The Sabre Randolph-Macon Academy
Winter-Spring 2022
A Falcon Foundation School
THE SABRE Magazine Published by
RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY 200 Academy Drive Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-5200 www.RMA.edu Editor: Jenny Walton Photography: Misti Walters
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Harry G. Austin, III ‘75 Chairman Mr. John Simar ‘68 Vice-Chairman Ms. Patty Keenan Secretary Mr. Eric Anderson ‘88 Dr. Bill Bersing ‘85 Mr. Brian Bogart Mr. Joe Hadeed ‘84 Ms. Lucy Williams Hooper Mr. Doug Huthwaite ‘69 Ms. Whitney Lee ‘10 Mr. Ed Morris ‘97 Mr. George Mathias ‘54 Mr. Alonzo Neese, III ‘01 Mr. Robert Spivey ‘59 Ms. Katie Tewell ‘97, P’22, ‘25 Ex-Officio Members Mr. Bryan V. Moore ‘84 Dr. Rev. Victor Gomez
PRESIDENT Brig Gen David C. Wesley, USAF, Retd.
On October 21, cadets gathered by the flagpole in front of Sonner-Payne Hall for a candlelight vigil dedicated to all in the R-MA community who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Students lit candles and shared in prayers of hope and healing, then observed a moment of silence in remembrance of those who have passed away.
The Sabre is published for alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy. Send any comments or suggestions to: jwalton@rma.edu To unsubscribe from The Sabre, send your name and address to: alumni@rma.edu
CONTENTS General’s Greetings
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Rise Inside R-MA Aviation Earns FAA Grant Board of Trustees Welcomes New Chair: Harry G. Austin, III ‘75 Admissions Update R-MA Middle School: Lead4Change Certified
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Feature Articles Safe Social Media Use: Speaker Ben Tracey Shares Insight Eyes In The Sky: R-MA Students Fight Shenandoah Algae Bloom Homecoming 2021 Recap Save the Date: Homecoming 2022 Go Jackets, Go! Giving Tuesday 2021 Joining the Team: Louis Massett, Director of Advancement
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Rise Beyond The Rifleman, Part II: W. Lewis Nalls, Jr. ‘56 Final Roll Call In Memoriam: Lois S. Turner In Memoriam: Donny T. White ‘61
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GENERAL’S GREETINGS What a year we are having on The Hill! The Yellow Jackets have returned to full participation in varsity sports, while complying with necessary safety protocols to keep athletes and fans healthy. I bow my head in thanks to R-MA’s Athletic Director, Frank Sullivan, and his coaches, for all the work they have done to put R-MA back on the fields and courts. God continues to bless our Academy and seeing young people play sports gives our campus a hint of the day we all pray is around the corner for our country and the world. In October, we were visited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ Accreditation Team for our Ten-Year evaluation. Their assessment of the Academy is the foundation of R-MA’s primary credential as an accredited school in Virginia. It was a great visit, allowing us an opportunity to display the progress our teachers, students, and staff have made in the decade since we last faced this test. Our updated strategic plan, the Pre-Professional Pathways, our impressive array of labs and cutting-edge classroom activities impressed the team. Their written report is something every Yellow Jacket can justly be proud of, and we received word of our accreditation in February. Shortly after the VAIS Team departed, we learned that the Federal Aviation Administration had awarded the Academy’s Unmanned Systems Lab a $307,000 grant,
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enabling its Director, Mr. Brian Kelly, to push R-MA’s elite drone program even further forward in this competitive field. Our students engage in real-world drone work with the Smithsonian Institution’s extension campus, the local police and fire departments, and other local governmental and private entities. The ongoing partnership with Silent Falcon, an impressive drone company that recently re-located to Front Royal, gives R-MA students still more opportunities to learn by doing in this exciting field. Just another year on The Hill, and yet our faculty and staff continue to deliver world-class results for the next generation of R-MA graduates under circumstances so many schools find simply impossible to surmount. There are a lot of reasons why the Academy will be 130 years old in April. Take a moment and think of a few...we see them here, every day! Go Jackets!
David C. Wesley Brigadier General, USAF. Retired President
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RISE INSIDE R-MA AVIATION WINS FAA GRANT The Randolph-Macon Academy Aviation department has a new feather in its cap! In December, the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded R-MA $307,215.90 of supplemental funding as part of the FAA Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grant Program. “In early January 2021, we got the notification of this funding opportunity. They outlined $5 million in funding with a rigorous selection process which they opened up to high schools across the country, and if you met a certain number of requirements, you could qualify for that opportunity,” explained Brian Kelly, Director of Unmanned Systems (drones). The implications of this funding are important and far-reaching for the Aviation program at R-MA. Over the next year and a half, the grant will be used to bring in additional flight simulators, so students can log more practice hours and safely experience a variety of flight conditions; and to offer free discovery flights to students considering the aviation program. On the Unmanned side, the program will add new drone platforms and payload sensors - equipment that “a lot of universities are going to wish they had!” Mr. Kelly exclaimed. But most importantly, this grant will provide financial aid opportunities for prospective students. “There are about 65 financial aid opportunities that are a part of this grant,” said Mr. Kelly. “We have a number of scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $10,000 to pursue that dream of aviation in the manned or unmanned world.”
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BOARD WELCOMES NEW CHAIR: HARRY G. AUSTIN, III ‘75 The Randolph-Macon Academy Board of Trustees recognized an outgoing trustee and welcomed a new chairman at their meeting in June 2021. Outgoing was former chair Rear Admiral John D. Stufflebeem, USN, Retired ’70. Serving on the Board since 2011 and in the chairman role since 2016, Admiral Stufflebeem oversaw tremendous change at the Academy, including the development of the strategic plan, Vision 2024; the rebranding process that brought us The Power of Rise, and the successful navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving into the Chairman role is Mr. Harry G. Austin, III ‘75. Part of an R-MA legacy family, his uncles Jim and Jack both attended the Academy, graduating in the mid-1940s. His brother Douglas graduated with the Class of 1979; their father Harry Jr. was an Academy trustee, serving on the Board for several years. Austin served on the Board from 1984-1990, including as Finance Chairman 1987-1990, and rejoined in 2008. He became Secretary of the Board in 2018 and retained that role until his elevation to Chairman this summer. Following his graduation from the Academy in 1975, he earned a BSBA from Bucknell University, where he also participated in United States Army ROTC; he went on to serve as an officer in the US Army Reserve from 1979 – 1993. Austin also joined the family business, the James Austin Company, in 1979 and worked his way up from Regional Sales Manager to President and retired in 2020. “R-MA provided the courage to take on new challenges, to be confident in what I did, to develop my personality to be able to meet people, find a common ground for meaningful conversation and eventually cultivate heartfelt friendships,” said Austin. “I truly believe R-MA and The Power of Rise provides a foundation for students to find themselves, to mature faster in this changing world, and to succeed in whatever adventure they choose after R-MA.” The Board of Trustees voluntarily serves the Academy by providing requisite governance in the core responsibilities of mission, strategy, policy and planning of one of the Nation’s top private, independent military college-prep schools. According to their Bylaws, Trustees serve out their limited terms then must step down for at least a year before being considered to rejoin the Board. For more information about the Board of Trustees, visit www.RMA.edu/about/board. The Sabre Magazine
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RISE INSIDE
ADMISSIONS UPDATE We are thrilled to report another year of historic gains for Admissions at our Academy! The 2021-22 academic year included the largest increase in new student enrollment since 2003. We are equally proud of our newest rankings from Niche.com, whereby R-MA is recognized for being one of the finest private boarding schools in all of Virginia:
#4: Most Diverse Private School in Virginia #4: Best Boarding High School in Virginia #10: Best Private School in Virginia It’s no wonder that our rankings, inherent academic prestige, and profound excellence with the Air Force Junior ROTC program contribute mightily to the educational and cultural fabric of our society. This is why R-MA is proud as we graduate cadets to pursue lives of meaning and success. Be sure to visit our new website (www.RMA.edu) to see how our Academy leads the way for secondary education. You’ll see that our marketing efforts lead the industry in providing timely information throughout the student life cycle. That’s also why we had a 60% increase in inquiries from new prospective families for just this academic year - another first for the Academy. For more information on Admissions and summer programs, visit www.RMA.edu/admissions.
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R-MA MIDDLE SCHOOL: LEAD4CHANGE CERTIFIED Randolph-Macon Academy’s Middle School is now a Lead4Change certified school! A nationally recognized leadership curriculum, Lead4Change provides a framework for community service projects. All 7th graders at R-MA participate in Global Quest, a class that follows the leadership curriculum provided by Lead4Change. Students identify a non-profit organization in the area that they would like to support and implement plans for collecting donations with their teammates. The deadline for all of these projects is February 5, 2022. Each project concludes with an entry application into the Lead4Change contest, with winners announced during summer 2022.
FOOD4FRONTROYAL
LITERACY LEGENDS
WERE4H
Partner Organization: C-Cap, Front Royal
Partner Organization: Literacy Volunteers of Winchester
Partner Organization: Northern Virginia 4H Center
Goal: Collect 900 cans of food for people in need.
Goal: Collect 300 books and donations up to $300.
Goal: Collect donations up to $500.
ANIMALS MATTER TOO Partner Organization: Warren County Animal Shelter Goal: Collect 1,000 pounds of animal food.
MAWB Partner Organization: Froggy’s Closet Goal: Collect 100 pieces of clothing and donations up to $250.
HISTORIC REVOLUTIONARIES Partner Organization: Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation Goal: Collect donations up to $500. The Sabre Magazine
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FEATURE ARTICLES
SAFE SOCIAL MEDIA USE: SPEAKER BEN TRACY SHARES INSIGHTS On November 10, motivational speaker Ben Tracy visited R-MA to offer insights about a topic central to the lives of nearly every young person today: social media. Speaking first with Middle School students, then the Upper School, and later parents (both virtually and in person), he re-lived “the worst day of [his] life so far.” In 2017, on his first day on the job as an aid to then-Governor of Illinois Bruce Rauner, he was fired when staff came upon offensive social media posts he had created during high school and college. While the posts were from several years prior, they were not sentiments that the Governor’s administration could be associated with. The story was picked up and circulated in national media, even landing his face on the cover of the Chicago Sun Times. Recognizing the magnitude of his actions, he has since dedicated himself to educating other young people to be deliberate and discerning in what they post. His platform, Safe Social Network, provides resources for kids and parents to more smartly and safely use social media in their lives. 10
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Tracy gave some hard facts to his R-MA audience: 30% of universities screen the social media footprints of applicants. 70% of employers do the same thing. He then shared specific techniques and settings to help keep one’s information current and relevant to one’s character, how to use social media in a positive manner, and ramifications of not doing so. “Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your grandma to see,” he urged the students. A 2018 Pew Research Center survey of nearly 750 13- to 17-year-olds found that 95% of teens had access to a smartphone. 97% used a social media platform, such as YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. 45% of respondents reported that they were online “almost constantly.” Another 44% said they were online “several times a day.” While the Academy’s students are not permitted to use their cell phones during the school day boarding students are required to turn them into their Cadet Life Supervisor, while day students check them in at Student Services - they are allowed to have phones on campus. R-MA students are expected to use social media responsibly, with a mind toward how both the form where one chooses to participate and the content posted reflect both on the person individually and on the Academy.
30% 70% of universities screen the social media footprints of applicants
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EYES IN THE SKY
Toxic algae blooms on the Shenandoah River pose a danger to people, animals, and livestock. R-MA students are using drones to help find a solution.
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FEATURE ARTICLES
Randolph-Macon Academy’s vision is making leaders who will improve humanity – and that’s something that happens every day on The Hill. This fall, students in Drone Applications II are using the Unmanned Systems Lab to address a local problem - algae blooms along the Shenandoah River - and make a positive impact for their community. In June of 2021, the Virginia Department of Health issued an advisory for the North Fork of the Shenandoah. It was experiencing a benthic harmful algae bloom, caused by cyanobacteria. The public was advised to avoid contact with the resulting algae mats and scum. Contact could cause a variety of problems for people, including skin rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses, and could even be fatal to livestock and animals. The class’s challenge: to survey and monitor these algae blooms. Students began by researching and considering how Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are used to address similar problems around the world. “I challenged my students to 14
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“I challenged my students to take technology that is designed for one purpose and ask,‘how can this be applied to other problems?‘” take technology designed for one purpose and ask, ‘how can this be applied to other problems?’” said Brian Kelly, Director of the Unmanned Systems Lab. “This keeps them curious, because they are constantly identifying problems and developing solutions.” Next, the two student teams each identified, selected, contacted and consulted with an outside research entity. One team selected the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the second team selected the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The teams then set up video conferences and consultation meetings with their respective partners. Questions centered on the
respective organizations’ research and use of UAV technology in the study of water quality and water equity. Each organization had or was using UAVs to assist in this research. Students then applied their partner research and recommendations to the design of the Shenandoah River project. To assess the scope of the problem, the teams conducted multiple UAS flights along an approximately 1-mile stretch of the river adjacent to R-MA’s campus. Variables included time of day and position of the sun, cloud cover, and observations of recent rainfall, affecting visibility and sediment contamination. During these flights, they collected visual imagery they would need to create orthomosaics – large, mapquality images with high levels of detail and resolution - and 3D models, as well as multi-spectral data sets of the research area. Students then shared data with the VDEQ and USDA. While the Department of Health’s advisory was lifted in September, the project continues. “We just received some very valuable feedback on our study from both organizations and students are currently factoring in that analysis to the next chapter in their research,” said Mr. Kelly. “Seeing the student reaction to ‘partner’ feedback from such respected sources was definitely a great way to end the first quarter. Whatever comes next, I consider that a very big win for a high-school based research team.”
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HOMECOMING
October 15-16, 2021
Alumni from across the country and around the world reunited on The Hill on October 15-16 for Homecoming 2021! The weekend began with campus tours, then a Meet and Greet with members of this year’s Cadre leadership team, the Corps staff, in Boggs Chapel. Led by Corps Commander Ethan Park ’21, the students shared some of their plans for the corps for the 2021-22 academic year. That evening, the Yellow Jackets gathered at the Holiday Inn for the Alumni Celebration Dinner, which included the announcement of the Alumni Association’s members and officers for 2021-22. Joining the Board this year are Chris Trimble ‘86, Scott Harwood ‘89, and Fred Greenwood ‘73. Officers approved were Bryan Moore ‘84, President; Bo Snitchler ‘06, Vice President; David Parrish ‘02, Secretary/Treasurer; Andrew Pfister ‘08, Secretary/Treasurer; and Jay Moore ‘74, Sergeant-at-Arms. Re-elected to new three year terms were Conroy Wilson ‘68 and Scarlett (Praml) Kibler ‘89. The Alumni Association also presented this year’s awards during the dinner: Byron C. Gayle ’50 Dedicated Service Award: Phil Covell ‘59 Class Ambassador of the Year Award: Jim Fort ’70 Distinguished Alumnus Award: RADM John D. Stufflebeem, USN, Retd ’70 Staff Recognition Award: Ed Richards, retired R-MA Bandmaster The next morning, alumni, staff, faculty, parents, and cadets gathered for the Homecoming Memorial Parade. This year two flags were presented – first to Mr. Tom Nalls, the brother of Mr. W. Lewis “Lew” Nalls, Jr. ’56, who passed away earlier this year; and second, to Mr. Ed Richards. Mr. Richards was also invited to oversee the parade along with R-MA President, Brigadier General David C. Wesley, USAF, Retired. With rain threatening, alumni retreated to the cover of tents for the Homecoming Lunch on the sidelines of Riddick Field. This year’s lunch was a social event, with alumni spending their time catching up and visiting with one another and enjoying the cool weather. And then, for the first time in three years, the Yellow Jacket football team took the field for the Homecoming game. Their opponent: Southampton Academy of Courtland, VA. While the team ultimately lost 24-46, spirits remained high in the stands and on the sidelines. As always, it was a joy to welcome alumni back to campus!
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FEATURE ARTICLES
HOMECOMING 2022 Mark your calendar for October 21-22! Classes ending in 2 and 7 will be celebrating milestone reunions this year. For more information or to help plan your class’s reunion, contact your Class Ambassador, or R-MA’s Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Jenny Walton, at jwalton@rma.edu or at 540636-5343.
Book your hotel early! October is peak tourism season in the Shenandoah Valley, and space at area hotels is limited. For more information and to register, visit: www.RMA.edu/homecoming
GO JACKETS, GO!
GIVING TUESDAY 2021
Held on November 30, this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign focused on R-MA athletics. The goal: to raise $20,000 in a single day. Thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends, Yellow Jacket sports are fully funded for the 2021-22 academic year! Athletics are a key component of life on The Hill. All students have the opportunity to participate and learn from their experience on the Academy’s fields and courts. In the process, they not only enhance their physical conditioning and pick up new technical skills; they learn how to collaborate and build resilience and self-discipline. Each workout, practice, and game pushes every player one step closer to R-MA’s vision: making leaders who will improve humanity.
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JOINING THE TEAM: LOU MASSETT R-MA is thrilled to welcome Mr. Louis Massett as the new Director of Advancement! This is Lou’s second stint on “the Hill” after spending a year as a Cadet Life Supervisor back in 2003-2004. Since that time, Lou has been in education working as a teacher, coach, and Head of School. “Teaching and coaching brought so much joy to my life. It made transitioning into philanthropy easy,” said Massett. Inspired by an endeavor he spearheaded as Chief Development Officer at Hargrave Military Academy, one of Lou’s first projects at R-MA will be working with class reunion committees to collect the stories of alumni celebrating milestone reunions - 50th, 40th, 25th, and 10th. The Advancement Team will work with Brian Kelly, Director of the Unmanned Systems Lab (and an award-winning film producer!) to create video montages of the best moments of each reunion class’s time at R-MA. “Not only will these videos serve as heartfelt keepsakes, they’ll also give R-MA the chance to inspire current cadets and future families by showcasing alumni successes in life,” explained Massett. “In the long run, I hope these videos will provide the blueprint for a full-fledged documentary about R-MA.” Lou also plans to enhance and create regional chapters for R-MA alumni, to celebrate lives of those who have passed through the Academy’s hallowed halls.
“The goal of the chapter program is to build up the network amongst R-MA alumni,” he said. “There are four key aspects to successful chapters: career and business networking, localized scholarship opportunities, fellowship, and mentoring. I want our school community to continue to provide support long after cadets graduate.” The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic inspired Lou to share what he’s learned from his experience in education and philanthropy: the joy of the work is that it’s all about community building. Community is one of the big reasons why he’s returned to R-MA. “My wife and I met here in Front Royal at Christendom College,” he recalled. “We have a lot of family and friends here. General Wesley has an incredible vision for R-MA and has positioned the school for unparalleled success. I’m thrilled to have the privilege to be part of story he and the rest of the R-MA family are creating.” For more information, contact Lou Massett at lmassett@rma.edu or at 540-636-5206.
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RISE BEYOND THE RIFLEMAN, PART II: W. LEWIS NALLS, JR. ‘56 WRITTEN BY R-MA PRESIDENT BRIGADIER GENERAL DAVID C. WESLEY, USAF, RETIRED
When I learned Lew Nalls ‘56 had passed away, my first thought was that the ongoing pandemic would prevent the R-MA family from celebrating his life in the ways we would want to, especially for someone as unique and compelling as Lew was. From his graduation from the Academy in 1956, Lew had the opportunity to know and, I am sure, advise seven Presidents of the Academy. He continued that effort within the first month of my tenure, arriving by motorcycle and walking into my office with absolute confidence that he had news to share that I needed to hear. It is an understatement to admit that I had no idea how to handle Lew Nalls. He was outspoken and knowledgeable about many and sundry topics. He loved planes and worked hard with David Mondey to write and publish a book about World War II aviation. He loved to joke and never missed an opportunity to ensure I was aware that the Academy I led was nothing like the one he had attended. Above all, Lew loved R-MA. He counseled me about ways to make it stronger and, whenever he could, he donated to those efforts. He was a generous man and one who wanted to engage with people directly and personally. I think he’d be proud to know that we wrote a second article about him for The Sabre because of a special gathering that took place during Homecoming this fall. On October 16, 2021, several members of the Class of 1956 assembled in The Paddock at Regions 117 (a nice restaurant on Lake Frederick, VA) to remember Lew’s life and work and the many ways he positively 20
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impacted their lives. Those men invited Lew’s brother, Tommy, to attend the event. The class members also kindly included my wife Lesa and me for what became one of the most enjoyable and memorable evenings in my time here at R-MA. Once we were assembled, General Walt Boomer, USMC, Ret, explained why we had gathered. Walt brought his wife Sandi and his son Steven to witness this remarkable event. My attempt to paraphrase his remarks is entirely from memory and any error is my own. “We, as members of the R-MA Class of 1956, were brought together by Lew because we got a first, second, and third letter from him or multiple phone calls with increasing severity – “WHY aren’t YOU going to be there for the reunion?” Lew was hard to say “no” to and he was impossible to ignore. Many of us went on to college and some of us were “successful” in the years following the time we shared at R-MA. Lew went on to serve in the Air Force and to work a full career at Delta Airlines, but for Lew, R-MA was the pinnacle and that never changed throughout the rest of his life. He loved the Academy and he loved his classmates. His love taught us how important these friendships are and we are here tonight, united by his devotion to us and to R-MA. What the Academy did for Lew and for each of us is a precious and special thing. Sometimes, it takes a man of Lew’s persistence and determination to help others fully appreciate how much we gained from our time together as cadets. As different as our various paths were, Lew knew something important about life that all of us only came to know over time and through his efforts to bring us back together: what we share is increasingly rare in the world of today...and it is all the more important to acknowledge the bond we share as the years pass. I’m grateful to Lew for that and glad to know our class’s scholarship will make that opportunity available for decades to come.”
As of the writing of this article, the Class of 1956 – Walter L. Nalls, Jr. ’56 Endowed Scholarship balance stands at $108,238.69. Approximately 5% of that amount, or $5,400 is awarded to a deserving student each year. R-MA’s Endowment is comprised of many such funds, and has enabled hundreds of students to complete their studies at the Academy and to go on to greater achievements in future years. To learn more about how you can support the Class of 1956 – Walter L. Nalls, Jr. ’56 Endowed Scholarship, or other endowed scholarships at the Academy, visit RMA.edu/alumni. The Sabre Magazine
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IN MEMORIAM
FINAL ROLL CALL Since the publication of the last issue of The Sabre, we have received notification that the following members of the Randolph-Macon Academy family have passed away. They are greatly missed, and they will remain in our hearts forever. (Please note: Notifications received after January 5, 2022 are not included in this list.)
Samuel E. Robertson ‘35 July 13, 2021
Richard J. M. Poulson ‘56 November 4, 2021
Stan T. Greene ‘72 January 18, 2021
Howard C. Applegate ‘45 September 18, 2021
Richard S. Wilson ‘59 August 14, 2021
Frank C. Fischer ‘73 November 1, 2021
Theophilius C. Breeding ‘48 October 23, 2021
Robert M. Tait ‘59 June 29, 2021
Frederick D. Knight, Jr. ‘73 July 25, 2009
Allen K. Jennings ‘49 October 27, 2021
Glenn M. Spitler, Jr. ‘60 September 6, 2021
B. Douglas Endzel ‘81 August 16, 2021
William E. Denny, III ‘50 November 20, 2021
Richard W. Pancake ‘61 June 7, 2021
Luke P. James ‘89 July 23, 2021
Sam G. Keel ‘50 September 9, 2018
Donald T. White ‘61 August 17, 2021
Melissa A. Brown ‘92 November 24, 2021
James W. Pancoast ‘51 June 3, 2021
Pierre N. Charbonnet, III ‘66 July 15, 2021
Austin R. White ‘13 March 29, 2017
George H. Rhodes ‘51 July 3, 2021
Douglas F. MacKenzie ‘67 August 25, 2021
Geoffrey Peterson Flight Instructor September 23, 2021
Alvin R. Morrison ‘52 July 5, 2021
Timothy T. Turner ‘68 August 3, 2021
Thomas E. Todd ‘52 August 31, 2021
William A. James ‘69 June 7, 2021
William R. Light, Jr. ‘56 October 28, 2021
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Jay D. Zeiler ‘61 March 21, 2021
Thomas W. Riley Cadet Life Supervisor October 5, 2021 Lois S. Turner Former R-MA First Lady September 6, 2021
LOIS S. TURNER Mrs. Lois Turner, the wife of past Randolph-Macon Academy president, Colonel Trevor Turner (USA, Retired), and former “first lady” of R-MA, passed away on September 6, 2021 at the age of 86. A native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, she came to R-MA with her husband, then-president Colonel Trevor Turner, USA, Retired in 1981. Far beyond the traditional hostess duties, Mrs. Turner assisted in the development and improvement of the Academy by organizing many events and functions, and was instrumental in the design of existing and new buildings (both Turner Hall and Crow Hall were constructed during her time at R-MA). She loved helping R-MA students with matters large and small. She is survived by her children: Stephen Turner of Charlottesville, Pamela Smith of Panama City Beach, Florida, Michael Turner of Spotsylvania; 10 grandchildren, 6 greatgrandchildren; sister: Harriet Shelton of Silver Spring, Maryland. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Col. Trevor Turner.
DONNY T. WHITE ‘61 Donny White ‘61, longtime Athletic Director of the Virginia Military Institute, passed away on August 17, 2021. Donny came to Randolph-Macon Academy from Hampton, Virginia as a postgraduate and a multi-sport athlete - a member of the varsity football, baseball, and basketball teams. He went on to attend the Virginia Military Institute, where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering, was named a Distinguished Military Student, and awarded the VMI Intercollegiate Athletic Award for Excellence. He also co-captained the 1964 VMI football team and was selected All-Southern Conference in baseball for three consecutive years as a shortstop (he also led the team in batting). In 1975, he was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame. Donny served a distinguished tour of duty as a commissioned field artillery officer in the United States Army, including a tour in Vietnam. He earned a number of decorations for his service - the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. He would later rejoin VMI as a defensive backfield coach, then co-defensive coordinator, head baseball coach, and in 1998, Athletic Director. He held the position until his retirement in 2013. The Sabre Magazine
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