2021-Issue 1 Alumni Review by VMI Alumni Agencies

VMI 2021 - Issue 1

Alumni Review

The VMI Brick Program Comes to a Close Whether it’s falling in on the bricks for march down or counting them in the middle of the night on guard duty, bricks hold a unique station in VMI’s collective memory. Many hours of our past have been stamped into them. Understandably, a brick represents both one’s memory of the Institute and its memory of us. So it is appropriate to etch a tangible reminder of ourselves into the bricks for posterity. After 25 years, the VMI Brick Program is ending June 30, 2023. Now is your opportunity to be recognized for your loyal support of the Institute and its Corps of Cadets.

To learn how you can qualify for your own brick, or to order a brick in memory of someone else, please visit www.vmialumni.org/brickprogram or scan the QR code for answers to frequently asked questions about the VMI Brick Program. For additional questions, contact Franklin Van Valkenburg ’13 by email at vanvalkenburg@vmiaa.org or by phone at 800-444-1839 ext. 239.

Contents

Virginia Military Institute Alumni Review 2021-Issue 1

In This Issue . . . This issue includes class notes and news items covering the time period of Aug. 15, 2020, to Nov. 15, 2020.

Our Alumni Serving

In Memory 9

Col. George Piegari (Hon.)

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Features 10 18 20

The Corps During COVID-19 Peay ’62 Resigns After 17 Years Wins ’85: Interim Superintendent

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News and Updates

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2 23 30 35 42 48 49 165 167 172 174 174

ALUMNI REVIEW ONLINE www.vmialumni.org/alumnireview

Quinn ’90 Receives Award

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PUBLISHER VMI Alumni Agencies Chief Executive Officer: Steve Maconi Chief Communications Officer: Amy Goetz Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Whitman Associate Editor: Molly Rolon

Volume 97, No. 3

Message from the Interim Superintendent On Post Athletics Events Progress Staff News Class Notes Provisional Appointments Taps After Taps Alumni News Book Announcements

PUBLISHING OFFICE The VMI Alumni Agencies 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 Agencies, 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. 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 Outside Cover: House Mountain in the snow.—VMI photo by Kelly Nye. Inside Back Cover: The Class of 2022 ring presentation ceremony was held in Cameron Hall Nov. 21, 2020.—VMI photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

Message from the Interim Superintendent By Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85

Dear Fellow Alumni and Members of the VMI Family: I am honored to serve as interim superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. I appreciate the support and encouragement received from many of you. Since my appointment at the beginning of November, I have invested much time in listening, internalizing the many issues confronting us, and lending my own voice to strategic planning in coordination with the Board of Visitors. First among the many issues has been how we manage the cadet experience through the ongoing pandemic. We found that our unique system of education is most effective when our cadets are present to learn and train. We began the fall semester knowing that we would be operating in an environment where COVID-19 was present. We had 101 positive cadet cases of the virus last semester. However, we know from our meticulous contact tracing that none of those cases originated from contact in the classroom. We were able to deliver 44% of classes in person last semester with an additional 34% as hybrid classes (part in-person, part online). The additional space now available in the newly expanded Scott Shipp Hall will allow the Institute to offer 64% of classes in-person with Wins ’85 an additional 19% in a hybrid format. The lessons learned from COVID-19 protocols last semester have informed our operations for the spring semester. Upon their return to post in January, cadets were tested for COVID-19. Those who tested negative were able to resume their normal responsibilities. Those who tested positive were isolated in accordance with CDC guidelines until the medical staff cleared them to rejoin the Corps. Our faculty and staff continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our cadets are offered a VMI experience as normal as possible during these difficult times. As you know, the proven VMI system teaches us resiliency as well as our core values of honor, integrity, respect, civility, duty, service above self, and leadership. Throughout this pandemic, the Corps remains resilient. Cadets continue to adapt to meet the academic, athletic, and training challenges the Institute poses. This has always been the case for cadets regardless of the circumstances. All of us engaged in life outside limits gates, in public, private, academic, or military careers, have learned adaptability and constant improvement are fundamental to any successful organization or effective leadership. In my own case, I am certain the values forged at VMI enabled me to confront, lead, and manage necessary and difficult changes in my life and career. That is the position in which VMI finds itself. Change and evolution may be more difficult at VMI but are not new concepts during our 181 years of progress. In light of recent national events, VMI began to reflect upon its own culture, policies, and procedures with regard to diversity and inclusion. This intensified focus began last summer and continues today. The Board of Visitors created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee tasked with oversight of our efforts and a committee to study VMI’s commemorations, naming, and memorials. These committees are meeting regularly and will recommend policy improvements for the Board of Visitors to consider. Senior Institute officials each are tracking more than 30 issues within their areas identified for study and/or improvement. The Stonewall Jackson statue was relocated from in front of barracks and is in the process of being placed at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War. Per the plan submitted in July 2020, the flagpoles will be recentered on the statue of Gen. George C. Marshall, Class of 1901, signifying a symbolic shift to a greater focus on VMI’s 20th century history and beyond. Also in June, the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors established a sub-committee focused on diversity and inclusion pertaining to VMI alumni engagement, service, faculty and staff recruiting, and support for admissions activities. Already productive, the committee is moving forward on initiatives that will strengthen the alumni network and its contribution and relevance to the Institute.

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These changes and those to come continue the evolution of our storied history. In fact, such improvements are sequential to the evolution the Institute has taken over the past 50 years. The common theme is to make VMI better and stronger. I am convinced no other college in America is so attentive to and so proud of its mission as we are of ours—to produce citizen-soldiers prepared both for military leadership and for civilian leadership. At the very core of this mission is the ideal of noble emulation as cadets strive to be like the very leaders who have come before them: Nobel Peace Prize recipient George C. Marshall; Jonathan Daniels ’61, civil rights martyr; more than 230 military flag officers (more than any senior military college in the nation); thousands of captains of industry and finance; world explorers; scientists; advisors to the nation’s highest office; a Supreme Court justice; 11 Rhodes Scholars; seven Medal of Honor recipients; a Pulitzer Prize winner; an Emmy Award winner; and those who are leaders and active members in their local communities. Rest assured, this legacy will continue for generations to come. VMI is among a small few institutes of higher learning in our nation where young men and women can choose a rigorous freshman college experience that tests their character and determination on every level. The Rat Line and regimental and class systems will remain and are the bedrock of what VMI is as an institution and are the very reason for our success and acclaim: • • • • •

Our early applications are running nearly 8% ahead of last year, which was a record year. The VMI Class of 2020 commissioned military officers at a rate of over 55%. The Institute continues to be recognized among the top five public liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Money magazine ranks VMI 16th among public colleges and universities nationwide (26th overall) and third among Virginia schools. VMI’s national ranking represents a jump of more than 20 positions over last year’s ranking. VMI is recognized as the top school for the promotion of public service by Washington Monthly while our academic programs continue to rise in the rankings nationally.

Cadets and the cadet experience both in the classroom and throughout barracks life will continue to be my priority. As we move the Institute forward, we will improve upon our already solid foundation. We will remain committed to our mission, unique system of education, the Honor Code, and the ideals and values that VMI has held dear since our founding. We must hold ourselves accountable to represent the best of VMI as an inclusive environment where we treat each member of the Corps and the VMI family with dignity and respect. As we recast our legacy to reflect more on the significant accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries, our intent is to allow every cadet to identify with those accomplishments and to ensure that no cadet feels less than any other when called by our most inclusive term of devotion to one another: Brother rat. Thank you for your support to the Institute over the years. It is a powerful symbol of the bond we share as brother rats and alumni of VMI. Many cadets are being formed as leaders of character and citizen-soldiers because of your generosity. They are being taught and formed by world-class faculty in state-of-the-art facilities because of you. As I said before, our commonwealth and our nation need the VMI experience now more than ever. Now is the time for your continued investment in VMI. The future is bright for VMI. I pledge my best efforts to join with you in making VMI the best version of itself reflecting the best version of ourselves, the alumni. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me at VMI-Superintendent@vmi.edu. Here’s wishing everyone a happy new year and many blessings in the coming year. I look forward to seeing you all on post as soon as the pandemic passes and we are able to resume normal activities. Respectfully,

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 U.S. Army (Retired) Interim Superintendent

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Our Alumni Serving Recognizing Those Who Serve Others in Their Communities, Country, and the World 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 below.

The VMI Alumni Agencies would like to pay tribute to our 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 every time of deepest peril ... .” Those alumni whose photos and articles appear in this section of the Review could be members of the armed forces serving anywhere in the world, or they could be members of police and fire departments, legislators, doctors offering their services to those less fortunate, or alumni volunteering at food pantries.

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: Associate Editor. We will review your submission and consider it for publication.

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Quinn ’90 Honored for Leadership Impacting Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Program By Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Corporate Communications

“Mr. Quinn’s emphasis on innovation in program After 20 years of active duty service, former submanagement has led to significant successes promarine service officer Paul Quinn ’90 decided to viding new capabilities to the warfighter,” accordbegin his civilian career at Naval Surface Warfare ing to the award citation. “Quinn was the thrust Center Dahlgren Division after personally experibehind Dahlgren Division adopting development encing the command’s responsiveness and impact process and methods. His dedication to technical to his needs as a warfighter. excellence, leadership, and mentoring reflect great “The quality of workmanship I was provided, honor on himself, Dahlgren Division, and the as well as the analytical quality, really impressed United States Navy.” me,” said Quinn, recounting his first interaction “I’ve always felt it’s important to be a positive with NSWCDD employees while on active duty. influence on the community of people we work “When I retired, I knew I wanted to come back and live with every day,” said Quinn. “I see this and work at Dahlgren. The people especially were award as an affirmation of that effort. This award incredibly responsive to fleet needs.” is just as much a testament to my team, as much as Ten years after making that decision, Quinn won me, of what we’ve been able to achieve together.” the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian In addition to his team, Quinn credits his father, Service award for his responsiveness to the fleet’s Cecil; wife, Debby; and daughter, Caitlyn, for requirements and “exceptional leadership and motivating him. commitment to the Submarine Launched Ballistic “This award shows me I’m setting a good exMissile Program,” according to the award citation. ample for my daughter. I want the future that she The program is one of the three parts of the lives in to be a bright one. It inspires me to continue Navy’s nuclear deterrent for the United States. to do all I can to positively impact the community Quinn acts as the program director for the different Quinn ’90 and workplace.” strategic systems projects at NSWCDD. Caitlyn is also a NSWCDD employee, recently “This program is very different than other transitioning to a full-time position after her involvement in the Departweapon system development programs because it’s actively doing its job ment of the Navy Pathways Internship Program. today,” said Quinn. “I personally believe that this program has stopped Pathways is a program designed to provide degree-seeking students the spread of world wars on a global scale since the concept was first with early exposure to public service, educational experience enhanceintroduced in the post-World War II era. I feel like I’m actively saving ment, and possible financial aid. Within four months of degree complelives in my day-to-day job.” tion, most interns receive a career appointment. NSWCDD is one of two warfare centers with programs under the Caitlyn says her dad encourages her to keep doing her best. “He is a overall SLBM program. “Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division very forward-thinking person, and I think that’s really rare nowadays. is associated with the hardware portion of the program. At Dahlgren, He strives to make everything he touches just a little bit better,” she said. we have a primarily software and analytical background,” said Quinn. “This award shows that his hard work and dedication are really paying The SLBM program at NSWCDD performs software development for off. I’m really proud and honored that he got this.” the current system and for the not-yet-commissioned newest submarine Quinn is one of 90 individuals and 39 teams honored with various class: The U.S. Navy’s Columbia Class submarine and the British Royal awards. Navy’s Dreadnought submarine.

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Alumni Mark Founders Day in Djibouti, Africa

On Founders Day in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa, are U.S. Navy Capt. Craig Eubank ’93, task force chief staff officer; U.S. Army Maj. Heather Guidry ’06, 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora ’87, Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa commanding general; U.S. Air Force Maj. Salvatore Sferrazza ’07, 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron; and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Scott Trask ’03, M.D., Expeditionary Medical Facility general surgeon.

Gonzales ’03 Serves With Drug Enforcement Administration

Josh Gonzales ’03 (third from right) stands with a Drug Enforcement Administration task force, comprised of federal, state, and local police officers. The task force is pictured after a successful seizure of 60 pounds of crystal methamphetamine in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gonzales is the DEA group supervisor in the task force and is assigned to the New Orleans Field Division.

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Diehl ’06, Richman ’04 Serve Together

Maj. John Diehl ’06 (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Chris Richman ’04 (right) serve in the same special forces company. Diehl is the company commander and Richman is a senior weapons sergeant.

Fajardo ’20 Commissions in Guam

On Aug. 24, 2020, Angelojoel Fajardo ’20 commissioned as a U.S. Army second lieutenant at his home in Guam. His father, an Air Force veteran, gave Fajardo his first salute at a war memorial on the island.

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Alumni Complete Ranger School

Several VMI alumni (above) including Joseph Phillips ’19, Shawn Gardner ’16, and Samantha Shepherd ’18 graduated from Ranger School Nov. 12, 2020. Shepherd is the first female medical services officer to earn this distinction and the 57th female graduate. She completed the school without being recycled. Shepherd (below, third from right) with fellow soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division.—Photo by the U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade.

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In Memory: George Piegari (Hon.) By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

Col. George Piegari (Hon.), longtime professor and honorary alumnus, died Oct. 4, 2020. He was 79. His relationship with the Institute began in 1965 when he came to post as an instructor of mathematics. Over the next 42 years, he would take what he described as “periods of leave” from VMI’s faculty. The first lasted three years while he attended Vanderbilt University in order to earn a doctoral degree in mathematics. The second period began in 1978 and lasted eight years. During that time, he worked in the computer industry and ended as a manager with Dun and Bradstreet with responsibility for the company’s well-known database of corporate information. In 1986, he returned to VMI in order to help establish the computer science major. The program enrolled its first majors in 1987 and graduated them in 1990. Piegari would become the computer science program’s coordinator and later head the mathematics and computer science department. Besides service on the academic board while he was a department head, Piegari was the chairperson of several committees, including the tenure and promotion committee, and numerous search committees, including one that searched for a new dean of the faculty. He published extensively and participated in a faculty exchange program at the Royal Military College of Science—now known as the Defence College of Management and Technology—in the United Kingdom. He also served for five years on the prestigious Army Science Board, which is comprised of approximately 100 civilians who advise Army leaders on scientific issues. A keen supporter of VMI athletics, Piegari

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Piegari (Hon.) headed the VMI Athletic Council and was VMI’s faculty athletic representative to the NCAA, the Southern Conference, and the Big South Conference. He retired in 2007 as a professor emeritus of mathematics and computer science. When he retired, VMI named the computer science lab in his honor. Piegari later worked as a consultant in software engineering and project management for The Rushing Center at Furman University. A two-time recipient of the VMI Distinguished Teaching Award, Piegari was renowned for his ability as an instructor. While always rigorous, he never failed to be understanding and encouraging, and he took immense pride in his students’ accomplishments as cadets and alumni. He also received the VMI Corps of Cadets Faculty Mentor Award in 2000. Piegari’s concern for cadets did not stop at the doors of Mallory Hall. He and his wife,

Melou, took a deep interest in cadets’ lives. They established enduring relationships with many cadets they came to know through his teaching and Melou’s involvement with VMI theater. Both highly valued these relationships. “For us,” Piegari said in 2015, “it’s a great honor that to this day many former students still visit us.” Recognizing his invaluable service to the Institute and the Corps, the VMI Alumni Association named him an honorary alumnus in 2011. At the time the honor was announced, Randolph M. Blanks ’67, then the VMI Alumni Association president, commented that this “rare designation clearly recognizes the service and affinity between the Institute, the individual, and VMI alumni in a very special way.” Active in the community, Piegari was a member of the Lexington Rotary Club, taught mathematics for the College Orientation Workshop program for a decade, and was involved in the Lexington Christmas Basket Program. Such was Piegari’s desire to serve the Institute that he became a trustee of the VMI Foundation in 2015. According to Stephen E. Hupp Sr. ’84, VMI Foundation president, “George brought extensive experience and exceptional perspective born of decades of working at VMI to his role as a trustee. He provided invaluable advice and made many important contributions to the work of the Foundation at all levels. Everyone on the board respected and admired him immensely and was inspired by his example of selfless service to VMI.” Piegari is survived by his wife of 53 years, Melou; two children; three grandchildren; and two brothers.

Persevere

verb Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty.

Much about life at VMI in fall 2020 was different, but cadets persevered. The Corps guarded the Institute, attended classes, marched parades, conducted (or attended) rat training, participated in ROTC control times, and had room inspections. The fall academic semester looked different from any other year in VMI’s 181-year history. COVID-19 precautions included wearing masks indoors and out, socially distancing, following a new weekly schedule for cadets and faculty, and conducting some classes online.

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Photos by VMI Communications & Marketing, Micalyn Miller, and Molly Rolon. Text from articles by Mary Price, VMI Communications & Marketing, and Christina Skaggs ’22, VMI Alumni Agencies intern.

“Putting on a mask is like putting on your cover. It has become a part of our everyday routine.” —Cadet Garrett Petruskie ’23

Masks were allowed off during exercise, while eating, and while in barracks rooms. Cadet rooms were treated as family units for social distancing purposes, and visitation between rooms was not permitted unless authorized. Sleeping positions were regulated, too, with cadets required to sleep head-to-foot. Rats were allowed to use any arch their company was allowed to use.

Stairwells were labeled for “up” or “down” use only, with no restrictions on which stairwells rats could use. Shower usage was also limited to a certain number of cadets, minimizing the number of cadets in an enclosed space.

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VMI’s 18 NCAA teams were able to practice during the fall semester. When not actively engaged in physical activity, coaches and cadetathletes wore face coverings. Rifle, swim, and cross-country teams competed in a reduced schedule. Basketball began a regular schedule, but with reduced attendance, in November.

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Resilient

adjective

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

Matriculation Day became Matriculation Weekend in 2020. Half of the rat mass reported Saturday, Aug. 15, and the other half reported Sunday. The Institute limited guests and required temperature checks before beginning matriculation activities. Rats met their cadre in Cocke Hall one week after Matriculation Weekend. This was also divided into two groups by battalion. “I know that [the] dynamic of things at VMI is different, but it’s hard not knowing what those differences are because I’m a rat,” said Cadet Rory Burke ’24.

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Steadfast

adjective

Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.

The Corps of Cadets conducted parades in fall 2020. Aside from Band Company, cadets were masked during parades. Parades were open to the public, since VMI is a state institution. Many events surrounding parades, like Parents Weekend and reunions, were canceled or held virtually.

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Matriculation training concluded for 21+3 rats with the Rat Crucible Aug. 30. Rats moved by company through nine stations, including swimming in the Maury River and team log carries.

In 2019-20, Breakfast and Supper Roll Call were at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. In fall 2020, there were three separate meal formations: 6:30 a.m. for rats and cadre; 7:15 a.m. for 1st Battalion cadets, and 7:25 a.m. for 2nd Battalion cadets. In many rooms, roommates reported to all three different formations. In room 226 Old Barracks, Cadet Savannah Shupe ’22 attended the 6:30 a.m. rat and cadre formation, Cadet Makenna Moore ’22 attended the 1st Battalion formation at 7:15 a.m., and Cadets Emily Hattman ’22 and Genevieve Petrassi ’22 attended the 2nd Battalion formation at 7:25 a.m. In Crozet, diners were separated by plexiglass barriers. VMI food service added a grab-and-go lunch option in the Sub’s Mess. At the PX, customers could order online and use a self-checkout. Since cadet time off-post was limited, Parkhurst opened the food truck-like Dan’s Concession Cart at a concession stand in Foster Stadium. Dinner hours were expanded, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

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Cadets had three possible classroom environments for the fall academic semester: In person, hybrid, or online. Approximately 22% of classes this year were held online, 34% were hybrid, and 44% were in person.

The Class of 2022's Ring Figure also looked different. They received combat rings during a class supper Nov. 20. The ring presentation was Nov. 21 in Cameron Hall. Each cadet was able to bring two guests.

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Tenacious

adjective

Persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired.

In past years, classes were spaced with 10 minutes in between each class period. In fall 2020, there were an extra five minutes between classes, allowing professors and cadets time to disinfect desks and tables. The Institute reduced class sizes to allow for social distancing. Some professors wore microphones under their masks so cadets could clearly hear instructions. The academic day ended at 4:30 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.

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Serving as superintendent since July 1, 2003, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 celebrated many successes during his time at VMI, reaching 57% commissioning in 2019, building the Corps’ capacity to more than 1,700 cadets, focusing on a rigorous yet professional barracks and leadership training experience, increasing the academic excellence in every department with top faculty and facilities, and greatly enhancing the learning, living, and competing environments on post. Peay, a civil engineering major and quarterback of the Keydet football team while a cadet, served in the U.S. Army for 35 years after commissioning from VMI and retired at the rank of four-star general. He was the Institute’s third-longest serving superintendent after Maj. Gen. Francis H. Smith and Brig. Gen. Scott Shipp, VMI Class of 1859.—VMI photos courtesy VMI Communications & Marketing.

A Recognition of Service to VMI and Our Nation This article was originally published in November 2020 as a full-page advertisement in several publications, to include The Washington Post, the Roanoke Times, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the Virginian-Pilot.

On Oct. 26, 2020, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III '62, completed almost six decades of honorable and distinguished service to the country and the Commonwealth. For 35 years, Gen. Peay was an officer in the United States Army. He served twice in Vietnam and was wounded in action. He led the famous 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and served as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command. Through this service, he continued the tradition of senior-level military command by VMI alumni—as exemplified by George C. Marshall, VMI Class of 1901—and his service brought great credit to the Institute. The son of an alumnus and the father of two alumni, after he left active duty, Gen. Peay served VMI as a trustee of the VMI Foundation, beginning in 1998. In 2003, after an intensive nationwide search, the Board of Visitors named Gen. Peay as the Institute’s 14th superintendent.

Immediately, Gen. Peay began a thorough and rigorous assessment of every aspect of the Institute’s operations and environment. Its purpose was to determine what VMI needed to do in order to continue its proud tradition of graduating citizen-soldiers of ability, determination, and honor ready for lives of success in their chosen careers and service to the country. This effort generated the Institute’s master plan, Vision 2039, under which VMI has made extraordinary progress. It has improved every aspect of the academic program: New majors and minors have been introduced; departments have been revamped; and the Institute’s already formidable engineering, science, and mathematics programs have been enhanced. It expanded opportunities for cadets to engage in meaningful research as well as international study. It strengthened the support of the dedicated and skilled men and women who make up its faculty. VMI also improved its athletic programs. It recruited coaches and

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staff who are committed to winning with good sportsmanship and are devoted to the young men and women who represent the Institute as cadet-athletes and to their development as athletes, students, and cadets. Under Vision 2039, VMI committed itself to improve the physical environment in which cadets live and learn. In the past 17 years, thanks to the support of the Commonwealth, new facilities— e.g., the Third Barracks and the Corps Physical Training Facility—and many of its already existing facilities were renovated and expanded. Throughout his tenure as superintendent, therefore, Gen. Peay was devoted to creating and maintaining an environment dedicated to the constant pursuit of excellence in which cadets are provided opportunity to push beyond their self-perceived limits, to test themselves at all levels and to develop the traits of successful leadership—honor, respect, civility, self-discipline, and professionalism. The success of his approach is evident in the marked ability of cadets to plan and run complex operations daily at the Institute and beyond. VMI, like the rest of the nation, is an everevolving environment as we have strived toward a more perfect VMI. There was great adaptation and progress under Gen. Peay’s leadership and there will continue to be in the future. Work has already begun on Gen. Peay’s five-pillar plan outlining the “Way Forward for Greater Understanding, Fairness, and Equality.” Thanks to Gen. Peay’s tireless efforts and his bold leadership—the leading characteristics of which were vision, devotion, energy, and integrity—VMI has been on a transformational climb. It carries a national reputation for excellence and moved into the top tier of American higher education. Gen. Peay was not alone. At his side, every step of the way was his wonderful wife, Pamela. Her obvious love for the Institute was only equaled by her husband. She was a model first lady and beloved by the Corps of Cadets. Gen. Peay was also supported on post by a dedicated faculty and staff. Off post, he forged enduring partnerships with members of the General Assembly and other public leaders and was VMI’s most effective advocate. He inspired countless alumni, parents, and friends to devote their time, talents, and treasure to supporting VMI. The enduring legacy of Gen. Peay will be a college that will continue to strive to provide our country and Commonwealth with effective and honorable leaders and in which every Virginian and every American can take an honest pride. We thank him profoundly for his selfless and honorable service to the Virginia Military Institute, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States of America.

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Wins ’85: VMI’s Interim Superintendent Comes Full Circle By Amy Goetz, Chief Communications Officer

Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85 addresses the Corps of Cadets in Cameron Hall for the first time as interim superintendent Nov. 18, 2020.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin. On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 donned his uniform, stepped out of Smith Hall, and headed to Cameron Hall to address the Corps of Cadets as the interim superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute. The significance of this action does not escape Wins. While he carries himself with a settled focus “on the things at hand,” he is circumspect as he considers the first time he stepped foot on post some 39 years ago. In fall 1981, Wins was, as he describes himself, “a lean, tall, pretty decent basketball player” from Maryland who had been recruited to play Division I basketball by both the U.S. Naval Academy and VMI. Wherever he went to school would be significant for his family, because young Cedric would be the first in the Wins family to attend college. He decided to turn down the U.S. Naval Academy’s offer, explaining, “A career in the military didn’t interest me.” Immediately afterward, his father had a talk with him. “I’ll never forget it. He sat me down and said, ‘I’ve got to tell you, I was really, really stunned when you turned down an opportunity to go to Navy. But what I want you to understand is, these guys at VMI, they have been talking to you and recruiting you since you started your senior season. They have offered you a full-ride scholarship, so more than anything else, that’s an indication to me they have plans for you. If I were you, I would think real hard about what’s being presented to you right now, because I think it’s a great opportunity.’” A phone call to Coach Charlie Schmaus ’66 sealed the deal, and in late August 1981, Wins arrived on post with the rest of

the young men who would become the Class of 1985. Looking back, he realizes it was one of the most important decisions of his life and set him on course for a successful future. Wins’ mother was a big part of his decision, as well. “What you do for the love of a mother is significant.” He explains that his mother was proud he was taking on the challenges of the VMI system, squared away and in uniform, although she was not without her concerns as she got a glimpse of his introduction to the adversarial system when she and her husband left the post on that Matriculation Day. Following his first day as a cadet, Wins said his mind was in a bit of a haze from everything the system throws at you: When to wake up, what uniform you wear, the same haircut for every cadet, the expectations to be where you should be, at the right time, with the right attitude—all expectations required of everyone in his rat class. At VMI, there is no obvious separation of who you may have been before you arrived. “I realized I was surrounded by a bunch of other people who were probably in a similar haze. We were all going through this stuff together.” One way VMI has of getting the new cadets, or “rats,” to know people of dissimilar backgrounds and perspectives is that rats cannot select their roommates. Rooms are randomly assigned, and it is expected that they will figure out how to work together throughout their challenging rat year. Wins remembered, “Very quickly and from the first day, the system begins

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to teach you about a life focused on teamwork and a willingness to support others, whether you know them or not. “When they put me in my room with my three rat roommates, two were there with me, and one was a football player who was at practice getting ready for the fall season. We were told by a cadre corporal to put away our belongings, everything folded and squared away and in its proper place, the whole nine yards. When we finished with our own items, the corporal said, ‘Your brother rat is not here, you are responsible for the success of each other, and you are going to put away his stuff, too.’ “So, there I am, folding the underwear and t-shirts of some guy I’ve never even met, making him a success. It turns out that this guy is Charles Rogerson ’85. To this day, he and I and my other roommates, Darren Sawyer and David Estes, as well as several other classmates, remain extremely close. I mean, we’re like brothers. And, starting with the Rat Line, we’ve been there to support each other through good times and bad times for our entire lives.” Wins believes VMI’s unique education method—including the Rat Line, which promotes personal growth; the regimental and class systems that foster leadership development; and the highly revered Honor Code, which is the foundation of character development—all have the potential to allow young men and women a period of “intense self-discovery.” “It’s not something people typically go through as part of a college education; it’s much more. I mean, fundamentally, this idea about bringing a

sanction system, to the commitment to be honorable because you want to be that for the rest of your life.” Wins believes it takes the entire four-year process to establish the traits that will last a lifetime. “This is not something you can do in two years.” It is first learning to follow, then learning to lead a small group of peers, and then leading the daily operations of the 1,700-strong Cadet Corps, all the while learning within a rigorous academic program. VMI is a place where first-generation college students have the same opportunities to test their mettle and push any self-perceived limits as their peers whose families have been attending college for many generations. When executed properly and appropriately overseen, that is the VMI experience that must be maintained and strengthened. While at VMI, Wins changed his mind about military service and pursued a commission in the U.S. Army. The man who initially did not want a military career stayed in the Army for 34 years and retired as a two-star general. During three decades of service, Wins was often reminded of lessons he learned at VMI. “I’ve been in situations during my Army career where things were occurring that really could have meant a soldier gets harmed or even killed. And, in those moments, you as a leader aren’t expected to collapse, fold, or shrink under pressure. In part, because my VMI experience taught me resolve; you have to demonstrate a confidence to the people around you that we will get

“The beauty of VMI is that opportunity is available to a lot of kids who grew up like me. In my view, more than ever, the Commonwealth and the nation need a place where young men and women from all different backgrounds can prepare themselves, challenge themselves, educate themselves, to learn about who they are, and get ready to go out into the world and do great things. That is why VMI exists.” — Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, interim superintendent bunch of young people from all different walks of life, social and economic backgrounds, nationalities, races, and genders together and placing them on a level playing field with the same haircuts, uniforms, dorms, and just stripping away all they thought they were before coming here is an essential building block for revealing one’s character. With the foundation of what they learn in the Rat Line, the system builds them back up through shared experiences, allowing cadets to demonstrate for themselves the benefits of hard work, discipline, integrity, character, honor, and teamwork. Those are the things I’ve come to understand over the years as fundamental to the experience,” explains Wins. “Many of the lessons in the process are so subtle that you don’t see it at the time, but as you have an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on it, you realize how the advantages of going through this experience can better prepare you for a multitude of challenges. That is what VMI did for me.” Most embrace the lessons learned and the challenges while there because they want to succeed. “At some point, when you are learning to live by tenants such as the honor code, the discipline of time management, and watching out for others, you realize you have bought into this philosophy of personal honor—knowing what you stand for, the ability to lead under pressure. It’s about learning what type of leader you want to become. In most cadets, it shifts from choosing to be honorable because there is a single-

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through whatever challenge we are facing. This notion of not giving up, being accountable for failures, and charting a course forward is the mettle of who and how you are as a leader. These things build respect among your subordinates, peers, and superiors and can help move you through the ranks of leadership.” So, why is it, during these challenging times, that Wins is willing to leave his current life and return to the Institute? “I am forever grateful to VMI and the opportunity that I got to earn a college degree and play Division I sports. And although while at VMI I did not personally suffer from any racial animus, that may not be the experience of every cadet. As a military college, we have a critical role to play in producing leaders who are prepared to work with, follow, and lead a very diverse population. Not every student enters VMI having experienced that diversity. As VMI prepares its leaders, we need to ensure they understand the complexities of the world and how women, men, people of color, people of different genders, and other nationalities create the strength of what we can accomplish.” When it comes to tackling the current set of challenges the Institute faces, “I will go back to what I learned at VMI and have applied over my 34-year career: ‘What is the right thing to do?’ First and foremost, it is to continue the unique method and framework of the VMI experience and ensure it is consistent with fulfilling the Institute’s mission and that we

hold ourselves accountable when we aren’t. If VMI has some blind spots that create inconsistency with preparing our young leaders for the diverse world they will face—a world where we treat our teammates with dignity and respect regardless of their race, sex, gender, or religious beliefs; a world that requires broad and diverse perspectives to remain strong—then we must own it and adjust. “I believe without a doubt that VMI will get through this in fine fashion. I believe in the strength of its leadership, faculty, and staff. I believe in the continued support and advocacy of our alumni. And I believe in the young men and women who choose to come to VMI in order to immerse themselves in an environment that challenges them on every level and helps them learn and define who they are. I think VMI is going to come out of this better and stronger than ever before and continue to build on a legacy of success.” Wins is laser-focused as he begins his new role as interim superintendent. “We must do the right things for the right reasons.” He continued, “As interim superintendent, I will focus on what is best each and every day for the Corps of Cadets and VMI. To me, VMI is all about the young men and women that it produces and has produced over its 181-year existence. It is about the scores of—well, more than 200—general and flag officers who’ve served. It is about the 11 Rhodes Scholars and the seven Medal of Honor recipients, the business leaders, doctors, lawyers, civil servants that this tiny college has produced. It is about the scientists and explorers who push the boundaries in their fields. It is about those who move through the ranks of human services to help the underserved. VMI is about our alumni who have repeatedly put others first before themselves. That to me is VMI. This college, using its unique educational system, has consistently laid a foundation for the lives of the young men and women—who choose to embrace the Institute’s system of training and learning.” Wins has heard from many alumni, family, and friends and he realizes the concern about VMI’s mission and core principles being compromised by outside sources. However, he has the following message for those who care deeply about the Institute: “VMI alumni are some of the most generous alumni in the country. They appreciate what they got out of VMI, a great education, tools to thrive under pressure as leaders, and the lifelong friendships forged here. I ask that their generosity continue to ensure generations of young men and women can follow and receive

similar educations. The Institute needs your resolve now. “I remember the alumni who would come to VMI when I was a cadet and tell us all about the stories of their time at VMI. Things have changed from the time they were cadets, but the core, the very essence, of the experience has not. We are going to change the things needing change, and we are still standing strong on those tried and true things that create leaders of character.” As Wins sits back and looks at his life, he muses, “Yes, I have come full circle from my first step on post to my return now and the blur of challenges met, lessons learned, and mountains climbed in between. If you would have asked me or my parents on Matriculation Day if I would return to the role of superintendent of VMI following a rewarding and successful career in the U.S. Army, we all would have told you, ‘No, no chance! No chance on God’s green earth.’ “I am humbled knowing the opportunities VMI gave me—a knuckleheaded kid from Hyattsville, Maryland—to be a first-generation college graduate in my family and to have the opportunity to come back as interim superintendent. “The beauty of VMI is that opportunity is available to a lot of kids who grew up like me. In my view, more than ever, the Commonwealth and the nation need a place where young men and women from all different backgrounds can prepare themselves, challenge themselves, educate themselves, to learn about who they are, and get ready to go out into the world and do great things. That is why VMI exists.”

The VMI Board of Visitors announced Wins as the interim superintendent in November 2020. A 34-year Army veteran, he will serve until a permanent superintendent is chosen. —Photo by Christian Heilman, VMI Alumni Agencies digital content manager.

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On Post ‘Older Than the Earth Itself ’ Meteorite Collection Gifted to VMI by Alumnus By Mary Price, VMI Communications & Marketing It’s a pretty safe bet to say that the chances of anyone ever donating something to VMI that’s more than 7 billion years old are, well, astronomical. And it’s certainly not every day that something older than the Earth itself arrives on post via the U.S. mail. But that’s exactly what’s happened this fall when Paulo Rocha ’87, stargazer and Army veteran, donated a collection of 11 meteorites to the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “I have a love for meteorites and decided to share that passion with the Institute in hopes other cadets will also enjoy the experience,” Rocha wrote in an email. Collectors can scour the Earth, of course, looking for fragments of these objects from outer space, but like nearly everything else these days, meteorite pieces are for sale online. That’s where Rocha bought the meteorites he donated to VMI, after a careful screening of his sources to make sure he wasn’t paying hundreds of dollars for a very terrestrial rock. “Not everything that is on sale is the real thing, so one has to be careful,” he commented. “The certified sellers are usually members of the International Meteorite Collectors Association.” Col. Greg Topasna, Ph.D., who teaches VMI’s astronomy courses, was thrilled when Col. Tim Hodges ’80, Ph.D., department chair, told him that there was an alumnus willing to donate meteorites to VMI. “I’ve always wanted VMI to have a collection of meteorites, but you find other things to spend money on,” he noted. Before Rocha’s gift arrived this fall, VMI owned one meteorite—not exactly a collection— and Topasna doesn’t know its origin, as it was left behind by Col. Dave Dupuy when he retired. The meteorites from Rocha’s collection are incredibly varied. The oldest is a very tiny piece of the famous Murchison meteorite, which fell to Earth in Australia in 1969. Scientists have dated the silicon carbide particles in the meteorite at 7 billion years, making the Murchison meteorite the oldest known object on the planet—and, in fact, 2.5 billion years older than the Earth itself. As they ever-so-carefully pass around the tiny shard of meteorite, Topasna tells cadets, “This is the oldest thing you’ll ever hold in your hand. This is a piece of the solar nebula from before we were even here.” But the Murchison meteorite is much more than an iron-containing rock that just happened to survive its fall from space. It’s been found to contain amino acids, the building blocks of life. That makes it a perfect fit for discussion in Topasna’s astrobiology class, in which cadets wrestle with questions such as how life is defined, how life might be discovered via signals from outer space, and perhaps most tantalizingly, must life be defined as carbon-based? Might silicon-based life forms exist as well? “It’s a really good question,” said Topasna. “We can’t rule it out, but there are reasons carbon wins out over silicon. ... It’s a fun course.” The other meteorites from Rocha’s collection are much younger than the Murchison meteorite—but in this case, “younger” is a relative term. Most meteorites are approximately 4.5 million years old.

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Col. Greg Topasna, Ph.D., professor of physics, examines one of the lunar meteorites recently donated to VMI. Topasna holds one of the prestigious Peay chairs at VMI.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye. In the majority of cases, the true origin is unknown, but three from Rocha’s donation are known to be from the moon and one is from Mars. They’ve been collected all over the planet, including Russia, Argentina, and Northwest Africa. This fall, Topasna is interested in showing the meteorites to cadets in his classes and using them as a teaching tool. Down the road, he hopes to place the collection in a display case so anyone passing by might stop and take a look, and so Rocha can be thanked in a public way. “It makes a nice learning opportunity for the cadets,” said Topasna. “This is a wonderful gift.”

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A Virtual Focus on Team Leadership Throughout 2020-21 The Center for Leadership and Ethic’s leadership theme for the 2020-21 academic year is Teamwork: Out of Many, One. The center’s teamwork social media campaign began in August 2020. Posts feature video clips and pull quotes from past speakers on the following topics: Leading diverse teams, leading inclusive teams, leading resilient teams, leading cohesive teams, achieving team excellence, creating common purpose, and leading committed teams. This virtual leadership engagement program is designed to create engagement as well as anticipation of the programming the CLE will feature during the leadership conference. This year’s leadership conference will be held online as a virtual event Feb. 15-16, 2021. Registration is open to the public. The conference theme is Strong Leaders, Strong Teams. The conference explores a progression of teamwork principles starting with leading self, then peerto-peer leadership, and finally, leading highperforming teams. Speakers, bonus interviews with alumni, and activities will contribute to the participant's journey over the two days. A central feature of this year’s conference is that

participants can create a personalized leader user manual. Featured speakers of the conference are retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal; retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. “Butch” Neal; Shari Harley, business communications trainer; and Ben Freakley, mental performance coach (and former VMI soccer coach). Registration is open to the public. “We are excited to bring our interactive brand of conference to the online experience,” said Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director for programs and conferences. “We think it will open it up to even more participants from various colleges around the country, as well as make it easier for alumni and others to take part. Part of our mission is to share leadership insights from VMI with a broader national audience, and by going online this year, we hope to do so. It will raise our visibility for when we are able to go back to the in-person experience.” For more information about the VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference, visit: conferences. vmi.edu/leadership.

The VMI Leader Journey Podcast Celebrates its First Anniversary! The center is also celebrating the first anniversary of its VMI Leader Journey podcast. Bi-weekly episodes feature leadership stories from the VMI Corps of Cadets, faculty, staff, alumni, and speaker guests. Episodes are embedded on the CLE’s website at vmi.edu/cle or find the show on the Podbean website or app at vmileaderjourney.podbean.com.

Spring 2021 Event Schedule (Online/Virtual) Feb. 15-16, 2021: 11th Annual Leadership & Ethics Conference: Strong Leaders, Strong Teams This event will focus on development of the individual for leading self, leading peers, and leading teams. March 23-25, 2021: 31st Annual Environment Virginia Symposium Virginia’s premiere environmental conference, founded by VMI.

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Mallory Hall, home to VMI’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences, will soon house VMI’s cyber defense lab.—VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

DoD Grant Brings Cyber Defense Laboratory to Post By Mary Price, VMI Communications & Marketing In mid-September 2020, VMI’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences took a major step toward a new initiative when Institute leaders signed an agreement for a grant award with the Department of Defense to establish a cyber defense laboratory on post. The agreement, which will bring $1.45 million to VMI in the first year of funding, establishes VMI as a participant in the DoD Senior Military Colleges Cyber Leadership Development Program. “The main goal of this effort is the creation and execution of an integrated SMC DoD Cyber Institutes program composed of individual cyber institutes and centers at each of the six senior military colleges working jointly to meet the talent and workforce needs of the DoD Cyber Mission Force,” said Col. Mohamed Eltoweissy, Ph.D., head of CIS and the grant’s principal investigator. In addition to VMI, the senior military colleges are The Citadel, Virginia Tech, the University of North Georgia, Norwich University, and Texas A&M. Eltoweissy explained that “this initiative will complement and strengthen VMI’s cybersecurity capacity, expand existing cybersecurity laboratory infrastructure, further innovation in cybersecurity education and research, and advance the multidisciplinary cybersecurity minor, which was established in the fall of 2017.” To that end, VMI’s grant from the DoD involves not only the CIS, but also the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department of International Studies and Political Science, and the Center for Leadership and Ethics. Eltoweissy indicated that other departments on post will be integral to the effort to cover the different facets of cybersecurity and better prepare cadets for DoD Cyber Mission Force work roles, including data scientists, reverse engineers, vulnerability researchers, and information research integrators in cyber operations. As part of this grant, VMI will establish its cyber defense laboratory in the spring of 2021. The lab comprises two interrelated programs: The leadership-integrated competency development program and the immersive and experiential learning program. The vision is to provide premier cybersecurity leadership education, increasing the number of the next generation of leaders capable and ready to protect our nation from existing and emerging cybersecurity challenges. A priority for the lab will be to boost the representation of underrepresented groups in the cybersecurity workforce. Right now, the department head noted, there’s an effort underway to

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revamp some courses and add others in preparation for establishing the lab. Proposed courses include CIS 370, Leading Ethically in the Virtual World, and EE 417, Reverse Engineering. Another major area of focus will be experiential learning via internships and projects. “We want to better respond to career requirements and skill sets,” said Eltoweissy. As the lab is created, so will be a new artificial intelligenceenabled educational software and hardware platform that links professional careers to educational modules for immersive experiential learning, to be designed and built by VMI faculty, staff, and cadets with collaboration from the SMCs. But VMI’s cyber initiative isn’t just about software and hardware, ransomware, and malware. Not surprisingly, it’s also about preparing the next generation of cyber leaders. “VMI is a premier leadership school,” Eltoweissy commented. “We want to develop cyber leaders.” With this goal in mind, there will be unique leadership and learning opportunities for selected cadets. Plans call for 15 rising 2nd Class cadets to be selected as “cyber captains” each academic year. These cadets will receive DoD Cyber Captains Scholarships. All of those selected will be required to enroll in the cybersecurity minor, complete an internship, actively participate in the Cyber Club, and receive a designated professional certification. These cadets will also serve as teaching and technical assistants to help faculty, staff, and cadets with cybersecurity issues. Outreach to the community and attempts to diversify the future pool of cybersecurity workers will be critical components of the program as well. Summer camps for students in grades 8-12 will be offered, along with a residential camp for girls only. The cyber defense laboratory will also allow VMI to foster deeper relationships with its fellow SMCs. Eltoweissy foresees much collaboration among the schools, including having guest speakers at one school broadcast to all the others, and cybersecurity competitions with the other SMCs and service academies. Joint experiments and projects in education and research are also among the possibilities. “We hope that the whole will be greater than the sum of the individual institutions,” said Eltoweissy. “We think this is a first step toward more collaboration among the SMCs.”

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Founders Day 2020 Commemorated Inside and Outside

VMI celebrated 181 years Nov. 11, 2020. Rain moved the review parade to Cocke Hall. Using radio communication to coordinate with the indoor ceremony, the cadet battery fired howitzers at the Parade Ground. The herald trumpets also played at the Parade Ground. Brig. Gen. Robert Moreschi, acting superintendent and dean of the faculty, took the review in Cocke Hall. — Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies; and H. Lockwood McLaughlin and Kelly Nye, VMI Communications & Marketing.

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Parents Deliver Pandemic Care Packages By Mary Price, VMI Communications & Marketing

Mothers of cadets unload fruit snacks and other treats for care packages outside the Corps Physical Training Facility Oct. 3, 2020.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin. The idea began in early September 2020 in an online forum for the mothers of cadets—how do they show cadets that they are cared for in spite of Parents Weekend being canceled this year? Melisse Hoyer, a member of the VMI Moms in Prayer 2022 Facebook group, had some thoughts, but they were ambitious, to say the least. Hoyer, mother of David Turner ’22, wanted to make and deliver a care package to every single cadet. On Saturday, Oct. 3, Hoyer and a group of approximately 30 others volunteered their time to assemble the packages and put them on a U-Haul truck for delivery. Working with Command Sgt. Maj. Suzanne Rubenstein, director of activities for the commandant’s

office, Hoyer and her helpers created packages for approximately 1,690 cadets—and then added 100 more just in case anyone was overlooked. “With the cadets confined to post, and the parents unable to visit, we wanted a way to show them a little love and let them know they’re thought about,” said Angie Shay, mother of Ainsley Fritter ’23. “This was a way to get packages to every single rat or cadet so they felt loved and looked after.” But first, the items in the packages, ranging from hot chocolate mix and candy to beef jerky and other prepackaged snacks, had to be purchased. The women spearheading the effort, who’d dubbed themselves the Crazy VMI Moms, set a goal of raising $34,000,

which was based on a cost estimate of $20 per cadet. They set up a Facebook page—the VMI Pandemic Package Corps—and within a few weeks, they’d not only met their fundraising goal but exceeded it. “We overshot what we needed,” said Maria Wiemann, mother of Lance Wiemann ’22. “We were able to buy more than we’d planned.” On Friday, Oct. 2, Wiemann flew from her Dallas, Texas, home to Baltimore, Maryland, and caught a ride with a friend to VMI. The next morning, they traveled to the Corps Physical Training Facility parking garage to pack individual bags for each cadet. Cadets with food allergies received packages tailored specifically to them, and all cadets received

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On Post a note of encouragement. Via the Facebook group, Hoyer, Wiemann, and others had reached out to parents of cadets, encouraging them to either email or snail mail personal notes to their cadets, to be included in the care packages. The Crazy VMI Moms made sure that no cadet was left out. By the time the packages were filled, labeled, sorted into boxes by room number, and delivered to Lejeune Hall, it was 9 p.m. Saturday. Delivery took place Sunday, Oct. 4, and carried over to Monday, Oct. 5. It would have been a big undertaking if all cadets had been in barracks, but it was made doubly hard by the fact that some cadets were in isolation due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and others were in quarantine due to close contact with those who tested positive. Assisting with the deliveries were Rubenstein and members of the cadet S7 staff, who are in charge of morale, welfare, and recreation. “It was kind of like chasing a moving target,” said Wiemann of the package delivery process. “We had to take the attitude, ‘OK, roll with it. You have to roll with it and get it done.’” Included in each package was a raffle ticket. The raffle tickets, Wiemann explained, were put into a hopper and one ticket was drawn at taps each evening. The winner got a gift certificate from a local business for a treat such as a pizza or milkshake and delivery to barracks is included. “We wanted to keep the fun going,” explained Wiemann. “Keep it super easy and keep the fun.” Hoyer, the woman who’d had the care package idea in the first place, said that the cancellation of Parents Weekend had caused her to think outside the box. “A lot of things got canceled for these [cadets], particularly for the rats,” she commented. “We want to keep the spirit of VMI going.”

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VMI Highly Ranked by Major Publications For the sixth year in a row, VMI placed favorably in the fall college rankings, maintaining its status among the top liberal arts colleges nationwide. Three publications—U.S. News & World Report, Money magazine, and Washington Monthly—released their college rankings in August and September. According to U.S. News & World Report, VMI rose to No. 69 among national liberal arts colleges, up from No. 72 last year. Among public liberal arts colleges, the Institute ranked fourth only behind the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy. VMI’s engineering program was ranked 29th out of 220 schools nationwide that have an accredited engineering program but do not grant a doctoral degree. For the first time this year, U.S. News included rankings of undergraduate computer science programs. VMI’s computer science program came in at 210 out of nearly 500 accredited computer science programs nationally. VMI also placed highly in Washington Monthly’s recently released college rankings, taking the No. 1 spot for promotion of public service. The Institute ranked 35th out of 218 liberal arts colleges nationwide and was the top-ranked public liberal arts college in Virginia. Money magazine ranked VMI 26th among colleges and universities nationwide, a jump of more than 20 placings from 2019’s rankings. Money ranked the Institute 16th among public universities nationwide and third among schools in Virginia.

Rats donated food to the Rockbridge Area Relief Association food pantry in January 2019 for the annual Rat Unity event. VMI took the No. 1 spot for promotion of public service in Washington Monthly’s college rankings. — VMI photo by Kelly Nye.

Athletics Pupura, Lacrosse Coach: A Man on a Mission By Molly Rolon, Associate Editor

New-and-old lacrosse coach James Purpura returned to VMI in mid-2020. The new: Purpura recently took the reins of VMI’s lacrosse program. The old: He spent 2016-18 with the program, as the recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator. He left the Institute to take on his first head coaching job at Philadelphiaarea Arcadia University after the 2018 season. And take it on he did. After two seasons under Purpura, the seven-year-old program showed tremendous improvements—breaking most school records. The team’s winning percentage nearly doubled, they made their first playoff appearance, and Purpura was named 2019 Coach of the Year in the Middle Atlantic Conference. “I’ve always been around young programs or teams that have ... needed to be rebuilt,” he said about going to a young program with a losing record. “I like the journey of taking something and making it better—and leaving it better than you found it.” A blue collar young man from upstate New York, he grew up playing hockey—and lacrosse when the ground thawed out. Like many kids from northern (aka, hockey-loving) states, he wanted to play in the National Hockey League. His size and athleticism lessened his chances, and he realized, “I wasn’t good enough to play in the NHL.” What he was good enough to play was lacrosse. He fielded offers from a few colleges. Ultimately, he played for and graduated from SUNY Geneseo—coincidentally, also the alma mater of VMI’s longest-serving lacrosse coach, Doug Bartlett. As a college student-athlete, he expected to teach high school and coach—though, as a coach, he points out, “you really are a teacher.” After earning his undergraduate degree, he began helping coach. Within a few weeks, he knew coaching was how he wanted to spend his life. Making it in the coaching world requires a good reserve of dogged determination. While his athleticism may be average, his drive, grit, and determination are anything but ordinary. He spent the first few years as a coach in low-paying positions—$10,000

James Purpura returned to VMI in summer 2020 to lead the Keydet lacrosse program. He spent 2016-18 as the program’s recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator. He left the Institute to take on his first head coaching job at Philadelphia-area Arcadia University after the 2018 season.—Photos by Molly Rolon, VMI Alumni Agencies. or less annual salary—and learned the art of frugality. He lived in his car during summer months and took on any extra summer work available. He called up—and crashed on—every buddy’s couch in every town he recruited in. In seven years, Purpura lived in five different states. Where a lesser man might have thrown in the towel, Purpura kept pushing. The world of lacrosse is small—evidenced by the coincidental alma mater of two VMI head lacrosse coaches. “Almost everybody knows everybody. It’s easy to get a phone number from somebody,” Purpura said. That small world brought Purpura to VMI the first time. Someone knew someone, and suggested he interview for the job. “Candidly, I didn’t know a ton about VMI at the time,” he said. After one visit to VMI,

he had fallen in love with VMI, the school’s potential—and the entire Lexington area. It’s a close-knit, friendly community with “a passion for college athletics.” And when it snows, “it’s generally only two or three inches,” the native New Yorker pointed out. “So, that’s another added benefit.” The alumni community makes a tremendous difference, too, he said. “The alumni support at VMI is a game changer. The support they provide and continue to provide allows us to build a better experience for our cadetathletes and we all are very thankful for that opportunity.” Two years ago, when he had the chance to become head coach of Arcadia University’s lacrosse team, the program was “young” and “underachieving”—but Purpura “saw a lot of opportunity there.” He had been traipsing up and down the East

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Athletics Coast, assistant-coaching at four different schools in five years. The Arcadia job was not just a rung up the coaching ladder—this was a chance for him to take all the pieces he liked, the things he had learned “and make it our own.” Purpura has a binder stuffed with notes and lessons learned over the years—and he put it good use at Arcadia. This past summer, leaving his job at Arcadia was bittersweet. He had poured his “blood, sweat, and tears” into the program. VMI, though, is the only place he would have left Arcadia for, Purpura said. People in the small lacrosse community told him head coaching at VMI would be hard. They asked him, a young coach who had just mentored great, positive change at Arcadia, why he would want to go to VMI. “That only fueled me more to want to take on the challenge,” he said. Purpura wanted the job and jumped at the opportunity. He applied, he briefed his ideas and philosophies—and was hired on in summer 2020. Soon after he was hired, Purpura put together his staff—which may be one of

the best in D1. Purpura brings with him two assistants from Arcadia: Mark “M.C.” Cameron ’94 and Kevin Doherty. Mikey Herring, a former starter for the University of Virginia who’s also played professionally, rounds out the staff. Together, the staff is a mix of high-level playing experience from Herring, the continuity from coaches who’ve worked together before—and in Cameron, the added benefit of a retired U.S. Marine officer and VMI alumnus. COVID-19 has affected the team’s training, but not as much as it could have, Purpura said. They’re still able to practice. In fall 2020, there were no scrimmages versus other teams, and time spent watching film is less than Purpura would like. Overall, he’s relieved and thankful for the time the team has together and is “really optimistic” about the team’s future. “The fact that we’re able to practice in some kind of capacity is has really been a relief,” he said. “It’s the highlight of the day for everyone in the program ... I’m sure these guys don’t take anything for granted anymore.” The “DNA” of Purpura’s coaching philosophy

includes a four-part goal system that begins with 100% graduation—and ends with winning. The program also has four core values: Attitude, compete, effort, and sacrifice. “The great thing about [the program’s] core values is that each individual controls every one of them,” Purpura said. “That’s important in a place like VMI, where there are so many external factors going on, we don’t control much, but what we control greatly matters. We want to be really, really good at controlling the ‘controllables.’” At the core of everything, Purpura cares about the young men on his team. He wants the team to win almost more than anything— and more than that, he wants to train the young men under his care. “We want to serve their heart, not just their talent. We want to make sure that we’re caring about the 30-year-old version more than the 20-year-old version,” he said. “We want to be judged on the quality of character of young men that we’re building.” “I truly believe that in doing that, the winning will come,” Purpura said.

Purpura speaks to the team during a fall 2020 practice. COVID-19 affected the team’s training, but not as much as it could have. They were still able to practice. In fall 2020, there were no scrimmages versus other teams and time spent watching film is less than Purpura would have liked. Overall, he's relieved and thankful for the time the team had together.

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Athletics

Men Second, Women Eighth at SoCon Championship

The Keydet cross country teams topped their seasons with stellar performances at the SoCon championships Nov. 21, 2020. The men’s team finished second and the women came in eighth. Jahanzib Shahbaz ’20 (left photo, right side of trophy) placed second individually, earning First Team All-SoCon honors for the second straight year, while teammate Gavin Jenkins ’22 (left photo, left side of trophy) earned Second Team All-SoCon recognition for the second straight year with his ninth-place mark. Anna Armfield ’21 (right) led the VMI women with a 15th-place finish in 18:52.11, the best female VMI score in Southern Conference history.—Photos courtesy VMI Keydets.

Looking to finish the shortened 2020 season on a strong note, the VMI cross-country teams had excellent finishes at the Southern Conference Cross-Country Championship held at the Georgia Premier Cross-Country Course Nov. 21, 2020, in Macon, Georgia. The VMI men placed second overall with 63 points, the lowest and best team score since the Keydets returned to the SoCon in 2014. The previous best score for the VMI men was 79 points from the 2015 league race. The VMI women’s team placed eighth overall with 185 points. Senior Jahanzib Shahbaz ’20 placed second individually with an 8k time of 24:23.74 to earn First Team All-SoCon honors for the second straight year. With Furman qualifying for the NCAA championship as a team given its men’s victory in the race, Shahbaz is expected to be at the NCAA National Championship as the first individual representing the SoCon at the national race. “I am proud of the way the men’s team came together in the past two months,” said Drew Ludtke, Ed.D., VMI head cross-country coach. “I believe today’s experience will live as one of the greatest memories for their entire lives.” Gavin Jenkins ’22 earned Second Team All-SoCon recognition for the second straight year with his ninth-place mark of 25:47.44. The VMI women were led by senior Anna Armfield ’21, who placed 15th overall in the field with a personal-best 5k time of 18:52.11. She earned the best female VMI score in Southern Conference history by placing 15th overall, which gave VMI a record-low 14 points for the team. The women’s eighth-place finish ties the best VMI women’s placement in

the school’s SoCon history, and the 185 total team points is also the best in program history as a member of the Southern Conference. When VMI competed in the Big South Conference, the Keydets’ Jenna (Moye) Vilushis ’13 placed fourth overall in the 2012 Big South race and teammate Leah Schubel ’13 arrived in 14th place. At the 2009 Big South championship, the Keydet women placed second overall with Hannah Granger ’11 winning the individual title. “I am proud of Anna, who was also our only senior at the meet,” Ludtke said about the women’s race. “She also ran a personal best time! The women really came together today to have great races, a learning experience, and the best VMI score in school history! I am proud of their work!” The VMI women topped ninth place, The Citadel (242), and 10th place, Wofford (255). “I want to congratulate and thank all 30 men and women that are part of the cross-country teams, each playing a role in the finish for both the men and women today,” said Darrin Webb, VMI director of track and field and cross-country. “I am very proud of how they competed and the effort they gave. Five men in the top 23 today, and three women in the top 50, is just amazing. Congrats to Coach Ludtke and our entire team! A second-place finish for the men, and eighth for the women were great efforts.” The team had one regular-season meet—the Tom Scott Open in Charlotte, North Carolina, Oct. 30. The men’s team finished first and the women finished third at the meet. For more details and results, visit vmikeydets.com.

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Athletics

Keydet Rifle Teams Finish Strong in Fall Competition The Keydet rifle teams performed well during the fall season, competing in four matches. Looking for a strong start to the 2020-21 season, the VMI rifle teams accomplished the task with solid marks Sept. 26 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Navy won the match with 4658 aggregate points (2305 smallbore, 2353 air rifle) and was followed by the VMI mixed team with 4493 points (2207 SB, 2286 AR) and the VMI women’s team (4206 aggregate; 2003 AB, 2203 AR). Simon Krauthamer ’22 led the way for the VMI mixed rifle team with a fourth-place 572 smallbore tally. In the women’s smallbore, Savanah Diamond ’22 led the way with a 542 for 13th place overall. Krauthamer led the mixed team in the air rifle with a fourth-place tally of 557 points. Diamond led the VMI women’s team in the air rifle competition with a 558 score for 15th place overall. Following their opener versus Navy, VMI’s rifle teams had matches against The Citadel, Georgia Southern, Plattsburgh State, and North Georgia. The Keydets split versus The Citadel Oct. 10 and versus Georgia Southern and Plattsburgh State Oct. 18. In the last match of the fall, the Keydet eagle eyes fell to North Georgia Oct. 24. The Keydets faced the baby blue Bulldogs at home in Kilbourne Hall. Krauthamer led the way for the mixed team’s smallbore. He scored 561 points, followed by Jessica Hankin ’22 (552). On the women’s side for smallbore, Sarah Robertson ’23 led the VMI women with a 542 for 10th place overall. Samantha Reid ’22 earned the top score for the VMI mixed team in the air rifle with a 575. Diamond led the VMI women in the air rifle competition with a 560 score for seventh place.

Competing in a postal match at Georgia Southern Oct. 18, the VMI rifle teams fell to the Eagles but defeated Plattsburgh State. Georgia Southern finished with 4535 points (2230 smallbore, 2305 air rifle) and was followed by the mixed VMI rifle team with 4453 points (2209 SB, 2244 AR). The VMI women came in third with 4221 points (2041 SB, 2180 AR), followed by Plattsburgh State with 3928 points (1945 SB, 1983 AR). As a postal match, the scores will count for Southern Conference consideration but will not count toward NCAA postseason qualification. Krauthamer led the way for the VMI mixed team in the smallbore with a 561 tally. Nicholas Schaefer ’22 led the VMI mixed team in the air rifle with a 565 score. Diamond led the VMI women’s team in both smallbore (531) and in the air rifle segment (560). Competing in the final event of the 2020 calendar year, the VMI rifle teams fell to North Georgia in Southern Conference rifle action at Kilbourne Hall Oct. 24. North Georgia came out on top with 4564 aggregate points (2237 SB, 2327 AR) followed by the VMI mixed team with 4438 (2188 SB, 2250 AR). The VMI women’s rifle team placed third with 4351 points (2125 SB, 2226 AR). Hankin led the mixed team in both the smallbore (4th, 555) and air rifle (6th, 573) to pace the Keydets. On the women’s side, Diamond led the way in the smallbore with a seventh-place score of 550 while also scoring team points in the air rifle with a 558. Claire Lee ’22 guided the team in the air rifle with an eighth-place performance of 565 while scoring second for VMI in the smallbore with a 538. For more details about the Keydets’ fall season, visit vmikeydets.com.

Jessica Hankin ’22 led the Keydets mixed rifle team in both smallbore and air rifle versus North Georgia Oct. 24. The rifle teams competed in four matches during fall 2020 versus Navy, The Citadel, Georgia Southern and Plattsburgh State, and North Georgia—Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.

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Athletics

Keydet Swimmers Top West Virginia Tech

The Keydets ruled the pool in fall 2020, landing decisive victories over West Virginia Tech Oct. 10 at home and Nov. 7 on the road.—Photo by Randall K. Wolf for VMI. The Keydet swimming and diving teams were 2-0 in fall competition. Both victories were over West Virginia Tech, at home Oct. 10 and away Nov. 7. A third match scheduled against University of Maryland Baltimore County for Nov. 14 was canceled. At the season opener, the men scored a 121-56 win while the women’s squad posted a 124-38 victory. The Keydets had the top time in all but one event. Sophomore Jack Sheehan ’23 had the men’s meet top time in three events, swimming a 1:57.97 in the 200 IM, the 100 breaststroke (1:01.54), and was part of the 200 medley relay team with Zach Emerson ’22, Nathan Hicks ’23, and Andrew Mills ’22 (1:40.72). Emerson captured the 50 free in 21.84 and 100 backstroke in 54.76. Bridger Thurston ’23 won both diving events, scoring 210.15 points in the 1M and 196.27 in the 3M. Collin Marks ’24 won the 1650 freestyle in 17:06.54 and Connor Doyle ’23 took the 200 free in 1:47.17. Thomas Muldowney ’21 was first in the 100 butterfly (54.38) and Chino Vera ’24 came in first in the 100 free in 48.50. The 200 medley relay team of Anno Kong ’22, Marks, Doyle, and Vera won the race in 1:30.05.

Sarah Liebenow ’24 won the women’s 1000yard freestyle in 12:11.51, and also was first in the 500 freestyle in 5:58.28. Junior Sophie Svoboda ’22 was also a double winner, capturing the 50 free in 25.16 and 100 free in 55.49. Anne Bowles ’24 was victorious in the 200 IM in 2:27.47 and the 100 breast in 1:13.70. Jillian Maher ’24 won the 200 free in 2:07.73, while Caragh Osborne ’24 was first in the 100 fly (1:12.69). Isabella DeCosta ’23 swam a 1:06.05 in the 100 backstroke to win, and London Yerasimides ’23 earned the victory in the 1M diving competition (168.07). Nina Rodriguez ’21 bested Yerasimides by a narrow margin (150.22-150.07) to win the 3M dive. Jessica Cox ’24, Kate Taylor ’24, Liebenow, and Svoboda won the 200 free relay in 1:50.09, and DeCosta, Bowles, Maher, and Cox won the 200 medley relay in 2:01.61. In their second and final competition of fall 2020, the Keydet men won 210-51 while the women defeated the Golden Bears 203-37. Svoboda won the women’s 50 freestyle in 28.72 and the 200 breast in 2:55.91. Maher captured victories in the 100 (1:05.96) and 400 (5:06.95) free, while DeCosta won the 100 back in 1:14.34 and 200 back in 2:41.22.

Liebenow was first in the 800 free in 10:53.35, Bowles won the 100 breaststroke in 1:21.65, Holly Hein ’23 won the 200 fly in 3:39.32, and Ruki Sarkari ’24 finished first in the 100 fly in 1:19.82. The 200 medley relay team of DeCosta, Bowles, Sarkari, and Svoboda won in 2:16.50 and Svoboda, Taylor, DeCosta, and Maher teamed up to win the 200 free relay in 2:01.16. Svoboda, Liebenow, Decosta, and Maher won the 400 freestyle relay in 4:33.38. Sheehan earned victories in the men’s 100 breast in 1:08.08, the 200 breast in 2:34.37, and the 200 IM in 2:15.86. Emerson was first in the 50 free (24.44) and 200 back (2:23.88) while Doyle captured the 200 free in 2:01.08. Conner Jorgensen ’23 outlasted Emerson to win the 100 back in 1:05.71, Marks won the 400 free (4:19.31), and Muldowney earned the win in the 100 fly (1:01.51). Emerson, Sheehan, Muldowney, and Vera won the 200 medley relay and Kong, Doyle, Sheehan, and Vera finished the 200 free in 1:41.03 to win. Emerson, Marks, Doyle, and Vera won the 400 free relay in 3:46.77.

VMI Alumni Review

Events A Strong Connection: Class Reunions Go Virtual By Victoria Ferris, Assistant Director of Reunions

Whether it had been five years since graduation or 70, nothing could stop our alumni from celebrating their reunions this fall—not even a global pandemic. Coronavirus regulations and precautions led to the cancellation of six reunions scheduled for 2020. The VMI Alumni Association hosted virtual gatherings for these six classes. Some aspects of the virtual reunions were the same for each class—like recorded tours of post and an Old Yell from the Corps of Cadets. Just like in-person traditional reunions, though, each class’s gathering featured something unique to them. For instance, the Class of 1960 had the opportunity to hear from the most recent recipient of the Captain Paul Bayliss Class of 1960 Memorial Scholarship. For the Class of 1975, one highlight of the evening was the viewing of “Spirit of VMI,” a look back at

the Keydets’ victorious 1974 football season. “The virtual option gave so many the opportunity to reunite with each other; even those who, under normal circumstances wouldn’t have been able to be present in person,” said Corri Sensabaugh, associate director of reunions. “Even better is hearing about so many classes keeping the excitement alive by incorporating more regular virtual events on their own.” Patti Cook, director of annual and reunion giving, saw what was necessitated by the pandemic and is turning the experience into an opportunity for future reunions. “I think one of the positive discoveries that came out of the virtual reunion experience is that we have the ability in the future ... to include a virtual option into any of our reunion weekends,” she said. “This will provide an opportunity for BRs to connect, even if they

are unable to come to the in-person event.” Several attendees agreed that, due to personal circumstances, they might not have been able to attend their reunion at all if not for the virtual option. For some, it is the only reunion they have ever attended. That was certainly the case for the Class of 2015. “The team worked hard to provide an update for the classes despite our unique circumstances,” said T.J. Lighton ’15, reunion giving officer for the VMI Alumni Agencies. Lighton’s class was one of the six with reunions affected by COVID-19. “In times like these, it was nice to connect with BRs and reflect on our time in barracks and all the things we have been up to since graduating.” From the more intimate gatherings to the events that drew almost 100 participants, VMI alumni have proven that, even through tough times, the brother rat spirit remains strong.

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Class of 1975

Class of 2005

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Events

Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter Gathers

The Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter held an Old Corps gathering on Zoom Oct. 27, 2020. Don Brown ’71, Bill Gibson ’65, Paul Johnston ’61, Larry Wilson ’62, Megan Ayers ’19, Mike Kelly ’73, Ron Wall '69, Thom Brashears ’95, Parky Parkman ’66 and Drew Turner ’72 attended (pictured). The group also gathered on Zoom in August with Bill Gibson ’65, Parky Parkman ’66, Paul Johnston ’61, Mike Kelly ’73, Charlie Ramsburg ’66, Thom Brashears ’95, and Larry Wilson ’62 attending. Brashears provided an update as to current Institute activities.

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Events

Middle Tennessee – Nashville Chapter Gathers

The Middle Tennessee – Nashville Chapter gathered for lunch at the patio of Mere Bulles restaurant in Brentwood, Tennessee, Oct. 20, 2020. Hunter Fede ’11, Eric Smith ’98, Steve Chapin ’75, John Manley ’64, Mark Searles ’06, David Miller ’70, and Dave Pitts ’88 attended. Pitts is the chapter president.

Commissioning Information for Classes of 1990-2009 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 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 Col. Gary Bissell ’89, deputy chief of staff and operations, by email at bissellga@vmi.edu or by phone at 540/464-7104.

Graduate School Partnerships The Virginia Military Institute has forged relationships with graduate and professional schools in Virginia and across the U.S. These agreements offer opportunities, including admissions concessions, internships, guaranteed interviews and, in some cases, guaranteed admissions. Partnerships include Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State University, Norwich University, Arizona State, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Programs include law, medicine, business, engineering, and communications. Contact Bri Holland at hollandbm@vmi.edu for more information.

VMI Alumni Review

Events

Thailand Chapter Gathers, Celebrates Military Promotions

The Thailand Chapter, which is well-represented across Thai armed forces, gathered to celebrate recent promotions Sept. 26, 2020. Promotions included Maj. Gen. Sumonchai Sanusan ’85, senior specialist, Royal Thai Army; Lt. Gen. Paisarn Ngarmwongwan ’87, chief of staff, National Defence Studies Institute; Lt. Gen. Songwit Noonpakdee ’88, Royal Thai Army deputy chief of staff; Maj. Gen. Kultawat Vaijai ’88, deputy director general of joint intelligence, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters; Maj. Gen. Painwaut Subrungruang ’92, director general of the international affairs department at the Ministry of Defence Office of Policy and Planning; Maj. Gen. Jakkrit Thammavichai ’93, Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy chief of staff; Maj. Gen. Noppadon Kuljanavivant ’96, expert, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence; and Senior Col. Pattana Punmongkol ’97, Washington, D.C., Royal Thai Embassy defense and military attaché.

Jonathan M. Daniels 1961 Seminary Scholarship Dr. G. Lee Southard ’59, and his family established the Jonathan M. Daniels 1961 Seminary Scholarship in 1985. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist VMI graduates pursuing an advanced degree leading to Protestant Christian ministry. The scholarship is named in honor of Jonathan M. Daniels ’61, who, after graduating from VMI, followed a call to ministry and entered seminary.

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For more information, applications and instructions, please contact Mary Cannon, administrative assistant in the VMI Chaplains’ Office at cannonml@vmi.edu. The degree pursued must lead to service as a pastor or military chaplain in Protestant ministry. The deadline for submitting the application is June 15 of each year. Scholarships are awarded in July.

Progress Henderson ’99 and Copenhaver ’99: “We Could Not Have Done This Alone” By Molly Rolon, Associate Editor Patrick Henderson ’99 and Chris Copenhaver ’99 are brother rats, best friends—and business partners. They started Protos Security in 2006, quit their day jobs in 2011, and two years ago, they sold part of the multimillion-dollar company. “It’s been a blessing,” Henderson said. “It doesn’t get much better than that ... to be brother rats, but also best friends and to be able to build something.” Their business, Protos Security, through disruption and bringing about needed internal change, turned an industry on its ear. It’s a tech enabled managed services model company—the Uber of the security guard industry, Henderson explained. The company didn’t begin—or become successful—overnight. The idea came during church league bowling in 2006. Between frames, a friend who worked for Advance Auto Parts relayed some issues with retail security guards at his stores. “They needed a better solution ... a better mousetrap,” Henderson said. “Chris quickly did some homework and studied the industry.” The two presented a plan to Advance Auto Parts, and “they gave us an area to test a pilot program.”

The business came together in short order. The brother rats give a lot of credit to the “speed of trust” and their shared background. The entire “fabric” of their business was based on VMI tenets—including the Honor Code. In the early days, the two had to make snap decisions and sometimes take risks with little time for pauses. “If you don’t have that trust, you can’t do that,” Copenhaver said. VMI also teaches that “no matter how bad the day is, for the most part, you realize that ... not only will you survive it, but you’ll be better for it. You can find ways to kind of laugh about it ... it keeps you running lean and keeps you running forward instead of miring down in that ‘would have, could have’ and self-pity.” Fifteen years ago, the retail security industry was not very transparent. Before Protos, industry norms were dominated by large companies. Many smaller, regional security companies followed the lead of the giants in their operations. Security companies scheduled officers and billed retailers—whether or not the officers showed up or showed up on time. If officers reported an incident, the report went to the security company. Local managers sometimes saw these reports, but the information rarely trickled up to national managers.

Brother Rats Patrick Henderson and Chris Copenhaver, both Class of 1999, are partners in Protos Security. The business revolutionized the security guard industry. Both brother rats and their wives have worked with Ramon Williams ’90, VMI Alumni Agencies major gift officer, to endow scholarships for future cadets.—Photo courtesy Protos Security.

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Progress Officers felt little ownership in their jobs. The security officer’s standard procedures were often a coffee-stained, wrinkly stack of haphazardly stapled papers. Timecards were on paper and had to be mailed in, then processed by hand. Beginning with little more than an excel spreadsheet and some grit, Protos streamlined the process. They contract with Fortune 500 retailers and subcontract local guard companies. They’ve built a successful platform that works nationwide. The company’s software started as a “clunky desktop program”— that still produced results. It’s progressed through several stages of development to its current status, a web application. Developing the web application led Protos to “one our best hires, Brother Rat Cameron Tabor [’99], who came on as our chief technology officer in 2014,” Henderson said. “Cameron was a Godsend, who took our sub-par software and developed it into a world class software product.” Tabor’s leadership and vision brought clients Protos’ current product: A real-time, one-stop shop portal for accountability and visibility into their guard programs. For clients, the immediate and continuous visibility is a “gamechanger,” Henderson explained. Security officers can clock in and out using their own smartphone or the store’s phone. Clients wanted accuracy and GPS validation, and Protos provides

The Food Lion vice president arrived, and the partners launched into their proposal. Their potential client, the two BRs noticed, liked to lean back in his chair. Way back. The chair’s bolts were creaking dangerously. Henderson and Copenhaver knew they needed to wrap up their pitch before it ended prematurely with an unhappy Food Lion vice president sprawled on the floor. Their company’s future depended on the dubious strength of a few bolts holding a secondhand office chair together. As Henderson was contemplating that future, the office’s rightful occupant wandered by in the hallway. He stopped and craned his neck to see what was going on—in his office. Thankfully, Henderson said, he continued walking without asking any awkward questions. In the end, the bolts held. The Food Lion vice president said yes, to a few stores. “If we do well with those, will you give us all your stores?” Henderson asked boldly. The Food Lion vice president began laughing. He said no—but he liked the way they thought. Eventually, he did give them all the stores. That wasn’t the beginning of Protos Security, but it did mark the beginning of their rapid increase in business volume, value, and revenue. Henderson and Copenhaver are always looking for new oppor-

They instructed them to “stomp around” and to make the phones ring by calling each other—anything to give the impression of a bustling, vibrant operation. that. Using the web application, officers can file incident reports, including photos. Retail clients can send updated procedures to the officers with pinpoint accuracy. The all-digital ecosystem has boosted efficiency across the board. “The accountability that we provide in the security guard industry has disrupted the industry,” Henderson said. “To compete in this space now, you’d have to have some form of the tools we created.” Protos started out with a large, steady client, Advance Auto Parts. For the first few years, Copenhaver and Henderson pitched their company to anyone who would listen. Anyone included Food Lion’s loss prevention vice president, who, up until 2013, had put off the sales talks from Henderson and Copenhaver. One day, he called as he was driving through the area. He’d be in Roanoke in a few hours—and he wanted to talk. At the time, Protos was operating out of an unremarkable “two and a half offices.” The pair looked around to see what they could do to improve—and impress the Food Lion vice president. “We had to get the place looking good,” Henderson recalled. “[We’d] been waiting years for this.” Somehow, they managed to temporarily appropriate an almostempty office in their building. The contractor who rented this office stored a few boxes there and was usually not in the office. They quickly moved in furniture and decorations for the meeting. A very small company at the time, they called in part-timers and everyone who worked from home. They instructed them to “stomp around” and to make the phones ring by calling each other—anything to give the impression of a bustling, vibrant operation.

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tunities. Two years ago, another company approached them about selling. For them, it was a great transition—they remain as minority owners. With the day-to-day operations in capable hands, Copenhaver and Henderson are free to focus on growing the company in other directions. For growth ideas, one direction they always check is fellow alumni, and what they are doing. When their copies of the Alumni Review arrive, they scan through it and call up other alumni who are doing interesting things. “You can miss opportunities if you don’t get out and talk to people and get to know people and what they’re doing,” Henderson said. Over the last couple of years, Henderson and his wife, Heather, stepped back and looked at their lives. A devout Christian couple, they gave thanks to God for their blessings. They looked at who had helped them along the way and knew VMI had played a huge part in their current circumstances. Working with Ramon Williams ’90, senior major gift officer at the VMI Alumni Agencies, they endowed the Henderson Hope Scholarship. The scholarship is aimed at someone from the Roanoke, Salem, Botetourt, and New River Valley areas who has “determination and grit,” Henderson said. “Not someone who’s a total academic, but someone who needs a little bit of assistance.” “You’re looking for Rocky [Balboa],” Copenhaver put in. Henderson agreed. He and Heather, who was his Ring Figure date, started the scholarship for someone who “wants to work hard,” has already proven a work ethic in high school, and who needs a scholarship. They’re looking forward to meeting their scholarship recipients in the future.

Progress Giving back to VMI isn’t necessarily the first thing people think of, Henderson said. He encourages other successful alumni to think about how VMI has helped them—and to “turn around and think about ... the opportunity to give back.” He and Copenhaver are living proof the “VMI family is alive and well, and that grit and determination can still produce and ... bear fruit. Having a Christ-like attitude ... respect and morals and those types of things do still pay off,” he said, pointing out that their success came through God’s blessings and hard work. “If we can do this, you can do this, any alumni can do this. But it took both of us, along with the support and love from our wives. [We] could not have done this alone.”

Copenhaver and his wife, Jess (also his Ring Figure date), worked out their own VMI scholarship with Williams. It is called the Copenhaver Entrepreneur Opportunity Scholarship. Not to be outdone by his brother rat, Copenhaver added a tiny bit extra to his scholarship. The gift ends in 99 cents.

Williams ’90: Gift Officer Profile “It was a pleasure to work with Patrick and Chris as they decided on how their giving would have a lasting impact on a young man or woman attending VMI,” said Ramon Williams ’90, VMI Alumni Agencies senior major gift officer. “As you read their story, it is easy to understand why they give ... to give another young person a chance to succeed without any barriers to do so,” Williams said. “No matter their background, if they are willing Williams ’90 to grind, stay focused, and work hard—then anything is possible.” As a major gift officer, Williams is in a position to see “exactly what VMI has meant and done for so many who have graduated from the Institute. I get to understand their story, why they chose the road less traveled, and how a VMI education has shaped them in ways that has led to their success in life, military, and/ or in business.” “It’s exciting to see and know that VMI’s educational system works and hopefully will lead many others to give back to VMI in an impactful way,” Williams concluded.

Thank You! Fall Campaign Successful

The VMI Alumni Agencies hosted a crowdfunding campaign to raise support for funding the mission of VMI. With Founders Day as a focal point, It All Starts Here featured members of the Corps of Cadets expressing the things at the Institute they are most thankful for. It All Starts Here raised $100,230. The donor goal was set at 181, in honor of the 181st year since VMI’s founding. Thanks to you, the VMI family, the campaign exceeded the goal by 29%, totaling 237 donors to the campaign. It All Starts Here was successful in raising vital resources for the Institute. It offered an opportunity for alumni and friends of VMI to rally together during a significant day on the Institute’s calendar. When making their gift, donors were encouraged to share something that they are thankful for. At a time when many events were postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, crowdfunding is still relevant as a means of connecting people with VMI’s mission and offering an opportunity for them to show their support. Recognizing the fact that 25% of the Institute’s budget comes from private support, campaigns like It All Starts Here are an important part of the annual fundraising effort for the VMI Alumni Agencies. They increase giving to the Foundation Fund and the Keydet Club Scholarship Fund, which impact the lives of cadets each and every day. Days of giving or other crowdfunding initiatives serve to drive competition between classes and increase annual giving donor counts, which improve alumni participation. Alumni donor participation is a key metric in college rankings, as published by U.S. News and World Report and other reporting bodies. VMI’s excellent alumni participation is one more metric that positions the Institute above other colleges and universities.

VMI Alumni Review

Progress

Wade ’05: Accidental Alumnus, Intentional Generosity By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

Jonathan Wade ’05, D.O., initially came to Lexington to look at Washington and Lee. The former baseball player runs direct DOC, a flat-rate medical service, in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. His time at VMI impacted him greatly, and he recently worked on a scholarship with Andrew Deal ’12, Keydet Club Vice President.—Photo courtesy Wade.

When Jonathan Wade ’05 traveled from his then-home north of Atlanta, Georgia, to visit Lexington, Virginia, more than 20 years ago, he did so to visit Washington and Lee University. “I wanted to play baseball in college, and I had heard good things about Washington and Lee’s program and the school overall,” Wade remembered. “Initially, I wasn’t planning on visiting VMI, but my high school coach, who knew VMI’s coach, urged me to take a look around.” Whatever he saw during that visit must have impressed him, because Wade began to examine VMI closely. What he discovered impressed him even more. “Its alumni were accomplished leaders in their chosen professions. They were fiercely loyal to their school and to each other,” he said. “They had a great network.” VMI’s outsized reputation also struck him. “Whenever I mentioned VMI, someone always seemed to have some sort of connection to an alumnus or to have something good to say about it.” At a winter baseball camp at Auburn University, Wade met Chris Finwood ’88. At VMI, Finwood had coached Tom Slater ’90, who headed VMI’s baseball team for three years beginning in 2000, as well as Slater’s assistant, Marlin Ikenberry ’95. Finwood, then coaching at Western Kentucky University, sized up Wade’s skills and then told Slater that Wade

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had the talent necessary to play Division I baseball. When Wade learned he had been accepted into the prestigious Institute Scholars program, VMI became irresistible. “A chance to play baseball at the top level and a full-ride scholarship made it impossible to say, ‘No,’ to VMI.” Wade describes his 4th Class year as “eyeopening and humbling. Humbling because, academically, high school was easy for me, and suddenly I was challenged in the classroom. In fact, I got a ‘D’ in my second semester of rat chemistry.” The “eye-opening” part? “The demands of being a cadet-athlete were relentless. There was class, practice, and the Rat Line, and Coach Slater and Coach ‘Ike’ demanded we do well in the barracks and the classroom as well as on the field.” With second semester came the end of the Rat Line, but it also meant the beginning of the baseball season and even more demands on Wade’s time. “There were games during the week and on weekends, and there was a lot of traveling.” A biology major, Wade planned to head to medical school after VMI. So, he took steps to ensure his academic performance would not flag. They included returning for summer sessions in order to get ahead on credits so he could take fewer classes during baseball season.

Another was overcoming a stereotype. “When I was a cadet, many faculty members thought that cadet-athletes cared primarily about athletic success. So, I made it a point to tell all my professors that I took my education seriously.” Although he was successful as a student, before his 1st Class year, Wade faced a hard choice. “The team had made amazing progress. In my first season, we won just one game in the Southern Conference and 10 games overall. The next year, we posted a winning record in the SoCon and placed third in the conference tournament. The talent level was incredible. I think five guys from that 2003 team were drafted. I was making a solid contribution to the team—one of whom was our current coach, Jon Hadra ’04—and I loved being part of a wonderful group of men.” “As great as all that was, my goal was medical school, and I knew I needed to ensure my grades were the best they could be.” So, he did not play his 1st Class year. “Coach Ikenberry fully understood my situation, and he supported my decision. Happily, Robert Crumpler ’07 stepped up to the first-base position and enjoyed a stellar career.” Wade’s decision paid off, and he was admitted to medical school. “I owe a lot to everyone in the biology department. Particularly, Colonel James Turner [’65] guided me through a

Progress summer research project, and Colonel Wade Bell did a lot to get me ready for applying for medical school, including preparing me for interviews.” When he arrived at medical school, he had no doubts he was ready academically. “More important, though, my VMI experience gave me a strong work ethic, the ability to focus on what needs to be done, and the confidence that if I buckled down and focused, I could do anything.” As to his medical career, Wade eschewed specializing and pursued family medicine. He liked the fact that family medicine would let him “practice medicine across its full breadth and take care of patients from cradle to grave. It would afford me the opportunity to work in hospitals, emergency rooms, standard medical offices, and hospices, and I could not do that if I had specialized in, say, orthopedics.” And he has stayed true to that commitment to the point of adopting an approach to medicine known as direct primary care and, in 2018, co-founded a health care business called direct DOC in Nashville, Georgia. Under the DPC model, patients pay direct DOC a flat, recurring monthly fee, which Wade likens to a membership in a gym. That fee guarantees patients full access to the practice’s

services anytime and anywhere. The practice doesn’t ask for copayments or bill insurance companies, as the membership fee covers all costs. Describing what he finds most attractive about DPC, Wade said, “I became a physician in order to make peoples’ lives better by improving their health. The best way to do that is to establish close doctor-patient relationships in order to promote wellness, and you can’t do that properly if insurance companies act as middlemen.” While he approaches medicine like an oldfashioned family “doc,” Wade embraces technology. “Patients have 24/7 access by telephone, FaceTime, and email. In fact, more than 70% of our ‘visits’ are conducted using telemedicine.” For Wade that means that he can give any in-office patients the time and attention they deserve. Wade’s practice has grown steadily. Now, businesses can provide memberships to their employees which generates considerable savings. In fact, one company is saving more than $500,000 a year. Wade points to the addition of a counselor to handle mental health issues and establishment of an on-site pharmacy that he says “offers drugs at prices lower than Walmart” as an illustration of DPC’s benefits. “Patients get first-rate service and exceptional

medical care, and they end up keeping more money in their pockets.” As he looked at the direct DOC’s success, he often thought of what had helped him achieve it. “I kept thinking how thankful I was for what VMI had done for me. And, really, not just me, but so many other alumni I know. VMI prepares you for success because it instills self-discipline and confidence and gives you the ability and the willingness to grab opportunities.” So, Wade decided to make a commitment to VMI, the majority of which he dedicated to establishing the Jonathan Wade ’05 Baseball Scholarship. “The baseball program was a family to me while I was a cadet, and I wanted to pay that back a bit. More important than that, I wanted to give a young man the chance to play baseball at the Division I level for VMI.” As to what he hopes a scholarship recipient will do with that chance, he said, “I hope he enjoys the camaraderie of a team, forms lasting friendships, makes a lot of cool memories, and develops poise, a strong work ethic, and selfdiscipline. I also hope he seizes every academic and leadership opportunity he finds. In short, I want him to make the most of his years at VMI because, if he does, he’ll give himself an excellent start in life.”

Deal ’12: Gift Officer Profile

Deal ’12 46

Andrew Deal ’12, VMI Keydet Club vice president, recently worked with Jonathan Wade ’05 in establishing a scholarship. Both are former Keydet baseball players. “My decision to attend VMI was much like Jon’s,” Deal said. “Baseball was everything to me growing up, and I was incredibly thankful that all my hard work paid off in the form of a scholarship.” His years as a Keydet—and as a cadet— changed him for the better, Deal said. “For me, the cadet-athlete experience was lifechanging. It molded me into a man,” he said. “It allowed me to grow as a person. It made me tougher, more responsible, more accountable. Being a part of a team is powerful. The lessons you learn, the adversity you go through—and trust me, there is a lot of it—sets you apart.”

In his current position, he sees the tremendous support the VMI family has for cadets. And, Deal never forgets the support he received from someone who came before him. “I will be forever grateful to Elmon T. Gray ’46, who established the scholarship I received. Working for nine years at the VMI Keydet Club has been eye-opening and rewarding,” Deal said. “I wish every cadet could sit in my chair and see the powerful support from our alumni and friends and how it continues to make the VMI experience special.” Collaborating with Wade to make his idea a reality was “a pleasure,” Deal said. “For me, a former baseball player, it was amazing to realize the impact it will have on the program. I certainly hope that the way he stepped up will encourage others to do the same.”

VMI Alumni Review

Progress

Thanks to You: VMI Family Provides Over $23 Million to VMI By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

A VMI education remains one of the most challenging and rewarding college experiences in the United States. The young people in the barracks are expected to excel as students, cadets, and athletes. They are expected as well to embrace the unshakeable demands of the Honor Code and to learn the basics of leadership through the regimental and the class systems. It is an exacting process; however, it is an effective one. In this crucible, young people are transformed into citizen-soldiers who are capable, purposeful, and honorable and imbued with a strong sense of service— men and women who will make real and enduring contributions to their communities,

Fundraising during a time of lingering uncertainty has created numerous challenges. But the leaders and staff of the VMI Alumni Agencies have met them head-on, embracing new approaches to refining familiar techniques of fundraising on VMI’s behalf. For example, in the fall, it conducted a limited “crowdfunding” campaign called It All Starts Here—which was centered on Founders Day. The Agencies is also using technology to support the alumni who are leading their class reunion campaigns. The Agencies has been exploring imaginative ways to engage with alumni, parents, and friends through virtual events and cre-

highest level of intercollegiate athletics. The Foundation Fund—which generates unrestricted money the Institute uses to advance academic and co-curricular programs—has enjoyed considerable support with giving up more than 10% over the amount at the same time last year. Private support provided VMI with $23 million in fiscal year 2020. With continued generosity from the VMI family, we remain on track to provide VMI with the resources it needs again in 2021. As encouraging as this progress has been, this remains a challenging time for American higher education, to include VMI. Under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, the

If you have not made a gift or commitment this fiscal year, please consider joining in this critical effort. To give, visit vmialumni.org/give, call 800.444.1839, or mail checks to P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450.

our country, and the world. The character of the education that VMI offers—and which attracts hundreds of young people to the Institute every year—is not one that can be replicated “virtually.” It demands the presence of cadets on post—interacting with each other and the Institute’s faculty and staff. VMI’s bold decision to reopen on time and to maintain a schedule as close to normal as possible kept faith with the VMI family, especially its cadets. This is a magnificent achievement. More important—much more important— is what it meant to the Corps of Cadets. This decision ensured cadets were provided with the experiences that will transform them—as they have transformed all of those who preceded them—into the leaders that our country always will need. It also showed them that alumni, faculty, staff, and friends resolutely support them.

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ate unique stewardship opportunities. The Alumni Association hosted several “virtual reunions,” bringing together brother rats of numerous classes to strengthen their bonds with each other and VMI. The VMI Foundation’s annual Institute Society Dinner was held virtually—which actually allowed many members of The Institute Society to participate who otherwise might not have been able to be on post under normal circumstances. You, the VMI family, have responded wonderfully. By the end of December 2020, alumni, parents, and friends had come forward with more than $12 million in gifts and commitments. Within that amount are many great stories. A total of 237 donors participated in It All Starts Here, giving more than $100,320. The VMI family has provided considerable support to VMI Annual Giving. Donors have given the Keydet Club Scholarship Fund more than $923,000 that will be used to support the cadet-athletes who represent VMI at the

Institute is committed to maintaining and strengthening that which makes its education both extraordinary in its nature and effective in its results. It is focused on ensuring the young people who come to VMI seeking to stand apart from their contemporaries receive the experiences in which they can test themselves and develop the traits of principled leadership. To do so, VMI will need its alumni, families, and friends to sustain their generous financial support of the Institute— and, if possible, to increase. On behalf of the Institute, we here at the Alumni Agencies thank everyone in the VMI family who has made a gift or commitment in the Institute’s support. You are helping the Institute maintain its place in the top tier of American higher education at an important time in its history. If you have not made a gift or commitment this fiscal year, please consider joining in this critical effort.

Staff News Skaggs ’22 Interns with Alumni Agencies Cadet Christina Skaggs ’22 completed an internship with the VMI Alumni Agencies communications team during the fall 2020 semester. The cheerful, outgoing English major completed the internship as part of the ERH 411 Fieldwork class, which brings cadets into partnership with organizations in the Rockbridge community and at VMI. The class is a requirement for English majors and can be fulfilled through a course, an independent study, or an internship. Like everything else in 2020, the internship presented challenges. At VMI, many restrictions were in place to control the spread of COVID-19. For Skaggs, this meant she could not complete her internship in person at Moody Hall. “It has been a challenge since COVID-19 didn’t let me have the typical internship experience,” Skaggs said. “I would have liked working in the office spaces with the rest of the Alumni Agencies staff—and getting to experience a new work environment.” Her two Alumni Agencies mentors found alternatives, meeting weekly in person on the Moody Hall balcony, and using Microsoft Teams video meetings. Thanks to current digital technology, Skaggs was able to hone her communications skills in many areas outside of a physical office. Using her own laptop, she was able to access design and photography programs licensed to the Agencies. A member of the Bomb staff, she used a yearbook camera for photography. Adapting to the circumstances—including listening to roommates taking Zoom classes—Skaggs’ barracks room became her office. “I have loved working with the VMI Alumni Agencies this semester,” said Skaggs, who will commission in the Navy when she graduates. “I have learned so much from everyone at the Alumni Agencies and [the internship] has reminded me I would like to pursue a career as a public affairs officer in the Navy one day.” Working with Micalyn Miller, Agencies creative content manager, Skaggs learned more about photography. Under Miller’s

Skaggs ’22 gentle guidance, Skaggs delved into graphic design, learned about social media strategy, and created several social media posts during the internship. She came to the internship with photography, social media, and writing skills. “Knowing that we could rely on Christina for photography needs and being able to lend some of our own skills to her education was really rewarding,” said Miller. “Christina was such an enthusiastic intern and we look forward to seeing her continue to grow as a cadet.” Skaggs learned about news writing and reporting, and writing for specific audiences from Molly Rolon, Agencies associate editor. Skaggs wrote articles about how the Corps continued operations during COVID-19, legacy cadets, and ROTC activities. An accomplished photographer, Skaggs took photos to accompany her articles. “Christina was a lot of fun to work with,” Rolon said. “She’s a creative, outgoing person and never said ‘no’ to anything I proposed. She’s really been a bright spot this fall.” On the academic side, Maj. Michelle Iten,

Ph.D., served as Skaggs’ advisor. The two conducted weekly phone calls rather than meeting in person. Iten coordinated with Rolon in writing the syllabus. Throughout the semester, Rolon provided news articles and social media posts from various sources. Skaggs analyzed this content in written form, using the rhetorical framework Iten teaches. “Christina has excellent insights into how different forms of news reporting work to convey information and messages,” Iten said. “She is making the direct match between academic and real-world knowledge that VMI internships seek to provide.” The internship is beneficial to everyone involved. Alumni Agencies personnel hear about cadet life firsthand. Interns learn valuable communications skills and how much the VMI family cares about and supports the Corps. And the audience—alumni and the greater VMI family—also get some insight into cadet life. When coronavirus curtailed in person learning in March 2020, spring intern Cadet Emma Flora ’22 continued writing and working on her internship remotely. Flora discovered and wrote the story about her brother rat, Cadet William Taylor ’22, who completed his spring courses in tent. The story was picked up by almost every major news outlet in the country. Another former intern, T.J. Lighton ’15, now works at the Alumni Agencies. He began working with chapters in the Alumni Association and now coordinates reunion giving. “As a scholarship athlete, I knew a little bit about the Agencies,” Lighton, a former Keydet pitcher, said. “The internship was eye-opening. I learned about the behind-thescenes effort that went into gathering private support.” In coordination with Maj. Stephanie Hodde, Ph.D., the Alumni Agencies communications team interviews intern candidates each semester. The internship is open to English majors as part of the ERH 411 Fieldwork class. Interested cadets can contact Hodde at hoddesl@vmi.edu.

VMI Alumni Review

CLASS NOTES

1941

Stuart Seaton Jr. ’73

Respectfully submitted, Stuart M. Seaton Jr. ’73

1942

Brittany Szczepanik ’20

Since last reported in the November 2020 Alumni Review, the VMI Class of ’41 lost its Brother Rat U.S. Air Force Col. Charles W. Abbitt Aug. 28. Col. Abbitt came to VMI from Gravel Knoll Farm near Appomattox, Virginia. Graduating VMI with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and a second lieutenant commission in the infantry, he soon received orders to report to Harvard University and then MIT for special classified technical training in the principles of radar, a new and secret technology. As a result of his special training, Lt. Abbitt transferred to the 501 Aircraft Warning Regiment to train as a navigator. Being promoted to the rank of captain, he soon joined European Group Headquarters as group navigator for 90 planes. His most important mission was leading the group in crossing the Rhine River, which led directly to Germany’s surrender. In May 1960, Col. Abbitt retired from the Air Force and soon became a civilian contractor responsible for assisting in the planning and building of NASA’s Integrated Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas. He soon became manager, Mission Control Center operations activity, and was a key manager in the Gemini and Apollo programs. Most notable was the praise and prestige he received from NASA Gemini leaders Chris Kraft and Gene Kranz, among others. In September 1983, Col. Abbitt and his wife, Ann, retired for the second time and moved to Central Texas. After his wife passed away in 1996, he eventually relocated to Richardson, Texas, in 2005, where he lived his final years at The Wellington at Arapaho retirement community. With the passing of Col. Abbitt, the ranks of the VMI Class of 1941 has been reduced to one Brother Rat, Jack Williams of Bath County, Virginia. I personally would like to wish Mr. Williams the very best during 2021. (Note: The above was obtained from Col. Abbitt’s obituary published online at www. timesvirginian.com)

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It might be hard to believe, but 78 years ago, the Class of 1942 all lived under one roof. Today, the four living brother rats, Mr. Barnabas W. Baker, Mr. Robert W. Goodman, Mr. George W. Heath Jr., and Col. John M. Patton, all live in different states. While in good health, they have expressed that they are getting tired of the isolation the virus has brought upon us all. In September, both Mr. Goodman and Col. Patton celebrated their 99th birthdays. It won’t be long before they join Mr. Baker on a full century of trips around the sun! Once again, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Chip Parkins, son of Charles Parkins ’43. The Patton name is well known, and Mr. Parkins had just the explanation I was looking for. Col. Patton was born in Wytheville, Virginia, and his family owned the local salt mines. His maternal first cousin is Gen. George S. Patton ’901, and as the colonel likes to say, “He’s related to me.” Col. Patton’s VMI connections do not just end at other relatives who attended; his fourth daughter was born in what is today the VMI-owned Stonewall Jackson House Hospital. Before Col. Patton moved to Overland Park, Kansas, a couple of years ago, Mr. Parkins had the chance to take him to the Steven F. UdvarHazy Center, which is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s annex at Washington Dulles International Airport. There, Col. Patton pointed out all the planes he had flown during his Air Force career, which happened to be more than half of the collection. Recently, I personally prepared to take off on my first solo flight toward the completion of a Private Pilot License before I head to Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training. I was honored that before I took off Col. Patton sent his best and congratulations and said that he was so proud of me. My flight paled in comparison to the time he flew under the Golden Gate Bridge, because the San Francisco fog was so thick it was the only way he could get out over the

ocean to complete his mission. Even more impressive is the story Col. Patton tells when asked if he ever emptied all the ammunition his plane was carrying. His response is, “Just once,” on what seemed to be a typical reconnaissance flight in Germany during World War II. A week earlier, he came across a German supply train and decided to shoot out its engine. Little did he know when he was once again flying the same route, the German train would be waiting for him. As he flew down to shoot out the engine, he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Looking closer, the walls of three train cars had fallen off and were full of machine guns pointing straight at him. He pulled up, hooked right around a mountain, and came from behind, leveling the train cars with every round he had—all at just 22 years old. As we enter the holiday season, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to hear and share all the incredible stories the Class of 1942 has to tell. Here’s to a happy and healthy new year, as there is only one more before their 80th Reunion!

1943 William B. Garber ’64 1

At this writing in mid-November, summer 2020 seems to want to linger a little longer. That’s OK with me, because with the milder weather perhaps COVID-19 will not accelerate as fast as some have forecast. With a little luck, next year when I’m writing these class notes, the pandemic will be well into the background. The class lost one of its brother rats during the summer months. Settle Frank died Sunday, Aug. 23, in Wilmington, Ohio. Settle graduated from VMI with a degree in civil engineering. He was commissioned in the field artillery and served in Europe during World War II. After the war, Settle resided in Parkersburg, West Virginia, for 60 years. He retired from the state department of highways, where he was a district engineer. He celebrated his 99th birthday in January 2020. Thanks to all who provided input this quarter. Bill Gottwald sent a photo and said that he stays in touch with Bruce Gottwald ’54, Doug

Class Notes Gottwald ’56, and Ted Gottwald ’83, along with additional Gottwalds of various classes. Judy Winter sent along a photo of her husband, Bill Winter, at his 98th birthday celebration in July 2020. I assume the Winters are doing fine. Jeff Smith ’79 provided the following update about his father: “Dad just turned 99 years old, celebrating it in the assisted living facility at the Fairfax, near Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Three of his six children ‘FaceTimed’ with him, and

Class of 1943: Bill Winter celebrating his 98th birthday in July 2020.

Class of 1943: Jeff and Jane Smith as they entered Old Barracks through Washington Arch during the Class of 1943’s 70th Reunion in April 2013. 50

three were able to visit him on the porch— from a safe distance. Dad is content. “I took this photo of mom and dad as they entered Old Barracks through Washington Arch during the Class of 1943’s last formal reunion in April 2013. It was a beautiful day, one marked by a parade in which at least 10 members of the class walked through Jackson Arch, past the commandant’s office, and into the courtyard. Dad peeled off to climb the sentinel box to lead ’43 in an Old Yell. I was honored to join him on the crowded box, where I was less steady on my feet than he. My mother died shortly after this photograph was taken, and so the reunion represented my parents’ last significant trip together. “In his memoir, dad recalls seeing VMI’s famed courtyard for the first time. He was attending nearby Staunton Military Academy as a postgraduate. After being rejected by West Point for eyesight, he and a classmate took the early bus to Lexington on a gray, downcast, and drizzly day. They observed the raincoatclad Corps fall in along the railings of all four stoops and heard the incantations of the cadet response to supper roll call. The order and solemnity of the formation appealed to dad, and VMI was the only school to which he applied. “As class agent, Dad approached the preparation for this 2013 reunion as if it were a military operation. The dinner was held at Cafe Michel, and my parents sat across and next to Bill ‘Floyd’ Gottwald and Mrs. Gottwald.

Class of 1943: Bill Gottwald with one of his favorite modes of transportation.

There were two special invitees, both sons of ’43 BRs: Dave Ellington, the son of Duke Ellington, and Bob Pickral, the son of George Pickral (my former chemistry teacher). Dad and Duke Ellington were members of Charlie Company, and according to dad, Duke was responsible for keeping the cannons intact during the cavalry charge that concluded regimental parades in those days. According to Dave Ellington, football players like his father ‘provided ballast for the caissons to keep them from bouncing around so much.’ “The reunion left dad exhausted. He acknowledged afterward that he had taken for granted his reliance on a ‘staff’ while on active duty, and it ‘would be a long while before he took on such an operation again.’ But that spring day had been more than a reunion. It was a kind of resurrection in which the Class of 1943, though diminished in number, stood tall, young at heart, still aspirational. Its members were senior in stature to all present and more aware than most of how fleeting even a long cadetship can be. They knew how privileged they were to be able to conduct one last Old Yell and participate in one last roll call. And when the command, ‘Dismiss,’ was given, these World War II veterans left the last significant formation of their class as if they were en route to their first duty stations—you could see it in their eyes. “I personally want to extend my best wishes—and dad’s love—to the remaining members and family members of the Class of the 1943.” Four of the six remaining active members of this class, Chuck Beckham, Guy Harrison, Jeff Smith, and Bruce Suter, will turn 100 years old in 2021—an achievement equaled by few. Bill Gottwald and Bill Winter will be right behind at 99. Congratulations to all! On the communications front, I have email addresses for everybody except Bruce Suter, who reminded me when I did reach him a year or so ago that he was the last remaining ’43 veteran of the Normandy landings. Bruce, if you’re reading this, please call or send me a note about how you’re doing or put me on your phone list of approved callers. Also, if any would prefer that I contact a family member or friend who could keep me up to date, please let me know. My addresses and phone number are at the head of this column.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

1944 Jonathan Safrit ’10

Best wishes and happy new year from the Class of 1944. As I write these notes, we’re unsure about who the next president will be and when COVID-19 will loosen its grip on our lives. Hopefully in the time between typing these notes and them being delivered to your doorstep, there will be some clarity in all of these areas. Unfortunately, this class notes period was dominated by the passing of Lt. Col. Dick Niess Sept. 22, 2020. According to John Irby, Dick was the third surviving member of the class. As a cadet, Dick served as regimental commander and was a recipient of the Jackson-Hope Medal. I must give a special thank you to John Arthur ’79, who actually informed me of Dick’s passing and acted as a liaison early on between the Niess family and VMI. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Dick’s daughter, Linda, but hate it was under these circumstances. She told me about her last visit to post in August 2019 when she visited her father’s old room, which now serves as the guard room. She said that while there, her father was able to video chat with the guard team on duty. At this time, no funeral has been planned, but Linda assured me she will keep us informed when those arrangements are made. Our most sincere condolences to Linda and her family. I was able to speak with Gus Whitehurst’s daughter, Winn, on a couple of occasions. As I said in my last issue, she has continued to follow the class since her father’s passing. I enjoyed hearing stories about her father finishing at VMI after World War II as an “oldster” and subsequently being taken to her father’s class reunions over the years. She still maintains contact with one of her father’s roommates, Bob Smothers. To that end, Bob recently said Gus “was a great roommate. One of the brightest. Always on the honor roll.” In closing, the Class of 1944 would like to thank Gen. Peay ’62 for his years of service to his country and his unparalleled contributions to VMI. At the same time, we welcome Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85 back to VMI as he assumes the

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role of interim superintendent. Finally, I’d like to honor those members of the Class of 1944 who died in service to their country during this class notes period: U.S. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. James G. Allen Jr. KIA Aug. 15, 1944, Italy. U.S. Army 2nd Lt. John H. Christian Jr. Aug. 21, 1944, Maxey, Texas. U.S. Army Pfc. Frank G. Hamilton. Oct. 29, 1944, Leyte, Philippines. U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Joseph A. Summers. Sept. 25, 1943, Williams Field, Arizona.

1945 Jonathan Safrit ’10

The Class of 1945 wishes VMI family a happy, safe, and healthy new year. I haven’t been in touch with all the class members or their listed relatives yet but would love to be. Please don’t hesitate to reach out or have your loved ones contact me. I briefly heard from Russell Newton, who

seems to be doing well. I look forward to hearing from him further and having more to report in future issues. Dan Walser’s daughter, Deidre, reached out to inform us of the visit she was able to make to her father. During the visit, Dan’s granddaughter was able to introduce him to his new great-grandson, Brooks, who was born Sept. 30. Dan seems to be doing well and is staying up to date on current events, including everything going on at VMI. I look forward to hearing his thoughts on the matter. Unfortunately, I recently learned that Alfred L. Turriziani passed away Aug. 20, 2015. His Taps entry should be in this issue. I heard from John Bayer concerning the funeral of his father-in-law, Edward Young Holt Jr., at Arlington National Cemetery Oct. 5. According to John it was an “absolutely gorgeous” day, and I’m sure a memorable experience. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, VMI was not able to send any representation, but I would like to thank the Institute and Corps sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. William Sowers, for his continued support to me and the family. In closing, the Class of 1945 would like to thank Gen. Peay ’62 for his years of service to his country and his unparalleled contributions to VMI. At the same time, we welcome Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85 back to VMI as he assumes the role of interim superintendent. Finally, I’d like to honor those members of the Class of 1945 who died in service to their country during this class notes period: U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Franklin W. Coffman. Nov. 5, 1944, Central Pacific. U.S. Army Air Forces A/C Walter P. White. Oct. 19, 1943, Newport, Arkansas.

1946

David M. Hudock ’97

Class of 1945: Sporting his VMI jacket, Dan Walser meets his great-grandson, Brooks, during a visit from his daughter and granddaughter outside his assisted living facility in October 2020.

Greetings and happy new year, Class of 1946! I am honored and privileged to be able to serve as your new class agent, and I look forward to getting to know and supporting your class in the coming years. As of this writing, I have nothing new to report;

Class Notes however, by now you should have received a letter containing some information about me and how to reach me. I’d like to extend a very hearty thank you to Bill Eliason for his service as your class agent; I look forward to picking up where he left off and serving your class faithfully. Best wishes to each of you for a healthy and safe start to 2021.

1947 Paul Munson ’87

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1947.

1948A

Dale E. Wykoff

Editor’s Note: The Class of 1948A is no longer submitting notes. Dale Wykoff remains the point of contact for the class.

1948B

Lionel T. Wolford

Brother Rats, Gen. J.H.B. Peay III ’62 has resigned, and the VMI BOV has voted to move the statue of Stonewall Jackson. As I write, town hall meetings have been held in Lexington. Hopefully, a large body of alumni attended. Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. John Jumper ’66 is in Lexington as a volunteer and is “trying to help VMI navigate through the difficult issues we are facing.” George Ramsey of Lynchburg, Virginia, former VMI Board of Visitors president, has kept me informed. I have learned from George that Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85 was named interim superintendent of VMI. We wish Gen. Wins well and are confident that he will do a good job. With George’s help, I contacted Doug Hamner.

Doug’s health is not good, and he is in rehab. George did report some good news. VMI will play spring football. The Keydets are scheduled to play Chattanooga Feb. 20. In the last class notes, I mentioned four brother rats had not been heard from and had likely passed away. Molly Rolon, the wonderful Alumni Review associate editor, investigated and found that two, Adm John V. Josephson and Julian B. Adkins, have passed away. She did not find information about Thomas Gore or George Stein. Julian Adkins of Glen Allen, Virginia, passed away Jan. 27, 2018. He came to VMI from Suffolk, Virginia, and left after one year for military service (MM). I remember him well. I believe he roomed near room 217 and would visit frequently. He is in our class picture, fifth row, two bodies to the right of center. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon College and a Master of Science in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Julian was a social worker and retired from McGuire VA Hospital. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jolie Patterson, and he was survived by his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter; a son; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Farewell to another great ’48B. John Josephson of Pinehurst, North Carolina, passed away Sept. 12, 2016. He came to VMI from Deer Lodge, Montana, and left after one year to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. I remember him well. He was blonde headed and above average size. I believe he was on the football team. He is in our class picture, second row, four bodies to the right of center. John graduated from the Naval Academy in 1949 and was commissioned an ensign. Soon thereafter, he earned his wings. He had a distinguished, 36-year Naval career and retired as a rear admiral. Among his many accomplishments was command of the carrier USS Iwo Jima. He was an avid golfer and was a member of the Country Club of North Carolina for 28 years. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; a son; and a daughter. Farewell to another great ’48B. George Ramsey informed me that Coleman Rice of Richmond, Virginia, passed away Oct. 17, 2020. Coleman came to VMI from Richmond. I remember him as a tall, dark haired, young man. I believe he is in our class picture, second row, far left. He left VMI after one year for military service (Army Air Force) and

served in the occupation of Italy. He returned to VMI and graduated with the Class of 1949C with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He is not on Norma’s ’48B roster. He was a first lieutenant in the Air Force. Coleman was with Equity Life Assurance for 50 years. Also, he founded Coleman Rice Associates. He was active in civic and community affairs. He served on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors. He was an avid golf and tennis player and was a member of the Country Club of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons; and two grandchildren. Farewell to another great ’48B. I talked to Charles Brown of Shreveport, Louisiana, recently. Charles reported no change in his health. He ignores the back pain and continues his normal activities, including going to work every day. He was not happy with the VMI situation, but he pointed out that our views are old fashioned. Charles is the best roommate I ever had. Jim Warrington’s nephew, Warren Liester, reported that he visited Jim on his 94th birthday, Sept. 19, 2020. Nick Harris of Boynton Beach, Florida, reported that his health has improved and that he was living in his house by himself. He was very unhappy with the situation at VMI. We talked about hurricanes. Since we had two here in Monroe recently, I did most of the talking. On Aug. 27, Hurricane Laura devastated Lake Charles, about 200 miles southwest of Monroe. It was predicted to move straight north until it reached Arkansas and then turn east. The weather prediction for Monroe was for it to be light rain and breezy. Instead, it turned eastward sooner than expected and hit Monroe with 80plus mph winds. Hundreds of trees came down all around here—some on houses and many on power lines. Fortunately, we had only minor tree damage at our house, but we lost power for six days and had no water for one day. It was not pleasant. George Ramsey and Al Loth contacted me and expressed concern at the time. Hurricane Beta followed a path similar to Laura and arrived in Monroe Oct. 10. We did not lose power, but we were lucky. We have numerous, huge, 100-foot oak trees in our neighborhood—seven in our yard. We had minor damage. Across the street, a huge tree came down, barely missing two houses. For the second time, they were without power for six days.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes I called Angus Crook of Nashville, Tennessee, and we had a long talk. He was not happy with the situation at VMI but did think that some of our ideas were old fashioned. He mentioned that he and Ed Cortright were at the University of Virginia at the same time. Angus was in medical school, and Ed was in law school. I told Angus that I had talked with Nick Harris recently. Angus stated that he and Nick had met on the way to VMI and that they had roomed together. I thought that this was impossible, because I had visited Chi Mills soon after arriving at VMI, and Nick was one of Chi’s roommates. After several hours, I recalled what I believe to be the explanation. Chi came to VMI from New Orleans with Ray Coates, both on football scholarships. They roomed with two others who were also on football scholarships, Clyde Grimenstein and Elmer Kozorra. Nick Harris, who was on a basketball scholarship; Angus Crook; and Willie Parker roomed together in another room. After six days, Ray Coates left VMI. Because he had a basketball scholarship, Nick was moved into the room with Chi, Clyde, and Elmer. Since we now have shared phone numbers, I believe that Nick and Angus have gotten together and have spoken about their early days at VMI. Rod Kallgren of Dearborn, Michigan, also was unhappy about the VMI situation, but he did not elaborate further. He did report problems in his assisted living community. A few residents tested positive for COVID-19. Restrictions, which had been relaxed, are tight again. On the better side, Rod enjoys good health and also enjoys that the unusually warm weather for this time of the year in Michigan presents the opportunity for late season golf. Rod is playing nine holes every week. The week before I spoke with him, he posted a 39, which is phenomenal for a 93-year-old. Keep it going, Rod. Brother rats, have a great Christmas and holiday season.

1949A Paul Munson ’87

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1949A.

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1949B

Ding Patton

These notes cover the period from Aug. 15Nov. 15, 2020. Boyd Guttery phoned to update me on what he is doing in St. Augustine. He is still living in his home at the beach side and has not made plans to go to a retirement home yet. He spoke with Tommy Altizer and said that Tommy was spending the winter in Florida again this year, although earlier, Tommy was not certain that he would be able to. Boyd has two daughters living in Florida that he occasionally sees but, because of their busy careers, not as often as he would like. As a result of Boyd’s call, I decided to visit Tommy Altizer before he joins the other snowbirds for the winter in Florida, where he spends six months in his condo in Fort Myers. Tommy, who lives a mile away, was leaving for Florida a week later. While visiting, I met his daughter, Elizabeth, who lives with him and takes care of the house in Staunton while he is away. Tommy said that, in Florida, he plays tennis in an over50 group and an over-70 group but hasn’t found an over-90 group yet. He also plays golf several days a week. Ben Harmon’s son, Mike, emailed with the details about his father’s funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery Sept. 28. Mike wrote: “The reason we postponed the original burial date was due to COVID-19. Arlington would have performed the service back in April, but it would have been without any military honors. We opted to wait, and fortunately last Monday, the service included full military honors and the weather cooperated, as well. We had a company take video of the full service, and I’ll send you a link to it once it becomes available.” Ben is buried with Page close to Ben’s father and grandfather and near JFK and several Supreme Court justices, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was buried the day after Ben and is 50 feet away. I have spoken with Jim Enochs several times since the last class notes came out. He is still working but has had some health issues and was just getting off crutches due to a badly

enlarged and painful knee. Nux said he visited Buddy Marshall, who previously had a cancer removed from his leg and had completed follow up treatment and was doing well. He also spoke with Charlie Hurt but had nothing to report from that conversation. He said that no one had contacted him regarding a mini reunion before our regular 75th Reunion. As no brother rats have contacted me either, I guess we will forget it until 2024 unless there is a ground swell of interest in the next few months. Greg Nelson also called and reported that Westminster-Canterbury has eased up on some of the COVID-19 restrictions. They are still doing a great job in protecting the residents, but things still have a way to go before they return to normal. I really appreciate Greg’s, Boyd’s, and Jim Enochs’ faithfulness in trying to get some information to me for the class notes each issue. Brother Rat Perry Williamson emailed me after Dan Smaw’s funeral, so recently I asked Perry to send some information about his life and career since leaving the Institute. Perry emailed me that he attended VMI for 12 months and, like a lot of brother rats, is staying at home a lot. He is in good physical shape “for the shape he is in” with no virus. He says that he is 90-anda-half years old—which makes him younger than many of us—and has celebrated 71 years of marriage. He graduated from his family owned Texas Military College, a junior college boarding school, and after the year at VMI he attended Baylor for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and then the University of Texas for a pharmacy degree. He worked in his profession for others before purchasing a neighborhood pharmacy which he operated for seven years. He next traveled nine-and-a-half counties as a compliance officer for the Medicaid Program for the Texas Department of Human Resources before retiring in 1993. Perry had three children but lost a daughter to Parkinson’s disease in 2011. He has two sons. One operates a floor covering business and an RV park, and the other has an internet security and enhancement business. Perry’s military service includes the National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division while attending Baylor and the 49th Armored Division while getting his pharmacy degree at the University of Texas. He was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1959. Perry says that he hopes the BRs are well and to “wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay well.”

Class Notes Perry, thanks for bringing us up to date. I would like to hear from some of the other brother rats and include their information in future class notes. Some of you have asked about the number of surviving ’49Bs; it is either 24 or 25, depending on which list the Alumni Association is currently using. I think this is outstanding for people in our age group. There are also 20 widows of deceased brother rats who remain associated with the class. Until next time, God Bless the USA, VMI, and ’49B, Ding

1949C

Haywood France

A few notes about the photos: My wife can now find her car in the parking lot, since it has a VMI sticker on it. In another photo, you see a lot of familiar ’50B stalwarts. The photo was taken at Talbott’s house during a World War II course at Marshall Hall in 1993. John Taylor and I are the only ones left. I recently received the following letter from Cadet Naomi Hahn ’24. She is the recipient of our class scholarship, which was Col. Buchanan’s idea. “Dear Dr. Kohen, my name is Naomi Hahn and it is with great humility that I thank you for your generous scholarship for cross-country and track. “I am from Warren, Pennsylvania, and my small town is tucked back into the middle of the Allegheny National Forest. I developed a passion for running in the seventh grade when I strove to join cross-country in order to spend more time

with my older sister, who was a member of the team. I quickly fell in love with running, as she taught me to use it as my outlet on my dark and rainy days, but also as a celebration on my great days. The forgiving sound of my feet pounding the pavement brings me peace and a sense of security as it relentlessly brings a smile to my face. “As I became older, I was able to serve as captain on both of the cross-country and track teams, and I hope to be able to bring my leadership experience to Virginia Military Institute in the future as a member of S5. Academically,

Editor’s Note: The Class of 1949C is no longer submitting notes. Haywood France remains the point of contact for the class.

1950A

Garrett Smith ’20

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1950A.

Class of 1950B: Mrs. Joseph Kohen proudly displays the VMI spider on her car.

Class of 1950B: Cadet Naomi Hahn ’24, who runs track and field and crosscountry at VMI, wrote a letter of appreciation for the scholarship support she receives from the class. Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.

1950B

Joseph B. Kohen Jr.

Robert F. Lynd

I have been in contact with several members and sister rats, and all expressed hope of participating in the virtual class reunion. I also look forward to the virtual Institute Society Dinner.

Class of 1950B: Brother rats at Talbott’s house during a World War II course at Marshall Hall. “A lot of familiar ’50B stalwarts,” said Joseph Kohen, class agent, about this photo. VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes I am majoring in international studies and minoring in psychology with hopes to gain a position in the national security minor program next year. After my time at VMI, I plan to commission in the United States Army as either a public affairs officer or a psychologist. “My decision to attend the Virginia Military Institute was immediate when I first came to visit in February 2019, and I quickly desired to be imbued with the values of the Institute. While I have only been here for a few short months, my time has only solidified my desire to be a Keydet and commission into the Army. “I appreciate the exciting atmosphere of both the team and the coaches, and I look forward to the next four years in the program. Thank you for your generous scholarship that has enabled me to pursue my career goals and athletic dreams. I am humbled and honored to be allowed to represent the Institute as both an athlete and a cadet. Thank you again for your support. “Sincerely, Naomi Hahn, VMI Class of 2024.” Rah Virginia Mil! The Institute will never die. Joe Kohen

1951

Jacob H. Wamsley II

Occasionally in these notes, I use the term “sister rats” to refer to the wives of brother rats. We have to admire and congratulate them. They, at the last reporting date, have contributed more to the Institute than the rest of us! While on the subject of donations, it would certainly be nice if we could reach 100% of the class making a gift by the reunion April 19-20, 2021, so we could brag about it at the 70th. Here we go again with the litany of the passing of brother rats. A telephone call from a son of Randolph Thompson notified us of the death of his father back in 2018. A welcomed letter from Fred Watson in Fort Worth, Texas, tells us that he and his wife are doing fine in their retirement complex, though he has joined many of us in using a cane—his because of a back problem, while for most of us it is just another sign of old age. He says they are still getting rid of “stuff” and, as a result, sent a

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number of VMI pictures and some written reminisces of his days at the Institute—most notably his recollection of our journey to Washington in 1949 for the Truman inaugural parade. His sister and my wife were classmates and friends as nursing students at the Medical College of Georgia while we were at the Institute. Both are now deceased. In late August, Paul Robinson told us of the passing of his wife of 69-plus years. They lived in their hometown of Neenah, Wisconsin, and had known each other from the age of four. As noted above, our 70th is scheduled for April 19-20, 2021. As details are determined, we will be notified. A history of 70th Reunions says that attendance averages 19 individuals, including guests. I hope we can up that average considerably. Mark your calendars! Jerry Eggleston’s daughter, Cindy, has let us know that she has remodeled the house where she grew up in Lexington and plans to retire there. All of you will remember that The Egg and Anna hosted the class in that home at several of our earlier reunions. Frans Kasteel checked in. He and Daphne had to forgo their trip to the Black Sea but managed to enjoy some time in the Adirondack Mountains. He stays busy with his boat and its cranky motor on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. A youthful looking Dick Cole sent a picture of himself and his opponents taken on the Hazeltine

Class of 1951: Dick Cole (left) with two opponents on the Hazeltine National Golf Course.

National Golf Course recently. Jim Enochs reports that he is sporting a new hip—guess he’ll have to give Carstens even more strokes on the golf course. A couple of weeks ago, I got a nice letter from Helen Adeeb. She noted that Joe Adeeb had passed away at far too young an age—53. I remembered his untimely death but had forgotten that he was only 53. She also noted that they have four children, 10 grandchildren, 19 greatgrandchildren, and one great-great grandson! She had just received a completely successful knee replacement—amazing for someone in our age group! As for me, I’m hanging in there and enjoying being spoiled by the family, all of whom live within a 50-mile radius of my “continuing care community,” Park Springs, at the base of Stone Mountain here in Georgia.

1952

James M. Mecredy

John Roche writes: “Jim, many thanks for the birthday card. I enjoyed the photo and the memories it evoked. I trust you and your lady are well, as are we. I’m a bit stir crazy, but the reopening of our pool and gym has lightened the load. I’m reading, building models, and doing little distasteful chores around the house, celebrating the 90 this evening with friends and family. Stay well, and again thanks for your long service as our class agent. God bless! John.” Henry Nanninga called to ask about the pressure on VMI to change. I told Henry that I believe the issues at VMI are a small part of a larger issue that is going to be addressed in the November election and perhaps after. Van Boudreaux writes from Erath, Louisiana, that he is still going strong at age 90, jogging and caretaker of his homestead acreage with horses, chickens, and two dogs. He sent me a photo of an off-post celebration on Ring Figure weekend including about 15 BRs. I recognize most of them. Unfortunately, the photo is not sharp enough to be reproduced in the Alumni Review. I heard from Zeke Finney, and he is slowing down with arthritis in his back. Sarah is doing

Class Notes most of the driving, and she is in good health. Zeke has completed one round of acupuncture and will have another one in a week. Other than that, he is healthy, but being bent over with his back is discouraging. Zeke and his sons recently sold their concrete business and are successfully retired. A grandson recently got married. Zeke stays in touch with Susanne Cooper. Zeke’s family and Susanne’s family have been spending time in February and March every year since 1982. Bill Cooper died in 1981. Zeke also keeps in touch with Langhorn McCarthy. Ann Carman (Lee Rogers’ widow) wrote to thank me for her birthday card and to say she had a lovely 82nd birthday celebrated in her son’s backyard (sushi, at her grandson’s request), masked, and keeping the distance. But that didn’t keep them from having a good time together. Russ McCarthy called to say he has successfully made 90. Earlier, he had a heart attack requiring a stent. That done, he is still exercising daily. It seems the stress during Vietnam caused more health problems than he had expected. There were four or five times in Vietnam where he might have bought the farm. Russ decided to extend his exercise program through his 90th birthday, and 15 days later, his artificial knees said, “That’s it, act your age.” Now, there is a lot less walking and flights of stairs and more weightlifting, balance, and stretching classes. He is still planning to attend our 70th Reunion without a cane or a walker. I also had a heart attack recently. My problem required a pacemaker, and I am rapidly recovering. I am using a cane for balance when I take

a daily walk. I am expecting that walking and exercising will overcome the need for the cane at our 70th Reunion, “God willing and the creek don’t rise.” Sugar Holland sent a photo of Chris Holland’s granddaughter, Lindsay Slattum Johnson, as she is awarded three reserve championships at a regional Arabian horse show in Ohio. The colors she won were red, white, and yellow—go VMI! The part of the photo with the colors contained script which had to be cut out due to copyright rules. Joe Webber sent me a video of British marching music that brings back our days at VMI. I am not aware of any recent deaths for ’52. COVID-19 has not affected any of us of which I am aware. I just received the VMI Christmas cards and birthday cards for 2021. The Christmas cards are much brighter than last year. Ester Mae Caudle writes for herself and Bob, who is continuing to recover from a stroke in 2015. Bob continues seeking improvement with Veterans Affairs doctors in hopes of being able to walk with a cane. Reaching age 92 and continuing to maintain abilities takes some effort, and we must keep working at it. Later in October, I learned that Gen. Peay ’62 resigned as superintendent of VMI. Gen. Peay accomplished so much for VMI in his 17 years as superintendent. For the first time ever, we had to wait in line to vote. It is good that so many people are voting, even though it will cause delay in learning the results. That is all my news for now. Today is Nov. 4, and we do not know the results. Hopefully by the time you read this, the results will be clear and our nation will be looking forward to a better 2021. Your brother rat, Jim

1953

William C. Noell Jr.

Class of 1952: Chris and Sugar Holland’s granddaughter, Lindsay Slattum Johnson, was awarded three reserve championships at a regional Arabian horse show in Ohio. The award ribbon was red, white, and yellow. 56

Brother Rats and our Widows, The first Sunday of October, we held our first ’53 Zoom session, which was very successful. The concept was initiated by Warren Koontz

(who purchased the license), which basically came about because we could not have our annual April Richmond lunch gathering. We had a test session previously with Warren Koontz, Ted Maraini, Reed Johnson, and your class agent. I then sent out email inquiries to all BRs and widows on the class email list to determine who might be interested. This resulted in 20 BRs wanting to participate in our first session. The session was hosted by Warren, who sent out the specific web address needed to join the session. I invited Thom Brashears ’95, VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer, to join our session, who gave a very good presentation on the current status of the Institute, etc., before BRs having their complications. We had 13 BRs participate in this first session, with a few not staying the whole two-hour session. Seven did not make it due to various complications, not due to lack of interest. The next Zoom session is planned for January. In regard to this, a questionnaire was sent out to all on the email list after the first session to determine the future format, time, day, etc., and in hopes to increase participation in the Zoom sessions—say 50plus. For those who have not joined, it turns out to be fairly simple—just log in on the invitation from Warren and follow the instructions presented until you are in. You do need a camera on your computer to be seen, but you can still listen/talk if you do not. We regret that those not on the email circuit did not have a chance to join our Zoom session, which gave you chance to speak with some of our BRs. It really was great to be able to see and talk with these few BRs. I hope for many more in January. The invitation will come from Warren after the first of the year. I had some recent correspondence via email with Bill Nelson’s son, Jim, in California. Bill is now at an assisted living facility in Manhattan Beach, near Jim and Peg, where Bill now receives his mail. However, Bill is no longer able to read on his own; instead, Jim does it for him. With some coaching and background, Bill is able to have a chat and enjoy it. Jim keeps him posted as to the goings on at the Institute, and Bill likes hearing about it all, but regretfully, Bill will not remember it long. He still enjoys getting calls (424-383-1906) but depending on the day may recognize you right away or need you to describe your shared background. They have sold Bill and Randi’s house in New Mexico, where I visited them many years ago.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes front of the Lincoln Memorial, and a jogger collapsed in front of Lauren. Later, it was determined that the jogger had suffered a heart attack. Lauren saved the jogger’s life by administering aid (I believe it was CPR) and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal from the Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy ’96 also presented awards at the ceremony. Although Lauren is not a VMI alum says Sut, she is surrounded by VMI alum: Her grandfather; great-uncle, Bill ’939; her great-uncle, Clifton ’42; cousin, Class of 1953: Social distancing at Lake Norris, Tennessee, in John ’927; and brother, Gabe ’18, who summer 2020. is a lieutenant in the Air Force on active duty in the Middle East. I certainly hope all of you have fared well this fall under the COVID-19 cloud and have not developed too much cabin fever. We are lucky that we can hibernate at/on the lake, which we have done all summer and most of the fall. Warren and Win Koontz have their house on Smith Mountain Lake that they escape to periodically. This is nice for them, as the restrictions these days in Cedarfield, where they live, are pretty tight. We still go out to dinner with a few friends periodically but did not have our lake get together of 20-30 couples this year for our annual end of Class of 1953: Bob Cheatham with his three children, Cathy, Karen, and Ben, at their place on Kiawah Island, South Caro- the summer musical gathering overlina, in August 2020. looking the lake. We did go to Tides Inn on the Northern Neck of Virginia for a Club. Reed Johnson commented on Charles’ long weekend in September with my oldest son feats that he certainly was not keeping up with and all his family. We also went one afternoon him. However, Reed and his next-door neighbor to Warsaw to dine at my granddaughter’s hushave started playing “horse” in an almost week- band’s new restaurant, Old Rap Restaurant and ly competition. They have set up a basketball Tap Room, that he owns with one partner. He net on a tennis court in Cedarfield that nobody is still a partner at Traditions Brewery at Oysuses, which adds about a three-fourths-mile ter Point, Newport News, but is no longer the walk coming and going. Otherwise, Reed says general manager. Interestingly, while at Tides he and Vivian are holding their own. Inn, a lady saw my ’53 license plate and came A letter from Sut Sutherland told me about up to me and asked if I knew Will Allison. She his granddaughter, Lauren, who is a captain said that I was to tell Will that I met “Wonderful in the Air Force National Guard and received Wanda.” Seems she worked for Dr. Allison for her nurse’s degree from the University of Ken- many years but is now retired. Of course, I sent tucky. She now working on an advanced degree Will an email about it. at Vanderbilt in Memphis. During the recent civil What we are missing mostly is going to footunrest, she was activated to serve in Washington, ball games. Tennessee allowed us to forward our Class of 1953: Henry Atwill ’18, grandson D.C., as she was completing an emergency hospaid-for tickets to next season, keeping our 50of Bill Atwill, at his wedding in 2020. pital virus course in D.C. She was stationed in yard line seats on the fourth row, as they have

Bill was in our chemistry section, and we have kept in touch over the years. Bill told me a few years ago I would always be the class agent because “I would be the last man standing.” I had a fairly long talk with Jack Trigg in Birmingham a few weeks ago to check on his medical status. Will not try to go into the details of all his recent medical problems/surgery, but he is finally on the road to recovery and getting around with much less pain. He plans to move into a condo near his friend, Elizabeth, which is now being remodeled. He is about ready to put his house in Mountain Brook up for sale, where Judy and I have stayed several times on visits to Birmingham. It is very nice and spacious, and thus more space than he needs at this time of life. Jack’s son is a lawyer and was in Atlanta, but I think he has now moved to New York. Parker Cross and I have periodic telephone conversations. He and Annah are holding up well in Norfolk, considering our ages and aches and pains. Charles Williams is still going strong. On Father’s Day, he hiked 700 feet up and down the paved road to the top of Kennesaw Mountain. He repeated the trek in June. He enjoyed the hikes, but although his strength is still with him, his vision is slipping, so he is concerned with tripping and falling on trails. He is considering a race for 85-plus by the Atlanta Track

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Class Notes reduced attendance to 25%. And then, there is no football at VMI to see this year when we go to Lexington. And finally, I am sure all of you are aware of the political unrest going on in Virginia government concerning VMI and its history. This is something that should not be discussed in class notes, which are about BRs and family. However, I have not ignored you on this and have sent to all of you on the class email list copies of newspaper articles, emails, and Institute announcements, etc. on this subject. There have also been four town halls on the subject conducted by the Alumni Association with more planned in the future as the situation progresses. Roommate trivia: During our four years together, when things got kind of dull, our roommate Pete Cox used to serenade (?) us periodically with some of his musical “ditties.” One being a fairly long one, “Buckling on My Boots and Spurs and going to VMI.” I still have a copy of the entire six stanza song. But one of his favorites was “Root-a-toot-toot, Root-a-toot-toot, we are the boys from the Institute. We don’t smoke, we don’t we drink, and we don’t go with girls who do.” I never asked him where he learned this “ditty,” but I assumed it came from his father, Class of 1921. However, an interesting fact I found recently was in reading the biography of Lady Bird Johnson (Lady Bird, by Jan J. Russell, 1999) was that Lady Bird (16) and her friends also sang this in 1928 when she was attending St. Mary’s Episcopal School for Girls, a junior college in Dallas. However, of course they sang boys in lieu of girls and chew in lieu of drink.

1954

J.M. Perry Archer

In 1956, Jack Tiller was a lieutenant in the 256th Battalion of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, which was newly arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany. He was in command of a 60-man platoon, and his battalion was replacing another battalion that was rotating out of Germany and back to the States. They had landed at Bremerhaven and were loaded onto buses for the trip to their company areas in Karlsruhe, Germany. Before his company got there, it received a very unusual

warning. The GIs they were replacing had met another Signal Corps company that preceded Tiller’s company and had greeted the earlier new arrivals with baseball bats, tire irons, and chains. The departing GIs were all wild, crazy, and drunk, spoiling for a fight for some reason. They attacked the new soldiers so viciously that many were injured—so badly that many of the new soldiers had to be hospitalized. Jack had to decide on a course of action. His troops had M-l Carbines and bayonets, but no ammo. What to do? Jack got the troops off the buses, and there came the drunk GIs—bats, chains, tire irons and still drunk. Jack formed his troops up, ordered port arms, and faced the oncoming attackers. He did not order fixed bayonets. Fortunately, this worked. The attackers stopped and retreated, and a fight was averted. Pretty cool. A very strange event. Sorry to report that Dave Baskett passed away Aug. 25, 2020. His wife, Phyllis Baskett, survives him, along with children Ellen B. McMasters, Martha B. Chovanes, and David Baskett III and families. Dave, after VMI, earned an advanced business degree from Harvard University. He was an executive vice president of PPMI in Philadelphia and spent most of his career professionally at FN Global. Activities included bridge, tennis, golf, scuba diving, and boating. Love of the Lord and family were most important. Dave was almost the first Brother Rat I met in September 1950. His New Barracks room was next to mine. When I read about his death, I was transported back to the fourth stoop and could see Dave out on the stoop in those blue cotton coveralls we had been issued. John Botjer wrote and said he finally had got a haircut after a long time in quarantine with the coronavirus—looked in the mirror and hardly recognized himself. Sometimes I am like that in the morning anyway nowadays. Who the heck is that? Jack Tiller sent a really strange tale about something that occurred during the famous 1951 VMI step-off. Two cadets actually slept through both the step-off and the J.M. Hall formation with Pancake’s draconian order to march toward Goshen! When the cadets woke up for some reason about midnight, they realized there was no one in barracks except guard team members (I’d been on guard duty but was part of the guard team made to go to J.M. Hall). The miscreants were told that the Corps had

left and was headed down Route 11, toward Staunton! Pancake’s orders. That is all. No one told them about the Corps having been ordered to leave Route 11 and head down Penalty Tour Road and Goshen. So, the two kept going down Route 11, cartridge belts, rifles at right shoulder

Class of 1954: Perry Archer’s mother, Margaret Custis Perry (below), was escorted to the 1925 Monogram Ball by Mortimer Pettus “Cherry” Watkins ’925 (above).

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes was much smaller; I had probably been forced arms and all, hoping to catch the Corps. They passed Penalty Tour Road and kept going down to help hold poor Norris by his feet.) Rufe was also contemptuous of the annual Route 11. Now, about that time, Capt. David Crim, civil engineering professor, was on his Religious Emphasis Week, during which men way back from a date with his fiancée who of the cloth came to VMI to spread the tenets lived in Staunton. He spied the two cadets side of various religious faiths. During that week (I by side still at right-shoulder arms and looking may have described this in an earlier Review, very formal and military, marching down Route but it bears a repeat), Rufe would yell in a sten11 at about 0200 toward Staunton and hoping to torian parade voice a long and drawn-out familfind the Corps. He stopped, got their incredible iar four-letter obscenity from the doorway of his story, told them what had happened, and took room. Rufe was not at the time, shall we say, them back to barracks. Crim squared it all with respectful of religion in the broader sense. An understatement. When the identity of the yeller Pancake later. No demerits. No harm, no foul. My mother, Margaret Custis Perry Archer of of that word became generally known, Rufe Staunton, loved VMI; she and Tom Dalton ’53 was ordered to cease and desist, or else. Well, he was anything but submissive and nothing if not were big reasons for my going to the Institute. She dated and went to dances there. The many inventive. He ordered me to drive down to the fancy, formal balls held at school back then corner room. His plan was for him to stand in attracted girls from far and wide, in and from his doorway, plainly visible, but have me kneel outside of Virginia. In 1925, she—then Marga- behind him and out of sight, and I was to give what had come in barracks to be enjoyed and ret Custis Perry—was escorted to one by a Roanoke cadet, Mortimer Pettus “Cherry” Watkins known as “the yell.” When it became known Jr. ’925, and along with him she was one of the that “the yell” was going to be given, cadets alleaders of the Monogram Ball. During the first ways began to scream, “Give us the yell, give us semester of our rat year, I hated VMI, and I think the yell!” At a signal from Rufe, I gave it, good I have written previously that before Christmas I and loud. The O.D. immediately descended and applied to and was accepted at both Washington accused Rufe of the offence. Rufe was certi& Lee University and at the University of Vir- fied, but he answered truthfully that he did not ginia. Well, she and my father convinced me to do it. No Honor Code violation. All I remember tough it out at VMI. They told me that if I left, I about the rest of the event and its aftermath is would always see myself as a quitter. Their say- that Rufe, at the time commander of Company ing that was all it took for me to stay. Of course, B, was busted to private because he had engineered the thing somehow. Nothing happened to they knew that it would be. Talking with Al Mattox the other day about me, because my identity was not revealed. Rufus Lazzell went on to become a highly an experience he had in 1950-51. Bill Schubdecorated combat officer in the U.S. Army, remehl, Norris Kantor ’53, and I dyked in the famous “Brother Rat” first stoop corner room tiring as a brigadier general. Not a bad finish, in Old Barracks. My dyke was Taylor Hay ’51 and the other 1st Class cadets in that room were Howard Bass ’51 and Rufus Lazzell ’51. Rufus was called, in the 1951 yearbook, “The barracks demagogue.” Whatever, Rufe was entertaining, to say the least. Al dyked in a nearby room for Ed May ’51. One day, May told Al to go to Rufe’s room and get him a cigarette, which Al did. When he got there, he found Schub hanging from a hook on the coat rack, and either me or Norris being held upside down and hanging out of a room window. Big drop outside. (I believe it was Norris. I Class of 1954: Brig. Gen. Rufus Lazell ’51. weighed at least 189 pounds and Norris

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I would say. In the course of his combat tours, he won two Silver Stars, the Army’s third highest decoration. Rufe was by all accounts a very aggressive, intelligent, go get ’em combat officer. He fought under Gen. Westmoreland and alongside Alexander Haig in Vietnam. Rufe was also wounded seriously in his fights. He died in March 2016. The world lost a good man and a colorful character. One can read all about him by Googling his name. There is interesting information there. Please send any news of you for us. The class is interested and needs to hear from you. Use email, telephone, letters, to send stories, anecdotes, and so on. They are sorely needed.

1955

Barney Lawless Read Hanmer

Please note that you need to type my email address lowercase, though it is printed here in uppercase letters. I’m sitting here on Founders Day getting this ready to submit for you to read sometime after the new year. By the time you read, this we will have gone through a presidential election, possible change of a superintendent, and maybe even some effective treatment for COVID-19. In the meantime, since our last issue, the following is a compendium of messages received from our brother rats: Bill Davidson did not duplicate his feat of last issue (a letter in the U.S. Mail) but emailed that he is recovering from back surgery that took place Sept. 17. He said the surgery relieved most of the pain he was having, but he will have to wait and see if it cures 100%. He and Pattie are doing well, everything considered. He misses seeing BRs and friends at the football games that were canceled and hopes this will find us all well. On the other hand, I did receive a U.S. Mail letter from Chuck Ritchey now

Class Notes living in Dallas, Texas. He wrote that he has been married to Margaret for 62 years. He met Margaret at Fort Sam Houston and then started dating after being assigned to Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., shortly thereafter. Chuck had a 20-year career in the Medical Service Corps, including being assigned to Orleans, France, and Aberdeen Proving Ground. After retiring from the Army, Chuck served with the Environmental Protection Agency until he was fully retired. Now he states that his full occupation is that of househusband, bringing in the newspaper and feeding a trio of stray cats which have taken up residency in his yard. Frank Brooke and Judy celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in September. He says there’s not much happening in his neck of the woods, because they’re hunkered down trying to stay safe. They are back in Jacksonville, Florida, for the winter after having spent six months at Lake Gaston, North Carolina, in an area of low population fairly secure from the virus. They did spend some time in western North Carolina taking in the fall colors. They’re looking forward to becoming great-grandparents in December. He says their health is holding up fairly well, and he misses trips to the Institute and reunions. Like others, he reflects our concern over recent events at the Institute, COVID-19, et al. Had a phone call from Jack Arrants asking for information on the present-day biology department. He doesn’t have email but is retired from practicing medicine in Ormond Beach, Florida. Pete and Cathy Haake are doing well in the north with no frosts yet, but he notes that the birds are stocking up for the winter and the bluebirds have started their long flight to warmer climes. They have been well, so far, with no bouts of COVID-19. They are really sad that our 65th Reunion was canceled but conceded it was the right thing to do. They hope they will be around for the next one and hope everyone has a happy and healthy fall and winter season. Leon Cock and Zella are enjoying the fall in the DFW Metroplex. They are now living in the premier active adult community of Robson Ranch. They wonder when assisted living will be required but proclaim proudly that they can still cook, hire the house cleaners and yard mowers, and still play ping pong occasionally. They were saddened to see the entire season canceled as well as the reunion but hope to make it to

the 70th in 2025. To all the BRs still present for duty, they wish a wonderful and masked holiday season. Had a telephone call from Merc Hager! He began the call with, “I’m Henry Hager, and you may not remember me.” To which I replied that for those of us who remember him for the one year, we remember he was a living legend in his own time. We discussed his travels through life after VMI, attendance at a couple of reunions, highlights of his legal career, and he mentioned Everett Irby and Bob Timms. Merc now lives in Florida, and I hope I convinced him to attend our 70th Reunion. Tom Williamson sent some thoughts noting that when he is asked, he usually says VMI did well by him. He often talks about physics, and the good physics classes. Of the 11 physics majors, six got doctorates in physics, one became a patent attorney, and one gained the title of ambassador (Read Hanmer) for his work on a nuclear arms treaty. Tom went straight to graduate school and felt better prepared than others, resulting in a relatively smooth path through graduate school. This was followed by a satisfying academic career. He says he is proud of his VMI background. (Class agent note: We all are, Tom, and you have summed it up so well for us.) Tom is doing well in a retirement community, is still active on the golf course and croquet court, and drives a red golf cart with VMI plates. He was saddened not to get to the reunion and wishes God’s peace to all. Jimmy Howell states that he does a lot of writing now, and his last article was written to remind his friends of the terrible crisis our country is in at this present time. He hopes all of his friends from years ago are doing well. He often emails Darrell Schultz, and he notes that he and Bob Beale, Darrell Schultz, and Frank Beale all graduated from Franklin High School in 1951 to come to VMI. Jimmy transferred to VPI after our rat year to study agriculture. He remembered that he roomed with Lee Ackiss and also recalls Col. Frank Pancake ’938 and our midnight march out toward Goshen. I received another phone call from Pop Kays, and you’ll be glad to know that Pop is still the same old Pop we always knew. He is now living at Ashby Ponds in Ashburn, Virginia, and professes to still be alive. One thing Pop and I can’t have is a short telephone conversation. His wife, Pearl, passed away, and he now has early

Parkinson’s disease. We discussed mutual interests of VMI and our somewhat parallel careers in public utilities. Pop’s career with various Bell System assignments took him to West Virginia, New York, Colorado, and then to D.C., where he retired. His wealth of stories from VMI and elsewhere merit having him as a speaker at our next reunion. Roby Thompson let us know he is still blessed with good health and now (as he assumes most of us are) retired. Roby is now dividing his time between Minnesota in the warmer months and Florida the rest of the year where he enjoys getting outdoors to golf and fish as his preferred avocations. He looks forward to hearing about the rest of our BRs. Barney Lawless: In closing, Helen and I are expecting a great-granddaughter sometime early in 2001 to join our 3-year-old great grandson, which means we will have to try to get down to Raleigh to spoil those kids. Like most of us, we have been hunkered down, managing mostly to get out to the mailbox or to a doctor’s office. I’m not getting around as well as I used to, but hopefully physical therapy will get me in shape to march again at our next reunion. Helen and I met in high school, and she came to Ring Figure our rat year—and kept me from being boned by Maj. Lee Nichols ’44 at the game in Roanoke. Then, Helen went off to college and we lost track of each other for over 50 years. Subsequent events led to our re-meeting, and we picked up where we left off in 1951, now married 18 years and living in Fairfax. Taps: In this issue or next issue you will see obituaries for BRs Nick Goetzinger, Larry Price, Skip Thompson, and Marty Tanzer. We will remember them and miss them.

1956

Richard M. Smith

I don’t have a whole lot of news this time. I had a flight from my pier on Still House Branch, Lake Gaston with my golf friend, St. Clair Smith, a former Navy pilot who had flown planes as our current pilot. It was a great treat to do on Election Day and with all the concern about what will happen in the future at VMI and in the country.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 1956: From his pier on the Still House Branch Creek of Lake Gaston, Dick Smith went up in a friend’s float plane on Election Day 2020. On Nov. 12, I attended a luncheon in Richmond at Willow Oaks Country Club with BRs, wives, and widows. It included the Hesleps, Belshas, and Betty Mann, Motsey Foster, and Bill Nelson. This concludes my Alumni Review notes for this period. Dick

1957

George Sydnor Jr. Howard Lawrence

The Virginia Military Institute. An Uncommon Purpose! We start off with this edition of the class notes noting that we strive to take the high road and not to use this venue to get embroiled with the political divisiveness and turmoil seemingly on a rampage throughout the state and nation. Our purpose is to report on our brother rats and the state of the Class of ’57.

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“Flash! Another round of ’57 team callers is officially and successfully completed,” so writes el comandante Elmore. Comments from all 10 team callers and the feedback from BRs spoken with have all enjoyed these calls; a good tradition has been set in place for our class. And so, we cover the latest call-a-thon conducted so ably by “Head Spook” Elmore and his intrepid team as they reported in from their calls to all of our brother rats. Team No. 1: John St. George. Saint reported on Martin Andersen, Drummond Ayres, Sam Barker, Bill Batten, Al Baumgartner, Bill Benson, Bob Blocker, Bill Boice, and Bob Bolling. Martin and wife Lynne are in good health, and Martin enjoys honing his pistol shooting skills as his hobby and passion. Martin has a part time ownership in a resort in the Dominican Republic, which they frequent. Alan and wife Carolyn are doing well and have recently downsized (“Pure h$#@,” said Alan). But interestingly, during the move, he found a Civil War carbine. Upon checking it out and using the ramrod, he found that it was still loaded. Al reported this to “Big John” Quillen, who found the story interesting, to say the least. Bill said his driver’s license had been pulled but that he still has a 4-wheeler ATV that he gets around on. Bob says life is hot, but good, on his cattle ranch in Texas. His two daughters still live abroad—one in Italy and the other in Brazil. Bob remarked that he even ran a bank there some years back “in an earlier life.” Bill and wife Dale are well in “Mecca” (Class agent’s note: Richmond to those of you not familiar with the Commonwealth) and mentioned that they lived just a few doors down from Jake Spivey ’85, son of BR Joe and wife Ann. Saint was unable to reach Drummond, Sam, Bill (“Ensign”), and Bob but left messages with each extending greetings from our class and all those still standing in ranks. Team No. 2: Ron McManus. Ron reported in on Bob Christopher, Wiley Clapp, Dick Collier, Bill Colvin, Don Coombs, Clay Coupland, Dave Davenport, Tony DiCesare, Waverly Dickens, and who else but Kenny Dickinson, aka K.K. Ron reported that Bob and wife Susan continue to enjoy retirement in the “land of pleasant living.” (Class agent’s note: To those uninitiated, the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia is known as “the land of pleasant living.”)

Next were Wiley and wife Nancy, who remain happy in Minden, Nevada, but indicated that seeing Virginia in the spring would be nice. Wiley went on to relate a memorable story about when he was a company commander in Vietnam and his company was airlifted to an assigned battle zone. As Wiley left the helicopter, the crew chief said the pilot wanted to see him. Wiley climbed up to the pilot and asked what he wanted. The pilot lifted his visor, and it was none other than Bill Huffcut. Wiley and Bill had a short conversation which was ended shortly by a hail of Viet Cong fire. Dick is doing well and indicated that he might finally entertain the idea of retirement following completion of his latest project. Bill indicated that he had become “fully domesticated” while tending to wife Helen as she recovered from a broken hip. He admitted he had no idea as to how much work there was to be done in the house, but the upside was that he had become a pretty good cook. (sous chef by any chance?) Don and wife Judy now live in the Brandon Oaks retirement community in Roanoke where Don has become “de-facto governor” in charge of most everything there in the facility. Don also heads up the gim reach-out program for the class and stays in touch with those BRs on the list on a regular basis. Clay said all was well with he and wife Linda, and they had just returned from one of their

Class of 1957: Bill “the Huffer” and Betty Huffcutt on the Gulf in Pensacola, Florida, in October 2020. 61

Class Notes many trips. (Class agent’s note: Ducks Unlimited functions exhibiting your decoy carving skills, by chance?) Tony and wife Gretchen continue to enjoy retirement in Rochester, where he maintained an active dental practice. They are proud parents of seven and grandparents of 19. Tony said his experiences and his BRs’ at VMI have always been, and always will be, meaningful to him. K.K was his usual effervescent self, swapping “war stories” of times at the “I,” all embellished with his own version of the English language. Efforts to reach Waverly and Dave were not successful, but voicemails were left for both with greetings from our class wherein no one is ever forgotten. Team No. 3: Carter Fox. Carter’s contact group included Lou Diuguid, Dick Donovan, Mark Doty, Bruce Dunseth, Ben Elmore, Billy Elmore, John Emmerich, Bob Fiske, Ted Fletcher, and “himself.” Lou was in good spirits, “bacheloring it” at a retirement facility in his native Baltimore and reminiscing on his graduate work at Johns Hopkins (Master of Arts degree) and career with The Washington Post, first in South America and then permanently in D.C. Lou remains active in local writing ventures and specifically with a local group of Black alumni that helps kids to go to VMI. Ben shared the season’s hurricanes’ effects that he and wife Damaris took in their usual good stride. Never ones to complain, they are always on the bright side of life, not withstanding of losses of dock, pier, and sustained wind and water damages. “Hollywood” continues to plug along in spite of a continuing battle with neuropathy, ably assisted and looked after by wife Alice, aka Chloe, who reports that “we are hanging in! I’m still chasing that little

white ball and quite frankly I cannot imagine life without that pleasure. Billy’s balance is severely impaired. I have him on a PT regime that hopefully will maintain his muscle strength in his legs. There is nothing to be done about his neuropathy.” Nonetheless, Carter took the opportunity to admonish them for their failure to patronize the Center Street Grille, which is owned by his cousin. John was still sound asleep when Carter called and spoke with his wife ... at 11:00 in the morning. Seems that “hays are down” 24/7 at the Emmerich household. No news to relate, as was also the case for Bob when Carter talked with his wife, Edie, with best wishes for all BRs out there. Take care of yourselves. Carter ended his report that he was well and happy, but lonely, as his bride of 62 years, Elinor, was being taken care of in an adjacent facility at their retirement facility, Mount Pleasant Gardens. Mark, Mark, Bruce, and Ted could not be reached, but again messages were left whenever possible. Your BRs are thinking of you and wish you the best. Team No. 4, Kirk Hubbard, reported in with “here’s is the poop from the stoop” on Bob Fravel, Bob Garrett, Bill Gay, Clint Glover, Bill Haas, Lionel Hancock, and Milt Hargrave. Bob’s doing well and was in Ohio when we spoke, but plans were underway for his annual migration to Marco Island in January with his usual return to Clinton in April. Bob G. said he was doing well but very busy taking care of his wife who was in the hospital recovering from a heart condition and broken hip. Bill is actively working to keep his brain healthy, doing a great job of working crossword

Class of 1957: The newly-completed Limits Gates, with the nearly complete new police station in fall 2020. 62

puzzles, playing bridge, etc. Clint stated that he and wife Belkis stay hunkered down in the face of the coronavirus but otherwise are well and staying healthy. Bill sounded like he was doing well, but with Father Time taking its inevitable toll, he no longer drives long distances, which means the next class reunion may not a possibility for him. To show the extremes Kirk will take to interview a BR, he drove to talk to Lionel who was described as “the picture of health,” as he and wife Carole Lee were just finishing up lunch. (Class agent’s note: Before we bestow too much credit on Kirk for taking such an arduous journey, your class agent must reveal that only four blocks separate their respective houses in Virginia/Sandbridge Beach.) Kirk had a great conversation with Milt. He and wife Nancy were in high spirits, although they, like all of us, have to deal with the problems of advancing age. He has a new aortic valve and recently had a hip replaced. “Welcome to the NFL,” as the saying goes. Team No. 5: Bob Wood dutifully reported in on Carl Hellstrom, Kirk Hubbard, Bill Huffcut, Tommy Hunter, Nick Kallelis, John Kilday, and Frank Kline. Kirk has a house in Virginia Beach/Sandbridge that takes up a lot of his time, the balance of which he travels to visit and keep up with his three daughters and four grandsons. Bill Huffcut and wife Betty are well, currently preoccupied with clean up and property repairs necessitated by an extraordinary number of tropical storms that have besieged the Florida panhandle this year. Tommy flew helicopters (?) for the Army and following retirement as a major flew for Delta Airlines. One time, when flying from Boston to Atlanta, he persuaded the FAA to send a message to Russ Davis, who was attending one of our class reunions. As he flew overhead, he delivered it. It simply said, “Wish I was there.” Having missed that one, Tommy indicated he planned to be at our 65th. Nick reported that all was well with him, just staying busy taking care of properties that he owns and doing physical work every day. He said he continues to travel a lot and is fortunate to be reasonably near his sons. John said he was doing fine but had nothing new of interest to relay to the class. Frank said that he does not ride anymore,

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes remains active in the Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Dominican Order. He was overseas for over 25 years—most of the time in Asia—and served as a commercial attaché in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Iran, and then back to Jakarta. His wife is from Java, and they have one son who currently lives with them. Bob was unable to reach Carl, “The Punch,” but left a message with greetings from the BRs of ’57. Due to space allocations and restrictions, Team reports from No. 6 by John Poffenbarger, No. 7 by G.E. Murray, No. 8 by Bill Huffcut, No. 9 by Bill Gay, and No. 10 by Mo Levine will appear in the next issue of Alumni Review. Sorry, guys; out of our control. Report on the gim by Don Coombs: Don stays up with the gim on a continuous basis, checking in with Waverly Dickens, Billy Elmore, Bob Fiske, Drewry Fox, Bill Haas, Bob Hall, Dick Hunt, Phil Miller, Joe Moody, Bob Newbill, John Quillen, Jim Rust, and Jim Snead. Hollywood and wife Alice have moved to a Life Care Retirement Community in Williamsburg and both were in good spirits, although Billy has neuropathy in both feet resulting in no feeling—that, plus a leaky stent that needs repair. Quote: “We fully expect to be back for the 65th!” Drewry has had several minor strokes over the last several months and is “in seclusion” in his room (he calls it a cell) at his retirement facility west of Philadelphia off the Main Line. Drew is in relatively good spirits but is frustrated with his confined status and misses his girlfriend, Peggy Reese, whom he has not been able to see for a couple of months. The best way to reach Drew is to call the nurses’ station at 610-558-5038 and ask to be connected. Bill related that he continues to deal with several issues, all related to old age—immobile but able to get around with a walker and a scooter. He and wife are hanging in there with caregivers coming in and are in good spirits but doubtful they will be able to attend our next reunion. He related that he is a proud member of the western PP model RR Museum and still “plays with trains.” Don had a long talk with Phil who, as you may recall, has been living with his daughter in Aiken, South Carolina, since his retirement as a colonel in the Army about 10 years ago. Although he suffered a heart attack last year, medical help got to him early, and he plans on living

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well past 90! To the class: “Feeling pretty good for the mid-80s and would welcome all calls from anyone who wants to talk. 803-599-2676 is the number.” Had a nice conversation with Joe, who indicated that his radiation treatments had been completed taking care of a reactionary prostate once and for all. “That stuff does weird things to the body.” He still has lingering effects from the treatment and likely will for some time to come. But the USGA is moving nearby to Pinehurst. Too soon to play golf yet, but he has challenged Don to a “warm up” match when all this stuff is over. Don had a lengthy conversation with “Big John” who was in great spirits, but “can’t walk, in 24/7 pain, have macular degeneration requiring shots to both eyes every month, but believe the good Lord has a reason for his condition.” He and wife Judy (who also has serious severe health issues) continue to live in their home in Crossville, Tennessee, with outside caregivers and still maintain their home in Abington for family use as need be. Quote: “VMI prepared me well for the shape I am in.” A nice call with Jim R. and wife Bobbie. They are still plugging along and in good spirits in spite of a bad cold. Jim really seemed to appreciate the call. Waverly, Bob F., Bob H., Dick, Bob N., and Jim S. could not be reached but were each sent a card sending best wishes from their BRs. The widows’ corner: Betty Jo Hays sent a nice note advising that she has moved to the Cornerstone Retirement Campus in Texarkana and is not far from their (husband BR Tom Ed Hays) three sons and their families, including nine grandchildren. Ann Gilmore sent a nice note sending her best wishes to the Class of ’57. She had just returned from Montana where she spent the summer and will be in Oxford, Mississippi, for the winter. A note from Patti Hammond sends best wishes to the Class of ’57. Martha MacKay says that life is tough without Ray, but she is getting along as best she can. She is living with their daughter, Debbie, in her new Lexington, Kentucky, condo and has decided that, for the present, she will hold off moving into a selected life care community: “Just need to get everything settled first.” We received a nice note from Debbie Giddens, daughter of Bob Rader, who, upon the passing

Class of 1957: A despondent cadet, circa 1905. Photo from VMI Archives. of Bob last August, said, “Wanted to pass along some sad news about Robert R. Rader Jr. (Bob), Class of 1957. He passed away Aug. 12, 2020, of kidney failure. He was a proud graduate of VMI and really enjoyed the well wishes from many of his brother rats at VMI. I just received the VMI Alumni Review, and it’s the first time I’ve read it. It made my heart smile. It comes to my home, and typically, I would hand it to him. Unfortunately, this one he never read, but I did and am glad. Love to all at VMI.” Pat Saunders sent a nice note thanking us for the birthday wishes and the old photos that Howard digs out of his archival collection and sends with every birthday card. Lynn Wiggins chimed in with her expression of appreciation and advised she had recently spent the weekend with John St. George and wife Betty and Ben Lynch ’61 and his wife, Diane, at their cottage on the James River. Kay Schwendinger passed away Sept. 30, two months shy of her 90th birthday per Martin Andersen, who made arrangements for her cremains to be placed with husband BR Charles Schwendinger in Arlington National Cemetery. Here we continue our new tradition of remembering our brother rats who have crossed over the river and are now resting under the shade of the trees. Our second list for those gone but not forgotten—Class of 1957: Sherry Arpert March 15, 1973; Frank Hammond July 13,

Class Notes 1980; Lawrence Shelton Dec. 18, 1980; Lt. Col. Jim Espey May 5, 1982; Greg Taylor June 6, 1985. Rest in peace, brother rats, until at last we are all reunited. We sign off this edition of the class notes with a tribute to recently retired superintendent Gen. Peay ’62: Class of ’57 salute to Gen. Binford “Binnie” Peay. Since VMI was established in 1839, the Institute has been led by 14 superintendents, all coming from various professional backgrounds: Educators, engineers, diplomats, military professionals, and businessmen. The key to VMI’s success can in no small part be attributed to the fact that, over the course of 181 years, the right men for the job have always come along at just the right time. In 2003, Gen. Binford Peay was selected and became the 14th superintendent at VMI. What followed over the next 17 years was a remarkable renaissance of military professionalism, academic excellence, and the rebuilding of the Physical Plant that was in dire need. Taken in proper perspective, all this was accomplished as a direct result of Gen. Peay’s professional leadership, sound judgement, wisdom, and selfless dedication to VMI, the cadets, the alumni, the Commonwealth, and our nation. Gen. Binford Peay, the 14th superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute, was the right man for the job who came along at just the right time for VMI. Thank you, Binnie, for a job well done. We will miss you.

1958

Lee McCown

At this point in 2020, Laura and I are asking ourselves if we’ll still be standing to mark new year’s eve or if the chaos of this year will have rendered us unconscious. We still have COVID-19 in the family, with daughter Alane Cameron Ford in the “long hauler” category. Two grandsons are rats during all the turmoil about VMI’s future. Elections, local and national, have taken place with results resolved and unresolved. We’re very grateful to the neighbors who have organized countless uplifting porch concerts, the last two featuring klezmer music, then Irish

singing. And thanks to Laura for giving me the full sleeve tattoo shown in the attached photo for Halloween. She made me put it on my drinking arm. Laura spent some time in the VMI library one day last year looking at Alumni Review notes from my father’s class, because she always admired the writing of Bain Sinclair ’931, their class agent for many years. She found a quote that Bain had captured from a BR in 1986. It seems applicable for this stage of life and these times: “I stay agitated most of the time because of the news. I busy myself watching the car rust.” When life in the present gets rocky, there are always books about history. I’m reading A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre. Wow, did Philby do some serious damage to Great Britain! Laura is reading Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music by New Yorker opera critic Alex Ross. So far, she says it’s supporting her long held contention that the only artist the equivalent of William Shakespeare is composer Richard Wagner. She’s well aware that many disagree, but since she actually enjoyed many of his five-hour operas while forming her opinion, I cut her some slack. And I wave a hearty goodbye as she leaves for a Wagner opera performance with someone other than me. Speaking of history, Bill Harshaw sent a fascinating article about the bronze statue of George Washington on post that is a copy of the marble one in Virginia’s Capitol, often referred to as the most valuable sculpture in the country. We knew a little of its history from our friend, metal conservator Andrew Baxter, who takes care of VMI’s statues. He says the VMI Washington copy is the best of a dozen or so that exist. It was cast here in Richmond by William James Hubard—known more as a portrait painter and silhouette cutter at the time—and was just the second bronze statue cast in the U.S. Hubard became obsessed with copying the marble Washington in bronze, thinking every state would want one. He set about establishing a foundry at his home and teaching himself the techniques of casting bronze statues. The venture impoverished his family, even though the Commonwealth of Virginia paid $10,000 for that first copy—more than the value of the entire Physical Plant at VMI at the time of its founding in 1839. The statue was dedicated in the sweltering July

Class of 1958: Lee McCown’s grandson, Cadet Jefferson Miles ’24, blowing a plastic version of a shofar.

Class of 1958: Lee McCown’s painless tattoo brightened up his Halloween. heat of 1856 and was vandalized within 48 hours. Francis Smith, superintendent, immediately assigned a guard to it. By 1861, Hubard’s business had moved from art to war, as he began manufacturing cannons and experimenting with explosives. In 1862, he was killed in an explosion at his foundry. In 1864, when Union Gen. David Hunter—and troops that included future presidents William McKinley and Rutherford Hayes—set fire to VMI, the statue of Washington remained standing. Hunter ordered it sent to West Point, but his

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Class Notes chief of staff, Col. David Strother, convinced the birthday card I sent him in which I mentioned rat, my BRs, and myself.” When I have the information, I try to send birthhim to send it to the newest state in the Union, that my emails to him always bounce back. His day cards to BRs’ widows. Millie Shipley, wife of West Virginia. After the war, Strother became said he did not know why that was happening, but adjutant general of Virginia and served on the “I will get one of my grandsons to check it out.” Dorsey Shipley, sent me a nice note when she received hers. “My husband dearly loved VMI and VMI Board of Visitors. He decided Washington He must have followed up, because his emails was always singing its praises. Your classmate should come back to Lexington. On Sept. 10, don’t bounce back anymore. Thanks, Lennie. I got a very nice letter from Cadet Michael To- Bill Walker was a very good and devoted friend 1866, the noble statue, back on its pedestal, was maso ’21 thanking the members of the Class of to my husband. You are truly a class of great peodedicated again. ple. God bless America in these troubled times, ’58 who contributed to his football scholarship. If any of you would like a copy of this article, and God bless VMI.” just email me. Thanks again, Bill. And thanks “It has given me the opportunity for an amazing BR Bill Corr, also fondly known as Billco, for the pictures of that huge turkey vulture on education and an experience like no other here at your outdoor chair! Look closely. Its head does the Institute. It has been one crazy year here, from died Sept. 15. Bill was one of the brighter guys in our class and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry resemble an alligator. The older we get, the COVID-19 regulations to our superintendent leaving. Through all of this chaos, it is hard to from the University of North Carolina-Chapel more ominous that visitor seems. Hill. He worked for DuPont in Richmond for This good news arrived from Bill Gee in Oc- stay focused, online classes are a drag, and wearmore than 30 years. At the time of his death, tober: “I have now met with all of the doctors ing a mask every second of the day gets old, but who were involved in my treatment for the blad- graduating and having this amazing degree in CE he and Anne had recently moved to Charlotte to be closer to their daughter. I wasn’t aware der cancer. The urologist examined my bladder will be worth it! that Bill’s daughters had established a scholar“The Institute is changing, but that same spirlast week and found no indication of the tumor remaining. He wants to see me in another four it that you can be proud of lives on through my ship in his name at VMI in the year of our 50th Reunion. The obituary said that months, but so far everything is one of his favorite places to be encouraging. was on the front porch of his “My energy level is now getwife’s family’s beach cottage, ting much higher than it was in where he was “the go to person the first month following treatfor Bloody Marys and daiquiment. I can actually get some ris.” Rest in peace, Billco, and things done around the house I’m sorry I didn’t get to test your without getting tired. I’m also recipes. starting to go back to the gym It was a very sad day in Noagain. I just hope the improvevember when I learned of the ment continues, and the doctors death of Gene Grayson. What don’t find any indication of rean honorable man he was. Dave currence or spreading. Thanks Class of 1958: Three BRs back in the day: Howard Savage, Dave Pitkethly, and Pitkethly had this to say about again to the expressions of sup- Gene Grayson. him: “Gene was my roommate port from all of the BRs who for two years, and he was one of the most outhave contacted me.” Bill, we’re all pulling for standing persons I have ever met. His kindness you! and generous spirit were infectious, and I think Bill says he’d had a conversation with Sully about him quite often. I last spoke to Gene two Griffin, who is undergoing the same cancer months ago, and his voice, positive attitude, and treatment. We wish you the best, too, Sully. love of family and friends were undiminished.” Given that we’re not getting much ’58 news Laura and I represented the Class of 1958 during COVID-19 time, Laura and I are enjoyat Gene’s memorial service in Radford Nov. ing remembering some of the class characters 13. At Gene’s request, a close friend who had no longer with us. I never had the pleasure of a served with Gene when they were both on the discussion on this topic with Jim Beamer, but ROTC staff at VMI, delivered the eulogy, citLaura did at a reunion. Jim described how haping Gene’s compassion, integrity, and fairness, py he was to have some farmland near Salem, among other fine qualities. He also mentioned Virginia, because it allowed him to “farm in the that Gene, ever the patriot, asked for a balnude,” wearing nothing but boots and a cowboy Class of 1958: “Bill and Carolyn Harshaw, lot so he could vote before he died and that hat. I remember Jim as being rather quiet and isn’t it ominous to have a turkey vulture he had written his own obituary. Laura and I studious, but maybe some of you knew a more on your chair?” queried Lee McCown, were struck by its mention of his cancer being adventurous side of him. class agent, about this photo. “Agent Orange related.” We have known and I got a note from Lennie Rubin following up on

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Class Notes still know men that language applies to. A number of photos of Gene growing up were displayed, including one of him with his roommates Dave Pitkethly and Howard Savage in barracks. There was a nice size crowd with everyone masked. The graveside ceremony took place in beautiful fall weather and included a rifle salute by Gene’s Veterans of Foreign Wars friends. Taps were sounded by an Army bugler. Gene was one of the last of the ’58 Radford boys: Bob Buckland survives, but Howard Dean, Bill Jordan, Bobby Jordan, and Walter Leach are all gone. Rest in peace, BR Gene. You’ve received the wonderful video of Barney Odend’hal getting a surprise tribute from the Class of 2022: A two-page yearbook spread honoring him and an invitation to their Ring Figure ceremony. Bill Walker said this after looking at the video: “There isn’t a sweeter BR of any class than Barney. Barney and I have been friends since the first grade. One of the first-grade class pictures I have has Barney and his big smile in the front row and me in the back. He has left a great impression on many classes in the years he has served VMI. I know he didn’t graduate with us, but I propose that he has earned full standing with our class.” Absolutely, Bill! And now he also is the keeper of our class flag, stored at VMI with the regimental colors used in all parades. Rat grandson Jefferson Miles has had several conversations with Barney in the laundry room not knowing he is a member of the Class of ’58. He plans to reintroduce himself to Barney soon. Jefferson and our other rat grandson, Jack McCown, are both doing well academically and in other ways that make us proud. Jefferson, who is in Band Company and plays the trombone, received a plastic shofar (ram’s horn) in his Rosh Hashanah package from his mother and blew it after taps one night, causing great laughter in New Barracks. There’s probably more to this story than laughter, but we’re not prying. In closing, we celebrate the appointment of recently retired Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85 as interim superintendent. He attended VMI on a basketball scholarship and is one of the top five scorers in Institute history. He sounds like an honorable man, and we remain optimistic about the future of VMI. Here’s hoping for COVID-19 cures and vaccines that can lift the stress of these lifesaving but onerous restrictions. In the spirit, Lee

1959

Shep Shepard

I am sorry to report that we have lost several members of the Class of 1959 this quarter. Bobby Dale died July 29, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee; Kay Hughes, beloved wife of Pat Hughes, died peacefully of Alzheimer’s Sept. 1, 2020, in her home in Husser, Louisiana; and Frank Whitten died Aug. 20, 2020, in Lynchburg, Virginia. Neither Bobby nor Frank were active participants in the activities of the Class of 1959. Although I reached out to their respective families to express our condolences, I received no response from them. Regardless, our thoughts and prayers go out to their family members. Pat and Kay have been active members of our class even though Kay had been suffering with Alzheimer’s for the past 12 years. Pat was kind enough to bring Kay to our 60th Reunion last year along with her care provider, and although we will never know, she appeared to enjoy herself. Pat and Kay were married for over 60 years where she was a model Army wife, receiving many awards for her participation in on- and off-post activities. Kay’s funeral was held Sept. 7, and she was interred in Arlington National Cemetery Dec. 8. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat and his family. What I am about to say might point out what a hypocrite I am. For years, I have been asking you to reach out and select someone you have not heard from or talked to in years and reconnect. As I read Kay’s obituary, I noticed that she and Pat were stationed in the Republic of Panama about the time the Panama Canal Treaty, turning the canal over to Panamanian control, was signed. Ann and I were there during the implementation of the treaty in 1982. When I asked Pat about his assignment, I discovered that he worked in the same office that I worked in only a few years later, and he worked for a very good friend of mine. Had I previously taken the time to call Pat and talked to him, we would probably have found that we had many mutual friends and many common experiences to talk about. I intend to correct that and will contact Pat to exchange war stories.

It is with a particularly heavy heart that I tell you that my brother-in-law and our brother rat, Bud Mease, and my sister, his wife, Susan, lost their daughter, Kelli, to melanoma cancer just before the submission of these notes. This was not the first bout with melanoma for Kelli, but she previously successfully fought it and won.

Class of 1959: John Reed is the proud father of 15-year-old Eagle Scout Jack.

Class of 1959: Larry Wood in the fire truck bucket repairing the flagpole at the Woods’ church. VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes This time, she did not. Kelli was a talented artist and poet and wrote some of the most beautiful poetry. Bud, as you know, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and is not fully aware of what is going on, but keep Bud and Sue and their family in your prayers. Unfortunately, too many of our brother rats have experienced the pain of losing a child, and as Susan says, it is by far the worst thing they have every been through. Just before the submission of the class notes, I got the word that Carl Kasko’s wife, Phyllis, passed away. Carl said that it happened so fast; he was talking to her one minute, and the next she was gone. Phyllis was one of the bravest women I have ever known. With all of her medical problems, I never heard her ever complain; she was always the same happy and pleasant lady who was fun to be around. She will be missed. Please keep Carl and his family in your prayers. I spoke with Jack Christie, and he is once again in a fight for his life with cancer. Ann and I have not seen Jack and Gail since we visited Las Vegas many years ago and got together for a memorable evening on the strip with them. We got a kick out of telling Jack that in 2001, while vacationing in Hilton Head with Chuck and Margo Cotton and Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson, we all unintentionally purchased timeshares in Hilton Head. This was Jack’s territory at one time before he left for Las Vegas, but we heard many fine things about him from his timeshare colleagues. Unfortunately, even dropping his name on several occasions still did not get us a discount. When Don Messner heard of Jack’s condition, he immediately wrote to him and recalled that they both were from Naugatuck, got on a train in New Haven, Connecticut, and arrived in Lexington with absolutely no idea what they had signed on for. They did not know each other previously; Jack graduated from a Catholic high school in Waterbury and Don from Naugatuck High School. Please keep Jack and Gail in your thoughts and pray for a miraculous recovery. Jimmy and Linda Johnson are hunkering down in Georgetown, Texas, and will continue to do so until this COVID-19 thing passes. Jimmy had been keeping in contact with Carrie Fuqua, and she is doing well. She found Bill’s U.S. Army file and has been advised by Jimmy to take advantage of the many things that the Veteran’s Administration has to offer—the least being a bronze memorial plaque to place where his ashes were spread. To all widows whose husbands were veterans,

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I strongly suggest that you personally contact a VA representative in your area and discuss the benefits to which you might be entitled. You will be surprised as to what is available. I speak from personal experience. I have a golfing partner who is somewhat of an expert in this area, and he encouraged me to submit some paperwork that subsequently resulted in a substantial financial bonus. It is worth the effort. You might recall that a few years ago Jimmy had prostate cancer but was blessed to have it confined to the gland that was removed by robotic surgery and required no radiation or chemo. Last year, he had a kidney stone and the CT showed a large stone in the ureter but was found to be negative for any recurrence of prostate cancer. Jimmy thinks he is home free. But like Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over. Tex and Emily Carr are making it through the COVID-19 pandemic but anxiously looking forward to an end to all of it. Tex and Emily have moved into a new home on Fernandina Beach, Florida, and are busy as can be getting it squared away. Tex sent an article from the VMI Cadet written just before our release from the Rat Line dated May 7, 1956. The article chastised the upperclassmen for being soft on the Class of 1959 and suggested they tighten the belt before we were released from the Rat Line in order to have a better Corps the following year. This prompted a few responses from our brother rats. Ned Addison related that he had the misfortune of having a dyke who delighted in causing him to be late for formation resulting in him walking over 200 miles in penalty tours. However, he was lucky enough to get a new dyke for the second semester who was a very fine person, so all ended well. Rusty Loth says he went from two years of ROTC at Fishburne Military School to VMI, had been in the U.S. Navy Reserve for three years, and had a complete opposite experience. He dyked in Tom Massey’s room and had T.K. Massey for his corporal. He was the first in our class to get sent up to GC. Rusty thought it was all part of “the game” and held no grudges—even had respect and admiration for those guys. Being a certified rat daddy was his way of getting even. He would do it all again but maybe some things a little different—for example, study this time. Rusty has a good life and attributes much of that to VMI, and he wouldn’t trade his BRs or all the fun he had for anything. He regrets that his own brother, who was in the Class of ’60, left after

one semester. He eventually graduated as a distinguished military graduate from East Tennessee State University, went to flight school, was decorated in Vietnam, and is his hero. Different strokes for different folks, and it takes all kinds. Pat Hughes says he entered VMI after graduating from two years of ROTC at Fork Union Military Academy and two years as an Army reservist at summer artillery training at Indiantown Gap. He already knew everything military that VMI had to offer; he was an expert marksman, drill team member, and so forth. He was trained by Korean War Veterans at FUMA—some of the toughest humans to ever exist. Ned and Bunny Addison are so proud to report that their grandson, Addison Lagarde ’20, just completed his cadetship at VMI and, unlike Ned, wore stripes and stars and majored in engineering. He and Bunny will attend graduation in December, as the May ceremony was postponed. (Editor’s Note: The December graduation ceremony was held virtually to comply with Virginia mandates concerning gathering sizes.) They have another grandson standing in the wings who recently attended the information session for prospective cadets and seemed to like what he saw and heard. VMI continues to be a major part of their lives. Ned plays golf with Brooke Doggett ’58, who looks great, and sees a lot of his BRs, Stuart Whitehurst ’58 and Sam Witt ’58, in Richmond. Rusty Loth apologizes for not providing exciting information for the class notes about his lifestyle, but he says he can only do so much in the middle of a pandemic. After handwashing, mask wearing, and social distancing, what else is there to do? Laura, Rusty’s faithful daughter, sent him back to Trezevant after recovering from his aortic valve replacement operation, which I reported was replaced with a cow valve. He hasn’t started grazing and mooing yet but has started cardiac rehab at a location about 10 miles from where he lives. He goes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and on the way home afterward, he rewards himself with a quick stop at Wendy’s for a frosty. Life is exciting, to say the least. Rusty has not seen Noland Pipes recently, because he also is striving to continue to enjoy the green side of the grass, but they do talk on the phone occasionally and all seems to be right in the Pipes’ household. John and Patsy Van Kesteren talked to Max Blanchard recently, and he sounded quite chipper. Visits are out of the question for now, but they

Class Notes plan to get together once this COVID-19 thing is over with. John, like many of us, is catching up on household repairs while debating with Patsy what dinner they should remove from the freezer and eat for supper. John admits that Pat still cooks great meals. As they have been doing for the past 10 years, they continue exploring the possibilities of converting some of their farmland to renewable energy production. All this is coordinated by phone and internet, and sometimes John thinks they will see actual progress. Nevertheless, the bike trails are open, but shooting with the local Second Amendment Club, flying with the CAP, bluegrass jamming, and traveling back and forth to the Virginia farm are all on hold. That does not prevent John from building a hyperextension bench out of a pile of wood he has outside the house, which will come in handy since they have also quit going to the Y and they miss the exercise machines. Maybe they are being cautious to a fault, but it’s worked so far. Jim and Bet Vermillion are well but, like everyone else, are a little stir crazy and will be happy when this year is behind us. Harlee Pate brought his amazing dog, Meadow, to lunch not long ago and completely mesmerized them with her fascinating antics. Meadow, a golden retriever, is Harlee’s constant companion and thinks she is his caretaker. Harlee has taught her to spell her name, add and subtract, do square roots, and list the planets and locations with respect to the sun. They have never seen anything like it before. Jim read what he thinks is the best account of the historic turning point of the Vietnam War, the Battle of Hue. Hue 1968, written by Mark Bowden, contains two paragraphs giving an account of Frank Breth’s involvement. It reminded Jim years later when Frank suffered from the effects of Agent Orange and was hospitalized in Inova Fairfax Hospital where their son, Mike, was an administrator. Mike visited him every day until he passed. Frank was a special person and one of many who should be remembered fondly. Jack and Joy Angolia are experiencing the same as others due to the restrictions imposed upon them due to COVID-19.

Class of 1959: Molly (Pope) and Watson Mundy’s grandchildren, Watson, Colston, Wick, and Elinor. Watson and Elinor are Gardner’s children and Colston and Wick are Taylor’s children.

Class of 1959: In Bath County (from left) Jennifer Lawson, Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson, and Virginia Nowlin. The Lawsons took Nowlin out to lunch.

Class of 1959: After a hiatus of several years, Bob Haines is back where he belongs as a pilot in command.

As you know, they are avid travelers and already have had to cancel one adventure. They have a trip scheduled for April 2021 to Holland to take in the beauty of the tulip festival and a monthlong adventure in October 2021 to South Africa for yet another exciting photo safari. Jack claims that he is in great shape, only 5 pounds off his grandson’s weight, and he and Joy plan to live another active 10 years. Other than the normal octogenarian aches and pains, which Jack says are designed to remind us to enjoy life, he and Joy are doing well. Spence and Beverly Tucker are both coping. Spence is fully recovered from his second shoulder replacement, and Beverly has an appointment with the Pulmonary Institute at the University of Virginia to see what can be done to combat her pulmonary high blood pressure. Spence has begun the process of culling his professional library of those books he no longer needs. He has given a dozen boxes of books to Preston Library and even more to the VMI Museum. Books going to the VMI Museum will be sold in their bookstores at VMI and New Market to benefit those operations. Spence says that Lexington is now into fall colors, and the leaves are beginning to rain down. It is such a tragedy that the COVID-19 virus has played havoc on human lives and put the kibosh on the many wonderful fall activities in Lexington that they all remember so well and cherish. Bill and Mary Kessler are holding things together in Long Beach, California. Not long ago, some of Bill’s old cronies from Hughes Aircraft Company participated in a Zoom celebration of the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the FLY-OFF competition to capture the development and production of the radar system for the F-15 Eagle fighter. The purchase order was awarded to Hughes in September 1970. Bill was hired by Hughes in 1969 as an entry level Project Officer and assisted the FLY-OFF program manager with a variety of tasks during their two-month deployment of over 60 engineers, technicians, aircraft mechanics and pilots needed to support this highly competitive flight demonstration of their engineering model radar candidate for the F-15 radar system.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Bill has nearly completed writing an account of the competition, and when completed, he will offer it to those interested. Mary is preparing for a leaky heart valve replacement which hopefully will occur before this article is published. Modern medicine has successfully accomplished this procedure on many patients much older than she is, so there is no reason to think that it will not be a success for Mary. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary. Judy MacWillie reports that everything has been slow but steady in Killeen, Texas, primarily because of COVID-19. All in all, the MacWillie family is doing great and truly feel blessed. Kurt and Jane Gloeckner spent five weeks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to assist in welcoming into the world another granddaughter, Elizabeth Jane (Baby E.J.). When COVID-19 got serious around March and April, Kurt turned the reins of his business over to his son and has now joined the ranks of the retired community. Kurt and Jane wish good health to the fabulous Stonewall class. Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson have taken on the responsibility of keeping tabs on Virginia Nowlin. Ralph and Janice Rae, along with Ralph’s daughter, Jennifer, stopped by Hot Springs, Virginia, not long ago and took Virginia to lunch in Bath County. They report Virginia is doing great. Bob Haines has been seen walking around Sarasota singing the old 1963 Patsy Cline hit song, “Back in Baby’s Arms,” and whistling Gene Autry’s 1941 hit, “Back in the Saddle Again.” After several years’ hiatus, Bob is back flying again. He is in the process of renewing his pilot rating. In this case it is not a question of teaching an old dog new tricks since Bob has been an accomplished flyer for many years. He has passed his third-class medical rating and currently flying as much as possible in order to regain his pilot in command status. Flying has been Bob’s passion for as long as he can remember, and it is great to be behind the stick again. He is loving the challenge and somewhat surprised how easily it is coming back to him. The hard part is getting to the fuel sumps and rope tie-downs that are all located under the aircraft. Getting to them puts a lot of pressure on an octogenarian with bad knees and back, and it ain’t graceful. When we mentioned that Ann and I were headed for Hilton Head for a week’s vacation, it brought back a flood of wonderful memories for Bobby and Alice Ross. They have been going there every summer for the past 33 years with their kids and grandkids and have such a fun time. With several of their kids in the military now, they continue the

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tradition in order to have the opportunity to spend time together. They must admit that the trips to Hilton Head have formed a very close-knit family over these years of many moves for all of them. They will make their 34th trip there in July. Bobby and Alice are planning a trip to VMI when the leaves start to change. They enjoy so much walking the paths they walked so many years ago when they were young, foolish, and dating. Such great memories. A tough place to be, but weren’t they the best of times? Lee and Nancy Southard are enjoying their new home that is just about completed. Despite the fact that Nancy had a mild case of shingles, it did not interfere with her decorative endeavors. She pressed on to complete the furnishing of their home. Lee, on the other hand, developed a close friendship with all the local furniture store vendors as he became close friends with them returning all the things Nancy rejected after seeing them in place. Lee also is on his twelfth edit of his book, The Battle We Must Not Lose, which concludes that there are dire consequences for the church and the nation, and it is coming fast. The book has a lot of statistics requiring a lot of math and factchecking, and he wishes he had paid a little better attention when these subjects were taught. At this point and because of the experiences he learned from publishing his last book, he is thinking of self-publishing. In the meantime, he and Nancy are enjoying their new home, especially their daily workout in the pool. Admittedly, it is difficult, but so far, he has stuck to his guns. College football is OK, but he would like to get back to watching the big boys. He and Nancy get together with Dave Goode for dinner occasionally and Dave seems to be doing pretty good. Not long ago, I received a nice note from Gardner Mundy ’98, Molly (Pope) and Watson Mundy’s son, with a wonderful picture of Molly’s beautiful grandchildren. You will remember that Watson and Molly had two children, Gardner and Taylor, and these are their children. Ann and I are doing well, as are our kids and grandkids. All seem to be holding their own with COVID-19 but looking forward to an end. We have been good about observing the restrictions and religiously wear our masks when out in public. We do go out to eat now and again but make sure we check out the facility first to ensure all the staff are wearing masks. I’m ashamed to say that our state of Florida seems to be two bricks shy of a load when it comes to social distancing and masks. Ann

and I did slip away a few weeks ago and when up to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to take advantage of our timeshare. We did not do much, went out to eat a few times; visited Beaufort, Bluffton, and some of the charming southern cities surrounding the area; and just wandered around the island enjoying the views. Ann has always had a very close relationship with her bicycle and loved riding it around the neighborhood. However, on too many occasions she lost her balance and had a few serious falls, so I stole her bike, took it to a bike shop, and traded it in for an adult tricycle bike. Since I brought the bike home, I see very little of Ann; she is gone for hours on end, but she does enjoy it and she get lots of exercise. I’m still playing golf once a week and playing a decent game despite the fact that I play from the white tees.

1960

James A. Smith III

Greetings from St. James, North Carolina. Ruth and I, like all of you, have been incarcerated in our bubble due to the pandemic since mid-March. I have been able to play golf, but all of our trips have been wiped out. I share your disappointment in not having our 60th Reunion. I’m not sure, as of this edition, if a virtual reunion has taken place. On Aug. 20, I spoke with Steve Sewell, wishing him another happy birthday. He was well. He and Pat are alternating time at their lake house and home in Roanoke. I received a long email from George Ax. George wrote: “Ginny and I have been staying pretty close to home without too much socializing except for the occasional two on two distant happy hour with neighbors on the deck. I feel bad that I am not getting together with my five grandchildren ages 10-20, but they are fairly active, and truthfully, I’m concerned about any contact with them since I frequently catch anything they have. It took me two months last winter to recover from a very bad case of pneumonia (about the fifth time I’ve had it), so I’m trying to be extra careful. The last traveling we did were trips to Maine and NYC last year. We had to cancel our planned trip to Arizona and New Mexico this spring. Best to you (and to you

Class Notes also, Hap). George.” Jane Toker, wife of Brother Rat Bill Toker, sent Bill’s obituary. Bill passed away in March. It read: “William Toker (Bill) passed away peacefully March 16, 2020, in Ashburn, Virginia, from complications brought on by his long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jane Toker, originally from Crotonon-Hudson, New York; daughter, Gretal Toker; and grandson, Wyatt Reid, both of Potomac Falls, Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews throughout the United States. Three brothers and two sisters preceded him in death. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1937, Bill attended Virginia Military Institute. Following graduation, he stayed on for a number of years to teach in the physics department. From VMI, Bill pursued a career of 26 years as an executive for AT&T and Lucent Technologies, working in Pittsburgh; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; St. Louis; and northern Virginia. Bill took great pride in mentoring junior employees and forged lifelong friendships along the way. After his retirement in 1989, Bill joined the federal government for a career with the General Services Administration, Federal Technology Services, holding several positions including director, program management center, and acting assistant commissioner, retiring in 2004. Bill had a love for German sports cars and sailboats and enjoyed many years of weekends and vacations sailing the entirety of the Chesapeake Bay. A memorial service will be held at a later date when gathering together to celebrate Bill’s life will be safe for all attending. Tributes in Bill’s name may be made to the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Virginia.” On Aug. 26, Tom Royster had another birthday. I spoke to Tom two days later. He is well. It was good to speak with him and catch up. He and his wife are incarcerated with the pandemic, as we all are, but getting by. On Aug. 28, the Powell brothers, Jim and John, had their birthdays. I spoke to Martha, John’s wife, who reported John was doing well. Jim returned my call and reported he was doing well, also. He and his wife were spending their pandemic in a cottage in Morehead City, North Carolina. They all got birthday wishes and wishes for many more birthdays. On Aug. 29, I spoke with Don Hammond with wishes for a happy birthday this year and wishes for many more.

On Aug. 31, I spoke with Jim Pittman giving him birthday wishes. He’s well. Jim did a remarkably unselfish job increasing our reunion memorial booklet. On Sept. 2, I was only able to leave birthday wishes on Joe Sisler’s voicemail box. I miss our fall golf outings. Joe got wishes for many more birthdays. It is with a sense of deep sadness that I report the passing of Brother Rat Jack Horgan, who died Sept. 8 at his home in Newport News, Virginia. His obituary reads: “John Archibald Horgan, M.D., died Sept. 8, 2020, at his home. Jack was born April 21, 1938, in Norfolk and was a graduate of Maury High School, Class of 1956, and Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1960. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, he continued his medical training at the University of Kentucky and the University of Colorado Medical Centers. Two years in the U.S. Army took him to Seoul, Korea, and Fort Carson, Colorado. Following a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Virginia, Jack came to Newport News in 1971 where he established the Division of Cardiology at Riverside Regional Medical Center and continued his practice there until his retirement. Jack is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy Earle Horgan; his three children, Laura Earle Horgan, M.D., and her husband, Steven Ryan Hunter, and their children, Will and Caroline; Amy Horgan Fiveash, and her husband, Robert Emmet Fiveash, and their children, Grayson and Anne Burns; his son, John Archibald Horgan, III; and his brother, Darrell S. Daniels, M.D., and his wife, Rosanne. Jack was an avid exerciser. He enjoyed running (including a Boston Marathon), tennis, cycling, golf, and especially skiing, which led to Jack and Nancy becoming part-time residents of Colorado for many years. Adventure travel, visiting exotic places, and trekking in remote areas were of great interest to Jack. He summited Mount Kilimanjaro, hiked the Mount Everest trail, and climbed numerous 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado. He was a member of James River Country Club, the Hampton Roads German Club, Newport News Public Arts Foundation, and Hidenwood Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Jack’s memory be made to the John A. Horgan ’60 Pre-medicine Scholarship at the VMI Foundation, Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450, or a charity of your choice. A private

memorial service will be held.” On Sept. 10, I gave telephone birthday messages to Alex Dunlap and Bill Knowles, wishing them safety, good health, and more birthdays. On Sept. 13, I sent email birthday wishes to John “Stump” Fulton. We have not seen or heard from Stump for a long, long time. On Sept. 16, I spoke with Earl Marquette. He is well despite some medical difficulties but gets around well. He keeps up with Pete McGue, his roommate who lives in Texas. We chatted about some brother rats. Earl got birthday wishes and wishes for many more. On Sept. 17, G.G. Phillips, Bill Knowles, Ashby Taylor ’61, and I and our wives attended a service for Jack Horgan at his home. Weather and COVID-19 prevented other brother rats from attending. Our class was represented by a beautiful arrangement of red, white, and yellow flowers. We overlooked the James River as Shenandoah was played. We will miss Jack. He was an outstanding man. On Sept. 18, I left a voicemail birthday message for Barry Worst. I wish Barry would keep in touch! I was able to catch up with Bill Driver. Bill got birthday wishes with wishes for many more birthdays. On Sept. 24, Mike Shoemaker had another birthday. I left birthday wishes on his phone. Mike contacted me later. He is well. On Sept. 27, Tony DiCaprio got birthday wishes over voicemail. We wished him well. On Oct. 1, I left birthday wishes for Jon Quinn and got a nice voicemail message from him the next day. Jon said he was doing well. On Saturday, Oct. 3, Roy McLeod celebrated his next birthday. I caught up with Roy Sunday while he was on his way to church. Both Roy and Sewell are well. On Oct. 5, I caught up with George Uhlig in Utah wishing him birthday wishes. George was so very thoughtful and sent me a dozen ProV1 golf balls. Unfortunately, they are not immune to 3 putting. He was well. I spoke with Ed Duncan Oct. 6, giving him birthday wishes with wishes for many more. He was well. On Oct. 12, Seaborn “Seafus” “Seab” Brown celebrated his latest birthday. Seafus reminded me that he was the “baby” in our class, having been born in 1939. He was active during his “working years” in the pharmaceutical industry, spending much time in Latin American countries due to

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes After the “reunion,” Col. Bill Wanovhis fluency in Spanish and English. Reich ’87, commandant of the Corps, wrote member he grew up in Mexico due to his G.G.: “Mr. Phillips, Thank you for includfather’s assignment in the OSS. In retireing me in your 60th Reunion. Congratulament, Seafus was active as an interpreter tions. I’m sorry that we couldn’t have all in the court system as a volunteer translaof you here to Lexington to enjoy a parade tor in Sarasota, Florida, his home. We had and the thrill of the Corps in the Old Bara wonderful conversation. racks cheering your Old Yell with you— On Oct. 17, we had our virtual 60th ’60, ’60, ’60. I sincerely appreciate the Reunion. By unofficial count, we had 41 great support from you and your brother brother rats, Lucy Clay and, of course, rats and all the alumni. It’s been the highReba Bayliss in attendance. It was so light and distinct honor in my life to serve well organized by G.G. Phillips, Peanuts VMI and the Corps of Cadets. I will alElliott, and Henry Brown. Hap Miller ways cherish the memories of these years. was, and is always, a major contributor of any class communication. We owe them Class of 1960: Linda and Phil Shiner and Ruth and Jimbo I look forward to future visits to Lexington and VMI by your BRs and you. Any and the VMI Alumni Association a great Smith. alum that’s willing to get up early and deal of gratitude for a wonderful event. brave the chill of the morning air is always welWe can only hope that when the pandemic clears come to join me at Scott Shipp Hall to review the we can have an “in person” reunion. It was good BRC marchdown and breakfast at Crozet Hall. that our names were displayed under our Zoom Thank you for your continued and wonderful serpictures, as we might not have been able to recvice and support to our Institute! Stay healthy and ognize some of us. I think “Father Time” has consafe. Please don’t hesitate if I can ever be of any tributed to that challenge of recognition. assistance. My very best to you and your BRs. In Bolling Williamson sent me the following the Spirit of VMI! Bill.” G.G. responded, “Coloemail after the “reunion:” “Good job yesterday; nel Wanovich, this is a brief email to thank you it went off much better than I’d expected. Pokfor your presentation at our virtual Class of 1960 ing around today, I came up with some trivia: Reunion late in the afternoon this past Saturday, On Oct. 19, 1957 (63 years ago!), we played Oct. 17, 2020. Your remarks were perfect for the William & Mary and won 14-13. They were occasion and well received. You hit all the topics driving to score the winning touchdown, but that were of interest to an aging group of VMI Sam Horner intercepted the pass in the end Class of 1960: Gary Hermann and Mary alumni, especially when you reported on how zone to seal the win, and the team went on to an Ann Pipping. VMI is forced to function under the pressures of undefeated season. Cheers, Bolling.” the COVID-19 pandemic, and you did that in excellent fashion as usual. Colonel, I think I speak for all VMI alumni who have had the opportunity over the years since we graduated to stay somewhat involved with VMI when I congratulate you on the outstanding job you have done and continue to do as VMI’s commandant of cadets. It’s not an easy task being VMI’s commandant, but you seem to handle it with a firm hand mixed with the appropriate amount of grace, and you have rightfully earned the respect and admiration of all who have had the occasion to be in your company, to include cadets. Thank you for your willingness to be with us even for a short period of time and on how you have approached the responsibilities of being VMI’s commandant of cadets. George Phillips ’60, reunion chairperson.” On Oct. 20, I spoke with Jack Willard and Roy Quinn, wishing them both a happy birthday and Class of 1960: Brother rats gathered at Bill Cressall’s funeral. wishes for many more. Both are well. I also had a

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Class Notes wonderful phone call from Tom Kurkoski, calling to say how much he enjoyed our “reunion.” He is well. I spoke with Bill Spicuzza Oct. 21, his birthday, who now lives in Crozet, Virginia. Bill is well and, like all of us, wants more birthdays. After the “reunion” and its presentation of the Bayliss Scholarship recipients, I received the following email from Reba Bayliss: “I am so excited to get this link. I love reading about these fabulous recipients. They are truly the best, and I am so proud of them and their accomplishments. I am thankful to the Class of ’60 for all they have done to make this scholarship a reality. Thank you for honoring Pat. It means the world to Patrick and me. Reba.” On Oct. 27, I was unable to speak with Frank Ferrier on his birthday, but he got voicemail wishes. On Oct. 29, my birthday, I was treated royally at home with an assortment of cards and a great pasta dinner in the evening. Further, I received a package of delicious caramel candy from George Uhligh all the way from Utah. George is holding down the fort there. I recently had a long phone conversation with George Salaita. George teaches freshman American history at East Tennessee State University and has been doing so for many years. He also has been a student of Gen. George Marshall ’901 for many years. He put together a booklet of Marshall’s funeral where Jim Tumlinson and Carl Benner were pallbearers. They were impressive. He sent copies to Jim, Carl, and me. I appreciate his thoughtfulness. On Nov. 6, I spoke with Fudd Caldwell. He has been recovering from a stroke but is doing well. He was about to have breakfast when I caught up with him. On Nov. 8, Bob “Railroad” Hamilton celebrated his birthday. I was unable to speak with him, but he got birthday wishes via voicemail and email. On Nov. 11, Veterans Day and our VMI Founders Day, George Coulbourn celebrated his birthday. While I didn’t speak with George, he got an email message. George wrote, “Hi, Jimbo. No way that you could reach me where I was for most of the day, but thanks for calling. My lady-friend, Judy, and I were hiking in the Hamma Hamma River basin of the Olympic National Forest. We try to take a day trip at least once a week to somewhere in Washington that’s scenic and safe from

COVID-19 where we can hike for a few miles. Fortunately, there are lots of choices. This time of year, dry days are limited and so you have to ‘grab and go’ when you get a nice one. Soon it will be cross-country skiing rather than hiking, since all of the mountain passes now have snow and some of the seasonal ones are already closed. I can’t downhill ski anymore, and so cross-country has to suffice. Every day is precious. The kids and grandkids just left. We had a few minutes on my deck. My first son was born on my birthday, so that’s kind of neat. Regards, George.” In regard to the recent news about VMI, at a recent class agent meeting, it was made clear that

VMI, responding in a timely manner, will come through these times stronger with our core values and systems intact. No matter what happens (and I’m optimistic), we, the Class of ’60, will not lose what cherished memories we have. They will not be taken away. Please continue to support VMI and our Bayliss Scholarship. The cadets need our support now more than ever. Thank you for allowing me to be your class agent. In the spirit, Jimbo

1961

Sal Vitale Jr.

Class of 1960: Jim Tumlinson zip lining.

Class of 1960: Joe Sisler and Joe Morabit.

This quarter will be one to remember forever. As I am writing these notes, the presidential election is not yet certified; VMI is still frontpage news, and the COVID-19 virus continues taking its toll on Americans. Thankfully, we have not lost brother rats or family to the virus. Sue has had a complete recovery from her foot operations, and I am still healing from a carpal tunnel operation on my right hand and elbow. We miss beer and cookies at the Gibbingses’ Friday nights. Getting together with Bill and Joyce was how we knew what day of the week it was. Bill is still recovering from his back operation and needs to use a walker. Joyce fell and fractured her tibia and shares the walker with Bill. Sue and my activities are limited to doctor appointments, grocery store, therapy, gym, and we can now go to church. Our plans for the holidays are up in the air. By the time you read these notes, I hope that things have settled down. Now some news from the class: Wyatt Durrette let me know that his son, Wyatt III, along with his friend, Mel Washington, wrote a new song called “Love Wins.” The article in the American Songwriter said that the song takes a realistic but ultimately hopeful stand in the face of racial conflict. It is worth listening to. Dick Huneycutt reminded me that he and Dick Stone were roommates, and he remembers Dick always wore something that advertised the Institute. Dick is in OK health and has been doing some counseling. He advises anyone sick or

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes I hope many of you enjoyed the mp4 tribute to just needing somebody to talk to—just give him scattered across the country and do not want to risk flying at this time, so his service is also on Ken Patrick that his daughter, Donna, created. a call on his cell at 615-417-8518. Helen Wiggins, John’s daughter, said that she hold. I asked Elaine if New York City is as bad Rabbit was a great brother rat and supporter of as reported on television. She said it was worse. VMI. We speak occasionally with his wife, Sue, has John’s ashes in Alaska and, assuming it safe to travel, will spread some of them in Key West Small shops in her area are boarded up and and all is well with the Patrick family. Tom and Barbara Phlegar were exposed to probably will never reopen. Except for shopping and the remainder at a sailboat raft-up in Anat a local grocery store a few blocks from her their grandson who was exposed to partying napolis, Maryland. John loved his sailboat. students UNCW who had COVID-19. Tom and Dave and Cammie Bella had lots of phone apartment, she stays inside. I was very surprised when George Salaita Barbara had no symptoms, were tested, quarancalls and emails from people concerned about the wildfires. The air quality has been extremely ’60 emailed me. George was looking to contact tined themselves at the family farm, and everyour Brother Rat Richard McMurray to remind thing turned out normal. Tom and Barbara had hazardous, and heavy winds blew over the Cascade Mountains into their valley. Fire evacuees him of the wonderful address Richard gave to lunch with Rod and Doris Hudgins in Hickory, from other parts of Oregon temporarily relocat- George’s Civil War round table group in King- North Carolina, a midpoint location for both of them. Rod is still working as a consulting engied to the fairgrounds near Bella, as well as the sport. George also advised his Brother Rat Jack neer. While at the farm, Tom drove to Lexington two adjoining counties. Cammie says they wear Horgan ’60 died. in hopes of visiting the Stonetheir N95 masks when they wall Jackson House, which was briefly go out to give their dog closed, and then was off to VMI a potty break. to see if he could buy a new hat. Lynn Hartford has also Everything was closed, including been experiencing heavy the museum. Fortunately, Tom smoke and poor air quality ran into a museum employee, and from the California fires. Lynn she was able to run in the museum and Shirley have decided to and get Tom a hat. Tom said it was leave California. They looked strange seeing cadets wearing at homes in Nebraska and put masks doing their activities. a deposit on a house ready for Bill and Norma Phillips are occupancy in November, but doing well and staying close to the offer was denied. They Class of 1961: During a COVID-19 getaway (from left) Betty Pitt, Irv Wells, Kim have started the search again, Wise, Alison Drescher, and Mike Pitt ’60 had lunch at the Gosport Restaurant home. Jim Harrison said his wife, still in Nebraska; I think some- in Portsmouth, Virginia. M.C., had an accident that resultwhere near Omaha. ed in bleeding on the brain and was in the ICU Raine Gilbert said his wife, Claire, is her stroke unit but thankfully is now recovering wonderful self again. In the last Review, I menfairly well. Her speech issues have really frustioned that Claire had several strokes and lost trated her. The storms that went through Georgia some of her eyesight. She has started to walk in September and October played havoc in Jim’s and read again; what great news! area, and they lost power for several days. Mitch and Jennifer Kot are enjoying their The same storms went through Louisiana and home in Georgia. Mitch said his health is 100% took very large trees at the Haeberlein home. and was cleared for skiing in Austria and then Bill said the trees blocked his back door, and he teaching business classes to Vietnamese busicouldn’t get out. Thanks to his sons-in-law who nessmen. COVID-19 however has changed came, cut, and removed the trees, freeing Bill. their plans, as Europe is still closed along with Dick Hartman also experienced these storms. Vietnam, so flying to these places is not posHe said it was hard to believe that the wind went sible. Mitch enjoyed living overseas, but as he from 80 mph to 110 mph in a few hours. Dick now says, “Every day is another day in parasaid there was a tornado in the neighborhood dise” in their home in Gainesville, Georgia. and except for one large tree limb downed, the Jerry Curtis has not been able to schedule a neighborhood was safe. time for services for Dennis. She wanted to have Willard and Pat Hoskins are enjoying from a traditional service and a celebration of his life Class of 1961: Bob Coltrane worked on the sidelines and with interest the activities of afterward. It’s just not possible now; hopefully regaining his strength after cancer treattheir extended family. From what I gleaned soon. Also caught up in the COVID-19 criment at Hoss’s Restaurant in Williamsfrom his email, one is working on a doctorate in sis is Elaine Wilkinson. Elaine had planned to port, Pennsylvania. aeronautical engineering at Virginia Tech, one a have Don buried by now, but his children are

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Class Notes premed at James Madison University, and one in a business program at the University of Richmond. Hope I got it straight! Jim and Ann Miner are bored to death but going along with social distancing and masking. Jim wants to go out and volunteer, but he was told to stand down. John and Doris Rudibaugh are doing well and very happy that all 13 grandchildren plus parents are healthy. I guess Sue and I are happy to say the same about our family. Irv Wells is doing well under the circumstances. He said he has not resumed tap dancing but is getting by. He had dinner with Connie and Bill Nelms when they were in Virginia Beach. The Nelmses were finally able to use their timeshare, and they took time to also have dinner with us. Lee Badgett is no longer “locked up” in his apartment at his senior citizens’ complex. He hasn’t been out very much, but he said that’s his call. I know I sent an email asking you to keep Bud Alligood in your prayers. Bud had an update on his cancer status, and it wasn’t the best news. His oncologist said he has exhausted all the latest available treatments for advanced cancer. The doctor suggested that Bud start giving his body a break and to enjoy some quality of life for whatever time he has left. No timetable was given. Bud started palliative care and will remain with them until Hospice is necessary. Bud is one of the kindest and most gentle people I have ever known. My children call him Uncle Bud. Please keep praying for Bud and his wife, Peggy. COVID-19 found its way to South Africa, and Mary Thompson said it has changed her life. Mary has been locked down for six months, but relaxation of the rules is in sight. She said many private businesses have closed, and she is bored and waiting for snow. Mary and Geraldine Nicholas Moore have been communicating, and Mary reminds us that if you communicate by mail with her, their post service is almost nonexistent. Speaking of snow, my rat roommate, Tom Whalen, also can’t wait for snow. Unfortunately, Tom is having shoulder reconstruction, and that could curtail his skiing. Tom and Dick Lindquist have been exchanging information. Dick is helping me find lost brother rats, and Tom had information on a few that didn’t graduate

with us. You may remember Dick’s wife, Kim, had several bad health crises last year, but she is now doing well. Now it was Dick’s turn to be on the gim. In June, he had spinal surgery and is now in the rehabilitation stage. Battle Haslam said he and Elizabeth are doing well as she takes good care of him. He did say he really needs a haircut. Coincidentally, Bill Hala also needed a haircut, so he bought hair clippers and did the job himself! I don’t believe it would pass SMI. He would be in violation of the blue book and boned for cutting his own hair. COVID-19 again has made it impossible for Bill to see his lady friend, Irene, who lives in Canada. Bill said that he will be receiving approval to cross the border, as he is in an “extended family relationship” with Irene. At least that’s how the Canadian government puts it. Bill and Shon Maurer are doing fine. Bill is using his COVID-19 confinement for a new article about Sir Moses Ezekiel ’866 and Virginia Mourning Her Dead for the Masons magazine. In doing his research, Bill came across a picture of New Market Day May 15, 1960, which was the reburial of Cadet Charles G. Crockett ’867. Since the photograph of the burial team was not very clear, Bill tried to solicit the class to see who remembered who was in it. After an exchange of emails, it was agreed that the colors were carried by W. Stokes, P.B. Myatt, and D. Nicholas. The casket team was B. Powell, Ed Duncan ’60, and two more. The riflemen were Bob Tyson ’62, G. VanOrden, W. Maurer, G. Coulbourn Jr. ’60, D. Thomas, and D. Elliott. Bill Maurer would appreciate any additional information or corrections. The Villages brother rats send greetings. They have avoided COVID-19. Bob and Jeanne Burks are doing OK. Bob is having some leg trouble and has not been able to play golf. Stu and Lee Crow are also OK and staying close to home, hunkering down behind their masks. I hear from Burks that Warren and Kathy Copenhaver are well and have been looking after Ken Ayala, who was in the rehabilitation facility. George and Edna Henning sold their house in The Villages and moved back to Roanoke. George said they are living in a wonderful senior care facility where, at one time, George was on their board of directors. Welcome home, George and Edna. Bob and Suellen Reitz are coping with being confined. Suellen’s dad is failing. She is the primary caregiver, and it is taking its toll. Bob addressed a group of veterans Nov. 11 at the Jasper County

Veterans Memorial. Bob tells me that he and Gen. Peay ’62 have been pen pals for many years. As reported in the last Alumni Review, Paul Johnston was very concerned about an upcoming operation for his wife. Debby. As it turned out, Debby’s health improved, and she passed her COVID-19 test in order to enter the hospital. Her knee replacement went very well. She was able to get by on a reduced amount anesthesia—also good. She completed PT and is now home. Bob and Loretta Coltrane live high in the mountains of Pennsylvania and far away from COVID-19. However, once a month Bob has to go to Williamsport (30 miles to the north) for his monthly hormone cancer shot. As in most towns, the fast food restaurants around Williamsport (McDonald’s, Arby’s, etc.) are only allowed to offer drive-thru meals, as they still cannot eat inside. However, nearby is Hoss’ restaurant, and it is large enough to allow sit-down meals. When Bob goes for the shot, he treats himself to a meal at Hoss’. David Harbach has his hands full. For months now his wife, Charlotte, has been in and out of the hospital and rehabilitation facilities. As I mentioned before, Charlotte flat lined several times, and we almost lost her. According to Dave, Char is getting good treatment for the many health conditions she is dealing with. COVID-19 has made visiting with her almost impossible. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be alone in a room day after day. David calls her to make an appointment so they can talk on the telephone while looking at each other through the window. Recently, Charlotte needed to have dialysis. David picks her up three times a week and takes her to the dialysis facility and is allowed to sit with her during the threehour treatment. Sometimes she feels well enough to hold hands, argue a little, and maybe even on the way back to the rehab facility go to a drive-thru to purchase Charlotte’s favorite lunch. As of the writing of these notes, the doctor said there is a chance she will not need to continue dialysis, and when she can safely walk with a walker, she can come home. In the middle of all this, Dave was notified of the death of his dear friend, Col. George Piegari (Hon.), a professor at VMI for 35 years and cofounder of the computer science program. Dave and Charlotte used to stay with the Piegaris when in Lexington. Please pray for Charlotte and David. Most of you know that Lou Shuba went to the hospital and had heart surgery. Little did they know it would require five bypasses. Lou did really well and was out of the hospital

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes in less than a week. When I talked to Lou, he said that even if you exercise and have low blood pressure and cholesterol, you can still have heart disease. What saved his life was the fact he was so healthy. Lou and Priscilla are tired of the confinement, enjoying their new puppy, and looking forward to the holidays. I asked Lou when the next pig roast would be, and he suggested new year’s eve when Pennsylvania is really cold. (Smile.) As I said, COVID-19 has kept us inside, and I miss seeing the locals. I talk to Larry Williams, and he is doing OK. Kenny Legum has a few medical issues that need to be tended to, and so does Garland Payne. Dorsey and Madonna Pender are OK. Madonna said Dorsey is performing a lot of honey-do jobs. Don Kern’s divorce is finally complete after a long tiring legal battle. I hear that Inday Caples sold the house in Boise and is currently visiting with relatives in Williamsburg before she returns to the Philippines. Larry Respess and I have spent lots of hours talking and typing. Joanne was doing well until she fell in the driveway and now has some issues with her legs. Larry says she’s coming along really well. Alison Drescher, Kim Wise, Mike and Betty Pitt ’60, and Irv Wells met at the Gosport

Class of 1961: On Nov. 7, 2020, no barbers were open, so Bill Hala gave himself a haircut at his home in Monroe, New York. “For this, he earned a 5-10-5,” said Sal Vitale, class agent, of this photo.

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Restaurant in Portsmouth for lunch, and a few of them did not wear masks. Naughty, naughty! They all are doing well. Jim and Blair Bickford are healthy and decided to venture out to Savannah, Georgia, for a brief vacation until you know what! Georgia may soon be losing Skip and Harriotte McDannald, who have their house and the farm on the market. Skip says he does not know whether he is going to move north to Atlanta or south to Florida. Carl and Becky Hirsch are doing fine and hope to travel to Texas to visit with family as soon as they’re allowed to travel. Ray and Sally Hanlein are doing fine, and Ray is working on a new batch of wine. I have cleaned the labels off five cases of empty wine bottles so Ray can fill them and put his own label on them. Oscar Mabry’s hip replacement is doing OK. Caroline is having heart issues, and Oscar did not go into detail. Rhett Clarkson goes fishing nearly every day, so I guess he is doing fine. Gaylia Hudgins is at it again. This time she hiked to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes which was 10-and-a-half miles and 3,000 feet elevation gain with 18 switchbacks. She did it in seven-and-a-half hours with lots of snacks and stops going up. What a gal! Brother Rat Joe B. Preston II passed away Sept. 19, 2020, at his total care facility in Culpeper, Virginia. Nancy said she was with Joe for his last four days and nights. Joe just stopped breathing, and then his heart stopped. Joe was having more and more difficulty breathing and had quit eating, drinking, and talking. After Joe’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, Joe slowed a bit until he slowed a lot with a lot of complications and falls. The last few months of his life were tough, as Joe and Nancy were separated by the virus. Nancy only saw Jim at the window. A service was held for Joe at the Masonic Cemetery in Culpeper for family only due to COVID-19. Nancy said, “No words can express how much the brother rats and VMI meant to Joe throughout his life. He was so proud, always wearing VMI hats and sweatshirts, especially around Tech guys.” Joe lived a full and busy life with many different interests. He was employed by DuPont in Richmond for 31 years, spending two years in Australia. Joe obtained a Class A Building License, proceeding to build six houses. When he finally retired, he

became a certified building inspector working part time for Powhatan County, where he built the first Habitat for Humanity house in the county. Joe had many hobbies and found time to be an elder at the Providence Presbyterian Church in Powhatan and later became a member of the Madison Virginia Presbyterian Church. May he now rest in peace. To clear my head and shed some light on what was going on at the “I,” I thought maybe a conversation with someone on-site could help. My preference was to talk to a 1st Class cadet, and I was directed by a friend to Cadet Dylan Stoltzfus ’21, the 1st Class president. I had a telephone conversation with Cadet Stolzfus and recognized that Dylan is a credit to his class and VMI. I hope and pray that VMI will find and educate young people like him. Our Brother Rat Larry Respess and I appreciate the many responses that have been given to our proposal for addressing the profound issues affecting VMI. We were particularly gratified that most of those responses (more than 317 as of Nov. 14) have been positive, but not unexpectedly, some opposed at least some parts of our proposal. All of the feedback has been well reasoned and courteously stated. It was also nice to hear from a few of our BRs who have been very quiet until now. In my view, regardless of what people think of historical figures, it is vital that we look at them from the standpoint of the times they lived. Many things that were accepted in the past are not today. So be it, and let’s move on. A hundred years from now, the next generations of citizenry will look back and may wonder, “Where were they coming from?” Stay well, call a brother rat, and God bless you, VMI, USA, and our veterans.

1962

Monty Williams Jerry Burnett

I hope that all are continuing to stay safe and taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the dreaded COVID-19 does not get to you. The last week of October 2020 was difficult for the

Class Notes Institute. As you know, Oct. 26, 2020, Brother Rat Binnie Peay submitted his resignation as superintendent, and later that week the Board of Visitors voted to move the statue of “Stonewall” Jackson from the Parade Ground. Joe Van Deventer sent a picture of his him and his wife, Julie, along with their two grandchildren, Grace and Cody (both have provisional appointments). Joe met Julie in Puerto Rico when he was there at Ramey Air Force Base, and she was teaching in the base schools. At Ramey, he was flying as a weather officer with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, “The Hurricane Hunters.” He says that all of us are doing well coping with all the lockdowns and restrictions. Bill and Christa Harris are having a stay at home year with a number of doctor visits. Nothing is major, but he says it just takes time to do what is required. They normally take a cruise in the summer/fall, but since cruise ships are tied up, they are planning something for next year. Bruce Ballard only lasted through our rat year—not because he wanted to leave, but because he couldn’t make it academically. It wasn’t until he married Cynthia in ’67 that she discovered he had a form of dyslexia and simply couldn’t read on much of a level needed to be successful in higher education. He graduated from ODC (now Old Dominion University) in 1968. It was a long haul, but he made it. His one year at the Institute changed him for the good, and he will always be grateful for being in the Class of ’62. He, along with many of us, turned 80 this year. He and Cindy celebrated their 53rd anniversary Aug. 25. She was very wise to marry him on his birthday so that he would never forget. They are both in terrific health with only a few aches and pains. Five years ago, he was diagnosed as being a Type 2 diabetic and weighed 212. His doctor, who is also a friend, said he had to lose about 40 pounds. Within five months, his weight was 172, and he weighs every morning and records it on a spreadsheet. They love to travel, and before the pandemic, they booked a land tour of the British Isles leaving in June and a Caribbean cruise scheduled to leave in December. Well, you know the outcome to both, and they’ve had a very hard time getting their deposits back, but finally they received all of it. He doubts they’ll do any travel outside of our

borders any time soon. They live in a 21-building condo in Portsmouth, Virginia, directly on the water. Fortunately, they now have a new next-door neighbor who graduated from West Point in 1977. A great guy, and they have enjoyable times talking about both institutions. Bruce and I attended a Tidewater Old Corps function recently. At that meeting, he met Art Brandriff ’59. Art’s wife, Jenny, teaches a Silver Sneakers class for seniors at the Portsmouth YMCA, and Cindy is in her class. Small world. Tony Curtis reports that he had the best birthday ever Aug. 23, 2020. He spent it with his three step-sons and their families in the Smokies near Dollywood, Tennessee. A mighty good time was had by all. With three out of four military folks running the five-day event(s), it went smooth as silk. It reminded him of what it took for each presidential parade! He notes that it is sad to see many BRs biting the dust so soon. For information, he says his class ring and stone were really beaten up. He sent it back to Jostens, and they returned it twice as clean and shiny with a new stone—at no cost. He hopes everyone who can possibly make it in April 2022 will try to make it. Gary Gilmore is saying so long to the dry heat of the desert and hello to humidity. He and Linda have moved to Alva, Florida. He sent a picture with his doctor, Dr. Michael Lokale ’03, who has been keeping him going for the last couple of years. He’ll be looking for another VMI doctor in the Fort Myers area. Bob Miller reports with the “lockdown” and lack of travel options, real news is hard to report. He recently played a role, albeit probably small in one case, in getting two neighborhood young men to enter VMI this year. One he knows only from greeting him periodically as he went by the house going to and from school or other things, but each time, he’d see the VMI license plates and the VMI flag flying on football weekends. The other is a neighbor. He tried to get his older brother to go to VMI, and he applied but the application was incomplete, so he wasn’t accepted. However, the effort wasn’t in vain, as the younger brother is now part of the rat class. He’s proud of getting at least one of them to VMI, as their grandfather is a graduate of The Citadel. Both young men went in on Navy scholarships, so he failed in that regard (Go Army), but the neighbor is

talking Marines or Seals. Tony Waddell is doing well and living in the thriving metropolis of Brownsburg, Virginia. He has been involved in the ski business most of his adult life and still has a connection with a ski area in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. He no longer skis, as balance is a bit of a challenge. Gone are the days when he could stand on a shoeshine stool and put on starched white ducks. He misses that balance. Bill and Donna Fisher have limited their interactions with family and friends while wearing their masks when near anyone. When all this started, they were ready to go on a personally planned 40-day trip to Europe starting in Denmark and ending after a circuitous route to Italy. The good news is that most of the prepaid costs, even many of the non-cancellable purchases, were refunded following requests for such. Their trip insurance covered the remainder, and they are awaiting the payment. The most entertaining part of the non-adventure has been dealing with Trenitalia (Italian rail). After approving a refund, following by a reversal of that decision, and subsequently offering a oneyear credit, Trenitalia agreed to a refund if he appeared with receipts in person at one of their regional offices in Italy before next May. (Not going to happen.) The whole saga of planning and deconstructing the trip has been a source of entertainment. Health wise, they both had some issues which were resolved quickly, and they remain COVID-19-free. Their children and grandchildren stay healthy, also. They both extend well wishes to the entire brother rat community. Seymore Samuels’ wife, Linda, died July 18, 2020. She was in a memory unit for four years when Alzheimer’s took her. She is buried at Quantico National Cemetery. He says that Veterans Affairs national cemeteries has a system to qualify eligible vets (not just retirees) for burial in a national cemetery. The information is at https://www.cem.va.gov/pre-need/. The pre-need paperwork provided by the VA enabled him to bury Linda within the Jewish standard of three days after death with minimum hassle. He just gave the paperwork and a copy of his discharge papers to the funeral director who coordinated everything with the VA. On the financial side, the VA provides the plot, opens and closes the grave, and provides a grave liner and tombstone. At Quantico spouses

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Virginia, and he’s volunteerare “double stacked,” so when his ing with the rescue squad, time comes, he’ll go in the same doing administrative things. spot. The VA will then provide a They hope to get to Faytombstone with his info on the etteville, North Carolina, front and Linda’s on the reverse. after Thanksgiving, for Carl The VA has many emblems Jordan’s memorial service. of belief that can be placed on He and Carl went to high the markers (https://www.cem. school together and were va.gov/cem/hmm/emblems. roommates all four years. asp). For more information, see He suggests that brother rats https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/ sign up for Amazon Smile for burial_benefits/index.asp. A lot purchases on Amazon by goof people don’t know about the ing to smile.amazon.com and pre-need services, but it reduces designate the VMI Foundahassle and cost. tion as the charity of choice. Edmund Strickler, after receiving the note about Per Madsen, Class of 1962: Buck Bradley, DeWitt “De” Worrell, George Meredith, Gen. J.H. Amazon donates a percentage of purchases made on notes his brother, Michael ’71, Binford Peay, Doug Marechal, Ware Smith, and John Allen. Amazon Smile to the desigspent his ROTC summer camp at nated charity. Indiantown Gap in summer 1970, and Per was Ronald Lee Wagner died March 18, 2020. his company commander. He says Michael He was a graduate of Graham High School in says, “Though we didn’t see eye to eye on cerBluefield, Virginia, and attended VMI for two tain issues, Captain Madsen played it by the years, as well as Bluefield College in Bluefield, book, which is the VMI way.” He hopes everyVirginia, and was a graduate of East Tennessee one stays safe and hopes to see all at our 60th. State University, Johnson City, Tennessee. He Bobby Howard reports that his son, Harriworked for The Dow Chemical Company for 30 son, and a group of his friends had a saltwater years in Evansville, Indiana; Los Angeles, Califly-fishing trip planned to Louisiana. Due to fornia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Midland, Michithe pandemic, the trip was delayed, and one of gan, excelling as a national sales manager for the members had to withdraw due to a business Styrofoam Products and retiring in 1995 in Attrip. Bobby filled the empty slot. He says four lanta. He and his wife, Camilla “Cammy,” lived days of saltwater fly fishing is not for sissies! in Munich, Germany, for five months in 1997 They went after large red fish and jacks. Everybefore returning to the Atlanta area and finally thing was released. He did his best to keep up Class of 1962: Gary Gilmore and Dr. Michael Lokale ’03. settling in Woodstock, Georgia. Ron had numerwith these young men and represent our class ous hobbies, including astronomy (grinding and of octogenarians as best he could. building his own telescope), woodworking, fly Jim and Flo Richards are doing pretty well, fishing, ham radios, photography, watercolor aside from the regular aches and pains of the painting, and traveling (including numerous “golden years.” Their family news is that their cruises) and was an avid reader. daughter, Denise, retired from 33 years as a Gordon White recently had bypass and valve labor and delivery nurse; moved to Elizabeth replacement surgery and is doing fine. City, North Carolina; and purchased a bedJohn Anthony writes that this past summer he and-breakfast. They have been giving her some once again taught a 10-week course on Arabia help and encouragement. They continue to enand the gulf to undergraduates in universities joy life in Floyd County and are in the process throughout the United States and abroad. For of closing down their outdoor projects with years on end, he has taught this course at the winter coming. Hopefully, this virus will pass George Washington University Elliot School of so that they can do some traveling. International Affairs in the nation’s capital. The Rosser and Kate Bobbitt are anxiously waitpandemic necessitated that this year’s course ing for air travel to open up. They’ll be on the be taught virtually. Whereas the typical numfirst flight to see their granddaughter in BrusClass of 1962: Bobby Howard with a big ber of students who take the course yearly has sels. Kate is still doing pastoral care part-time fish. been capped at 25, virtual technology allowed at Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach,

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Class Notes him to teach 31 students this time. To John’s knowledge, this is the only such course offered at any university. As rationale and justification, he offered that in the past three and a half decades, this is the one area of the planet more than any other to which the United States has mobilized and deployed more armed forces; had more of its military personnel return home in caskets or wounded; killed, maimed, and rendered refugees and domestically displaced

Class of 1962: The marker for Linda Samuels.

Class of 1962: Joe and Julie Van Deventer with their two grandchildren, Grace and Cody.

more citizens from other countries; created countless widows, widowers, and orphans at both ends of the American and Arab spectrum; engendered greater anti-Americanism and anti-Arabism; and yet, at the same time, enhanced—some would say worsened—near and longer term prospects for regional security and stability. He also remains an adviser to the U.S. government on matters pertaining to the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. For the past several years, he has facilitated all-expenses-paid scholarships (evaluated at a minimum at close to $200,000) for more than a dozen VMI cadets and their faculty advisors to accompany him on study visits to one or more Arab countries. Likewise, John continues to lecture to and lead seminars for diplomats, armed services personnel, and other representatives in those countries about U.S. government and political dynamics and U.S.-Arab relations. In addition, he still lectures and is interviewed regularly by television and printed media in Great Britain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates aboard, and at universities in New England and Virginia in the United States. Following Binnie Peay’s resignation as superintendent, Brother Rat Allen Gusten was among the many who replied to his request for input, comment, and suggestions regarding possible ways forward. Allen settled long ago in Waterboro, South Carolina. Although he has yet to attend a class reunion, Allen has fond memories of having served in Company B and being a member of our class’ “Martinsville (Virginia) Mafia,” which spawned five of our brother rats, namely Bill Mizell, Paul Ross, Bob Shropshire, “Skip” Prilliman, and Allen. After graduation, Allen originally wanted to become a veterinarian but became a dentist instead. He and his wife, who is not ambulatory, have parented three daughters and a son. All are married. Their son, Allen Jr., is a leading anesthesiologist at Loyola Hospital in Chicago. Carolyn Worrell sent a picture from the past that included Buck Bradley, De Worrell, George Meredith, Binnie Peay, Ware Smith, Doug Marechal, and John Allen. All, please stay healthy and safe. Be on the lookout for info on our 60th Reunion in April 2022, provided the pandemic has passed.

1963

Michael J. Curley

Taps: Brother Rat John Paul “Jack” Harris III passed away from a heart attack Aug. 28, 2020, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Jack was a loving husband and an exceptional father and grandfather. He enjoyed boating and fishing at his cottage in Lewisetta, Virginia, and spent most weekends there with his wife, Tracy Houck Harris, and his dogs, Sally and Shamu. He was a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan and a longtime member of the Virginia Gentlemen. Jack told all his doctors that when it was his time, he wanted to go out fast. His prayer was granted. Jack attended VMI and graduated from the United States Naval Academy. After graduation in 1965, he attended flight school in Pensacola, Florida, and was a helicopter flight instructor in the United States Navy. He flew several rescue missions in the course of his service. After the Navy, Jack attended law school in Alabama and then returned to Fredericksburg to practice law. He was commonwealth’s attorney in King George County before turning to what would be his true professional passion: Representing people who had been injured by the negligence of others. Jack is survived by his wife, Tracy Ann Houck Harris; daughter, Katherine Harris; three grandchildren; and two brothers. His life celebration was held earlier this September and live streamed to all, just as Charlie Straub’s was. My, how times have changed! Several of us may have trouble remembering Jack, and that’s because he was with us at VMI for just two years and then received an appointment to attend the Naval Academy. Some of us remember him well from our RVA rats lunches at Wegman’s here in Richmond. May our friend and brother rat rest in peace! Sadly, we just received another notice: “Hi, Mr. Curley. My dad (John Anastas) asked me to reach out to you to let you know that my mom passed away Oct. 23 due to complications from progressive supranuclear palsy. I wanted to ask if you could include a note about her passing in the next Alumni Review. Her connections to VMI were deep, having a husband and a son attend the Institute. Thanks, hope all is well with you. James

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Anastas ’94.” John attended his wife, Judy, for many years as she fought progressive supranuclear palsy, a mostly unknown but brutal disease. May the Lord be with you and with your family, James. Let’s welcome Tom Snyder as our virtual travel correspondent for this issue. He begins, “You know that times are bad when Mike asks anyone to speak (or write) for him, when we must rely on reading about traveling rather than traveling, and when our numbers seem to diminish daily as classmates and spouses die and we are left with fond memories rather than their warm, welcoming, physical presence. But as requested, I’m sharing some photos and information from recent treks that my wife, Lynda, and I have made in the past few years to Peru hiking the Inca Trail and to Bhutan hiking the Druk Path. We also visited the sub Antarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand in early March, but that’s a story for another day. Good health and ongoing, meaningful work have enabled our travels, and we are extremely grateful for both. I suspect some or many of you have visited the expansive ruins at Machu Picchu with their masterful engineering (immense, precisely fitted rocks without any mortar) and breathtaking mountain vista. We did, after hiking the Inca Trail for five days, ending with an extraordinary entry into the site from atop Machu Picchu Mountain with a small group of hikers passing through the ancient Sun Gate while the sun was rising. Lynda shared that it was one of the most moving experiences in her life. The Inca Trail is not only beautiful for its combination of semi-desert terrain and steep, forested mountains hiding unexpected ruins, sometimes hidden in clouds, but for its unique fitted-stone pathway constructed by the Inca for runners delivering messages. Unlike our prior treks, we traveled with guides, a group comprised of young Australians, and thankfully had nimblefooted porters who carried our tents, bedding, and food on their backs, often while running. Before our trek, we visited Cusco and other parts of Peru, and afterward the Amazon rainforest and Galapagos—each time with wonder and appreciation for our magnificent world. Unlike many of you who served in the armed forces, including tours in Vietnam, I did postgraduate studies for many years after graduation and never traveled to Southeast Asia until we hiked the Druk Path. I had heard that Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, was incredibly beautiful and unique for the absence of Western influences, having both civilian and religious (Buddhist) governing bodies, and an emphasis on

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Gross National Happiness not GNP. We traveled there with two close friends with whom we had trekked the Inca Trail and others, flying into the only airport at Paro (for you aviators, see World’s Most Dangerous Approach on YouTube), learning about Bhutan from our guide, visiting sites, and hiking to the Tiger’s Nest before setting off on the Druk Path in the eastern edge of the Himalayas, the primary route of travel between Paro and Thimpu before their first paved road was built in the 1960s. The mountains of Bhutan were ablaze with frequent strands of prayer flags and ubiquitous, multicolored flowering rhododendrons unlike others we had ever seen. Yaks, rather than llamas and alpacas as in Peru, periodically appeared, sometimes with herders and other times running free. Monasteries and temples (Dzongs) rather than ruins occasionally emerged. Mules/horses and porters carried heavy goods for our multinational group from Canada, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia, while a few friendly, unowned ‘trail’ dogs joined us in route. On the last day, we awoke for breakfast in the clouds before descending to the capital, Thimpu, staying overnight, and returning to Paro by bus on their only major highway with signs like, ‘Bro, Be Gentle on My Curves.’ Another trip of wonder and increased awareness of the harmonious, interdependent diversity of our world.” Thanks for sharing such an exciting experience, Tom. Who’s next? Peg and I recently did some serious traveling, although on a much-diminished scale as Tom and Lynda Snyder but smack in the middle of the pandemic! It involved two hops on commercial airliners, a 60-mile van ride with a woman named Oma (That’s her birth name, not her familial title—go figure!), and finally, a 30-minute hop over Lake Michigan in a 50-plus-year-old Bretten-Norman Islander BN-2 commuter aircraft. What a ride! When I told Pete Brunel about it, he exclaimed, “You did what?” Yes, we did, Pete! Peg’s sister, Sally, and her husband, Myles, were traveling to their summer place on Beaver Island in late October when the sisters decided we should get together and enjoy the Michigan darkness together, so off we went into the skies just two days later. Why would we do something that daring? Pure boredom, I suppose. At just under 60 square miles, Beaver Island is the largest island in Lake Michigan. Population is just over 600 full time residents and open for our pleasure are one grocery store, one eatery, and one hardware store. And man, does it ever get dark there? Deer everywhere, too. Pete,

Doug, Sleepy? Beaver Island is in a “Dark Sky” zone. Did we have a great time? You bet we did. Time with these two characters is never dull. Far too soon, our time together was over, and off we went to the local air patch to head back to civilization. Beaver to Charlevoix to Travers City to Chicago and finally Richmond. Aw, how sweet it is to sleep in our own beds again! Fourteen days of quarantine followed. Pat Kelly writes, “Hi, fellas. Preston Holtry is absolutely correct. Most of us ‘high risk due to advanced age ... and other underlying factors’ folks are staying close to home these days. That said, I’m venturing out a few times a week to the local airport, where I act as volunteer manager, to check on its condition and restock the pilot’s pantry and refrigerator. It also gives me a chance to take Mike (the dog) out where he can run as far and as fast as he likes. Then I get to go to Waco a few times a month for medical appointments and to do a bit of very selective shopping. Most of our shopping is online now, as I suppose it is with most of the BRs. I do have a trip planned next month. God willing, I’m flying into Arlington, Virginia, to participate in the military interment of Bob Modarelli Aug. 11, 2021. I realize this entails some risk, but one I feel obliged to accept in order to honor one of our brother rats whom I felt I was close to, not so much at the Institute but later in life. Look forward to seeing (from a social distance) the brother rats who can make it there. Airfares are exceptionally low right now. Further, it is my opinion that the COVID-19 threat has mellowed a bit and will be manageable so long as I take full precautions, but of course, that’s just my sense of the situation. I also want to report that BR Jim Ellis underwent surgery last week (July 7) and is now recovering at home. Checked in with Christi Weddington, and she is hunkered down at her ranch doing a lot of tree trimming with her new pole saw! That there qualifies as ‘exciting news’ down here in the country. Final input. Gwen and I are getting ready to lock in our dates for next year’s trip to Ireland in the next 45-60 days. Of course, a lot could happen to force a change later, but right now the flights are wide-open for next summer, which is usually a tough time to get cheap flights. So, I figure we’ll either get it sorted as planned, or if we are forced to shift dates (or months), most airlines are promising no penalty or fee for changes if you purchase tickets now, when they are begging for business.” XENIA Ohio Gazette, September 2020: “The Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame is

Class Notes growing by six this year. Candy Prystaloski, of Beavercreek, Ohio, will be inducted for her endeavors in community service. She has served her community of Beavercreek and Greene County in many ways. She has long been involved in local Beavercreek government, serving on the board of zoning appeals and planning commission followed by election to city council, then vice mayor and mayor. Later, she was appointed to the Beavercreek Township Trustees. Support for the military has always been a priority for Prystaloski. She is a longtime auxiliary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8312 and an original member of the Miami Valley Military Affairs Association, where she served as president and events chair organizing many activities. Prystaloski partnered with Gold Star families to construct a memorial at the Air Force Museum. She has served on the Greene County Children’s Services Board and was very involved in the approval and building of Angel’s Pass Memorial Park on Factory Road in Beavercreek, which honored the young Girl Scouts killed in a tragic car/railroad accident at that spot many years ago.” Candy is the widow of our Brother Rat Don Prystaloski. From Pete Ippolito: “Mike, thanks for sending the obits on Charlie Straub and Joe Liberti. They were both great BRs. On another note, I am sure you are tired of being the class agent after all these years. (Moi?) You have done such a great job, and so has Pres. All of us appreciate your time and effort in keeping us informed about our class. I am sure as we get older the news of deaths and illness of our BRs becomes more difficult to deal with. I am glad to hear your health is improving. Maybe it will cause you to change your mind and stay on as our agent. You have my respect and friendship no matter what. My son, John, always asks about you when I see him. I am still working every day, and it helps me get through this difficult time. It gets me out of bed every morning. I am not sure how much longer I will work, but right now I love what I do and see no reason to quit. The news about David Glantz is good. I have read some of his books and watched his videos. He is the real deal. I wonder how in the world he managed to obtain so much of the data and info from the Russian government? Whatever facts you read in his books, you can trust he has checked it out. Our class has some really accomplished writers, to include Pres Holtry, Bill Pearson, Mike Godfrey, Will Crisp, Dave Glantz, and Si Bunting. All the best, Mike.” Did I miss anyone?

“It’s always great to hear from you, Mike, and I understand my duty to respond. Unless you want to hear all about our aches and pains, however, news is scarce,” says Bunny Reynolds. “On my planet—we call it Connecticut—there’s still a lot of that nasty COVID-19 stuff, and it is really putting a damper on activities. Since this thing started, we’ve been to outdoor restaurants twice and had takeout several times, but that’s about it—and no overnight travel. Cabin fever is coming down around our ears. For entertainment, however, I have discovered flight simulation (since I haven’t flown for real in several years). I spend hours in my Cessna 182T (much like my last plane) and am amazed at the reality. Fortunately, it flies on simulated (cheap) AvGas and all taxes, maintenance, parking, landing fees, and other expenses are also simulated. So right now, she’s parked at LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on the eastbound leg of the cross-country trip that I always wanted to do but couldn’t afford to until it was simulated. It keeps me off the street and out of trouble. For your information, I will attach screen shots (probably no good for publication), including an approach to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Hope you and Peg are OK—stay healthy! Bunny.” As regular as clockwork, our very own personal Microsoft equivalent of Outlook, Mike Smither sends this: “Matriculation anniversary next Wednesday! It was also on a Wednesday and lasted an exceptionally long five days before the Old Corps returned. Ah, as Mell Lacy would say, ‘The older I get, the tougher it was!’ As you know,

Class of 1963: Peg and Mike Curley visited family on Beaver Island in October 2020. Behind them is deep, bass-filled Lake Geneserath.

if you’re following VMI by email, we receive regular postings of the COVID-19 status. Jim Hoge remarked, ‘Do you think that they will have to shut the place down and send everyone home? A virtual Rat Line would be remarkably interesting!’” Please note that reading this column can potentially be very profitable, according to Maurine Williams. She writes, “Thanks to all of you who emailed, called, or sent cards to Randy for his 80th birthday! He was amazed, gratified and delighted. We are going to think of some special way to keep the cards, probably in an album. The emails will be in a folder on his phone so he can look back at them and reminisce. Unfortunately, the $80 worth of lottery tickets I bought him only yielded $12.00; guess that’s why we don’t buy them often! Please remember him in your prayers as he has surgery for his right leg blockages early Wednesday morning. He should be in the hospital for 5-7 days. I am the ‘designated visitor’ and can be there during surgery. He should be in ICU for 1-2 days; after that, I should be able to stay with him between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. unless they change the regulations due to COVID-19. God bless and thanks again.” And finally, a word from Gil Minor regarding VMI’s current challenges: “Mike, no one can express their heart and soul better than Binnie Peay ’62. The changes suggested will make us a better and even more desirable destination for young men and women. Our world is more diverse, and our graduates will enter this more diverse world, so let’s get on the track of leadership the VMI way with an open mind and clear resolve. Gil, Minor and Major, LLC.” Sadly, this was written just a few days before the resignation of our superintendent! And the story continues. A word, please. Granted, there’s a lot going on in the world around us: A pandemic, the forced resignation of our beloved superintendent, a crazy election ... we’re just not used to living this way in our beloved United States; however, I have a humble request. Please don’t forget about your class agent as we close in on our 60th Reunion in April 2023. OMG, I actually said it, and it nearly shocked the devil out of me! 60th! The message: “For good reason, we’re not doing anything as we have in the recent past, so with good reason, you’re not providing me news to share with the class. I need help, stories, anything ... except bad jokes, maybe!” Just drop me a note, please. Thanks! And before I go ... it happens every time, just as I am whining loudly about not having anything to write about, along come a couple of

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes emails, and that’s good! Mike Smither adds to our discussion: “Happy Founders Day, everybody! It is a good time to remember our experiences, good and not so good, of 60-plus years ago. Our main concerns were avoiding notice, especially by 3rds. George Marshall [’901] died in October 1959, and our first resurrection was held the Monday following Parents Weekend. Ah, the memories! At least we can rest assured knowing that we are solidly in the Old Corps! To you who weigh in on the articles, I hope to weigh in myself soon. I’ve been on the gim for a while and am now on RRPBD, which should give me more opportunity to respond. Again, happy Founders Day. Mike.” Now, seriously, who else can remember all those details but Smither? Will Crisp’s sixth novel has just been published: 375th Personnel Recovery Detachment, Balkans: A Novel of Wartime. Italy-Yugoslavia, 1944. (Genre: Military fiction. And not the genre of Anglican vicars serving afternoon tea in the English countryside.) Available on Amazon and Google Books. “Greetings and strong health to all, Will.” VMI mobile app is here! Go to www.vmialumni. org/mobileapp to download the app for Android or Apple devices. You all, stay safe and stay well! curleyrat

1964

John R. Cavedo

This has been a tumultuous time. Not only have we been dealing with the shutdowns as a result of COVID-19, we’ve experienced the most divisive presential campaign in my memory, and we’ve been faced with the resignation of the superintendent amid controversy surrounding our beloved Institute which, in the end, could be existential. It’s of utmost, if not dire, importance that we remain informed regarding not only our class but the Institute as well. So, if you haven’t been receiving emails from me on a regular basis, please update your email address. If you’ve never used email, this is the time to start. It’s best way to get information out quickly. Since these notes don’t arrive at your homes for three months after they’re written, the information can be as much as six months out of date.

2021-Issue 1

Recently, we’ve lost another brother rat, Ancher Madison, who died in October after a prolonged fight. Several brother rats and their wives were able to attend the full military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery for Jim Brittingham. We also lost Bailey Rathbone in September, who died after suffering ill health for quite some time. In all cases, our class sends a floral arrangement to the spouse or family. My thanks to

Class of 1964: At the Crones’ house in North Carolina in October 2020 were (front) Marion Garber, Penny Sebrell, Dyan Crone, (back) Bill Garber, and Tom Sebrell.

Class of 1964: Tom Sebrell, Revolutionary War reenactor, as part of the 7th Virginia Militia in September 2020.

Dan DeForrest and Bob Warren, who handle all the details of notice to the class, the floral arrangements, etc. By the same token, my personal thanks to Bill Garber, who, nearly three years ago, took on the task of making certain everyone’s birthdays are remembered. Walt Sykes is finally out of the hospital and rehab and is in his retirement facility. He had faced a protracted complication of Parkinson’s and COVID-19 combined. It resulted in his being isolated for over three months. I spoke to him recently, and he’s about as upbeat as possible, considering his ordeal. But now he can receive phone calls in addition to cards and letters. Andy Tucker also experinced a long and scary time in the hospital and rehab. A series of medical issues kept him isolated for over a month. No visitors. No contact at all with the family. I talked to both he and Caroline several times as he went through the healing process. He’s now home and trying to get back into his routine. Kerry Hines sent the following after attend Jim Brittingham’s funeral: “A small ’64 contingent with wives turned out for Jim Brittingham’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery today. At the conclusion of the service and at the request of Jim’s daughter, Laura, we sang the VMI Doxology and did an Old Yell for ’64. Laura and the Air Force put together a very fitting tribute to Jim. Attached are a couple of pictures and a couple of scans of the main parts of the funeral brochure. For the picture of us ’64 BRs, we removed our masks for the photo as we figured it would be hard enough to identify each person even under the best conditions.” Kerry also added in a later email, “Shortly after the funeral, Laura sent a nice thank you to us brother rats for attending her dad’s funeral. She also offers to any BRs any of the VMI ties that Jim ‘wore with such great pride.’ “I volunteered for a COVID-19 virus immunization test program as the one contribution I felt worth making toward an end to the pandemic. The AstraZeneca test is being conducted at Fort Belvoir. Yesterday, I had the initial interview, evaluation, and physical exam and got the first shot. Until around noon today, I was convinced that I had gotten the placebo, but I have been sensing various reactions that are starting to make me believe I may have gotten the actual test shot—although Marianne says my feeling may just be psychological. Will just have to wait and see. I have to fill a daily journal about various

Class Notes current house on the Occoquan reactions, if there are any, return River for the last 11. in two weeks for more blood “As an unemployed old guy and nasal tests, and get a second with underlying conditions, shot of whatever in a month.” I’ve been hunkering down at Over the past several months, home for the pandemic. My I’ve had the opportunity to talk wife and sons are keeping me several times to quite a few of supplied with chow and other you: Buzz Birzenieks, Hank necessities. My three hobbies Cronin, Bob Warren, Cliff (cruise ship cruises, personal Crittsinger, W.J. Kitchen, boat cruises, and Nats season Dick Atkinson, Ken Dice, Ed tickets), however, are all on Seager, Bill Garber, Butch hold at present because of the Nunnally, Bill Walsh, Jake virus. That pretty much leaves Kleinischuster, Mike MurClass of 1964: Lola Tornabene, Dan DeForrest, Tom Myers, Joan and Butch phy, and a couple of others Nunnally, Yvonne Myers, and Sandra DeForrest at the Carsons’ mini reunion reading and watching TV. So, that’s how I’m coping. Wish I (sorry, my aging mind is slip- in Jupiter, Florida, in March 2020. could submit a more exciting ping). I already mentioned my report. Maybe later in the year.” calls to Andy Tucker and Walt Sykes. Ron Rogers, whose wife, Beverly, died reAll of them are in the same boat, trying to stay cently, sent a nice note of thanks to the class for partially quarantined and safe but also trying the floral arrangement: “Thanks so much for the and hoping to get out sooner rather than later. flowers that were sent to my wife’s funeral on Bob and Kathy Warren did sell their home behalf of the Class of 1964. They were beautiful in New Hampshire and have already closed, to match my beautiful wife.” moved, and bought a home in Tennessee not too King von Schilling sent me the shortest email far from Chattanooga. For at least a while they’ll from a brother rat ever: “Got my first deer of keep their place in Port St. Lucie, Florida. this year’s season on 5 Sep, 0648, 70 yds with a Tom Davis has been especially good about BAR 243 caliber.” My interpretation? He shot it keeping me up on VMI sports news. Even proat 6:48 a.m. Sept. 5 at a distance of 70 yards. He viding the football schedule, which takes place used some sort of deer rifle. after January. Joe Chompaisal has written a couple of times. Bill Crone, Marty Stango, and Bill McVey He’s still considering hosting a mini reunion in are regular correspondents, but nothing exciting Thailand, probably late next year. I’ll keep evto report. Class of 1964: W.J. and Lauranne Kitchen eryone apprised. Ken Brunsvold, “I’m living in Occoquan, planting rocks in Northern Scotland in This cycle I decided not to send out my normal Virginia, off I-95 about 20 miles south of D.C. summer 2018. appeal for news and photos. Thus, a shortened I’ve been in town for about 20 years and in my version. And, merely to use my allocated five photos, as I did last issue, dove into my old photo albums of mini reunions.

1965

Mickey Finn

Class of 1964: Jerry Reed, Kerry Hines, Tony Munera, Bill Taylor, Laura Brittingham Nelson, Butch Nunnally, and Ed Seager at the funeral for Jim Brittingham in Arlington National Cemetery in September 2020. 82

As I begin to put these notes together which you are reading in 2021, it is obvious that things will continue to change almost hour by hour, and there is no way to even guess what life in the USA will be as you read this. I do know this: I am so proud to be a member of our class and

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes to serve as your class agent. Do not hesitate to call on me at any time. I love to hear from you without any exception. Bob Whaley reported Nov. 6, 2020, that the morning will find “Linda and I are in the throes of packing up to head for the Keys in the morning. All I have to comment on was the memorial service. I was surprised during the reading to hear John Read added to the list! I had been in sporadic contact with him and thought that if I ever made my planned excursion out to the Las Vegas area to visit Pete Rondiak, I would blow through Santa Fe and see John. Really sorry I didn’t make it. Pete and Lynn Rondiak have both been dealing with some health issues, also. One of John’s friends left a beautiful eulogy online. John’s passing leaves me as the sole survivor of rat room 456. I have a picture of John, Bob Morgan, and me from the 50th Reunion, but if you want it, my computer is down until I get to the Keys early next week.” Answer: I would appreciate the photo and can put it in the 2021-Issue 2 Alumni Review. Marty Hash says, “Thanks, Mickey. I am more than willing to house your Carrera and give it a new home for a while. Our field mice are always looking for a new shelter! If you begin missing it after you find a taker, consider a Miata. For 20-plus years, our two have been wonderful to drive and maintain. Makes me forget about the three Porsches I had years ago, although my first car, a ’58 Normal, was my best-ever car. Best to you two and stay safe. Blessings, Marty.” Johnny Mac Marshall reports, “Since the start of the summer, Jamie and I have been working from home—like most everyone else, I suspect—with some success. I have had two articles published, one that deals with judicial misbehavior (not ‘misconduct,’ of course, since judges never misbehave), and that was a lot of fun. My judicial work has tended to fall off because it would seem that the parties would rather settle than face me in a hearing. That’s OK with me, since it means that I don’t have to travel a lot in Texas heat. Of course, I have been keeping up with my roomie, David Bywaters, and he is doing well in East Texas. He fishes a lot around the state, doing CPR, mostly ‘R.’ “Jamie has been busy collecting money from insurance companies to pay hospital bills and so far has netted about $15,000,000 for the summer to date. Considering that most folks have avoided the hospitals during this pandemic, that

2021-Issue 1

is pretty substantial. She and I decided that we both needed a bit of a break from ‘house arrest,’ so in October, we went to Walt Disney World for my birthday. Our younger daughter, Victoria, joined us for the weekend, and as you can see from the photo at Epcot, we had a lot of fun. The food was excellent, and thanks to the pandemic, the crowds were not overwhelming. “In addition to all of this activity, I have been overseeing the almost complete rebuilding of my 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider. It has been a slow process, but it will have been worth it. The continued performance of the car reassures me that, even though it and I have shared 36 years, we are both still on this side of the grass and not too rusty. “We know that so many of the BRs may be having problems, either themselves or their families, with the virus, but we have faith that it, like a kidney stone, will soon pass. We can all look forward to both the new year and the next reunion. After all, we are the best that VMI has ever produced. (Where have I heard that one before?) ’65! ’65! ’65!” Danny Price reports that “Barbara and I continue to be well. We really are enjoying being ‘back home on the farm.’ We moved in exactly one year ago today! We are pretty well settled in now. Fall colors are still quite wonderful here. We had to be in Kilmarnock in our old home still trying to ‘get moved’ for the past week. Got back to the valley on the 11th. Don’t have any pictures to share at the moment—maybe next time. Thanks for helping to keep the flame alive, Mickey.” You’re welcome, C.D.! Wayne Chiles provides a report of life since February: “Ann and I spent two weeks in Hilton Head in late February-early March during our annual gathering with Doug and Lucia Thomas, and enjoyed the company of Brian and Joyce McNeil, Irwin and Linda McCumber, Melvin and Jeanette Brannan, and Hugh and Jackie Dowdy. One lovely evening started at the home of Bob and Lorrie Law, then we dined at one of our favorite establishments, including Steve Smith. “At that point in our sheltered lives, we didn’t know the meaning of ‘social distancing.’ Possibly some of the adult beverages consumed during that time inoculated us. Not so much anymore. “Returned to the ‘real’ world March 7, just as the proverbial ‘stuff hit the fan.’ Since then, we

have experienced ‘day’ and ‘night’ regularly, with little to distinguish one of either from another. Feels like I’m doing 15-4-60 for the second time in a row. The best thing that has happened in our family during this period is that our daughter and her family moved from Omaha to just outside Raleigh. Her husband took a new job with a North Carolina bank and left Omaha Feb. 18. Stephanie had the task of preparing the house for sale, managing the open house/showing with their three dogs, then coordinating the movement of their household. Since returning to the East Coast, they have made many day trips to Wrightsville Beach and that area. Even made a day visit with us, four hours one way, where we spread out in our backyard.” Our beloved Institute, “I love it here, I love it here, I’ve found myself a home,” to quote Dave Merry ’62, has hit a bad patch. “I have just seen the news of our new interim superintendent. Looks like a good fit. A graduate, a military leader.” Jeff Gausepohl has relocated from California to Virginia—and not just anywhere in Virginia. He “moved back east from California, to Lexington, Virginia, to start a new chapter. The new home is on the 18th fairway of the Lexington Golf and Country Club. BRs now have another

Class of 1965: Johnny Mac Marshall with his daughter, Victoria, and wife, Jamie, celebrated his birthday at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Oct. 9, 2020. 83

Class Notes local spot to visit—hopefully soon when we put this virus behind us. A new Vicki, Jeffra (daughter), grandson, and New Jersey siblings had a lot to do with that decision. Life takes crazy turns! Vicki Kruse and I joined BR Joe Kruse and his wife, Kristen, for a week in Ashville, North Carolina, and Chicago in October. Joe and I first met at Coach Weenie Miller’s house the day we matriculated. We spent the first night as roommates, teammates for four years and as chemistry classmates. I was in Vicki’s and Joe’s August 1965 wedding. You cannot make this stuff up; now I understand BR relationships are lifelong!” Lou Siegel just crossed the finish line this morning with, “You are right, this is a difficult time. I have a wonderful job now that requires contact with people, so I am very careful about wearing a mask, social distancing, and I realize we have another nine months or more of this, assuming the vaccine comes through. “Richard Moring and I almost had a get together for coffee, but he was not feeling well on the day we were to meet, and I’ve not called him back—should do that today. Conrad Hall and I have kept in touch. He finished his book in early spring, and it is on the market. VMI is only 45 minutes away, and I need to take a grandson and a Nelson County resident (and possible cadet) to see a parade. Well, there’s that issue of who is healthy and who’s not. Normal life is still some time away. Any BR who has read this far—be safe. Take care of yourself. And your family.” Thanks, Lou; your note is a great closer! It’s time to close these notes and ask for an Old Yell for VMI from ’65!, ’65!, ’65!

1966

Nick Hoskot

Brother Rats, By now, we should be able to identify with one of the lyrics sung by Fats Domino long ago: “Another day older and deeper in ...” insert your own choice of a word after “in” to reflect your mood right now as you read this latest version of notes for the 2021-Issue 1 Alumni Review. And, hopefully, we will be able to gather in person back in Lexington for our 55th Reunion,

currently still scheduled for late April 2021. And so, on to the notes. First, and very important: If your contact information changes (address, email, cellphone, or landline number) and you wish to receive phone calls or emails from a BR, me, or the Institute plus the latest Alumni Review, send those changes to Brandy Hulvey (brandy@vmiaa.org) at the Alumni Agencies. Test question: To whom and where do I send personal information changes? Answer: Brandy Hulvey. Please make a note of this (or you can certainly let me know, info above, and I can notify Brandy). Rick Kiernan, a great contributor, submitted a couple of items: He has been assisting the Desert Shield/Desert Storm Memorial Committee and says there will be a groundbreaking for the memorial in February 2021, marking 30 years since the First Gulf War. (Rick served as Gen. Schwarzkopf’s spokesman in Saudi Arabia). Rick also stays engaged assisting local film producers with script review for military themed projects. When he was based in the Pentagon, one of his tasks was to supervise the Hollywood office. And locally (Philly area), Vietnam Veterans were honored with a memorial remembering the 165 servicemen from Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who died during that conflict. Fellow swimmer John (Gross John) Meybin “touched the wall” for the first time in quite a while and updated what he has been up to. When he returned from his tour in Heidelberg at age 32, he thought he was going to be a bachelor forever. Then Susan came into his life, squared him away and, as he says, he “grew up!” Now, after three children, retiring from the Army and 20-plus years in the financial industry, he and Susan (like most) find themselves empty nesters in quarantine in Richmond—but safe and well. He appreciates what he learns about BRs from the notes you all contribute, plus what Cliff Martin and John McEwen keep him informed about, and he is planning on attending our 55th. Pat Chang-lo added a note about Joe Birindelli: He has good days and bad days, but hearing from BRs who call him always cheers him up. When you call, you may not be able to understand everything he says, but he loves to hear your voices. He will not talk long and may abruptly end the conversation, but he enjoys hearing from us. The best time to call is between 11:00 and 1:00 CST. Joe and Sissy’s number is: (251) 928-3292 or (251) 680-5637. Pat said the

air quality in the San Francisco Bay area was “very unhealthy” in September but stabilized at “moderate.” The sky around them reminds him of Beijing during sandstorms; it is red to brownish in color. With all of the challenges there, they are doing fine—corresponding with friends frequently, sharing jokes and smiles, watching Netflix, Zooming with their kids, and living within daily constraints. “We are definitely looking forward to 2021 and our 55th!” Pete and Anna May Charrington spent a couple of months in St. John last summer and should be down there for the month of November 2020, as it is “one of the safest places on earth” (as of Oct. 14, 2020: 82 cases of the virus and two deaths since March). All of their grandkids are back to school “in person,” so there is no hugging or close contact with them, but there are a lot of driveway meetings. Pete has talked with Paul Maini and Peter Farley a few times, and they and their families seem to be doing well. He ended on a sad note: Barbara Lyn Belcher, Tom Morris’ former wife and godmother to their youngest daughter, Pam, passed away this past August. Ed Guida and family are well and settled in for the duration but without handball and swing dancing, which they miss. A few months ago, a bunch of electrical engineers got together via Zoom, and Ed remarked it was great to see and talk with that old gang! “It was also fun to see that while we were once the guys who knew computers and electricity, we had a few stumbles using Zoom. Humility lessons continue even into old age.” Ed, ain’t that the truth! Clark Reifsnider continues to ride long distances on his bike. He and daughter, Kate, did their annual father-daughter bicycle ride recently, a 50-miler (good grief Charlie Brown!), on the Silver Comet bike trail in Georgia at a “gentlemanly” pace and enjoyed their time together without other distractions. George Newton is staying physically active also by participating in judo clinics for “senior black belts,” which draws participants from around the USA. He is on the board of directors of the USJJF and the International JSJF and Kodokan judo. They are the largest judo and jiujitsu organizations in the USA. Cliff Crittsinger wrote a letter to his BRs of ’64 concerning the Class of 1964 Cadet New Market Legacy Award. The award has gained increasing importance by each successive 1st

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Joe Gesker shared a great Matriculation Day clue Rob had fallen until he clambered back to Class since its initial awarding in 2014. To reinforce its standing amongst all other graduation story: “As I was standing in line to enter Jackson the top looking for a “dust off.” Rob was eventually released from the medical center, and his awards, the Corps, of its own volition, nick- Arch, an upper classman (who may have been named it the “Brother Rat Award,” an accolade president of the RDC: Thin, medium height, roomie remarked that “the concussion couldn’t like no other. This award today is playing an un- glasses) asked, ‘Rat, what do you resolve to be?’ have been too bad since there wasn’t much inanticipated role concerning ongoing discussions I think I told him a baseball coach! As I recall, side the head to injure, anyway. With that remark, being stout members of ’66, we headed to between the state and VMI. Since its inception, it only gets better. They marched us down to eight cadets have become recipients. This in- Crozet Hall, and as we reached our table, this the nearest bar (Pinkus knows them all) for metall, majestic figure pulled my chair over and dicinal beverages. All in all, it was still a great cludes the two that shared equal votes within the road trip!” Class of 2020 and who received individual stat- said in my ear, very audibly: ‘Rat, I am going I sincerely hope you were able to observe your ues. Of these eight, two have been Black cadets: to run you right out of here!’ That particular 1st Class cadet was none other than our beloved first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and new year tradiPaul Conteh ’18 and Frank Barksdale ’20. It is tions safely! Cliff’s belief that the Class of 1964 Cadet New captain, Josiah Bunting ’63! Welcome to VMI: Reminder: Your next class note submissions Market Legacy Award strongly supports Gen. Class of 1966! By the way, Joe and I were teamwill be due to me by Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. Peay’s continuing desire to bring greater civil- mates on the rat swimming team, and Si was the varsity team captain!” So they met again. ity to the Corps. “The CNMLA is working and And, finally, Rob Ritchie and Dave Pinkus making a positive difference within the Corps of took a road trip to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Cadets and VMI.” Brother rat Vietnam veterans: Craig Caldwell this past October where Dave has a place off the Lonnie Jan Abernathy and Ray Saunders are continuing their efforts beaten path. They had a delightful time fly fishto collect and archive the experiences of our ing, swapping war stories, and running mounclass in Vietnam. These audio/video recorded tain trails in Dave’s all-terrain vehicle. The day oral histories will be provided to the Institute before they left, they were heading up into the The Class of 1967 salutes Gen. James Henry for inclusion in its Archives. The purpose is to mountains with the ATV in tow when they saw Binford Peay III ’62 for his 17 years of hona cool ridge line and stopped to check it out on serve as a scholarly and educational resource for cadets, professors, researchers, and the gen- foot. Rob quickly found out that “he ain’t as orable service as the 14th superintendent of the eral public. If you volunteered to participate and good as he once was” (a line from a popular Virginia Military Institute. Responses to my request for news and photos: want to add to or refine your remarks, please country tune) when he slipped on some loose Terry Moore: “Not much going on in south rock climbing back up and fell down the slope! contact them. During Miguel Monteverde’s training to be A “nice sized rock served as a convenient insult Alabama—just the COVID-19 virus, seclusion, a docent at the Army’s new National Museum to injury.” Dave is deafer than Rob and had no multiple hurricanes (and maybe some effects from Eta in a week), and now my deat Fort Belvoir, Virginia (opened Nov. tached retina. The good news is Beth 11, 2020), he learned that the museum and I are surviving and looking to the would display unit tribute plaques as positive—more interaction with friends part of its continuing fundraising efand family, more one-on-one time tofort. Monte proposed that our class gether, catching up around the house contribute the necessary funds ($5,000) and in the yard, and reducing the list of as a tribute to our six Army brother all the ‘honey-dos,’ among other activirats who lost their lives in Vietnam. ties. I guess this is focused retirement As of November 2020, 28 classmates with plenty to do. We still plan to head have contributed more than $6,000, so to Atlanta for Thanksgiving to visit famsometime before the end of this year, ily. Our oldest granddaughter has now you will find a VMI ’66 plaque on the entered Georgia Tech, and within a Wall of Honor leading into the entrance couple of weeks, she was exposed to the of the museum. The plaque will display COVID-19 virus. After quarantine at the names of our Army BRs who died home for a week and virtual classes, she during the Vietnam War. Those still deis back at GT with no set back. Probsiring to contribute may do so online at ably a good learning experience. I’ve https:/armyhistory.causevox.com/monbeen impressed with all the outpouring teverdeVMI66 or by contacting him at mem2332@gmail.com. Montie will Class of 1966: Fifty-six years down the winding highway: of well wishes and prayers from our Roommates Rob Ritchie and Dave Pinkus in Pagosa Springs, brother rats for my retina surgery. Wow, provide a photograph of the plaque for Colorado. we have a lot to be thankful for to have the next set of class notes.

1967

2021-Issue 1

Class Notes Barrett Graham: “Exclusive of politics and such an outstanding family of BRs. My thanks! (again), I keep thinking what a tremendous eduTake care and stay safe. Terry.” cation this ‘C’ student got—passed my P.E. first VMI, Sharyne and I are just ‘easing along.’ She John Carnes: “If you are still looking for sto- shot after 20 years flying for a living. Can’t say does some pretty neat machine embroidery usries about our rat experiences, I offer this one: they were the best years of my life, but they pre- ing computerized machines which are way, way past my computer capabilities, and markets One morning (think it was a Monday), I entered pared me well for those years that were.” my dyke’s room—as we did every morning— In this issue, there is a reference in the back about her creations in a couple of stores in our area and does craft shows (when they’re not being only to find everything including uniforms, Larry Adam’s new book, Cadillac Platoon. I read tables, and floor covered in some white powder it, enjoyed it, and suggest you might also. I asked canceled because of the ‘plague’). She receives very nice reviews for her work. I’ve kept my looking substance. I think they had already put him about his army time and some of the language up their hay racks by the time I arrived. I was in his stories, and he said, “I remember when I law practice moving along, albeit at a reduced told to come in only if I wanted to help clean up. was at infantry school filling out a so-called dream rate, and can pick and choose the projects I want One of my dyke’s roommates was Floyd Dunsheet of where I wanted an overseas assignment. I to tackle. When the governor lessened the prescan, and he and I got along extremely well and could give three choices in order of preference. My sure of his foot on the neck of our economy here have remained in touch all these years. Floyd first choice was Germany, second was Italy (yes, in North Carolina, I went back on the road on weekends training fire inspectors and other code explained how they were awakened during the it was on the list, but I was told no one ever got night. My dyke was always pretty strict and had it.) My third was Korea. Well, you know how that enforcement officials and have been all over a good idea who the cadet was who placed a ended. I had to laugh about your comment on lan- North Carolina since May. The classroom anticomet bomb in their room. For those of you who guage. I told my 15-year-old granddaughter that infection protocols have been interesting, to say may not know what a comet bomb is or have she’s not allowed to read the book until she’s 25. the least, but we seem to be getting the job done. If any of our BRs’ family members are seeking forgotten, it is a can of comet with a hole poked Even that may be too young.” employment, North Carolina will soon be expein the side of the can large enough to insert an riencing a significant shortage of code enforceM-80 or cherry bomb. Attached to the fuse of ment officials, and if a candidate can make it the M-80 is a lit cigarette. You can imagine what through the decidedly unpleasant certification happens when the cigarette slowly burns down examination process, there’s money to be made to the fuse. I believe that would provide ample down here.” time for the perpetrator to get back to his room. Fred Smith: “We’ve had a pretty good time I never did hear if the culprit was ever identified. traveling even during the pandemic. We’ve Stay safe and healthy, John.” spent a few days this summer in Williamsburg In August, Chuck and Ginny Keblusek spent camping and biking around the restored area a week at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, and and eating outside at the many restaurants we Joan and I joined them for a refreshing couple have enjoyed for years. In early August, we of days. The place is a huge stone fortress-like headed for the Outer Banks, North Carolina, for building and offers a great experience. Their our annual family vacation. We arrived Saturspa is the most expansive I have ever seen, with Class of 1967: John and Lynn Anderday and heard the announcement that the area, both multiple indoor and outdoor pools with difson take a moment to celebrate the fall season. Avon, where we had rented our beach house ferent temperatures. It was easy to turn into a was closed because Hurricane Isaias was trackprune and then have a relaxing massage. Even ing toward the Outer Banks. We found with required masks and basic distance a hotel for nine the first night, a house rules away from the spa area, the visit for 12 in a complex with a pool for the was a refreshing change from the long kids for two nights, and finally got to our self-imposed isolation. The food choice rental in Avon by Tuesday. It was crazy was more limited based on the hotel moving so much, but everyone handled reputation—even some of the restaurants it well. We adapted. After the beach, we were closed—but the bars were well apheaded north for some service work on pointed. On our arrival, a small black our RV. Our first stop was a winery in bear was cavorting in the entrance recepWest Virginia, hence the chair with wine tion parking area. I thought it was a pet and cheese and a book to read. A number or tame bear, but the staff said it was just of wineries let RVers stay one night at a regular visitor wanting to check out the no cost, but of course we are expected dumpsters. He was just passing through. Bob Wade: “Do you have numbers for Class of 1967: Jim Waehler, Pete Wells, Tommy Thompson, to invest in the liquid refreshment. The next day, we got to tour around the how many of us matriculated, completed and Ken Chun at the 50th Reunion. beaches on the southern coast of Lake our rat year, and graduated? Now retired

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Erie near Cleveland, and later in the week, we stopped at the Indiana Dunes National Park on the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Our RV broke down while there and had to be towed in for a replacement of the radiator fan clutch. While it was in the shop in Porter, Indiana, we drove up to Amery, Wisconsin, to visit with my brother, Phil, for a few days than back to pick up the RV and head for Nappanee, Indiana, for repair of a broken windshield at Newmar’s service center along with a few more items that needed attention. All in all, we were on the road for about six weeks just touring the areas and eating wonderful Amish food. We stayed home about two weeks then headed for Myrtle Beach in late October where my brother had rented two condo units in a high-rise for some fun in the sun. It was even warm enough to take a dip in the ocean. We’ll head back to the Outer Banks in a week to spend time with some friends in their timeshare then home for the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’ll start the new year by heading back down to Florida and spend some time biking any old railroad biking trails we can find. Surviving the pandemic by keeping on the move. The picture of the blackberry pie is my specialty. OBX is for the Outer Banks of course, birthdays, vacations, and holidays. I grow the blackberries organically and make pies for any occasion. I got my grandson to help me make this one. Stay well, Fred and Judy.” Dan Wells: “We have moved to Salem, Virginia. Needed to get closer to civilization and medical care. Health-wise all OK, but thinking ahead. We downsized and moved into a subdivision with deer in the backyard.” Dave Fink: “For your information, my son is getting married June 19 in Houston. It is going to be a greatly reduced affair. Hope you and your family are doing fine. Would it be OK if I emailed the Band Company cadet that you wrote about in your previous email? His time at Institute looks a lot like mine—band and swim team.” Yes, Dave; I know he would like to hear from you. John Carnes: “Jan, it is strange how a person comes into your life for a short period of time and you never think about him for many years then all of a sudden you read about his passing. I wrote this a while back and just decided to pass it along to you. I noticed the passing of Phil Tucker in the AR last year July 23, 2019. During the ‘wake-up call’ at my first few days

2021-Issue 1

Class of 1967: Wiley and Bambi McIlrath celebrated their 50th anniversary Aug. 20, 2020.

Class of 1967: Fred and Judy Smith during their fall road trip.

Class of 1967: Dave Neel and Mike Ingelido sharing barracks memories in Colorado.

at the Institute, Phil approached me and ‘asked’ me to report to his room. I had no idea who he was and couldn’t recall what I had screwed up that day. When I reported to his room a few minutes early, I had never seen so many stripes in my life. His roommates tried to be tough with a strange rat. Floyd Duncan acted like I belonged there and started a real conversation. Phil arrived shortly after that conversation with Floyd and started asking me questions about where I lived in Alexandria and where I went to high school. Then he asked me to be his dyke, and I was too afraid to say no, not quite knowing what a dyke was. This generated a huge laugh from his roommates. Through the year, I learned what it was to have a friend and to have mutual respect. Once in a while, I know I stepped in the yogurt a few times and am sure I embarrassed Phil. However, we overcame those times and moved on. It was special to help him prepare for parades and other official functions. He never ‘made’ me shine his shoes, but I managed to do that along with his brass when time permitted. We had many good conversations about life at VMI and the military and also American history. The last time I saw Phil was when we attended a Senators MLB game in D.C. during summer 1964. I asked my roommate if he ever heard of anything regarding Phil after graduation, and he had not. I know he was a quiet person and pretty much kept to himself. I did not know he had such a distinguished military career. Just sorry I did not get the opportunity to visit with him after our respective retirements. It was an honor to have known Phil. John.” Neil Schlussel: “In February, I took a trip to Alabama to visit the Civil Rights Legacy Museum, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, all in Montgomery. Also visited the Civil Rights places in Birmingham. I highly recommend these sites for all to see. It was very educational (and I grew up in the south) and emotional. While in Montgomery, I found the mansion I stayed in while at Squadron Officers School, and it is still as impressive as it was 50 years ago. The latest lockdown here and overseas definitely changed my foreign travel plans. I canceled a small boat cruise to the Baltic countries and postponed another trip to northern Spain and Portugal until 2021 and hope I will be able to go then. I hope all is well with you and your family. Stay safe. Neil.” Mike Ingelido: “Good evening, Jan. Per your

Class Notes request, here are a couple of photos (one taken near the Garden of the Gods and the other at the B-52 Memorial at the Air Force Academy) taken today when Dave Neel and his wife, Kathy, who visited with us in Colorado Springs. Dave and I were roommates for the last two-and-a-half years at the Institute along with Bo Traywick and Denny Hill. We had a fine time catching up and swapping vaguely remembered and possibly somewhat embellished stories from our cadetship. We were on our way up to the top of Pikes Peak, but they closed the road about halfway up due to high winds. We didn’t argue! Hope that helps with your notes, even if the photos may not be acceptable. Cheers! Mike.” Dave Neel: “Jan, I hope everything is moving in the right direction for you today. Kathy and I just spent a wonderful visit in Colorado being hosted by Lisa and Mike Ingelido. In Colorado Springs, we had breakfast and then visited all the tourist spots and had a great time. Mike even let me touch his lotus. What a great roomie! Anyway, attached is a photo if you can use it. Dave.” Both guys sent photos. If my memory is correct, these two brought Denny Graves, who was sound asleep in his rack, out to be set upon our pile of burning wool pants—rack and hay and Denny? They may have had help, but Denny, resting from his cadet waiter duties, did not wake up until his hay began to heat up. The rack and hay eventually were consumed by the smoldering pile while Denny, naked as the day he was born, managed to get back into his room. The sentinel was going nuts during all of the fun, and I wonder if Denny got boned for improper dress in the old courtyard? I am sad to say this old and fabled tradition of burning wool has long ago been removed from barracks. In proofing these notes, I see I confused Dennis Hill with Dennis Graves. Sorry, but the burning wool reminder is still worth leaving in. I was impressed with how many of you enjoyed the “wine” test for COVID-19. So far no one has reported any ill effects and only positive responses have come back to me. Some have said that white wine works just as well. The most numerous replies suggest that single malt scotch is actually a better test marker. Last year as the virus came on and quarantine started up, I lamented that there was little distraction on TV. Well, after applied attention, I discovered that there are several stations in Atlanta that have daily westerns playing almost 24/7. They

spread old series out among Bonanza, The Big Valley, Wells Fargo Tales, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and others. However, my all-time favorite remains Gunsmoke. Do you remember hearing Bill Cannon’s voice on the radio as Matt Dillon? When the show came to TV, his size, his girth, did not transfer well to viewers, so James Arness became the Marshall. Now I have morning, noon, and night options to watch Mr. Dillon, Chester, Festus Hagin, Doc Adams, and Miss Kitty, plus an assortment of bit actors (soon to be famous) solve all of the psycho and social issues of the Old West. I even went into the attic to find my old Nichols cap pistol—also found Joan’s Gene Autry .44 cap pistol—to fondle during the shows. It is fitting that we find some nostalgic enjoyment in these cloudy times. Stay healthy and watch over your shoulder just in case something or someone is sneaking up on you with evil intent. Not all of us have a Festus watching over the office where we reside. As I wrap up these notes, I ask again that you send your memories of friends and family to share if they were important to you long ago. I have shared some as so have BRs Ingelido, Gioia, Beaulieu, Chiles, and now John Carnes. We are not getting younger, and memories fade. There is someone you know who would like to be remembered. Keep the spirit and stay safe. We will all get through this, Jan

1968

Tom Hickey

6008 Winter Grain Path Clarksville, MD 21029 410/531-5720 tomhickey1968@verizon.net

For the third consecutive edition, the class’ “cup runneth over.” Your inputs produced about 10 pages of material that have to fit within a five-page limit. This is not a problem, but I have to edit to length, so what follows is what I have judged to be the most interesting material. The first, but complete, draft version of these notes, has been distributed by email. Jim Burns (Henrico, Virginia) found that his first full year of retirement after teaching at Virginia’s School of Dentistry for 41 years was a surprise but also a blessing. The first six months were world travel and daily vacationing, while the following months were “lockdown.” The

confinement allowed for him to work on his todo list, which his home and wife appreciated. Jay Reeves (Lynchburg, Virginia) has asked to be removed from VMI’s “official” distribution list but would like to stay in touch with brother rats. If you want to get information to or from Jay, let me know and I can provide contact information. Highlights from Bill Warren’s (Cumming, Georgia) wonderfully detailed update include that he is continuing to work for a law firm that specializes in representing financial institutions. His expertise is in vulnerability assessments for future federal examinations primarily conducted by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, HUD, and Federal Housing Administration. Bill and Jan live seven houses away from a daughter, son-in-law, and two of their 10 grandchildren. Their other five children are located in Valdosta, Georgia; Stuart, Florida; Fort Worth, Texas; Austin, Texas; and Rocklin, California. It never ceases to amaze him to get a text from a grandchild! Bill’s father, Marine Corps Col. Bob Warren, is about to turn 97 years old and is as razor sharp as ever. He has written an autobiography of his 30-year, three-war, Marine Corps aviator career, is turning a motion picture screenplay he and Bill wrote about Vietnam into a book and has started a biography about one of his fellow pilots. Dee Biggs (Acton, Massachusetts) and his wife are doing well in Boston and are getting ready for winter, but Dee is getting in some golf before the snow flies. Steve Wilson (Matthews, Virginia) lamented Peay’s resignation. He served under Peay on Army staff and found him always calm, steady, and thoughtful, and Peay enjoyed an unmatched reputation as a leader. Steve is continuing to support the BOV as the VMI Alumni Association liaison to the Cadet and Military Affairs Committee. In another unpaid, volunteer job, Steve completed his three-year term as the Mathews Memorial Library board of trustees chairperson in November. He added that he and Linda have visited with Dave and Bobbi Gehr (Williamsburg, Virginia) frequently, and recently enjoyed a dinner at their home with Larry Ryan. The Byron Nettrour (Fairfax, Virginia) ohana stretches from Hawaii to the East Coast and upstate Pennsylvania to Florida, and all are doing well. He wrote that “the only thing that works reliably around an old house are the owners, so

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes we are keeping busy with odd jobs, inside and Iran. He’s hoping there will be a fourth and final energy driving through VMI. I also stopped to book—a prequel again—based on his tour in see Bill Ryals ’76 in Winchester. I work with out, hard wood on all the elevated floors now several alumni at NAVFAC, including Quinn Southeast Asia as a FAC flying the OV-10. He’s and laminate on the floor slabs, even though it’s not sure why these came out in reverse order, Ellis ’15, who is on my team.” Larry added that hard on the old knees. Painting throughout is after four years overseas, he misses Europe, but but it’s “just the way they flowed.” He says you next.” When the pandemic is over, he hopes to restrictions on travel (his drug of choice) made make a 10,000-mile road trip to show his wife, can order the books through Amazon, Barnes Jung Hwa, all the construction projects he was & Noble, BAM, and Indie. They also are avail- it easier to return to the U.S. He had opportuniable as e-books. Autographed copies are avail- ties to work on the border wall in Texas and a involved with during the last 10 years of civil able, just contact Dana directly. He added that very tempting offer to head back to Alaska, but service with the Army. he’s decided to donate any profit he makes from he landed back in Virginia working for the Navy Bob Schmalzriedt (Wilmington, North Carolina) drives for Uber daily. He enjoys helping these books to prostate cancer research, a topic Facilities Engineer Command at the Yorktown Naval Weapons station, and it seems like half people and the many conversations “with old with which, unfortunately, he is very familiar. their engineers are VMI grads, so good compaSheila Taylor (Kingwood, Texas), Donny’s geezers like us to bathing-suit-clad dollies leaving Wrightsville Beach!” In late summer and widow, kindly sent an update in which she ny. Larry has bought a house just north of Wilwrote, “I am doing well here in Texas despite liamsburg, so on his drive home, he passes by fall 2020, he’s been going to Rocky Mount, this crazy pandemic. Today (Oct. 12) would the Yorktown battlefield and the broad expanse North Carolina, to work on his daughter’s rehave been Don’s 74th birthday. Seems unreal of the York River. build/remodel of a foreclosure. He wrote, “I had Bert Butterfield (Mechanicsa ball with an 8-pound sledge and ville, Virginia) came up with concrowbar on sub-floors and downed tact information for Brother Rat a three-stall garage (which almost John Plummer (Forest, Virginia), collapsed on me).” who was with us our rat year. UsFred King (Mount Vernon, Aring Bert’s good work, I contacted kansas) and Gretchen have stopped John, and he sent us the followtraveling—not because he’s woring, “Many miles and years have ried about getting sick but rather passed since the VMI days. After getting stuck somewhere in quarleaving VMI, I attended Smithdale antine. They’re getting out on their Massey Business College in Richmotorcycles, the Harley and the mond. Upon graduation, I went to Slingshot, a lot to enjoy the beautiwork for a short time with VEPCO. ful Ozark Mountains. The draft was on and I enlisted in Jim Haney (Sun City Center, Florida) says, like most of us, he Class of 1968: Dave and Jean Clark with Donna and Clay Thompson on the Army in June 1968: Basic at Fort Benning, AIT at Fort Jackson, and Priscilla are staying close to their annual joint vacation to the Massanutten Resort Sept. 6, 2020. then to Vietnam, where I served home and catching up on projects. that he has been gone 13 years. Our children are with the 101st outside of Huế. Returning to the She routinely plays bridge, one table, with a doing well. Scott and family live about 20 min- States, I finished my three years at Fort Lee. I group of close friends, and he stays busy with got married in Richmond and subsequently veteran organizations by Zoom and the face-to- utes from me, which is a blessing. His two chilface buddy checks that are making a difference dren are 6 and 8 and love their grammy. Carey had two daughters. I ended up as an insurance and family live in Austin. My oldest grandson, adjuster for Liberty Mutual and then with Nafor some members. He was pleased to report Taylor, graduated from Texas A&M and now tionwide Insurance. My wife and I divorced, this his grandson completed BMT at Lackland works for Rice University. His brother, Ryan, is and I remarried in the 90s. My wife, Sandy, and was in tech school in Shepherd after several has one son. We have one granddaughter who a senior at A&M and has accepted a job with pandemic-driven delays. is a nurse in D.C. and working on postgraduate Dell.” Dana Duthie (Broomfield, Colorado) is conPeripatetic Larry Ryan (Toano, Virginia) con- work, and one grandson in Dallas who is just tinuing his writing career. His first book, Dark firmed information I got from Billy Seargeant finishing high school and will be going to colRain, was published in February 2020. The secand Ned Harris that he had taken a job in the lege next year. I retired in 2008 in Lynchburg, ond book, Tremble (July 2020), is based on his Virginia, and spend my time on golf and little tour in Korea as the 80th squadron commander. U.S. working for the Navy. He wrote, “Since It is a prequel to Dark Rain as it occurs earlier in the Navy would not let me come to work im- British cars.” Jim Burg (Prescott Valley, Arizona) is on his mediately, I spent a week visiting folks up and Brad Mitchell’s (the hero) U.S. Air Force career. The third book, Phantoms of the Shah (Septem- down the Shenandoah Valley, including a won- 154th book since this pandemic started. Exercising has become part of his daily routine, also. ber 2020) is even a prequel to the second. It oc- derful visit with Dean and Nancylee Kershaw curs in the 70s, and it’s based on Dana’s tour at (Fairfield, Virginia). Although I could not visit He and Sharon are staying as active as possible; Hahn, Germany, in the F-4 and a trip he took to any buildings, I did receive a jolt of positive however, his waistline went from 36 inches to

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Class Notes 38 inches He concluded, “Those football injuries and wounding infirmities have taken their toll, but I’m still kickin!” J.B. Timmons (Winston Salem, North Carolina) and Ann had planned on spending the bulk of political advertising season in Europe, but like most, if not all of us, they are home until someone they trust approves a safe and effective vaccine. They have rescheduled a trip to Europe for next spring, although that depends on the vaccine and whether anyone in Europe will let them in. J.B. is still nominally working—the paycheck is deposited each week—but since he has been telecommuting since 1996, it’s not much different working from home. Chandler Williams (Midlothian, Virginia) and Robbie were fortunate to have spent five weeks at the Vidanta Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, in January and February before the COVID-19 restrictions hit. Upon return, he was diagnosed with a separation in L5 and S1 which caused a pinched nerve to his legs and feet resulting in “dropped foot.” He had spinal neurosurgery in May and has been recuperating since. With routine physical therapy and exercises, he says he is progressing and look forward to a full rehab. Unfortunately, Robbie also had extensive spinal neurosurgery. Hers was in June, resulting in five of her vertebrae being pinned. So, they both are physical therapy “frequent fliers.” Subject to COVID-19 restrictions, Chandler’s plans for 2021 include a return to the Vidanta Resort in January and a February Hilton Head golf outing with Marvin Thews (Roanoke, Virginia), Rich Wallach (The Plains, Virginia), and Mike Gompf (North Chesterfield, Virginia). He hopes for a “Good to Me” time. I had several inputs from Ned Harris (Phoenix, Arizona). In mid-September, he wrote that he and Cornelia spent the summer at their shack on the shore at Ipswich, Massachusetts. He described Ipswich as a classic little town just north of Gloucester. He speaks with Joe Smith (Annapolis, Maryland) on a regular basis. They were together in the same company in Vietnam (B/326 Engineers/101st Airborne) and have kept close tabs since. He also hears from Larry Ryan and Dean Kershaw, his former roomie, who is teaching at VMI. Ned described Dean as loving to wear the uniform! Dean is the driving force behind a Zoom call that includes Ned, Larry, Joe, Guy Drewry (Virginia Beach, Virginia), and Dion Johnson (Humble, Texas). But in mid-October, I got news from Dean about Ned. After I contacted Ned for more information,

he described the incident this way: “The connection between our wood stove and chimney came loose and caught the outside shingles on fire. The fire then leaped up the side of the house into the roof, and it was all over. I rushed upstairs to get one of the cats who was asleep on the deck and got both of us out before the fire spread. Funny thing is the smoke alarms didn’t go off because the fire became an inferno and burned hot and clean with very little smoke. The house was really a typical New England shore cottage cheaply built back in 1865 (old, dry wood) or so, and cheaply added onto over the years. New Englanders used to pride themselves in rugged simple living, and this house was typical of that type. No heat except the wood stove, one bathroom, two bedrooms. Luckily, nobody was injured. We will probably rebuild, although the 2,800-mile drive to and from Phoenix is getting really old. Joe and Joan Smith were going to visit but had to call it off due to COVID-19, so maybe it’s lucky they did not come.” Highlights from Tom Boyd’s (Alexandria, Virginia) excellent update include that he and Carol are living in Gloucester, Virginia, in the house where he grew up. I found it interesting that his daughter survived 9/11. Her office was on the 57th floor of tower No. 1, and she became a New Yorker that day. She’s now left NYC for good. Tom and Carol were joined in March by she and her friend who stayed in their guest house until the two of them bought a house in Richmond in July. Tom’s Washington-based law firm reopened in July, but he has been operating remotely. This last spring was the first full spring he’d spent in Gloucester since he was a senior at Gloucester High School in 1964, and he found it a glorious spring to behold! This experience convinced him to step down as a practice group leader of his firm this last October. After maintaining and transitioning client relationships, he plans to write more frequently and assess what he does next, which includes being in Gloucester as much as possible. He said the move to Gloucester was made possible because he and Carol had sold their Alexandria house and bought a condo in an Alexandria high-rise, so all they had to do was lock the door on the way out. In mid-September as the forest fires were burning in Oregon, I got updates from John VanLandingham (Eugene, Oregon) and Herb Brasington (Milwaukie, Oregon). Herb wrote that Milwaukie, which is halfway between Portland and Oregon, was not in imminent danger, but he was preparing to evacuate if needed. They were having lots of

smoke, an orange sky, and the sun was obscured. He wrote, “You could taste the air.” A week later, he sent the update that it was raining, so the air was much clearer, and they could finally open the windows. He also wrote that COVID-19 hit his son and daughter-in-law and their 7-year-old granddaughter, but their cases were mild. Through contact tracing, his son learned that he and six others on an airplane flight had been infected. Herb closed that he keeps busy with beekeeping and amateur radio (call sign AG7YY). John reported that the fire was east of Eugene and he and Martha felt safe. Later, he added, “I spent my birthday backpacking with my wife in the Three Sisters Wilderness in the Cascade Mountains in central Oregon. Warm days and cold nights. Camped beside a lovely little lake with a view of the South Sister Mountain and no other people. Proud that I can still do it at 74 but definitely carrying less weight and going shorter distances.” He closed his email with, “My birthday always reminds me that I shared that date with our beloved, quirky VMI Cadet newspaper editor and erstwhile valedictorian, George Squires.” Speaking of Kitty Sue Squires (Henrico, Virginia), she sent this update: “Not much happening with me since starting COVID-19 prevention precautions. I have participated in Zoom birthday parties and bingo fundraisers, I make sure my car gets at least 30 minutes of exercise every week, and I have occasional dinners on my cousin’s deck. I frequently dive into the internet and emerge hours later to find it is almost bedtime and wonder how the hours flew by so quickly and how I will ever be able to motivate myself to scan all those old photos in family albums to safely store them digitally or clean out and rearrange my walk-in closet. Motivation is slowly fading away. If not now, when?” I also heard from Mike Thacker’s daughter, Alexa, who wrote, in part, “All of my memories of dad and his dedication to VMI and of his stories have been flooding back lately, having seen some of our old photos from pregame tailgates at the football games, feeling this fall weather today, and being with my friend whose late dad, Harold Plott ’72 (a COVID-19 casualty), had been in an Alumni Review picture. Recently, I was over at Mr. Plott’s house with his daughter when she pulled out some of the reunion glassware from ’82. We did lots of reminiscing of our dads and growing up in VMI households. Sad, yet enjoyable.” Wayne Fowler (Marion, Ohio) and Lori are docents at the Columbus Zoo but have had to take

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes a sabbatical due to the pandemic. He also had to cancel an annual paleontology in the park program he put together for the County Park District. He wrote that when he started working for the Boy Scouts, he and Lori made a decision to rent rather than buy since assignments tended to only be a few years long, and they had heard too many stories of double mortgages and long separations. After 51 years of marriage, they’re in the process of buying their first home after their landlord made an offer too good to refuse on the home in which they have lived for over 20 years. J.B. Meadows (Fredericksburg, Virginia) and Vicki are keeping up with their family on Zoom and have stayed in touch with Steve and Linda Wilson. J.B. has the idea of putting together a Snapfish photo album from the pictures he collected for our 50th Reunion video and making it available as a memento at our next reunion in 2023. I put his idea into my 55th Reunion idea file. In August, I heard from Mike Malone (Bonsall, California) that he and Jody have tried to keep their lives as normal as possible throughout the pandemic. When possible, they have been taking trips to spend time with kids and grandkids in California, Utah, Arizona, and Texas. He misses being in person at his favorite sporting events—golf, Formula 1 racing, racing at Laguna Seca, baseball games, football games (particularly, college), kids’ sports, etc. My high school buddy, Mark Groth (North Chesterfield, Virginia), sent a lengthy update to fill in the gaps since we last heard from him. He and Diane have been married for 47 years, and they have two children, Tim (38) and Courtney (33). Tim and his wife have two kids, Kate (5) and Campbell (4), who live in Arlington, Virginia, where Mark and I grew up. Tim works for a private financial company. Courtney is single, lives in Richmond, and works in physical therapy. He then gave me an update on his career: “After not being invited back for our second-class year by Major General Shell himself, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served four years as an airborne firefighter and rescue specialist on the HH-43B at both Wheelus Air Base, Libya, and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. I finished my Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at Roanoke College, where I met Diane. After graduation, I got a job with the Virginia Bureau of Forensic Science in Richmond where I mainly performed arson analyses. After three years there, I jumped over to Philip Morris as a research chemist. Looking

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at my future prospects without a Ph.D., I earned a Master of Business Administration degree from VCU and transferred over to the business side of Philip Morris. I finished my career there as a principal business analyst, retiring in 2007. Oh, and I received a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Richmond in 2007, too. I figured as long as I was going to read a bunch of history books anyway, why not get credit for them?” Mark retired from Philip Morris/Altria in 2007, and Diane retired from SunTrust Bank a few years back and works part-time for them. Gordon Van Hoose (Vivian, Louisiana) happily reported, “I now have a ‘girlfriend,’ and we are both well. Over the last 20 years, I have had more than my share of kidney stones. With all this handwashing and the power of suggestion, I believe this coronavirus has helped my stone problem some! I just can’t wait to go. It has been good to me.” Herb Laine (Chesapeake, Virginia) like most of us, has been staying close to home—senior shopping at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays at Walmart being a highlight. In January 2020, he and Betty spent a week in St. John in the USVI with brother-in-law and Brother Rat B.J. Waldo (Lakeside, Arizona). In August, he and Betty were looking forward to trying to meet up with Howard Donald (Richmond, Virginia) and John Royster (Bermuda Run, North Carolina), for lunch in early November. Billy Seargeant (Fredericksburg, Virginia) wrote, “I am the clerk of the works at the Morson’s Row Project on Governor Street in downtown Richmond. This is a pre-Civil War set of buildings being converted to state offices. As Larry Ryan says, ‘I am having too much fun to quit,’ but I am thinking of retiring from this work when this project is completed in September 2021.”

1969

Walter Judd

Greetings, Brother Rats and Friends of the VMI Class of 1969, This year has been a real test of our ability to function in a nearly completely closed-down society. Few gatherings with friends, few occasions to eat at a new restaurant, and very few reasons to travel to Lexington for any alumni events. Things will get better, I am sure, as

football and basketball schedules have been announced and spring sports will begin on time next year. Our news starts with the passing of John Pool after a round of golf in eastern North Carolina and Geoff Taylor of a heart attack in Richmond and ends with a review of many changes occurring in Lexington. John Thurston Pool Jr. was born Sept. 27, 1947, in South Boston, Virginia, to John Thurston Pool and Carrie Lucille Ford Pool. John graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1969 and served two years in the U.S. Army upon graduation. John continued in business for years after his military service. He built a successful insurance enterprise in eastern North Carolina while also managing others with Allstate. John took a great deal of pleasure in sports particularly following football, baseball, and golf. He was particularly passionate about golf, playing it and watching it. John was predeceased by his father and is survived by his mother, as well as his wife, Patricia Shreve Pool of Wilmington; and his children, Mary Katherine Pool, John Thurston Pool III, and Caroline Ingram Pool all of Wilmington. He is also survived by his brother, Del Pool, and sister, Donna Wilkins, both of Clarksville, Virginia, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom John dearly loved. A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, at Oleander Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with Dr. Jim Everette officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to: Pool ’60 and Pool ’69 Baseball Scholarship VMI Keydet Club P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA, 24450 or to the First Baptist Church 411 Market St. Wilmington, N.C., 28401. Former roommate Mike Santoro spoke with several family members soon after hearing about John’s passing from Bunny Paulette, the unofficial coordinator and recaller of all things southside Virginia in our class. Bunny knows many of the families of BRs from that region and keeps up, it appears, with most on a regular basis. Mike learned that John had a heart attack while recounting his golf round with friends at the 19th hole. John’s baseball scholarship remains a lasting tribute to him and his love for VMI. On Thursday, Oct. 29, Geoffrey Taylor died of a heart attack. Son Geoff ’95 called with the news Friday morning. A year ago at the Institute Society Dinner in Lexington, my wife and I the pleasure of sitting with Geoff and Frances.

Class Notes He was still a big man and looked like the wrestler he was in college. Here is the obit. “Geoffrey R. Taylor, 73, of Bothwell Street, Richmond, died suddenly Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, Forest Campus. Born in Moorefield, West Virginia, May 6, 1947, he was the son of the late Aura Clay and Muriel Bertha Anderson Taylor. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Frances Mae Gilliam; his son, Geoffrey Aura Taylor, and wife Amy, and their children, Samuel, Emily, and Andrew Taylor; a daughter, Sarah Katherine Taylor Warnick, and husband Shannon, and their son, Emory Warnick; a sister, Linda Taylor Alcox, and husband Herbert; and several dear nephews, nieces, and cousins. Geoff graduated from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach in 1965 and Virginia Military Institute in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. While at VMI, Geoff started on the wrestling team, played the snare drum in the band, and sang in the Glee Club. He valued the friendships he formed growing up in Virginia Beach and during his years at VMI. Following graduation, Geoff spent a few years teaching science and coaching in Portsmouth and Virginia Beach City Schools, where he met and married the love of his life, Frances Mae Gilliam. After starting a family, they moved to Europe for four years where he was a budget analyst for the Department of Defense Schools in Germany and England. While abroad, the family fondly remembers exploring different towns on the weekends, hopping from castles and museums to manor homes, taking long walks in the beautiful countryside, and taking breaks for roadside picnics. Upon returning to the States, Geoff earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, serving a memorable residency in North Dakota on a Sioux Indian reservation. Geoff operated several optometry practices in Virginia Beach, and he opened one of Virginia’s first Walmart optometry practices in 1992. He later supervised the opening of 10 other practices across the state. He was the owner and operator of Dr. Geoffrey R. Taylor & Associates, O.D., located at the Short Pump Walmart. Dr. Taylor’s patients appreciated his sense of humor and his ability to make them feel comfortable in his presence. Geoff was generous with his time and resources, volunteering with Good Samaritan Ministries, Needle’s Eye Ministries, and the Center for Christian Counseling in Richmond. He served on the boards of Good Samaritan Ministries and Commonwealth Christian Academy.

He was a member of Cambridge Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and enjoyed men’s Bible study. A lifelong learner, Geoff earned a Doctor of Theology degree from Community Bible Institute and Seminary in Richmond, and he took additional classes at the Center for Christian Counseling. In his later years, he also took occasional courses on a wide range of topics—electrical engineering, welding, woodworking, Spanish, and American Sign Language. If he was curious about something, he dove in to learn more. Geoff sought adventure and often dreamed about where he might travel next. He enjoyed road trips, movies of all sorts, spirited debates, and meaningful conversations. He found the most joy in spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren. His family will miss his hearty laughter and jokes, gentle guidance, boundless wisdom and knowledge, and steadfast presence. A graveside funeral service was held at the Gilliam Family Cemetery at 2012 Swan Road in Pamplin, VA, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at 1 p.m., with the Rev. David Sexton officiating. A memorial service will be held later at a later date in Richmond, Virginia. Further details will be shared through Robinson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Good Samaritan Ministries, 2307 Hull Street, Richmond, VA, 23224 (https://gsamministries. com/donate/) or the VMI Alumni Agencies Keydet Club, P.O. Box 932, Lexington. VA 24550 (https://www.vmialumni.org/about/keydet-clubinitiatives/).” For the record, we have at least two members of the class to have earned two doctorate level degrees. Pretty good, I would say. Several other memorable events occurred during recent months. Elizabeth Jones, wife of Dr. Tom Jones of Macon, Georgia, suffered a stroke and is in recovery at present. Elizabeth is a triathlete and encouraged Tom to participate with her in the grueling sport. She was tough on those races and once kept on racing after a bad spill off her bike left her with what was later diagnosed as a broken arm. Elizabeth was a nurse and essentially ran the Jones family summer camp for diabetic kids. At Camp Little Shot, “Miz E” was the boss, and Dr. Tom was the kid-watching and health-monitoring doc. They ran over 30 of those summer respites for kids in their community. Bob Heely’s wife, Lush, also took a bad fall and hurt her lower back. Rest and some special glue in the right places helped her recover. Bob ended up doing a lot of the lifting as he and Lush moved from their home in Norfolk

to a condo nearby this fall. In late October, Pat Branch ventured out of his home office to play a round of golf with Mike Santoro and me in Williamsburg. While Toro and I have traveled to each other’s courses for golf several times this summer and fall, Pat was pleased to join us this one time. So far, so good. Business continues for him with markets doing mostly well, no matter where the work is conducted. I called on Charlie Bryan, detective extraordinaire, to help me find a current address for Frank Easterly. I got back a birthday card sent to Frank in California and then noted a change in email address for him. Charlie did his magic and found out the new address from Bobby Watts, who had Frank’s current info. Please be reminded, BRs, as you retire or move to new homes or apartments as you downsize, to keep me updated on your address info. I have a lot of info to pass to you still and want to keep you as current as I can. Short timer Bruce Chaney of Illinois has recently moved or retired away from the address info I had for him. Any help in finding him would be appreciated. I attended a Zoom session in mid-October with several other Williamsburg/Yorktown alumni. Thom Brashears ’95 of the Alumni Association greeted us and, after a lot of catching up by the meeting participants, gave us an update on the state of the cadets in the current classes. Appears most cadets will be released around Thanksgiving and will finish out the semester via online courses. Cadets at present are meeting virtually and in person for various percentages of the instruction. They will finish out the first semester from home and come back at the end of January for the second semester. 2nd Class cadets will receive their rings before they leave for the winter break but will have to wait awhile for the formal dance that usually goes with the ring presentations. Barracks life is a bit different this year, to say the least. Few parades and less interaction between rats and upper classmen, but still plenty of indoctrination in new or innovative ways. The wearing of masks is mandatory at all times for cadets outside their rooms, and special processes are in place for cadets testing positive for the virus. While there have been positive cases detected, the medical staff has a plan for isolating the cadets (or staff), and the process has worked to keep problems to a minimum. Each room of cadets in barracks has been its own family unit, and interaction with others in different rooms is kept to a necessary minimum. Somehow, it is all working, and the classes passing

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Class Notes through barracks are getting the desired training and education. Thank heaven for robust wireless capabilities in barracks, as cadets are encouraged to study in their rooms. On Oct. 23-24, the VMI Board of Visitors met, and many of us heard rumbling of changes in the wind. Al Kaliski wrote and Win Winfree called about The Washington Post and Roanoke newspaper articles, and several BRs posted words on the class Facebook site. Doug Marks sent a thoughtful summary of what he saw happening. Many others sent other news articles, and it was apparent VMI was getting a lot of unwanted attention. On Oct. 26, the news got a lot grimmer as, like a wildfire, word spread of Gen. Peay’s sudden resignation. Earlier that week, several folks passed to me word of newspaper articles in D.C. and Roanoke. A study was ordered by the governor of the Commonwealth to determine the truth of the articles. Alumni reacted to the news with all sorts of reactions. Soon after, many of us watched a video showing a vigorous rally where the Corps told Gen. Peay goodbye. In the days that followed, many BRs and others wrote letters praising Gen Peay. I do not know how this turbulence will end. I also look forward to reviewing the work of the new Superintendent Search Committee as it is made public. I know that august body will find us a new leader for the challenging times ahead. As a retired military officer and proud graduate, I do hope we can find the right person to be the next VMI superintendent. And I offer my prayers to the interim leaders in Lexington as they shoulder the day-to-day chores of running a national treasure of a college. Before I leave the “turbulent times,” I have a few more conversations to relate. Dick Camp and I shared calls as we sought to exchange all the relevant documents. Win Winfree and I talked several times as we both worked through the various scenarios. A multi-BR email trail began, and Rick Morris in Kansas offered several thoughtprovoking replies. Bruce Gregory, Tom Morris, Bob Alexander, and Doug Marks exchanged in calls and emails many of the letters and newspaper articles they had seen. It appeared to be a fast-moving storm with no predictable ending. The best comment for gallows humor, however, was from Bruce Sharp who commented on my “let us gather all the facts” stance: “In the middle of a barroom brawl, the toughest job belongs to the guy who is trying to keep the mirror behind the bar from getting broken.” That sums up my situation

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at present very well. Call or write to me if you need more detail or consult the class Facebook group for the latest. Let us turn to other interesting facts as we look forward to the second half of this challenging school year. As I mentioned earlier, the sports schedules have just been announced, and most of basketball and football will be played in the January to March period. I am not sure about who gets to attend the games (Jim Long heard only a thousand or so), but we will all be interested observers whether we attend in person or via virtual means. By then, we big sports fans will be used to seeing games with few fans in the stands. Wish I had more positive news to report, but I have not had the pleasure of seeing or talking with many of you this past summer. Everyone I do speak with has told me they are hunkering down and getting along. We are all ready for the pandemic to end so we can resume our normal social life. Mike Santoro has kidded Bob Flowers, Jamie Totten, and me about the fact we will retain the Two Bellies Invitational Golf Tournament trophy for another year. That large and gaudy trophy will stay with Toro for another period, as there was no tourney played this year. We feel in good company, however, as our UVa grads and friends will continue to cheer for the fact their basketball team from 2019 still retains the national championship trophy. Let us all hope there is an end-of-season tournament this coming spring 2021 and that VMI and UVa play well. Do not forget to keep VMI in your giving plans for the year. Alumni officials tell me it is just fine for you to pay your pledges off early or to increase them during these times of uncertainty. The “I” is still functioning and caring for its current crop of cadets and needs our funding to remain strong. With athletic competitions about to resume, we need to remember our scholarship cadets and keep them, and their coaches, funded in the right ways. As I wrap up these notes, I must tell you about one rat from Henrico County, Virginia, who grew up just down the hill from my old neighborhood in the north side of Richmond. I got a letter from rat football player Christian Dunn ’24 receiving our Class of 1969 Athletic Scholarship. He is experiencing the full force of the time management tasks all rats at VMI must weather and appears to be thriving. I also watched video interviews with the athletic director, football and basketball coaches, and individual athletes and came away with the notion that sports teams were ready for action. We

have fine coaching staffs who keep their eyes on the right targets: Winning and developing great citizen soldiers. Keep them in your thoughts during these tough pandemic times. In the Spirit, Walt

1970

Warren Grasty

Once again, I have to begin this issue of class notes with several sad items. Just three days after my previous notes were submitted, Jay Tice passed away in Ridgeland, Mississippi. As you probably know, Jay suffered for quite a while with kidney failure and cancer. It was amazing to me how he kept his usual buoyant personality throughout this extremely difficult time. I had the good fortune of getting to know Jay fairly well when we were neighbors in the ’90s and then keeping up with him, Liz, and J.J. via phone calls, email, reunions and the occasional VMI football game afterward. Jay was always such a fun-loving, positive person, and he will be sorely missed. This last quarter also saw the passing of Chip Humphrey’s wife, Debi, who had also been ill for quite a while. Chip and Debi, who lived in Lexington and whose father was W&L head football coach, dated pretty much our entire time in barracks. Chip and I were charter members of the VMI Summer School Club, and we rented a house the second and third summers with Justin “Lefty” Blickensderfer and Bob Wood, so I got to know Debi very well. She was a real sweetheart, and she and Chip were inseparable. Several years ago, they had to endure the unexpected loss of their son, Frank, which makes Deb’s passing that much harder on Chip. On Oct. 17, a limited church service was held in the Lexington Presbyterian Church, which was followed by a graveside service in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery. Please keep Chip, Liz, and J.J. in your thoughts and prayers, and let me know if you need any contact information. Dick Knight sent in a nice email remembering his cousin and our brother rat, Ed Dashiel Holmes, who passed away 30 years ago Sept.

Class Notes And from Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Bill Bott 1. Ed, or Dashie as he was known by his family, previously-reported falling accident. He was able to respond to some of you, but unfortunately, his writes that he continues to enjoy life fishing and was a quiet, soft-spoken English major, so many brother rats like me didn’t really get to know him. computer crashed shortly thereafter, and he lost hunting. Like most of us, he and Brigitte are staying close to home these days. Fortunately, they As Dick related, “After graduation, he attended some of the condolences. So he says he appreciWashington University Law School (St. Louis), ates all of your well wishes and regrets he didn’t live in an area that allows them more freedom and personally get back to you all. On the bright side, thus far no signs of COVID-19 for them nor for and then joined the Justice Department in 1973. At the time of his death in 1983 from heart disease, he he and Barbara had two new births to add to the their family. Their past frequent visits to see their son, Wescott ’99, and his family in Alaska have was putting together the case against the Kansas DeWolf family! Son David and his wife added a City mafia, the story of which is told in the movie daughter in August, Ava Clare DeWolf, and their been postponed due to quarantine restrictions that Casino. Ed was going to leave the practice of law daughter and her husband added another little girl make these trips almost impossible now. Equally and seek ordination in the Episcopal Church. The in September, Autumn Kateri Wyatt. These addi- sad, this has certainly curtailed their salmon fishtions bring their grand total to 17 grandchildren. ing adventures. Fortunately, son Charles ’96 and Holmes family has a long history in the Episcohis family live within walking distance. Since they Ain’t that grand? pal Church (one of our cousins was U.T. Holmes enjoy all the same pastimes and are always willIII, who was dean of the School of Theology at ing to include Brigitte and Bill in their activities, Sewanee). Unfortunately, death intervened, and he “it works out beautifully, because they also have never achieved that goal. I attended his funeral in taken over maintenance of the boats and hunting Kansas City. What a sad affair it was. Ed was a cabin. How could I ask for more?!” Maybe if they very pious man, a thoughtful man, a good man.” also supplied the beer? Just askin’. Dick remains in touch with his widow, Zoe, who From nearby Chesapeake, Virginia, John Flemis happily remarried and lives in Texas. Thanks to ming lamented the worst purchase he made this Dick for sharing his remembrances of Ed. year, which was for a 2020 planner. “It is replete Now I need to do a little catching up. It seems with a dismaying number of ‘Xs’ through schedthat Kent Schlussel sent in a nice write up just after uled events, to include two VMI 50th Reunions. my May class notes submission was due, and I was I will be staying up this year on new year’s eve, to include it with my August submission, which I not so much to watch the new year come in, but totally overlooked. So, here’s Kent’s update from to watch 2020 leave. I haven’t felt this depressed June. “With UVa closed to students, there were since my rat year.” 25,000 fewer people in Charlottesville after spring And from Virginia Beach, Dick Hamlet reported break, resulting in less traffic, pretty quiet streets, that all is good there. “Grandson Payton was just and no sporting events. Judy and I have been stayfeatured in a PBR (no, not the beer) combine for ing home lately (like most people). Our small-boat up-and-coming baseball players. As a 15-year-old cruise to the Baltic states was delayed to May sophomore, he had more comments and views on 2021 from this year. Because we did not cancel, Class of 1970: Bill Bott with an impressive catch in 2020. his pitching (left-handed) than did the older juniors the travel company gave us money to keep our and seniors. He is 6 feet tall and still growing in reservations. I am teaching an online course for size and confidence.” Obviously, Dick and Rowan University titled Engineering EthDee are extremely proud of him. “He wants ics and Law. Yes, Rowan University is acto go to Duke for some reason. His grades credited. Since it is in New Jersey, I unfortusupport his admission, but when you are a nately have to pay New Jersey income tax, baseball player, it often comes down to the unemployment tax, and a few other taxes. I ACT and SAT scores.” have yet to find a good textbook for graduRuss Marshall checked in to say that he ate students on ethics, so I depended on my has talked a couple of times recently with experiences at the Institute. I have felt sorry old roommate Joe Tenhet. Joe and Silvia for some of my students.” They also had to were at their condo in Florida, and he was cancel a Viking Rhone River cruise through looking for latest info on all the recent hapthe south of France, similar to the one we penings on post. Russ watched a Twitter were to take with the Baileys, Chandlers, interview with Coach Wachenheim about Craddocks, Walkers, and Weishaars, the first fall football scrimmage, which was which was also canceled. Unfortunately, to be streamed on ESPN+. summer 2021 doesn’t appear to be shaping Class of 1970: Herb Braun, Peel Dillard, Bill O’Connor, Things have been a little hectic out west up too well for another try. Mon dieu! and Ralph Costen at the Costens’ Ocean Isle home in for Valerie and Ben Morris lately, seeing Howie DeWolf sent in thanks to all of summer 2020. as they are moving from their waterfront you who sent him well wishes after his

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Class Notes home in Discovery Bay, California, east of San Francisco. They accepted an offer two days after their house was placed on the market, and it’s now in escrow. They have moved into a rental home in a small community of San Jose called New Almaden where they will live until escrow closes. They are looking for a home near their daughter and her family in Gilroy, California, which, as you may know, is the home of the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. “It has been a challenging year to deal with medical problems, sell boats, sell home, pack up and move, and avoiding everyone due to the COVID-19 issues. Hopefully by the first of the year things will get back to some sense of normality for us. On the good news side, we are celebrating our 50th anniversary like many other BRs and had planned a cruise taking the whole family cruising around England, Scotland, and Ireland. Unfortunately, the cruise got canceled, but it’s back on for next summer (hopefully).” As with all of us, I certainly hope 2021 is a much better year for you two, Ben. And from Utah, Jesse Glidewell said that cyber-attacks on local hospitals forced some of his client hospitals to shut down their outside electronic communications, which, horror of horrors, included his invoices. He says he suspected that he had contracted COVID-19 while in France last October and later had it confirmed. That’s what’s known as being on the bleeding edge. Bob Hawthorn admitted that, although he is a staunch Republican, his company, Martinair, flew flights for Joe Biden before the election. Hayroll also put together a successful heart transplant project in Kansas City. “Happy to do those flights until I pass. It’s rewarding. My English son-in-law did his first vote in the U.S. today. Hooray!” On a more mundane note, Chad Lash proudly reported that he is still standing after changing out a defective wall switch in his office and finishing week one of his virtual monthlong senior level English substitute gig at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax. We’re so proud of you, Lashman. And from Raleigh, North Carolina, Bill Murchison says he is working from home three days a week doing interpretations of the residential building code for the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The rest of the time he is either walking their new puppy, a walker hound, or playing with their two grandkids. Not to nitpick, but isn’t “new puppy” a bit redundant? I mean, how could you have an old puppy?

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Moving right along to the medical front, Chip Hatcher has had more than his share of health issues over the past several years. As you may remember, back in 2018 he had neck surgery that all started when Coach Gupton moved Chip up three weight classes to face a UVa wrestler who finished fourth in the nation. Then last year, the doctors had to replace five vertebrae on the right side of his neck. In January 2019, he had a mild heart attack followed by another in June, which required stents. One month later, the day before his birthday, his main aorta bulged out. Three days after coming home from the hospital, his colon ruptured, requiring 29 more days in the hospital. Finally, in January 2020, he had another mild heart attack, with two more stents inserted in February. All of which proves Chip is one tough dude! Hang in there, brother rat. For better or worse, several brother rats sent me their own catheter experiences subsequent to the one I relayed in my last class notes. Probably the most memorable is the one from Doug Davis, who said, “I had a kidney stone several years ago that, because of complications, required a catheter. When it came time to take it out in the doctor’s office, my wife followed me into the room to ask the doctor several questions. He said, ‘While you are here, do you want to take it out?’ She said, ‘No, I have a couple of questions. When I’m done, I’ll leave, and you can take it out.’ He said, ‘Shoot,’ and turned back to me. She asked one question and he turned back around and handed her the catheter. She could have spit nails! The doctor and I had a good laugh.” Doug, old pal, I’ll give it an eight, but the Russian judge is only giving it a six. Tough crowd. Not to be outdone, John McLemore recounted the following vignette after a recent prostate procedure at Vanderbilt Hospital, which required a catheter. “When I awoke, I found myself equipped with a plastic drain. Vanderbilt is a teaching hospital. Students drop by constantly to check this and that. You get used to them. Late that afternoon, into the room came two very young doctors in training. Just as soon as the first got through the door, he said, ‘Mr. McLemore, are you a baseball fan?’ ‘Not really,’ I replied. ‘Did you know there was a triple play during the game in Atlanta last night?’ the young man asked. Meanwhile the other ‘doctor’ had run his hand up my hospital gown. ‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘It ended with a terrible collision at home plate and the base runner probably felt a lot like you feel right now!’ And with that, out came the

catheter. As we were packing up to leave, a nurse told me the two young docs were the best catheter retrievers the urology department had in years. ‘They sort of catch you off guard,’ she said.” No kidding. Smack also reported that Don Crawford, who lives with Lois in Harrisonburg, Virginia, has joined Smack’s Friday lunch group in Nashville via Zoom. “For at least the past 15 years, a bunch of wonderful people have eaten lunch every Friday at the best hamburger place in Music City, Brown’s Diner. When COVID-19 shut us down, we moved to Zoom, where we attract between six and 10 of our members each week. I sent an invitation to Don, and he has become a really great member of the group. We, of course, refer to one another as ‘brother rat.’ I think our fellow Zoomers think that’s a little weird. We have tried to explain, but as every VMI alumni knows, that is impossible.” I think it’s about time to pull the plug, so to speak, on these catheter stories. Be sure to check the VMI’70 Facebook page for posting by brother rats and friends, and don’t forget to make your reservations for our 5nth Reunion in September. In the spirit!

1971

Jim Kelly

These notes will cover the period from Aug. 15, 2020, through Nov. 15, 2020. Kathryn and I extend to each of you a happy new year, and we hope that 2021 will be a year in which the whole of our nation is not so adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For all practical purposes, virtually no one, regardless of age, has been left untouched during 2020. Almost every day brings some new challenge and/or the need for a change of plan. My hat is off to all of those who have stepped up and have worked so tirelessly to restore the health of our citizens and are making it possible to end this dreadful time in our history. Let’s all try to stay safe and do all that we can to take care of ourselves and those around us. I am saddened to report that Art Shelfer died Oct. 28, 2020, at his home in Tallahassee, Florida, after a long illness. Art matriculated at VMI from Decatur, Georgia. He was a history major and a ranker throughout our last three years at

Class Notes VMI. Art was captain of the rifle team, a DMS, and a member of the Honor Court. After VMI, he obtained a law degree and practiced law for 30 years in Thomasville, Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and, for a time, was an agent with the FBI. Art is survived by his wife, Janice; a son, Arthur; and a sister. Due to the pandemic, funeral arrangements have not been made as of this writing. The Class of ’71 extends its sincere condolences to Art’s family. Although activities have been limited for a good while now, I have some information to pass along concerning a few brother rats. Oscar Padgett’s son, Grafton, was married recently and a nice photo of the two of them dressed in their wedding outfits was posted. The Big “O” is looking good. Bill and Margaret Ginder are quite active in numerous worthy causes out there in Texas. Bill is on the board of the Aldine Independent School District and recently made scholarship awards from the Aldine Education Foundation to a number of deserving students. A Hawaiian Airline plane, photographed at an airport in Washington state, reportedly had Tom and Connie Martenstein among its passengers. On the Class of ’71 FB page, Rich Clary posted a picture from about five years ago at Metzger’s of Mike Strickler, Robert Haywood, and Sam Kirby. All three of them looked reasonably young at that time. D. Walton frequently reports on some of his very challenging bike trips on slopes which rival some from the pro tour. Tony Conques commented on the recent death of Alex Trebek. Tony wrote that he had watched Jeopardy religiously for years and wished “Godspeed to a true gentleman.” The Kelly brothers, Jim, Mike ’73, Steve ’77, and wives, Kathryn, Pat, and Mauri, got together in October for the second annual oyster fest at Steve and Mauri’s home on Lake Belews in North Carolina. Buddy Bryan made the trip down to Draper, Virginia, recently for a round of golf with me and Jim Gearhart. The weather was much better than our last trip to the Draper course when it was freezing cold. We hope to squeeze in one more round somewhere in Roanoke if we can catch a decent day in November. As did many of our brother rats, Buddy had his No. 71 birthday in October. Kathryn and I were able to join the Bryans at a restaurant in downtown Clifton Forge,

Virginia, for the celebration dinner. The restaurant had originally been located in Lexington and is a favorite of Buddy and Carol. As of this writing (November 2020), we have had some of our brother rats step up and offer to provide different kinds of “favors” for the 50th Reunion. John Biggs and John Brayshaw combined their efforts to produce a Class of ’71 challenge coin. Dave King is offering VMI belt buckles to those who did not receive one at a previous reunion, and Dabney Oakley is providing a unique VMI coffee mug. If you are planning to compete in the sporting clays, it may be worth your time to do some practicing. Steve Sanetti is donating a Remington Model 700 U.S. Marine Corps commemorative “scout sniper” rifle to the winner from the Class of ’71. Thanks to all these brother rats for making available some great memorabilia. The Class of 1971 now has a business account with Lands’ End through which shirts, vests or other articles of clothing may be ordered, and the spider embroidered logo is available to be placed on the items selected. The link to use is http:// business.landsend.com/store/1971. Once you are on this site, you need to set up an account, and when that is established, you can begin to order clothing of your choice and add it to your cart. Be sure to locate the information about the logo, and when you select that, the official ’71 emblem will appear. You will be given a choice as to where to place the logo. I would suggest that everyone have at least one shirt (color optional) with the logo on the upper left chest. Any other gear you order can have the logo on another location of your choosing. I think you will like the logo and the quality of the clothing. As of Nov. 10, 2020, our plan is have a hat for each BR in attendance at the reunion. The price will be included in the registration fees, and hats can be picked up at Moody Hall with your reunion packet. Hat orders are being coordinated with the VMI bookstore. Thanks to Steve Price and Dave Kennedy for taking the lead on these items. Information about other available favors will be included in future mailouts from the committee. Like most things going on in our lives, the year 2020 changed the athletic world at all levels. What sports were played and when depended on the COVID-19 circumstances in an area or region of the country. Even when many teams competed, the players, fans, and everyone associated

with the sport had to comply with many restrictions. When these notes arrive to your home, you will know about VMI sports one way or another. For now, the Keydets are scheduled to play eight Southern Conference football games, and four games will be scheduled at home. The Big Red will open with UTC away Feb. 20, 2021, and end their season April 17 at VMI against The Citadel Bulldogs. That will be the weekend preceding our 50th Reunion. Our basketball team has an 18-game schedule with nine home and nine away games. They will open at Samford Dec. 30, 2020, and will have a home game against UTC Jan. 2, 2021. If you remember, when we were just children, we had a thing called a Magic Slate (before Etch-a-Sketch was invented). You could write or draw on the Magic Slate, and by simply lifting the plastic sheet, everything would disappear and you could start all over. These days, for anyone responsible for creating schedules, it may bring back the memory of the Magic Slate. For up to date information on all of VMI’s athletic events, you can find it at VMIkeydets.com/athletics. Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months, you are aware of many new challenges facing VMI and the Corps of Cadets. Everyone has an opinion about the merits of any of the changes which may occur. An independent review of the situation will be conducted by a group to be appointed by the governor of Virginia. It is not appropriate for me, as your agent, to voice my feelings either way on the issues in our class notes. The Alumni Association began holding virtual town halls with the class agents and alumni chapter representatives around the middle of November. These have been helpful in clarifying the activities and actions being undertaken by VMI. One of the points that has been made clear is that our alumni in general are lacking in timely and accurate information. The group in the session I participated in was assured that VMI would seek ways to keep our alumni up to date in the future. I am hopeful that changes made will be in the best interest of the future of VMI. I am a former member of the Rotary Club, and that organization has a tradition of applying what they term the four-way test when dealing with the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better relationships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? I, for one, hope that these four ideals can be applied to the review of our beloved VMI. Your 50th Reunion Committee is still at work

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Class Notes and we still have hope that the reunion will be held as planned for next April. I think that if we can get back on our schedule of events leading up to the reunion that it will at least be well planned and should we be delayed we can pretty much keep with our activities that we have on the agenda. Each of you should have had an opportunity to consider your pledge to the 50th campaign, and if there are any questions you may have regarding that pledge please get in touch with your contact on the Reunion Committee. Items that require a quick turn-around time will be sent to you via email. Keep the faith, my friends. Better days are ahead. Do your best to stay healthy. I look forward to seeing a great number of you in April. In the bonds, Jim

1972

Larry Houseworth

Brother Rats, Sisters, Legacies, Families, and Friends, These notes cover mid-August through mid-November 2020. This feels like the most tumultuous quarter of our existence: Three losses, unprecedented change at the Institute, a contentious election, and COVID-19. But we’re still here—intact, upright, feisty, and together. As changes roll through the Institute, I’m struck by the thought that VMI has survived through tougher times, and I’m convinced that we’ll come out of these stronger and more resilient. “Change, honor, tradition” and “honor above self” ring particularly strong. Our losses have been a brutal punch. But each family (Bob Gore, Harold Plott, Johnny Durst) was deeply touched by your outreach and support. Sharan Gore said how she would sit with Bob in the evening and read cards, letters, and emails. Jean Hill (Johnny’s sister) spoke of her family’s appreciation for Joe Knick’s assembly and delivery of all our BRs’ thoughts, notes, and prayers. Kelly Brooke, Harold’s daughter, personally thanked us for the class’ support, kindnesses, and prayers. The Gores and Dursts had small family-limited services, while the Plott family held a small, but open, celebration at Harold’s church and at the

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graveside. Marie and I attended the church services with the Ficks, Kim Colls, and Denny Traubert. Others from Lexington were at the graveside service outside Glasgow. Joe Knick shared this: “I spent last week with my wife, son, daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, and friends on Smith Mountain Lake. I thought about how short life is and how we need to appreciate it. I thought about John and Harold a lot, and every time we passed (a VMI-bannered home) on the lake, I thought how lucky I was to have built all the friendships with my BRs. I shared this message with John Sayers, Chip Woodall, and Ken Chacey the day John passed after getting the text from Jean. We all need to appreciate our friends, family, and BRs.” Amen, brother rat. A few days after the last deadline, I received this from Bill Mundie: “Let Jerry Aveta know that Bill Mundie, Lew Overby, and Tom Urquhart are still alive and kicking from the Juiced Squad of 1972. I’m sad to report that our old barracks room (156) is now a women’s latrine. However, that makes 156 a place where the ladies still want to go visit. I’m still working as a senior (what else, at my age) communications systems engineer working on mission communications networks for live-intercept missile defense flight tests with the Missile Defense Agency. Kwajalein Atoll and Wake Island Atoll are my places for work during flight tests. I’m still living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with my bride of 45 years, Kathleen. Our seven kids are all grown up, employed, and most are married with children. We have 13 grandchildren. Life is good. We are blessed. Rah, 1st Class privates!” Rah! Fred Bauer sent this shortly after: “Just received my latest alumni magazine and was glad to see the class doing as well as can be expected at our age and in the year of the plague. On this end, my wife, Cathy (who I met when we were both law students), and I are doing well and recently celebrated our 40th anniversary ... in quarantine. Even better than that, we recently welcomed the safe arrival of two more grandchildren (we now have eight grandsons and five granddaughters so far). All in all, life is good. Wishing the same for you and yours.” Life is indeed good, BR. Rich Wilson sent his remembrance of Matriculation Day. I don’t see the difference between now and then. Zeno Henninger said about Breakout and Matriculation: “Did not know about the delayed recognition; man, those ’69ers were tough. I wonder

out of our group who had the thought about 4 p.m. Aug. 22, 1986, ‘What in the hell have I gotten myself into?’ I know I did. Like King George III said once (July 4, 1776, methinks), ‘Nothing much happened today.’ Appreciate the reminder, glad it’s a memory, sure beats going to VPI, and why did they dumb their name down?” Not even their rings were big enough for their traditional name, just sayin’. After his birthday, Zeno said, “Appreciated the

Class of 1972: Rich Wilson, Aug. 22, 1968.

Class of 1972: Canine companion Teddy stood guard over Bob and Grace Bailey during Hurricane Eta.

Class Notes one or the others house and sit across the driveway from each other in lawn chairs (a good 15 to 20 feet) and have lunch and catch up. I also included a convo with Rick Bryan on the lost art of spit shining.” Thursday, afternoon, Oct. 15, 2020, Rick to Sterling: “Had a ‘back and forth’ with my oldest son today as he was doing a clean out and reorg of his closet—all by text, as he is in North Carolina—led to exchanges on shoes and shining them. So, of course, you came to mind and your instruction for me so long ago. I still do a ‘sorta’ spit shine on my dressiest black lace up, ‘low quarters’—a set of Allen Edmonds, cap toed, Park Avenues—which I have worn with suits or tux since I left Class of 1972: Kurt and Cathy Renz, Norm and Joy Worrell, service more than 25 years ago and have and Jim and Joan Pagones in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, had compliments through the years on the Aug. 25, 2020. ‘gloss’ from both ‘civilians’ and from VMI guys at the Founders Day dinners. All thanks to you.” Lost art, but still noticed in the business world. Eric Hammersen reported in from the Texas Republic. “Life continues apace in the Texas Hill Country. Things are pretty close to ‘normal,’ with kids back in schools; thousands of tourists flocking to Fredericksburg to get away from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston; revenue from sales taxes up significantly over the same time period in 2019; and only a handful of cases of the virus (nine active cases in a county of 30,000-plus people as Class of 1972: Jim Van Landingham, Chris Foster, Lindley of today). Some of the traditional events Vaughan, and Wade Houston comprised the 1972 team at (Oktoberfest, Christmas tree lighting, the VMI Club of Richmond’s Irby Cup. Christmas home tour, etc.) have been canceled this year, but high school football games are still in swing, and deer season is about to open. I’ve continued to teach one course/semester for Texas Tech University (ostensibly at the local TTU regional site, though none of my students are closer than 100 miles away and everything is done via Zoom). For next semester (January-May), I’ll be teaching a graduate-level course on intelligence and national security strategy as part of a graduate certificate that TTU offers. It’s been interesting to develop the syllabus (and discover just how many new books and articles have been written since I oversaw these types of courses at the National Intelligence University less than two years ago). Class of 1972: After Harold Plott’s graveside service are George Kosovic, Jerry Higgins, While we no longer are wearing ankle bracelets John Fick, Chris Foster, Buddy Bryan ’71, and Powell Hughes. or under house arrest, the opportunities to travel

birthday card, and today I received my Social Security payment. The regimental staff looked great in the winter uniform. I hope there are pleasant sanctuaries in Richmond for you two to visit. When I visited the Daniel family on Pump Road (perhaps Short Pump, long time ago), I used to visit the River Road Presbyterian Church. One of the congregation was a violinist with the Richmond Symphony. Her solos were masterpieces, also quite congruent with the service. Life is good in Brunswick, although Libby’s is no more.” (Class agent note: Your scribe recommended Libby’s lobster rolls when the Henningers first moved to Brunswick, Maine.) We were well represented at the Richmond Club’s Irby Cup Tournament in October. Sterling Spencer passed along a note from Harry Topliss’ widow, Cindy: “I’m doing OK, just still missing Harry a lot. Doesn’t seem like three years ago he passed. Don’t think I will ever stop missing him! If you ever talk to Bob, tell him hi for me. Both the kids and I moved back to the Phoenix area last year. Even though I grew up here, this past summer was rough—extremely hot.” Sterling said, “I passed it on to Bob— i.e., George Robert Patrick—as he and I both live here in East Cobb County near to Marietta, Georgia. And we see each other frequently—or, at least we did before this coronavirus hit. GRP and I have done a couple of ‘driveway’ lunches where one or the other ‘buys’ and then we meet at

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Class Notes around the great state of Texas were limited during most of 2020. (Though some of our more adventurous neighbors have made some spectacular road trips to Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Montana, and the Dakotas!) We are looking forward to the return of nice weather in the spring to get out and about and see some of the sights around the state.” Patience and fortitude, BR. You set the bar high. Mike Woloshuk, a man of few words, checked in with: “All is well with Cindy and me. Hunkering down like everyone else. Thanks and God bless. Wolo.” Good to hear from you, BR. From out of the blue and the western slopes of the Blue Ridge came word from Dave Condon. He’s been more than busy trying to keep public utilities honest and being an air traffic control subject matter expert in matters involving the Federal Aviation Administration. We shared a few laughs as he enlightened me further on an old courtyard bombing incident our rat year. Marie and I had a delightful, and COVID-19 responsible, get together at our home with Tom Williamson and Janet Brown. The “current unpleasantness,” both pandemic and civic, has put neither a damper on their working lives nor our conviviality. Many laughs were had around tales of travel, grandchildren, and their rental car adventures in the wine countries of Chile and Argentina. The Fojts are doing well. A.J. says he successfully navigated physical rehab, and he and Karen have moved to a short distance from Dave and Sue Hall at Lake of the Woods in Locust Grove, Virginia. The day we spoke, Karen was unpacking boxes with the help of Chris and Carol Jones’ daughter, Ece. The Halls are settled into lakefront living. Dave wrote, “I know it will probably shock you, but I thought I’d respond rather than letting Sue do all the work. Since our move back to Virginia, we have been working our tails off getting things in order, and as of this weekend (Nov. 1), we are officially declaring ourselves ‘home’ and, even in the face of the pandemic, ready to host anyone who might find themselves over by Culpeper. BR A.J. Fojt and his wife, Karen, are just finishing their move about a fourth of a mile from us, and we’ve had the chance to visit with BR Phil Wilkerson and his wife, Carol, who live in Alexandria. These are tough times for our nation and tough times for our Institute, but at the risk of sounding schmaltzy, we can endure them and can even come out of them stronger—because of who we became at VMI and because of the strength and resolve we

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continue to draw from our brother rats. Enough of my nattering. As always, In the Bonds, Dave.” Nattering encouraged, BR. In the new home vein, Bob and Linda Stransky are settling into their new digs in Founders Bridge, Midlothian, Virginia. We’re seeing the trend here—those family-raising, weekend sapping expansive digs just are not the fun they used to be. Along with John and Sharon Fick, we took Jerry and Lee Higgins up on their invitation to join them at their Maple Swamp Vineyard for a cabernet sauvignon grape harvest. Wow, what an operation! And the gracious hosts fed, “watered,” and entertained all the help—we will be back! Paul Gorski sent Jack O’Lantern-ed Stonewall pictures at Halloween. Geoff Bull told of a visit to The Villages. “Last week on a whim, I went to visit my sisters at The Villages in Florida. A little golf with them and lots of catching up. And we had dinner with Walt Chalkley. Spoke with Rick Hack and invited him to join Walt and I, but he is remaining in the command bunker till COVID-19 is defeated. Hold down the fort, Rick. You can find me at the forward edge of the battle area twizzling someone’s proboscis for COVID-19 most days at my clinic.” A man on a mission. After Geoff’s visit, Walt said they also “had a great visit from BR Rick Minor and his wife, Karen, last night. They are here in The Villages on the lifestyle preview program to see if they want to relocate here. We had not seen each other in 50 years, and it was great getting to see him and meet Karen.” You and Ms. Debbie are great hosts, BR. Bob Ward sent a brief check-in from Monterey, California. “I hope you and your loved ones are all well. We dodged the California fires (for now) but got a bit of smoke and ash and some orange skies for a few days.” Glad to hear the troubles in paradise are disappearing, BR. Bob and Grace Bailey shared a picture of their hurricane shield, “Teddy.” From Mike Bordwine: “My wife and I are semiretired but staying really busy keeping up with 10 grandchildren. I hope to be able to make the 50th Reunion coming up soon. Although I was only at the Institute for two years, it impacted my life and established core values that have, and will continue to, guide all that I do. Every blessing to all you BRs and look forward to seeing all in a couple of years. Rah Virginia Mil.” Thank you, BR. And, from Jerry Aveta: “Initial efforts making contact with our electrical engineering BRs has

successfully reached: Stan Crane, John Cobb, Jim Yolda, Dick Valentine, Rae Turner, and Bill Mundie. If anyone has recent contact info for: Jon DiMarco, Bruce MacLean, Lew Overby, Tom Urquhart, or Vaipot Srinual, please forward to me at jerryavetajr@gmail.com. Thanks.” Message passed, BR, and I will check. That’s it for now—a quick proof by the sharpeyed Mrs. H and then off to our editor. Lay low for a bit longer and stay safe. Rah Virginia Mil! Larry

1973

Mike Kelly

I suppose the good news is that when you are reading these notes 2020 will be in the rearview mirror and hopefully out of sight! What a trying and tumultuous year! I certainly hope and pray that all of you are doing well, staying safe, and looking out for family. Pat and I wish you the best for 2021. Several of you have been in contact with me the past few weeks to share stories and provide updates. A few have begun to venture out and renew some of their previous activities, and I have high hopes that we can get back to a “more normal” soon (don’t necessarily like the term “new normal.”) Pat and I were able to travel to Florida in August to visit my son, Derek, and his wife, Katy. We had a great time fishing and diving for scallops. We visited my mother at my sister’s house in Tampa and had lunch one day with Roland and Judi Tiso. On the way back, we stopped in the Atlanta area to stay a few days with my oldest son, Scott, and his family. We enjoyed some boating activities and just laying around his pool reading a good book and having an adult beverage (or two). We received a call from Derek and Katy in November to let us know that grandchild No. 11 is “on the way” with an expected June delivery date. We are really excited for them and look forward to spoiling another grandchild. In October we visited with my brother, Steve ’77, and his wife, Mauri, and brother, Jim ’71, and his wife, Kathryn, at Steve’s home on Belews Lake in Stokesdale, North Carolina.

Class Notes processing. He said his wife, Nina, was back in the classroom teaching and that they were both doing well. I spoke to Paul “P.X.” English in early November. P.X. is the chapter president for the Upstate SC-Pisgah NC Chapter in South Carolina and western North Carolina. He said he and Caroline were doing well but staying pretty close to home. His chapter has had a couple of virtual events, including a rat send-off, and he is exploring other opportunities to expand contact with the chapter in these not-so-normal times. Class of 1973: Together at an August 2020 lunch are (from Michael Smith is the chapter presileft) Roland and Judie Tiso and Pat and Mike Kelly. dent for the Myrtle Beach Chapter. Mike lives about one-half mile from the beach and has been posting pictures of a nearly deserted beach. I have not decided if he finds it lonely or nice to have some peace and quiet. In October, he and George Tisdale, along with Mike Mahoney ’74 and Matt Talbott ’11, were invited to play a golf tournament with a group of The Citadel graduates. Mike said they had a great time, and the Bulldogs were wonderful hosts! They were playing “closest to the pin” on par threes, and while the Keydets were one under, the Class of 1973: Randy Marshall and Mike Kelly got together event was more about fellowship than a at a Founders Day celebration with the Cape Fear Chapter in contest between school alumni. Fayetteville, North Carolina. Thirty-five people attended, and Carl Hammond ’00 is the president of Moe was the guest of honor. the Midlands South Carolina-Palmetto Chapter, and they held a Founders Day event Nov. 14 at Tim McConnell’s home in Lexington, South Carolina. It is great to see so many of our BRs involved in chapter activities, and I encourage all of you to seek out and participate in your local chapter! Information about your local chapter can be found on the VMI Ranks website. (And just as a “jab”—we have a lot of BRs in the Carolinas I don’t hear from and who could be participating!) Get with it, BRs! I promise you will enjoy the events. I sent a note out in August to the class about the loss of another of our brother rats. Hank Weatherford told me that our BR Dennis Martin passed away Aug. 15, 2020. I was not aware of it, but according to Hank, Dennis had been battling cancer for several years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Martin family. The last Class of 1973: At a combined VMI-The Citadel golf outing are Mike Smith, George Tisdale, information I had on Dennis was that he and his Mike Mahoney ’74, and Matt Talbott ’11, along with the hosts from The Citadel. wife, Jean, lived in Spotsylvania, Virginia. I had

This was our second, hopefully now an annual, oyster roast. We had a great gettogether and told a few war stories. On Founders Day, Pat and I went to Fayetteville and attended a dinner with the Cape Fear Chapter. It was a great evening! As the regional co-director for Region VI of the VMI Alumni Association, I try to attend as many functions with our chapters (North and South Carolina) as possible. We have a new chapter president, Sabina Crites ’14, and she has hit the ground running. We had 35 folks in attendance, and most of them were fairly recent graduates. That was really nice to see. We also had a couple of our older alumni; BR Randy Marshall was there, and we enjoyed catching up on things. He is doing well and still working some consulting jobs. Pat and I sat beside Diehl and Pat Jones ’70. Diehl was Terry Howlett’s dyke (and as you may remember, Terry was one of my roommates.) It was interesting to discuss our memories of “Old Corps” events and to connect with folks from nearly 50 years ago. I sent Terry a note to let him know, and he responded back and is reaching out to Diehl. Terry is still flying for the Civil Air Patrol and spending a lot of time shuttling COVID-19 test kits back and forth from Tyler, Texas, to Austin for

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VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes looking around for other opportunities. A.J. said his military experiences with foreign governa nice note from Steve Craddock ’70, who was he and his wife, Ruth, own a home on the James ments. Dennis’ dyke, to say that they had unfortunately John Sykes said they were hanging in there lost contact over the years and that he was sad- River and have been spending a lot of time there dened by the fact that they had not stayed closer. crabbing and fishing and avoiding the crowds. in Bluffton, South Carolina, being careful when going out and practicing social distancing. John This is a good reminder for all of us to stay close Fresh air and clean water! M.B. Adelson is still hunkering down, and said this gives him more time to piddle in his to our VMI family. Tom Clark notified us that his brother, Chris, while he calls the pandemic “burdensome,” he workshop making boxes out of old pallets. John said that “prudence” has weighed in on every- also posted pictures on the class Facebook page passed away Nov. 4. Chris was a Duke graduate and we met him in Colorado Springs a couple thing he and Mary do these days. His favorite of some of his work. Tom Jennings said he and his wife, Lois, were law libraries at the state Supreme Court and of years ago when VMI played the Air Force “maintaining” and doing well. They have been FSU’s school of law are still closed, so he is Academy in football. Chris went with us to able to brighten their day by going to the local the ballgame and of course showed up with his doing more of his journeyman carpenter work Duke shirt on, so Pat had to go get one of her than being a lawyer. However, he said he had a breweries with outside venues to visit with the Carolina shirts! We had a great time together, law student intern working with him and she has kids, celebrate birthdays, and have some good and I know this is a real loss to Tom and Bonnie. “electronic access” so that helps considerably, beer and pizza. I also had a short hello and thank you message Chris was a super guy. Please keep them in your and she is also a second lieutenant in the Marine from Sharon Faulkner. Sharon and Ed Faulkner Corps. So, it seems M.B. is suffering through thoughts and prayers. live in Elon, North Carolina. I told Sharon that I quite well. I mentioned that George Tisdale was in Myrwould love to hear more from them and tle Beach to visit with Michael Smith that I needed to get them involved in the and play golf. I hope that you have been Greensboro Triad Chapter. following George’s mural escapades on Mark Skupien said he decided to reFacebook. George has been painting tire this past spring rather than deal with wall murals of a big cheesy rabbit. He is work and COVID-19. He said he was quite the artist, especially when he isn’t really enjoying retirement and became out hiking the mountains somewhere. a grandfather for the fourth time in AuGeorge loves exploring the trails and gust, so his time has not been all idle. parks in Virginia. Mark said Mike Smith and George TisPete Walters often posts pictures of dale came by to see him over the sumhimself and airplanes. As it turns out, mer and had dinner with him and his he has been working on his private piwife, Phyllis. Mark met up with Danny lot license for quite some time and is Williamson and Ray Burton for some now officially a licensed pilot for single engine aircraft. He also holds a gliders Class of 1973: Terry Howlett volunteers for the Civil Air Pa- trap shooting in October. Skup claims he rating which he earned at VMI. Pete trol, flying along the Mexico border and shuttling COVID-19 beat Danny again; however, I have not had any denial or confirmation on that said he has ordered a kit for a homebuilt supplies. from Danny. two-seater airplane that he hopes to have I occasionally hear from Stuart Seaton. Pat I have not heard from Richard Bancke in quite ready to fly in April. He looks forward to him and his wife, Karen, going out on sightseeing some time, but he sent me a note around Hal- and I had planned to be in Williamsburg during Thanksgiving; however, the facility screwed loween. He said he and his wife had moved to flights in the spring. I love hearing about BRs up our reservations, and we had to cancel at the completing “bucket list” items, especially as we Gretna, Nebraska, and they were doing well. last minute. We had planned to get together with Roland and Judie Tiso have been spending a get older in life. Pete, I hope I get an invitation Stuart and some of the other BRs in the area. lot of time with their new granddaughter in St. to be one of your first passengers! Hopefully, we will have another opportunity Petersburg and enjoy being grandparents! Their A.J. Kendrick sent me a note and admitted it soon. Stuart sent me a note earlier in November daughter, C.J., and son-in-law, Mike, were gethad been a while since he had been in touch with ting ready to move this fall into their first home, to let me know that Steve Stith’s wife, Laurie, me. The COVID-19 pandemic has really been a concern for him as he had a first cousin and so they are all excited about that. Ro reports that passed away. We are all very sorry for your loss, his cousin’s wife die due to the virus. They were Lena Jean is doing quite well! Roland continues Steve. Please keep Steve and his family in your thoughts and prayers, as well. to do pretty well himself and won the National good friends and lived close to them. A.J. said Art Pendleton and I are on Words with Physique Committee Iron Bay Classic in the his oldest son is living in Roanoke and tempoFriends. (And he occasionally lets me beat rarily lost his job but has since been called back bodybuilding category for masters over 60 in Octo work. He is also an adjunct professor at Hol- tober. In the meantime, he continues to keep an him!) Art told me in November that he had had lins University and Virginia Tech. His youngest eye out for consulting opportunities and is giving knee replacement surgery. Initially, he said there was a lot of pain and discomfort; however, he is final touches to his manuscript—a writing about son worked for Disney in Florida and is still

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Class Notes feeling much better now. Art got together with his two 1st Class roommates, Sandy McNamara and Larry Mays, in August for lunch at The Palms in Lexington to relive some fond old memories. R.B. Newman called me in November. I was actually trying to send him a text and “butt dialed” him, and he returned the call immediately. R.B. said he and Becky were doing well and that he is still doing consulting work with the Department of Defense, although his trips to Washington have been few this year and he has mostly been working from home. Great hearing from you, Bob! Neil Carlson made regular postings on the Facebook page during the summer. He said they have been very fortunate as only one of the five hurricanes making landfall in Louisiana actually made it up to his home, and they had minimum damage to their farm. I want to take a minute to say a special thanks to our Brother Rat Bill Boland. We all know what a difficult year this has been with COVID-19, quarantines, closing of stores and restaurants, virtual learning, canceled vacations, and a long list of issues. Certainly, we have seen our share of issues surrounding the Institute. It is very comforting to know that our BR, as president of the Board of Visitors, has been a key figure in working through the issues—listening, learning, negotiating, and keeping an open mind and the future welfare of VMI as his No. 1 priority. I can think of no one that could be doing a better job. It is a hot seat none of us would like to be in; however, Bill is doing an excellent job. Thank you, John William Boland! I have heard from many of you via email, Facebook, phone calls, and text messages. Many agree and others disagree with the actions taking place at VMI. Our generation and class have been through a lot of major changes at VMI—some we liked, some we didn’t like— but the important thing is all have made the Institute stronger. I urge each of you to keep an open mind, listen to all viewpoints, and I encourage you to talk to some of the younger alumni to understand some of the dynamics at play. I think you will find it enlightening. We will survive and we will be stronger. Hope everyone has a great 2021! God bless our team and VMI! In the bonds, Mike

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1974

Snookie Parker

Greetings, Brother Rats, Family, and Friends of the Class of 1974! The following notes cover the period from Aug. 15-Nov. 15. This has been a historically eventful three months since I last crafted class notes. At the moment, the world awaits the tally of the election and the announcement of an interim superintendent for VMI, retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85. Another interesting three months in an unusual year—to say the least. That said, there is not much BR activity on which to report. This quarter, traditionally short on news, is even shorter—not even a Potomac or Tidewater area breakfast on which to report, due primarily to COVID-19. However, I am the eternal optimist thinking that better days are ahead and have always said, “Every day is a good day. Some days are just better than others!” So, here goes! Robert “Moose” Haskell has returned home after volunteering to support Billy Haught’s recovery. After some influence by the Moose, a healthier Billy Haught has vacated his ZZ Top look for a more clean-cut appearance. Billy is looking good sans beard and no cheap sunglasses. Kudos to Moose for the sacrifice. Charley and Debbie Banning are now Mindful Minute video stars. They have started an EZ Tai Chi video series as part of the Life with Cancer program. Their first video, EZ Tai Chi: Pouring, Swinging & Drumming, is at https://www. lifewithcancer.org/category/videos. The Life with Cancer program folks loved how the video turned out and mentioned how much fun the Bannings were to work with. They labeled the “on screen” chemistry as top notch! You know if Debbie and Charley are involved, its likely to be fun. Part two of the EZ Tai Chi series is likely to be available by the time these notes are published. Video stars—go figure! In September, Pat Flynn and I were in Huntsville, Alabama, exploring a COVID-19 disinfecting and protecting potential business opportunity with the Marine Corps. Being a

barbecue aficionado, I felt obligated to sample the legendary Bob Gibson’s BBQ (white sauce) in Decatur, Alabama, and it did not disappoint. While there, I thought I would look in on John and Di Caldwell (Madison, Alabama) – no joy. Had to cut and run early due to an approaching hurricane that actually turned east northeast before hitting Huntsville. Missed the opportunity to visit John and Di, but as A. Schwarzenegger famously says, “I’ll be back!” Don and Carolyn Sharpe happen to be in Jacksonville, Florida, in early October. Joan Bacon (Rob Bacon’s better half) happen to see one of Don’s Facebook posts and made contact. They connected and met for drinks. Rob and Joan are doing well in Gator-land. Don and Carolyn made it back to the Old Dominion safe and sound. Paparazzi was not alerted, no one was arrested ... a good time was had by all—really glad it all worked out! Craig Smith records a gathering of Room 156—a mini reunion (sans Bruce Boswell) at Ken Terry’s house in Williamsburg, Virginia. Nice pic: Craig Smith, Mike Fisher, and Ken

Class of 1974: “Billy Haught sans his ZZ Top look—no beard and not wearing cheap sunglasses!” said Class Agent Snookie Parker of this photo.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes occur this past quarter but due to the viTerry—sadly, still no sign of Bruce Borus has been slipped to April 2021. As swell. What’s up with that? you know, knuckleballs are hard to hit Received a note from George Van and rarely break the same way twice. Laethem. George and Anna are doI’m sure the planning committee will do ing well. They had just returned from the best they can, given what knucklea trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, for balls are thrown their way. Hopefully, Tripp’s (grandson) fifth birthday. They storm clouds will pass and a ray of sunare headed back to Charlotte sometime shine can be found for our 50th. in November when granddaughter AmeI received a nice, informative note lia is expected to make her entrance into from Don Kilcullen. The last time I saw the world. Grandparenting—the most Don, his son, Michael, was headed for underrated activity of all! a tour of duty with the Marines. So, not Received a call from the Outer Banks long ago, I asked how our Marine was Nov. 4—none other than BR Pete Sheldoing these days. It turns out Michael ley. Pete and Susan were enjoying a is no longer in the Marines. He is now break from the hustle and bustle of Raa happy Army infantryman. It’s a great leigh, North Carolina, for the serenity of story worth sharing in Don’s own words. the beach at their bungalow at the Banks. Class of 1974: At the room 156 reunion are (from left) Craig Pete mentioned having had the opportu- and Carol Smith, Mike and Sarah Fisher, and Ken and Betsy “You asked if Michael was still on active duty, and the answer is yes—with nity to have breakfast at the Sand Trap Terry. Bruce Boswell did not attend. the Army! Michael had been at Quantico Tavern next to the Sea Scape Golf Links training lieutenants at The Basic School with full-time Kitty Hawk residents BRs when his enlistment expired. This was Dave Stormont and Phil Parker. Dave when budget sequestration was in efis considered gentry on the Banks since fect and the Department of Defense was he and Penny have been living there downsizing across the board (the Mafor years and they know everybody at rine Corps got hit particularly hard). Mithe Banks ... or more likely, everybody chael saw few options available to him, knows them. Phil and Randy have reso he signed up with the Chesterfield cently retired to the Banks. Pete did deCounty Police Department and started scribe the Banks in November as “some their training academy. Unfortunately, slow living.” Just like he and Susan like he was miserably unhappy there. After it; although, Susan continues with her about five weeks, even though he was Jazzercize instructor duties, now mostly highly ranked, it was clear how unhappy online for her dedicated followers— he was. I urged him to quit. Of course, Zoom before noon. I’m thinking I need he was worried about not finding a job, to get to the Banks, because this crowd but I assured him with his work ethic is likely doing too much front porch sitand abilities that would not be a probtin’ and sippin’ a brown liquid—and is in need of some adult supervision ... just Class of 1974: Gene Rice, Jim Cottrell, Bill Minor, Clint Ander- lem long term. He had started working son, and Don Kilcullen. on his associate degree at Quantico, so sayin’ ... thinking of their safety. he picked up with that and got his AsSpeaking of sippin’ some brown liqsociate of Science degree from John Tyler Comuid ... there is an initiative within the class of who could form a 50th Reunion Bourbon Comsecuring our own barrel of bourbon to be dismittee. We will also need graphics/artwork for munity College. I assumed he was going to go tributed in bottles with a commemorative 50 the bottle label and the etching on the class flask. on to some place like Virginia Commonwealth University or Old Dominion University, but year reunion label accompanied by uniquely Give me a heads up if you are interested in parinstead he went to the Army recruiter—he said designed class flask to be saved and consumed ticipating—the sooner the better. for medicinal purposes only (unless for a very Speaking of our 50th Reunion: Current events the Army had more opportunities than the Maspecial occasion such as a visit by a long lost may have thrown a knuckleball into the planning rine Corps, and he had felt he had been happiBR, a mini reunion of roommates, or the passof our 50th. I know it is not until April 2024, and est when he’d been in the infantry. Go figure. ing of a beloved classmate). Don Ferrell has a lot can happen between now and then. Lane At first, it looked like he wasn’t going to get in. already reached out to Woodford Reserve. Andy Toomey and Gary Trinkle have stepped forward He had a mild astigmatism that the Army misdiEason has a line on a nice class flask. I know to organize the planning effort. As you may re- agnosed as some rare, debilitating eye disease. we have some bourbon aficionados in the class call, the initial reunion planning meeting was to Even when we went to an ophthalmologist who

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Class Notes confirmed it was really a mild astigmatism, the Army wouldn’t budge—the military bureaucracy never wants to admit it made a mistake. I asked Clint Anderson if he might be able to help. Clint had served with the commanding general of Army Recruiting Command and got in touch with him. That broke the log jam. The recruiter said he’d never seen a package move so fast. The recruiter asked Michael if he knew somebody. Michael just shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘My dad graduated from VMI.’ Michael is now at Fort Hood and loving it! The Army made him go back through basic and advanced infantry training (Michael didn’t care about that) and Dec. 28 (while on Christmas leave) he married the former Natalie Nash at Brandy Station, Virginia. Perfect timing on the wedding—right before COVID-19 closed everything down. We had the reception at the refurbished Brandy Station railway station. Of course, it being a railway station, there were some homeless guys hanging around. I felt sorry for them, so I let them crash the reception and get a free meal (Gene Rice, Jim Cottrell, Bill Minor, Clint Anderson, and Don Kilcullen). Natalie did not join Michael right away when he got down to Fort Hood, because she was pregnant and had a midwife up here. So, when Michael’s battalion returned from a NATO deployment to Poland, they let him get off the plane in New York and detour down here in time for the Aug. 26 birth of our first granddaughter—Ellouise Kilcullen (aka ‘Ellie’).” Well, there you have it. An Army infantryman in the family and granddaughter Ellie. All’s well that ends well ... with a little help from Brother Rat Clint Anderson. A couple of BRs to keep in your prayers: I learned that Dave Hickey got tangled up with his new puppy, causing him to fall and break an ankle. Dave described the X-ray as looking like some sunken ship and is depending on his wife, Linda, to get around. Also, Tom Cunningham is fighting Parkinson’s disease with the help of his wife, Robin. I understand the disease is limiting Tom’s mobility. Prayers for Dave and Linda Hickey and Tom and Robin Cunningham. And finally, an update on Gary Lape—as you recall, Bill Faistenhammer (Gary’s roommate 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class years) sent some late breaking sad news just as the Aug. 15 set of class notes were due. Brother Rat Gary Lape’s death Aug. 13, 2020, in Spring, Texas (near Houston), was sudden and unexpected. Gary’s passing was associated with complications due to pancreatic

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cancer. Several BRs wrote: Charlie Gardner noted that pancreatic cancer often causes blood clots. Rich Donohue remembers rooming with Gary, Glenn Morse, and Clark Peele their rat year in room 434. Rob Fulks happen to be in town (from Saudi) for a short while and stepped forward to represent the class at the funeral. Turns out, due to COVID-19, a funeral was not planned. As I mention in the previous set of notes, Gary’s brother, David “Salvo” Lape ’75, was also living in Spring, Texas, and was available to assist the family with arrangements. These circumstances are difficult. Continue to keep Lee Ann and family in your prayers. Snookie Parker: 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

1975

Thomas Mason

Brothers, Sisters, and Casual Passersby, I’m excited and anxious to present you the rich prose you’ve come to expect from my able predecessors. I’m no Conroy or Hemingway or Bill Shakespeare, and you won’t get any rhyming couplets or iambic pentameter coming from the nib of this pen; although, I am partial to the wellcrafted limerick. Since we had our virtual reunion on Zoom Sept. 19, I’ve heard from many of you, so this offering may not be as difficult to produce. It’s the next 19 quarterly columns and the deadline muse I’m worried about! And so, to the news. While Bob Keller continued to coordinate the online reunion, I got started on the September birthday cards, and the first BR I heard from was none other than Art Sigsbury. Sigs and I got caught up after a five-year hiatus. He is in Rancho Palos Verdes, California (not far from Long Beach), married to Aurelia, and raising two young men, a junior and senior in high school, who are about to achieve Eagle Scout status. Arthur John has a capital management company in

which he advises clients on the ups and downs of the S&P markets on how to maximize investment profits. John Logan wrote and advised he and his wife have left Connecticut and relocated to The Villages in Florida. John is retired from the United Nations organization and is tired of raking leaves and shoveling snow! Glenn Garland, Lowrie Tucker, and Paul Bernard and his friend, Dr. Susan Griffin, hiked up House Mountain on the Saturday of the Zoom reunion and couldn’t return in time to tune in to the virtual session. They did send me a nice message and photo the next day. Glenn Garland has gotten to be very good with the four-step box cha-cha. Glenn keeps Timberland or Merrell or Keen or Columbia boots or from whatever brand of footwear he prefers for his Gumpian walkabouts, in business. This is the real Renaissance man of our class. Dan Darnell reached out from Leesburg, Virginia, and advised me that he and Vickie still have relatives in the Roanoke Valley where they grew up. Dan hopes we can get together for lunch sometime as they visit this area every few weeks. They got together with John Greene and his wife, Joan, in Frederick, Maryland, for a meal. Dan and John flew F-15 Strike Eagles in the same Air Force unit. Ellett Smith remains in northern Virginia and is still recovering from a terrific lightning storm in early June that brought a large tree down on their home, doing significant damage but not injuring anyone in the house. Ellett is retired, and the Smiths are patiently looking at properties in Franklin, Bedford, or Roanoke County in which to relocate, as they, too, have kinfolk in the area. Dan Brooks is in Wilmington, Delaware, and is still the head man at his company. He stated that he has named a new managing partner and has slowly stepped back from many of the dayto-day management duties, handing off many of his clients to other facilitators in the organization. Dan sees Bill Witherow and Frank Hillson from time to time. Greg Stultz sent a text requesting contact information on Barry Hughes. Greg retired from Michelin this past April and resides in Stow, Ohio. He and Kathleen are also looking at purchasing a condo in the Roanoke area, as he still has a couple of close relatives here where he grew up. By the way, I did help him find Barry. Tom and Peggy Jones report that they just lead

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Glenn Furr has had one new knee replacement in mid-October, and he may have had the second knee done (in January 2021) before these notes are released. Guy Conte then drove to Savannah, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, to see his son and daughter, respectively, and then back to Atlanta before returning an exhausted rental car and returning to Scottsdale. Finally, Jerry Dewaters wrote to report he has nothing to report. In early October, I received a nice note from Bill Overton which contained an encouraging personal Class of 1975: During summer school in 1972 are (from left) John Maples, John Whitworth, Jay Jones, Randy Anderson, and Rich McFar- message and informed me on how he and Dolores were handling the land before a trip to Buena Vista, Virginia. COVID-19 deal and coping with not being able to see their kids and grandkids. In 2020, they also began a Weight Watchers regimen in which he has lost the equivalent of a bag of Quik Crete! In Bill’s retirement, he serves part-time as a senior judge and notes that some justice is being dispensed, but jury trial dockets are backlogged. John Maples, too, sent a nice note expressing his pleasure at being able to catch up with a lot of guys and renew the bonds of brotherhood at the virtual reunion. John and Dan Schultz stayed in a home up on Class of 1975: Paul Bernard, Glenn Garland, and Lowrie Tucker hiked Main Street in Lexington, visited Devil’s Backbone brewery, relived House Mountain Sept. 19, 2020. some of the quaint charm of town, visited barracks, and interviewed a rat on his health and well-being. John also remarked at the courage I’ve displayed in this undertaking. Bo Temple reported that he and Nancy have been laying pretty low during this COVID-19 pandemic, going out only when necessary, including to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health for his cancer treatments. It was great to see and hear Bo speak on the Zoom reunion in September. Bo imparted a brief yet powerful saying on many of his BRs that went something like, “There’s no education in the second kick of the mule.” RIP, brother rat; sleep well. Dean Armstrong has plans to travel to Midway Class of 1975: The Pond House group gathered Oct. 23, 2020. Island and Wake Island to walk the World War II

ho-hum lives in South Bend, Indiana. They see three of their five grandchildren frequently and host family and friends for Notre Dame home football weekends. Tom says there is no real VMI alumni base there and that he stays in touch with Yulee Richardson, Sigs, and Glenn Garland. A long phone call revealed that Tom and I both still receive and enjoy the daily newspaper tossed onto the front stoop ... inkstained wretches, we! In mid-September, Guy Conte made a trip east from Scottsdale, Arizona, and met up with Jerry Dewaters, who drove down from Long Island, New York, to The Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. They were joined by Ollie Way and Glenn Furr for golf on the Old Course. A day later Guy and Jerry drove to Lexington, found a hotel, watched old movies, told ghost stories, made hot chocolate and s’mores, had pillow fights, and played golf again with Stewart Fleming, Glenn Furr, Doug Harvey, and me at Lexington Golf & Country Club. We played nine holes in the rain, but we pretty much got to play as a six-some. We had lunch in the clubhouse, watched the U.S. Open, told stories, and went over to the VMI Bookstore for grins. What we didn’t do was get a group photo of everyone! I’ll take the 5-1-5 for that gaff!

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Class Notes battle sites on two separate trips in 2021. Previ- trip to Greece, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland ously, Dean has been to Guadalcanal and Bataan canceled, so they settled on Myrtle Beach instead ... adapting to the virus. They enjoy retirement and Corregidor on Luzon Island. He is an avid and see their kids and grandkids as often as posstudent of World War II, and I enjoyed a long sible. conversation with him in late October over many Richard “Maco” McFarland wrote in and exmatters, most of which cannot be shared in this plained his coming out of retirement and his new family publication! job as babysitter for his 6-month-old (in October) Oliver and Bonnie Way are going to miss close family terribly as son Barrett Way ’08 and granddaughter, Virginia. He joyfully does this wife Jesse and three kiddoes will relocate from task three to four days a week for three to five Richmond, Virginia, to Indianapolis, Indiana, to hours a day to help his daughter and son-in-law become executive director of a large continuing care retirement community there. The young folks will be missed going from 15 minutes distance to a 10-hour road trip. In early October, I received a very nice call from Jeff Abravesh, who was relocating to Venice, Florida, the weekend of our Zoom reunion. I was successfully able to send him the link and videotape of the event, which I believe he enjoyed. Jeff and his wife, Feri, have recently become first-time grandparents. Harry McKnight wrote in late October that his daughter had been exposed to the virus and that he and Megan had to quarantine for two weeks. Harry stated this was the first season in 60 years he hasn’t done anything involving football except watching some on TV. He misses his fellow game officials. Harry expressed his sincere gratitude for the presentation of the virtual reunion in Class of 1975: Rick and Suzanne Hening September; he was pleased to see so many BRs at Epcot Center in October 2020. tuned in. Tad McGowan sent greetings from Annapolis, Maryland, and shared the news that he and Bev have adopted Blossom, a Maine Coon from the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The little dickens is 7 months old (as of October 2020), very social, companionable, and playful. Earlier in 2020 Tad and Bev took a 2,700-mile trip through eight states while visiting Zion, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks, and Las Vegas. All four of his children made the trip. Tad remains active in his Christian community gathering by Zoom or at outdoor venues. Rick “Dawg” Law wrote in from Jacksonville, Florida, with some interesting news. He and ParioLee had a nice trip to Maui in January, watched Class of 1975: Class members after a parade Oct. 24, 2020. the whale migration, had a planned

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do their paying jobs. This pandemic has sidelined Maco’s long held plans to relocate. Oct. 23-25, 2020, saw the arrival of the ninth edition of the Pond House gathering in Lexington. Dearly missed this year were Kimo Wong and wife Shelley, and Anne Vanderberry. On a beautiful Friday, the battle royale commenced on the LGCC golf course with Fleming, Morgan, Vanderberry, and Nunn taking on Way, Chapin, and Mason. This clash of titans ended in a tie with both teams finishing four under par. Ollie may have been somewhat disappointed at this result, as his preparation for this event included a busy summer of driving camp, sand trap/hazard camp, chipping camp, long iron camp, putting camp, and even caddy camp! So, the coveted Thomas S. Baur ’75 Memorial Cup, and the Room for Improvement Cup will safely remain on Judy Baur’s living room mantle for another year. All of the spouses, including Judy Baur, gathered as a group at LGCC, socializing over drinks and a delicious dinner. On Saturday morning, most of the group rejoined on the VMI Parade Ground to watch only the second dress parade of the fall semester. There was some discussion as to whether this was the first parade ever attended by A. Morgan and S. Chapin. Next, the group traveled to the Rockbridge Vineyard for wine, cheese, and polite social discourse and then on to Lavender Fields for an afternoon picnic and hike to a waterfall on the property. We punctuated the day with beer and dinner in Lexington at Brew Ridge Taps. Sunday morning brought hugs and goodbyes as everyone returned to their cloistered homes. Grant Scott wrote in from Waldorf, Maryland, that he is surviving room confinement by reading, doing yard work, watching a little TV, and exploring more of the internet. Always faithful contributors to this column, Rick and Suzanne Hening write that he thoroughly enjoyed the Zoom reunion in September and the highlight film of the ’74 SoCon championship football season. Rick was the sports editor of the Cadet newspaper and loved writing the game recaps that year. The family went to Orlando, Florida, for a 30th birthday celebratory trip for son

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Sam in October and did the Magic Kingdom, to get away this year for any time away from medicine. As many of you know, Jay likes to Epcot, Disney Springs, Hollywood Studios, travel to the high country of the Sangre de and Animal Kingdom. Sam has returned to his Cristo mountains, participating in cattle drives apartment in Raleigh, so the Henings are empty and brandings, tracking and chasing buffalo nesters once again. Rick also remarked that he received many favorable comments on the VMI and elk herds, and sleeping with his saddle as a pillow. Jay does cowboy the right way, no Class of ’75 reunion jacket as he’s worn it. The always popular John Whitworth wrote in dude rancher he. I’d be remiss if I didn’t close with a heartfelt for the first time in 45 years and related his joy at seeing so many BRs on the Zoom reunion. John thank you to Bob Keller for the smooth handoff happily remembered his first of three summer and getting me marching to the right beat, “nine to the front, six to the rear, heels, heels, heels!” I schools in 1972 in which he and four other classClass of 1976: “Demonstrating the latest only hope he is enjoying his new rocking chair. mates dressed up and drove over to the Kenney style in the Class of 1976 face mask are So much for the colorful inaugural. I’ll set Burger in Buena Vista to create some mischief. Maury and Libby Gatewood, but someaside my feather and scroll and move on to the My commitment is to gently coach John along how the dog reversed the masks when they were not looking,” said Bill Bhatta, and distill his life into bite sized helpings over holiday cards. I hope no one has gotten a queaclass agent, of this photo. these next years for everyone’s consumption. It sy stomach or thrown up in their own mouth. Never above you, never below you, always will be a Bacchanalian feast. systems, VMI will address identified issues head beside you ... Robert Mills and I exchanged a few lines reon. Interim superintendent, retired U.S. Army Your brother, garding the Christmas/holiday cards, the sheer Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, said in the Richmond Tom Mason volume of the task at hand, and the agreement Times-Dispatch Nov. 14, 2020: “Those things that that the class agent could save precious time we know that need to be corrected, we’re going to and energy by excluding himself from the take action, and we’re going to take action swiftly, birthday and holiday lists. The motto I follow William Bhatta if possible.” As the dust settles, VMI will emerge with reading Robert’s emails is dictionary in stronger than before, and “Old red, white, and yelright hand and thesaurus in left hand. low will triumph again!” Robert “Jelly Bear” Taylor reported that the I want to thank VMI’s 14th superintendent. Gen. annual pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota Binford Peay ’62 lives and breathes the VMI came together with only minor hiccups. Ron spirit. He served us exceptionally well the past 17 Brother Rats, Bongiovanni and Steve Chapin were unable These notes were written Nov. 14, 2020. The big years. He is a great American and alumnus. He to make the trip and were given excused absence status. Billy Hunter and Mike Hunter elephant in the room is the October 2020 series profoundly changed VMI for the better. I wish and Mike’s two sons drove to South Dakota of events which propelled VMI into the alumni Gen. Peay and his wife well in all their future enfrom Tazewell, Virginia, got lost somewhere and public spotlight. Rest assured, while protect- deavors! And now our class notes. in Minnesota or Wisconsin, and allowed Siri ing the honor, class, regimental, and adversarial Billy Karnes moved to Fort Monroe, to lead them into the nexus of the uniVirginia, two years ago. He plans to reverse out in the Midwest before sorting main there through May, but then Billy it all out. J. Bear and Allen Morgan and his wife plan to put their household flew out of Richmond without incigoods in storage and head west for the dent. Jelly Bear stated the weather was next eight months in their 32-foot travperfect, they reduced the pheasant cenel trailer. Hey, Billy, use your mobile sus, and enjoyed BR fellowship, good phone’s VMI app to see where BRs live food, guns and ammo, dogs, and just along your travel route so you can plan a the wee-est dram of whiskey, imagine! stop to say hello! Billy said his RV was Dr. Jack Newcomer found time in “a little longer than I wanted, but the his very busy schedule to write a nice floor plan was exactly what I was looknote describing his fight with the COing for. We really enjoy RVing with our VID-19 issues in West Palm Beach, grandchildren ... plan to travel as health Florida. Jay has now spent 35 years will allow ... may transition to a Class C working as a family practice/sports Class of 1976: At a Midlothian, Virginia, restaurant in Octoin about eight years to reduce the risk.” medicine doctor and has seen scores ber 2020 are Jim Delisio, Jim Mallon, and Bill Bhatta, wear(A Class C recreational vehicle is built of patients with the virus and a double ing class face masks. on an automotive van or truck frame figure death toll. He has not been able

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Class Notes

Class of 1976: Charlie Aycock with a new grandchild and a 1976 face mask.

Class of 1976: Tom Turlip wearing his 1976 face mask.

Class of 1976: Mark and Laura Moncure wearing their 1976 face masks. 108

with an attached cab section.) If you have any “must see” travel stop recommendations for Billy and his wife, let them know! Mark Sculley and his wife are traveling, too! Mark said, “My wealth adviser calls it the gogo years. Then comes the slow-go years then the no-go years. So, travel while you can enjoy it!” Last summer, the Sculleys traveled to the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Escalante Grand Staircase National Parks. Mark said they took “the dirt car—I mean Bernadette’s Volvo—to help us get around in off-road mode.” I told Mark I had hiked the Grand Canyon from rimto-rim several years ago and asked him if he planned to do the same. He said, “I will not be hiking from rim to rim. If I go down into the canyon, I had better have a tombstone in my backpack.” The Sculleys also did a road trip through Colorado, stopping at Telluride, Breckenridge, Vail, Copper Mountain, and Aspen. Speaking of Colorado ski areas, Mark told me Marshall Coyle bought some property near Steamboat Springs, where he plans to build a cabin with his kids. Well, it is that time again—our 45th Reunion at VMI is scheduled for Oct. 29-30, 2021. Block your calendars now! As far as the reunion goes, the next elephant in the room is COVID-19. I do not know whether we will be able to meet at VMI for the traditional reunion or have a new, Zoom-like, virtual reunion. In any case, if our traditional VMI reunion is canceled and Virginia’s COVID-19 restrictions allow it, let me know if you would be interested in attending a private class reunion in Virginia—reply to the poll on the VMI Class of 1976 Facebook group page or contact me directly. That is it for now. I apologize for this note’s brevity. I have been on the road quite a bit. Michelle and I burned over 10,000 miles either in the truck and/or RV, crossing the U.S. from Virginia to California the last couple of months. Some of the travel was last minute and unexpected, otherwise I would have touched base with you along the route beforehand. I know I passed through the Jeff Wall and Mike Stauffer area of operations, maybe others. My next RV trip will be traveling to different beaches this summer, down the East Coast to the Keys, up the west coast of Florida, across the Florida panhandle, then back up the East Coast again. I should have plenty of sand to share at the reunion in October!

1977

Mark Bryant 3

Brother Rats! Once again, I am writing things that you will be reading in February. Makes it somewhat hard to stay up to date. It is Founders Day, Nov. 11, here today as I write. Raining very hard, so no parade on the Parade Ground today. We are sending the Corps home to finish this semester at the end of next week. You can imagine that most of their minds and attention have already left. Ring Figure will be a class dinner right before they leave. COVID-19 conditions still reign, and we are all still wearing masks and conducting a lot of classes and meetings on Zoom. Whatever would we have done 40 years ago? I decided last week to develop and use an email list to reach the class with news or communications. It seems to work pretty well. It is more convenient in many ways than the email tool that I was using provided by the Alumni Association. In addition, it will give me some ready information to share and to pass on to our next class agent! So many things have been happening recently with respect to VMI that I do not even know what to put in here that you will see three months from now. Some of the things I have shared in class communications might be censored out anyway, so I will just keep those out of the Alumni Review for now. I had a tremendous response from BRs, and it is very gratifying. I will ask again in case you did not see it or have forgotten, to please send me an email (mhbryant77@gmail.com) just to confirm your preferred email address and that you wish to stay on the list and receive communications. It is always good to know we are all out there and still in touch. BRs who checked in include Robby Robertson and John Cutwright. Paul Jones wrote that he is finishing a Doctor of Divinity degree about the time we read this. Doug Simms and his wife, Marilyn, are building a new home for retirement in Prattville, Alabama. Also got nice replies from Kevin “Barney” Knotts, Tom DeSalvo, John Barr, and Bill Nay.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Buster Pace says he is now fully retired and has moved to Kiawah Island for plenty of golf and beach living. I think we should plan a reunion that centers on Buster’s place soon. Also got check-ins from Tom Pender, Mike Horn, and Chip Davis. Newby Mauck says he and his knees are still in service and that he has kept in touch with Bill Powell, Tim Snyder, and even Steve Bryant! Bob Hartzell wrote that he and Deb are doing well, proud of their son who is Army infantry (hooah) and recently completed company command in the 82nd and is still at Fort Bragg. Heard also from George Kalaris, Danny Streett, Scott Snow, and Tommy Cole. Tom Orrell says he still sees Glenn Trimmer occasionally in Stafford County. Charlie Angemeer is still in Pittsburgh and has plans to visit Berlin again as soon as he is off COVID-19 “confinement.” Mark Hunt wrote that he and Mary Lou are doing fine and that he links up with his old roommates, Steve Heinrich and Danny Streett, on Zoom calls. Got a great response from Mike Meise, now retired and still living in Roanoke, although he says their “other” home at Smith Mountain Lake is very comfortable. (Sounds like another class get-together). Mike’s son (Class of ’18) is now a CH-47 pilot in Korea. Dave Ralph wrote to let us know he is semi-retired in Canton, Massachusetts, near Boston. Rod Lynn and his wife, Irene, have enjoyed hiking the mountains of North Georgia near their home. Rod wound up just a few miles from good old Camp Merrill where many of us trained. Rick Hagreen sent an update from Kent, Washington, where he and his wife, Tammy, recently celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary. Ray Pietruszka checked in from the Huntsville area and says life is fine. Also got a nice reply from Steve Billingsley, enjoying the rural and retired life near Branson, Missouri. He says we could also have a great class mini reunion there with some great golf courses and music venues (hmmm). Greg Leck wrote to update his BRs. Sadly, he lost his beloved wife, Deb, to cancer in February. He reports that life is quiet. He has retired from Montgomery County, Maryland, and still works part time for the Virginia Department of Transportation in the Culpeper district. I got news from Reed Bonadonna, who has been authoring books on leadership, working on a screenplay about George Marshall ’901 (I’d love

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to see that), and retired from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy not too long ago. Bob Gutjahr wrote and says he and his wife are renovating a retirement home near the University of New Hampshire and will be moving there from Maryland soon. Eric Radford, Jim Bradshaw, and John Esada all reported in as OK. Steve Kelly is still on the lake in North Carolina and celebrating VMI days with his older brothers, Jim ’71 and Mike ’73. Chris Manno is still teaching English classes at Texas Christian University, writing books, and drawing some very popular cartoons and collections of cartoons. Be sure to get one autographed, because I’m sure they will be collector’s items. I got an “all right” from Brother Rats Doug Simms in Alabama, Mick Lafferty, and Bob Caudle in Roanoke. It was also good to get a ping back from my old roommate, Rick Joslyn, in Georgia. Jerry Corley is retired in Melbourne, Florida, and Chuck Floyd said hello as well. Mike Conaway wrote a great update. He is still working in his second career in engineering after retiring from the Navy in 2006. Mike and Carol live in Virginia Beach. Mike describes staying fit, doing a lot of boating and enjoying a family doing well across the globe. Joe Molina is still the “chaps” at The Citadel (you know, that other place). Rich Howell is still working a good bit for Booz Allen and living in Williamsburg. Now with two bionic hip joints, Rich doesn’t let that slow him down on the bicycle at all. He and Dianne enjoy a lot of family time with son Brennan (U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel) and family, and daughter Kellan and her husband, Jason, who are both journalists in the Washington, D.C. area. Mark Waldrop also spends a good bit of time on the road bike. Still in Buckingham, he stays in touch on Facebook and through the class prayer group. On a sad note, the Class of ’77 lost a great supporter a few weeks ago. Gus Robbins let me know that is father, Gus Robbins III ’47, passed away at the age of 93. “Big Gus” was good to all who knew him, and he surely loved VMI. Please see the remembrance in the After Taps section of this issue. Gary Haste says he is still working as a civil engineer but thinking of retiring soon. Larry Heim wrote a nice note to update us. He retired last year but stays busy renovating several rental properties. Spends most of his time in South

Carolina (just north of Buster Pace) and Tennessee. Larry is still running marathons! Better knees than most of us. Speaking of knees, after getting both knees replaced last summer, Eric Hutchings is moving great. He let me know that he plans to retire from his post as deputy athletic director at VMI after nearly 20 years here (seven as commandant). The big man still plans to be around, and is hoping for some part time activity around the “I.” I’m sure you have all been following news about VMI through the media or through the Alumni Association updates. As of this submission, retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85 has been named interim superintendent while the Board of Visitors conducts a search for the next VMI superintendent. Their target date for the new superintendent to take office is around June 2021. This week, the Corps departs early for the Thanksgiving holiday and will finish the fall semester online at home. They are due to return to post in late January. It is good to hear from anyone, anytime. Please let me know how you are doing and if you are near Lexington any time. I really hope that, when it is time to write to you all again in 2021, we all have plenty of good news to share. My best to all of you, Mark B.

1978

Tom Brown

Greetings, Brother Rats! As I write these notes, many are enjoying a warm spell before the chilling effects of winter set in to stay. Ron Dolan posted pictures of snow at his place from before Halloween, proving not all of us get a break. I hope all have gotten over the changes at the Institute. If Hunter was unsuccessful, other attempts will fail, as well. Mother “I” will continue to be an outstanding experience for those bold enough to enter in. Now for the new from around the class. Ron Dolan: “All is quiet in Minnesota, especially with the state in a continued lockdown. Our two-week trip to Europe was canceled due to the pandemic, so we took a road trip to South

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Class Notes Dakota to see Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Sturgis (Full Throttle Bar), and Devils Tower. Otherwise spending time fishing, campfires, a good beverage, and spending time with our grandchildren. Stay safe, stay healthy BRs.” Mark Lowe: “All right here.” Dave Colonna: “All is well here. Big news on the homefront: My New York City daughter and fiancé decided to end their tiny apartment selfisolation and become nomads, starting with an extended stay with us. Patty and I were thrilled, and they got married on the back porch as an added bonus! Ten people total in attendance. I even cooked the wedding reception meal, just like Father of the Bride. I even wore a dark blue suit! These strange times have blessings that we could never have predicted. I’m still working and getting N-95 mask rub marks on the bridge of my nose. I miss traveling, restaurants, and getting out with friends, but I don’t allow myself one iota of self-pity. So many people have it much, much harder and have lost more than I, and I have the health of my family to be thankful for. I also think of my dad, VMI ’44, whose entire class was pulled out in summer 1943 and pressed into active duty. They were initially told they would be enlisted men in the Army to boot, so he and some classmates illicitly joined the Marines and got commissions instead! They had to go before the superintendent and ask that he sign the papers to release them from the Army so they could join the Marine Corps. To say that the supe was unhappy is an understatement (my dad told me that story many, many times). He would be 99 years old now. I never heard him complain one bit about those years. Our duty is clear: Get up every day and do what we have to do for our family and friends, and country. That’s all I’ve got!” John Tucker: “All right from Columbus, Ohio.” Pete Manoso: “All OK in Newport News, Virginia, where we have lived in the same house for nearly 40 years. Beth and I were married in the Lexington Presbyterian Church and will celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary in June. She grew up in Lexington where her father managed the old Rose’s Store in downtown Lexington for over 20 years; they tore down the store the year after we graduated. The family lived up on Brushee Hill behind the Keydette General; you can see the house from Jackson Arch by looking over Marshall Library and to the right of the radio antennae. Our granddaughter, Caroline Ruth Manoso, will be 1 year old Nov. 21. She presented me with my first grandfather’s day gifts this past summer. I still plan

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to get her a provisional appointment to VMI, but unfortunately, she will likely be a Hoo like her parents (my son and daughter-in-law, UVa 2009) and great-uncle and great-aunt (my brother and his wife, UVa 1993). Caroline and her parents live in Dominion Hills in Arlington, Virginia, and according to the VMI Alumni app, at least a dozen VMI alumni are within 25 miles of their house, including our brother rat and my 3rd and 1st Class year roommate, Mark Walrod. Mark, too, has been blessed with a granddaughter who just turned five and already has a provisional appointment to VMI. He reports that, for the first time in his life, he is learning to play Barbies and enjoys doing so with his granddaughter. I look forward to the day when I can do the same with Caroline. My attic is full of boxes of G.I. Joe, Barbie, and American Girl dolls that belonged to our son and daughter. Does anybody know if the VMI bookstore or anyone else sells G.I. Joe, Ken, Barbie, or American Girl dolls in VMI uniforms? I recall seeing a Ken doll in uniform from the 1960s at the VMI Museum years ago but don’t know if it’s still there or just

Class of 1978: Bill Robertson and Bill Mecredy.

Class of 1978: Rick Wolffe at Crabtree Falls.

a figment of my imagination. Mark has never attended a class reunion but promises to join us at our 45th in 2023. If I don’t see you before then, hope to see all of you there in fall 2023. Stay safe and COVID-free.” Rick Wolffe: “Crabtree Falls hiking.” Andy Faulconer: “All good in the Faulconer home. Celya and I have been spending a lot of time in the mountains of Amherst and Nelson counties. Playing a fair amount of golf in this beautiful fall weather.” Gerry Robinson: “All right.” Blaine Vorgang: “Wendy and I continue to remain in an ‘all right’ status for the email stick check.” Scott Putney: “All right!” Bruce Kay: “Greetings from Maryland! We are all healthy here and status is ‘all right!’ Hard to believe I am doing my late fall yard work and still wearing shorts! All you guys that have moved south may have missed the mark. Of course, in late December and January when it is freezing and snowing here, I’ll wish I were south of here. Stay well, hope everyone is safe and healthy.” Harry McClellan: “All right, sir! I am supporting the Army’s night vision laboratory; I have completely failed retirement. I work on a project led by Doctor Brandon Dodd ’14, and our customer is Lieutenant Colonel Matt McKee ’00. Keeping me young! Shari is head trainer at Sandy Run Scullers, rowing on the Occoquan. She doesn’t have many students flip! We had the pleasure of dining with Lynn and Bryant Street a few months back, and they were doing well, as engaging as ever. Hoping we tame COVID-19 soon as daughter’s Fulbright grant to teach English in Germany is on indefinite hold. Take care and stay safe everyone!” Brion Smith: “‘All right’ with Judy and I here in Keswick, Virginia. I retired last month after 24 years with the Army, followed by four with a nonprofit, and then 10 years with the Defense Intelligence Agency. Our priorities now turn to family, health, golf, and maybe catching up with BRs, too!” Leland Horn: “No news to report, just older but still going strong.” Ed Little: “Mary and I have stayed healthy during the pandemic, as have our two grown children, our parents, and our two grandchildren. During this time, I have been teleworking 100%; Microsoft Teams is useful, but it gets old after a while. Mary retired recently to finish her

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes successful recovery from cancer. She has spent the time sewing a lot of colorful masks for a couple of hospitals and doctors’ offices. We have been blessed during these difficult circumstances with our health and being close to our grandchildren. We have the tickets for our next cruise in March and look forward to traveling more.” Alec Earle: “All’s well with Sheila and me. We are still in California on our almond farm and hope to start traveling (RVing) again next year.” Dave Mecredy: “Went to Georgia to visit dad and mom (Jim ’52 and Lucette) a few weeks ago. While there, I got to see brothers Tim ’80, and Ron ’82 and visited with classmate Bill Robertson and wife Nancy.” Bob Fricke: “All is well in Colorado. I just became a certified private investigator and formed an LLC. I’m still teaching but within a year or two will retire and hopefully can spend the rest of my life doing P.I. work being my own boss. Also, our trip to Fort Robinson, Nebraska, is on again for next summer! We are rescheduled for July 2830, 2021. This is a check formation for ’78! All BRs are highly encouraged to attend. Check VMI Alumni Association website for details. Also, I’m working with VMIAA and chaplain’s office to try to make VMI Bibles available for purchase. We didn’t get them when we graduated, so let’s be able to get one now.” That concludes the latest status from around the class. Please remember to keep in contact with your BRs and send their status so we stay connected. As I have relocated back to Florida, I will miss the gathering at football games and beer call in Lynchburg. I hope to connect with the sunshine state BRs or those visiting Florida. Stay connected! In the Spirit, Tom/EZ Bear

1979

Michael Ogden

Hope this finds everyone safe and well. Let’s see what Bill Albro has to say, shall we? I think we shall! “Founders Day. Armistice Day. Veterans Day. Reporting from southern Maryland. I got my annual physical and lab work (birthday month), and all is well. It is the apex of fall here in southern Maryland, and I

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have been skirmishing with the trees over the leaves. I am now fortunately ahead after much time/effort. Roommate Brad Jones invited me down to his farm near Columbia, Virginia, in early September. He was having a dove shoot and invited several BRs to hunt and hang out. I counted 14 BRs, and I suspect Brad invited me to keep the critical mass in check. I did not shoot (thought about it, though), so I hung out, helped Brad (as best I could anyway—you can only do so much with the raw materials given), and otherwise had fun. Rob Maxie and his son came by, and it was great seeing him get around to see the BRs at their various shooting positions and regalia. Many doves were shot, and many stories swapped. Several of us spent the night. I left when BRs Jones, Taylor, and Powers were launching a fishing expedition on Leon Hanson Pond. I brought Meade Spotts a batch of eclairs on my way back home through Richmond. It’s always great to have Cheryl’s tranquility in the maelstrom of Meade’s gonzo. “Called Sput; he has been mostly hanging in Richmond these past few months and will probably be going to close up the Whitestone cottage soon. I texted Dan Sheehan last week after the pool opened here. Dan is still swimming, as well (albeit at a much different level than moi); we talked about getting together with Dean Smith during his next trip this way. “I called Noel Harris and got filled in on DECA things, as well as farm plans and upkeep. “Bill Bersson called me when he was on the road somewhere for work. We discussed his soon to be diminished real estate holdings and moved on to the discussion of what’s going on with VMI in the news and statues and resignations and all that kind of stuff. Smartest thing I got out of the conversation was Bill saying that ‘we can’t do anything about the past ... we can only try and make today and tomorrow better.’ BR Bersson is much smarter than he lets on. “Although I missed the last one, the BR Zoom meetings that Ed Johnson started continue. I find it refreshing to sign on and lurk in the background and hear what folks are up to. “As we have all seen—lots of communications about VMI and elections and pandemic and all that hoo hah. I take it all as I can, and I trust that we can be civil and rational (and look for humor). We don’t need the stress, and the nation sure could use a break. Not much other news to report. Be safe and wash your hands

copiously, folks. That is all; return to what you were doing.” Thanks, Bro, for a great update on your doings and those of other BRs. If only other BRs would catch on ... (sigh) if only! John Kailey becomes eligible to retire from the Feds in January, although he says he will probably keep at it for at least three-and-a-half more years. Having recently joined the ranks of the retired, I can vouch that is not overrated! Keep at it, John! Jeff Curtis and Betsy and sold their home in Williamsburg in early November and have put all of their stuff in storage and transitioned to their place in St. Petersburg, Florida. They will be taking their time looking for a home “up north.” They are still looking in Virginia and South Carolina. I mentioned how quiet is in here at the Eastern Shore of Virginia, but Jeff evidently has a bridge phobia! Seriously? OK, it’s a long bridge, but it’s a low bridge! Good luck house hunting! Maria (Brad) Jones writes in for Brad, who never gets around to replying! Thank you, Maria. How I love your significant others, BRs! Maria writes, “Brad is retiring in February 2021 and now we have a grandson—Mason Jones— who Brad will spend his retirement teaching to hunt and fish. He’s in heaven! I hope all his BRs call him to take them hunting, too, because I don’t want him hanging around the house!” You heard it here, BRs ... Sounds like an “order” to me! Bob Sievert writes from Colorado, “No big change for us except that I am doing some traveling again for work. So far, a couple trips to Richmond to work with the old team at the state and several trips to Lexington, Kentucky, to host several virtual events for our organization (NASPO) instead of in person conferences. All good, otherwise.” Marc Withers pens, “Really not much for me to say. My wife and I are doing well, and we’re glad the election is over. On our small farm, we are finishing up harvesting all of our produce and preparing for winter and colder weather. The worsening coronavirus situation means I almost exclusively work from home for my regular job with MITRE. I generally now, unfortunately, read with dismay the articles about VMI that make the newspaper. Hopefully VMI officials can resolve the situation.” James Owens sends (like a good BR should): “Still at Eustis writing about future Army warfare.

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Class Notes Dan Wilson ’88 attended the gathering. I Was part of a team that recently had an had worked with both gentlemen over the article published in Military Review disyears and am proud to know them both. cussing the Army’s latest war fighting My friend J.C. Miers ’84 called me and concept. I see Bob Simpson ’78 pretty wished me well as he was unable to atoften as we are on the same contract. Got tend due to a prior appointment. J.C. and a truck in recognition of my latest birthKen are also Virginia State Police retirees day only to have someone rear end me who have paved the way for me. I want to three days later ... he thought I was going thank all my BRs who sent congratulatory to go through the red light—with a cop messages. I was deeply touched by the facing me on the other side ... some peooutpouring. I hope to see more of everyple. I’ve finished approximately half of body now that I have some openings in my my doctoral program in strategic leaderschedule!” Congrats, Dave, and welcome ship ... never done so much writing in Class of 1979: Doug Doerr and Tom Manley tackling a Woundto da retirement club! my life! Otherwise, staying at home, tryed Warriors charity hike up Old Rag Mountain Nov. 13, 2020. Rod Decorate says, “Sorry, just doing ing to avoid politics and COVID.” the usual boring stuff around the house. Ray Duffett’s daughter, Dana Green, graduated from the Medical University of South the year—a get-away to South Carolina just Still working on that 18-month backlog on the Carolina with a master’s in physician assistant south of Myrtle Beach. We are suffering with- honey-do list. Completed a lot of projects, but for some reason it never gets any smaller!” I know the studies July 2020. She is now a PA at an urgent drawal from the absence of cruises and just put our next one on the books for almost two years feeling! Thanks for dropping me an email, Rod! care near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her husfrom now.” Doug Doerr send in: “My company announced band is an MBA student at UNC. Congrats to Ben Bauman and Tracy visited with John and that it would donate $50 to Wounded Warriors for Dana! Jeff Goldhardt checks in: “We had fam- Julie Vaughan in Toccoa, Georgia. Ben says, any employees that would hike Old Rag Mountain ily visitors. Before they got here, old carpet “We visited Tallulah Falls, Currahae Vineyards Nov. 13. Because of other commitments, I could removed, house cleaned and inside painted, spa and had dinner together. They are both doing well. not hike that day, so I hiked it Nov. 4. Tom Mandrained. Lawn cut in 100-degree temperatures. John was able to hike around the trails with us and ley hiked it with me, and we had a great hike on a They had never been past Tolar as teenagers ... his knees are much better. We definitely walked magnificent day! We were not fast but steady on country critters (coyotes, lizards, snakes, wild slowly and carefully. Tracy and I traveled to St. the ascent and descent. We even made a hot lunch Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, back in July. It was on the summit. It was a great day together.” Sounds hogs, bobcat, mountain lion) here. Son-in-law fixed front gate motor and media room projec- great fun and relaxing. No crowds at all as every- like fun ... would have liked to have joined you! one was hunkered down due to the coronavirus, Meade Spotts with a late entry: “BR Elliott is tor. Kids visited our friends from 20 years ago. Guys went shooting. Early Sunday dropped but we got out and saw the sights and loved the now in South Dakota on a church mission trip, them off at Dallas-Fort Worth airport. It was ocean. All the kids are doing well and surviving while BR Leavitt is singlehandedly trying to keep empty. Never saw this. I drive maybe once a the ’rona. Alana is stationed in Hawaii, and we will the liquor stores and aerobic bars profitable in the week. No more I-95 craziness. Every day is Fri- visit her next April. Tracy’s son, Bill, left Army ac- Leavitt kingdom of Grand Cayman while addressday. Shower when needed. Biggest challenge is tive duty and is attending the maritime academy ing an environmental concern involving invasive not getting chiggers.” Like I said, checking in! in Seattle to go to sea. I have changed jobs. My species. Never knew that Navy guys could shoot contract that had me working at the Army Resil- that well. But he reports that tourists with money Thanks, Jeff. ience Directorate in the Department of the Army will soon be welcome!” Eric Schwarz’s contribution follows: “After headquarters G-1 ended after 10 years. I will now Renee sends her best. Stay well brother rats, 20 years with one company, I have joined Herdt —M Consulting as technical director, capture/pro- be working at Department of Defense J-6 in the posal manager. Herdt, a veteran-owned small Pentagon as a contractor. After dodging the Penbusiness, was founded by a retired master chief tagon my entire Army service, I end up spending petty officer of the Navy. I am very excited to over a decade working on Pentagon staffs ... arJohn Gibney Jr. rghhh. Tracy and I wish everyone the best.” join a company with great opportunities and Dave Crawford writes: “Well, Nov. 1, 2020, I great capabilities. As you would expect, the bulk was officially retired after 40 years and 11 months of their work is Navy, but they have some work with other services and customers. Our daughter of service to the Commonwealth of Virginia. It and son-in-law (Class of ’07) have given Becky was harder to walk away than I anticipated, but I am excited about exploring what’s next. COVHello, Brother Rats! and I two grandsons who we love dearly. BeThese notes cover the period Aug. 16, 2020, fore the new job, I had a relaxing summer filled ID-19 put has put a damper on retirement events, with family trips and visits all around the East but my division staged something outdoors for through Nov. 14, 2020. At the submission date, Coast. Next week we will take our last trip of me that I really appreciated. Ken Morris ’81 and daylight saving and Election Day are in the past,

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VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes but COVID-19 is still an issue. The period began with an email from Frank McConnell. The message contained a string of emails related to Tony Zoetis which was begun by Dave Gleason who wrote that Tony had a heart attack and was awaiting open-heart surgery. Tony’s wife, Tracey, provided updates culminating in Tony’s successful bypass and recovery. Tom Bersson and Ali Mahan responded with well wishes. Jack Keane sent a follow-up text after speaking with Tracey who noted that Tony was recovering and complaining about the hospital food. The above email chain began with a message from Mike Luning, who was continuing with plans for an annual gathering in Lexington scheduled for Sept. 19. Jeff Washington sent a text noting that he was appointed to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, working with Pat Griffin and Jack Keane. John Caplice had knee replacement surgery in August, and Tolar Nolley provided a photo which made the last issue. This resulted in a string of responses including comments from Dusty Boyd, Hugh Fain, and Jay Melvin. George Condyles sent an email noting that he had been involved with our 40th Reunion Committee where he worked with Pat Griffin, Tom Johnston, and Tolar Nolley on the shirt and hat that we would have received. George and Harriet also became first-time grandparents as their daughter, Laura, and son-in-law, Ira ’08, welcomed Emmeline August Houck June 5 (Emmeline’s photo has appeared/will appear with the 2008 class notes). Both Laura and Ira, majors in the Army, were stationed at Fort Leavenworth and are now at Fort Lewis, Washington. George runs an engineering consulting business. He is designing broadband systems for rural Virginia counties. He also has a summer home at Smith Mountain Lake where he is trying to connect with Dan Conn. John Runyon sent an email after receiving the Alumni Review. With apologies to John, his name appeared in a caption under a photo taken at the funeral service for Smokey Jackson. John was not able to attend the service but wrote that he was Smokey’s classmate in high school and added that he will always cherish Smokey’s funloving nature and larger than life personality. Jack Keane copied me on an email scheduling a Zoom happy hour Aug. 21. Invitees were Joe

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Class of 1980: Bert Schneider staying safe in Arizona in October 2020.

Class of 1980: Tom “Gunny” Kelly on Veterans Day 2020 in northern Virginia.

Class of 1980: Joe Paustenbaugh and his wife, Michelle, camping in the high Utah wilderness in June 2020.

Belkoski, Marty Bernet, Tom Bersson, Bob Dalessandro, Rob Gearhart, Mike Harper, Tom “Gunny” Kelly, Mike Knapp, Walt Kreitler, John Lillard, Andy Ludlum, Keith Stewart, Mass Tahamtani, Robby Wheeler, and Tracy Wilson. On Aug. 18, Jeff Songco sent an email in remembrance of the 44th anniversary of our matriculation. Jeff did not return to VMI after our 3rd Class year, but he was commissioned and served in the Army Corps of Engineers. Jeff wrote that he was planning to attend our 40th Reunion and that during his time in the Army he encountered Ed Baker and Dwight Pearson. Also, Aug. 18, Jack Keane sent a text message noting our matriculation date and that Tony Zoetis had been released from the hospital. Joe Paustenbaugh sent an email from his home in Liberty, Utah, (about 60 miles north of Salt Lake City) with photos, where Joe and Michelle had not been impacted by COVID-19 so far. Michelle is a chemistry professor at Weber State University and has been teaching online classes since late March 2020. Joe is still working for Northrop Grumman and has been working from home since mid-May 2020. Joe asked that all be reminded to look him up if ever in the vicinity. In a response to a follow-up message, Joe referenced hiking the Grand Canyon with Paul Burkholder and Dwight Pearson— many years ago. Mark Sobota’s wife, Darleen, sent an email containing a new home address (if you send me any new information, I then submit to VMI to update your records). They downsized to a condo 3 miles from their old home. Darleen also wrote that Mark plans to fully retire at the end of 2020. Ed Baker sent a text message following 10 days he and Dianna spent in Montana on a fishing trip living in a RV. Ed wrote that COVID-19 has brought record numbers of vacationers to the Outer Banks where they live full-time. Ed is also a hockey fan and we exchanged texts as the National Hockey League season resumed from its COVID-19-related pause. September began with an exchange of text messages with Dusty Boyd offering condolences on the passing of his mom. In a string of related messages Dusty sent photos taken during our cadetship. Tom Gelles sent an email after receiving his birthday card noting that he is now Social Security

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Class Notes eligible. We also spoke on his birthday. Tom and his family are all doing well. Tracy Wilson sent an email following a Zoom get-together with a group of our D.C. BRs who would have otherwise met for happy hour and/or dinner. The group included: Joe Belkoski, Marty Bernet, Dan Conn, Pat Griffin, Tom Kelly, and Mike Knapp. Tracy wrote that all are healthy and doing well. I spoke with Gary Levenson just after Labor Day. Gary, VMI’s deputy commandant, has been relocated from his quarters on the Parade Ground to a house behind the tennis courts. Due to COVID-19 Gary and Karen and their grandson, Tyler, will not be visiting New York City over Thanksgiving, breaking a 15-year tradition. Gary also discussed the challenges at VMI due to the pandemic. As you will recall, Jim Stauffer passed away in January 2020. October began with an email from Jim’s uncle, who wrote that Louis McBride, who was one of Jim’s roommates, has been in touch with Jim’s 96-year-old father. I exchanged email messages with Dan Conn after Dan’s birthday card was returned to sender. Dan is retired from the Marine Corps and plans to continue working for two more years in the D.C. area. However, during COVID-19 he is occupying his retirement home and working remotely. Scott Sayre sent an email containing a news alert regarding the closing of the Nat Sherman cigar store in Manhattan after 90 years. Scott is a cigar aficionado, and Nat Sherman is (was) an iconic cigar store. Ray Joinson texts-in from Tennessee to check on how Patti and I are doing. Ray and I also had a short conversation. Due to COVID-19, Patti and I departed New York City in late March and spent the summer at our small house in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. I worked in the City Tuesday-Thursday and remotely Monday and Friday. Patti worked remotely full-time. We returned to full-time life in the City Nov. 1. Ray and Carla are doing well, although Ray has been dealing with health issues but is improving. I exchanged two sets of sports-related text messages with Matthew Keys. The first message was about hockey and the Caps’ new goalie. The second message was about the Washington Football Team (formerly Redskins) and their victory over the Cowboys. Matthew and

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Tanya moved to the Fredericksburg area a few years ago and are doing very well and able to see their children and grandchildren within COVID-19 guidelines. Matthew physically works in a mattress store (the former Sleepy’s), and Tanya works remotely. I also exchanged email messages with Walt Kreitler. He reported that Carrie had hip replacement surgery and is recovering nicely. He promised a longer update at a later date. I received an email, exchanged text messages, and then spoke with Kirk Cole. Kirk lives in Williamsburg and is still working at NASA in Hampton. Sharon is in graduate school, and their 12-year-old daughter is attending school fully remote. Kirk also included me on a text message with Pat Griffin and Scott Sayre. October ended with a call with Hugh Fain. Hugh’s law firm is doing well during COVID-19, as are Rene and their children. Their youngest daughter, Sally, is a high school senior and looking at colleges. Hugh continues to serve on the Board of Visitors, as does Gene Scott—thank you both for your service. Gene is also leading the committee to find a new superintendent. November opened with an email from Alex Woelper with a new home address in El Paso, Texas. Alex is considering a further relocation as well as worldwide travel, based at this point on COVID-19. On Nov. 10, Wade Stinnette sent a text noting the Marine Corps birthday. I called Wade, and we spoke for almost an hour. Wade and Lannie live in Columbia, South Carolina, where Wade is in financial services. Wade reported business is good, their family (three children, two grandchildren) are all well and all are COVID-19-free. Also, Nov. 10, Steve Andrews sent an email containing a photo of a Marine Corps birthday cake, which he cut and pasted from Kent Lovejoy’s Facebook page. On Nov. 11, Tom Gelles sent a Happy Veterans Day email. Included were Frank Leech, Jack Keane, and Tom Kelly. Tom responded with a message and a photo showing him holding an American flag, a thank you card, a chocolate bar, and a poster contained in a package left on Tom’s doorstep by an 11-year-old boy in Tom’s neighborhood. No one mentioned Founders Day. Group text messages have become a very

popular way for our BRs to stay connected. The events surrounding the resignation of the superintendent and the delivery of the prior issue of the Alumni Review prompted a 14-person conversation that included Dusty Boyd, Paul Burkholder, John Caplice, Chris Dombalis, Hugh Fain, Tom Johnston, Tolar Nolley, and Elliott Wolffe (apologies for not having everyone’s name, as just your phone number appears in the message unless you are in my contacts— I will reach out and correct). Tolar Nolley called and sent several text messages throughout the period, primarily about golf and his threat to visit the Poconos to play. Tolar noted that John Blankenship worked at the Champions Tour golf event held each year in Richmond at the Country Club of Virginia. Hugh Fain also discussed the event. Tolar’s business, the Oyster Company of Virginia, is doing well given the pandemic. On the last day of the period, I received a snail mail post card from Dwight Pearson with a new home address. Mentioned above is my summer schedule. Thank you to Ed Baker, Tom Gelles, and Gary Levenson for speaking with me on the twohour drive and helping the time pass. As a reminder, class notes are due at VMI Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15, and Nov. 15. Late submissions are not accepted. Length is limited to five pages with no more than five photos. I attempt to submit the notes on the last day of a period to ensure that all who have been in contact are included. When the period ends on a weekend, I will often submit a day or two early (as with this set). Since the Alumni Review issue in which a set of notes appears is published approximately three months after a set of class notes is submitted, almost six months can elapse between my receipt of a BRs’ communication and publication. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you believe I have omitted your communication from publication; if that occurs, it is not intentional. In addition, VMI Ranks has a link to Alumni Review issues going back to 2008. And, although I have a Facebook account, I do not post, and I do not friend. My role is to report what I learn firsthand. Thank you for your continuing support and for keeping me in the loop via phone calls, text messages and email. Please stay safe.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

1981

Jerry Manley

Brother Rats and Sisters and the Rest of our ’81 Family, Writing these notes in mid-November for publication in February 2021. As I write this, it is hard to believe 2020 is coming to a close, but in many ways, I am glad to see it go ... and I know most if not all of you agree! On the bright side, I was blessed to have quite a few conversations over the past few months with many. Far too many and too much to write about each call or visit but suffice to say that the BR spirit and love still exists within our class! I was further blessed with the opportunity to have dinner in September at the Boathouse in Short Pump, Virginia, with BRs and their brides. We snapped a picture of the event, included in this edition, and going around the table, from bottom left are: Mike Denton, Cindy and Jeff Gill, Keith and Deb Baron, Jennifer and Rob “Cos” Costello, my girlfriend (Shannon Croll) and me, Brenda Migliarese, Ken “Catman” and Karen Morris, and last but not least, the infamous Bruce Kitchen. It was a great night with great food and wonderful company! Along with other BRs, I was also blessed Nov. 11 to be a part of our class Zoom call with about 25 other BRs. It made for a great Veterans and Founders Day event. Kudos to Bob Cody for setting that one up! I pray we will have had a few more before these notes go to print! In my humbler opinion, such gatherings—in person dinners, impromptu Class Zoom calls, breakfasts, coffees, cocktail hours—within our class are all the more important as time marches on. On to our class inputs: Jim and Mei-Ling Frishkorn continue to be blessed. Jim shared that Mei-Ling is keeping busy tackling the last of a few post-Hurricane Michael upgrades on a “honey-do” list that he reportedly gave her; though Jim was quick to add that Mei-Ling gave him one of those “husbands are not permitted to give their wives a honey-do list” looks before she immediately got to work getting them checked off and adding a few of her own. Jim shared that he will be hosting John

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Cawthorne for a few days before they head out and spend time at their hunting lease chasing wild hogs, swatting mosquitos, enjoying some good conversation over dinner, and putting a dent in the super-sized bottle of Dewar’s Scotch whiskey. Jim is also trying to book an offshore fishing trip with John to send him home with

Class of 1981: Mike “Psycho” McLeod with his son, Ryan, and newborn grandson, Collin, in September 2020.

Class of 1981: Mark Vasco with his daughters (from left), Lindsey and Katie, and wife, Debbie, at Katie’s wedding Aug. 8, 2020.

a full cooler of both fish and wild game. Other than his fun-and-games with BR John, Jim is keeping busy with the post-Hurricane Michael rebuild at Tyndall Air Force Base, termed the Air Force’s “Installation of the Future.” He is managing a growing staff of 35 architects, engineers, planners, and master schedulers and would be most appreciative of any resumes for capable, young, and ambitious VMI engineers who are looking for a great challenge over the next four to five years. Jim typically has a staffing turnover or two every few months and is expecting a staffing increase sometime later this year or early 2021. Even after his outings with BR Cawthorne, Jim appears to have his holiday season packed with family events. He is “looking forward to spending a couple of evenings in the woods with my son, Jordan, chasing wild hogs before making the trek to Virginia to spend Thanksgiving with family, taking his grandson (and granddaughters?) to the shooting range then off to the family hunting camp in Pennsylvania for the annual deer hunt.” After our reunion in April, Jim and Mei-Ling are planning a trip to Hawaii in July so that Mei-Ling may spend time with her twin sister ... and, of course, Jim hopes to include an Axis deer hunt on the island of Lanai. To round out the year, our class outdoorsman may squeeze in a week of fishing in Alaska, a fall elk hunt in Utah with son Jordan and nephew Andy, and cap 2020 off with the annual family hunting camp in Pennsylvania. Mike “Psycho” McLeod shared that his “six-month vacation” has come to an end, and he is in 737 school in Atlanta for the month of November. Psycho offered that since he had so much time to study he had better not mess up since he will have no argument for not being prepared! He is looking at the bid package for flying for the 737s out of Atlanta, where he would have some long layovers (over 24 hours) in places like Richmond, Raleigh/Durham, and Indianapolis, which will afford him opportunities to chase down some BRs. Psycho and Kathy (“Squirrel”) gave a quick rundown on their kids. Their oldest, Ryan, and his lovely wife had their first child Sept. 10, 2020, Collin Thomas McLeod, and are enjoying the Gulf Coast life in Navarre Beach. Their second child, Mikella, is working at a law firm in Melbourne, Florida, and preparing for law school after just completing her LSAT. Their third child, Sean, is wrapping up his bachelor’s degree and contemplating

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Class Notes whether to go into the Army as an infantryman University of Georgia and the University of North the coronavirus affected the extensive European or launch into the helo aviation community. Carolina. Jackson is doing well academically de- travels Jorg and Meg has planned 2020, he had Psycho reports that once his training is done spite half his classes being remote. C.P.’s older son, extra time on his hands after retiring at the beand he is back to regular flying, he and Squirrel Tyler, is getting married just before Thanksgiving ginning of the calendar year. It turned out that have some house upgrades in the pipeline. Addi- in Atlanta. Like other BRs are experiencing, these Jorg’s old company was interested in having him are certainly challenging times to host a wedding. help out with various projects and training. To tionally, progress in coming along on Psycho’s support, Jorg formed a consulting company, and C.P.’s daughter, Courtney, just moved to St. Pete, shop/hangar on their property in Baker, Florida (about 23 miles north of Fort Walton Beach). Florida, with Duke Energy. His youngest and the he is now providing part-time contracted project They plan to retire to that area, so the “Squirrel only one left at home, Thomas, is in 10th grade at management and training services to Pella Carolina. It gives Jorg a chance to reconnect with old Cave” will be near the beach and “Psycho’s Air Latin. Football and tennis are his primary sports. In closing, C.P. shared that he stays in contact with friends and colleagues, as well as to earn a few Ops Center” will be a bit further inland. extra spending bucks for their rescheduled trip in C.P. Davis shared that he has been running his BRs Jim Friskhorn and Bill Leftwich. 2021. Jorg and Meg, congrats on the retirement, Jorg Ronke wrote that he and Meg should be specialty textile business as president/chief executive officer for two years now (Jones Family able to make the Reunion in April. He shared and we wish you many joys once travel bans are of Companies). He recently hired a VMI grad for that if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in lifted and you are able to travel through Europe! Mat Merriman wrote that all is well with his their Richmond office (business analyst/informa- time, they hope to head to Europe in May. Since family. Though there is no COVID-19 tion technology support) and is presently in the Merriman household, he learned recruiting two additional cadets for May that he will be teleworking through midemployment, one in and engineering role to late-January. The only challenge he and another for a plant manager designate has is with managing sensitive meetings role. C.P. has been traveling despite COVthat require him to be onsite—which he ID-19, as he has worked on a recent event recognizes as going with his job change to acquire a business in New Hampshire as the new lead for physical security syswhich closed successfully. As if that was tems engineering on a National Nuclear not enough, C.P. is also part owner of a Security Administration project. On the bagel restaurant in Winston-Salem (Bagel personal front, Mat and Robin are gearStation I and II) where ’81 BRs get a “free ing up for their daughter’s wedding bagel or anything on the menu” if they scheduled for Dec. 5 with the reception stop by. It is not a business C.P. can retire to be held at home on the “back 40.” Mat on, but he likes having a small business to has found himself hopping to get a numoversee as director. CP’s son, Jackson, is ber of “honey-dos” completed himself to at South Carolina and on the swim team Class of 1981: Tom Albro and John Ferry after a small crabprepare for the event! Mat, we expect and (free style-sprinter/backstroker). C.P. was fest in early November 2020. update and pics for the next Review, sir! able to watch Jackson swim against the Keith and Deb Baron have moved to Virginia. They are currently residing in a temporary rental in Powhatan but will close on their new home in Midlothian early January 2021. Deb reported that Keith is thriving having so many VMI brothers close by. Those they have visited in their short time in Virginia have all served to lift his spirits. Keith and Deb look forward to having many visitors once they get settled in. A.T. Funkhouser and Jamie Byron have been on their Harleys again. Jamie wrote that he and A.T. made their most recent trip to Cody, Wyoming. Per Jamie: “It’s always a blast to get together with A.T.—lots of laughs and great rides around the northwest. A.T.’s in Beulah, North Dakota, and I’m in Boise, Idaho, so we meet up somewhere in between. This year we rented Class of 1981: BRs and their significant others at the Boathouse in Richmond, Virginia, a cabin in Cody and did day rides trying to stay Sept. 19, 2020. COVID safe. We put down about 3,000 miles and

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Class Notes saw some terrific scenery and history.” For Jamie and A.T., you two continue to live the dream! Keep on riding! Ed Boylan shared that things just don’t seem to slow down for him and Linda. They have settled into their new life back in Texas and are anxiously awaiting the birth of their second grandbaby on Thanksgiving Day. Unfortunately, they both contracted COVID-19 in August. Thankfully, their symptoms were relatively mild, and they both survived. Per Ed, it was two weeks of feeling like they had a heavy summer cold, though they lost their sense of smell and taste. Ed and Linda conducted a “covert extraction” of their daughter, Peri, from Washington, D.C., at the beginning of November. She had been living a just a few blocks from the White House, but her boss said that they would not return to normal office operations until at least July 2021. Peri decided to head back to Texas and “wait it out” until they actually return to the office, allowing her to work remotely, be close to mom and dad, and save money in the process. From Greg and Ann Wolven, Greg will be retiring from WINEnergy R.E.M.C. after 39-anda-half years in the rural power industry. His retirement is set for the first of the year, but he has already started a new consulting firm to keep him busy—Wolven Power Engineering Solutions LLC. As previously shared, their daughter, Katie, walked down the aisle twice, in both summer and fall 2020, with new husband Billy Meyer. Billy’s father’s leukemia prevented him from attending the formal Sept. 5, 2020, wedding in Indianapolis, so there was a private ceremony for just immediate family members in the backyard of their Chicago home Aug. 8. Greg and Ann’s son, Chris, is looking for a new job outside of Lafayette, Indiana. While Chris loves working on hospital equipment as a biomedical engineering clinician, after nine years, he is looking for a position that will give him better benefits. Trip Lloyd shared that the season has been principally spent indoors, except for family hospital visits and weekly kayak sojourns on the Rappahannock. His daughter, Amanda, had a successful heart procedure in September, and in early November, his bride, Anne, had total knee replacement surgery. Nonetheless, Trip is ever optimistic and is planning his annual family ski vacation in late January and plans to make the holidays happy and bright.

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Marc and Laura Barthello relocated to Lexington in March 2020. They have enjoyed the pleasure of visiting with Lou and Terry Darden, Wirt Shinault, and Debra and Keith Baron during their trips to Lexington. Marc and Laura enjoy their long dog walks that include taking their four huskies through VMI with a lot of cadets giving their pack plenty of attention. Jim and Tammy Holloway are well and staying safe. Jim and Tammy have been blessed with nearly a full house each day at their B&B in Cape Charles, Virginia, since they were able to reopen June 10. In addition to having a successful year for their B&B, Jim has benefitted from continued telework since April from his “real job” where he is the finance officer for the C5ISC in Portsmouth, Virginia. Quick hitters: Mark Vasco sent in a great note. Mark shared that “amid the global pandemic,” his oldest daughter, Katie, was married Aug. 8 in Richmond. Mark’s younger daughter, Lindsey, was the maid of honor and will also be getting married in May 2021. Steve Thomas shared that he is on a six-month leave of absence from American, so he is “partaking” in a number of spirits these days and getting a jobs done around the house (such as building a koi pond), fishing in his stocked lake, and basically

living the life of a “kept man,” as Jodi is still active as a flight attendant for United. Brian “Quis” Quisenberry checked in. He didn’t have much to report from Birmingham but shared that he hopes to get down to Tuscaloosa this fall to check in with BR Jeff White. Jim Waring checked in and shared that he has been primarily working from home with occasional trips into his office in Moyock, North Carolina. I had a couple quick calls with Jeff Adler and always look forward to his calls. He and Christie are loving life in Florida. Corky Mitchell is well, and he and I are planning to get together in Jacksonville, Florida, after the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope to have some pics to share after we get together. Spoke with BR and four-year roomie Grover Outland on several occasions. Grover, Melissa, and the girls are all doing well. Have been in contact with the always wonderful Glynnis Savage via text; a truly blessed and beloved member of our class family. Received a few quick notes from our never wordy but always beloved Mark “Gunny” Olson, who seems to be living the dream with his beautiful bride, Donna. Jere Harris checked in and shared that Patty is doing extremely well, and they hope to make the reunion in April. In closing, and as always, my hat is off to each and every one of you. We should never forget all that we have been through together as a class and how our bonds have been forged over time. I look forward to seeing many of you at our 40th! God’s peace and love to you all! In the Bonds of VMI, Jerry

1982

Will Council

Class of 1981: A.T. Funkhouser and Jamie Byron stopping in Cody, Wyoming, while on their most recent Harley ride.

Hello, Brother Rats, I hope these notes find you all enjoying the winter months, as right now I am regretting my procrastinating writing them. It is a glorious fall day here in Tennessee, and the weather could not be better. As I am recovering emails and

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Class Notes midshipman cruise back in 1981. Well, Travis is messages and memories from Zoom Class of All he remembers is wine, shotguns, bourbon, ’82 conference calls, I can’t help but feel thankful and food! Made a point to have a “thing to do” now back in country after spending nine months on each (former) fall football weekend! Managed there where the temperature never got below 75 to everyone who submitted a note. By now, everyone should be aware that VMI a fall trip to Sunset Beach and a long weekend and was always in the 80s or 90s. He brought was in the spotlight for The Washington Post in Colonial Williamsburg. Welcomed new twin back some T-shirts from the local radio station news articles, governor of Virginia letters, the granddaughters in September, Clara and Lydia, to down there. They say, “103.1 FM. Rockin’ in Fidel’s Backyard!” Steve and Teresa resignation of Gen. Peay ’62 as superhelped move his mom in with his sister intendent of VMI, and actions from the up in Roxboro, North Carolina. His mom Board of Visitors. As expected, the congave him a small box containing a bunch versations on Facebook were getting of letters he had written home when he rather heated. Bob Louthan offered to was a cadet. (Back when people actually host a Zoom class call to share some inwrote letters!) One of them was in early sight into some of the lesser-known deMay 1981 when we were 2nds. Steve tails. I know I wrote down the attendance wrote that I had just come into the room somewhere, but I just say that it was an and told us I had gotten my orders for the incredible experience seeing over 30 BRs summer cruise and would be on a guided together, even though only “virtually.” missile destroyer leaving out of CharlesBob offered a teaser—almost a comton and ending at Guantanamo Bay. That mercial, really—about an upcoming call was only 39 years ago. he was putting together to commemorate I would like to add that I, too, received “Checca’s Raiders.” It has now come a similar gift from my mom when we to pass, and it is well worth the time to had to downsize her possessions for the seek out the video of Bob interviewing nursing home. All my letters from VMI, the original and surviving cast of mule including some soul baring ones regardskinners, Jeff Modisett, Dave Shutt, ing academic problems I experienced as Gray Scott, and Steve Checca, as well as Steve’s sister, Jane Checca. You may find Class of 1982: George Thompson and his daughter, Sofia; a rat. I am still surprised my parents let Russ Stewart; and Curtis Johnston at a Texas Founders Day me continue on after such a non-stellar a link on our VMI ’82 Facebook page or gathering. performance that year. on veterancrowdnetwork.com. It’s been While I am in the roommate corner, I long overdue to finally hear the rest of the was pleasantly surprised to have Chip story straight from people involved. It is Gibson reach out and connect with the dedicated to the missing member of the class through our Facebook webpage. Army Mule Abduction Team, Phil DeAfter some messaging back and forth, I derer, who passed away in 2012. There can confirm that Chip and Becky are still are additional pages linked with copies happily living in Oklahoma just outside of documents, newspaper articles, and of Fort Sill. I forgot to get an update on so forth. I can tell you I was not fully the status of the farm animals, as I now aware of all the story, and Modisett was recall there were chickens and maybe a my roommate! Maybe Bob can do these horse involved at one time. monthly or quarterly with more of our Pete and Laura Foster added a quick BRs, since I cannot seem to get anyone to catch up with the Foster family. He and write in an update. Laura are still loving lake life just north And now to the rest of our notes. Scott of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Lake Crumpler always comes to my rescue Norman. All four kids are doing great, when I put forth a plea for news. He says Class of 1982: Steve Varga and his daughter, Lydia, after their and the two grandkids, Charlotte (5) and being locked down has made confessing virtual 5K race. Petie (3), are a blast to be around. Two to BR meet-ups seem like a new wave sons are Marines, Pete at Fort Gordon in this new crime! He is therefore hesitant to tell the world keep grandson Everett busy when they grow up! If you recall reading the notes from August, cyber warfare division and Eric at Camp Lejeune. who he saw where and when! That said, he spent Daughter Kelly is outside of Atlanta having purquality time with Mark and Debbie Shiflette, I have a follow up from Steve Fudge. His son, Jim and Maureen Hickey, Lynn and Emmett Travis ’16, was stationed at Guantanamo Bay, chased a really cool country place that keeps Heltzel, Chuck and Maryann Kause, and Bill Cuba, and I reminded Steve that I got to enjoy a James, her significant other, and Pete busy clearing fields, building fences and chicken coops, and and Cindy Jennings over the last six months! very short visit there at the end of my 2nd Class

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Class Notes indoor workout facilities. Keith is now working for Lowe’s. Pete has been retired for two years and enjoys spending time doing some volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and Purple Heart Homes but wishes there was more going on these days. He and Laura run the community garden and the maintenance part of their homeowners’ association. Pete still enjoys playing golf, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, and woodworking. His workshop, the garage, has been turned into a gym as they have been holding boot camp every morning six days a week for over four months now. They do get to see the kids a lot, still do some traveling and some solo camping but still looking for more to keep him busy. So, he has decided to become a home inspector. Already completed all the training and is taking the state exam in a month. Figured he could stay busy working part time and setting his own schedule while meeting more people and learning a ton of new skills that interest him. It has been fun. We got an update from Gunny Holmes! Good news, Monika has had four CT scans, and all have been clear. So, we all need to keep praying that any future scans are the same. On a different note, he and Monika celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in October. Gunny still cannot believe she has kept him this long. Retirement is good; however, it seems that with all he is doing volunteering; he stays very busy. “Trout are beginning to run in those parts, so I’ll be on the boat fishing/camping on an island on the Intercoastal. Go out on Monday and come back on Friday. Semper Fi, Gunny Holmes.” Curtis Johnston reached me via Messenger. Curtis, Russ Stewart, and Larry Thompson were at the San Antonio Founders Day celebration. Included in the photo is Larry’s daughter, Sofia. Needless to say, she is the best looking one in the bunch. As for Larry, he is the dad of a beautiful girl and loves it. He is also the mayor of Garden Ridge, Texas. Russ is in real estate and lives in Spring Branch, Texas. As for Curtis, he left HDR after 16 years and has joined the family business in propane distribution in 2018. He and Deb live in Driftwood, Texas, just south of Austin. They have six grandkids and never knew it would be this much fun ... and even better when they hand them back to their parents. Curtis say that life is good in Texas, and anytime someone is in the area, please let them know. Bob Louthan, after all the calls, still managed to apologize for a last-minute note. It was

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sad to hear that his mother passed away Oct. 15 at 98 years young. She loved VMI—husband, three sons, one son-in-law, and four grandsons are graduates, so she did her best! Bob and Kathy’s youngest, Mason ’18, is now stationed at Oceana, so they are really happy to have him back in Virginia a while. Bob said he had a great time interviewing Checca’s Raiders. Their memories are priceless (and fading), so he’s glad we recorded it for future generations. Jane Checca is a hoot! And we will continue to have some class Zoom calls to keep everyone in the loop. Steve Varga sent an update via Messenger, as well. Not much has happened since last note. Steve did get a job at a great company, DSM, back in procurement and enjoying getting a paycheck again, as things were really tight. Being self-employed certainly has its drawbacks. COVID-19 has pretty much hastened the demise of his company, although it is still open—slowly losing the rest of the capital he had left. Sadly, he was sued for the first time in his life and is in the process of trying to settle with the former commercial landlord. Steve, along with most of the country, has been working from home since March and has enjoyed the relative peace that comes from that. His middle daughter is approaching her graduation with an associate degree in communications and will have been the first of his kids to make it this far. They are very proud of her. No more marathons for Steve, but he and his 17-year-old daughter completed a virtual 5K race on the Fourth of July! Jack Wainwright reported in with a very nice update on the extended family. First, 2020 has been a big year for the Wainwrights. Youngest son Nick ’20 graduated from VMI during the pandemic. He came home on spring break and never went back. A very disappointing end to his cadetship, but they made the best of it with a virtual commissioning May 16, and there is a plan to go back to the Institute for a graduation ceremony in December. Nick also got married in August in Scituate, Massachusetts, and had several roommates and brother rats in attendance. Oldest son Jay ’16 is in the Army and barely returned from a deployment in Korea in time for the birth of their first granddaughter, Lily Melissa Wainwright. Lily will be the next Wainwright (No. 6) at the Institute and already has a Provisional Appointment for the Class of 2042. Jay is currently at Fort Benning for the Captains Career Course. Middle son Jackson (UMass) is also in the Army and has been in Poland and Germany since March.

He is expected to come home soon and he is stationed at Fort Stewart. In October, BRs Dewey Martin, Mark Ciarrocca, and Jack joined some friends in Rockbridge County including BR Scott Fairburn for their annual “ATF” weekend. ATF means alcohol, tobacco, and firearms. There was a lot of camo, a lot of alcohol, and a little bit of turkey hunting involved, but Jack doesn’t believe a turkey could be found within five miles of their location. A good time was had by all, and no one got hurt. Original plans were to also include George Mayforth and Dave Shutt, but COVID-19 shifted schedules around a bit. Dave and George converged in Lexington separately, and there are stories to be told there, but since Jack was not there to witness it, he won’t comment but will leave it up to everyone’s imagination. And I did hear from George Mayforth as he was seeking contact information for Jay Wamsley. I asked him if he was still competing in triathlons; unfortunately, it’s swim-bike-walk ... knee issues for running, but he can still downhill ski and hike! George wants to know if we have a successful BR who can fix him?! He was in Lexington for the canceled Parents Weekend in October ... absolutely gorgeous! Hiked Little House on Friday and Big House on Saturday and saw a bear at the top of Big House. Both headed in opposite directions. George also rode his bike to base of mountain each day. He says the bike climb is a real challenge (sorry, the editorial staff will not let me print his exact words), but the return is thrilling! Saw the Corps’ first parade on Saturday and all were masked but the wind instruments. George then decided we needed a more detailed accounting of weekend. Dave Shutt stopped by the Abigail Inn on Friday evening (he was heading to his farm for bow season) for a few wellmade old fashioneds. They sat out on the veranda overlooking House Mountain, and the bourbon began to flow along with the stories! Unfortunately, George had a long day with much exercise and little food, so he became a pretty cheap date quickly! After promising Dave supper, they walked to The Palms and placed their orders. At about that time, the old fashioneds kicked in, and the world began to spin. George realized it was time for him to leave, so he slapped a $100 on the table and apologized to Dave for allowing the room to start spinning. George is pretty sure that Dave’s still frustrated with him, as this is not the first time he’s left him alone at the bar

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Class Notes Top. We continue to dodge the virus and hope all are well. The highlights of late summer and fall involve several BRs. In August, we headed up to Lake Nantahala in western North Carolina to meet Scott and Pam Horan, plus Jim and Cheryl Henry at the Henrys’ cabin. We celebrated Scott’s birthday and had a wonderful time on the lake and cruising through some of the breweries in Andrews and Bryson City. Scott and Pam were completing a high-adventure week after working their way down from Fredericksburg cycling and hiking at various locations in southwest Virginia and western North Carolina. I wish I had their energy at the age of 35, much less 59! Jim and Cheryl are still outside Columbia, though Cheryl has been quarantining at their cabin. Quite a view and proof that the new normal allows us to work from anywhere. The second highlight was a huntClass of 1983: Ivan Marcotte in Ketchum, ing trip out to North Dakota in October. Scott Idaho. Horan organized a trip that included seven ’83 brother rats: Bill Cornett, Jim Henry, Jim Outland, John Gordon, Breck Gorman, and Scott. Steve Amato Breck’s son, Jack ’19, also made the trip. These hardcore hunters let me, very much a novice, tag along. We were at a lodge about 30 miles east of Bismarck and were fortunate enough to have an arctic wave come in a few days before us making sure the temperature never got above 25. To make Hi, BRs, sure we had someone to make our drinks and carThese class notes are for the period of Aug. 15, ry our gear, Scott invited a few Keydets from the 2020, to Nov. 15, 2020. As our nation enters the Class of 1984, who were John Karafa ’84, Hal ninth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, I conHamner ’84, and Wilson Enochs ’84, and Ben tinue to keep all BRs and your immediate family Lilly ’93. We enjoyed three great days of huntmembers in my prayers to be healthy and safe. ing ducks, geese, and pheasants. Fortunately, the For the latest information on activities affecting birds were the only thing that got shot. As I said, the Institute, visit the VMI Alumni Agencies’ it was quite chilly so the only picture that doesn’t website, vmialumni.org. feature all bundled up to the point of being unrecMary and I spent a fun day with Mark and Kim Class of 1983: Thomas Gottwald ’09, ognizable is the one enclosed from the lodge. Bill Sykes in October. After a wonderful lunch at Ciao Teddy Gottwald, and Ted Gottwald ’14. is in Charlotte, and his son, William ’17, would Osteria in Centreville, Virginia, we went for a have joined us but the U.S. Navy four-mile hike and then spent several had other ideas as William prepares more hours visiting. Mark and Kim to deploy as a Seabee. Jim Outland are doing well. Mark is planning to trekked via car from the Eastern retire in early 2021 from the DepartShore but his son, Matthew ’17, ment of the Army where he is a cialso had a last-minute conflict that vilian service employee. Congrats to prevented him from coming. Gordo you, Mark; however, Kim plans to was over from Tidewater where he continue working full-time. is in the midst of a massive house Apparently, we had BRs who did remodel, and Breck is a couple of some traveling despite the pandemic steps from full retirement down in restrictions, and they didn’t get Beaufort, South Carolina.” Hugh, “boned.” Hugh Daughtry sent Class of 1983: Jennifer and Jamie MacDonald, Duane Ray, and Tara we appreciate the mini reunion situthis recap of the traveling BRs. Iarossi in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. ation report. From the North Dakota “Steve, greetings from Rocky ... but it may be the first time he remembered to pay! Cynthia and Bill Jennings gave us a scare recently. Bill had a mini stroke and spent some time in the hospital. Everything is OK now, and Bill is back home recovering well enough to post barbecue pictures right after he got out. Needs to speak with his dietitian about proper food choices after going through what he just did. Glad to hear you are doing well, Bill! I am still playing in the woods with scouting. It’s now called Scouts BSA, and I have a girls’ troop who enjoy beating the boys at the camporees. I recently made the local papers in a photo op with a Cub Scouts shooting sports day. So, I will keep scouting as long as there are quiet places to go in the woods. It keeps me young. Sincerely, Will Council

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VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes picture, it looks as though our BRs hunted some first day because he failed the eye exam, but that and Ivan Marcotte. The prospects of approaching 60 years old and being unemployed were a didn’t stop him from serving his country for 17 adult beverages during their evening “hunting deyears. He loves VMI. I know emotions are raw bit stressful, but God and my friends sustained briefings.” me. I am very thankful to report that I am now right now as the Institute faces what I consider Phil Hubbard sent me an email stating, “my its most daunting challenge in overcoming these gainfully employed with Thompson Industrial family and I are doing well. Been working from home during the COVID pandemic since March charges of systemic racism. Yet, I believe VMI’s Services, working for a man who I teach in Sun2020. Will be here for many more. The Institute finest hour is yet to come. We will overcome, day school. I told him that if he gives me any grief at work, I’ll lay a Baptist guilt trip on him quiet the naysayers, and be better than ever. It is going through some tough times, as well. My on Sunday morning.” Dan, glad to hear the emtwo girls are doing well. Elizabeth my oldest, is a will require all of us to bond together. I have ployment change worked out, and I’ll pass on Doctor of Dental Surgery and is in pediatric resi- returned to the Keydet Club’s Board of Goverdence at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her nors. I served for eight years, the max time you attending your Sunday school. Tony “Snake” Arnold’s update is: “Bubba sister, Catherine, is going to chiropractor school at can spend on the board, took the required year Palmer in Florida beginning in January. My wife off, and have been elected back on in 2020. I be- called me three times this quarter, life is good, lieve in our mission, believe in the coaches and Snake.” retired per COVID from teaching high school. Reporting to me shortly after his fly-fishing Have not talked with any BRs lately. Hope every- players, believe that with the help of all alumni one is doing well!” Phil, we know you and your we can provide the needed resources to make us trip, Ivan Marcotte says, “Steve, I hope y’all are well and thriving in these crawife are proud to eventually have zy times. Fortunately, I live in the two doctors in your family. work from home economy and reLynn Seldon of #midfiftiesgypmain gainfully employed. Without sies fame reports that he and Cele a commute and business dinners, have purchased a house in Beaufort, I’ve increased my fitness level and South Carolina, after selling their dropped a few pounds. Donna and house and everything in it in early I took the risk and got on a plane 2016, followed by more than four in September for our regular fishyears of traveling, many cruises ing trip to greater Yellowstone. The around the world, and temporary photo is from Ketchum, Idaho.” stays near and far (more near than Ivan, glad you and Donna had a far post-COVID-19). “We invite all great trip to Yellowstone National BRs to come visit, with Pat Conroy’s Park, as it is Mary’s and my favorrecipe for shrimp and grits on the ite national park. menu.” Lynn, congrats to you and Class of 1983: John Gordon, Jim Outland, Hugh Daughtry, Jim Henry, Dave Phillips sent a note. “Hope Cele on your recent home purchase. Scott Horan, Bill Cornett, and Breck Gorman at Rolling Plains Advenall is well. Only update for me is Mark Benvenuto informed me ture, North Dakota. that I relocated to Nashville in Ocabout another book project he is involved with. He stated, “Steve, I’ll send a hard a competitive, and because I believe I can make a tober 2019. If anyone is ever passing through, we have free room and board.” Thanks, Dave, difference. Lastly, on this day in 1981, we beat Vircopy of this book (Green Chemistry in Govfor the invitation to our BRs when passing ginia Tech and had our Ring Figure. ’83, ’83, ’83!” ernment and Industry) to VMI, but thought In the nick of time for class notes submission, through Tennessee. I’d share the good news with you. Me and my It was reported to me by Tim Spencer that buddy, Heinz Plaumann, edited this. Just got my Dan Martin sent a message in. “Hope you are doing well and weathering through this crazy Mark “Jammer” Jamison has been promoted to author copies today. Take care.” the position of director of public works for the Al Toler and his wife recently took a road trip year. I told my Sunday school class last week to Maine and New York City. They apparently that I was going to call my mother and ask her if city of Roanoke, Virginia. Well done, Mark, on had to take a COVID-19 test before traveling to the threat she made to me when I was a teenager your promotion. Reporting from Biloxi, Mississippi, Jim Johnthose states. They enjoyed visiting Acadia Na- to ‘slap me into next year’ was still on the table, and if so, let’s go ahead and pull the trigger. I son sent a message. “Hi, Steve. Great to hear tional Park and many sites in NYC. wanted to send a quick note to thank everyone from you. All is well here in Virginia Beach, In an email, John Dodge reports, “Steve, COwho reached out to assist me in my employment Virginia. Diane and I are contemplating moving VID-19 has made it tough to spend time with search this year. As you may have seen in our down south to the gulf coast. Biloxi, Mississippi, my 97-year-old dad and 84-year-old mom, but we cautiously have been able to have limited class Yahoo email group, I lost my job earlier or Orange Beach, Alabama. I can do my job with National Federation of Independent Business visits to their house. My dad is a World War this year due to COVID-19, and several of our II and Korean War veteran as an officer in the BRs reached out with ideas and offers to help. down there until retirement. My brother, Tom ’80, is here in Virginia close by, so we get toMarine Corps. He was selected to attend the In particular, Joseph ‘Campi’ Campisano, Wargether often. Not much else happening, although ren Groseclose, Joe Leonard, Bill Cornett, Naval Academy, only to be sent home after his

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Class Notes I am currently here in Biloxi as we speak giving my money to The Harrah’s Gulf Coast casino as I send this update to you. Hope all is well with you and your family, Rah Virginia Mil.” Thanks for the update, Jim, while you and Diane were vacationing—just be careful while “investing” in the casinos in Mississippi. I received a message from Teddy Gottwald and his daughter-in-law, Bridgette, announcing that, in August, Ted ’14 and Bridgette, Teddy, and Thomas ’09 hiked Black Butte mountain in Montana. When they all ascended the mountain, the guys held up a VMI T-shirt belonging to Bruce ’81, commemorating him. Jeff Farry, a farmer and engineer, provided a note to me saying, “Kerin and I are still raising sheep and cattle in Madison, Virginia. I’ve been helping my son, Josh ’15, remodel his house this past year, and I’m working for a Department of Defense contractor. The cattle are grass fed Angus crosses with Polypay sheep. I’m working on the ‘freezer trade’ as a long-term plan, but more recently the virus that originated in Wuhan has all of the slaughterhouses booked ’til next July.” I appreciate you note, Jeff. A great update was sent to me for these notes from Dr. Brad Norwood. Brad writes, “For the last five years, I’ve been working as a contractor supporting the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in the vaccines and therapeutics division of the chemical and biological technologies department of the research and development directorate. (That’s a mouthful, isn’t it?) However, the past five months have been quite eventful. On April 27, I began what must surely be the last phase of my professional career, as I became a ‘govie’ as a division chief in the same aforementioned agency. I switched (very appropriately) from the vaccines and therapeutics division (bugs, and I am not a microbiologist/virologist) to the advanced and emerging threats division (basically, chemical warfare defense) which is a much better fit since I am an organic chemist. Making the switch from contractor to division chief was pretty weird, and the max telework due to COVID-19 didn’t make it any less so. In addition to that, it seems like everyone in our family decided to move. My niece, my brother, my mom, my nephew, and Robin and I all sold houses and moved in this same timeframe (past five months). We moved from Mechanicsville to Ruther Glen, Virginia, just about exactly halfway between Richmond and Fredericksburg. The purpose for the move was twofold—get a

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place where mom could move in with us and get me a bit closer to work. The 90-mile (each way) commute was workable but not necessarily fun, and this cuts about 30 miles off of it but still permits us to continue at our regular church and see all of the same doctors, dentists, etc. The last major event in this time period was that our eldest daughter got married. It was an outdoor wedding, very small (largely due to COVID-19), a bit chilly and windy (outdoors at the Historic Polegreen Church site in Hanover County) but overall lovely. So, life goes on. I start to see BRs retiring, and think, ‘Yeah, that’d be great, but I’m not quite ready yet.’ So, I’ll keep on keeping on for now.” Wow, Brad, you sure were busy. Skip Goodwillie provided some great comical relief in his latest update. Skip’s story is, “My tidbits from my slice of Goochland/Richmond are not much but thought I’d contribute to the cause. John Kendall; Cal Murray and son, Cam ’12; and I represented the Class of ’83 in the annual Richmond Chapter golf tournament earlier in October. It rained 24 hours before our tee time, then a few holes into it we were fine. Before we had the shotgun start (I guess that means something else in different states), I was walking down between the carts looking at all the participants. I plopped into my cart, looked over at Cal and said, ‘D@*!, dude. We’ve become one of the old guys we’ve been making fun of for over 25 years. How did that happen?’ Cal, of course, responded with, ‘You, maybe, but not me.’ John Kendall showed us some of his Green Acres pics and videos. He’s running a farm outside of Fredericksburg, and ‘Happy’ showed us some of his big green toys he gets to play on. Other than the pics of his skin cancer that popped up unexpectedly, he and Anne Hall are doing well, and the kids are contributing to society. We did not do so well, as the beer cart was very late arriving to our cart, so we emptied the cart out. Then, on the side of one of the fairways, a VMI tent was set up complete with a bar. I have not seen Cal run so fast nor hold as many libations with his hands. Old? Not likely. If we could have scored on the number of laughs we had, we’d have taken the whole thing. My daughter, Ashton, and her husband are expecting their first in April. Our son, James ’12, has opened up Brightleaf Mortgage and has four people now doing mortgages in Virginia. Bob Mednikov is the deputy in the state corporation commission for instate banking who had

to approve James’s application. Apparently, it was held up because of some parental background checks, but I say they were for my father, Jeep ’60, not me. As for me, the company I spent 12-plus years with got bought in 2019. I went from a private, 300-person, $110 million firm to a publicly traded, 1,600-plus person, $2.2 billion firm in one email. Learning new stuff and running all information technology managed services for southern Virginia, supporting 22 account executives, and holding down four to five accounts myself. So, my handicap has gone up but am enjoying being busy. Staci and I get to play golf one to two times a week. I told her based on my handicap and the way I play, I practice social distancing by definition. Still, it’s been good to enjoy God’s design and beauty and get out of the house.” Skip, thanks for the funny update, and I’m still laughing. Pilot Andy Woolwine was able to send a quick update which said, “All is well here in Florida. Hope all is well with you and your family. Thank you for the VMI birthday card.” Keep safe flying, Andy. A nice update was provided by Duane Ray saying, “Good morning, Steve. I am doing great living here in Richmond, Virginia. I have a new job with Estes Express, a national transportation and logistics company, in their sales development division at the corporate office. I have been able to reconnect with Tara Iarossi, a Hollins ’83 graduate, and we are having some fun times together. Tara and I met up with Jamie MacDonald and his wife, Jennifer, at Olde Town Alexandria for dinner and had a fantastic time catching up. I have included a pic of the evening. I have also included a picture of four shot glasses that Tara gave me as one of my birthday presents; she created these on her computer and they are pretty cool. That’s about it for me other than I will be glad when this COVID-19 is over and all of us can meet back up at a VMI football game.” Duane, thanks for the note. I received a postcard from Mark “Boomer” Saxon (aka, Mark Zimmer) who lives in Hawaii. He thanked me for a birthday card and stated, “You and my BRs in Virginia continue to have my support and are in my prayers.” Thank you, Boomer. Well BRs, let’s hope Operation Warp Speed succeeds and develops a COVID-19 vaccine. When you receive this edition of the Alumni Review, we’ll be 26 months from our 40th Reunion! Take care, be healthy, God Bless you all, and stay safe BRs!

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

1984

Bill Janis

Late summer and early fall are very busy times for us all. Here along the Gulf Coast of Florida, our main priorities this time of year are 1) cleaning up from the most recent hurricane, 2) returning emails and texts from concerned brother rats checking on your status after the recent hurricane, 3) replenishing diminished stockpiles of essential supplies (i.e., rum), and 4) preparing for the imminent arrival of the next incoming hurricane. I haven’t heard from very many brother rats since our last edition. When we have connected, other than talk of hurricanes, our conversations have invariably tended toward one of the following three topics: Topic one: Recent developments in Lexington; topic two: Recent elections; topic three: Indignation over their pending surgeries for conditions usually associated with men of our, shall we say, “vintage” (neck surgery, back surgery, knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, liposuction, hair removal). To devote any portion of these class notes to topic one or topic two would be a direct violation of the strict editorial policies of the Alumni Review. And to write about topic three would be just plain wrong! So, I’m gonna have to dig deep to meet this deadline. Fortunately, Greg Cavallaro has come to the rescue yet again. We all know that “Cav” gets around. It’s just what he does. He does it all the time. And he does it for the Institute! He meets and speaks with alumni around the nation, and you can always count on him to check in on his brother rats. He sent me the following updates: “John Karafa said in a text that all is fantastic. ‘Family is doing well. Mom is still living with us. Kimberly’s mom is at the Windsor Meade Nursing Home memory care facility just five minutes away but all shut in due to COVID-19. My daughter, Emily, has begun her Master of Business Administration studies at The Citadel graduate school. That’s right ... she’s a Knob. Laugh out loud. Good fit for her plans to move from Charlotte to Charleston after the new year and be closer to her boyfriend, Hiago, who

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lives there. She will ultimately come to work for our company. I leave for Colorado tomorrow at 7 a.m. Picking up Scott Horan ’83 in Ashland, then Dale Brown in Lexington, then one other guy in West Virginia. Twenty-seven hour straight non-stop drive to Silverthorne. Drop camp, hunt for elk, deer, and bear!’ “Marlene and I see a lot of Barry and Dawn Coceano, especially since they purchased a 29foot Monterey cruiser and put it here on Smith Mountain Lake! It has twin 350 engines and is a beautiful VMI red! “I heard from Spruill Thompson that they are well, and things are rocking and rolling in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. He said he works every day as COVID-19 hasn’t kept people from buying and selling. “I heard from Tom Carboni that he and Debbie are well, although they had a tough time getting the kids refocused on the first day of school, remotely from home, as they were still in summer mode. “Andy Protogyrou told me his son, Tony ’16, graduated from West Virginia law and took the Virginia bar and is waiting on results. Demetra ’19 is a doctoral student now at North Carolina State in operations research. She went back and is a research assistant for an engineering professor. The grad students still take in person classes! “Chuck Foster keeps sending me wonderful

pictures of fishing and the beach. He is loving life in south Florida.” Thanks, Cav; you are the front-runner for “class notes correspondent-of-the-quarter” honors. I received an email with a subject line that read: “Upon reading the latest Alumni Review ... kinda like that visit to Tintern Abbey” (really) from Sam Browne. Sam’s daughter, Hanna, is a junior in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets: “I tried but couldn’t get her to follow in her dad’s footsteps. In a way I’m glad, because she is a B+ student at VT. My son is a high school senior, and who knows where he will land next year. In the bonds.” Al Meade briefly checked in with the following useful tip: “Damaged my ring, and Jostens repoured it for $80. Looks like new. Easy process on the VMI website.” Another satisfied customer! In spite of myriad challenges presented by social distancing, travel restrictions, and public health concerns, the annual “Perky Perkins Pinehurst Pilgrimage” was still held in August but was re-branded “The COVID-19 Classic.” As the photo I received indicates, a good time was had by many. Jeff White sent the following update: “In other news, the boys went back to begin their 1st Class year last weekend and to prepare for the incoming rats. Incidentally, I got a text and pic from Johnny Locher ’81 who had taken his son, Jack, to matriculation. What a time to be at the Institute.

Class of 1984: At the annual Perky Perkins Pinehurst Pilgrimage in August 2020 are (from left) Dave Phillips, Hank Selman, Steve Woolwine, Spruill Thompson, Jeff Levinson, Jeff Perkins, and Kemper Wharton. Caddies are (not pictured) Spencer Williamson ’85, Tom Greenspon ’85, and Chuck McCarthy ’85. Lee Wimbish did not attend. 123

Class Notes the memory of our late Brother It’s bad enough when things are Rat Kurt Iversen. Kurt meant a normal.” great deal to us. These four men Help is on the way, Jeff! Just (names withheld for now) have before these notes went to press, recognized that with this amazwe all rejoiced to hear reports ingly generous gift. A very cool that Pfizer had developed a vacand unique side note: When the cine for COVID-19 that had comscholarship is finalized, it will pleted phase III trials with a 90% include seven signatures from the effectiveness. Moments later, Class of 1985: Maj. Gen. Cedric we received a text message from Wins (interim supe), Meade King “Ghandi” Barsamian: and Joe Irby from the Alumni “All hail Dr. Selman who reAgencies, and then these four fused the golden parachute until he brother rats. BRs, you know who could get Pfizer across the COVyou are. Thank you. ID-19-vaccine finish line! What’s Class of 1984: During their annual pheasant shoot are (from left) Jamie As we know, we missed our next ... superintendent?” Shoemaker, Dave Pruitt, Mark Morgan, Frank Kollmansperger, Alex 35th Reunion in September due to Accolades continued pouring in Thompson, and a very well-disciplined dog. the threat of virus-spreading. That from around the globe (or at least did not stop classmates across the country from Smith Mountain Lake). Barry Coceano wrote: gathering together and celebrating our unique, “The entire world owes a debt of gratitude to close-knit, and accomplished class. As an examDr. Selman. A Nobel Prize nomination in the Matt Daniel ple, motivated to toast and laugh at and with all field of science is in order, I believe.” things VMI, Matt and Donna Hadley, Alex and Even the customarily stoic Bruce Hauck was Terrie Mason, Kevin and Jeri Holland, Walt swept up in the exuberance of the moment, and Ally McMann, Dave and Wendy Ames, writing: “First Viagra, and now this!? Big Matt Henderson, and Todd Thornes met at Hank was always my hero ... but I don’t think he has ever refused anything golden.” Who says that only wicked things happen on Sandy Point on the great Wicomico River in the Northern Neck area of Virginia for a reunion afIn characteristic fashion, Hank Selman re- Friday the 13th? mained humble in the face of such widespread As if to buck the lore, on the morning of Fri- fair. There, the men shot skeet, slurped oysters adulation: “You are too kind. 100% correct but day, Nov. 13, 2020, a piece of great news was with beer, and boiled and picked crabs while the still too kind. You are welcome, world!” delivered to the VMI Class of 1985, to VMI women “stimulated the local economy.” Great Such is the stuff of heroes! alumni, to current and future VMI cadets, and food and fellowship was had with brother rats Finally, compliments of the “The Incredible” to the Institute itself. After the dark months pre- and their better halves. In November, the afternoon before these notes Hauck, who, like myself and Barry Coceano, ceding where bad news mounted upon worse, it was apparently not invited to join the fun was announced that our brother rat and friend, were due, Matt Hadley (and Donna), Kevin Holland (and Jeri), Dave Tingley (and Jen(Thanks, Bruce!), I received a photo of the retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, annual sub-arctic pheasant hunting adventure would step in the shoes of legendary leader and nifer), Alex Mason (and Terrie), Neb Neblett organized by Jamie Shoemaker, Dave Pruitt, change agent retired U.S. Army Gen. Binford (and Stephanie), agent (and better half Cathy), Mark Morgan, Frank Kollmansperger, and Peay ’62 as superintendent. Cedric will begin and J.J. Wranek descended upon John Pollock Alex Thompson at Rolling Plains in Sterling, his tenure with the title of interim superinten- territory outside of Glasgow and Natural Bridge North Dakota. I also received a video (which, dent as he leads the Institute toward a strong to drink a few beers. The view from the brewery given the current state of Alumni Review tech- path of recovery and repair from the onslaught is amazing, and the beer is first-rate. Plan to visit nology, regrettably cannot be included in these of attention delivered from outside. If there was Great Valley Farm Brewery next time you are notes), of Morgan executing an impressive ever a leader to take the helm and navigate VMI in ’Vegas. On Oct. 30, 2020, the Institute was heard from single leg takedown and pin of an adult black through such odd and dark, shark-infested wabear. I’m informed by Thompson (“E.A.,” that ters, it is Cedric Wins. Welcome back to Lex- again. This time due to the accomplishments of Brother Rat John “Eck” Eckenrode. Eck is one is) that no actual bears (or BRs) were harmed ington, Cedric. in the making of the video. On to the business of reporting your news of very few competitive shooters to earn the distinction Multiple Distinguished Shooter status. Bear-wrasslin’ seems like the perfect last from our class. His specific status is what is called Double Disword for this edition, and this annus horribiAnother bit of good news: We have a team of lis, so with that I’ll close by saying, until next very generous brother rats who have gotten to- tinguished in the competitive shooting world. As year, “Goodnight, ‘Cubby’ Zendt, wherever gether with the VMI Alumni Agencies to spon- one of only about 1,000 shooters to earn this disyou are!” sor and finance an annual scholarship fund in tinction (since 1891!), Eck has proven himself

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Class Notes for Safari Energy in delivering to be a truly elite shooter. His best in class project manageroad to this accomplishment ment and operational excelwas paved with his enlistment lence,’ said David Heyman, into the U.S. Marine Corps Rechief executive officer, Safari serve several years after graduEnergy. ation. There he served with the “Dan joins Safari Energy 4th Light Armored Reconnaisas the company recently ansance Battalion and earned his nounced several impressive way onto the USMCR shootoperational milestones, ining team, where he excelled. cluding the company’s 60th During the award/recognicompleted commercial solar tion ceremony (which was a project in New Jersey. Safari surprise, choreographed by Energy has developed or acour own Scott Pearson), the quired more than 400 projects commanding officer of USMC in 23 states and D.C., and Weapons Training Battalion, Class of 1985: At the class’s mini 35th reunion on the Northern Neck are Todd has surpassed more than 500 Quantico, and the captain of Thornes, Dave Ames, Wendy Ames, Matt Hadley, Donna Hadley, Matt Henderthe USMC/USMCR shooting son, Jeri Holland, Kevin Holland, Ally McMann, Walt McMann, Terrie Mason, gigawatt hours of electricity produced by its solar power teams presented John with an and Alex Mason. systems. That is the equivalent award for his excellence in of offsetting 362,000 tons of marksmanship and for serving carbon dioxide or the power as a continuing exemplar of required to charge 46 billion USMC shooting. smartphones. Eck’s response: “Many thanks “Dan has held leadership to all of you for taking time out positions with Sun Edison, of your schedules to attend this Tetra Tech, Skanska USA, (surprise!) event. I was really, and Bechtel. Earlier in his caseriously, no B.S., at a loss for reer, Dan served as an officer words. Many years ago, I rein the U.S. Air Force. Dan is a ceived my first gold (rifle) medal licensed professional engineer in uniform. No one at my unit and holds a Master of Busihad seen one before and didn’t ness Administration degree in know what to ‘say’ about it at the company formation. Today, with Class of 1985: In Quantico, Virginia, for John “Eck” Eckenrode’s recognition as finance and accounting. Dan a “Double Distinguished” shooter Oct. 30, 2020, are (from left) Rob McIntire, has a Bachelor of Science deall of you in attendance, I was W.G. Rowlett, Steve Medeiros, Eckenrode, Jake Spivey, Scott Pearson, and gree in mechanical engineerhumbled, and this time, I didn’t Tommy Rahe. ing from the Virginia Military know what to say. What I can say now is that this accomplishment helped en- is an American Airlines captain, though it is un- Institute.” Gigawatts! Dan, speaking of Safari Energy, sure ‘the Institute was heard from’ at rifle and clear what equipment he is flying or what his dopistol matches at the state, regional, and national micile is. Your agent is in hot pursuit. Any leads our Annual Charlie Company Golf Safari crew could use some of that energy; willing to share, levels. Eck.” Well said, brother Eck. would be appreciated. Several brother rats were in attendance: Steve Our own Dan Jordan has been hired to lead BR? Dave Caruso has been hired by Osi Vision Medeiros, Rob McIntire, W.G. Rowlett, Jake operations at Safari Energy. Here is a summary LLC as configuration management specialist Spivey, Tom Rahe, and Scottie Pearson. (Fol- of the write-up that went with this story: “New low this link for more information on Mul- York, Sept. 25, 2020. Leading commercial and at Osi Vision, LLC. Dave left CACI to join Osi tiple Distinguished Shooters awards: https:// industrial solar developer, Safari Energy, today Vision after more than 20 years. Osi Vision is ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=reportMult announced that Daniel Jordan has joined the a global cyber, Information Technology, engiipleDistinguishedShooters) company as senior vice president, operations. Dan neering, software, logistics, and mission support In September, Brother Rat John “Glen” Lisella brings over 30 years of experience in engineering solutions company. Solid move, Dave! VMI place-kicker turned businessman, Daryconnected. Glen, always a man of few words, and construction with a focus on renewables. shared this photo, and this photo alone (hopefully ‘Daniel’s superb track record, particularly oush “Z” Ziai (president, zone China at Schindler the photo makes it). Obviously, Glen is looking over the past decade, planning and building so- Group), has been honored by the Shanghai musharp in his sunglasses with his Cessna 182. Glen lar projects across the U.S., is an incredible asset nicipal government with the Silver Magnolia

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Class Notes states, and municipalities against all threats, forAward. This award recognizes foreigners who do what he wants each day, as long as it doesn’t interfere with his retired or family life. Quintin eign or domestic. have made strong contributions to the city’s ecoSend me info and data. nomic growth and social development, as well lives in the Richmond area. Stay safe and happy, gents. Eric Olsen has started a new job as a CDC as exchanges with foreign countries. Z has been RVM ’85, Foundation emergency planner for COVID-19 working for Schindler in Shanghai for over 10 MFD years. “For the past decade, my family and I have with the Boston Public Health Commission. Chuck McCarthy has passed the 25-year milehad the pleasure and privilege of calling this truly stone with the W.M. Jordan Company. In his time global city (Shanghai) home. I’d like to thank my with W.M. Jordan, Chuck has worked in myriad brother rats from VMI for preparing me for this honor, especially Shaun Oliver, Jack Emerson, areas to include hospitality, government, medi- Clint Hubbard cal, and higher education. W.M. Jordan thanked Greg Enterline, and Doug McGowan. They are the best, but especially Enterline; he gave me his Chuck for 25 years in the relentless pursuit of exkeys one time and I can’t forget Mike Adkins, for cellence and making them better and more successful along the way. Bravo zulu, Chuck! showing me a most excellent card trick. Oh yeah, Brother Rats, In October, the VMI Alumni Agencies received I want to thank Ching Pu Chen, Cubby Fimian, This edition of the 1986 class notes is being suba notice from the VMI Thailand Alumni AssociaTodd Wood, and Jud Springer, too.” (Agent: tion Chapter. With it was an announcement that mitted Nov. 15, 2020. Well, he didn’t say all of that, but I am sure he Much has happened at VMI since the last edition our friend and Brother Rat Sumonchai Sanusun meant it). of Alumni Review, and I’m sure you’re keeping up was promoted to major general as a senior speBill Warnock continues to impress. As the director for U.S. business development for RA In- cialist in the Royal Thai Army. Along with that with it in the news. I’m not side-stepping anything, ternational (remote site construction and services came a flyer with some embedded photos. BR but the class notes might not be the best venue to discuss the issues facing VMI at the present time. Sanusun looks every bit of bad a$$ as he did company), Bill has been nominated to the International Stability Operations Association board when he was with us in Lexington. Congratula- If you want to hit me up offline, I’ll be glad to offer my opinion. And always remember, an opinion is a of directors. Bill has played a key role in ensuring tions! personal opinion—we may differ in our opinions, Lastly, prayers and good wishes are sought for business continuity across the continent (Africa) but we are still all brother rats, and I love and reour men and their families who are experiencing and he is well-suited for this as he will enhance health problems or are having to have procedures spect every one of you. the board’s breadth of knowledge in contingency For a bit of perspective, do you recall the conto correct issues. A prayer to those who are afoperations in the region. fected by the economic effects of the state’s and troversy in 1984-85 about the name of the area Don Graham came through Lexington in September. Along with Dave and Jennifer Tingley, the nation’s response to the virus that has gripped in the center of post where the Corps marches in Pat and Lisa McGuire, Joe and Cindy Irby, Ken the world. A tip to all those who continue to add parades? Is it a Parade Ground or a parade deck? to the protection of the people of our country, its I recall the issue was hotly debated in the pages and Charon Hirlinger, and your agent and his of the VMI Cadet newspaper back in the better half, Don and this party enjoyed an day. The debate lives on in 2020. Here’s afternoon at a local craft-brewery haunt. the compromise: We all know what we’re Don is doing very well, working for the talking about and where it is, right? Call it Las Vegas Metro Police Department as whatever you want to call it, but be there a police sergeant. Don’s sense of humor at 1615 on Friday afternoon with coatee, has survived these 35 years very well and shako, full-dyke, with arms. If you don’t intact. It was a nice visit. look good enough, we’ll go around twice Quintin “Q” Elliott corresponded in on Monday afternoon! November. Q led a dual career (22 years We’ll lead off this quarter with a congratin the Air National Guard (17 with Rapid ulatory note to Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85. Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Unless you live under a rock, you know Repair Squadron and five as the 192nd that Maj. Gen. Wins has been named as Civil Engineering Squadron commandthe interim superintendent at the Institute. er) along 33 years in the transportation He is coming into a highly charged situaworld, with the Virginia Department tion, and I’m sure we all wish him well as of Transportation. Quintin retired from VDOT as the deputy commissioner for Class of 1985: At the Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery in he begins his term. If you’re like me, you VDOT and the deputy secretary for trans- November are (from left) Cathy Daniel, Jeri Holland, Kevin remember Cedric Wins the man; and he is Holland, Dave “Jeremiah Johnson” Tingley, Matt Hadley, a good man with a good heart. On behalf portation. A humble super-achiever, Q Alex Mason, Terrie Mason, and Donna Hadley, and (not picof the Class of 1986, we wish our friend, says that after all those years, it is good tured) Neb Neblett, Stephanie Neblett, and J.J. Wranek. Cedric, Godspeed and a successful tenure. to wake up when he wants and choose to

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Class Notes Now, onward to the name-calling and mudslinging. Regarding Transcat’s new general counsel, Jim Jenkins: I’m sure BR Jenkins read the update last time and wondered what was going on? I bet he was jumpy for three days waiting for us to somehow otherwise spring out at him. There were numerous barbs that were omitted. The presser from Transcat was so laudatory about Jim that it made one give pause and think, “If we didn’t know of the details of BR Jenkins’ past, we probably would have hired him, too.” And as was mentioned last time but omitted, “Never fear, Jim; your secrets are safe with us and we will keep all your skeletons in the VMI trunk rooms where they belong.” All editing aside, well done, BR Jenkins and congrats to you and Transcat. Speaking of the trunk rooms, how many times did we try to think up ways to get into the trunk rooms to get some civilian clothes in order to make a break for it, run the block, and try to portray a regular college student? Some guys have said that when they got their civilian clothes out for the Corps trip to The Citadel our rat year, the clothes had hair on them from our initial trip to the barbershop back in August. Also speaking of the trunk rooms, how about an update, Tom McHugh? I’m pretty sure you’re still a good neighbor with State Farm Insurance, but we need an official update on the young McHugh hoopsters who might be playing out west somewhere. What say, Tom? A few random rumors. The word on the street is our favorite son of Key West, Buford Nolen, has started a bicycle taxi/rickshaw business to supplement his income while he is still living on his boat in the southernmost part of the continental United States. The dude seems to have found the formula. There is no word on the street about Jim Radle or Tim Young. Speaking of Key West, you may recall a recent BR fishing trip down there disguised as a group of old drunks who may or may not be past their prime. This was the event where BR Louis Rucker showed his old form and bench pressed the weight equivalent of a Honda Civic about 32 times. What is funny about that is that claim was made and then an, “I doubt it,” was issued, so they found a gym, and ol’ Louis made some believers out of the doubters. Fast forward to summer 2020, and most of the same group descended upon Georgetown, South Carolina, for a weekend of fishing and golf. There was no real report on the golf, but

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the fishing was excellent. Our boys caught some yellowfin tuna, and nine out of 12 of them caught COVID-19. There have been a lot of accusations and counteraccusations about who was the super spreader. The first one diagnosed was Stew (that figures) Barnes followed by Pat “Boxhead” Farrell. Stew said he was sick for about 16 hours and had hangovers that were worse. BR Farrell ultimately sequestered with Roy Woolwine, Mike Colletti, and Steve Pancham at what sounded to me like a poker game disguised as a quarantine. This group of miscreants holed up at the Woolwine river cottage somewhere on the Northern Neck of Virginia. BR Colletti says he tested positive but never had a symptom. They quarantined themselves like Butch Cassidy and the hole-inthe-wall-gang for almost nine weeks just to be safe. The quarantine was over when they ran out of liquor. No surprise to any of us, but BR Alvin “Can’t Touch This” Comer got off scot-free; he was one of the three on the trip who never got ill. No. 10 in your program and No. 1 in our hearts still has his Teflon shell. Speaking of Roy Woolwine, there was a terrific showing of BRs at the “Frankie Challenge” golf tourney in October. They continue to do great work in reminding youngsters to “Think for a Second.” This foundation has a large impact in the Richmond area and is becoming well-known across the state. COVID-19 still holds a grip on the country and the world. Close to home, BR Paul Burch had some minor symptoms that lingered for a while and he was quarantined after a positive test. The symptoms held on persistently for about eight days or so. His timing was all off or he could have joined the “Woolwine quarantine/poker game.” BR Burch now has a clean bill of health and is back in the fray with the rest of us. He does not have a clean bill of conduct, however. Duke Ellington checked in from Africa where he was trying to locate Dave Shin. Duke says he is doing fine in South Africa but misses the USA and looks forward to the day when he is living back here and hanging with his BRs. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as you can get here, BR Ellington. The last bit of good news is our very own Jon Moody was recently elected to the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees. I’m sure they will benefit from BR Moody’s sound judgement and financial acumen. Well done, BR Moody; make us proud! Well, the deadline is here, so I need to wrap this

up and submit it. Remember to keep in touch with each other; pick up the phone and check in with BR you haven’t talked to in a while. Remember, the plan is for the Keydets to be playing football in spring 2021. If you make it to Lexington, be sure to look up the chief of staff and buy him a drink; he’s earned it. Take care, brother rats.

1987

Curt Schoonmaker

Greetings fellow attendees of the Maury River School for Boys (that’s a new Facebook group). Wow. That happened fast. Almost like it had been planned for a while. To arms! This was forwarded by the Alumni Association for notes inclusion. Looks like we might be well taken care of on any visit to Thailand. I only follow Chinawat Noiwan’s happenings on Facebook. Had no idea VMI is running the entire military over there. The VMI Alumni Association’s Thailand Chapter (Classes of 19642020) held a warm gathering Sept. 26, 2020. to celebrate the recent promotions of its members. Extraordinary congratulations go to: 1. Maj. Gen Sumonchai Sanusun ’85, senior specialist, Royal Thai Army 2. Lt. Gen. Paisan Ngamwongwan (obviously the most gifted and handsome), chief of staff, National Defence Studies Institute 3. Lt. Gen. Songwit Nunpakdee ’88, deputy chief of staff, Royal Thai Army 4. Maj. Gen Kultawat Vaijai ’88, deputy director general of joint intelligence, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters There was a lot more. I just included the ones we’d recall. Bill McCarthy continues tirelessly on his strenuous regimen of golf, lacrosse, and beer on a daily basis. For some, the job never ends. He writes, “Hopefully all are well. Quick class note update. I have attached a photo from team ’87 1st Class privates taken during the 3rd annual Frankie Challenge golf outing in Richmond at The Federal Club. Matt Morgan joined us afterwards for the celebratory Apres Golf. It was a great event and will most likely be written about during the next Review since there were tons of

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Class Notes people from VMI. You can look it up at thefrankiechallenge.org.” Frank Woolwine is the late son of Roy Woolwine ’86. Roy established a charitable foundation to educate students to the dangers of distracted or impaired driving. In the picture are Glenn Ferguson, Rick Heine, Wilson Brown, and Bill McCarthy. If you seldom see Mike Maxwell, it’s because he never leaves his office. That will have changed by this reading. He types, “I am retiring at the end of the month. I stay in touch with most of my BRs through Facebook these days, but as you know, it has gotten contentious. Hopefully the temperature goes down soon, as I would like to have my friends back. Anyway, my plan is to retire and eventually move to Florida with the rest of the gang. I’ve talked to several BRs that have been quite helpful and accommodating with helping me search for a house in Florida and I plan to take them up on their offers. Thanks, Max.” Maybe now Adrian Garcia’s lawn will get a little rest. He attached his company’s announcement: “Michael Maxwell to Retire on Nov. 30 after 33 Years of Service. “Following an illustrious 33-year career at PHI, Michael ‘Max’ Maxwell, vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Analysis, has announced he will retire on Nov. 30, 2020. “Max has made tremendous contributions to our business operations and helped strengthen our reputation with the communities we serve throughout his tenure with the company. Before assuming his current role where he oversees several legacy real estate transactions, partnerships with key stakeholders, workforce development, and process improvement efforts, Max led a diverse range of organizations, including asset management, human resources, and support services. “His extensive industry knowledge has been critical to our journey toward operational excellence. Max has led many key initiatives, including the safety manual consolidation project, implementation of our initial reliability enhancement plans, and the 2005 Pepcohosted EEI Convention. He also sponsored the original SAP/work management information system, outage management system, mobile dispatch system, and geographic information system project implementations. Max even anchored the winning Pepco 4-x-200 meter relay team at the 1993 Mobile 1 Invitational.

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“He has supported all three of Pepco’s mergers, most recently helping integrate PHI into the Exelon family of companies. “Max can be particularly proud of his critical role in improving our emergency response planning and preparedness, including leading the company’s response to the James Lee Witt Report, which identified improvements following Hurricane Isabel in 2003. “Above all, Max has demonstrated a commitment to his teams, his colleagues, and to the communities we serve. He has a passion for developing people and is an advocate for mentoring and workforce development activities, such as the intern program and Technical Career Fair, DC Infrastructure Academy, African

Class of 1987: Mike Maxwell is retiring after 33 years with Pepco.

Class of 1987: At the 3rd Annual Frankie Challenge golf outing at the Federal Club in Richmond, Virginia, are Glenn Ferguson, Rick Heine, Wilson Brown, and Bill McCarthy.

American Leadership Council, and Employee Resources Groups. “Max serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Workforce Investment Council for the District of Columbia, the Virginia Military Institute’s Keydet Club athletic board, and Leadership of Greater Washington. He was also appointed by the governor of Virginia to serve on the Board of Visitors for the Virginia Military Institute in 2007. “On behalf of PHI’s leadership team, I want to thank Max for his support and dedication over the last 33 years. His leadership will be greatly missed, but his legacy will remain in the work we do every day. Please join me in wishing him the best on his new journey.” I think the lights are going out when he leaves. Welcome to choices, Max! A few notes from phone calls since last issue’s non-entry. I print ’em like I get ’em. From Steve Cade: “Al Pantano, where are you? I’m moving to Florida with the rest of the old guys who need warm weather for their replaced joints, and so I won’t die of hypothermia if I pass out outside or get lost while wandering.” From Pete Hansen: “Heard anything from Bowels? Pete is a Loudoun County judge now.” From John Lightner: “Dude. Stop texting me at 2 a.m. John and Steve Cade are neighbors in Vienna.” From Paul Munson: Wow. Just wow. Eyes on Raleigh. Still in Outer Banks. Retired special investigator. Manager of our 1987 Scholarship Fund. He asked me to remind everyone of the fund basics. It’s a designated fund, not for general use. It’s for the lineage of ’87, but since most of our direct descendants are already schooled, it’s available to other relatives as long as there’s an ’87 connection that isn’t vague. Young rat Lawrence Porter ’24, midsized son of BR Tracey Porter, is the current benefactor of the fund, but much more funding is needed. It’s empty now. It’s not a full ride scholarship, but Paul will be meeting with some brainstorming BRs to develop ways to enhance it very soon. It’s still a way for those of us who may have recently had mixed feelings about Institute goings on to support just the class and our lineage. Paul said Scott Jewell would like it passed on that he and his wife have named the fund in their will. That’s some

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes serious love, BR, and hopefully others will follow Scott’s lead. I’ve never passed the hat on behalf of the Institute before because you guys know how to type in your address bar, but a scholarship in the name of our class is something different, and I apologize for not having plugged it previously. I believe it is separate from the Institute (philosophically, but they still count donations to it for class totals). At least we can come together in just supporting the class and our legacy. It’s just around the corner. Please follow our class Facebook page VMI 1987 30th Reunion for updates and news on the other BRs.

1988

Ed Wetherell

Class of 1988: In western Maryland at a mini reunion at Derek McFarland’s cabin are Bill Regan, John Gillespie, Wayne Sinclair, Joey Swink, Hugh McMenamin, Drew McKone, Todd Freiwald, McFarland, Sam Tate, John Bordelon, Vic Sredl, Rich Stone, John “Rock” Keppeler, Bill Cronenberg, and (not pictured) Jim Florio.

events at the Institute, as they have obviously been in the news. I was personally sad to see Gen. Peay ’62 leave. He was a great leader for VMI and has done incredible things to improve the school we Brother Rats, love. As has always been the case, VMI is not I hope this finds you well. Things were a little immune from the cultural issues that we face slow in the fall for class gatherings, with a couas a nation. New challenges always lie ahead. ple of notable exceptions. Derek McFarland I circulated a note on our class Facebook page held a mini reunion at his cabin in western and via email to a number of you regarding Maryland. There were 15 BRs in attendance: some of these issues and my views on them. As Jim Florio, Bill Regan, John Gillespie, Wayne I stated in that note, they are just my opinions, Sinclair, Joey Swink, Hugh McMenamin, and I respect that each of you have your own Drew McKone, Todd Freiwald, Derek Mcviews. I remain optimistic about the Institute’s Farland, Sam Tate, John Bordelon, Vic Sredl, future. I am confident that it will embrace these Rich Stone, John “Rock” Keppeler, and Bill issues and challenges as it always has and that Cronenberg. Sorry that I missed it but was glad it will emerge stronger for having done so. I to see so many BRs get together for some quality encourage each of you to engage more time outdoors shooting, camping, and fully with VMI and each other during cooking out. this time. It remains a special place, My wife, Sheila, and I have been and we all share a unique bond. Esfortunate to spend several weekends at pecially in times like these, we should our house in Lexington these last few talk, engage each other more, and months. During our recent visits, I have deepen those bonds. been able to catch up with a few BRs, As always, I would love to hear from including Al Cuellar, Dan Salyan, Eric all of you! Please send emails and picLassalle, and Pete McCrary. Al and his tures whenever you have an update or wife, Holly, were on their way to Roaget together with BRs and other alumni. noke to link up with BR Dave Williams. I look forward to seeing many of you Dan was visiting with his son, Connor, at our lunch gatherings and in Lexingwho is a high school junior and is conton in the near future. Until then, stay sidering VMI as one his college options. safe, all the best to you and your famiDan, Al, Eric, and I were all able to Class of 1988: Ed Wetherell, Eric Lassalle, and Pete McCrary in lies and RVM! catch the Saturday parade together be- Lexington. Ed fore everyone headed off again. Eric and Pete were in town for an “unofficial” Parents Weekend visit. In the event you find yourself headed to Lexington for a weekend visit, shoot me a text or email and hopefully we can connect. I was also able to catch up on the phone with Don Calder, Tim West, John Scarpino, Jim Mumma, and Tom Reimann. Don and Tim are both in the Virginia Beach/Tidewater area and are doing well. John is working for KeyBank in New York, and Jim is still flying as a captain on Boeing wide body jets and is currently training on the Airbus A380. Tom recently accepted a new position at Philips as vice president, head of quality, connected care after nearly 20 years with Medtronic. I would be remiss if I did not mention the recent

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Class Notes

1989

Steve Chiles David A. Martin

I hope these notes find all of you and your families in good health. After speaking with many of you, Dave and I decided to take a break from updates in this issue to acknowledge the unprecedented times in which we find ourselves. There are few if any historical examples from which to draw—suffice to say, there are many divisions in our world that have made civil discourse in our country a significant challenge for many. Times have been made even more challenging for those of us in the VMI community. We’ve lost a superintendent who arguably did more in the last 17 years to bring VMI into its coveted academic standing and modernize it than any of his predecessors. His service to the Institute is only eclipsed by his service to our country. All this in the face of uncommon political tensions, combined with difficult decisions about our alma

mater’s physical features that have angered some and assuaged others. Thank you, Gen. Peay. We wish you Godspeed in your future endeavors. To the newly announced interim superintendent, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, you have a big challenge in front of you. We know a VMI graduate of your stature is up to the task. Good luck! This year will be studied intensely for many years to come—it is without equal in our lifetimes in many ways. Here’s to 2021 and the hope that as a country, we can find our common ground, rediscover our empathy for all, and learn from our collective failures. To quote Jonathan Daniels ’61, class valedictorian, one of our finest graduates who sacrificed all, “Take every failure as an experience, ’cause to be successful, you need experience.”

1990

Daren Payne

I have to begin this report with the sad news of the passing of BR Bill Ator’s son, Bob, and Mike Inteso’s son, Aidan. Both deaths were completely unexpected and occurred within days of each other in September. I cannot overstate how

Class of 1990: At the services for Bill Ator’s son, Bob, are (from left) Minter Ralston, Mark Dick, Mike Inteso, Tim Feagans, Jeff Paul, and Ator. 130

much outpourings of cards, messages, emails, letters, memorial gifts, etc., have meant to our BRs who are dealing with this most tragic situation. I got the following update from Bill on the funeral of Mike’s son: “It was a moving day where, for over four hours, friends of Aidan and the Inteso family stopped by in a steady procession to pay their respects. All I can say is that Aidan was loved and truly left a lasting imprint on all he met. The strength of the entire Inteso family is amazing. I don’t know how Mikey could muster the strength to get up and speak at a time like this.” I received the following update from Bill following Bob’s services: “Happy can’t even begin to thank you all for your outpouring of love and support for me and my family. I truly am overwhelmed and humbled by your messages and calls. You are the absolute best. I knew it back in 1986 and even more so now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please don’t waste a day and love on your loved ones.” Those in attendance included Minter Ralston, Mark Dick, Jeff Paul, Mike Inteso, and Tim Feagans. Special thanks to BRs Crone and Manning for reaching out and the kind words and offers of assistance from BRs Gaspar, Trumbo, Lee Griffith, Hemenez, Joey Jones, Tunnard, Chenery, and many others I’m sure I’m forgetting. Similarly, Coley Rice lost his father, Robert Rice ’49C, at age 94. Mr. Rice was a World War II veteran, huge community servant, and former VMI Foundation board member. Many thanks to Col. John Brodie (Hon.) who played taps at the funeral and represented VMI. In each of these instances, I am in awe of the response of our class. I’m amazed at the way we come together and care not just in words but also deeds and actions. Within minutes after putting out emails announcing these tragedies each time, I had no less than two dozen responses with offers of help, donations, attending services, outreach, prayer, and support in less than two hours. This from a class of about 375 people. This is just indicative of the bonds VMI forges among us, and I’m proud to call myself one of you. The first to reach out to me during this reporting period were Stefan Herzog, Dave Walsh, and Andy Conville. Stefan reported that he “was involved with getting some medical devices introduced to the U.S., and that little adventure is finished. I moved back into the Department

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes and room 436. I was 434. Great roommates, as of Defense space and am currently running my Hanford, who was dropping off his daughter own consulting company helping both large to join the Corps and relayed the following: well. Great group of kids! It is a different kind and small DoD contractors with the acquisition “What a great ceremony. So proud of the In- of ‘emotional test’ as a parent versus being a rat stitute. She was excited, nervous ... but ready. like we all went through. I know she will be fine process ... This has allowed me to focus on my true passion(s), gardening and beekeeping. So, She is really looking forward to her classes and in our 180-year-old system, but as a parent, it is I have become a certified Florida Master Gar- was so happy to hear that Colonel Bell is her so hard.” The same day, Jim Cox checked in to let me dener and am currently an apprentice level bee- advisor. Her room was one down from my rat know his feelings on the journalistic quality of keeper. Those credentials and a couple of bucks room. Can’t believe it, so close. She is in Alpha the 1986 Matriculation Special Ediwill get one a cup of coffee (smile). tion of the VMI Cadet newspaper that However, there is a goal in mind. I Neil Whitmore shared with us. am actively pursuing the purchase The following Monday, I heard of a small organic farm and retail from “Jack of Many Trades” John nursery. That is where I would like to Breathour, who passed along the folspend my time for the next 30 years lowing: “I am living up in Pennsylvaor so, God willing. Other news in the nia just a little north of Philadelphia. family: Two daughters are all grown I have been occupying myself with up, one is married with two kids (a a few different things. I have been girl and a boy), and my youngest is spending most of my time with a new graduating from Samford University handyman business I started. I still this year. My wife, Christy, has starthave a statistical consulting business. ed a quilting business and keeps busy I dabble in some agriculture, rental managing the house, namely me.” property, etc.” BR Walsh was checking in from I also heard from Jeff Kaster this Arkansas, where he passed along the time around: “Like you, I’ve been following: “I’m full time Guard. I got looking for Chuck Green. Chilton out of active duty in November 2002. Morris is in regular contact with I realized that they needed a guy like him, but I can’t get him to come up me, but my family needed me. I loved active duty job (Air Force special op- Class of 1990: Crone alumni at the river in summer 2020 are Brady on the net. We’re still in Chesapeake, Virginia. Alison is still nursing. Our erations), but I was gone a lot. Aver- ’96, Sandy ’93, and Dusty. oldest, Virginia, just left for nursing aged about 230 days temporary duty school at Liberty University. Maybe she’ll run per year. Did some amazing stuff. Since joining into Larlee, as she wants to be a flight nurse. the Guard, I’ve opened my own real estate comI’m enjoying retirement and teaching literature, pany (17 years ago), and as of two days ago, I’m government, economics, and personal finance looking to buy an insurance company. That’s to our other two homeschooled kids. I am not my retirement job in 2.5 years. I’ve raised three teaching algebra or biology. We decided to take wonderful boys. The oldest is a certified public a year off from teaching and leading the mock accountant in Little Rock, the middle is attendtrial competition. It’s fun but a lot of work, and ing West Point, and the youngest is a sophomore it doesn’t work well on Zoom. I still do a little at Catholic High in Little Rock. The oldest two pro bono work in family law and try to help the haven’t cost me but a couple of thousand for their occasional veteran with PEB or VA issues.” college education, and I’ve transferred my G.I. Bill Dennis Bundens, FBI agent, checked with to the youngest, but I don’t know if he will need it. me, as well, and he is now stationed at the FBI He’s smart, too.” Academy at Quantico and living near Manassas BR Conville passed along a note to let me know in Bristow, Virginia. his best friend’s kid was matriculating at the “I” I also saw the great news that Rob Clark is in August. now the director of global communications for Next up to check in was George Rahab, who I Exxon Mobile Corporation. can now cross of the MIA list. George is now in the Tim Edwards looks to have begun a new gig Philadelphia area after a 20-plus year career workClass of 1990: At the services for Mike as a project controls manager at AdvanSix. ing all over the map for Law Engineering and then Inteso’s son, Aidan, are Bill Ator and Also in a new job is Bill Gaspar who is workMACTEC doing asbestos abatement work. Inteso. ing in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for ECS, which Around matriculation, I heard from Kevin

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Class Notes also employs BR Rob Gudz. I also heard from Bob Butler who now has 10 (no, that is not a typo) children and two grandchildren. Bob is living in Chesapeake and works. Lee Usher also checked in to let me know he is still among the living and lively. Foster Taliafero is now in Marianna, Florida, working for Arcosa Inc. and has been there since 2019 after spending two years in Flowery Branch, Georgia, with Reconserve Inc. Doug Spitz, who is president and global chief executive officer for I2Pure/I2Cure, just moved his biotechnology company’s headquarters into some plush new spaces in the Reston Town Center West. Also of note, Greg Hatchett started a new position a senior technical advisor at the National Nuclear Security Agency and keeps very busy with the agency’s COVID-19 task force. Around the same time, I heard from Brad Steverson: “I’m still around Knoxville, Tennessee. Living the dream. I retired from the Guard and now focus on work. I am the information technology director, which means I write a lot of our software we use. I also run the manufacturing accounting department. This is easy, because the programs I write are geared to production and accounting.” Congrats on the retirement and thanks for your service! In October, we were graced with the presence of Lenny Carson and his fiancée, who were in town for their Oct. 17 wedding in J.M. Hall. We had a get-together for them the night before the wedding at our house in Buena Vista with Charles Plageman, Tom Tolley, and Chris Larlee and spouses in attendance. The happy couple married the next afternoon in a service with Chip Chenery as best man and Col. Neil Whitmore in attendance. Also in October, I got the following from Jim Hynes: “Hunter Trumbo, John Hahn, and Chip Chenery agreed to meet up in LexVegas for Colonel Piegari’s (Hon.) memorial service. Matt Schwartzmann and Carlos Fernandez also attended. I did see Pete Mantz on post (first time I’ve seen him in 20 years) ... not sure if he was at the memorial. Hunter, Chip and I came down from northern Virginia—down and back same day ...” Pat O’Leary contacted me and let me know Scott Ludmer surfaced. We’ve added him to the class distribution list, so that’s one long lost BR accounted for. I also heard from Don Bowman who let me know I misspelled my job title on my signature block for the past year, and he’s the only one of

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you who noticed! Don says, “I am well. Living the quiet life back in my hometown of Bristol, Virginia. I left California about six years ago.” Another Don—Donnie Roberts—also called me from Michigan, and we had a great chat for about an hour and a half about all the stuff we did as cadets and how we’d be lucky to stay out of jail doing that stuff today. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask Donnie if he was still in the marijuana business (for medicinal purposes, of course). I also heard from my roommates. Dave Ratliff officially moved from Roanoke to his mountain top cabin outside Roanoke. Rich Mehl is in Wilmington, and Sean Hoover continues with the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, serving in the U.S. Army Reserve in his spare time. Matt Hemenez called from California to let me know he survived the wildfires thus far and talked about the recent VMI Alumni Association board meeting where Sam Stocks presides as president. Also still in California is Dave Kaulfers, who passed along, “Yup ... still on active duty (retired from Virginia Department of Transportation last week). Sort of doing things backwards ... civilian to military, not military to civilian. The U.S. Army Reserve now allows up to 33 years of commissioned service provided you are SELCON, so I may try to get three more years in.” Dave McGraw has been in touch quite a bit, as he has a line on lots of discount ammo and has been very active in campaign rallies in Pennsylvania during the election season. Also checking in from Pennsylvania was Sean Carty, who also reached out to let me know he is doing very well at this point and driving on with life. Tom Agostini reached out, as well: “I wanted to reach out to you here on Founders Day (and I now see that it’s also Ring Figure weekend!) to ask for your help about getting my ring replaced. A few years ago, I had an incident take place where my ring was stolen out of my residence at the time. I’ve spent years trying to get it back but have finally decided that I want to get a replacement.” For anyone wondering, the VMI Alumni Association has a ring replacement process in place that can get you taken care of. Around post I’ve also seen Pete Mantz, who visited to be a guest speaker for the Naval ROTC department; Buddy Garbett, who now has two sons in the Corps; John Cabell, who has a son in the Corps; along with fellow parents, Glen

Dickenson, Andy Kvasnicka, Mark Hennigan, Dave West, Don Bowers, and Kevin Hanford. That’s about all I can fit in for these notes. Be sure to mark your calendars for the VMI versus The Citadel game at VMI in April. Would love to have a big tailgate crowd of BRs and make up for the missed reunion. As always, if you are not getting my weekly emails please reach out and let me add you to the list. Until next time, take care, stay safe and go Big Red! Daren Payne

1991

Chuck Story Buck Sessoms

Brother Rats, A tumultuous time in our world, indeed. That being said, these notes will be a simple affair. No matter where you fall on the current debates over the direction of our alma mater, take a moment to reflect on what the school means to you, has meant, and will mean to future generations. Thirty years is a long time. “The No. 1 Club” and “All Pro” organizations were full to the breaking point. We learned so much by being dirty, rule breaking scoundrels. If not directly (there were some very good, upstanding young men), then we absorbed a certain panache by living in such close proximity to those who were, a bit ... off. Above all, the Honor Code. Hopefully, the Honor Code remains as infallible, revered, and permanent as always. But our school has changed. Has it changed for the better? That is for each and every one of us to decide as individuals. Do we like the direction the Institute is taking? Is there any grit or edge left in its method? Will the future leaders be prepared, beyond the gymnasium or curricula, for what we all know now, requires something more? Lessons learned in a crucible of grime, often ugly and not so appealing to the general public but valuable, nonetheless. Maybe they will glean these lessons, maybe they will be prevented from doing so entirely.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes History, tradition, culture, and esprit. What do those words mean to you ... you as the individual graduate? That’s easy. What do they mean to your brother rats? That’s more difficult. We are certainly an eclectic bunch. Even more difficult, what do they mean to our senior alumni or those most recently awarded a diploma and ring? A world of differences, to be sure. We all have our crews, the brother rats whom we closely associate with. Please, do try to engage others in civil debate. Learn their opinions and their motivations. Hear about their cadet experiences and what were the good, bad, and ugly. What did they take away and what did they leave behind? And when all is said and heard, you will vote with your wallet and your voice: The tools we have as alumni. But we, your humble class agents, beg of you to always remember: You are our brother rats, the most valuable thing we took from the school. Strive to strengthen our bond, not erode it.

Class of 1992: Brock Lester; Jon Lester; Mark Kincer ’95; Alan Saunders; Saunders’ brotherin-law, Fletcher Harkrader; and James Clifton at a skeet shooting event to benefit veterans.

with a few members of the current lacrosse team, including Tim Jordan’s son, Hartley ’23. I received a photo of Matt with Hartley and his roommates: Thomas Williamson ’23 (father, Spencer Williamson ’85) and Scout Ripley ’23 (uncles, Tom Ripley ’93 and John Ripley ’96). While speaking of our BRs in the military, I am William Woodward proud to report that Paniwat Subrungruang was recently promoted to major general in the Royal Thailand military and has assumed the role of director general of the International Affairs Department, Office of Policy and Planning, BRs, Ministry of Defense. I hope this update finds all of us well during the In other great news, Dan Lyle was the 2020 continuing COVID-19 pandemic. By the time Craig Sweeney Award recipient at the U.S. Rugyou all you are reading this, we will only be a little by Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Nov. 14. over a year away from our 30th Reunion. Pretty Way to go, Dan! Class of 1992: Maj. Gen. Paniwat Subrunhard to believe! Here are the latest updates from Mike Kirkmire sent in an update in which he gruang is the director general of Interour classmates: said, “I am still working in San Jose. Exchanged national Affairs Department, Office of As mentioned in the last edition, Matt Ott was texts with Bill Berry, but COVID-19 is keeping Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence promoted to rear admiral lower half in the Navy us from hooking up. All my scheduled races for in Thailand. Supply Corps Aug. 1, 2020. On Oct. 1, Tom Rip2020 were canceled except the Belgian Waffle ley ’93 hosted a celebration of Matt’s proRide in Cedar City, Utah (125-mile motion at the Annapolis, Maryland, Yacht gravel/dirt/asphalt bike race). I finished Club for former lacrosse teammates. last but had a blast, and I have more Multiple BRs and other alumni were in scheduled for 2021. I was able to roll attendance, including Jack Collins, Jim my entry for the Roanoke half Ironman Myers, Dick Owens, John Williamson, June 6, 2021 (the official title is CarilClifford Foster ’93, Chris Doyle ’94, and ion Clinic Ironman 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Frank Dingle ’96 (Coach Doug Bartlett Ridge). I think Rich Horn is signed up sent in a photo). Matt and U.S. Marine to race, too. I had been talking to Rusty Corps Brig. Gen. Dan Shipley spoke to and Mary Hale about getting BRs toNaval ROTC cadets in J.M. Hall Nov. 7 gether.” (Tim Rodriguez posted pictures on our Alan Saunders sent me an update and Class of 1992: Thomas Williamson ’23, Matt Ott, Scout Ripley class Facebook page at the time). While picture from the annual George C. Mar’23, and Hartley Jordan ’23. on post, Matt also found time to hang out shall Alumni Chapter-Military Officers

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Class Notes U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85 was appointed in the second week of November to the position by the Board of Visitors. I know that we all wish him luck in what I’m sure will be a challenging time. All of the politics and drama aside, I am hopeful that all of us continue to support the “I” in the upcoming months. Now, on to the updates. Our first comes from Greg Vinci, with some great news regarding his wife, Lauren, and her ongoing battle with acute myeloid leukemia. It’s a great update. Not just good news, but a great attitude and great life advice: “Last October 2019, I was humbled to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon. I dedicated the race to my wife, Lauren, and shared on social media for the first time that she had been fighting acute myeloid leukemia. She was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer the previous summer and unfortunately it progressed fairly quickly to AML. During that race, I Class of 1992: At a dinner celebrating Matt Ott’s promotion to rear admiral are (front, kneeling) John Williamson, Chris Doyle ’94, (back row) Frank Dingle ’96, Coach Doug was uplifted by an #inVINCIble T-shirt made by Bartlett, Tom Ripley ’93, Ott, Dick Owens, Jim Myers, Clifford Foster ’93, and Jack Collins. Lauren’s dear friends who generously designed it as a fundraiser for her as she battled leukemia Association of America Virginia Veteran (Class agent aside: I ordered one and am Skeet Shooting fundraiser. Each year Alan really looking forward to repping the #insponsors a station for our class. This year, VINCIble brand). Jon Lester and his son, Brock, and Mark “After a year of treatment, I feel blessed Kincer ’95 joined Alan’s team, which to share that April 30, 2020, Lauren had a donated around $1,500 for families of successful bone marrow transplant from a Virginia veterans. 24-year-old unrelated donor. We hope she Finally, I got a couple of emails from will want to speak with and/or meet us at the following BRs (Taylor Holt, Dan the one-year point when the donor/recipiGaskell, Rob Ritchie, Charlie Martin, ent rules allow us to contact her. Every Paul Gettle, Marc Orgain, Mark Mcstep of the way, I was overwhelmed with Cary, Matt Robinson, and Churchill so much emotion as I saw Lauren powBowles) who were just checking in or Class of 1992: Mike Kirkmire at the 2020 Belgian Waffle Ride ered by faith, courage, and strength each discussing all the recent activity on post in Cedar City, Utah. day in her fight against cancer. related to controversy surrounding the “This past January, I partnered with the Jackson statue and the resignation of Gen. Peay Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team in ’62. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with Training to raise awareness and funds in preparaany questions you may have related to what is tion for the Oct. 11, 2020, Chicago Marathon. The going on at VMI. If I do not know the answer, I Lincoln Swineford pandemic canceled this year’s Chicago Marathon, will contact someone at VMI who does and get so I elected to realign my registration to 2021. As back to you. a backup, I ran a virtual Marine Corps Marathon Please let me know of any major life events and once again dedicated my run to Lauren. My such as marriages (including for our children), #inVINCIble wife followed me all 26.2 miles on a births, deaths, and advanced degrees so that I can bike. (Actually, a beach cruiser with no gears and Brother Rats, inform the Alumni Review. If you have a change As I submit these class notes, we’re entering a surfboard mount on the side!) of address, let the Alumni Association and I know “For those of you who don’t follow me or the holiday stretch of 2020, and it’s my hope and so that we can make sure you get all VMI cor- prayers that all of you have a great holiday season. Lauren on Facebook, she posted a few updates respondence. It’s been a year full of changes and challenges for throughout the year. I think most people found her In the bonds, all us, including the Institute. As you read this, inspiring. Some of the highlights: Woody “1) It’s only horrible if you see it that way. 2) we’ve got a new interim superintendent. Retired

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VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes I haven’t suffered a single day. Suffering is what happens when no one comes out for you. 3) Having your faith tested is not the worst thing that can happen. If you truly have it, you’ll know. If you don’t, you can work on it. 4) There are blessings everywhere you look for them. 5) To be healed by the power of prayer and modern medicine is a profound experience. 6) What a beautiful journey this has been. 7) People are good. If the last person on earth who could save your life or that of someone you love was your polar opposite in every way would you decline their gift? Be the best human you can be. Love one another. 8) When life presents challenges, there is no downside to having faith and believing in miracles. There is power in positivity and prayer, even if it’s just temporary sanity. 9) Gratitude in the toughest of times builds mental toughness. We can do difficult things and at the same time be grateful for the insight we gain along the way. 10) Humor works, too! 11) Life, even amid tough times, is still really good. If you have trouble feeling that, it’s OK. Don’t give up hope! “AML is a tough one to cure. Lauren is doing well, but if you have an extra prayer, we’ll take it. It will be a full five years before we know the lasting efficacy of the transplant. We learned so much from this experience. Not the least of which was that the VMI bonds are strong. Thank you, brother rats, for walking beside us this past year-plus. Like the day we became a class, we all did this together. And we are all #inVINCIble when we need to be. Our hearts are full. Stay well!” Great update, Greg. I know we’ll all keep your family in our prayers. As he posted to our class Facebook page, Michael Zamalis passed on that, “today Dave Graves and I finally connected to get his car back to him. It’s been at my shop for a little over two years and has gone through quite a transformation. As a quick refresher, the car sat in his mother’s barn in Ohio from when we graduated until July 2017 while Dave was all over the world with the Marine Corps. As Dave was recovering from his injuries, Jamie Forsyth Graves had the

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Class of 1993: Mike Wright on the set of The Good Lord Bird.

Class of 1993: Brian Cox, Stephen Allison, and Erik Nilsson.

Class of 1993: Stephen Allison, Lee Clark, and Erik Nilsson.

car sent here to my place so we could work toward a goal and to get Dave back behind the wheel. This car is special to them because this is the car that they went on their first date in (along with Rob Peterson and myself)! My initial plan was to focus primarily on returning it to the basic driver status with a focus on safety and reliability items. But through the generosity of this class and others, we were able to go a good bit beyond that. The list of things done to the car is too long to put here, but it extends from frame repair to complete floor replacement to interior to transmission rebuild. Many others, including my dad, have been to the shop to turn wrenches on it and get it all right. As I said before, I’ve worked on and driven a bunch of these 60s Chrysler products, and this one is by far the best and smoothest running that I have been in. Have fun back in the RoadRunner, Dave!” For those who don’t know, Mike put in a ton of work on this project and should really be commended for it. He got nothing out it beyond the satisfaction of helping a friend out by doing something nice for them, and that is always a great thing to see. Well done, Mike. Brian Southard also checked in: “My family returned to the Outer Banks this year in July. First time in seven years since my mother died. My parents had been every year since their honeymoon in 1959 after his graduation from VMI. My dad didn’t want to go back. But he finally did. I’ve attached a photo. I took everyone this year to make sure we all went. It’s a privilege. “Our product, Touch, sold out in weeks due to the pandemic (Class agent aside: I’ve got spray bottles of Touch everywhere and love it). As you can imagine, we continue to be busy with that. Actually got a call today from Sharp Entertainment of the TLC channel to do a reality TV show featuring our family and others about life during the pandemic and germaphobes. We are not germaphobes, but we make a product that appeals to them. So, we shall see where that goes. Hope all is well. Can’t wait for the next reunion!”

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Class Notes And we now have a thespian in our midst! Mike to be eligible to join the SAG. My next opportuniWright checked in with an update detailing his ty came in 2018 when Harriet was filmed around chasing of his dream job: “I was very blessed to Richmond and Petersburg. I was chosen as a train have participated in several recent feature film pro- conductor and made a very brief appearance on the ductions that came to Virginia over the last several big screen. After this experience, I knew I wanted years. Virginia became a go-to place for historical to pursue more opportunities in the film industry, and lo and behold, 2019 rolled in and it became and action films after Lincoln was shot here. Between Virginia Commonwealth University’s film super busy. The Walking Dead, World Beyond beschool starting to mature and the Virginia Film Of- gan shooting in the first part of August. The first fice heavily promoting filming in Virginia through several days were shot on the VCU campus, and major incentives, Virginia became a hot spot with it was fraught with delays and storms. The first day on set, we sat the entire time, and nothing Homeland 7 being filmed in 2017. Harriet was shot in 2018, and 2019 saw an explosion of ac- got filmed. The director for this episode ended up tivity with a spinoff of The Walking Dead, which getting fired, and they scrapped most of the shots would be called The Walking Dead, World Beyond, and Ethan Hawke’s stunner, The Good Lord Bird. Also, Swagger started filming as well in the late fall. That was three major productions going on at once. I was fortunate to start out on this new adventure as a Virginia state trooper in Homeland 7. I applied for this opportunity on a whim when a Hampden-Sydney fellow I knew from the gym mentioned they were looking for background characters. I sent in my head shot and nonexistent resume and mentioned my VMI background. Boom, state trooper it is. My first day was on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2017. How fitting! That was my first Screen Actors Class of 1993: Mike Zamalis and Dave Graves. Guild feature role. It takes three SAG roles

Class of 1993: On Founders Day in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa, are U.S. Navy Capt. Craig Eubank ’93, Task Force Chief Staff Officer; U.S. Army Maj. Heather Guidry ’06, 3rd Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment; U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lapthe Flora ’87, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa commanding general; U.S. Air Force Maj. Salvatore Sferrazza ’07, 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron; and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Scott Trask ’03, M.D., Expeditionary Medical Facility general surgeon. 136

after we showed up the next day and finally got the scene filmed. I would end up working on this show for a re-filming of the first episode and then another couple scenes for a total of six days of filming. “The same casting agent that I worked for on Harriet was in charge of an extensive seven-part film series called The Good Lord Bird about John Brown that began filming in the middle of August. I was selected to play a ‘redshirt’ townsman in Pikesville, Kansas, back in the late 1850s. This was set during the ‘bleeding Kansas’ time period and would set the stage for John Brown and his revolution. I ended up playing five different characters in five episodes over the course of 30 days on set over four months. My fascination with history would be rewarded with time travel back to the events leading up to the Civil War. What an absolutely amazing experience to have been placed in so many situations in a certain period of time. It truly alters one’s understanding of history. I earned my second SAG role playing a Harper’s Ferry militiaman, and I was right up front in the gun battle and could have put a bullet between John Brown’s eyes. “The first day on the set of The Good Lord Bird, they gathered us together, and Ethan Hawke came over and thanked us for participating in this production. He explained the sensitive nature of what we would be seeing and doing and how important it was to get this right. He finished telling us a story that Gene Hackman once told him, ‘They don’t pay me to act, they pay me to sit around all day,’ and he was right about the sitting around part. It’s 90% sheer boredom and 10% hair on fire action that can’t be beat. What is interesting about Mr. Hackman’s observation and Ethan’s connection is when you are in that frame, nothing else matters, and you’re only counting the dollars afterward. “The grand finale came as the last scene was shot in Petersburg on a cold rainy day that featured a beautiful snowfall that gave way to a steady downpour. The crowd rolled in, and the military was set up for the final day of John Brown’s life. It truly was the end to a grand journey for everyone. I ran into Ethan Hawke at the water cooler, and you could tell he had poured every ounce of his talent into this production, and only time would tell the outcome of this gem. “I would get a chance to work on one more production before COVID-19 hit and closed all the movie productions. They started filming

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Swagger, a series about Amateur Athletic Union partner’s house. Last but not least, Beth and I lost at least one of my kids got in. If she gets acbasketball in the inner city. I got selected for my our minds and have adopted two puppies in the cepted, we’ll decline, so we’re not stealing a third SAG role playing a coffee barista in a health last two months. Millie is a setter lab mix and spot from someone. I also got a chance to play golf with Rusty food store. This gave me the qualifications to is now about five months old. Then about two weeks ago, we got Cooper. He is about 10 weeks Smith, Vic Kane, and Ben Lilly at the VMI join the SAG union. I have also worked on several small independent films and commercials, as now. Still not sure on breed. They said Austra- Club of Richmond’s Golf Tournament. I actually worked so hard, I blew out a shoe and had lian shepherd, but I’m seeing more rottweiler and well. It just goes to show you it is never too late to to walk around with an insane flip-flop for six maybe some beagle. Both were rescues and are chase your dreams. Take care, BRs!” Bob Matson recently hosted his annual Octo- good additions to the family. We were dogless holes. Even with that, we had a great time. Thanks to everyone that sent in an update. If berfest. I was not able to make it, but Brian For- for a while after I lost my beagle of 18 years last Thanksgiving. Only other thing is that we can- you’ve never sent one in or haven’t sent one in rest ’96, Ashley Abernathy ’87, Steve Thrashrecently, please consider doing so. You can send er, and Harold Stills ’92 were in attendance. celed our annual hunting trip to Lexington. I will it either by email, text, or Facebook. I’d love to Apparently, Bob and Thrash managed to stay up miss seeing Higgy (Greg Higgins), Erik Everby the firepit until 0530, which is getting up time, sole, Gerry Bingeman, and Hunter Hutchens, hear what y’all are up to. I hope all of you continue to be well. but with COVID-19, it was the only real choice.” not going to bedtime. Sounded like a great time. ’93, ’93, ’93. Dan Hill is now stateside and is finishing out Erik Nilsson checked in to let me know that he and Stephen Allison are on the VMI Parents his run in the Army. Dan and his wife live in Council. They were able to help out on Matricu- Florida these days, and he will retire next year. Craig Eubank checked in with a picture from lation Day, where they ran into Lee Clark and Clay Campbell Founders Day in Djibouti, where he is supportBrian Cox. Lee is working at VMI, and Brian ing overseas contingency operations in East Afwas dropping off his rat. Bill Cox also checked in: “Beth and I closed rica. Craig is deployed with the Navy now but on our new house in May (I think). We painted should be back home in spring 2021. John Moore is staying active in his commualmost the entire downstairs, had bucket lighting I would like to take a moment to thank Gen. nity Down Under by giving a talk at the Rotary put in throughout, and redid lighting on the screen porch and yard. Had about 18 trees taken out and Club of Caloundra regarding his times in Af- Peay ’62 for his dedication and years of service rented a backhoe to pull all the stumps. Then had ghanistan, Iraq, and places in between. He sent to the Institute. He served the country and the Institute well, and I personally wish him my a photo of him giving the talk. 16-and-a-half tons of topsoil brought in and put Life keeps rolling along for me. The old- thanks and prayers as he moves forward in life. that out with a Bobcat. Add in about 600 bucks in I learned that Sean Lanier was named to the grass seed, and voila! A new yard where no yard est daughter is at James Madison University, existed before (at least not one with grass). In which seems to be handling COVID-19 pretty VMI Board of Visitors. Congrats, Sean. Dustin Devore has been working hard to keep February, I took over as production manager at well (knock on wood), and she’s set to graduate in spring 2021. The middle and youngest our BRs connected and together, and he has set Reynolds for the plant. Making this change was one of the best decisions I have made. Reynolds daughters are doing virtual schooling through up dinner around Richmond. At the last outing held in October, he had a large contingency Consumer Products is a great place to work. Let the county. The middle one is all set to graduate high school. I pretty much brow beat her until of BRs come together: Dustin Devore, Brian me know if you need any foil—I know a guy. Beth is doing well; she opened up her own shop she applied to VMI. There is no chance of her Hingst, Pat O’Neil, Dave Bruce, Brett Wilkinwith a partner in Carytown. It was a hectic week going because we don’t have a nursing program, son, RobEd Snodgrass, Mitch Wells, Hernan but I still wanted her to apply just so I could say Barerro, Sean Lanier, and Frank Boeling were getting her moved and putting together new furin attendance. Dustin is working on anniture. but she’s loving being in her new other dinner in January. Thanks, Dustin, place. She and her partner have two other for putting this all together. stylists who rent from them, so basically Paul Whitmore was recently approved all her costs are covered and her money for transfer to the U.S. Space Force. That is all gravy. Not a bad situation at all. Adis awesome news and congrats, Paul. dison started at the University of Virginia. Everyone say a quick prayer for BR They are on campus, but most classes are John Campbell as he goes under the virtual. She is having fun and occasionknife in December to get a new hip; all ally too much fun, as she missed brunch those years of sheep farming have finally with me and Beth due to having too much fun the other weekend. Dacie and William Class of 1994: Together for dinner in Richmond, Virginia, caught up with him. I heard from Ty Johnson. The retired life are also well, doing the virtual classroom are Dustin Devore, Brian Hingst, Pat O’Neil, Dave Bruce, Brett Wilkinson, Rob Ed Snodgrass, Mitch Wells, Hernan is working out for him; he has a camper and thing. They each have a study partner and Barrero, E. Sean Lanier, and Frank Boehling. is just traveling around with Julie. So, don’t are splitting time at home and at their study

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Class of 1994: Participating in the annual Boys and Girls Club of Fauquier golf tournament are Scott Reiter, Clay Campbell, Dave Bruce, and Danny Felty. be surprised when Ty shows up at your house like the Christmas Vacation, “s%@#er’s full.” Rusty Stein wrote to let me know that COVID-19 has really hit his balloon animal birthday circuit pretty hard. He is branching out to come up with new elaborate products for all persons, many of which you can see on the wish listings on Facebook, he said. Keep up the good work, Rusty, and let your imagination be your guide. Roger Jones let me know his book fell through; the mystery turned out to be a thriller, Romancing the Stump. He has been told that it is probably not suitable for print, so he is kicking around the idea of a podcast. Ryan Crowley recently went down to visit Sean Goldsmith, and they got to spend some quality time on Sean’s dude ranch riding horses. I was going to make jokes, but I don’t need Ryan showing up at my house to strain me. Annie and my Tammy were there to chaperone, and I heard it was a great time.

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Reunion has been set for Sept. 24-25, 2021. Thom Brashears sent an email with a tentative schedule and list of hotels that will be available. Please take a look at it and get your rooms reserved. If you did not receive that email or cannot find it, let me or Thom know, and we will make sure we get it to you. The Alumni Association is doing all they can to make this a great weekend. I thank them for all that they continue to do through these trying times. I know this year has been very trying and difficult in a lot of ways. I haven’t really had any updates from anyone, but I’m sure we are all in the same boat of staying home a lot and not really having much to update. I did hear from Damian Desmond a while back. He is living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and his family has a place in Augusta County, so he is in the area about once a month. He said to tell anyone who wants to try to get together to let him know, and maybe we could have a pre-reunion reunion. I know COVID-19 has been keeping us all away from getting together too much, but if you get any updates or see anyone, get a picture and let me know how you are doing. We will get through this, and I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of BRs than you guys. Other than that, I have nothing else to report as of now. I hope to continue hearing from you. I will try to be in touch with you guys as I am traveling, so maybe we can get together. If any of you are traveling to the Lexington area, let me know, and we will meet up. Stay safe, and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! Rah Virginia Mil!

to VMI. All donations go toward our class goal, and the check we will ultimately present at our reunion. Big news from Noppadon Kuljanyavivat: He was promoted to major general in the Royal Thai Army and will serve as expert, Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense. Huge congratulations to Nopp and his family. In other big new, Mike Waltz was reelected to serve in Congress for another two-year term. Before his reelection, Christian Hoff organized a Class of 1996 virtual fundraiser for Mike Oct. 27. It was a well-attended event that raised over $12,000 toward his reelection efforts. Mike spent a little over an hour with us and discussed the initiatives he’s focused on advancing in Congress. I only received a couple of updates for this edition of notes. The first one is from U.S. Navy Capt. Steve Johnson, who moved his family to the United Kingdom this past summer. Steve writes the following: “Things are good here. We survived the move under quarantine conditions to the U.K. To be quite honest, it was nice having two weeks of quarantine at the Airbnb we rented out in the countryside—a little town called Amersham. We had a huge property for the boys to run around on, as well as the dog. I was even able to run some 400s around the perimeter. Got all checked in to NATO’s Maritime Air Command. My German admiral boss is pretty good, and we see eye to eye on most things. It’s a pretty small staff—we only have about 30 people in peacetime—since NATO

1996

Tom Danielsen

Joseph W. Doyle

Brother Rats, I hope this set of notes finds all of you well. The Institute has just celebrated its 181st birthday, and we are less than a year out from our 25th Reunion—26 years after graduation, thanks to COVID-19.

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Brother Rats, Hope you and your families are doing well! It’s official, we have a date for our 25th Reunion. The Class of 1996 will descend on Lexington Oct. 2931, 2021. We are actively planning an epic weekend of events and hope to see everyone there. We are also in our 25th Reunion donation drive and hope each of you will consider a five-year pledge

Class of 1996: At a soccer team mini reunion are (from left) Geoff Blum ’95, Matt Creech, Jon Dano, and Trey Kirby.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes doesn’t own any of its own forces. And his boss, the U.K. three-star admiral, is pretty ‘low threat,’ as well. “The boys are settled into school. While the school is still attending in person, most of the extracurricular activities are curbed due to the latest round of COVID-19 restrictions in the U.K. The boys are enjoying the school, even though it is quite a step up in levels of effort required from their school in San Diego. Kris is doing well and has been getting out with the other U.S. wives as much as she can. We are in week one of the current four-week lockdown so not much going on for her at the moment. I am hoping that when this is behind us in the spring; hopefully, it will get a bit more exciting for her. No races for me on the horizon. I am a bit challenged in my training set up here without easy access to a pool right now and really no certainty on what races will be available next summer. I’d like to go back and do Triathlon de Alpe d’Huez again, but that is the only one that I am really burning to do right now.” Thanks for that update, Steve. What an amazing experience for you and your family. I also heard from Jon Dano, who had a mini reunion with Matt Creech, Trey Kirby, and Geoff Blum ’95. Jon sent the following: “It was so great to catch up on the VMI stories, the soccer victories, and of course, the soccer losses. Trey Kirby still holds the VMI record for most assists. With a record like that he was forced to pass us drinks all weekend.” Chris Watson also checked in after my plea for updates. He writes the following: “I saw your request for updates, so here it is: The timing was right to leave D.C., so I accepted a transfer within my agency to the Denver office. My family and I are loving life here and busy exploring all the beauty of Colorado and live in Roxborough State Park (southwest of Denver). We would welcome a visit from any BR, especially if they are game to explore the state park with my son and I by foot or bike. I better see Doug Bartlett soon, or I’m going to track him down!” I know I’m taking Chris up on that offer once we resume traveling again. Finally, I heard from Mike Ohleger, who reports that U.S. Marine Corps Marathon No. 14 is in the books. It was a very different marathon this year, since it was virtual, but what an amazing accomplishment. Congrats, Mike! I want to wrap up this edition of notes and acknowledge that recent events and changes at VMI may be difficult for some of you to accept. Change

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is never easy. With that said, I hope you can take a moment to truly reflect on your experience at VMI and the experience you had, and what made it special. Dallas Richards said it best on Facebook recently: “What makes VMI special? To be clear, I mean special to you, to those of us who wear the ring ... not the reporters, not the parents, but you alone. I offer that, for me, it was the people, and again by that I mean not just my brother rats. The people are the beings that created the experience that shaped me. Think back to your days at VMI. When you do, do you remember the classes, the food, the buildings? You probably remember the people ... the same ones you tell stories about. “I realize that I am probably in the minority amongst you in that I have come to a point that I am OK with moving the statue of Jackson. I didn’t know Jackson, and for that matter I didn’t know Corporal Atwill [’866], either; they did not create my experience ... but I do know the people I met during my time at VMI, who were all a part of the VMI experience for me before, during or after I walked through the gates of barracks. Every single one of them had more impact on my life than any statue ever has or ever will, and for you all I am grateful. VMI will change; it changed a lot the summer I graduated and has continued to change since. We must learn to accept that. “I will add that I do not like the way that this particular change has been handled by our governor or the media. I hope that you will not think less of me for this, and if you do, I hope we will continue to be friends.” Well said, Dallas, and with that, I’ll wrap up this edition of notes. I also hope that we can all stay friends and continue our support of VMI in spite of current events and differing opinions. All the best to you and your families, Tom

1997

David M. Hudock

Gentlemen of the Old Corps! My excitement can be barely be contained as I write these notes, the final notes entry for the year 2020. As you read this in 2021, you are hopefully finding yourselves healthy, safe, and

Class of 1997: Steve Jones in front of his recent handiwork over Woods Creek at the bottom of cardiac hill.

Class of 1997: Derek Fix and his wife, Kedron, shortly after he was promoted to captain in Norfolk, Virginia. stunningly giddy to have left 2020 in the rearview and embraced a new and what can only be an exponentially better year. But before you file 2020 deep in your memory banks to be forgotten as quickly and completely as possible, let me first regale you with stories and yarns of how your brother rats spent their time maintaining their sanity during the waning months of the

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Class Notes Eduardo “Fireman Extraordinaire” worst year in our young lives. Bonham dropped me a line and conSo, let us start down the home stretch firmed that 2020 has indeed been a of 2020 in Norfolk, Virginia, where, on year worth forgetting as quickly as posthe first of November, Derek Fix was sible. His wife, Lynne, spent about three promoted to the rank of captain in the weeks in the hospital back in March Navy. If my calculations are correct, where she underwent treatment for deDerek is to date the first and only Navy bilitating seizures. Treatment was effecO6 in our class, unless Straqualarsi tive, though painful, and she ended up snuck a promotion in there without me having to relearn how to walk, among noticing. Derek is currently assigned to other skills most of us would consider the Joint Staff College where he teaches “basic.” Lynne’s resilience and determithe now-online version of the Joint Pronation have helped her turn the corner, fessional Military Education II course however, as she is working again in the to those few lucky officers assigned to health care industry while moonlighting joint commands and in need of translaas a wedding/event planner. This is wontion from one service-speak to another. The Navy’s record for “longest home- Class of 1997: “Your intrepid author and his new wife, Dana, derful news, especially with two teenagsteader” is held by Derek; he’s been in are married by John Jenkins and supervised by their dog, ers still at home and two grandchildren Norfolk so long he can’t remember the Penny, outside Asheville, North Carolina,” said Dave Hudock, (with a third on the way) nearby. When class agent, of this photo. Ed finds time to work for a living, you’ll last time he had a permanent change of still find him in charge of training and station. This is fine with his wife, Kecompliance for his fire department. We dron, a Norfolk native, and their kids, are very happy for you and Lynne, Ed, who are approaching college age. His and wish you both the very best as well oldest daughter got some prospective as a speedy exit from 2020. cadet information from VMI in the mail, Speaking of speedy, it would appear but he doesn’t think it lit a fire in her to our Brother Rat Pat Punmongkol has go running to the Rat Line. Derek has made a rapid advance through the Thai another 18 months or so at his current Army ranks, as I received word recently assignment before he needs to get back that he is a senior colonel serving as the to sea duty ... haze, gray, and underway defense and military attaché at the Roy... most likely from Norfolk. Congratual Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. I lations on your promotion, Derek! We didn’t hear from Pat directly, unfortuwish you and your family fair winds as nately, but the Thai VMI Alumni Chapyou plot your next course! Class of 1997: Joel Harding north of Medina, Saudi Arabia, in ter was kind enough to put together a Steve Jones is COVID-19-free and fall 2020. list of “who’s who” from VMI currently healthy and checked in from Lexington serving in the Thai military and sent it where he visited some of his handiwork to the Alumni Association (refer to the Events on Anderson Drive (did someone say, “Cardiac section of this issue for more details). Great to hill?”). Steve served as the project manager at see Pat doing well, and hopefully we’ll see him Rockingham Steel for construction of the new at the 25th to whip the rest of Company D into bridge over Woods Creek. COVID-19 derailed shape. his plans to visit the site during construction, Newsman Tony Holt dropped a line from his but now that he’s working for Rockingham Prehumble abode in Arkansas to announce that cast (a different division of Construction Matehe is making a career change at the end of this rials Group), he was able to go there and help year. He will be leaving print journalism—and do a final punch-out fix on the bridge beams. Arkansas—for the greener pastures of business Strangely, he didn’t see a plaque on the bridge consulting in Daytona, Florida. His beat at the commemorating his greatness, so we’ll have to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette covered federal work on that for the 25th Reunion. He did say courts and the military, but this wasn’t his first that he brought his combat boots and reenacted rodeo; Tony has bylines at the Washington Exa rat challenge run up the hill from the bridge Class of 1997: Chandler Bigelow in Gunaminer, Tampa Tribune, and the Daytona Beach to the Parade Ground without breaking a sweat. nison, Colorado. News-Journal. Print journalism has been a fun Well done, Steve, and thanks for the note!

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Class Notes ride, he said, but he is looking forward to the brand-new challenge of the business world and getting back to the FLA. Thanks for sharing, Tony; all the best to you for a smooth and successful transition to a new career and a new home! Where in the world is Joel Harding? It’s hard keeping tabs on an international man of mystery such as Joel, but recent photos have surfaced indicating he is located in what appears to be a dry and barren landscape populated almost entirely by camels ... and Joel. Some say Jeddah, others say Jedi, but all of us can agree that whatever he is doing, we hope he is safe and out of harm’s way. Be well, brother! There are precisely zero camels in Joe Kmiecinski’s home of Winchester, Virginia, but he has seen some camel-sized rats in southeast Washington, D.C., where he is working on yet another residential building popping up in the D.C. building boom. “Boom” may be a relative term; Joe has been challenged during COVID-19 to keep construction going but is making headway. He is not looking forward to putting his travel trailer and boat away this winter, as being on the water has been a great escape from work and an opportunity to get his wife and son out of the house and away from distance teaching/earning for a few hours a day. Turns out Joe’s a pretty mean angler. It also turns out he’s got some competition in our class! Shannon “Ferg” Ferguson claims his famous fish table “runneth over,” and he provided some photos to support this claim, though I can’t reproduce all of them here (check the class Facebook thread). Don Crook popped up and said the musk he was wearing chased the fish away, so he hasn’t had any good hook-ups. He did promise to keep B.J. Ginage entertained on their next fishing trip, so we’ll wait and see how the musk works then. Carey Michael is an aggressive angler, as well, except lately he has been relegated to chauffeuring other fishermen around on his own boat while they make the haul. Dale Moore is an advanced fly fisherman who likes to take his son, a freshman at Montana State, out around Rock Creek, Montana, for fish of any size. Steve Strachan can’t be bothered with hiking or boating to get to the fish; he just drives his vehicle right onto the beach and tells the fish to hop in his tailgate. Chad Bigelow missed the fishing memo and

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instead went straight to hunting big game; he recently bagged a big ol’ bull elk on his first trip. Before you call “bull,” check the accompanying photo. And Hobbs prefers his fish battered, fried, and “to-go,” which makes eating it on breaks from his Gap Outlet gig much easier. Look for him in a chimney near you soon. It appears my concern for the sanity of our class during this mess of a locked down year may have been misplaced; it is clear from prolific Facebook posting that our class is physically and mentally healthy (don’t ask about moral health), which is great to see. It is also clear that we are supporting one another. As I’ve mentioned in previous editions, if you need to reach out to anyone to talk about anything during these difficult, frustrating, and challenging times, do it. Your BRs are standing by to help. Lastly, I’d like to thank you for your well wishes following my recent wedding. Under not-so-ideal circumstances in a not-so-ideal time, Dana and I decided to salvage 2020 by getting married in the mountains of western North Carolina. In addition to the innkeeper and the photographer who served as witnesses, the Rev. John Jenkins was on hand to officiate the proceedings. We really could not have asked for a more perfect setting in perfect conditions, minus the very obvious fact friends and family could not attend. Rest assured there is a party to come (at this rate sometime in 2023), and the Class of 1997 will be heard from ... again! Thank you for your continued support which has made my work both rewarding and easy. Best wishes to you and your families for a safe end to 2020 and great start to 2021.

Class of 1998: Mike Baumgardner.

Class of 1998: Mike Baumgardner with Matt Bertsch and Paul Moosman.

1998

Joseph Bates Jr.

It is with a heavy heart that I start this edition with a moment of silence and with the tragic news that we lost Michael Baumgardner suddenly Oct. 13, 2020. His obituary is included in the Taps section of this edition. As of press time, we have not finalized a plan of support for his family, but I anticipate that you will

Class of 1998: Hamel Reinmiller celebrates his engagement to Lauren Michelle Corbut at the Summit Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 27, 2020. Todd and Christina Boykin attended, along with other friends and family. 141

Class Notes to get some better updates! have received more details via email or Courtesy of Facebook post to our similar from me when you read this ediVMI Class of 1998 page, Thierry Letion. Our thoughts and prayers go out to mercier shared that he and his famhis family. ily have moved back to Lexington and I would also like to acknowledge the have purchased the Abigail Inn as of retirement of Gen. James H. Binford Nov. 15, 2020, where he looks forward Peay III ’62 and thank him for his years to seeing everyone soon and has honof service to our beloved Institute. He ored his promise to Jimmy Stanley that will always hold a special place with our he will not miss another reunion! Thierclass as our guest speaker at Ring Figry, congratulations and looking forward ure, and of course, as the father of our to catching up in the coming weeks! Brother Rat Jimmy Peay. Jimmy, I hope I also took the liberty (I have been this finds you and your family doing Class of 1998: The Abigail Inn in Lexington, Virginia, is proudly owned and operated by Thierry Lemercier and family. warning) of sharing a picture of Brad well. We would love to hear from you. Vier and Hank Yu from Facebook at an Brandon Bissel checked in right after alumni dinner in Taiwan. Looking good, boys; the deadline for August, so it is included in this please send us an update. edition. Brandon started by saying thank you All is well here in Lexington, Virginia, where to all that shared warm sentiments to his family I am happy to share that my family has relofor the loss of his father. Brandon is living in cated as of this past weekend to my birthplace. Clarksville, Tennessee (approximately 35 minTori has been after me to move here for over utes north of Nashville), with his wife, Lynne. 10 years, but I never could figure out how to He retired from the Army two years ago, and make it work with my employment. I love my they are now officially empty nesters with one job and my career at Harris Teeter, and with daughter married and living in Lynchburg, Virthe COVID-19 impact, I can work from home ginia, and the other a sophomore at the Universome now. I have decided to commute to the sity of Kentucky. She made the UK dance team office weekly and mix that in with working each of her first two years there, so they spend from home, as well. The family is settling into most of their fall and winter weekends in Lexthe new house, and we are looking forward to ington, Kentucky, watching her dance during all that being “home” has to offer. With Thierry home football and basketball games. Between and I now located around the corner from each visiting her and spending time with their other other, the 25th Reunion just got a shot in the daughter’s grandkids, Lynne and Brandon arm, so you all better clear your calendar and have remained busy outside of their regular make it in! work schedules. Brandon, thanks for checking Class of 1998: Brad Vier and Hank Yu at an alumni dinner in Taiwan. I encourage you all to join Facebook and our in, and I hope you remain in touch—including class page if nothing else to stay in touch. A working the 25th Reunion into your calendar with a visit to Lynchburg at the same time! I reached out to Dave Nash when I met some few of our BRs have recently gotten engaged, Hamel Reinmiller checked in and shared folks that shared mutual friends at a long-dis- married, and are having children, and it is nice that he was engaged to Lauren Michelle Cor- tance shooting range, and I was able to secure to see the updates on them. I will close the way I started, in remembrance but July 27, 2020, at the Summit Club in Tulsa, a brief update from the reclusive enigma. Dave Oklahoma. They had a bunch of friends and has been busy traveling and doing the Navy’s of Mike Baumgardner. Go rest high on that family in for a great party that night and were deeds, currently finding himself in Germany mountain, brother rat; you will be missed by ecstatic to also host Todd and Christina Boykin with our nation’s elite. He was going to work on us all. With that, I humbly leave you in the bonds. for the event! an official update for this edition but failed to reSean Williams dropped a quick note at the ply, so he can send himself up and get back to us I hope you are well, and I hope that if you ever deadline to share with us that he and Kathryn in February. He shared that he was able to spend need someone to talk to or confide in and you had their second child, Ford James Williams, some time with Mike back in February and is think that your day is too bad, you please pick up who was born at 0502 hours, Nov. 4. Baby and deeply saddened by the news. Stay well, Dave, the phone and call me, call anyone, call someone you love. I can assure you that I will always be mom are healthy and happy, although Sean and send me some more notes when you can. here to answer. When you read these in February will have to update us with a picture when the Sean Hicklin and I have touched base several next Review is due Feb. 15, 2021! Sean and times. He is looking into retiring from public 2021, please take three minutes to shoot me an email, Facebook message, or text message so that Kathryn, congratulations to you all; thanks for service. I will be catching up with him for staying in touch! some cold ones in very short order and be sure I have more to share ... ’98, ’98, ’98.

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Class Notes Brother Rat Patrick Meyer submitted the following: “Hey, Jay. Thanks as always for being the class agent for us! Biggest update for me is Jay Witt that I moved from the private client group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Richmond to the independent side. My firm’s name is now River Hills Wealth Management, and the office is in Scott’s Addition. You can check it out at www.rhwmgroup.com. The location took a lot of work Greetings, Brother Rats, to make happen but was worth it. River Hills This update covers September 2019 through Wealth Management is just a block down from November 2020. ZZQ, which makes some amazing beef brisket, After several attempts, Brother Rat Wesley and within walking distance to multiple brewer(Brent) Taylor and I were able to catch up via ies, a couple arcade bars, a distillery, a meadery, email. Brent wrote, “I was able to talk to Jera couple of cider places, and more being built emy Obenchain, and we were going to catch all the time. I am a Certified Financial Planner up in the D.C. area. Unfortunately, COVID-19 (R) recipient and have spent the last 17 years prevented us from linking up. Fortunately, howworking with folks from pretty boring offices. ever, I was able to start working from home for It’s really nice having your own firm, where you the first time in 20 years. I’m currently working want it, with the partners you chose.” Awesome in a new position, so while I’m trying to learn update, Patrick. The class congratulates you on new software and get work done, I’m also on your move, and I make a motion to have the alert to answer any of my kids’ school questions next reunion at your new office! and ensure they’re logged in and paying attenMatt Hart checked in with a quick note, saytion to class. Both of my kids are very interested ing, “Hey, BR, things are going well. I am still in track. My daughter is 11 and has been runworking from home with Wells Fargo until at ning for three years. She loves it and placed 15th least Dec. 1, but I imagine that will be extended in the nation out of about 60 girls in the long Class of 1999: Natalie Mae and Olivia again. We have been looking at colleges with jump at Junior Olympics last year. My son, who Obenchain, daughters of Jeremy and Samantha Obenchain. my daughter, who is a senior this year. It can be turned seven in August, was going to run this a very difficult process with COVID-19 restricyear, but COVID-19 put a halt to that. All that tions being different at each school. My gives me an excuse to take the kids runson has been plugging along with fifth ning in the neighborhood to keep their grade in person at the Christian school training consistent, and it helps me stay he has been going to. No known cases in a little bit of shape, too.” There was among students so far. Proud of them never any doubt that Brent would be a both working hard despite the craziness great leader in his profession and his that is 2020. My wife and I will be celhome. Great update, BR, and thanks for ebrating 20 years of marriage in January. being an inspiring father! Seems like just a few years ago we were Jeremy Obenchain welcomed daughyoung and in love at an OCF retreat.” ter Natalie Mae into the world in SepMatt, always great to hear from you and tember. Jeremy says Natalie and mother many congratulations on your marriage are doing well, and Olivia is excited anniversary. about being a big sister. Dave Kaczmerek provided this upCharles “Chuck” Fleet popped up date: “My family and I are currently on the radar, albeit briefly. Although stationed in Massachusetts as a military we missed each other in Denver a few fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and months back, Chuck noted he was doing Diplomacy at Tufts University. I also had well and spending as much time as posthe opportunity to run into John Wilcox sible in the Colorado mountains with his and Aaron Bush at Fort Knox, Kentucky, family. Chuck also started as Omnitracs’ when we all were attending the Army chief transformation officer recently. Class of 1999: Charles Fleet with his family in the Colorado Colonel’s Command Assessment ProCongratulations on the new position, BR, mountains. gram. It was great to see everyone, even and be sure to send the class a complete

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update when you get a chance. Andy Fuller stopped by my house after dropping his daughter off at West Virginia University for her freshman year. It was great catching up with my co-dyke and VMI/WVU roommate. Andy and his family are doing great in Roanoke, Virginia, where he serves as the president of VMI’s Roanoke Chapter.

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Class Notes their French-American grandchildren. Great update, Powell, and thank you for the important work you’re doing with Surf Church in Hossegor, France. Brother rats, thank you for all the updates. It is always inspiring to hear about the great things you’re doing. Until next time, we wish you all the very best and Rah Virginia Mil! –Jay

2000 Chris Abbott

Brother Rats, As I write these notes, 2020 is winding down as the leaves fall and the holiday season is upon us. It has been a year of pandemics, elections, and economic uncertainty. In light of all the world news, let us all take a moment and appreciate that there is so much we all have to be thankful for. I hope this year ends of a positive note for everyone and 2021 is the best yet. As a reminder, you can always send updates and changes of address to classnotes2000vmi@gmail.com. If you do send an update, please also reach out to fellow brother rats you stay in touch with and encourage them to do the same, so our class is always well represented. Moving onto updates. Justin Wood reached out to say hello, and I am way overdue in returning his call. We exchanged emails talking about how busy we both are, which

Class of 2000: Luke Hale got engaged to Allyson Ishihara at VMI Nov. 6, 2020.

is never a good excuse. So sorry, Justin! Landon Allen reached out with a great update and picture Class of 1999: Jay Witt and Andy Fuller in front of a red, white, and yellow flower from a change of command ceremony at Camp bed at Witt’s house in West Virginia. Lejeune in September. The four Marines pictured are all from our dykes’ Class of ’03. Doug Bahif we had to wear masks!” Thanks for the uprns ’03 was taking command of 2nd Battalion, date, Dave, and the class wishes you the best of 8th Marine Regiment. Joe Matkins ’03 was luck with your studies at Tufts. enjoying his wetting down for his promotion to Bill Gage was able to link up with his roomlieutenant colonel the same day as Doug’s cermates, Ryan Bogese and Max Chance. Bill is emony. Clint Alanis ’03 will be a commanding an officer with Henrico police and ran into Mac officer in Okinawa soon. Shawn Segreti sent and Ryan for lunch at Mission Barbecue. Great me a note that he had recently caught up with photo, Bill, and thank you for your service. Jimmy Sheldon, and Jimmy passed along that Speaking of service, we have had at least two Big Joe Poppa retired from the Virginia Army brother rats promoted during the last quarter. National Guard as a chief warrant officer four. Navy officers Carl Trask and Troy Dennison This is a bittersweet set of class notes for me, were both promoted to captain. Conas it is my last submission. Chris gratulations, men. The Class of 1999 Abbott has volunteered to take the is very proud of you both. reins moving forward, and I am exCongratulations are also in order cited to pass the baton to someone for BR John Boland. John married who wants to serve our class. Chris Melissa in October and was joined was one of the first brother rats I met by a host of VMI men, including pre-strain summer, along with Brad Capt. Jeff Snyder. The class wishes Allen. It is hard to believe that was you the very best, John and Melissa almost 25 years ago. It has truly been Boland! an honor to stay in touch with so Powell Harrison and family many of you over the past six years made the trip from France back to and be a part of sharing all the wonthe states to visit Powell’s parents. derful family, career, and personal Powell notes that he has been able achievements that continue to be Class of 2000: At the Camp Lejeune Officers Club are (from left) to help his dad catch up on some Landon Allen, Doug Bahrns ’03, Joe Matkins ’03, Clint Alanis ’03, and accomplished. I will always live in chores around the house, and his Pat Lavoie ’03. awe of those of you that have served parents are enjoying getting to know or continue to serve our country, and

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Class Notes

Class of 2000: The unofficial 20th Reunion in Lexington. I pray you always stay safe and out of harm’s way. With that said, Chris Abbott has the floor moving forward. And with that, thanks, Jim, for serving our class and keeping us up to date! I had the pleasure of joining a dozen of our BRs in Lexington for our unofficial 20th Reunion. Don Ferguson did an amazing job arranging locations for us to gather and hang out. Those in attendance were Adam Priest, Paul Keeton, James Royce, Matt Neely, Micah North, Pat Haddock, John Archer, Lee Davis, Will Beverlin, and Kenny Myers. We, unknown to us at the time, attended Gen. Peay’s [’62] last parade, and the Corps was looking great. I will be reaching out to everyone over the next couple of months to touch base and see how I can assist everyone moving forward. Talk soon!

2001

Rich Groen

Brother Rats of the Class of 2001! I hope you are all well as we move into the winter and holiday season! Things are great in the Groen household, despite COVID-19. We recently had some great news: I was selected for Senior Service College (or War College), as well as Angela (Winters) Scott, Kevin Consedine, and Ethan Weber. A few weeks later, we had

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more good news—selected for a second command (3rd Squadron, 3rd Security Forces Assistance Brigade) and will stay at Fort Hood for two more years. Currently, I’m in Europe for a rotation and hope to be back in time for our 20th Reunion. From Down Under, Jon Mazur writes, “We continue to live in the Australian Outback, which has been a great hiding place from the pandemic. Australia has done a good job keeping the virus at bay, so we can continue to travel throughout most of the country. In October, we visited Cairns where Jessica and I were able to scuba dive off the Great Barrier Reef. We were also able to visit Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, which is probably one of the most scenic beaches I have seen. Hoping to return to the States in July for a visit, vaccine willing. Keeping our VMI family in my thoughts and prayers.” Great to hear from you, Laser, and great to see that you and your family are well. Another Company G alum, Kevin Fromm, says, “Hope all is well down the road at Fort Hood and best of luck with your upcoming deployment. Don’t get yourself into any Ia Drangs or Little Big Horns now, but I know your troops are in good hands with your leadership. If there is anything I can do or track down any leads for you on Global Force Management or equipping issue questions, let me know. Stay safe and Godspeed, my friend.” Thanks, brother! On a plus note, I’m not riding on horses or helicopters; I plan on my tank keeping me safe! Jake Williams sends, “I finished a deployment to 5th Fleet in April, and our family moved to northern Virginia in July. I’m now the executive

officer of the Naval ROTC unit at George Washington University, where I’m also teaching leadership and management and pursuing an MBA. It’s been a hectic year, but we’ve been fortunate to remain untouched by the pandemic, and I’m looking forward to finally being home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Jake, awesome news and welcome home! Josh Berk writes, “Greetings from Tokyo! In September, I was able to PCS to U.S. Embassy Tokyo where I have assumed the duties as deputy Olympic security coordinator for the delayed 2020 summer Olympic Games. Before my departure and pre-COVID-19, I was able to hang out with my roommate, Justin Harber. Great to see him before I left. Here in Tokyo, there are several alumni floating around the city—Dave West ’90 and Andy Collier ’91, to name a few. The defense attaché at the embassy is Captain Fred ‘Winton’ Smith ’89, so we chat often. In early November, I had the pleasure of meeting U.S. Marine Corps Major General James Bierman ’87, the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Division. Major General Bierman was at the embassy for a briefing, and luckily enough Winton Smith and I were able to grab a quick photo. If anyone is in Tokyo or Japan, please give me a shout. Rah Virginia Mil!” Josh, fantastic and happy to see that you are doing well! Lastly, I missed this from Amanda Conway (Tony Conway’s spouse) this past summer, but wanted to enclose: “I thought I would send you something that might be worthy of the class notes. My girls and I recently spoke to the men’s soccer team about our connection with the program and Tony’s legacy. We even made the Twitter page!

Class of 2001: At the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo are Winton Smith ’89, Maj. Gen. James Bierman ’87, and Josh Berk.

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Class Notes

Class of 2001: John Mazur with his family in Australia.

VMI men’s soccer (@vmimsoc) tweeted at 8:52 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020: ‘The VMI men’s soccer family expands so much further than just our current roster. Thank you so much to the Conway family for stopping by yesterday and presenting their story and connections to VMI!! We play for you!’” Amanda, this is great and awesome that Tony’s legacy lives on in the next generation of cadets! It’s amazing to see the strong bonds that our class displays despite distances. It was great to hear from all of you, and please stay connected! ’01, ’01, ’01!

Class of 2002: Andy Tsarukyan returned to Lexington to attend the graduation of his nephew, Patrick Shahverdian ’18.

Class of 2002: Andy Tsarukyan came from Los Angeles to Omaha to meet up with U.S. Air Force Maj. Christian Collamore in August 2020.

you and yours well. I am writing these notes in the fall as the Dark Ages have descended upon VMI. I do not miss woolies. Lots going on in the world, and I doubt there will ever be a year quite like the year 2020. I very much wish you all well. On to the notes! On June 25, 2020, Lt. Col. Scott Chalkley assumed command of the 94th Military Police Battalion at Camp Humphries, South Korea. The 94th Military Police Battalion is the largest military police battalion in the U.S. Army and is responsible for all law enforcement and tactical military police duties on the South Korea peninsula. Both Scott and Jennie are enjoying their first tour to Korea. They are residing at Camp Humphries, which is approximately 45 minutes from Seoul. Andy Tsarukyan is living in Los Angeles, California, and practicing employment law in

Class of 2002: Jason Breeding married Alison Mock in November 2020.

2002

Salmaan Khawaja

Brother Rats, I hope that this edition of the Review finds

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Class of 2002: After assuming command of the 94th Military Police Battalion in Camp Humphries, Korea, Lt. Col. Scott Chalkley addresses his new unit. VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes a firm he co-founded. He is doing well. Andy recently met up with Christian Collamore, U.S. Air Force (and my co-dyke), during a visit to Omaha, Nebraska, in August 2020. Jason Breeding married Allison Mock in November 2020. I hope everyone is faring well during the difficult pandemic and truly hope a vaccine is out by the time you read these notes. ’02! ’02! ’02! In the Spirit, Salmaan

2003

William Talley V

Brother Rats, By the time you receive this set of notes, February 2021 will be upon us. We’ll have rung in the new year of 2021, perhaps happier than we’ve rung in new years in the past. As I type this set of notes up, our world is in a state like we’ve never experienced it before. For many of us, it feels like it’s been flipped upside down. I hope that, when you read this, things have started to change and come back more to center, your 2021 is going well, and you and your family are all well and safe. I have struggled internally about this set of notes over the last week or so as the deadline was approaching for them to be submitted. I always try to stay neutral when it comes to things regarding VMI and what I put out to the class via this medium. Some things may be more appropriate for internal class communications. Therefore, these notes may be a little less robust than usual. Emotions run the gamut given the current situation VMI is facing. I am respective of that. I would like to echo the following sentiment; however, the Institute needs our support now more than ever. Does this mean financially ... yes. But it also means vocally to try to negate some of the false information that is being put out to the public. VMI is not perfect; we have issues just like any other college or university. However, what is being loudly broadcast to the public is not the reality. And now without further ado, here are the updates I’ve received/witnessed from our class.

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I received the following updated from Will Belmont. “I hope all is well with you and your family. We could all use a reminder of why VMI is the greatest school in the world. In that light, I can only look to the prolonged friendship and brotherhood that was forged at the institute. For me, none was more forced than my lifelong friend of Lars Wagner, who could not stand me every single day I barged into his room. My persistence payed dividends as after four years at VMI, three years living together, 10 years working for the same company, and a total of 20 years of beating happiness and optimism into his head, we finally had the opportunity to go elk hunting together. Despite Lars’ sheer animal attraction

Class of 2003: Mike DeMayo.

Class of 2003: Chaz Wagner with Levi Spellman in November 2020.

that brought in a bull moose in the middle of the night that tried to stomp the life out of us, we were able to persevere and complete the most successful elk hunt of Lars’ hunting career due mostly to the horse show up my @#$ and his excellent knowledge of the mountain.” Jon Anderson reports that with only two plus years left in the Army, he’s accepted a job at Fort Benning in Georgia. This happens to be about 80 miles from his hometown. He’s currently assigned to the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade out of Fort Benning and recently returned from a deployment in Africa. While over in Africa, Jon and his team were doing some great work training with the local military, as well as working to further solidify the relationship between the U.S. and Africa. Jon, we’re glad you’re home and proud of the work you and others continue to do. Hopefully, we can get you our 20th Reunion in 2023! The ever-faithful Jared Swanson reports the following from Band Company: “John Noonan welcomed his second child, Annabelle Grace Noonan, last year and recently moved to Fairfax Station. Steve Nakazawa started his new role as strategic planning lead for NASA mission support. David Mayo was promoted to associate director of the space enterprise systems of systems engineering office within the Architecture and Design Subdivision at the Aerospace Corporation. David also commissioned in the U.S. Navy Reserve as an intel officer July 10. Greg Shpunder is now the proud owner of three convenience/gas/liquor stores in Maine. Jordan Fox has been mountain goat hunting with his brother, Josh Fox ’04. Not much else going on up here in the northeast. Hoping the world gets back to normal sooner than later.” Blake Traina and his wife, Jennifer, have been on a health mission in 2020. They look great and feel great from what I know. I don’t think Blake has continued his ritual of Sunday morning Belgian waffles like he used to do at VMI. Congratulations to both of y’all! Jon Faff continues to help make sure the Corps is well looked after at VMI in these new times of COVID-19. Jon Lowery stopped by the Institute in late October and caught up with BR Faff. Chaz Wagner let us all know that Levi Spellman is still alive and well. Levi was actually smiling, which caught me a bit off guard. I’ve not seen him in a good while, but I’m used to a disgruntled look on his face.

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Class Notes Lara Tyler Chambers, Phil Harris, Andy Biesterveld, and Brandon Matthews recently. All are doing well just trying to adapt, improvise, and overcome in these new times we’re all experiencing. Due to there not being any football games this year, my interactions with BRs has been down as compared to past falls, but hopefully that will change in the not too distant future. In closing, stay safe, stay well, support VMI however you can, and don’t forget to send me updates! Rah Virginia Mil ’03, ’03, ’03!

2004

Scott E. Campbell Class of 2003: Will Belmont and Lars Wagner get some bonding time while elk hunting.

Justin Phelps and I saw each other on the road. He noticed my plates and pulled beside me as we were driving. In this crazy world, it was a nice change to look over when someone honks their horn at you and see a smile and a wave/ thumbs-up! Mike DeMayo and his wife, Isadora, welcomed a son into the world Sept. 14, Michael Francis DeMayo V. From the looks of Facebook, all seem to be adjusting well. Mike has had to utilize some tactical gear for fatherly duties but seems to have everything under control. On a personal note, I’m glad to see another No. 5 in this world. Congratulations, Mike and Isadora! I’ve had correspondence with Chris Mision,

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Greetings from the middle of the second wave of COVID-19 and more presidential, and I use the term loosely, election fun. First, I want to apologize to Glenn Walton. I managed to overlook an update from him in September 2019. It reads: “Up at Resolute Support Headquarters in Kabul right now, serving as the executive officer for 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment in 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division and dual-hatting with the J3 at RS (don’t ask ... been here two months and I still can’t explain that one). We’ve got a bevy of alumni in the Panther Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel John Hartsock ’00, who’s in command of 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment; Max

Yates ’12, our battalion S4; Fred Pollard ’14, who is the fire support officer for 2nd Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment; and John Burton ’16, who’s one of our platoon leaders, slinging 155s at the enemy out at Combat Outpost De Alancar. We’ll be over this way until the spring, and I’ll be sure to send a Founders Day picture in November. Thanks, and take care!” I’m a bit late, but welcome home again. This was the third tour. I hope the family is doing well! Jake Reisch has been working in the Wilmington, Delaware, field office with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the past five years. He and the family are headed back to Richmond! “I’ll be staying with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, just moving to one of the Richmond offices. Living out in the country in Pennsylvania just across the border has been awesome, but we’re very excited to get back. Our move in date at our new house in Chesterfield is Nov. 19. I’ll have to reach out to the Richmond Chapter. Anyone who wants to grab beers upon our return, hit me up. My number is on the VMI Ranks site.” Matt Cage was recently promoted to lieutenant colonel. His wife, Laura, and their two boys, James and Pierce, along with their German host student, Greta, were able to join Matt for the promotion ceremony. Laura is four months pregnant in the photo; they are expecting a third son Dec. 14. Matt is still working in the department of orthopedic surgery at Tripler Army Medical Center. Congratulations on your promotion! John Ginder dropped a note Nov. 11: “I am

Class of 2004: John Casper with Tim Felts, Cadet Connor Felts ’24, and Denise Felts during Matriculation Weekend 2020. VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes this issue would contain a multipage heading to Austin [Texas] today to spread filled with pictures and stories catch up with Drew Hardin before we from our 15th Reunion on post. Alas, head out to deer hunt.” Ginder also as we all know by now, these are (still) mentioned that Jason Boone became a not normal times. father of three with the birth of TheoAs with most things in life, our redore John Boone Oct.23, 2020. union looked quite different last fall Tony Peters wrote from COVID-19 than it has in years past. Brother rats lockdown in Serbia, “My wife pinned from across the country met virtually on lieutenant colonel a year ago in an Saturday, Oct. 24, to commemorate amazing ceremony at Mount Vernon the occasion. After a brief informawhile we studied Serbian for our next tional video followed by an ’05 Old attaché assignment. We moved to BelYell from post, we held a round table grad, Serbia, in July. I actually reaf“catch up” session over Zoom. In all, filiated with the Navy Reserve after althere were 25-30 BRs who dropped most five years in the Individual Ready in to say hello and tell the rest of us Reserve, just in time for COVID-19 on the call what they’ve been up to. It lockdowns and virtual drills, so I’m no longer ‘just’ a stay-at-home dad. Class of 2004: Lt. Col. Manuela Peters with Tony Peters and family was great to see so many old friends and familiar faces. It was a far cry I’ve been drilling for eight months and in Mount Vernon. from having beers together in Lexingstill haven’t had to put on a uniform!” Lt. Col. Manuela Peters, congratulations on your “[Conner] is currently in Hotel Company, jug- ton, but it was great to see everyone and raise a gling the Rat Line and COVID-19. (Yay mask!) glass to the best class there ever was. promotion! Adapt and overcome has been a common If my math, as an English major, is correct, Tim Fortunately, he has some amazing support in the form of John Casper, chaplain to the Corps theme this year, and our BR Jim Driggs made Felts is now the second of us to send a kid to VMI. Jane and Brain Hudak were the first. They and my wonderful former roommate. (I still it a personal mission to make the most of the love John, Chad, and Chris equally, ha!). unfortunate circumstances and reclaim the lost may have some tips for you! “Conner is continuing the legacy of Tim reunion. Under Jim’s leadership, the Class of Tim and Denise’s son, Conner Felts ’24, (the Felts (father) and Ben Felts ’09 (uncle). In the 2005 hosted a makeshift 15th Reunion Sept. 12. class will be a class by the time this is published) Jim reports that “brother rats traveled from matriculated with the Class of 2021+3. Tim said, picture attached, Conner is signing the Matriculation Book. This is the same book that ’04 faraway lands such as Ohio, Georgia, Oregon, (the best class) and ’09 signed.” West Virginia, and northern Virginia for a day Dan Hall just finished his Pentagon tour and PCS’d back at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Take care! Be safe, and keep in touch! Scott Campbell

2005

Tom Hardinge Timothy Johnson

Class of 2004: Matt Cage is joined by family—wife, Laura; sons, James and Pierce; and German host student, Greta—for his promotion to lieutenant colonel. 2021-Issue 1

Hello, Brother Rats! Belated happy new year to you and your loved ones. I sincerely hope everyone had a very fun and enjoyable holiday season. In normal times,

Class of 2005: Garrett Brickner, Jim Driggs, and Bill Pearl together at the reunion float. 149

Class Notes of tubing down the James River and an evening of camping under the stars. Classmates met Saturday morning at the James River Reeling and Rafting Company (owned by late Brother Rat Ty Denby’s family) in Scottsville, Virginia, to start the adventure. Tubing was a bit chilly, and it rained a little during the three-hour float; however, the libations and comradery kept the spirits high. “After tubing, the Keydets and their families feasted on a smoked hog and played games all afternoon long. Josh Lyles was the first BR to take on the dunking booth. Ted Henderson ruled the cornhole boards. There was an adults versus kids water balloon fight (the kids dominated). As the sun set, a campfire was lit, and our BRs did pushups for the greatest class in barracks, 2005. An evening of ghost stories, roasting marshmallows by the fire, and telling tales about how hard the Rat Line used to be ensued. It was awesome seeing so many BRs together again and meeting their spouses and children. Everyone had a great time. Rah Virginia Mil.” If that wasn’t enough of a good time, Jim planned and hosted a second campout over reunion weekend. Jim called into the reunion Zoom from his campsite setup and continued to pass the

phone around to a number of other BRs who had gathered together for another reunion celebration. After the reunion, I received a nice update from Kirk Stokes: “It was good to see some of us on the reunion call in October. Unfortunate that we were not able be to catch up live. I was glad to see everyone doing well. The big news this year was that Claris and I got married April 3. Singapore canceled all public gatherings staring April 6 due to the virus, so we were fortunate to have at least completed our registration. We Class of 2005: Paul Bryan, Jim Driggs, and Josh Lyles together look forward to celebrating with friends at the reunion float. and family once it becomes safe to travel. Claris and I are both still living in Singapore. I’ve just celebrated five years with Goldman Sachs, and Claris is very happy at LinkedIn. We both look forward to a return to Virginia someday but will remain in Singapore for the foreseeable future. If anyone has a layover or travel plans to Singapore, then please let us know! Rah Virginia Mil!” That about does it for updates this quarter. I want to say that even though we weren’t able to gather in person for our reunion, it was truly great to see evClass of 2005: The reunion float crew, including Sean Moore, eryone and hear what you’ve all been up Garrett Brickner, Bill Pearl, Ted Henderson, Paul Bryan, Jeff Durham, Lev Pobirsky, Josh Lyles, Conor Heely, and Scott to these last few years. Keep those updates coming in as we move through the Kreckman. year, and always, stay safe and be well. Rah Virginia Mil, Tom Hardinge

2006 Andrew Upshaw

Class of 2005: Raising a glass and toasting to “the best class in barracks” during the virtual 15th Reunion. 150

Brother Rats, I hope you all are having a great start to 2021! Really appreciate the continued support of VMI over the last few months. Looking forward to getting after planning the next reunion, which is scheduled for Sept. 24-25, 2021. I will reach out with more information on our class fundraising and other events in the coming weeks/months.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 2006: Nate Ewoldt, Alex Bruster, Nick Mazzenga, John Diehl, and Greg Quillen ran in honor of Shawn G. Hogan.

Class of 2006: Nate Parsons welcomes a new baby to the family.

Class of 2006: The Mazzengas and the Diehls together during summer 2020.

Thanks again for all of your support! Rah Virginia Mil! Andrew Nate Parsons: “New baby, Levi Charles Parsons, joined the family Aug. 26! My parents, Steve and Shari, came out to Colorado to meet him.” Nick Mazzenga: “Hard to believe it was the ninth running of the Shawn G. Hogan Memorial Beer Mile. Everyone’s times seem to be dropping exponentially every year with the exception of John Diehl. It was a thin crowd this year, as expected, given the circumstances in Richmond for the annual event. Nate Ewoldt, Alex Bruster, and myself ran our four laps and drank our four beers in honor of Shawn. John Diehl also ran as did Greg Quillen. “Shawn’s SF buddies were well represented in Hawaii for the running of the annual event, too. “In the late summer, my family and John’s family got to spend some quality time with each other at their river house. It was a much-needed break from being cooped up the better part of the year. John and his family were great hosts!”

2007

Maury Denton

Class of 2006: Colleen Barton’s sons, including the new twins.

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Brother Rats, Well, everyone, this is quite the unique year! Holidays are approaching as I write these notes, so hopefully everyone will spend quality time with family and this vaccine gets here ASAP. The Denton family is balancing one kid in kindergarten and

Class of 2007: Miles R. Steptoe. two in pre-K, with soccer and dance schedules, and we’re pumped more pro sporting events are back for much needed entertainment. Rich Meredith was married Labor Day weekend to his wife, Hunter, in Norfolk, Virginia. Other BRs in attendance included Josh Copes, Ryan Smith, Graham Forbes, Greg Schwartz, and Henry Meredith ’15. Matt Williams and his wife, Sarah, are living in Staunton, Virginia, these days, and Matt is working as an electrical engineer. He has two daughters, Lana (5) and Fiona (11 months), and life with them can only be described as “beautiful insanity.” In August, he met up with Dave Metzler (rat roommate, Company D, room 405) for lunch and to sign his copy of Matt’s

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Class Notes VMI. This year is no different. During one of our recent exchanges, which sometimes include a difference of opinions, John finished our conversation with a simple phrase: “Be better.” From the simple text message, John developed the rest of my notes for this edition. I’ll get back to class updates when you read this in May. Until then, I submit these notes with a familiar statement to our days at VMI, Help Received: John Sollock. “Be extraordinary. Be better. This is why we chose VMI. This is why we carry ourselves the way we do. This was the standard expected of us then and the same one Class of 2007: Dave Metzler and Matt Williams, rat roomwe hold ourselves and each other to now. mates, with Williams’ new book, Kingdomturn, in August And this is the expectations we have for 2020. the place that held us to that same standard. “Regardless of where you think VMI is today, I think we all can agree that we want VMI to be extraordinary and better. At everything. Better than other universities. Produce extraordinary graduates. We should regularly expect that from the place that had such a significant role in our lives. If we don’t, then what is VMI? What will it become? “We should expect better of VMI’s academics, in the way VMI manages its finances, of the athletic programs, of the class and honor systems, of the quality and type of cadet that throws their gloves up in the air May 16, and the sense of service that those cadets leave with. Holding VMI accountable is a privilege we are afforded after being accountable to VMI during our time there. This is a privilege we can’t take for granted and one we must Class of 2007: At Rich Meredith’s wedding to Hunter over Labor Day weekend in Norfolk, Virexercise. Frankly, one we should have been exginia, are Josh Copes, Ryan Smith, Graham Forbes, Greg Schwartz, and Henry Meredith ’15. ercising from the day we threw our own gloves in the air in Cameron Hall. ran into Blair Didomenico in September, whose “Evolution and improvement don’t mean the husband just got stationed there and was inloss of identity. Just look through the annals of processing the unit. Blair just moved there from Robert Hill corporate America for the example de jour. Fort Riley, Kansas, with their two kids. “At the end of the day, VMI’s identity is the Mike Peranski and his wife, Amber, welalumni. It is us. VMI’s identity is the contribucomed their first child last November, named tion of its alumni to the country and to others, Brady Michael. Mike is still policing the schools it is the willingness of the alumni to stand up of Henrico and just trying to stay as safe as posfor their neighbor, and it’s in the alumni that are sible through this pandemic to avoid taking it Brother Rats, home to the family. Just loving life and learning In the 12-plus years that I’ve served you as prepared to embody the values of Cincinnatus. “Is VMI creating extraordinary graduates that to be a parent more and more like the rest of us. the class agent, I’ve never missed the chance to That is all the major class updates over the past submit notes on your behalf. I take pride in that are informed and prepared for the ever-evolving quarter. As always, please continue to keep me accomplishment. The notes are sometimes short world outside of limits gates? Are they doing informed so we can stay up to date on every- and other times they ramble on for pages. With this within the VMI system we all know and one’s key milestones. that said, I wanted to pause. Since graduating, hold in such high regard? Is the system one that In the Bonds, John Sollock and I have had many phone calls, allows success for anyone willing to put in the Maury Denton in person visits, and email exchanges about effort? Are the opportunities to participate in

new book, Kingdomturn, which released back in June. To further add to the “brother rat” factor, the cover was painted by the phenomenally talented Brigitte Huson, wife of our very own Zack Huson! Ryan Steptoe and his wife had their first child born at Landstuhl Hospital in Germany July 2, named Miles R. Steptoe. Ryan Steptoe moved from Fort Belvoir to Wiesbaden, Germany, and he is working at U.S. Army Europe headquarters in the G5 future operations. His family has been there a little over a year already on a 36-month tour, and they are planning to move back to D.C. for a follow-on assignment at the Pentagon again. While in Germany, Ryan

2008

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Class Notes that system open for anyone interested in the challenge and qualified? “This is all that matters. And these aren’t new questions. These aren’t new standards. These are the questions we asked when we were on our way to post. These are the questions we asked ourselves to get us through all four years, and these are the questions we ask ourselves each time we send money. “Be better. Be extraordinary. Be a light on the hill. Be a model within the chaos of the surrounding world. “Be better. Be extraordinary. Expect it from yourself, your BRs, other alumni, and your alma mater. “Be better. Be extraordinary.”

Class of 2009: Finney Kimsey, class president, at the 2019 reunion.

2009

Bradley Simpson

Brother Rats, I hope this edition of the Review finds you and your families well and happy. I want to thank you for all the updates I have received from you in the past few months. I will be submitting them for publication in the next edition. It is with deep regret and heavy heart that I share with those of you who have not heard, our beloved class president, Finney Kimsey,

Class of 2009: Finney Kimsey leading PT for the rats 1st Class year. 2021-Issue 1

passed away Nov. 4, 2020. At present, I have not been advised of any services that have been scheduled. If any of you hear of, or know of, any service details, I would appreciate you sharing them with me, and I will do my best to let the other class members know. Finney was one of those guys that could talk with anyone in the class and make them feel as though they were his best friends. He was a true leader, and he will be missed by our entire class. I have talked with Barrett Luxhoj, and we are looking at several different ways that our class could honor Finney. Once those options are available, I will share them with you. In closing, we have traveled a long way together, created bonds that will last forever. So, if you ever find yourself in a position that you need someone to reach out a hand to help you “over the wall,” give me a call. My phone is always on; I never sleep. Well, I think I will leave the notes at that for this go around. Again, if you need anything, please reach out to me.

2010

Brandon Page Garland Gray III

Hello BRs, Coming fresh off the presses as your new class agent, I would like to share the following notes with everyone. Patrick Wentzel and Alex Houser are both stationed in Boulder, Colorado, for the Army and apparently having epic road bike rides during their free time. It was hilarious seeing them hanging out while joining the class reunion Zoom call.

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Class Notes

Class of 2010: Thomas and Aubrey Page with their sons.

Class of 2010: Newly minted Maj. Thomas Page supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a COVID-19 lockdown in Washington, D.C.

Class of 2010: Brandon Page with his fiancée, Katharine.

Class of 2010: Corey and Caitlin Morgan’s new baby.

Additionally, during our virtual 10th Reunion, Corey Morgan learned that he and his wife are going to be having a new addition to the family, expected sometime May 2021! During the class Zoom call, we learned that Paul Wojtas is attempting to grow out a beard of epic proportions and has no plans

on stopping anytime soon. Eddie Preisser has been at Fort Rucker, Alabama, for about a year and a half as the senior fire support instructor of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence. While there he has been training the lieutenants, captains, and warrant officers of the aviation branch in fire

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support integration and basic leadership. Jacob Roberston and wife had their second baby, Berkleigh Rae Robertson, back in May. He shares that the two kids have kept them pretty busy through this interesting year. T. Nelson Page shares that in March, his reserve unit was activated to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which had him working in D.C. for a few months during the peak of COVID-19 lockdown. Nelson was working in the operations center, tracking both the pandemic’s hotel and arena to hospital conversions, as well as natural disaster events across the globe. Nelson is also proud to report he made major and pinned that on this past summer. Nelson was able to make it home in time for the adoption of their second child, Jaylen (11). Nelson is spending his time still working from home in Cincinnati selling engineering software to the automotive industry. Cody Hennelly wrote me to say he is thankful for the seven years he was afforded the opportunity to be the 2010 class agent. The class agent role allowed him to connect with so many through both the good and bad times. But he will never take for granted the relationships he built, grew, or strengthened throughout the journey. He also said to call me (Brandon) with all our gosh darn problems from now on! Mizpah!

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes I will be getting married May 21, 2021, to my fiancée, Katharine. (Best part is it’s on rat-tie Addison Page’s [’14] birthday, so I get all the presents.) I wish you all the best, and please stay safe during these unusual times. My phone is always on and available.

2011

Allen McCown Thomas H. Pace

Class of 2010: Jacob and Brittany Robertson with newest addition to the family, Berkleigh Rae Robertson.

A lot has changed. As I write this, VMI has just named an interim superintendent, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85. VMI held online classes for the first time in its storied history, as well as having cadets away from post for the longest time since Founders Day. For the first time, the Corps will leave for Thanksgiving and not return until the new year. Masks are in the blue

Class of 2011: Graham Sullivan and his wife, Kate, and daughter.

book, and quarantine is another official status, alongside confinement. Despite all this and the Lastly, I have to add I was given a surprise events across the country this summer, the Incall one day this summer by our dear Karsten stitute has charged on, ready to develop leaders Bloomstrom for an impromptu visit via for service in military and civilian careers. With dropping out of the sky courtesy of the U.S. two younger cousins in barracks Air Force down here in Virginia as rats, I can say more is the same Beach. I did as any BR would do: than it is different, in comparison to Loaded up a Yeti cooler with some the chaotic turmoil of 2020. nice cold beverages, a few logs of John Manning sent me a note Kodiak Wintergreen, and did a that he bumped into Patrick Winresupply drop at an undisclosed kler last fall for coffee. Patrick is beach for a VMI meetup. doing well and working for the I’ve “spoken” with Sean McDepartment of Defense, as is John Coy, who is very, very busy overat the Pentagon. John’s four-year seas doing the incredible work of roommate Tom Schirra is workbeing a medical team supporting ing for the Department of State as the “tip of the spear” components a special agent working in security. of our armed forces in forward deTom is on a stint in Africa at this ployed areas. writing, and before that was in For my class notes—go figure— Arlington. While he was up there it took me becoming a class agent he and John were able to catch up to finally submit something. I live quite a bit. Stay safe abroad, Tom! down in Virginia Beach working Charlie Gerkin recently became for Military Sealift Command for a strategic intelligence officer in the Special Missions Branch, as the the Army and is currently in graduassistant contracting officer for the ate school at the National IntelUSS Lewis B. Puller! How cool is ligence University in Bethesda, it to have that very unique ship as Class of 2011: Vinnie Do, amateur photographer and Army helicopter Maryland. He says he’s scared to your assignment! Additionally, I’m pilot, took this photo in Alaska. death because he barely graduated happy to say it’s finally happening.

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Class Notes VMI, now he has to actually get good grades wrapping up the James Madison University and write more than a five-paragraph op order. physician assistant program and will be workWe’ll see how this works out ... ing in Richmond. Like all of us, this summer Graham Sullivan is stationed at Camp was quite a let-down with canceled trips and a Lejeune with the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. lack of fun and travel. I was able to see Jeremy He is married to his lovely wife, Kate, and had a Lucier and his wife, Maddison, a few times, baby girl in May named Grace. They are living and Jeremy was able to entertain us all with on Emerald Isle. stories about PTs and how he got them. Drew Luxhoj is cardiologist for the U.S. Air My last note is a word of thanks. It has been Force. His wife, Katrina, had a baby girl this an honor and a privilege to serve as the class year, Ava Lyn Luxhoj. She’s received her provi- agent for the greatest class to graduate from sional appointment for the Class of 2042. VMI (no offense to any others reading this). At Kyle Goodale has been finishing up his work this time, I am passing the torch of class agent in the oil industry in Kazakhstan and living in to Tom Pace. This is a tough job and takes a Arizona. He’s recently got his pilot’s license and special brother rat. I know right now I could flies around Scottsdale not be passing it to a BR more dedicated to the Richard “Ronny Coleman” Crozier finally future of the class and to VMI. I can count on shaved his quarantine beard. You can disregard one hand the BRs that provide consistent uprumors of a ginger Sasquatch roaming the forest dates, help with notes, and selflessly update me of Tennessee. on others, and Tom is one of the few. Tom has Matt Talbott has been supporting the Coastal maintained connections and will only work to Carolina football team while doing his medical keep the class as close as ever, if not closer. residency in Myrtle Beach. Go Chanticleers! This next year, I will be working closely with Quarantine has transformed Chris Forbes into Tom and the rest of the reunion committee to our class’ David Goggins. In addition to main- ensure our 10th Reunion is one for the books. taining a small zoo and garden in his yard, he’s I will now commit to Tom that I’ll provide up every day before 4 a.m. and running daily an update for the notes at least once a year; half marathons before work. the class should make the same commitment Our regimental commander, David Gerardo, (hint, hint). For the spouses reading this, you just began his final year at Darden School of can freely send updates about your husband or Business. After graduation, he will be moving wife to the class email; those are usually even to the D.C. area working as a strategy consultant more informative. I don’t need to ask, but I for Accenture. Never one to only have one thing will, that you continue to give Tom the care, going on, David and his wife, Nikki, are expand- communication, and updates that you’ve given ing their family to five just before his graduation from Darden. A lot going on at once for sure, but we couldn’t be happier for the Gerardos! As for me, I’ve spent the last year renovating a 1910 house in the Fan neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia, and turning it into a duplex. It was a huge undertaking, and much of the house came down to the studs. I was lucky at one point that my girlfriend, Kate, alerted me to an odd smell—the smell being a rotten joist that almost sent me through two stories to the foundation ... thanks, Kate! With the renovation finished, I am renting the other unit of my house Class of 2011: Drew Luxhoj and his wife, Katrina. to Dave Milligram ’10, who is

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me. Opening email to read about the happiest moments of your lives will forever be one of the most fulfilling positions that I have held. Rah Virginia Mil, Allen

2012

Bruce Howard

Brother Rats, I hope this edition of the Review finds you and your families well. Congratulations are in order for Matthew Dickinson. He was accepted into the aerospace and defense Master of Business Administration program at the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business. Matthew will begin his classes in January 2021, and from what he sent to me, it looks like he will be in for both a challenging and rewarding experience. Wish you the best of luck! Graham Neal and his wife, Samantha, welcomed to the world a baby boy in October named Brooks Emerson Neal. Congratulations on expanding the Neal family and we’re glad to hear everyone is healthy and thriving toward the end of 2020. Also, congratulations are in order to Adrian Dominguez and his fiancée, Gwen. The happy couple were engaged in September, and I just wanted to send you well wishes on your new life together. I greatly appreciate the updates I received from Will Wild. Will Wild and his wife, Laura, had a little girl named Annie! She enjoys nap time, quail hunts with her uncles, and the entirety of the Rolling Stones catalog. Will also took the time and sent me information on several BRs and what they’ve been up to. It seems that 2020 was a year for new pets. Ross Stolle recently got a new labrador retriever named Lexi. From what I’m told, she’s loyal and energetic and loves ZZ Top and a good game of fetch ... so, similar to every VMI alum.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes this time, I hope we can keep one concept at who sends information to share with the class. Justin Dwight and his wife, Jess, also became I look forward to hearing from you all before the forefront: To have humility in defeat, but dog parents with a striking Aussie-doodle also in victory. Showing respect to one another the next edition. Take care and until next time! named Ashby! He enjoys boating, a good chew In the Bonds, seems to be a lost art, but above all else, the toy, and curious adventures through the historic Bruce streets of Annapolis in search of a good Bloody way we treat one another needs to be the subMary with extra Old Bay garnish. Quinn Ad- ject matter we stress. It is through a balance of both grace and truth that we can put aside ams and his wife, Danielle, are also new ownwhatever differences we may have and work ers of a lab named Howie! He enjoys a spirited together toward a common goal; at the end of political debate, dinner time, and long walks John Wilson the day, isn’t that what VMI taught each and through downtown Richmond with his cousin, Ashby. Craig Waldman is the new owner of a every one of us? Teddy Roosevelt once said, Charles Jones lab-pit bull mix named Dani! She enjoys death “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth metal, belly rubs, and straining other dogs. doing.” That is the work and challenge we all Jon Colon has picked up his belongings and moved from New York City to the sandy went through beginning in 2008. VMI stripped us down to our lowest level in order to build us beaches of Mexico! He was approached by a venture capitalist firm to head up a lucrative back up so that we may overcome any obstacle vending machine operation located in Playa in the way. The premise taught throughout the 2013, Del Carmen. He spends his days making col- VMI process is that you can achieve more toAs another quarter passes, it’s hard to believe lections with his feline friend named Carmine. gether than you ever could alone. In times of Brother Rat Colon and Carmine plan on mak- turmoil, I think many people would be better that we’re approaching eight years since graduating! By the time you’re reading this, ing their way south for the winter in orit’ll be around February 2021. Hopefully der to expand the vending machine oper2021 is off to a better start than 2020! ation further into Central America. Jack I received an update from Chris Boswell and his wife, Maddie, now have Harper. Last June, John Garrett, Tratwo boys, Jack Jr. and Grant! They are vis Thomas, Chris Harper, and Tyler living in Arizona where Jack Sr. serves Brown ’12 were all able to get together as a Marine Corps intelligence officer. with their significant others to watch a polo From what I was told, Jack Jr. and Grant match at King Family Vineyards in the have already been approached by several Charlottesville area. He described it as beNCAA Division I football scouts (Cleming jam-packed with excitement, much like son, Louisville, and University of Texas a VMI football game. Shortly thereafter, at El Paso) but are considering taking Johnny G. got on one knee and proposed their Led Zeppelin cover band (Ned Zepto his wonderful girlfriend, Bridget, on the pelin) more seriously. Sounds like these Class of 2012: BRs Stolle, Wild, Dwight, Waldman, and polo field. The crowd went wild. It was kids have a bright future ahead! Ben Adams. one of the greatest moments in months. Denton is working with an undisclosed firm in Texas to raise money and lobby local off if they shared this ideology. I believe each governments to restart several archeological and every one of us has a platform and unique opportunity to share these values with those projects relating to The Great Dust Bowl of around us. We must remember that in the end 1930-36 that were “prematurely halted” due to funding issues related to COVID-19. Ben and VMI is not just a bunch of concrete buildings his colleague, Tim Joad, have promised some or even a “hill of science with noble emulaof his BRs a grand display of Southwestern tion,” but it is us. It is the people. We represent VMI every day and in everything we do. Let folk art and history once their work there is us not forget that and let us strive to be a great done. We all know there have been some troubling reflection of the good things VMI instilled in times at the Institute over the last few months. each of us. It is with this mindset that we can So much so, I was reminded of my responsibili- face challenges together and have the resolve ties as class agent, which is not to speak on any to come out better on the other side. Class of 2013: Henry Louis Scaplehorn, I don’t think I missed anyone who sent in upagenda or bias, but rather to just share informaborn September 2020, with his brother, dates, but if I did, I apologize, and I’ll be sure tion among the class and bring our community William. together. I hope that is what I can do. Throughout to add it in the next one. I appreciate everyone

2013

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Class Notes Cote d’lvoire, during a military exercise. Baxter works in the embassy as a military liaison and Billy was deployed to the embassy as a platoon commander for the exercise. The two of them worked together to prepare the embassy Diplomatic Security Service, Marine Security Guards, and Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team for contingency operations. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or John Wilson to submit anything you’d like to see printed in here. The next round of notes will be submitted in February ’21 and printed around May ’21. Charlie Jones

2014

Samuel Guidry Class of 2013: John Garrett, Travis Thomas, Chris Harper, and Tyler Brown ’12, along with their significant others, at a polo match at the King Family Vineyards near Charlottesville, Virginia, in June 2020.

Class of 2013: Baxter Blevins with Billy Cheatham ’14 at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire, during a September 2020 military exercise. I recently heard from Michael Scaplehorn. He and his wife recently returned from their tour in Guam and are now stationed in the D.C. metro area. Just a few hours after having the movers unpack everything, the newest addition to the Scaplehorn family arrived. Henry Louis Scaplehorn was born Sept. 2, 2020. He also mentioned that he is currently working as

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Class of 2013: Johnny Garrett proposed to his girlfriend, Bridget, on the polo field. the north region accessions officer for the Civil Engineer Corps and is actively on the hunt for engineering and architecture students. “Seeking employment opportunities with the world’s greatest Navy!” If you know any, send them his way. In September 2020, Baxter Blevins ran into Billy Cheatham ’14 when they worked together at the United States Embassy in Abidjan,

THomas Bradshaw

Ted Gottwald and his wife, Bridgette Gottwald, recently took a trip to Montana with their family. They hiked up a mountain called Black Butte, and when they arrived at the top, the three of them held up their Uncle Bruce’s [’81] old VMI T-shirt, commemorating him and keeping him there with them in spirit. Bruce used to love it out west, and it was difficult not having him as part of their family week this year. In loving memory of Bruce Gottwald ’81, rest in peace. Joe Kang ’11 and Billy Cheatham just spent four months together in Rota, Spain. Billy was deployed to Rota to support FAST Company Europe while Joe served as the executive officer for the company. Thomas Bradshaw, our class grandpa, turned 31 in April 2020. He was promoted to production manager at Bayer Crop Science out in Hawaii. They can change the name all they want, but we will not be fooled by it as Mr. Bradshaw and Monsanto slowly take over the world one genetically modified wheat stalk at a time. He broke his leg earlier this year on a hike and ended up receiving a sweet helicopter tour of the island. He recently bought a house

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes in Hawaii and currently lives there with his fiancée, Emily. They planned to get married in December 2020, and COVID-19 permitting, a reception will be taking place in Hawaii sometime in 2021. The wedding will be live-streamed—please reach out to myself, or Thomas for the link! Congratulations, brother! I hear that the leg healed faster than anticipated due to experimental treatments received in a secret lair under the volcano. Sabina (Montgomery) Crites has assumed duties as the Fayetteville Alumni Chapter president. They held a virtual rat send-off for the Raleigh and Fayetteville incoming rats in August. She graduated with a master’s in terrorism and counterterrorism from Henley Putnam School of Strategic Security and has taken an internship through the Hiring Our Heroes program with Saranac Funds as she transitions from active duty Army to the reserve in January 2021 and is looking for full time work in the area. Carly Day is now Carly Anderson after getting married to Cody Anderson, who is a Marine. Looking back, I would have to say that is the only branch of the military that might have enough energy to match Carly. Congratulations, Mrs. Anderson; we wish you and your Marine the best. Conner Bach finally has some class notes! He recently moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, and is working as a financial adviser for Northwestern Mutual and is looking to network with some alumni down in Florida and is always in need of more golf buddies. Thomas Pierpoint is working on a renovation

to one of the congressional office buildings which means that, in 2020, Thomas Pierpoint is the most trustworthy person on Capitol Hill. Jon Mattingly lives a quiet life in Washington, D.C., and recently landed the title of “resident Indiana Jones” at the Smithsonian Institution. I try my best not to burst his bubble, but I get the feeling that when the camera pans out, just before the credits at the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Jon Mattingly is in fact not Indiana Jones, but the guy who is meticulously cataloging, taking inventory, and warehousing all Harrison Ford’s adventures. Sometimes BR Mattingly and BR Pierpoint will get together and drink beers, yelling about the Old Corps. How the stoops used to be made of wood and iron, stained with blood, sweat, and tears. They talk about how much has changed in the blink of an eye. Even in the short time since our class walked across the stage, shaking hands with Gen. Peay ’62 the third, with Brig. Gen. Brower smiling in the faculty section. Our rats have left the nest and have had rats of their own, and their rats have graduated, leaving behind our great-grandrats to carry on the legacy and lineage of our dyke line. We don’t have too many class notes anymore; most of our updates are from Facebook and LinkedIn, watching our BRs and fellow Institute alumni through little digital windows. Catching glimpses of Juan Adams’ UFC career, Johnny Partin slowly building up speed for his 2036 presidential campaign, Quentin O’Neal graduating Jumpmaster School, or Lucas Champion dueling with a longsword.

Class of 2014: Ted Gottwald, Thomas Gottwald ’83, and Thomas Gottwald ’09 traveled to Montana and hiked up Black Butte mountain in memory of the late Bruce Gottwald ’81. 2021-Issue 1

We watch from a distance as our brother rats have children of their own and slowly spread out across America ... and even with all the noise and turbulence, there is one thing that remains constant. Despite how fast we move forward it always remains. It can be felt when flipping through the pages of this Alumni Review. It can be felt when you accidently bump into fellow alumni halfway around the world. It can be felt when your grandrat sends you a picture of your first-class private belt, the one that you used to wear too loose, and there are two new signatures after yours. Everything around us may change, but the connections to our brother rats, the memories, and the hardships that we faced and overcome will always remain. It might be hard to always see, but it can always be felt, especially sitting around a quiet bar in Virginia, having a few drinks with BR Pierpoint, and trying not to be too embarrassed ... when he stands on top of a table at 1600 on a Wednesday, and lets out an Old Yell at Whitlow’s on Wilson. The Institute will be heard from today and always.

2015

Henry Meredith Johnny McDonald

Clayton White got married last year and recently found out that he and his wife are expecting. Clayton was a submarine structural engineer and just recently moved over to be a nuclear engineer. Nick Dreybus got engaged in October to his now fiancée, Micaela. They are planning a wedding for next year. Nick is still working at the Newport News Shipyard in the hull structural department for new aircraft carrier construction and was promoted to structural engineer II this past summer. Wesley Jacobs is currently in Cartagena, Colombia, working on his medical tourism company,

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Class Notes

Class of 2015: Urayoan Garcia’s dogs, Bhodi and Archie.

Class of 2015: Nicole Blixt will graduate from the physician assistant program at James Madison University in December 2020.

Class of 2015: Harrison Williams’ pup, Eric. 160

Apollo Medical Travel. In his free time, Wes wades into the comment section on different VMI Facebook groups. Henry Meredith celebrated his first anniversary with his wife, Meghan. Ben Field is teaching Naval ROTC at Texas A&M. Derrick Ziglar recently started a tech company focused on merging real estate education and networking with technology. Check out www. zeliteapp.com. Will Claytor and Gaston Ledford are still equally full of the BR spirit and bovine fecal matter. Harrison Williams got a dog named Eric. The similarities between the two are just precious. William Jordan was married to his wife, Kelsey, in a small ceremony in August. Joe Broughton still hasn’t broken up with Navy and has PCS’d to Memphis to recruit future nuke officers. He is hopeful, with his recruiting efforts, the Navy doesn’t have to force VMI Naval ROTC grads into the position. Urayoan Garcia recently moved to Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, with his dogs Bhodi and Archie. He recently left RH as a senior ops manager to begin a new career with Chewy. Sean McVey is engaged to his fiancée, Jordanne. They have a wedding planned for Sept. 4, 2021. Sean works as a crisis specialist at FMRS. Rob Franzino is flying F/A-18 Super Hornets in VFA-41 Black Aces at NAS Lemoore, California. He is closing next week on a house in Hanford and is living his best life—working hard and playing hard. Ross Barnett bought a house in Navarre, Florida. He will be PCSing to Hurlburt Field in January to be an instructor at the air operations center schoolhouse. Anthony Harvey started his master’s degree in engineering management in Birmingham, Alabama, at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Nicole Blixt graduates Physician Assistant School Dec. 14 from James Madison University. After graduation, Nicole will take her national certifying exams and then has plans of going into trauma surgery. Colin Wilson met up with some BRs for an unofficial (mostly) Company F reunion. James Murphy, Bryce Teague ’16, Zach Goodreau, Nick Mathis, Jake Shafer, Colin Wilson, and Jake Dixon attended. This rat is a rat, Johnny

2016

Jacob Norris Patrick Hine

BRs, I hope these notes find you all doing well after a hopefully rewarding holiday. Starting off the notes, I wanted to say congratulations to Brandon Fleming and his to marriage to Dr. Shannon Bess (now Fleming). They got married June 6 in Cape Charles, Virginia. Shannon’s brother, Ensign Ryan Bess ’20, was Brandon’s best man. One wedding just wasn’t enough, thanks to COVID-19, so they had a second ceremony/vow renewal Aug. 7 at the University of Maryland memorial chapel in College Park, Maryland. VMI made quite a large showing at the second ceremony. In attendance were Thomas Dumville ’13, Chris Schmeelk ’13, Jay York ’13, Ben Eberhardt, Aidan O’Connor, Dominic Romeo, Dakota Scott, Roger Quiroga ’19, and Raymond Wilmer ’19. Thank you to all those who were able to attend. Angelo Kirchon successfully defended his doctoral thesis titled: Developing Iron and Titanium Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Gas Storage and Water Purification. He will be graduating with a Ph.D. in chemistry from Texas A&M Dec. 10. He plans to start working at Lynntech as a research scientist developing tech for the Department of Defense. As if one Ph.D. wasn’t enough, Angelo got engaged to Taylor Huntington Sept. 27, who is also studying for her Ph.D. in neuroscience also at TAMU. Nate Sitzman and his wife, Moriah, welcomed their son, Conrad Phillip Sitzman, into the world this past April. These are the first notes I have submitted since the passing of Austin Murga, and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has reached out during this time. I know his parents have been so touched at the outpouring of love and support from the VMI community, continuing to make

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 2016: Tommy Lester, Evan Thompson, Kevin Murga, and Travis Jordan.

Class of 2016: Tommy Lester and Miles Manley with Cole Thompson.

Class of 2016: Brandon and Shannon Fleming. 2021-Issue 1

them feel like family. Austin’s parents wanted to include the below message. If anyone is struggling or just needs someone to listen to, my phone is always on, and I am willing to help. “In Loving Memory: Captain Austin Murga. Feb. 9, 1994-Sept. 7, 2020 “Captain Austin Murga of Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina, passed away Sept. 7, 2020, at the age of 26. After serving with the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan, Austin’s life was permanently altered by the effects of PTSD. “Austin’s path of military service began by choosing to attend Virginia Military Institute, a grueling institute both mentally and physically. At VMI, he again made his mark with his animated laugh and his sincere concern for his brothers (BRs). Many recall being enveloped by his ‘death squeeze hugs.’ His BRs remember that he would typically visit their rooms in one of two ways: Genuinely asking how they were or engaging in some wrestling moves as he playfully approached in his signature wrestling stance. He graduated in 2016 with 337 special BRs, remarkable each in his own way and because of their strengths, they were able to encourage, care for, and strengthen each other. Many of these fine young BRs are now proudly serving our country in a variety of successful ways. “Again, in pursuit of his dreams, Austin went through rigorous training to earn his Ranger Tab and increase his combat and leadership skills. These would come in handy when he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2019-20. Despite

protocol, he made himself available to all his men, regardless of rank, whenever they needed him. He would take each and every one of them under his wing in an attempt to give them the support and encouragement they needed. Austin once confided to his parents that he often felt like a father/brother to his men. This is a remarkable acceptance of responsibility for a man of his age. Although he was an outstanding officer, above all, he will always be remembered for his approachability and humanity. “In summary, the most important lesson Austin’s life taught us is the importance of caring for others in their time of need. Austin’s spirit can and will live on if each of us emulates his nobility, integrity, and compassion each and every day in whatever way we can. “His family vows to actively honor Austin’s life by raising awareness of PTSD, as it relates to those in active duty, fellow veterans, and nonmilitary alike.” A meaningful verse to Austin, found in the inside front cover of his personal Bible, was Romans 14:6-9.

2017

Benjamin Stewart

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2017.

Class of 2016: Evan Thompson and Conrad Frawley ’17. 161

Class Notes

2018

Carlee Anderson Matt Esnardo

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2018.

2019

Nathan D.A. Mumford Annika K. Tice

Alexander Dragan Holly K. Njabo

Brother Rats, Upon graduation our class elected to donate a portion of our remaining class funds to create the Class of 2020 Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship will give aid to incoming cadets and support them financially just as many of us were supported by alumni financially. We can start giving back now, and we are much closer than we think to attaining our goal of $25,000! Currently, the fund holds $15,600. Fielding Quarles and I crunched the numbers and we only need $9,400 more by 2025.

Congratulations, December 2020 graduates! Welcome to the alumni ranks! Update your contact information to ensure you receive the most up-to-date communications from the Alumni Agenices. vmialumni.org/myprofile

Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin, VMI Communications & Marketing.

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2019.

2020

So far, we have not had any donations, but if we each donate $6 per year for five years, we will attain our goal. That means with a total of $30 each, we set up a fund in our class’ name to support cadets for years to come. That is a remarkable thing and something we can take pride in together. Please donate at: http://www.vmialumni.org/ classof2020.

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VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

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163

Class Notes

Baby Keydets BOONE – a son, Theodore John, to Deanna and Jason Boone ’04, Oct. 23, 2020.

Marriages VAN HOOSE – Judy Savage to Gordon Van Hoose ’68, Oct. 21, 2020.

DEGREES Daniel D. Miller ’14 Business Analytics Indiana University, June 2020

M.S.

Angelo A. Kirchon ’16 Chemistry Texas A&M University, December 2020

Ph.D.

Be sure to check the website and your email regularly for information about upcoming virtual and in-person events! vmialumni.org/events

VMI’s 10 Most Senior Alumni According to the records of the VMI Alumni Agencies, the people listed below constitute the 10 senior alumni of the Institute. Please contact the Alumni Review staff if any errors are noted.

B.W. Baker ’42 Jack N. Williams ’41 Gunyon M. Harrison Jr. ’43

Sept. 8, 1920 March 6, 1921

Charles H. Beckham ’43

June 1, 1921

Bruce H. Suter ’43

July 7, 1921

Robert W. Goodman Jr. ’42

Sept. 3, 1921

John M. Patton ’42

Sept. 14, 1921

Robert L. Reeves ’43

Sept. 22, 1921

Jeffrey G. Smith ’43

Oct. 14, 1921

Fred H. Lockwood ’44

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July 1, 1920

May 3, 1922

VMI Alumni Review

Provisional Appointments APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

2037

2026 Matthew Clark

Robert D. Clark ’84

Uncle

Christopher Valli

Guillermo Barquero ’00

Uncle

Toliver C. Smith

Charles M. Hunter ’936

Great-grandfather

Charles M. Hunter ’936

Great-grandfather

2038 Merritt M. Wiseman

2027 George M. Dawson

Annabelle Lunsford

Michael K. Dawson ’87

Father

Nathaniel W. Pendleton ’922

Great-grandfather

2039

Nathaniel W. Pendleton Jr. ’57

Grandfather

Rushing Corazza

Brent M. Rushing ’20

Uncle

Nathaniel W. Pendleton III ’87

Uncle

James S. Kemp

Joseph A. Kemp ’14

Father

Frederick M. Dawson ’13

Brother

Hudson K. Lockridge

John A. Wall Jr. ’71

Great-uncle

Allan T. Lunsford Jr. ’92

Father

Armond Rawles

R. Bruce Gregory ’69

Grandfather

Birkett D. Fry ’843

Cousin

Robert A. Boyd ’863

Great-great-

Hugh W. Fry ’867

Cousin

Douglas B. Gregory Jr. ’97

Cousin

Robert H. Gregory Jr. ’932

Great-grandfather

William K. Kays Jr. ’55

Uncle

R. Harrison Gregory II ’04

Uncle

James E. Slaughter ’848

Cousin

Reuben L. Walker ’845

Cousin

2040

Gerald F. Wilkes ’66

Cousin

Knox Andert

Thomas E. Hunter Jr. ’57

Great-grandfather

Lawrence A. Wilkes ’66

Cousin

Justus C.G. Fane

James W. Garten Jr. ’74

Grandfather

Michael A. Garten ’75

Great-uncle

Matthew Garten ’84

Cousin

James W. Hardey ’12

Father

Troy Heskett ’86

Grandfather

Nathaniel Beaman IV ’74

Grandfather

Nathaniel Beaman III ’46

Great-grandfather

great-grandfather

2028 Sibyl Harrell

Joseph A. Harrell ’97

Father

Edwin L. Dooley (Hon.)

Grandfather

Murphy J. Hardey Chase D. Jackson

2029 Wyatt Rakin

Justin J. Bogaty ’95

Uncle 2041 Joseph T. Morris V

Thomas J. Morris ’69

Great-uncle

Ryder Hamilton

Justin J. Bogaty ’95

Uncle

Alexander J. Petrella

Vance J. Petrella ’69

Grandfather

Eva P. Smith

Charles M. Hunter ’936

Great-grandfather

Teddy Raser

David O. Raser Jr. ’06

Father

Bree M. Gruse

Jason K. Gruse ’97

Father

2042

Maddox Pramawat

Charles B. Pramawat ’00

Father

George E. Anderson VI

George E. Anderson IV ’77

Grandfather

Skylar A. Baker

Stephen V. Motylinski ’85

Grandfather

Patrick W. Beckett

Paul X. English III ’73

Grandfather

Paul X. English ’911

Great-great-

Paul X. English Jr. ’49C

Great-grandfather

2031

2032

2033 Sophia Barquero

Guillermo Barquero ’00

Father

grandfather 2034 Tinley B. Gruse

Jason K. Gruse ’97

Uncle

Samuel M. Hairston ’47

Great-grandfather

Robert P. Matkins

William J. Matkins ’03

Father

Randolph S. Knipp ’56

Great-great-uncle

Blair H. Blankenship

Charles M. Hunter ’936

Great-grandfather

George Handler VI

George L. Handler ’09

Father

2036 Maxwell R. Hamilton

Justin J. Bogaty ’95

Uncle

Christopher J. Nash ’77

Great-uncle

Braden Herbert

William S. Robertson ’78

Grandfather

James H. Handler ’11

Uncle

Alfred S. Robertson ’49C

Great-grandfather

David J. Hill

Robert P. Hill ’08

Father

William W. McClevy ’913

Great-great-

Colton M. Jantz

Mark D. Moncure ’76

Grandfather

Thomas Moncure ’40

Great-grandfather

grandfather

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165

Provisional Appointments APPOINTEE’S NAME

Colton M. Jantz (Cont.)

ALUMNUS-CLASS

Robinson Moncure ’901

RELATIONSHIP

Great-great-

APPOINTEE’S NAME

RELATIONSHIP

Madeleine J. Passmore

Paul X. English Jr. ’49C

Great-grandfather

(Cont.)

Samuel M. Hairston ’47

Great-grandfather

Randolph S. Knipp ’56

Great-great-uncle

grandfather Thomas J. Moncure ’853

ALUMNUS-CLASS

Great-great-

Henry L. Scaplehorn

Michael K. Scaplehorn ’13

Father

great-grandfather

Lily M. Wainwright

John W. Wainwright IV ’16

Father

Rikard H. Johnson

Peter C. Johnson ’05

Father

Nicholas J. Wainwright ’20

Uncle

Aaron W. Miller

Charles F. Hilton ’80

Grandfather

John W. Wainwright III ’82

Grandfather

Carson J. Orr

Stephen R. Orr III ’74

Grandfather

Douglas B. Wainwright ’83

Great-uncle

Madeleine J. Passmore

Paul X. English III ’73

Grandfather

John W. Wainwright II ’55

Great-grandfather

Paul X. English ’911

Great-great-

Julie (Markow) Weipert ’10

Mother

Rachel M. Weipert

grandfather

Download the VMI Alumni Mobile App

Use the interactive map to find BRs and other alumni.

Easily access VMI and Alumni Agencies news.

Search for alumni by field, degree or class year.

To download the app for Apple and Android devices, visit vmialumni.org/mobileapp.

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VMI Alumni Review

Taps Charles W. Abbitt ’41 Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Webb Abbitt ’41 of Richardson, Texas, died Aug. 28, 2020. He was 100. He matriculated from Appomattox, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan. He is survived by his son, Charles W. Abbitt II; daughter, Caroline Abbitt; grandchildren, Charles W. Abbitt III and Elizabeth Sarah Sauer; and great-granddaughter, April Rose Holder.

Warren S. Frank ’43 Warren Settle Frank ’43 of Wilmington, Ohio, died Aug. 23, 2020. He was 99. He matriculated from Luray, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his sons, Warren R. Frank (Sonya), Thomas C. Frank (Katherine), and Joseph A. Frank (Melanie); grandchildren, Sara Frank, Elizabeth Frank, Thomas Frank II (Alexis), Ashley Frank DeCamp (Mark), and Mason Frank (Amanda); and greatgrandchildren, Sophia Frank, Isabelle Frank, Holden Frank, and Brooks DeCamp. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Calendine Frank; sister, Leta M. Frank; and grandson, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Warren S. Frank.

Richard C. Doom ’44 Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Richard Clinton Doom ’44 of Golden, Colorado, died June 26, 2020. He was 98. He matriculated from Kingston, New York, and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Business Administration degree from California State University. He is survived by his children, William Doom (Sylvia), Robert Doom, Michael Doom, John Doom (Jill), and Susan Attridge (Richard); seven grandchildren; and five greatgrandchildren.

Richard C. Niess ’44 Richard Charles Niess ’44 of Naples, Florida, died Sept. 22, 2020. He matriculated from East Rockaway, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree

2021-Issue 1

in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Linda Niess Tartak, Richard S. “Buz” Niess, and Robert S. “Bob” Niess. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann S. Niess.

Alfred L. Turriziani ’45 Alfred Leopold Turriziani ’45 of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 20, 2015. He was 92. He matriculated from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and spent two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Stanford University. He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Lia Zorn (Jim) and Andrea Lavelle (Mike); grandchildren, David and Daniel Zorn, and Olivia, Jack, and Christopher Lavelle; sister, Gloria Springer; and brother-in-law, Rich. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Arky (Antoinette), Theresa, and Dolores “Dee Dee” Terrify.

Thomas O. Layman ’46 Thomas Orville Layman ’46, D.D.S., of Richmond, Virginia, died Aug. 5, 2020. He was 96. He matriculated from Richmond and spent six months at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He is survived by his sister, Joan McGee (Norman). He was preceded in death by his brother, Frederick Layman Jr. ’44, who died Dec. 31, 1981, and cousins, Lewis E. Smith, VMI Class of 1938, who died May 31, 1967; and Lacy A. Smith ’58, who died July 21, 1994.

Bascom N. Lockett Jr. ’46

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son, Thomas Lawley Williams; daughter, Jane Radcliffe Williams; and grandsons; James King Williams, William Lawley Williams, and Dylan William Flye.

Robert C. Little ’47 Robert Claude Little ’47 of Greensboro, North Carolina, died July 30, 2020. He was 93. He matriculated from Greensboro and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Davidson College. He is survived by his wife, Betty Sellars Little; children, Stewart Q. Little (Susan) and Laurie L. Sebastian (Ron); six grandchildren; 11 greatgrandchildren; step-children, Liz W. James (Alex), Daniel E. Wright (Heather), and Chris Wright (Chris); three step-grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Rose K. Little. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laurie Lucas Little; son, Robert C. Little Jr. (Rose); stepson, Gil Wright; and step-grandson, Will James.

George L. Price Jr. ’47 Retired U.S. Army Col. George Lynwood Price Jr. of Melbourne, Florida, died Sept. 19, 2020. He was 94. He matriculated from Newport News, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI, a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy, and a Master of Science degree from Texas A&M. He is survived by his sons, Van Price and Allen Price; daughter, Hanni Moreno; and nine grandchildren.

Augustus Robbins III ’47

Augustus Robbins III ’47 of Midlothian, VirBascom Newton Lockett Jr. ’46 of Falls ginia, died Oct. 28, 2020. He was 93. Church, Virginia, died Sept. 22, 2020. He was 95. He matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, He matriculated from Bristol, Virginia, and and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil spent six months at VMI. engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Ann He is survived by his wife, Betty and Richard; five grandchildren; and Lane Gay Robbins; children, Dr. five great-grandchildren. Sharon Robbins, Augustus Robbins He was preceded in death by his wife, IV ’77 (Linda), Cynthia Robbins DaPhyllis Lockett. vis (Jeff), and Keith Robbins (Lisa); grandchildren, Katie Ramirez (Tony), Allison Robbins, Augustus Robbins V, William L. Williams Jr. ’46 Jason Davis (Jill), Ryan Davis, Bradley William Lindsey Williams Jr. ’46 of Davis (Liz), Jena Robbins, and Lauren New Salem, Massachusetts, died May Robbins; 12 great-grandchildren; three 30, 2020. He was 95. step-children; six step-grandchildren; He matriculated from South Boston, Virginia, and spent six months at VMI. Robbins ’47 and sister-in-law, Pat Robbins.

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Taps He was preceded in death by his wife, Della Jane Mobley, and siblings, Philip Robbins and Cordelia Robbins.

Julian D. Adkins ’48B Julian Dodson Adkins ’48B of Glen Allen, Virginia, died Jan. 27, 2018. He was 90. He matriculated from Suffolk, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph Macon and a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth C. Adkins; children, Julie A. Lipscomb (Jay) and Jeffrey D. Adkins; grandchildren, Tracey Groome, Melissa Marshall, Virginia Adkins, Harris Lipscomb, and Holden Lipscomb; and five great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jolie Peterson Adkins, and brother, Harry T. Adkins.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Meintzer Rice; sons, Robert Coleman Rice III ’90 (Jane) and William Charles Rice (Meghan); grandchildren, Charles Douglas Rice and Sonia Marie Rice; and sister, Wilton Dunn Sadler.

Randolph C. Thompson ’51

Larry E.L. Price ’55

Randolph Carter Thompson ’51 of Clifton, Virginia, died Feb. 2, 2018. He was 87. He matriculated from Altavista, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his son, David W. Thompson ’84, and other family members.

Larry Everette Leroy Price ’55 of Louisville, Kentucky, died Sept. 14, 2020. He was 87. He matriculated from Covington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Carlene “Boots” Price; son, Mickey R. Price (Camilla); granddaughter, Erin Maiden (Courtney); and greatgrandchildren, Landon and Sawyer.

David T. Baskett Jr. ’54

David Todd Baskett Jr. ’54 of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 25, 2020. He was 88. He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. John V. Josephson ’48B He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Vhay Baskett; children, Ellen B. McVernon Josephson ’48B of Pinehurst, Masters (John), Martha B. Chovanes North Carolina, died Sept. 12, 2016. He was 89. Baskett ’54 (Michael), and David T. Baskett III; grandchildren, Jason, Shannon, LauHe matriculated from Deer Lodge, ren, Kathryn, Anna, Alexander, Jaqueline, Montana, and spent one year at VMI. He Jonathan, Caroline, Kaitlin, Anika, and Elaina; earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Science great-grandchildren, Ariya and Ahna; stepchildren, Laura J. Brown (Neil) and Susan E. degree from George Washington University. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen, and Stumpf (Jonathan); and sister, Martha Ann children, Susan Josephson and Peter Josephson “Penny” Harris. (Susan Hartsfield). He was preceded in death by his sister, Lorna William A. Robinson ’54 Lillis. William Arthur Robinson ’54 of Ball Ground, Georgia, died Aug. 16, 2020. He was 88. He matriculated from Cameron, Texas, and Louis M. Schwartz ’48B Louis Martin Schwartz ’48B of Orchard, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. Texas, died Aug. 29, 2019. He was 92. He is survived by his wife, Mary Robinson; son, He matriculated from Uvalde, Texas, and William Robinson Jr. (Amanda); grandchildren, spent four months at VMI. He is survived by his son, Louis (Karen), Lauren Livingston (Taylor) and William Robinson III; and brother, Lee Robinson. and grandchildren, Joshua (Morgan), Jacob, and Saige.

R. Coleman Rice Jr. ’49C Robert Coleman Rice Jr. ’49C of Richmond, Virginia, died Oct. 17, 2020. He was 94. He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Chartered Financial Consultant designation from American College.

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(Jeff), Kate Roggow Arnzen, Nicholas Goetzinger, Megan Goetzinger, Natalie Goetzinger, Madeleine Goetzinger, Jay Berry, and Blake Berry; and great-grandchild, Lea Arnzen. He was preceded in death by his wife, Natalie.

Nicholas J. Goetzinger ’55

Nicholas John Goetzinger ’55 of Carthage, Missouri, died Nov. 6, 2017. He was 83. He matriculated from Aurora, Illinois, and spent almost two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois. He is survived by his children, Karen (Rodney), Jeffrey (Lynette), and Gregory (Cara); grandchildren, Ryan Roggow, Rachel Prost

Forest C. Thompson Jr. ’55 Forest Carson Thompson Jr. ’55 of Leesburg, Virginia, died in 2020. He was 86. He matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife; children; grandchildren; and brother and sister-in-law.

William O. Child ’56 Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Otis Child ’56 of Arlington, Texas, died Aug. 5, 2020. He was 86. He matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration degree from Drury College. He is survived by his wife, Susan Jane (Hittler) Child; children, Bill Child (Rebecca), Drew Child (Lori), Jennifer Suggs (Scott), Heather Aldred (Paul), and Stephanie Child; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Rose Child.

Reginald C. Morrison Jr. ’56 Reginald Cleaves Morrison Jr. ’56 of Woodbine, Maryland, died Aug. 24, 2020. He was 86. He matriculated from Baltimore, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Robert R. Rader Jr. ’57 Robert Romeo “Bob” Rader Jr. ’57 of Johns Creek, Georgia, died Aug. 12, 2020. He was 85.

VMI Alumni Review

Taps He matriculated from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Debbie Giddens (Randy) and Robert Rader (Candise); grandchildren, Stephen, Rye, Lauren, Dylan, and Mackenzie; and great-grandchildren, Maddie, Abby, Cela, and Sutton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Herndon Rader.

John W. Corr ’58 John William “Bill” Corr ’58, Ph.D., of Atlanta, Georgia, died Sept. 15, 2020. He was 84. He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is survived by his wife, Anne Plummer Corr; daughters, Carolyn Corr Smith (Branden) and Susan Austin Corr; and brothers, Laughton (Ruby) and Warren (Sheryl).

Walter W. Leach ’58 Walter Winston Leach ’58 of Raleigh, North Carolina, died Sept. 4, 2020. He was 84. He matriculated from Radford, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his sons, Walter “Harry” Leach (Dawn) and David E. Leach (Darlene); four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth; father, Rollie Leach, VMI Class of 1932, who died Aug. 7, 1966; and son, Stephen M. Leach.

Robert E. Spurrier ’58 Retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Ernest Spurrier ’58 of Melbourne, Florida, died Aug. 1, 2020. He was 83. He matriculated from Hollis, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Adams Spurrier; daughter, Terry Spurrier Stephenson; and grandchildren, Ashley, Robert, and Hannah. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Butler Spurrier.

Franklin H. Whitten ’59 Franklin Hardwell Whitten ’59 of Lynchburg, Virginia, died Aug. 27, 2020. He was 83. He matriculated from Lynchburg and spent

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more than one year at VMI. He earned an Associate of Science degree from Temple University. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; children, Susan Whitten Padgett (Roy), Alice Whitten Bowen (Tony), Mary Carter Whitten Van Atta (Matt), and Franklin Hardwell Whitten Jr. (Betsy); grandchildren, Drew Bowen (Aubrey), Sarah Bowen Hersch (Eric), Paul Bowen, Mary Grace Padgett, Elizabeth Padgett, and Andrew Padgett, Oscar Whitten, and Rob Van Atta; brothers, Wilbur Carrington Whitten Jr. and Thomas P. Whitten; and brother-in-law, William Henry Jones (Margaret).

Louis B. Fike ’60 Louis Bruce Fike ’60 of Richfield, Ohio, died June 25, 2020. He was 81. He matriculated from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and spent less than one week at VMI. He is survived by his daughter, Denise; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; step-children, Douglas and Sharon; and siblings, Dick, Darlene, and Mary Rita. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret.

Jack J. Hatfield ’60 Jack Judson Hatfield ’60 of Yorktown, Virginia, died Sept. 27, 2020. He was 82. He matriculated from Roanoke, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Burrill Hatfield; daughter, Susan Howland (Greg); grandson, John Hatfield Howland (Erin); granddaughter, Melissa Miller (Micah); and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Douglas and Joseph, and sister, Maxine Hatfield Van Hyning.

John A. Horgan ’60 John Archibald Horgan ’62, M.D., of Newport News, Virginia, died Sept. 8, 2020. He was 82. He matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia. A distinguished graduate of VMI, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the Institute and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Earle Horgan; children, Laura Earle Horgan, M.D. (Steven Ryan Hunter), Amy Horgan Fiveash (Robert Emmet Fiveash), and John Archibald Horgan II; grandchildren, Will, Caroline, Grayson, and Anne Burns; and brother, Darrell S. Daniels, M.D. (Rosanne).

William E. McQuail ’60 William Edward McQuail ’60 of Richmond, Virginia, died Sept. 15, 2020. He was 84. He matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Rollings; daughter, Sally Goodnight (Bill); son, Steve McQuail (Sherry); brothers, Jim and John; and grandchildren, Bryce, Katelyn, Caroline, and William.

Fredrik H. Murrill ’60 Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Fredrik Hugh Murrill ’60 of McLean, Virginia, died Sept. 12, 2020. He was 80. He matriculated from Greenwich, Connecticut, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Joe B. Preston II ’61 Joe B. Preston II ’61 of Culpepper, Virginia, died Sept. 19, 2020. He was 80. He matriculated from Culpepper and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Nancy T. Preston; sons, Joe B. Preston III and Robert D. Preston; granddaughter, Kera E. Robinson; great-grandson, Bentley Robinson; greatgranddaughter, Aurora Robinson; and brother, Col. L.T. Preston Jr. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Patricia Evelyn Preston and Olivia Elizabeth Tielkemeier, and brother, Thomas Joe Preston.

Edward B. Beirne Jr. ’62 Edward Bliley Beirne Jr. ’62, M.D., of Richmond, Virginia, died Aug. 9, 2020. He was 80. He matriculated from Sandston, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Gearhart Beirne; sister, Doris Beirne Sarvay; children, Marcena Beirne Myhrberg, Roxanna Beirne Pappas, and Lucas Edward Beirne; and five grandchildren.

Lawrence W. Payne ’62 Lawrence William Payne ’62 of Falls Church, Virginia, died July 27, 2020. He was 80. He matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and spent less than two years at VMI.

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Taps He is survived by his wife, Suzanne; children, Ronald, Deborah, Gary, Lawrence, and Christine; 20 grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Margaret Ann.

Dan W. Vaughn ’62 Dan Wilbur Vaughn ’62 of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, died Oct. 10, 2020. He was 80. He matriculated from Wichita, Kansas, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; children, Dana Thompson (C.J.) and Eric Vaughn (Jamie); grandchildren, Skyler, Riley, Megan, Marshall, and Molly; and brothers, Dale and Donald. He was preceded in death by his sister-inlaw, Moira Vaughn.

James A. Vest ’62 James Aurich Vest ’62 of Lynchburg, Virginia, died Aug. 13, 2020. He was 80. He matriculated from Bedford, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Renee Collet Vest; daughter, Catherine Vest Olson (Kyle); grandchildren, Laney Green, Riley Green, Emary Green, and Spencer Fisher; step-daughter, Collet Green (Landon); step-son, Lee Fisher; and sister-in-law, Ann Jarvis Vest. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Twark Vest; son, James Aurich “Jay” Vest Jr.; step-son, Kirk Roland Vest; and brother, Rev. Frank Harris Vest Jr.

John P. Harris III ’63 John Paul Harris III ’63, J.D., of Fredericksburg, Virginia, died Aug. 28, 2020. He was 79. He matriculated from Fredericksburg, Virginia, and spent two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Juris Doctor degree from Samford University. He is survived by his wife, Tracy; daughter, Katherine Harris; grandchildren, Alyssa, Alexis, and Michael Ford; and brothers, Frank C. Harris (Athena) and William H. Harris (Julie).

Ancher L. Madison ’64 Ancher Lee Madison ’64 of Richmond, Virginia, died Oct. 25, 2020. He was 78. He matriculated from Highland Springs,

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Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree in clinical epidemiology from West Virginia University. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine K. Madison; sons, Richard (Brenda), Donald (Lisa), Martin (Dee Dee), and Joseph (Nicole); and grandchildren, Alex, Andy, Damon, BryAnna, Patrick, Tyler, Kayla, Tatianna, Nathan, and Matthew.

Joseph B. Rathbone ’64 Joseph Bailey Rathbone ’64 of Ashburn, Virginia, died Sept. 4, 2020. He was 79. He matriculated from Alexandria, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from George Mason University. He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Anne Rathbone Bradley (Matt); sons, Christian and Trevor; and grandchildren, Timothy Parker and Bailey Grace Bradley.

James C. Shumaker ’64 James Clinton Shumaker ’64 of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 16, 2020. He was 78. He matriculated from Library, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughters, Kelli Hill and Kristen Nehus (Michael); granddaughter, Hannah Hill; and brothers, Ira and William Shumaker.

Beverly C. Read ’65 Beverly Creighton “John” Read ’65 of Santa Fe, New Mexico, died Sept. 10, 2020. He was 76. He matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University. He is survived by his children, John and Julia, and brother, Jim Read. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lisa.

Michael L. Michelson ’68 Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Louis Michelson ’68, Ph.D., of Jacksonville, Alabama, died Sept. 3, 2020. He was 73. He matriculated from Aberdeen, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in inorganic chemistry from the University of Cincinnati.

He is survived by his daughter, Ann Michelson Charlesworth; son, Mark Chambers Michelson; grandson, Lionel Victor Michelson; and step-son, Christian Spiceland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Suzanne Adair Michelson, and sister, Carole Ann Buchanan.

John T. Pool Jr. ’69 John Thurston Pool Jr. ’69 of Wilmington, North Carolina, died Sept. 30, 2020. He was 73. He matriculated from Clarksville, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Shreve Pool; children, Mary Katherine Pool, John Thurston Pool III, and Caroline Ingram Pool; brother, Del Pool; sister, Donna Wilkins; and uncle, Otis R. Pool ’60.

John J. Tice IV ’70 John Joseph Tice IV ’70, Ph.D., of Ridgeland, Mississippi, died Aug. 18, 2020. He was 72. He matriculated from Vienna, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in analytical chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Elizabeth G. Tice; son, John Joseph “J.J.” Tice V; and siblings, Dr. Janice Tice and Don Collins.

Arthur J. Shelfer Jr. ’71 Arthur Julian Shelfer Jr. ’71, of Tallahassee, Florida, died Oct. 28, 2020. He was 71. He matriculated from Decatur, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Emory University. He is survived by his wife, Janie Ward Shelfer; son, Tristan Shelfer (Katherine); and sister, Jane Shelfer Mobley (Graham).

John E. Durst ’72 John Elliot Durst ’72 of Swainsboro, Georgia, died Aug. 24, 2020. He was 70. He matriculated from Lyons, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He is survived by his sister, Jean Hill (Kevin).

Robert M. Gore ’72 Robert Marshall Gore ’72 of Glen Allen, Virginia, died Sept. 17, 2020. He was 69. He matriculated from Fairfax County, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil

VMI Alumni Review

Taps engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is survived by his wife, Sharan Gore; daughters, Jennifer and Caroline; son-in-law, Anthony Faranda; and brother-in-law, Ron Harris. He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Harris.

Harold W. Plott ’72 Harold Wilson Plott ’72 of Roanoke, Virginia, died Sept. 3, 2020. He was 69. He matriculated from Lexington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his children, Kelly Reich (Mark), Josh Plott (Jess), and April Wilson (Matt); grandchildren, Kyndal Reich, Kyleigh, Avery, and Weston Plott, and Alathea and Selah Wilson; brother, Ron Plott (Barb); motherin-law, Marguerite Claytor; brother-in-law, Coray Swisher; brother-in-law, T.L. Claytor (Doris); and sister-in-law, Barbara Bailey (Jack). He was preceded in death by his wife, Pam; brother, Sammy Plott; sister, Carole Swisher; and father-in-law, Talmage Claytor.

Dennis C. Martin ’73 Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Dennis Cofer Martin ’73 of Spotsylvania, Virginia, died Aug. 15, 2020. He was 68. He matriculated from Alexandria, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University. He is survived by his wife, Jean Martin; children, Daniel Martin, Michael Martin, and Alicia Martin; sister, Donna Handy; and grandchildren, Noble and Mara Martin.

He is survived by his wife, Kim; children, Brandice Richards and Adam Adrick Lewis; grandson, Asher Andrick Richards; siblings, James Lewis, Suzanne Gainey, and Lisa Crossman; and father, LeNoir H. Lewis.

Ryland E. Matthews Jr. ’82 Ryland Elton Matthews Jr. ’82 of Columbus, Mississippi, died April 16, 2017. He was 57. He matriculated from Macon, Mississippi, and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Matthews; sons, Ryland E. Matthews III (Kristen) and Jeffrey Matthews; daughters, Brandy Vanhorn and Amanda Heath; and grandson, Ryland E. Matthews IV.

He is survived by his wife, Cassandra Britt Farrell; sister, Ann McMahon; and brothers, James, George, and William Farrell.

Michael T. Baumgardner ’98 Michael Timothy Baumgardner ’98 of Downington, Pennsylvania, died Oct. 13, 2020. He was 44. He matriculated from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. A distinguished graduate of VMI, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the Institute. He is survived by his wife, Janine; children, Michael Christopher, Matthew Joseph, and Avalyn Victoria; and mother, Ellen Rita (Wulf) Baumgardner. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred W. Dean Baumgardner.

Phil T. Dao ’84

Austin A.L. Murga ’16

Phil Thien Dao ’84 of Lorton, Virginia, died July 24, 2020. He was 59. He matriculated from Falls Church, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Vicki Chau; daughter, Quynh Phi Dao; and son, Nhat Phuong Dao.

U.S. Army Capt. Austin Antonio Luigi Murga ’16 of Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina, died Sept. 7, 2020. He was 26. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from VMI. He is survived by his father, Kevin Murga, and mother, Gaye Murga.

Neal A. Heimer ’89 Retired Navy Capt. Neal Alan Heimer ’89, D.O., of Port Townsend, Washington, died June 14, 2020. He was 53. He matriculated from Oxford, Mississippi, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; son, Graham C. Heimer; daughter, Hanna Heimer; parents, Norman and Myrna Heimer; brother, Kyle Heimer (Danielle); and sister, Gail (Kevin).

VMI Family Charles G. Arnold

George B. Lewis ’79

Mark L. Farrell ’93

Charles G. Arnold of Penn Laird, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 10, 2020. He was 93. He coached the VMI swim team and taught physical education classes at VMI. During his 11 years at VMI, the team won eight Southern Conference championships. He is listed in the VMI Sports Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Sheila; children, Kevin A. Arnold (Susan), Brian C. Arnold, Keith H. Arnold (Hayley), and Kathleen M. Preston (Dave); and grandchildren, Jessica Arnold, Charles Preston, Mary Preston, Ryan Arnold, and Helen Arnold. He was preceded in death by his son, Bruce Arnold, and brother, John C. Arnold.

George Bruce Lewis ’79 of Spring Grove, Virginia, died July 5, 2020. He was 63. He matriculated from Manassas, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI.

Mark Lanao Farrell ’93 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died May 18, 2017. He was 47. He matriculated from Williamsburg, Virginia, and spent less than one month at VMI.

Waverly Lee Berkley III, J.D., of Norfolk, Virginia, died Aug. 16, 2020.

Gary J. Lape ’74 Gary James Lape ’74 of Spring, Texas, died Aug. 13, 2020. He was 68. He matriculated from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

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Thomas W. Tarkenton III ’91 Thomas W. Tarkenton III ’91 of Glen Allen, Virginia, died Jan. 28, 2020. He was 50. He matriculated from Glen Allen, Virginia, and attended VMI for more than three months. He is survived by his children, Payne, Hannah, Tracy, Adele, and Aidyn.

Waverly L. Berkley III

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Taps He formerly served on the VMI Board of Visitors. He earned a both Bachelor of Science degree and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Sybil Vandenburg Berkley, and brother, John McCoy Berkley (Joanne Saunders Berkley). He was preceded in death by his sister, Colonna Berkley, and brother-in-law, Robert Drew Harrison.

Louis H. Blair Louis H. Blair of Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, died Sept. 5, 2020. He was 81. He previously taught at VMI and held degrees from the University of Virginia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Blair; daughter, Kate Blair; and son-in-law, John Holmes.

Grover O. Craven Retired U.S. Army Col. Grover O. “Sonny” Craven of The Villages, Florida, died Aug. 2, 2020. He was 76. He was formerly the director of the VMI Office of Communications and Marketing. He is survived by his wife, Sara Harlene; son, Scott (Elizabeth); and grandchildren, Jessica and Olivia.

He formerly taught engineering at VMI. He is survived by his children, Boyce D. Tate Jr., Stephen R. Tate, Sara Lynn Saxton, Emily A. Taylor, and Amy Lou Tate-Williams; grandchildren, Jason Tate, Jordan Tate, Keith Tate, Lee Taylor, Brooks Taylor, Jeremiah Medley, Tate Williams, Bess Contreras, Valerie Jones, Amie Medley, and Caroline Tate; and 12 great-grandchildren.

George Piegari (Hon.) Col. George Piegari (Hon.), Ph.D., of Lexington, Virginia, died Oct. 4, 2020. He was 79. (Editor’s Note: An extended obituary for Col. Piegari (Hon.) appears in the In Memory section of this issue.)

Boyce D. Tate Boyce D. Tate of Hardinsburg, Kentucky, died Aug. 18, 2020. He was 92.

Lyon G. Tyler Jr. Col. Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr. of Franklin, Tennessee, died Sept. 26, 2020. He was 95. He was formerly part of the faculty at VMI. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Selina Pope Tyler; and brother, Harrison Ruffin Tyler. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy Jane Pope Tyler.

After Taps Augustus Robbins III ’47 By Mark Bryant ’77 Augustus “Gus” Robbins III ’47 grew up in Hopewell, Virginia, and matriculated at VMI in 1943. After one year, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, he returned to VMI and graduated as a member of the Class of 1947 with a degree in civil engineering. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland, working for ESSO and Drummond & Co. before starting his own company, Ratrie, Robbins & Schweizer, which became a leading road construction and asphalt paving company in the Maryland area. He was chairman of the board and executive vice president until he retired in the 1980s. He was active in church and civic and VMI affairs, as he and wife, Jane, raised their family in Baltimore. He was a member of the Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore; the VMI Foundation’s Institute Society;

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the Boy Scouts of America Baltimore Council (receiver of the Silver Beaver award for outstanding service); the Virginians of Maryland (receiving the Medallion of Honor as Illustrious Virginian); and numerous trade organizations. After moving to Virginia with Betty Lane in the early 2000s, Gus was active in Merchants Hope Church Foundation, serving as president for 10 years. He also served on the Board of Historic Hopewell Foundation. His other membership included the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Virginia Historical Society. He was an active member of the Institute Society as well as the VMI Alumni Association, serving as class agent for more than 10 years. While his son, Gus IV ’77, was at VMI, Gus III was a huge supporter of all the BRs in the Class of 1977.

VMI Alumni Review

After Taps

Col. William D. Badgett ’53 By John C. McLemore ’70 Many years ago as I was walking out of the theater in which my wife and I had just seen Dead Poets Society, I made a pact with myself to identify the five most important teachers in my life and contact them to let them know just how special they were. Col. Bill Badgett was at the top of the list, and I’m proud to say we had kept up. Just as the obituary describes, I visited him each time I returned to Lexington. I married a Virginia girl, and as our children were

growing up, we spent alternate Christmases with her family. When our son was five, I started taking him with me to the Institute and an hour or so with Col. Badgett in that booklined study. Will and Col. Badgett became friends. He was an occasional topic of conversation as I drove Will to school and other events. He was instrumental in our son’s choice of college. Is this heresy? It was not VMI. He was a wonderful man, a magnificent teacher, and a very good friend.

John A. Horgan ’60 By J. Bolling Williamson ’60 After completing his medical training and serving two years in the Army, Jack moved to Newport News, Virginia, in 1971 where he established the Division of Cardiology at Riverside Hospital. Under his leadership, the program expanded its capabilities, and Jack was responsible for recruiting many of the cardiologists on the staff. “For many of us, he was a role model and mentor,” noted one of his colleagues. “His vision and leadership allowed our practice to grow into what it is today ... he is one of the most important and influential physicians we have had here at Riverside.” Following his retirement in 2001, Jack became a “Renaissance man” in many respects. Adventure travel and trekking in remote places included hiking the Mount Everest trail and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He enjoyed cycling, ran a Boston Marathon, and his love of skiing led him and Nancy to become part-time residents of Colorado for many years, where he climbed numerous 14,000-foot peaks in the offseason. He developed a taste for French cuisine while traveling in France and took French classes so that he could understand the menus. He even spent a week with a French baker to learn about baking croissants, but when he returned home, he found he couldn’t scale down the proportions from store quantity to just a couple for Nancy and himself. Like many smart and professionally accomplished people who operate on a plane above the rest of us, Jack could be stymied by mundane household chores. In the course of installing a hook in the garage ceiling for storing his bike, he inadvertently drilled through a water line and

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thereafter was prohibited from touching any more ceilings. When a wallmounted TV which he had installed and connected suddenly wouldn’t turn on, a repairman was called. He asked who had installed it with three remotes—he removed three bundles of connections to nowhere and used one remote. And there was attending to the aged family cat when the vet advised that it needed to be put down. Rather than paying the vet for such a basic procedure, Dr. Jack Horgan, M.D., gave the cat a can of food laced with enough Valium for a 200-pound man and, after paying his final respects to the pet, closed the garage door. Sometime later, he returned to check on things, only to find the cat slinking rather unsteadily across the floor. The cat recovered nicely, and the vet told Jack that Valium served as an appetite stimulant for cats: “Eight more lives to go.” Jack was one of those good-natured and well-rounded men who excelled in all aspects of life at VMI. He was very appreciative of the opportunities that the Institute afforded him, and in that spirit he established the John A. Horgan ’60 Pre-Medicine Scholarship Fund to grant awards to rising 1st Class cadets who commit to continuing their medical education at a school within Virginia. He established another at the University of Virginia Medical School. Jack personified the type of alumnus that the school strives to produce—one who leverages his VMI experience to achieve professional excellence, then gives back to help others do the same. He was a good brother rat, and we’ll miss him.

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Adams was the deputy district engi- engineer in Virginia, a member of the Army John L. Adams ’85 was appointed neer for USACE, Europe District, as Acquisition Corps, and a certified project maninto the Senior Executive Service well as chief of the Europe District agement professional. in August 2020. He is the director programs and management division of regional programs and business since December 2015. Adams has directorate for the U.S. Army Corps U.S. Army Lt. Col. Richard Z. Groen ’01 served the government for over 35 wrote a guest article for The Field Grade Leader. of Engineers’ Transatlantic Division years, beginning with a position in Groen is the commander of the 1st Squadron, in Winchester, Virginia. the Atlantic Division of Naval Facili- 7th Cavalry Regiment—the famed Garryowen He is the senior adviser to the dities Engineering Command. He has unit—at Fort Hood, Texas. Groen’s article deals vision commander, and provides served in Afghanistan; Antigua, West with how to be a successful leader and building resource/financial, technical, and proIndies; Naples and Aviano, Italy; and trooper (what soldiers serving in cavalry units are gram management expertise, as well as executive strategic leadership, to the dicalled) resilience. This resilience, he found, goes Adams ’85 Ansbach, Germany. Adams matriculated from Lexing- beyond up-to-date administrative and medical vision. His responsibilities include exton, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science records. During his command, Garryowen lost ecuting a multibillion-dollar engineering program supporting U.S. Central Command and other degree from VMI. He is a registered professional three troopers to suicide. Groen learned to ask activities located throughout for help—for himself and for Southwest Asia and the Middle his troopers—from higher level East. The program provides commanders, chaplains, health construction, design, and other professionals, and other availrelated engineering services able resources. The unit now in 13 countries. Enabling the conducts a monthly trooper U.S. Special Operations Comreadiness activity, called Troopmand global construction proer Preventative Maintenance gram also falls under Adams’ Checks and Services. The name purview—through centralized is a reference to the regular serprogramming and planning on vice and maintenance checks behalf of USACE Enterprise. Army soldiers perform on their The USACE’s Transatlanequipment. To view Groen’s artic Division is comprised of ticle, go to fieldgradeleader.thethe Middle East District, the militaryleader.com/the-trooper. Afghanistan District (a continGroen matriculated from gency district), and Task Force Somers Point, New Jersey, and Essayons (a contingency task earned a Bachelor of Science force). In total, there are over degree in civil engineering from 700 personnel in the division— VMI. He also earned a Master including 250 forward-deployed of Science degree from Kansas U.S. Army Lt. Col. Rich Groen ’01 (center) with his leadership team. Groen, the personnel and field offices in State University and a Master of commander of the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, wrote a guest article nine countries. Arts degree from King’s College for The Field Grade Leader in fall 2020.—Photo courtesy Groen. Before this new assignment, London.

... Book Announcements ... Cadillac Platoon: A Vietnam War Novel by E. Lawrence Adams ’67. Hellgate Press, 2020. ISBN: 101555719848 and 139781555519845. Available through Amazon, Target, and the publisher. The book is a story of the contrasts, contradiction, and tensions of the late 1960s. Written by a decorated Vietnam veteran, it is a complicated love story superimposed on the stark reality of 1968 Vietnam.

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Book Announcements

... Book Announcements ... Book

Hank Kirby is a reluctant warrior, riding the roller coaster of triumphs, tragedies, and frustrations in both arenas—the war abroad and the turbulent times at home. The story follows Hank, a newly minted U.S. Army second lieutenant, as he makes his way from college ROTC to the battlefield at the height of the war. Ultimately, through a mix of blunders and accomplishments, he reveals himself to be an uncertain, iconoclastic, and very human hero.

About the Author: Adams matriculated from Fort Pierce, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He served in Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division. He later received a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University. Now retired, he worked 40 years for the environmental engineering firm CDM Smith. As manager of their Asia operations, he oversaw their offices in Vietnam, earning a deep respect for the people and their land. He lives with his

VMI Alumni Review

Alumni News wife, Jane, and son, Seth, in Coral Springs, Florida. Tremble by Dana Duthie ’68. Matchstick Literary, 2020. ISBN: 101648585647, 139781648585647. Available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at danaduthiebooks.com. North Korea is at it again. Kim Jong Un raids and kills several U.N. weapons inspectors and holds three others hostage at one of his suspected nuclear sites. The U.S. unilaterally mounts a SEAL Team raid to rescue the hostages while simultaneously launching a massive air attack to destroy the facility. The U.S. and South Korean presidents play “tit for tat” trying to resolve a major upheaval in Seoul. Brad Mitchell, the 80th Squadron commander, is shot down and rescued by the SEALs. They make their way through the jungle to escape, though without the hostages. Things ease back to normal—as normal as can be on the Korean peninsula. Phantoms of the Shah by Dana Duthie ’68. Matchstick Literary, 2020. ISBN: 101648586805 and 139781648586804. Available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at danaduthiebooks.com. A U.S. Air Force squadron of F-4 Phantoms is deployed to Iran to fly and train with the Iranian Air Force flying the same jets they had purchased from the U.S. The situation is tense, especially in Tehran, where the radical Muslim factions had grown in power. The Shah was out of the country and applying for asylum in America to treat his cancer. The opposition wanted him returned and they especially wanted the millions of dollars he had accumulated over the years. His government was hanging on by a thread. The flying from Shiraz Air Base in southern Iran was great training for the American pilots, but the situation got tense and it was time to go. Most of the jets got out, but one was left behind with maintenance problems and 14 personnel were left to tend to it and get it released. Brad Mitchell

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was the pilot tasked to fly the lame bird to Saudi Arabia. The opposition forces overwhelmed the Shiraz military that were friendly to the Shah. The 14 Americans were held hostage. President Carver authorizes a rescue operation, and though not without casualties, the AF personnel and the jet were recovered. The American Embassy in Tehran however, fell hostage to the radical Muslims as they overthrew their government. About the Author: Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Dana Duthie’s career as an Air Force fighter pilot is the basis for many of the experiences in Phantoms of the Shah. His Air Force career spanned 24 years. He completed pilot training in Georgia, served as an instructor in Texas, and flew the skies over Southeast Asia. He flew the F-4 phantom in Germany and the F-16 Falcon in South Carolina, Korea, and Germany. The theme of the book spawned from his tour with the 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Germany, flying the F-4 from 1975-79. He also “paid his dues” with three headquarters assignments and professional schooling. Duthie retired in 1992. He lives in Broomfield and Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with his wife. His two children and four grandchildren are nearby. One grandson is currently assigned to the USS Carl Vinson, nuclear carrier in the Pacific. He matriculated from McLean, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from Troy State University. It’s not Rocket Science: The Theology of St. Paul, Second Edition by Irving J. Brittle Jr. ’72. Pen House LLC, 2020. ISBN: 9781951961275, 97819519610202, and 978951961039. The book offers an understandable and usable introduction to the theology of Paul of Tarsus. By digesting and condensing the

impressions and interpretations of more than 100 other writers, the book presents an approachable work that guides the reader through the main topics of St. Paul’s theology which is centered on Jesus Christ and the wisdom of living Christians who follow the Lord. After setting the scene by summarizing Paul’s life and context, the book investigates Paul’s treatment of God, humanity, the Jewish law, sin, the Gospel, righteousness, and justification. Recognizing the key role Martin Luther’s reading of Paul played in the life of the church over the past 500 years, the book addresses the reformer’s interpretation of St. Paul. The book also approaches questions of sanctification, salvation, and sacraments. St. Paul the Apostle: The Right Man at the Right Time, Third Edition by Irving L. Brittle Jr. ’72. Pen House LLC, 2020. ISBN: 9871951961329, 97819511961169, and 9781951961176. Available through the publisher and Amazon. St. Paul was the first missionary, pastor, and theologian who was appointed and commissioned by Jesus Christ on the Damascus road to spread a new movement, the Way and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The book is a distillation of information from over 70 researchers, academics, and theologians who are very familiar with the life of Paul (initially known as Saul) from his early youth in Tarsus up to his martyrdom at the hands of Nero in Rome. A condensed work, it is a snapshot of all major occurrences. It includes Paul’s time as a zealot Pharisee, his Damascus road experience, his three major missions, his trials and tribulations, his perilous sea voyage from Caesarea to Rome and finally, his arrival in Rome. The book contains ample footnotes to guide readers who desire to look deeper into the life of this brilliant first century apostle. The book could also serve as a text for a Sunday School class. About the Author: Brittle is a layman who became interested and fascinated with the life and times of St. Paul. He continues to search for more tidbits of information concerning Paul’s life, theology, and missions throughout the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. He and his wife, Sue, recently moved from Virginia to Florida to be closer to his daughter

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Alumni News and grandson. He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Averett University. Green Chemistry in Government and Industry by Mark Anthony Benvenuto ’83. Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2020. ISBN: 9783110597288, 9783110597783, and 9783110598056. Available through the publisher and Amazon. The fifth volume in the series concentrates on green chemistry in government and industry. The book covers the broad application of green chemistry principles. Topics covered include biodegradable polymers, the automotive industry’s use of sustainable materials; carbon management by the Meijer company, a family-owned Midwestern retailer; the application of green chemistry approaches to EPA-standard dioxin analysis; producing silicon-based materials and related environmental implications; green practices in the lumber industry; and the effect of combustion residues from edifices affected by wildland fires. About the Author: Mark Anthony Benvenuto matriculated from Henrietta, New York,

and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He began teaching at the University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit, Michigan, in December 1993. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Virginia. His areas of concentration include inorganic chemistry, coordination complexes, and copper-based metal artifacts analyses. Kingdomturn (The Fractured Visions) by Matthew A. Williams ’07. Matthew A. Williams, 2020. ISBN: 9781735048901. Available through Amazon. Within the walled city of Aldhagen, Wyand is a young miner who lives to serve the Venerates—a group of godlike beings whose powerful magic saved humanity long ago by removing the threats of sickness, violence, and death. In exchange for these blessings, all that the Venerates require is diligent service and unwavering faith. With their core principles of peace and honor governing Wyand’s every action, life is simple. Then the dreams begin. These aren’t ordinary dreams, though—they

sometimes strike while Wyand is awake as well, containing details and sensations so vivid that they feel more like memories. Is it a sickness, madness, or something else? Wyand doesn’t know, but the more it happens, the more he questions his sanity and the foundations of his faith. As he quietly searches for answers, Wyand must walk a narrow path that could lead to the truth or to his banishment into the unknown lands beyond the safety of Aldhagen. About the Author: Eager to find an escape from his day job in corporate America, Williams began jotting down ideas in 2013 for short science fiction and fantasy stories. Several years and several hundred thousand words later, the book at last emerged as a combination of many of those ideas. In addition to writing, Williams enjoys exploring the latest advances in science and technology while paradoxically still using a flip phone and pursuing hobbies like blacksmithing and stone masonry. Supported by his wife, their two daughters, and a variety of floorruining house pets, his quiet life in the mountains of Virginia fulfills all his dreams and then some. He matriculated from Southport, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business from VMI.

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VMI Alumni Review

2021-Issue 1 Alumni Review

Articles inside

Taps

After Taps

Staff News

Progress

Events

The Corps During COVID-19

Wins ’85: Interim Superintendent

Athletics

Quinn ’90 Receives Award

On Post

Col. George Piegari (Hon

Peay ’62 Resigns After 17 Years

Message from the Interim Superintendent