ames III ’52 Mr. Peter H. Lyons ’54 Mr. T.S. Williamson III ’54

Frank N. Bilisoly III ’43, M.D. Mr. Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Catlett J. Parker Cross Jr. ’53, M.D. Judge James H. Flippen Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Flippen Mr. G. Gray Garland Jr. ’46 Mr. Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B and Mrs. Outland Willcox Ruffin Jr. ’52, M.D. Mr. Vincent J. Thomas ’43 and Mrs. Thomas Mrs. Kavanaugh Y. Thrift

Capt. Thomas G. Blair Jr. ’69, USA Col James D. Polley IV ’68, USA (Ret)

Mr. Crispin P. Blanchette ’68 Mr. L. Bruce McGlothlin ’68

Mr. W.R. Blandford Jr. ’69 Mr. Warren M. Childress ’69

Mr. Robert L. Bobbitt Jr. ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Edwin H. Bodenheim II ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. Kirk Roselle Murray ’71

Col. James W. Bramlet ’54, USA William O. Turner Jr. ’54, Ph.D.

Col. William F. Brand Jr. ’39, USA Mrs. Betty B. Woody

Mr. A. Brockenbrough Jr. ’921 Mr. Donald M. Wilkinson ’61

Col. George M. Brooke Jr. ’36 Col. Douglas H. Mills ’67, USA (Ret) Mr. Michael L. Thompson ’75

Mr. Lindsay U. Bruce Jr. Mrs. Marsha R. Costen

Col. William J. Buchanan ’50B Mr. Keith A. Byron ’86 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Wadsworth Bugg Jr. ’43 Mr. Wadsworth Bugg IV ’07

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

Mr. Michael W. Burks ’73 Mr. David P. Northcraft ’73

Col. Thornton A. Burns Jr. ’55, USA Robert H. Bowden Jr. ’55, M.D., and Mrs. Bowden Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. Richard J. Cabaniss ’70 Mrs. Nancy T. Cabaniss Mastin

Cadets of 1864 New Market Battalion Mr. Bernie G. Hylton ’64

Mr. Peter R. Candler ’71 Mr. William L. Candler Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. F. Steven Carlon ’51 Mr. John S. Gray ’51 Mr. L. Anthony Hancock ’63

Mr. Joseph E. Carney Jr. ’54 William O. Turner Jr. ’54, Ph.D.

Mr. A. Thomas Carozza ’51 Mr. Ewen J. Hill ’51 and Mrs. Hill Mr. and Mrs. John Jennison Maj. W.S. Shea ’55, USMC (Ret)

Lt. Col. Charles V. Carson ’934, USAF Ms. Carol C. Joseloff

Mr. A. Mark Casey Jr. ’49B Mr. John W. Trumbo ’48A and Mrs. Trumbo

Mr. Webster M. Chandler Jr. ’46 Mr. Walter C. Ames III ’52 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. I. Lee Chapman III ’65 Walton D. Stallings Jr. ’65, Ph.D.

Mr. Charles C. Chewning ’42 Ms. Emily Chewning Mr. Charles O. Fleet ’99

Col. James P. Connolly II ’51, USMC Mr. John S. Gray ’51

Mr. Dan B. Conoly Jr. ’52 Mr. John R. Taylor Jr. ’52

Mr. Edwin Cox III ’53 Lt. Col. Edwin C. Cox ’89, USANG (Ret) Mr. William R. Horne Jr. ’53

Alfred B. Cramer III ’54, M.D. Mr. Alfred B. Cramer IV ’79

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. William E. Crumpler ’53 Mr. W. Scott Crumpler ’82

Mr. Ira C. Crytzer Jr. ’49C Mr. W. Marshall Brittain ’49C

Mr. Raymond C. Cullen ’66 Mrs. Raymond C. Cullen

Mr. G. Powell Davis ’48A Mr. and Mrs. Warren L. Rose

Mr. William G. Davis ’64 The Honorable Robert G. O’Hara Jr. ’64

Col. Charles H. Dayhuff Jr. ’931, USA Lt. Col. Charles H. Dayhuff III ’59, USAR (Ret)

Deceased Brother Rats – Class of 1968 Lt. Col. George H. Sebren ’68, USAF (Ret)

Deceased Brother Rats – Class of 1949B Lt. Col. Carel T. Humme ’49B, USAF (Ret)

Mr. Richey S. Dickson ’50B Ms. Susan DeWulf Mr. John S. Gray ’51 Mr. Hoge T. Sutherland ’50B

Col. Herbert N. Dillard Jr. ’934 Mr. Graham L. Gross ’63 Mr. Donald M. Wilkinson ’61

Col. Samuel W. Dobyns ’41, USAF Class of 1941 Class of 1961 Mrs. Clentis M. Gupton Col. Donald K. Jamison ’57 Mr. Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41 and Mrs. Louthan Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57

Mr. Steve B. Dod ’55

Lt. Col. and Mrs. George M. Brydon III Mr. Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Catlett Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Farrell II Mrs. Frances B. Forsyth Mr. John S. Gray ’51 Col. B.F. Harmon III ’49B, USA (Ret) Mrs. James Hume Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas N. Innes Mr. John P. Irby ’44 Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Mr. W.F. Kastelberg IV ’74 Lee County Board of County Commissioners Mr. Charles S. Luck III ’55 and Mrs. Luck M & R Constructors Inc. Ms. Betty R. Marshall Mr. Charles B. Miller ’42 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mrs. Sophie R. Parker Mr. and Mrs. William B. Pendleton Mrs. P.S. Richardson Jr. Mrs. John J. Salley Col. Stuart M. Seaton ’41, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Seaton Mrs. William L. Stagg III Mr. John K. Taylor ’50B Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57 Anne M. Whittemore, Esquire Edward J. Wiley Jr. ’52, M.D. Mrs. Thomas E. Williams

Cadet Kyle H. Elliott ’16 Mothers of the Class of 2016

Mr. John D. England ’73 Mr. David P. Northcraft ’73

Mr. Nestor J. Fabella ’57 Mr. Thomas W. Robinson ’57

Col. John M. Fain ’932, USAF Mrs. John M. Fain

Fallen Brother Rats from the Class of 2001

Mr. and Mrs. J. William Reid

Mr. Delton G. Lowery ’01

Sgt. Ryan E. Doltz ’00, ANG

H. Lee Fleshood ’64, Ph.D.

Maj. David D. Troxell ’02, USAF

Gen. Charles P. Dorman Ms. Barbara Wyche

Mr. Henry S. Dunbar III ’48B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Wayne R. Eggleston ’88 Mr. and Mrs. Wayne R. Eggleston

Jessica W. Elam Lt. Col. Charles R. Elam III

Mr. Tazewell Ellett III ’44 Mrs. Susan Ball

2013-Issue 2

Mr. Edward M. Seager ’64

Mr. Richard R. Fletcher Miss Margaret Davis

Mr. Henry J. Foresman ’41 Mr. George W. Foresman ’84

Mrs. Henry J. Foresman Mr. George W. Foresman ’84

Mr. Douglas C. France III ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. George C. Freeman II ’65 Mr. Robert I. Morgan ’65

Mr. John H. Friend Jr. ’51 R. Danner Friend ’87, Ph.D.

Lt. Arthur L. Galloway Jr. ’69, USA Lt. Col. Joseph N. Flanz ’69, USA (Ret) Mr. and Mrs. George K. Gill

Mr. Benjamin R. Gardner ’64 The Honorable Robert G. O’Hara Jr. ’64

Mrs. Nancy Gearhart Mr. G. William Gearhart Jr. ’70

Mrs. Blythe Gehr Mr. William A. Gregory ’66

Mrs. Mary Gentry Mrs. Elizabeth G. Harralson

Col. Thomas B. Gentry ’44, USA Class of 1944 Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57

Col. B.P. Gibson Jr. ’43, USMC Mrs. B.P. Gibson Jr.

Mr. Robert W. Gibson III ’69 Mrs. Robert W. Gibson III

Mr. William O. Giles Jr. ’931 Mr. William O. Giles III ’60

James Samuel Gillespie III ’94 Mr. Chad N. Correll ’94 Mr. Christopher L. Doyle ’94 Mr. Brian J. Froehlich ’94 Col. and Mrs. George Piegari

Col. B. McCluer Gilliam ’40, USAR Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Warren M. Goddard Jr. ’53 Mrs. Edwin H. Artz Jr. Mr. Paul J. Austin and Ms. Barbara M. Martin Mr. Robert B. Barnes Jr. ’54 and Mrs. Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Brian Carlucci Ms. Emily E. Carter Maj. Gen. Richard E. Collier ’57, USAR (Ret) Mr. Richard E. Collier Jr. ’82 J. Parker Cross Jr. ’53, M.D. Mr. Stephen M. Goddard ’83 and Mrs. Goddard Mr. William A. Hallett Jr. ’47 Terrell Luck Harrigan and Elliott M. Harrigan Mr. Robert A. Harris III ’55 and Mrs. Harris Jil and Hiter Harris Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove III ’83 Mr. Neil Hennessy Mrs. Anne W. Hodges Mr. Herold R. Hofheimer ’53

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Ms. Aubrey C. Hord Mr. and Mrs. Dale Hundley Mr. Randolph Irby W. Reed Johnson ’53, D.Eng. Mr. and Mrs. William C. Jones Warren W. Koontz Jr. ’53, M.D. Law Offices of Michael David Wood Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Lewis Lincoln Peak Capital Management Mr. Charles S. Luck III ’55 and Mrs. Luck Mr. Franklin W. Maddux ’53 Ms. Barbara M. Martin Mr. Robert S. Miller ’53 Mr. Jonathan T. Moody ’86 Col. J. Robert Nolley Jr. ’51, USAFR (Ret), and Mrs. Nolley Mr. William T. Nolley ’55 Ms. Jane W. Pearson Mr. Kenneth M. Perry ’53 Mr. Overton P. Pollard Mrs. Mary C. Smith Col. Peter B. Southmayd, USMC (Ret), and Mrs. Southmayd Mr. Jesse W. Stinnette Jr. ’80 and Mrs. Stinnette Mr. and Mrs. John L. Stultz Mr. J.V. Taylor Jr. ’64 Ms. Robin G. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Vance Ms. Diane Ward Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Webb Mr. A.L. Wellford III ’52 Mrs. Hugh V. White Jr. Edward J. Wiley Jr. ’52, M.D. Mr. T.S. Williamson III ’54 Col. Clement L. Woodward ’53, AUS (Ret)

Mr. Steven Wayne Good ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mrs. Steven W. Good

Mrs. Bridget Goode Mr. John Goode ’81

Mr. William K. Goolrick Jr. ’41 Class of 1941

Mr. Douglas B. Green II ’41 Class of 1941

Mr. Monroe M. Gregory Jr. ’47 Ms. Sharon B. Askew Mr. James D. Elliott Jr. ’79 Ms. Anne R. Fogarty Ms. Charlotte H. Fogarty Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. and Mrs. John L. Grant Ms. Marjorie L. Gunst Mrs. William F. Kastelberg Mr. W.F. Kastelberg IV ’74 Mrs. Elizabeth F. Kexel Mr. James M. Morgan III ’84 and Mrs. Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Dominic J. Pecora Jr.

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Mr. Blaise C. Plageman Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47 RockTenn E&I Group Mr. Charles W. Smith Jr. Ms. Margaret A. West Anne M. Whittemore, Esquire Mr. G. Harrison Whitten Jr. ’49A Mr. and Mrs. David M. Wilberger Jr.

Mr. Eugene S. Groseclose Jr. ’67 Mr. and Mrs. Hunsdon Cary III

Lt. Col. Jeffrey D. Guild ’70, USA Harold F. Bare Jr. ’70, Ph.D. Mr. Robert R. Copty ’70 Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock ’70, USA (Ret)

Col. Oscar W. Gupton Mr. Kirk Roselle Murray ’71

Mr. and Mrs. Otey W. Hall Mr. Conrad M. Hall ’65

Mr. William A. Hallett Jr. ’47 Mrs. Frances W. Arehart Ms. Pamela Asbury Mrs. Barbara H. Baldwin Mr. Bradley B. Cavedo Mr. Ralph L. Costen Jr. ’70 Mr. Lucius B. Dabney Jr. ’47 Mrs. Marilyn J. Dudley Judge John F. Ewell ’47 Mr. P. Stockton Fleming ’49C Mrs. J. Carl Garrison Jr. Mr. John S. Gray ’51 Judge Samuel M. Hairston ’47 Mr. William G. Haughton ’47 Mr. Joe T. Howard ’51 and Mrs. Howard Louis R. Hundley ’47, Ph.D. Insurance Accounting & Systems Association Inc. Mrs. Ted B. Jacobsen Mrs. Catesby B. Jones Mr. Robert J. Kweller Mr. Charles B. Miller ’42 Mr. John F. Monroe Jr. ’47 and Mrs. Monroe Mrs. James H. Newsom Jr. Mr. Ridley T. Nichol ’47 Col. J. Robert Nolley Jr. ’51, USAFR (Ret), and Mrs. Nolley Mr. Grover C. Outland Jr. ’49B and Mrs. Outland Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mr. William C. Phillips Jr. ’47 Mr. Sol W. Rawls Jr. ’40 Mr. Joseph J. Reynolds III ’47 Mrs. P.S. Richardson Jr. Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47 Mr. George H. Roberts Jr. ’68 Mrs. Norma Robinson Mr. Roger P. Rosenfield ’47 Mrs. John J. Salley Col. Stuart M. Seaton ’41, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Seaton

Mr. James B. Sizer III ’47 Mr. Thomas G. Slater Jr. ’66 Mr. J. Lansing Smith ’47 Mrs. Albert C. Smith Jr. Mr. Richard T. Spencer Jr. ’47 Mr. Joseph M. Spivey III ’57 Mr. John A. Steel ’47 Mr. and Mrs. William H. Tavenner Col. and Mrs. Douglas E. Taylor Mr. John K. Taylor ’50B Mr. John K. Tiller Jr. ’54 Mr. Harry H. Warner ’57 Anne M. Whittemore, Esquire Edward J. Wiley Jr. ’52, M.D.

Mr. Charles B. Hammond Sr. ’63 Mr. John B. Mitchell ’63

Mr. Lester H. Hare

Mr. Geoffrey G. Schelhorn ’71

A.W. Hargroves Jr. ’44, M.D.

The Clark Family – Beth, Bill, Lindsey and Bryson Class of 1944 Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Mr. Edward L. Oast Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Oast Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Perry Ms. Linda Strachan

Col. R. Marlowe Harper Mrs. Frances W. Arehart Mrs. Clentis M. Gupton

Mr. George B. Harris III ’54 Mrs. George B. Harris III

Col. Michael S. Harris

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Samuel L. Hayes ’909 Mrs. Ruth Hayes Gayle

Mr. Samuel L. Hayes Jr. ’50B Mrs. Ruth Hayes Gayle

Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove Jr.

Mrs. Charles W. Appich Jr. Thornton Beale Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Bird Mr. and Mrs. Andrew M. Girvin Mary Bruce and Phil Glaize, Maggie, Philip, David and Lucy Mr. Stephen M. Goddard ’83 and Mrs. Goddard Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove III ’83 Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove IV ’11 Mr. William McLean Mr. and Mrs. John H. Menge IV Mr. Joseph F. Morrissette Col. J. Robert Nolley Jr. ’51, USAFR (Ret), and Mrs. Nolley The Wilborn Roberson Family Mr. and Mrs. William J. Skrobacz Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Taylor Mr. James T. Vicker

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Col. Sterling M. Heflin ’916, USA Mr. and Mrs. Ted H. Brown

Mr. Gerald B. Henderson ’49B Mr. Launcelot E. Soult ’50B

Mr. J. Ed Hensley ’41

Class of 1941 Mr. David M. Waggoner

Mr. John A. Herring ’51

Mrs. Gerald E. Smallwood

B. Richard Hill ’68, D.D.S.

Mr. Terence L. Bowers ’68 Mr. Cyrus K. Kump ’68 Mr. George H. Roberts Jr. ’68

Mr. Shawn G. Hogan ’06

Mr. John C. Diehl IV ’06 Mr. Timothy D. Greer ’06 Mr. Dennis A. Hogan Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Hogan Andrew C. Ihnen ’06, Ph.D. Mr. Fred King Natalia King Mr. John G. Mundt ’06 Lt. Christopher J. Rogers ’06, USN Mr. Yevgeniy A. Skvortsov ’06 Lt. Christopher M. Stolle ’06, USN Veterans Assisting Veterans Mr. Brian J. Welch ’07 Capt. Peter R. Wilcox ’06, USA

William E. Holland ’58, M.D.

Lt. Col. Harry E. Bennett Jr. ’58, USAF (Ret)

Maj. Henry B. Holliday Ms. Barbara J. Wertz

Honorable G. Duane Holloway ’51

Mr. Richard Y. AtLee ’66 and Mrs. AtLee Mr. George L. Cohen ’51 Lt. Col. Martin C. Fisher ’55, USA (Ret) Mr. and Mrs. William A. Forrest Mr. Scott Gauvin Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Gibson Mr. John S. Gray ’51 Col. Willard M. Hays ’51, USA Mr. Joe T. Howard ’51 and Mrs. Howard Mr. and Mrs. John K. Kane II Mactas and Alper Col. J. Robert Nolley Jr. ’51, USAFR (Ret), and Mrs. Nolley Mrs. Nelson T. Overton Pembroke Construction Company Inc. Col. Peter L. Philp ’51, USA (Ret) Mrs. P.S. Richardson Jr. Mr. John J. Ross III ’51 and Mrs. Ross Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait Mr. Jacob H. Wamsley II ’51 and Mrs. Wamsley Mr. Stuart E. Woodcock Sr. ’61

Mr. Henry B. Holmes Jr. ’916 Mr. William G. Davis ’68 and Mrs. Davis

2013-Issue 2

Mr. Henry B. Holmes III ’41 Mr. William G. Davis ’68 and Mrs. Davis

Mr. William H. Hoofnagle Jr. ’36 Mr. William H. Hoofnagle III ’67 and Mrs. Hoofnagle

Mr. William C. Hope III ’62 Mr. Robert B. Powell ’63

Lt. Joshua C. Hurley ’01, USA Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Way

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell C. Hyatt Jr. ’929 Mr. and Mrs. Larry P. Egan

Mr. Thomas B. Inge Jr. ’59 Agnes and Charlie Carter

Mr. James P. Irby ’81 Carneal-Drew Foundation Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Lt. Gen. Richard L. Irby ’39, Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Walter M. Ivkovich Jr. ’70 Mr. and Mrs. Norman E. McNeill

Mrs. Charles E. Johnson Jr. ’926 Mr. C.E. Johnson IV

Mr. L. Eugene Johnson Jr. ’56 Mr. Bruce Haldeman II ’58

Mr. Ward W. Johnson ’55

Mrs. Janet J. Aldridge Mr. Kyle J. Andrews Robert H. Bowden Jr. ’55, M.D., and Mrs. Bowden Mr. Douglas V. Bralley Mr. Ronald M. Bryan ’55 Home Instead Senior Care Mr. and Mrs. Virgil P. Sabin Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait The Capital Management Corporation Lt. Col. David F. Woolwine ’55, USA (Ret)

Col. Royce E. Jones ’55 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Samuel P. Jordan Jr. ’64 Mary Jo Jordan, Jo Ellen Jordan Auble and Samuel P. Jordan II

Mr. David N. Kaliski ’64 Mrs. David N. Kaliski

Capt. M.J. Katcher ’47, USN Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47

Col. Ronald J. Kaye ’57, USMC Ms. Ruth H. Smith

Dr. Clark King Mr. Warren H. Grasty ’70 Col. Hart Slater

Mr. Robert R. Knight ’11

1st Lt. Lane G. Pratt ’11, USA

Azis La Sida

Mr. Lolo F. LaSida ’94

Col. Mell J. Lacy Jr. ’63, USAF

Maj. Gen. Joseph G. Lynch ’69, USAFR (Ret)

1st Lt. John H. Lattin Jr. ’66

Herbert P. Rhodes Jr. ’62, M.D., and Mrs. Rhodes

Mr. Michael Leck

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Berry Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Shifflette

Frank J. Lee ’42, M.D.

Col. John M. Patton ’42, USAF (Ret)

Mr. Lloyd L. Leech III ’66 Mrs. Lloyd L. Leech III

Mr. J. Marvin Lekstrum ’55

Robert H. Bowden Jr. ’55, M.D., and Mrs. Bowden

Maj. Richard D. LeMay Jr. ’62, USA Herbert P. Rhodes Jr. ’62, M.D., and Mrs. Rhodes

Mr. Lawrence R. Lenz ’69 Mr. Paul D.C. Marks Jr. ’69

Mrs. Charles W. Lewis The Lewis Foundation

Mr. Charles W. Lewis ’924 The Lewis Foundation

Mr. Robert A. Lewis ’42

Lt. Col. Michael A. Burke ’73, USA (Ret)

Mr. Frank A. Liddell Jr. ’49B Mrs. Gerald E. Smallwood

Col. Dennis H. Long ’68, USA

Col. James D. Polley IV ’68, USA (Ret)

Mr. Frank F. Lumpkin ’79

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Charles E. Maddox Jr. ’68 Mr. Cyrus K. Kump ’68

Mr. Michael T. Mahoney ’68 Mr. L. Bruce McGlothlin ’68

Mr. Gerard Mannix ’81

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Nasor J. Mansour Jr. ’47 Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mrs. Karen B. Marchant Mr. Michael T. Smither ’63

Mr. Phillip B. Marley ’63 Mrs. Phillip B. Marley

Gen. George C. Marshall ’901 Mr. John W. Copley

Mr. Peyton J. Marshall Jr. ’52 Mrs. Peyton J. Marshall Jr.

Mr. Joseph E. Martin Jr. ’72 Craig, Paige, Sam & Sean McLawhon

Mr. L.N. Mauck Jr. ’46 Mr. Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43 and Mrs. Catlett Mr. John R. Cutright ’77 Mr. Robert P. Jaeger Mr. Harry G. Lee ’47 Mr. Charles M. Louthan ’75 and Mrs. Louthan Mr. Charles H. Norris ’80 Mrs. Sophie R. Parker Gift from Mary Bryan Perkins, Dorothy Gilbert and Stephen L. Perkins Dr. and Mrs. Watson O. Powell Jr. Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Walker

Mr. Michael W. Maupin ’59 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Ms. Virginia Powell

Mr. Joseph W. McCarthy III ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Michael A. McCrory ’69 Lt. Col. Joseph N. Flanz ’69, USA (Ret) Mr. Glenn Allen Geiger ’71

Mr. Ronald M. McCullough III ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Scott P. McCumber ’88 Mr. Bradley S. Reed ’88

Capt. William J. McDonald ’81, USA Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Col. Joel L. McGrady ’72, USA Mrs. Joel L. McGrady

Mr. Brian R. McGuire Jr. ’07 Capt. Ryan H. Steptoe ’07

Lt. Alan M. McLachlen ’81, USN Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. S. Robert McRorie ’36 Lt. Col. S.P. Waskiewicz III ’67, USAF (Ret)

Mr. Gerould R. McWane ’929 Col. Pearson D. McWane ’59, USAR (Ret)

176

Mr. Walter H. Meier III ’72 Mr. W.R. Beerbower ’72

Mr. Thaddeus J. Meler ’48A Ms. Dora T. Meler

Mr. John A. Michelsen ’57

Mrs. John A. Michelsen Mr. John E. Woodward Jr. ’57

Mr. H. Norwood Michie Jr. ’50B Mrs. Gerald E. Smallwood

Mr. Hugh L. Miller ’23

Dr. and Mrs. J. Stuart McDaniel

Mr. Hugh L. Miller Jr. ’59

Dr. and Mrs. J. Stuart McDaniel

Mr. George H. Mittendorf ’932 Mrs. George H. Mittendorf Jr.

Mr. George Mittendorf Jr. ’59 Mrs. George H. Mittendorf Jr.

Maj. Joseph G. Mixson ’57, USMC Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Houser

Catherine B. Moore

Mr. and Mrs. T. Glenn Wilson

Mr. James Vincent Ovca ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Ben Overton Mr. Gregory Olney

Louis S. Pappas ’72, M.D. Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. Charles W. Parker Jr. ’44 Mr. John P. Irby ’44

Mr. Robert H. Patterson Jr. ’49C Mr. Thomas N. Allen Mr. W. Marshall Brittain ’49C Ms. Pattie M. Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Farrell II Mr. Garland Gray II ’73 Mrs. Stephanie P. Karn Mary Moody Northen Endowment Mr. Joseph F. Morrissette Mr. David Oakey Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81 Mrs. William C. Overman Jr. Dr. Heth Owen Jr. Property Owners Association of Rivers Landing Mr. George H. Roberts Jr. ’68 William M. Camp Foundation

Mr. Jeffrey J. Morgan ’80

Mr. Charles G. Peckham ’63

Col. A.H. Morrison ’39

Mr. Robert N. Petrola ’71

Mr. Christopher L. Doyle ’94 Mrs. Ann Carman

Robert L. Morrison ’40, M.D. Mrs. Robert L. Morrison

Ms. Nancy C. Alden

Mr. W.R. Beerbower ’72 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. Paul F. Gibson ’71 Mr. Kirk Roselle Murray ’71

Mr. Robert E. Nay ’44

Mr. Thomas B. Phillips Jr. ’50B

Col. James B. Newman II ’39, USA

Mr. J. Robert Philpott Jr. ’68

Mr. Corville J. Nohava ’69

Mrs. Teresa F. Plageman

Mr. Charles D. North ’930

Lt. Terry L. Plunk ’88, USA

Mr. Temple R. North Jr. ’73

Mr. John E. Poindexter ’44

Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Mr. and Mrs. Ted H. Brown

Lt. Col. Joseph N. Flanz ’69, USA (Ret) Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Howard Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Howard

Mr. Michael C. Northrop ’86 Northrop Family

Mr. Daniel J. Ogle ’63 Ms. Nancy C. Alden

W.L. O’Hern Jr. ’63, Ph.D. Ms. Nancy C. Alden

Capt. Thomas T. Oliver ’63, USA Mr. Howard I. Reynolds ’63

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Cyrus K. Kump ’68

Mr. Blaise C. Plageman

Mr. William G. Rogers ’86

Mr. and Mrs. Lowrey H. Holthaus Mr. T. Parker Host Jr. Mr. John P. Irby ’44 Michael J. Link, D.D.S. Edmund R. Strickler ’62, D.D.S.

Mr. Stanley E. Poston ’74 Mr. Robert F. Taylor ’74

1st Lt. Chase Prasnicki Ms. Leslie A. Arcuri Buzz Birzenieks ’64 and Jane Birzenieks Ms. Donna F. Johnson

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Mr. and Mrs. David Miller Mr. W. Gregory Robertson ’65 Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sorrells Mr. Shane D. Sullivan ’85 Mr. William E. Welsh ’64 Lt. Col. John J. Wranek III ’85, USANG

Mrs. Julia J. Preston Mr. John M. Gabriel

Mr. L. Douglas Pritchard Sr. ’45 Mr. John S. Gray ’51 Mr. H. Douglas Hamner Jr. ’48B

Mrs. Eleanore Pryde Mr. Rodger Rinehart

Mr. Donald F. Prystaloski ’63 Ms. Suella K. O’Neil Mr. Robert B. Powell ’63

Mr. Lewis B. Puller ’921 Sergeant A.L. Scarborough

1st Lt. Charles A. Ransom ’01, USAF Mr. James C. Jayko ’01

Mr. Harry Ratrie ’44 Class of 1944 Mr. Harold C. Donofrio Mr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Jones Mr. Robert P. Jones Jr. ’44 and Mrs. Jones Ms. M.L.S.W. Kosicki Mrs. Harry Ratrie Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Sadowski Ms. Linda A. Tooma Towson Golf and Country Club

Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Rattie V ’81, USN Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mrs. Margarette L. Reid Mr. John R. Reid

Mr. Archer L. Richardson III ’68 Lt. Col. David A. Cortese ’68, NG (Ret)

Col. P.S. Richardson Jr. ’48B, USA Mrs. P.S. Richardson Jr.

Col. George H. Ripley ’52, USMC Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Col. John W. Ripley Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

The Honorable Ralph B. Robertson ’65 Mrs. Ralph B. Robertson

Maj. James P. Rogan ’62, USA Herbert P. Rhodes Jr. ’62, M.D., and Mrs. Rhodes

Mr. James W. Rountree Jr. ’67 Frank E. Oliver ’67, M.D., and Mrs. Oliver

2013-Issue 2

Mr. Edward H. Rutherford ’55 Robert H. Bowden Jr. ’55, M.D., and Mrs. Bowden Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. Robert F. Rutschow ’53 Mr. and Mrs. Larry P. Egan

Miss Jane Saunders Mrs. Ann Saunders Brown

Molly Saunders Harvey C. Woodruff III ’64, D.D.S., and Mrs. Woodruff

Mr. and Mrs. George Schelhorn Mr. Geoffrey G. Schelhorn ’71

Mr. George R. Schell ’58 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Mr. Charles C. Schoen III ’56 Mr. Richard K. Hines V ’66 and Mrs. Hines

Mr. Vincent C. Scott Jr. ’66 Mrs. Vincent C. Scott Sr.

Jay R. Sculley ’62, Ph.D. Mr. Walter H. Hylton III ’62 Col. and Mrs. George Piegari

Mr. Tyler R. Secrest ’11 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Alvey Joan and Thom Barnell Lt. Col. and Mrs. Scott G. Brown Brig. Gen. Stephen Cheney Mr. and Mrs. Stanley P. Colligan Ms. Sharon T. Downey Mr. and Mrs. Melvin E. Drumheller Ms. Dorothy H. Hogan Mr. and Mrs. Ed LeBreton Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. McIlwain NICU Staff, Parkview Regional Medical Center Mr. and Mrs. Julio C. Pereira Mary, Chris and Dann Rodden Ms. Deanna Schaefer Dr. and Mrs. Joel Secrest Ms. Marie T. Secrest Mr. Thomas M. Shaffner ’08 The Bock Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Thiemann III VAMAC Inc. Mr. and Mrs. William W. Waldrop Mr. Raymond W. Zipfel

Mr. B. Ken Shafer Jr. ’68 Class of 1968

Mrs. Betty Shaner Mr. Michael T. Smither ’63

Mr. William M. Shelley ’49B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Wilson E.D. Shepherd ’50B Mr. Hoge T. Sutherland ’50B

Capt. Robert S. Silverman ’81, USA Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

The Reverend Carl Simmons Jr. ’47 Mrs. Carl Simmons Jr.

Mr. William G. Simmons ’46 Dr. and Mrs. Robert Simmons

Lt. Col. Howard J. Simpson ’47, USA Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47

Mr. W. Drakeford Slay ’72 Col. Robert D. Slay Jr.’69, M.D., USA (Ret)

Mr. Gerald E. Smallwood ’50B Mrs. Gerald E. Smallwood

Mr. Alfred L. Smith Jr. ’68 Lt. Col. George H. Sebren ’68, USAF (Ret)

Mr. A. Randal Smith ’66 Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66

Mr. Frederick M. Smith ’69 Mr. Gary W. Mackey ’69

Mr. Millard G. Smith ’43 Mr. Byrd S. Heaton

Brig. Gen. G.M. Snead Jr. ’43, USA Mr. G.T. Durvin Jr. ’70

Lt. Col. Joseph G. Spicer Jr. ’69, USA Graham Y. Moore III ’69, Ph.D.

Mr. Richard R. Stegemerten ’71 Mr. Terry Dale Berglund ’71 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. Robert A. Haywood ’71

Mr. Daniel C. Stickley Jr. ’53 Mrs. Daniel C. Stickley

Col. William J. Stockwell Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Galen W. Swank ’03 Mr. and Mrs. Craig W. Brown Mr. Michael G. Conley ’76 Mr. James A. Delisio ’76 Mr. James F. Dittrich ’76 Dennis C. Drinkwater Jr. ’03, M.D. Ms. Jessica Falconer Mr. William H. Hornberger Mr. and Mrs. Ron Horton Lt. Col. James G. Joustra Jr. ’76, USAR (Ret) Mr. Alan B. Kinker ’76 Mr. James L. Mallon ’76 Mr. Robert L. Manteuffel ’77 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Mills Capt. Samson C. Newsome II ’03, USMC

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VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Capt. Seth G. Ostlund ’03 Mr. Jared M. Swanson ’03 Mr. Douglas B. Warner ’03

Mr. William P. Talbott ’50B Mrs. William P. Talbott Sr.

Mr. J. Vaughan Taylor ’38 Mr. Robert H. Taylor ’75

Mrs. Powell H. Taylor

Mr. Stuart S. Taylor ’85 and Mrs. Taylor

Capt. John R. Teal ’94, USANG Mr. Jason D. Nicholls ’94

Mr. Robert J. Thalman

Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Ms. Susan V. Thompson Mr. Craig B. Lewis

Mr. Eugene N. Touchstone ’67

Mr. George T. Elmore III ’67 Col. Michael J. Ingelido II ’67, USAF (Ret) Col. Victor J. Tambone ’67, USAF (Ret)

Mr. George T. Trumbo II ’75

Mr. John W. Trumbo ’48 and Mrs. Trumbo

Robert K. Turner Jr. ’47, Ph.D. Nancy and Thomas Florsheim Family Foundation Mrs. Sophie R. Parker Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47 Mrs. Robert K. Turner Jr.

Franklin V. Tweedy ’50B, M.D. Mr. John K. Taylor ’50B

Mr. William E. Vick ’63

Mr. Howard M. Lloyd Jr. ’66 Mr. Donald R. McMath ’71

Col. Kenneth A. Walters ’87, USAF Anthony S. Brads ’87, Ed.D.

Mr. Charles P. Walthour ’49B Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Ralph A. Warren Jr. ’50B Mr. Hoge T. Sutherland ’50B

Mr. Tucker C. Watkins IV ’68 Class of 1968

Mr. William F. Watkins Jr. ’47 Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47

Mr. N. Thatcher Watson ’50B Mrs. N. Thatcher Watson

Mr. Robert L. Watson ’64

Buzz Birzenieks ’64 and Jane Birzenieks

Mr. Julian M. Weaver Jr. ’925 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

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Mr. Richard C. Weaver ’921 Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71

Col. Siegfried Weing Mr. Kirk Roselle Murray ’71 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Edgar V. Weir ’40 The Edgar V Weir Family Foundation Inc.

Mr. R.F. Welton III ’40 Mr. Roy A. Raney Jr. ’62

Mr. Robert W. Wentz Jr. ’54 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Hugh V. White Jr. ’54 Ms. Aubrey C. Hord Mr. Peter H. Lyons ’54 Mr. William P. Schubmehl ’54 Mr. T.S. Williamson III ’54

Mr. John A. White Jr. ’49A Mrs. P.S. Richardson Jr.

Mr. Richard M. White ’47 Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47

Mr. John E. Whitmore ’42 Ms. Virginia Lee R. Anderson Mrs. Wilbur R. Cross Mrs. Frances B. Forsyth Mr. and Mrs. Lester D. Haisley Mrs. Gardner P. Heller Mrs. Ted B. Jacobsen Mr. and Mrs. Trent S. Kerns Mr. Frank G. Louthan Jr. ’41 and Mrs. Louthan Mr. Kenneth M. Perry ’53 Dr. and Mrs. Watson O. Powell Jr. Col. Stuart M. Seaton ’41, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Seaton Mr. Harry J. Siebert ’42 Mrs. Thomas J. Wilson III

William Bradley Willard William Bradley Willard Foundation

Lt. David L. Williams ’91, USN Mr. Hans C. Peeders ’91

Capt. F. Perry Williams ’932, USCG Harvey C. Woodruff III ’64, D.D.S., and Mrs. Woodruff

Lt. Gen. Paul S. Williams Jr. ’51, USA Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Tait ’55, USA (Ret), and Mrs. Tait

Mr. Thomas E. Williams ’44 Mr. John P. Irby ’44

Mr. Warren Scott Williams ’81 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Brig. Gen. Dan H. Williamson ’47, USA Mr. Augustus Robbins III ’47

Mr. John M. Willis III ’71 Mr. William L. Benson Jr. ’57 Mr. Terry Dale Berglund ’71 Mr. W.T. Bondurant III Mr. Warren J. Bryan ’71 and Mrs. Bryan Mr. Ronald L. Gault Jr. ’71 Mr. G. William Gearhart Jr. ’70 Mr. James D. Gearhart ’71 Mr. William L. Ginder ’71 Mr. Robert A. Haywood ’71 Mr. Robert N. McEwan ’71 Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Rodriguez Mr. Michael Gary Rogers ’71

Mr. James W. Wilson ’37 Mr. James W. Wilson Jr.

Mr. J.R. Bland Wilson ’51 Mr. Joe T. Howard ’51 and Mrs. Howard Mr. John J. Ross III ’51 and Mrs. Ross Mr. Jacob H. Wamsley II ’51 and Mrs. Wamsley

Lt. Mark R. Wilson ’88, USN Mr. Bradley S. Reed ’88 Ms. Lilly Sabadash

Col. Tyson Wilson Michael M. Belenky ’55, D.D.S. Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Mr. Gregory B. Wingard ’68 Lt. Col. David A. Cortese ’68, NG (Ret)

Mr. S. Frederick Winiker Jr. ’61 Mrs. S. Frederick Winiker Jr.

Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise Lt. Col. Charles R. Elam III

Mr. Henry A. Wise ’927 Mr. Grover C. Outland III ’81

Pvt. John H. Wise Lt. Col. Charles R. Elam III

Mr. John H. Woodfin Sr. ’61 Mr. Paul J. Johnston ’61

Col. R.T. Woodman ’50B, USA Mr. Edward L. Oast Jr. ’50B and Mrs. Oast Mr. Hoge T. Sutherland ’50B Mr. John K. Taylor ’50B

Mr. John E. Woodward Jr. ’42 Col. John M. Patton ’42, USAF (Ret)

Mr. DeWitt S. Worrell ’62 Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Archie Mr. Christopher L. Doyle ’94 Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Houser Col. and Mrs. George Piegari

VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

VMI FOUNDATION, INC. Ms. Audrey F. Stivers Mr. L.B. Wilson Jr. ’62

Mr. Gregory R. Wright Jr. ’95 Mr. Thomas Citrano Mr. Jim Flinchum

Lt. Col. Walter E. Wright ’73, USA Mr. David P. Northcraft ’73

Capt. Luke C. Wullenwaber ’02, USA Maj. David D. Troxell ’02, USAF Dr. Marc D. Yelle ’02

Deloitte Foundation

Mr. Andrew N. Harris ’04 Mr. Tab M. Warlitner ’85

Dominion Foundation

Mr. Walter C. Ames III ’52 Mr. David E. Ayers ’64 Mr. Rudolph J. Bartol ’79 Mr. Kevin M. Cordray ’80 Mr. O. Preston Sloane III ’75 Mr. John K. Taylor ’50B Mr. John S. Thornton Jr. ’64 Mr. Michael P. Wilson ’99

Ellucian

Mr. William H. Dunlap ’72

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 Oct. 1, 2012, through Jan. 31, 2013.

First Community Bank

Mr. G. Wayne Eastham ’76

Freddie Mac Foundation

Mr. Charles A. DePasquale ’86 Mr. Thomas M. Shaffner ’08

Fulton Financial Corporation Abbott Laboratories Fund Mr. Warren F. Chauncey

Aetna Foundation Inc. Mr. William T. Nebraska ’59

Altria Group Inc. Mr. William K. Bhatta ’76 Mr. Chung-Chul Chung ’88 Mr. John R. Munno ’84 Mr. Joseph I. Munno ’12

American Electric Power Mr. William G. Rogers ’86

AstraZeneca Mr. Patrick R. Krug ’91

Calibre Systems Inc. Mr. James R. Blanks ’91

Capital One Mr. Jason W. Ancarrow ’97 Mr. Alexander G. Blanton Jr. ’98

Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program Mr. Curtis C. Humphris Jr.

CITGO Petroleum Corporation Mr. Paul J. McCusker ’83

Coca-Cola Company Mr. Scott R. Armstrong ’87 Mr. C. Patrick Haddock ’00

Coille Limited Partnership LP Mr. Robert P. Kyle ’67

2013-Issue 2

Mr. Oliver L. Way ’75

Gannett Foundation Ms. Karen I. White

GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Mr. Miles T. Holt III ’92 Mr. Andrew J. Krug ’92

Google

Mr. Jackson S. Castleberry ’02

Hershey Foods Corporation Mr. Bernard M. Banas Jr. ’81

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc. Gen. John P. Jumper ’66, USAF (Ret)

Ingersoll-Rand Charitable Foundation Mr. Richard C. Murphy ’60

Itron Inc.

Mr. Rufus Owen IV ’91

Masco Corporation Ms. Toni D. White

MassMutual

Mr. Langhorne H. Meem II ’76

The NewMarket Foundation Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove III ’83 Mr. Bruce R. Hazelgrove IV ’11

Norfolk Southern Foundation Mr. Christian A. Hoeser ’48B Mr. Phillip R. Ogden ’63 Mr. Edwin R. Trinkle ’70

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Mr. Robert W. Hockley ’70 Mr. Easley L. Moore Jr. ’65

Package Pavement Company Inc. Mr. William M. Fleshood ’67

Pitney Bowes Company Mr. Benjamin W.L. Semmes III ’88

Plains Exploration & Production Company Mr. William W. Turpin ’75

SCANA Corporation Mr. John M. Cobb ’72

Schneider Electric/ Square D Foundation Mr. Wilson M. Brown ’87

Scitor Corporation Col. David R. Honeywell ’71, USAF (Ret)

SunTrust Foundation Mr. Vincent A. Wood III ’81

The Lubrizol Foundation Ms. Jane L. Haag

Two Rivers Treads Mr. Thomas W. Louderback ’11

UBS Mr. Andrew C. Zolper ’87

United Technologies Corporation Mr. James R. Greene ’87

Universal Leaf Foundation Mr. John B. Adams Jr. ’66

Unum Mr. Willis A. Council Jr. ’82

The Vanguard Group Foundation Mr. Dean A. Barr ’87

Verizon Foundation Mr. Richard W. Glass ’76 Mr. John S. Ingles ’44 Mr. Ralph T. Minor ’97 Mr. A. Thomas Wallace ’54 Mr. Michael C. Zirkle ’97

Waters Corporation Andrew J. Young ’74, Ph.D.

Wells Fargo Foundation Mr. Jeremy W. Ingram ’95 Mr. and Mrs. J. Burke McCormick

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KEYDET CLUB KEYDET CLUB Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet A Joyous and Somber Reminder of the Essence of VMI On Oct. 20, 2012, more than 670 VMI of the Keydet Club’s highest cadet-athlete cadet-athletes, parents, endowed schol- honor – The Three-Legged Stool Award. arship donors, annual full scholarship For the second time in the 12-year history donors, fund representatives, coaches of the award, it was presented to two cadetand VMI administrators gathered in a athletes: basketball player Stan Okoye ’13 and women’s track and rearranged Crozet Hall cross country star Jenna for the Keydet Club’s AnMoye ’13. The Threenual Scholarship Awards Legged Stool Award Banquet. The event has highlights a cadet’s outgrown in size and scope standing achievements over the years and brings in all three major areas together many of VMI’s of a VMI education: acamost generous benefacdemics, leadership and tors to athletics. athletics. Legendary VMI Following a wonderalumnus, the late Giles ful meal prepared by The banquet guest speaker, Capt. Will L yles ’02, Miller ’24, was the first Aramark, the staff of USA, gave a powerful and to use the term “threethe Keydet Club – Greg emotional address to the legged stool” to describe Cavallaro ’84, Donnie crowd. VMI’s well-rounded eduRoss ’74, Doug Bartlett, cational mission. Robert Crumpler ’07 and Cadet Okoye is the preseason Big South Andrew Deal ’12 – recognized all of the scholarship-athletes and annual scholar- Basketball Player of the Year and vice ship donors, endowment donors and fund president of education for the Honor Court. Cadet Moye is a three-time caprepresentatives present. Keydet Club Chief Executive Officer Greg tain of the women’s track and cross Cavallaro ’84 remarked to the crowd, “The country teams, while earning Big South Keydet Club is proud to bring together so Freshman of the Year and all-conference many of our generous and loyal alumni, honors this school year. The record crowd family and friends, so that you cadets can showed their enthusiastic support in an meet them and take a look at what your overwhelming ovation as the surprised future will hold as alumni and alumnae cadets took the stage. They each received of the Virginia Military Institute. It is the a formal resolution and a handsome mission of the Keydet Club to contribute to the Spirit and development of a successful Division I athletic program that benefits the whole of VMI. We are inspired by the love and support that is evident in this room tonight and are proud to be a part of making the education of tomorrow’s leaders possible. For our donors, these relationships are, without question, the single biggest factor that influences their generosity and continued support to the Keydet Club and our cadet-athletes.” One of the annual event’s Lyles, at right, during his tour in Iraq. highlights is the presentation 180

Three-Legged Stool Award, handcrafted by local Lexington artisan John Owen. Cadet Moye is the recipient of the Paul A. Bouis ’67 Annual Scholarship, and Cadet Okoye is the recipient of the Mundy Family Scholarship, represented by Marshall Mundy ’56. The evening’s guest speaker, Capt. William Lyles ’02, USA, was a former baseball player at VMI. He was introduced by VMI

Lyles throwing a baseball for the first time after his injury.

baseball head coach, Marlin Ikenberry ’95, who was an assistant at VMI during Lyle’s final two years. A year after graduation, Lyles joined the Army. He attended OCS in May 2003 and went on to complete the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Airborne School, Captain’s Career Course and Special Forces Qualification Course. He was deployed to the Mideast on three occasions, serving two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. During his tour in Afghanistan, Lyles lost both of his legs as a result of an improvised VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

KEYDET CLUB explosive device (IED) explosion. He now wears two prosthetic legs and sees his injury “as a badge of honor.” He said, “I wear my prosthetics with pride as a symbol that I was willing to sacrifice myself for the future and safety of our country.” Lyles made it clear throughout his speech that VMI has had an impact on his life and will always have a special place in his heart. “As a student here, you learn that no one man is bigger than the class, regardless of who you are, who you know or what sport you play. You learn to depend on your brother next to you in order to make it through this place. At VMI, nothing is handed to you; everything is earned, and the same goes for pretty much everything in life, no matter what your profession is. I took the values that were ingrained in me through my four years here and applied them to everything I ever did. I will always be grateful for the opportunity I was afforded to be a

student-athlete here at VMI.” Lyles closed his speech with this quote: “Always know that somewhere and somehow, the Institute will be heard from today!” The VMI Keydet Club was honored that former cadet-athlete Capt. Will Lyles joined the crowd for this special night, and everyone in the room that evening will never forget the ultimate sacrifices he made for his country. Keydet Club Board President Bill Paulette ’69 commented: “I thought the Scholarship Awards Banquet was one of the best ever and that Will Lyles was awesome. What a somber reminder of the true essence of VMI.” To learn more about the Scholarship Awards Banquet and how to give your support to one of VMI’s cadet-athletes, please call the Keydet Club at 800/444-1839. To make a gift in honor of Capt. Will Lyles ’02 and to the recently created VMI Baseball

Scholarship bearing his name, you may send your tax-deductible gift to the VMI Keydet Club at P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450.

Cadet Lyles as a pitcher on VMI’s baseball team.

From left, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent; Keydet Club CEO Greg Cavallaro ’84; Three-Legged Stool Award recipients Jenna Moye ’13 and Stan Okoye ’13; and Keydet Club President Bill Paulette ’69 at the Scholarship Awards Banquet.

2013-Issue 2

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KEYDET CLUB awarded an athletic scholarship to play football at the Institute. He was a four-year member of the football team, playing right guard and nose guard, and he played a key role in his class’s stellar football record. In 1959 and 1960, the class of ’61 won two The Keydet Club is proud to announce the Southern Conference Championships. establishment of the “Class of 1961 Football Haeberlein was named Second Team Scholarship,” thanks to the generosity of former All-State in 1959 and Second Team AllVMI football letterman William “Bill” Haeberlein Southern Conference in 1960. He also ’61. This scholarship will provide grant-in-aid to lettered in wrestling one year. a member of the VMI football team. Haeberlein graduated with a bachelor of About establishing the scholarship, Haeberlein science degree in biology and went on to said: “I was given the opportunity of attending serve in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, VMI on a full football scholarship and attended he played on the service football team for during the most productive four years in VMI the 32nd Infantry Division, and his team football history. I thought that, by establishing won the Eighth Army Championship. ‘The Class of 1961 Football Scholarship,’ it would After Haeberlein completed his military keep alive the memories of the entire class of service, he joined Parke Davis Pharma1961, especially the football team, while leaving a legacy [to which] family and friends of our class ceutical in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. could add, [as well as] other classes that benefited During his employment with Parke Davis, Former VMI football standout Bill Haeberlein ’61 was instrumental in from being let out of the Ratline after our wins. he moved to Albany, Georgia, and eventucreating the Class of 1961 Football This scholarship was started as a way for me to ally retired in southern Louisiana in 1997. Scholarship. help repay my college education and as a way He and his wife of 47 years, Silvia, live in of remembering that the class of 1961 had the Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. best four-year record of any class in VMI history. Keydet Club Vice President Donnie The members of the class are the most vocal and ardent supporters Ross ’74, who worked with Haeberlein in establishing this scholof the VMI Spirit, and as the years go by, our support has increased.” arship, said, “Bill is an ardent supporter of VMI football. We are Haeberlein matriculated from Havertown, Pennsylvania, and was deeply grateful for his devoted generosity to the Big Red Team.”

Class of 1961 Football Scholarship

Keydet Club Introduces “6th Man Cash Give-away” Promotion The Keydet Club created a promotion during the 2012-13 basketball season called “The Keydet Club 6th Man Cash Give-Away” to reinforce the importance of the VMI Corps of Cadets as the sixth man on the VMI basketball team. When the promotion was first introduced at a game halftime, six cadets each attempted a free throw shot, trying for a chance to win up to $3,600 or $600 each. Following their shots, the Keydet Club brought forward a “mystery guest shooter” from the stands – Commandant Col. Tom Trumps ’78. The commandant was given the chance for a free throw shot worth $600 or $100 for each cadet, and the colonel did not disappoint

fans. He swished the shot, and the Corps reacted in wild applause, thundering throughout Cameron Hall. During the post-game radio interview, basketball Coach Duggar Baucom commented, “As we were wrapping up our halftime talk to the team in the locker room, we heard a huge roar from the Corps of Cadets. I told the team that someone just did something to really excite the Corps, and now, I said, we need to go out and create some excitement of our own.” The players met Baucom’s challenge and turned a six-point, half-time deficit into a 76-57 rout of the then-#1-ranked Campbell Camels. Photo at left: VMI Commandant Col. Tom Trumps ’78, taking his free throw shot, while the Keydet Club and Corps cheer him on. Photo below: After Trumps made the shot, the Corps reacted in wild applause.

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KEYDET CLUB Fiorini ’64 Football Scholarship Largest Ever Fiorini ’64 Field Dedicated The Keydet Club is proud to announce the Peay III ’62, superintendent, presented the establishment of the largest, individually- Fiorinis with a picture of the newly named funded endowment in VMI athletics history Fiorini ’64 Field and its score board and with the creation of the Albert E. Fiorini ’64 said, “Al and Pat, it is only fitting that we are Football Scholarship. Fiorini was honored for his generosity in establishing this scholarship during halftime of the VMI-Citadel football game on Nov. 10, 2012. At the same time, “Fiorini ’64 Field” was announced and dedicated. This is the turf field behind Clarkson-McKenna Hall and Foster Stadium, which is used as the football practice field and for lacrosse competitions. During the halftime dedication Fiorini ’64 Field and scoreboard. ceremony, Gen. J.H. Binford

here in conjunction with VMI’s Founders Day Weekend and the 68th Military Classic of the South football game. Fitting because football is integral to who we are at VMI, and because it was at the VMICitadel game several years ago when discussions began with regard to your support for VMI football. Your gift, at this time, is extremely critical for the future of VMI football and our athletic program. We must and we will increase the size of our athletic endowment, and your unprecedented gift continues our strong momentum to that end. On behalf of a very grateful VMI family, I thank you.” Fiorini matriculated from

At halftime of the VMI-Citadel football game on Nov. 10, 2012, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, presented a picture of the newly named Fiorini ’64 Field and its scoreboard to Al Fiorini ’64 and his wife, Pat. In the photo, from left, were Keydet Club CEO Greg Cavallaro ’84 (holding the picture), Keydet Club President Bill Paulette ’69, Al and Pat Fiorini, Gen. Peay and VMI Athletic Director Donnie White ’65.

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KEYDET CLUB Norfolk, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Institute. Following graduation, he served for four years in the U.S. Army, including a tour in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal during his service. In 1985, Fiorini founded Kentuckiana Curb Company, now KCC International, Inc., which specializes in metal roof components for all manufacturers of roofing system products. He is the president and

chief executive officer of the company. Fiorini has served on the Keydet Club Board of Governors and is chairman of the Class of 1964’s 50th Reunion Fund campaign. He and his wife, Pat, live in Louisville, Kentucky. They have four children and five grandchildren. Greg Cavallaro ’84, chief executive officer of the VMI Keydet Club, said of Fiorini and the scholarship, “Al Fiorini joins a legion of other VMI men who want to see VMI and its athletic program funded for future success. His gift in establishing this endowed

Al Fiorini addressed the crowd during the VMI-Citadel football game halftime, as part of the Fiorini ’64 Field dedication.

scholarship is unprecedented, and we hope it will inspire others to consider the legacy they will leave behind.” Fiorini had this to say about the scholarship: “I’m honored to be able to give back to VMI in this way and am humbled by the naming of Fiorini ’64 Field. It’s exciting to participate with my Brother Rats in our upcoming 50th Reunion and the tradition of the 50th Reunion Fund. Gen. Peay has provided remarkable leadership, and the Institute needs all alumni to help perpetuate that which makes VMI great.”

From left, Head Coach Sparky Woods, the Fiorinis and Gen. Peay standing on the newly dedicated Fiorini ’64 Field.

Touchstone ’67 Memorial Wrestling Scholarship The life and memory of Eugene “Gene” Touchstone ’67 will forever live at VMI with the establishment of the Eugene N. Touchstone ’67 Memorial Wrestling Scholarship. This scholarship was originated by Touchstone’s wife of 42 years, Deborah Holley Touchstone, and his two children, Wendy Touchstone Shilbe and Steven Eugene Touchstone. The scholarship will provide grant-in-aid to a member of the VMI wrestling team. About the scholarship, Donnie Ross ’74 of the Keydet Club said, “On behalf of the Keydet Club, I wish to thank and congratulate Debbie and the generous members of the class of 1967 for honoring the memory of Gene Touchstone in this manner. Not only does this scholarship honor the legacy of Gene, but it also provides invaluable resources to VMI’s proud wrestling program for generations to come.” Touchstone matriculated from Danville, Virginia. He was the co-captain of the VMI wrestling team, and he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology. After VMI, he served in the U. S. Army. Following his Army service, Touchstone attended the 184

Medical College of Virginia Pharmacy School and graduated in 1974. He and his family moved to Martinsville, Virginia, where he practiced pharmacy in retail and hospital settings. Touchstone’s wife, Deborah, said, “My children and I chose to honor Gene’s memory by establishing this scholarship, because he loved VMI, his Brother Rats and wrestling. It means so very much to me that many of Gene’s Brother Rats are helping to make this scholarship a Touchstone ’67 reality. I hope that more classmates will join us in this effort, so that the Eugene N. Touchstone ’67 Wrestling Editor’s Note: Unless stated otherScholarship will be a wise, all articles in the Keydet Club section of the Alumni Review are living legacy to honor provided by the Keydet Club. this special man.” VMI ALUMNI REVIEW

Inauguration Parade Jan. 21, 2013

Alumni Review 2013 Issue 2

Articles inside

Legacy of Valor in the Air - Walter F. Draeger ’55