2025-1 VMI Alumni Review

2025 - Issue 1 ALUMNI REVIEW

Members of the Color Guard carry the flags during the Founders Day parade Nov. 8, 2024.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

In This Issue . . .

This issue includes class notes and news items covering the time period of Aug. 15, 2024, to Nov. 15, 2024.

Our Alumni Serving

PUBLISHER

VMI Alumni Agencies

Chief Executive Officer: David Prasnicki

Chief Communications Officer: Amy Goetz

Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Moore

Assistant Editor: Mattie Montgomery

Communications Officer: Scott Belliveau ’83

Designer: Joe Czekner

Development Writer: Mary Price

Photographers: Joe Czekner and Mary Price

ALUMNI REVIEW ONLINE vmialumni.org/alumnireview

PUBLISHING OFFICE

VMI Alumni Agencies

Alumni Review Office

VMI Moody Hall, P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA 24450 review@vmiaa.org | 540/464-7221

PRINTER

Walsworth | St. Joseph, Michigan

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. Periodicals postage paid at Lynchburg, VA, and additional mailing offices.

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Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise stated, photos courtesy VMI Alumni Agencies.

A Message From David L. Prasnicki

CEO, VMI Alumni Agencies

As I look back on the closing months of 2024, I want to share with you some of the key programs and initiatives designed to develop leaders of character for the 21st century and advance the mission of VMI. For example, the 15th annual Leadership & Ethics Conference touched on such themes as leading across generations and how to guide organizations through technological advancements, further strengthening VMI’s reputation as a leader in the national debate about leadership and ethics. In November, the Institute launched its new strategic plan, Forging 21st Century Leaders. The product of years of careful evaluation and extensive discussions, this plan has a simple but ambitious goal: To make VMI the country’s premier small college, unequaled in the development of educated, purposeful, and honorable citizen-leaders who will selflessly serve their neighbors and the country. It will achieve this goal by focusing on five major initiatives: Prepare exceptional leaders, strengthen academic excellence, foster esprit de corps, recruit top cadets and boost success, and deliver 21st century infrastructure. By achieving the plan’s goals, the Institute will continue to make outsized contributions to our country’s security and prosperity, and our graduates will bring VMI immense credit and renown in our country and around the world. We will need the help of the entire VMI community in this endeavor. In the future, therefore, we will inform you how you can join this effort to forge leaders ready to meet the demands that lie ahead of our country and the world.

I hope you have seen our communications about the transition from Moody Hall to a new facility for alumni gatherings, enhanced academic experiences, and a robust philanthropic effort, the VMI Center for Advancement. The three-level, 50,000 square foot building, with construction 100% supported by the Commonwealth, will begin a new chapter in the advancement of the Institute. Whereas our beloved Moody Hall cannot support the larger reunion classes and alumni gatherings, this new space will support gatherings of all sizes. From more smaller “affinity” reunions to committee meetings to the larger reunions of honored classes and other celebrations, VMI alumni will be warmly welcomed and easily accommodated. In addition, the highly capable space will serve many purposes for the broader VMI family. As Brig. Gen. Dallas B. Clark ’99, deputy superintendent for finance and support, said, “Every aspect of the VMI experience will be positively affected by this building, and everyone in the VMI family will benefit from it.” For example, its classrooms and meeting spaces will support academic activities, VIP visits, and conferences. I urge

you to visit vmialumni.org/MoodyHallTransition for updates and to learn more about how the new building will enhance VMI’s already impressive infrastructure and the work of the Institute and the Alumni Agencies.

This summer, the VMI Alumni Agencies’ staff will move into the offices from which we’ll work for the next 3 years. Please be assured that although our workplaces will be different, our commitment to providing a high-level service to the VMI family—especially our alumni—remains firm. Please keep watch for announcements about our temporary quarters, as well as a special event at which alumni and friends will be able to bid farewell to a building that has been part of the VMI landscape for more than 55 years.

Finally, a highlight of our Founders Day activities Nov. 8 was the 50th anniversary celebration of the Institute Society, the organization that recognizes leadership in providing unrestricted support to our academic and co-curricular programs. Philanthropy took center stage at this memorable event as we welcomed more than 650 guests. Such was the attendance that it was necessary to host some members in Moody Hall—an especially appropriate solution to the overwhelming response because that building hosted the first Institute Society Dinner five decades ago.

Our evening was made extraordinary by the superintendent’s announcement about the launch of the new strategic plan; remarks from the accomplished film and television star—and renowned supporter of our veterans and active-duty military— Gary Sinise, who spoke eloquently about the importance of the Institute to the country; and the presence of so many loyal and consistent donors and dozens of cadets.

It served as a magnificent opportunity to thank our donors and to acknowledge the profound effect their financial support—and that of thousands of others—has had on the Institute and will have on its future. I thank those who attended the dinner for making it exceptionally memorable.

During other Founders Day events, VMI celebrated its amazing record of service to the country and the Commonwealth over the past 185 years. As proud as we are of our history and as excited as we are about the current state of the Institute, we can’t lose sight of the need to keep making VMI better and more effective as an educational institution.

In closing, I extend my warmest thanks for your support of the VMI Alumni Agencies and our work on behalf of the Institute and our Corps of Cadets. It is steadfast partners like you who make all we do possible.

Fallen Alumni Honored on POW/MIA Recognition Day

On POW/MIA Recognition Day, Sept. 20, 2024, the American Battle Monuments Commission and Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency honor deceased U.S. Air. Force Capt. John Kennedy ’69, Maj. Jefferson Dotson ’66, Lt. Col. Edwin Osborne ’55, and Maj. Richard Butt ’64 at the National Memorial Cemetery in Oahu, Hawaii. The ceremony recognized hundreds of Vietnam War service members who were at one time missing in action by placing a rosette adjacent to their respective names on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

Above: VMI Hawaii Chapter members attend the POW/ MIA Recognition Day ceremony to honor fallen VMI Vietnam War service members. Pictured are (from left) Gordon Powers ’02; Josh Stickler ’95; Mike McCrary ’69; Ashleigh Byrnes, POW/MIA Battlefield Commission; Dick Rankin ’68; Mich Chang ’85; and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Joel Chapman ’12.

Left: Rankin places a rosette adjacent to the names of VMI alumni on the Courts of the Missing memorial.

Mets Recognize Scaglione ’79

The New York Mets recognize retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Col. Steven Scaglione ’79 as Veteran of the Game during the third inning of their game versus the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field Aug. 20, 2024. Sean Manaea, New York Mets pitcher, presented Scaglione, of Astoria, New York, with an American flag that flew over Citi Field.—Photos courtesy New York Mets.

After 39 years of service, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bill Dyer ’84 retires at Fort Moore, Georgia, Oct. 20, 2024. His decades of service culminated in his role as commanding general of the Army Reserve 108th Training Command, one of the largest commands in the Army Reserve.

Alumni at the Naval Postgraduate School Celebrate Founders Day

Alumni stationed at the Naval Postgraduate School gathered at the home of U.S. Army Col. Nicholas and Mrs. Amanda Shallcross ’03 to celebrate Founders Day Nov. 11, 2024, in Monterey, California. Pictured are (from left) U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Joe Bobay ’17, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Billy Cheatham ’14, Shallcross, U.S. Navy Lt. Cecilia Keppeler ’19, and U.S. Air Force Capt. Drew Switzer ’18.

Alumni Serve in Virginia State Police

Virginia State Police representatives speaking with cadets at the VMI Career Fair Oct. 9, 2024, are (from left) Sgt. Jonathan Glasscock ’06, Capt. David Cooper ’97, and Jonathan Campbell ’15, K-9 Officer.

Saccone ’06, Chase ’06 Serve in Kuwait

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nick Saccone ’06 and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Chris Chase ’06 serve together in Kuwait in November 2024.

Alumni Connect in Mississippi

U.S. Army Maj. Thomas “Nelson” Page ’10 (right) and 1st Lt. David Laffosse ’22 connect while attending engineering classes in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in preparation for upcoming missions. Page and Laffosse are pictured aboard a prototype Riverine Utility Craft on display at the Engineer Research and Development Center.

Alumni Host Send-Off at Fort Riley

Alumni serving in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, gathered at the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters to celebrate the command of U.S. Army Maj. General John V. Meyer III ’93 and to wish farewell to Meyer, Col. Thomas Brandon “Bull” Smith ’96, and Lt. Col. N. Alex Lamb ’08 April 29, 2024. Pictured are (from left) U.S. Army Capt. Dolan Walsh ’19; Capt. William Gagnon-Brubaker ’14; Maj. Aaron Cregar ’11; Lamb, 1st Infantry Division secretary of the general staff; Meyer, 1st Infantry Division commanding general; 1st Lt. Thomas Chelednik ’22; Capt. Joshua Bissell ’18; Smith, 1st Infantry Division chief of staff; 1st Lt. Jacob LaMountain ’21; Capt. Stephen Krakie ’18; 1st Lt. Taylor Morton ’21; and Capt. Brandon “Buck” Fleming ’16.

Moriarity ’17 Serves as Soldier and Police Officer

U.S. Army Reserve Capt. Thomas G. Moriarity ’17 (far left) with his soldiers at Fort Hunter-Liggett, California, in early 2024 while in command of the 477th Medical Company. Moriarity also serves as a full-time police officer at the Charlottesville Police Department in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Davis ’20 Promotes to Captain

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Morgan Davis ’20 is promoted to captain at the Naval Postgraduate School Oct. 1, 2024. Attending Davis’ promotion ceremony are (from left) U.S. Army Col. Nicholas Shallcross ’03, NPS senior Army advisor; Davis, NPS student; U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Joe Bobay ’17, NPS student; and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Billy Cheatham ’14, NPS student.

Cho ’22, Santos ’22 Reconnect at Fort Cavazos

U.S. Army 1st Lts. Nick Cho ’22 (left) and Michael Santos ’22 are pictured serving together in the same company as they conduct Bradley Gunnery firing tables, Platoon STX, and Platoon LFX at Fort Cavazos in Texas Sept. 13, 2024.

Holland ’23 Serves in South Korea

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Connor Holland ’23 serves with the 607th Air Communications Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, in October 2024.

First Fall Reunion

Sept. 6–7, 2024

The following pages contain photo collages for each class in attendance at the first fall reunion. More photos of the classes and reunion are available online.

Scan the QR Code with your smartphone or tablet camera to view all of the VMI Alumni Agencies images from this event.

Or if you prefer, you can visit the link directly at: vmialumniphotos.org/ 2024-First-Fall-Reunion

Class

Second Fall Reunion

Sept. 20–21, 2024

The following pages contain photo collages for each class in attendance at the second fall reunion. More photos of the classes and reunion are available online.

Scan the QR Code with your smartphone or tablet camera to view all of the VMI Alumni Agencies images from this event.

Or if you prefer, you can visit the link directly at: vmialumniphotos.org/ 2024-Second-Fall-Reunion

2014

The Honored Class

2009

2019

’10 BLUE ANGEL

By

Keilty

Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

Every year in early November, the Blue Angels—officially, the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron—perform their traditional Blue An gels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. It marks the squadron’s return home after a season that began in early March and took it to more than 20 states. For U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jack Keilty ’10, it had a personal significance: It concluded his first season flying with the Blue Angels.

Keilty considers being a Blue Angel—specifically, Blue Angel No. 2—an astounding privilege. But, he says, when he was younger, his goal was a bit different. “I wanted to be a fighter pilot.” In a sense, he inherited his desire to fly. His father was a career naval aviator. An uncle was a naval aviator, as was a great-great uncle who served during World War I. Furthermore, his mother served as a Navy air traffic controller. Earlier in his life, Keilty was headed to the Naval Academy or another top institution. Then came high school. “I turned 15 and, suddenly, sports and other things took precedence, and I was having a little too much fun.” Keilty’s grades dropped into the Cs. “My dad, who was one of my high school teachers and coaches, just would say things like, ‘You might want to work a little harder. If you don’t, at some point, you will wish you did.’”

In his senior year, as Keilty puts it, “I realized I was close to squandering the chance to achieve my dream. When I told my father this, he simply asked, ‘What’s your plan?’”

Keilty first refocused on academics, going from a C student to an A student. The next step: Choosing a school. “Two of my paternal uncles—Kevin ’83 and Tim ’86—were VMI graduates. So, VMI seemed something of a family institution.” Once Keilty fixed his sights on VMI, “there was never a doubt where I was going.”

as I said before, a family school. Finally, it is an experience that comprehensively challenges you, and that made it something that I knew, after graduation, I’d be proud to have done.”

Sports played a role, too. “I loved playing football. So, I ‘walked on’ and made the team, which surprised me because I’m not a big guy. Perhaps the then-head coach, Jim Reid, liked how I always made the effort.” Keilty earned his letter but left after two seasons because of a knee injury and a determination to focus more on academics.

“I was never close to getting academic stars, but the executive officer of the NROTC unit, Commander Mark Martin, told me during my 3rd Class year that, while top-flight grades certainly got the unit’s attention, so, too, did a commitment to improvement.” Keilty applied that advice. “I made sure the unit could see I was working my hardest.” His commitment earned him a NROTC scholarship at the end of his 3rd Class year. Keilty kept applying himself diligently to his studies. “I realized I could do more academically than I had previously thought, and I made the dean’s list a couple of times.” Keilty’s perseverance paid off in his 1st Class year, when he received a coveted flight slot.

“VMI gave me a vector that I have followed since I was in barracks.”

He traveled to VMI with his two alumni uncles. “Both Vern Beitzel [’72] and Tom Mortenson at admissions were welcoming but honest. Colonel Mortenson told me, frankly, that I didn’t have the grades to gain admission.” But Mortenson made him an offer. If he enrolled at a college and did well, he would be admitted—if he also participated in the Summer Transition Program. Keilty agreed. He took several college-level courses at a local school, including calculus and physics, and passed them all with a grade of B or better. In spring 2006, he was admitted and, as agreed, attended STP.

Asked why he persisted, Keilty said, “VMI has an amazing history, and its alumni have made significant contributions to the country. Its ROTC program was one of the most prestigious in the country. It was,

After graduation, he reported to NAS Pensacola for naval flight training. There, his dedication again paid off with assignments to carrier aviation and fighter training. After training on the F/A-18C Hornet, he joined Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83. In July 2016, he completed his first combat deployment aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN) 75, flying in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Keilty then reported to another squadron as an instructor pilot on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

In 2019, Keilty applied to join the Blue Angels. The initial process, he says, is somewhat like “rushing” a fraternity. Three times between March and May, approximately 40 to 50 qualified applicants travel at their own expense to where the squadron is performing to meet its members. “They are trying to get a handle on which applicants will be best suited for this unique line of work.”

Then, five applicants are invited to Pensacola for a 4-day process that includes strength tests and what Keilty describes as “a pressure-cooker interview.” Keilty was a finalist but wasn’t selected. Afterward, he thought “that door [the Blue Angels] had closed. I thought so because except for the commanding officer, the squadron’s aviators usually are senior lieutenants who, while with the squadron, will become lieutenant commanders.”

In March 2020, the commander of Carrier Air Wing 17 offered

Keilty the position as the wing’s landing safety officer. Keilty, who had twice been a squadron LSO, accepted and was deployed in support of three operations. “I especially liked being the wing LSO,” he recalled. “It is a distinct job in that you are responsible to only two people: The air wing commander and the carrier’s captain. Bringing aircraft and their crews safely aboard is a great responsibility,” he said, “and I was now responsible for every aircraft in the wing.” When he completed the tour in 2021, he received the prestigious Commander John “Bug” Roach LSO of the Year Award for the entire U.S. Navy. In April 2021, he joined VFA 211 for his department head tour and made a 10-month deployment to the Mediterranean.

In early 2023, a fellow aviator urged him to reapply to the Blue Angels. While his career had been satisfying and successful, he thought, “Why not put a bow on it?” This time, he was successful. “It was a huge surprise,” he remembers. “Again, I was more senior in rank than the aviators the squadron usually chooses.” That difference was enhanced when, during his initial training, he was selected for early promotion to commander—the same rank as the squadron’s commanding officer— which he pinned on in October 2024.

Asked what struck him upon reporting to the Blue Angels in late 2023, Keilty said, “The fact that we represent the 800,000 active-duty and reserve sailors and Marines. For thousands of people, we are the only representatives of the sea services they ever see firsthand—and so we are determined to do our very best at all times.”

The squadron’s schedule is demanding. During its 2024 season, which started in March, it performed hundreds of times, including 64 public demonstrations in 32 cities across the United States. Between these demonstrations, the squadron’s aviators conduct “outreach,” e.g., visiting schools and hospitals. They have one day off—Mondays—and practice daily, sometimes multiple times a day. “Practice is essential to our success and, more important, safety,” explained Keilty. “Flying, especially the precise flying we do, is like any other performing art. You must keep the reps up to keep your skills sharp.”

There is a mental element to it, as well, says Keilty. “We document every demonstration and every practice session and then review it closely.

We also have a thorough briefing and debriefing. Throughout, we stress the need to be honest with each other and ourselves about how we can improve. That builds trust among us, and then we build on that trust.”

A high level of mutual trust is essential, considering the demands of the demonstrations. For example, when in the famous Blue Angels “diamond formation,” four aircraft are conducting intricate maneuvers with separations often as close as 18 inches.

Flying for the Blue Angels is physically demanding. During the practice sessions and the 45-minute demonstrations, the pilots do not wear the customary “g-suit,” the garment worn by pilots to counter the effects of high levels of acceleration force (or “G-force”).

“It is essential, therefore, that we are physically fit. So, we follow a strict workout regimen to strengthen our legs and core.”

A unique aspect of the control system in the aircraft that the Blue Angels fly demands the pilots also develop their biceps and forearms.

“The Super Hornet is a fly-by-wire aircraft, meaning it doesn’t take much pressure on the stick to maneuver,” he explained. “But the nature of what we do demands a precise feel on the stick. So, there is a weighted spring exerting 45 pounds of forward pull on the control stick when we fly.”

Keilty says there are other challenges. “If you have a tough flight, you cannot let that distract you from being a good representative of the squadron and, as I alluded to earlier, the Navy and the Marines. Put another way, having an off day in the cockpit doesn’t mean you can have an off day on the crowd line after a show or during a school visit.”

“You spend a lot of time away from your family. I am fortunate that my wife, Mekele, and children are thoroughly invested in the experience. They are proud of the entire team and love being around it.”

Although the aviators are the “face” of the Blue Angels, the support staff is essential to the squadron’s success. “All the people and the equipment we need travel with us because we often are far from a naval air station. Furthermore, a normal strike fighter squadron has 240 personnel; we have 160, only 60 of whom travel to each show site. So, the people who keep us flying often work very long hours.” What do the people on the support team have in common? “They are highly motivated and have an irrepressible ‘can-do’ attitude. Let’s say we need a

part that is hundreds of miles away. The crew of the squadron’s C-130J transport, ‘Fat Albert,’ won’t hesitate to fly overnight to get it. Those guys are my heroes.”

As to the Blue Angels “off-season,” Keilty explained, “We really don’t have one. After we return to Pensacola, we keep flying because we can’t let our skills atrophy.”

“It is important that we maintain a strong institutional memory,” he continued. “So, usually, two or three of the pilots will leave at the end of the season. The rest will welcome the new aviators, and the 2025 Blue Angels will begin to take shape.”

How does that happen? “We start with the basics and then take 10 days off at Christmas. On Jan. 4, we head to El Centro Naval Air Facility in California, where we are unaccompanied by families and 100% focused on preparing for the season. We fly two or three times a day, 6 days a week. To give you an idea of how intense that is, if I were with a squadron in the fleet, I’d fly on average 20 times a month.”

This schedule is necessary because the new season begins in early March. “In that short time, we have to build the skills, trust, and confidence we need to operate successfully and safely.” This year, Keilty also will be an instructor. “We’ll have a new boss who flies Blue Angels Number 1. When I arrived, the commanding officer taught me, the new Blue Angels Number 2, the ropes. Now, it’s my turn to teach boss.”

What’s next for Keilty? “This will be my final season. The Navy and the Marine Corps usually cap tours at 2 years.” In late November 2025, Keilty will depart Pensacola. He’ll return to the fleet in July 2026 as the executive officer of (VFA) 25 and take command of the squadron in fall 2027.

Keilty concluded by bringing things back to the Institute. “I cannot thank Tom Mortenson and many others enough for seeing something in me and giving me a shot at being a cadet. My cadetship was fundamental to my success. VMI gave me a vector that I have followed since I was in barracks. I tell high school students that anything they want to do starts with a goal. VMI provides the structure and the opportunities that give people of strong character, drive, and ambition every chance to reach their goals.”

As a member of the famed Blue Angels, Jack Keilty ’10 daily takes on the myriad challenges of precision flying, coupled with a rigorous schedule. His time as a cadet provided the foundation of how he approaches them.—Photos courtesy Keilty/U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Lloyd ’07:

“A Great Story to Tell”

By Mattie Montgomery, Assistant Editor

The Institute was a natural fit for Mike Lloyd ’07.

While at VMI, he first envisioned his career journey—one that led him to earn graduate degrees at two of the nation’s most prestigious universities and co-found Corvus Insurance, a cyber insurance company, which was acquired by the Travelers Companies, Inc. early last year for $435 million.

Lloyd, who came to VMI on a soccer scholarship, originally committed to play soccer at the University of Michigan, but one visit to the Institute changed his mind. “As I was walking around post, I felt that it was just such a different experience,” said Lloyd. “And I frankly told myself if I hated it, I could always transfer to a school like Michigan, and if I loved it, it’d be a great story to tell someday.”

Not only did Lloyd love it, he also thrived. Matriculating from Saline, Michigan, Lloyd excelled as a cadet-athlete, becoming a Three-Legged Stool Award recipient. He also soared academically and was the valedictorian of his class. “I loved it from the beginning,” he explained. “I know that a lot of people don’t necessarily share that opinion, but it was very clear what you needed to do to be successful.”

Taking notice of his talents was Matthew Hyre, Ph.D., a professor of mechanical engineering at VMI during Lloyd’s cadetship, who encouraged Lloyd to pursue a master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lloyd was at first incredulous at the idea, but he credits Hyre’s and other faculty’s support for guiding him through the rest of his cadetship and beyond.

“[Hyre] was instrumental. He went to MIT for his Ph.D., and he was the one who said, ‘Hey, I think you could get in if you wanted to.’ Meanwhile, I grew up in a small town and didn’t know one person who went to MIT. My parents didn’t go to college, let alone a school like MIT. So, it was something where I thought, ‘If someone who went there thinks I could get in and thrive, I should at least try.’ I did all of his advice and was fortunate to get in.”

At MIT, Lloyd became interested in technology startups and found his passion for entrepreneurship. “I became obsessed with being an entrepreneur. In my opinion, entrepreneurship is a great career choice for people who want to move the world, and that is what I wanted to do.”

Like VMI cadetship and engineering, starting his own company complemented Lloyd’s intrinsic characteristics and skills—many of which he says were honed at the Institute. At the core of entrepreneurship, he explained, are hard work, innovation, and leadership. “[Entrepreneurship] really resonated with me; I like to work hard, I like to take smart risks, I am comfortable with uncertainty, and I like to lead more than follow,” said Lloyd.

After graduating from MIT in 2010, he worked for two startup companies in big data. Two years later, Lloyd began work on a Master of Business Administration degree at Harvard Business School.

After graduating from Harvard in 2015, Lloyd was introduced to Phil Edmundson, a longtime insurance executive and his eventual Corvus co-founder, who was looking to build a new company focused on cyber insurance. Lloyd was excited by the opportunity and the realm of insurance. “Insurance is a societal good. If you were to remove insurance from the world, people would not be as bold, and the velocity of the economy would significantly slow down,” said Lloyd.

Corvus provides cyber insurance for businesses in the U.S. and Europe. Founded in a climate of increasing cyber risk, Corvus grew quickly by responding to heavy market demand with comprehensive cyber coverage and a suite of preventative solutions.

On the tech side of the company, which was largely Lloyd’s focus, Corvus developed a unique program to assess a company’s risk of suffering a cyberattack. It detects what is seen publicly on a website

regarding IT assets, and it spots the weaknesses factoring into a company’s vulnerability to hackers like email servers, open ports, passwords in plain text, and more. The goal, of course, was to sell the insurance policy, but the hope was to reduce Corvus’ risk as an insurance provider and simultaneously protect customers by giving advice and feedback.

Asked whether the company is more of a tech or an insurance company, Lloyd says it was always important to be both. “We always said we were 100% insurance and 100% tech,” explains Lloyd.

After selling Corvus, Lloyd created Five Bays Capital, which invests, advises, and incubates high-potential companies. One of the companies that Lloyd is incubating as a part of Five Bays Capital is called Pine View Insurance Group, a property and casualty insurance agency for personal insurance—such as homes, vehicles, and the like.

Lloyd, who now lives in Boston with his wife, MaryElizabeth, and

their three children, still stays connected with the Institute and recently got to share VMI with his family at his 15th Reunion. He also has understood the importance of giving back and has been a consistent donor to VMI over the last 11 years, beginning at graduation. Looking back on his VMI story, Lloyd said his cadetship was a large part of preparing him to be an effective leader and entrepreneur. In many ways, he said, VMI and the rules governing the Corps felt like a “small society within the larger society” that prepared him to lead in his eventual real-world career.

“I love the fact that VMI is a place where you get out what you put in,” said Lloyd. “As cadets and as citizens, we must learn how to operate within sets of rules to influence people and achieve our goals. I learned a lot at VMI about how to be effective and am now using that skill set as a business leader to hopefully move the world forward.”

Mike Lloyd ’07 introduces his daughters to the Institute at his 15th Reunion.—Photos courtesy Lloyd.

On Post

VMI Rolls Out New Strategic Plan

By Marianne Hause, VMI Communications & Marketing

VMI presented a new strategic plan, Forging 21st Century Leaders, as it celebrated the 185th anniversary of its founding in early November. The strategic plan, approved by the Board of Visitors in November 2023, builds on the success of Vision 2039, a plan for the Institute’s future success developed under the leadership of Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, now superintendent emeritus. The new plan was written to ensure VMI remains a state and national treasure in the 21st century and well beyond the Institute’s upcoming bicentennial in 2039. Forging 21st Century Leaders was officially rolled out to employees at a launch party Oct. 24 in Marshall Hall. Faculty and staff enjoyed networking with colleagues, viewing architectural renderings of renovations of current post buildings as well as new buildings to be constructed, eating hors d’oeuvres, and receiving mementos commemorating the launch. Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent,

shared with them that Vision 2039 vastly improved VMI’s infrastructure, providing much-needed capacity for the growing Corps as well as modern facilities conducive to learning and training, and set the Institute on a path of thinking strategically about the future.

“The new plan is a culmination of 2 years of collaboration among cadets, faculty, staff, board members, and alumni, and is a call to action built on five critical initiatives, each designed to push us further, raise our standards higher, and ensure we continue to be a premier institution of higher education known for the character of the graduates we produce,” Wins explained.

The plan was introduced to the public during the Founders Day commemoration Nov. 8, 2024. The hundreds of alumni and friends attending the parade were given the opportunity to see the architectural renderings, view banners hanging from post light poles, and

receive pocket guides of the plan, along with other commemorative mementos. Launch celebrations continued the following day during tailgating prior to and during VMI’s home football game against Mercer University.

The five initiatives of the plan are 1. preparing exceptional leaders: producing educated and honorable citizen-leaders; 2. strengthening academic excellence: equipping cadets with the intellectual tools to navigate and shape the future; 3. fostering esprit de corps: unity, pride, and mutual respect that binds; 4. recruiting top cadets and boosting success: sharpening recruitment strategies and attracting top talent from across the world; and 5. delivering 21st century infrastructure: investing in modern classrooms, labs, technology, and physical fitness facilities.

Wins began developing the plan early in his time as superintendent. His first few months, through 2021 and 2022, were spent hosting

listening tours with employees, cadets, alumni, and board members. He identified consistent concerns and opportunities, helping guide the plan’s overarching focus. Representatives, including faculty, staff, and cadets, participated in work groups for the emerging themes. In early 2023, an off-site meeting with Institute leadership, faculty, staff, alumni, and Board of Visitors members took place to reaffirm the Institute’s mission and finalize the five initiatives. Throughout the year, those five initiatives took shape with objectives and measures of effectiveness. The design of the strategic plan publication, along with a clear identification of the iconic VMI values of honor, excellence, self-discipline, courage, esprit de corps, selfless service, and resilience, was finalized during summer 2023, with regular feedback and guidance from numerous individuals. The Board of Visitors approved the plan Nov. 30, 2023. With the implementation of this plan, Wins sees VMI a decade from now firmly secured in its place as the premier small college in the nation, unequaled in producing educated, honorable, and adaptable citizen-soldiers and leaders. It will be “a VMI with a global reputation for academic excellence, a renowned model for leadership training, and a shining example of what it means to lead with honor, courage, and selfless service.”

At the Oct. 24 kickoff party, Wins emphasized the importance of recognizing employees, cadets, and other key stakeholders who help move the initiatives forward throughout the upcoming decade. During the employee rollout, he recognized several members of the faculty and staff who, in addition to their usual responsibilities, worked diligently developing and designing the strategic plan and leading the execution of the plan thus far, including Col. Stacey Vargas, Ph.D.; Col. Jeff Kendrick, Ph.D.; Lt. Col. Michelle Ellwood; Cmdr. Julie Shank; Olivia Fowler; and Robbin Youngblood.

The strategic plan’s website can be accessed at vmi.edu/forgingleaders. This site will continuously feature updates and news features highlighting progress and milestones along the way for each initiative.

Forging

21st Century Leaders Prepare Exceptional Leaders

Strengthen Academic Excellence

De Corps

Recruit Top Cadets & Boost Success

Deliver 21st Century Facilities

2024 FOUNDERS DAY PARADE

VMI celebrated 185 years of traditions, disciplined training, and founding principles with a parade and 13-gun salute Nov 8, 2024. Gary Sinise, actor and humanitarian, addressed the Corps and then joined Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, to take review of the parade. Sinise was on post as the guest speaker for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Institute Society, which was held later in the evening.

Athletics

VMI Cross Country Sees Season of Personal Records and Improvement

The VMI men’s and women’s cross country teams enjoyed another successful campaign as several runners from both squads improved their personal records in 2024.

The VMI men’s season was highlighted by Kevin Shank ’27 earning All-Southern Conference Second Team honors for the second year in a row as he placed 10th overall with an 8K time of 25:05.9, narrowly missing out on a new personal record time for the distance.

The VMI men finished the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships in seventh place overall with 143 points in Greenville, South Carolina, Nov. 2. Two other team members set lifetime-best performances: Jackson Geisendaffer ’28 clocked a 26:48.50, shaving 29 seconds off his previous best, while Patrick Kiernan ’25 finished in 26:57.90, marking a 23-second improvement in his final Southern Conference cross country race.

Another highlight for the men came at the final race of the year when several team members competed at the NCAA Southeast Regional in Rock Hill, South Carolina, hosted by Winthrop University. Racing in challenging and muddy conditions, the VMI men’s and women’s teams finished strong in a field of 41 schools and showcased grit and determination.

The VMI men placed 26th overall in the field, led by Shank with a 10K time of 32:14. Following him were Patrick Lowry ’27, Kiernan, Geisendaffer, Colin Crenshaw ’27, and Ben Hagerich ’26, who pushed through tough conditions to contribute to the team’s overall effort.

The women’s team placed eighth at the SoCon Championship race with 231 points. Jillian Sisk ’27 paced the Keydets in 34th place in 18:38 and was pursued closely by Gretal Shank ’25, who earned a lifetime-best 6K time of 18:43.7—20 seconds faster than her previous mark.

Competing in her final SoCon Cross Country Championships, Shank demonstrated impressive growth and competitive spirit. Additionally, Hayden Talbott ’27 and Natalia Dias ’28 each ran the fastest 5K of their careers, improving by 22 seconds. Talbott finished in 21:54.7, while Dias came in at 21:17.2, further bolstering VMI’s scoring depth.

As the third Keydet to cross the finish line, Reagan Gilman ’28 earned a strong performance of 19:02.3 to garner SoCon All-Freshman Team honors.

The Keydets missed out on two meets during the season, including the Sept. 28 meet at Winthrop, due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene impacting the Carolinas and surrounding regions. VMI was also unable to compete at the Paul Short Run in early October due to a scheduling conflict with Fall FTX on post.

Kevin Shank ’27 earned All-Southern Conference Second Team honors for the second year in a row as he placed 10th overall with an 8K time of 25:05.9 in the Southern Conference Cross Country Championships in Greenville, South Carolina, Nov. 2, 2024.

Jillian Sisk ’27 paced the Keydets in 34th place in 18:38, helping the women’s team place eighth at the SoCon Championship race with 231 points.—Photos courtesy VMI Athletics.

VMI Football 2024 Season Shows Grit

With the season at its close, it is time to look back at VMI football’s 2024 campaign.

Prior to the start of the season, VMI set down a new surface on Alumni Memorial Field, creating a new game experience for the cadet-athletes.

Despite the 1-11 overall record, VMI showed grit in different ways throughout the campaign. The Keydets played five FCS opponents that were ranked during at least 1 week and challenged nationally ranked FBS Power-Five, Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, Georgia. VMI’s big win came at home against Furman University in a tight 21-17 battle. Shamus Jones ’25 would be named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in

the win after recording a career-high 13.0 tackles, an interception, and a blocked field goal.

The Keydets landed seven players on the All-Southern Conference list with one first team, Tyriq Poindexter ’25; three second team, Jones, Hunter Rice ’25, and Eric Rankin ’25; and three freshman team, Ethen Horne ’28, Asa Locks ’28, and Austin Fletcher ’28. Jones was also named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after a career-high 13.0 tackles, a blocked kick, and a game-sealing interception in the victory over the Paladins.

VMI had some strong statistical numbers, including Rankin, who led the league in tackles and was 11th in FCS with 120.0 total tackles. He also received FCS Nation Radio National

Player of the Week. Jones tallied 98.0 stops, which included 56.0 solos, ranking fifth in the SoCon, and his 98.0 stops are 44th in FCS. With their strong efforts defensively, VMI led the league with 862.0 total tackles and 14 forced fumbles.

Rice proved to be a top-tier back in the conference, boasting the second-most rushing touchdowns of seven and third-most yards at 800 yards. His 30 career rushing touchdowns are second all-time at VMI, with his 2,191 yards on the ground ranking eighth all-time, etching himself into the VMI record book.

The Keydets honored 17 1st Class cadets during Senior Day, including four fifth-quarter players.

The VMI Keydets win at home against Furman University in a tight 21-17 battle during the 2024 season.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.

VMI Men’s Soccer Season Recap

VMI men’s soccer saw success and set program records during the 2024 campaign.

Prior to the start of the season, VMI remodeled Patchin Field, adding new Bermuda grass and Old Barracks backdrops behind each goal. Additionally, the VMI Spider logo was painted at midfield, along with a pair of painted Southern Conference logos on each end of the pitch before games, adding a modern touch.

VMI went 5-11-2 on the year and was the sixth seed in the Southern Conference tournament. The Keydets had two weekly award winners, with Kyle Grant ’27 earning Offensive Player of the Week and Zack Murphy ’26 nabbing Defensive Player of the Week, tallying weekly honors in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2001. Anthony Huang ’28 was named to the SoCon All-Freshman squad.

The Keydets continue to improve each season, earning five or more wins in back-to-back seasons since 2004–05. VMI recorded three

straight results against an NCAA Division I program since 2010. The Keydets also posted a result against the same D-I opponent in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013–14. VMI also conceded the fewest goals in a regular season since 1990.

After a shutout victory over Regent University, the Keydets became 4-0 at home for the first time since 1994 and the first time the Keydets have ever started a season 4-0 at home. At the time, VMI also recorded a result in four straight matches for the first time since 2007.

The Keydets had a historic victory over Mary Baldwin, scoring 10 goals and allowing none. Ten goals is the most scored in a single match in the Institute’s 45 seasons.

Keydet goalkeepers combined for four shutouts, the most in 17 years, and helped lead to the highest win percentage in 16 seasons. By the end of the season, VMI was ranked 12th in saves per game with over five and 24th

in shots per game with nearly 15 among all D-I schools. The Keydets ranked No. 1 in saves per game in the conference.

Individually, Murphy was key between the posts, ranking fifth in total saves with 85 and seventh in saves per game with five in the nation. Both stats were first in the SoCon. Cole Mooney ’25 ended up with the most shots in the conference with 41. Grant Martin led the way with six goals and 14 points—both in the top five in the league.

The VMI record book will get some updates, as well. Alexei Royar ’25, Mooney, and Drew Menges ’25 rank top three in program history in minutes played by a non-goalie. Mooney also moves up to fifth all-time in career games played with 70. Huang posted a team-leading six assists, the fifth most in a single season.

The Keydets honored 10 1st Class cadets during Senior Day and will return a plethora of young talent, including seven juniors and 10 sophomores.

VMI men’s soccer was the sixth seed in the Southern Conference tournament, and outstanding performances from the Keydets earned multiple SoCon recognitions.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.

The VMI women’s soccer team improved leaps and bounds in 2024 due to strong coaching and excellent leadership from battle-tested upperclassmen.

The Keydets went 6-11-2 in 2024—their most wins since earning seven in 2018. VMI started the season 3-0, also its best start since opening the 2018 campaign with six straight wins. The Keydets’ hot start included wins over D-1 opponents, Davidson College Aug. 15 and American University a few days later Aug. 18. VMI would

Women’s Soccer Enjoys Best Season In 6 Years

go on to defeat D-II school, Emory & Henry, for its third straight win Aug. 24.

Whitney Tracy ’25, 1st Class starting goalie, did not allow a single goal in the first three games, which resulted in her earning Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week following VMI’s wins over Davidson and American.

At the midpoint of the season Sept. 26, the Keydets earned a 2-1 victory over rival The Citadel for VMI’s second consecutive year defeating

the Bulldogs, which had not happened since back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017. Down 1-0 at halftime, the Keydets battled back with two second-half goals to earn the big win.

After tying Wofford College by a 1-1 score Oct. 17 in Spartanburg, the Keydets and Terriers battled again 2 weeks later in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament. Down 2-0 late in the match, Isabella Bruzonic ’25 scored a goal to keep the game close. Despite conceding another Terrier goal, VMI kept fighting until the end as Riley Boucher ’26 scored a goal in the final minute of the match in a close 3-2 loss to finish the season. Boucher was named to the SoCon All-Tournament team for her goal, in addition to leading the Keydets with nine goals on the season.

Tracy, Sedona Dancu ’25, Delilah Martindale ’25, Bruzonic, Lauren Fyfe ’25, Audrey Davis ’25, Alexa Avery ’25, and Courtney Smith ’25 leave a legacy of fighting through adversity and defeat and battling until the end.

Shortly after the conclusion of the season, Chris Haught-Thompson, head coach, announced he would be exiting the program in pursuit of other personal and professional goals, but he leaves the program in good hands with a strong returning corps of both goal scorers and defensive specialists.

VMI women’s soccer enjoyed a strong season of improvement, earning their most wins since 2018.—Photos courtesy VMI Athletics.

2024 Institute Society Dinner: Record Crowd, Dinner, and Dancing

By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

The dance floor was filled until the final song with alumni and donors of all ages enjoying their time, reconnecting, meeting new friends, and celebrating 50 years of the powerhouse of philanthropy at VMI: The Institute Society.

More than 650 guests—a record turnout—came to post in honor of the legacy of philanthropic leadership by the Institute Society’s members built up over five decades and the indelible mark this generosity has had on the Institute and generations of cadets.

The VMI Alumni Agencies staff crafted a rousing evening of camaraderie, celebration, and fun, recognizing past and current members of the Institute Society—the the latter of whom gave $20.8 million in Fiscal Year 2024—and ended with a pledge by younger alumni to continue this astounding legacy of generosity.

From its very beginning, the event was suffused with excitement at the celebration of a milestone in the history of philanthropy at VMI, as well as the fact that the Institute was hosting an extremely special guest:

Gary Sinise, actor, philanthropist, and staunch supporter of veterans, active-duty military, and first responders.

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, got the evening rolling with his warm thanks to the donors for their generosity and their consequent impact on the Institute. “For five decades now, your generosity has provided opportunities and resources to help our current and future cadets succeed. While we certainly appreciate your financial contributions, we are also grateful for the time and effort you put into our institution. From mentoring our cadets to supporting them at sporting events and hiring them upon graduation, your help is very important.”

He also laid out the goals of the Institute’s exciting new strategic plan, Forging 21st Century Leaders, which he described as “a bold vision that will guide VMI over the next decade and beyond. It is not just a roadmap—it’s a declaration of who we are, what we stand for, and the legacy we intend to leave behind. Our vision is for VMI to firmly secure its place as a premier college with a global reputation

for academic excellence, a renowned leadership training model, and a shining example of what it means to lead with honor, courage, and selfless service.

“Under the new strategic plan,” he later stated, “VMI will continue our progress to secure our place as the premier small college in the nation, unequaled in producing educated, honorable, and adaptable citizen-soldiers and leaders. ... We share a commitment to excellence, service, and leadership. And, together, we will transform that vision into reality.”

After dinner, Ernesto V. Sampson ’98, VMI Foundation president, took the podium. He first thanked the society’s members, stating, “It is indeed wonderful to have you here for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Institute Society. My colleagues on the Board of Trustees and I recognize the philanthropic footprint of the 900 members of the Institute Society everywhere here at VMI. ... As has been the case for the past five decades ... I fully expect we will once again be vital to the success of the new strategic plan.”

Sampson then introduced Sinise, saying, “For over 40 years, Gary Sinise has stood as an advocate on behalf of American service members. In 2011 ... he established the Gary Sinise Foundation with the mission to serve and honor America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, families of the fallen, and those in need. The foundation remains committed to finding new and exciting ways to give back to those who sacrifice for our nation and encouraging others to do the same. This is the personal quest of Mister Sinise and what he hopes will endure as a legacy of service to others.”

In opening his presentation, Sinise said, “It’s an honor to be celebrating with you all 50 years of your support for the cadets at VMI. Fifty years—that’s amazing. After being invited to speak, I came to learn that philanthropy is at the heart of the VMI family’s commitment to this

“

Your exceptional and heartfelt generosity is a testament to your belief that duty, honor, and country still matter. Leadership matters; military service matters. The educated and principled young men and women VMI produces matter. Just as importantly, you all matter.”

exceptional Institute. VMI’s position of strength in our nation’s higher education landscape is only made possible by the dedicated support of thousands of alumni and friends over the past half-century—such a passionate and loyal group of supporters. Your giving has experienced an exponential rise, going from $155,000.74 [in 1974] to more than $20.8 million today. That’s an amazing achievement. ... It’s a fantastic fact that speaks volumes about the vital importance of VMI and the fact that an Institute preparing young men and women for both military and civilian leadership is so deeply valued by so many.”

Sinise went on to describe how his appearance in the 1994 film “Forrest Gump” as U.S. Army Lt. Dan Taylor—better known as Lt. Dan—made him a well-known public figure and a popular film and television actor. Based on that, he has been able to pursue what some might term a very successful parallel career in service to first responders, active-duty military, veterans, and their families. He began his service, however, 10 years before the release of “Forrest Gump,” when the renowned Chicago-based Steppenwolf Theatre he co-founded “began providing free meals and performances for local veterans,” and he became involved in the building of a veterans’ memorial in Illinois.

He recounted his experience at the 1994 convention of the Disabled Veterans of America, at which he received the organization’s highest honor for “an honest portrayal of a catastrophically injured veteran who served his country. To these veterans, Lieutenant Dan had become a symbol within our country’s collective awareness of all our injured veterans, and especially the Vietnam veteran.” He has remained involved with the organization ever since.

It was, however, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, he said, that began “a journey from an early singular focus on my acting career, building a theater company, a pursuit of film and television work, to a broader mission of service to others, focusing on supporting the men and women and families who defend our country and protect our cities.

“As my heart was broken after that terrible day, as fear crept in as to what our future was going to be for our country, I needed to do

something to help assuage that fear, to help heal that broken heart,” he continued. “As our men and women in uniform stood to answer the call to preserve our country and destroy our nation’s enemies, my heart went with them, and I was called to a new action to support them in any way I could, to make sure our warriors that were responding to the attacks on 9/11 would never be forgotten or neglected as our Vietnam veterans had been.”

Sinise then described the many things he had done personally, such as 100 USO tours, as well as through the Gary Sinise Foundation and the well-known Lieutenant Dan Band. The former has done many great things, including the construction of 94 “specially adapted smart technology” [houses] for our wounded.” As to the latter, since 2003, it has performed 570 shows for military personnel here at home and overseas.

Sinise closed by saying, “Your exceptional and heartfelt generosity is a testament to your belief that duty, honor, and country still matter. Leadership matters; military service matters. The educated and principled young men and women VMI produces matter. Just as importantly, you all matter. The alumni and friends of VMI matter because you are the generative force that propels this incredible national treasure ... toward its 200th birthday, now just 15 years away. It is a great privilege to be able to speak to you tonight.”

W. Lloyd Taliaferro ’95, VMI Foundation vice president of fundraising, first thanked Sinise for his remarks. He noted, “Speaking as a veteran in a room full of veterans, your efforts calling attention to our nation’s heroes is inspiring and deeply appreciated by each of us.”

Taliaferro then turned to the Institute’s mission. “We are constantly reminded of the urgent need for future heroes—strong, inspiring leaders in a chaotic world,” he said. “VMI produces precisely the courageous military and civilian leaders that our world urgently needs.

“Thank you to all who are here for your continued generosity for cur-

rent and future cadets. The future is bright at VMI, and as we honor the legacy of those who led the past 50 years and as the Institute launches its next strategic plan, I will commit our generation for the next 50 years to showing up, being present, and honoring the lives well lived of those who have gone before us and the cadets of the future. We will do this through a wildly enthusiastic plan for philanthropy ... [and so] changing lives just as the lives of many of us in this room have been transformed.”

Attendees were then invited to an after party in a tent outside Marshall Hall, where the excitement generated by the dinner and the speakers was sustained. Alumni of all ages—and not a few cadets—filled the dance floor, and the guests continued the conversations started in Moody Hall and Marshall Hall.

Ever since Nov. 8, comments about the event have been 100% positive, with everyone expressing thanks for such a sincere and stellar recognition of the generations of donors who have been leaders in supporting VMI, as well as for the opportunities to interact with so many splendid cadets. They also said they departed renewed and reinvigorated in their shared commitments to ensuring an ever-brighter future for VMI and its cadets.

At the end of the evening, attendees were already talking about next year’s event, to be held Nov. 7, 2025. So, mark your calendar—and, if you have not already done so, step up to a leadership role in supporting VMI. Find out how at vmi.edu/givinglevels.

More photos online.

2024 Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet

By Mattie Montgomery, Assistant Editor

Over 460 individuals attended the 2024 Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet in Marshall Hall Nov. 3, 2024, in celebration of alumni, family, and friends who support scholarship aid for VMI’s cadet-athletes. Guests attending the annual scholarship banquet included cadet-athletes, donors, special guests, and fund representatives.

This year, approximately 170 donors and their guests joined 292 cadet-athletes for a meal; remarks from Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent; and the presentation of the Three-Legged Stool Award. Every year, one cadet-athlete is presented with the prestigious Three-Legged Stool Award, named by Giles Miller, Class of 1924, in reference to the Institute’s policy of educating the “whole person” through the balance of athletics, leadership development, and academics.

Cadet Courtney Novotny ’25 is the 2024–25 Three-Legged Stool recipient. Novotny, a biology major, serves as the water polo team captain and a swimming and diving team

member. In water polo, Novotny has been the leading scorer on the team for the past two seasons, averaging 3.2 goals per game, and she ranks fourth in conference goals scored, fifth in overall points, and third in goal-pergame percentage. Novotny is a leader in and out of the pool, inspiring seven of the nine members of her team to become Academic All-Americans like herself. She also served as Coast Guard detachment senior chief. In academics, the Reading, Pennsylvania, native maintains a 3.86 GPA and has been named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team each year. She is a Peay Scholar, Tri-Beta Biology Honor Society member, and a Summer Undergraduate Research Program participant.

Over the past 5 consecutive years, the Keydet Club has raised more than $7 million in scholarship funds for VMI’s talented cadet-athletes like Novotny.

“This event is a reminder of the power of philanthropy,” said Andrew Deal ’12, Keydet Club chief operating officer and Alumni

Agencies chief development officer. “To have the opportunity to bring together our scholarship benefactors and our scholarship cadet-athletes is rewarding and illustrates the impact of the Keydet Club. I am thankful for the generosity of our scholarship supporters and for the dedication and commitment shown by our cadet-athletes.”

Scan the QR Code below with your smartphone or tablet camera to view all of the VMI Alumni Agencies images from this event.

Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum Highlights VMI Bonds

Ongoing now for more than 15 years, the Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum returned to post Sept. 27–28, 2024, to help cadets think about the opportunities that await them after VMI—and allow them to meet alumni who can make introductions and open doors. This year’s event attracted almost 70 alums spanning the Classes of 1973 to 2023 and a large number of cadets.

The networking forum began with a dinner for alums and cadets in Moody Hall Friday night and remarks by retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles “Charlie” Sachs ’79, Alumni Association Board of Directors member and Region X South director. The next morning, members of the Rat Mass of 2025+3 gathered in Memorial Hall to hear remarks from retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. J.D. Johnson ’77 and Joel Andrus ’04.

Johnson, a 38-year Army veteran who now serves as vice president of business development for GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, told his listeners that military service will set them up well for the rest of their lives. “That time leading your fellow Americans … people will recognize that,” he stated. He counseled the rats to embrace change and stay the course throughout their cadetships. “The people you meet here will be the most important people in your life,”

he noted. “Embrace that.”

Andrus, who works in state governmental relations for Kemper Consulting and serves on the Alumni Association board of directors, emphasized the need to prepare for life after VMI, even as soon as rat year. “Use this time [at VMI] to forge relationships,” he said. “You will use those relationships well into the future.”

Andrus also highlighted the need to get involved with clubs or other groups on post, as well as taking part in internships and other professional development opportunities.

“Make sure the time you’re spending now matters for your future,” Andrus concluded. “Think now about your time after VMI.”

In Cocke Hall, cadets of all classes gathered to talk either individually or in small groups with alumni representing a wide range of fields, including health and health care, information technology and cybersecurity, law enforcement, banking and finance, government, graduate and professional schools, National Guard/Reserve, and more.

Attending the event for the first time, Steve Billingsley ’77 expressed thankfulness that cadets now have opportunities such as this. “When I graduated on the 15th of May in 1977, I went home,” Billingsley recalled. “I knew I was going in the Army, but there had

By Mary Price, Development Writer

been no formal program to help me write a resume or do interviewing. So, this is something that is awesome. I hope the cadets will take advantage of it, starting as rats.

“You need to know how to network, how to introduce yourself to people,” Billingsley continued. “Face-to-face networking is probably the most important aspect of the job search process.”

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Jake Spivey ’85, a 30-year military veteran who was representing the civil service/contractor field, also spoke about the forum’s usefulness. “It’s important for cadets to keep that long-term view, not just about 2 to 5 years, but about their 15- to 20-year future, and look at how they can be successful over the long term.”

Looking back, Spivey can see many differences between the world he graduated into in 1985 and the world cadets are graduating into today, but the power of the VMI network is as strong as it’s ever been. “I had a cadet come see me today,” he related. “He’s a 1st [Class cadet], graduating in May. He wants to do real estate in Texas. I have a roommate who lives in Fort Worth and another who lives in Austin. They’re not in real estate, but they’re going to know somebody.”

Stephen Ralis ’25 plans to commission in the U.S. Army and hopefully serve as a cyber

engineer or military intelligence officer, but he came to the forum with two purposes: To learn about post-Army opportunities and to pick up information that might be useful to his rats. “It’s the whole mentorship thing,” he said. “As a 1st [Class cadet], I need to take care of my rats.”

Ralis explained he’s met some alums over the course of his cadetship, and now he’s trying to extend those connections to any rats who are interested. “When I was a rat, I didn’t know what I wanted,” he commented.

“There’s no reason you can’t start looking for internships early. Not everyone needs an internship, but it doesn’t hurt to have one.”

Brayden Hohman ’25, an international studies major, came to the forum because he’s still plotting his post-graduation path—and he was glad he did so. “This has been so helpful,” he noted. “Everyone’s been so welcoming at each station.” He has advice for younger cadets: “Take it seriously when you’re young because you don’t want to be struggling as a May graduate. Get an early start and connect with people now because you never know who they can connect you with.”

Those organizing the event were pleased with the alum and cadet turnout, as well as the quality of the interactions. “The Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum serves as an opportunity to bring together distinguished VMI alumni representing a myriad of career fields to help inform, educate, and mentor cadets,” said Brandon Bissell ’98, VMI Alumni Agencies then-director of alumni outreach.

“With the superintendent’s support to make this a Corps-wide event, the insight and exposure to alumni is invaluable as cadets plot their respective paths through their cadetship for a career after their time at the Institute.”

Scan the QR Code below with your smartphone or tablet camera to view all of the VMI Alumni Agencies images from this event.

Chapters Hold 44 Rat Send-Offs in Summer 2024

Each year, VMI alumni chapters celebrate incoming cadets with a unique send-off and show of support ahead of Matriculation Day. In summer 2024, 195 incoming cadets in the Rat Mass of 2025+3 and their families met with Institute alumni, family, and friends from around the country and world at rat send-off events. Fifty-seven alumni chapters hosted or cohosted a total of 44 rat send-off events welcoming the Rat Mass of 2025+3 into the VMI family.

Alumni Honor Daniels ’61 with Pilgrimage in Alabama

Alumni commemorate the 27th Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage and Procession, honoring the life and sacrifice of Jonathan M. Daniels ’61, Episcopal seminarian and civil rights activist. The annual event was sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, Town of Hayneville, and Lowndes County Commission in Hayneville, Alabama, Aug. 10, 2024. Attending are (from left) Brandon Bissell ’98, Jackie Morton ’09, Jim Dittrich ’76, Tom Jones ’69, Brian Quisenberry ’81, Lynn Grant, Bill Cather ’65, Renee Washington, and Jeff Washington ’80. Not pictured is Hayden Whetstone ’15.

Central North Carolina –Raleigh Chapter August Senior Breakfast

Gathering at the Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter senior breakfast Aug. 20, 2024, are (seated, from left) Parky Parkman ’66, Bill Gibson ’65, Alan Tashima ’71, Rex Wiggins ’78, Bill Murchison ’70, Larry Wilson ’62, Roger Rosenfield ’47, Paul Johnston ’61, (standing, from left) Sam Hening, Rich Hening ’75, Barton Pasco ’77, and Will Bynum ’77.

Central North Carolina –Raleigh Chapter

September Senior Breakfast

Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter members gathering for their monthly senior breakfast Sept. 17, 2024, are (from left) Parky Parkman ’66, Larry Wilson ’62, Bill Murchison ’70, Will Bynum ’77, Alan Tashima ’71, Roger Rosenfield ’47, Bill Gibson ’65, Jerry Hughston ’66, Chip Davis ’77, Barton Pasco ’77, Rich Hening ’75, and Sam Hening. Not pictured is Don Brown ’71.

Palmetto Chapter Old Corps Lunch

Gathering for the Palmetto Chapter Old Corps lunch Oct. 15, 2024, are (from left) Mike Talley ’66, Grey Farthing ’79, Doug Marks ’69, Larry Umberger ’65, Steve Young ’67, Mike Bordwine ’72, and Scott Andes ’84.

Rappahannock Chapter

Hosts Watch Party

Rappahannock Chapter members cheering on the Keydets against The Citadel at a watch party in Saluda, Virginia, Oct. 19, 2024, are (from left) Walter Priest ’69; Brant Priest ’07, Walter’s son; Bill Brent ’67; John Kay ’88; Bob Powell ’63; Neal Rogers ’82; and Dan Robinson ’91.

Did you know?

Wilmington Chapter Enjoys Breakfast

Meeting for the Wilmington Chapter Old Corps breakfast at the Boathouse Restaurant Aug. 7, 2024, are (from left) Andy Young ’74, Jim Phlegar ’67, Bill Todd ’68, George Myers ’79, Harley Myler ’75, Fred Ayers ’61, John Gangemi ’61, Spruill Thompson ’84, Tony Pileggi ’78, Arnie Leonard ’74, Henry Brown ’60, and Robert Digby ’81.

The VMI Alumni Agencies has a public online business directory that enables viewers to find and identify alumni businesses.

vmialumni.org/businessdirectory

Or scan the QR Code with your smartphone or tablet camera to access the website.

The VMI Alumni Agencies encourages alumni to submit their businesses for inclusion in its business directory. This directory allows alumni to submit businesses they are involved with in any capacity, ranging from employee to founder. It also allows users to access and easily search for VMI alumni-related businesses. Businesses in the directory are searchable by company name, industry, class year, and/or geographic location. Please note: Only alumni with a VMI Ranks account may submit their businesses, though anyone may search the directory.

“So the more that I lean into it, the more that I come back to VMI, and the more that I give back, the more that I’m getting out of it. When you graduate, when you get that diploma, and you cross that stage, that’s not the end of your VMI experience.” That’s what Elise (Jones) Woodworth ’07 has to say about her decision to stay involved with VMI on top of everything else she has going on—and in her case, “everything else” involves homeschooling her five children and running her own business. Woodworth is a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees; the daughter of an alum, Rick Jones ’72; and a passionate advocate for the Institute.

Woodworth matriculated from Decatur, Indiana, and made her first visit to post sometime in the 1990s when she accompanied her father to a reunion. The Institute made a positive impression, and when VMI went coed in 1997, Woodworth immediately asked her father to get her a provisional appointment.

“I was really excited to have that, and that was a proud moment for me,” she recalled. “Just in recognizing I wanted to be in the military, even at that young age, that I was going to follow in his footsteps a little bit was really exciting for me.”

When the time came to choose a college, Woodworth had options, including plenty of schools closer to her midwestern home. Feeling a calling to a road less traveled, though, she chose VMI—and did so at a time when women at the Institute were still considered trailblazers.

“When I came, and I met cadre, that first moment when you meet your cadre, I knew that was the next 4 years of my life,” she noted. “And I knew that it was a game that I was going to play, and they weren’t going to win.”

By Mary Price, Development Writer

fun to use my enthusiasm in that way.”

At the beginning of her 3rd Class year, Woodworth also got involved in an activity she’d never tried before—cheerleading. “What an experience!” she recounted. “It allowed me to channel all my enthusiasm, all my excitement for VMI, for the Corps, for the football team, for the basketball team, and lead with enthusiasm, which was really exciting for me—learning that skill and then carrying that with me to having rank in the Corps.”

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Woodworth commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. When she was assigned to logistics, Woodworth wasn’t sure what that even was—but as usual, she dove in headfirst. “The amazing thing about the service is that they train you to do the job they need you to do,” she stated. “And they give you all the tools that you need to achieve that. I leaned in again, carrying that enthusiasm with me, making it the best possible experience I could for myself.”

“Find a way to do it, not a reason why you can’t.”

Inspired by a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson—“Nothing in life was ever achieved without enthusiasm”—Woodworth chose to “lean in” to her cadetship all the way.

“But it’s in that leaning in that you learn those good habits that are going stay with you—the ability to wake up early and perform at a moment’s notice is not something that you pick up without practice,” she stated.

“The ability to, by default, tell the truth, even when it’s really hard—that’s not something you pick up naturally.”

But Woodworth quickly learned that even an attitude of leaning in doesn’t erase the challenges of VMI. “There were times at VMI where there was nothing I could do correctly,” she said. “It’s designed that way so that you have to fail. And becoming comfortable with the fallibility of my human nature was something that we don’t get faced with in any other environment, which is why it’s what makes VMI unique. And I think we need to encounter that, especially going into the military, especially going into leadership positions where sometimes there’s not a right answer.”

During her cadetship, Woodworth ran track and cross country and was a member of several clubs, including the Promaji Club and the Theatre Club. In addition, she served as the 2nd Battalion S7 lieutenant—a position responsible for boosting Corps morale.

“I loved every minute of making VMI a better place to be for my brother rats, for the other members of the Corps,” she commented. That was so

When she was first asked to join the Foundation Board of Trustees in 2014, Woodworth thought immediately of a quote that had hung in her father’s office: “Find a way to do it, not a reason why you can’t.” With that sentiment guiding her, Woodworth chose to join the board, serving a first term from 2014–21 and beginning a second term in July 2022. The experience has reinforced her belief in the value of VMI and the excellent preparation of cadets—as well as the need to support VMI financially.

During her cadetship, Woodworth received the James C. Sansberry ’16 Scholarship, which is for cadets from Indiana, and that scholarship erased the cost difference between VMI and her home state’s flagship school—Purdue University.

“[The scholarship] allowed me to say yes to coming to VMI,” she explained. “And I still want to make that decision available to people ... [for whom] it might come down to dollars and cents. So I continue to give back because I see the importance of what VMI is doing.

“I see that VMI is doing really good work for this generation and the next,” she continued. “I talk to high schoolers that aren’t going to VMI and are going to VMI, and there’s a distinct difference in the way, even in high school, once you’ve made that decision, you can see the change in people. I think continuing that tradition, continuing to give back is really important.”

For her fellow alums, Woodworth has a message to share: Get engaged. “If you choose to graduate and stay home, and not engage with VMI, you’re missing a big piece of the VMI experience,” she said. “And so I challenge you to come back, give back, and see what’s waiting for you in the VMI network.”

Scan the QR Code with your smartphone or tablet camera to learn more about Woodworth’s VMI experience.

Fiscal Year 2025 Day of Giving Surpasses Expectations

by Mary Price, Development Writer

Powered by an immense show of support from members of the VMI family, VMI’s Fiscal Year 2025 Day of Giving, held Nov. 14, 2024, raised $296,176.60 for the benefit of the Corps of Cadets.

Held just a few days after Nov. 11, when the Institute marked 185 years since its founding, the Day of Giving attracted 1,019 donors. The overwhelming majority of gifts—82%—came from alumni, with the remainder of the day’s strong support provided by parents, friends, and faculty and staff.

Funds raised from the Day of Giving will help VMI achieve the five goals outlined in the Institute’s newly unveiled strategic plan, Forging 21st Century Leaders: Prepare exceptional leaders, enhance academic excellence, foster esprit de corps, recruit top cadets and boost success, and deliver 21st century facilities.

“The VMI Day of Giving is about unifying our alumni, family, and friends and coming together to make a difference,” said Andrew C. Deal ’12, VMI Alumni Agencies chief development officer. “This year’s Day of Giving provided the opportunity to support a wide range of areas that will have a profound impact on our cadets and faculty. When I look back on my cadetship, the VMI experience took a group of strangers and molded them into a unified group. We have that same opportunity with philanthropy. It truly does make a difference.”

A robust social media presence featuring cadet videos in the days before the campaign resulted in a number of early gifts. By the afternoon, the original goal of 600 donors had been surpassed, and a new goal of 839 donors was set, which was reached well before midnight.

Supporters had the opportunity to direct their gifts to one of eight areas: Unrestricted giving, academic excellence, cadet life, the newly established Call to Duty scholarships, scholarship enrichment, athletics, the Center for Leadership and Ethics, or a gift to a specific scholarship, team, etc.

Of those, the largest number of donors—more than 365—chose un restricted giving. This is immensely helpful, as unrestricted funds can be allocated quickly to the areas of greatest need.

A gift to an area of the donor’s choice was the second most popular gift option, followed by athletics, Call to Duty Scholarships, cadet life, schol arship enrichment, academics, and the Center for Leadership and Ethics.

As an incentive for friendly competition and participation, the class with the highest number of donors was offered the chance to have its class year on Moe’s jersey during home football and basketball games. With $25,183 raised and 101 donors participating, the Class of 1984 claimed top honors. The Class of 1990 came in second, with 96 mem bers of that class participating.

Throughout the day, members of the VMI family could watch the campaign’s progress online and via social media. By midnight, donors from 47 states and many foreign countries had shown their support.

1,019 DONORS RAISED $296,176 IN JUST 24 HOURS WITH THE CLASS OF 1984 WINNING THE CLASS PARTICIPATION CHALLENGE

Class of 1999 Presents 25th Reunion Gift

The Class of 1999 presented its 25th Reunion gift of $1,399,999.99 to the Institute during the football game against Bucknell University Sept. 7, 2024.

Class of 2014 Presents 10th Reunion Gift

The Class of 2014 presented its 10th Reunion gift of $602,014.14 to the Institute during the football game against Norfolk State University Sept. 21, 2024.

Pictured are (from left) Sgt. Maj. Tom Sowers, Institute and Corps sergeant major; David Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies chief executive officer; Jay Witt ’99; Brad Wineman ’99; Patrick Henderson ’99; and Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent.

Pictured are (from left) Sgt. Maj. Tom Sowers, Institute and Corps sergeant major; Meade B. King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer and Alumni Agencies director of advancement; Sam Guidry ’14; Cory Reinecke ’14; Abby (Dawson) Waterbury ’14; Johnny Partin ’14; and Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent.

1944

Jonathan Safrit ’10

Class Notes

the burial at Arlington National Cemetery of retired U.S. Air Force Col. Morton C. Mumma III.“Mort,” as he was known to his friends and family, passed away quietly at his Chester, Virginia, home in February 2024 with his wife of 74 years, Barbara “Babs” Mumma, by his side.

Bob Smothers, VMI’s most senior alum, and the Class of 1944 wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.

Bob celebrated his 102nd birthday shortly after I submitted these notes. In talking with Bob, he said he didn’t have any special plans and wasn’t thinking about it. To quote Bob, “Que sera sera.”

This past MLB postseason saw Bob’s Padres beat my Braves in the wildcard round. Although the Padres lost to the Dodgers in the divisional round, Bob said he was glad to see the Dodgers take home the World Series title.

I recently learned an interesting story about Bob’s service during the Korean War. While stationed at Johnson Air Force Base in Sayama, Japan, near Tokyo, a C-47 in Bob’s squadron came up for maintenance back in the States. While Bob wasn’t exactly eager to make that trek back in that particular plane, it would give him a chance to see his newborn son back in California. After making it to Hawaii, Bob’s crew waited a few days for the right wind to make the 16-hour flight back to the States. In addition to the right wind, the plane was also specially fitted with extra fuel tanks in the cargo area, which would be engaged to give the plane the fuel necessary to make the nonstop flight. About halfway through the flight, the engines quit, and the plane went into a fast descent toward the vast ocean below. Bob reacted quickly, ordering the radio operator to send out a mayday signal with their position. As they prepared for the worst, the engines started to sputter again and then regained power. As it turns out, someone in the cockpit had forgotten to flip the switch to engage the extra fuel tanks. As Bob said, “Happy to report we did make it home OK, and we all lived to fly another day.”

As always, I remain available to the friends and family of 1944 and always enjoy hearing from you all. On behalf of the Class of 1944, I wish you all the best going into the new year.

1946

David M. Hudock ’97

In late September 2024, I was honored to attend

Mort was laid to rest near his father, retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Morton Claire Mumma Jr., and his mother, Virginia Paige Elder, in a quiet section of the cemetery at the foot of a small hill shaded by tall, leafy trees.

Direct family attending the service were Mort’s wife, Babs, and their five children: Daughter, Ann Hjort, and sons, retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Mort Mumma IV ’77, Andrew Mumma, Robert Mumma ’83, and retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. James “Jeb” Mumma ’88. VMI was well-represented by friends of the family, Ed Anderson ’77; retired U.S. Army Reserve Col. Mark Bartholf ’87; and Ms. Nancy Joseph, widow of retired U.S. Army Col. Robert E. “Stump” Joseph Jr. ’53, a 1955 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. Also attending was one of Mort’s 14 surviving USMA classmates, Mr. Art Barondes, from the class of 1948.

An Air Force honor guard, band, two marching platoons of airmen, and a firing party accompanied the burial service, which was presided over by a longtime friend of the family and one-time squadron mate of Jeb, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Neal Moquin. Following the graveside service, Mort’s well-lived life was celebrated by friends and family at a small, private luncheon.

Through a presentation of personal stories and family photos and heirlooms, Jeb told his dad’s story, which is rich with unique experiences, high adventures, and quite a bit of history. Too much, unfortunately, for me to adequately capture in these humble pages, but there are several highlights which cannot go unmentioned. To start, Mort hailed from Berryville, Virginia, where he graduated from high school at just 15 and matriculated into VMI’s Class of 1946. He matriculated into the USMA at West Point 2 years later and graduated as a member of its class of 1948. While attending the academy, he was exposed to the U.S. Air Force, decided he wanted to fly, and opted to commission with the fledgling service.

During summer 1949, Mort was assigned to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, for pilot training. An afternoon excursion to the Fort Sam Houston Officer’s Club pool one day proved life changing; he met Babs there, and 6 months after meeting, they were married

at the Fort Myer Chapel in Arlington, Virginia. What followed was an exciting 30-year Air Force career and a lifetime of memories with Babs.

Mort’s Air Force career cut a wide swath. For example, the list of aircraft Mort either flew, instructed trainees how to fly, or both, reads like a grocery list: T-33s, P-47s, F-84Es, F-86s, F-84Fs, F-101s, and F-104s, just to name a few. Of his many career highlights, his command tour in 1968 of an F-4 squadron at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, was one, earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. He left Vietnam to attend the National War College, and after completing his course of study there in 1970, Mort and Babs returned overseas, where Mort served as the group commander at Aviano Air Force Base in Aviano, Italy. Ultimately, they would spend 18 of his 30 years in the Air Force outside the United States, racking up 36 moves along the way. His final tour, however, was back in the U.S., serving as the senior Air Force representative at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

In addition to being an experienced and prolific pilot, a world traveler, and a dedicated family man, Mort was a lifelong marksman and a fine shot. In the Air Force, he became the service’s first distinguished shooter, earning Rifle Badge No. 001 in 1957. His shooting prowess earned him the position of captain of the United States Air Force high power rifle team, and years later, after retiring from the service, the position of executive staff director of the National Rifle Association.

Mort retired permanently in 1986, at which point he and Babs made full-time work of their favorite hobbies, real estate and traveling the world via river and ocean cruises. Family was also a high priority, and he and Babs spent a lot of their time with his surviving five children, 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. While I unfortunately did not meet Mort in person, in my capacity as 1946 class agent, I was lucky enough to have shared some email communications with him. He was always energetic and humorous in those exchanges, even commenting upon learning of my status as a Marine that “we have a high tolerance for jarheads” in his family! Immediately, I felt welcomed. It was a pleasure and honor getting to know him and an even greater honor to have had the opportunity to share the memory of his life with his family at Arlington. May his legacy and his impact live on forever! Rah Virginia Mil, and as we jarheads say, “Fair winds and following seas.”

Class notes

1947

Jonathan Safrit ’10

The Class of 1947 wishes the VMI community a happy New Year and congratulates the Class of 2028 on their Breakout. More than 80 years ago, the Class of 1947 started their Rat Line in June 1943 and broke out in November after Thanksgiving.

Roger Rosenfield is doing well but has cut back on his driving, which has limited his ability to get out and about. I’m still hoping to get to Raleigh and visit Roger in person, but I enjoy our phone calls and relish hearing his stories from times past.

In talking with Roger about his service in World War II recently, I learned that, once drafted, he was sent to study Japanese at the University of Chicago. After his term of study was up, he then served with the 77th Infantry Division late in the war on occupation duty in Japan. Interestingly, the 77th was the division in which Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss served on Okinawa. His story is likely known to a great number of you through the movie “Hacksaw Ridge,” which covers his exploits.

I’ve still not been able to establish contact with Donald T. Doherty. If he or someone close to him reads this, please reach out to me. I would love to establish contact with him.

As always, I remain available to the friends and family of 1947 and always enjoy hearing from you all. On behalf of the Class of 1947, I wish you all the best going into the new year.

1948B

Lisa Tracy

Greetings, BRs, Friends, and Family of the Class of ’48B,

As I sit down to write this, I am saddened to report that Lou Castellano has died. To the end, Lou was in his Long Island home, with his wife, Sherrie, and family at his side.

I had a chance to speak with Lou early in August, and despite the fact that he was in hospice near the end of a long illness, he was resolutely cheerful and eager to hear news of his brother rats. He still

had the dry sense of humor you will remember from your first year together, and from his notes, years later, as class agent. When we spoke, I asked him if he would recommend VMI to young people these days. With some understatement, he noted that it’s “a difficult school” and not for everyone. But, he added, “I gained my integrity there. And I didn’t lose any of it when I was out of VMI.”

Sherrie told me that Lou always spoke with great pride of “being part of VMI.”

“He talked about it to anyone who would listen, and he carried it with him his whole life,” she said. I think he speaks for us all in saying he will always be part of ’48B.

During the fall, I spoke with Angus Crook, and he had some distinct recollections of that first year, as well. Like Lou, he only stayed 1 year, arriving in late June 1944 from his native Tennessee. He recounted that the long trek to the Institute started with a train from his home in Jackson, Tennessee, to Mobile, Alabama; it was the quickest way to connect with a northbound train that dropped him in Culpeper, Virginia, where relatives put him on a bus to Staunton. There he met Nick Harris, also bound for VMI. They’d soon be roommates, but they didn’t know that as they arrived in Lexington on the day before matriculation and caught a taxi to barracks, thinking to check in early!

“It landed us right in front of [Main] Arch,” Angus recalled. “But matriculation wasn’t until the next day, and as we stepped out of the cab, there were a bunch of upperclassmen hanging out from the window above the arch, and they started laughing; they’re shouting, ‘Oh my gosh, rats! Fresh meat.’ So, we hopped back into the taxi and headed downtown, spent the night at a hotel.”

The next day, they did not make haste to return. “We didn’t come back till the afternoon, when we discovered that pretty much the whole rat class had matriculated, heads shaved, and they were already marching.”

The rats, he points out, were on the second stoop because so many of the upperclassmen were gone, “pretty much all of the 1st and 2nd Class, to the war. There was nobody up on the third or fourth stoops, except some of the ASTP guys”—the men who’d come for the Army Specialized Training Program held at VMI and a number of other military colleges.

He and his roommates were in a room over Main Arch. “There were five of us. I was 16. I had a roommate who was 15. In those days, folks went to college younger than now. My grandfather was, at the time, the youngest ever to graduate from VMI. He graduated before his 18th birthday: Angus McDonald Green, Class of 1876.” Angus, who is named for that grandfather,

mentioned that Angus Green was a major reason he landed at the Institute. “My mother said, ‘You’re going to VMI,’ and that was it.”

Rat year, he noted, was of course “very arduous.” Without a pause he recited Col. Preston’s entire description, from the parapet, of the “healthful and pleasant abode, of a crowd of honorable youths ...” as a rat would have to do upon command by any upperclassman. And of course, he went on to say, “Every morning at first bugle call, we’d roll up our hays and stack our bunks. Maybe you’d have time to brush your teeth and maybe not. We’d head to our dykes’ rooms, help our dyke get dressed and clean up the room before final bugle to assemble for breakfast.”

He remembers the endless routine of assembling in the Rat Line for classes, meals, and everything else.

Like his father and grandfather, he would choose medicine as his profession. “For me, VMI didn’t have the premed I needed, so I went to Sewanee for a year, then enlisted as a hospital corpsman in the Navy for 2 years. I interned in Detroit, and by the time I was assigned for duty, the war was over. I served at a hospital in California, where I took care of injured men coming home from the Pacific.”

He returned to Sewanee, graduated in ’49, and went on to medical school at the University of Virginia, receiving his medical degree in 1953. “Three of my brother rats from our class were ahead of me there,” he noted, musing on the disruptions the war had caused them all in their education.

Asked if there is one outstanding memory from his year at the Institute, he mentioned the drumout that occurred during rat year. “There was just one. But you don’t forget. The drums went off in the middle of the night. You got up in your bathrobe and went directly to [Memorial] Hall. We were up in the balcony where you could see everything. Then they escorted the man in and up to the front, to the rostrum. He was told, ‘You are hereby dismissed from the grounds of VMI, and you are never again to be on post.’ I was amazed anyone would tolerate that. But so it was.”

He also recalled returning for the ’48B reunion in 1998. “It was the first year for the girls. We saw the parade and they told us, ‘You’ll see them with their cropped hair at the back of the regiment.’ By then, West Point had already had women for years, and it was very successful.”

He went into the Navy as a medical officer in 1954. He served 1 year of sea duty—“It was not me!”—then transferred to the Navy hospital in Philadelphia for 2 years, where his assignment was to care for dependents in the OB/GYN department, This led, in turn, to a career in OB/GYN,

which eventually took him and his wife, Nancy, to Nashville, where he taught at Vanderbilt University for 5 years while also in private practice before going full time in a group practice.

“I practiced OB/GYN for 60 years, delivering babies for 50 of those years. I stepped back from active practice when I was 75 but continued to do office work for the practice for another 15 years. Retired at age 90.”

Angus has one son by an earlier marriage and a son and two daughters with Nancy. He and Nancy continue to reside in Nashville, where they enjoy keeping in touch with a far-flung family that also includes two grandchildren.

As I write this, we are just past Founders Day— and of course, Veterans Day—and I am mindful that many members of the Class of ’48B were called to serve and became veterans before you were even old enough to vote. It was an extraordinary time, and you lived it.

I look forward to talking with you all in the new year. Please send news of family and your own doings as we head into 2025—you know where to find me! Fondest regards, all.

1949A

Jonathan Safrit ’10

Happy New Year from the Class of 1949A. We also congratulate the Class of 2028 on their Breakout—just one of many milestones that will endear yourclassmatestooneanotherforyearstocome.

As of November 2024, I still have not established contact with 1949A’s potential last member, G. Harrison Whitten Jr. If anyone reading these notes can provide an update, I would love to hear fromthem.Mr.Whittenwaslastlistedaslivingin theKilmarnockregionofVirginia.

As always, I remain available to the friends and family of 1949A and always enjoy hearing from you all. On behalf of the Class of 1949A, I wish youallthebestgoingintothenewyear.

1949B

Ding Patton

Class Notes

I received an email from Greg Nelson that Kitty had suffered a massive stroke and had passed away Oct. 18. Kitty has done so much for our class over many years assisting Greg with our reunions. She will be missed by everyone, especially by the wives of our brother rats.

In response to the notice I sent to our brother rats about Kitty’s death, I received an email which said that BR Perry Williamson had died June 15, with no other information. I don’t know who sent it, but I called to report his death to Mary Price at the Alumni Agencies, and she researched and found an obituary for him. Perry was with us through the first semester of our 3rd Class year and then returned to Texas, where he went on to receive his degree in pharmacy and work in that profession. Since I became class agent, he has kept in contact regularly with information regarding his life after leaving the Institute, which I have reported to you. In case you haven’t already heard, I want to make you aware of the death of another person who we all remember from our rat year at VMI. Maj. Gen. James “Jim” Marcus Morgan ’45, who was the first captain of the Corps and went on to become professor and the academic dean at the Institute, passed away earlier, but his funeral was Oct. 5. His daughter called me with details of the funeral and asked me to attend, which I did. During the 2 years I taught in the civil engineering department, Jim and I became good friends, and he was my mentor and influenced my life in many ways.

I heard from Honorary Brother Rat Joe Haggerty (HBR). Joe and Odie completed their move from Switzerland and are now enjoying life in California’s wine country.

Noel Smaw emailed that she is traveling the west in her motor home but won’t get to the West Coast on this trip.

Tom Altizer is preparing to move to his winter home in Florida as I write these notes. Unlike other years, Tom’s apartment on the west coast of Florida suffered no damage from the two devastating hurricanes this season.

Other than Tom and Greg Nelson, I seldom hear from anyone else in the class, so there is little news to report. Unless some of you send me some news, this may be our final set of class notes. Sad.

God Bless America, VMI, and the Class of ’49B.

Ding

1950A

There is currently no class agent for the class of 1950A.

1950B

Robert F. Lynd

These class notes cover the period from Aug. 16–Nov.15,2024.

Please contact Norma Robinson at nrobinson@vmiaa.org if you are interested in filling this position.

I started this article just before the elections, and now I’m finishing after them about a week later. This is my first experience in having a presidential election occur during my tenure as class agent. I imagine that some of you are happy with the results, and some are not.

I only heard from one or two people this time. Guess you old folks out there think you don’t have anything going on to talk about. I doubt that’s true. So, screw up your courage and use that email ability you have and send me a message. If you think that’s beyond you, I hope you still know how to use a telephone. Doesn’t have to be a smartphone. Plain old dial phone on a landline will work just fine. And as a last resort, you can always use the U.S. Postal Service and send me a letter. (If you can afford the stamp!)

‘Nuff about that now. Let’s move on.

Our class suffered the loss of another brother rat this quarter. Steve Abramedis died at his residence in Annapolis, Maryland. He had not been well for some time—had very bad back issues. He never married, and at the time, he was living alone, although he had a helper who assisted him. You’ll recall that Steve, who was from Clifton Forge, was one of Doc Carroll’s boys. He went to med school at Virginia Commonwealth under the auspices of the U.S. Army. That obligated him to a few years in the Army, and he was discharged as a captain. Steve became a very successful and highly respected OB/GYN doctor. He was an avid proponent of VMI, and he encouraged a cousin, Danny Diamondidis ’53, to attend VMI and to graduate in the Class of ’53.

Braxton Green sent me a photo of Tommy and Mary Virginia Harwood. Don’t know why Tommy is planting one on Mary Virginia, and Braxton didn’t specify when or where it was taken. But doing a bit of sleuthing, we determined it must have been at our 55th Reunion. Mary Virginia was a lovely lady, and Tommy was our sage judge. Together, they were a delightful couple and came to all reunions; they were very dedicated to VMI. In fact, Mary Virginia came to several of our Florida mini reunions after Tommy passed. Sadly, both are gone now.

I had an interesting email out of the blue just before the submission of this article. Anya Hancock

’07, the granddaughter of our Brother Rat Dave “Koko” Kovarik, wanted to know the dates of our upcoming reunion. Sounds to me like she might be thinking about coming. She says she follows our class “doings,” saying, “Every member of this class is a treasure, and as I have done for years, I always look for the ’50B section of the class notes.” What’s quite interesting is that Anya is a VMI grad, Class of ’07. I reckon we can attribute that to her granddad, Koko. Turns out the “Ko” part of a nickname carried on to her. Her BRs called her “Kovey.” I’m always pleased that sister rats and relatives sometimes send notes. And speaking of reunions. The one big thing on my mind, and I hope on yours, is our upcoming 75th Reunion. When you see this article around the middle of February, there will be only 60 days until it occurs. You certainly should have made up your mind by this time, and if you’re going, be sure to make your hotel reservations and your transportation arrangements. Much information about the reunion will have been provided by

Class notes

the time you see this. We had been invited to join the Class of 1970 for the class dinner on Tuesday evening. On behalf of our brother rats who told me they thought this was a good idea, I accepted. As I write this, I am aware of six brother rats planning to attend. We do have two widows and a “friend” of ’50Bs who have said they will also attend. Tom Kirk has said he will be there—the good Lord willing—and will lead us in the Old Yell.

Speaking of Tommy Kirk, he responded as usual. At his home in Anthem, Arizona, (suburb of Phoenix), they had 100 days of 108 degrees—the longest summer on record. (Global warming?) He survived by spending time in the mountains of east-central Arizona and Park City, Utah. (Of course, he kept up his golf game.) He’s committed to a busy time in Albany, Oregon. He’ll be the parade marshal for the Veterans Day parade (one of the biggest in the U.S.), and then, while there, he’ll be giving talks to three groups—a men’s club, high school, and a ladies’ club. Apparently, he’s been there before and has some good friends there. He says that’s all for now, but he’s planning to go on a cruise over Christmas. Boy, does he ever get around. And, like the rest of us, he’s no spring chicken. He just keeps pressing on and doesn’t “let the old man in.” A good role model. We had a catastrophe here in Roswell this fall. On the night of Oct. 19–20 (Saturday-Sunday), terrific thunderstorms landed on Roswell and its environs. In about 6 hours, 7-10 inches of rain fell, coupled with strong winds, creating massive flooding and millions of dollars of damage. That is close to our annual rainfall. Rainfall rates up to 4 inches per hour were reported. Made national news.

What happened? The Spring and Hondo Rivers run through downtown Roswell and near lowlying residential areas. These “rivers” are normally just dry arroyos which occasionally have some water when it rains. Years ago, two dams were built in the hills some miles west of town to prevent flooding. But those dams overflowed, and the cascading water filled the two stream beds to overflowing, resulting in a torrent—a deluge— of water crashing into town. Cars were swept off streets and were floated downstream. Bridges were damaged so as to make them impassable. In the downtown area, city, county facilities and businesses were severely damaged. Low-lying residential areas were flooded. Approximately 1,000 homes had 4-5 feet of water surge through them and were wiped out. Driving down the streets today, one can see scenes reminiscent of the photos we saw of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Furniture, appliances, and belongings out

on the sidewalks representing an entire household waiting to be towed away. Nothing left but a hollow shell that once was a home.

The environs of Roswell suffered, too. The president declared Roswell and Chaves County to be a major disaster area. That triggered FEMA support. Nancy and I are fortunate that we do not live near the “rivers,” and we suffered no damage. However, the large field across the street, which has deep depressions, did fill with water to form a small lake.

So, what’s been going on in your hometown?

On that note, we come to the end of this session. Know I’ve spent too much about what’s going on in my world, but I don’t hear from many of you. I know you’re able; you just need to set your mind to it and talk to me. And keep as active as you can. Look what Tommy Kirk is doing.

Keep the red, white, and yellow floating on high and think reunion!

¡Hasta la próxima vez!

1951

Ursula Baxley

Dear Class of 1951 Friends, I write these notes Nov. 14.

I regret to report that Dick McFarlin died Nov. 3. What fun we all had at reunions!

Bounce Carstens answered the phone when I called this afternoon. He reported he talks to Jim Enochs several times a month. Bounce Carstens goes to the office every day and plays golf whenever the weather is good.

Frans Kasteel also answered the phone today. He is trying to downsize. He has put in an elevator that he and Daphne enjoy. He gets in long walks with his dog, Lil. He has resigned from the Coast Guard Auxiliary after many years of service. After long talks and a visit with his great-niece, he is writing his memories for her. The only one I remember is, “I swam over, sir.”

I received a note from Hap Miller ’60, who none of you would have known. He wrote to thank me for the article in the last 1951 notes about Jerry Eggleston. “I used to meet Jerry in Preston Library every day. He was reading newspapers. I was there providing ‘pro bono’ tutoring in math to a number of cadets. He said he taught math at VMI between 2002–17.

“Jerry was a fantastic person, and I have missed him dearly. In my many years of experience, I

Class of 1950B: A normally dry area across the street from Bob Lynd’s house is filled with water the day after flooding rains swept through Roswell, New Mexico.

Class of 1950B: Tommy Harwood kisses his wife, Mary Virginia, at the 55th Reunion in 2005.

Class Notes

have come to the conclusion that meeting people like Jerry is a rare privilege—one I will always treasure.”

Please send me some news. My next deadline is mid-February.

God bless all of you, and God bless VMI.

Mary Lanford Price

Dear Class of 1952 Family, It is never my preference to begin these notes with bad news, but we have lost two brother rats this quarter, and I have learned of the passing of another 2 years prior. We lost Dr. M. Wilson Gaillard of Mobile, Alabama, and Cameron C. Barr Jr. of Sterling, Virginia. Additionally, Dr. Patrick Spurgeon of Statesboro, Georgia, died June 23, 2022. Taps notices for all three are included in this issue of the Review, along with a notice for John P. Greenwood, whose passing was reported in the previous issue.

In addition, I was informed in mid-August that Mrs. Mary Dillon Cure, widow of John Cure, passed away in Lynchburg, Virginia, Aug. 6, 2024. She and John, who died in 2019, were married for an incredible 67 years after meeting in a Sunday school class as teenagers. Her obituary describes John as “the love of her life.” Many thanks to Langhorne McCarthy for letting me know of Mrs. Cure’s passing.

Dr. Gaillard, a dentist, died Aug. 30, 2024, at the age of 93. He spent 2 years at VMI, where he joined many of you in marching in the inaugural parade for President Harry Truman before returning to his native Alabama and completing his education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

His obituary describes an active life of service, engagement with others, and enjoyment of the natural world: “He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. After graduating, he served as a captain in the Army, serving in the Dental Corps. He returned to Mobile to private practice after 2 years. He was very active in the Alabama Dental Association and was a member of several mystic societies. Wilson shared his father’s love of birds and enjoyed trips to Gaillard Island. He

loved to turkey hunt, golf, fish, and body surf, and generously taught his family and friends to also enjoy his love of nature, whether at the hunting camp or his beach house on Fort Morgan.”

I’d kept up an email correspondence with Dr. Gaillard’s daughter, Sheri Gordon, who told me how much her father enjoyed receiving the birthday cards I’d sent him over the past couple of years. She also very kindly supplied the photo of Dr. Gaillard and his granddaughters at a debutante ball that accompanies these notes.

Cameron Barr, who died Sept. 1, 2024, attended VMI for 4 years but did not graduate. Before sharing some insights about Mr. Barr’s life as an educator, I’d like to thank Rev. Charles Cowherd ’03 for sending me an email letting me know that Mr. Barr, a member of Rev. Cowherd’s church,

had passed away. I’ve noted before that it takes a village—the entire VMI family, really—to keep our records up to date, and hearing from Rev. Cowherd late one early September afternoon reinforced that. I appreciate everyone who reaches out with news—even sad news—and updates.

After VMI, Mr. Barr earned degrees from several schools, ultimately earning a Master of Science degree in mathematics from Virginia Tech. He went on to teach math, calculus, and physics at Grove City College in Pennsylvania and Christchurch School and Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia. His obituary notes, “Even after retirement, Cameron’s commitment to education extended beyond the traditional classroom through volunteer work teaching English as a second language. In all settings, his kindness, patience, and humor created a nurturing learning environment for his students.”

Writing in the Bomb, Mr. Barr’s brother rats noted, “Cam came to the Institute in 1947 and was soon well-liked by everyone. Being the friendly type, he rapidly won approval of his instructors, even though they did have to wake him up occasionally. However, sleeping wasn’t his only accomplishment, for he spent 4 years on the wrestling mats. His fine personality and other winning mannerisms will carry him far in any field which he endeavors to follow—providing he can earn enough to satisfy his enormous appetite.”

I discovered Dr. Spurgeon’s passing while updating records this summer, and his obituary details a most interesting life pursuing two very different passions. After spending one semester at VMI, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Emory & Henry College and a master’s and doctoral degree in that subject from the University of Tennessee. He then served on the faculty at Catawba College, Coker College, and Georgia Southern University. Equally at home on the gridiron as in the classroom, Dr. Spurgeon coached football on both the high school and college level, as well, and his collegiate football associations include Youngstown University, Ohio State University, and Georgia State University. Perhaps his obituary says it best: “He leaves a legacy of love from Shakespeare to the Split-T. ‘He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.’” The quote is from “Hamlet,” and I am guessing it must have been one of Dr. Spurgeon’s favorite plays.

On a much happier note, I was delighted to see artist Clark Britton’s work featured in The Shout, an independent

Class of 1952: Cameron Barr.

Class of 1952: Dr. M. Wilson Gaillard with his twin granddaughters, Madison (Gordon) Niblett (left) and Chandler (Gordon) Becerra at the Camellia Ball in Mobile, Alabama, in November 2011.

publication covering arts and culture in Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Britton and I are friends on Facebook, and from that, I’ve been able to see just how talented this gentleman is. At 94 years young, he works in a wide range of media, including but not limited to textiles (Raggedy Ann dolls!), bookmaking, and calligraphy, and his work highlights the fact that art is both inspiration and perspiration. (My words, not his!) If you have computer access, type “Clark Britton, The Shout Wichita” into Google, and you will see what I’m talking about.

In his interview with The Shout, Mr. Britton credits art with helping him recover from a stroke he suffered in 2020 and 2021, and he makes a point of letting others know that a stroke doesn’t have to be the end of a meaningful and engaging life. “I wanted them to see that you can do something after you’ve had a stroke. You don’t have to give up,” he told The Shout. Incredibly, Mr. Britton, who attended VMI for just over a year, has a painting he completed in 1970 in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Not surprisingly, art was also the focus of Mr. Britton’s professional career. After VMI, he earned a Master of Arts degree from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Ohio State University. He taught graphic design at Wichita State University from the 1950s until he retired in 2000. I know you all will join me in congratulating Mr. Britton on all his accomplishments—and I hope I’ll be seeing his many talents online for years to come!

I’ve also had a phone call this quarter from Barbara Welsh, widow of Cecil Welsh. A native of Norfolk, Virginia (as was her late husband), Mrs. Welsh now lives in Virginia Beach. At 94, she has given up driving, but two of her children, including son Martin Welsh ’78, live close by and can help as needed. Mrs. Welsh, it was a delight to speak with you. Please call back anytime!

Sad news arrived in early November, just as I was sitting down to write these notes. Jim Mecredy fell and broke his pelvis, which necessitated a hospital stay. I sent word to Dr. Andy Dickinson and Dr. Jim Wiley, and both promised to reach out to Jim. Dr. Dickinson also wrote, “Recently spoke with Zeke Finney and plan to have lunch with him soon.”

As for mid-November, Jim was in rehab with plans to return to assisted living soon. I know you all join me in sending best wishes for a speedy recovery. I’m always grateful to his son, Dave Mecredy ’78, for keeping me informed about his dad. Before I close, I’d like to say a few words about the 50th annual Institute Society Dinner, which took place Nov. 8, 2024, a few days before the

Class notes

Institute marked an incredible 185 years since its founding. I was privileged to be a photographer at the dinner, and the energy and excitement there were palpable. It’s always a joy when friends of the Institute gather together, and to see more than 650 VMI supporters come out for this gala event was truly uplifting. I only wish some of you could have been there to join in this grand occasion, which took place at the conclusion to a beautiful autumn day. For those of you who haven’t been back to post in a long time, please know that the Institute is in very good hands.

I welcome your emails, calls, and cards. Please stay in touch, and I wish you the very best for the spring. ’52, ’52, ’52!

1953

WilliamC.NoellJr.

Brother Rats and Our Widows:

We lost our BR John “Spider” Evans in Richmond Sept. 25; he died at the Westmoreland Retirement Home. His memorial services were at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Thursday, Oct. 10. Judy and I came back from Tennessee in time to go to the services. Ann Goddard, Ann Artz, and Ken and Chris Perry were also there. It is a very large, beautiful church and was pretty well filled for the service. Regretfully, I have been there right many times over the years—the first was for roommate Pete Cox’s services.

We have also just lost our BR and class president, Parker Cross, in Norfolk. Parker was not only a BR but also a good friend who will certainly be missed. When Parker was practicing in EN&T in the ’60s and ’70s, he treated two of my three sons, as well as their mother. He told her that the best way to get rid of her sinus problem “was to take a long sea voyage.” We drove down to and from Suffolk for the services Saturday, Oct. 19, even though we had a houseguest for the weekend—one of our cadet’s mothers for family weekend. It was a very long day, getting home about 10:30, but we did get to visit with Annah after the services and met their son and daughter for the first time. My secretary of many years in Portsmouth used to ride the school bus in from the county with Annah, and I raced sailboats against an uncle in the Chesapeake Bay and the James River.

Now we have lost our BR “Sut” Sutherland in Williamsburg Nov. 9. I received a call from

Jeff “The Pain” Bane telling me of the passing of his last roommate. I did write notes to Annah and Lucy.

I also received the following prose from our English Scholar BR, Louis Hibbitts: “Time waits for no one; it passes us by. P.C., R.I.P. Bill, you have kept this class together for years; keep on keeping on! We are here for only so long. Make the most of it.”

The Class of 1979 had their 45th Reunion in September, with the theme of honoring their commandant, Col. William Jack “Buck” Buchanan ’50B Judy and I were invited and attended their Friday evening dinner at the Natural Bridge Hotel as their guests, which we enjoyed very much. I gave a talk on my 53-year relationship with Buck, from my rat year until his services at Oak Grove Cemetery—as the dyke of the first captain, commandant, dean of admissions, and retired Lexington alumnus. First off, I told the ladies present that this would not be an Old Corps story they have heard many times before, as it had never yet been told. That it would not be about his military service, although he was in the Marine Corps in World War II before coming to VMI, but would only be about a personal side of Buck that the Class of ’79 did not know. I certainly appreciated the invitation by class agent, Chappy Lucas ’79, to be a part of the weekend of honoring Buck. One of his three daughters, Jamie, was also at the dinner, who I first met

Class of 1953: Bill and Judy Noell attend a Halloween party in Norris Lake, Tennessee, Oct. 25, 2024.

when she was in third grade when my three sons and I spent a football weekend in Buck’s and Mary’s home on post.

The “hotel Noell” has been busy this October. After attending Spider’s services in Richmond, at our return, Chris Jones ’96 and his wife, along with their son, Harrison, arrived from Knoxville via the Naval Academy for VMI’s barracks weekend. Chris just retired from being president of the Knoxville Chapter of the Alumni Association. They left Saturday morning for Chris’ parents’ in Roanoke. Then, in the afternoon, our two cadets arrived with their dates for the weekend and the Saturday night hop. We did not make it to church Sunday, as we normally go together. Instead, we had a “sleep-in” and then a waffle breakfast in our dining room for the six of us. The next Friday, one of our cadets’ mothers arrived for the weekend for family weekend.

We attended the Rockbridge alumni dinner and met the new commandant, Lee Havird ’90, from Portsmouth. Interesting that his older brother, now in California, played baseball with my No. 3 son, John Lee ’84, at Churchland High School, and John Lee’s wife, Tracy, also knows the older

Class Notes

brother, Brian, and has remained in contact. Jay Williams ’83, who recently retired from VMI, also played baseball with them. However, Jay and John Lee played baseball together since they first learned the game at that young age. John Lee did know the commandant in those days somewhat, but not too well, as Lee was much younger. Lee is the first Air Force commandant since our days with Col. Frank “Flapjack” Pancake ’938

As for me, at 93, I feel very blessed to be in such good health and still able to do most things—well, much slower, of course. Although I have never had a bone/joint replacement, I did have a pacemaker procedure in July, which has helped with my energy level when taking on “tasks.” We still travel to our lake house in Tennessee (5 hours-plus) about one to three times a month, with me still doing 95% of it; going to family birthday celebrations, like in Culpeper; VMI alumni functions; and continued house guests and our adopted cadets—weekends or after church on Sundays. Since two keep their cars parked in our driveway, they have to have my transportation back to barracks—sometimes as late as 10:30. Of course, like all of us now, we seem to spend too much time seeing doctors for checkups or some medical problem. However, we did have our annual “end of the summer” music gathering at the lake the first part of September on a Sunday evening—each person’s favorite hors d’oeuvres, friends playing their music on the front deck overlooking the lake, and around 50 lake friends sitting in the yard under the trees listening, visiting, and eating for about 4 hours. I hope all had a fairly good summer and fall, as well as some good health.

1954

J.M. Perry Archer

Greetings: Swan Yerger

died Aug. 1, 2024, in Mobile, Alabama. He was born June 11, 1932, in Jackson,

Class of 1953: Bill and Judy Noell celebrate Halloween with Cadet Charlie McLaughlin ’25; their daughter, Jennifer Beacham; and granddaughters, Mary Jude and Addie Jay Beacham, in Lexington, Virginia, Oct. 27, 2024.

Class of 1953: Judy and Bill Noell with their grandson’s wife, Emma, and her friend, Rhonda, at Emma’s 30th birthday party in Culpeper, Virginia, Nov. 9, 2024.

Class of 1953: Cadet Connor Haines ’27, Cadet Jillian Sisk ’27, Cadet Charlie McLaughlin ’25, and Lilly (Virginia Tech ’25) at Bill and Judy Noell’s home in October 2024.

Class of 1953: Friends and neighbors gather for the annual end-ofsummer party at Bill and Judy Noell’s lake house in Tennessee in September 2024.

Mississippi. He was a fifth-generation Mississippian and attained the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15; after high school, he came to the Institute. While there, he made corporal and the honor roll and became class historian. He spent 2 years at VMI before transferring to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). He joined ROTC and graduated in 1954 with a major in history and minor in English. In his senior year, he also completed his first year of Ole Miss Law School. After graduation from Ole Miss, he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Brackley Field in Mobile, later as a first lieutenant, having served in the Air Materiel Command. Swan then entered and graduated from the University of Virginia Law School.

He practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi. He was selected president of the Jackson Junior Chamber of Commerce and served as chairman of the board of the Jackson Metropolitan YMCA and was chairman of the Mississippi Arts Festival and its first president. He originated the festival. Swan was also a founding member of the North Jackson Rotary Club and its first president. He was a Paul Harris fellow and recognized as a benefactor of the Rotary Foundation.

His litigation practice included a variety of cases, and Martindale Hubbard gave him an A rating. He became a fellow of the American Association of Trial Lawyers and was president of the Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association. In 1996, the governor of Mississippi appointed him to serve as Hinds County Circuit Court judge. He completed 2 years of a retired judge’s term and served 12 years as judge thereafter. In 2002, he became a senior judge and retired in 2010. He was awarded the Diploma of Judicial Skills. Swan was a solid and dedicated family man. He enjoyed studying and reading about America’s wars and was a great sports fan. In 2021, he and wife Gingia moved to Fairhope, Alabama. He was a Christian and active in church matters, and he was a patriot who loved America. He is survived by his wife, Gingia; two daughters; and extended family.

My VMI roommate, John Botjer, passed away Aug. 31, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. John was born in 1933. He married Dorothy, the love of his life from VMI days, and they had three children, Beth, Phil, and Pete. John was predeceased by Dorothy. He is survived by their children; granddaughters, Stacy, Angie, Jessica, and Clare; and seven great-grandchildren. John was employed with IBM for 46 years as an

Class notes

electrical engineer. At some point rather later in his life, he learned to fly, and this was an abiding favorite thing to do for him. John was a quiet, very intelligent, and steady friend through the years. With him, still water indeed ran very deep. Both Roy Alexander and I eventually became radar intercept controllers in the Air Force. Then we both ended up in Alaska at a remote radar site about 150 miles due west of Fairbanks and 15 miles south of the Arctic Circle. We were the next warning ring in after the Dew Line. It was not pleasant, to say the very least, and its code name/ callsign was, absurdly, Utopia. When you are in your 20s, things are always pretty good concerning attitude, and we did the duty well and with a will. It helped a lot that we had experienced VMI at a time when the Institute was rough. At that time, the Alaskan Air Command was overseas because Alaska was not yet a state. The tour was 1 year. The Korean War was not over officially. Both Roy and I had got married, and both of our wives were pregnant. They were not allowed to go to Alaska, as Utopia was remote duty. Upon our return to the States, we both ended up at Gray AFB, Texas. Upon discharge in September 1957, we attended and graduated from separate law schools—Roy from University of Houston, and I from University of Virginia—and both of us restarted our lives in Houston. Roy ultimately became an immigration attorney, and I an insurance defense attorney. I stayed in the Air Force Reserve, as well.

BR John Handy died Sept. 5, 2024, in Augusta, Georgia. He was 93. John married Mary Helen Musser in 1955. Together, they had four children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was from Richmond. After VMI, John was educated at Duke University Medical School and the

University of Michigan for internship and residency. Then, he finished with a fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Virginia in 1962. From 1962–64, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as chief of cellular physiology at the USA Medical Research & Nutrition Lab in Denver, Colorado. From 1964–67, he was on the department of medicine faculty at the Medical College of Virginia and then at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in 1967. He served as clinical medical professor at the Medical College of Georgia. In 1969, he opened a private practice in Augusta, specializing in internal medicine and rheumatology, where he remained for 35 years. He retired in 2004. He was an early treater of people with AIDS when that was not popular in the medical community. As if all that were not enough, John raised cattle in his 60s, 70s, and 80s.

As usual, any other news you have is always needed.

1955

Barney Lawless

I didn’t get much input this time, so I imagine most of you are getting ready for our reunion in April.

I got an email from Brandon Bissell ’98 informing me that he was part of organizing the Hawaii Chapter alumni to attend the POW/MIA recognition ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery in Oahu, Hawaii, where alumni placed a rosette to honor Brother Rat Lt. Col. Edwin Osborne, who we all knew as Moon. The Class of ’55 is very grateful to Brandon for his remote role in honoring our brother rat at the ceremony.

I did hear from a couple of you. Joe Cistaro tells us he is still residing at Falcon’s Landing in Sterling, Virginia, and keeping quite busy. He still helps his son with his prosthetic/ orthotic business in Winchester, Virginia. He also loves his docent activities at the Dulles Smithsonian aerospace museum every Friday giving public highlight tours. At the museum, he runs into a great number of VMI graduates, but none of our class since our last reunion. He is still trying to play golf and tennis weekly;

Class of 1954: Ollie Hux, Dave Hengel, and Swan Yerger during their rat year in 1950.

however, sports have certainly become more difficult with our aging bodies. He is looking forward to our upcoming reunions and will be coming down to the reunion with his fiancée, Janet McCarty.

Jack Dorey says he and Joanne are well and happy and have spent October to May in Vero Beach, Florida (their official home), for the last 22 years. The other 5 months each year have been spent in Ocean City, New Jersey. He still plays a very small amount of golf and a moderate amount of bridge. He reads history, which he says is quite ironic because, as a history major, he failed a freshman history course and transferred to a chemistry major. After graduation, he jump-started a couple of careers until he found the Holy Grail and entered medical school in 1959. He says he was fortunate to enjoy his career in medicine. He is strongly considering our 70th Reunion, but it may be an insurmountable goal given that it requires two flights and considerable ground travel each way.

Class Notes

Class of 1957: At the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Nov. 3, 2024, are Alice Elmore with her son, Thornton H. Elmore III; grandson, Thornton H. Elmore IV; and Cadet Thomas Leible ’28.

Review are a ‘slim’ reed that connects me to old friends and a fragment of my healthier days. I’m in physical therapy 3 days a week, which is helping me fight off decrepitude.”

Seen often at the home football games this fall were Dick Collier, Howard Lawrence, Paul Muldowney, and George Sydnor. All were in good spirits but expressed concern with the lackluster performance of the team. “There’s always next year.”

Representing the Class of ’57 at the Institute Society Dinner on Founders Day were Dick Collier, Curly Mason, and Ron McManus, with Patti Hammond standing in for the widows.

Watch your mail for the registration notice on our reunion.

Taps: David J. Thomas

1956

There is currently no class agent for the class of 1956. Please contact Norma Robinson at nrobinson@vmiaa.org if you are interested in filling this position.

1957

George Sydnor Jr.

Howard Lawrence

The Virginia Military Institute: An Uncommon Purpose!

Good afternoon, brother rats of the Class of ’57. It’s a late fall afternoon here in Fincastle, with the temperatures ranging in the 50s. Not much to report this time around, as the call-a-thon teams have

yet to be reorganized amid the tumult of “hurricane-itis” that has been sweeping through Florida near the Elmore domicile in Pensacola that has had the attention of “El Comandante” over the last couple of months. The teams are an essential part of our reporting and hopefully will return to action in the coming quarter with timely reports on the “goings-on” amongst our brother rats.

Martin Andersen stayed in touch from his home in Valrico, commenting on the hard-hit Tampa area during the storms: “Storm damage in Tampa area very bad, [about] 600,000 people without power. Fortunately, the blow was not so bad here. Lynne and I have a massive cleanup project ahead of us with a big tree down and tree limbs litter the yard everywhere; cell and internet service are intermittent, but all in all, we feel fortunate.” Earlier, Martin had written: “We are going to ride the hurricane out at home. I wanted to send Lynne out of state, but she won’t leave me here alone. We will have food and a whole house generator, so we will have power and water. An evacuation order has not been issued for the area that we live in. This is an area that they evacuate people to. We will get no water surge but can expect a lot of rain (we are high and dry), but the wind will be a problem.”

We did have a few stalwarts who check in on a regular basis. John Poffenbarger calls George every couple of weeks or so. He stays in touch with Clay Coupland, who indicated that he and wife Linda, like the Poff and wife Susan, continue to get along relatively well despite the usual aches and pains associated with the aging process. The same sentiments were also expressed by Kirk Hubbard, who now resides in Cary, North Carolina, to be close to his two daughters who live in the greater Raleigh area.

Joe Spivey wrote: “Thanks for all the good work you and Howard do. The class notes in Alumni

Bill Gay wrote: “Thanks, George and Howard. Sad news about Dixie. On another note, it looks like Frances and I will be moving back to the North Carolina Chapel Hill area. I’ll send you the details as they evolve. It will probably take place between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stay tuned!”

And a note from your current class agents: Dixie Thomas served as the ’57 class agent for 1 year from 1968–69 and then for 25 years from 1991–2016—a record that will stand for the ages.

Those who will hit their ninth decade on this terrestrial ball since the last set of these notes will be Kirk Hubbard, Nov.18; John (“the Pags”) Paganelli, Dec. 7; Charlie Smith, Dec. 20; Martin Andersen, Dec. 21; and Dick Collier, Dec. 29. Then, to start off the new year, we will have Dave Davenport, Jan. 7; Dudley “Pruney” Price, Jan. 13; Don Coombs, Jan. 16; Armand Wagner March 6; Jim Piggott March 17; and G.E. Murray March 31.Congratulations, guys; get ready for another decade to become centenarians.

Ben received an “out of the blue” phone call from Carl Hellstrom, who said that he was doing fine; he had retired from the U.S. Air Force and then worked for the U.S. Navy for 25 years doing IED work. His current telephone number is 757944-0483.

George, upon receiving the 2024 summer issue of the Kappa Alpha Journal, immediately noticed the front cover, which featured Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62. The journal was recognizing him as the 20th recipient of the Kappa Alpha Award for Distinguished Service. “Integrity and character: The principal requirement of leaders today and tomorrow.” Further along in the featured article was a review of past recipients of the award, and of the 20 recipient honorees, six were VMI Kappa Alpha Beta commission members: George Marshall ’901, Lemuel Shepherd ’917, John deButts

’936, Richard Byrd ’908, George Patton ’907, and Peay. (Class agent’s note: What a recognition of, and testament to, the value of a VMI education and its standards of honesty, integrity, and service.)

Now here is an undocumented episode from the past as told by none other than Ben Elmore. It goes as follows: “In late spring of our 3rd Class year, 1955, the VMI Glee Club was asked to sing in the White House on a Saturday night for President Eisenhower. A bus took us to D.C. Friday, as there was a practice rehearsal session that evening. After the rehearsal, Bobby Burns said to Drewry Fox and me, ‘Let’s go to my sister’s high school sorority meeting.’ Bobby had his father’s car, which had two stars on the front and rear license plates since his father was a major general at Bolling Air Force Base. We drove to the home where the sorority meeting was being held, went up to the front door, and I started to ring the doorbell. Bobby then said, ‘Just go on in. It’s all right. I know the parents.’ We three were about 10 feet inside the living room when a young woman passed by me. I looked at her and suddenly stopped. Bobby and Drewry, who were right behind me, bumped into me like a chain collision on a highway. Bobby said, ‘Are you all right?’ I asked him what the name was of that young woman who just passed us. He told me her name, Damaris, upon which I said to him, ‘I am going to marry that girl and spend the rest of my life with her.’ He laughed and said, ‘You don’t even know who she is!’ I replied, ‘That’s not important; that’s the way it is going to be.’ (And 63 years later, that is the way it has been!)

“A little later, I chatted with Damaris for about 30 minutes and asked her for a date that Saturday night after the White House performance. Both Bobby and Drewry each had also met a young woman at that meeting and had dates lined up for Saturday night. It was 9 p.m. the next evening when I picked up Damaris from her home, met her parents, and promised them that I would get their daughter home by 11 p.m. We went to the Hot Shoppe for snacks. When the three girls learned of Bobby’s connection with the U.S. Air Force, they asked if they could see some airplanes. Bobby said absolutely, and we wheeled into Bolling AFB without stopping at the front gate since all the guards recognized the general’s car and stood at attention while saluting. Bobby then drove around the base, inside several hangars, passed many ‘do not enter’ signs, and drove up very close to a parked USAF C-119 airplane that looked like a flying boxcar. What none of us knew was that that particular C-119 had been retrofitted to become Air Force One—the president’s plane! We got out of the car and started toward the plane when there were numerous shouts of ‘Hands up!’ ‘Don’t

Class notes

move, or we’ll shoot!’ We could hear sounds of numerous cartridges being chambered into shotguns, M-1 rifles, and M-1 carbines. We froze! There we stood with armed guards all around us for about 5 minutes until a paddy wagon showed up, and we three guys were loaded into the paddy wagon and driven to the Air Force police station on base. The three girls were put in the general’s car, and a sergeant drove them to the station.

Bobby, Drewry, and I were all standing at attention in front of the command master chief, who sat high up on a desk some 10 feet tall, looking down on we ‘poor sinners.’ Drewry and I were terrified! We knew that we were all going to be kicked out of VMI, probably go to hell, that our life was over, and we would probably go to prison forever! Our three dates were sitting off to the side, giggling, thinking that all of this was some sort of an act. Bobby, being a military dependent, was the only one of us who had a military ID card. The desk sergeant master chief was holding Bobby’s ID card up and was screaming and shouting down at Bobby! Finally, he said: ‘See this card? This is your lucky day! My signature is on the back of this ID card, which I signed when we were all together in Germany some 4 years ago! Get the *#@$ out of here! I’ll talk to your father about this tomorrow morning!” We left the base and drove our dates to their homes around midnight! The next day, I had to apologize to Damaris’ parents about missing their curfew and almost getting their daughter arrested on our first date.”

The widows’ corner: Alice Elmore said, “So sorry to learn of Dixie’s death. He was a faithful class agent, [and] everyone appreciated his long service to all. The good news is that I was at the athletic scholarship awards dinner for the presentation of the Thornton H. Elmore ’57 football scholarship. Son Thornton III and grandson Thornton IV accompanied me. What an exciting and special time for our family in that we had the opportunity to meet the recipient, Cadet Thomas Lieble ’28, seated next to me in the picture. He is 6’5” tall, weighs 303 pounds, and is a 4th Class cadet. Let’s hope he will be around 4 years for the football team. It was a most enjoyable occasion, and I am very grateful that I could honor Billy by helping someone else.”

Ann Gilmore wrote: “Sorry to learn of Dixie’s death and of Dawn in hospice. I feel fortunate to have known them both. We had the pleasure of spending time with them while Frank and I lived in Alexandria. A special time for the four of us. Dixie, with Dawn at his side, surely gave a huge gift to the class through the years. I want to thank and tell you both how much I appreciate your wonderful organization of the class that has led to

the great news you share with everyone about your brother rats and the sisters, too. I am staying well and back in Oxford for the winter following a good summer in Montana. I just returned from a tour of Portugal with five friends. What an interesting and beautiful country. The history of Portugal is fascinating. Trafalgar Tour took us from Lisbon for a circle of the country, seeing everything from the southwest corner of Europe to Roman ruins, to a medieval fortress on the Spanish border, to the terraced grape vineyards, to palaces and churches, to St. Fatima shrine, and a chance to try Port wines and good Portuguese food.”

And, before signing off on this edition of our ’57 class notes, we continue our honored tradition of remembering those brother rats who have “crossed over the river to rest under the shade of the trees.” Our 18th list of those gone but not forgotten Class of ’57: Joe Davidson, Aug. 29, 2015; Bob Susnar, Dec. 7, 2015; Frank Holmes, Dec. 28, 2015; Bill Nuenke, Jan. 13, 2016; and Larry Armstrong, Jan. 15, 2016. Rest in peace, brother rats who have passed, until at last we are all reunited; close ranks, brother rats still standing, as we continue our march forward on life’s path into the vast unknown and whatever the future may bring. When you are young, speed and adrenaline seem to be great. But as you get older and wiser, you learn that comfort and peace are more important. This is called S.O.S.: Slower, older, but smarter. Dedicated to all our brother rats who are, like me, now realizing it is time to slow down and enjoy the rest of the trip.

As it says in part in our “Doxology,” “The spirit blends with those we cheer, our brother rats we hold so dear. So now Keydets, with one voice cry, God bless our class and VMI.”

Your Class Agents,

George and Howard

1958

Lee McCown

Just think of Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole singing the great song, originally written in French and called “The Dead Leaves.” Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics, and I guess the new title of “Autumn Leaves,” now a jazz standard. Hope your leaves were as exceptionally beautiful this autumn as ours.

To celebrate Laura’s September birthday, we

went to my hometown of Roanoke to visit my brother, Rusty, and his wife, Kathleen. We stayed in a very exciting new downtown venue, the Liberty Trust Hotel, built in 1910 as First National Bank. Commissioned by the president of the Norfolk & Western Railway, known locally as the N&W, no expense was spared in materials—many of which were retained in the renovation. Lots of brass and marble in the lobby with the huge vault door standing open. There’s a small table inside where Laura believes proposals of marriage must surely take place. All the room doors are the original copper on both sides, and the leather chairs are the color of copper. The architecture firm handling the renovation is Glavé & Holmes of Richmond, who designed VMI’s Moody Hall replacement. More on that later.

N&W ruled Roanoke in 1910, particularly as an

Class Notes

employer, and continued to while I was growing up. They’re gone today except for museum exhibits that include some of their beautiful steam locomotives. My grandfather, several uncles, and a brother worked for them. I don’t know for sure how today’s employment figures compare, but the Carilion medical empire seems to rule now.

While in the Star City, I called Mike Smeltzer We weren’t able to get together but had a nice phone conversation. Mike is doing well and is in good physical condition. He stays fit by walking now, but until age 77, he ran up Mill Mountain on his birthday every year. Much of his career as an attorney was spent working with Appalachian Power Company, mostly related to the development of Smith Mountain Lake. He said he really liked the company because they always paid their bills. He sees Frank Hancock on occasion. We hope to see Mike and Frank the next time we’re in Roanoke. Mike still serves as the trusted treasurer of the Class of ’58.

A November trip to Lexington was for the Institute Society Dinner, its 50th. We were pleased to see Kay and Jim Stillwell and were seated with them, along with Jimbo Smith ’60, whom I know from class agent meetings; Henry Brown ’60, who also grew up in Roanoke; and their wives. Jim and Kay are well and are enjoying their 16th year at Sunrise Senior Living in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They are in excellent health, not having had to move to assisted living. Kay still does the cooking, and I assume Jim does the vacuuming, so they seem set for the long haul. I told them we would see them at the 70th Reunion, if not before.

The morning after the dinner included a mid-morning meal billed as a tailgate party since we were playing Mercer University that day (a misery I don’t care to relive), but it did include the joy of sitting with daughter Alane Cameron Ford and her son, Jefferson Cameron Miles ’24. They tried their best to keep my spirits up. Afterward, we went to Taps, the eatery that’s part of the hotel cluster called The Georges, which occupies five historic buildings. They find various ways to honor George Washington, George Marshall ’901, and George Patton ’907 in their decor. Great marketing aimed at the alumni of two fine colleges with connections to those men.

By now, you’ve seen pictures of the plans for a new Moody Hall in the 2024-Issue 4 Alumni Review. Laura and I were so relieved that it’s been radically altered since the first version we saw, which had no outdoor seating overlooking the Parade Ground. The new version incorporates many of the most attractive features of the old. One of Richmond’s renowned architectural firms, Glavé & Holmes, did the design. They also did

the renovations of the superintendent’s and the commandant’s houses, which were handled by women Laura knows who specialize in historic work and love VMI.

Laura tells me that this is the third time this year she’s seen major alterations made to important Virginia landmark building plans after feedback has been sought and/or more time has been taken to ponder a big change. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts convened many constituents to review its early design of a major addition and made many significant changes/improvements. The College of William & Mary went through a similar process for the replacement for its Muscarelle Museum, resulting in eye-popping improvements. While constantly changing, Virginia seems on track to remain a very beautiful state.

We go to Lexington for all home football games, sometimes with lots of family. Laura actually sat through the first half of a game this year, pleased that there were no concussions. After driving back to Richmond after one game, mostly in the dark, we agreed to book a hotel room after every game from then on. It’s been a wonderful relief.

One of our game trips took place during the 35th Reunion of son Derek McCown ’89, and I was happy to get to talk with two of his BRs who are the sons of our BRs: Mike Mezzacca ’89, son of Tony, who died in 1996; and Jason Gray ’89, son of Joe, who died in 2021. Mike followed in Tony’s footsteps by majoring in history and getting a law degree at Seton Hall University, becoming an attorney in New Jersey. He told me Tony had once also owned a restaurant and that he died of lung cancer caused by smoking. Jason, son of Joe Gray, lives in San Antonio, where he works for the South Texas VA Healthcare System. He reported that his mother, Betty, is doing well. Jason’s brother, Steve ’86, is Class of ’86, and there’s a grandson of Joe and Betty’s in the Class of ’19.

In October, we lost Bill Wood (Woody to many BRs) to kidney disease. His wife, Timmi, says there will be no funeral at his request. In addition to Timmi, he is survived by his son, Allen, and two granddaughters. His body has been donated to the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Timmi said she is glad that it will be used to help others. They were married 63 years, and Brooke Doggett remembers running into Bill and Timmi at The Homestead on their honeymoon. Brooke was there because he and Linda were also on their honeymoon!

Bill was born in Norfolk and graduated from Granby High School. After graduating from VMI, he served in the Army, then worked for U.S. Steel before starting the manufacturing representative

Class of 1958: The late Bill Wood, who died Oct. 12, 2024.

Class of 1958: Sam Witt’s gravestone in Hollywood Cemetery, with a bouquet from his wife, Sally, and a tribute stone from Lee McCown.

company he helmed until retirement. After that, he enjoyed serving as a substitute teacher with Fairfax County. His obituary describes him as loving sports and playing tennis until his knees made it impossible. He spent many happy hours on his boat on the Potomac River and enjoyed teaching son Allen and his friends how to waterski. He and Timmi loved traveling, especially to London, Oxford, and Bath in England, where they spent time with Bill’s English business associates. Rest in peace, Bill. By the time you read this, I will have sent you the obituary for Maurice “Moon” Menefee, who died Nov. 11.How appropriate that Moon—who was a decorated veteran who sustained serious injuries in the Vietnam War, a longtime volunteer in veteran-related organizations, and a devoted VMI alum—would die on VMI’s Founders Day, which is also Veterans Day. Moon was the impetus behind our Richmond alumni lunches and came as long as he was able. He is now laid to rest near my (eventual) grave in Lexington’s 18th-century cemetery, originally named Presbyterian Cemetery. Stonewall was buried there in 1863, and in 1949, it was sold by the church to the city and renamed Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery. The name was changed to Oak Grove Cemetery in 2020, which is appropriate because the Lexington Presbyterian Church website describes the earliest meetings of that congregation as sometimes taking place in an oak grove. Rest in peace, Moon, and deepest sympathy to Carol and daughter Laura, who gave the old warrior such loving care.

Since our last Alumni Review, Carolyn and Bill Harshaw have been through a rough time, with both of them having very bad cases of COVID-19 and Carolyn suffering a fall at Lake Gaston on their grandson’s September wedding day. Bill reports, “She severely lacerated her knee, requiring 20 stitches. We brought her home the next day, where she spent over 8 hours waiting for surgical suturing of the site. After I had gotten her home and to bed, we both awoke feeling awful. Our daughter-inlaw came and tested us for COVID-19, which we tested positive for. We are

Class notes

taking Paxlovid over a 5-day period. It is curative but with some unpleasant side effects.” When we last spoke, they were preparing to move to an assisted living facility in Virginia Beach in December. Jim Cowan sent this advice to the Harshaws: “Sorry to learn about your and Carolyn’s present predicament. What a blow—all at the same time. From the western edge of the northern Great Plains, Margaret and I send our prayers that you both recover quickly with no adverse side effects. While not recommending it to others, I have found over many years that with frequent self-applied treatment, a reasonable amount of Scottish whiskey each evening does a remarkable job of making one feel better about everything. Get well soon and stay that way, Jim.”

Jean and Lou Farmer represented the class at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet in early November and were seated with the recipient of the Class of ’58 football scholarship, Eric Rankin ’25, an All-Southern Conference linebacker and the best player on this year’s team. I hope Lou told those cadets about his role with the undefeated team of 1957. The late Jim Moore, who initiated the idea of the scholarship, would be so proud. Eric was Player of the Day for two games, including the Furman University game Nov. 2 where he caused a fumble and ran it back almost to the end zone. We scored two plays later and won the game although being beaten in all categories except the most important one in that game: Turnovers!

The banquet’s printed program describes our class scholarship this way: “The Class of 1958 Football Scholarship was established to honor those brother rats who were members of VMI’s undefeated football team of 1957 and provided outstanding play and leadership. The scholarship will enable a young cadet of character and ability to contribute to the success of the football team while availing themselves of the excellent educational and personal growth opportunities at VMI.” Of course, Lou was on that team and served as co-captain along with Sam Woolwine Other BRs on that great team were Benny Day, Nick Evanusich (Persin),

Class of 1958: Jason Gray ’89, Lee McCown, Mike Mezzacca ’89, and Derek McCown ’89 tailgate on post Sept. 7, 2024.

Class of 1958: The McCown family tailgates before a home football game in fall 2024.

Class of 1958: Onza Hyatt with cadets from the track team at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Nov. 3, 2024.

Duke Johnston, Bobby Jordan, Dave Martin, Harry Shepherd, and Ron Swirk.

Here’s Jean’s report: “Well, we made the round trip all by ourselves. It was a lovely day to be out and about. We had a delicious lunch with four football players, one from each class. They were delightful! Eric told us he has 1 more year of eligibility because of COVID-19 and may play next year at some other school and work on his master’s. Thanks for letting us have a most enjoyable day!” Glad you could go, Jean and Lou, and I’m glad Eric will have a diploma from VMI.

Becky and Onza Hyatt were at the banquet, too, as Onza is among those who fund the Coach Walter B. Cormack Memorial Track Scholarship honoring his coach. The fund is described in the banquet program as providing “grant-inaid to a track athlete. Established in 1976 to honor one of VMI’s most successful and popular track coaches by former athletes.” Becky provided a photo of Onza with four cadets on the track team. From left are Hunter Davis ’25, Liam McBride ’24, Onza, scholarship recipient Peter Fiorillo ’28, and Ben Hagerich ’26. Becky says they were all delightful.

The Hyatts are the perfect alumni ambassadors to meet with cadets, as they are some of the most upbeat people you’ll ever know. Onza had a recent monthlong bout with vertigo but recovered and is in good spirits, thanks to the loving support you know he receives from Becky.

Other BRs who have scholarship funds in their honor are Bruce Haldeman with the Haldeman Family Swimming Scholarship and Jack Tremaglio with the Ralph Tremaglio Jr. ’58 Athletic Scholarship.

Bruce’s honors “husband and father Mr. Bruce Haldeman II ’58, who graduated VMI with a degree in civil engineering. Mr. Haldeman was a 4-year member of the swim team, a letterman, a co-captain, and a three-time Southern Conference champion in the 220, 440, and 1500 freestyle. Provides grant-in-aid for cadet-athletes who are members of VMI’s NCAA Division I swim team. Established in 2022.”

Jack’s provides “grant-in-aid to a cadet-athlete who is a 3rd, 2nd, or 1st Classman, preferably from the Northeast, who maintains a 2.5 or above GPA. Established in 2010 to honor the memory of a beloved former teacher, basketball coach, banker, and mortgage lender.”

Isn’t it great that our comparatively small class is represented by four scholarship funds. ’58! ’58! ’58! ’58!

Speaking of ’58, our grandson, Jefferson Miles

Class Notes

’24, popped a surprise on me recently by showing me the inside of his fine-looking class ring with its tiger’s eye stone: It was engraved “’58 Never say die.” Several witnesses were watching to see if I had any tears in my eyes. Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t, but I sure appreciated being honored, along with the rest of you.

The longest-living pilot in our class is finally retiring at age 88. Roy Palmer sent this update: “I’m currently on an 11-day cruise round trip from Seattle. Docked at San Francisco this morning. Departing tonight for San Diego. Completed a flight test a couple of weeks ago in Houston. I’m doing a Korean Air 777 flight test in Korea in May. After that, I’m fully retiring at age 88. My FAA flight test license expires the end of August 2025, and I don’t plan to renew it.

“Had dinner on the boat last night with a World War II soldier who was 99 and doing great. After dinner, he left the table pushing a wheelchair carrying his date, who is only 87. Very impressive!”

Of course, Roy had to ask a teasing question of me by referring to my February head injury treatment needed because of a leap from bed during a nightmare: “Have you done any acrobatic tricks off your bed recently?” He usually asks if I’ve installed a seatbelt in the bed.

Roy also recommended a more dramatic variation of what I ask BRs many times a year: “It would be great if our BRs would send you comments for the Alumni Review. Years are passing by, and it would be really nice for BRs to report anything that comes to mind. Checking the latest issue of the Review, there are 108 pages of class notes. Of course, as your class ages, you move closer to the front. The Class of ’58 notes began on page 10 of the notes section. That should give our BRs a clue to ‘get off their butts’ and send you some notes about their lives while they still can.”

Thanks for that, Roy, to which I would add that even pictures of yourselves in earlier times or pictures of your plants or pets would be acceptable. I had lunch with Paul Royer, and he offered to send me a photo of us sliding down the hill toward Crozet Hall on chairs during that big freeze we had.

Closing on the subject of mortality, we recently accompanied Sally Witt, wife of Sam Witt, to his grave in Hollywood Cemetery. It took a year for the stone to be installed, but it looked great, adorned with Sally’s bouquet from her home garden. I always bring a small stone to place on Sam and Frank Norvell’s bigger stones, a Jewish custom much emulated now.

Rest in peace, BRs whom we’ve lost. And for our 56 BRs still standing, keep the spirit.

Lee

1959

Shep Shepard

I am sorry to report that we have lost three brother rats during the past quarter: Robert Forbes, Norm Shamus, and Buddy Kramer. Robert Nicholl, formerly known as Robert Forbes, died peacefully in his home in Dunn, North Carolina, July 10, 2024. His wife, Barbara, and daughter, Eleanor, were at his side. I did not know Robert, only through correspondence, but he was a professional city manager, having served in that position in Glasgow, Narrows, Dunn, Kitty Hawk, Nashville, Carolina Beach, Erwin, River Bend, and Hope Mill. A memorial service was held in Erwin, North Carolina. I received a very nice note from Barbara thanking me for keeping them informed about our class and how much they looked forward to and enjoyed the class notes in the Alumni Review.

Dr. Norman Shamus died Oct. 20, 2024, at Select Specialty Hospital in Wyandotte, Michigan. Norm and I were classmates during my last year in high school at Holy Redeemer High School in

Class of 1959: Agnes Inge Carter with her rat grandson, Cadet Harry Inge ’28, tailgating on the Parade Ground.

Detroit, Michigan. Norm decided to attend VMI when I told him I was going there, but I do not think he enjoyed his time at the Institute. I lost contact with Norm and his lovely wife, Muriel, about 15 years ago. A memorial service was held in Grosse Ile, Michigan, Oct. 25, 2024. I sent letters of condolences from our class to both Barbara and Muriel. Buddy Kramer passed away Oct. 8 in Sanford, Florida. Bud had a stroke and was in the hospital for 12 days. Denyse said she visited him often, but much of the time, he was incoherent. Bud was a special guy to me because he grew up with Ann, and she knew his sisters and family well. He was one of the Benedictine gang that included Donnie Dreelin, Dave Goode, and Billy Overman He was also our next-door neighbor during a stint at the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in the early ’70s. Bud always excelled in everything he did, including being the top man in his Ranger class. A memorial service was held in Sanford Oct. 19, attended by Lee and Nancy Southard, Mel and Jean Anderson, and Bob Haines. Bud was buried the following Monday in the National Cemetery in Mims, Florida, which is right down the street from where I live. I attended, and it was a beautiful military ceremony befitting an old soldier.

Class notes

I received a nice note from Agnes Inge Carter thanking me for some ’59 pins I sent to her for her boys, all VMI graduates or currently in the Corps. She said that most of the family will be at the home games and will proudly wear them honoring the “Stonewall Class.” They have two Parade Ground parking passes, and she hopes that some ’59ers will stop by their tailgate. There will be rats eating there after the parade. In the picture she sent is her

rat grandson, Harry Inge ’28, and Agnes. Notice the ’59 pennant on the tent and, at the opposite end, the ’25 for her other grandson, Tommy Inge ’25. Tommy is a co-captain of the football team, No. 55. Agnes is doing well; her weekly chemo infusions are causing only a few problems so far, but she will finish them in early December, and she is looking forward to a wonderful Christmas. Tex and Emily Carr are doing well— still traveling, although they have not scheduled anything for the near future. Tex’s son invited him to visit in Atlanta, and while there, he took him to the VMI versus Georgia Tech game. It was a great experience, and Tex hopes to do it again. They had to leave early due to rain and before VMI scored. All in all, Tex felt we were well outmatched but presented ourselves well. Tex said he received a call from Sonny Bishop. He had just returned from a 3-week stay in the hospital with pneumonia. He is doing all right now but had to have an overnight nurse plus the care of his daughter. Emily took off to Colorado to visit her grandchildren, leaving Tex to bach for himself. He did all right, but old fall injuries to his shoulder are catching up with him, and he requires shots to calm it down.

I did not know that Ned Addison had so many admirers, that silver tongue devil. (see picture). Ned said that his grandson, Bud, and Tommy and Agnes Inge’s grandson, Tommy, are brother rats in the Class of 2025. Small world!

Jim and Miki Edmunds also wrote to wish us all well in Florida after the hurricanes. They are doing very well. Jim is in reasonably good health and trying to walk a lot. As you dog lovers know, your daily walks are programmed by your dogs. In Jim’s case, he has two Weimaraners. He is always very aware of his surroundings so he will not fall. He has heard so many horror stories about people falling and never getting back to good health. Same dog bit me; I fell a couple of times, and it hurt, so I am much more attentive now. Jim and Miki vacationed in Portugal and Switzerland for 2-plus weeks at the end of May. They signed up for a Viking cruise in early January next year. They will be flying to New Zealand and cruising there and then to Australia. They also have reservations to see an opera at the Sydney Opera House. What an experience to see both the bridge over the Sydney harbor and the Opera House on the same day— both engineering marvels. You and Miki will love it. Ann and I went with Mel and Jean Anderson many years ago and saw “Carman” in the

Class of 1959: Shep Shepard and his daughters, Christine Ellegood and Colleen Merrigan, off the coast of Daufuskie Island, South Carolina.

Class of 1959: Ned Addison gathers with friends and family at the Rappahannock River home of Michael Denton ’81.

Opera House, and Mel and I climbed to the top of the Coat Hanger Bridge. We were much younger then. The whole trip reminds Jim of the Rhone River cruise we all took together years ago but with somewhat better accommodations. The ship carries slightly over 900 passengers, and all the staterooms have balconies.

Lee and Nancy Southard did the Canadian Maritime Cruise in September in spite of Lee’s bad knee. Lee is still contemplating a replacement, but the consequence if it goes wrong is possibly a loss of his leg. Something to think about. He and Nancy survived Hurricanes Milton and Helene with minor damage to the pool cage. They suffered about the same amount of damage when Ian passed through. Folks on Sanibel and Captiva were just returning to their homes after repairs following Ian when Milton wiped them out again. Lee’s new book, “Reflections on Genesis: A Journey of Discovery,” is finished.

Don and Carol Messner got back to Florida after fully expecting to spend at least this winter in Pennsylvania. The recent Florida hurricanes, however, had other plans. Water reached about 3 feet from their garage but nothing in the house. They were very fortunate.

Max Guggenheimer wrote that, in Lynchburg, they have a VMI senior luncheon on the last Friday of each month. At the last luncheon, a member brought a book, “Memories of VMI,” by Ursula Maria Mandel. Max had never seen or heard of the book. Ursula was born in Germany in 1941 and died in 2016. She has written a number of books and taught at several colleges in the U.S. She was married to Fred Hauser ’53 The book contains a lot of memories of a number of Keydets and quite a few of them by Tex Carr and Hal Dayhuff and one by Bob Hauser. Ursula wrote a second volume with a lot of input from Tex. I have both volumes and if you have not read them, I suggest you do.

Mel and Jean Anderson have been quite busy this past quarter. In October, they went on a 12-day cruise. They flew from Tampa to Montreal, where they boarded a cruise ship. As they cruised down the St. Lawrence River, they stopped in Quebec City; Saguenay; Corner Brook; Sydney; Halifax; St. John (Bay of Fundy); Portland, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; and New York City, where they disembarked. A week later, they flew to Denver, Colorado, to visit their daughter and her husband, who just purchased a four-story home. Mel says, at their age, four stories present a definite challenge! The main purpose of their trip was to spend time with their No. 2 great-grandchild, who was just learning to walk. However, while there, they enjoyed a cog train ride to the top

Class Notes

of Pikes Peak. As Floridians, they enjoyed all the colorful trees as they hiked through the woods to a waterfall. Mel and Jean are now planning a long Thanksgiving weekend to Washington state to visit great-grandchild No. 1 (3 years) and great-grandchild No. 3 (5 months). Life could not be better. Carl Kasko is in the process of moving in with his daughter, Cindy, and her husband. After several months of discussion, Carl agreed to make the move—just another phase of life. Carl says he feels really good and can still take care of himself,

driving, shopping, etc. However, moving puts less of a concern on them. His youngest son lives in Reading, Pennsylvania, which is located just down the road about 4 miles.

Larry Wood and his friend, Phil, from New Zealand, took their 10th annual 20-mile bicycle ride down the Las Vegas Strip. This year they included another friend, Kirby, an Army vet who, with his wife, has ridden three or four of the annual rides. It was a beautiful day and a fun ride. Larry received a note from John Van Kesteren saying that his prostate surgery went well, and thankfully, he is back to being physically recovered. However, hydrocephalus is really taking its toll on Pat’s balance, so they take it just one day at a time. John thinks someday they will be looking at home care assistance. They weren’t kidding when they said growing old is challenging, to say the least.

Sallie and Nowell Loop welcomed their second great-grandson, Shephard Tate Loop, in early August, so the Loop clan may carry over to the 22nd century. They are blessed beyond their fondest dreams. Congratulations.

The pandemic and other unexpected events put the kibosh on Florida group mini reunions. After receiving pressure from members of the Florida group, I am back in the planning mode and have scheduled our next mini for April 1–3 in New Port Richey, Florida, just outside of Tampa. We have selected the Hacienda, a 1920s-era hotel that has just recently been renovated, located at 5621 Main Street, New Port Richey, FL 34652. Telephone 727-845-5621. There are only 40 rooms in this hotel, so if you are at all interested, I suggest you make reservations and cancel at a later date if you feel you cannot make it.

The Florida group fared well during the past two hurricanes. I got very little rain but some pretty hefty wind. Mel and Jean Anderson were on a cruise when the hurricane hit Tampa; fortunately, they received no damage, but the debris was unbelievable. Tex and Emily Carr had no damage from either hurricane. Don and Carol Messner had high water but did not reach the house. Nothing like the previous hurricanes. Bill and Connie Nebraska were right in the thick of it but no damage. Lee and Nancy Southard and Bob Haines had some wicked wind but very little damage. With the path of the hurricanes shifting so much, it was difficult to know which way to run. The center of one of them passed right over Melbourne and raised havoc on the people north and south of me, but I didn’t feel a thing. The good Lord was looking out for me.

The girls have kept me pretty busy this past quarter. We made plans to visit my son, Brett Shepard ’87, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, but on the way to the airport, he called and said the

Class of 1959: Shep Shepard, Mel and Jean Anderson, Denyse Kramer, Bob Haines, and Nancy and Lee Southard attend Bud Kramer’s memorial service in Sanford, Florida.

Class of 1959: Eddie Barnes, Bobby Ross, and Charlie Schoen ’86 visit post.

roads were washed out, and there was no way of getting to his house. We’ve rescheduled that trip. We’ve been to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, where we saw “The Book of Mormon.” Thank goodness my hearing aids were not working; from what I did hear, it was not to my liking. They made it up by taking me to another show the next week that was much better, “Dear Evan Hansen.” We spent a week up in Hilton Head—got my tile roof replaced and put a heater in my pool to take care of the family when they come to visit at Christmas.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the mini. Keep those cards and letters coming in.

Yours in the Spirit, Shep

Greetings from Lexington, Virginia. This edition of our class notes begins just as the rats are matriculating and the Old Corps is coming back. There is a new commandant.

As I will say later, VMI is in good shape. The Corps is over 1,500 cadets strong. The rat class matriculated 499 students.

Since our last notes, Steve Sewell and Lenny Carmine had their next birthdays. Steve got a voicemail birthday wish. I’ve never gotten in touch with Lenny over the years as I have no email address, and he has no voicemail on his phone.

Unfortunately, I have some more sad news, this time regarding Brother Rat Ridge Parks. His obituary is as follows: “John Ridgely Parks Jr., 86, of Manchester, died Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, at Carroll Hospital Center. Born March 21, 1938, in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of the late Anna Cole Parks and John Ridgely Parks. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Parks Mays.

“Ridgely was a graduate of the Class of 1956, McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Maryland. He went on to graduate from Virginia Military Institute in 1960. Upon graduation from VMI, Ridgely went into the United States Marine Corps, where he served with the rank of captain.

“While Ridgely’s career took on many roles, his most significant and

Class notes

impactful role was as a dedicated father and grandfather. His love of his family was his greatest gift. He is survived by his children, Anne Parks Elder (Tom Medairy) of Manchester; J. Ridgely Parks III (Kimberly Stevenson) of Butler; and Amy Parks Cunneen (Michael) of Butler; a brother, Robert M. Parks (Holly) of Evanston, Illinois; and by 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made to Carroll Hospital Center. A celebration of Ridgely’s life will be held at a later date. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Ridgely Parks Jr., please visit our floral store.”

Brother Rat Bolling Williamson sent the following two emails regarding his relationship with Ridge and the Marine Corps: “Hap—sorry to read this about Ridge. He was the reason I went into the Marines; I was laughing at him one Friday as he was going to a reserve meeting in his uniform, and he told me that I was just jealous because I couldn’t hack it. I disagreed; he told me that the PLC recruiting officer happened to be on post, and I could go down and sign up if I had the guts to do it. So, I went down to the MS building, looked him up, and told him that what I really wanted to do was get a commission in the Navy—any way that could be arranged? ‘Sure, we’re a part of the Naval service.’ So I signed up, and I think that Ridge won a pair of cordovan dress shoes for ‘recruiting’ me. Got to Quantico for the 12-week summer program (a modified boot camp) and after about 3-4 days of getting yelled at, etc., I thought, ‘I’ve already had this experience,’ and told the captain that I wanted a transfer to the Navy. The roof fell in; you’d have thought I’d said that I was a North Korean sympathizer. They worked my @#$ for about 3 weeks, and it blew over. After we got commissioned, Ridge and I wound up in the same battalion and lived in the same compartment (known as

‘boys town’ because we were all lieutenants) on a troopship for about 4 months.” Thanks for the memories, Bolling.

On Aug. 26, Tom Royster had his next birthday. I was unable to speak with Tom, but he got a birthday email wish. On Aug. 28, the Powell brothers, Jim and John, celebrated their next birthdays. I did not speak to Jim but sent him an email birthday wish. I caught up with John, who is well. He is finishing up a new book.

On Aug. 31, Jim Pittman had his next birthday. I was unable to speak with Jim but sent email birthday wishes.

I caught up with Joe Sisler Sept. 2 and sent him birthday wishes. Joe was on the golf course when I spoke with him. He is doing well.

On Sept. 10, I completely missed Bill Knowles’ next birthday. Old age working against me.

On Sept. 16, I spoke with Earl “Ed” Marquette. He has moved into an assisted living facility. He has dealt with some long-term issues, but they are stable. He sounded good.

On Sept. 18, Barry Worst celebrated his next birthday. I was unable to speak with him, but he also got birthday wishes.

On Sept. 24, I was able to speak with Mike Shoemaker on his latest birthday. Mike reports that he is feeling well.

On Sept. 25, Brother Rat Steve Sewell passed away. Steve was very generous to VMI in life. He also remained very active in the U.S. Army Reserve. His obituary is as follows: “Major General Stephen H. Sewell Jr. Aug. 20, 1936–Sept. 25, 2024. Retired U.S. Army Major General Stephen H. Sewell Jr., of Roanoke, Virginia, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at the age of 88. General Sewell was raised in Statesboro, Georgia, and attended Duke University, followed by Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1959. He spent 34 years in the Active Army Reserve. Steve had numerous business interests and was active in several nonprofit organizations.

“Steve married Patricia A. Chumley of Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1959, and together raised a loving family. Unfortunately, he was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, and their son, Christopher Wynn Sewell. Steve, along with Pat, spent many joyful hours at the lake and remained an avid supporter, including travel to cheer on his favorite sports teams: VMI Keydets and Duke Blue Devils. Steve leaves behind his son, Stephen H. Sewell III and his wife, Caroline A.Sewell; daughter, Sheri S. Vaughn, and her husband, Paul C. Vaughn;

1960

James A. Smith III

Class of 1960: Jimmie Seeley and Buddy Frith.

daughter-in-law, Laura Sewell; grandchildren, Brandon Sewell (Ashley), Brian Sewell (Nikki), Taylor Moore (Greg), Garrett Vaughn, Cameron Vaughn (Julia), and Harrison and Julia Sewell; and great-grandchildren, Ella, Claire, Camden and Graham Sewell, Finley, and Olivia and Mason Moore. His legacy of love will live on through each of them.”

On Oct. 1, I received the following email from Jeep Goodwillie regarding a recent phone call he had with his roommate, Bill Knowles: “Just hung up from talking to Bill Knowles, my old roommate. I waited a while after Sue’s passing to let things settle down some but wanted to see how he was making out. Of course, he misses Sue greatly but is coping. He is doing well for the most part, considering his heart, cancer, and COPD issues. His son and daughter-in-law now live with him since he can’t drive anymore, which has been a big help. He goes to the gym 3 days a week, and today was his first day back after some recent absence. I forget why. Just thought I would pass on the info. We are doing well, considering. Linda is now fully retired from her property management business, and I stay close to the house doing lots of woodworking. Because of some pretty serious vertigo issues, I won’t be attending the reunion, but I will be there in spirit. See you when I see you.”

On Oct. 3, Roy McLeod had his next birthday. I was unable to speak to Roy but left voicemail wishes.

On Oct. 5, George Uhlig celebrated his next birthday. I was able to speak with George. He is tolerating his aches and pains that go with the age.

On Oct. 5, Ed Duncan had his next birthday. Ed said he was “hanging in there.”

I received a short email from Jimmie Seeley regarding a recent visit with Bud Frith. A picture is in this edition of notes.

Sadly, we’ve lost two more brother rats. Seaborn “Seafus” Brown died Oct. 12 in Sarasota, Florida. The following is his obituary: “Seaborn Flournoy Brown was born in Richmond, Virginia, graduated from Virginia Military Institute, and was a United States veteran. He was the husband of Pricilla Nash Brown and father of Evan H. Brown of Burke, Virginia, and Alden F. Brown of Portland, Oregon. His career spanned many years in the international pharmaceutical industry. Services will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Virginia Military Institute Alumni Agencies, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450.”

I also received a late obituary of Bill King, who passed away in Texas in March of this year. His obituary is as follows: “William Russell King (Bill) dashed into Jesus’ arms as early as he could

Class Notes

Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, the Lord’s day. He closed his eyes around 12:15 a.m. and opened them in Heaven in the arms of Jesus. Bill was born in Washington, D.C., June 22, 1938, to William M. King and Virginia S. King. He was preceded in death by his parents. Bill is survived by his wife, Joan M. King; his brother, Dr. Kenneth King, and his wife, Linda, and their two children; as well as Bill’s brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Mitzy McEvoy, and their son and daughter-in-law, Aaron and Judy McEvoy. He was also blessed with two children and their families: Kristie King Caviness, husband Randall Caviness, and Rusty King, wife Missy King, and two grandchildren, Madison and Matthew King.

“He spent his childhood in Alexandria, Virginia, and then attended Virginia Military Institute. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1960.

“After VMI, he went to Fort Sill for artillery training. In summer 1961, he spent time in the DFW area, specifically on Lake Grapevine. There, he met his wife of 62 years, Joan McEvoy King. They were promptly engaged after only 14 dates. Bill’s mother, Virginia, said she was ‘the one’ because he let her drive his beloved car. They were married Oct. 7, 1961, in Perkins Chapel on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas, Texas. After their marriage, they settled briefly in Baltimore, Maryland. They then returned to Texas, where he was a manufacturer’s representative with McEvoy and Askew for auto and trucking parts and handled the Houston/Gulf Coast region. Bill and Joan moved to Houston and settled in the Sharpstown area. They decided to adopt a child. In July 1966, they received a call that would change their lives. The Homes of St. Mark had a baby girl for them. Kristie Lynne King was born July 16, 1966, and was adopted just 5 days after she was born.

“A second call was received in June 1968, and they had a new baby boy, William Robert King (Rusty), born June 20, 1968.

“As the children grew, they participated in all the area sports, including soccer. Rusty played for the St. Francis de Sales soccer organization, and Bill found his love of the game there. He became a coach to Rusty’s teams and began refereeing. He was also a state soccer coach and traveled around the state to train others to coach and referee soccer for all ages. He coordinated and assigned the referees in the Houston area for various soccer clubs in addition to refereeing games himself. All of this is in addition to being a highly successful commissioned salesman. While most of his career was spent with McEvoy and Askew, he finished his career with the Sloan Company. Bill was active in his

church home, Gethsemane Methodist Church, for many years. He was a choir member, led Sunday School classes, and helped maintain the church when needed.

“In 2003, he and Joan moved to Missouri City, Texas, and bought a home on Lake Olympia. He moved his church home to Sugar Land Methodist, where he was active in the choir, Sunday School, and prison ministry. In addition to the church, Bill was very active with Bible study fellowship. He enjoyed studying the Bible and always had devotionals and notes scattered over the breakfast table. Bill was an avid Houston Astros fan and did not want to miss a game, even if he fell asleep during part of it. He and Joan enjoyed traveling together on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and the East Coast. He also loved golf! He’d watch training videos for hours, hoping to perfect his game.

“Perhaps his most notable interest was his love of magic. Bill has been a magician since he was a kid. He would share stories about saving his money and riding on a bus to get downtown to visit the magic shop and see what was new that he could purchase and then master. He performed at children’s birthday parties and children’s hospitals, and he had a short stint at Dave and Busters doing close-up magic with coins and cards. He was active in the Houston Association of Magicians and enjoyed spending time honing his craft. Always kind and quick-witted, Bill was easygoing and easy to love. He made an impact on everyone he met, whether he knew you personally or not. His claim to fame was calling his friends and family on their birthdays and singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ chorus, including the addition to the end with ‘... and many more.’

“At his last hospital stay, the discharge nurse said he was a ‘precious soul’ and charming and funny. He had smiling blue eyes and walked very fast. He had a knack for putting people at ease. He has been restored. His heart is no longer weary since he fought the good fight. Matthew 25:21, 23.

“Bill’s funeral service will be held Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 10–11 a.m. at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas.

“If you’d like to contribute to his favorite ministry, please go to sugarlandmethodist.org under GIVE and Give Now.”

On Oct. 20, Jack Willard and Roy Quinn had their next birthdays. I caught up with Roy, who reported that he is well. Jack got email birthday wishes.

On Oct. 21, Dr. Bill Spicuzza celebrated his next birthday. He got email wishes.

Ruth and I had the pleasure of a trip to Sorrento, Italy, from Oct. 12–Oct. 22. Much pasta eaten.

On Oct. 27, Dr. Frank Ferrier celebrated his next birthday. I was unable to speak with Frank, but he got an email.

On Oct. 29, I had my next birthday. It came and went without much celebration. I am just happy to have birthdays and want more.

On Nov. 2, Jay Jarrett celebrated his next birthday. He is recovering from a major surgical procedure and reports he is doing well.

I spoke with Fudd Caldwell Nov. 6 and wished him a happy birthday. Fudd is holding his own.

We are reminded that Nov. 7, 1966, Brother Rat Eagle Bayliss was shot down. We will celebrate Eagle with our class’ award to an outstanding AFROTC cadet in flight training next month.

I spoke with Bob “Railroad” Hamilton Nov. 8, who was celebrating his next birthday. He reported that he was well.

On Nov. 11, George Coulbourn celebrated his next birthday. George sent his thanks and regards from New Mexico.

On Nov. 9, VMI celebrated an Institute Society Dinner with Gary Sinise as the featured speaker. Henry and Linda Brown stayed with us. Henry, G.G., and I were the only members of ’60 at the dinner. See elsewhere in this edition of the Review regarding Gary Sinise.

VMI football has suffered this year, winning only one game—against Furman. The basketball team has won three games at the time of these notes. The team is much improved over last year.

This brings this edition of our class notes to a close. Plans are underway for our 65th Reunion, April 13–16, 2025. We will be staying at the Hampton Inn in Lexington. Details will be forthcoming. I hope we have a good turnout! I appreciate Hap Miller’s efforts to keep us informed. He is on top of the situation.

Thank you all for your contributions to the Bayliss and Tumlinson awards. I will get out a progress report when I hear from the VMI Foundation. In the meantime, keep ’em coming. Remember, it’s a privilege to serve as your class agent. Please send notes and photographs, and come see us in Lexington.

In the Spirit, Jimbo

Sal Vitale Jr.

Class notes

Class of 1961: Pictured in Williamsburg, Virginia, Sept. 24, are (front row, from left) John Tharrington, Sally Hanlein, Peggy Alligood, Ray Hanlein, Harrison Fridley, Terry Fridley, Sandra Coleman, Dave Harbach, Dick Youngblood, Judy Youngblood, Kay Seaquest (friend of Robert Williamson), Robert, Sue Patrick, (back row) Joann Respess, Larry Respess, Sandra Taylor, Cilia Kurstedt, Ashby Taylor, Harold Kurstedt, Margie Finnigan, Charlie Finnigan, Tom Phlegar, Wyatt Durrette, Allison Drescher, Mitch Kot, Jennifer Kot, Stu Woodcock, and Paul Johnston.

is decided, and in a few weeks, we will have been living in Maryland for 1 year. Where has the time gone? Since my last update, our renovation contractor went bust, and we had to scramble to find someone to finish the work. Finding a contractor who is willing to clean up the mess of another is not easy, and we were fortunate to find a craftsman to take the work on a time and material basis. I can’t wait until the work is completed.

Bill and Sandra Fout are usually in Arizona in the fall but were still in Maryland, and Sue and I visited them in Frederick, Maryland. Sandra is still coping with knee issues, and Bill is getting old like the rest of us. It was a pleasant visit.

My Sue has been going through hell. The hip reconditioning and the weeks of therapy apparently were not adequate to keep the ball in the hip socket. During the second week of September, Sue dislocated. I called 911, and the emergency doctor put the hip back in. Later that week, she popped the hip again, and this time the 911 EMT decided to take Sue to the trauma center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Their emergency room could not put her hip back, and after 12 hours of communicating between Johns Hopkins and the hospital in Annapolis, we finally got her transported at 5:30 a.m., and 4 hours later, the ER doctor put her hip back in. Sue’s doctor suggested we seek out a second opinion, and we did. All agreed that Sue needed another operation and a special joint called a dual mobility cup. Sue was fitted with a brace that inhibits her movement, is not comfortable, and is worn 24 hours a day until the operation.

was a blessing as I could assist Sue. Attending the dinner was John Tharrington and his friend, Lois. Sue and I always enjoy being with them, and John is a wonderful person. I limit my night driving, so special thanks to John Wranek ’85 for shuttling us to and from the hotel to the event.

The Institute Society Dinner was optional black tie, but from what I could see from the Alumni Agencies’ online pictures, most wore black ties. After the official program, there was a tent where could dance. Sue and I planned to attend, but at the last minute and with bags packed, I decided not

Summer is over, leaves almost gone, the election

We attended the Marshall Foundation dinner in Arlington. They have a family bathroom, and this

of 1961: Pictured at the home of Bill and Sandra Fout in Frederick, Maryland, in August 2024 are (from left) Sue Vitale, Bill, and Sandra.

Class

to go. The thought of driving 100 miles each way on I-81 caused me to reconsider, and I did lose my motel deposit. Attending from our class were Bob and Suellen Reitz and Bill and Marci Keech. At the table were Col. Gary Bissell ’89 and his wife, Marti. Bob made the trip from Atlanta and said I-81 got a little hairy at times.

The next couple of months, I will be very busy taking care of Sue, preparing for Christmas and New Year’s, supervising the making of raviolis, and of course, several Italian/Sicilian Christmas desserts. Now, news from the rest of the class:

Our class’ happy wanderers, Larry and Jerri Wetsel, covered a lot of the world in the past few months. They visited Yellowstone National Park and stayed at a luxurious campsite. At the campsite parking lot, Larry tripped on the curb, fell on his face, and broke his glasses. Larry was patched up, and soon after, Jerri got sick enough that they went to a hospital in Jackson Hole. As it turns out, Gaylia Hudgins was staying at Jackson Hole and went to the hospital, commandeered a gurney, and told doctors to take care of Jerri. Diagnosis was an infection combined with high altitude. Jerri stayed one night. Soon after Teton, Larry and Jerri were on a new adventure. Larry, along with several other executives and wives from the Norfolk Southern Railway, rented a luxury car for a train trip from New York to Chicago and back to D.C. It was a 10-day trip in a private sleeping car and, of course, with a chef. Larry said it was a great trip. The Wetsels were home for a day, changed their bags, and were on a week’s boat ride up the Hudson River. Larry said it was a great trip. The Wetsels are currently in Italy with the Virginia Historical Society. The subject is World War II campaigns in Italy. Larry was flying out from Dulles Airport, so he parked his car at John Tharrington’s house, and John took them to the airport. I have not heard the details of the trip, but I am sure it was wonderful.

Class Notes

Class of 1961: Having lunch at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in Paint Bank, Virginia, Oct. 18, 2024, are (front row, from left) Sandra Coleman, Terry Fridley, Cilia Kurstedt, Barbara (friend of George Henning), Irene Tweedy (friend of Barry Orndorff), (back row, seated) Dave Harbach, Harrison Fridley, Tom Phlegar, George Henning, Barry, (last row, standing) Jim Oliver, and Harold Kurstedt. Not pictured is Mitch Fridley ’89.

Class of 1961: Tom Phlegar celebrates his 85th birthday by skydiving near Charlotte, North Carolina, Aug. 31, 2024.

had to boil her water. Manny Puette’s community, Collettsville, was hit the hardest by Helene. Manny was without electric and water for 10 days. Brother rats in Naples, Florida, were lucky with only high winds and some shingles lost. Don Rishell said the wind at Fort Myers was 100 mph. The Villages experienced high winds. Dude Copenhaver lost shingles and the solar heater for the pool at their new home. Dude and Lee Crow are settling in. Bob and Jeannie Burks lost shingles and were lucky enough to quickly get repairs and an insurance payment. Jeannie completed the medication study she was enrolled in for Alzheimer’s with, thankfully, no side effects. Bob is still struggling with balance and swelling of legs.

I have frequent conversations with Lou Shuba. Priscilla is still struggling with her foot problem, and from what Lou says, it is quite painful. Lou says he’s starting to feel his age and limits his exercise to short walks. He plans to go to his hunting lodge and be with the guys he’s known for over 30 years.

Bill and Sylvia Haeberlein are settled in their new home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Bill has been having some issues with his lungs, and hopefully, by the time you read this, he will have gotten a good report from the cancer center in Houston.

Dick and Judy Youngblood have their condo for sale in Wilmington, along with their boat. Dick is down to two medications for his cancer and is feeling pretty good. Dick says Judy is so-so.

Don Fang says he is fortunate to be in the best of health.

The storms that hit Florida and North Carolina did impact several brother rats. Battle Haslam’s Asheville house was severely damaged in May when the tree fell, and it was just getting close to getting the roof repaired and working on the inside when Helene hit. The inside is flooded; insurance has been very slow or complicated. Battle’s son

lives in Asheville, and he escaped any severe damage. Rod Hudgins was renting a house, and a large tree branch fell through the roof into the bedroom. The house was declared unsafe, and they moved to another rental house. Howard Dyer is about 30 miles away from Asheville, and they escaped any damage. The Dyers have three daughters who live in Jackson, Mississippi, and Howard and Mary are moving back to an assisted living in Jackson as soon as the unit is available. Mary had her last chemo set and is feeling OK. Howard continues to cope with Parkinson’s disease. Harrison Fridley’s daughter lives in Asheville and had no power and

Ashby and Sandra Taylor are both struggling with memory issues, as many of us are. When Ashby calls, he reminds me he can’t remember anything, which is what he said the last time he called me (smile).

Ashby and Ben Lynch had lunch. Ben is at an assisted living facility in Norfolk. Ben is also experiencing dementia.

Gerry and Charlene Eubank sold their house at Lake George, New York. It was a tough call. Gerry’s son, Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank ’91, was recently promoted to U.S. Strategic Command chief of staff. Ray and Sally Hanlein visited the New York State Finger Lakes region and said it was beautiful. The trees were in their autumn colors. Ray made no mention of how New York State wine compared with his (smile).

Bill Nelms said everything is fine except getting into Brandermill Woods, a senior facility, is taking considerably longer than hoped.

Cammie Bella was very excited when she read an article in the Episcopal News Service about the New York teenager’s trip to Haynesville, Alabama, that she wrote to the editor and said, “My spouse, David Bella, was a classmate of Jonathan Daniels. Such a hero!”

Bob Coltrane is able to do more physical activities since his knee and hip surgeries but tires easily. Bob talks to Ron McNemar’s daughter, Jodi, and she said Ron had another stroke but seems to have somewhat recovered and has lost his shortterm memory. Ron still enjoys a short conversation about the old times and pretty much recognizes everyone.

Honey Tarrell is still walking and hiking and working every day.

Jack “J.D.” Miller moved to Reston, Virginia. He turned the ranch over to his grandson.

Bill Hala is having skin cancers on his arm, and he is taking care of it. He will not be in The Villages for the winter.

Dave Thomas had a heart catheterization and a stent and then had to have a pacemaker. His wife, Edwina, is recovering from a knee replacement and a collapsed foot arch.

Raine Gilbert is doing OK. Clair is still having severe back problems.

I was upset when I learned that Wyatt Durrette’s prostate cancer has spread. Keep him in your prayers.

John and Doris Rudibaugh are in “semi” good health, only a few more aches and pains. John’s business is doing well, as the freight RR is keeping America moving. In their spare time, they keep busy with their 13 grandchildren. Grandson John is a 3rd at VMI.

My daughter, Lynn, and her husband, Mark, visited Hugh and Nelle Gouldthorpe. Needless to say, my family was overwhelmed with the hospitality of Hugh and Nelle.

Jim Harrison is doing OK. Jim was afflicted with polio as a youth, and now it is back as adult polio. Jim keeps on moving, as he needs to care for Mary Carolyn, “M.C.”

Spike Callander has been going through hell. The lifesaving surgery went well. However, when a temporary “thing” was removed, it nicked an artery, causing a hematoma, and Spike was bleeding, but they did not know where. It is fixed, and Spike remains on dialysis, which helps. Hopefully, by the time

Class notes

you read this, Spike and Mary will be back to an almost normal life.

Bill Maurer had his dog on a leash, and the dog jumped and pulled Bill down on his back, and Bill hit his head. He was all right. More importantly, Bill’s grandson, Karl, and son, Adam ’95, visited VMI, and Karl thinks he wants to attend.

During this last quarter, we have had several exciting brother rat events. Tom Phlegar, on his 85th birthday, jumped out of an airplane. Tom enjoyed it, and he plans to do it again next year.

In September, several members of the class met at the Hampton Inn in Williamsburg, Virginia. Ray Hanlein arranged the event for golf and evening dinners. The Tuesday night dinner was arranged by Sylvia Woodcock at their private dining facility at Windsor Meade. Sylvia prepared table flowers and name cards indicating our meal choices (we all forget). It was a wonderful evening. Those attending were Dave Harbach and Sandra; Charlie Finnegan and Margie; Harrison Fridley and Terry; Paul Johnston; Mitch Kot and Jennifer; Ray and Sally Hanlein; John Tharrington; Wyatt Durrette; Tom Phlegar; Allison Drescher; Stu Woodcock and Sylvia; Ashby Taylor and Sandra; Robert Williamson and his friend, Kay Seaquest; Larry Respess and Joanne; Harold Kurstedt and Cilia; Dick Youngblood and Judy; Peggy Alligood; and Sue Patrick. From what I was told, the meal was outstanding. For 2 days, the weather was not accommodating, and those wanting to play golf were disappointed. Rhett and Jan Clarkson did not attend the Williamsburg golf event. Jan has severe back issues and is waiting for insurance clearance for an operation. Then it was lunch at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in Paint Bank, Virginia. We have been there many times; it is very nice, and the food is homestyle. Those there were Dave Harbach and Sandra, Harrison and

Terry Fridley, Mitch Fridley ’89, Jim Oliver and his brother, Tom Phlegar, George Henning and friend Barbara, Barry Orndorff and friend Irene Tweedy, and Harold Kurstedt and Cilia. This is the first time Barry was out with the BRs since his wife passed. Barry lost some weight and looks great. Jim Oliver said his wife, Connie, is not improving. Sue and I missed these gatherings. Every widow in our class receives a birthday card from me on their husband’s birthday. Sometimes, the card generates a response, and I was very happy to receive notes from Brenda Kasel, Lynn’s wife, who wrote to say all is well. “Of course, I miss Lynn every day but am trying to keep busy, and I’m lucky to have some of our children living out here in Arizona.” Nancy Preston said thanks for the beautiful birthday card. “It brings back such great memories, at least for me.” Ann McCormick’s note was quite interesting. As you may remember, they had a fire in their home and lost Pete’s ring. It took a year of going through ashes, and they finally found his VMI ring under a pile of burnt debris. Ann broke her arm and wrist, and the note sent to me was the first one written. It was readable and better than mine. Jeri Langdon said she is lucky to live next to her daughter and still is in good health. Jeri says Jim Harrison stays in touch with her, and it is much appreciated. Nancy Bell sent a note with appreciation for the picture of Jack and her in the Alumni Review. Pauline Manly moved in with her daughter, Heather. Pauline said her health is OK—some good days and others not so good. Shirley Hartford finally sold her house in Foresthill, California, and is in Tennessee. Shirley said Tennessee is a real change from California in every aspect, mostly positive. Elaine Wilkinson said that after 4 years of hard work, Jamie Bosket, CEO and president of the Virginia Historical Society, and their museum/archivist, Dr. James Brookes, a scholar on the Civil War, finished the book Don Wilkinson started 40 years ago. It is titled “Audacity at Sea.” Yeah! As of these notes, we have 82 widows on the list. I hope we hear from more of them.

At our age, it is tough to attend funerals, and we have had our share. Hershell Murray was buried at Arlington, and in attendance were Ray and Sally Hanlein, Paul Johnston and his sonin-law, Sue Patrick and her daughter, Bob and Bronnie Polk, Larry Respess, John Tharrington, Larry and Jerri Wetsel, and many more of Hershel’s friends. Hershell’s wife, Cinny, was so

Class of 1961: Gathering at the home of Hugh and Nelle Gouldthorpe on Fripp Island, South Carolina, in September 2024 are (from left) Marc Perry, Sal and Sue Vitale’s son-inlaw; Nelle; Lynn Vitale; and Hugh.

happy when she saw friends engage in laughter and telling Hershell stories at the reception. Larry Respess told several stories about his brother rat, and Cinny knew this was exactly how Hirsch wanted the day to unfold.

Ray and Sally Hanlein drove to Southington, Connecticut, to attend Jim Needham’s funeral. Ray said the service was very nice. Johanna and Laura were appreciative.

George Henning and Barry Orndorff attended the burial service in Roanoke for Skip McDannald

We are losing wives. Ann Stevens of Norfolk, Virginia, passed away in September. If you played piano in the Hampton Roads area, chances are good that you encountered Ann. She provided piano instructions to many hundreds of students over more than five decades at the keyboard. Fran McNemar, Ron’s wife, passed away in October. Fran was well known for painting/artistry and flower gardening. Ron McNemar has been living in the healthcare facility with Fran, so we do not know what he will do now that she passed. I hope he can return to their historic home in Fairfield.

Fred Thomas Stephenson passed away Oct. 26, 2024, at his home. Fred, a B Company cadet, spent 2 years at VMI and then 20 years in the U.S. Army as an Army aviator. Fred flew the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk. Of his numerous medals, his Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster stand out, and Fred was inducted into the VMI Hall of Valor. After retiring as a major, he became a flight simulator instructor, training pilots in the Boeing CH47 Chinook, Bell UH-1 Huey, and the Boeing AH-64 Apache. A graveside service was held at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

James Stephen Needham died Oct. 11, 2024, following a 5K community walk the previous Sunday. Jim fell, fractured his neck, and didn’t survive his injury. His wife, Johanna, and daughter, Laura, were able to be with him when he passed. Jim retired from the Marine Corps after 22 years. Jim was still going strong in the road construction business, and he said he had no plans for retiring. Jim was a VMI supporter and always ready to help me. A few months ago, we talked about the large check he sent me to add to the class flower fund. Now, I used some of it for him. I always enjoyed being with Jim and his wife, Johanna.

Dr. Eugene R. “Skip” McDannald Jr. passed away at his home in Atlanta Sept. 23, 2024. I received a call from his wife, Harriotte, about a week before, and Skip got on the line for a

Class Notes

minute or so. I could tell he was having difficulty, and he passed me back to Harriotte. She said Skip had been treated for cancer for several years, and it was not improving. The doctor ordered another round, and Skip said no and went into hospice.

About 20 years ago, I got to know Skip and Harriotte when they lived in Perry, Georgia. Sue and I used to visit my sister at nearby Warner Robins at Thanksgiving, and I always timed my arrival for a quail hunt at Skip’s farm and a fabulous dinner prepared by Harriotte.

Skip was an M.D. for many years and then went into medical administration and management. He helped revise hospitals that were going bankrupt. I read several newspaper articles reporting on the revitalization of hospitals that were important to their communities.

William Ball Eubank Jr. passed Sept. 17, 2024, at his home in Vero Beach, Florida. Bill attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, along with several of our brother rats. Bill was an E Company rat, a civil engineering major, and a private on the VMI color guard that marched in the J.F. Kennedy inaugural parade.

Upon graduation, Bill served several years on active duty in the U.S. Army and then the Army Reserve. Bill was a construction inspector for VDOT on many major projects, and when he moved to Florida in 1994, he worked as an engineer with Florida’s Department of Transportation and Indian River County.

Several weeks ago, Sue and I were at our neighbor’s house to meet other neighbors. When we left and walked the 50 feet to our home, I looked at Sue and said, “Do you realize that we are 25 years older than the oldest neighbor at the party?” A better story is one Bill Maurer tells. After a presentation on “General Benedict Arnold and Major Andre,” a young man came over and told Bill he enjoyed the presentation. Bill said, “Thank you,” and shook his hand. The boy commented, “Hey, I like your ring. Where did you go to school?” Bill answered, “VMI, ’61!” He then asked, “Were you in the Army?” And Bill replied, “Yes, ’62–’64.” The boy slowly then asked, “Were you blue or gray?”

It will be February 2025 when you read this. I can only hope that in 2025 we, as a nation, will eliminate the anger and bring back civility. What will the Rat Line be for 2024–25 since there is no class currently at VMI who has experienced the pre COVID-19 Rat Line? Finally, stay healthy, as our 65th Reunion is around the corner.

1962

Edmund R. Strickler

John Mott Robertson

I’m sorry to report that Tony Curtis passed away June 16. Tony was our class agent from 2012–17 and did an excellent job. Mary Price, who is the development writer and communications specialist for the Review and to whom I send all of these notes, offered the following about Tony: “When I was hired in fall 2021, I found several lilies living in the basement of Moody Hall, including one given by retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Tony Curtis. When Moody Hall had to be closed temporarily due to mechanical issues in summer 2022, I brought the plants to live at my house, where they continue to thrive. I never had the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant Colonel Curtis, but from now on, I’ll think of him whenever I water the Moody Hall plants. It’s a joy to see his gift live on.”

Eldridge Blanton has another anecdote about Tony. Several years ago (at least 10), he and Erika were vacationing in Naples and happened upon an art gallery in St. Petersburg which had a number of works by Tony Curtis (Note: That Curtis is not in bold!) Erika was smitten, but the prices were

Class of 1962: John Spence with his new granddaughter, Cora Lee Ringwald.

too much. They gave the owner their info and left. Several days later, they were back home, and a telephone call was for Eldridge. It was “our” Tony Curtis. Erika didn’t know the difference and, holding her hand over the receiver, said “It’s Tony Curtis!” After some bantering back and forth, Erika demanded to know how he could talk like this to “the” Tony Curtis. At our 55th, Eldridge told this story to Tony, and he enjoyed it immensely. Paul Rhodes passed away Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. After graduating from the Institute, he received his M.D. degree from MCV in 1966. After completing a 1-year internship, Paul served in the Army in Vietnam as the battalion surgeon for the 2-12IN operating in Dau Tieng. He was awarded the Combat Medical Badge, the Bronze Star, and Vietnam Service Medals. After returning to the United States, Paul completed his Army duty at a military hospital in Petersburg, Virginia, and then began his radiology residency at MCV in Richmond. After his residency, he joined a radiology practice in Hickory, North Carolina. Paul moved to Bedford in 1977 and began his radiology practice. He served patients in the Bedford community for over 30 years until his retirement in 2009. He was involved in many community services in Bedford. The “Ripper” will be missed. There was a celebration of life held for Paul in Bedford Sept. 14. The following attended from our class: Mott and Diane Robertson, John Traynham and Ann Day, Buck and Louise Bradley, Carolyn Worrell, Louis Graybill and Irene Berselli, and Margie and me. After the service, Ware and several others went to eat lunch and ended up in a house that used to be the medical practice of our Brother Rat Dennis Robinson and his father. Dennis passed away in 2006.

Class notes

has had some health problems since falling earlier in the year but is progressing well and still has that same smile he never seems to be without. The following day, I had lunch with Bill Mizell at Virginia Beach. Bill lives in a nice condo on a floor high enough to have a beautiful view of the Chesapeake Bay. We had a very nice visit and told a few stories I’m sure were repeats.

John Spence writes that he recently returned

as her older brother, Colton, already has his! John has plans to visit VMI, hopefully this upcoming spring, to show off a parade and the grounds. Rosser Bobbitt says that their son, Max, with wife Kasia and daughter Helena (VMI 2041), are now settled in Kuwait, where he has a 2-year contract to teach middle school science at the American International School. Rosser and Kate’s travel plans now include Kuwait, only! Rosser is also curious about the fact that when he was at the Institute, the records say he was 5’8.5” tall. His doctor says he is now 5’6”! Anybody else have that problem?

I recently heard from Charles Henning that his father, Stan Henning, our brother rat, passed away Oct. 11. Charles told me there probably would not be an obituary and that there will be a simple remembrance event next year with his ashes scattered at sea. Stan is survived by his wife, Mona Henning, and children, Charles Henning and Alana Toner.

On a visit to see my brother, Stephen, in late August, we stopped by Williamsburg on the way and visited with Patsy and Bowles Pender. Bowles

from visiting his brother, Bailey, and his wife in The Villages in Florida. It was his 80th birthday, and John hadn’t seen them in about 5 years, so it was great! While he was in Florida, his family grew by one! His great-granddaughter, Cora Lee Ringwald, was born Sept. 2 at 11:58 p.m., weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces! No newborn clothes for her! She went straight into 0-3 months! Cora will be needing her conditional appointment to VMI

Lou and Sue Ritchie took a cruise from the U.K. to Scotland, the Falkland and Orkney Islands, and Norway for 2-plus weeks in mid-July and early August. The highlight of the trip was Norway, starting at the very top of the country well inside the Arctic Circle and then returning along the west coast with several stops in fishing villages until they reached Bergen, from where they flew back to Miami. The tours they took at each of the stops were literally breathtaking with bus trips up the sides of the mountains with heavy snow, waterfalls, and incredible scenery. This was by far one of the most enjoyable trips they had ever taken and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique cruise.

Sam Samuels wants to thank everyone for their support while he was in the hospital and rehab. It was great knowing he wasn’t alone. As of this date, he is doing home rehab twice a week and progressing very well!

Tom Henriksen writes that he had hernia surgery in early October but seems to be mostly healed by now. He told his wife that he needed the operation because of doing too many sit-ups. He claims 80 per day. If true, that is probably 79 more than most of us can do. He has also written another essay on the strategic importance of the Arctic for the United States. The area is on the way to rival the Mid-East and Southeast Asia. Here is the link for the article: https://www.hoover.org/research/ holding-line-far-north

There were quite a few of us in attendance at the VMI versus The Citadel game Oct. 19. The results were not quite what we wanted, but everyone had a good time. Those in attendance were Columbus

Class of 1962: Bowles and Patsy Pender (seated) with Edmund and Margie Strickler in Williamsburg, Virginia, Aug. 15, 2024.

Class of 1962: Dick Willard and Carolyn Worrell join Ware Smith and his family at the VMI versus The Citadel football game Oct. 19, 2024.

Cartwright, Dave Plageman, Howard Cobb, Doug Marechal, Mott Robertson, Ware Smith, Dick Willard, Carolyn Worrell (see picture), and Edmund Strickler. I hope I didn’t miss anyone, and hopefully, we will get the Silver Shako back next year.

I recently heard that Rob Mitchell ’85, son of our Brother Rat Bobby Mitchell, passed away Oct. 7. Our sincere condolences to Bobby and Nancy. I think I am correct in my recollection that, at our 20th Reunion, Bobby introduced us to Rob, who was then a cadet. I believe he was the first son from our class to go to the Institute.

Eldridge Blanton says he retired in the spring after 29 years with the telephone company (originally C&P, now Verizon) and 29 years practicing law. In August, he and Erika moved to Westminster Canterbury. They have a new campus which is strictly for independent living. No walkers, etc., to stumble over. It’s an easy walk to the old campus, where all of the restaurants, etc., are located. Tom and Carpie Coulbourn moved here (old campus) a couple of months before they did. They had dinner with them and another VMI couple, Brooke and Linda Doggett ’58. That was the class that had the undefeated football season in ’57. Lots of stories told and embellished. Eldridge understands that there is a VMI club at Westminster Canterbury with about 15 members. He hasn’t yet attended a meeting but is looking forward to it. Eldridge also sent me a link to an article in an MCV publication featuring Erika. I did not know that Erika is a physician, but I’m sure that many of you already knew this. This article makes note of many of her accomplishments in the OB/GYN field and her pioneering efforts on behalf of women surgeons. The link is https://www.mcvfoundation.org/news/ stories/endowed-lectureship-honors-pioneering-woman-surgeon.

Buck Houston sends the following info. After 6 years in the Air Force, he left Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and got an MBA at Michigan State and then a job in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he has been since 1970. As a southern boy, he swore he would go back south when he retired. That was 24 years ago, and the best he can do is 2 months on Merritt Island, Florida, in February and March. Buck retired in 2000 and soon after got involved with the Town of Genesee, where he lives. First, he was on the planning commission and later elected to the town board. He chose not to re-run in last April’s election. He misses the involvement but enjoys the free time. He and Carol have four kids, three boys and one girl. They have produced eight grandkids. The three boys still live close by. This year has been busy. January was 8 days in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, then the 2 months in Florida.

Class Notes

Buck organized a reunion in Pensacola, Florida, in early October for his Air Force pilot training class. In mid-October, they flew to Los Angeles to visit their daughter and two grandkids in Hawthorne. They are going on an 11-day cruise in the Caribbean in November. They have a cabin on the Mississippi River in De Soto, Wisconsin, where they like to spend time in the summer. His hometown is Asheville, North Carolina. His brother and four kids are still there, and fortunately, they escaped serious damage during the recent flooding.

I recently heard from Cathy Raney, Alex “Frog” Raney’s wife. Alex turned 85 in May. He has what they now refer to as Parkinson’s dementia. At the beginning of the year, he ended up in the hospital with COVID-19 and pneumonia. He

ended up in rehab and has been home since the latter part of February. They now live in The Virginia House, which is right on Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach. They have a spectacular view of the ocean and are on one floor. Alex has come a long way since physical therapy and walks with the help of a walker. His dementia is very slight, so they feel very blessed and lucky. Cathy was wondering where Alex acquired the name Frog? I don’t know, either, and if any of you know the reason, please inform Cathy. I just go by what Jimmy “Toad” Johnson said one time: “Once a Toad, always a Toad!” I guess the same applies to a Frog! No sooner had I posed this question than John Shelhorse replied. John roomed with Frog our 3rd Class year. Here is his explanation. John and Alex became very good friends at VMI and spent a lot of time “partying” whenever they had the chance. There was a great song in those days by Clarence “Frogman” Henry called “Ain’t Got No Home.” Alex could sing a line from the song, “I can sing like a girl, and I can sing like a frog!” just like it was recorded. So, Frog it was! Now we know.

Mott Robertson reports that he and Diane are doing well and have been busy with family and other activities. “We celebrated Burns Night in January in Williamsburg with the Robertson clan in full attendance, including granddaughter Molly. We are looking at retirement communities in Virginia but nothing definite yet.” Mott had successful cataract surgery in February and March and reports that “I can see clearly now. We attended a mini reunion of my UVA 1966 medical school class in April in Charlottesville. Also there was my roommate, John Traynham In May, we were at Duke for the graduation of grandson William Robertson. In June, we were ‘on the rivah’ at my son’s house on the Rappahannock near the crossroads of Lively, Virginia. While there, I got a speeding ticket for going over 25 mph in Irvington. Be warned about the small towns on the Northern Neck.

“In July, we were in Williamsburg and reconnected with several friends, including Patsy and Bowles Pender. It was comforting to see how they are adjusting to their new living arrangements.

“Later in July, we enjoyed lunch in Lynchburg with Louise and Buck Bradley and Ware Smith and a new friend. In August, we had a Robertson family reunion at my son’s house on the Rappahannock. No speeding ticket this time! In September, my son, Doug, and his wife, Cathryn, came up from Montgomery, Alabama, so that Doug could run in the 50th Virginia 10-Miler race here in Lynchburg. Their daughter, Leighton, came down from UVA to run the race with her dad. I got to The Citadel-VMI football game, which we should/ could have won. Offense struggles. But at least we

Class of 1962: Buck and Carol Houston in Manhattan Beach, California, in October 2024.

Class of 1962: Lou and Sue Ritchie on a Norwegian cruise in summer 2024.

Class notes

defeated Furman, so our one victory for the year.

“In August and September, we were involved as needed in supporting Debbie Rhodes as she dealt with the severe illness and subsequent death of our BR Paul Rhodes. My wife, Diane, was first married to Paul and the mother of their three children, and so there are extended family connections with them and the subsequent grandchildren. There was a nice representation of the class at Paul’s funeral, to include Edmund Strickler, Lewis Graybill, Ware Smith, John Traynham, Buck Bradley, Carolyn Worrell, and me. We gave an Old Yell for Paul.”

That wraps it up for this quarter. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you are having a wonderful and prosperous new year. Keep those notes and pictures coming in.

In the Spirit, Edmund

1963

William C. Cowardin

Once again, it’s time for class notes for ’63. It was duly noted that Sept. 9, 2024, marked the 65th anniversary of our matriculation into the Institute. A day which none of us will forget.

During the time since last class notes, we have experienced two named hurricanes, Helene and Milton, and a national election. All affected us in some way. Donald Trump is 47th president-elect of the United States. Helene wrought destruction in Florida and northward to Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Western Virginia. Milton followed Helene closely with destruction along the western coast of Florida. My house in Sun City Center sustained minor damage from Milton.

Doug Sterrett was first to report the devastation of Helene to Boone, North Carolina. He was isolated from his home by washout. At last report, he was awaiting relief. He reported “ ... but kept the small two-bedroom cottage for vacation rentals. It is right on the creek, and a massive amount of water came through surrounding the house, taking out the sidewalks, fences, the road down to about 8 feet or so, and severely damaging the bridge, which is the only way into the area.” Doug described the trash in the yard, damage to yard barns, and difficulty getting access to the site. He described washed-out roads. People sent to restore it. “Worst storm I’ve been through.”

Both Hobbs Goodwin and Pete Brunel forwarded a message from Crellin Byrd. She reported that Bob was caught in the storm and had to seek food at the country club. Nobody in Western Virginia/North Carolina escaped the surfeit of water and damage wreaked by the storm. Those two were the only two specific reports I received.

The Tidewater BRs of ’63 met Aug. 14 and Oct. 9, 2024, at the Hampton Yacht Club courtesy of organizer Bob Walton. Always good to renew. Contact Bob for future dates.

Ann and Artie Phaup report they just returned from the celebration of Founders Day. At the Institute Society Dinner, they sat with Frank and Susan Drake and Steve and Peggy Reithmiller. Gary Sinise was guest speaker.

I got several messages from Walt Kleine He usually opines on current events such as DEI and politics. He is a consistent contributor to the notes. His input is much appreciated.

Pat Kelly cheerfully reports that cancer in his neck left by reason of the surgeon’s scalpel, and he is cancer free. He submitted “a VMI plumbing job” located at the Hamilton airport where he is manager. Yes, Pat, I’m looking for photos because I’m getting too old to read the print. Pat claimed he dug the trench in the morning and painted the pipe in the afternoon. Pat is looking to visit Walt and Karen Kleine on Padre Island and Pres and Judy Holtry after the first of the year.

The Richmond BRs met at Kitchen 33 Sept. 10: Rudy Amos, Mike Curley, Cliff Miller, Bob Earle, Artie Phaup, and Buddy Cato. Noting historian Mike Smither’s absence, note was taken that Sept. 9 was the 65th anniversary of the matriculation of the Class of ’63 at the Institute. Rudy had just lost his mother at 101 years and, in going through her things, came across a letter dated July 1959 from Arthur Lipscomb ’934, director of admissions, containing advice to entering rats. Memories? I forwarded the letter to Artie for posting on the class website.

I am a Facebook novice and have paid little attention to the site until lately, but I want BRs to know that the Class of ’63 is alive and well on Facebook. I have had several occasions to go on the site and was quite amazed with the activity of the class there. I can’t mention all the names I saw, but a sample is Bill Wray, Frank Allison, Bill Wells, John Mills, Hinton Lampley, Pete Brunel, Charley Watson, John Macrae, Norm Skinrood, and Denver Perkins. The list is almost unending. Must mention our mother rat, Peggy Reithmiller, who maintains a significant presence. I was fascinated by the ubiquity of people linked to each other on Facebook and

commend it to all of you as a resource.

Last of all, it is my sad duty to note the passing of our brothers. Carl Hinkle died Aug. 18, 2024. He was a resident of Staunton. Carl served in the Army in Korea and remained in the reserve, attaining lieutenant colonel. He received a doctorate in mathematics from Clemson and taught there, as well as VMI and Liberty. After teaching, he became a master plumber, starting his own business. Carl served as a lay minister. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, two sons, and two daughters.

Clifford Marcellus Beasley died Aug. 4, 2024, in Lorton, Virginia. He retired as a major in the United States Army. After his rat year at VMI, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1964. He served two tours in Vietnam as an Airborne Ranger and retired from the Army Corps of Engineers. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Suzanne Dixon Beasley, and an extended family.

Bonnie Reeder, wife of Brother Rat Kenny Reeder, joined him in death on the morning of Aug. 31, 2024, as reported by Amy Simonson, their daughter. Kenny might have been the best athlete in our class. Bonnie remained in touch with several of us until her passing.

Received a report that Lynne Heath, widow of Robert Heath, passed May 15, 2024. She was a resident of The Villages, Florida.

Thank you all for your input.

Bill

1964

John R. Cavedo

First, it’s been another tough quarter for the Class of 1964. We’ve lost Doug Bergere, Jim Stoke, Bernie Hylton, Margaret Carson, Pat Taylor, and June MacDonald. In each case where there was an obituary, I shared it by email to the entire class. Each of these losses is terrible and once again reminds us how precious our remaining years are. May I suggest you grab your phone and call your roommates, sports teammates, and others you’ve come especially close to? Just talk. Reminisce. B.S. It’ll do both of you good. And don’t forget, ask a family member to get in touch with me if something happens to you, even if it’s a head cold. We all want to stay in touch.

By the way, every time I send out an email, many of them bounce. Obviously, I have an outdated address. It’s difficult to keep track. Please email me if

you aren’t receiving regular emails from me. The same applies to widows as it does to brother rats. Some of you may have sent me a correction in the past. My bookkeeping was slack these past few months. Please contact me again.

Bob Warren: “I am always gratified to read of the life’s accomplishments of our amazing brother rats. I was not aware that Bernie was high school class president and valedictorian. I have known two people in my life in that venerable category, and both of them went on to accomplish great things in service to their families, their country, and their fellow men. I’m proud and honored to have been associated with Bernie as a brother rat and so happy that God allowed me to be placed in a crucible with such an incredible group of young men.

Bob Warren also had a scare in October. It first appeared to be a heart attack. Several days in the hospital with Cathy and family close. In the end he recovered, probably because he was so strong.

Don Jones: “Last week, I lost a friend. I have known this man for 64 years. I first met Bernie when we both matriculated at the Institute in fall 1960. Through our years at VMI, we spoke frequently; Bernie was always calm, cool, and collected in his thoughts, advice, and words of wisdom. After graduation, we went in separate directions. Yes, we both went on active duty, but Bernie went to Korea, and I went to Vietnam.

Class Notes

would get together on occasion. In 2014, on the 150th anniversary of the battle of New Market, Bernie decided to make one last long walk across a portion of Virginia. Yes, he marched one more time from Lexington to New Market. Diana and I checked on him frequently to check on his progress and his health. We promised to meet him in New Market, and we did, just south of town as he walked along Route 11 toward his goal. He told us he was going to stay with family in New Market and finish the next day.

“Unbeknown to Bernie, I had asked the VMI cadets who had made the march from Lexington to meet him at the base of manor hill and escort him to the battlefield. As he turned onto

Collins Drive, he saw me and the cadets dressed in their uniforms waiting for him. As promised, they formed up with Bernie in the middle of their ranks and escorted him to the battlefield.

“As they entered the gates at New Market, there was a large crowd of folks, including reenactors, waiting on him. Their cheers and applause were defining. Bernie stood stiff and erect and marched along with pride, a smile, and I am sure tears running down his face; to many that day, he was a hero, but to me and others that knew him, he was humble ole Bernie.

“I have shed a few tears these past few days as I lost a true friend and a man I will never forget. I know he is in a better place with no more pain and suffering, marching along the golden road to the cheers of others. May you rest in peace, Bernie, and I will see you again someday.”

“When Bernie returned from Korea and was released from active duty, he started a long and successful career with the USPS, from which he eventually retired. As for me, I spent 4 additional years on active duty and had had a career that took me in many different directions.

“Through these years, we would occasionally talk and sometimes meet. All of this changed in 2009 when our fellow Brother Rat Cliff Critzinger formed the New Market Legacy Award Committee. Bernie and I were both asked to serve on the committee. Bernie volunteered to be the secretary for us. I was just a member of the committee. Through the years that we served on this committee, we were tighter many times and spoke frequently. Bernie was a great secretary and always kept the members informed of all the things we spoke about or decided on.

“Diana and I returned to Virginia permanently in 2013, moving to Appomattox County. It was then that Bernie and I, along with Diana and Donna,

Jim Crawford: “After reading the emails about Bob and Bernie, I really feel bad for complaining about my aches and pains. They replaced my pacemaker several weeks ago, and then I got shingles, but that’s nothing compared to our other BRs. Stay well.”

Roxane Spitzer (Lee Fleshood’s widow), reacting to the notification of Margaret Carson’s death: “I’m so sorry to hear this; she was a great lady. Sorry to hear that it was a difficult illness; she didn’t deserve that.”

Also responding to the death of Margaret, Yvonne Myers: “Our sincere condolences to Don, their family, and her many friends. She was a lovely lady and a gracious hostess to our group.”

Sherrel and I join in with that praise. Don and Margaret hosted large mini reunions 7 years in a row, an event we all looked forward to. A wonderful cook and a gracious hostess.

King von Schilling: “Thanks, John; hope you and yours are well and you had minimal effect of Hurricane Milton. I’m still making the doctor’s rounds. I finally found one who says they may be able to help with this dizziness. Can’t wait.”

Don Jones, in a separate correspondence: “I have been working with Ed Johnson [’79] on some issues concerning my scholarship that is frozen at the moment. I also asked about why the NMLA was not being given out by a Class of ’64 member. The dean replied to Ed and said that he did not know that the class wanted a member to do it and that Jeff Smith has done it for the past 2 years.

“He said if we wanted to do it, all we had to do is

Class of 1964: Bill Tornabene and Tom Crenshaw in New Jersey in October 2024.

Class of 1964: Marion Garber, Sandy and Dan DeForrest, Bill Garber, Dyan Crone, and Penny and Tom Sebrell at lunch on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in September 2024.

have a classmate coordinate who would do it each year. I think a class member should do it as long as we can, and I am willing to coordinate it since I am only 63 miles away and was an original NMLA committee member.”

Since Don’s email above, I’ve requested that he and former members of the New Market Committee take charge of seeing to it that a member of our class makes the presentation at VMI every year as long as one of us remains able. Don has taken up the challenge.

Bill McVey: “We are fine, although Millie has had many visits the past few weeks with her heart doctor and a couple day trips to the hospital for heart catheterizations to see why the aortic valve he put in 18 months ago is leaking ‘moderately.’ And deciding what to do about it. She hasn’t had any symptoms. The leak was first seen on a regular scheduled scan a couple months ago. Found cause to be small calcium deposit in the aorta opening against which the valve is seated, preventing a tight seal. The conclusion is, don’t do anything unless she starts having shortness of breath or too much blood starts pooling in the ventricle.

“Her other recent distraction is another MOHS squamous cell cancer being removed from the top of her head last week, the fifth one in about 10 years. She’s beginning to regret wearing a sun visor rather than a cap while playing tennis several days a week for 35-plus years, including 3 in Sydney, Australia.”

I received a nice long note from Kerry Hines: “Just finished going through the latest Alumni Review and certainly found it very sobering on the diminishing number of classes between ours and the ‘oldest.’ Only 20 now. But the coverage of our 60th Reunion and your class notes were much appreciated, as always.

“Marianne and I made our planned trip to Italy shortly after our reunion, with 5 days in Rome and 5 in Sorrento/Amalfi Coast. We got to do all of the tours and activities that we had scheduled but only in recurring rains and temperatures that dropped into the 50s, which was not planned and required that we layer almost all of the clothes we had brought in order to stay warm. In fact, on the train from Rome to Naples, we could see that the mountains were snowcapped. In contrast to Italy, summer here has been pretty brutal, with temperatures in the 90s and practically no rain for almost 6 weeks. Many thanks to our Florida BRs for sending Debbie north with 5 inches of rain and lower temperatures. We had one of our teenage grandsons here for his usual several weeks in July, and I couldn’t put him to work on my job list because of the heat. After a short break, we had a great-nephew from Germany for 10 days. He just

Class notes

Warrenton had to be scratched; Bernie and Donna Hylton and Tony and Barb Munera are busy downsizing and moving to senior communities. I think that will have completed their moves in September. “According to the latest edition of The Cadet, Superintendent Wins [’85] assured the VMI BOV of a new class of at least 495. ... That same Cadet article also discussed the ‘matriculation pledge’ that we apparently all signed on day one at VMI. I recall the Matriculation Book that we signed, and Tony and I included the list of signatures in our 55th Reunion book, but I don’t recall signing the pledge. Oh, well, there are lots of things from 60plus years ago that I can’t recall and probably am better off for not being able to do so.”

Lanny Geib: “Sorry I haven’t communicated for a while. I have a new email, as the last one was hacked. Just a quickie: My wife, Thella, and I are still in Colorado Springs, and I have been in remission from six cancers for about a year. But still have to get two $40,000 a month medicines to keep upright. Not complaining. Wish I could have been at reunion but had too many doctor’s appointments. Sounds like you all had a good time.”

Bob O’Hara: “I knew Doug Bergere well. He had a great sense of humor. A New Jersey ‘wise guy;’ plenty bright; went to William & Mary Law School after his military service; established a well-respected law practice in Northern Virginia, later retiring to coastal North Carolina, where he and his wife developed a prosperous real estate business. In the finest of VMI tradition, he was honest with a strong work ethic and good sense. He was a joy to be with. I was proud to be his friend. He left great memories.”

Lola Tornabene: “While in New Jersey taking care of our grandchildren while our son and his wife went to Portugal to celebrate their 10th anniversary, we visited with Tom Crenshaw. I know he did not finish at VMI but thought you might want the attached in your next class report.”

Frank Parker: “We had a great time getting together with Chris and Leslie Hopkins at the Brio Tuscan Grill in Dayton, Ohio, for a great meal and catching up on our lives since VMI. We are all in good health (for our ages) and enjoying life. Looking back, we all had amazing life experiences both in and out of the U.S. Air Force. It never ceases to amaze me the many different paths all our BRs took over the last 60 years.”

finished college studying agriculture, so we included a tour of the Virginia Ag Research Center on the Cyrus McCormick Farm near Steeles Tavern (which some BRs may recall was an acceptable place to keep an auto just outside of the Rockbridge County line) as part of his entertainment. “Our planned BR gathering for a July lunch in

Bill Garber: “Here you go. Occasion was just a small, planned get-together at my house this month. Joining were Dan and Sandy DeForrest, Dyan Crone, and Penny and Tom Sebrell. Fortunately, the weather was perfect, and the group departed the day before the rain started.

Jim Crawford, with a prompting by Bill and

Class of 1964: Susan and Dick Atkinson in Turkey in March 2024.

Class of 1964: Frank and Marci Parker and Chris and Leslie Hopkins in Dayton, Ohio, in October 2024.

Class Notes

Lola Tornabene: “After having my pacemaker replaced, I got shingles. Had them when I was 40, so I didn’t think I could get them again—wrong. Strongly advise getting the shots because these things really hurt.”

Dan DeForrest: “Sandy and I leave tomorrow for a trip from Calgary to Vancouver. I will be able to stay in touch via email most of the days but may not be accessible until late in the day. If you hear anything, please let me know.”

Don Jones: “Thanks for the roster. I have downloaded it as 64-NMLA Roster, changing the name as you suggested. I have not looked very hard at it but will this weekend.

“On another subject, I had a great meeting with the new commandant, Colonel Ley Havird [’90]. What a major difference than the last one. He knows and understands he has a hard road to hoe to return the Corps to where it was 4 years ago. He also agreed to follow the guidelines in my McCausland Scholarship, and I agreed to unfreeze it for award in 2025.

“I also spent time with Col. Gibson [’77], which was very interesting. First and foremost, the Ezekiel statue from Arlington is going to be placed on the green at New Market. I saw the architectural drawings yesterday, and it is going to be very nice. The governor has provided the funds, and it is to be completed by year-end 2025.

“Secondly, the New Market Museum received $24 million for a complete renovation/upgrade of the museum. It is just entering the planning stages and has a 2028 expected completion date.

“Thirdly, the plans for the new museum on post is in the beginning stages of construction. I saw the floor plan and drawings of the interior. It is going

to be a major upgrade to the existing museum and will be built behind the Marshall building.”

Jeff Crump is participating in yet another baseball tournament in Naples, Florida (they use the Boston Red Sox’s spring training facility). Jeff was able to drive to our home for the day. We met at a local tavern for lunch and then came to our house for dessert and a short boat ride.

In conclusion, thanks to all of you who sent a note or a photo. It’s my privilege to be your class agent.

a visiting [almost full-time] judge for a court north of Dallas where the sitting judge had been appointed to another court. The variety of cases was both interesting and fun. Two trials were focused on swimming pool construction in a rather expensive neighborhood.

“Interspersed with this activity was attendance at the annual judicial conference in San Antonio, where Jamie and I usually meet Mike and Bonnie Flinn ’80, but this time, they were off on a vacation. I closed out September with the start of cataract surgery, which extended through October. At the same time, I had more visiting judge assignments, this time in Dallas in the domestic relations court making people happy [note the sarcasm there]. I have been continuing my writing and getting some publications dealing with the collision between the law and AI, which is something of a challenger for a history major.

From Lou: My notes are mostly your notes. I am cautious about putting health information in the Review, as things can change quickly. I will send emails in between the Review editions for this kind of thing. But, so many of you have been very kind in asking about my condition that I’ll take a chance on survival and can tell you that I still have all my fingers and toes. Brain cells, definitely questionable. My heart is pumping at a better capacity than at the time of the event, and it seems to be continuously improving. I have finished my first 36 cardio rehab sessions and am entering an advanced phase for improvement in my core area. That will be a challenge for the core, which has been leading the charge for more ice cream. I’m still with Valley Supportive Housing in Staunton and love what it does and that I am able to help. Joanie has a few health issues she must be careful of; she works with our youngest son and wife to help with childcare duties—school pickups, breaking up arguments, that kind of thing. We represent something of a new/old demographic in that we bought a house together and live relatively peacefully as a group. Our oldest son has lived in Tahoe City, California, for many years. When we can visit, it’s a beautiful place and nice to get together.

Johnny Mac Marshall: From our Dallas, Texas, contingent, Mac does have some interesting occurrences. “Good evening, Lou. Yes, it’s that time again, but this time it really snuck up on me. When people ask me how I am enjoying retirement, I tell them that ‘retired’ is defined as ‘working more time for more people for less money.’ In line with that, this summer and early autumn has been unusually busy for someone who is supposedly ‘retired.’ During the latter half of August and the first half of September, I had the privilege of serving as

“One of the truly positive events in October was the opportunity to swear in some new lawyers. They were part of a firm headed by one of my former law clerks, so in a way, that makes me a ‘juridical grandfather’ to the new ones ... but I ain’t that old. Jamie has been enjoying a sabbatical from her job in the healthcare industry, and earlier this month, she was told that her former employer wants her to return as soon as possible and resume collecting from insurance companies. For my part, I am delighted for her, though it has meant that we needed to upgrade our internet service. We are planning a short vacation before that starts, of course.

“It is going to be a highlight of the spring to return to Lexington and be with the BRs, and we have already made our hotel reservations. In the meantime, Jamie and I are wishing everyone a wonderful autumn and safe winter. ’65! ’65! ’65!”

Dave Kiger: “I’m glad to hear you are getting along good with your heart condition. What did you have done? I had mild attack in 2006; they placed a stent, and so far, so good. We are in Hilton Head until December. Playing a little golf, which I suck at, with my wife, who beats me most of the time. We like to play as a twosome and when the courses are not crowded so that I have time to look for my lost ball or have time to take a mulligan or two. We have also been trying our hand with pickleball. We will go home to Forest, Virginia, in December, then will not return to HH until April. I’ve taken several falls in the last 2 years but so far nothing broken. Trying to be more careful.”

Jack Wilkerson: “Thanks for the health update! I want you to know that I am praying for your continued progress and improvement. God has been so very faithful to me over the last 3 years to bring to a conclusion several health concerns. ... He is

Class of 1964: John Cavedo and Jeff Crump on John’s boat in Cape Coral, Florida, in November 2024.

1965

C. Lou Siegel

faithful and a Mighty God to us.”

Butch Hemphill: “Get that heart rate to 60 and above! P.S. And keep it there.” Thanks, Butch; hoping for 45 plus a bit, but I appreciate the 100% goal you suggest—60 is tops for a healthy one.

Jack Mountcastle: Two notes. Numero uno: “I’m so glad to hear that you are making progress with your heart treatment! Hearts are challenging things. I’m on my third pacemaker and still chugging along. Hang in there.” And then No. 2: “Thanks for your message. If you have room in our 1965 material for the next issue of the VMI Alumni Review, I would hope that you could encourage members of our class to visit the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond now that a wonderful new exhibit has opened and is being praised by so many visitors. Entitled D+80: Virginians in the Normandy Invasion, it tells the story of Virginians who participated in D-Day, June 6, 1944.

“According to the War Memorial: ‘D+80 was conceived to take visitors on the long journey experienced by hundreds of thousands of American service men and women as they trained and prepared for the D-Day invasion in England, conducted the amphibious and airborne landings on June 6, 1944, and then fought tenaciously through the French hedgerows to break out and carry the fight toward Germany.’

‘The exhibit highlights the news accounts of Operation OVERLORD and features excerpts of interviews with Virginians who participated in the amphibious, airborne, and naval efforts to establish an Allied presence in Normandy and then expand that critical foothold in the month that followed. There are excellent photographs, weapons, and uniforms that help to tell the Virginia veterans’ stories. There is more information about this new exhibit on the War Memorial’s website, found at vawarmemorial.org and on the War Memorial’s Facebook page.

The exhibit will be open for a year, so members of the class who find themselves in Richmond and have a couple of hours to spare will certainly find a visit worthwhile. The Virginia War Memorial is located near the James River at 621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, VA 23220. There is no entrance fee, and plenty of parking in covered space is available. The memorial is open 7 days a week, Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.”

Irwin McCumber: “Great to hear of your continued improvement! Keep doing your hard work to get back in good shape—or at least as good of shape we can get in at our age.

“By the way, that reminds me; I had another good golf round out of nowhere last week—shot another 77 in spite of two double bogeys on the

Class notes

front nine (almost 4 below my age this time). Would be great to play well more consistently, but at this stage of life, I know I am very blessed just to be able to give it a go.

“Attached is a photo of Jeff Gausepohl, myself, and Billy Loughridge taken yesterday at the Keydet Club’s annual scholarship luncheon, where we had lunch with the cadets receiving aid from the scholarships we sponsor. It’s always good to spend some time with these outstanding young folks! Bettie White was also in attendance, and it was great to see her. It’s very hard to believe it has been over 3 years since Donny (White) left our ranks.

“It was good to see the Keydets win a football game last Saturday, and tonight the basketball season will start. The seasons just keep accelerating! Take care of yourself and Joanie!”

Carr Hyatt: “Henri Brant; Richard Moring; my brother, Grant Hyatt ’68; and I ate lunch with Larry Egan in October. We had a fun time together.”

Ben Dyer sent a blessing note on my health; he seems well and is living in Toano, Virginia.

Fred Viele: “Glad to hear you are doing OK with the cardio recovery process. Cardio rehab is an important part of the recovery process (I went through cardio rehab 22 years ago after my heart attack). Looking forward to the ’65 reunion.”

Larry Rose: Just a quick note from Larry letting us know he is alive and well.

Richard Timmons, it’s really nice to hear from you. Your notes: “Sounds like you are ready for some marathon work.” And: “Stand tall. I understand where you are. I traveled the cancer trail some years back and learned that determination

and attitude during these times are very important to recovery. My prayers are with you.” Thank you for the prayers; those are working. The marathon effort: I’m walking for a half-hour three times a week, but the marathon—you must be talking about Ben Dyer.

All of you—be safe. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Don’t fall! Do a good thing.

1966

Nick Hoskot

Another new year (2025) has arrived for those of you who keep track of those things, and that generates this reminder for when your class notes submissions (written and photographic) will be due over the coming months. Please send them to me at the email address above by Wednesday, Feb. 12; Monday, May 12; Tuesday, Aug. 12; and Wednesday, Nov. 12. Earlier submissions are always welcome, as are last-minute ones. Let us know about your trips, family reunions, and things that could be of general interest to all of your brother rats.

First off, I noticed in my last notes that I incorrectly spelled President Eisenhower’s wife’s name—should have been Mamie, not Mami.

Last August, Dale and Kay Saville took a 7-day cruise on the Douro River in Portugal, stopping at various historic sites and wineries. On an excursion to Salamanca, Spain, they visited one of the oldest (1218) universities in Europe. After the cruise, they spent a week in Lisbon with friends immersed in the local culture.

Bill Bundy and I exchanged several calls and emails and eventually connected. He mentioned that when his father was in his 80s, “it seemed all conversations with his friends were about health issues.” And we seem to be crossing that line as well, “but at least we are still capable of pursuing normal lives.” I agree with Bill, although issues affecting arms, hips, and knees sure can slow one down! Bill and Ed Gendron had been trying to get together for some time and finally did—as he noted, in Lexington of all places, as it turned out to be about halfway for each. “Lexington has grown and, as a result, has a nice hotel called the Georges which offered a quiet place to talk. We met on the anniversary of Sue’s and my wedding ... appropriate for the occasion, as Ed was responsible for introducing us. ... to complete the circumstances, Ed and Eva came to visit us just prior to him going to

Class of 1965: Jeff Gausepohl, Irwin McCumber, and Billy Loughridge at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Nov. 3, 2024.

Vietnam, and we stood up with them at their wedding.” They were roommates for 3 years, as well as with Ray Crowder and Bill Huyler Ed and Eva recently moved following his retirement, and Bill and Sue are also considering a lifestyle change in a few years. He wants to be realistic about no longer being able to keep up with caring for the livestock, gardens, and property, which they, like us, have always done themselves. Seems no matter how “healthy” you manage to be, eventually, your body can no longer do what you are used to doing. And that is a reality we are all facing.

Pete and Anna May Charrington are enjoying retirement in the Philly area, and their kids and grandkids are all doing well. “Hard to believe one grandchild is finishing up her senior year at William & Mary and another is in his sophomore year at Cornell. Are we that old? Laughing emoji. We seemed to have dodged another hurricane bullet in St. John, USVI, this year.” They went back there in early November for a couple of weeks. They also keep busy volunteering with their church and providing rides and handyman services to seniors (like us, Pete?) in their local area. Pete hoped to connect with Pete Farley, recently a new grandfather, and Paul Maini in the near future. He is looking forward to our 60th Reunion. The photo of he and Anna May was taken during a week they spent in Paris about a month before the Olympics. Pete sent: “Best to everyone!”

Tom Morris traveled to Portugal and Spain to walk some—not all—of the medieval pilgrim route

Class Notes

known as the Camino and popularized by Martin Sheen’s film, “The Way.” He now understands why it has been said you don’t just walk the Camino, you live it on the sacred ground of the way and much of what is a part of it—the cathedrals, the wineries, the monasteries, ancient villages, and beautiful landscapes. “It was well worth the long trip to get there.” Thanks, Tom.

Randy and Gibby Earnest completed a “fascinating” cruise through Eastern Europe last September on the Danube River from the Black Sea to Budapest, visiting Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary. All formerly Soviet bloc countries that have joined the EU or are seeking membership since the long-ago fall of the Berlin Wall.

After 2 years, John Sharkey is still acclimating himself to their new area (Pennsylvania), but one bright spot is the library, where he has found new and interesting books. One of the books was an oral history of D-Day where, about 200-plus pages into the book, he found an entry quoting his dad regarding the metal crickets issued to all the paratroopers to use as a means of identifying each other. John began a project to document his father’s time in the Army Air Corps from 1942–45. Not much to go on except pilot logbooks, and from them, he has been able to to piece together a narrative to share with his brothers. John’s dad was a C-47 pilot whose unit dropped the 3rd Battalion, 506 PIR on DZ “D.” He carried a camera with him and took some photos of the plane with all the flak holes after that mission. John keeps looking for more information and thinks this “could be another one of those never-ending projects! He last thanked me for the “slightly late” birthday card, which reminded him of the time a bunch of cadets cornered Smokey Gilliam [’40] about the results of our final exam and how he took a deep breath and delivered one of his famous lines: “Gentlemen, the longer they sit, the better they git!”

A very brief note from Jim Smith: “My great friend and BR Dick Goodall and I decided to visit the Institute recently to watch a parade. We had a great trip. Perfect day. The Corps and the Institute look great.” Thanks, Jim; appreciate the input. Finally, many thanks to all of you for checking and updating your contact information on file at the Alumni Agencies. It is especially helpful when another BR is trying to get in touch with you. Please update as your information changes.

Class of 1966: Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) Doug Richard, Marshall Taylor, Paul Robblee, Parky Parkman, Clark Reifsnider, Cliff Martin, Randolph Williams, Jim Whitehurst, Rich Hines, Bill Gehr, Dick Goodall, Woody Sadler, Tom Slater, and John Jumper.

Class of 1966: Gathering to celebrate Veterans Day and Founders Day at the Hampton Yacht Club in Hampton, Virginia, Nov. 9, 2024, are (from left) Marvella Pauls, Joe Dictor, Ollie Creekmore, Jim Pauls, Warren and Gayle Channel, and Deane and Hugh Adams.

Class of 1966: Jim Smith and Dick Goodall visit post in October 2024.

1967

Lonnie Jan Abernathy

Reminder: Notes and photos will always be due to me no later than 3 days prior to 15th of February, May, August, and November. You can certainly send me your news/photos anytime during the year ... believe me, I frequently receive comments from you all about how much you appreciate learning about what other brother rats have been doing! So, keep sending in your updates. All my best to each of you.

Be happy, be optimistic, and stay warm, dry, and out of the beaten zone.

Nick

It’s funny how much time flies by on occasion. In starting my notes compilation today, I see the first thing on my computer is from August, the day after Georgia Tech walloped VMI. Two things: I hope the share of the gate receipts was large enough to compensate for the beating and, second, was a message from Terry Moore saying it was raining for additional misery in the stands and he considers it a VMI win, as the Keydets did score a touchdown. I add that his grandson, Terry IV, is a freshman at Tech. Terry says he sat on the Tech side but rooted for VMI. Mike Bagnulo and Dixie Walker also went to experience the rout, sitting on the opposite side of the field. I received a list from VMI of all BRs qualified for the November Institute Society Dinner and contacted all to see who was attending this year. There were several who were not attending with varying reasons—distance and complex travel among them.

J.B. Farley: “It’s good to hear from you! I’m not going to be at the Institute Society Dinner in November. It’s been a year for health problems for me, as I have had several spinal ablations, as well as angioplasty on my legs. Bottom line is that mobility is not too good right now, but I am working on it! I’ve been a member of the Institute Society for about 30 years and haven’t been able to attend yet. Maybe next year. All in all, I feel blessed for reasonably good health. Carol is just super and really helps my morale. Four wonderful grandkids and their parents are a boost, as well. Please give my regards to Joan and take good care of yourself. Thanks so much for thinking of me!”

Ted Mervosh: “We will probably not attend, although there will be a great dinner speaker. It’s a hassle to fly from here to D.C., then rent a car and drive to Lexington. It would be better to make it into a longer trip, but at that time of the year, it can be iffy—plus putting up with D.C. area traffic is not a plus. Hope you are both well. We just returned from a trip to Barcelona, Avignon, and Paris with our daughter and her husband. World-class port wine and food! All the best, Ted.”

Ray Gosney: “The old man is trading in his 4-year-old Series 6 Apple Watch for the just released Series 10 with its several improved health features such as checking body temperature and monitoring for sleep apnea.”

Mike Hall: “Jan: Yep, BR, all is fine. We had

wind and rain for Helene, but no damage or even power outage. Milton was farther south, and we only had some 20-mph wind gusts. However, I feel for those poor devils in North Carolina due to Helene and those in South Florida due to Milton. Both areas got torn up, and it’s going to take years to recover. The only thing that isn’t too good is I tore my left shoulder rotator cuff. How, I don’t know. It’s going to take surgery and a metal replacement to repair, and somehow I got a ‘tree hugger’ orthopedic sports surgeon [who] demands I quit smoking, or he’ll refuse to operate! He doesn’t seem to understand what I did professionally ... ! Oh, well. I hope you and Joan are well. Mike.”

Jack Sheeran: “The photo (in the AR) was a

Class of 1966: Cliff Martin with Cadets Hunter Salomon ’27 (left) and Nathan Shippey ’26, both members of the Keydet wrestling team, at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Nov. 3, 2024.

Class of 1966: Peter and Anna May Charrington in Paris, France, in summer 2024.

Class of 1967: Doug and Carol Ann Mills with a bagpiper on a tour of Scotland.

Class of 1967: Jack and Patty Sheeran on a tour of wineries in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

stop on a swing through the New York Finger Lakes, hitting a number of fine wineries. We are looking forward to a busy year, as our two sons will be getting married! Mike in February and Scott soon after. Their sister beat them both by 5 years! Thanks for the updates on all the BRs affected by the storms and all you do to keep us informed. Jack.”

Doug Mills: “All is well here ... no damage from hurricanes. Carol Ann and I, along with my sister and brother-in-law, did a Celtic tour in August. We did Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland. Attached is a photo of a piper at a Scottish performance in Edinburgh. To our surprise, The Citadel pipes and band performed at the tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. Also attached is a picture of the opposing forces at the Battle of Culloden. The one on the right represents the British forces commanded by ‘Butcher Cumberland.’ On the left is a Jacobite. We had a wonderful visit. Doug.”

Class Notes

Bob Hess: “I spent 21 days driving across the U.S. this summer for veteran suicide prevention, L.A. to Washington, D.C. My daughter joined me in Cleveland. Sadly, no other VMI involvement other than meeting up with BR Phil Gioia.” (Photos sent out by email.)

Kermit Quick: “Patsy and I had a 17-day trip cruising the Adriatic and Mediterranean in September, stopping in Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, and Turkey. Picture in AR is of us standing in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.”

Joe Stafford: “Joyce and I took two back-toback tours on our June 2-week trip to England. The first took us to Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon (Shakespeare), and several quaint Cotswolds villages. The second focused on the gardens of England. The gardens at Chartwell and Leeds Castle were especially noteworthy. The tour also included a tour of the Canterbury Cathedral and Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn’s childhood home). In September, we spent 2 weeks touring Greece, along with touring Athens, Delphi, and the Meteora Monasterie. We also visited the islands of Corfu, Santorini, and Crete. Had a good time, but jet lag is getting harder to handle! All the best, Joe.”

Bob Randolph: “Hi, Jan and Joan. Here is a submission about the biking trip Nina and I took in Poland in the spring. We began our adventure in the High Tatras of Poland in April–May 2024. Beforehand, when we were asked, ‘Why bike in Poland?,’ We were unable to give a cogent answer

Ermine.’ After Krakow, we had a week of challenging biking in the High Tatras, winding our way up and down and back and forth between Poland and Slovakia. I had to, finally, go electric in order to survive the several 1,500-foot climbs. The visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau was grim and unspeakably unsettling. However unpleasant the experience, it must be experienced. Next stop was Wroclaw on the Oder, formerly German Breslau, which was another casualty of World War II. After the war, Stalin drove the Germans west of the Oder and resettled the city with Polish peasants from Eastern Poland whose lands were assigned to the Soviets (now Belarus) as a result of the Yalta agreement. Wroclaw is a city without a history or a culture; the local guidebooks have mostly excised the history of German Breslau (1715–1945). We stayed in the Hotel Monopol, where Hitler stayed and gave speeches during his visits to Breslau. Fortunately, the Old Town Hall (Breslau Rathaus), which was constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries, has been beautifully restored and, along with its clock tower, is a ‘must see.’ The visit to Warsaw, however, was spirit-lifting. The city was much damaged during the German invasion in 1939 and suffered further heavy damage during the fighting in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 and the Warsaw rising in 1944 when Stalin’s armies waited east of the Vistula while the German Army destroyed the Polish Home Army. Himler then ordered the total destruction of Warsaw, and the Germans completed about 95% of the job before departing in fall 1944. Warsaw has now been magnificently and beautifully rebuilt, brick by brick, stone by stone, and rooftop by rooftop. The city is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Polish people who have endured and triumphed in spite of great adversity. Nina and I will return.” (Photos sent by email to ’67 list.)

but soon learned that Poland is a hidden jewel, as well as being the stage for one of history’s greatest tragedies. We started in Krakow, the capital of the old Habsburg province of Galicia, whose old 18th century buildings and lovely squares were fortuitously located well away from the path of Soviet tanks on their way to Berlin. We enjoyed the pleasant cafes and restaurants, along with an hour or so in front of Leonardo’s ‘Lady With an

Mel Wright: “Lynn and I were booked on a cruise months ago to Italy, Greece, etc. this October, but 3 weeks before sail date, Lynn got a compression fracture of her right hip. Surgery with pins. Ergo, no cruise. She is doing quite well now with PT and using a walker, but it has changed our lives. Thanks to cruise insurance, we did OK, but still. Not what we wanted. Best to all. Mel.”

Fred Smith: “We have finally been able to celebrate our 50th anniversary, a little late, with the river cruise of our dreams. The first attempt in 2020 got ‘COVID-ed’ out. We left Budapest Oct. 12,

Class of 1967: Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Watt Vaughan, Jan Abernathy, Joe Stafford, and John Lee celebrate Johnny’s 80th birthday on post Nov. 9, 2024.

Class of 1967: Neil Schlussel visits Bucee’s in Huntsville, Alabama.

cruising on the Danube, and will finish up on the Rhine, ending in Amsterdam, flying home on the 29th. We will return home in time for our annual Halloween costume party at Westminster Canterbury, and next, we celebrate the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family. Then it’s off to Florida for a few rounds of golf in January and February and a lot of delicious seafood.”

Jamie Tate: “Kathy and I took a 15-day Viking cruise around the British Isles from Aug. 28–Sept. 15.It was a great trip, and I would recommend it to any anglophile or cruising junkie.”

Dan Wells: “We are headed up to Bar Harbor, Maine, for Thanksgiving and then to Germany to tour the Christmas markets via a Viking Cruise on the Rhine River. Should be fun. Still have a few issues that I’m working through with the VA. Time will tell.” (Received just after he had a pacemaker implanted, so it must be working!)

Barrett Graham: “For what it’s worth, I and assorted relatives share ownership of an 80-plusyear-old cottage in the community of Ridgecrest at the Swannanoa Gap, 20 miles east of Asheville. I performed a “swoop” to the cottage, together with my brother, Oct. 22–23. For me, it’s a 7-hour drive each way coming from the coast. I packed my truck with relief supplies and picked up my brother at halfway on the trip. Our cottage sits at the headwaters of the Swannanoa River (a series of small creeks) and escaped any damage from wind or water. We delivered the supplies to the Black Mountain Fire Department in the next town between Ridgecrest and Asheville and proceeded to Swannanoa, where I was born. For all intents and purposes, I grew up in that part of the state, between summers in Ridgecrest, summer camp near Swannanoa, and 4 years of prep school west of Asheville. My emotional attachment to that area is pretty strong. Approximately 2 weeks post-Helene, Swannanoa looked like a war zone. All that was missing were the bomb craters. The Swannanoa River, which runs through Black Mountain and Swannanoa and on to Asheville, collected plenty of water from Helene by the time it got to Swannanoa and changed from a flooded river to a water cannon when it hit Swannanoa and the other communities between there and Asheville. The destruction must be seen to be really understood. We got no farther than Swannanoa because of the damaged roads. I-40 will get you as far as Asheville, but what will you do when you get there?

Local folks, volunteers, and NGOs like Samaritan’s Purse, the Redneck Air Force, the Cajun Navy, and assorted church-based groups are doing the recovery. We saw no signs of the Red Cross or FEMA. We’ve been told that winter clothing, new (not used) blankets, and unused (new) underwear

Class notes

and socks are the most important present needs. It was 45 degrees in Ridgecrest the morning we left. I suspect they’ll be calling for tents before long. Tent cities were already springing up along the road when we got to Swannanoa.”

There was a nice representation attending the 50th Institute Society Dinner celebration, including Jim and Bootsie Rogers, Paul and Lois Bouis, Tom Richardson and Betty, J.I. Orrison and daughter Kaitlin, Ann Plentl, Jim and Liep Wilson, Max Toch, Carole Green and her guest, Ed and Peggy Poe, L.F. and Susan Payne, and Jim and Anne Phlegar. The guest speaker was Gary Sinise. The next morning, Johnny Watt Vaughn’s daughter, Courtney, had a surprise tailgate birthday party for him on the Parade Ground. There were a lot of family members who attended and BRs Jan and Joan Abernathy, Jimmy and Bootsie Rogers, Joe Stafford, John and Sandy Lee, Tom Gritzmacher, Max Toch, and guest Cadet Blake Damante ’26, whom Jan has been mentoring since he matriculated. Jan met the new Pipe Band instructor, Maj. Brian Donaldson, at the parade and will say his speech, dress, and personality are those you would expect of a perfect Scotsman. He has already made a significant mark on the VMI pipes’ and drums’ quality and variety of performance, even winning awards in Savannah last year.

Charlie Moir’s grandson did not return to post last fall. Charlie says he is working on improving his GPA with an eye toward returning. My son completed his rat year on academic probation, so I know how tough this can be. Chin up, Charlie; it will work out as it should.

We are glad the election is finalized, and many of us were pleased to find out that Mike Waltz ’96 has been named national security adviser.

As of this date, we have lost a total of 99 BRs, according to Terry Moore, who does a great job with keeping up our rooming charts and deceased list. Since our last AR, we must add the names of the Hon. Steve Buis; Sam Obenschain; Jim Massie; and Chuck Shorter’s widow, Ruth Shorter.

Walt Massie ’70, Jim’s cousin, who has kept us abreast of Jim’s condition, reported that after 5 years in VA nursing care subsequent to suffering a massive brainstem stroke, Jim had a heart attack and developed pneumonia in the end. Flowers in the class colors were sent to his daughter, Paige, in Connecticut, who stayed in close touch with him to the end.

Nancy Obenschain called us to report that Sam passed Oct. 24 from bone cancer that had metastasized from prostate cancer starting in 2014. She told us about some amazing historical connections with VMI and W&L that I will put out to the class by email.

Thanks to Bill Hoofnagle, who informed us of Steve’s departure. John May sent the following: “So sorry to hear about Steve. We were roommates for the whole time I was at VMI (five semesters). Unfortunately, we didn’t stay in touch after I left. I only followed him through your notes, which were very few, I think. He was a good guy, but we didn’t spend a lot of time together because he was always studying! I wish I had the same dedication!” Several BRs attended the service in addition to Bill, including Jimmy Rogers and Ron and Brenda Neidemeyer. Joan and I received a nice note of thanks for the beautiful flowers from the class that went to Steve Buis’ service.

I am finishing these notes as Thanksgiving nears. I have mixed memories of Thanksgiving in 1963. I will add my memory and ask if you have one to share. I looked forward to the bus to Tidewater and home. Mixed classes boarded an ancient Quick Livick bus, and all were soon up highway 11 near Staunton. It was late Thursday, as VMI played Virginia Tech in Blacksburg each Thanksgiving back then. It was getting dark by the time the Corps returned from a football beating and changed buses for the journey away from our Rat Line. I guess

Class of 1967: Kermit and Patsy Quick in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

I-81 was not open yet, but memory may be faulty here. Anyway, there was a pit stop near Staunton, and the one-stall unit gas station had four or five cadets using it at the same time. A few relieved themselves behind the building due to a longish line waiting. I never figured out what we had earlier that stimulated so much urgency after just a box meal and water for dinner. I was innocent of all things involving alcohol in my youth. Back on the bus and then a stop in the Charlottesville area for some to buy additional liquid refreshment after bribing the driver to stop. All was going fairly well, but the bus toilet was busy, and the tobacco smoke and aroma from cigarettes and cigars, along with chewing tobacco, was becoming overwhelming, as I was allergic to tobacco. There was another pit stop near Williamsburg, but we finally arrived in Norfolk in pitch dark. Rats were the only ones required to wear their full uniform, and most others had changed into civilian clothes. I smelled so bad mom made me take off my blouse and put it in the trunk for the ride home. At home, she hung my things outside on the porch to air, and I went to bed to try to catch up on some sleep and recover from the trip home. We had our Thanksgiving meal Friday. I tried to enjoy Saturday but only recall snippets of the football game on the black-and-white TV. Early on Sunday, I once again donned the stillsmelly blouse and straight pants for the dismal ride back to barracks. I have been trying to recall which of our BRs did not return that time from the furlough. I made that trip three times a year for 4 years—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring furlough. It never improved much beyond getting to sit closer to the front of the bus and feeling pity for each year of new rats stuffed into the rear of the bus. Our 1st Class year, there was a newer bus with better facilities, but the rat year Thanksgiving trip memory is seared into my brain. I have avoided all bus travel since then.

Spring weather is nearing. Joan and I send you all best wishes for wellness and recovery from last year’s ills and joint replacements.

In the Bonds, Jan

Class Notes

Class of 1968: Pictured at the presentation of the George C. Marshall Foundation’s Andrew J. Goodpaster Award to retired U.S. Army Gen. James C. McConville, retired U.S. Army chief of staff, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 1, 2024, are (from left) Tom and Carol Boyd, Tom Hickey, Walt and Suellen Jeffress, Skip Roberts, and Mary Ann and Bryan Barton. Not pictured are Dave and Martha Gibbons.—Photo courtesy the George C. Marshall Foundation.

wife/handler, lost two lunch bets with other ladies who predicted that I would not stay inactive for the 2-week recovery period.

“We are proceeding with Dianne’s dream porch at the back of the house, with screen and vinyl window combinations and a window air conditioner. We have a great contractor who is a military veteran.

“Otherwise, I am staying super busy collecting rent from a business partner, doing gun shows, and selling my military stuff on eBay by a broker.”

Church in Staunton. I get to use the accounting I learned at Blue Ridge CC when getting my A.S. degree in management. I have found that QuickBooks Online is a terrible accounting platform.

Billy Seargeant (Fredericksburg, Virginia): “I have been super busy recovering from my new synthetic aorta heart valve. Dianne, my

John Hart (Staunton, Virginia): “This past August, I was an instructor at the Wastewater Short Course (Aug. 12–16) held at Virginia Tech and sponsored by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Tech Department of Continuing Education. This was my 29th year teaching at the Wastewater Short Course, and I had 10 years before that teaching at the Water Operators Short Course. That gives me 39 years of instructing operators. I anticipate teaching again in 2025, and that will be my 30th year of wastewater, plus the 10 in water. Over the years, the students in our classes are more interested, and they work hard to learn. This year, about half took Virginia’s Wastewater Operators License exam. By the way, my Virginia Class I Wastewater License (held for over 52 years) is the most senior active license in Virginia. I expect that my Class I Water License (held for 49 years) is close to being the most senior, also.

“I am still the treasurer of Memorial Baptist

1968:

Tom Hickey

Class of

Walt Jeffress holds his PGA Champions Tour Pro-Am SAS Championship trophy in October 2024.

The QuickBooks on the computer was much better.

“At our age, our health is a concern; for me this past year, my health has been well. I am thankful for that.”

The Hince (Byran, Texas) newsletter written by Gerry had this gem: “John had a reunion for the VMI football team in August, and there were a few from his team present: Dick Rankin (Honolulu, Hawaii), Charlie Bishop (Staunton, Virginia), and Bill Carter (Raleigh, North Carolina). Great people, and I do love that school! Wish I was part of his life back then but am enjoying my 51 years as a VMI spouse! His picture for the 1967 game against Virginia Tech when he caught the winning touchdown is still on a gym wall, and his teammates got very testy when the poor tour guide said they were changing the wall pictures out!”

Rick Eades (Ridgeland, Mississippi):

“I was glad to read in the VMI Turnouts about the cross-country teams doing well. I rarely see anything about the cross-country meets. Life in Mississippi hasn’t changed much. Suzanne is still having a poor time with her broken ankle. Several doctors that we have seen since the initial treatments have said that an operation should have occurred at time of the injury. Now arthritis and calcification are setting in, and proper footfall when walking is not possible. Cortisone shots are being administered with varying degrees of success. One neat thing has occurred: We got a stationary recumbent-type bicycle for her to exercise on, and she has really enjoyed that activity. She pedals the stationary over 5 miles daily, but I still can’t get her outside on a recumbent trike to ride on the local trails.

Class notes

“For me, biking and running are still a daily activity. On Sept. 9, I completed the Dragon 100 miler in Columbiana, Alabama. That was one hilly ride. The Birmingham Bicycle Club put on that ride, and it was very well conducted. Our local bike clubs are sponsoring monthly 100-kilometer rides, and they are well attended. You only grow old when you stop playing.

“My only granddaughter, Maggie Barron, is a senior in high school and has been applying for admissions to colleges that have maritime/ nautical engineering curriculums. She has become

a serious sailor and races frequently in ‘local’ regattas. ‘Local’ means lots of travel to several participating yacht clubs along the Gulf Coast. After school, she works at a local yacht club and is a jack-of-all-trades, maintaining the hardware and equipment on boats owned by the yacht club. In addition to her own sailing, she teaches sailing to high school and middle school students from the tri-county area around Jackson, Mississippi. She

is very ambitious and should do well in the world of mechanical and design engineering of boats.”

Slick Wilkinson (Longview, Texas): “This year’s wake-up call is not my upcoming 78th birthday but last month’s 60th anniversary of our matriculation! Gosh, the years fly by. Kate and I have now made East Texas our home since 1987. ... We love living here. I worked and retired from a private oil and gas company. My son now works for the same company and lives about a mile away with his lovely family ... two active teenagers!

“Our daughter lives in Martinsville, Virginia, and one of her daughters is a sophomore at the School of Architecture at UVA. Her other daughter attends Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg, Virginia. Kate and I miss Virginia.

“We vacationed in OBX this summer, as usual. Kate’s first cousin, Charley Walker ’70, and his wife stayed several days at the beach with us. We will drive to Martinsville for Thanksgiving. Kate keeps up with her second cousin, BR Johnny Thrift (Boynton Beach, Florida), and I try to stay in touch with Tommy Boyd (Alexandria, Virginia), Bucky Miller (Naples, Florida), and Jim Polley (Stafford, Virginia). Gordon Van Hoose (Vivian, Louisiana) lives about 75 miles away and is my nearest BR. I haven’t heard much from him since his marriage. I recently read Josiah Bunting’s (’63) book on George Marshall’s (’901) middle career in the Army. The best part was his dedication of the book to Dodo Dillard ’934.”

I spoke with Jim Burg (Prescott, Arizona) in mid-September. Jim says he has been living comfortably in an assisted living facility for several years. He is staying engaged both mentally and physically. As he has a degree in counseling, he frequently speaks with other residents to help them work through their issues. He is also physically active, doing 900 (!) crunches and 250 (!) half squats each day to maintain his body’s strength.

Joe LeVine (Abingdon, Virginia): “In May, I took a short trip to New Zealand and spent 3 days hiking with my sister, Peg, on the South Island, near Queenstown. Peg lives in Australia. She had a 3-hour nonstop flight. Counting layovers, it took me almost 2 days to fly from

Class of 1968: Craig Smith, Lew Yeouze, George Buzzard, and Wayne Burton attend the VMI versus Georgia Tech football game Sept. 14, 2024. Not pictured is Terry Bowers.

Class of 1968: Attending the VMI versus Furman football game Nov. 2, 2024, are (from left) Charley Bishop, Mike Smythers, Dick Rankin, Doc Hyatt, and Billy Martin. Not pictured are Dean Kershaw, Dixon McElwee, and Carl Hyatt ’65.

Abingdon to Queenstown.

“Donna and I went to Europe for a month in June–July. Our daughters, Aimee and Kara, met us in Brugge, Belgium, the first week. I used to have an apartment in Brugge city center and traveled there 15-20 weeks a year for work from 2003 until I retired in 2017. It was great to meet many of my old friends and colleagues. Kind of like an old hometown week.

“From there, Donna and I drove to Bayeux in Normandy to see the Bayeux Tapestry, then took a ferry to England to visit the Jane Austen House in Chawton. Donna’s a big Jane Austen fan. We then drove to Wales. Donna started feeling bad on the drive to Wales and tested positive for COVID-19 the next day. Not the way we planned to spend the last week of our trip.

“We’re back in Abingdon, Virginia. Went to the first two VMI football games and planning to go to The Citadel game. Jim and Jessica Polly (Stafford, Virginia) and Bill and Susan Millan (Phillipsburg, New Jersey) will be here in mid-October to see a couple Barter Theatre plays with us. For those that don’t know, Barter Theatre is the state theater of Virginia. In late November, we’ll go to our New Smyrna Beach, Florida, condo for the winter.”

Wayne Burton (Saint Marys, Georgia): “The Jacksonville alumni chapter held a rat send-off at the AAA baseball field in August. With our wives, Lew Yeouze (Peachtree City, Georgia), George Buzzard (Waynesboro, Virginia), and I met in Atlanta for the Georgia Tech game. We had a great time, as usual. Sylvia and I will be in Lexington in November 2024. Hurricane Helene caused us to have 4 days without power but no damage. Ours was trivial compared to other areas. Hope to see BRs in November.”

Sheila Taylor, widow of Don Taylor (Kingwood, Texas): “I am doing well for a 76-year-old. Still miss Don every day. He has been gone 17 years, and that seems impossible. I am living in a senior community and keep very busy. Went on a cruise to South America this year and plan on going to Paris in April. My children and grandchildren are a blessing and keep me young.”

John Royster (Bermuda Run, North Carolina): “Susan and I spent a few days last week in Gloucester, Virginia, at the Inn at Warner Hall and visited with Mike and Carol Smythers (Chesapeake, Virginia) for lunch in Newport News and with Roddy and Betty Delk (Williamsburg, Virginia) for dinner in Williamsburg. We wanted to visit with Howard and Sally Donald (Richmond, Virginia) on the same trip, but we had to postpone that visit until our next trip to Virginia. We also had dinner with Kevin Henry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) a few weeks ago; he is a brand-new

Class Notes

retiree and seems to be enjoying his new status. We do not have any more travel plans until March 2025, when we’re taking another road trip that will include visiting the Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia; the World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, en route to Houston, Texas, to visit Susan’s brother. We’re doing fine and are thankful we have just dodged the terrible floods and devastation in Western North Carolina.”

Tim Underwood (The Villages, Florida): “Been a routine year. Spent a fair amount of time on rental home getting ready to re-rent it as long-term, furnished. Had mini vacation plans for this week, but all were canceled due to Hurricane Milton’s visit.”

Ned Harris (Phoenix, Arizona): “We are still in Ipswich, Massachusetts, but will leave next week for Phoenix, Arizona. We drive across country since we have some junk to carry, as well as our one remaining cat. We ship one car. Last spring Dean Kershaw (Lyndhurst, Virginia) came down and drove with me (Cornelia drove in her car with a friend). Dean and I drove to Montana to tour the

Custer Battlefield and other sights, then he got a plane out of Minto, North Dakota, and I drove to Massachusetts. Confused? Three of my four sisters live in the area (the fourth lives in Gainesville, Virginia), as do most of Cornelia’s remaining family, so we enjoy getting away from the almost unendurable Phoenix heat. But I’m looking forward to getting back to Phoenix and going on our weekly shooting spree with Skip Anders (Mesa, Arizona) and socializing with Jack Falzone (Crystal Lake, Illinois) when he gets back from Chicago. I plan to visit Jim Burg in Prescott, too—an always uplifting occasion as he is an amazingly positive guy.”

In late October, Walt Jeffress (Fairfax, Virginia) wrote that his team won first place in the PGA Champions Tour Pro-Am at the SAS Championship held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina, Oct. 10, 2024. The PGA professional on his team was Thomas Bjorn of Denmark. Walt has now completed a total of 98 PGA Tour Pro-Am events and plans to reach his goal of 100 Pro-Ams at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hualalai, Hawaii, in January 2025.

Dave O’Connor (Lexington, Virginia): “My wife, Linda, and I are in the process of moving to Lexington after 5 years of ‘living on I-95’ and splitting time between our homes in North Carolina and Virginia. We were married a year-and-ahalf ago and decided it was time to make a decision as to a single, permanent, campsite. Linda had fallen in love with Lexington after many years of living in Richmond. She is a UNC grad and a retired CPA.

“After retiring from the Army, I moved to Augusta County west of Staunton and tried a little of everything from raising sheep, teaching at community colleges and JMU for a term, then 5 years as the purchasing manager for two carpet-backing manufacturing plants in Waynesboro and Low Moor, Virginia. Finally, I worked 12 years for a defense contractor in Romania and then at Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia, before calling it quits.

“My son, Ryan [’96], is VMI Class of 1996, married with four children and stationed with USARPAC in Hawaii. My daughter, Kathryn, a VCU graduate, is a regional personnel manager for a national solar panel manufacturer/installer. My other daughter, Shelley, attended Virginia Tech and is a traveling radiology technician.

“We are looking forward to enjoying hiking, kayaking, and seeing a lot of VMI sports if we ever get it all unpacked.”

Bill Welsh (Ashburn, Virginia) wrote that he retired 7 years ago. He’s now chasing grandkids

Class of 1968: Rick Eades at the Birmingham Bicycle Club 100 Miler, held in Columbiana, Alabama, Sept. 8, 2024.

(six) and traveling when he can. He plays a lot of golf but is otherwise doing nothing special.

Skip Roberts (Virginia Beach, Virginia): “I’m still pretty busy with my practice but at a slower pace for sure. I did argue a trust case in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court but lost. Still in the game. We had 3 good weeks in the Tetons in June and July, but family travel complications led us to skip our September 3 weeks. All is well here at the old folks’ home.”

Creigh Kelley (Highlands Ranch, Colorado):

“Heading to Athens Marathon Nov 5 with Renee. I’m a guest of the official tour group and will jog through the 10K and do a bit of ‘glad-handing.’”

Steve Wilson (Williamsburg, Virginia): “Linda and I have been enjoying our condo in Fort Myers, Florida. We drove down in mid-September and were in place to experience Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Luckily, we suffered no damage from the winds, flooding, tornadoes, or storm surge. We lost power for one hour Oct. 9 at 1815 and had intermittent short outages until midnight. The devastation to Florida’s Gulf Coast and panhandle, not to mention Georgia and the Carolinas, is incredible. We flew home to Williamsburg Oct. 20 for appointments and to attend the Institute Society Dinner and two Jamestowne Society events. We fly back to Fort Myers Nov. 14 and will remain until the first week in April.

“Linda continues her service on the Jamestowne Society Board as the hospitality chair. She also stays very active with playing bridge. I continue to serve as the VMIAA liaison to the BOV’s Corps and Military Affairs Committee. The cadet leadership this year is very impressive. I enjoyed sitting in on a seminar with 1st Classmen run by Dean Kershaw and headlining Tommy Norment (Williamsburg, Virginia) as a guest speaker. Both our BRs were outstanding in engaging the cadets.

“I got a pacemaker July 31 and feel much better with a resting heart rate of 60 BPM. Before the pacemaker, I was experiencing resting heart rates between 44 to 52. (The warranty ran out at 40!)

“We visit with Dave and Bobbi Gehr (Williamsburg, Virginia) frequently. I also enjoy weekly Zoom calls with Bill Bragg (chair) (Manchester, New Jersey), Dave Gehr, Buck Miller, Bill Cloyd (Lynchburg, Virginia), Bill Millan (Phillipsburg, New Jersey), Chips McCallum (Norfolk, Virginia), Don Lynch (Virginia Beach, Virginia), Joe LeVine, John Lane (Sparta, New Jersey), Paul Quillen (Cartersville, Georgia), and Lew Yeouze.”

Jim Burns (Henrico, Virginia): “We’re enjoying our health, happiness, and freedom to do whatever my wife, Karen, and I consider important: Building a bulkhead at our river house, traveling

Class notes

to Galápagos Islands with BR Greg and Martha Wall (Keswick, Virginia), volunteering for 5 days of poll watching for Virginia elections, and spending time with our four sons and six grandchildren in various locations like Vail, Colorado, and Costa Rica.”

Paul Hebert (Steamboat Springs, Colorado): “Mayling and I were in Farmville at Longwood University in September, where Mayling gave a presentation and book signing at the Longwood University Library. We then traveled to Richmond, where she also gave a presentation and signing of her book, ‘Lives Guided by Honor: How VMI Shaped the Class of 1968,’ to the VMI Club of Richmond at the Hidden Wit Brewing Company. There were about 35 VMI alumni and friends who attended, and we sold all of the books that we had brought with us. Brother Rat John VanLandingham (Eugene, Oregon) showed up with his wife, which was a great and pleasant surprise. We were able to catch up over beers and dinner at the brewery. The book seems to be selling well, and please order a copy or copies for your family and friends from Amazon or other booksellers. It would make a great gift.”

And finally, a succinct status report from Dave Cortese (Duncan, South Carolina): “Our family is doing fine.”

1969

Walter Judd

Greetings, Brother Rats and Friends of the VMI Class of 1969.

The heat of summer has transitioned to the cool of fall. And as fall approaches, the leaves are turning colors, and our weather has been very dry. This period has been busy with football games and a few get-togethers by BRs around the country. As summer wound down, we lost BR Bob Alexander at the end of October. More obit info will follow later.

Fred Downey wrote about the current Corps: “On Aug. 3, Lou Sidney and I helped many other alumni send off this year’s rats from Northern Virginia. I’d say it was a big success. There were 25 or so incoming rats, as well as many alumni from the area and, of course, mothers, fathers, and family members. At a guess, 150 or more attended. This was a bigger turnout than I have seen for some years. A very good mix of genders, as well. I talked to many of the new rats, and they

seem to be a strong and capable bunch. My family and I traveled to Lexington Aug. 17 to matriculate my grandson, Brandon, into the Class of 2025+3. Brandon joins his cousin, Sean, who is a 3rd Class corporal, EE major, who wears stars. We are very proud of them both. Claudia and I never thought we’d have a grandson at VMI, let alone two! The matriculation ceremony was very different from our day. It was professional, impressive, and emotional. A very fitting ceremony to bring the 498 new rats that matriculated into the Corps. Over the 2 days, I was able to talk to many parents and new rats. I was impressed with how much they knew about VMI, the Rat Line, and the academic details. A lot of them credited the VMI open houses with imparting this knowledge and with cementing their decision to attend. A great many I talked to applied only to VMI. Once again, we should give kudos to the VMI leadership, staff, and faculty for such a successful program. And it captures the parents as much, or more, than the prospects. Often mentioned was how impressive the cadets who spoke were. The product certainly speaks for itself. As I was leaving the museum, I ran into Bob Leibecke, Wayne Keesee, and Don Mercer. The three of them had come to see how matriculation is done now. We had a good meeting and a chance to catch up a little. We agreed to keep on keeping on so we can all be at our 60th Reunion.

“Back to the matriculation itself. I cannot help contrasting it with the story of our matriculation, as so ably related by Charlie Bryan. I stayed around until supper and then watched. Despite the ceremony that so aptly starts the process, the introduction to the Rat Line by the cadre that I saw would be easily recognized by our BRs and many generations of cadets. I had a chance to talk briefly to the new commandant and ask him about his vision of the Rat Line. I also talked to quite a few 1st Class officers and other upperclassmen about the plans for the Rat Line this year. I am personally convinced that the Rat Line will be every bit as rigorous as it should be and will fully achieve the goals and traditions of VMI, despite the belief of some who still subscribe to the ‘the older I get, the harder it was’ school of thought.

“The only other BR news I have now is that our BR John and Mary Stann have a granddaughter, Elizabeth, starting this year. As you know, two of John’s sons are graduates, and so far, four grandsons have attended. Three have graduated, and one is a 2nd this year. So, Elizabeth makes five. There are still three little Stanns at home, so maybe the Stanns are not done yet.”

Rich Daub attended the VMI football reunion in August, as did 1965 VMI rat football coach Bobby Ross ’59, who recruited Rich to VMI. Rich said,

“The reunion was outstanding, although I was the only ’69 BR in attendance. Coach Rocco and several assistant coaches were very impressive in team meetings and on the field, but Rocco stood out with his speeches to the reunion attendees and players, along with the speeches by new athletic director, Jamaal Walton ’07, and Andrew Deal ’12, Keydet Club COO. To say that the reunion charged and pumped up the players, staff, and attendees is an understatement. I can’t wait for the game in Williamsburg Aug. 29. Bobby Ross had a 41-year coaching career that started at VMI and achieved a national college championship, a Super Bowl, and his retirement in 2006 at West Point. What an honor to have him at our 2024 VMI football reunion.”

Reb Anderson from the San Antonio area: “How wonderful to hear from you. I actually retired in November 2023 due to some health concerns for Carol, so my address is in Seguin, Texas. Even though I am officially retired, I see the occasional patient at home or in the office, as necessary. My younger son, John, is also a dermatologist. He joined me in 2012 and now handles the whole mess! But I still receive mail and journals there. Carol and I were talking yesterday about you and the burden of attending our brother rats’ funerals. My hat is off to you. Give my best to any and all brother rats you see, and again, a big thank you for all you do.”

Of course, after a couple of weeks of cooler temps, the weather turned hot and dry the week of the first football game at the end of August. The Keydets came to Williamsburg for an evening game under the lights against W&M. Many of us gathered at the pre-game party in the late afternoon heat and met lots of expectant and enthusiastic fans ready for the new season. I joined Mike and Martha Santoro, Bob and Lynda Flowers, WIP and Barbara Priest, Rich Daub, Webb Hatch, and Drew and Carole Brantley for dinner at the pre-game, and then saw John Sebrell, Jim and Ruth Chapman, Bruce Gregory, Bunny Paulette, Bruce Noel, and Bobby and Elizabeth Watts at the game. I also spoke with Hugh Hopkins’ extended family at the pre-game: his niece, Whitney Matthews ’07, with her parents from Gloucester Point, Virginia. As the newspapers reported later, the W&M team was just a shade quicker than the Keydets, and they won 41-7. Bob Alexander and I watched a close but respectable (?) loss to Bucknell the next week, Sept. 7. Jim Long said, “A

Class Notes

tough loss today, as you well know! BRs at the game today were Bunny Paulette, Bruce Gregory, Bruce and Gayle Noel, Ron Wall, Chuck Becker, and John and Lupy Sebrell, as well as Beth and me. Last night at the very nice Keydet Club dinner were Betsy Wall, Beth Becker, and Mary Alice Wright. A lot of fun, and sorry you all had to miss it.”

A not-so-pleasant beat down in Atlanta with Georgia Tech followed. Then came the game against Norfolk State, where long touchdown passes seemed to be their best weapon. We were not having a good start to the season. Our trips to Samford and Wofford did not improve our record. Starting in July, Mike Santoro, with a little help from me, began preparations for this year’s version of the Two Bellies Golf Tournament at the Petersburg Golf and Country Club in October. We always seek teams from our class and all the classes around ours. The weather Oct. 9 was great for the Two Bellies. The winners for the ’69 tourney were the CEs in a putt-off as the winning team from last year defended their trophy: Mike Santoro, Doug Marks, Lee Swats, and Bob Flowers

Close but not the winners: John Sebrell, Nick Psimas, Bunny Paulette, and Bob Heely. Also playing were Bob Waldo, Walt Judd, Tom Morris, Glenn White, Jim Baker, and Spunky Butler The ‘lunch with the BRs’ group included Bruce Noel, Bruce Gregory, Webb Hatch, Gary Mackey, and Drew Brantley. Representing the Class of 1972 were three teams: Wade Houston, Bob

MacMeccan, Bob Stransky, Chris Foster, Jimbo Van Landingham, Rick Minor, Roger Hart, Doug Nichols, and Bill Irby. Foster’s team won in a putt-off, as well, on the other side of the tournament.

In August, Doug Marks rejoined his dialogue with the VMI fundraisers about the diversity, opportunity, and inclusion program at VMI. Doug continues to argue effectively that VMI needs no special programs but needs to continue to do what it does best: Educating high-caliber students in an honest, high-integrity system that rewards those who put in the effort to succeed.

On Sept. 12, I met others for lunch at a restaurant near Charlie Bryan’s home in the West End of Richmond. Charlie, Bunny Paulette, Mike Santoro, Spunky Butler, Thornton Newlon, Tommy Hudson, and Dick Camp joined me for lots of talk and a fun meal.

On Sept. 19 at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia, Bobby Watts, Drew Brantley, Gary Mackey, Webb Hatch, and Bob Heely met for lunch. Whether they watched any baseball is still not clear, but they enjoyed taking and eating!

On Sept. 20 at the National Memorial Cemetery in the Punchbowl near Honolulu, Hawaii, several VMI graduates were honored on POW/MIA Recognition Day by the American Battle Monuments Commission and Department of Defense POW/ MIA Accounting Agency. The goal of the day for us was to place a small rosette next to the name of each VMI alumnus. Air Force Capt. Jack Kennedy and Army Maj. Jefferson Dotson ’66 were two of the men to be so honored. The Alumni Association and the VMI Hawaii Chapter worked to have representatives there to place the small metal rosettes next to the names. Col. Dick Rankin ’68 led the group, which also included BR Mike McCrary and retired Air Force Maj. Boxley Diggs, a good friend of mine from Virginia whose brother (John ’80) was a VMI graduate. The VMI contingent showed up and was prepared to do the honors. Yet, during the ceremony, someone before Mike placed the rosette on the wall next to Jack’s name. Later research showed BR Frank Easterly doing the honors for Jack in a fitting gesture. After hearing about the ceremony from John Ishon, Frank flew from his home in California and attended the ceremony before returning home. It is a testimony to the bonds we share that Frank would be the one to honor his good bud, Jack, many years after their service together.

Class of 1969: Pictured at the VMI Museum Aug. 18, 2024, are (from left) Bob Leibecke, Don Mercer, and Wayne Keesee. Not pictured is Fred Downey.

Ray Ihlenburg in September: “I have retired to On Top of the World in Ocala, Florida. That’s the name, no joke. We have a terrific flying field for radio-controlled models, so after not building for 50 years, I’m back in the hobby. I started when I was 12 years old. Reading the building plans got me interested in aeronautics and engineering. So, after VMI, I designed and built water and wastewater plants. My first project as a new PE was a water plant for the Maury Service Authority, whose chair was Col. John Knapp [’54], one of my engineering instructors and the chair of the civil department at the time. I thought you’d like to print my latest model. Little Toot. It is a 1/6-scale Piper Vagabond. It is really a hit among the Florida Gators and even a Hokie pilot.”

On Oct. 19, in Lexington for the game against The Citadel, were John Sebrell, Bruce Gregory, Jim Long, Bruce Noel, Larry Seekford, Bunny Paulette, Ron Wall, Chuck Becker, and Bob Waldo. I was watching with Bob Alexander on the computer-assisted large screen when his network suddenly stopped. El Cid was on the 10yard line (and later scored a field goal) when we suddenly were seeking news of the game. His internet was also off, so we were stuck. I called Toro and then Webb Hatch to get a score. By then, it was halftime, and we had played a decent game according to the score. We got restless at Bob’s house with no ball game, so Bob called a neighbor who had a different cable network. She had the game and invited us over. We piled into the car and went a short distance to the other house and picked up the game in the third quarter. I, like most of you, felt sick when we had such good luck to get close to the goal line and then did not score. The long pass by them just ended it for me. I gave my regrets to Bob and his host and went home. Postscript. That turned out to be the last game I got to watch with Bob. He suffered from his cancer and slipped away a few days later Oct. 31. Obit will come later.

On Nov. 2, Mike Santoro and I headed to Lexington for the game and Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Sunday morning. We were there for the first football victory this year! We joined Bruce (and son Harrison ’04) Gregory, John Sebrell, Bob and Ruth Waldo, and Jim and Ruth Chapman for the victory. Then Sunday morning at 11, we met with several athletes on scholarship for lunch. The Chapmans were also there to greet their cadets. Mike and I sat with Bunny Paulette’s baseball player, Clark Driscoll ’26, and Tom Jones’ two lacrosse players, Will Gormsen ’26 and Zach Creel ’25+3. Our Cadet Christian Dunn ’24 was unable to attend this time.

Class notes

On Nov. 8, Beverly and I joined many others for the Institute Society Dinner and celebration. Started in 1974, this society, with its annual formal dinner, is now 50 years in operation. There was a nice crowd of ’69 BRs and wives: Gary and Nancy Braswell; Charlie Bryan with friend Denise Pakula; Fred and Claudia Downey; Bruce Gregory with his sister, Linda Elkington; Bob and Lush Heely; Walt and Beverly Judd; Joe Lynch; Bunny and Carolyn Paulette; Al and Kathi Pond; Dave and Susan Prugh; Mike and Martha Santoro; Louis and Tanya Sidney; Rich Daub; Bob and Ruth Waldo; and Dennis and Anne Witt. We are moving closer to the front, as we had tables in the center downstairs and were able to see the speaker.

The football game with Mercer on the 9th was not exciting for the home team but attracted several BRs. I saw Tom and Nancy Catlett and Jim and Beth Long at the pregame and heard from Jimmy later that Bob and Ruth Waldo, Bruce and Gayle Noel, Bruce Gregory with his sister, Ron Wall, Chuck Becker, and Dave Prugh (the latter three ladies went shopping!) were at the game. The weather was great, but the score was not. The basketball team won their second game in Pittsburgh that evening, so all was not lost that day.

Note from Jim Long Oct. 6: “Beth and I just got back from visiting John and Marie Mitchell ... it had only been 5-and-a-half years since we had last seen them! We had a wonderful time catching up with them and reminiscing. We did some good eating, and John took me out for a couple of fast rides in his two Porsches. We even zipped up to 104 mph from 40 mph in 2-and-a-half seconds. Talk about setting you back in your seat, but that is what 610 horsepower will do. John brought our gifts from the reunion in April that we had to miss due to my knee replacement. Great job on the selections.” Quick sales pitch: Bruce Noel bought the medium jacket, so only one red, 2XL jacket remains from our 55th Reunion gifts. Claim it if you wear big!

Note from Lloyd and Debbie McGrady in mid-October: “We spent the last 3 days on Lake Oconee, Georgia, with Mike and Debbie Maguigan at their lake house along with Rig and Wendy Burroughs. Things are better at the lake! We celebrated my 78th birthday last night.”

Ever wonder what talking to a Vietnam vet at length about his service would be like? Get a comfortable chair and tune in to an interview at the link below with Col. Jamie Totten conducted by two young ladies from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Jamie answered questions for over 2 hours about his experiences in RVN and in life since. It is part of a new exhibit coming to the VMHC. Thanks to BR Art Wilson

who suggested Jamie might be interested. I was impressed by Jamie’s candor. https://youtu.be/ ejXyiUIGjJQ?si=Aq3VhD0qjdDBLfTT

Dr Chris Foster ’72 started a biology fund in memory of his BR Lou Pappas. “By way of introduction, I am Chris Foster, a 1972 VMI biology graduate. I obviously was in your rat dyke class. Tommy Catlett was my 1st Class dyke, and I truly had a first-class dyke. As a cadet, I was a 1st Class private and Honor Court president. In 2020, I ‘retired’ from MCV/VCU as a professor emeritus of orthopedic surgery and have spent the last 5 years serving our nation’s veterans at the Richmond VAMC. I will be really retiring at the end of 2024. My goal was to create a fund that could only be used for direct cadet support in the biology department. I have felt a deep debt of gratitude to the professors in the department when I was a cadet. Their support, encouragement, and yes, even

Class of 1969: Rich Daub (right) with Coach Bobby Ross ’59 at the VMI Football Reunion in August 2024. As rat football coach in 1969, Ross recruited Daub to attend VMI.

Class of 1969: Ray Ihlenburg’s model airplane “Little Toot,” a 1/6-scale Piper Vagabond.

coercion, were critical to my success as a student, and I have for ages wanted to reward that. I hope that you had the same positive experience in the department. Hence, about 18 months ago, I established the Louis S. Pappas ’72, Betsy R. Fund in hopes of decreasing the financial troubles some promising cadets undergo during their time in the department. My best friend from VMI matriculation in 1968 until his untimely death in 2009 was Lou Pappas. He was our First Jackson-Hope medalist, an Honor Court prosecutor, and beloved pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist in Birmingham, Alabama. Join me in honoring Dr. Pappas and current cadets in the biology department by contributing to the fund.”

VMI has written a new estate planning guide called the Will and Estate Planning Guidelines and Workbook. Terrie Conrad, vice president of gift planning & estate administration, had a significant role in preparing the document. She has spoken with many of our BRs and is still working hard to prepare us for our final gifts to VMI.

Yours in the Spirit, Walt

Steve Talley

Class Notes

Miller, and Ned Perrow were there.

I was delighted to hear from Julian “JuJu” Smith in August. You remember Julian, the hardnosed 157-pound defensive back who had a run-in with twice his size George Constantinides, the Rambling Greek from Chesapeake, in that famous Nov. 23, 1967, game in Victory Stadium in Roanoke against Virginia Tech, during which God herself intervened late in the game, swatting away a field goal attempt and giving the victory to VMI. JuJu stopped Constantinides in his tracks but came away with a broken neck, which necessitated that he wear a brace for most of his cadetship and allowed him to grow what one can only describe as a seriously straggly beard. Julian’s wife, Donna, writes he has since ditched the beard.

In mid-August, Peel Dillard flew into Pensacola, Florida, and stayed with Dave (Haskell—name conferred by Peel) Miller for several days at Dave’s condo on the gulf. They had an excellent seafood dinner at the Wash House Restaurant on Mobile Bay and reminisced about “fun times” at the Institute! Tom Norris and Jack (The Governor–name conferred by Peel) Hoffman joined them for dinner one night in Fairhope. Peel and Dave toured the battleship Alabama, the submarine USS Drum, and the aircraft pavillion at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile to cap off this BR gathering. Dave reports, “Amazing what the service men and women of ‘the Greatest Generation’ accomplished in World War II.” Of course, no visit to this historic area is complete without a stop at the famous roadhouse Flora Bama. Dave says he will save that story for another day because he and Peel probably can’t quite remember what happened there, likely after quaffing a few pints of Flora Bama swill.

Hello, Brother Rats, Family, and Friends of the VMI Class 1970.

I’m writing these notes on Halloween from our condo on the Piankatank River after deserting our neighborhood in Staunton, where Halloween attracts 3,000 candy seekers, parents, and partygoers each year. Buying candy requires a second mortgage. It’s been fun over the last 30 years, but enough is enough. We have fled the scene, our neighbors would say, a cowardly act of desertion.

The VMI Keydet footballers are having a rough time, losing 10 games at this writing, including a close one against The Citadel Oct. 19 in Lexington. But the team soldiers on, facing down adversity in the VMI way. BRs from our class keep showing up to visit with the famous dynamic duo of Lew and Judy Reynolds, who, for years, have provided an excellent tailgate party to assuage the pain of losing and occasionally celebrate a win—and, hello—Nov. 2, VMI got its first, against Furman. BRs Tommy Cooke, Bill O’Connor, Herb Braun, Peel Dillard, Lee Moon, Ralph Costen, Lew Reynolds, Russ Marshall, Bobby Brown, Carl Strock, Dave

She and Julian have five grandchildren, all living close by in Birmingham. The oldest, Isabel, is a junior at the University of Alabama and plays soccer. Jude, a Mountain Brook High School senior, is a state championship wrestler and soccer player. Davis is a 10th grader at Mountain Brook, where, like his brother, he plays soccer and wrestles. Patterson, a 7th grader at Mountain Brook Junior High, plays basketball and football. Last but not least is 3rd grader Waters at Crestline Elementary, whose team recently won the 3rd grade’s football championship 42-28! Waters scored all 42 points for his team. What! Lord only knows what will become of him. “They keep us busy,” Donna reports. Well, duh! Their son, Houston, travels as vice president of governmental affairs for Alabama Power, and his wife, Stephanie, teaches yoga in her spare time, of which I’m sure she has plenty. This family makes my head spin.

One of the grand ladies of the VMI ’70 family, Liz Grasty, wrote to say that Oct. 29, she and her sister, Judith, toured famous wineries—the Avignon in the morning and the Chateauneuf du Pape in the afternoon—while on a Viking Cruise on the Rhône River. These wineries lie on its course through the region. Liz said that, according to Warren, wines produced in this region are slightly better than Yellowtail, made in Yenda, Australia, by sixth-generation Aussies. That sounds like a low bar. Speaking of Warren, Liz has been spreading portions of Warren’s ashes in her world travels. On this trip, she put a bit of Warren in the Châteauneuf-du-Papec vineyards to 1970

Class of 1970: Pictured at the Outer Banks in North Carolina in October 2024 are (seated, from left) Beth and A.C. Arnn, Gary and Lynn Weishaar, Dave Schmidt, Gray Chandler, Don and Tucker McQueen, Carl and Julie Strock, Tom and Jill Cooke, June Bailey, (standing) Lanny and Terry Sue Gault, Bill and Marilyn Huffman, Paula and Bill O’Connor, Taze and Katherine Taylor, Snead and Madeline Luck, Charlie and Margaret Walker, Nancy Chandler, Jim and Judy Mawyer, Ralph and Marsha Costen, and Lee Moon.

improve the wines. Even in death, Warren travels the world, spreading joy and happiness. A time ago, Liz spread some of Warren at the base of the Marshall ’901 statue at VMI. I can attest to that. I was with her. Remember Warren when you stand beside Marshall. This trip reminded Liz of years past Viking Cruises with VMI couples—one trip in particular when the girls embarrassed the guys by wearing tiaras to the captain’s reception, bejeweled head ornaments dating back to ancient Iran. Stix Chandler’s Nancy wore a particularly striking one. Why does that not surprise me?

I have been troubled lately by a detached retina. Many of you sent encouraging notes, including Liz Grasty, Larry Thompson, Dave Price, Jesse Glidewell, Jon Vordermark, John Fischer, Judson Collier, Chad Lash, Bob Hawthorne, Diehl Jones, Taz Taylor, A.C. Arnn, Don McQueen, Chip Humphries, Tom Zarges, Ned Haley, David Axelson, Carl Strock, Lew Reynolds, Tom Morehouse, Roland Vaughn, Glen Kuntz, Phil Journlin, and Steve McAuliffe. However, I must admit to a bit of chicanery—trickery, even. I had an ulterior motive in sending out that email: To elicit sympathy to get you to send me updates and stories for my notes, which many of you did. Mission accomplished. Know that you have been had by a professional charlatan.

Barbara Scherer (Bill Scherer’s better half) sent me a story about her encounter with “floaters” in her right eye, potentially one of the signs of a detached or torn retina. After a few starts and stops, she consulted an ophthalmologist, who explained floaters are often just part of the natural aging process. “One more thing,” Forrest Gump once said. So, if you see floaties in your eye, you’re not going crazy. Well, maybe you are, but perhaps you should check it out. John Fischer wrote to tell me he had the same surgery a year ago and remembers well the boring and uncomfortable prone position required for recovery.

Jesse Glidewell reported that he had a severe bike crash recently, running into a stout steel gate, precipitated by a ventricular tachycardia episode that came on suddenly. The run-in with the gate returned him to a normal sinus rhythm. Go figure. “On autopilot, I got my bike off the road and called Bobbye [his wife], who got me on a bus where EMTs had to shock me on the way to the hospital.” Since when do EMTs take a bus to the scene of an accident, I ask? Doctors at the hospital inserted an ICD (defibrillator) to monitor and correct the irregular rhythms. Jesse reports that it took a while for the brain fog and hematomas to resolve. Five months later, after finishing PE for injuries sustained, Jesse decided he needed a “stamina test” to ensure his new start battery was working correctly.

Class notes

He and Bobbye agreed that a good way to do that would be to climb a cliff somewhere in Arizona via a Ferrata, that being a rock wall equipped with steel cables, ladders, rungs, and other anchors installed to help very crazy people with heart problems ascend, descend, or cross the face of an insanely frightening vertical cliff. I assume he passed the test, although I haven’t heard from him lately. It’s easy for me to imagine having tachycardia with a hobby like that.

I was happy to hear from Nancy Cabaniss Mastin, who, with our BR Richard “Dick” Cabaniss, hosted gatherings before and after VMI football games. Through the years, Nancy kept up with many 1970 brother rats and attended many Class ’70 reunions. As a W&L fraternity house mother for years, she positively influenced hundreds of W&L men, many of whom return to visit her years after graduation. Nancy is recovering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome. She reports progressing well at home in Lexington. “I am still healing and have made great strides. It will be a year this Friday, Aug. 23.” In late August, Nancy’s daughter, Courtney May, had a baby girl. She named her Florence May after Richard’s mother, Florence, and her mother, Ida May. Florence May arrived 7 weeks early at UVA hospital, necessitating some time in the NICU. Nancy’s 8-year-old grandson started school this year and is doing well despite enduring severe health challenges, including 11 surgeries. His provisional appointment says VMI Class of 2038. Nancy sure has seen her share of adversity. Despite it all, she soldiers on and looks forward to next April for the 55th.

Bob Hawthorne also soldiers on as usual, confronting his share of medical challenges, including kidney failure, which led to necessary dialysis three days a week, a routine he considers a rat challenge, which he has happily accepted—much better than the alternative. Bob still works with his son in an air charter business. Five grandkids keep him and Mary busy. “Family dinner is every Monday night. They all come, especially if we go out and I’m paying.” Bob reminded me that Oct. 28 was the birthday of Sir Moses Ezekiel ’866

Class of 1970: Jane Walker, widow of Richard “Dixie” Walker ’70, receives the casket flag from a U.S. Air Force chaplain during Dixie’s burial service at Arlington National Cemetery Oct. 2, 2024.

Class of 1970: Kent Schlussel, Bill Huffman, Bill Gearhart, Taz Taylor, Cliff Davenport, Carl Strock, Tom Zarges, Rich Clary, Russ Marshall, Waite Rawls, John Fleming, Ralph Costen, and Lou Reynolds attend the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Diehl Jones is doing well after enduring serious back surgery to armor his upper spine with metal plates in his quest to become a bionic man. Diehl reminded me of the May gathering in Raleigh, North Carolina, for Carl Strock’s induction ceremony into the 82nd Airborne Hall of Heroes and the wonderful time we had after the induction at Diehl and Pat’s home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where Carl and Wilder Wadford regaled us with hilarious (mostly true, I’m sure) stories.

Enough already of tales of medical woes. Let’s move on to other stuff. Jim Mawyer wrote about the annual North Carolina Outer Banks gathering of BRs, spouses, and friends. Beth and A.C. Arnn, Gary and Lynn Weishaar, Dave Schmidt, Gray Chandler, Don and Tucker McQueen, Carl and Julie Strock, Tom and Jill Cooke, June Bailey, Lanny and Terry Sue Gault ’71, Bill and Marylyn Huffman, Paula and Bill O’Connor, Taze and Katherine Taylor, Snead and Madeline Luck, Charlie and Margaret Walker, Nancy Chandler, Jim and Judy Mawyer, Ralph and Marsha Costen, and Lee Moon attended. Every year for quite some time, Jim has organized this weeklong gathering, securing a beachfront condominium the size of the Queen Mary. Partygoers equip the monstrosity with enough booze to float it out to sea and enough food to last a month. Everyone pitches in to help prepare food and clean up, except for a few ne’er-do-wells. You know who you are! Whew, that is a lot of BRs in one place—a situation rife with the possibility of substantial jail time.

A.C. Arnn reports, “All is well in Burlington, North Carolina.” He stays busy with work from several contractors and a few weekly rounds of golf. An ardent University of Tennessee football fan, he made it to several Tennessee games but no VMI games. The biggie for him is the Nov. 16 UTGA game; he hoped for an upset this year. Well, that did not happen. The Bulldogs beat the Volunteers 31-17 in Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, packed with 95,000 rowdy and juiced-up fans. A.C. and Beth are heading to Europe for the Christmas markets and will do another Viking Cruise in May in Southern France—No. 8 to date. Besides the North Carolina Outer Banks BR gaggle, A.C. has been a fixture at the annual GOMBAC golf tournament, which is now in its 44th year. This year’s gathering will be in Santee, South Carolina, instead of Myrtle Beach. Eight of the original 12 golfers will attend. A.C. has reservations for our 55th “unless something better comes up.” I will put a stop to nonsensical thinking like that.

Don Crawford is up next. His wife, Lois, had a macular hole in her retina several years ago, which a NOVA ophthalmologist fixed. Both he and Lois have had cataract surgery, as well. Don and Lois

Class Notes

are living large in Costa Rica. He says kind and generous people, perfect weather, and beautiful natural resources make every day pleasant. “We gather with the Quakers of Monteverde, who started a school for local kids many years ago that provides K-12 education in Spanish and English to this day. Somehow, they thought I might be a helpful addition to the school governance, so now I serve on the Finance Committee.” That’s a pretty good gig for a guy with an MBA from the University of Missouri. Don says the Quakers convinced farmers to convert some agricultural lands to forest. Much of that is now a research destination for scientists from all over the world. Don takes daily walks, including going to town for groceries and other supplies, maybe lunch at a local restaurant, and a couple of weekly hikes with Lois in the woods of the nature preserves. “The Monteverde Canton has a population of about 6,000, but nearly 300,000 nature-loving tourists pass through each year, the primary industry being tourism, followed by agriculture. We get the freshest fruits and vegetables. Artisan bakers make the best sourdough bread, and local dairies sell handmade cheese. We are happy and healthy here,” Don reports. “I’m in the best shape since my rat year (for my age). It’s a great place to visit, with incredible green mountains, black sand beaches on the Pacific with great waves for surfing, and clear waters for snorkeling on the Caribbean side—something for everyone. So y’all come on down. I’m sorry we will miss the upcoming reunion. Our son-in-law, Brian Clissold, is conducting the Rutter Gloria in Lincoln Center in NYC April 14. If anyone in the

NYC area enjoys excellent choral music, let me know, and we will meet you there.”

On Oct. 2, Jane Walker and her children, Jeff and Jennifer, laid their father to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Lt. Col. Richard “Dick” “Dixie” Rolland Walker died March 24 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Under the call sign “Stroker,” Dixie flew F-4 Phantoms in Vietnam from 1975–76. He joined the Louisiana Air National Guard in 1979 and served in the 122nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, U.S. Naval Air Station, New Orleans, Louisiana. During his time there, he flew F-4s and F-15s. After that, he flew commercial at American Airlines, working his way to captain, instructor pilot, and check airman. Brother Rats Mike Caruth, Ned Haley, Bob Candido, Bob Patrick, Paul Munch, Ed Andrews, Waite Rawls, Ashton Ormes, Jim Nelson and Pam, Ron Henry, Roy Heddleston and Carol, Cameron Seay and Mary, Herb Braun, and Tommy Cooke joined Emily and me, Mary Kay Payne (representing the famous Beast Payne), family and friends of the Walker family, and magnificent, standing-tall-andproud, spit-shined United States Air Force troops to honor Dixie. The service was poignant and somber but simultaneously glorious and uplifting. The Honor Guard performed brilliantly. After the burial, many of us gathered at the nearby Army Navy Country Club for lunch and stories from family, friends, and fellow pilots, including our BR Mike Carruth, who organized the affair and spoke affectionally about Dixie. It was a day I will never forget—a grand tribute to one of our own.

Ash Ormes wrote that he enjoys retirement

Class of 1970: Pictured at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia, Nov. 10, 2024, are (from left) Tom Morehouse and Sallie Marchello, Steve and Emily Talley, Bob and Martha Spore, Ned Haley and Fricka Raycroft, Chad Lash and Caryn Wagner, and Mike Iwanik and Vickie Gullet.

by traveling for fun and keeping up with BRs in Northern Virginia, where he lives. “Bob Patrick does a great job in keeping us in touch with one another. I also hear from Glenn Kuntz, who has been a good friend since our days together at Fort Knox in 1970. My old roommate, Jim Nelson, lives in Madison County, and he and I get together often. We tour old battlefields and other points of interest from Virginia history. Like many other old geezers, I strive to document family history for later generations while I still have a chance to do so.” Ash is part of an upstart group of NOVA BRs, including Bob Candido, Mike Carruth, Al Johnson, Chad Lash, Paul Munch, and Bob Patrick, who have decided to share a lunch every year May 17 somewhere in NOVA to celebrate VMI Class of ’70 graduation day—a noble undertaking, indeed. Ash says any BRs are welcome to this important annual mini reunion.

Waite Rawls sent a note about the Institute Society Dinner, celebrating its 50th year Nov. 8—the Institute Society: “Above the ordinary, constant and generous.” Waite says, “We retold old stories (all of which get much better with time), ate much better food than Club Crozet, and heard a fascinating talk by actor Gary Sinise.” Many of our brother rats and other VMI alums have given generously through the years to sustain the Institute. It is proper that they should gather annually to celebrate their accomplishments. Check out the picture of the dignified and generous VMI gentlemen from our class in attendance at the dinner this year: Kent Schlussel, Bill Huffman, Bill Gearhart,

Taz Taylor, Cliff Davenport, Carl Strock (hiding behind Tom Zarges), Rich Clary, Russ Marshall, Waite Rawls, John Fleming, Ralph Costen, and Lou Reynolds. Be proud of our guys. After the gala dinner, there was a dance party that most of our BRs probably did not attend, given that their bedtimes are just a little north of 9 p.m.

Tom Morehouse and Sallie Marchello, Emily Talley and I, Bob and Martha Spore, Ned Haley and Fricka Raycroft, Chad Lash and Caryn Wagner, and Mike Iwanik and Vickie Gullet gathered in Staunton, my hometown, Nov. 10 to attend a marvelous performance of “Dracula” at the American Shakespeare Center. Six brother rats, accompanied by elegant ladies, attend a play about a guy who drinks blood for sustenance. What could possibly go wrong? Let the blood-drinking begin.

After the play, we stayed for a Q&A session with four of the troop’s delightful performers, and then we went to dinner at the Mill Sreet Grill. Ned Haley and his wife, Fricka, had the brilliant idea to sit the wives at a separate table so they did not have to listen to endless VMI stories and attendant bull manure. It worked out marvelously. The girls had a raucous time, bordering on rowdiness. We guys had no idea what they were talking about, but the laughter coming from their quarter was quite robust. After dinner, we capped the night off in the Mill Street parking lot with a raucous Old Yell for the Class of 1970. That’s all for now. Gear up for our 55th. Start on your Geritol regime soon.

To finish up, consider these words of wisdom from the parents of Cadet Julie Freitas ’25 to her,

as she, a first-generation Brazilian college student, now captain of VMI’s women’s track and field team, embarked upon a VMI education: “Be where your feet are. Stay focused and grounded in the moment.” Pretty good advice, I’d say.

Now, as Warren used to say, “In the spirit.”

1971

David Ellington

Since our last notes, the overall status of our class has been relatively stable, with most of the bad news involving the weather in Florida with two hurricanes within a short period of time, which created havoc there again. Communication has been spotty at times related to the widespread loss of electricity and phone service, but as can be best determined, some were much more impacted than others.

Jim Neale reports that despite getting 12-16 inches of rain from Helene and having the eyewall of Milton pass within 250 yards of his house, the damage in his specific area mostly involved trees, shrubs, and fencing. Others were not so fortunate with their property, but on the more positive side, there were no serious injuries or deaths involving our BRs or family members.

Ox Schrader was rendered incommunicado due to power failures but apparently was hit pretty hard

Class of 1970: Attending the VMI versus Furman football game Nov. 2, 2024, are (kneeling, from left) Bill O’Connor, Herb Braun, Peel Dillard, (standing) Tommy Cooke, Lee Moon, Ralph Costen, Lew Reynolds, Russ Marshall, Bobby Brown, Carl Strock, Dave Miller, and Ned Perrow.

Class of 1971: Billy Rose (left) and Zeke Ellington attend the VMI versus Bucknell football game in September 2024.

and lost both of his cars and had extensive water damage to his home. All this comes on top of prepping for some rather extensive, but noncancerous, abdominal surgery which, as I write this, has turned out well.

Ken Piernick endured four waves of storm surge in the two storms but managed to avoid any significant flooding and suffered mostly wind and tree damage. With the storm surge rolling in and ebbing, it sounds as if he was very fortunate and only a couple of feet from disaster.

Carl Biersack was not so lucky. Helene filled his garage and first floor of his house with 3 feet of water, causing damages of a total loss to his car and generating 70 garbage bags of debris. Power was out, stranding Ann, who needs an elevator to get up and down stairs, for 4 days on their third floor. Ann and Carl evacuated to Macon, Georgia, for Milton and returned to find mostly extensive tree and wind damage but, fortunately, no water damage.

Larry Brumback over in the Orlando area lost power for a couple of days and sustained some tree damage due to the wind but had no serious problems. I have not heard of any significant damage from other BRs living further inland or further away from the major zones of impact. Having learned of all the trauma and destruction in Florida, Bill Ginder invites interested Florida BRs to come to Texas complete with “rooms, BBQ, and tequila.”

Class Notes

I had a very nice conversation from Jim Neale while he was driving home from Eglin Air Force Base after a reunion of his Vietnam Air Force unit. After graduation, Jim was quickly called to active duty and went to flight training school in Mississippi with Dickie Randolph. Jimmy was then assigned to fly an OV-10 as a forward air controller and sent to Vietnam. As you can see in the picture of Jim, this is not a jet but a small two-prop driven airplane. When I initially saw the picture, all I could think was that this looks like one of those small aircraft that flies slowly around sporting events pulling a sign. Jimmy spent the majority of his tour flying in I Corps territory around Da Nang and then spent the rest of the time flying over Cambodia, neither considered safe spaces by any means. The reunion was of the special ops units

to which he was attached and was attended by over 100 veterans and their spouses. There was a memorial service for those who had died in Vietnam, including Jack Kennedy ’69 The reunion also included an update on how the Air Force is addressing the similar challenges Jimmy and his cohorts faced 50 years earlier. Jimmy came away with two feelings from the event. He found it heartwarming to see the evolution of his former veteran teammates over the past 50 years. He also found great comfort in the capabilities and enthusiasm of the women and men presently serving in the Air Force. His only expressed concern is that we need more of them serving.

On a different note, the irrepressible “Corn” Biggs continues to amaze. This past May, John was working in his yard and injured his foot. Thinking nothing of it, he continued his normal activities, including hiking all over the Scottish Highlands and Orkney Islands. He finally looked into it upon return to the States and discovered he had initially fractured several bones in his foot and sustained some nerve damage. Next, despite bracing and physical therapy, and because of the nerve damage in his feet, he developed a severe foot infection, which necessitated an emergency transfer to Peoria and subsequent amputation of his right foot and part of his lower leg. After all this, in John’s words, “Future prospects are bright, and I am focused on returning to golf, cycling, and walking, as well as just sitting around and being lazy.” He avowed he will march with the class on the Parade Ground at our next reunion. He later noted in an update after finishing a course of intensive rehab and returning home, “I used to have restless leg syndrome, now I am just restless,” followed by, “The ‘Corn’ is about a foot shorter this year than last out here in Iowa.” John was an unassuming, low-key fellow at VMI, but this has to be one of the greatest examples of positive thinking I have ever seen. Now he states his big decision is whether to get a prosthesis with a clip on the bottom to attach to his bicycle pedal or just a “regular” prosthesis. Despite the fact that he lost his foot and part of his distal leg, the doctors certainly didn’t amputate his sense of humor or his outlook on life. After finding out about

Class of 1971: Fred Banister visits the grave of U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton ’907 in Luxembourg.

Class of 1971: Jim Neale with an OV-10 Bronco, which he flew in Vietnam.

Class of 1971: Van Jolissaint (left) and Rick Littleton on a fishing trip.

John’s medical travails, he also introduced me to another of his passions—making and painting tin soldiers, which he then makes into a chess set. This is in addition to the two books he has written on his family history from Charlemagne to the present. He has been making tin soldiers for a while, but within the last several years, John was asked to make an edition of a chess set theme based on the Battle of New Market as a present to a cadet on graduation, which John did. He makes three different sets based on the Battle of New Market, the Battle of 2nd Manassas, and the Battle of Brandywine Creek in 1777. He makes the soldiers, then paints them and then mounts them on a base to make a chess piece and also makes the chessboard where they can be played and displayed.

Boone Bucher also had a recent brush with a health issue. While returning from a trip to Colorado, Boone began having trouble with his speech and ultimately was found to have an aneurysm “in the middle of my brain.” After 4 hours on the operating table, the neurosurgeon was able to surgically address the lesion. After speaking with Boone on the phone, he seems to have no residual damage or effect and sounds absolutely normal. Boone is still associated with his production of noise barriers by roadways and has expanded from the U.S. to Japan, Greece, and England in the sale of his products

In the category of “this is a small world,” Jane and I were on a recent flight routed through Denver, which originated in Richmond. When we arrived for our flight, there was a fellow at our gate which evoked the feeling, “I know this guy.” He finally turned around and was wearing apparel with a VMI emblem. It was “Speed” Patterson, and we recognized each other at the same time! Speed was on his way to his son’s mountaintop wedding in Montana, which, on later communication, was a great success. (“The climb to the peak was not too challenging, thank God!)” Speed is involved in the development of a cybersecurity platform which focuses on helping boards of directors manage their fiduciary duty vis-a-vis cybersecurity. He reported that the platform has recently become part of a National Science Foundation project, which he finds very encouraging.

Upon arriving back in Richmond, I was standing at the luggage carousel, and there was a fellow standing there wearing a VMI hat. I asked him his class, and he replied, “John Meybin ’66.” I then asked him if he had taught Sunday school classes at Lexington Presbyterian Church during his cadetship. When he answered in the affirmative, I introduced myself and Jane, both of whom were in that class. He had no idea who we were but instantly asked us about Bob Pickral. Bob must

Class notes

have been quite a memorable Sunday school participant! Small world, indeed.

I was recently in Norfolk for a conference, and Jane and I spent an afternoon with Paul and Beth Fraim. Paul was a roommate for 3 years, but our paths had seldom crossed since graduation, so this was a true pleasure. Paul showed us around town, to include parts of Norfolk I had never seen, with the campus of Eastern Virginia Medical School being especially impressive. Paul never hinted or mentioned what I write next, but looking him up on Wikipedia revealed a career which played a great part in the success story Norfolk is today. Paul initially won a seat on the Norfolk City Council in 1986 and then became mayor in 1994 at a time when the mayor was appointed by the City Council. In the next election cycle, he became the first mayor elected by the citizens since 1919 and went on to serve until 2016, making him the longest-serving mayor in Norfolk history. His main focus was the economic development of the city, the fruits of which are readily apparent today as one rides around the city. Paul is still deeply involved in civic affairs in Norfolk. He has also been very involved in the Institute, both serving on and then serving as chair of the VMI Board of Visitors. I jerked his chain a bit when I mentioned that I couldn’t even get away from him at the conference, as one of the larger venues at the conference center was named the Paul D. Fraim Center for Excellence.

This has been a challenging football season, certainly aggravated by the present state of college athletics with the portal and NIL money, but the Keydets fight on. ’71 has been well represented in Lexington. If I miss anyone or their spouse, please excuse me. Present at the opening game against Bucknell were Carol and Buddy Bryan, Terry Sue and Lannie Gault, Marie and Ken Coleman, Anne and Ned Mikula, Spring and Sam Kirby, Jerry Acuff and son Ryan, and Jane and me. Several individuals and their spouses joined the night before the game at the Keydet Club kickoff reception and dance. Jane and I missed The Citadel game, but Sam Kirby informed me that he, Gault, Kennedy, Acuff, Bryan, Gearhart, Coleman, Lockridge, Littleton, Beatie, and Hepler, who will soon be moving to North Carolina to be closer to his son, were in attendance to see a hardfought ball game. Sam also related that he and E.J. Patrick had recently visited Karen Wachtmeister and found her in good health and doing well. They have been making this visit on an annual basis to keep up to date on how she is doing since Ted’s death. The Keydets battled right to the end and came away with their first win against Furman. ’71 was represented by Jerry Acuff and son Ryan,

Lanny and Terry Sue Gault, Tommy and Teresa Lawson, Buddy and Carol Bryan, Tim Golden, Mike Strickler, and me in attendance. The first win of the year was reminiscent of our first, and only, football victory our 1st Class year, which was also against Furman. Due to his play in that game, BR Acuff was awarded the Southern Conference Player of the Week. Most of those mentioned, along with Ken and Marie Coleman, were on hand the next day at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet.

Right at the deadline, ’71 had a very good turnout for the football game versus Mercer and the 50th anniversary of the Institute Society later that evening. Attending the game were Ken and Marie Coleman, Mike Strickler, Buddy and Carol Bryan, Dave and Martha Kennedy, Dave and Donna Honeywell, Bill and Margaret Ginder, John and Ollie Wall, Jim Gearhart, Steve Matthews, Al Davis, Jerry Acuff and son Ryan, and Jane and me. For those who have been able to attend any of the games and those who contribute to the Keydet Club and the Foundation, I appreciate your continued support, both in person and financially. It is difficult for VMI to compete in the current environment, but we need to continue to support the young men and women who honorably attempt to buck the present tide of NIL and the portal to compete today as true, amateur student-athletes in search of a meaningful education.

Our Tour de Virginia cyclists Van Joillisant, Rick Littleton, and Herb Whitley keep the bike paths of western and Central Virginia busy. I took, and survived, one ride with them, but they left me exhausted. Van and Rick are also avid fishermen and successful fishermen, in addition. Rick is also very active in organizing a monthly lunch for BRs living in the New River area. In October, Whitley, Gearhart, Booker, Gentry, Rush, and Littleton gathered in Christiansburg for lunch, the singing of the National Anthem at noon, and surely many a story.

Things remain quiet in Lexington, with not a lot of local news to report. Pat and Larry Wiese are doing well, with Pat hard at work building study abroad relationships between the small Tuscan town in Italy where they had an apartment and VMI, Longwood, and Hampden-Sydney.

Bob and Nancy Pickral are doing well. Bob has a timeshare in Las Vegas and goes out there about this time every year. When I read in the news about a restaurant serving a 55-ounce steak delivered to the table in a “beef case” for only $1,000, I asked Bob if that was in his plans. He demurred, thinking that was just too much red meat for him to handle.

For a school that didn’t have Naval ROTC, we seem to have quite a few mariners in our class,

Class Notes

with many, many providing cruise updates As I write this, Anne and Ned Mikula are off on a tour of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, but I think the all-time “as we speak” update just came in from Jim and Pam Adams. I wrote Jim to check up on how he was doing and didn’t hear back for several days before receiving the following note: “Zeke, sorry for the delay in responding. We finally have a day at sea in the Med and are not running around on some exhausting tour. We have enjoyed the Adriatic, perhaps Dubrovnik and the island of Corfu the most, to this point. We have another week to go and look forward to seeing Northern Greece this time around.”

Another cruiser, Fred Banister, also checked in after a Rhine River cruise that ended in Trier, Germany. During the trip, he stopped to pay respects to our American soldiers killed during the Battle of the Bulge. While at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, he also paid respects at the grave of Gen. George S. Patton III ’907. At 75-plus years, it is great to see and hear of so many BRs and wives enjoying all the cruises and trips they are able to make. Bon voyage to all, and keep it up!

As this time period closed, VMI celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Institute Society. Our class was well represented by Carol and Buddy Bryan, Margaret and Bill Ginder, Donna and Dave Honeywell, Martha and Dave Kennedy, Ollie and John “Box” Wall, Al Davis, Jim Gearhart, Steve Matthews, and Jane and me. The crowd was so big that seating had to be spread over two venues. The keynote speaker for the evening event was Gary Sinise, known for playing Lt. Dan in the movie “Forrest Gump.” Mr. Sinise gave a very

heartfelt, moving, and well-received talk regarding the foundation he has established to serve and honor America’s veterans, first responders, families of the fallen, and those in need. After the talk, there was a dance featuring a rocking band. BR Ginder repeatedly threatened to go into a “full Ginder gala gator” mode but then determined if he actually “got down” (in the true sense of the words), there was a high probability he would be unable to get back up, so the opportunity was for naught.

And lastly, but certainly not in the least category, at the last Rockbridge County Wildcat football game, Ken Coleman was aptly recognized at the end of 32 years as the Friday night football “Voice of the Wildcats” PA announcer. He has been the only person to hold this position since the establishment of the “new” high school. Ken was the official “coin tosser” for the game and was awarded with many gifts and much well-deserved praise.

Thanks to all who have kept me posted on your lives, and I encourage you to start getting ready for our 55th.

Zeke

Larry Houseworth

“Dark Ages” are imminent, there’s relief in kissing the hyper-wire brushed presidential election goodbye.

A quick administrative reminder: The Alumni Agencies’ VMI Ranks is the master database for all alumni contact information. Go to vmialumni. org/ranks and register (if you have not done so). You can keep your contact information up to date and search for BRs, widows, and other alums. Let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll help in any way I can.

Our throng was well-represented at the Institute Society’s 50th anniversary celebration. Fran and Rick Jones, Mary Jane and George Williams, Betsy and Chris Foster, Anne and Gale Sommers, Linda and Bob Stransky, Pam and Bill Collier, Sharon and John Fick, Janet Brown and Tom Williamson, and Marie and I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie, ambiance, and the inspiring presentation by guest speaker, Gary Sinise.

As I mentioned in the last Review, Debbie and Walt Chalkley attended their son, Scott Chalkley’s (’02), promotion to O-6 back in August at the U.S. Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

“Captain” Jack Miller shared this: “Hello, BRs. Donna Miller, my wife, has just been promoted to commodore of finance by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The USCGAUX is the largest volunteer marine safety organization in the world. We serve the United States Coast Guard directly, and we save lives. We are in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and have recently supported launch control in Canaveral, including the Space Force and the U.S. Coast Guard, during a launch. Donna will be putting

Greetings, One and All–

These notes cover summer through Election Day, Founders Day, and Ring Figure. While the

Class of 1971: At the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) Jim Gearhart, Bill Ginder, John Wall, Al Davis, Dave Kennedy, Steve Matthews, Buddy Bryan, Zeke Ellington, and Dave Honeywell.

Class of 1972: Roger and Randy Lodi at the Temple of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt.

on her stars Nov 1. I have included a picture of her as deputy assistant national commodore finance. New pic coming soon, I hope.” Congrats, Donna—well earned!

George Kosovic shared this remembrance after hearing about the passing of Maj. Gen. Jim Morgan ’45, former dean. “I’m just getting around to reading the latest News-Gazette this morning. One quick anecdote: I guess it was 10 years ago and maybe more that I walked into Niko’s Grille for a ’72 reunion planning session over lunch with Tom Moncure and maybe others and saw General Morgan sitting with an assortment of VMI chaps, also enjoying lunch there. Morgan had spotted us and beckoned. We walked over to say hello and fielded the general’s charming and funny interrogation into why we were there. It was a memorable display of Morgan’s warmth, wit, and good memory. Some of the younger guys at the table were surprised by seeing just how far back his association with former cadets ran.” He was legendary.

Bob Patrick responded, “I knew Colonel Morgan before we went to VMI because my father was a professor there. I also recall that meeting at Niko’s with you, Tom, and the planning group for our 45th. I recall that Colonel Morgan said that we were the class with the lowest qualifications ever to enter VMI.” Maybe someday Walt Chalkley and Vern Beitzel can put together their old notes on our (less than stellar) academic pedigree in 1968?

Class notes

Keeping in the vein of faculty remembrances, Tom Moncure shared this: “BRs ... especially English and history majors ... George (Kosovic) knows this, but Percy Allan Carlsson, who taught many of us two semesters of philosophy (required!) and as registrar, autographed our tickets out of VMI, passed away late last month. While he was personally a good guy, the course, to me, was a real snooze fest and earned him the name ‘Cloudy’ Carlsson, I think. When we began our 18 years in Lex, the others on our diploma were still with us, and I saw each of them from time to time in Lex or at my dad’s ’40 reunions, where I represented VMI at their 60th, 65th, and 70th observances. Sol Rawls (’40) was BOV president and my dad’s BR. Irby (’939) passed first, followed by Rawls, then Holton (gov.), and now Carlsson at 97 ... a distinguished group. You might

know that Governor Holton was the father of Anne Holton, the wife of Senator Tim Kaine. ... Time marches on.” Indeed, it does, BR.

Just past assembly for the last Review, Bob Bailey sent a photo of him, Grace, and Denny and Pam Sullivan at the Tampa Chapter rat send-off. Both Bob and Denny are past chapter presidents. Kathy and Henry Knick do not sit still. Here’s their latest: “In mid-September, Kathy and I checked off one of our bucket list items with our trip to Normandy and the D-Day beaches. After 3 days in Paris, we joined a tour group led by the Citizen Soldier Education Foundation of the 29th Infantry Division, 116th Regiment Museum. The museum is in Verona, Virginia, just north of Staunton and is a hidden jewel in the Shenandoah Valley (thecitizensoldier.org). Except for Kathy

and me, the tour group included people from Staunton and the surrounding area. The 5-day tour was extremely educational and reinforced the magnitude of the planning, operations, and bravery of the men who stormed the beaches and advanced through the hedgerows in Normandy. The tour was led by Jimmy Kilbourne [’86], who is the director of the museum and a VMI graduate of the VMI Class of 1986. The 29th Infantry Division of the World War II era was mostly comprised from National Guard units out of the Shenandoah Valley, including ‘the Bedford Boys.’ The 29th Infantry Division has a history of over 280 years, from 1741 to Yorktown, Manassas, to Appomattox, Verdun, Omaha Beach, even Iraq and Afghanistan. They are known as ‘Blue and Gray Division’ and were previously known as ‘The Stonewallers’ or ‘Stonewall Brigade.’” He also said, “During my research on the 29th, I found out my great-six grandfather in the Maryland line in the Revolutionary War was a part of the 29th Division. My great-great-grandfather was in the 5th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, and fought under Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War.” In a P.S., he wrote: “We got back to Atlanta and rode back to Augusta in a terrific rainstorm. We went to bed and woke up to Hurricane Helene at 4:30 a.m. Our neighborhood looked like a war zone, and it took 3 hours to get out of the neighborhood. We lost four trees but no damage except for our fence. The rest of the neighborhood was not as lucky. We lost power for almost 7 days and lost cable/internet 15 days.” Nobody’s going to accuse the Knicks of slacking off.

Tom Hathaway did not have a “whole lot to report, but I did have a brother rat sighting! I attended Myrna’s 55th reunion last weekend for the Kecoughtan High School (Hampton, Virginia) class of ’69. As is usual for these things, there were members from several other classes on both sides. I was wearing my VMI ball cap when I walked into the reception suite, and one of the guys saw it and came up to me. It was Joe Pat Nealon. I didn’t remember him at first because we hadn’t really known each other as cadets, but I thought I’d pass that along. We had a very nice chat.” We’re everywhere, BRs.

Wade Houston (and Walt Judd ’69) filled us in on this: “Attached is the group picture from this year’s Two Bellies Golf Tournament hosted by the

Class of 1972: Members of the class join the Class of 1969 at the annual Two Bellies Golf Tournament.

Class of 1972: Grace and Bob Bailey with Denny and Pam Sullivan at the Tampa Chapter rat send-off in summer 2024.

Class of 1969. The Class of 1972 was well represented. We had three teams, consisting of Jimbo VanLandingham, Chris Foster, and Rick Minor, followed by Roger Hart, Bill Irby, and Doug Nichols, with the last team consisting of Bob MacMeccan and Bob Stransky, who carried me. It was a hard-fought contest with no quarter given. But in the end, Jimbo, Chris, and Rick prevailed, owing to Chris’ surgical-like putting.” Manly men doing manly things.

Roger Lodi reported in with their world travels. “Randy and I just returned from a trip to Egypt. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure! Only experiencing the pyramids, the tombs, and the temples in person can one really understand the scale and effort of the work required. We started in Cairo, where we visited the pyramids and the sphinx, as well as the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum, and then we boarded a riverboat in Luxor and cruised the Nile for 4 days. It was a great time.” That’s on our bucket list, BR—thanks!

Jim Pagones shared pictures of him and Joan with Joy and Norm Worrell while vacationing in Myrtle Beach in September. Joan and Joy, you ladies are saints—you’re keeping our guys young.

Brit Harrison shared an interesting observation. “I was recently at an old guard luncheon in Williamsburg with BRs who graduated at least 40 years ago. Five were from Class of ’72. It is good to see so many BRs still vibrant and engaged. The deputy director for admissions (Chase Perry ’07) provided some great insights into the new processes and procedures incorporated into the recruitment and admissions programs. What I found as an interesting aside is that the BRs from

Class Notes

1970 onward accept many of the changes at the Institute. The BRs from the classes in the ’60s seemed to gripe, moan, and fight any changes to the way they remember things.” Sounds like we’re paraphrasing an old quote: “VMI’s just not the same, but then, it never was.”

Fred Bauer sent a quick note, saying, “My sonin-law, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Halligan, is the new music director (regimental band, etc.) at VMI.” People have commented that the band has never sounded so good.

Your scribe and his bride recently met up with Sue and Dave Hall for a delightful and laugh-filled lunch in Short Pump. Dave is gamely pushing through some major health and rehab challenges, but you would never know it, given his notoriously snarky wit and attitude. And Sue is his ever-smiling (albeit eye-rolling) Florence Nightingale.

And we literally ran into Ava Tucker and Phil Clayton after The Citadel game. We accepted their very gracious and spontaneous invitation to join them for dinner at their House Mountain spread. Breathtaking scenery and the warmest camaraderie (and outstanding crab cakes) as the sun set over the valley. I’m having a moment here just remembering ...

That’s a wrap for this quarter. Take good care of you and yours, let’s look out for each other, and Rah Virginia Mil!

Larry

1973

Mike Kelly

Hello, BRs,

Wow—this year has really flown by. As I write these notes, we have just celebrated Founders Day and the Institute Society Dinner at VMI, getting ready for Thanksgiving, and talking about when to put up Christmas decorations. And as you are reading these notes, you’ll be thinking about getting through another Valentine’s Day! (Sorry, ladies!) I want to mention again the 55th matriculation mini reunion we had in August. It really turned out to be a great event. I think we had a total of 41 BRs and 18 significant others attending events over the 3 days. I heard from a lot more BRs who wanted to come but because of other commitments and planned activities were unable to attend. I again want to thank Scott Lingamfelter and Roland Tiso for providing a book review and leading the discussion on Middle East warring and activities for peacekeeping. I continue to get positive feedback on this session. And I want to again give a big thanks to Tom and Jannie Linn for putting together the great activity and luncheon for significant others. Thanks also to Larry and Debbie Mays and Pat Kelly for helping make it all happen.

Class of 1972: George Williams, John Fick, Bob Stransky, Rick Jones, Bill Collier, Tom Williamson, Gale Sommers, Larry Houseworth, and Chris Foster at the Institute Society Dinner, Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 1972: Jack and Donna Miller at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Ball.

Since the mini reunion, Pat and I have been busy trying to finish some of our remodeling. I am about 90% completed with the backyard. (My neighbor told me the other day that it may be too cold to christen the patio by the time I finish!) We have been to Lexington and to Boone, North Carolina, for ASU games. We just spent a few days in the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, area, helping my son get moved in. We spent time at the ranch in Pulaski County mowing, getting up leaves, taking care of the bee hives, and trying to relax on the porch and enjoy the quietness. We just got back from attending the Institute Society Dinner celebrating the 50th year of the Institute Society. Gary Sinise was the guest speaker and did an unbelievable job at speaking to us. His foundation is helping so many people—in particular veterans—around the world. His talk brought tears to the eyes of many. It was a great evening. Pat and I are headed to Asheville next week to see the Christmas decorations at Biltmore and then traveling over to Boone for some tailgating and the ASU versus JMU football game with my sons. Of course, Pat wants to stop in Blowing Rock for a shopping event.

Hurricane Helene really did some significant damage to the Asheville area; however, it seems we are still OK to go, and my hotel reservations are good. We had a number of BRs affected by the storm, but ED Woomer was probably hit the worst. ED lives in Weaverville, North Carolina, just northeast of Asheville. I was able to communicate with him a few days after the hurricane passed through, and he was getting by; fortunately, no significant damage to his home, but he had no water or electricity for days. We have a lot of BRs in Florida, especially in the Tampa area. We were

able to hear from most of them over a few days after the storm. All of them were doing well and getting through the loss of power and a lack of “stuff” with minimum problems.

I sent a mass email out last month about the passing of Mike Guidry. Mike fought a long battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away Feb. 8, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Kaitlin; three children; and four grandkids. Mike left VMI after three semesters. I have heard from so many of our BRs who just loved him. His roommates and even his dyke, Cameron Seay ’70, have talked about what a great guy he was. John DiGiovanni said he was always upbeat and joking around. John said he even “set Mike up” one hop weekend with his sister. May you rest in peace, BR, and your family always treasure your memory.

I recently sent out a note about the passing of Paul Jalbert’s mother. Paul posted on our Facebook page his mother’s passing Nov. 2, just 5

days prior to her 102nd birthday. Please keep Paul and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Losing your mother is especially heartbreaking. We had a pretty good turnout for the 50th anniversary of the Institute Society this year. Although we were missing some of our regular attendees, we had a great time. Attending this year’s event were Garland and Ann Gray, Pete and Karen Walters, Scott McCarthy, Ken and Sherri Kaliski, Joe Wyatt, Doug and Beth Basham, and Pat and me.

This seems to have been the year of travel for several of our BRs. Pete Walters posted a lot of pictures on our Facebook page of travels they took to Europe. And in between travels, Pete has about finished construction of his airplane and is awaiting inspection to get it in the air.

Tim Hassell and his wife, Ruth, took a cruise down the Danube in October and visited five of the Eastern bloc countries. Tim said they had a wonderful time.

Rick and Rebekah Gribling toured Turkey and Greece in September. Rick said they were following the missionary journeys of Paul and thoroughly enjoyed their trip. As a side note, Rick said that, during the summer, Rebekah had been diagnosed with possible lung cancer; however, that turned out to be a non-cancerous issue, so they were really thankful for the end diagnosis.

Mac and Melanie Kirkpatrick win the travel of the year award. They took a cruise along the Nile River in Egypt, then went to Norway on a fjords cruise that included Iceland, and then returned for a tour of Greece. After returning stateside, Mac took his vintage 911 and joined a “Leaves and Lobster” tour of New England with a lot of other vintage cars. In January, they are headed back out West, where they keep their souped-up camper in New Mexico and will be hitting the trails. Mac sent me a picture of him beside a Big Mac sign in Bergen, Norway. So glad you all are having such a great time! Be safe and enjoy your trips.

Class of 1973: At the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) G.G. and Ann Gray, Ken and Sherry Kaliski, Doug and Beth Basham, Mike and Pat Kelly, Joe Wyatt, Scott McCarthy, and Pete and Karen Walters.

Class of 1973: Retired U.S. Army Cols. Scott Lingamfelter and Roland Tiso make presentations about books they recently wrote on the Middle East during the 55th anniversary matriculation reunion in August 2024.

Closer to home, Ralph Littreal, who normally follows the NASCAR circuit, sent me a picture of him attending a baseball game in Seattle, Washington, where his favorite team, the SF Giants, were playing. He said he was having a great time and thankful for the retractable roof on the stadium in Seattle.

In August, Bill Stoner went to Denver to visit his son and ran into Marshall Coyle ’76, who was also there visiting his son. Bill said this was a two-engineer meeting celebrating VMI’s engineering department.

As I have mentioned in other communications, Michael Smith was working with Jack Hayes and John Piedmont ’89 to clean up and refurbish the gravestone of Col. John B. Strange ’842 That work has now been completed, and Michael and members of the Charlottesville VMI Chapter laid a wreath on his grave on Founders Day. Mike has had communications with VMI about setting up a fund to purchase

Class Notes

a wreath every year for Col. Strange’s grave, sponsored by the Class of ’73. I will let you know details as they are ironed out. Scott McCarthy has begun the process, as he has already pledged to support this effort.

Michael also went on a little trip driving across the Southwest with his son, Jeffrey. Mike said they got a lot of “windshield” face time as they drove across Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. They had a wonderful time taking in the scenery and just relaxing, doing nothing!

John DiGiovanni participated in the Frederick, Maryland, Market Street Mile Family Fun Run in mid-September. John ran with his son, John; daughter-in-law, Amanda; and his 4-and-a-halfyear-old grandson, Leo. John said it was a lot of fun but indicated that it may get harder next year.

Stuart Seaton hosted his fourth annual golf tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, in October. This year’s group of 24 was the largest of any so far. Billy Stephens, Tim Gundlach, Yerry Kennealy,

Jim Chalkley, Mike McKenzie, Bill Boland, Bob Vanderspiegel, Bob Sciacchitano, Rich Lykins, and of course Stuart were the VMI contingency. Stuart said that because the group was so large and the event took longer than usual, they were not able to get a group picture. Billy said that the night before, a group of them got together for dinner and a storytelling session. Billy Stephens said he was going by to see Mike Smith in Myrtle Beach later in October and have dinner.

Roland Tiso was inducted into the Association of U.S. Army Hall of fame in October. Congratulations to Ro for this great achievement. In an earlier message, I mentioned that Scott Lingamfelter had previously been inducted into this hall of fame; however, he was actually inducted into the Field Artillery Hall of Fame. Ro stays active with ROTC units and recently was asked to be the reviewing office for the Brandon High School (Florida) ROTC unit. He takes great pride in being able to get into his same uniforms after 50 years! Roland has also been asked to speak at the Army ROTC spring banquet at VMI Feb. 18, 2025, and hopes that many of our BRs will be able to attend.

On Veterans Day, Milt Salter posted a series of pictures from his career. One picture shows him in headgear and in the commander’s hatch of a tank during exercises in November 1974 at Fort Hood, Texas. Milt said being a tanker was one of the best jobs he has ever had.

I had a nice note from John and Ann Pinner. They are doing well and taking it easy. John had surgery during the summer, and they were unable to attend the mini reunion, as well as attending their annual “roommate” get-together in Lexington.

Class of 1973: Retired U.S. Army Col. Roland Tiso with members of the JROTC staff at Brandon High School in Florida.

Class of 1973: Spouses gather for a lunch organized by Jannie and Tom Linn during the 55th anniversary matriculation reunion in August 2024.

Class of 1973: Tim and Ruth Hassell in front of the Parliament House in Budapest, Hungary.

They took time off and relaxed in Hilton Head, and John is recovering nicely.

Tom Clark was posting pictures of his bathroom remodeling, and no sooner was it finished than they got whacked with 3 days of snow! The area had 18-24 inches of snow. Tom said they were doing well and getting by, and that he was very thankful he had a snow blower. Several of our BRs commented on his plight. Neil Carlson replied, “What is a snow blower?” Dave Schwab said it was 81 degrees in Florida, but they were expecting a cold spell, as it was getting down to 77 that night. Sorry, Tom, but it doesn’t sound like you are getting a lot of sympathy. I can tell you, though, that there are a lot of folks out there who would love to see snow and folks like George Goodwin who wished some of that moisture would come east.

On the bright side, I think, Tom, you are now halfway through the winter as you read these notes, and just maybe you will have an early spring.

Hope all of you are having a great new year; 2025 is shaping up to be a year to remember.

Be safe out there. Keep in touch.

In the Bonds, Mike

1974

Snookie Parker

Greetings Brother Rats, Family, and Friends of the Class of 1974!

I trust this missive will find you in good spirits. It has been an interesting, and some say historic, couple of months to say the least, given the domestic and international environment in which we live. My civic duties as the secretary for the Wilson County Board of Elections here in North Carolina have kept me busy. I agreed to serve and reiterated that I was here to call balls and strikes. In addition, during my tenure, I’ve had the opportunity to exercise my Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement consulting skills on many of the Wilson County election-related processes—a win-win for all.

In late August, I received a note and pics of Mike Fisher (Sarah) and Craig Smith (Carol) touring Germany in early May—Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, castles, and pubs ... it looked like they were having a grand old time and made it back safe and sound.

I received a note from Will Ludt. He was disappointed that he missed the reunion—said he just

Class notes

could not make it due to a knee replacement. He did mention a planned tour to Virginia—to Richmond to visit BRs (Ricky Kastelberg, Tommy Anderson, and all). Will also did mention he was glad to see that Tom Patykula attended the reunion. We look forward to seeing you soon, Will! Thanks for the note!

T.J. Wilson called; he and Pat Flynn had gotten together in Lexington to watch a football practice and dinner afterward. T.J. expressed concerns about our roomie Mike Morrissett’s health challenges. Pat also called and mentioned concerns. T.J., although retired, is still doing some parttime work when needed. T.J. says he is in the best shape physically/health-wise he has been in

years—mostly due to his personal trainer ... his wife, Kerri—eat right and work out routinely at least 5 times a week. T.J. says his son, John Wilson ’13, is an engineer working out of Charlottesville, and daughter, Madison, is doing well with nursing and nursing research at Johns Hopkins. Tommy and Mollie Anderson are in the process of moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, to be close to their daughter, Megan, and grandson, who is just under a year old as of this writing. They have been in their home over 25 years and have accumulated mounds of stuff—so much stuff they are not quite sure what to do with it all. Hours spent viewing photos they had forgotten they had. Yard sale? Donate to Habitat? Call Got Junk for

Class of 1974: Frank Richardson, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, Chuck Cayton, J.W. Simms, Bruce “Juice” Jones, Chip Beaman, Rod Beard, Henry Moncure, Donnie Ross, Al Rasper, Tommy Anderson, T.J. Wilson, John White, John Pate, and Snookie Parker attend the VMI versus William & Mary football game in Williamsburg, Virginia, Aug. 29. Not pictured are Mike Fisher, Ken Terry, and Terrell Williams.

Class of 1974: At the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) John Crawley, Rick Kastelberg, Pete Meredith, Frank Richardson, Gary Trinkle, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, Al Rasper, and Henry Moncure.

a pickup? Christmas in Charlotte? When you get there and get settled, check in with BR Johnny “J.B.” Morton

Pre-pre-game: Mike Fisher mentioned that he and Sarah were planning to attend the William & Mary game. We contemplated the idea of meeting Ken and Betsy Terry at Ken Terry’s Revolution Golf & Grill in Williamsburg. Unfortunately, I could not commit to a firm meeting time (too many variables—grandparenting duties for King George IV, mid-morning doctor’s appointment, and arrangements for church duties in our absence). We got a late start coming out of Wilson and elected to take the more scenic Route 5 through the countryside versus I-64 to Williamsburg and made it to Ken’s Grill just after 3 p.m. I must say, a very nice bar/grill; however, they had had their lunch and since departed. Pre-game: We pushed on to the hotel and the pre-game. Met Tommy and Mollie Anderson on the walk over to the VMI pre-game BBQ. They were waiting for T.J. and Kerri Wilson. Turns out T.J. and Kerri were already inside the pre-game BBQ ... waiting on Tommy and Mollie. Have you ever tried to herd cats? VMI versus William & Mary game attendees: Craig “Snapper,” Cathy, and son Joe Carlock; J.W. and Pam Simms; T.J. and Kerri Wilson; Chip and Cathy Beaman; Al and Judy Rasper; Donnie, Barbara, and son Brian Ross; Terrell and Sarah Williams; Rod Beard; Chuck and Elaine Cayton; Henry and Peggy Moncure; Frank Richardson; Bruce and Sue Jones; John White; Tommy and Mollie Anderson; Ken and Betsy Terry; Mike “Rockhead” and Sarah Fisher; and John and Suzanne Pate. The VMI Class of 1974 was by far the largest VMI contingent at the game, with no close second. Assembled in front of our portion of the stands for a photo at halftime were Frank Richardson, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, Chuck

Class Notes

Cayton, J.W. Simms, Bruce “Juice” Jones, Chip Beaman, Rod Beard, Henry Moncure, Donnie Ross, Al Rasper, Tommy Anderson, T.J. Wilson, John White, John Pate, and Snookie Parker. BR attendees but not pictured: Mike Fisher, Ken Terry, and Terrell Williams. Note: Mike Fisher was in the initial photo. Henry Moncure was in the refreshment line during the initial photo, so upon his return, we took a second photo, and Mike Fisher had departed for his seat in the stands. The photo with Henry in it made the cut! Three teams of four assembled for a captain’s choice, best ball golf soiree the day after the VMI versus William & Mary football game at Kiskiack Golf Club not far from Williamsburg. Craig “Snapper” Carlock coordinated the event for 9 a.m. tee times. Team 1: Weldon “Stoop” Neal, Bruce “Juice” Jones, John Pate, and Snookie Parker; Team 2: Donnie Ross and son Brian Ross, Rod Beard, and Kenny Whitehead (Donnie’s friend/relative who works at the golf course); and Team 3: Snapper Carlock,

J.W. Simms, Terrell “Lukey” Williams, and Mark Prentice. What is nice about captain’s choice is everyone gets to contribute to the team effort. Weldon Neal kept us competitive early on. Juice ended up bailing us out a couple of times with “must” drives hitting last. I had a “golf moment” on one hole: The drive, the approach, and putt for a birdie. John Pate chipped in from off the green for a birdie on 18. All that said, we came in last. Teams 2 and 3 scored either 6 or 7 under. There was some debate on scores. One hole on the course was listed as either a par 4 or 5. At the 19th hole, all were declared winners. The 19th hole picture included Snookie Parker, John Pate, Terrell “Lukey” Williams, Rod Beard, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, Donnie Ross, Weldon “Stoop” Neal, Valerie, J.W. Simms, Mark Prentice, and Brian Ross (Donnie’s son). Not pictured: Bruce “Juice” Jones. If you notice in the picture, on the table in the lower lefthand corner is Juice’s wallet. He had departed early to meet his lovely wife, Sue, as it was their 50th anniversary weekend celebration. In his haste to meet his bride, he left his wallet. With a little help from our hostess, Valerie (pictured), we concocted a bar bill of $1,974.69, took a photo of the bill and Juice’s credit card ... and texted it to him (and Sue), thanking him profusely for his generosity for picking up the bar bill—Rah Virginia Mil ’74. His text response: “Geeezzzuuuuzzzz!” It was not long before Juice was back on the scene (along with the ladies, Sue Jones, Cathy Carlock, Pam Simms, and Marla Parker) to collect his wallet. We laughed, hugged, and parted ways, having created another prank/story that will likely grow richer and more entertaining with time.

For Marla and me, the weekend was still going. We headed to Chesapeake to join the Boogie on the Bay Shag Club at Woody’s Raw Bar and Grill for their Friday night soiree. A very friendly club

Class of 1974: Snookie Parker, John Pate, Terrell Williams, Rod Beard, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, Donnie Ross, Weldon Neal, Valerie (hostess), J.W. Simms, Mark Prentice, and Bryan Ross in Williamsburg, Virginia, in August 2024. Not pictured is Bruce “Juice” Jones.

Class of 1974: At the Tidewater October breakfast club meeting are (from left) Chuck Cayton, John Crawley, Frank Richardson, Henry Moncure, John McLaren, John Williams, Sam Turner, Steve Ham, Al Rasper, Bill Pennypacker, and Chip Beaman.

of about 200-plus shaggers welcomed us out-oftowners with open arms. The real purpose of the drive to Chesapeake was to hand-deliver the Class of 1974 bottle of Woodford Reserve bourbon to Perry F. “Pete” Van Hooser ’71. His name was etched on the bottle, and one can’t send alcohol through the mail. Mission complete, we headed back to Wilson, North Carolina, on the backroads.

Frank Richardson was honored to be a part of the breakfast meeting festivities in Virginia Beach Aug. 9, 2024, and was proud to be pictured with the two prominent representatives. During the pre-game, Frank showed me an interesting photo. The man on the left was Congressman Mike Johnson, the U.S. Congress House of Representatives Speaker of the House. The lady on the right was Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who represents the Virginia 2nd District, which includes Virginia Beach. Go figure—Frank Richardson hobnobbing with the politicians!

A note from Arnie Leonard: On Aug. 27, Maria and Arnie, along with their daughter and grandson, took a bucket-list trip to Glacier National Park in Montana and Banff National Park in Canada. Arnie brought back more than a thousand photos and is slowly working his way through them. Some really great photos of a very majestic landscape. Arnie has really developed his talent for photography. Arnie, so many photos, so little time—enjoy as you revisit the moments!

On Sept. 5, I received an email and pic from Rob “Kid” Fulks. He and Bert Graham had an opportunity to catch up during the 50th Reunion. Kid mentioned sitting with Cheryl and Bert Graham and really enjoying the Saturday evening dinner together while sitting along with Weldon Neal, Bill Shumate, Mike Dugan, and Mark Levine

Now that is a motley, yet entertaining, crew. During a mid-August trip to visit friends in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Kid decided to check in on Bert Graham since Bert lived close by. They decided to get together for an afternoon “toddy” in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. Although it was only a two-man reunion this time, they agreed it was picture-worthy for the Alumni Review. Kid believes this was their historic first contribution (with photo) to the 1974 class notes. ’Twas a nice pic, but I am only allowed five, so it did not make the cut, along with a couple of others.

I saw in the paper where Kent “Wheels” Wheeless’ girls’ junior high volleyball team were conference champs—undefeated. In addition, Kent coached/had in his volleyball camp a couple of girls on the high school state champion team this fall—all feathers in Kent’s coaching cap. Kent is making some noise in girls’ volleyball in Eastern North Carolina. Well done, sir!

Class notes

A number of BRs assembled on Pat Flynn’s majestic Hops Hill abode for a Class of 1974 mini reunion after The Citadel game. Attendees: Bruce “Juice” Jones, Roland “Crazy Laz” Lazenby, J.W. Simms, T.J. Wilson, Russ “Herbie” Harlow, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, and Don Ferrell. Not pictured: Jim Pavlou. I understand other BRs were in Lexington but did not make it to Hops Hill; one such BR, I think, was Henry Moncure. In mid-October, I received a lengthy note from Brother Rat John Hudson (West Virginia). John was a little disappointed he could not make our 50th. As you may recall, John, who played football and basketball, was one of several talented athletes who left after our first semester/year. John said he had some fond memories of his time at VMI. He said he enjoyed football; however, he loved the basketball. Said it was a great time of life! John likes to tell everyone that his old basketball coaches made their way to the NBA. Coach Bill Blair ’64 had a stint as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Coach Iron Mike Schuler as the head coach of the Portland Trailblazers. In his lengthy note, John mentioned that when people (still today) hear about him having attended VMI, they want to know what it was like and that one would be surprised how many people have a relative, friend, or a friend of a friend who attended or graduated from VMI. I had sent John a short update on his rat roommates, Chris Henry, Chuck Phillips, and Danny Smith. Again, recounting fond memories ... one of which included Dallas Norman. John tells the story of being on a pass route and because the quarterback was so

short, he had to learned to just look for the football flying over everyone’s head. He did recall that they had a nice connection. He and Dallas even made up some of their own plays that year in the middle of the game. It is called chemistry today. They (John and Dallas) called it fun 50 years ago. John remembers Dallas as a great player. ’Twas great to hear from you, John. Hope to see you soon.

Several BRs were able to attend the VMI Foundation 50th anniversary Institute Society Dinner. Attendees were John Crawley, Rick Kastelberg, Pete Meredith, Frank Richardson, Gary Trinkle, Craig Carlock, Al Rasper, and Henry Moncure

The weekend festivities featured the privilege of listening to guest speaker Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan) and the disappointment of experiencing another losing football game. The weekend’s highlight was BRs burning up the dance floor, specifically Frank Richardson and Al Rasper being challenged by cadets to a lengthy dance routine that challenged endurance—and discounted style. After an extended bounce routine, the cadets petered out; Frank and Al declared victory. Maybe the cadets were concerned that the two old geezers would keel over and thus cut the routine short. Who knows!

The VMI ’74 Tidewater breakfast club met the morning of Oct. 25. Participants included Chuck Cayton, John Crawley, Frank Richardson, Henry Moncure, John McLaren, John Williams, Sam Turner, Steve Ham, Bill Pennypacker, Chip Beaman, and Al Rasper. The club was engaged in lively conversation until Chip received a phone call informing all of George Van Laethem’s

Class of 1974: Gathering for a mini reunion after the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024 are (from left) Bruce “Juice” Jones, Roland “Crazy Laz” Lazenby, J.W. Simms, T.J. Wilson, Russ “Herbie” Harlow, Craig “Snapper” Carlock, Pat Flynn, and Don Ferrell. Not pictured is Jim Pavlou.

passing. The conversation turned solemn, and BRs reflected on the fragility of life and times with George. Conversation highlights prior to the sad phone call included news that Steve and Ann Ham will be moving to the land of golf chariots and retirees (The Villages). I understand Steve is looking forward to purchasing a chariot with a V8 equivalent battery under the hood and that can do wheelies. No doubt the chariot will be detailed as a tank. Tanker’s helmet will be optional. I understand Bill and Debra Renee Pennypacker are moving, as well ... to Greenville, North Carolina. They are currently split based but will assume permanent residency sometime in 2025. Greenville is about 30 minutes from Wilson, my homeplace. To my rat roommate, I say welcome to Eastern North Carolina, the land of the best BBQ ... so they say ‘round these parts.

Sad news to report: Brother Rat George Van Laethem passed Saturday morning, Oct. 25. The funeral service was held Friday, Nov. 1. Attendees were Chip Beaman, Mike Hogan, Al Rasper, Steve Ham, Gary Trinkle, Bobby Cunningham, Jim Wood, Chuck Cayton, Phil Parker, Bill Pennypacker, Jon Mounts, and Rob Bacon. Al Rasper mentioned the excellent remarks at the funeral proceedings were provided by Chip Beaman. According to Al, “Did George, the Institute, and the class proud.” A very nice tribute— heartwarming, some humor, and captured the essence of George, a proud and standards-based opinionated cadet and career soldier who made notable contributions to both his country and to his local community. A BR who could be counted on. The funeral service was livestreamed. Paul Van Doren and Bill Minor viewed and mentioned the eulogies—touching, tasteful, and moving. Again, according to Al, the BR pallbearers were a bit Keystone Cop-like. I quote Al, “Of course, we had no rehearsal. So, there we were, very dignified, very solemn, lined up on both sides of the casket behind the hearse. We begin sliding the casket into the hearse and one in front of the other failed to peel off quickly. Gary Trinkle nearly ended up in the hearse with poor ol’ George. Needless to say, that added a little levity to an otherwise very solemn event.” Keep Anna Van Laethem and family in your prayers. If you have an opportunity to contact and/or visit a brother rat, take it! That is all for now.

Class contacts: snookieparker1974@earthlink. net and Charley Banning, cbanning@cox.net. Send me a note. Yada, yada, yada and yaba daba dooooo!

In the Bonds, Snookie

Class Notes

1975

Thomas Mason

Brothers, Sisters, and Innocent Bystanders,

As you consume this latest assault on the English language, let’s return to Aug. 19, 1971. In a rare moment of turbulent reflection and nostalgia, the vivid memory of 375 discordant notes—tuneless, unconnected, and off-key—stepped into Cocke Hall and signed a ‘big book.’ Shortly thereafter, strains of awkward music were heard as strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and drums began to combine. By and by, time passed, and an orchestra of many instruments emerged, playing together in harmonic symphony. For 4 years, we combined academics, athletics, clubs, activities, organizations, and events through structure, discipline, suffering, strength, pride, unity, and honor. By May 1975, we had grown from callow youth to humming along like a finely tuned Steinway & Sons grand piano.

After 4-and-a-half years with the class pen, our yearbook, the 1971 New Faces in the Corps, a dictionary, a thesaurus, our Matriculation Book, and plenty of notepads, I’ve had the grand fortune to have listened, absorbed, discarded, and learned about the many moving parts to our class. I look forward to greeting so many of you in 2 short months; the privilege will be humbling.

Follow the madcap tales of adventure, thrill, travel, and drama from mid-August through

mid-November, won’t you!?

A shout out to Steve and Sherry Chapin, who spent much of Aug. 19 and the following days rendering dependable, impartial, insightful observations of Matriculation Day and Hell Week. A busy couple, they, what with the Chapin 4th Class adoption agency (they’ve adopted several rats) in full go mode.

On Aug. 29, the football season opened with a Thursday night game in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Tribe of William & Mary is loaded this year, and that fact was reflected in the final tally. Billy and Mike Hunter made the long drive from Tazewell/Bluefield, Virginia, and linked up with Oliver and Bonnie Way, Nat Hamner, Dan Mason ’83, and others. The 41-7 outcome was disappointing but showed some bright moments.

A fellow who spent his rat year with us, Mike Vojtecky, checked in from Pennsylvania to express his gratitude that we still remember him in our various mediums of contact.

Marty Matlaga sent a note exclaiming his concern for relatives and friends in both Ukraine and Russia and the possible need to travel to that uncertain region. These events will most likely prevent him from attending our 50th gathering in April.

Charlie and Kat Collins’ 2024 family trip to Ireland from Aug. 30–Sept. 12 began in Dublin with the theme being to travel with the band Coldplay (Charlie’s son, Charlie, is part of the lighting and stage design team) to several venues on the Emerald Isle. Their group consisted of daughters Meghan and Michaela, sons Tristan and Charlie, wife Kat, and Chaz himself. From Dublin, the Collinses motored to Kilkenny,

Class of 1975: Pictured in Budapest, Hungary, are (front row, from left) John Prior, Art Sigsbury, Bill Terpeluk, Glenn Furr, (second row) Tom Ridley, John Plunkett, Phil Brzozowski ’76, (third row) Greg Diamontopulos, Len Reidel, Jay Jones, Scott Risser, (fourth row) Ben Vanderberry, Tom Jones, and Randy Frank.

where time allowed them to tour Kilkenny Castle. Next came a visit to Kenmare on Kenmare Bay and River, where the food was proclaimed best and fish dishes the freshest. It was here that Charlie remarked on serious consideration of buying a cottage in the land of his ancestors. Photos indicate each day included a stout silo of Guinness. Final stop and departure city was Cork in County Kerry and a tour of Blarney Castle.

Tad MacGowan departed for Townsville, Australia, Sunday, Sept. 8, and finally lit at his destination on Tuesday, Sept. 10, after flight time, layovers, and time zone passages. He has since reported in as ‘all right’ thrice since then. He began his work as a prep cook in the commercial kitchen of the Youth with a Mission campus, and the first few days almost broke him physically. His October missive described his adjustment to working on his feet all day and the fascinating and energetic young people he has met and worked with. Tad is the oldest person serving at their base. At week five, staffing in the kitchen was increased, and he shifted assignments to processes and trouble-shooting and overseeing completion of staff tasks. The beach is within walking distance of the facility, and its parks and markets are safe and pristine. Tad traveled by ferry boat to nearby Magnetic Island for a weekend getaway with his brother and sister-in-law. Thank heavens for Google Maps and Wikipedia to help flesh out locations and back-story to much of this message from Down Under. Blossom (the MacGowan kitty) was rehomed with a young British lass in the Seattle area just prior to Tad’s departure (I remain fascinated by the life journey of this fascinating feline). Tad will return to the states Dec. 5.

Sept. 4–14 revealed Lowrie and Kathy Tucker and Mike and Sloane Hunter overlapping the previously noted Collins clan in travel to Ireland. After a “red eye”

Class notes

flight from Charlotte, this foursome alit in Dublin and immediately motored (they hired a driver and vehicle for the duration) to the Mount Juliet Spa & Resort in Thomastown. The two gents enjoyed fly fishing for trout and salmon on the Nore River. The long flight, time change, and fine spirits took a toll on Lowrie, as he admitted to falling asleep at the eight-course dinner Sloane had arranged. Their itinerary took them next to Sheen Falls Lodge in Kenmare, where the ladies tried some Irish line dancing, and Sloane sang in the piano bar/pub. Their third stop was to the Trump Doonbeg Resort & Golf Links in County Clare, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and featuring the Cliffs of Moher. The guys had hoped for a round of links golf but left satisfied with just fishing. All four of our quartet remarked on the cleanliness of all of the villages, the great food, whether at a five-star resort or a local pub, and the friendliness of the local folks! In an effort to slyly expand the oh-so-limited readership of this column, I wish to mention the legions of alumni who attended VMI together in the ’74–’78 era. The Sept. 7 game with Bucknell was attended by an enthusiastic crowd on a beautiful day but ended on the wrong end of a 28-35 win for the Bison. Seen and spoken with were Scott and Barb Risser, Glenn and Carol Furr, Oliver and Bonnie Way, Al and Sandy Morgan, Art and Judy Nunn, Steve and Sherry Chapin, Chip Louthan, Rob and Sandy Taylor, Mrs. Thomas S. (Judy) Baur, Mark Hall, Bill Powell ’77, Jeff Munsey ’77, Bruce Cann ’77, Tom Cole ’77, Ron Carter ’78, Dave Montgomery ’78, Dan Thornton ’78, and Mel Clark ’74. Don’t fret, dear reader; I won’t pad the numbers this entire column!

A Sept. 19 event allowed for our first official Pass-In-Review interface with the Class of 2025 at their 1st Class barbeque. Attending were Guy Conte, Robert Taylor, Glenn

Class of 1975: Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) Jim Hobbs, Susan Hobbs, Mrs. Thomas S. Baur, Brenda Honeycutt Young, and John L. Young III.

Class of 1975: Pictured in September 2024 are Judy Baur, Anne Vanderberry, Art Nunn, Al Morgan, Ben Vanderberry, Stew Fleming, Steve Chapin, Oliver Way, Lowrie Tucker, and Tom Mason.

Class of 1975: Attending the 1974 SoCon Championship football reunion held on post Nov. 2, 2024, are (from left) Oscar Richardson, Chris Nash ’77, Al Morgan, Jay Newcomer, Ron Norman, Andy Dearman, and Harry McKnight.

Furr, Allen Morgan, Art Nunn, Phil Thorpe, Scott Risser, Stewart Fleming, John Greene, Steve Chapin, Mike Mulligan, and Lowrie Tucker, who dined, mingled with, and shared tall tales with the men and women of the 1st Class.

Sept. 20–22 held the return of the annual Pond House weekend. Accompanying photo shows the presentation of trophies. The day’s golf campaign resulted in a tie, allowing for retention of the winner’s trophy to stay with the team of Stew Fleming, Art Nunn, Ben Vanderberry, and Al Morgan. The “needs improvement” cup stays with Oliver Way, Steve Chapin, Lowrie Tucker, and me for yet a third year. The ladies enjoyed lunch together and a guided tour of Southern Virginia University. The football game against visiting Norfolk State Sept. 21 ended as a 32-10 loss. A bye week Sept. 28 sent our team into October with an 0-4 record.

Sept. 27–28 found our own Ronnie Norman organizing a group of credible and abundantly qualified classmates attending the Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum in Cocke Hall sitting on or leading various panels on the occupational subtleties of engineering & construction, sales & marketing, medical & healthcare, manufacturing, government/civil service, business consulting & entrepreneurship and internship opportunities. A total of 75 alumni from all classes participated. John Amatetti, Dan Brooks, Steve Chapin, Glenn Garland, Garland Isaacs, Art Nunn, Oscar Richardson, Scott Risser, and Dan Schultz all sat in on the Friday night pre-event dinner and daylong Saturday assembly through which the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Classes rotated on a preset schedule.

Oct. 19 brought The Citadel to Lexington for the Military Classic of the South and the yearly duel for the ‘Silver Shako.’ Another beautiful day of weather and delightful company with BRs was squandered in the 13-10 loss to the Bulldogs. Classmates attending and sitting together were Rob Taylor, Vic Arthur, Glenn Garland, Billy Hunter, Mike Hunter, Stew Fleming, Al Morgan, Oliver Way, Steve Chapin, Paul Bernard, Art Nunn, Lowrie Tucker, and your recorder.

After a 6-plus hour bus ride to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Keydets were unceremoniously ushered out of town by the Moccasins of UT-C Oct. 26, where the team returned home on the dark side of a 10-31 score. The team entered November 0-8. Oct. 19 and 22 found another large group of classmates and friends of ’75 head across the Atlantic with the destination of Rome, Anzio, Monte Cassino, and surrounding Italian cities and sites. Len and Pam Reidel led the retinue made up of Glenn and Carol Furr; Bill Terpeluk and Denise Hollerbach; Greg and Melody Diamontopulos;

Class Notes

Tom and Peggy Jones; Jay and Dawn Jones; Ellett and Fran Smith; Ben and Anne Vanderberry; Art Sigsbury; Randy Frank; Father Joe Orlandi; Phil and Jane Brzozowski ’76; T.P. and Celia Ridley; John and Lori Prior; Barb and Scott Risser; and John and Michelle Plunkett and their friends, Todd Sunderland, Scott Georges, and Doris and Bill Brackney. From Italy, the entire group boarded their cruise ship in Civitavecchia (near Rome) to the destinations of Salerno, Italy; Catania, Sicily; Ephesus, Turkey (ancient ruins); Santorini, Greece (beautiful white buildings); Mykonos, Greece, had to be bypassed due to rough seas; Athens, Greece (more ancient ruins), and then northwest by airplane with their final stop in Budapest, Hungary, for 2-and-a-half days of touring, exclusive dining, a dinner cruise on the Danube, and relaxation before heading back to the comforts of home. One special event which took place at sea was Greg and Melody Diamontopulos renewing their wedding vows with Father Joe Orlandi (Bill Terpeluk’s guest) officiating and the class cohort as witnesses.

After week 8 of the football season, one Mr. Charles M. Louthan “chipped” in that no known surgery, pharmaceutical, psychological, or exorcism regimen exists for treating the trampled and broken football spirit of our own Oliver Way Oct. 26 saw Steve and Sherry Chapin participating in a very new event: Politeness on Post, where cadets learned mealtime etiquette. Our brother and sister dined and shared valuable social skills during a four-course dinner while networking with the cadets and members of the community. This is in the spirit of preparing the young men and women on approaching their military and civilian professional lives with confidence. Among the many skills

taught were to not receive trays of food served by waitstaff by dumping food on table and sending tray back for seconds, leave all belts and accoutrement in place, not launching butter at ceiling of dining facility, and not taking leftover comestibles wrapped in napkins back to barracks.

Nov. 1–3 brought the 1974 Southern Conference Football Champions to Lexington for a 50th team reunion celebration. That weekend’s weather was beautiful, and on Friday evening, the teammates from the Classes of ’78, ’77, ’76, and ’75 had a group dinner in Moody Hall, during which the team captains of Andy Dearman, Jay Newcomer, and Ron Norman had designated speaking roles for their Friday program. On Saturday, the team assembled for group pictures, viewed the dress parade by the Corps of Cadets, held a service of remembrance in Memorial Hall for the many fallen players who have been lost over the years (of which there are 17), and enjoyed a tailgate picnic in the parking area adjacent to the practice football field. In addition to the above captains, our many player classmates present included Tony Farry, Al Morgan, Bruce Torbett, Garland Isaacs, Harry McKnight, Oscar Richardson, and Ron Bongiovanni. Other athletic supporters who heartily greeted our gridiron heroes from yesteryear were Robert Mills, Mike Hunter, John Maples, Steve Chapin, Vic Arthur, Glenn Garland, and me. By the way, we bested Furman 21-17 in the game.

Football week 10: The Mercer Bears came to Lexington Nov. 9 and administered a 34-0 lesson in what speed, size, depth, and experience plays on the football field. The class census of the usual reliable suspects was dramatically tapered, as Stewart Fleming was on the gim (and room confinement) due to right knee replacement 3 days prior,

Class of 1975: Attending the 1st Class barbecue on post in September 2024 are (from left) Guy Conte, Rob Taylor, Glenn Furr, Al Morgan, Art Nunn, Phil Thorpe, Scott Risser, Stew Fleming, John Greene, Steve Chapin, Mike Mulligan, and Lowrie Tucker.

Oliver Way was also on the gim due to straining his back muscles while stretching (go figure), Art Nunn had permit approved to be out of state (North Carolina), and Steve Chapin also had permit approved to be in Richmond for a social event. Attending were John and Brenda Young, Al and Sandy Morgan, Scott and Barbara Risser, Chip Louthan, Mrs. Thomas S. (Judy) Baur, and your secretary.

One of our favorite class sojourners, Robert Mills, submitted his latest journal cataloguing his demanding retirement efforts. 2024 took Robert to Italy; Spain; Bulgaria; Czech Republic (Czechia); Latvia; Lithuania; Estonia; Japan; the Cayman Islands (scuba diving); and Aspen, Colorado, for a month of skiing. He will spend Thanksgiving in Sedona, Arizona, with family. Robert commented on the fascinating medieval preservation of the Baltic cities as neither the Axis nor Allied powers bombed them into rubble during World War II. Shoulder surgery and recovery has improved both Robert’s golf handicap and serving speed on the tennis court. It was a privilege to visit with Robert, Mike Hunter, and Billy Hunter Nov. 2, 2024.

Glad tidings from Richard Mines found more happy news. Rich’s oncologist has given him clearance to travel more broadly, so he and Beth went to Munich and then on to Vilshofen, Germany, for a 7-day river cruise on the Danube with stops at Passau, Linz, Mondsee, Salzburg, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest. Rich even got in several short runs in four different countries. He is closing in on 86,000 miles of lifelong running!

Greg Stultz shared the good news that his prostate cancer is under control. Greg gives a heartfelt shout-out to Keith Frey and Mike Farris for their moral support as PC survivors. Additionally, classmates John Plunkett, Salvo Lape, and Barry Hughes have reached out to boost Greg’s spirits.

Felix Wolkowitz, much more sublimely than in past months, reports everything ‘all right’ in his neck of the woods!

A pre-deadline memo from Dan Brooks remarked he, Sandy, and their 8-year-old grandson had a great snorkeling trip to Curacao in August and that the abundant sea life was breathtaking. Dan was at the Cadet-Alumni Career Networking Forum in late September and picked up a worthwhile story from a cadet with a Class of ’22 (what’s he still doing at VMI, you ask?) shoulder patch that Dan promises to share at reunion. In late October, the Brookses challenging retirement gig took them to Madeira (the Hawaii of the Atlantic), an autonomous region of Portugal, for mountain hiking and swimming in the azure sea. Madeira enjoys year-round resorts in a subtropical climate and

Class notes

is located approximately 320 miles west of Morocco.

Rick and Pariolee Law took an exciting trip to France in early October for their 48th wedding anniversary. They traveled around 900 miles by bus and train through wine country, Normandy, visited the Utah and Omaha Beach landing zones, Pont du Hoc, the U.S. Cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer, and ended their trip in Nice and Monaco.

When he checks in, Lane Pritchard always has a sanguine, upbeat thimble full of news to share! In October, he and Robin hosted the wedding and reception of their daughter in their backyard, the same place he and Robin were married 30 years ago. Lane’s new son-in-law takes him bass fishing on the Appomattox and James Rivers, and extra satisfaction eventuates as he just has to step into someone else’s boat. He’s grown weary of the loading, rigging, toting, gearing, fueling, and outfitting for others. Lane still camps with friends, kayaks, and plays golf and pickleball. He’s the classmate who never ages!

Mike Fleenor reported he is slowly regaining emotional footing after the death of his daughter, Devon. His lady friend, Niki, suffered a cardiac incident and has recovered through her rehab regimen and has returned to work. His son, Skyler Fleenor ’14, is in New Hampshire helping build a new pharmaceutical plant. On the hobby front, Mike has gotten through sorghum harvest and molasses-making season and is back in his blacksmith forge/shop doing metalcraft. Mike looks forward to our 50th Reunion and speaks with roommates Dave Schuyler, Art Nunn, and Randy Frank frequently; E.E. Spain remains elusive.

Another ever-cheerful classmate (comfortable retirement educes a wondrous demeanor!), Bernie Cobb, shared two harrowing stories of family members’ experience with the two back-to-back September hurricanes. Back on the brighter side, Bernie did some saltwater fishing on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, with Dan Brooks’ brother during his birthday week in early October. Early November found Bernie on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, playing golf with a former business colleague and touring Savannah prior to picking up Jerry DeWaters and Guy Conte for a week of golf on Hilton Head Island. His home base Atlanta schedule of pickleball four times a week and golf once a week is grueling. (Not!)

Among those of you enduring a decidedly humdrum existence are Robert Deslongchamps, who continues to rebuff my hectoring for an “all right” or any other response.

As for me, I’m just your standard issue M1A2, superficial male, one-each, with carrying case and cleaning kit. Thank you all for guiding me along

this path and making this journey an agreeable adventure. There have been few misgivings and many blessings and your collective contributions are immeasurable. Onward!

Humbly and devotedly, I remain,

Never above you, never below you, always beside you ...

Your Friend, BR, and Notary,

Thomas A. Mason

William Bhatta

I am writing these notes in the great state of Texas Nov. 13. Michelle and I completed our RV trip West across the Gulf Coast. We are about to turn east and head back to cold Virginia in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family. Since I have been on the road the past 6 weeks, I asked Ray Brooks and Jim Mallon to update us on the Nov. 1–3 1974 Southern Conference Football Championship celebration. I will end with other BR notes. From Ray Brooks (with assistance from Alan Pyke and Phil Upton): “The weekend of Nov. 1–3, 2024, was 3 days of a wonderful celebration of VMI’s 1974 Southern Conference football 1976

Brother Rats,

Class of 1976: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doug Hines’ participation on the 1974 Southern Conference Championship football team are (from left) Chad Hines, Sue Hines, and Brett Hines.

Class Notes

Stadium. Susan and I were able to talk with Curt Reppart, Ronnie Moore, Frank Delaine, Rocky and Betsy Glass, John and Lillian Swain, Phil and Terri Upton, Duff Joseph, and Dave Heatwole On the walk to the game, we saw and talked to Lee Godsey, Jim and Lisa Brown, and Evan and Margaret Haberman.”

championship, bringing together many teammates from the Classes of 1975, ’76, ’77, and ’78. Many of these men had not seen nor spoken with each other for 50 years. The event was the culmination of 14 months of planning by representatives of each class, including Ray Brooks, Allan Pyke, and Phillip Upton.” “The weekend started Friday morning with golf at Lexington Golf & Country Club and then Friday night dinner in Moody Hall. Coaches Shaw, Bush, and Cavanaugh spoke about their time at VMI. Gene Williams ’74 was the keynote speaker. Saturday morning, about 80 players, coaches, fans, friends, and family gathered for a group picture of the football team and everyone else who was there for the weekend. After the picture, a memorial service for deceased players and coaches was led by Ron Norman ’75 and Oscar Richardson ’75 in the VMI chapel. Tony Ferry ’75 and Alan Pyke presented championship rings to the families of the deceased. Jerry Codutti, Don Fulton, and Doug Hines were also remembered from our class. The reunion football team was recognized at halftime, and the Keydets went on to win their first game against Furman 21-17!

“During the game, [we] were able to go into the superintendent’s box courtesy of Ray and Margaret Ramos. Ray and I spoke with Major General Cedric Wins ’85 but mostly watched the game from outside the box, as the view was better. While we were there, Ray, Dexter Gilliam, and I spoke with class leaders from the Class of 2026. Dexter and Grigg Mullen will be attending events during their Ring Figure weekend, representing the Class of 1976 as part of the Pass in Review program. The cadets thought it cool that we won the SC on our Ring Figure weekend. The Keydets got their first win of the season, beating Furman 21-17. (Note: Rats do not get out of the Rat Line when the football team wins.)

“After the game, we checked into our hotel, then went to LexVegas (Moody Hall) for the football team’s Saturday night function. It was a reception-style event with news clippings/info from the 1974 season and food and drink stations. After meeting and talking with several BRs and football players from other classes, we left and drove to Teri Coleman’s house. Teri hosted a class mini reunion and had barbecue and sides for those not attending LexVegas. Sunday morning, Susan

“The celebration continued Saturday night with another reception, and some attendees finished up the weekend with a Sunday morning brunch before they headed home.”

From Jim Mallon, who attended the football reunion with his wife, Susan: “We drove up to Lexington Saturday morning, Nov. 2, and attended the pre-game tailgate party beyond the east end of the practice football field behind Alumni Memorial

Class of 1976: At breakfast in Richmond, Virginia, are (from left) Kavie Thrift, Tom Hawthorne, Al Kinker, Mack Curle, John Strock, Jim Mallon, Lee Bradshaw, Lee Godsey, Maury Gatewood, and Tom Moody.

Class of 1976: Jim Joustra celebrates his 70th birthday by whitewater rafting on the Gauley River in West Virginia with Keith Kowadlo ’77.

Class of 1976: Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Southern Conference football championship in November 2024 are (from left) Ronnie Moore, Frank DeLaine, Hank Dean, Dan Newcomer, Phil Upton, Mark McIntyre, Jim Lofton, Jim Brown, Terry White, Ray Brooks, and Alan Pyke.

and I had breakfast with the Ramoses and Charlie Keen before we returned home to Richmond.”

“During the LexVegas event, Susan and I spoke with several football players from 1975, 1976, and 1977. I spoke with Mark McIntyre, Phil Upton (at length and learned he is an avid turkey hunter), and Curt Reppart. At Teri’s, we spoke with Ray Brooks and his son, Tyler; the Habermans; Charlie and Betsy Keen, the Ramoses; Wayne and Caren Eastham; Terry White; Frank Delaine; the Swains; and the Glasses. Frank and Terry showed me their new championship rings.”

Class agent notes: Other BRs and friends who attended the celebration were Jerry Codutti’s son, Nick; Cindy Mullen (Grigg was out of town); Dave Heatwole; Dan Newcomer; Buzzy Moncure; Rand Sompayrac; Paul Staiger; and Tom Watjen

Thanks to Phil, Ray, and Alan for planning and coordinating such a great event!

Based on information I received from BRs Berberich, Estis, Joustra, Neal, Ozmer, Speaker, Sculley, Waff, Wrenn, and Young in the Hurricane Helene-beaten zone, all BRs are safe and OK. Kudos to Bob Gleason for publishing up-to-date hurricane data from the Broward County EOC. He said, “Personally, Suzie and I are about 2 feet above sea level, but as we’re on the back side of all of this, we should be OK—likely wind, rain, minor flooding. When I start to see my neighbors— long-time natives (or survivors, lol)—start packing, then maybe I’ll start to think about it.” By the way, Greg Speaker moved from the Charleston, South Carolina, area to the Candler, North Carolina, area outside of Asheville, North Carolina.

If you have not read Jim Dittrich’s history on VMI’s Breakout, it is excellent. It is posted on a variety of Facebook groups, including ours. If you want a copy of it, just let me know.

If you have not heard, to begin celebrating our upcoming 50th Reunion (April 2026), Bill Favier will be hand-crafting a VMI-themed coaster set (four coasters with a custom engraved box) for every brother rat. Contact me or Bill if you need information to order one or more.

Marshall Coyle checked in. He said, “I am slowly settling into my new 55-plus community environment here in Denver. I really enjoy being close to my family. My dyke, Bill Stoner ’73, was in town visiting his son back in August. We used the opportunity to have a 50th Reunion lunch. We had a very enjoyable time getting caught up on our life adventures. A topic that kept recurring was on how well VMI prepared us for our careers.”

While in the Austin, Texas, area, Michelle and I visited Mark and Libby Swank. Mark was one of my rat roommates (along with John Dorsey).

Class notes

We had a wonderful visit and one excruciating moment on the way back from Fredericksburg, Texas. Mark stopped to fuel his new super duper S580 Mercedes. But we could not get the lid open to access the gas cap. There we were, four adults (plus others at the gas station), trying to get the damn thing open, Googling “Mercedes gas cap lid” and poking and pushing every button in the car. I thought for sure the store attendant was filming the event, and we would end up on YouTube. Long story short, Mark had the lock fixed the next day. Fortunately, operator error was not to blame. These notes are closed. By the time you read them, the 50th Reunion will be 14 months away in April 2026. I hope everyone plans to attend! Until next time: Rah Virginia Mil! ’76! ’76! ’76!

different schools, as well as their extracurricular activities, is not for the faint at heart!

It was great to see many of you at the mini reunion held the first weekend of September. I want to thank Mark Bryant, Steve Neas, Steve Billingsley, and Tommy Cole for their help in putting this event together. A partial list (because I am sure I will miss some) of those who attended are Kimber and Debbie Latsha, Mark Abernathy, Mike Davis, Doug Seibert, Rich Humenuck, Kerry and Tyler Mullin, Shelton and Brenda Rhodes, Ed Anderson, Tommy Underhill, Joe Santelli, Mark and Caryl Bryant, Jerry and Marilyn Haste,

Steve Kelly

Greetings, Super ’77!

It is late October as I write these notes. Fall is finally here, bringing beautiful leaves and changing temperatures. I just got back from Asheville after 2 weeks working with North Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief Ministries. Please continue to lift up those folks impacted by Hurricane Helene and those helping clean up and rebuild in your thoughts and prayers. There is an incredible amount of devastation there, especially in the rural counties. Other than helping in Asheville, I did have the chance in September to visit one of my daughters and help with grandkids while her husband was traveling. Getting three kids to three

Class of 1977: Nineteen members of the class participate in the 2024 Memorial Golf Tournament at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, Sept. 6, 2024.

Class of 1977: Steve Kelly with his grandchildren, Eden, Anna, and Noah Hart, in Wetumpka, Alabama, in September 2024.

Gary and Liz Haste, Mike and Lucy Lindsey, Mark Waldrop, Randy and Jeanette Gates, Dickie Moore, Steve Billingsley, Steve and Mauri Kelly, Keith Kowaldo, Alan and Lurline Wagner, Mike Lafferty, Steve and Denise Neas, Don and Nipa Browder, Tommy and Diana Cole, Bart Pasco, Bob and India Atkinson, and Bland and Jane Massie About 40 of our brother rats and wives attended the buffet at Devils Backbone held Saturday night. We enjoyed an excellent meal and sang “Happy Birthday” to Tommy Cole Thanks, Diana Cole, for the huge birthday cake! The weather was good, and the rain held off for the most part. This year, we were fortunate to combine the mini reunion and the Class of ’77 Memorial Golf Tournament on the same weekend.

Class Notes

the U.S. Air Force Academy and had the opportunity to see VMI play USAFA last season.

Bill Anderson checked in from Northeast Tennessee. He is the only BR in Northeast Tennessee, and he lives about an hour from the hardhit areas in Western North Carolina. He said he did not have any damage from Hurricane Helene to speak of, but his county was impacted pretty hard, especially the folks living near the rivers. Bill stated there were lots of alumni living in Western North Carolina, but he did not know of any who had storm damage.

Speaking of the Class of ’77 Memorial Golf Tournament, it was played at The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, Friday, Sept. 6. Nineteen brother rats participated, including Kerry Mullins, Mark Abernathy, Steve Billingsley, Jeff Muncey, Tommy Cole, Bill Powell, Billy Hupp, Dickie Moore, Ed Anderson, Don Browder, Doug Seibert, Mike Lindsay, Buzzy Northen, Tommy and Travis Underhill, Hobie Andrews, Paul Ferrell, Joe Santelli, and Glenn Davidson. Ed Anderson won the competition overall and was presented with the cherished Ralph Blazer.

The Class of ’77 was also well represented at the Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum/Pass in Review event hosted at VMI Sept. 28 of this year. Those who participated were Will Bynum, Steve Billingsley, Mark Bryant, Kimber Latsha, Bob Houser, J.C. Cutright, Bland Massie, Dickie Moore, Ed Anderson, J.D. Johnson, and Mike Brown. Our brother rats were able to help cadets in their career decision process, especially individuals in our PIR Class of ’27. This is an annual event now for the cadets, so start looking at your calendar to see if you can help next September. In other brother rat news, I heard from Tim Thompson. He and his Dragon Force Karate Team scored well and had some national winners in the 2024 Old School Fall Classic U.S. Open Karate Championships in Norfolk, Virginia, in September. Congratulations, sensei!

I received a note from Max Floyd, who continues to enjoy retirement in Colorado Springs. Max recently summited his second Colorado 14er, Mount Bierstadt, at 14,066 feet. He lives close to

So far, it looks like only Mark Abernathy had hurricane damage. Mark said his winter camp in Southwest Florida had recently flooded twice, bringing 2 feet of water from the recent hurricanes. Mark also said he is already on top of the recovery work there but appreciated the prayers and concerns of all the brother rats.

Bob Reinbeck checked in with good news and bad news. His good news is that he has been elevated from General District Court to Circuit Court in Stafford County, effective Nov. 1. The bad news is he is not retiring. Congratulations, Bob!

Rich Howell checked in from south Lake Tahoe. He and Dianne are celebrating their newest grandson’s first birthday. Rich and Dianne now have four grandsons! Unfortunately, Rich has a shoulder replacement scheduled Nov. 4 and will be off his bike for a good while. Prayers for a speedy recovery, BR!

Please continue to pray for our Brother Rats Steve Callahan and Dickie Moore, who continue to battle prostate cancer.

Class of 1977: Will Bynum, Steve Billingsly, Mark Bryant, Kimber Latsha, Bob Houser, J.C. Cutright, Bland Massie, Dickie Moore, Ed Anderson, and Mike Brown attend the VMI Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum/Pass in Review program for the Class of 2027 at VMI Sept. 28, 2024. Not pictured is J.D. Johnson.

Class of 1977: Brother rats gather at Devils Backbone near Lexington, Virginia, Sept. 7, 2024.

Class of 1977: Max Floyd atop Mount Bierstadt in Colorado in September 2024.

The next set of class notes is due in February. I look forward to news and pictures from the Southern Conference championship reunion, as well as news from other brother rats. In the meantime, start looking ahead to spring 2027 for our 50th Reunion. More details will be forthcoming. Thanksgiving will arrive soon, followed by the Christmas season. Please take time to enjoy these holidays with your family. I wish everyone a joyous Thanksgiving, a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!

Tick

1978

Brother Rats and Friends of the Class, As these notes are composed, it is the middle of November and the hurricane season has yet to come to an end. This was a rough season for many. All reports from the class indicate that everyone came through and is safe. As you read these notes, it is the middle of winter and the holidays are a fond memory. Praying that everyone had a great Christmas and visited with loved ones. Our ranks continue to diminish with the passing of BR Stew Wolf, Aug. 6, 2024. Stew served in the Navy from 1978–88. He was a computer programmer for most of his career. He was very involved in supporting the Special Olympics. Stew was a dear brother rat and will be greatly missed. A memorial Zoom call to honor Stew was held Nov. 19. The date is after the deadline for notes input, so I will report on it in May.

The ’78’s connection to the current Rat Mass began with Anthony Moore and Stu Gitchell representing the class at the matriculation ceremony in August. The Pass In Review Program is designed to connect the 50th Reunion classes with the class that graduates that year. As you read these notes, it should be close to Rat Mass of 2025+3 breaking out. ’78 will be invited to be a part of the event so as to build the bonds between the “Old Corps” and the new. As the new class progresses through barracks, there will be other opportunities to make connections with 2025+3. Please consider participating in the events if possible.

Now, it is time once again to report

Class notes

the latest status from around the class.

Bob Eagle: “All’s well in Lexington. Brother rats gathered at the Furman game. Don Robey sponsored our 1974 Southern Conference champion football team members for a pregame tailgate.”

Pete Manoso: “All right in Newport News, Virginia. Attended my 50th Frank W. Cox High School reunion with Jack Wright and Martin Welsh Sept. 21, 2024. We are three of the Cox Five who matriculated together at VMI Aug. 21, 1974. The other two were Dwight Weirich and Dac Colden, who were unable to attend our high school reunion. Our alumni sponsors were Cecil Welsh ’52 and Sherril Wright ’52. They were roommates at VMI, and both were Korean War veterans. I had the good fortune to reconnect with my surviving ’81 dyke, Cos Costello ’81. I found him using the VMI Ranks app. He is a retired

Navy helicopter pilot living in Virginia Beach. My other ’81 dyke, Frank Reece ’81, passed away in 2019. His brother, Bill Reece, and I went to high school together. Bill is an attorney in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, and was in town for our high school reunion. The three of us met for lunch to commemorate the passing of Frank Reece. Bill and I both missed Frank’s funeral, where Cos gave the eulogy for his brother rat. Over 20 members of the Class of 1981 attended the funeral. I hope this posting finds brother rats in good health and spirits. I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces when we gather online to commemorate the passing of our Brother Rat Stew Wolf Nov. 19, 2024. My sincere thanks to Jay Hutt for organizing our monthly class prayer meetings on Zoom.”

Alec Earle: “Just attended the 50th anniversary dinner of the Institute Society. Had a great time catching up with BRs and reliving some war stories.”

Blaine Vorgang: “Wendy and I continue to be in an ‘all right’ status for this email stick check. I can still recall being the gun captain for Matthew and firing that cannon on Founders Day, Nov. 11, for 3 years—sophomore through senior. I guess the Institute does not fire the Cadet Battery nowadays, Matthew, Mark, ‘Bad Luke,’ and John. Oh, the memories of ‘back in the day’ at VMI. Take care. In pace decus, in bello praesidium.”

Harry McClellan: “All right, sir!” Vagel Keller: “All right! Debbie and I linked up with Dave Wren during a camping trip to the Potomac Valley,

Tom Brown

Class of 1978: Glen Jones, Wadds Bugg, Terry McKnight, Alec Earle, Glenn Dallinger, Stu Gitchell, Danny Thornton, and Brion Smith attend the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 1978: Don Robey, Mike McCarty, Mark Lambert, Mike Freeman, Bert Loflin, Hugh Crawford, Johnny Garnett, Steve Oddi, Tom Ferguson, Bob Jenvey, Glenn Dallinger, Bob Eagle, Andy Faulconer, and Anthony Moore attend the 1974 Southern Conference championship football team reunion Nov. 2, 2024.

and we enjoyed a Dutch oven feast and conversation around the fire. I forgot about pictures until the light was too low, so there’s no evidence, though.”

Mark Lambert: “All right in St. Charles!”

Dave Colonna: “Doing just fine. Completing an in-town move, dealing with contractors. Two grandbabies and two more on the way in January. Patty is well. Still trying to figure out retirement; I retired Dec. 31. Patty is well. All in all, things are pretty darn good in Winston-Salem.”

Bill Robertson: “All right in Midlothian.”

Ken Blythe: “I’m keepin’ on truckin’ at the Census Bureau. Mini reunion with co-dykes Paul Campbell and Bob Magnum by the end of the year. Would like to plan a coldsteel Charlie mini reunion in the spring.”

Mark Lowe: “All right here! We are getting ready to head back to Germany to visit family. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.”

Brion Smith: “All right in Keswick, Virginia.”

Tom Tucker: “Still plugging along in the financial advisory world. Having fun in Warrenton!”

Bruce Kay: “All is well here. Not a lot to report at this time!”

Kevin Callanan: “All is all right in the greyer, chiller northern Shenandoah Valley. Lisa and I were down your way; we completed our first-ever cruise. When I was on active duty, I did some TDY time on the Enterprise, a live-fire drill on the Wisconsin, and trained on an LST. This was a lot different, and the food and accommodations were much better! After the cruise, we spent a few days with an old Army buddy and his wife in Orlando. On the work front, I was honored to be selected by Governor Youngkin to serve on the Christopher Newport University Board of Visitors, a great honor. I’m still working as a consultant but have reduced my client list so that Lisa and I have more time for travel.”

Jim Mackin: “We are ‘all right’ in the Outer Banks! October was a busy month for us. We visited with my oldest daughter, Kat, and our sweet granddaughter, Vi, in Sanford, North Carolina, while her husband, Brian Blincoe ’11, was deployed. Next, we traveled to L.A., where Regina showed me around in her hometown of Pasadena, and we visited the Petersen Auto Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits, and saw Eric Clapton in the Hollywood Bowl. Later in the month, we spent a fantastic week in Punta Cana at their Excellence Resort. Looking forward to some quiet home time now.”

Steve Hall: “All right!”

Mike Oelrich: “We are doing well in the panhandle. I contacted Larry Fluty and T.J. Stevens before and after Hurricane Milton, and they both came through it without much damage. We were blessed that the hurricanes stayed

Class Notes

away from our area this year.”

Leland Horn: “All right here ... implementing my retirement plans for end of April 2025.”

Terry Dorn: “We’re fine on this end. Just got back from 2 weeks in Greece following the journeys of Paul. Awesome trip. Beth has knee replacement surgery scheduled for Nov. 18, so that might slow us down for a bit.”

Nelson Curtis: “All right!”

Paul Campbell: “All right. Grandchild No. 4, granddaughter No. 3, arrived Oct. 8, 2024. I got an in-person visit Nov. 5–14 in Texas.”

Chris Stone: “Checking in ‘all right.’ Attending the 50th anniversary of the VMI Institute Society Dinner. Gary Sinise, who has been very supportive of our men and women in uniform,

is the scheduled speaker. Just have to make sure my tux still fits! Hoping to run into others from the Class of ’78. Headed to Germany for Thanksgiving to spend time with my three grandsons. Enjoying retirement but still active with the Virginia General Assembly.”

Cliff Seibel: “Still here in the frozen north. Winter has arrived, with subzero temps expected later this week. As always, have a warm spot to watch the northern lights for any BRs who find themselves this far north.”

Rick Wolffe: “All good with the chain gang. Bland Massie ’77, a wannabe ’78, and me worked The Citadel game under our chain gang boss, Ned Reister. It was a sell-out crowd, so sad to lose. We left 20 points off the board, but great postgame. Reister boiled up another one of his famous ‘shrimp boils!’”

Mark Seely: “Doing well out here on the left coast. Rosemary and I are still traveling a lot, seeing as many new places as we can. We’re also in the process of searching for a new home to have a bit more space but expect that to take us into 2025 before we make a decision.”

Chip Schelhorn: “Just got back from attending the 50th reunion of coaches, players, and brother rats who won the 1974 Southern Conference football championship. We had a nice planned weekend to include golf if you wanted to play, dinner at VMI Moody Hall, team pictures at the VMI parapet, and a memorial service for the 17 players who passed and the three deceased coaches at the VMI chapel. We went to the VMI parade and reunion tailgate and watched the VMI Keydets win their first football game of the year. They beat Furman 21-17. It was an exciting finish, with an interception to seal the win late in the fourth quarter. It was nice to see everyone from the Classes of ’75, ’76, ’77, and ’78. What a flashback, and everyone had a great time.

“The planning team did an excellent job. Just turned 69 and still working. Planning a family trip now to go to Italy next summer with my family, to include my children and their spouses.

Happy holidays!”

Tim Berkhimer: “All is good here at the beach. I’m still working 1-2 days a week at a local 50-year-old hardware store just a couple blocks from the oceanfront—cool gig for me! I’m headed to Sanford, Florida, this weekend to meet my new grandson, Caden, and visit with both of my daughters. They live one house apart from each other.”

Jim Simons: “All right, sir! Forty-seven days and a wakeup to retirement!”

Rick Sherman: “Some news from Orange, Virginia. After 30 years, eight elections, and serving as mayor 3 years and vice mayor 26 years,

Class of 1978: Pete Manoso; Cos Costello ’81, Pete’s dyke; and Bill Reece, brother of Pete’s other dyke, Frank Reece ’81.

Class of 1978: Pete Manoso, Jack Wright, and Martin Welsh at their 50th Frank W. Cox High School reunion.

I am retiring from politics. It’s been a great run, but it’s time to step back from the public service. The town is giving myself and the sitting mayor a going-away party in December. Sherry and I welcomed our third grandchild in February and are looking forward to spending free time with him and the two others. South Carolina, here we come—to visit only. I sold my business in September and have agreed to work for a few years but have moved somewhat away from the ownership responsibilities. So far, the changes have been minimal. Going to miss those ‘credit card air miles’ but not much else. Get to see Rex Wiggins, my wife’s brother, on a regular basis. Labor Day, we had a weekend together in High Point, North Carolina. Good times!”

John Tucker: “All right in Columbus, Ohio.”

Rick Wetherill: “All right.”

Danny Thornton: “Got to see many BRs this fall at football games and other Institute events. Saturday, Nov. 2, was the 50th anniversary of our 1974 Southern Conference championship. Don Robey was a primary organizer; well, actually, Biddy was! A fine time was had by all. Several BRs joined the Keydet Club. I challenge all of you, if you have not already done so, to please support the Keydet Club. The young men and women we are supporting are the cream of the crop.”

Jimmy Leech: “We’re ‘all right’ here. Just finished a nice road trip out to California to see family and do a little sightseeing. Otherwise, nothing new to report.”

Mike Freeman: “Doing well and hope all is well your way. Might be too late, but a brief review of the ’74 football season celebration. Anyway, it was a special and amazing time for all, just as our reunions are and have been. Teammates who attended: Bert Loftin, Chip Schelhorn, Glen Jones, John Garnett, Don Robey, Hugh Crawford, Keith Barber, Mark Lambert, Mark McKissick, Bob Jenvey, Steve Oddi, Tom Ferguson, and myself.

The weekend of Nov. 1–3, 2024, was 3 days of a wonderful celebration of VMI’s 1974 Southern Conference football championship, bringing together many teammates from the Classes of 1975, ’76, ’77, and ’78. Many of these men had not seen nor spoken with each other for 50 years. The event was the culmination of 14 months of planning by representatives of each class, including Tom Replogle, Don Robey, and Mike Freeman. The weekend started Friday morning with golf at Lexington Golf & Country Club and then Friday night dinner in Moody Hall. Coaches Shaw, Bush, and Cavanaugh spoke about their time at VMI. Gene Williams ’74 was the keynote speaker.

Class notes

Saturday morning, about 80 players, coaches, fans, friends, and family gathered for a group picture of the football team and everyone else who was there for the weekend. After the picture, a memorial service for deceased players and coaches was led by Ron Norman ’75 and Oscar Richardson ’75 in the VMI chapel. Tony Ferry ’75 and Alan Pyke ’76 presented championship rings to the families of the deceased. Jerry Codutti ’76, Don Fulton ’76, and Doug Hines ’76 were remembered from the Class of ’76. Don Robey hosted a non-alcoholic tailgate for everyone before and after the game. The football team was recognized at halftime, and the Keydets went on to win their first game of the season! The party continued Saturday night with another reception, and some attendees finished up the weekend with a Sunday morning brunch before they headed home.

That brings an end to the latest news from around the class. Thanks for all the input for this edition. Keep in touch with your BRs, and please join the class for the monthly Zoom meeting 8:30 p.m. EST the third Tuesday of each month. Look for the link in the email or find it on the class Facebook page.

In the Bonds, Tom/EZ Bear

1979

Howard “Chappy” Lucas

Hello, BRs!

It has been 2 months since our 45th Reunion, and memories from the reunion are still very much in mind. With over 100 BRs and 75 guests in attendance, we had a wonderful weekend of reconnecting, great fun, fellowship, and remembrance with many a story being told. If you were not able to join us, you were missed! However, not being present during the reunion did not “protect” you from being included in, or the focus of, the many stories told during the weekend!

A special thank you to all the BRs and spouses who were able to attend the reunion, including Howard Adams, Larry and Marcie Adams, Bill Albro, Grady Andrews, Randy Atkins, Tom and Karen Baltazar, Ben and Tracey Bauman, Robert Beale, Bill Bersson, Larry and Susan Beltz, John Blake, Bob Bookmiller, Tim Bridges, Ralph and LuAnn Briggs, John and Nancy Brown, Ed Buck, Ron Burner, Jeb and Betsy Burton, Burley Byrd, Charles and Terri Callaway, Mark Cheek, Nic and Joan Collins, John and Teresa Colonna, Dave Crawford, Jeff and Betsy Curtis, Mark Day, Doug and Corinne Doerr, George “Greek” Eliades, Jim and Beth Elliott, Grey Farthing, Chuck and Mary Fitch, Fred Floyd, Phil and Dana Gallahan, Jeff and Faith Goldhardt, Malcolm and Gwendolyn Grimes, Rick Hall, Bill Hamlin, Jim Harrington, Noel and Kathy Harris, John and Elizabeth Hash, Tom Herbert, Jim and Phyllis Higginbotham, Glenn and Susan Higgins, Wilton Holmes, Dave and Treva Houser, Chip and Maria Humphrey, Carl and Roxie Jackson, Frank and Becky Jester, David and Cindy Jeter, Ed Johnson, Brad and Marie Jones, John and Lisa Kailey, Dave Kopelman, Dan Kornacki, Jim and Kathie LaRose, Jim and Rhonda Leavitt, Chappy Lucas, Steve Lyon, Tom Manley, Tom Martin, Rob and Debbie Maxey, Bill and Laurie McCarthy, Rich and Debbie McDonough, Rich and Dawn McGruder, Jeff and Jamie McLean, Larry and Tammy Moise, Mike and Charlotte Mullins, Andy and Patricia Neff, Ed and Kathy Negro, Eric and Margaret Nost, Dale and Mary Ogg, Frank Panopoulos, Asa and Karen Page, Gary and Lesley Parker, Bruce and Joni Pearson, J.R. Pigg, John and Beth Poffenbarger, Rick Pugh, Dave and Carol Pyle, Greg Quinn, Tim Ritzert, Roy and Janice Sadler, Eric and Becky Schwarz, Dave Smith,

Class of 1978: Bland Massie ’77 and Rick Wolffe officiate at the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024.

Class of 1979 45th Reunion

Dean Smith, Jeff Smith, Al and Lisa Soltis, Phil Southers, Jack Stevenson, Gleb Taran, Dave and Carrie Taylor, Mike Thomas, Brian Tollie, Fil Truitt, Tom Trumps, Joe Tudor, Bill Tulloh, Dave Van Wagoner, Sal and Deborah Vitiello, Mike Weatherholtz, Greg Weaver, Charles and Kay West, Steve and Jennifer White, and Randy and Debbie Young. Your participation made for a memorable weekend!

We were thrilled that Cassandra Hamilton, daughter Hope, and son Stephen were able to join us for the reunion weekend. Their presence made the weekend even more special to us all.

The reunion weekend started with an early arrival reception Thursday evening hosted by Howard Adams and Al and Lisa Soltis at the Soltis’ home there in Lexington. With over 50 BRs and guests attending, Howard, Al, and Lisa provided a wonderful evening for all and a great start to the reunion weekend.

On Friday, in addition to various optional events and tours available, we did something rather unique as a class for a reunion weekend. We held a wreath-laying ceremony in Lexington’s Oak Grove Cemetery. Our purpose was to remember and honor the many remarkable faculty and staff VMI provided to us as young men during our cadetship. We did this through recognizing the 34 former VMI faculty and staff from our time at the Institute who are buried in this cemetery. To demonstrate and highlight the high quality and outstanding caliber of the many faculty and staff VMI made available to us, we laid our wreath at the gravesite of Col. William Buchanan ’50B to honor his service to the nation and to VMI. We were honored to have the daughter of Col. William Buchanan, Jamie Buchanan, join us to assist with this ceremony. We were also honored to have the daughter of Col. George Ripley ’52, Beth, and husband Kurt Owermohle ’81, attend our ceremony as Col. Ripley is also buried in the cemetery. I want to thank Brian Tollie for leading this event and Al Soltis and Dave Van Wagoner for their participation and support of this ceremony which was attended by over 50 BRs and guests. In addition to playing taps for the wreath-laying ceremony, Dave Van Wagoner also played another tribute on that Friday afternoon. Discovering that one of the 34 VMI faculty and staff buried in the cemetery is Mr. Wilbur W. Swihart (“Bill the Bugler”), Dave played assembly at Bill’s gravesite, holding the last note as long as possible like Bill used to do for us when we were cadets!

One item that we had for the reunion that received a lot of attention from BRs was poster-sized copies of our Matriculation Book pages that were on display throughout the weekend. There were

Class notes

many interesting stories shared about that one day: Aug. 20, 1975.

Our Friday night class dinner provided us with two unique and different opportunities. Jeff Smith spoke to us regarding how to view our future roles. We all greatly appreciated Jeff’s invaluable insights. We were also honored to have as our invited guest retired U.S. Air Force Col. Bill Noell ’53 and his wife, Judy. Several of us had met Bill at a VMI home football game, during which we learned that he was Col. Buchanan’s rat! During dinner, Bill shared his many stories and insights with us of not only being Col. Buchanan’s rat, but also from their lifelong personal and family friendship. We were all extremely appreciative of Bill and his wife joining us and sharing with us his very special relationship with Col. Buchanan

We did have one significant decision to make at dinner on Friday night. Who would lead us into barracks Saturday for our Old Yells? It was suggested to select the “smartest” BR on that fateful day of Aug. 20, 1975. We decided that the “smartest” BR on that day would be the BR who was the last to sign the Matriculation Book. That BR was Dave Smith!

We started our reunion Saturday morning with a memorial service in Memorial Hall to remember our passed BRs, David Morgan, Michael Anderson, James Allen, David Marshall, Stanley Leck, Dennis Austin, James Pouzar, Joe Simas, Michael Budler, Allen Higginbotham, Thomas Burch, Michael Burton, Frank Lumpkin, Thomas Hazard, Paul Ramey, Thomas Kovach, Richard Cadugan, John Bandy, Samuel “Nectar” Pace, Larry Dickerson, David Stacy, George Lewis, Paul Jussel, Tony Hamilton, Jay Thompson, John George, Darold Weber, Robert Muncy, and Steve Heatwole. To assist in our remembrance of our BRs, we included individual pictures of our passed BRs, which were displayed on the stage of Memorial Hall during our memorial service. A very special thank you to Al Soltis, Howard Adams, Ben Bauman, Larry Adams, Dave Crawford, Doug Doerr, John Hash, Steve White, and Dave Van Wagoner for their participation and support to make this memorial service a special highlight of the reunion weekend.

Our memorial service was followed by our class picture on the steps of Preston Library. During the class picture we recognized John Blake and his gift to the VMI athletic department of a framed poster honoring the VMI 1977 Southern Conference football championship. This poster now hangs on the walls of the athletic department. Assisting in recognizing John’s gift were football BRs Bob Bookmiller, Al Soltis, Ed Negro, Carl Jackson, Greg Weaver, Dave Pyle, Jeff McLean,

Dale Ogg, and Noel Harris

From the class picture, we moved to the Parade Ground to enjoy the reunion parade that included a hint of rain. Following the parade, with a great assist from Rob Maxey, Dave Smith led us into Old Barracks for our Old Yells. Having completed our Old Yells, the class assembled for a tailgate on the Parade Ground in advance of the football game. Serving over 120 BRs and guests, a very special thank you to those who led the tailgate planning and execution, as well as those impromptu volunteers who pitched in to make the tailgate a great success! From the very positive feedback we received regarding the tailgate, we are making plans to hold an annual class tailgate at future football games.

To close out the reunion, our Saturday night class dinner was structured as an informal event to allow BR storytelling and BR engagement throughout the evening. There were many stories shared by BRs during the evening, with the weekend concluding with Dave Taylor’s complete and unabridged “Buck” story. A true classic story!

I want to thank everyone for your support for the reunion. There were a host of folks who worked very hard behind the scenes to make the reunion the success it was. A heartfelt thank you to all of them!

Following the reunion, Bill Albro reported in that now, with fall in the low country, “I’ll leave the reunion for others to recap. My only comment is that I was laughing so much my eyes were continually leaking. I told a rat attending VMI now that I hope she has as much fun at her 45th Reunion as I had that weekend.”

Bill further reported that, “After the reunion, I rode back with Dean Smith, and we headed down to the Conch Republic for the annual BR diving extravaganza. We were met at the international airport by Randy Pekarik and proceeded to prep for the next day’s diving after settling into the Vrbo. Dan Sheehan was unable to join us this past year and was missed, but, of course, we sent him a full set of reports on what he was missing! The diving was fantastic as the conditions on the Vandenberg were optimal with no current and great ocular acuity all 4 days.”

Bill also sent in that after the reunion and diving flurry, he settled into getting things done by doing the usual medical and wellness stuff. Bill has been able to play some golf with Reggie Sadler and was also able to go to the wedding of Reggie and Linda’s daughter, Brittney. Bill reported that it was a perfect wedding as they all had a good time dancing late into the evening.

Bill Albro has also been in touch with Bill Smithson and Sput Leadbetter, both of whom

1. At the 45th Reunion Sept. 7, 2024, are (from left) Tom Trumps, John Kailey, and Glenn Higgins.

2. Tailgating on the Parade Ground Nov. 2, 2024, are (front row, from left) Rich McGruder, Tom Manley, Doug Doerr, Phil Andrews, Chappy Lucas, Anthony Pais, (back row) Frank Jester, and Gleb Taran.

3. Brian Tollie and Jamie Buchanan, daughter of Col. William Buchanan ’50B, place a wreath at Col. Buchanan’s grave during the 45th Reunion Sept. 6, 2024.

4. Gathering in Highland Ranch, Colorado, in November 2024 are (from left) Debra Smith, Karen and Asa Page, and Parke Smith.

5. Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) Jacqueline Purdy and Charlie Sachs, Jeff and Linda Minnix, John and Teresa Colonna, and Ed Johnson.

6. Dave Van Wagoner plays a tribute at Bill the Bugler’s gravesite during the 45th Reunion, Sept. 6, 2024.

7. Chappy Lucas with Stephen, Cassandra, and Hope Hamilton at the 45th Reunion class dinner, Sept. 6, 2024.

8. Pictured with the 1977 Southern Conference football championship poster during the 45th Reunion Sept. 7, 2024, are (seated) John Blake, (standing, from left) Bob Bookmiller, Al Soltis, Ed Negro, Carl Jackson, Greg Weaver, Dave Pyle, Jeff McLean, Dale Ogg, and Noel Harris.

Class of 1979 1.

reported they are doing fine. Sput related some “adventures in renovating” stories while Bill Smithson was chilling by the pool. Bill Bersson had called Bill Albro to wish him a happy birthday and reported that he continues to renovate and rent real estate and is otherwise doing fine.

Pete Alvarez sent, “I visited Northern Virginia in late October to attend my daughter’s baby shower in Sterling. Gabriela is expecting our first grandchild, a girl, on Christmas Eve. While in the area, I had lunch with Brian Tollie to catch up with each other, as well as to hear more about the reunion since I was unable to attend. I also met my dyke, Tom Puskas ’74, for coffee. He was part of the planning effort for the 50th Reunion of his class earlier this year. He shared very valuable lessons learned, which I will pass along to Chappy as we gear up for our 50th in 2029. Finally, I had dinner with Jay McCauley ’80 before my return home to North Carolina. As a 3rd Class cadet, I was Jay’s cadre corporal, and we have remained closely connected for many years.”

Class notes

Class of 1979: Attending the 249th U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Ball at VMI Nov. 1, 2024, are (from left) Kurt and Beth Owermohle ’81, Joe Jenkins, Tom Manley, retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John Holmes HBR ’82, Becky and Frank Jester, Doug Doerr, Anthony Pais, and John Kailey.

John Kailey reported that their grandson, John, is growing like a weed. John also sent that he enjoyed seeing folks at our 45th and reported that he even met Bobby Ross ’59 at the reunion tailgate on that Saturday.

Class of 1979: Photos of brother rats who have passed away are displayed during a memorial service in Memorial Hall during the 45th Reunion Sept. 7, 2024.

to now over 100 employees.

Asa Page sent that “Karen and I spent a few days in Estes Park and Boulder, Colorado, looking at potential retirement locations. On our way south to Colorado Springs, we enjoyed a delightful lunch with Debra and Parke Smith in Highland Ranch and got caught up on the past 45 years. Parke and Debra shared a lot of great insights about moving to Colorado with us.”

Jeff Goldhardt reported that the reunion was the first visit to VMI for their daughter, Hannah; her husband, Josh; and their grandson, Malakai Critzer. RVM!

Keith Ranker checked in to say he has been in touch with George Myers, Stan Ballard, John Arthur, and Bill Tulloh. Keith also sent that he has recently had a battery-powered stimulator probe put into the nerves in his shoulder, which has had a great impact on reducing the pain he has been experiencing.

Steve Scaglione checked in to report that he was recently promoted to senior vice president. Working for HDR, Inc. since 2013, Steve has grown his staff from an initial 23 professionals

Doug Doerr wrote, providing an overview of a trip that he had dreamed about for 60 years, the “Masters of the Air” tour of England. Activities during this 1-week trip included a tour of the Royal Air Force Museum, where he saw all RAF aircraft with a focus on World War II; a tour of Bletchley Park, which was the principal center for codebreaking during World War II with 9,000 employees; a visit to the Churchill Archives with many of the speeches that Churchill made, including the initial drafts and how he changed them; and a tour of the Cambridge American Cemetery. From Cambridge, Doug traveled to Duxford for the airshow weekend and was impressed with the myriad aircraft that flew in the airshow—every type of aircraft, either flying or on static display. From Duxford, Doug went to East Anglia to tour the museums at Thorpe Abbotts (home of the 100th Bomb Group) and Horham (home of the 95th Bomb Group). Doug reported that the museum at Thorpe Abbotts was the control tower, and the museum at Horham was the Red Feather Club. Doug reported that both were staffed with incredible docents who were more than happy to show

folks around. He was surprised that the airfields across East Anglia were the size of Marine Corps Air Station New River, with two other same-sized airfields located 5 and 10 miles away. Returning to London, Doug toured St. Paul’s Cathedral and the bunker of Winston Churchill before a trip to the White Cliffs of Dover and the return trip home. Truly a dream come true trip!

Tom Manley shared that he joined Joe Jenkins, John Kailey, Doug Doerr, Anthony Pais, and Becky and Frank Jester in attending the 249th USMC Birthday Ball that was held in VMI’s Hall of Valor.

As we had so much fun during the reunion tailgate, we decided to do it again. In conjunction with the USMC birthday ball and the Nov. 2 VMI home football game, we set up another tailgate. It was great to get together again with Tom Manley, Doug Doerr, Anthony Pais, Joe Jenkins, Phil Andrews, Gleb Taran, Becky and Frank Jester, and Dawn and Rich McGruder. We not only did lunch but also had a wonderful breakfast while spending the afternoon enjoying the great weather, the great food, and the great company! In closing, thanks again to all those who were able to attend the reunion. Your attendance made the reunion all the more special. And, if it has been a while since you last connected with a BR, take the time today to reach out and reconnect! RVM!

1980

John Gibney Jr.

Hello, Brother Rats!

These notes cover the period Aug. 16–Nov. 15, 2024, and include the sad news of the passing of John Rudolph. Ave atque vale.

The period began with a text message from Bert Schneider. Bert lives in Arizona, and his message contained two photos taken at a rat sendoff in Tucson. In a later message, Bert noted that he plans to attend our reunion and has made hotel reservations. He also represented VMI at a college open house. Mitch Alexander sent an email

requesting a connection to Jonathan Ives Jonathan, Whitney, and their daughters live in Germany, and Mitch’s son and daughter-in-law live in Frankfurt, hence the connection.

On Aug. 18, Dwight Pearson sent a happy matriculation anniversary text message—48 years! Later that day, Don Bradshaw sent a happy matriculation anniversary text message and email message. Don wrote that Dave Gleason initiated a text message to their roommates. I then reached out to my 4-year roommate, Steve Andrews, to remind him of the fateful day when we were thrown together and to see how he was recovering from surgeries—he’s on the mend, but Cathy broke her foot.

Mike Luning sent an email with an update on the planned September gathering at VMI of a group of our BRs in connection with the Norfolk State football game. I also spoke with John Caplice, who will be separately attending the game and hosting a pregame tailgate on the Parade Ground. I connected John and Mike to coordinate their efforts. See below for details of the weekend. John also said that he is “unretired,” as he has taken a position assisting a friend in Richmond in running an investment bank.

Class Notes

October that included a visit to Normandy. Frank Hilton and Scott Sayre were copied on my messages as they joined Rob and Mike Knapp in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

New grandfather Phil Altizer sent a photo of his grandchildren, twins Olivia Ruby and Elijah Walter. In August, my annual member-guest golf outing was canceled due to Hurricane Debby. Tim Hodges was supposed to be my guest. The event was rescheduled for the last weekend in September. Tim was unavailable.

Bruno Loefstedt sent an email with a photo taken with Steve Klinar in Greenville, South Carolina, where Bruno lives and Steve was visiting for a dental conference. They connected for dinner. In addition, Bruno and Janet were in Long Island for a family wedding and had lunch with Phil and Kathy Munisteri. They also received a tour of the house Phil and Kathy are building in Southold. Bruno also chats online with Joe Belkoski, Dave Hagemann, Tuck Masker, Rob Gearhart, Dixon Tucker, Frank Hilton, Phil Raeburn, Joe Paustenbaugh, Dennis Hackemeyer, Dan Conn, Paul Keel, and Don Bradshaw via a Facebook page set up by Phil. Bruno and Janet are also enjoying being retired grandparents.

Tracy Wilson sent a text message commenting on the opening of the English Premier League season—the first of several as we communicated throughout the period. Tracy is a Man City fan. I root for Tottenham.

Dave Hagemann sent a text message with photos following a visit he and Diana had with Bob Hillard that included a meal during a short trip they made to Nashville. Dave wrote that Bob has not changed since we were rats and they roomed next to each other.

August ended with an email exchange with Rob D’Alessandro on his birthday. Rob is deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the American Battle Monuments Commission headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. He spends a lot of time traveling but was celebrating in the U.S. I also reached out to Rob regarding a trip Patti and I were taking in

September began with an email from Phil Hourihan containing two pictures, one taken with Tolar Nolley and the second with Brian O’Neill. Phil and Tolar were rat roommates in the first semester of our rat year. Phil served with Brian in the Navy. Phil lives in Maine, where he manages real estate investments in the summer and spends the winters in West Florida. He retired from the U.S. Navy submarine shipyard in Maine in 2019. I exchanged email with Jody Weatherwax on his birthday. Jody lives in Florida and had just returned from a golfing week in Myrtle Beach. He plans to attend our 45th. I exchanged email messages with Rich Zott on his birthday. Rich is still working, doing police work in a small riverfront town on the Mississippi, where he is the acting chief, as well as consulting. He has two grandchildren and a third on the way.

Tom Gelles sent a thank you text after receiving his birthday card. Joe Belkoski called in his role as an ex officio member of the board of the VMI Class of 1980 Foundation (VMI80.org). Joe had bypass surgery in 2021 and said his health is fine. He also retired in 2021. He keeps in touch with Rob D’Alessandro and Mike Knapp and is in a Facebook group of cyclists set up by Phil Munisteri. Joe and Becky were planning to take a Rhine River cruise in the fall.

Numerous messages were exchanged regarding

Class of 1980: Members of the class gather at the home of Rob and Elizabeth Quarles in September 2024.

Class of 1980: Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are Ben Gore; Pat Griffin and Beth; Steve Klinar and Christina; Rob Robinson and Kristal; Gene Scott and Zymora; Wade Stinnette and Lannie; and Dan Sweeney and Cindy.

the separate groups planning to be at VMI the weekend of Sept. 19–21. The group, organized primarily by Mike Luning, included Dixon and Nancy Tucker, Tony and Traci Zoetis, Tom and Amy Bersson, Larry and Vera Hupertz, Dave and Diana Hagemann, Frank and Marge McConnell, Dan and Marge Conn, Hossein and Stephanie Eshaghi, Boyd and Donna Gaines, Rob and Elizabeth Quarles, Rob Robinson and Kristel, Mike and Melissa Luning and their dogs, John Alerding, and Gary Levenson. Most of the group stayed in a VRBO on Route 11 near Rob Robinson’s house and the Pink Cadillac diner. Early arrivals dined together Thursday evening. There was a golf outing at the Lexington Golf & Country Club Friday morning, and Rob and Elizabeth kindly opened their house and hosted the group for dinner. Ed and Amy Elliott also attended dinner. The group joined John and Margie Caplice, who hosted a pregame tailgate on the Parade Ground Saturday that included Josh and Karen Priest, Jay and Trudy Melvin, Jeff Washington, and Gene Scott. The long-range weather forecast was not good; however, the weather fully cooperated. Lastly, Mike Luning was in the hospital the week prior, as he wrote, heart attack—just a couple of stents but was fully engaged throughout and is recovering nicely.

In advance of the gathering, I spoke separately with John Alerding and with Gary Levenson. John and Anne are still working. Anne is a professor in the VMI biology department. John may retire in 2025. Gary has fully retired from his position with the Army ROTC department after spending the summer at Fort Knox. He is transitioning back to full-time life with Karen in Chester, Virginia.

Class notes

replied by offering to assist me and Patti on our European vacation.

I was copied on email messages thanking Mike Luning and John Caplice and those who put the weekend events together: Boyd Gaines (really, Donna), Hossein Eshaghi, Larry Hupertz, and Rob Quarles, all having booked reservations at Natural Bridge for our 45th. Following our return from Lexington, I exchanged email messages with Ed Elliott. Ed regularly sees and/or speaks with John Tinsley, Bill Roelofsen, Keith Frazier, Mike Bajorek, Bob Osler, and Lewis Toms, all his roommates or guys he lived next door to for all 4 years. Ed and Amy have a rental property business in Roanoke. Ed is going to stop working full time in December 2024.

Forrest Marion copied me on an email with a link to an article he authored titled, “A Serious Pentagon Must Hold a ‘Plucking Board.’” It can be found on www.realcleardefense.com/articles.

Dennis Hackemeyer sent an email with an updated email address. He wrote that he would be

attending the football game at VMI versus The Citadel with his roommates, Walt Kreitler, Kenny Baybutt, and Steve Ikenberry. I exchanged email messages with Don Bradshaw on his birthday. Don is living and working in Hawaii and has put in for leave to attend our 45th.

Walt Wood sent an email after visiting Mark and Darleen Sobota in Ohio, noting they were wondering about the reunion dates. Walt and Mary Lynne were on a road trip visiting with Andy and Nicki Ludlum in Maryland and planning to see Bruno Loefstedt in South Carolina. He tried to see Tom “Gunny” Kelly and Mike Kelly in Boise, Idaho, but was unable to connect. He also mentioned seeing John Hughes and Jim Lunsford on an earlier trip and said that John is “hyped up” for our 45th. In a subsequent message, he wrote that they are planning a trip to Scotland, Switzerland, and Italy in the next year or two.

I exchanged emails with Bill M’Coy on his birthday. Bill is still working, doing water/wastewater treatment plant design. Bill and Marian have three grown children and were expecting their first grandchild in November.

While at VMI and then following our visit, I reached out to the Alumni Agencies for our 45th Reunion dates. They confirmed that our dates are Oct. 3–5, 2025. Two blast email messages were sent, including a save-the-date message and a message with information regarding securing reservations at the Natural Bridge Hotel. I spoke several times with Pat Griffin, as he ran our 30th and 35th Reunions, and we are working with VMI on the details, all of which will be communicated through the Alumni Agencies. As again emphasized below, please be sure your contact information is current.

Phil Munisteri replied that he and Kathy will be traveling to Europe with Matthew and Tanya Keys. Their trip will include a river cruise from Paris with a stop at Normandy. In November, Phil sent photos of their trip. Jonathan Ives

I exchanged email messages with Frank Galgano on his birthday. Frank is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, teaches at Villanova University, and is enjoying living in Pennsylvania. His oldest son is married, and Frank and Christina are expecting their first grandchild. Their youngest graduated from medical school and is now an Army doctor at Walter Reed.

Aaron Bush sent an email noting he was doing well and asking for a connection to the Class of ’80 Foundation. I connected him with Rick Fowler and Tom Kelly. Aaron also replied to a birthday email message that he and Nancy plan to attend our 45th. Joe Hinton replied to a happy birthday email. He keeps busy as a paramedic around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and spent the day with his son and granddaughters. Hal Snyder reached out via email and we then spoke. He was trying to contact Landon Welford. I connected them via text.

Dan Conn replied to a belated birthday email message by noting he received his card and enjoyed catching up with me and Patti in Lexington. Dan and Marge live at Smith Mountain Lake and were paired with me and Patti at the golf outing. September ended with Patti and me having dinner with Lewis Toms. Lewis now lives in NYC and works at JFK Airport.

October began with an email from Tom Kelly containing the October 2024 VMI Class of 1980 Foundation newsletter. Robby Wheeler

Class of 1980: John Rudolph with his daughter, Mary, on her wedding day.

Class of 1980: Dan Conn, Tracy Wilson, and Dennis Jacobs on House Mountain in November 2024.

wrote asking for information about the Class of 1980 Foundation, and I connected him with Tom and Rick Fowler

Bruno Loefstedt sent an email with an attached photo taken while Walt and Mary Lynne Wood were visiting in Greenville, South Carolina, as mentioned above. Bruno and Janet were then heading out to work with Team Rubicon to help with the recovery from Hurricane Helene. Bruno described the impact of the hurricane and their work in a text message that included John Hughes, Jim Lunsford, Jay McCauley, Phil Munisteri, and Walt Wood

I sent an email message to John Shuman on his birthday with copies to Chal Glenn, Mark McLean, and Rick Gilbert. Chal replied that they will encourage John to attend our 45th. Dixon Tucker and Ali Mahan replied to a birthday email by noting that they received their respective cards. I exchanged text messages with Dusty Boyd on his birthday with John Blankenship, Hugh Fain, and Jay Melvin included.

I reached out to Tim Mecredy, Bruno Loefstedt, Wayland Patterson, and Tom Shedd following the hurricanes that blew through the Southeast. Tim, who lives in Augusta, Georgia, called and said the house he recently built sustained minor damage. Tom wrote that he lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and had no issues other than not receiving my blast email messages. I also reached out to Mark McLean, who lives in Sebring, Florida. He was in Colorado for his grandson’s birthday but reported no issues with storms.

Jack Keane copied me on an email with details of a gathering Nov. 16 at VMI, where Kent Lovejoy will be presented with his class ring. Tom Kelly copied me on an email sent in connection with the VMI Class of 1980 Foundation donation campaign. Patrick McCarthy copied me on an email regarding his 4-day Kairos Mission Trip Oct. 31–Nov. 3

Class Notes

at the Hagerstown Prison. Mike Flinn replied to a birthday email noting that both he and Dave Gleason have reserved their rooms for our 45th.

Bert Schneider sent a text with an attached video after completing a master bath renovation. Tom Bersson sent a text with a photo taken with Tony Zoetis, Rob Robinson, Dave Gleason, Mickey Cole, Mike Flinn, and John Caplice on the Parade Ground before the VMI football game versus The Citadel.

October ended with the sad news of the passing of John Rudolph. Thanks to Margie Caplice for first alerting me via text message. Two blast email messages were sent, the second following my call with John’s wife, Rhesa, containing details. Thanks to Jay Melvin for making the connection. Responses to the messages were received in email and text messages from Phil Altizer, Ed Baker, Ken Baybutt, Dusty Boyd, Paul Burkholder, Steve Chace, Sean Gallagher, Hossein Eshaghi, Mike Flinn, Tom Kelly, Bert Liverance, Bob Osler, Joe Paustenbaugh, Wade Stinnette, Lewis Toms, Landon Welford, Robby Wheeler, Tracy Wilson, and Rich Zott—all with fond memories of Rudy and offering condolences.

Ken Baybutt wrote that he is doing OK and plans to attend our 45th. Paul Burkholder wrote that he has been taking trips in his new Airstream and is busy in his elected position with the Lord Fairfax Soil & Water District.

November began with an email from Wayland Patterson regarding the VMI, The Citadel, Texas A&M, and Norwich University Veterans Day gathering that he organized in the Pensacola, Florida, area. Wayland also wrote that he received the 45th Reunion blast email messages and that he is pricing out the damage he sustained when the hurricanes hit.

Chris Dombalis sent a text with an attached video following the election. Tom Bersson sent a text with a photo taken at the Hampton Roads VMI

Alumni Association Founders Day event. Ken Trotman sent a text regarding our 45th, and we then spoke. Ken plans to attend.

Rob Robinson sent a text with two photos taken at the Institute Society dinner. Our BRs in attendance were Ben Gore, Pat Griffin with Beth, Steve Klinar with Christina, Rob Robinson with Kristel, Gene Scott with Zymora, Wade Stinnette with Lannie, and Dan Sweeney with Cindy.

Tom Kelly sent a text with a video link to celebrate the 249th Marine Corps birthday. Tom also sent an email with an attached VMI Class of 1980 Foundation November 2024 Newsletter. Tracy Wilson sent an email with a photo taken after hiking up House Mountain with Dan Conn and Dennis Jacobs. Tracy wrote that during our 1st Class year, they, along with their other two roommates, John Stallings and Vince Copenhaver, served as the House Mountain cadre to get all the rat companies up to the top.

Hunter Davis, Mark Sobota, and Alex Woelper share an early November birthday. In response to a group email message, Alex wrote that he looks forward to seeing everyone at our 45th. Mark wrote that all is well in the Sobota household. They moved locally into a newly built home this summer to be closer to their two sons and their families, including four grandchildren. In January, Mark and Darleen plan to visit with Larry and Lynn Avery (Darleen is Larry’s sister) in Florida. They also plan to attend our 45th.

I exchanged email messages with Landon Welford and Don Briggs on their respective birthdays. Landon plans to attend our 45th. Don replied that all is well in Texas. He is a retired house-husband as Roni is still running her business. They also plan to attend our 45th.

I exchanged text messages then spoke with Rhesa Rudolph. She expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support, specifically Jay and Trudy Melvin and Mark McLean for attending the visitation in Florida, to Ted Helmick, and to Ken Baybutt, Dennis Hackemeyer, Steve Ikenberry, and Walt Kreitler for their gift.

Please take a few minutes to confirm your information on the VMI database (vmialumni.org/ ranks) is up to date. Accurate information is essential to keeping you informed, especially with regard to our 45th Reunion. Reach out if you need assistance. My birthday email messages to Rick Tabb and Carl Wittig were returned as undeliverable, as was the birthday card mailed to Jay Hawkins.

Finally, some alumni opt out of receiving communication from VMI. This can be accomplished while still receiving communication (email, cards, etc.) from me. Please contact me if you have any

Class of 1980: Tony Zoetis, Rob Robinson, Dave Gleason, Mickey Cole, Mike Flinn, Tom Bersson, and John Caplice on the Parade Ground in October 2024.

questions. Thank you for your continuing support and for keeping me in the loop via phone calls, text messages, and email. Apologies for any delayed responses. Hope to see you in October in Lexington!

Class notes

Jerry Manley

My Brothers,

These notes are being written in November 2024, just after Veterans Day, for publication in the February 2025 Review. By the time you read this, the holiday season will be well behind us. I pray each of you has had a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year celebrating with family, BRs, and other loved ones. Now, on to our class inputs:

I start with recognizing the loss of a dear classmate, BR Dan Gallagher. Dan passed away peacefully at home Aug. 30, 2024, after a long and valiant battle with myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts (MDS-EB2, a blood cancer that kept his blood stem cells from maturing). Dan fought bravely and with unwavering faith in God throughout his ordeal. He was a truly wonderful man, true warrior, and fierce “citizen-soldier.” He loved his brother rats and his VMI experience. Dan’s achievements were impressive. After earning a double major in economics and modern languages at VMI, he went on to earn his MBA from William & Mary in 1986. He served on active duty in the Army as an Airborne Ranger through the rank of captain. He went on to serve in the Individual Ready Reserve until 1991. Dan’s professional life was highlighted by his expertise as a certified life underwriter, chartered financial consultant, certified financial planner, and certified business intermediary until his retirement in 2019. He was a published author known for his works “Ancient of Genes” (fiction) and “Secrets of Successful Financial Planning” (non-fiction), as well as numerous short stories. He was dedicated to helping the homeless and routinely kept bags of snacks, water, and toiletries in his car for those in need. Dan will be remembered as a devoted husband and father with a deep faith in God and

a steadfast commitment to his ideals. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered. (For Laura Gallagher, our hearts and prayers are with you. You remain a member of our VMI family always!)

We also lost a member of our extended class family with the passing of William “Bill” Cody, father of our BR Bob Cody. Bill was born June 15, 1935, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. At the age of 18, Bill joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and served for 8 years on destroyers and destroyer tenders. He was immensely proud of serving his country. In 1958, Bill married the love of his life, Janet Marie (Hazelo) Cody, and shared a life of love for 66 years. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, coach, and friend to many. Bill was employed at Vitramon for almost 40 years, and he joyfully spent many years coaching Little League baseball and Catholic Youth Organization basketball in Shelton. (For BR Bob Cody, our prayers remain with you and your family, BR!)

C.P. Davis is still living in Charlotte, North Carolina, but looking to a future move to his second home in Charleston, South Carolina. C.P. and Brenda will wait until their last son graduates from college in a few years before firming up those plans. C.P. is still working with several private equity firms conducting due diligence and providing post-transaction advisory support. He sits on a few board seats with smaller, family-owned businesses, which he really enjoys. He is also the proud co-owner of several bagel/deli stores (Bagel Station) in the Winston-Salem area. This year, he acquired a bagel shop in Burlington, near Elon, and another in the Kempsville area, bringing his store

Class of 1981: Dan Gallagher.

Class of 1981: Members of the class gather for the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024.

Class of 1981: Brother rats and their spouses gather in Hilton Head, South Carolina, to celebrate the wedding of Shannon and Jerry Manley.

total to four. He writes that having co-ownership in this business has been a true blessing and offers that any BR and family—when we visit Winston or stop in on one of his shops—should mention his name, and our meal is free! His son, Jackson, graduated this past spring with honors from South Carolina, where he was captain of the swim team for 2 years and excelled as a sprinter. Jackson is in the record books at USC for having one of the faster 50-meter free times. Presently, Jackson is in a leadership development program with a global packaging company in Atlanta. C.P.’s youngest son, Thomas, is entering his second year at Hampden-Sydney, where he is majoring in economics/ business and playing tennis. With great pride, C.P. shared that Thomas played line one doubles and line four singles his first year and entered the record books for “total wins” in double/singles in his first year, even beating one of W&L’s top doubles team this year—twice!

Marc and Laura Barthello continue to enjoy interacting with cadets on their daily walks through post with their huskies. Marc shared that he has met a lot of impressive young adults in the Corps and recommends we all take an opportunity to engage them in conversation when we are on post. Per Marc, asking a few questions of the “honorable youths” will ultimately result in interesting conversations. In early September, Marc ran into Lou and Terry Darden at the Virginia Horse Center, as Lou volunteered for the local quilt guild at their annual quilt show. Laura had a nice chat with Kurt and Beth Owermohle the next morning during Laura’s shift. Marc and Laura have also had the blessing of running into BR Wirt Shinault at the Lexington Farmers Market this summer.

Trip Lloyd wrote to say he is still running the Global Health Budget Execution Division for USAID

Class Notes

during the day and doing theater in the evenings. He sang the role of Judge Turpin in “Sweeney Todd” in September and continues to perform with a local improvisation troupe, as well as singing with two performance groups. He has set July 2026 as his retirement date from USAID and hopes his children’s 6-year college plan is done by then. He and his bride, Anne, have their annual ski vacation planned for late January and will follow that with a cruise to the southern Caribbean in February and a “bucket list” through the Panama Canal cruise in April. After that, he will be in rehearsals for the Virginia Renaissance Faire, again. Karl Betz chimed in, saying that he usually does not feel like he has much to share for our class updates, but “this time is certainly different.” Directly from Karl: “This September saw me admitted to the hospital for a surprise bypass (open heart surgery). It was not something we were expecting or were prepared for. The outpouring of love and support from our class was overwhelming and humbling. My wife and I both thank you all. I continue to heal and recover. As God saw fit to let me hang out with you all a while longer, guess we will see you at ski bash!” (Glad you are doing so well, Karl! And the way we support one another in the

Class of ’81 is simply what we do. Cheers!)

Dave Taylor provided an inspiring note. After retiring from ordained ministry in the Church of the Nazarene this past summer, Dave found himself back in the pulpit pastoring a Methodist church in Ferrum, Virginia. His “retirement” continues to be quite active, as he is coaching 20 senior leaders at the Veterans Administration and delivering monthly courses on change management, risk management, and data-driven decision-making to various federal clients. Marian and Dave still managed to sneak in three RV trips over the summer and are hoping for more in the spring!

Gene and Susan Loving’s son, Lucas, placed second in the 100-meter competition at the CYO Track Meet hosted by Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School in October with a time of 14.38 seconds, losing by just 0.02 seconds. In that same track meet, he also placed fifth overall in the 200-meter competition with a time of 30.5 seconds. These were outstanding achievements for Lucas, considering that he raced in a field of 41 young 7th-grade athletes. (Gene, if we can place Lucas under the professional coaching wing of BR Dave Washington, you may just have a future Olympian!)

Fox

Anne Fox, Bruce, Jo,

Ray Lawson shared that he took a direct hit from Hurricane Helene. Ray reported his region around Aiken, South Carolina, lost about 90% of its electrical and internet fiber infrastructure. Crews from 15 states worked around the clock and rebuilt the electrical infrastructure in about 15 days, with internet following soon thereafter—a Herculean task! Ray did not lose any big trees, but a number of small ones went down on his property. End result for Ray was that he will have a little more lawn to mow next summer. His daughter was in the path of Hurricane Milton a few days later. That storm went right through her town, but somehow, she never lost power or internet or had any property damage. (Great to hear that you and yours were spared, Ray! We had quite a few BRs in the path of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and were blessed with no losses, injuries, or major property damage. Thankful that all in our class avoided tragedy.)

We also heard from BR Jorg Ronke. Last year, Jorg and Meg decided to sell their home in Brevard, North Carolina, in order to move closer to their granddaughter in Cary, North Carolina. Because of local word of mouth about their eventual plans, in January 2024, they received an offer on their home well before they contacted a realtor!

Class of 1981: At Reg Ridgely’s retirement celebration in Kilmarnock, Virginia, are (from left) Tom Albro, Bill Stamm, Rob “Cos” Costello, Jim Hart, Reg, Gary Morgan, and John Ferry.

Class of 1981: At the wedding of Ashley Gitchell, daughter of Bruce and Jo Gitchell, and Andres Carro at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2024 are (front row, from left) Ken “Catman” Morris, Karen Morris, Cubby

’83,

Heather (friend), MacKay Spears, (back row) Melissa Bogart, Adrian “Bogey” Bogart, Stuart Gitchell ’78, and Margaret Ann (Stuart Gitchell’s fiancée).

This set in motion a more immediate effort to find another home closer to Cary. The end result was their moving in late April. They left behind many friends and relatives in the Asheville area. Little did they know what would be forthcoming. After Hurricane Helene, they have since traveled back to the area with a large load of new clothing for a skilled nursing facility that had no means of washing clothes while serving the community. Jorg further shared that in early September, he and Meg spent 3 weeks on a driving tour to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, with additional stops to other national and state parks along the way. Their future travel plans include a trip to Germany, Greece, and Iceland in early 2025.

Ed Boylan shared some kind words and a personal update. He shared that he and Linda are moving forward with their plans to sell their home in Prosper, Texas, and relocate to Calabash, North Carolina. They are looking forward to building their retirement home and getting back to “East Coast living.” Their home in Prosper, Texas, went “live” on the market in early November, and we hope that by the time everyone is reading this Review, they will have closed on the sale! Ed and Linda also had the pleasure of having dinner with Tom and Sandy Savage in October. Tom and Sandy visit Dallas frequently as they have two grandchildren not far from where Ed lives and they try to get together whenever they can. Ed shared that Tom and Sandy look great and are obviously enjoying their retirement.

Geoff and Cheri Hinshelwood shared that they were very fortunate to have their daughter, Abbi, with them over the last year prior to her starting a new career in the U.S. Navy. Abbi graduated from Navy Boot Camp at the Naval Station Great Lakes in November and is waiting on final orders. She is hopeful to enter the electronics technician (nuclear) training pipeline, but the “needs of the Navy” will dictate. Abbi did receive great recognition for her leadership skills during her initial training, which is no surprise given that she is a Hinshelwood! Geoff, Cheri, and their son, Owen, could not be prouder! (Geoff and Cheri, we look forward to hearing of Abbi’s assignments and future adventures! Very proud for you!)

Brian Quisenberry was able to spend time with Jeff White on his property in Hale County, Alabama, in early 2024 to help prepare food plots for planting ahead of deer season this past fall/winter. In true BR spirit, Brian and Jeff enjoy time together in the great outdoors, and they hope the planting pays off when hunting season starts! (Need some updates on your hunting prowess, my brothers!)

In October, we had an outstanding show of BRs

Class notes

and wives at the VMI versus The Citadel game and tailgate. Huge credit and thanks go to the BRs involved in the coordination and communications. I received several great pictures of the gathering from multiple BRs and wives, but unfortunately, I could only select one for this update; more will be shared via Facebook. The BRs in the tailgate picture accompanying this update are (from left) Billy Stamm, Sammy Woolwine, John Reed, Kurt Owermohle, Hank Lee, Clarkson Meredith, Louis Darden, Larry Butler, Vince Wood, Mark Brumenschenkel, Dave Saunders, Tim Nitz, Bruce Kitchen, Jeff Gill, Bob Chapman ’84 (Larry’s dyke), and Dave Openshaw. At the game and/or at the tailgate but not in the picture were Bob Cody, Rob Costello, John Ferry, John Locher, Mark Vasco, and Greg White. Again, this was a tremendous gathering of BRs and family. (We need many more of these mini reunions before our 45th Reunion in 2026!)

Some additional “quick hitters” from conversations, texts, or Facebook grabs:

Many of our BRs are continuing their visits in support of BR Ed Oast at the Lake Taylor Transitional Hospital in Norfolk. Of note are the routine visits by Larry Butler, Rob “Cos” Costello, Jeff Davies, Jeff Hinshelwood, and Wirt Shinault Since August, also BRs Rich Nehls (from Naples, Italy!), Paul Brier, Ken Morris, and Vince Wood (the latter three from Richmond) have also been in the Norfolk area and able to visit Ed to share the BR love! (Kudos, my brothers! These visits provide a tremendous boost to Ed’s morale. Though he remains nonverbal, one can see the joy in his eyes and his laughter.)

Several BRs have stopped by Shannon’s coffee shop here in Powhatan. Bruce Gitchell, Mat Merriman, Ken “Catman” Morris, and Wirt Shinault have all stopped by on a number of occasions when traveling across Virginia. Rob and Jen Costello stop by whenever the wind fills their sails given that they are enjoying the retired life! We are doubly blessed when joined by Jen’s brother, Jon, and brother-in-law, Bruce. Of course, they all come with the intention of seeing Shannon, but I join in for coffee occasionally.

John and Colleen Ditillo also survived Hurricane Helene in the hard-hit areas of Brevard and Asheville. Thankfully, they escaped all harm, as did their home!

Mike Placzek shared that he has decided to fully retire effective Dec. 31. Per Mike, “Looking forward to figuring out a hobby.”

Reg Ridgely celebrated his retirement with a gathering of notable BRs for a weekend in Kilmarnock, Virginia. In attendance for the joyful celebration were Tom Albro, Rob Costello, Jim Hart,

John Ferry, Gary Morgan, and Billy Stamm I touched base with Glynis Savage just after her recent birthday. She is doing well and is always a joy!

Adrian “Bogey” Bogart and the beautiful Melissa Elias were married in early October. In attendance as witnesses to the ceremony were Bruce Gitchell, John Williams, and their brides.

In August, Bruce and Jo Gitchell’s daughter, Ashley, celebrated her wedding to Andres Carro in Charlottesville, Virginia. The wedding reception was held at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville. VMI alumni and friends of note in attendance were BRs Adrian “Bogey” and Melissa Bogart; Ken “Catman” and Karen Morris; Mackay Spears and friend, Heather; Stuart Gitchell ’78 and fiancée, Margaret Anne; and Cubby and Ann Fox ’83

Not to be outdone by the aforementioned weddings, Shannon and I also tied the knot in September! It was a small beach wedding (Shannon does not like being in the limelight) at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort with just a few family and a handful of BRs. If we could, we would have invited the entire class, but I was on a budget, and I know how much damage you guys can put on an open bar and buffet! The BRs and wives in the accompanying wedding picture are (from left) Ann and Jeff Davies, Colleen and John Ditillo, Karen and Ken Morris, Jennifer and Rob “Cos” Costello, Jim Hart, Shannon and Jerry Manley, Roberta and Rob Digby, Johann and Maureen Cooper, and Katherine and Michael Denton

There was not a lot of direct input for this submission of the Review, my brothers, but I know everyone has been busy from August through November—many enjoying retirement and traveling the globe while others are already preparing for the holidays or chasing grandchildren. I pray we will see many of you through the holidays, and I hope to get more direct inputs from many more come January 2025!

Until then, my brothers and friends, stay well, stay happy, and stay in touch!

In the Bonds of VMI, Jerry

Will Council

Welcome to the fall notes from around the class. 1982

Hello, BRs!

It has been a busy past few months, with many of you returning to Lexington to tailgate and hang out on porches, jawboning and drinking adult beverages. We are fortunate that a few of you were thoughtful enough to share the experience through pictures and notes.

Dan Clymore has been great about getting notes in recently. He continues the trend with a trip out West to visit family and friends. They had a great visit with Del and Carol Ertzner in Phoenix and at the TacoFest. As you can see with the sign in the background, they were sampling the fine beers and margaritas that were all the rage. Quite a wellattended event and such a beautiful day with temps in the low 70s. When they started their trip in Phoenix, it was over 95, by late in the week highs in the 70s, and they were walking around in snow at the Grand Canyon that Saturday.

Class Notes

They made the trip for their daughter’s graduation walk from Grand Canyon University, and she did not tell anyone she was a cum laude graduate, which was a nice surprise. She is a behavior therapist in the Clay County, Kansas, school system, and there will be a wedding in September 2025, so they are busy planning and getting organized. The happy couple met them in Phoenix for a few days; they flew out Sunday morning, and then it was BR time spent with Del and Carol.

In other news, Dan played golf in early October (the annual Hillard Open) with Todd Minnix, Eric Odderstol, and Dickie Moore. Another awesome day for weather, golf, and hanging out with BRs. Todd and Dan have played in this for many years, along with Scott Crumpler and Nick Roper, but both of them could not make it, so they had to find “replacement players.” Aren’t those called scabs, Dan?

Went to a baseball game with Scott Crumpler, Brad Walker, and Eric Odderstol in late summer, and it was VMI Night at the Nationals stadium. Had great seats, and catching up with those guys was great. They only paid attention to about 10% of the game due to the conversations. Eric is a senior engineer with NAVFAC, and Brad has his own government consulting/contracting firm with HQ in Bethesda, and both are doing great. Scott and Dan are both still in the same business, and Scott’s son, Robert ’14, works with Dan at Shirley Contracting Co., as well. Robert will be managing a major project on I-81, so if you travel the SB I-81 lanes around Strasburg, Virginia, (Just south of I-66), you can blame Robert for any traffic delays!

Charlene Horne has been teasing me for the past

several months with the news that her son, Jay, was getting married in August to Miss Keanna Salmon, and that she would send pictures of this wonderful event. It took some reminding, but we finally get to see the results, and I must say it was worth the wait. If you all recall, we lost Darryl 10 years ago this November. Darryl was a fellow Charlie Co. BR on the track team. Small but very fast. Looking at how big Jay is, he would have been in the taller companies! I was hoping to see some BRs in attendance, but I understand that Darren McDew was unable to attend because of last-minute family issues. One more plug for Charlene’s charitable program (from me, not Charlene), Manns Horne Youth Foundation. Look them up and give if you can.

George Mayforth made his annual pilgrimage to the Institute for Family Weekend and managed to draw in several other BRs. He stayed at the Abigail Inn with Jeff Judkins and Jack Wainwright Dave Shutt came to visit Friday night and enjoy bourbon on the veranda! You may recall that George was taking lessons on how to work the tailgating parties. Would that be called surfing? Anyway, George had earned a Parade Ground parking pass, which he gave to Jack to set up for the pre-parade/game tailgating at 5 a.m. to ensure front-row parking! He did a fine job! Well, look who showed up. Our guests included Scott Woodell, Scott Crumpler, Mitch Heishman, Emmett Heltzel, Joey Keyes, and Doug Wainwright ’83 Cadet Taylor Hill ’26 even popped by for some grub and refreshments! Joey Keyes hosted a postgame soiree at his beautiful mountainside home! Those able to attend and in the photos (I promise) are Joey Keyes, Mitch Heishman, Scott Crumpler, Keith Jarvis, Larry Williams, Stu Byrd, Bill Jennings, Emmett Heltzel, Jeff Judkins, Chuck Kause, Guy Marangoni, George Mayforth, Eric Odderstol, Rich Reisch, Charlie Sanger, Jeb Snider, Jack Wainwright, Brad Walker, Stu Warren, and Scott Wooddell. That is a heck of a turnout! Lots of wives, too, but I am not getting names submitted, so don’t blame me if your wife wants to know where you were that weekend! I must confess that George submitted over a dozen photos from Family Weekend. As usual, he was all over Lexington being a perfect social butterfly. Hosting gatherings at his hotel room, tailgating on the Parade Ground, and the after-party gathering at Keyes’. George, I am sorry! I am limited to just five photos per session of notes. So, I am going to post the rest of them over the next session of notes

Class of 1982: George Mayforth, Joey Keyes, Mitch Heishman, Jeff Judkins, Scott Crumpler, Scott Wooddell, and Jack Wainwright tailgate on the Parade Ground in fall 2024.

Class of 1982: The Clymores and the Ertzners attend Taco Fest in Phoenix, Arizona.

Class of 1982: Scott Crumpler, Keith Jarvis, Emmett Heltzel, and Joey Keyes.

and on the Facebook page for everyone to see!

Breaking the seal on the Chattanooga whiskey gift. I gifted the bottle for tailgating and BR gatherings this past summer. Left it in Keith Jarvis’ backyard while he was away and almost lost it to a four-legged varmint. It lasted from Sept. 7 until Nov. 9. It only took them 3 months to kill it—the bottle, not the varmint. It started at an AirBnB with the Heltzel/Crumpler/Hickey and Jarvis gathering. I am glad they enjoyed it. Did you notice the Nationals Jersey on Scott Crumpler ... I am jealous! I mentioned it was from the Nationals versus

Class notes

Yankees baseball game in the last notes. Nobody bothered to invite me or get me a jersey! Scott finally got a picture of the jersey separately, but I, for once, had too many photos to share in the notes. Thanks go to Christine for the picture.

My class notes for my family: We are still hanging around here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am still working for the Boy Scouts but am looking for the door to exit and start that retirement life. Susan and I took a vacation trip to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in October to do some bird watching, and it was awesome. It was with the Road Scholar touring program, which is tailored to us older folks. OK, so it was not four-star rated, but we really liked it. I have been overly busy with weekend work for Scouts but still get to be silly with the younger kids. I was leading the archery skills dressed as Jack Skellington for our Cub Scout haunted holiday camporees. Kids loved it, and so did the adults. Looking for a space suit for the spring event. Anyone got a spare?

Hope everyone has a great holiday season, and I look forward to sharing more news with you all the new year.

Sincerely, Will Council

1983

Jamie MacDonald

Brother Rats,

As I write our quarterly missive, I am enjoying the fall season in Northern Virginia, fully aware that when you read this update, we will be knee deep, or deeper, in winter. I really hope you enjoyed the fall!

As many of you are aware, Brother Rat Duane E. Ray passed away suddenly Oct. 31, and it was my sad duty to share that news with you in a class agent communication. Duane leaves behind his best friend, Ms. Tara Iarossi; his mother, Betty; his sister, Cindy; and his sons, Zachary James Ray and Austin Paul Ray. In my update, I remembered Duane as a good friend and a die-hard Keydet to his core. Marty Curry, Hugh Daughtry, Mike Devens, John Geis, Ivan Marcotte, Mark Waters, Spence Westbrook, and I shared some fun recollections of our multiple adventures with Duane. Those exchanges, along with the thoughts and memories shared by so many of you, including retired U.S. Army Col. Bob James, via email and texts, composed a wonderful tribute to

the memory of our absent BR. I must also reflect on those whose lives were turned upside down by Hurricane Helene. As with the 2023 Hawaii wildfires, we had BRs and family members impacted by this calamity. It is my sincere hope that those affected are well and recovering.

Now, I have a lot of good news to share with you, as well. We have news of mini reunions, marriages, and a baby on the way—and it’s not a grandchild.

Cal Murray, operations lead for the VMI football game tailgate and gathering-related warning orders and operations orders, shared what he described as some very personal and proud notes. Cal and Jeanne’ s daughter, Anne-Claire, or A.C. as she is known, was married Sept. 21 at Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Cal reports: “What is different about this wedding is the official of the service. You see, my daughter asked her uncle to preside over the ceremony. Well … her uncle is Malachi Mills, and he was fantastic.” Cal wrote, “My brother rat, brother-in-law, and brother from another mother was the first to announce the marriage of Anne Claire Murray to Matt Harmon as Mr. and Mrs. Matt Harmon.” This was truly a special occasion and ceremony with deep VMI connections. In attendance were Carter Murray ’09, Cameron Murray ’12, Malachi Mills ’23. Cal was quick to point out that the mother of the bride was his Ring Figure date.

Will Creekmur surfaced his greeting from the West Coast and with a flash news bulletin. On July 12, Will and Mai Trinh were married. Attending the simple Bahá’í ceremony were some

Class of 1982: Jay Horne, son of Charlene Horne and the late Darryl Horne, married Keanna Salmon Aug. 25, 2024.

Class of 1982: Jeb Snider, Mark Shifflette, Scott Crumpler, Keith Jarvis, Emmett Heltzel, and Jim Hickey.

Class of 1983: Malachi Mills presides over the wedding of his niece, AnneClaire Murray, daughter of Cal Murray, to Matt Harmon.

good friends. There was great food, a magical location in Solana Beach, California, and lovely views of the Pacific. Rick Hall ’79 was present. But wait, there’s more … Will and I spoke shortly before Veterans Day. While catching up, he mentioned that he’s been in touch with Mark Henderson, Dave Matawitz, and Al Perdigao. Looking ahead, he hopes to catch up with Merlo Pile when he visited the Golden State. Will restated his open invitation to BRs to visit and as we concluded our conversation, he then informed me that he and Mai Trinh are expecting a baby girl in the spring. Congratulations to the newlyweds.

As a former class agent empathic to my cause, Skip Goodwillie provided a comprehensive update. He reports that he; his wife, Staci; their son, James Goodwillie ’12; James’ wife, Taylor; and their son, James (Gunn Goodwillie VI); and daughter, Ella, all went to the Military Classic of the South at VMI. The early fall day was perfect, except for the outcome of the football game, of course, as they tailgated with their son’s BRs and friends, and their site was right next to the tailgate of John Farry ’81. Skip says they (’81) are nicer now. When Skip brought up the fact that their class removed our 3rd Class privileges, one of them (he didn’t catch who) replied, “We lobbied for putting your class back in high school, but we got shot down.” Skip didn’t get the memo that Cal Murray had changed his tailgate location from the Parade Ground to the upper deck behind the football field! Anyway, Steve Amato and Mark Sykes told Skip at the end of the first quarter when, surprise, the grandkids wanted something to eat! Skip never made it over to the class tailgate but saw Wade and Elizabeth Branner, Lynn and Cele Seldon, John Geis, Doug Wainwright, and Spence Westbrook before the game. So, as a brief update on the goingson of the Goodwillie clan, Skip retired in October of this year after 18-and-a-half years of IT sales, business development, and sales

Class Notes

management for e+/ePLUS. He started with a private company called Dataline, which changed its name to PLANIT Technology Group and then to SLAIT Consulting before selling to ePLUS, a publicly traded, international IT integrator/consulting firm. Skip said it was a great ride, but after his financial adviser told him three times over 12 months that Staci and he can retire, he pulled the trigger. Skip and Staci are continuing to pray that God will put their hearts on the path he wants them to take in this next chapter of their lives, but for now, they will continue to improve both their golf games and shuttle between Richmond and Smith Mountain Lake, where they found their happy place at Mariners Landing. As for retirement, Skip said this one was the second since he retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 2013. In 2021, he officially joined the “check of the month club.” According to Skip, “This retirement was the big one, and thank goodness COVID-19’s work-from-home test was passed; Staci can tolerate me being at home more and in the way more. I say jump into retirement since the only downside to it is that you don’t get a day off. Other than that, come on in, the water’s fine!” Their son, James ’12, is chest-deep in triathlons, kids’ year-round swimming, baseball, husband duties, and the like. Their daughter, Ashton, and her husband, Craig, had their second recently. While her first, Caleb, came out a week early at 10 pounds, 11 ounces (ouch), Oliver was taken 3 weeks early at 9 pounds, 8 ounces. Skip has already fielded calls from the Eagles head coach, Siriani, about getting on his radar for the offensive line. We’ll see. For Skip’s family, that’s four grandkids if you’re scoring this at home. So, since retirement, Skip is officially a “rapid responder” for all golf outings if anyone needs a fourth! And, if anyone wants to play Mariners Landing or Richmond Country Club, give him a call, text, or email, and he’ll lock in a tee time! Many thanks for the great update, Skip.

Class of 1983: Pictured at a tailgate before the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024 are (from left) Lynn Seldon, Cal Murray, Mark Sykes, Tom Radle, and Steve Amato.

Class of 1983: On a waterfowl hunting trip in North Dakota are (from left) Breck Gorman, Wilson Enochs ’84, Scott Horan, Jim Henry, Chip Buehler ’82, and Bill Cornett.

Class of 1983: Will and Mai Creekmur (at right, with leis) with friends at their wedding, including Rick Hall ’79.

And another former class agent came to my aid with his own message to our class. Last October, Hugh Daughtry came across an Alumni Association link posted on FB announcing a website they were hosting with pictures from post. Hugh reported that he naturally started poking around the pictures and found the photos from our reunion last year. For those interested, visit vmialumniphotos. org/2023-First-Spring-Reunion. Hugh did cite one image of Teddy Gottwald nimbly scaling the sentinel box. Our class leaders politely declined the offered convenience of steps and instead trusted their BRs to help them summit the sentinel box. An enduring and powerful image of teamwork.

Steve Hodak reports that, at the end of September, he completed 35 years of employment at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia. He will retire Dec. 28. When he sent his update, Steve had 30 more working days left and approximately 950,000 work seconds. He and Crystal celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary in August and spent 10 beautiful days up at Massanutten. Steve said, “We really did need it!” Steve’s new hobby is putting together 1000-piece puzzles. He has a brand recommendation if you’re interested. Steve’s son, Nathan, is working full-time for a defense contractor as a finance dude.

Scott and Pam Horan journeyed on an African adventure, cataloging the phases of their journey on social media. Scott recently completed a waterfowl hunting trip to North Dakota. The trip certainly qualified as a mini reunion with Breck Gorman, Bill Cornett, and Jim Henry joining Scott to represent ’83. Also attending the trip were Chip Buehler ’82 and Wilson Enochs ’84

A bunch of BRs journeyed back to Lexington for the VMI versus The Citadel game. Based on feedback from several BRs, this was quite an opportunity for ’83 to reconnect. John Geis and Spence Westbrook made it to Lexington. Among BRs already reported present by Skip, John added Dave Warner. John noted there was word more BRs were there. John shared a funny note about Spence interviewing several randomly selected rats and confirming that Band Company still appears to be the most hated company on the “hill,” ... probably for their continued winning of Garnet Andrews.

In his own update, Steve Amato shared his news from Savannah, Georgia, where he and Mary were on vacation with Mary’s cousin and friend. Steve and Mark Sykes returned to Lexington for the VMI versus The Citadel game. Steve also confirmed a small contingent of BRs present at the game. In addition to

Class notes

those already named, Andy Woolwine was there, as well. He added that Cal Murray set up a tailgate on the practice football field because there were no available spaces on the Parade Ground. Steve said it was a beautiful day for a football game, the weather was perfect, and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 880 scheduled a flyover, which consisted of an AC130J Ghostrider gunship. The flyover was spectacular, and on board the Ghostrider, there were a few alumni who were aircrew members and several AFROTC Detachment 880 cadets. VMI didn’t retain the Silver Shako this year, as we lost 10-13; however, the Keydets gave it their all. A group of about 20 Class of 1986 tailgated next to Cal. It was great to see many of our “rats,” especially after 40plus years. Steve concluded with, “Mark and I had a great road trip day as we chatted nonstop to and back from VMI, reminiscing about our cadetship, careers, family, and retirement living.”

Mark Waters reminded me that Marty Curry should have a lengthy summary of his recent European travels. Through texts with his roommates, Marty shared his many visits to prominent historical sites in Europe, including some local watering holes and, of course, his engagements with the locals. There is a rumor he serenaded the public with an enthusiastic rendition of the “VMI Spirit.” While an astute and charming traveler, I do wonder how Marty might have affected our standing among our allies. I can only hope it was tremendously positive.

Ivan Marcotte provided an update. He and Donna survived Hurricane Helene and spent the summer in Montana, adapting well to retirement. Ivan reported their daughter got married in August. She married a Davidson grad. Ivan added, “I must say that, at the reception, his classmates made wet beaver look tame! I did manage to gator and get up from the floor without assistance.” Ivan credits his kettlebell routine for his dance floor performance.

In addition to it bolstering his flexibility and balance, it helps with getting up from the floor. Ivan is still fit to fight and gator with the best of them. He also reported that prior to the wedding, they went through some major renovations at his home. The good news is all renovations were complete with 2 weeks to spare before the wedding. When at ease, Ivan and Donna spend their limited free time hiking and fishing.

Among the accomplished authors in our class is Mark Benvenuto. Mark’s editor is working to publish second editions of his many works. Mark suggests this really means she can sell them better than he can write them. She also had him working on the 11th volume of a “Green Chemistry” series, for which she made him the series editor some years back. Mark claims he’s never had three finished works arrive within about a week. Mark said this is neat and humbling at the same time. Mark, I’m no publisher, but I surmise the demand for a second edition says a great deal about the value of your knowledge and skill. Well done! Otherwise, Mark reports, “the Benvenuto clan is chuggin’ along.”

Dan Martin sent a brief update. He and Joseph “Campi” Campisano met in St. Augustine, Florida, last August. Campi manages the environmental, safety, health, and medical program for Northrop Grumman’s St. Augustine plant, which is one of Dan’s company’s corporate customers in Florida. Dan wrote that it was good to see Campi, as they had not seen each other in 41 years!

Mark Coan checked in, too. He’s busy on the road and flying but keeping a watch on our class updates. During layovers, Mark connects with Glenn Harmon. I let Mark know how much I appreciated his reaching out to me as he was on my “We haven’t heard from ...” or “Whatever happened to ...” list of BRs. I am happy he’s in touch with Glenn, as he’s on my list, too. Mark says he’s retiring in about 19 months (as of this writing), so he hopes to finally make a football game and his second reunion. Mark, I believe our next reunion is a football weekend, so you’ll get both when you return to post. We look forward to seeing you again whenever you return.

John Dodge continues to support charitable causes. In August, John skippered the mighty Kobayashi Maru in a race for the CRAB Cup, the second stage of the Triple Crown. CRAB, Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating - Therapeutic Sailing, has been an incredible resource for veterans, people with physical, as well as those with neurological disabilities. John has had the opportunity to

Class of 1983: Tailgating before the VMI versus The Citadel game in October 2024 are (from left) John Geis, Spence Westbrook, and Doug Wainwright.

witness firsthand the game-changing effects this organization can have on one’s self-esteem, confidence, and purpose when all seems lost. With state-of-the-art sailboats designed to accommodate disabled folks, the healing process is amazing. Thank you, John, for your continued support to causes that improve people’s lives.

Last October, I was on post and briefly caught up with Scott Belliveau. It is always great to see Scott. While on post, I was able to meet with some Army ROTC cadets to discuss the current global outlook and outline opportunities in commissioning into the Army Military Intelligence Corps. No matter what branch these cadets commission, our Army will be in good hands. I remain grateful to the Army ROTC leadership for their continued support to my engagements and especially to Capt. Mo Dawson, who pulls everything together for us. In the Pentagon, I continue to see Matt Waring and Whit Owens. Whit still gets us together for a mini reunion whenever time permits. We need to sync one of these meetings with J.J. Costello’s travels to the five-pointed foxhole.

I am seeking ways to reach out to all our BRs. I acknowledge and respect the choice of any BR who wishes not to be engaged. There are BRs out there we’ve heard little or nothing at all from since graduation. If you think of one of those latter BRs, please reach out to them to say hello and ask them how they’re doing. Social media-wise, our class Facebook page is a great forum to keep in touch and stay abreast of BR activities. We are a busy group of BRs, and it’s great when we remain in contact with one another.

Again, my sincere best wishes to you and your loved ones. I hope you enjoy your winter months and know when you read this update, spring won’t be too far away. Stay well and stay connected.

Jamie

Greetings, Brother Rats, Family, and Friends of the Class of 1984!

I hope these notes find each of you doing well. Although I do not have an official confirmation by the class notes deadline, it appears that the Class of 1984 was heard from loud and clear during VMI’s Day of Giving. As I write the notes, our class was well ahead in the number and amount of donations. Of course, we could

Class Notes

not have done this without you and the great Greg Cavallaro, who has his own unique way of rallying the troops! It was great to hear from so many brother rats over the last few months and your class notes contributions.

As you know, Issue 4 of the Alumni Review was my maiden trip as class agent. And there was bound to be a mishap. Good to get it out of the way early. The entry for Tom Carboni was incorrect—it stated that the event was his daughter’s wedding when it was, in fact, her high school graduation! Sorry about that, Tom! Phil Shied, Dan Gettings, and Tom Anthony were on hand to celebrate the graduation.

As many of you know, Gen. William Dyer retired from the U.S. Army Oct. 20. I believe he is the last one in our class on active duty. Jeff Roach shared information on our class FB page, so I hope you were able to participate, at least virtually. Bill Dyer served our nation in uniform for over three decades at the highest echelons in the corps reserve component, including the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command.

I heard from Shawn Flores several times over in the summer/fall. Thank you for taking time out from your responsibilities as a busy lawman and grandfather in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Shawn shared a picture of the fourth and latest grandchild, Noah-Edward. The picture was taken at his daughter’s house. Shawn noted that his wife is a PRN nurse now, which means she works when she wants, so when Hannah pulls her night shift at the hospital, Rebecca goes over to take care of the baby overnight. Shawn also reached out and noted that he took a “spill” at the end of a shift a few weeks ago and

did some damage to his ring. Shawn also noted that he celebrated the Marine Corps, VMI, and two of his deputy’s birthdays on the same day. Shawn works with Jason Smith ’96, who could not join owing to the excuse of being on a well-deserved vacation. Jason also won the election as district attorney for New Hanover and Pender County. Let me know if I can help with the ring replacement—and don’t forget to submit the provisional appointment for Noah-Edward.

Jeff Duncan reached out in November. Jeff noted he and Nancy really enjoyed seeing everyone at the 40th Reunion. Jeff said there isn’t too much to tell other than he is still retired (being a drain on the system); Nancy is now in her last 2 years of working before she can retire. Jeff spent most of the summer helping their son and

1984

Sam Browne

Class of 1984: Shawn Flores with his new grandson, Noah-Edward.

Class of 1984: Pictured before the VMI versus Mercer football game in November 2024 are (from left) Jamie Shoemaker, Barry Coceano, Tom Anthony, Greg Cavallaro, Phil Schied, Bob Doyle, Bill Seaver, and Mike Hicks.

daughter-in-law with a move to Decatur, Georgia, and visiting their daughter and son-in-law in Utah (they have the three grandsons). He did escape a couple of times (Nancy left the door unlocked) and made several motorcycle trips across the country. One trip was from Savannah, Georgia, to Vancouver, Washington (and back). The second trip was from Savannah to North Hampton, New Hampshire, and then on to San Diego, California, and (of course) back to Savannah. Jeff had to dodge hurricanes during both trips on the way back home. Outside of that, he is just making some feeble attempts to lessen the “honey do” list, play the piano, and make pottery. Sounds like you’re having an exciting retirement.

I heard from Frank Kollmansperger, who I just missed at The Citadel game (I was in the stadium for a minute but spent most of my time tailgating on the Parade Ground). Frank attended the Furman game and noted that it was pretty but a great win. In August, the “guns of 101,” Mark Morgan, Jamie Shoemaker, Alex Thompson, Frank, and Mark’s two sons, my son, and two other fine young men, went hunting in North Dakota. They’ve made this trip a few times, and Frank believes that the ducks, geese, and pheasants like hearing they are on the way. After many shots fired, lots of laughs, good stories, and claims of “I got that one” and “How could you miss those?”, the hunting party made it home safely, and many ducks and pheasants lived to see another day. Frank noted he saw a bunch of BRs are The Citadel game: Mo, Bill Seaver, Steve Hupp, Bob Chapman, Mark Morgan, Tom Anthony, Sam Lowman, Jeff Perkins, and others. Frank thought he heard Selman’s voice, but it was just a brief nightmare. But understood that Selman had something to do with the VMI victory over Furman Nov. 4. Frank noted that he enjoys dinner with several fellows every few months here in Richmond. Steve Hupp, Mike Melton, Steve Barsamian, Mark Morgan, Steve Reardon, Wilson Enochs, and Hal Hamner typically make an appearance and even offer to pay for their meal. Count me in next time.

I was in Lexington for the Family

Class notes

Weekend/Promaji annual tailgate. As luck would have it, the ’84 tent was adjacent to Promaji’s. In attendance were Bill Piper, Bob Doyle, Mo Khandan-Barani, Tom Gillespie, Yun Heo, Gary Maynard (special thanks to Gary and Susan for the awesome oysters), Mark Sossi, T.J. Palmer, and R.G. McManus. We were able to enjoy some great food and drink and take in the parade (the Corps looked great, by the way).

Although Tom Hesson did not provide a formal class notes submission, he and I had a brief exchange around the time of his birthday in October, so this counts. I’m glad you received the birthday card and did some pushups for the class and our dykes!

I heard from Warren Winning in October. Anthony “Gus” Agostinelli, Bruce Hauck, and spouses were able to meet up in Myrtle Beach. Warren noted they had a wonderful time together with their spouses, reminiscing about the fun times at VMI.

I received the following update from Jerome Brinkley: “It was great to see you at the 40th Reunion last spring. I enjoyed telling her the story of how you introduced me to new music while we were cadets. It’s been a while since I’ve put something in the Review. For those who missed the reunion, it was a great time and worth every penny for the trip involved. One of my favorite stories was from Chuck Foster, who told me about the time he raced against my father at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, and they were shoving each other using their elbows in a 5K race. During the reunion weekend, I got a chance to run downtown, through the campus, and the Chessie Trail two of the mornings. The new Corps Physical Training Facility and the Aquatic Center are incredible facilities!

“My wife, Stephanie, and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary Nov. 7. We spent a week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, to relax and get away from work. Earlier this year, she was invited to speak to the Paris Bar Association in France. All seats were full, and she did a fabulous job in the building next to the French Supreme Court (Cour de cassation). She discussed the differences in fertility and surrogacy law between the U.S. and France. We went for 2 weeks

Class of 1984: On the Parade Ground before the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024 are (from left) Bill Piper, Tom Gillespie, Moe Khandan-Barani, T.J. Palmer, Yun Heo, Gary Maynard, R.G. McManus, Sam Browne, and Mark Sossi.

Class of 1984: Bruce Hauck, Warren Winning, and Gus Agostinelli with their wives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Class of 1984: Attending the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024 are (from left) Tom Anthony, Keith Buckley, Bob Doyle, Mark Morgan, Frank Kollmansperger, and Ken Gill.

and spent half our time in Paris and the other half in La Rochelle to see my relatives. I brought back some very good brandy, pineau, and cognac!

“My wife and I work together at Brinkley Law Firm, LLC, in Charleston, South Carolina. We are expanding into Greenville, South Carolina. We focus on domestic and international fertility/surrogacy law cases, as well as domestic family law. It is great to be able to help families grow, brinkleylawfirmllc.com. As director of operations, I tell everyone I’m the oil that keeps the machine flowing, and the attorneys are the pistons that get us to where we need to be. The firm was my wife’s idea, and she is a great lawyer, wife, and mother.

“I still run competitively, and my brother, Anthony ’92, ran the 10K Cooper River Bridge Run with me. He beat me by 5 minutes—he is 7 years younger than me. I was awarded third place for my age group, and he won second for his group out of 35,000 runners. I’m seriously thinking of taking up swimming again, as that is the best sport for our aging bones!

“Last but not least. I have lunch with Professor Kyle Sinisi once every few months. He did something wonderful for the cadets and alumni at The Citadel last year. He traveled with a large group of The Citadel cadets to Europe to locate the sites of fallen The Citadel grads in World War II battles. Then, each cadet gave a presentation at the gravesite for an assigned alumnus. He is awesome. I run across Mike Efremov at local alumni events for an occasional beer. He’s doing fine, as you saw at the reunion. One of the latest additions to the Coastal South Carolina Chapter is John Karafa! We are working on getting together soon. The next VMI versus The Citadel game will be in Charleston, so I hope to see many of you there. In the Spirit, JB.” Thank you for the kind words, Jerome, the El Cid game is already on my list, and I hope it is a check formation for ’84.

Tom Gillespie shared with me some sad news. Steven Breuning passed away in 2004 at age 41 in Tujunga, California, after a long illness. Steve was formerly of Decorah, Iowa, and I shared many an evening discussing all manner of things with Steve. I remember one year when Steve and Drew King spent a summer in Lexington. Please see the Taps section for the full obituary.

Stay warm and stay safe in your winter frolics— as a great poet once said, barnacle bones don’t bend. And I could not end these notes without calling out to long lost brother rat: Goodnight, Thor Haglund, wherever you may be.

In the Spirit, Sam Browne

Class Notes

1985

Bill Wieners

’85:

Time for notes! Firstly, make sure you remember to keep the date for our reunion: April 26, 2025, with early arrival that Thursday. Joe Irby is finalizing plans now for the VMI Alumni Agencies to publish so everyone has an idea of the costs and agenda. Please encourage everyone to attend. Shoutout to Mike Adkins!

I recently returned to Lexington for an extended stay to warehouse my TV and couch after selling off the last of my properties in Providence, Rhode Island, in September. I was able to catch up with a bunch of folks this summer and fall here at VMI while enjoying several lunches with Joe Irby, Meade King, J.J. Wranek, Pat Donahue, John Powers, and John Neblett. The golf safari took place this past August with the usual float, golf, dining out, and late-night therapy sessions at Moody Hall. It looks like everyone who attended had fun, as usual. It was good to see everyone, as usual; they had a good turnout this year, and it was especially fun to spend time with John Keenan; Steve Palmer; P.W. Sarver; Marvin Smith; Jim Chartier; W.G. Rowlett; Steve Marsh; and especially Bob Ivy, who took me for a fun-filled ride in his new wheels and scoffed down some Kenney’s chicken with us at my house over the weekend. All the usual suspects were in for the weekend, and I was happy to get a visit from Matt and Cathy Daniel and their son, Johnny Daniel, and his fiancée when they swung by the river house for a visit while Borny and Knobby were

here. In attendance at the golf outing, I believe, were Bayer, Bornhorst, Campbell, Carroll, Chartier, Hagan, H. Hill, J. Hill, Hirlinger, Hirtz, Ivy, Jenkins, Keenan, Marsh, Martin, McCarthy, McGowen, McIntire, Neblett, Orrison, Palmer, Pollock, Renner, Rowlett, Sarver, Smith, Spivey, Stuart, Tingley, Vaughan, Warlitner, Welch, and R. Williams

There were several football games this fall, and I was able to tailgate with a bunch of us from both ’85 and ’86, as well as see many of our friends from ’84 and ’83 hanging out. It is always fun, especially if Borny is cooking! He crushed it on The Citadel weekend with 3 gallons of homemade New England clam chowder and pork sliders. Thanks, Borny, for always making it nuts! Yummy! And fun! Tailgating is the best, and the weather is beautiful. You should all come back more and enjoy! I will bring the food and set up behind the stadium; it really is relaxing, plus you never know who you are going to run into! I ran into Kevin Holland and look forward to him coming to town again soon so we can spend more time.

Terry and Annie Ormsby were in town for the Norfolk State football game, along with many of their friends, and Pat Donahue was in town visiting with me. We all got together at Terry and Annie’s weekend retreat and had a great time and visited with Gen. Wins during the game. Terry and Annie stayed close to the stadium and provided us and their other guests with a great spread, big smiles, and a full bar!

John Powers’ son, Ben, graduated from Nuclear Power School in October in Charleston, South Carolina, and John stopped into Lexington to pick me up so we could attend. Over 600 sailors graduated, and it was a great weekend. And I am always impressed around our young people. We hung out in Charleston for the weekend with Ben and took a ride through The Citadel—wow! That

Class of 1985: At the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024 are (front row, from left) Tom Greenspon, Shane Sullivan, Mark Carroll, Matt Daniel, John Neblett, (back row) Chuck McCarthy, William Tilling, Scotty Vaughn, Bill Wieners, Spencer Williamson, Mark Bornhorst, and Dan Murphy.

place is impressive! And large! I had not been there in over 20 years and was glad to see it thriving. We should take pride in all of the institutions that support our children, especially those providing pathways to military service. In addition, I am proud to share that John’s daughter, Kate, competed in her first Olympic trials at 19 years old in the hammer this year, as she is one of the top 10 female college throwers at the University of Kentucky, and though she didn’t make it this time, we are all excited for her achievements and future.

Kerry Kirk and Dave Tingley got together uptown for some libations when Kerry came into town for one of his many visits.

The Institute Society had its 50th anniversary in November, and it was well attended by more than 650 guests and alumni from all classes and walks of life. There was a great dinner, a guest speaker, the football game Saturday, the parades Friday and Saturday, and hundreds of cadets involved ... the energy, the giving, and the good were inspiring. It was an honor to be in the presence of so many caring and intelligent men and women. It was really a fun time, and the after party was well attended by ’85, to include Mr. and Mrs. Irby, Mr. and Mrs. Spellman, Mr. and Mrs. Greenspon, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Wranek, Rich Williams, Dr. Vic Barnette, and Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Williams. Rich, Joe, Cindy, Amy, and I caught up with John Pollock for pizza at Salerno’s Saturday night after the game, and it was great to see everyone—hard to believe it has been 40 years—doesn’t feel like it when we are together ... anywhere doing anything.

J.J. Wranek: “On Friday evening, Nov. 1, 2024, the George C. Marshall Foundation presented the Andrew J. Goodpaster Award to retired U.S. Army General James C. McConville, the 40th chief of staff of the Army, at a dinner at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. General McConville was recognized for his distinguished career and visionary

Class notes

of 1985:

leadership of more than 1.2 million men and women serving our nation at home and abroad. Through his service as chief of staff, General McConville ensured that our nation boasts the strongest army in the world today. The Goodpaster Award honors the life and service of Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster, a longtime trustee and chairman of the Marshall Foundation, a champion of the Marshall legacy, and, like General Marshall [’901], an American hero. In a remarkable coincidence, General McConville’s 4 years at West Point overlapped entirely with General Goodpaster’s term as superintendent. In addition to bestowing the award on General McConville, the event featured two tables that honored the memory of Chase Prasnicki and his service to the nation. Chase was a West Point grad, Class of 2010, and was killed only a few days into his deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. Chase’s father, David, and members of his family attended the event and were recognized for Chase’s service and sacrifice to the nation. This was the first time that the Goodpaster Award event was also used to honor a fallen service member. How appropriate that Chase Prasnicki was the inaugural honoree. ’85 was there in force to show their support with Terry Ormsby, Pete Mangerian, Kerry Kirk, Jim Begley, John Keppel, Owen McIntyre, J.J. Wranek, Matt Carter, Meade King, Tom Greenspon, Cedric Wins, and Shane Sullivan.”

Jim Begley: “Bill, I hope that this finds you well. Earlier this month, Tab Warlitner and I, along with our good friend and hunting buddy, Rocco, had an outdoorsman’s adventure in South Dakota. Rocco and I flew out of BWI to Rapid City, South Dakota, to link up with Tab, as he had driven his camper out there to hunt with his son the week before. On Monday, Oct. 7, we went fly fishing in the Black Hills in Rapid Creek. It was my first time fly fishing, so it was great to work with a guide. As you can see in the photos, we had a very fun-filled and successful day

Class

Pictured at the presentation of the George C. Marshall Foundation Andrew J. Goodpaster Award to retired U.S. Army Gen. James C. McConville, former U.S. Army chief of staff, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 1, 2024, are (front row, from left) Terry Ormsby; Pete Mangerian; Kerry Kirk; Jim Begley; John Keppel; Owen McIntyre; (back row) J.J. Wranek; Matt Carter; Meade King; Tom Greenspon; Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, superintendent; and Shane Sullivan.

Class of 1985: Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (front) Rich Williams, (back row, from left) Joe Irby, Jim Spellman, Tom Greenspon, Bill Wieners, Vic Bernet, J.J. Wranek, and Matt Hamilton.

Class of 1985: Tab Warlitner, Rocco (friend of Jim Begley), and Jim on a hunting trip in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

in the creek. Monday evening, we packed up the camper and headed east on I-90 to our next destination—the lodge for the prairie chicken hunt in the vicinity of Vivian, South Dakota. Tuesday was the first day of the 2-day hunt. The three of us agree that prairie chickens are the most difficult upland bird to hunt. In addition to their small size, they are very fast. They also like to hide in the milo (aka sorghum) that is quite difficult to walk through, especially for the distances necessary in wide-open South Dakota. Nevertheless, our guide, Joel, was exceptional, and we reached our limit on both days (photos attached). The adventure continued as we drove back home from South Dakota. The drive took 4 days, but it was enjoyable riding in the camper. On the third day, we talked to Joe Irby on the phone as he was heading to Wisconsin to hunt with Steve Marsh. We hope to get back that way next year for pheasant, duck, and/or geese. We’re not getting any younger, and we want to check these off the list while we can. That’s it for now. Wishing all the BRs health and safety! Slainte, Jim.” Hugh Hill: “Brother Bill! An overdue update from Northeast Tennessee. After 34 years of airline life (28 with UPS), I took my last flight (for now) May 17, 2024. A westbound around the world flight concluded with a leg from Philly to Louisville. I was greeted by Alycia, my dad, my brother, four of the six kids, and several other close friends. We have retired to Jonesborough in Northeast Tennessee, where I’ll be active in church, hiking, chasing fish, golfing (or some semblance of it), and kayaking. We are inching closer and closer to Lexington and all of our Virginia friends. All, except Steve Medeiros, naturally, are welcome to swing by! I kid, I kid. As I write this, I am gathering my belongings and my courage for yet another Charlie Company golf safari. Looking forward to seeing everyone there and many others in

Class Notes

Lexington now that I’m a man of leisure. Here’s a few pics. Note the one is of my father, John, and son, Charlie. All three pilots! You continue to do a great job for our class, and we are all grateful! Hugh.”

Ced Wins: “I ran into Palmer Hamilton Saturday while we were in Charleston. Good long chat to catch up and talk about VMI.”

There is always much going on behind the scenes with our VMI family and friends, and I don’t want to drop bad news on the class, but many of our BRs are dealing with health issues, mental issues, and tragic life issues, and I ask you all to keep your BRs and their families in your prayers—trust me, they need it! As do we all.

I hope all is well or at least good enough in the moment with you all, and if you are struggling with something heavy, just hang in there and breathe!

Let me know if any of you are coming to Lexington, and I’ll meet you at Gina’s or for cigars on the porch!

Bill Wieners

1986

Clint Hubbard

It is the fall of the year—autumn, if you will— and football season is in full stride. The Keydets are struggling on the gridiron but winning the tailgates, I am told. In the event you didn’t know, we have a new athletic director in place as of June 2024 with the retirement of Jim Miller. I’m sure we all wish Jamaal Walton ’07 well in his new endeavor.

Speaking of tailgates, the mother of all tailgates for 2024 was in mid-October around The Citadel

football game. It was the place to be that weekend! By happenstance, word of mouth, and perhaps a little peer pressure, there were about 25 or so BRs and better halves at this game. Apologies in advance if I omit anyone, but attendees included Darryl Agee, Jim Agostini, Jon Aycock, Stew Barnes, Paul Burch, Mike Colletti, Al Comer, John Hart, Brett Hayes, Kurt Hedberg, Clint Hubbard, Mike Huffman, Tim Keilty, Mark Laughon, Adam Loveless, Todd McCullough, Jon Moody, Dave Moore, Mike Necessary, Steve Pancham, Jim Radle, Bob Rainer, Dave Reynolds, Louis Rucker, Tim Spivey, John Stevens, Scott Wagner, and Roy Woolwine

All of the boys looked well, and it sure was great to see so many of us in one place at the same time. Here’s a snippet or random note on most of them: Agee is still living on Agee Mountain outside of Salem, Virginia. Agostini is a world traveler keeping up with his kids who are scattered across the globe. Aycock splits his time between Northern Virginia and Smith Mountain Lake. Barnes is living the high life in the Big Lick (Roanoke). Burch is dusting off his father of the groom tux, as his son recently became engaged. Colletti recently dialed it back on his work schedule. (Not sure how they’ll be able to tell?) Comer is living the dream in Roanoke, Virginia. Hart is in Harrisonburg but maybe looking to move toward Virginia Beach. Hedberg is still Hedberg—IYKYK. Huffman is bouncing around the RVA. Keilty gets his mail in Fredericksburg but seems to be traveling a fair amount. Laughon is still flying around the world for Delta but is home-based out of Roanoke. Loveless is living near Winchester and in his second career with the Army Corps of Engineers. McCullough is retired and living near the top of House Mountain. Moody is still working in the investment research business to fund his sailboat habit. He says he’ll have everything paid off when he’s 93. Moore is still the Boss Hogg of the Moore’s Country Store chili dog empire, where he’s franchising hot dogs and chili. Necessary is living in/near Lexington, Kentucky, but comes to Virginia often to see his folks. Pancham is still burning up the road in the engineering business but looking for a watering hole every day around 4:30 or so. Radle is alive! Rainer is still giving eye exams and asking if it’s better like this or like that? Reynolds is living in Virginia Beach and looked lonesome without his sidekick, Robert Nussey (who had an unexcused absence, by the way). Rucker looks like he could still suit up for a couple of plays—per quarter. Spivey was serving as Wagner’s personal bodyguard. Stevens is busy working his second career after retiring from his first one at the SCC. Wagner is killing it selling windows, doors, and

Class of 1985: Hugh Hill and his family celebrate his retirement as a FedEx pilot.

lighting to support his fishing hobby. And finally, Woolwine is still Wooly—just like Hedberg!

The word is that Jim McDonald has a son who is a cadet at VMI and is often on post, but I didn’t actually see Jim. It was, however, sure great to see Jim Radle. He looked great and is doing just fine in Charlotte, North Carolina. We hope to see you again, and often, Jim. Don’t be a stranger now that you found your way back to VMI. And bring George Sheild with you next time—or even beloved “BR34,” Glen Ralston!

I’m still working on a plan to get George Sheild and Dave Grimm together on a tailgate extravaganza sometime.

Speaking of Charlotte and guys who missed The Citadel game ... Suzi Mays sent a cute photo of Ronnie Mays and their grandson, Wesley, sitting in the grass in front of VMI barracks. R.O. seems to have taken to retirement like a duck to water, and Suzi says he is playing a lot of golf. Thanks for keeping us up to date on our boy, Suzi.

If you believe what you read on social media, Dion Scaglione embarked on a 48-state tour/bike ride over the summer on his hog. After his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Dion has become a chaplain with a motorcycle gang—I know that sounds at odds, but BR Scaglione is legit. Dion is filled with the Holy Spirit and spreads the word from his iron horse. It is fitting as Dion was often viewed as the voice of reason among his miscreant roommates (Gathright, Maclay, Walker) at the Institute, right? Well done, Dion; thank you for doing the Lord’s work.

Speaking of Emmet Gathright ... I also read that he competed in the World Triathlon Multisport World Championships in Queensland, Australia, earlier this year. Evidently, Emmet, like Larry Watson, doesn’t realize his age. Despite recent knee surgery, our boy cruised through a great first run (6.2 miles) and a decent bike ride (25 miles). Emmet said his hamstrings “screamed

every step” during the second run (3.1 miles) but carried him to the finish as the top American in the 60–64 years age group and in the top 50% of the age group overall. Way to go, BR Gathright! Frank Ladson is still in Sumter, South Carolina, living down the street from his dad, who is getting up there age-wise, but they are glad to still have one another. Frank (and Sue) have a son in the Coast Guard and a daughter (Clemson grad) who works in Charlotte for the same company Jim Agostini works for in Columbia, South Carolina. Frank frequently gives Dave Moore flying hours as they often team up for an adventure somewhere. Stu Heishman recently left the Charlotte area and moved to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina— still working in business development with Duke Power, I believe.

In early October, the annual Frankie Woolwine Challenge was held at The Federal Club in Hanover County, Virginia. This is the annual fundraising event for the Frank Woolwine Foundation, which was started by Roy to preserve the memory of his son, Frank, and raise awareness for teenagers to the danger of drinking and driving. Hats off to Roy for turning a personal tragedy into a positive message that still resonates with youngsters in the Richmond area. Always a good time for a good cause; this year was no different. There were a slew of VMI alumni golfers and many from our class and era, including Jay Ball, Stew Barnes, Mike Colletti, Al Comer, Wayne Fuller, Dave Grimm, Dave Moore, Mike Necessary, Steve Pancham, Tim Spivey, Roy Woolwine, and Rob Mason. Also, Bruce Kitchen ’81, Mark Williams ’85, Chuck McCarthy ’85, Tom Greenspon ’85, Spencer Williamson ’85, Wilson Brown ’87, Glen Ferguson ’87, Bill McCarthy ’87, Frank deVenoge ’88, Dave Brown ’89, Gordy Fox ’89, Gary Sibayan ’89, and many others.

Speaking of Jay Ball, congratulations to him and his new bride, Eleanor, who tied the knot in

early November. The happy couple will be living in Richmond.

Michael Lakos checked in from the Austin, Texas, area where he’s been working for the same defense contractor since 2015 (after his 28-year Air Force career came to a close). BR Lakos says he is traveling for work a little again and made it to Boston, Dayton, and D.C. so far this year (2024) with a jaunt to San Antonio in December. Michael’s youngest graduated from high school earlier this year and is in her freshman year at CU Boulder. She followed her middle brother to CU (he graduated back in 2019) and still lives in the Denver area. Michael’s oldest son is in the local Austin area with checks on his Dad often. BR Lakos says he’s still working part-time at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) and got to be a flag marshal for his second United States Grand Prix F1 weekend in October. Michael says he also got to flag marshal for the NASCAR and MOTO GP weekends earlier in 2024, which he says “is a blast.” Michael’s last trip for 2024 is a ski trip to Keystone, Colorado, in December. Sounds like you’re keeping busy, BR! Thanks for the update and stay safe in those travels.

Just at the buzzer before submission, I got a quick note from Greg Simpson, who says he’s been selected as president of the Rocket City VMI alumni club in Northeast Alabama. Greg said they had a Founders Day event that was well attended and good time was had by all. Thanks for serving the Alumni Association, Greg. Well done, sir. Here’s where we start in on the missing BRs. Still nothing on Roman Malavet or Jim Urie, but if we’ve reconnected with Jim Radle and BR34 Glen Ralston, then anything is possible. And if you happen to see Jim Jenkins, Tim Young, Tim Panoff, or Glenn Phillips, tell them their BRs said hello.

That’s it for this quarter—take care, BRs. This edition should come to you in the height of the Dark Ages, so you should have time to drop me a short note about your world.

1987

BillMcCarthy

Talked to Steve Cade. His youngest daughter is a junior at Tennessee, so he is trying to figure out when to come up and see Ol’ Smokie. He should stop by Dollywood and learn how to sing “Rocky Top.” He was headed out over Labor Day to fish

Class of 1986: Brother rats take part in the Frankie Woolwine Challenge, a golf tournament held in Hanover County, Virginia, in October 2024.

with Vernie Reichling. Not sure they caught anything, but I am certain they had a lot of laughs.

Bill Beyer turned 60. Did a surprise wedding vow renewal for Rock Hudson on his wife’s 60th birthday. Bill chats with his old roommate, Ronnie Robinson, often. Ronnie’s son is in the Rat Mass of ’25+3 and is one of the beneficiaries of the VMI ’87 Scholarship this year. He sends a special thanks to those who have donated in the past and continue supporting the ’87 Scholarship.

Brad Chandler is living the Yankee Dream in the great state of Texas. I was fortunate to attend Brad and Louisa’s wedding in Austin, Texas, many, many years ago with a crowd of honorable youths. Brad and I had a 45-minute catch-up of all things VMI. He has been in the real estate/property management world for many years and has been a partner in a software business for multi-family units for the last 10. It is crazy that I can pick up the phone, talk to another BR, and realize time stands still. The level of familiarity and friendship carries on for decades. We are always there for each other.

Class Notes

This quarter was a period of time where our VMI ’87 brotherhood was alive and present during times of joy and despair. While empathy was not a skill that was highlighted during our cadetship, it has been in overdrive lately. Here is what I saw: BRs looking out for each other, knowing you have friends at your back when you need them. Being a support system when BR may be dealing with hurricanes, floods, health issues, etc. It was great to see the coordinated effort to communicate via text or social media.

Some of our BRs were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene and then Hurricane Milton, so keep them in mind and check in when you can. As someone with family in Florida, recovery can take months to years, and these storms were horrific. There were too many impacted to mention, but know they are appreciative of the support and outreach.

Hugh Bettendorf rode out both storms in Sarasota and reported all safe. Brett Shepard, my old Atlanta neighbor, had recently relocated to Asheville, North Carolina, and was without water for a while. Steve Cade leveraged social media and, more specifically, the VMI ’87 Facebook page to get assistance for family members in North Carolina, and many BRs responded. Jay Nagle and

Ronnie Robinson sent in a picture that was the equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster. He was actually able to capture T.K. Farleigh on film during the year 2024. I have been in Richmond since 1998 and actually attended T.K.’s wedding many years earlier. Rumor has it that T.K. lives 3 miles from me, but to actually see footage was akin to the first photo of the previously extinct dodo bird. Ronnie and T.K. played football at Midlothian High School, and Ronnie is currently a teacher and football coach. T.K. showed up for a local game when Ronnie was in town. In all jest, great to see them together.

Scott Jewell hosted his annual summer cookout for the Triad Chapter of North Carolina and any ’87 classmate who wanted to attend. Tom Peer, Mike McDaniel, Tom Struckmeyer, Chris Stathis, Drew Campi, and Jeff Temple made it to Scott’s house for some great fellowship and food.

I also caught up with Scott at the VMI versus Furman victory during the football season. Scott is very active in the Triad Chapter, and he stays in contact with cadets who come from his area through their 4 years at VMI.

Alpha Company was represented in the photo section, as well. Vernie Reichling and Steve Cade went fishing in the backwaters of Tampa. Steve lives outside of Jacksonville with the likes of Adrian Garcia, Owen Curley, Bill Trammel, and Al Pantano. Steve and Al work in leadership positions for the county school systems.

Matt Morgan and I crossed paths a few times this quarter at various events in Richmond. Now that all our kids are off and on their own, we are getting out more. Kevin Reardon continues to keep your class agent looking sharp. He and Maria are running the family clothing business when he is not digging post holes at the farm. Kevin was proud of the fact he has installed close to 300 fence posts and associated wiring during the last 7 years.

Kevin Price were dodging tornadoes on the East Coast of Florida but did not sustain much damage. There are others, but I am sure they are grateful to all those who offered help and support during this difficult time.

This was a great quarter for pictures, and I want to add some context to some of the submissions.

Grey Wooten sent in a picture of his son and John Robinson’s son stationed somewhere abroad where temperatures exceed 120 degrees. That picture was actually put in the previous Alumni Review on page 6. Gray lives down outside Yorktown, Virginia, and hopes to get up to the Institute more regularly and engage with his BRs.

There was a mini reunion in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Dean Barr hosted Curt Schoonmaker, Paul Munson, Mark Lund, and spouses for the

Class of 1987: Gathering at the home of Dean Barr in West Chester, Pennsylvania, are (from left) Curt Schoonmaker, Dr. Mark Lund, Dean, and Paul Munson.

Class of 1987: At Scott Jewell’s annual summer barbecue are (from left) Tom Struckmeyer, Chris Stathis, Tom Peer, Drew Campi, Jeff Temple, Mike McDaniel, Scott, and Meredith Barkley ’71.

Class of 1987: Ronnie Robinson and T.K Farleigh at the Varina High School versus Forest Park High School football game. Ronnie and T.K. played together at Midlothian High School prior to matriculation at VMI.

weekend in a beautiful part of the country outside Philadelphia. This was my territory for 15 years, and the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley are spectacular. John Pilloni missed the event as he was chasing high mountain antelope in Wyoming.

Dave Furness spoke to 100 alums at the VMI Richmond Chapter annual meeting. He spends a lot of time in the D.C. corridor when he is not with his family in Tampa. Eric Davis, Trip Bowles, Matt Morgan, Todd Williamson, and I had a great time catching up and laughing with Dave. “Remember that time ...”

I had a great time talking with my old friend Kevin McClung. Kevin and his family live in Franklin, Tennessee, outside of Nashville. He was taking his son to swim practice, so we had 30 minutes to laugh about the years gone by. Kevin went back to school to further his education and has worked as an echo sonography tech at a level-one trauma center. He is about to self-publish his fourth album of music. Stay tuned for his latest release! Kevin stays in close contact with Will Fuller, who also lives in the Nashville area. He said he also talks with Brad “Slick” Johnson.

We had a mini reunion of our five-man room during our 2nd Class year. Steve Wilson, Tim Chester, Rick Heine, and I got together for the VMI versus Furman game and willed the Keydets

Class notes

to victory. Steve is the business manager and doanything guy at Fishburne Military Academy in Waynesboro. Rick Heine lives down in Tidewater and is a manufacturer rep in the plumbing and construction trades. Tim Chester moved back to Richmond a few years ago and is now teaching honors history and English at Benedictine High School. Scott Jewell and Trip Bowles were also in town for the game. Trip’s son is on the swim team at VMI.

Wilson Brown, Glenn Ferguson, and I played in the Frankie Woolwine Challenge Golf Tournament. Wilson is down in Greenville, North Carolina, working in electrical distribution sales. Fergie has “retired” but keeps getting pulled back into the consulting world.

As the quarter ended, I was able to get a good laugh in with Chris Spence. Chris is unabashedly honest about ghosting the class and being under the radar. He swears this has been unintentional, and he gave me his full VMI Honor Code promise to make the next reunion. A lot of the fun of being the class agent for me is to get our BRs back into the mix with some proactive outreach. It is an honor and pleasure to serve the class. Feel free to reach out to me if we have not talked in a while.

1988

Brother Rats,

Happy New Year! I hope these notes find you and your loved ones doing well! I am typing these notes in early November, so my happy New Year wish is not only premature but a little optimistic. Hopefully, I got it right ... lol!

I received quite a bit of input this quarter and can report on a few events, so no lecture this quarter. In fact, I received so much input and so many pictures that I cannot submit them all. The Alumni Agencies only allows five pictures per submission, and I received 11! So, while I am going to cover all the input in the text below, I am afraid some of the pictures will not be posted. If you are wondering what the selection criteria was selecting the pictures, I based it on the number of BRs per photo and significance. I wish I could have included them all or at least one or two more; I even called the VMIAA and tried to get an exception, but you know the Institute and their rules. So, if your picture didn’t make it in this Alumni Review, I will post it on our Facebook page.

So, we had two NOVA lunches this quarter, one Aug. 16 and one Nov. 1. The August lunch was held at the Yard House in Springfield, Virginia, thanks to Rich Stone. Rich is always good for recommending restaurants ... and making old fashioneds at campouts. The usual suspects were in attendance, including Kirk Dewyea, Jim Florio, Richard Stone, Chris Starling, Hugh McMenamin, Doug Jacobsen, Hugh McGloin, and me. For the most part, we were well behaved, despite Chris Starling’s best efforts. However, I can’t help but think what that lunch would have been like 35-plus years ago with all those beers to choose from ... hmmm! We had one of our best turnouts yet at the November lunch held at the Paradise Diner in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In

Class of 1987: Steve Cade and Vernie Reichling on a fishing trip over Labor Day weekend.

John Keppeler

Class of 1988: John Wanat (left) and Jim Wiecking celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps’ birthday Nov. 2, 2024, in Farmville, Virginia.

Class of 1988: Pictured in Honolulu, Hawaii, in November 2024 are (from left) Gen. Songvit Noonpackdee, Michael McGraw, and Kultawat Vaijai.

attendance were Lew Sigmon, Hugh Brien, Chris Starling (who is trying his darndest to gain regular status at our lunch), Mike Pannell, Mike Beyer, Chris Long, Ed Wetherell, Wayne Sinclair, Scott Stachelek, and Derek McFarland, with a guest appearance by Bill Cronenberg and me.

Our big event this quarter was Derek McFarland’s annual campout/shoot in Flintstone, Maryland. If you have never been to one of Derek’s campouts/shoots, you do not know what you are missing! It’s not exactly a Soldier of Fortune convention, but we do put some lead down range and have a great time. We didn’t have as big a gathering this year as usual since inclement weather forced a shift from the original date—hey, we are retired now; no sense in camping in the rain and getting our boom-booms all rusty. Regardless, we had a good showing, I think 18 in all, including Hammond Urner, Victor Sredl, John Gillespie, Mike Pannell, Derek McFarland, Jason Dudjak, Richard Stone, Mike “Chickenman” Owen, Drew McKone, Don Calder, John “Bubba” Keppeler ’18, Dave Pitts, Charles Nelson, Hugh McMenamin, Mark Arboneaux, Bill Reagan, and me.

Class Notes

Pennsylvania. Lukas is on a 4-year Army scholarship majoring in civil engineering, so he figured he would get them together to talk Army CE stuff. Dave said it was an enjoyable evening, and I am sure Cadet Maurer received some good mentoring.

I received a text from BR Steve Neary back in August. Apparently, he and Tracy were walking around Annapolis and ran into Wayne and Delana Sinclair. Steve said they took a few minutes to catch up on family, work, and what large motorboats they dreamt of owning someday.

I also received a text from Dave Omstead; Dave hosted a small VMI gathering at his house in Bethel, Pennsylvania, including Adam Love ’01 and Cadet Lukas Maurer ’26. Adam is currently attending the Army War College in Carlisle and is the civil engineer for the National Guard Training Center at Fort Indiantown Gap,

I received an email and two pics from fellow F-Trooper Chris Goerner: “After not seeing either of my VMI roommates for more than a decade, I was blessed to catch up with Chris Hall and Pete Bernstein within an 8-day period. Chris was visiting Roanoke for a business conference and came by our house to have dinner with Teresa and me. Then, the following week, Teresa and I took a short vacation to Colorado, where Pete Bernstein and his wife, Kathy, live. We got to spend an entire day together as they showed us the sights around the Colorado Springs area. Both Chris and Pete are doing well.”

Tommy Towers invited Carolyn and me to an

oyster roast and wedding celebration at his beautiful farm in Dinwiddie, Virginia. For those of you who don’t know, Tommy recently married Kim Emonson May 5, 2024, in a small family ceremony. Carolyn couldn’t attend the oyster roast, so I dragged my eldest son, John “Bubba” Keppeler ’18, along. It was a wonderful party and included approximately 50 people with several VMI alumni, including Scott Davilla, Lew Sigmon, Patrick Becker ’89, Chad Welch ’20, Matt Hadley ’85, and me. It was great seeing Kim and Tommy and his daughters, Blair and Catherine, not to mention meeting several of Tommy’s friends.

Jim Wiecking emailed me and said he recently hosted John “J.J.” Wanat as the guest of honor at Jim’s local Farmville U.S. Marine Corps birthday celebration. About 50 people attended the event. The evening had all the usual USMC traditions, and the evening was capped off with J.J.’s speech about continuing service to others during and after one’s time in the Corps. Jim said it was good to spend time with J.J. and catch up on old times and more recent life events.

Mike McGraw sent me an email. He reported that Gen. Songvit Noonpackdee and Gen. Kultawat Vaijai visited Hawaii Nov. 7–10, 2024, for a change of command at USPACOM. During that visit, Songvit and Kultawat had dinner with Mike and his wife, Karen, in Honolulu. Mike said they exchanged stories and gifts and had a really wonderful evening. Apparently, one of those gifts was a bottle of Hawaiian whiskey made by Ian Brooks ’94 and was custom engraved with the VMI Spider. Songvit is requesting all BRs and spouses that can make it come to Thailand in June 2025 to celebrate his retirement. If you can pay for the airfare, Songwit and Kultawat will cover lodging, in-country transport, and many meals. That is a tempting offer for sure; Mike says he is going.

Finally, I received a photo from John “A.J.” Williams. He attended this year’s Institute Society Dinner at VMI with BRs Rob Taylor, Sean Cantrell, Ed Wetherell, Jim Ring, Jim Mumma, and Tom Reiman

Well, that’s about it for this quarter; I really appreciate all the emails, texts, and letters—keep it up, and stay in touch! I can be reached at 540429-9041 or john.keppeler@gmail.com.

RVM and Semper Fi! Rock

Class of 1988: Pictured at the Paradise Diner in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Nov. 1, 2024, are (from left) Derek McFarland, Ed Wetherell, Lew Sigmon, Bill Cronenberg, Chris Starling, Chris Long, Michael Beyer, Hugh Brien, Mike Pannell, Wayne Sinclair, and John Keppeler.

Class of 1988: Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) Rob Taylor, Sean Cantrell, John Williams, Ed Wetherell, Jim Ring, Jim Mumma, and Tom Reiman.

VMI Class of 1989 35th Reunion

David A. Martin

Welcome to the fall post-35th Reunion edition of the ’89 class notes! Light a candle or something else to help set the mood: This edition will bask in the reunion afterglow, update you on class business conducted on the margins of the reunion, and provide updates on the class scholarships.

We begin with some sad news. With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Robert Dathan Darby Jr., a man of honor, dedication, and heartfelt compassion. Dathan was born March 2, 1967, in Shelby County, Kentucky, and passed away peacefully Aug. 22, 2024, at Norton Hospital in Louisville, having attained the age of 57. Dathan, affectionately known to many, leaves behind a remarkable legacy marked by his generous spirit, kind heart, ambitious pursuits, and unwavering honesty. He attended VMI for about half a year.

As a reminder, thanks to the generosity of many of you a few years back, we have about $9,000 in the ’89 Memorial Flower Fund to remember our fallen BRs, but this account can also be used for happy occasions such as flowers for weddings, get-well-soons (John Osborne), births, divorces, graduations, etc. We generally keep the amount at $89; current funding means we can remember about 100 BRs. If you would like to make a non-tax-deductible donation to this fund, please let me know via email. We simply do not have enough funds to cover everyone. It would be great to get this fund up to the levels that everyone gets a taste.

Speaking of funding, here are your 1989 class scholarships updates: The 1989 Athletic Endowment provides unrestricted aid to VMI’s athletic program and awarded almost $889 to a lacrosse player this year, Cadet Matthew Nichols ’27. Congratulations, Matthew! Kent Doane, fresh from his tour of duty as RDC president (Reunion Development Committee), got the chance to demonstrate his prowess as a future class agent and attended the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet in November, dining with Matthew and

Class Notes

other fine scholarship recipients. In addition to the athletic scholarship, the Class of 1989 Memorial Scholarship provides about $5,000 to I don’t know who, and the Class of 1989 Military Scholarship provides about $1,200 to I don’t know who. (Probably still as yet undecided as we went to press late October).

A reunion wrap-up went out via video message in October. It is thus superfluous and impossible to recap everything here in this auspicious publication as that would take a veritable plethora of pages that exceed our allocation of space quicker than Chris Mitchell can put his hand up to bid on the ’89 wine basket auction! (Chris won the basket, BTW, providing much-needed funding for the class’ libation tab at Moody. And hey, Chris, annual interest accrues starting 3/3, Breakout day).

While almost everyone who attended the 35th Reunion seemingly pitched in and helped out to make it a resounding success, special thanks to the following BRs: Davin and Sherry Ruohomaki and Quinn and Tracy Donovan, wine and beverage coordinators; Kent Doane, RDC president; Marti and Gary Bissell, Thursday early arrival OICs; Anu and Derek McCown, tailgate coordinators; John “Terminator” Corley, security consultant; Keith Sykes, uniform consultant; Sean Raborn, fitness consultant; Derek and Patti Harris, power-donors (John Corley and Tom Fanshaw, also power donors); the entire VMI Alumni Agencies reunion staff; everyone who Venmo’d me or put some cash in my hand for the class beverages (and we were very thirsty!); Mitch Fridley, senior adviser to the class agent (SAC-A); Mike Karns and James Black, firearms and range safety OICs; and a host of other BRs. And thanks to all the wives who attended, which added much needed class, dignity, and sagacity to the proceedings. Any funds left over from your donations, including the interest charged to Chris Mitchell, will be put in an offshore Cayman Islands account for the 40th.

We will not give a blow-by-blow accounting of the event here for reasons already stated, not to mention my recollection of events is blurred. The weekend passed with amazing alacrity not seen since we followed Allan Stoneman’s lead and fled out Estelle’s back door when the ABC man showed up. At any rate, we made a few decisions

Class of 1989: David Martin (left) and L. Randolph Williams ’66 visit Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Class of 1989: Derek and Patty Harris with their daughter, Courtney Noel (Harris) Boyer, and son-in-law, Chuck Boyer, at Courtney and Chuck’s wedding Sept. 20, 2024.

Class of 1989: J.C. Gregory, Tra Toye, Joe Hurley, Keith Sykes, and John Adametz at the 35th Reunion in September 2024.

at the reunion. With a voting participation rate that barely exceeded most BACs of those in attendance (<1%), the most important proclamation was to anoint Quinn Donovan as sommelier in perpetuity. Quinn already started vinting a special blend to celebrate our 40th. “BRs are always welcome to come out and sample, stomp grapes, have a tasting, whatever in California wine country,” Quinn said recently. “I am pleased my offerings received so many accolades during the reunion, I was happy to give back to the class. It warms the cockles of my heart.” In addition, by unanimous voice vote, Kent Doane was re-elected as RDC president for another 5-year term, taking us through the 40th! Mitch Fridley took one for the team, nominated with 99% of the vote as RDC vice president and Kent’s bat-man. Fellow Ohioan Lowell Wilson assumes the mantle as annual giving coordinator: By the narrowest of margins, the class voted to present a big fat check to VMI during a future reunion. Lowell will oversee those efforts. John Piedmont jumped on a grenade and will cover submitting the class notes for spring 2025 as I take a sabbatical and go on a pilgrimage.

Other hazy recollections: Leave it to two native New Yorkers and city folk, Steve Breheny and Doc Martin, to start the fire at the Bissells’ Thursday night; pouring gasoline on a fire actually works but is not recommended.

Many BRs said there just wasn’t enough time to greet everyone—a common theme was talking to someone you didn’t get a chance to talk to as you checked out of the hotel.

Class notes

they could still play Keydet football. The team could benefit from their expertise.

Kudos to Derek McCown for going the extra mile and offering suggestions for future video engagements and enhancements. Can’t thank you enough, Derek.

“House Mountain still ain’t so tough,” said Kramer Reeves

Whoever put a huge bottle of ibuprofen on a tailgate table Saturday morning: You are hereby nominated for sainthood.

A cigar event for the 40th? Brian Loughrey, Al Versoza

How times have changed. Virginia Gentleman is bad ... very bad; you can’t give that stuff away.

Pete “Coach” and Dawn Lampman can cook wings!

Hawaiian shirt-dyke was a great idea.

Despite a few pleas on the ’89 Facebook page, there were few if any updates for the class notes, other than the pictures. I can only do so much with the tools I have been given. Please write in! So if you don’t see your name in bold ...

The reunion was a resounding success—not because we all had a great time but because of the plans in the works for mini reunions over the course of the next few years. Renew the bonds, indeed. See you at the 40th. ONE-989!

In other, non-reunion-related news: If you sent an update, it will appear in the next edition. Winter notes are historically slow as molasses.

ONE-989!

1990

Daren Payne

We had 3 minutes of rain, and it occurred just before the pass in review.

From the sentinel box, we threw out a dozen footballs on behalf of the Class of ’89. This was immensely popular and entertaining! Only one was caught by a cadet from the second stoop. See the video on YouTube. The fourth stoop is a long way!

Very few roommate-BRs walked up to take pictures. But they sure talked about going up there a lot.

J.C. Gregory, Tra Toye, Joe Hurley, Keith Sykes, and John Adametz are in such great shape,

Greetings, Esteemed Classmates,

As I write this up, Ring Figure, Thanksgiving break, and the final football game and tailgate of the season are all upon us. Rats completed “rat training” with the Rat Olympics, the Corps went to winter uniform, and the “Dark Ages” are in full effect. I had a lot of contact with BRs throughout the fall semester since our last class notes, so I wanted to share everything with you guys.

In jobs news, I found that Todd Jacobs is returning to Arkansas with Summit Utilities, Inc. as its EVP and chief operating officer based in Little Rock.

Chilton Morris is starting a new position as vice president, Enterprise AML QA Manager at Bank of America.

Class of 1989: Sean and Natalie Raborn raft through the Grand Canyon in September 2024.

Class of 1989: Chris Ogden, Derek McCown, and Pete Lampman at the class dinner at McKethan Park during the 35th Reunion in September 2024.

Class of 1989: Al Versoza, Ian Dolan, Paul Pardew, and Matt St. Clair at the Association of the United States Army convention.

Finnie Coleman now directs New Mexico Veterans for Pets—a nonprofit organization that works to minimize housing insecurity for veterans, address the persistent underemployment that many face, and curb the alarming rates of veteran suicide.

I also heard that Tony Baker retired from Phillip Morris, where he’s been working almost since the day we graduated—join me in congratulating all these guys on their new endeavors.

Also retiring sometime recently was Andy Beasley, who retired from Ferguson Enterprises but was only retired a month before apparently getting bored and going back to work again. Andy’s roommate, Tom Slater, was also on the move, as he left the Miami Marlins after 3 years as their hitting coordinator and moved on to a new job in player development for the Philadelphia Phillies.

I learned Mike Trahar is continuing his work with Protiviti Legal and Risk Consulting, where he is now the director in Washington, D.C. Big congrats to all these guys and all their new gigs and milestones!

At the start of the reporting period, I learned that Tony Zang down in Atlanta is heading up the Light the Night fundraising effort that supports research by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I also had the opportunity to talk with Rob Gudz, as his company is doing some work at VMI, and we talked about the need to schedule another annual bird hunt with Bill Gaspar this season.

I heard from Scott Smith out in Colorado, and he wanted me to pass to all his appreciation for the kind words following the passing of Dick ’56 in September. Like Gaspar, Gudz, and me,

Class Notes

Scott’s dad was also an avid bird hunter and a great shot on the skeet range.

Speaking of bird hunting, I also heard from Luis De Valle, who’s stationed in the pheasant hunting capital of the world, South Dakota, and offers to help anybody interested in finding good hunting out there, where he works as a patent examiner.

In military news, please join me in congratulating Sean Hoover on his promotion to lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. Sean is one of the last of us still serving and is still up in New Hampshire with the ATF. One Army reservist I’d love to track down is Lt. Col. Garrett Thompson, who I fear may have retired or been promoted and not told anyone yet. If anyone knows, let me know for the next class notes. Of course, our BRs Caine and Bowers continue to serve as general officers in the USAF and USMC, respectively. Many thanks to all you guys for all you do.

In September, I heard from Todd Northrop, who thankfully had very little damage from the hurricane that passed through Southwest Georgia. Todd let me know he recently met up with Jim Hubbard, Pablo Martinez, and Brad Lawrence for a weekend. Todd said Jim is in such great shape that he was inspired to ramp up his PT program to match him. Also from Georgia, I heard from Rob Hays, who is near Warner Robins and largely doing the same job he was doing on active duty in the USAF.

Also in September, Donnie Roberts was in Lexington for a retreat with his company, Caracal. BRs Tony Baker and Chuck Ellis both serve on the board of Donnie’s company, which really does a lot of great things in the communities in addition to being very profitable business.

The first football game of the season brought out

some usual suspects in the form of Kenny Robinson, who has a rat nephew; Matt Schwarzmann; Rich Duke, who has a 3rd Class son; A.J. Johnson visiting his 1st Class son; Buddy Garbett, who has a 3rd Class son on the football team; plus Terrence Kerner and Mark Cunningham, who traveled up from Richmond.

Of course, The Citadel game featured an even larger crowd at the tailgate, as we were joined by my roommates, Rich Mehl and Dave Ratliff; Quill Healy up from Georgia; Ken Ross back for the first time in a couple years, along with Andy Sewell; Chuck Ellis; A.J. Johnson; Dave Yockel all the way from Oklahoma with his son; Brian Tate up from North Carolina visiting his 1st Class son; VMI chief legal counsel, Pat O’Leary; Dave Kaulfers back for the first time since coming back to Virginia; Tim McGlaughlin, who is finishing up his last term on the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors; John Burleson, who was on traffic control duty; Andy Kvasnicka; Chip Chenery visiting his 3rd Class son; Doug Henderson; Ramil Ibanez visiting his now 2nd Class son; and Raynor Garey, who was up from North Carolina. The following home game against Furman brought out none other than BRs Barry Johnson and Fred Minnegerode joining us, along with some of the other usual suspects. Must have been good luck, as we won the game 21-17 with them in attendance. Also that weekend, Mike Doczi, Charles Plageman, and Ramon Williams were kind enough to attend and represent ’90 at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet, with Doczi specifically representing our Class of 1990 Athletic Scholarship.

Around mid-October, in conjunction with the Israeli attack on Iran, BR Rob Greenway was once again all over the various news shows offering commentary and insights on the situation in the Middle East.

About the same time, I heard from Stefan Herzog and Kelly Musick, who both had lots of questions about VMI scholarships and the academic and military systems—always great to have BRs show interest like that and to get the opportunity to provide firsthand information.

I also heard from BR Greg Sandway, who reports he and his wife have been retired since 2018 and are living the good life up in the North Georgia mountains.

As the election heated up in November, so did the amount of postings to Dave McGraw’s conservative group chat. While Dave was monitoring election night in the swing state of Pennsylvania, he was going back and forth with Mehl and Jamie Setz. Additionally, BR Jeff Kaster was on the ground in Wisconsin to monitor against voter

Class of 1990: Rich Duke; Ramon Williams; Matt Hemenez Alumni Association president and Alumni Agencies Board chairman; Charles Plageman; Tony Baker; Col. Lee Havird, commandant; and Chuck Ellis at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024. Not pictured is Terrence Kerner.

fraud; he was actually in Milwaukee when some of that stuff went down on election night.

After the election, I heard from Mike Mullori, who had visited with John Adylette in Charleston on his way to watch the Players golf tournament. Both those guys are doing well, and I’m hoping John will plan his annual basketball game get-together again this year?

Andy Conville checked in with me right before the deadline for these notes—he actually emailed me to discuss VMI basketball, as he was one of the founding fathers of the Big Red Club during our cadetship. The club lives on today with the red shirts in the stands on game days.

On post for the annual Institute Society Dinner and game weekend on Founders Day were Terrence Kerner, Matt Hemenez, Tony Baker, Rich Duke, Chuck Ellis, Charles Plageman, Damon Williams, Ramon Williams, along with Glenn Dickenson, Mike Morelock, Rich Mehl, and Dave Ratliff, who all came by my tailgate.

On the VMI annual Day of Giving, we once again had a great performance, as our class finished second overall with 96 donors, or 34%, of our class participating. Throughout the day, I was able to hear from Pete Mantz; Barry Maxon out in California; Glen Thompson, who’s still in the construction business with WM Jordan; Jim Cox from North Carolina; and John King, who hit me up for information on rugby conference tournament scores (unfortunately, VMI lost 25-22 in the tournament final).

Please hit me up if you are not getting my weekly email updates, as I’d love to get everyone on the distribution list heading toward our 35th Reunion, which is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 4–6, 2025. Please save the date, more information to follow.

Thanks for all you do in support of each other, our class, and VMI!

Daren

1991

Chuck Story

Chris Edmonston

Class notes

1992

William Woodward

BRs,

Here are the latest updates from our classmates—definitely less than usual! Please keep forwarding me info on what is going on in your lives—your BRs want to know!

Bob Burgess sent in an update (and a picture) saying he, Chris Jones, Joe McClung, and Andy Tate got together the weekend of Aug. 24–25, 2024, up in Delaware. They played a round of golf (and per Bob confirmed they are not great golfers!) and then ate supper at Joe’s house. Joe cooked them up a fantastic meal.

For those that have not been on post in a while, VMI has just laid a new set of bricks directly behind the four cannons at the barracks end of the Parade Ground. These bricks recognize donors to the Institute that have made rather significant donations. Among that esteemed group is our Brother Rat Jeff Zeigler. When I was on post in September, I took a picture and sent it to Jeff, thanking him on behalf of our class. Jeff sent me a great response with all of his recent link-ups with our BRs. In mid-October, he was due to link up with Clarke

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1991.

Class of 1992: Jeff Ziegler (left) and Jerry Allen in Austin, Texas.

Class of 1992: Attending the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are William Woodward, Curtis Mason, and Tom Timmes.

Class of 1992: Derrick Lapp (left) and Brian Kellner ’95 with a representative of The Citadel at a college fair in Carroll County, Maryland.

Class of 1992: Pictured in Delaware in August 2024 are (from left) Bob Burgess, Andy Tate, Chris Jones, and Joe McClung.

Minnegerode’s wife, Amy, and kids, as well as Matt Ott and family for the Texas-Georgia game in Austin. Jeff also sent me a few pictures of him and Jerry Allen at Austin City Limits and another of a group of BRs (including him, Jerry, Dave Massie, Billy Waters, Craig Davis, Mark Loving, Scott Council, Taylor Holt, Matt Ott, Whiting Chisman, and Tim Jordan) who met up in Florida for a golf outing.

Anthony Brinkley sent in a short note responding to his digital birthday card to say he and the family are doing well in Northern Alabama. He is still working for Lockheed Martin, and both kids are in college, so the house is “nice and quiet!”

Class Notes

Derrick Lapp reported in with a picture of him at a recent college recruiting fair near his home in Carroll County, Maryland. Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Brian Kellner ’95 (Dan Gaskell’s rat) and Derrick worked the event. Derrick said they “captured The Citadel representative hoping it would help give the team good luck winning the Silver Shako this year. Sadly, it did not.”

Finally, Curtis Mason, Tom and Vonda Timmes, and Leslie and I attended the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8. For those who had not heard, VMI invited the actor, Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan from “Forrest Gump”), to be the keynote speaker for the Founders Day parade and dinner. He gave great speeches at each event and is such a wonderful supporter of the military and first responders through his charitable foundation. It was great to catch up with Curtis and Tom. I am sure most are tracking the fact that Tom has been a professor in the CE department for some time, as well as coaching the VMI swim and dive team following his career in the Army. Curtis is living in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area working in the financial sector. We missed Andy Tate, who normally attends annually but was in the Highlands of Scotland touring and attending rugby matches at the same time this year.

Please let me know of any major life events such as marriages (including for our children), births, deaths, and advanced degrees so that I can inform the Alumni Review. If you have a change of address, let the Alumni Agencies and me know so that we can make sure you get all VMI correspondence.

In the Bonds, Woody

1993

Lincoln Swineford

Brother Rats!

As the falls turns to winter, I hope the last 3 months have been good for you and yours. No retirement news for us this quarter, so on to the updates.

John Moore checked in from Down Under: “I’m still out in Papua New Guinea with ExxonMobil; this is me last week doing an aerial survey of an area in the PNG Highlands. Hoping to get back Stateside for a bit by the end of 2025. Best regards to everyone!” Thanks for checking in, John!

Bob Matson also sent an Octoberfest update:

“Tom Miller’s folks were headed from Michigan to Norfolk so Mr. Miller can attend a reunion for one of the Navy ships he served on. This put them passing through Richmond, so I invited them to the Richmond Oktoberfest. We had a good visit, and I’m glad they still feel part of the VMI family. Take care, and we’re due for lunch sometime before the holidays maybe? RVM!” Great you got a chance to meet up with Tom’s folks, Bob. And we are overdue for lunch, so I’ll get on that.

Mike Gorman also let me know he was going to the Institute for The Citadel game and to see his son, Oscar ’27, who is a 2nd Class cadet. The game didn’t go as planned, as we all know, but I would imagine Oscar is probably ready to get his ring. Mike is also headed out on his fourth mission trip with Smiles for Life Foundation, which has a mission to increase access to dental care in impoverished areas of the world. Good for you,

Class of 1992: Jeff Zeigler, Jerry Allen, Dave Massie, Billy Waters, Craig Davis, Mark Loving, Scott Council, Taylor Holt, Matt Ott, Whiting Chisman, and Tim Jordan at a Florida golf outing in November 2024.

Class of 1993: Members of the class with Moe wearing the 1993 jersey at a home football game in fall 2024.

Class of 1993: Kevin Morris and Mike Howard in Barcelona, Spain.

BR. That’s an awesome thing to be a part of, and I’m proud you’re helping out in that way.

Kevin Morris let me know that he and his wife, Helen, “met up with Mike and Jen Howard for a couple of days in Spain, as they stopped for an extended layover during their trip to Munich for a Carolina Panthers game. Needless to say, there were a few tapas, cervezas, and wines consumed ... enough that Mike was inspired to speak Spanish with the locals.” I am sure that went well for the locals and that they appreciated the effort. Good to hear from you, Kev.

Class notes

Dom Ford, who seems to be having a pretty good time not being commandant, checked in with a retirement update: “Hey, brother. Howdy from Texas. For this class notes, I’ll submit a NSTR (nothing significant to report) except that I got a new AR-10, and I plan on shooting a lot of hogs and an occasional deer out in the wild as the weather cools. I am really enjoying retired life. As usual, if any BRs are in the DFW area, please reach out. I’m about 20 minutes from the DFW airport in Keller, Texas. RVM!” Keep that hog population down, BR!

Joe Aldrich sent in a quick update: “Hey, BR, not really a whole lot to report out here. Our family is staying quite busy with school and various athletic activities for our two daughters. Of note, I tend to run into a couple of ’95 guys regularly, Bill Percival [’95] and Andy Johnson [’95] ... great to have a few fellow VMI guys to hang out with and tell old war stories from our days at the ‘I.’” I agree, Joe; always nice to hang out with almost any of the brethren.

As you probably know by now, our own John Weeda once again led the charge on the VMI annual Day of Giving. After winning last year, we had a little bit of a sophomore slump but still ranked third in total donors with 64. The Class of ’84 won the day with 102 donors, and ’90, to my (our) chagrin, came in second with 96 donors. The Institute exceeded its initial donor goal of 600, then its stretch donor goal of 839, ending with a total of 1,019 donors raising almost $300,000. That’s great news for our school.

It was noted that four of the top five were all in the same d-line (abbreviated for Facebook, who I keep getting in trouble with for using that word), with ’84, ’90, ’93, ’76, and ’96 rounding out the top five. As Sean Fisher said on our class page, “We may all be %*$*#@!, but we participate!”

It’s tough to argue either part of that statement, BR. John, thanks again for leading the charge and being so invested. It’s really great to see, and I appreciate the effort.

In our legal update, Phil Grant was officially reelected for another 4-year term as a judge in Texas, which is great for the people of Texas. Congrats, BR!

Jim Sharp let me know that he, John Morbitzer, and Kevin Lloyd—roommates our 1st Class year—got together in Lexington during a football weekend and had a great time catching up.

Speaking of the football games, we had a fair amount of activity with BRs and families getting to Lex Vegas to see the mighty Keydets play ball this fall.

Included in the pictures is a great shot of our BRs

with Mo wearing the iconic ’93 jersey. As I’m sure you remember, Mo is sporting the best class on the hill because we won the participation portion of the annual Day of Giving last year. I don’t think the Alumni Review will print everyone’s name in the caption, but (from left) Kelly Holbert, Steve Hunter, Sean Fisher, Rod Turback, Ben Lilly, Kevin Barnes, Dave Hurst, Jim Roman, John Weeda, Eric Nilsson, Steve Thrasher, Matt Gill, Blake Svendsen, John Timmons, Matt LaBell, Sean Farley, and someone that looks a lot like a little Sean Farley joined Mo on the field for the photo op. It’s a great picture, and I appreciate John sending it in.

Rory Gill and Amy Svendsen also let me know that (combining the updates) Mat and Rory Gill, Kevin and Becca Barnes, John and Martina Timmons, Sean and Kathy Fisher, Ben and Donna Lilly, Matt and Betsy LaBell, Steve Thrasher, and Blake and Amy Svendsen met in Lexington for The Citadel weekend. Glad you guys had the chance to get together and hang out. I’m sure it was a great time.

Little bit of a shorter update this time, but I’m glad everyone is doing well. The Swinefords continue to roll along. Work continues to keep April and me busy. The oldest has set a wedding date in 2026, so we’ve got that going for us, and the middle and youngest continue to just kill it in nursing and high school, respectively. So glad that our

Class of 1993: Bob Matson with Tom Miller’s parents in Richmond, Virginia.

Class of 1993: Brother rats and their families cheer on the Keydets in fall 2024.

Class of 1993: Matt Gill, Sean Fisher, Steve Thrasher, Blake Svendsen, Kevin Barnes, John Timmons, Ben Lilly, and Matt LaBell.

daughters got April’s brains ...

Thanks to everyone who sent in an update, especially the last minute ones. If you haven’t sent one in recently—or ever—please send one along so we can catch up.

Hope you all have a great holiday season! ’93, ’93, ’93.

1994

Brother Rats!

I have been deputized to join on as co-class agent with Clay Campbell because, as everyone knows, two Clays are better than one! I’m grateful for Clay allowing me to join forces, and I look forward to helping our class in any way that I can.

I trust everyone had a fantastic holiday season and has started off 2025 on the right foot. (Left foot, if marching. Shoulders back, cup those hands.) It’s great to hear that so many of our BRs had a fall and early winter filled with adventures and fellow BR sightings.

I was not surprised to see a proud representative of hard-charging Hotel shoot an update to me first. Axl Morgan (Alex, to the uninitiated) reported, “I now get together for a bimonthly Zoom call with Mike Eason, Jim Mitchell, and Matt Camfield for what Matt dubbed ‘barracks BS.’ We catch up on a Sunday night and talk about everything and nothing, much like we used to long ago at the ‘I’ on a weekend when we weren’t going anywhere. I’m still in the Dayton, Ohio, area, serving as a defense contractor focused on scientific research and development needs for DOD, as well as industrial customers. I still focus on fire safety, as I have been since graduate school, and if anyone needs something fire-protected or set on fire in the name of science, I’m your guy— $1,994 discount on your first order for Class of ’94 alumni only. One final note, I published my seventh book. Great for doorstops, putting yourself to sleep, or stopping very small caliber rounds.” Good stuff, Axl!

Class Notes

Not to be outdone, Paul Whitmore wrote in to share some big news. “I retired Nov. 1 from the Space Force after a combined 30 years in the Air and Space Forces. I was the first guardian from VMI and was also the senior VMI grad in the USSF for about the first 2 years. Right now, I’m evaluating my options for employment and potentially a Ph.D. program with a focus in history or military history. In the meantime, I’m staying busy with family, Gettysburg staff rides, and editing a book on the Union’s Fifth Corps.” Congratulations, Paul, and thank you for your service to the nation!

Cory McCallum let us know what’s up with being a VMI dad. “My son is a 3rd this year, and my wife, Pattie, and I have enjoyed visiting VMI and hosting tailgates for his BRs and friends this fall. I recently moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to

Raleigh, North Carolina, making getting back to Virginia easier. I know these notes will be sent after the last football game this year, so I hope our BRs will stop by the tailgate next fall. It has been good to see some of our BRs—Dustin DeVore, Charles Downs, Jeff Guild, Aric Southworth, and John Campbell—at the tailgates. I saw my co-dyke, Jeremy Schlussel, at one of the tailgates in September. Jeremy was at VMI from Richmond for the day. I am planning to participate in a sailing trip to Phuket, Thailand, with John Campbell ’94 and some of our rats (Dan Hall ’97, Kenny Pierce ’97, John Duckworth ’97, Noah Slemp ’97, and Chris Haney ’00) in January. It will be great to see each other. I will report more on the trip in February.” Safe travels, Cory, and we look forward to hearing about the big trip—and more tailgating in the fall!

Dustin Devore was nice enough to invite me to the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce Commonwealth Conversations session back in the fall to hear Gen. John Jumper ’66 give a great presentation on foreign policy. We sat with the Kokolis brothers (John ’96 and Pete ’96) and were able to catch up on a number of things. D.D. was working the room like he was organizing a sweat party; he’s still got that cadre charisma. Dustin, great job keeping so many BRs up to date with your email updates and the address list! You’re the glue holding this ship together.

A trustworthy source reports that Ro Browning has been juggling work and fatherhood with becoming a semi-pro squash player in Midtown Manhattan. The guys at the Heritage Club are always after him for a pick-up game, but Ro’s game and knee-high socks are a little too intense for them. It’s that Hotel Company tenacity coming through.

I keep hearing great things about Frank Boehling, even when he’s not around. I was presenting to a local Rotary Club where several big-time alumni from Benedictine Preparatory, and when they saw my VMI lapel pin, they wouldn’t shut up about what a great guy Frank is. They were right, of course, but they were laying it on far too thick. Frank, you should run for mayor.

It was a bittersweet reunion when several of us gathered in Smithfield to attend the memorial service for Joe Casey’s dad, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Andrew Casey. Joe and Tonya appreciated seeing so many VMI buddies there: Kevin and Lee Vermillion, Gerald and Cheryl Escobar, Jeff and Kathy Guild, Charles Downs, Rusty Stein, and Ayen

Clay Campbell

Clay Mountcastle

Class of 1994: Stu Copenhaver, Jeff Guild, Charles Downs, and Matt Ankrum in Lexington, Virginia, in November 2024.

Class of 1994: Clay Mountcastle and his girlfriend, Brittney Hall, in Rockport, Massachusetts, in summer 2024.

Torchik ’93, to name a few. When ’94 rolls, we roll deep, and it was great to see the support there for Joe. He’d do it for any of us.

Speaking of ’94’s No. 1 Texan, Rusty Stein has been entertaining our text group with some fabulous shots of his hunting trips down in Texas. I don’t think there’s a quail left this side of the Pecos. We all eagerly await Rusty’s Texas-style cooking show, “Stein N Dine,” to premiere somewhere online at a time of his choosing.

Lastly, I’ve been able to hit the road lately, like Jack Kerouac in Professor Ball’s Beat Generation literature class. I hosted a tour of VMI in October for a group from the Virginia War Memorial, where I am still the executive director. One member of the group asked if it was true that the Keydets once attacked the University of Richmond spider mascot on the Corps trip and put the poor lad in the hospital. Yes, I said, it was true, but the rats were merely trying to play with the spider, not squash him. I enjoyed having an additional guide along, my girlfriend, Brittney Hall (Mary Baldwin ’93), who was able to give the Baldwin point of view of VMI and cadets. (Oh, lordy!) We also swung up the road to New Market Battlefield to see Stonewall’s statue in his new home. I asked some of the folks in town if they had any John Cunningham stories. They had no comment. John, I blame you for Johnny Appleseed’s going out of business.

It’s hard to believe that almost a year has passed since our 30th Reunion (what a great weekend!)

The years are zooming by now. Let’s all keep in touch more and find ways to see one another. Do the virtual calls. Grab lunch together. Send a text just to share a laugh. When we say we will get together, let’s mean it. Like when I promised Mike Weaver I’d come see him in Yorktown to go out on his boat; I need to back it up. Weave, I’ll make it, I will. The older I get, the more that the true meaning of brother rat becomes apparent, and the Class of ’94 has the best BRs one could hope for.

Keep those updates and photos coming! Stay in touch! (Or DeVore will hunt you down.)

Red, white, and yellow floats on high ... Best Wishes to You and Yours, Clay Mountcastle

Michael Fellows

Class notes

It has been a busy time since the last update, but also a fun one. The weekend of Nov. 9–10, several members of our class were back on post for the 50th anniversary of the Institute Society. Many of you may have heard about in emails or online, but it was a first-class event. Actor Gary Sinise from “Forrest Gump” fame was the keynote speaker at the dinner and also spoke to the Corps during the Founders Day parade. He spoke on the importance of service to our country and taking care of our veterans who have and continue to give so much. It was a powerful message, and seeing how thankful he is for the sacrifices made by so many of our alumni was the highlight of the event. On a humorous side note, he let us all know that part of the back story that was created for Lt. Dan was that Gary asked the producers of the movie to make him a graduate of VMI. He must have put some research into this decision because this would explain Lt. Dan’s fondness for telling his platoon to “get down and shut up.”

It was nice to be back on post after having not been back for so long. For those of you who haven’t been back in a while, the changes to post are remarkable. While much remains the same as it always has been, the infrastructure improvements are incredibly impressive. Kurt Polk, Tim Miller, and I walked through some of the academic buildings, and gone are the radiators and old wooden chairs. In their place are modern classrooms and facilities that made it hard for us to remember where things were and had us trying to remember where classrooms and departments used to be. The investments made at the Institute have been well worth the effort to secure them, and there are even more improvements coming. The future for VMI is incredibly bright.

’95 made a strong showing both at the dinner and the after-party, where one of the highlights had to be the entire group breaking into song and hitting all the high notes on “Country Roads.” Tim Miller, being from Worst Virginia (not a spelling error), sang the most enthusiastically, and I think he went up and slipped the band a C-note to learn the song for him. That night was both hilarious and heartwarming to see so many voices join in, with memories flooding back as we belted out every word. The photo I’ve included captures the moment well. The brown water flowed, and the reduced pace we all had the next morning was evidence of the fun we all had.

just shook his head. Next time, I think we’ll plan a little better, but it was all in good fun. The weather couldn’t have been better, and the festivities surrounding the football game made for a perfect fall day. The result of the game wasn’t what we wanted, but that didn’t dampen our spirits.

I received a fantastic email from John Devlin on Founders Day, and he said something I think all of us have started to realize as we all get a little more long in the tooth—he and others are trying to do a better job of staying in touch with one another. In fact, John, Geoff Blum, Dave Doss, Jon Jenkins, and Dave Tiller made good on that commitment and went out to Louisville for the Bourbon & Beyond Festival and toured the Bourbon Trail! The pictures look like fun, and I’m seeing a theme here with our class with a fondness for bourbon which does come as a surprise, but we seem to embrace that theme more and more.

John and his wife, Sanaz, live in Virginia Beach. They have two kids in college (Virginia Tech and JMU) and two in high school. He is still in the Navy and currently serving as the deputy chief of the Medical Corps.

Geoff Blum and his wife, Lana, live in Waterford, Virginia, and are proud parents of three college students: Evan at Appalachian State University, Vivian at Penn State, and Stella at the College of Charleston. Geoff currently works for a private equity-backed software company.

Dave Doss and his wife, Marlina, have two boys, both in college (Texas Tech and Embry-Riddle–Daytona Beach). Dave is still in the Air Force and

Brother Rats, Fall greetings to all of you and your families!

And, of course, no game day weekend is complete without a good retelling of the previous night’s activities over a tailgate—or, in this case, the “lightly provisioned” one we set up. The jokes from every passerby were directed at my lack of variety. Even the superintendent walked up and

Class of 1995: Pictured at the Jim Beam Distillery are (from left) John Devlin, Jon Jenkins, Dave Tillar, Geoff Blum, and Dave Doss.

currently serves as the deputy director of Plans And Policy (J5), USSTRATCOM at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

Jon Jenkins returned to Virginia Beach after graduation, serving in law enforcement. He currently works for the city as a local probation officer at Community Corrections & Pretrial Services.

Dave Tillar relocated his family from Richmond, Virginia, to Gulf Breeze, Florida, where he works as an engineer for a consulting company. You may have seen Dave in an email from the Alumni Agencies, where he spoke in a video about his move and how the VMI community welcomed him to Florida.

Class Notes

Over the next couple of months, I’ll be working on pulling in the final details for our 30th Reunion April 25–26. A “save the date” email went out not too long ago, and you can expect an email to come out in January that will have details and the links to register. It has been fun talking with many of you about the plans for the reunion and to have so many people reach out and be so willing to help in the planning and execution. The plans are firming up, and I am excited to everyone back together on post once again.

Here’s to many more gatherings, memories, and good times ahead this holiday season. Until then, wishing you and yours a happy Thanksgiving!

Virginia. As you can see in the picture provided, we come together to honor our brothers. Thank you to so many of you who made that happen. Let’s continue to love and support Ken’s family and their future, and God bless them all. We have yet another general officer in our ranks! Congratulations to Rusty McGuire! Col. Rusty E. McGuire was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 2024, at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. He succeeds Brig. Gen. Doyle Gills as the Virginia National Guard assistant adjutant general for Army Strategic Initiatives. Rusty most recently served as the commander of the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade. This is not officially confirmed, but it may be that this is the first time in VMI history that roommates at VMI both reached the rank of general, with Rusty joining his roommate Nop Kuljanyavivat, who was promoted to major general in the Royal Thai Army back in 2020.

A proud member of Cold Steel Charlie, Jason Smith was elected as district attorney for the North Carolina Prosecutorial District 6 New Hanover and Pender Counties. He has been with the District Attorney’s Office for close to 14 years. During the last 9 years, he has been the lead assistant district attorney in Pender County, supervising all criminal cases in that courthouse, a satellite office of justice of North Carolina Prosecutorial District 6 that covers Pender County. Congratulations and continued success.

Many of us got the news that Mike Waltz has been nominated by incoming President Trump to be his national security adviser. What an incredible honor, and we are certainly proud of Mike for his continued service to our nation. This will no doubt be a critical role in the new administration. We wish him well in this new role.

I heard from Ricky Mattoso, who said he and Cliff Weddington had a surprise meetup in Asheville for Jamie Yoxtheimer’s 50th birthday! It’s been great to see so many BRs celebrating their 50th birthdays together.

I had the opportunity to travel to Alaska this past August on vacation and was able to meet up with Mike Deegan in Cooper Landing, Alaska, along the Kenai River. It was great to see Mike and also John Newton ’97, as well. They were great hosts, and I recommend everyone take a trip up there and do some fishing with Mike. It’s an incredible place to visit.

I also heard from my old roommate, Josh Lewis, who recently moved to Southern Maine. If there are any BRs in that area and really down to Boston, you have a new BR in the neighborhood. He has a house on a lake I will

Brother Rats,

Hey, brother rats. When you receive these notes, it will be the new year. So many significant things have happened this past fall that continue to make me feel proud and honored to be a part of such an impressive and closely connected class. We are the mighty Class of 1996. In the days leading up to me writing our class notes from August 2024, we lost our brother, Ken Mears. It was inspiring to see so many of our brother rats attend Ken’s funeral services both in Texas and an amazing showing of support in

Class of 1995: Attending the Institute Society Dinner are (from left) Ante Sucic, Kurt Polk, Brian Kellner, Tim Miller, Lee Grimes, Lloyd Taliaferro, Michael Fellows, Chad Tester, Jonathan Mayo, and David Mitchell.

Jon Dano

Nick Latsios

Class of 1996: Attending Ken Mears’ memorial service are (from left) Sterling Sweeney, Chris Gorman, Bill Leonard, Christian Hoff, John Adams, Brian Forrest, Matt Holland, Doug Estes ’94, Jamal Thomas, James Flaherty, Chris Noe, Stephen Johnson, Scott Shropshire, Colin Boynton, Tad Blackburn, Dallas Richards, Travis Hughes, Mark Townsend, Bryan Eberhardt, Hunter Seal, Kevin Mable, Wes Parmer, and Matt Bahen.

certainly be visiting soon.

Nick Latsios reported that we had a good showing on Family Weekend with a group of brother rats coming to Lexington. It included some returning for the first time in many years. Brother Rat Shawn Stephan recently retired from his Navy service and brought his son, Seth, to see where it all started. Seth is a high school senior and will be applying to VMI for next year. We all wish him the best of luck in the application process. Both Travis Hughes and Steve Johnson were in town with their kids, who are currently rats working hard to carry on the legacy of ’96 with pride. The surprise of the day was running into Demond Ferebee, who was on post for the first time since graduation and may have admitted he misses this place and wants to visit more often. Hunter Seal was on post with his father and working hard as always to coordinate our BRs on post and getting us together to take a photo between the parade and the march down to the game. We missed a few in the photo, including Bobby Prince, Barron Mills, and John Kokolis

Around Halloween, I met up with Vern Wilkens, where he said he was an avid ghost hunter back when we were at VMI. He said he often went into the catacombs to search for ghosts but was never scared because he always carried some Old Bay with him that he believed kept him safe from any spirits.

All the best to you and your families, and God bless Ken Mears

Jon and Nick

1997

David M. Hudock

Gentlemen

of the Old Corps!

Greetings from our nation’s capital to each of you as you emerge from your holiday season hangovers and Dark Ages funk! Presumably, as you’re reading this in February, your teeth are chattering as you anxiously await for spring to actually spring, unless you’re Ian Brooks or Billy Edmunds living the dream in Hawaii, or you’re Jim Rogers and you’re on the bottom side of the globe enjoying summer right now. Either way, stop what you’re doing and feast your eyes for some brief moments on the comings and goings of the Class of 1997 below!

Once again, allow me to start with the Pentagon, which is always full of surprises—not just with wacky policy decisions or bad budget judgments but also with whomever you might run into while entering or exiting the building or coming and going from the Pentagon Athletic Center, as was the case for me when Hompeng Komthirath and I crossed paths! Homer completed his active duty Army career a few years ago and is now a contractor for the Department of the Army in its G3/5/7 directorate, where he, coincidentally, works with one of our dykes, Steve Kavanaugh ’94! It’s a

world and an even smaller Pentagon, so it was nice

small

Class of 1996: On post are (from left) Shawn Stephan, Travis Hughes, Nick Latsios, Hunter Seal, Demond Ferebee, and Steve Johnson.

Class of 1996: Jamie Yoxtheimer, Ricky Mattoso, and Cliff Weddington.

Class of 1996: Jon Dano and Mike Deegan.

Class of 1996: U.S. Army Col. Michael Solovey, Maj. Gen. James Ring ’88, Brig. Gen. Rusty McGuire, Brian Hornaman, Cy DeKeyser ’02, Chris Lowe, Shawn Callahan, Turner Perrow, Brent Helmick ’94, Nick Latsios, Christian Hoff, John Bushman ’97, Col. Max Casteleyn, Cassel Adamson, Jamal Thomas, John Adams, Col. Beau Mason ’00, Marlin Ikenberry ’95; Chuck Reinhold ’99, retired Maj. Gen. John McLaren ’74, Col. Seung Lee, Col. Corey Stavinoha ’02, and Dr. Clay Mountcastle ’94.

Class Notes

to run into you, Homer. Don’t be a stranger!

Speaking of small worlds and living the dream, Billy Edmunds is killing it in Hawaii, where he serves at PACAF Headquarters as the deputy inspector general. Coincidentally, and completely not related to our class, he serves in the same office with a family member of mine who, after packing off his last kid to college (not VMI), moved with his wife (my cousin) to Hawaii to work in Billy’s office. This is in no way germane to these notes, but what is germane, however, is Billy’s recent visit with B.J. Grinage! Billy was dropping off his son at Waynesburg University in Southwestern Pennsylvania this fall, which afforded him the opportunity to link up with B.J., who does not live too far away outside of Pittsburgh. See the smiling

duo in the accompanying photograph; Billy is no doubt smiling because he knows he’s headed back to Hawaii, where he has extended his duty for another year, at which point he’ll retire from the Air Force and ... stay in Hawaii permanently? He said himself, “It’s tough to imagine going anywhere else after this paradise!” No doubt, brother, but beware of going native (just ask Ian!). Thanks for dropping us a line, Billy, and good luck over the rest of your tour.

It’s not often that a BR runs into a general officer at a sporting event tailgate, but when he does, there’s a good chance it’s brigadier general and brother rat, Hobbs! This was the case for Cooper Reid, who, on a recent excursion to the Institute one fine fall football weekend, made an unplanned rendezvous with Chris. They had time to snap a

photograph but not much else, as the football team was no doubt accomplishing amazing feats on the field, and they were in no mood to miss any of that action. Thanks for taking the time to snap the pic, fellas, and next time see about getting Brother Rat Flounder Ogletree and his beard in the photo for a brother rat beard-off.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Will Tong came up on the net and provided a quick update on his recent activity. Earlier this spring, he traveled to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was able to witness the retirement of his rat, Ryan Cengeri ’00, from the Air Force. Also at the ceremony, probably not by coincidence, was Ryan’s older brother and our brother rat, Steve Cengeri! Steve has been missing in action for some time, but Will confirmed for us that he is alive and well and living outside of Detroit with his wife. In other news, closer to home, Will said his daughter, Paige, submitted her application to VMI! He claims she has no interest in attending and applied “just for him,” but we’ll see how the next few months go; she will join an already steady stream of 1997 offspring flowing through barracks. Will is coming up on 20 years with the SEC and is facing mandatory retirement in—wait for it—2037, unless something drastic happens before then. You’ve got some time to plan, Will, and in the meantime, I hope to see you at a football game or reunion before then. Thanks for checking in!

This will be a short entry for our class, but before you close this edition of the Alumni Review, flip a few pages back to the Class of 1946 entry and read about the recent interment at Arlington National Cemetery of a member of its class, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Morton C. Mumma III ’46. His story is a fascinating one, filled with history and firsts, and far too fulfilling to be adequately captured in a short notes entry. I was honored to have been able to attend the interment at Arlington in September and tried to capture it and a bit of his life in the notes. Thanks for checking it out, and thanks for tolerating another edition of 1997 class notes! Enjoy the rest of your springs and look again for another fun-filled entry on these pages in May.

RVM!

1998

Joey Bates

I hope this quick update finds you all doing well and getting ready for Christmas, or in this case,

Class of 1997: Will Tong with Ryan Cengeri ’00, his rat, at Ryan’s retirement ceremony.

Class of 1997: Will Tong (left) and Steve Cengeri reunite at the retirement ceremony for Ryan Cengeri ’00.

Class of 1997: B.J. Grinage and Billy Edmunds in Southwestern Pennsylvania in summer 2024.

Class of 1997: Chris Hobbs (left) and Cooper Reid.

Class notes

having had a good holiday when you receive these notes and have created the new year! My, how 1 year goes by so fast—it is hard to believe that this time last year, I was writing these fresh off our reunion weekend!

We have a number of BRs who are back at post more frequently these days to visit their new “rats” who matriculated with the Class of 2025+3 this summer! Congrats, Jimmy Stanley (daughter Emma), Todd Boykin (son Sadler), and John Gonzales (son Camden)! It is really cool that the legacy continues, and I hope to see you all sometime when you are coming in.

Neil Holloran checked in and shared it has been an interesting time since the reunion over a year ago, and he still thinks about the good time it was! He recently ran into Travers Clemons and Drew Robinson ’01 at a Richmond wrestling tournament over a weekend in September, and it turns out their sons were competing in nearby weight classes. He said Travers runs a wrestling club in Richmond and gave him some good tips for his son, who is going into his second year of wrestling after starting in his last year of middle school. He’s a freshman now and possibly looking at VMI in the future, so we shall see!

Neil has a standing “coffee” hour at the Pentagon for those who were at the reunion and discussed that no one had taken him up on it until the one and only Dave Nash reached out to say he was in town in November! Dave and Neil met in Crystal City, and he also connected him with Tim Berry, who works with Neil at Dahlgren. They should be getting together again soon and promise to provide an update. Evidently, Dave and Neil had smash burgers and tater tots at this place, and just as they were served their food, a lady walks up eyeing the tater tots, and she says, “I’ve never had one,” to which

being the VMI gentleman Neil is, he offered her a couple from the overflowing bowl. He described the scene as being banned from the grill line as a rat and then breaking out to the wondrous grease, fat, and meat of the Crozet Hall. She and her table enjoyed the leftovers. Anyway, Neil returned home from the mini reunion with Dave and found the Alumni Review in the mail, so it inspired him to write. Thanks for sharing, Neil, and I will hit you up when I am a little further north!

Sean Hicklin and I took a weekend pilgrimage to Kentucky for a fun weekend of muzzleloader hunting, which did not result in a trophy. We got the family together here in Lex Vegas for trick or treating, and his daughter stayed over the following weekend. We are gathering on the farm soon

Class of 1998: John Gonzalez, Camden Gonzalez ’28, Jimmy Stanley, and Emma Stanley ’28 in fall 2024.

Class of 1998: John Gonzales and his son, Camden Gonzalez ’28, with Christian Craft and Travers Clemons at matriculation in August 2024.

Class of 1998: Dave Nash and Neil Holloran.

Class of 1998: At matriculation in August 2024 are (from left) John Gonzales, Jimmy Stanley, Brandon Bissell, Christian Craft, and Travers Clemons.

Class of 1998: John Gonzales and his son, Camden Gonzales ’28, at matriculation in August 2024.

to take a crack at some Bedford County whitetails and may make a pilgrimage to Ohio in early January for muzzleloader season. All is well with Huck, and he is inside 1 year from retirement, which does not have him excited at all!

Thierry Lemercier has a restaurant in the Best Western with great steak, seafood, and, of course, a Class of 1998 flag from the 25th Reunion. Be sure to check out the Restaurant by Abigail when you are in town! He and family are doing great, and I see him rolling around when I am not making my way back and forth to Charlotte, although we do not gather much lately with the schedules and the demands he has of running two businesses and raising three little ladies, but we shall remedy that soon!

The quickest way to reach me is via text or at joeybates@hotmail.com, and my commitment to you is a response, along with working hard tirelessly to make sure we all enjoy the trips to post in the years ahead.

I hope you are well, and when you read these notes in February 2025, that you take a few minutes to shoot me an email, Facebook message, or text message so I have more to share. If you are coming to town this fall/winter/spring for any activities, please give me a shout in advance ... Rah Virginia Mil! ’98, ’98, ’98.

1999 Jay Witt

Greetings, Brother Rats,

It was an absolute blast seeing everyone at the reunion this fall! What a great time filled with amazing memories, new and old. For those who couldn’t come, you were missed, and we likely stretched the truth about you in the stories we told since you weren’t there to say otherwise.

As has been the tradition at our reunions, we passed the class agent leadership baton to our Brother Rat Jeff Golden. Moving forward, you will be receiving communications from Jeff for class notes and other class related information. Thanks for volunteering, BR Golden!

As for me, it was inspiring to serve as your class agent for the last 5 years. The Class of 1999 is an

Class Notes

amazing group of men doing truly life-changing, community-changing, and world-changing things ... and it was a pleasure chronicling those things in our class notes.

Speaking of the notes: Brother Rat Jeff Morrison passed along a quick update to let you know he hated missing the reunion, but he did so for good reason; his wife was close to giving birth to their third child, Cooper Lincoln Morrison. Jeff reports that mom and baby are doing well, and he is enjoying another round of sleepless nights. Jeff’s career is also going very well; he is still with Securitas Security Services as a program director in their global clients group. Thanks for the update, Jeff, and congratulations on the birth of your third child!

BR Daniel Payne dropped a note stating, “My wife, McKenzie, and I had a stellar time at the reunion. I was glad to see so many men I haven’t seen since we left and was really touched by a few powerful stories of men who are impacting lives on a deep, meaningful level! Shout out to Brian Withers, Jeff Golden, Patrick Henderson great conversations! My eldest, Jack, turned 18 in August and has committed to attending Liberty in 2025.”

Brother Rat Aaron Hamilton put in some extra work to attend the reunion this fall, and he writes: “I have paid the Rockbridge-Lexington General District Court for the welcome back traffic ticket I received when I arrived in Lexington for the reunion. This is my third traffic violation in Lexington, but it had been 25 years since the

last one! I rolled through the stop sign as I exited I-81 and turned right to go to the Wyndham Hotel parking lot. It was a good reminder to be very careful and aware of all traffic laws when visiting Lexington.” Aaron, at least you weren’t running the block, and it wasn’t the post police who busted you!

BR Chuck Fleet reported some significant family events. Chuck’s son, Andy, earned his Eagle rank in the Boy Scouts of America after serving as senior patrol leader for his troop. Chuck’s oldest son, Alex, just started driving and, as of this writing, hasn’t had an accident! Congrats to Andy and Alex alike—those are both significant achievements! BR Fleet also mentioned he would be celebrating the Institute out West during the Founders Day dinner in Denver.

That’s it for updates this quarter, brother rats. As always, keep your contact information updated with the Alumni Agencies and reach out anytime; there’s never a bad time to reconnect!

In the Bonds, BR Jay Witt

2000

Chris Abbott

If you are reading this, we are fully in swing into planning the 25th. Please connect with your company representative or myself if you have any questions. Getting updates is not only a thankless job, it’s like pulling the teeth of a skeleton behind glass in the Smithsonian—near impossible. Based on my most recent technique, I am happy to report the following:

Tony Gagliardi is alive. Devon Jones shared he was still alive. Danny Boyers told me he was still alive.

Chad Welch was not only alive but close to advancing from platinum to diamond medallion status on Delta Airlines. He plans to share on New Year’s Day.

John Wilson is alive but recovering from a broken hand due to a motorcycle wreck.

Brad Allen is alive, and I was really close to seeing him at a car show in Pensacola, where my daughter is planning to get married. I am looking for volunteers to postpone this event, if you know what I mean.

Matthew Martin is alive and is pleading for everyone not to ride motorcycles in Florida. I second that, Matthew.

Class of 1999: Charles Fleet’s son, Andy, recently earned his Eagle Scout award.

Jeff Golden

VMI Class of 1999 25th Reunion

Justin V. Cole is alive, sort of. But it could be his twin; we are not sure.

Jonathan Lee announced he, too, was alive. L.A. Gonzalez was alive at this submittal.

Mac Sembler stated strongly that he was alive, while Jim Martin started getting all Shakespearian and pontificated on what alive could mean. If you’re following him on social, he has a Mad Max creation in the garage.

Ryan Cengeri is mostly alive, while Brent Kennedy stated his aliveness has put him into 26 years of the Army. He is still in Hawaii at Fort Shafter making efforts to preposition supplies and equipment in the first island chain.

James Peng is alive. Conrad Bicknell is alive and shared he is still turning dinosaurs into thrust for AA. At first, I thought he was shooting exotic movies with Micah, but then realized that AA is American Airlines, thanks to ChatGPT.

Jimmy Shelton is alive. Paul Lee is alive.

Charlie Townes is alive and is taking his aliveness from Richmond to Quinton, Virginia.

Jim Boatright is alive, and so is Jim Gorski

Beau Mason is alive and, to keep alive, is enjoying hunting season by drinking the blood of animals to prolong his aliveness. In addition, his son, Beau Jr., drank too much blood and has applied for early acceptance at the “I.” He and Conrad Bicknell prove to each other they are alive by Facetiming.

Class Notes

Once again, Will Beverlin blessed me with three paragraphs, an audiobook, and a racy video sharing his updates with me, so I will try to narrow down that he is in fact alive, his race team took home its first-ever track championship, he lost 20 pounds, and he is excited to be wearing his VMI clothes around the house. It was awesome catching up with him in Sarasota while on a work trip.

Gregory Fedor is alive and gainfully employed by the federal government. He has gone back into hiding and will check in next year after the DOGE review. He stated he loved all of us ... oops, he said, “like,” and I don’t feel like hitting the backspace.

Ed Pearson is alive in SoCal.

Paul Belmont is alive and still in the Army, coming up on 25 years, and still with the history faculty at West Point. He just made the boomerang to Lex Vegas to see Paul IV.

Ron Allen was promoted to captain (O6) Nov. 1. He is still working at the Pentagon on the OPNAV staff. Since Ron is a robot-killing machine, I think he qualifies as alive.

Matt Herberger shared with me he is alive.

Charles Minski is alive, and is in his second year at United, still crushing Germantown, Tennessee.

Tony Cerella shared that not only is he alive, but he has managed to keep his family alive in Italy.

Pat Haddock is alive and spent a weekend with Boatright, North, Bangura, and Castleberry, which he stated was, and I quote, “Lovely.” He did not give a location.

Greg Bosley has shared he is not alive, rather, living the dream, but quickly backpaddled to just living, which I think is kinda alive.

Michael Mule is alive ... for now. His oldest daughter just got her learner’s permit, and he has requested prayers.

Donald O’Sullivan is alive.

“Caught up with Will Alley ’01, Melissa (Williams) Krawiec ’01, Addison Hagan ’97, and Ben Ashmore ’99 Also saw Paul Belmont ’27 and rats, Hammond 2025+3, Alley 2025+3, and Auginbaugh 2025+3. Patrick McDowell connected me with Ryan Hammond to talk about her daughter going to VMI, and feeling responsible, I kept an eye out. Then found out Will’s daughter was going into the Rat Mass, and then found out they were both in Alpha Co. He said he met her roommate, another blonde in Alpha. I asked if it was the last name Hammond. He said ‘No,’ but her dad was a Marine vet with a service dog with a tough last name. I asked if the name was Brad Auginbaugh, and my dyke it was! So, the only three rats in my orbit all ended up in Alpha and roommates. Not astronomical odds, but a great VMI story.” Yes, Paul wrote all of that, and I copied and pasted. I got lost and couldn’t transcribe. He is the only BR who gets his own paragraph and “A” for effort.

Gill Decker is alive. Not only is Matt Parker alive, but he added three exclamation points. I believe he is a teacher, and that must be some secret thing.

OK, Paul, you have competition or maybe a potential pen pal. Matt McComas is alive ... about the same there, juggling three boys’ school, scouts, and sports schedules while running a civil engineering company. BR and VMI roommate

Jon J.P. Palmer did him a solid and helped transport kids recently when the wife was out of town and the boys had four games at four venues in a 4-hour window. Had a visit from Jim Bourie

Class of 2000: Matt McComas, Jim Bourie ’01, and Jon Palmer.

Class of 2000: Pat Haddock, Jim Boatright, Micah North, Nick Castleberry, and Alhaji Bangura.

Class of 2000: Will Beverlin (left) and Chris Abbott in Sarasota, Florida.

’01 and his family and caught up with Jon J.P. Palmer for dinner one Saturday and a brewery that Sunday. The three have known each other since elementary school, so even after a couple of years apart, they pick up right where they left off. He enjoys seeing Matt Keller often as they live close, their kids go to the same school, and he provides legal counsel for the company. Matt’s been doing some good mountain climbing and hikes out West but is currently a little hobbled with an injured foot. He also keeps up with Bobby Bartolomeo. In addition to taking care of his two boys, Bobby is still with the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office and in charge of their training facility. Recently, he found out he is being promoted to major around Nov. 28. This is the first time they have had a major in 20 years. I think the promotion will make him fourth in line behind the sheriff, and he will oversee the jail, intake/ release, and possibly a couple of other divisions.

Matt Milburn is alive and with Viasat for 3 years and was just promoted to run the BFT network for DOD. He is playing golf in his free time and traveling the world.

Craig Giorgis is alive and still a Marine (according to these people, you’re still a Marine if you’re dead). He is chilling back in California at Camp Pendleton.

John Archer thinks he is alive; his third son is getting a ring at the “I” and is his first legacy in the family. He’ll be in Lex Vegas to watch and hope they don’t burn down the AirBnB that’s in his name. His fourth son is a rat and still gets all of his wife’s sympathy as though she has no idea why rats are treated so bad. He is looking forward to next year’s reunion and, while patiently waiting, is still living in Idaho, trying to balance life like the rest of us.

Alhaji Bangura is alive and mysteriously stated he is planning to link up with Don O’Sullivan Scott Hillyer is back from Germany and residing happily in Philly full-time now. Working on his startup, fairs.com, which is absorbing his life in its entirety at the moment. (I feel your pain.)

Carl Hammond is alive and keeping his family safe in South Carolina. Adam Priest is alive and keeping out of trouble in Southeast North Carolina. Miten Bhavsar has stated he is not dead yet in Atlanta. Still not following direction, Miten, ta ta.

Tom Craig was the only responsible BR would proactively emailed me with some notes. He had a recent trip back to the Institute to attend a football game Saturday, Sept. 7, with his step-brother, Lee Clark ’93, and it really showed him what he’s been missing and not contributing to. So, he hit up John Downs, Jon Hartsock, and a few other BRs to see about getting some future tailgates

Class notes

going one day. That’s what I am talking about: A precursor to an awesome 25th!

Thank everyone for checking in! Can’t wait to see everyone soon!

Oh, and I am alive. I actually have no choice; my wife is pregnant, and I will be starting over, so I guess I have to keep working till I’m 80.

2001

Tony Gelormine

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the Class of 2001.

2002

Salmaan Khawaja

Brother Rats,

I hope this edition of the Review meets you and yours well. The election is over as I write these notes, and the Dark Ages have again descended upon VMI. I don’t miss the short days and long nights, that’s for sure!

Mark Mills and Matt Hylton met up in June to catch a Red Sox versus Reds baseball game in Cincinnati. They caught up during the game and then went across the river to the Haufbrauhaus biergarten in Kentucky for drinks and dinner.

Mark moved to Lexington, Kentucky, recently, and Matt is living in Dayton, Ohio. Matt is working as a civilian for the Air Force at Wright-Patt.

Both of Matt’s kids are still going strong in youth travel hockey, and Matt is helping coach both of their teams next season for the Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones. Matt, too, has picked up hockey and started playing in an adult beer league once a week.

Mark Mills moved to Lexington, Kentucky, in 2023 and is working for Fidelity Investments. He spends a lot of time traveling to West Virginia to spend time with family and in Lexington with his girlfriend, Jamie, who attended the VMI Band Company Reunion (see last Review for photos), along with her two sons, Fletcher and Cooper.

Henry Papiano, president of C Three Logistics, LLC, just finished his fourth year coaching at the high school level after 8 years of coaching at the youth level. Henry’s son, Riley, is graduating this

of 2002:

year and has an offer to play college ball at Norwich. Riley has a few other prospects looking at him, so hopefully by the time you are reading this Review, they will have an idea where he will be playing. Henry’s daughter is a cheerleader, and their youngest son is in the pep band. Henry’s wife, Heather, has been the team photographer. Henry writes, “Needless to say, my heart was full this year having my entire family at every game, all doing their own thing. Traveling around this past summer visiting colleges brought back a lot of memories of that first year at the ‘I,’ and it has been fun being on the other end of it. I still keep in touch with Jed Pusczykowski and J.C., and they both are doing well. Facebook, which seems to be for the ol’ folk like us now, has been the best way to keep up with everyone. I hope everyone is good and looking forward to seeing everyone at the next reunion.”

Again, I hope all is well with you and yours, and Rah Virginia Mil! The Khawaja seven are still living the zoo life every day ... and surviving.

In the Spirit, Salmaan

2003

William “Bill” Talley V

Brother Rats, I hope this set of notes finds you all well. As I

Class

Matt Hylton and Mark Mills at a Reds vs. Red Sox baseball game in Cincinnati, Ohio.

sit down to type these, we’re on the cusp of the holiday season, and when they hit your mailbox, we’ll have already rung in the new year. There’s been so much that’s happened since August in our class, and I’ve had the pleasure of catching up with many BRs, as well.

Most recently, Lara Chambers, Stuart Chambers, Kyle and Julie Haire, and I caught up at VMI to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Institute Society. It was a great evening where Gary Sinise (aka Lt. Dan) was the speaker and was at the same table as Lara and Stuart for dinner.

The next day, Kyle and Julie caught up with Blake Traina and his family, as well as Andy Biesterveld and his crew, to tailgate and take in the football game.

The weekend prior to that, I ran into Taylor Goodall; his wife, Jan; and their son in the Keydet Club tailgate area at the football game. Taylor came up to me, and I told him that I’d noticed a guy coming into the area who looked like him and appeared to have on a VMI ’03 ballcap but then noticed how much gray hair he had and thought, “Naw, that guy’s too old to be Taylor!” Lol.

I also ran into Willie Hale at a football game in late September. Willie and his crew were headed to a softball tournament in Charlottesville for his oldest daughter after the game.

Class Notes

Jon Faff continues to do his best with members of the Corps. I noticed Jon educating some cadets after a football game this fall

while I was sitting in the stands and went down to catch up with him. I discovered Jon was promoted to sergeant major in May ’22 (if I’ve got my date right). If you ever think the commandant’s staff is going soft, just remember Jon is there enforcing the standards we knew as cadets.

Sam Newsome; his wife, Tai; and their whole crew were up at VMI for The Citadel game in October, which also happened to be Family Weekend. Their son, Sam, is a rat in Charlie Co. You could see and feel the pride in Sam and Tai’s smiles. Rat Newsome (2025+3) seems to have acclimated well to life at the Institute despite him being in Charlie Co. and not Echo Co.

Phil Harris; his wife, Deborah; and their daughter, Kennedy, were also up at The Citadel game. We had the pleasure of tailgating together. Phil and Kennedy were looking forward to the skiing season starting again so they could get back on the slopes.

In non-football related interactions, Trey Guy reached out to let me know he was able to catch up with Jon Anderson for lunch in August as he’s been PCSing in Hawaii. He also caught up with Chris Kim and Blake Traina. Trey was also promoted to colonel in November. Chis Bluhm and Jon Anderson were both at his promotion ceremony. Congratulations, Trey!

John Roche reached out, as well, sending proof of life that Tom Sheedy is, in fact, alive. John and his family moved to Roanoke, Virginia, in June after he finished war college. He says Roanoke is good; his girls have found their activities and were getting in a groove. His work is 100% remote, which he loves. He reports that Tom is doing well and living with his girlfriend. They both work at the hospital during the night shift and enjoy doing things on their days off.

I’ve spoken with Matt Brady, and his son, Luke, seems to be enjoying and doing well down at Auburn, where he’s a freshman.

While I wasn’t able to catch up with him, I saw photographic evidence on the jumbotron that Adam Britt was at the Commanders/Steelers game in November, along with his son, Nate, and his father.

Lastly, John Noonan and his wife hosted a mini

Class of 2003: Tom Sheedy and John Roche in August 2024.

Class of 2003: Pictured at Trey Guy’s promotion to colonel in the U.S. Army in November 2024 are (from left) Chris Bluhm, Chris Guy ’07, Trey, Chip Satterlee ’04, Jon Anderson, and Rich Connaroe ’04.

Class of 2003: Bill Talley, Savannah Talley, Stuart Chambers, Lara Chambers, Kyle Haire, and Julie Haire at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2003: Trey Guy and Jon Anderson in Hawaii in August 2024.

Class notes

reunion in NOVA to welcome BR Rob Osypowicz, who was coming into town in mid-November. At last count, I think there were about 15 BRs who were planning on being in attendance. I look forward to getting some photos to include in our next set of notes.

You may notice that there are no Chaz Wagner photos in this set of notes. Lol.

Until then, thanks to all who reached out with updates and photos! Rah Virginia Mil, ’03, ’03, ’03!

James Palmer wrote, “Libby (Palmer) wrapped up a travel nurse contract in late September, and I took government/military leave to travel across France/Spain on the Camino de Santiago—over 500 miles by foot. This is her second time, my first, and it’s been a great adventure. We’ll hit up Cyprus or Scandinavia before getting back in mid-November.” They finished up the Camino Nov. 7 after 34 days of walking.

Tony Peters is teaching middle and high school math at Ankara EHS, a tiny DoDEA school in Türkiye. He writes, “Ankara is 75% foreign diplomat kids. I restarted a dormant wrestling program, and I coach women’s soccer. I have 18 countries represented on my roster: Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turkmens, Ukrainians ... you name it. My wife is the base commander, and I teach two of my own kids! I am still in the Navy Reserve, drilling out of Naples, Italy, and promoted to commander in October. My ceremony was very meaningful and in front of the whole school. I had to buy a lot of pizza. My wife performed the oath, and my kids pinned me on. We will depart Ankara this summer for my wife’s next Air Force assignment.” Congratulations, commander!

M.David Yaman started a new Department of Defense job at Fort Meade, Maryland, and he, along with his wife and two kids, moved from Northern Virginia to Howard County, Maryland, over the summer. Although they miss Northern Virginia, the suburban area and surrounding farmlands is quieter, has less traffic, and their house has more room for their family. David’s new job is challenging, but there is plenty of room to grow and learn. He’s looking forward to this new chapter in his career with the DOD.

Josh Mulford spent last year working out of the U.S. embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, as one of the military attachés to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He writes, “Not only was it rewarding to serve in Ukraine and support their fight for independence, but I got to serve with two other VMI graduates. I

Class of 2003: Chris Kim, Trey Guy, and Blake Traina in Hawaii.

Scott E. Campbell

Class of 2004: Retired U.S. Army Maj. Scott Campbell; Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Johnson ’03; Col. Carter Lee, a graduate of Washington and Lee University; and Lt. Col. Wilson Mustian ’01 at the Tuckahoe Elementary School Veterans Day celebration in Henrico, Virginia, Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2004: Robb Metz, J.B. Rosson, Joe Doane, Tony Miller, and David Coleman at the VMI versus Furman football game Nov. 2, 2024.

Class of 2004: U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bree Adams Guiterman and her husband, Justin, with Gary Sinise at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2004: At the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024, are (from left) Joel Andrus, J.B. Rosson, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bree Adams Guiterman, and Col. John Casper, Institute chaplain.

Class Notes

returned to D.C. this summer and serve at the Defense Intelligence Agency. I’m looking forward to retiring next summer, being around more for my family, and transitioning to a new career in the defense industry.”

Robb Metz, J.B. Rosson, Joe Doane, Tony Miller, and David Coleman made it to the VMI versus Furman football game Nov. 2, 2024. Joel Andrus was in Houston for a business trip and caught up with Lankin Board and John Ginder while he was there.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Institute Society. Gary Sinise made his first trip to post for the Founders Day celebration and the Institute Society Dinner. The class was well represented by Jole Andrus, J.B. Rosson, and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bree Adams Guiterman, as well as Institute chaplain, Col. John Casper, Nov. 8, 2024. Scott Campbell

wish someone a happy New Year, but I digress ... on with the notes!

Will Paulette sent an update last fall following the battle for the Silver Shako: “Class of 2005 was well represented at this year’s VMI versus The Citadel football game. Myself, along with Lawton Way, Tom Innes, Henry Lynch, Jimmer Kingsley, and Henry Wise, convened in Lexington for a great weekend with family and friends. Bill Paulette ’69 and Matt Mikula ’04 also tagged along. Unfortunately, the football team lost a hard-fought game, but the Class of ’05 won the tailgate for the 19th consecutive year. All attendees are doing well and are looking forward to our 20th Reunion in the spring.”

Tom Ferrara checks in for the first time in a couple of years: “After handing off command of the 9th Intelligence Squadron last June, Susan, Anthony, and I moved from Northern California to Colorado Springs. I’m currently assigned to the Intelligence Directorate at NORAD and U.S. Northern Command—we’re enjoying the change of pace and new area. We were able to catch up with Jeff Durham and his family on their vacation out here, and I’m looking forward to seeing you at our reunion!”

Speaking of, I also received a brief update from Jeff Durham: “On my way to Dallas with my daughter on Veterans Day weekend, I caught up with my ring dyke, Andrew ‘Roob’ Dawson ’03, in Oklahoma City.” No mention of seeing Tom Ferrara, but I trust that the meet-up was consensual!

Finally, we have a couple of quick hitters before I wrap things up: Conor Heely and family send their regards. Conor is currently stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego and working at CNAF (big thanks to Erin for providing this update).

Chris Perry was promoted to major in September. In addition to his family, Sabina Crites ’14 and Andrew Epps ’13 were also in attendance.

Greetings and Happy New Year, Brother Rats, I’m not fully convinced that this year marks 20 years away from the Institute, yet here we are. I’m also not sure how long after the new year you can

Class of 2004: Joel Andrus with Lankin Board and John Ginder in Houston, Texas.

Tom Hardinge

Timothy Johnson

Class of 2005: Brother rats and their families on post for the VMI versus The Citadel football game in October 2024.

Class of 2005: Conor and Erin Heely and their children celebrate the Fourth of July in Coronado, California.

Class of 2005: Jeff Durham with Andrew Dawson ’03, his ring dyke.

Derek Rankin met up with Mark Conley in Washington, D.C., at the Air Force Association Convention. Mark is doing well and still enjoying life in Japan. Derek also met up with Scott Belliveau ’83 on a trip back to post last summer.

And with that, the next time you hear from me will be in person during our 20th Reunion coming up in just a few short months—I can tell that the excitement is building. Online registration is going strong, and we have an amazing weekend planned. I cannot wait to see everyone back on post in April!

Until then and, as always, stay safe and be well.

Rah Virginia Mil!

Tom Hardinge

Class notes

I got married May 25 to Claudia Slaski Woodard at the Jupiter Beach Resort in Jupiter, Florida. It was a perfect day, officiated by Reverend Justin Woulfe. I was also lucky enough to have a few BRs join as groomsmen (Mike Carney, Mark Searles, Phil Lundberg, and best man/Reverend Justin Woulfe). I attached a few photos that I hope you can publish.”

Chris Foltz reported he was able to harvest a moose after trying for four seasons up in Alaska. A 55-inch bull emerged from the brush looking for a fight, and Chris was able to shoot him at 40 yards with his bow. He will find out soon where the Air Force is sending him next but will continue enjoying Alaska for as long as possible. Since this summer, he’s been duplex neighbors with Vinh Do ’11, so they try to balance out the West Point and Air Force Academy grads on the joint base.

Colin Adams and Will Collier flew out to Cincinnati in September to see the Commanders put a beating on the Bengals. Colin has season tickets to Commanders home games. If you ever go to a Commanders game, give Colin a shout.

Lee Cook and his fiancée, Lauren, brought their family up to VMI to attend the VMI versus The Citadel football game. The Cook and Collier families enjoyed a fun weekend on post together.

Jeff Sale let us know that he started a new job with Cybervance. Jeff is working fully remotely and is teaching cybersecurity all over the world with the State Department.

Scott Bartholomew sent the following: “Last month, I had a small ceremony at my house for my promotion to lieutenant colonel (my new reserve unit is not into ceremonies). A long way from a 1st Class private in F-Troop. Two BRs witnessed the

Brother Rats of the Excellent Class of 2006, Jimmy Woodard said, “I wanted to report that

Class of 2005: Chris Perry with his family during his promotion ceremony in September 2024.

Class of 2005: Derek Rankin and Mark Conley in Washington, D.C., in July 2024.

Will Collier

Class of 2006: Jimmy Woodard and his wife, Claudia Slaski Woodard, at their wedding, held at the Jupiter Beach Resort in Jupiter, Florida, May 25, 2024.

Class of 2006: Jed Tan and Stu Miner at a soccer game in Washington state in October 2024.

Class of 2006: Scott Bartholomew, his wife, Cara; and sons, Trevor and Zac, at Scott’s promotion to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army in October 2024.

event. Tommy Upton provided his expertise as the flag bearer/one-man color guard, and Dave Raser lent his voice to reading the orders. In other news, I’m teaching ILE for the reserve and designing training for J.P. Morgan Chase on the civilian side.”

Upon receipt of my email reminding our class to submit photos and notes, Dave Raser responded, “No.” So, it appears that Dave is doing well.

Andrew Ihnen had some big professional news to report. Andrew said, “This past year, I was nominated for and selected as an associate fellow at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. The fellows program represents the top 3% of the command’s science and technology

Class Notes

workforce. Beyond that, I can happily report that Colleen, Charlotte, and Robert are all doing well.”

Kelly Sweppenhiser, the other No. 27, spent some time on post this fall for Keydet Club board meetings. Kelly notes how great post looks now and as an alum. Swepp also ran into Bill Talley ’03 Bill and Swepp seemed to remember some events during our Rat Line and at the RDC differently. Swepp concluded with the following message: “The VMI mission is alive and well. Get off your butt and get back to post to see it for yourself. The Corps of Cadets is incredibly impressive.”

Andrew Dernovsek said, “I was ordained a deacon for les Missions Étrangères de Paris (the Paris Foreign Mission Society). It is a community of missionary priests who have been sending missionaries to unreached peoples in Asia and the Indian Ocean since 1658. MEP priests are sent to one country for their entire lives, and after the ordination mass, I received my country for life: Madagascar. I will stay in France until I am ordained a priest, probably in about a year, and then I will leave for Madagascar. It was great to see Miguel Cervoni and also to meet his wife, Julie. We were able to catch up a bit, and we’re planning on getting together again in January. If anyone else is in France, they should let us know!”

Nick Saccone let me know he and Chris Chase are both overseas serving in Kuwait at the moment. Nick and his wife are expecting a baby boy in February 2025. Nick is stationed at the Pentagon and bought a house in Fairfax, Virginia.

Stu Miner and Jed Tan were able to catch up out in Washington state back in October. Stu also said he and Phil Lacey have been enjoying drinks in Staunton this fall.

Until next time! Please keep the notes and pictures coming.

Your BR, Will

Laura

(Hash) Chancellor

Whitney Matthews

Brother Rats,

I hope your New Year has gotten off to a successful start! I’m sure everyone is looking forward to

the spring and enjoying warmer weather. Joe Cassin wrote in with many updates: He was up in D.C. in July 2024 and was able to get together with Greg Barnekoff and his family. They are all doing really well. He was training to climb Mont Blanc, which he did later in the summer. Earlier this year, Joe was selected as an honored listee in the Marquis Who’s Who for excellence in law enforcement leadership

Class of 2006: Andrew Upshaw and Frank Dolberry at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Class of 2006: Chris Foltz with a 55-inch bull moose on a bow hunting trip.

Class of 2007: Andrew Timpner takes command of the USS Farragut (DDG 99) in Mayport, Florida, Oct. 11, 2024.

Class of 2007: Thitipan Durasavin is promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps.

and training. He also got married in September to McKalyn Pinter. Matt Leary was a groomsman in the wedding, and he flew down (to East Texas) from Denver. Matt is doing great; it was great to see him again. They were able to spend a lot of time together, telling stories about their time at VMI and catching up. Unfortunately, they didn’t get a picture with the three of them. In October, after 17 years in law enforcement, Joe stepped down as the director of the East Texas Police Academy and transitioned from law enforcement to the private sector. He’s now working as a senior physical security supervisor

for a large manufacturing company outside of Dallas. He and his wife are selling their house and moving to Dallas (from deep East Texas) at the end of November 2024! He writes that he is enjoying the new challenges of the corporate world and is really looking forward to connecting with the VMI network in the Dallas area. Congratulations, Joe, on all your exciting news! Andrew Timpner also has some amazing news. He took command of USS Farragut (DDG 99) in Mayport, Florida, Oct. 11, 2024. The ceremony was a bit improvised indoors due to Hurricane Milton. Anyone is welcome to stop by for a tour if you’re in the Jacksonville area! Congratulations, Andrews!

Elise (Jones) Woodworth attended the Institute Society’s 50th anniversary dinner along with Jamaal Walton, Sean Hingley, and Jake Willis. The dinner was attended by actor and philanthropist Gary Sinise.

I attended the VMI versus William & Mary football game in Williamsburg, where I got to see Jamaal Walton, Jeff Hamilton, and Stuart Craft. We had a good time chatting and catching up!

I was on post in September 2024 for the Alumni Cadet–Career Networking Forum and got a chance to catch up with Corey Bachman, who is doing well. I also got a chance to see Jamaal Walton again. He was working hard connecting with cadets, but it was fun to see and hear how much of an impact he has already made.

I also had the opportunity to meet Gen. Jim Ring ’88 at Yorktown Day Oct. 19. I enjoyed chatting with him about VMI.

I hope everyone has a great spring. Looking forward to getting everyone’s updates!

In the Bonds,

Whitney Matthews

2008

Robert Hill

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the Class of 2008.

2009

Bradley Simpson

Brother Rats:

I hope this edition of the Review finds you and your families well. It was great catching up with all the BRs who made it back to the 15th Reunion. We had a great turnout, and I think and hope everyone had a great time. I hope we can get everyone back to the Institute for the 20th Reunion! I was able to catch up with John Collier and his wife, Grace, at the Institute Society Dinner. They were sat at the same table with my wife and me, and we got to listen to Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) give the keynote address to the society. It was a great time and a great meal. I highly recommend all of you join the Institute Society and go to the dinner. It gives you an opportunity to meet alumni from all years and across the country. Also, while I was at the dinner, I got to meet Gary Sinise for a short amount of time before the dinner.

Pete Saragnese sent me an email about the Slapshot Cup he and the alumni hockey team

Class of 2007: Jake Willis, Jamaal Walton, Elise (Jones) Woodworth, and Sean Hingley at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2007: The Freeman family with Rahm Emanuel, U.S. ambassador to Japan. Pictured are (from left) Remington, Tyler, Rahm, and Colt.

Class of 2007: Joe Cassin and his wife, McKalyn Pinter, on their wedding day in September 2024.

Class of 2009 15th Reunion

played in. The VMI alumni hockey team got together again for its annual tournament. This year, the team competed in the Slapshot Cup in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, home of the cult-classic hockey film, “Slapshot.” Winning the first two games, 5-1 and 11-2, the team was off to a great start with contributions from the whole squad. Game three was a close contest, but they ran out of steam late in the third period and lost 9-5 to the team that would ultimately go on to win the championship. As always, the tournament was a

blast and, more importantly, a great way to connect with our brothers and reflect on our time at the Institute. They look forward to playing again in 2025 and will post tournament information on VMI’s social media pages for anyone interested in coming out to watch the games. The roster of the hockey team is Pete Boyle ’19, Frank Campion ’89, Will Durkee ’06, Troy Emig ’16, Nick Hausler ’21, Matt Kania ’07, Chris Mendillo ’10, Pete Saragnese ’09, and Ethan Zebron ’16

Justin Tammelin got a new job title with VMI; he is now the Alumni Association director of networking. He is there to help alumni connect with each other and improve the strength and process of career networking. Justin also caught up with Michael Montoya in October. He is still living out in California. He sends his regrets for missing our 15th.

John Brister and his wife, Samantha “Sam,” welcomed their first son, Rowan Jude Brister, Sept. 3. Everyone is doing well.

Justin also shared about two messages with Niels Madsen a few months ago. Not enough to know anything about what he is up to but confirmed proof of life. He also spoke with Jess Naylor at the end of September, who has successfully relocated to the Richmond area. He has been in conversation with Shane Keys. He is in the process of getting out of Norfolk Southern and is looking at some options in Sysco Transportation. Cameron Murray ’12 reached out about some internship opportunities in the financial industry in Richmond, and that inspired tracking down the elusive Carter Murray to confirm that he is also doing well. He is doing secret squirrel stuff out of that five-sided building in Arlington. Andrew Krumm got a promotion to lieutenant colonel. He tried to get him to apply for the open chief of staff position at VMI, but Andrew wouldn’t budge on his Army commitment. Justin also connected with Rhys Keller. He is living in the San Antonio, Texas, area and is a dad to three little ones— two boys and a girl. He and the family are doing well. Christina Stalnaker’s yoga business is

Class of 2009: Bradley and Ashley Simpson with John and Grace Collier at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2009: The alumni hockey team at the Slapshot Cup tournament in Pennsylvania.

Class of 2009: Bradley Simpson and Jake Willis ’07 with Gary Sinise at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

going well. She offers some online classes for mindfulness and wellness. If you are starting to feel the ramifications of the physical choices you made in your youth, you should check out her stuff.

Justin sent birthday well wishes in November to Kurt Seidl, Nick Campbell, and Tom Gotwald. Kurt is in Colorado, and he and his wife welcomed their second daughter back in March. Nick is holding the blindfold of justice firmly in place in the court system in Chicago.

Tom and Justin caught up briefly. He is busy with all of the pieces of life, but he and Blayre are doing well.

Oh, and Alex Doseff! He and his wife are on their way back stateside in preparation to welcome their first child. Justin would like to see you all interact more on that Facebook page Bradley so dutifully manages. If there is anything I can do to support any of you wherever you are in the world, please reach out. Happy 185th Founders Day, and rah, ’09.

Well, that is about it for this edition of the notes. I hope everyone is doing well and out doing amazing things.

2010

David Messina

Chris Dommert

Man, y’all, it’s been a busy few months. I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and enjoyed their time over the holidays. I have to start out this edition with an apology. I have almost completely failed this quarter to get adequate updates from all our BRs on what’s going on—I’ve already mailed my form 24 to the guard room.

With that said, I feel like I’m in a weird position where I never really give updates on life because, well, y’all come here to read about everyone else! So, I’ll give a bit of an update about myself and a few I managed to get in contact with.

Will Correll reported that he met up with Charlie Barnett, Frank Keeney, and Budge Hunter for the VMI versus The Citadel game. Not sure if any of them remember any details

Class Notes

past that, but it sounded like they had fun, lol.

C.J. Knight is still living down in Navarre, Florida, and has two kids—Colt just turned 2, and Duke will be 5 New Year’s Eve. He is flying quite a bit—when he left active duty for the reserve, he joined on with Delta Airlines and flies pretty consistently with them and does guard duty flights about a week out of every month. He and Fletcher Thompson said that if anyone is ever down in the panhandle, to hit them up— they need a reason to get together!

Tristian Euritt reluctantly gave the update that he “still lives in Newport News and works as an engineer.” And, I could tell y’all he and I get up occasionally for a beer, steak, and cigar.

Chris Dommert is living up in Midlothian and works on the West End. He started a new job in May with a company called HDR, where he works as a water/wastewater project manager. Chris was recruited to the position by Tim Moore ’97, who coincidentally taught the wastewater class at VMI the year after Chris took it. This is his fourth straight job he’s been hired for by an alum or there was an alum involved in the hiring process (to include the Air National Guard). Chris currently works for an alum from the Class of ’09. Chris currently has three kiddos, with a fourth on the way in March! Congrats, Chris! Noah (12), Hazel (9), and Rosemary (5) keep Chris busy with dance, gymnastics, and Boy Scouts. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Chris and Rosemary with my baby girl earlier this year when they came down for a mermaid festival happening in Newport News and dropped by my place for a short visit.

Life has been a wild ride over the last yearand-a-half, and honestly, I hope the roller coaster has come to a complete stop by the time everyone reads this. I’m living down in Newport News and work at the local shipyard. I managed to secure a promotion back in December ’23 to an engineering manager 3 (middle management). I’ve bounced around to a bunch of different programs while at the yard, but I’m currently working on the design program for the next attack submarine, and I hope to ride this program all the way to retirement (it’ll be neat to see it from initial concept design to putting sailors in adversaries’ waters). I have the pleasure of working with Dave Soldow ’92 on an almost daily basis and Nick Maul ’15 on a somewhat less regular basis, but still every few weeks.

I’ve got two kiddos that keep me busy—Eleanor Cassidy is my 6-year-old baby girl, and she has totally stolen my heart, and Bennett Christopher is my 2-and-a-half-year-old who is a total pistol but also a huge love bug. I love getting

to chase them around and see them experience new things for the first time.

I’m into home renovation as a side hobby and just sold my second house that I like to joke was a slow roll and not a flip (lived in it for 5-plus years). I more than doubled what I paid for it with the sale of it, and I’m onto the next adventure.

Part of selling the house is that the mother of my children and I have decided to part ways. So I’m now an eligible bachelor if anyone wants to play matchmaker for me, lol!

The week the class notes were coming due is right when everything with the sale, purchase of the new house, and final settlement agreement were all coming due, as well. I had a teacher in high school that used to always say P^5—proper planning prevents poor performance. I won’t let it happen again.

2011

Thomas H. Pace

2011,

I hope everyone has had a great year so far! My wife and I recently had our third child, John Thomas Pace V, future VMI Keydet Class of 2046.

Kyle Goodale, who is working as a charter pilot, happened to be in Fort Worth on a work trip and was able to stop by and watch my daughter,

Class of 2011: Matt Talbott at a Creed concert.

Hank, score two goals in her soccer game. He’s bouncing around the country, so give him a shout if he’s ever on a layover in your town.

Matt Talbott somehow convinced my wife to let us go see Creed together while she took care of our 5-year-old, 3-year-old, and 3-week-old. It was the greatest concert of all time, with none other than 3 Doors Down opening for them. Next year is Kid Rock with Nickelback as the opener, so hope to see some more BRs there.

Jon Twigg is enjoying his shore duty (which is Army/USMC/AF normal duty) for the first time in his Naval career. He’s already banged out three kids, Amelia (10), Douglas, and Charlotte (almost 2), with a fourth on the way.

Zach Kier, along with his wife, Rachel, and the kids are departing their adopted home of Central Alaska and moving to Southeast Asia to be full-time volunteers with the Free Burma Rangers. We wish him safety out there. He’s been to Syria twice helping Kurds and other ethnicities in Northeast Syria in this capacity and to other conflict zones, as well.

Drew Luxhoj got to link back up within this Zach Henke and his wife, Sam ’12, in Virginia. Zach’s

flying with the 160th as a helicopter pilot, and Drew is a doctor in the USAF.

Eric Tyson reached out and wanted to say “hi” to the class! He’s looking forward to getting back in touch with everyone and will see y’all

at the 15th Reunion coming up.

Just as Slemp lives, Luegers was first.

Tom Pace

2012

Bruce Howard

Brother Rats,

I hope this edition of the Review finds you and your families well. Here are updates from some of the members of our class, so I hope you enjoy.

Brandon Gary recently switched real estate teams in the Richmond area, now joining forces with Providence Hill Real Estate. The new group is VMI alum-based, so I know Brandon will fit in well and be very successful with that team. Aside from career news, he and his wife are also expecting the birth of their second child over the holidays. Hopefully I can get an update for the next edition to share that with the class. Congrats on all the exciting life changes, Brandon!

Arthur Morrill and his family have moved to Katy, Texas. He left active duty and is now a fintech product manager. On a more personal note, Art is also expecting baby No. 4 to be born in January, so hopefully another addition to the VMI family I can share in the next Review! Congrats on the move in the professional life, Art, and especially congratulations on the expanding family!

Trey Copenhaver has started working at VMI in the Miller Academic Center. As soon as you think you leave Lexington, she has a way of bringing you back in! Trey is currently living in Staunton and is a happily married man. Glad to hear you’ve found yourself back at VMI!

Chad Sussman is an elderly ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard. He commissioned over the summer as a reservist and graduated OCS alongside another VMI alum, Jonathan Chu ’17. Chad, I’m glad to hear your enthusiasm for this new experience, and I hope you’re teaching the younger reservists that

Class of 2011: Tom Pace with his wife, Sarah, and their children.

Class of 2011: The Luxhoj and Henke families.

you can’t put a price on wisdom!

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, I would be remiss if I did not mention the passing of our very own Kyle Hofstetter. Kyle passed away in August after a roughly 6-year battle with stage 4 fibrolamellar. That in itself is a testament to the fighter that Kyle was, being able to battle back against cancer for so long. Kyle was surrounded by family and friends to the end, some of whom were our very own BRs. It is remarkable to see the friendships made between BRs nearly 15 years ago can withstand the test of time as we support one another during life’s peaks and valleys. I would hope everyone will continue to pray for Kyle’s wife and two daughters, as they are and will continue to always be a part of this VMI family. Also, there should be a reference to Kyle in the Taps section of this February Review.

I’m probably missing someone, so if I did leave anyone out of these updates, I apologize. I greatly appreciate all those who sent information to share with the class. I look forward to hearing from more of you before the next edition. Take care and until next time!

In the Bonds, Bruce

Rob&AnnieMarieIncontro

Michael Scaplehorn

Class Notes

the following classmates who provided input for this edition!

Capt. Carl Byrd, Maj. Nicholas Azzolini, and Capt. Nathan Gibbs all graduated from Army Intermediate Level Education at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in August 2024. ILE is a formal education program for mid-career Army officers preparing for command and staff roles. Course description provided just in case our Devil Dog, Squid, and Chair Power BRs weren’t trackin’. Despite Nate missing the photo, the three are

now better prepared to take on new leadership challenges and continue to humbly serve.

We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and a happy New Year. We live in times often fraught with uncertainty, and we want to thank each of you for your service to our nation. Whether that service is in our armed forces or as citizens integral to the fabric of your local communities. As the inscription on the parapet reads, we know each of you is “... ready in times of deepest peril to vindicate [our nation’s] honor or defend [its] rights.”

On a less somber note, we have enjoyed catching up with everyone via social media and specifically

Maj. Fritz Dawson and his family continue to enjoy their exciting tour of duty in Germany with the U.S. Army Dental Corps. They have had the opportunity to travel all around Europe, stumbling upon a whole host of Keydets. He attended the Garmisch Dental Excellence Symposium, where he linked up with Capt. Jarred Doran ’18, Capt. Jacob Hyde ’17, and Capt. Conor Snyder ’18. Additionally, he met up with Baxter Blevins before he PCS’d back from Paris. Fritz and Don Mays then took their families on an excursion to Italy.

As always, we stand by to support our class in connecting with the Institute, Alumni Agencies, and our fellow brother rats. We are just starting our 15th year as the Class of 2013. We charge each of you to reach out to one of our classmates you haven’t spoken to in a while, check in, recount a memory, and lend support if you can. Don’t let the bustle of life let the strength

Class of 2013: Fritz Dawson and his son, Leo, with Don Mays in Italy.

Class of 2013: Baxter Blevins and Fritz Dawson in Europe.

Class of 2013: U.S. Army Capt. Drayton Bird and Maj. Nick Azzolini at their graduation from Army ILE at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Not pictured is Capt. Nate Gibbs.

Class notes

Class of 2013: Pictured in Germany while attending the Garmisch Dental Excellence Symposium for Dental Corps officers are (from left) U.S. Army Maj. Fritz Dawson, Capt. Jarred Doran ’18, Capt. Jacob Hyde ’17, and Capt. Conor Snyder ’18.

of our bond diminish, and until we meet again, mizpah!

Very Respectfully, Annie, Mike, and Rob

2014

Johnny Partin

Samuel Guidry

Brother Rats!

What a year 2024 was and what a grand and glorious year 2025 has started out to be. I hope this new year is the best year for each of us and we all continue to grow and leave a positive impact on our communities, the country, and the world. I encourage each of you to set some new goals and resolutions, take some trips, and do something really fun and spectacular. Remember the classic Army motto, “Be all you can be!” And make 2025 the year where you thrive!

Last year, I had set out wanting to improve

my ACFT score, running a marathon, and completing a 70.3 Ironman. Although the training was time-consuming, it was a lot of fun. Plus, I got in great shape and never felt better. This year, I have some academic goals that I want to achieve in addition to setting some new PRs for my triathlons and fun races. But anyway, anyhow, I’m sure you would rather read up on our class notes and BR updates than listening to me rant and rave about my new goals for 2025. So onward to the good stuff!

Let’s start with Tyler Cross and her big news! She done gone got hitched and tied the knot (as I say with my Southern Virginia accent)! She and her new wife, Crystal, were married Aug. 18, 2024. The pictures of the wedding were beautiful. Congratulations, Tyler and Crystal— wishing you all many wonderful years of marriage and happiness!

Jonathan Rumbaugh was doing humanitarian work in Colombia, South America, for a couple of weeks and helping many people down there. Thank you, Jonathan, for making a difference and helping those less fortunate than us. Keep up the awesome work!

Caroline (Pryor) Clubb got promoted to lieutenant commander near the end of August. Congratulations, Caroline! Keep on doing great things. Can’t wait to see you put on that admiral hat one day!

On Aug. 31, 2024, Eva Edelbrock and I met up to do one last long run and swim before our Michigan 70.3 Ironman race in September. We tried to convince Flora Edelbrock to join us on the run, but she conveniently “was detailing her car.” I think I have heard all the excuses in the world before, but that was a new one.

At the beginning of September, James Wiltshire was promoted to lieutenant commander in the Navy. Then, a couple of days later, Robert Macias was also promoted to major Sept. 4 in the Marine Corps. Congrats, James and Robert, on your promotions! Job well done!

A few days later, I finished up Public Affairs School at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Maryland, Sept. 6, 2024. While up there, I ran into Chris Miller, who was taking the 9–10 week resident course for public affairs. Ironically, his hotel room was just a few down from me on the first floor. Chris crushed the class and knocked it out of the ballpark. He was the honor graduate for his class, earning the highest cumulative grade point average. Bravo, Chris!

While I was at a medical appointment getting an eye injection (I’ll spare you the details of that), I got an email from Wilkes Barber

Wilkes is doing great. He and his wife are building their house on Lake James in North Carolina. Interesting and fun fact: Wilkes started up his own brick and stone masonry business and is crushing it (pardon the pun). Check him out on Facebook. His work is incredibly breathtaking! Also, he and his wife, Hannah, welcomed a beautiful baby boy into this world Sept. 9, 2024. Congratulations on your new father status and becoming a small business owner!

In mid-September, Eva Edelbrock, Flora Edelbrock, and I took a road trip to Frankfort, Michigan, to complete our first Ironman 70.3. Needless to say, the road trip was filled with lots of singing, jams, and great music. I took the first driving shift for about 5-and-a-half hours. Needless to say, when Flora woke up and realized we were not in Michigan yet, she said, “You’re done. I’m driving now.” Miraculously, we beat the GPS by 37 minutes. Eva and I completed the race, and “Go Pro Freedom Flo,” aka Flora, was our cheerleader. We highly recommend this race!

Right before the reunion, I found out that both Sammy (Alpert) Stukes and Rochelle (McDaniel) Clark recently gave birth to girls. Madison Stukes made her grand entrance into the world July 31, 2024. Emma Clark was born just a couple of months later. Congratulations, BRs; we know you will continue to be great mothers.

Sept. 19–21: What an epic reunion! It was so great to see so many of y’all. I think everyone had a great time. For those of y’all who couldn’t make it, do not worry! This was merely a warmup lap and some training for the 15th Reunion in 2029!

Here are some fun highlights from the weekend. First, we have to give some kudos to Lucas Champion, who beat Jeff Miller on the 200-meter sprint inside the Corps Physical Training Facility. The race was close, but Lucas pulled it off by a few seconds; however, Lucas was not a gentlemanly winner. As he was crossing the finish line, he tripped over himself and rolled over the finish line.

William Brubaker, Garth Harbert, Mike Sobey, and Manu Trikha occupied range 14 at the clay shoot Friday. Needless to say, they had a grand ole time.

Bobby Demson, you did an incredible job with the memorial service to honor our late BRs: Eric Alter, Justin McCarty, and Thomas Bradshaw. Thank you so much for leading this service!

Having Elliott Matthews, Jacob Lysher,

Class of 2014 10th Reunion

Jonathan Reardon, Matthew Reardon, Paul Cicero, and Jeremy Swiney all back together was great. We picked up the conversation like it was our “last Taps game of hacky shack.” We missed having Sir Cabell Francis Willis join in on walking down memory lane. Now that I think about it, our HC representation was not at full strength. Justin Britto, Parker Blazevich, and Jordan Bailey, we missed you guys. Hopefully, we will get y’all back for the 15th. I’ll task our president, Ted Gottwald, with that special mission.

While we couldn’t do the rat cuts at the football field at halftime like we wanted to, we did get to do them at the Georges restaurant Friday night. Ben Kier had a blast all evening chasing me with them dern clippers and got me like three times before the official cut. Ben did a good job with the official cuts, but Tyler Cross was the real barber and hero. She and her lovely wife, Crystal, saved the day by cleaning up Ben’s patchy job. Haha!

“In a weekend full of good memories and better BRs, this one will be with me forever. No shenanigan happens alone, so I’d like to give a special thanks to Chef One Star, The GB, Doc, Grandma, The Three-Legged Stool, Beach Bum, Not Good at Smash, Townie, and the 11th Mountain.”

Then Anthony Gagliardi tells me that there was some disaster from one of the shuttle bus drivers that only Billy Cheatham can narrate and tell the story. All I can say is I am glad I am a fierce power walker and didn’t need a shuttle bus for the weekend. LOL!

One of my favorite memories was watching Christian Beale’s son, Callahan, tell his daddy (while running from him), “I want to go with Mr. Johnny. He is fun; he gives me candy.” I was like, “Oh, Lord, buddy, I promise you my life is pretty bland.”

At Outpost 1839, we discovered after the fact that the ladies (mainly Carly Day, Amber Joyner, and Christine Ray) had rigged the raffle. How they did it is still unknown, but I’m slightly suspicious of how they won five of the prizes. Lol! Carly told me that because of their wins, she may have become addicted to gambling.

After waking up Sunday morning and enjoying a nice French toast with Jonathan Reardon, Matthew Reardon, Kevin Reardon ’87, and Maria Reardon, I hit the road to enjoy a fun lunch with and post-reunion meeting up with the legendary Alex Burton in Crozet. Alex is doing exceptionally well. He is now at the Darden School of Business at UVA and

Class notes

laying the groundwork for becoming a giant in the world of big business. Keep up the great work, Alex!

While I am at it, thank you to everyone who

helped and attended the reunion. Each and every one of y’all made this a memorable experience. Remember, this was the warmup; now it is time to kick it up a notch for the 15th in 2029!

On Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, our 2014 family got a little bit bigger! Eric Mayers and his wife, Alexandra, welcome little Eric Mayers Jr. into the world at 3:29 p.m. at 20 inches and 7 pounds, 7.2 ounces! Congratulations, y’all! I know your daughters will love being big sisters to Eric Jr.!

After the reunion, I caught up with Conner Mays for a hot minute. He wishes he could have been there for the reunion, but he was doing some cool hunting adventures in Montana! He sent me some great pictures of the sunsets, sunrises, and the picturesque landscape. On a funny note, Conner told me that one night, it was so cold out there that his sleeping bag was frozen to the tent. All I can say is, Conner, you’re a much better man than me.

On Oct. 1, 2024, Clayton Gant was promoted to lieutenant commander in the Navy! Congratulations, BR, and keep up the awesome work. We are proud of you.

On Oct. 4, Jacob Humrich and I had dinner up in the West End of Henrico. While enjoying a grand and scrumptious Chinese buffet, we agreed that we needed to get our BRs in the Richmond area to come out for a “fun with friends dinner.”

On Oct. 6, I jumped on an Alaskan cruise for 7 days. Right before we set sail, I got a chance to catch up with Ben Kier for a little bit. We didn’t get to talk long because his kids were pestering him for candy. Of course, Uncle Johnny had to egg them on, “Make sure you check your dad’s secret stashes of candy.” That really got them going. The cruise was a lot of fun. We got to visit various ports in Alaska and Canada. If you haven’t done an Alaskan and Canadian cruise, it is definitely worth the trip.

Nick Warack got married in Argentina to his lovely wife, Rocio, who is Argentinian. There was a strong VMI presence down there. Congratulations, Nick and Rocio; we wish you many, many years of blissful marriage. Nick got a good VMI picture from the wedding, which will be in the next edition.

Near the end of October, Nate Myers and Riley Newsom ran in the Marine Corps Marathon. I looked at their time, finishing in less than 3 hour and 40 minutes, and my first thought was dern, these cats were hustling. Great job on a race well ran, guys!

Additionally, I saw on “the gram,” or Instagram

Class of 2014: Eva Edelbrock and Johnny Partin complete their first 70.3 Ironman in Frankfort, Michigan.

Class of 2014: Zach Wilkinson and his family at the beach.

1. Johnny Partin with Tom Olmstead and Kort Munoz during the 10th Reunion in September 2024.

2. Elliott Matthews, Jeremy Swiney, and Paul Cicero outside their old room during the 10th Reunion.

3. Kord Pauley and his wife with retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Darren McDew ’82 and his wife, Evelyn McDew, in August 2024.

4. Jeff Mitchell, Emily Mitchell, and Will Pollard having lunch at Macado’s during the 10th Reunion.

5. Zach Mills and Jack Gotwalt take part in U.S. Marine Corps pilot training.

6. Nick Hounshell, Andrew La Belle, and Josh Vaughan in North Carolina.

Class of 2014

for those of you not keeping up with the modern hip lingo, where Paul Edwards also completed the Marine Corps Marathon. Now, why he was wearing a UVA shirt and not a VMI shirt baffles me. I give Paul an “A” for achievement for completing the marathon but an “F” for style. Hahaha.

That same weekend, I completed the Colonial Jamestown Half Marathon. Even though I didn’t set a PR, I had a ball running through all the historic sites and beautiful scenery. It was great to run and soak up the history.

To round the weekend out, I saw on Facebook

Class notes

that Sean Fish did a 22-mile run in a sub-8minute/mile pace. One day, Sean, when I grow up, I want to be as fast as you!

When doing some Facebook scrolling Oct. 28, waiting for the “Halloween pumpkin workout” at Walkers Gym in downtown Hopewell, I saw where Christian Addison and his family were in Walt Disney World. He and his family took a fun fifth wedding anniversary trip to the happiest place on earth. Loved the pictures, Addison. Hope y’all had a grand ole time.

At the beginning of November, Hunter Harvey got back to the States after a long department head tour as the weapons officer on the USS Philippine Sea. Great job, Hunter; we are glad you are back safe and sound.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, I was down at Fort Barfoot, covering a change of command ceremony and a few other training events for my guard unit. I was walking through the barracks area, and I saw the license plate “FORN2014.” I was like sweet cheese and crackers, BR Tyler Cross is here! We caught up on Sunday and talked about our dream of being a battalion commander and sergeant major together. The dream team will be unstoppable!

And if that chance run-in with Tyler wasn’t funny enough, I literally ran into Walter Branscome 30 minutes later at the RTI building on Fort Barfoot. I was walking to the restrooms and yelled out, “is that the great Walter Branscome, VMI Class of 2014.” His face lit all up. Walt is doing well. On the National Guard side, he is an instructor at RTI, and on the fulltime side, he is an instructor at Fort GreggAdams.

Kord Pauley and Sydney Callis were married Aug. 10 in Southport, North Carolina. In addition to the attendance of their close family and friends, the couple were honored to have Sydney’s godfather, Gen. Darren McDew ’82, officiate the wedding. Kord is currently serving in the USMC as an instructor for the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter aboard Camp Pendleton Air Station in California, and Sydney works remotely as the director of marketing for the New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to their new year. Don’t forget to set those new year’s resolutions and do something extra fun and exciting this year. I will close with a friendly reminder to my BRs—don’t forget to get your spouse something for Valentine’s Day! Until next time, party peeps!

With BR Love, Johnny “Party” Partin

2015

HenryMeredith

Johnny McDonald

Keydets!

Big announcement: Dates for our 10th Reunion are locked in. Please mark your calendar for Sept. 5–6, 2025. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for us as well at Best Western Plus Inn at Hunt Ridge. Please contact them at 540464-1500 if you’d like to use that room block. You’ll be hearing more about this from me/class officers in the coming months. For now, please share this with your BRs and verify your contact info is up to date by logging into VMI Ranks at vmialumni.org/ranks.

Onto class updates—only two this quarter! Erica Callaway and her husband, Patrick, had their baby girl June 27, 2024—Sophia Jane Callaway.

Quinn Ellis welcomed his second son back in April 2024—Callum Wayne Ellis.

Thanks, friends. Get excited for the 10 year!

Rah Virginia Mil,

Henry Meredith

Class of 2015: Sophia Jane Callaway, daughter of Erica Callaway and her husband, Patrick.

Class of 2014: Wilkes Barber and his family.

Class of 2014: Tyler Cross with her wife, Crystal, on their wedding day.

MurphyKerner

HunterMorgan

By the time you receive this, it will be 2025 and, therefore, 1 year out from our 10th Reunion. It is crazy to think about that—time has flown. Since the last update, there have been some big life moments for a few of our class.

Morgan Thomas and her husband welcomed their second child, Brooke Moore, into the world May 6. Morgan also reports that in August, she started a new position as a risk and threat management analyst with the U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arm’s Office of Security, Emergency Preparedness, and Continuity. Congratulations, Morgan!

Nick Nadeau is still living and working in Guam. (5 years now!) He is currently assigned to the P306 project at MCB Camp Blaz. In 2023, he finished the P270 project at Andersen Air Force Base, and in 2022, he finished the USCG FRC Homeport Sector Guam project at Naval Base Guam. Nick reports that in his military career, he is still part of the Guam Army National Guard and will be taking command

Class Notes

of HCO, 29th BSB, 29th IBCT in early 2025. Bennett Dotson wrote in that, “My wife, Raegen, and I welcomed our son, Maier Banks Dotson, into the world Aug. 12. He is, without a doubt, a Keydet in the making!” Congrats, Bennett!

Zach Frey reports, “I left the Army in April ’24 and moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. In October, my wife, Meredith, and I just celebrated the birth of our first son, Thomas Wilder Frey.

The highlight of that is the birth.” Congratulations!

Thanks for everyone who sent in notes; as always, if there are any updates that you would like to share or just want to catch up, please reach out!

Michael P. Griffin

These notes cover the period from Aug. 16–Nov. 15, 2024.

Greetings, brother rats! What a busy 3 months it has been (at least out here in Wichita). Back in July, I moved to Kansas as part of a military PCS (as described in detail last issue), and since then, I have been struggling to get myself established out here. The job I took out here was sustainment services flight commander, so in addition to having a somewhat ambiguous title, I also have three or four base services to manage that run just about 24/7. In short, the last 3 months or so have been like drinking from the world’s most high-pressure fire hose. In the last 3 months, I have had everything from general officer visits to members of my flight getting into car crashes to last-minute trips up to Kansas City. Needless to say, the number of people I got in touch with this last quarter was less than my usual quota, but I think we can still get a pretty solid narrative out of it. Read on to find out for sure!

This quarter actually began with a conversation with one of my rats, Fielding Quarles ’20, who was calling to check in on me again. Fielding lives in the Richmond area now, like so many of you all, and seems to be enjoying his life there. He inquired as to how I ended up in the Great Plains, and we talked for a good hour or 2.As always, it is good to hear from the rats of Room 121! After talking with Fielding, it was only natural to go back to his dyke, Zach Bugalla! Boogie and I have had a tough time getting synched up for calls in recent quarters, so this was a long overdue conversation and (as always) a very good one reminiscing about our time at VMI, adventures post-graduation, old song demos of mine he still has on his computer, and current affairs and challenges. Boogie and his wife, Alex, had been down in El Paso, but by the time this issue comes out, may be moving as part of a PCS for Army schooling (if I recall

Class of 2016: Nick Nadeau reporting back after 5 years in Guam.

Class of 2016: Bennett Dotson and his wife, Raegen, with their son, Maier Banks Dotson.

correctly). Looking forward to seeing where you end up! Let’s talk again soon!

Bryan Wade sent me a text around the same point ... with a picture, no less! He recently got ordained as a deacon, which was apparently not something he had pursued super-intentionally, but he has very much enjoyed the experience and opportunity. Sometime in late August, I actually had to reach out to Alyssa Johnson, wife of our very own Matthew Johnson of Ironclad India! She had been putting together a weekend trip for his birthday with a few Army friends and Cody and Amanda Bottoms, which sounded like a great time! Unfortunately, I was calling to inform her I was going to be unavailable due to the aftermath of our destroyed air show ... Kansas wind is no joke! On the upside, Matt, Cody, and I all got together in early October for a brief visit in Kansas City. Regrettably, we did not take a picture, as we were so preoccupied with catching up and exploring the city, but hopefully, this written document is a strong enough alibi. Cody Bottoms has been enjoying his new job much more than the last, so we discussed the nuances of that shift, as well as career projections and future moves. Meanwhile, Matt Johnson (who I have been lucky enough to speak to via phone a good three or four times this quarter) is PCSing back to the East Coast for whatever Army school he is currently due for. He and Alyssa should be there for a while and then looking at another PCS sometime after.

Malcolm Thomas reached out after getting his last Alumni Review, which I always appreciate. He was about to wrap up a big design review at work while also working on the solar

Class notes

installation for his home. Apparently, they had a rough few weeks due to the monsoons, but the season was getting toward the tail end with dryer weather on the way. Malcolm let me know he made it to Trajan Crocker’s wedding up in “Bawstun,” which is sending me into a bit of a panic as I write this ... did I congratulate him? I don’t think I did! Trajan, if you’re reading this, apologies for the delay. Congratulations to you and your new bride! Very happy for both of you, and I hope we get the chance to visit in person again soon—it has been far too long! Malcolm and I went on to discuss the recent move I had undergone, which led him to tell me about his

move a few years back ... did you guys know the group that Raytheon hired to move him set the kitchen on fire? Luckily I don’t think there was any permanent damage, but wow! All this to say, Malcolm and Ari (his cat) are doing quite well as 2024 draws to a close! For those of you who know Malcolm Thomas, you will know that a message or call from him is often followed by a message or call from Ashley McManus. ECEs man, they stick together, I tell ya! Anyway, Ashley had also gotten her Alumni Review and was letting me know that there is a picture floating around out there of Trajan Crocker’s wedding that has multiple ’17 alumni in it, which would be perfect for this issue. I regret that I have not gotten a copy as of the day I am writing this. I have 4 days left though, so if you see it in here, then I found it! If not, Ashley/Malcolm/Trajan, kindly send it to me for the following issue, please! Ashley is still in New Mexico (and should be for at least another year) but has been getting out to all kinds of events across the country—apparently, 3 K-Pop concerts, Trajan’s wedding, a Marianas Trench concert, and the much-anticipated trip with Malcolm Thomas to go see/pet capybaras. I have been waiting patiently for the report back on that!

Sometime after this, I was assaulted by everyone I know and/or knew 5–7 years ago for security clearance check-ups. I’m sorry ... you all failed. Pick safer people next time! Anyway, if you remember from last quarter, that issue ended with me getting the message from Ryan Asuncion to build the group for our 10th Reunion team. While it did take me a ludicrous amount of time to actually build out the group chat (again, I am sorry for that delay, guys!), we now have it! Joe Baumann, Casey (Field) Heag, Ryan Asuncion, and I will be running the reunion events for that weekend in 2027. For those who were unaware, odd-year reunions are in the fall (5th, 15th, 25th, etc.), and even-year reunions are in the spring (10th, 20th, 30th, etc). Eventually, as we get super high up in numbers, they end up on like a Tuesday or something, but we can revisit that when we are all old and senile. I only mention all this so you can get an idea now for planning purposes. There will not be a football game, so we have a little more time to play with this go-around. If you have any ideas, shoot me a text (508-505-1413). You should do it now; you and I both know you’ll forget. Don’t worry, I’ll wait ...

OK, thanks for sending that and giving me a minute to rest my typing hand. If you didn’t message me, that’s fine. I’m still going down my list for address updates, and I’ll getcha

Class of 2017: Pictured at Hamilton Shaheen’s wedding in Vero Beach, Florida, are (front row, from left) Del Fuller, Jimmy Callahan, Hamilton, Caleb Yost, Holmes Laughon, Jackson Rowady, (back row) Murphy Kerner ’16, Matt Dunlevy ’18, Zach Campbell, Mike Flora, Joe Funaro, Hunt McCarthy, and Sam Moffatt ’18.

Class of 2017: Bryan and Tashalynn Wade with their daughter, Lynleigh, at Bryan’s ordination as a deacon.

eventually! Alex Alvarado and I talked briefly about reunion planning and possible ideas as well. He’s got his hands full with a family of six, so I always appreciate hearing from him when he has time! Sometime after that, (early September-ish for the continuity snobs), I got a message from Andrew Bradshaw, who was coordinating a career networking event at VMI. He has been super involved with VMI networking over the last 5 years or so and works with a lot of the younger alumni. We ended up shooting out a message on the class Facebook page to see if any of you guys were interested, so if you need a reason to reopen those old social media accounts, there you go! Andrew actually just got elected to the position of regional co-director for the Northern Virginia region! Congratulations, my friend, and thank you for all your work with our alumni, new and old! Ryan Asuncion and I talked again a little later in the quarter, as well. Let me tell you, he has some really solid ideas for the next reunion. Though I think I might veto the idea of reliving the House Mountain hike. He’s already got some mock-ups for challenge coins and other cool gifts for the class. All this came slightly before he told me about his upcoming trip out of the country. Turns out Ryan got married and was traveling with his new bride through most of October. Congratulations to you both! In October, Matt and Alyssa Johnson began their PCS back East and actually passed through Wichita, but I was running late on my flight back to town. Sorry I missed you, man! Hopefully we can catch up while I’m in Virginia prior to my deployment next spring. I’ll hit you up to coordinate! Joe Baumann and I shared a call around this point, as well. He was doing well in New Mexico and busy with all the stuff that comes from transitioning from active duty to civilian life. He now works as a civilian for the same unit he was assigned to at the end of his time in the Air Force. Now, while all of this was going on (even stretching back into the period of last issue), I had a side quest going. Sometime in June, I got a mysterious Facebook message from a Marissa Wallin. In it, I was told that she was married to Justin Rose! However, what confused me was that she told me someone named Morgan told her to get in touch with me. It took me a few months and, ultimately, a call to Justin, but I learned it was Morgan Menaker! Thanks for the shout out, BR! Anyway, Marissa was looking for

Class Notes

the ’17 Ring Figure Cup, which anyone reading this knows is an extremely controlled item (not really, but when it says ’17 on it, the likelihood of finding a new one is slim). Looks like there was an accident, and Mr. Rose’s cup was somehow damaged. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a replacement, but we got the next best thing ... the vector image (can one of my ECE friends tell me if that is the correct terminology?), which can be emblazoned upon any physical object! So, this interaction has yielded significant treasure; if anyone wants the design for their 3D printing pleasure, let me know. She let me know that Justin was actually about to ship out to Alabama for Space Force OTS and that Jon Chu actually was commissioning into the Coast

Guard! Congrats, man, you’ll have to send me an update for the roster when you get a chance! I caught up with Justin Rose a few weeks/ months later when he messaged me from OTS. Unfortunately, I was in the thick of moving and getting abused (only by Air Force standards—don’t jump to conclusions, as I’m not a hard-charger like you Army/Marine types) by my new command. As I mentioned before, Justin is in the Space Force now and was at the Vigilant Warrior campus when we spoke on the phone. Evidently, he went to grad school and later taught English over in Nepal before coming back stateside and deciding to commission. He is set to go to Colorado in about a week, after he graduates down at Maxwell AFB. We talked for a long time about everything that happened since graduation, discussing his family’s past military history (Justin’s father was enlisted in the Air Force years ago), the revamped inbound Space Force training plan for officers, how he met his wife, their 1-year-old son, and crossing paths with other ’17 alumni, including Mitch Coppersmith! I learned that he actually roomed with Josh Ashley, Jon Chu, Devon Kirk, and Morgan Menaker back at VMI (only two of which commissioned directly out of VMI, but all of which are serving now). Justin actually had the opportunity to go into the service as a captain (due to his advanced degrees) but turned it down to get the full experience of being a new CGO. I learned (or maybe relearned) that Devon Kirk is an RPA pilot in the Air Force and also that Morgan Menaker was in the Army but got out to pursue a master’s in what Justin affectionately calls “crop science.” I look forward to hearing more when Justin passes through Wichita on his way to Colorado next week.

Walker Hays sent me a message on Facebook to let me know that he and his wife are expecting their first child in January. I was very happy to hear from him and with such good news! Thanks for letting me know, and please send a photo for the Review when the time comes! Now anyone who knows me knows an issue of the Alumni Review isn’t complete without an update from Shu-Hao Yang He sent me one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time: Two short SNL videos about the founding of America and the words and rules we live by that make little to no sense. I never actually considered that a buffalo wing was made of chicken (not beef) while a

Class of 2017: Mike Griffin (third from right) with the members of his band, Above the Grave.

Class of 2017: Noah Bryson and Joseph Steinbach.

hamburger is made of beef (not ham). Also, did you guys ever realize the only number with its own unique word is 12? Anyway ... Yang said it was hot in Taiwan. I hope you are continuing to stay safe over there! He seemed confused as to why I had moved to Kansas rather than opt to free myself from the bonds of Uncle Sam and even more confused when I told him the job was only enjoyable like 20% of the time. Yeah, man, I’m confused by that, too. But before I could delve too deeply into that question and really get going on the nightly existential crisis, I heard from Hamilton Shaheen! Hamilton recently got married and was kind enough to send a picture of all the VMI grads in attendance! He and his wife, Harper, were married down in Florida, which was surprising given all the recent storms. He said the venue had actually been damaged and they were forced to switch 1 week prior to the wedding date! Sounds incredibly stressful, but I’m glad to see you all managed and still had a great time! Hamilton lives in Richmond, so I imagine they will be heading back north in the coming weeks.

Hamp Beddoes and I talked briefly a few times about class funds. Turns out we have to move a few remaining dollars out of the old Ring Figure fund before they close it (don’t get too excited, we all know we spent it down to almost $0.00). Hamp was in the middle of a PCS as well, so we tabled it for a little while, but I’ll be reaching out soon to close that task for good! Thanks for all the help and the quick replies when I reach out. Glad to hear the move went well, man! Joey Steinbach sent me a quick update, as well! He had done the Charlie Card Challenge up in Boston, where they raced the MBTA (subway). He is grinding away through law school now (currently in his third year) and working at the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He is eager to get in touch with more of the class so please feel free to reach out via phone, email, or in person if you find yourself in the Northeast! Cody Bottoms and I texted back and forth a little through the end of October; he was curious as to the progress of my Lego building (I had bought a somewhat ludicrously-sized set while we were in Kansas City). He is ready for the holiday season and some much-deserved downtime.

Last, but not least, I got an email from Tyson McClellan, who had meant to send me his notes back in April after a recent deployment. Unfortunately, like so many, life got busy, and it fell off for a bit, but I am glad to be able to add them here now! Thanks for sending, man! All seems well from his words. Tyson finished

Class notes

up a push to East Africa this past spring, where he got schooled by Conrad Frawley, who went and became a surfer bro while living in SoCal. He now provides C-UAS capabilities around the globe. Tyson highly recommended tapping into Conrad’s knowledge if you’re looking to install a layered defense system in your backyard for the future apocalypse. Grayson Larus and he (Tyson, not Conrad) had a few salty discussions about the state of Somalia over lukewarm beers at DJ’s Wardroom. Apparently, even Mike McGraw made an appearance as well, working PSYOPS in the area. Tyson ran into Golf Company’s 2013–14 1st Platoon sergeant, John Folta ’15, who is now a captain in the Army, providing security force assistance to partner forces in East Africa. As his email stated, Capt. Folta is “still a hard dude specimen.” Liam Kelly ’21 has been busy picking up meals for his Marines and being the best damn LOG-O in DJ. Tyson also ran into Reese Laferriere ’19, who zipped both Conrad and Tyson around in a C-146 a few times along the coast of Somalia. It was good to hear that he still keeps in touch with Dakoda Lane (one of his VMI roommates). In fact, Tyson said that Dakoda and his wife, Kate, are getting ready for their second child, Cash, to join their daughter, Carter, in building a solid all-American family, while another BR and his wife, Daniel and Kennedy Bowen, are also busy raising their two boys, Thomas and Joseph. (And serving respectively in the Marines and Army, too!) Seth Hinton is thriving in the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area, building surfboards for his company: 3S (Seth’s Surf Shack) and driving folks crazy with his fiery-red luscious beard that would make any lucky leprechaun deathly jealous. If anyone is in the Virginia Beach area, he said feel free to look him up!

With that, I think we are current again, folks! It’s a bit shorter than my usual notes (almost half a page!) but I was still glad to hear from so many of you. If I failed to get back to you in a hurry this time, I apologize! I’m now fully settled and ready to make this my full-time job again … Well, minus another side project; I’m busy prepping a newly built rock band for a live show here in another month. Those of you who knew me well at VMI know I have written and recorded music for the last decade or so but struggled to find other musicians to play with; well, now we have a band of seven! In any case, I’m excited to hear from you all over this next quarter, so reach out, spam my phone, my email, my Facebook ... whatever you can find! Oh, by the way, I have a large stack of birthday and Christmas cards to send out for VMI, so if you haven’t given me your address in the last year or so, it’s likely about to go to the wrong place! You can help me by being proactive and reaching out to me at 508-505-1413 to help get things squared away before I get a “return to sender” and feel sad that I can’t find you quite yet (but rest assured, I will someday!) Some of the birthday cards may be a few months late, just because I couldn’t stamp them and drive to Wichita at the same time ... and then I lost them in the sea of boxes for a few months. Also, just as a heads up, I will be coming up for a deployment next spring (roughly April–October 2025), and while I might have time to write the notes, I likely won’t be easily reachable, so I may need someone to run the stateside show for two quarters. If that sounds like something you want to do, please reach out as soon as you read this! In the meantime, happy holidays to you and yours. Stay safe and enjoy this time of relaxation and reconnection. Until next time, rah, ’17!

2018, Time really does fly!

September and October seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. As I’m writing this, I’m currently

Class of 2017: Malcolm Thomas’ cat, Ari.

2018

Will Woodward

ReaganGoulla

deployed in the Netherlands, where I had the honor of participating in some special remembrance events for Operation Market Garden. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the operation, and it was a humbling experience to reflect on the history.

For those who might not be familiar, Operation Market Garden was a major Allied military operation during World War II, launched in September 1944. The goal was to create a rapid route into Northern Germany by securing key bridges over the Rhine River, which would open the way for a swift advance into Germany and the liberation of Western Europe. The operation combined airborne and ground assaults, primarily involving British, American, and Polish forces.

On Sept. 17, 1944, the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions landed in the Netherlands, tasked with capturing critical bridges in the towns of Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem. While there were some tactical successes, such as the capture of Eindhoven and Nijmegen, the operation ultimately failed to achieve its strategic objectives. The Arnhem Bridge remained in German hands, and the hoped-for breakthrough into Germany did not materialize.

Despite its failure, Operation Market Garden demonstrated the Allies’ resolve and determination to keep pushing toward victory. The operation was followed by a more gradual advance through the Netherlands, and the region was finally liberated in 1945.

Class Notes

I had the privilege of taking part in two poignant events during my time here—the Sunset March and the Waal River Crossing. While walking across the Nijmegen Bridge, I saw a familiar face in the crowd: Christian Rowcliffe ’16! He was part of the 101st Airborne Division, taking part in the remembrance engagements.

It was a humbling moment to share this experience with fellow VMI alumni. Luckily, no straining was involved, and it was great to connect with a fellow Keydet honoring the brave soldiers who came before us.

Catching up on our BRs: Kayla Flippo and Jake Dixon welcomed their son, Scottie Flippo-Dixon, into the world Aug. 14, 2024. Congratulations to the growing Keydet family!

Max Liebl is currently serving as a company

commander at Soto Cano AB in Honduras while also flying Black Hawks on the side. He recently ran into Brian Colitti ’17, who was flying the C-17 that transported some of Max’s guys and H-60s to Brazil. Yet another reminder of the global reach of the VMI family!

Will and a few other BRs put on their best tuxes and represented 2018 at the Institute Society Dinner. The guest speaker was none other than Lt. Dan, and I’m sure plenty of people couldn’t resist saying, “Run, Forrest, run!”

It’s inspiring to see how our VMI family continues to grow—both in numbers and in global reach. I’m truly grateful for the opportunities we have to stay connected, no matter where we are in the world.

In other good news—quick update on our class scholarship fund: We managed to raise $2,012 (good dykeline number) during the Day of Giving Nov. 14 as a class. The class scholarship is still looking for monthly donors to get us to the $20,000 goal by the end of 2025. As an incentive, Will is willing to increase his monthly donation to match the first $50 in new monthly promises! Thank you to those who have contributed!

With the holidays fast approaching, the weather growing colder, and the leaves beginning to change, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to those who have served or are currently serving around the globe. Your dedication and sacrifice are truly appreciated. Also, for those who might be alone for the holidays or not feeling the holiday spirit, please know that you are never truly alone and can reach out to a fellow BR or members of the community if you need support.

I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our VMI community—the enduring brother rat spirit that binds us together remains as strong as ever. No matter where life takes us, that bond continues to remind us that we’re never truly apart. Side note: Happy 249th birthday, Marines!

As always, if you or your family need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Will or me!

Rah Virginia Mil, Reagan and Will

Class of 2018: Benjamin Rising ’20, Robert Coleman Elliott, Maddie Elliott, Will “Woody” Woodward, Edilene McCaslin, John Keppeler, Rosanna Keppeler, and Emily Fulton at the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 8, 2024.

Class of 2018: U.S. Army Cpt. Reagan Goulla (third from left) at the Sunset March in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Class of 2018: Max Liebl and Brian Colitti ’17 in Honduras.

VMI Class of 2019 5th Reunion

Class Notes

2019

Nathan D.A. Mumford

AnnikaK.Tice

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

2020

Alexander Dragan

HollyK.Njabo

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the Class of 2020.

2021

Jonathan Krauss

LeviKennedy

Greetings, Brother Rats!

I hope this edition of the Alumni Review finds you well. At the time of this submission, it’s a cold and dreary November day here in Jacksonville, North Carolina. It reminds me of the “dark times” at the Institute, where the darkness never seemed to end.

Back in August, when I was writing the last class notes piece, I forgot to mention that Brady Biller completed his MBA degree from Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business at The Citadel in Charleston. My apologies, Brady! Ryan Riley will be a combat systems officer flying on the HC-130J, which is the U.S. Air Force’s only fixed-wing combat search and rescue platform.

Grant Clemons was promoted to assistant project manager at HITT Contracting Inc., and Grey Wolfe received his Ranger tab. The Class of 2021 had a lot of marriages in September— congratulations to Tyler Citta, Joseph Hammer, and T.J. Cox! Also in September, Jon West and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their firstborn, Carl David West!

Matthew Jingle graduated from the U.S. Army’s Engineer School and received the Silver German Armed Forces Badge. Jack Stann graduated Navy Boot Camp and is currently at A-School. We had even more marriages in October. Congratulations to Jon Schutter, Bennett Smith, A.J. Paige, and Perry White. Sidney Swoope also got engaged. Special shout out to Izzy Toma and Nick Palmieri, who had an amazing wedding in Italy! In November, Daniel Brewster got engaged, and Cody Barnhart got married. On Veterans Day, Smith Blake and Blake Smith ’23 (haha) ran into each other at Blake’s old high school alma mater.

Class of 2021: Jack Stann graduates from U.S. Navy Bootcamp.

Class of 2021: Matt Keane and his father on a trip to Normandy, France.

Class of 2021: Daniel Brewster proposes to his fiancée Nov. 1, 2024.

Class of 2021: Smith Blake and Blake Smith ’23.

Class notes

Smith teaches history, and Blake, who is currently serving in the Marine Corps, returned to talk to students.

Last but not least, Ryan Perouty recently returned from a 9-month deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve while serving as the XO of the 555th Forward Resuscitative Surgical Team. While deployed, he was awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal, both with Combat C devices. He also earned the right to wear his combat deployment badge.

Brother rats, by the time you are reading this, it will be early 2025. I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas. As always, if you need anything please do not hesitate to reach out either by email or social media.

Mizpah, Jonathan and Levi

Brother Rats of 2022, I apologize for not updating you all on our recent class achievements and events, but Kelly

and I have been currently engaged in trainings. This entry might be a little lengthy, so bear with me, but many things have happened over this last half of the year, such as engagements, marriages, births, and all sorts of professional development, so let’s get into it.

The first BR who had a huge year of milestones was Ethan Schlussel He received his master’s in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech and got married to his college sweetheart, Hallie. We wish you two many years of happiness and success.

Another person absolutely getting after it is Solomon Ghosh, who graduated with his master’s in intelligence and homeland security from The Citadel, graduated from Army Basic Combat Training, and is currently on a track to commission through OCS in January. We wish you well, brother.

Another two BRs who just hit some professional milestones recently are Andrew Broecker and Logan Lamm. They have both successfully completed the U.S. Army Aviation school to gain their wings. We wish them tons of luck in their careers in flight.

One more serious professional milestone was achieved by Zach Lauster a few months back when he earned his Ranger tab. It’s a huge accomplishment which will stay with you for quite some time, brother.

The next BR who accomplished a ton this year is Jack Burke—from graduating Army Basic Combat Training to becoming the honor graduate for his commissioning class with Delta Co. at OCS to killing it at EBOLC, I’d say that deserves a tip of the cap.

Some more personal milestones have been accomplished by our good buddy, Traeven Tann, who got married to his lovely wife earlier this year and is now expecting to have their first child this December. We wish you both Godspeed in starting your new family together.

And speaking of kids, our very own Emma “Flora” Nicholl gave birth a few months ago to her and husband and BR Bric Nicholl’s first child. We welcome baby Margot to the Class of ’22 family. We’re so proud of you two and know you’re going to be phenomenal parents.

This year seems to be a big year for weddings for the Class of ’22, so bear with me. Our very own Daniel Sennott got married recently to his lovely wife, Yaleika. We wish you two many years of love and happiness.

Jimmy Hart tied the knot with his beloved wife, Alison. We wish them all the love in the world.

Micah Jensen recently got married to his

lovely wife, Bella, and we wish them endless love and happiness together.

Our last two marriages are both made up completely of BRs. We would like to congratulate both Sam Estes, who married Mary (Madison) Estes a few months ago, and Lance Weiman and Christina (Skaggs) Weiman We wish all four of you many years of prosperity and happiness together.

Our last announcement to make for this class notes is a bunch of soon-to-be-married BRs who recently got engaged. So, let’s congratulate Nathaniel Gardner getting engaged to his new fiancée, Sarah. Good ol’ Daniel Hamner got engaged to his lovely now-fiancée, Diana. Kiersten Engel got engaged to her new fiancé, Crispin. Luke Nicksic popped the question to his now fiancée, Elly, who obviously said yes. Ol’ John Dudley also got engaged a few months ago too his lovely fiancée, Elly. Sean Vonderhaar popped the question to his girlfriend, Karie, and, shocker, she said yes because who could say no to that kind of guy? And finally, Sara Belamarich said yes to the question from her boyfriend. Many congrats to you all in your journeys together.

Just wanted to finish up our news with an update in Kelly’s and my lives. If you all didn’t hear, Kelly’s father, Brian Arther Rollison, passed on from this life into the next a few months ago. If you never got the privilege to meet this man, ask someone who has because he was truly a great man I had the honor and privilege to meet and visit with at tailgates, football games, and visits to post. Obviously, Kelly could tell you a whole lot more of who his father was, but I think Kelly, being the guy he is, is a testament to the type of man his father was. If you haven’t yet gotten a chance to check in with him, please shoot him a call or text.

As for myself, it’s been a year of a lot of achievement and blessings. Many of you know it was a bit of a pain for me to get my commission due to a medical snag, but with a ton of prayers and a lot of hard work, I was finally able to get my commission through OCS later this summer. Also, my fiancée, now wife, Angelina, and I tied the knot in September and are loving every moment of married life.

For now, we hope everyone in ’22 is doing well and will continue to do great things for our nation and our communities at home and abroad.

Many Blessings, Seth “Spanky” McRoberts and Kelly “Possum Police” Rollison

Class of 2021: Izzy Toma and Nick Palmieri at their wedding in Firenze, Italy.

Seth McRoberts

Kelly Rollison

Class Notes

2023

Jacob C. Sekerak

DennisonC.Kelly

Happy New Year, Brother Rats!

We hope you are all doing well! Is the number after the 202- prefix really five now? Could’ve sworn it was a three not too long ago. (2025 versus 2023, if you weren’t picking up what we’re putting down—trying to be more creative these

days—oh well.) Hopefully, you are reading this for the first time in February 2025; if so, then we have the distinct pleasure and likely the obligation to wish us all a happy 5-year Breakout anniversary! Yes, your eyes do not deceive you—it has indeed been 5 whole years since Feb. 1, 2020, when the Rat Mass of 2020+3 crawled across the frozen Parade Ground and into barracks for the first time as the Class of 2023. It surely was a day many of you still remember very vividly with a mix of both satisfaction and exhaustion. Since then, we have endured and accomplished numerous feats, including but not limited to surviving a global pandemic, Ring Figure, commissioning, graduation, first jobs, engagements, weddings, and the like. It is truly remarkable how far we’ve come since our hays belonged to the fourth stoop of barracks. Thanks to the internet, we pulled a couple of shots from the VMI Flickr to look back

on that day, as well as our Rat Unity Event and Rat Olympics. If you send us some of your own, we’ll feature it on our Insta! (@vmi_2023)

The class submissions for this edition were light, as everyone is in the thick of work assignments, grad school, and everything else keeping schedules busy. However, I am very pleased to share our one submission: Back in August, Christopher Hurt proposed to his fiancée, Lazzara Mazza-Hilway, and they celebrated their engagement in Marco Island, Florida. Congrats to the both of you!

As always, we enjoy hearing from you all— please continue to keep us updated by sending us your professional and personal accomplishments! Be sure to follow us on our class Instagram page, @vmi_2023, as well. Rah, ’23!

Mizpah,

Denny and Jake

Class of 2023: The class photo following the final sweat party during Breakout, Feb. 1, 2020.— Photo courtesy VMI Communications & Marketing.

Class of 2023: The Rat Mass of 2020+3 participates in an early morning Breakout sweat party Feb. 1, 2020.— Photo courtesy VMI Communications & Marketing.

Class of 2023: Members of Bravo Company cheer during the Rat Olympics in November 2019.—Photo courtesy VMI Communications & Marketing.

Class of 2023: Isaiah Umpa, Ryan Marconi, Brock MacGregor, and Andrew Duff during the Rat Unity event Jan. 26, 2020.—Photo courtesy VMI Communications & Marketing.

Class notes

2024

Justin Peterson

AllenStewart

Brother Rats,

We hope this message finds everyone doing well at the start of the new year! Although graduation now feels like an eternity ago, the memories and friendships make it seem like not too long ago. With nearly everyone busy with their military and civilian careers, continuing their education, or starting a family, let’s take a moment to share some of 2024’s biggest events from the past couple of months!

In November, Devin Thomas and Justin Peterson finished Army Military Intelligence BOLC in Arizona. Over Labor Day, members of the BOLC class took a trip to San Diego, and Thomas and Peterson met up with Chino Vera to catch up and spend some time together. Chino Vera is engaged and living with his fiancée in San Diego!

Komsun Samngamkeao is back at the Thai Army Academy as a military science instructor and TAC officer as part of his contracts for 2 years. At the Thai Army Academy, he has the opportunity to inspire and lead others, just like his days at VMI.

Many members of the Class of 2024 are already making large strides as they advance their military careers. Khunsig Redmon is enjoying his time in the Army. Michael Dale is at Basic Division Officer Course and Officer of the Deck Phase 1. Additionally, Kaleb Priddy began Ranger School in November after graduating from Army Armor BOLC. Best of luck to these high achievers!

Joshua Licona got married in July and is enjoying every second of it! His best man was Mitchell Meyer! The Class of 2024 can’t wait to meet your new family!

Nina Otto got married in September; commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army; moved to Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband; and will be attending BOLC this year! In November, Nina Otto honeymooned in Italy with her husband!

Lawrence Porter just had his first child and will be a tremendous father to his newborn son! Finally, if anyone has any other life updates, please send them to us at the contact information listed above or follow us on Instagram @ VMI_2024. We miss you all and hope to cross paths soon. Don’t forget to slow down sometimes and enjoy the different adventures along your journey! Keep grinding, and God bless! Rah, ’24!

Class of 2024: Komsun Samngamkeao teaching a class on military science at the Thai Army Academy.

Class of 2024: Nina Otto and her husband on their honeymoon in Italy.

Class of 2024: Justin Peterson, Chino Vera, and Devin Thomas in San Diego, California.

Class of 2024: Joshua Licona and his wife at their wedding.

Class of 2023: Chris Hurt and Lara Mazza-Hilway celebrate their engagement Aug. 18, 2024.

Baby Keydets

BARBER—A son, Owen Paul Lamonte, to Hannah and Wilkes Barber ’14, Sept. 9, 2024.

MARCOTTE—A daughter, Lainey Ruth, to Kourtney and Andrew Marcotte ’14, Nov. 11, 2024.

MAYERS—A son, Eric Tyler Jr., to Alexandra and Eric Mayers ’14, Sept. 23, 2024.

REARDON—A daughter, Noelle Corinne, to Sinclair and Gregory Reardon ’14, Sept. 11, 2024.

STUKES—A daughter, Madison Barbra, to Robert and Samatha Stukes ’14, July 31, 2024.

Marriages

—Crystal Wright to Tyler Cross ’14, Aug. 18, 2024.

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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.

Robert W. Smothers ’44

Selden S. McNeer Jr. ’46

Frank L. Seiboth ’51

Vernon A. Jackson ’46

Joseph E. Wilkinson ’46

M. Eugene Witcher ’50A

Roger P. Rosenfield ’47

Donald T. Doherty ’47

G. Harrison Whitten Jr. ’49A

Arthur D. Violette ’48B

Dec. 2, 1922

Jan. 8, 1925

May 14, 1925

Sept. 21, 1925

Oct. 4, 1925

Jan. 3, 1926

June 16, 1926

July 20, 1926

Feb. 4, 1927

April 19, 1927

CROSS

WARACK—Rocio Stecca to Nicholas Warack ’14, Oct. 12, 2024.

Legacy Provisional Appointments

APPOINTEE’S

2028

John Cardoni

Micah J. Ott

2029

Olivia G. Adldoost

Matthew A. Madison

Avery Shuping

2030

Carsten Snyder

2035

Kaelan Putnam

2036

Jake Bartolomeo

Lucas Helmick

Hazel E. Scott

2037

Mason Putnam

2038

Colsen Smith

Robert L.N. Wren Jr.

2039

Avery F. Adldoost

Charlotte E. Grove

Scarlet Osborne

George C. Scott

2040

William Osborne

Kerrigan J. Rose

Charles W. Fanshaw ’82

David M. Pyle ’79

Andrew M. Adldoost ’09

Ancher L. Madison ’64

Brandon M. Smith ’04

Jeffrey D. Snyder ’99

Isaac B. Putnam ’09

Corielle W. Putnam ’09

Joseph R. Bartolomeo ’00

Timothy R. Helmick ’06

Kenneth P. Scott III ’01

Isaac B. Putnam ’09

Corielle W. Putnam ’09

Brandon M. Smith ’04

Robert L. Wren ’11

Andrew M. Adldoost ’09

William W. Grove Jr. ’78

William W. Grove ’43

Roy R. Creasey Jr. ’85

Kenneth P. Scott III ’01

Roy R. Creasey Jr. ’85

William W. Grove Jr. ’78

William W. Grove ’43

Uncle

Grandfather

Father

Grandfather

Uncle

Father

Father

Mother

Father

Father

Father

Father

Mother

Father

Father

Father

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Grandfather

Father

Grandfather

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

2044

Jethro Gehman

William B. Grove Jr.

Logan M. Mattia

2045

Ellen D. Freeman

Violet Gehman

Adrian J.A. Gibbs

Landon Knight

Lucas O. Parsons

Wyatt R. Sweeney

Everett Vernon

2046

Victoria L. Abruzzese

Zoe E. Babineau

Thomas M. Baybutt

Zion E. Brown

Astrid R. Byrd

Henry L. Carter

Maier B. Dotson

Callen Jarrells

Cash A.J. Lane

Ridge Mank

Callum F. Mattia

Steven W. Meier

Jones M. Merhige

Brooke S. Moore

Thomas A. Morgan

Wrenlee M. Parker

Isaiah Shelton

Lucille I. Speas

Gavin R. St. John

Kori B. (Hadinger) Gehman ’19

William W. Grove Jr. ’78

William W. Grove ’43

Raymond D. Mattia ’07

Nathaniel L. Cross ’89

Kori B. (Hadinger) Gehman ’19

Aaron D. Gibbs ’16

Alexandra (Hill) Gibbs ’18

Gary L. Knight ’76

Steven N. Parsons ’06

Daniel B. Sweeney ’80

Justin W. Vernon ’14

Vincent W. Abruzzese ’09

Vincent A. Abruzzese ’74

Anthony T. Zoetis ’80

Clifford H. Martin III ’66

Katrina D. (Powell) Brown ’06

Woodson A. Sadler Jr. ’66

Richard E Byrd Jr. ’908

Brandon T. Carter ’08

Bennett L. Dotson ’16

Vincent A. Jarrells ’12

Dakoda A. Lane ’17

Sarah J. (Putney) Mank ’15

Raymond D. Mattia ’07

Kristen K. Meier ’96

Mark R. Merhige Jr. ’14

Morgan N. Thomas ’16

Hunter A. Morgan ’16

Martin J. Morgan ’86

Frank M. Parker III ’64

Frank M Parker Jr. ’939

Donnie S. Cox ’12

Michaela D. (Wright) Speas ’16

Frederick W. Sherman Jr. ’78

Rex A. Wiggins ’78

Mother

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Father

Grandfather

Mother

Father

Mother

Grandfather

Father

Grandfather

Father

Father

Grandfather

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Mother

Grandfather

Great-great-grandfather

Father

Father

Father

Father

Mother

Father

Father

Father

Mother

Father

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Great-great-grandfather

Uncle

Mother

Grandfather

Great-uncle

2041

Isabella A. Grove

2042

Juliette A. Grove

Thomas B. Rose Jr.

William W. Grove Jr. ’78

William W. Grove ’43

William W. Grove Jr. ’78

William W. Grove ’43

William W. Grove Jr. ’78

William W. Grove ’43

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Georgia L. Tammelin

Vincent A. Tedeschi

Quest E. White

Asa P. Yoffe

Archer V. Vesey

2047

William B. Hays

Justin S. Tammelin ’09

Anthony L. Izzo ’17

Turner R. Mebane Jr. ’91

Holly A. (Giacolone) Yoffe ’09

Albert J. Graham III ’74

Walker B. Hays ’17

Thomas H. Robertson Jr. ’923

Father

Uncle

Grandfather

Mother

Grandfather

Father

Great-great-great-uncle

Nathaniel S. Wilson III ’46

Nathaniel Sullivan “Nat” Wilson III ’46 of Costa Mesa, California, died Sept. 1, 2024. He was 97.

He matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and spent more than 2 years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his wife, Carole Ann Wilson; son, Nathaniel Wilson (Laura); granddaughters, Caroline Nicole Wilson and Sara Marie Wilson; and great-granddaughters, Ursula and Claudia.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dianna Gammie, and son, Bruce Alexander Wilson.

Carl N. Cimino

’47

Carl Nicholas Cimino ’47 of Henrico, Virginia, died June 15, 2024. He was 98.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent 1 year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampden-Sydney College and a Master of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

He is survived by his children, Carl Cimino Jr. (Nancy) and Angela Valentine (Rick); grandchildren, Theresa Ewing (Jack), Kathleen Cimino, Nicholas Valentine (Megan), and Matthew Valentine (Blair); and great-grandchildren, Logan, Libby, and Avery.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janie, and brother, Ralph.

Louis J. Castellano Jr. ’48B

Louis Joseph “Lou” Castellano Jr. ’48B of Bay Shore, New York, died Aug. 23, 2024. He was 97. He matriculated from Hempstead, New York, and spent 1 year at VMI. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School.

He is survived by his wife, Sherrie; children, Edward Castellano (Suzanne), Suzanne Fischer (Eric), David Castellano, Christine Byrne (Frank), and Michael Castellano (Jill); grandchildren, Michelle, Theresa, Mark, Meghan, Brian, Kailey, Jack, and Joseph; and great-grandchildren, Allison, Beau, and Arthur.

Perry C. Williamson ’49B

Perry Clausiel Williamson ’49B of Arlington, Texas, died June 15, 2024. He was 96. He matriculated from Terrell, Texas, and spent just over 1 year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas–Austin.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Williamson; sons, Tim Williamson (Shirley) and Mark Williamson (Tweety); grandchildren, Melissa Zimmer (Tony), Staci Garrett (Devin), Tyler Williamson, and Connor Williamson; and great-grandchildren, Haley Naylor (Preston), Brody Garrett, and Collin Benton.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Vicki.

Steven J. Abramedis ’50B

Steven John Abramedis ’50B, M.D., of Annapolis, Maryland, died Oct. 21, 2024. He was 95.

He matriculated from Clifton Forge, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medical from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

Cameron C. Barr Jr. ’52

Cameron Cardoza Barr Jr. ’52 of Sterling, Virginia, died Sept. 1, 2024. He was 95. He matriculated from Lutherville, Maryland, and spent 4 years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Roanoke College, a Master of Arts degree from Slippery Rock University, and a Master of Science degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

He is survived by his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia.

M. Wilson Gaillard Jr. ’52

Madison Wilson Gaillard Jr. ’52, D.M.D., of Mobile, Alabama, died Aug. 30, 2024. He was 93. He matriculated from Mobile and spent 2 years at VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

He is survived by his children, Sheri Gordon (Steve) and Wilson Gaillard III (Diane); grandchildren, Wade Gordon (Virginia), Chandler Becerra (Nelson), Madison Niblett (Collin), Erik Walters, and Kylee Westcott; and great-grandchildren, Maggie Gordon and Palmer Becerra.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Sheridan Gaillard, and sister, Mary Ann McKinney.

John P. Greenwood ’52

John Paul Greenwood ’52 of Richmond, Virginia, died Aug. 16, 2024. He was 92.

He matriculated from Petersburg, Virginia, and spent 2 years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Stickland Greenwood; grandsons, Ryan Michael Greenwood (Shannon) and Randall Paul Greenwood; great-granddaughter, Hazel Greenwood; and sister, Betsy Greenwood.

He was preceded in death by his son, Joel Michael Greenwood.

Patrick O. Spurgeon ’52

Patrick O’Dyer “Doc” Spurgeon ’52, Ph.D., of Statesboro, Georgia, died June 23, 2022. He was 92.

He matriculated from Mountain City, Tennessee, and spent less than 1 year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory & Henry College and a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Tennessee.

He was survived by his wife, Ann Spurgeon (now deceased). He is survived by his sons, O’Dyer (Mary) and Kevin (Barbara), and grandchildren, Kathleen, Rick, Russell, Anna, and Bri. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Anna Kathleen, and sister, Jaina Larkey.

J. Parker Cross Jr. ’53

James Parker Cross Jr. ’53, M.D., of Norfolk, Virginia, died Oct. 12, 2024. He was 93.

He matriculated from Suffolk, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Annah Eberwine Cross, and children, Katherine Cross and Parker Cross (Jennifer Slatkin).

John D. Evans Jr. ’53

John Davis “Spider” Evans Jr. ’53 of Richmond, Virginia, died Sept. 25, 2024. He was 93. He matriculated from Halifax, Virginia, and spent 4 years at VMI.

He is survived by his daughters, Susan Williams and Mary Ely Tinsley (Cliff); grandchildren, Cabell Williams, Liza Williams, Jack Williams, John Tinsley, Ella Tinsley, Thompson Oney, Brett Oney, Emma Ahearn, George Ahearn, Josie Ashworth, and Piper Ashworth; step-daughters, Anne Bruce Ahearn, Emily Oney (Todd), and Pope Ashworth (Ryan); sister, Elizabeth Gilmer Holt; and son-in-law, Byron Hulsey.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Mary Ely Evans and Bruce Wilborn Evans; sister, Mildred Livingston Farrington; and brothers, Robert Holt Evans and Edward Livingston Evans.

John L. Botjer ’54

John Louis Botjer ’54 of Raleigh, North Carolina, died Aug. 31, 2024. He was 91.

He matriculated from Fort Lee, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his children, Beth, Phil, and Pete; grandchildren, Stacy, Angie, Jessica, and Clare; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy.

John R. Handy ’54

John Rutherfoord Handy ’54, M.D., of Evans, Georgia, died Sept. 5, 2024. He was 93.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Musser Handy; four children; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

William S. Yerger ’54

Hon. William Swan Yerger ’54 of Fairhope, Alabama, died Aug. 1, 2024. He was 92.

He matriculated from Jackson, Mississippi, and spent 2 years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi and a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Laws degree, both from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Gingia Yerger; daughters, Virginia Yerger Avisto and Rivers Yerger Puckett (Todd); and grandchildren, Palmer Avisto, Harrison Avisto, Rivers Puckett, Mary Hastings Puckett, Carolina Puckett, and Todd Puckett Jr.

Louis M. Damiano ’55

Louis Michael “Lou” Damiano ’55, M.D., of Lanham Seabrook, Maryland, died Aug. 7, 2024. He was 91.

He matriculated from North Adams, Massachusetts, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Maryland.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Damiano; children, Louis Damiano (Anna Moretti), Michael Damiano (Valerie), and Anne Marie McDermott (John); grandchildren, Michael Damiano (Nina Gleiberman), Mary Katelyn Harnsberger (Greg), Joseph Damiano (Samriti Madan), Louis Damiano (Jordan), Nicholas Damiano, David Damiano, Mary Ellen Damiano, and John McDermott; and great-grandchildren, Aiden, Lica, Aurora, Dylan, Brooks, and Camden.

Benjamin W.L. Semmes Jr. ’55

Benjamin Warner Lewis “Ben” Semmes Jr. ’55 of Burlington, Massachusetts, died Aug. 8, 2024. He was 91.

He matriculated from Garden City, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his children, Lisa Semmes Elkins (Lorren) and Benjamin W.L. Semmes III ’88 (Lisa), and grandchildren, Madeleine Elkins Sulkin (Steve), Cameron Elkins, Andrew Semmes, Carter Semmes, Lindsay Semmes, Michaela Semmes, Amelia Semmes, and Juliet Semmes.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Consuelo; father, Benjamin W.L. Semmes, Class of 1918, who died Aug. 5, 1980; grandfather, Bernard B. Semmes, Class of 1884, who died Nov. 3, 1917; and great-grandfather, Thomas M. Semmes, Class of 1860, who died Nov. 26, 1904.

David J. Thomas ’55

David James Thomas ’55 of Ballston Spa, New York, died Sept. 13, 2024. He was 90.

He matriculated from Ballston Spa and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Thomas; children, Kimberly Currier (Rick), David P. Thomas, Mary Stodgell (Jim), and Sarah Ferrara; grandchildren, Stacia (Derik), Jennifer (Cody), Rebecca, Spencer (Leanna), and Benjamin; and great-grandchildren, Logan and Diana.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Ricky Currier.

Thayer W. Allison ’56

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Thayer Wesley “Spider” Allison ’56 of Melbourne, Florida, died Feb. 22, 2024. He was 90.

He matriculated from East Liverpool, Ohio, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from Purdue University.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Heisel Anne Allison.

Richard M. Smith Jr. ’56

Richard Maclin “Dick” Smith Jr. ’56 of Burkeville, Virginia, died Sept. 11, 2024. He was 90.

He matriculated from Kenbridge, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his children, Sarah Smith (Fabian), Scott Smith ’90 (Melissa), and Richard

Maclin “Mac” Smith III (Taf), and grandchildren, Hannah, Gretchen, Molly, Lucas, Fiona, Eli, and Milo.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Elisabeth “Betsy” Kirkland.

William E. Colvin ’57

William Ernest “Bill” Colvin ’57 of Martinsville, Virginia, died Sept. 3, 2024. He was 90.

He matriculated from Culpeper, Virginia, and spent 2 years at VMI. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from Patrick Henry State Junior College.

He is survived by his children, Vivian (Kathy), Greg (Melanie), and Jeff (Kristen); grandchildren, Farren, Carolyn, Melissa, Jordan Rae, and “Mickey;” and sister-in-law, Brenda Elliott.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Rae Dunn Colvin, and brother, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas E. Colvin ’53, who died Aug. 8, 2009.

Robert W. Beale III ’58

Robert West Beale III ’58 of Denver, Colorado, died Dec. 27, 2020. He was 84.

He matriculated from Denver and spent 1 year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the U.S. Military Academy and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Denver.

He is survived by his wife, Diane; son, Brian; and sisters, Suzy and Sally.

William A. Wood IV ’58

William Allen “Bill” Wood IV ’58 of Alexandria, Virginia, died Oct. 12, 2024. He was 88. He matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Timmi Wood.

Leo A. Kramer Jr. ’59

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Leo Albert “Bud” Kramer Jr. ’59 of Sanford, Florida, died Oct. 8, 2024. He was 87.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

He is survived by his wife, Denyse Walsh Kramer; children, Michael Kramer (Natalie Rojas), Blaine Kramer (Danielle Bongiorno), Daniel Kramer (Dominick Biunno), Kerri Bertran (Jeremy), and Kelli Vocks (John); grandchildren, Sean

Williams, Hansel Scott, Trevor Bertran, Tyler Bertran, Colby Bertran, Jenna Bertran, Lena Kramer, Ford Meyer, Lincoln Meyer, and Ryker Vocks; step-children, Debbie LeGrand, Thomas Walsh Jr., Susan Walsh, and Daniel Walsh; 12 step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and brother, retired Lt. Col. Harry C. Kramer. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Betty Bartlett and Clara Weaver.

Robert C.W. Nicholl ’59

Robert Cannon Wynne “Bob” Nicholl ’59 of Dunn, North Carolina, died July 10, 2024. He was 87. He matriculated from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and spent 1 year at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Nicholl; children, Eleanor Nicholl, Richard Nicholl (Laurel Powell), and David Nicholl (Amy McCaskill); grandchildren, Cannon, Aley, Quinn, Ella, Violet, Lola, and Cyrus; sister, Margaret Taylor (Rev. Tom Taylor); and sister-in-law, Ellen O’Hara (Brian).

He was preceded in death by his sister, Myra Rhoades, and sister-in-law, Nancy Packard.

Norman J. Shamus ’59

Norman Joseph “Norm” Shamus ’59, D.O., of Grosse Ile, Michigan, died Oct. 20, 2024. He was 86.

He matriculated from Detroit, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

He is survived by his wife, Muriel Murer Shamus; sons, Michael (Susan), Christopher (Cherri), and Gregory (Kristen); grandchildren, Collin (Nicole), Reid (Courtney), Ethan, Julia, Sarah, Samuel, Elijah, and Noah Shamus; and great-granddaughter, Luna Shamus.

Seaborn F. Brown ’60

Seaborn Flournoy Brown ’60 of Sarasota, Florida, died Oct. 12, 2024. He was 85. He matriculated from Mexico City, Mexico, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Priscilla Nash Brown, and children, Evan H. Brown and Alden F. Brown.

William R. King ’60

William Russell “Bill” King ’60 of Missouri City, Texas, died Feb. 25, 2024. He was 86. He matriculated from Alexandria, Virginia,

and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Joan M. King; children, Kristie King Caviness (Randall) and Rusty King (Missy); grandchildren, Madison and Matthew King; brother, Dr. Kenneth King (Linda); and brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Mitzy McEvoy.

John R. Parks Jr. ’60

John Ridgely “Ridge” Parks Jr. ’60 of Manchester, Maryland, died Aug. 16, 2024. He was 86. He matriculated from Falls Church, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his children, Anne Parks Elder (Tom Medairy), J. Ridgely Parks III (Kimberly Stevenson), and Amy Parks Cunneen (Michael); 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and brother, Robert M. Parks (Holly).

He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Parks Mays.

Stephen H. Sewell Jr. ’60

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Howell “Steve” Sewell Jr. ’60 of Roanoke, Virginia, died Sept. 25, 2024. He was 88.

He matriculated from Daytona Beach, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He was a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and the Command and General Staff College.

He is survived by his son, Stephen H. Sewell III (Caroline); daughter, Sheri S. Vaughn (Paul); grandchildren, Brandon Sewell (Ashley), Brian Sewell (Nikki), Taylor Moore (Greg), Garrett Vaughn, Cameron Vaughn (Julia), Harrison Sewell, and Julia Sewell; great-grandchildren, Ella Sewell, Claire Sewell, Camden Sewell, Graham Sewell, Finley Moore, Olivia Moore, and Mason Moore; and daughter-in-law, Laura Sewell.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Chumley Sewell; son, Christopher Wynn Sewell; and step-brother, James Howe “Jim” Cheek Jr., Class of 1940, who died June 2, 2012.

William B. Eubank Jr. ’61

William Ball “Willie” Eubank Jr. ’61 of Vero Beach, Florida, died Sept. 17, 2024. He was 85. He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Charlene Beasley

Atkins-Eubank; children, William B. Eubank III (Jamie), Ellie Shropshire (Joe Rhodes), Karen Dorsey (Guy Jones), and Leigh Herring; grandchildren, Lacey, D.J., Wyck, Kennedy, Brady, and Ashley; great-grandchildren; and step-son, Alex Atkins (Christy).

He was preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Hoke, and grandson, Ty Dorsey.

Eugene R. McDannald Jr. ’61

Eugene Russell “Skip” McDannald Jr. ’61, M.D., of Dunwoody, Georgia, died Sept. 23, 2024. He was 85.

He matriculated from Vernon Hill, 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 and a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Colorado.

He is survived by his wife, Harriotte Dodson McDannald; children, Mary Archer McDannald Conlon and George Hunt McDannald; and sister, Charlotte Mitchell.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Miller; son-in-law, Thomas John Conlon Jr.; and father, Eugene R. “Gene” McDannald, Class of 1930, who died April 28, 1981.

James S. Needham ’61

James Stephen “Jim” Needham ’61 of Southington, Connecticut, died Oct. 11, 2024. He was 85.

He matriculated from Washington, D.C., and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He is survived by his wife, Johanna Brunalli Needham; daughter, Laura Needham; and sister, Patricia Needham Burns.

Fred T. Stephenson ’61

Fred Thomas Stephenson ’61 of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, died Oct. 26, 2024. He was 86.

He matriculated from Four Oaks, North Carolina, and spent 2 years at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Sara Kathryn Gunter Stephenson; daughter, Margaret Ellen Lukens (Richard); grandchildren, Joshua Thomas Lukens, Katherine Alyse Lukens, and Rachel Anne Lukens; sister, LaRue Stephenson Whitley; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Gunter Lawler and Francine Stephenson.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Hazel

Gray Stephenson Creech and Don Walton Stephenson.

Anthony M. Curtis ’62

Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Anthony McBurney “Tony” Curtis ’62 of The Villages, Florida, died June 16, 2024. He was 83.

He matriculated from Falls Church, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith K. Curtis.

Stanley E. Henning ’62

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Stanley Eugene “Stan” Henning ’62 of Aiea, Hawaii, died Oct. 11, 2024. He was 83.

He matriculated from Huntsville, Alabama, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii.

He is survived by his wife, Mona Henning, and children, Charles Henning and Alana Toler.

H. Paul Rhodes Jr. ’62

Herbert Paul Rhodes Jr. ’62, M.D., of Bedford, Virginia, died Aug. 31, 2024. He was 84.

He matriculated from Winchester, 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, Debbie Mitchell Rhodes; children, Laura Rhodes Fortsch (Greg), Paul Bruce Rhodes (Betsy), and John Cary Rhodes (Alicia); step-daughters, Tara Lineberry Troutman (Jeremia) and Brooke Lineberry Weatherington (Grant); grandchildren, Lily Fortsch, Eleanor Fortsch, Amelia Fortsch, Isabel Rhodes, Eliza Rhodes, Madden Rhodes, Payson Rhodes, Ellis Troutman, and Addie Weatherington; sister, Mary Bruce Rhodes Woody (Stephen); and brothers, Robert Madison Rhodes (Lanette), James William Rhodes (Mary), and John Kenyon Rhodes (Carol).

Clifford M. Beasley ’63

Clifford Marcellus Beasley ’63 of Lorton, Virginia, died Aug. 3, 2024. He was 83.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent 1 year at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Suzanne Dixon Beasley; step-children, Courtney Hodge

and Jeffrey Paul Hodge; step-grandchildren, Toni Hatfield, Kyre Hatfield, Rhianna Hodge, Sage Paul Hodge, and Samantha Hodge; and sister-in-law, Mary Kay Beasley.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert L. Beasley.

Carl V. Hinkle Jr. ’63

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Carl Vinson Hinkle Jr. ’63, Ph.D., of Staunton, Virginia, died Aug. 18, 2024. He was 81.

He matriculated from Staunton and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree, both from Clemson University.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Rawley Hinkle; children, Vince Hinkle (Beth), Darren Hinkle (Stephanie), Kristen Brown (Wayne), and Janla Hinkle-Cline (Scott); grandchildren, October Edwards, Jeremiah Seth Brown ’20, Josie Brown, Kaitlyn Cline, Haley Cline, Austin Cline, and Jaiden Hinkle; brother, Gary Hinkle (Bonnie); sisters, Gloria Hayes and Judy Simmons (Donnie); sister-in-law, Nancy Whitt (Dave); and brothers-in-law, Steve Rawley (Ruby) and Dennis Rawley (Angie).

Douglas K. Bergere ’64

Douglas Kenneth Bergere ’64 of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, died Aug. 16, 2024. He was 80.

He matriculated from Fort Dix, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William & Mary.

He is survived by his wife, Mary O’Day Bergere; daughters, Poppie McNierney (Christian) and Regan Shriver (Ryan); grandchildren, Keira, Liam, Indie, and Luna; brother-in-law, Kenny O’Day (Pam); and sister-in-law, Anne Ruddle.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Capps, and brother, Philip Bergere.

Bernie G. Hylton ’64

Bernie Gene Hylton ’64 of Ashburn, Virginia, died Oct. 8, 2024. He was 83.

He matriculated from Rileyville, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Memphis State University.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Hylton;

daughter, Erica Garman (David); grandchildren, Caroline Garman and Laura Garman; and brother, Duane Hylton (Carol).

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard Hylton (Elizabeth) and Lee Hylton (Nancy).

A. Martin Hash Jr. ’65

Avery Martin “Marty” Hash Jr. ’65 of Afton, Virginia, died Sept. 26, 2024. He was 81.

He matriculated from Salem, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Hash; children, Suzanne Petrus (David) and Avery Martin “O’Hara” Hash III; grandson, Mark Petrus; great-grandson, Immanuel Petrus; and sister, Sharon Falat (Michael).

David P. Adkins Jr. ’66

David Powers “Dave” Adkins Jr. ’66 of Seattle, Washington, died Aug. 19, 2024. He was 80.

He matriculated from Atlanta, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Washington.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn.

John M. Stauffer ’66

John Maxwell Stauffer ’66, Ph.D., of Apopka, Florida, died July 30, 2024. He was 80.

He matriculated from Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and spent 2 years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Moravian College and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Syracuse University.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Sue Loder Stauffer; daughter, Ruth Stauffer Peddicord (Derek); and grandson, Benjamin.

J. Stephen Buis ’67

Hon. James Stephen “Steve” Buis ’67 of Port Haywood, Virginia, died Aug. 29, 2024. He was 79.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond and a Master of Laws degree from the Stonier School of Banking.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Garrett Buis; son, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. John Errett Buis ’98 (Megan); grandchildren, Benjamin

Thomas Casey, Morgan Aiden Casey, Samuel Mason Stocks, Berkley Noland Stocks, Katherine Ward Stocks, Erin Connolly Buis, and Clara Vawter Buis; step-children, Rita Morgan Stocks (Sam Stocks ’90) and Mary Ann Casey; and sister, Gretchen Lynn Buis.

He was preceded in death by his son, U.S. Army Spc. James Vawter Buis.

Charles M. Taylor III ’68

Charles Marshall “Chuck” Taylor III ’68 of Deltaville, Virginia, died Sept. 22, 2024. He was 78.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent 2 years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

He is survived by his wife, Stuart Hawthorne Taylor; children, Chad Taylor ’90 and Logan Taylor Tymoff (Michael); grandson, Hudson Taylor Kemper; step-granddaughter, Dahlia Tymoff; sister, Minerva Taylor; sister-in-law, Peel Hawthorne; and brother-in-law, Dean Hawthorne.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Marshall “Charlie” Taylor Jr., Class of 1933, who died Dec. 16, 1985.

Robert M. Alexander ’69

Robert Moore “Bob” Alexander ’69, D.D.S., of Seaford, Virginia, died Oct. 31, 2024. He was 78.

He matriculated from Hampton, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Mahoney Alexander; children, Robert M. Alexander II (Ellen) and Sarah E.A. Barrett (Liam); grandson, Jackson Alexander Barrett; sister, Carol A. Conway; brother David J. Alexander, D.D.S. (Emily “Phil”).

He was preceded in death by his brother-inlaw, Dr. Bruce A. Conway.

Hayward D. Luckett III ’69

Hayward Douglas “Doug” Luckett III ’69 of Cumming, Georgia, died June 19, 2023. He was 75.

He matriculated from Savannah, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his daughters, Margaret Luckett Sellers and Elizabeth Luckett McMullan, and six grandchildren.

He was survived by his wife, Ruth Crowell Luckett (now deceased). He was preceded in death by his father, Hayward Douglas “Red” Luckett Jr., Class of 1935, who died Jan. 3, 2001.

Bradford W. Allen ’72

Bradford Watters “Brad” Allen ’72 of Boise, Idaho, died July 9, 2023. He was 73.

He matriculated from Birmingham, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

Frank L. Foley ’72

Frank Leslie Foley ’72 of Martinsburg, West Virginia, died March 30, 2024. He was 74.

He matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his brother, Lee Foley. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Spurling Foley.

J. Michael Guidry ’73

John Michael “Mike” Guidry ’73 of Pensacola, Florida, died Feb. 8, 2024. He was 73.

He matriculated from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and spent more than 1 year at VMI.

He is survived by his children, Matthew (Kaitlin), Lauren (Natalia), and David, and grandchildren, Avery, Quinn, Colette, and Jacques.

George R. Van Laethem ’74

Retired U.S. Army Col. George Richard Van Laethem ’74 of Chesapeake, Virginia, died Oct. 26, 2024. He was 72.

He matriculated from Annandale, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Webster University.

He is survived by his wife, Anna; daughter, Ashley Hyman (Alan); and grandchildren, Tripp and Amelia.

Brian C. Puse II ’76

Brian Carl Puse II ’76 of Hopewell, Virginia, died Aug. 9, 2024. He was 71.

He matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and spent 3 years at VMI. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelor of

Science degree from Troy State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering degree from Virginia State University.

He is survived by his son, Brian Carl Puse III (Nancy); grandchildren, Ashton, Ayla, and Ayden Puse; mother, Marian Cummins; sisters, Stephanie Smally (Steve) and Kim Frock; and half-brother, Christopher Cummins (Bertica). He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Marie Puse.

Stewart R. Wolf ’78

Stewart Ross Wolf ’78 of Manchester, Maryland, died Aug. 6, 2024. He was 68.

He matriculated from Sykesville, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Mary A. Johnson Wolf; son, Geoffrey A. Wolf; and sister, Carol Henry (Tom).

He was preceded in death by his brother-inlaw, Dennis Thomas.

John A. Rudolph Jr. ’80

John Allan Rudolph Jr. ’80 of Tallahassee, Florida, died Oct. 29, 2024. He was 65.

He matriculated from St. Petersburg, Florida, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University.

He is survived by his wife, Rhesa Rudolph; children, Nick Rudolph and Mary Noell Rudolph; grandchildren, Calla Reyes and Kylar Reyes; mother, Eva Rudolph; sister, Evan Livingston (Chris); brother, Dr. Councill Rudolph II ’79; and sisters-in-law, Tamra Shaw (Lowell) and Dr. Carol Fujiyoshi.

He was preceded in death by his father, Allan Rudolph.

Daniel K. Gallagher ’81

Daniel Keith “Dan” Gallagher ’81 of Charlotte, North Carolina, died Aug. 30, 2024. He was 65.

He matriculated from Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business and modern languages from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary and a teaching certificate from the University of North Carolina–Charlotte.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Haas Gallagher; children, Kristen Buchanan (Bryce), Erin Gallagher, Matthew Gallagher (Megan), and

Joseph Gallagher; grandchildren, Richard and Linnea; and brothers, Brian Gallagher (Pat) and Jim Gallagher (Ellen).

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Cynthia Thomas, Peter Gallagher, Alan Gallagher, Craig Gallagher, and Ken Gallagher.

Duane E. Ray ’83

Duane Edward Ray ’83 of Richmond, Virginia, died Oct. 31, 2024. He was 66.

He matriculated from Hamilton, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Averett University.

Robert T. Mitchell III ’85

Robert Theodore “Rob” Mitchell III ’85 of Lafayette, Louisiana, died Oct. 7, 2024. He was 61.

He matriculated from Winchester, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his daughters, Sydney Mitchell Moore (Wyatt), Lucy Mitchell, and Ursula Mitchell; parents, Nancy and Robert T. “Bob” Mitchell Jr. ’62; brother, Tom Mitchell (Jamie); and sister, Amy Mitchell Brooks (Rick).

Robert D. Darby Jr. ’89

Robert Dathan Darby Jr. ’89 of Frankfort, Kentucky, died Aug. 22, 2024. He was 57.

He matriculated from Simpsonville, Kentucky, and spent less than 1 year at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Ashley Nicole Morgan Darby; children, Patrick Logan Darby (Leah Tenorio) and Morgan Elaine Slone; grandchildren, Brandon Slone and Emma Slone; mother, Patricia Thacker Darby; and sister, Martha Bowen.

William Lee ’94

William Lee ’94 of Brooklyn, New York, died in 2023. He was 51.

He matriculated from Brooklyn and spent 1 year at VMI.

Kenneth T. Mears ’96

Kenneth Todd Mears ’96 of Fort Worth, Texas, died Aug. 12, 2024. He was 51.

He matriculated from Oak Hall, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Emily; sons, Ranson and Ben; parents, Bonnie and Wayne Mears; and sisters, Kim Mears, Kaz Webster (Glen), and Kathy Brady (Jim).

John P. Krzeminski ’02

John Paul Krzeminski ’02 of Greenville, South Carolina, died July 2, 2024. He was 44. He matriculated from Middlesex, New Jersey, and spent 2 years at VMI.

He is survived by his sister, Kimberly Fischer (William).

Kyle P. Hofstetter ’12

Kyle Paul Hofstetter ’12 of Severna Park, Maryland, died Aug. 29, 2024. He was 34.

He matriculated from Glenelg, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Katie, and two daughters.

VMI Family

Elizabeth J.M. Burch

Elizabeth Jane McCurdy “Libby” Burch of Rockbridge Baths, Virginia, died Oct. 17, 2024. She was 88.

She formerly worked in the chemistry department at VMI.

She is survived by her daughter, Constance Elizabeth Burch.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Connie Radcliff Burch Jr.

Percy A. Carlsson

Percy Allan Carlsson, Ph.D., of Lexington, Virginia, died Sept. 26, 2024. He was 97.

He formerly taught philosophy at VMI. He later served as associate dean of admissions and as registrar.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree from Wheaton College and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Northwestern University.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian Carlsson, and sister.

After Taps

Charlie Ramsburg ’66

By Parky Parkman ’66

Charles “Charlie” Ramsburg ’66 was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Jan. 20, 1945. His early years were spent in West Virginia before his family moved to Berryville, Virginia. Charlie grew up in Berryville, and while in high school, he was active in student government and played football, basketball, and baseball for Clarke County High School.

Charlie graduated from VMI in June 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. While at VMI, Charlie was actively involved, serving as executive officer of Company F, was a Distinguished Military student, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and was vice president of the Honor Court. Upon graduation, Charlie was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the artillery and served in both Germany and Vietnam. After leaving the military, Charlie embarked on a successful civilian career, which took him from Richmond

to Roanoke to Roswell, Georgia, and ultimately to Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1999.

After Charlie and I had each completed our active duty military obligations and returned to civilian life, we discovered that we both lived in Midlothian, Virginia (Richmond area). Our neighborhoods actually abutted each other. We would go together to the various VMI functions in Richmond and talk about our cadet days and the “state of affairs” of the Institute. We also would frequently see each other at the PTA meetings at the elementary school that our children attended.

Charlie was very active in the VMI Alumni Association, both in Greensboro and then as the regional director for the Alumni Association for North Carolina and South Carolina. When Charlie became the regional director, he traveled to both states to reenergize the alumni base and reactivate a number of dormant alumni chapters. Charlie would invite a group

of alumni to meet with him for the purpose of determining their interest in activating the chapter in their area. Charlie’s method was very successful and resulted in having 11 active chapters in the two-state area. This was accomplished through Charlie’s hard work and efforts, as well as his love for VMI.

Charlie passed July 2, 2024. He is survived by Gail, his wife of 57 years; a son; and many other family members. Several brother rats from ’66 and other VMI friends were among the many who attended Charlie’s memorial at the First Lutheran Church in Greensboro. Those attending from ’66 were Marshall Taylor and wife Kathleen; Frank Louthan; Woody Sadler and wife Lori and their granddaughter, Kaydance; John Bolger; and Mary Fran and me.

Charlie was always in good humor, with a ready smile and a great laugh. He will be greatly missed by his brother rats. Rest in peace.

George Richard Van Laethem ’74

By Chip Beaman ’74

Brother Rat George Van Laethem ’74 passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, Oct. 26, 2024, in Chesapeake, Virginia. When I received the call from George’s wife, Anna, I was having breakfast with about 10 other brother rats at our quarterly ’74 Tidewater breakfast club meeting. George had previously indicated he would be attending, so we were wondering why he wasn’t there. We were absolutely stunned to learn that George had passed away that morning. George, Mike Hogan ’74, and I roomed together all 4 years at VMI. Don Sharpe ’74 joined us our 3rd Class year. I vividly remember the first day I met George—Matriculation Day, Aug. 20, 1970. In those days, rats were assigned to companies by height. I was placed in Delta Company. That evening, the Delta Company rats were led up to the fourth stoop and randomly assigned to rooms. I walked into Room 481 and met my new roommates, George Van Laethem and Mike Hogan. There was no time for pleasantries; we were introduced to the Rat Line that night. Our

4-year journey had begun.

Fortunately, the three of us proved to be very compatible. We learned very quickly that to make it through VMI, you must support each other, work together, and look after each other. A strong bond started to develop between us: A bond that grew stronger with each passing day during our cadetship; a bond that would ultimately last a lifetime.

As a cadet, George was a strong supporter of the ideals and traditions of VMI, and he firmly believed that high standards had to be maintained by the Corps. Tough but fair would have been an apt description of George. He held rank each of our last 3 years, was a member of the soccer team and, our 2nd Class year, he served as a co-chairman of the Ring Figure Committee.

At graduation in May 1974, George was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He spent the next 20 years serving the country with distinction, retiring in 1994 as a lieutenant colonel. It was while stationed in Germany that

George met and fell in love with a young Army officer named Anna Caporale. Anna and George were married in Germany in 1981, a marriage that would last for 43 years.

After his retirement from the Army, George continued to serve the country as a defense contractor. From 1994–2001, he was the chief analyst for Cubic Applications, Inc. In 2001, he accepted a position with Computer Sciences Corporation and held various positions with that company for over 9 years. In 2011, he became the senior director of biometrics and identity operations manager for CACI, Inc.

It was during this period after retirement from the Army that George and Anna, with their daughter Ashley, decided to make Chesapeake their home. It was in Chesapeake that another phase of George’s life began. He enjoyed mentoring and coaching young people, eventually becoming the JV girls’ soccer coach at Western Branch High School. He also continued his life of service by becoming a member of the

After Taps

City of Chesapeake’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. After serving on that board for 4 years, he was appointed to the city’s planning commission, and for the next 12 years, he worked hard to ensure that the City of Chesapeake would enjoy controlled and sustainable growth.

Since learning of his death, I have thought a lot about George and the years we spent together at VMI. There are four things that

particularly stand out in my mind. First, George was devoted to the Army. He came from an Army family, and he often said that his primary goal at VMI was to get his Army commission. Second, George held very strong opinions and was not hesitant to make his opinions known. He could, at times, be rather stubborn and unbending, but he always meant well and sincerely believed that he was doing the right thing. Third, George was a man of

uncompromising honor and integrity. His word was his bond. If he told you something, you could take it to the bank. He could not tolerate dishonesty. Fourth, George was extremely loyal to his family, to his friends and brother rats, to VMI, to the Army, and to the nation he served so well. His was a life well lived.

George Van Laethem was my brother rat, my roommate, my friend. I shall miss him greatly. Rest in peace, brother rat.

TapsAlumni News

Price ’71

The Loudoun Laurels Foundation of Loudoun County, Virginia, named Stephen C. Price ’71 as a 2024 Loudoun Laureate for his personification of qualities it seeks in all candidates for the annual honor: Selflessness, integrity, creativity, wisdom, and courage.

This year’s selections for Loudoun Laureates were drawn from a deep and diverse pool of worthy candidates. During its deliberations, the Advisory Committee expressed its admiration for the many individuals in Loudoun County who contribute so much of their time, energy, and resources to make the county a better place.

Price has worked for decades in a quiet but highly effective manner, serving on boards and providing pro bono legal advice for causes that have underpinned the preservation of Loudoun County’s historic sites and the protection of its natural beauty. He served on the George C. Marshall International Center board for 15 years, where, as president, he oversaw the 6-year renovation of the historic Dodona Manor, the Leesburg home of Gen. George C. Marshall, Class of 1901. In his role as general counsel to the Land Trust of Virginia, Price was instrumental in securing the protection of thousands of undeveloped acres in Loudoun County. As chair of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association, he expanded educational outreach in schools across the Heritage Area, including Loudoun County, and strengthened partnerships with like-minded organizations to help unify the county behind its preservation mission.

Matriculating from Falls Church, Virginia, Price graduated from VMI with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He was also a distinguished graduate and served as Honor Court president his 1st Class year. Commissioned as a U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery officer, he served through the rank of captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. After receiving law degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Cambridge–Queens’ College, Price established a law practice in Leesburg before joining McCandlish Lillard, where he is now a principal at the firm.

The Meetings Industry Fund elected Walt Galanty ’72 as Board of Directors of The Meetings Industry Fund chairman for 2024–25.

Galanty ’72

The Meetings Industry Fund was established over 15 years ago and provides financial assistance to individuals in the meetings industry who are experiencing times of crisis, such as a disaster, medical illness, or other emergencies. Funds are raised by the fund and redistributed anonymously to those in need.

Galanty is the founder and original guru of AIM Events, a national event planning business. He has spent a long and distinguished career in the meetings and events industry, holding board positions and speaking on a wide variety of industry subjects. As board chairman, Galanty will serve alongside many other meeting industry veterans to assist those in need in the meetings industry, manage the board, and create opportunities to expand the fund’s reach as they serve a greater audience.

Matriculating from Detroit, Michigan, Galanty graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from VMI and then earned a Masters Certificate in Public Relations from American University. He has served on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors and Keydet Club Board of Governors and was the first chairman of the VMI New Cadet Recruiting Committee. Galanty has also served as the Small Business Legislative Council chairman for 2 years. His company, AIM Events, was named one of the best meeting planning companies in the Washington, D.C., area by Washington Business Week 11 years in a row.

The Knights of Columbus honored Father Kevin Fimian ’85 with the 2024 Blessed Michael McGivney Award at their annual state convention. Each year, this prestigious award is given “to a Knights of Columbus chaplain whose priestly zeal and exemplary service are in the finest traditions of [the Knights of Columbus] founder.” Emulating the life of Blessed Michael McGivney through his devotion to his flock, evangelization, and daily witness to the spiritual life, Fimian exemplifies the Good Shepherd, according to the Knights of Columbus.

The award acknowledges the spiritual benefits experienced by members of Council 367 under Fimian’s leadership, as well as his support for the Catholic communities at three area bases, two shipyards, and one U.S. Navy brig. Known for his high energy and dedication, Fimian

Fimian ’85

leads 5 weekday Masses, three Sunday Masses, daily confession, and 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration each week. He is also recognized for his commitment to visiting sailors at local parishes outside the Newport News and Norfolk Naval Shipyards and for serving as the spiritual adviser to Hope 4 Life, a 501(c)(3) mobile medical unit that provides free ultrasounds to pregnant women and their babies.

Ordained to the priesthood in 2006 at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in the Arlington Diocese, Fimian returned to his hometown to address a crucial need within both the church and the state. Since receiving the endorsement of Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, archbishop for the military services, in 2018, Fimian has been devoted to serving Catholic naval personnel throughout the Tidewater area. He played a key role in establishing Passage Ways to Pews, a major Navy-wide initiative to bridge the gap between Catholic sailors and the local community. Acting as a liaison between fleet chaplains and retired Navy veterans, he has connected 32 Norfolk-based ships with six local Knights of Columbus Councils. These efforts have ensured that every deployed ship has a Catholic lay leader on board, equipped with religious materials to help shipmates continue growing in their faith.

Matriculating from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Fimian spent 2 years at VMI before transferring to Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Brashears ’95

Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, a leading provider of medical, dental, and pharmacy services for low-income adults, announced the appointment of Thomas A. Brashears ’95 as its new executive director Oct. 25, 2024.

Operated by the Fredericksburg Area Regional Health Council, the Clinic has cared for over 16,000 patients, dispensed 900,000 prescription medications, and provided $337 million in free healthcare to our neighbors in need since 1993. Brashears replaces Karen Dulaney, Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic’s longtime executive director, who retired in fall 2024 after 29 years of service and leadership.

Brashears has a wealth of experience in nonprofit and for-profit communities, having previously served as the VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer and the Military and Family Life Counseling deputy program director. His leadership style is rooted in maximizing the talents, skills, and abilities of people and ensuring they have all they need to succeed. His successful track record in increasing engagement and fundraising will be essential to the Moss Clinic as it looks to sustain and expand moving forward.

Matriculating from Arlington, Virginia, Brashears graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from VMI. He later earned Master of Arts degrees in management and leadership and human services counseling from Liberty University in 2013 and 2016, respectively. He also previously served as a Keydet Club Board of Governors member.

The Home Builders Association of Virginia

Callahan ’96

inducted Shawn Callahan ’96 into the Home Builders Association of Virginia’s Hall of Fame June 14, 2024.

Callahan is president and chief financial officer of Metwood Building Solutions, an innovative building product manufacturer located in Boones Mill, Virginia. Throughout his career, Callahan has pushed design, construction, and sustainability boundaries to deliver projects that exceed industry standards. His visionary approach to home building has earned him widespread acclaim and respect among peers, clients, and industry professionals.

Callahan’s commitment to the home building industry is evident in his volunteer leadership accomplishments, which include serving as the Roanoke Regional Home Builders

Association president in 2009 and Home Builders Association of Virginia president in 2018, chairing and restructuring the HBAV education foundation to focus on workforce development, volunteering as the NAHB state representative, and volunteering as the NAHB Area 3 National Area chairman. Moreover, Callahan is always willing to share his expertise, insights, and resources to support the growth and development of fellow professionals.

With a career marked by notable achievements, impactful contributions, and unwavering commitment to his profession and community, Callahan embodies the highest standards of excellence in the residential building industry.

Matriculating from Blue Ridge, Virginia, Callahan earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in computer science and mathematics from VMI. In 2005, he graduated from the University of Phoenix with his Master of Business Administration degree in accounting.

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.

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 each year. Scholarships are awarded in July.

Book Announcements

Southern Girls Always Survive by Rocky Yost ’72. Independently published, 2024. ISBN: 9798879751529. Available via Amazon.

The year is 1970, and Hilly Garland is looking forward to leaving her small Virginia town for college at the University of South Carolina. Two nights before Hilly embarks for her new life, she is assaulted by an entitled law student, Rolle Gilchrest, a local political prince. Traumatized, Hilly gathers the fragments of her strength and leaves everything dear and familiar in the dark of night.

At college, she finds her place with five other young women. The “12th Floor Girls” help Hilly rediscover her self-esteem and self-respect. These women build friendships that will last a lifetime. On a girls’ trip to Aspen, she meets the handsome love of her life, Cole Harrison. He and Hilly spend 10 idyllic years together in Aspen before tragedy finds Hilly once more when Cole is murdered.

Devastated, Hilly does what she’s always done—she keeps going. Hilly returns to her bucolic Virginia home just 55 miles from Washington, D.C., amid the backdrop of larger-thanlife figures such as Martha Mitchell and Jackie Kennedy. However, home is not the safe haven it once was. A serial rapist and killer is on the loose and has just become a member of Congress. His name is Rolle Gilchrest. Now Hilly must decide what she will do. Does she keep quiet, or does she bring light to Rolle’s sordid misdeeds?

About the Author:

Matriculating from Winchester, Virginia,

Rocky Yost ’72 spent 4 years playing on the defensive line for VMI on a football scholarship. He graduated from VMI with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. After graduation, he worked for several decades in real estate before taking a 3-year sabbatical to live in Los Angeles. While there, he attended the University of California–Los Angeles School of Theatre, Film, and Television, working in production and learning to write screenplays. He wrote and produced the award-winning indie film, “Lilly’s Thorn.” Yost has two children: A son, Jake, and a daughter, CeCe. “Southern Girls Always Survive” is Yost’s debut novel, coauthored with his sister, Mary Kennedy Yost.

No More Secrets: From Hurt Never Told to Transformational Truth by Adam Volant ’88 ACV Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9798990468900. Available via Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

In this powerful memoir, retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Adam Volant ’88 shares his raw and inspiring testimony of overcoming unimaginable brokenness to achieve success. Rising from the ashes of childhood abuse, he ascended to flag officer rank in the military’s most specialized cyber operations.

Centered around a poignant poem written during his darkest moments, this intensely personal memoir reveals how horrific experiences can be transformed into a journey toward healing and truth. Through his memoir, Volant exemplifies the power of authentic leadership: The willingness to absorb mistakes, make imperfection useful, and turn pain into purpose.

“No More Secrets” is not just a story of

survival but a beacon of hope and transformation that will resonate with anyone seeking to understand the profound impact of abuse, the challenges of living with post-traumatic stress disorder, and the resilience of the human spirit.

About the Author:

Volant matriculated from Bartlett, Illinois, and was a distinguished military graduate of VMI, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He earned his Master of Science degree from Capella University and his Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College.

Raised in the lower-middle-class suburbs of Chicago, Volant took on two paper routes, hoping to one day earn his escape. Joining the military at 17 at the lowest rank, he ascended through 11 promotions, ultimately rising to brigadier general and director of operations for the U.S. Army Cyber Command.

Volant currently serves as a cyber security consulting firm executive and lives in Georgia near the Savannah River. “No More Secrets” is his first book and a compelling story unveiling the dark secrets kept while serving in uniform.

Broken Bone: A Football Story by Kelly R. Holbert ’93. Palmetto Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9798822913585. Available via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This is a football story. “Broken Bone” reflects a journey culminating with the greatest comeback in Virginia Military Institute football history, as told by the author, Kelly R. Holbert ’93. It was a

Book Announcements

unique time at a unique place to be playing Division I football. Holbert writes that the odyssey he and his team braved prepared them for futures filled with duty, responsibility, and purpose.

Football is singular in the world of team sports for the distinct challenges it presents and the lessons it provides. The team comes first. Discipline, toughness, and perseverance are rewarded. Essential life lessons are learned. Though they were not always triumphant, when the final whistle blew Nov. 21, 1992, the VMI football team redeemed the cost of the sacrifices made. This is VMI football’s story.

About the Author:

Matriculating from Blacksburg, Virginia, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Kelly R. Holbert ’93 was a distinguished graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. Following graduation, Holbert served 25 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. He is now a Boeing 737 captain for United Airlines. Holbert has two children, Tyler and Maddi, and he and his wife, Bobbi, reside in Virginia.

Defying Deception: A Field Guide to Understanding and Countering Satan’s Strategy of Deception by Jonathan K.

Corrado ’05. Resource Publications, 2024. ISBN: 9781666789652. Available via Amazon, Wipf and Stock Publishers, and Bookshop.org.

Comprehensive training and well-established tactics are the trademark qualities of a solid and robust military training program designed to win wars. As a result, well-trained soldiers can think and act soundly while engaged in warfare.

In “Defying Deception,” Jonathan K. Corrado ’05 argues that, like soldiers, Christians must train to become prepared to make biblically sound choices while engaged in spiritual warfare—specifically, deception. Deception, as clearly conveyed in the Bible, is Satan’s weapon of choice; therefore, if understood properly, it can be thwarted effectively.

“Defying Deception” is a book for those who want to raise their awareness of the enemy’s strategies and to mature their spiritual walk by offsetting the enemy’s deceptive methods with practical means. That said, this field guide establishes a parallel between Satan’s deceptive tactics and military psychological operations, also known as PSYOP, to convey false information to influence emotions, motives, and reasoning because both seek to lead people into falsehood to influence destructive decision-making.

Armed with this information, the book develops practical defensive strategies using well-established, effective military tactics to assist readers in overcoming spiritual deception.

About the Author:

Jonathan K. Corrado ’05, Ph.D., has degrees in engineering, science, and theology, culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy degree in systems engineering from Colorado State University and a Master of Theology from Liberty University. He has extensive experience in systems and nuclear engineering, including enrichment and nuclear operations, and has served in management roles, as well as research and development.

Corrado has authored both secular and creationist scientific papers, theological papers, military papers, and books in his field. Corrado currently works in both the defense and nuclear industries as a manager and engineer and as an adjunct professor. He also serves as a senior officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Matriculating from Cincinnati, Ohio, Corrado graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from VMI. He is married to Erin, a Christian singer-songwriter, and they have four children.

Bissell ’98, Tammelin ’09, and Peace ’22 Begin New Roles

Brandon Bissell ’98 transitioned to a new role as an Alumni Agencies major gift officer in October 2024. For the past 2 years, Bissell has served as Alumni Association director of alumni outreach since joining the Agencies in December 2022. In his new position, he will encourage the leading support of prospects concentrated in Florida. Bissell matriculated from Lexington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI and a Master of Business Administration degree from Liberty University.

During his time at VMI, Bissell played on the football team and was a member of the VMI Army Aviation Association of America chapter and the Big Red Club. Upon graduation, he commissioned in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant and commenced aviation officer basic course and flight training. In October 2018, Bissell retired as a lieutenant colonel following a 20-year military career. He married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca L. Bissell, and they have two daughters.

“Brandon has been instrumental in supporting the Alumni Association for the past 2 years, and his strong relationship-building and leadership skills demonstrated over his 20-year military career and years in the private sector will transition well into his new role,” said Andrew Deal ’12, Alumni Agencies chief development officer and Keydet Club chief operating officer.

Justin Tammelin ’09 was promoted to the role of Alumni Association director of alumni networking in October 2024. In August 2023, Tammelin joined the Alumni Association as the director of alumni engagement. In his new role, Tammelin’s primary focus will be growing and strengthening the VMI alumni network. He will work with alumni in career transition, serve as the liaison to the Career Networking Committee and Career Services, and work closely with the Board of Directors Outreach Committee.

Tammelin enjoys building relationships and has spent the last 8 years working on restaurant leadership teams for Chick-fil-A. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in marketing from Liberty University. He hopes to have a positive impact on everyone he interacts with and is grateful and honored to have the opportunity to serve the Institute and its alumni.

“Justin’s demonstrated ability to work with our alumni, VMI, and our volunteers make him the best person on our staff to support those in career transition,” said Ed Johnson ’79, Alumni Association chief operating officer.

Jacob Peace ’22 was promoted to Alumni Association director of alumni engagement in October 2024. Peace joined the Alumni Agencies as Alumni Association alumni program officer in January 2024.

Matriculating from Berryville, Virginia, Peace graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI. Following graduation, he earned his Master of Science degree in hospitality and tourism management from Florida International University in Miami, Florida, in 2023. While a cadet, Peace was a 3-year editor of the Cadence Journal, a yearly publication produced by the Institute. He was also a cadet-athlete who played football for six collegiate seasons at both VMI and FIU as an offensive lineman. Peace was also a member of the 2021 team that brought home a conference championship to VMI. His other accomplishments and awards include the Sir Moses Ezekiel Award, the Bruce W. Undercoffer ’76 Award, the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal, and being named a Hampshire Honor Society member in 2023.

“Jacob’s leadership and team effort have been critical to organizing and coordinating all the portions of the staff to support our region and chapter leadership for alumni events,” said Johnson. In his new role, Peace will lead chapter events, Legacy Day, and legacy provisional appointments and coordinate with regional directors and chapter presidents.

Peace ’22

Bissell ’98

Tammelin ’09

Members of the Class of 2026 cheer after receiving their class rings in Cameron Hall during Ring Figure, Nov. 22, 2024.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.