Culver Passings
Malfred J. Hamerin NB’54 of Indianapolis died May 14, 2009. Mr. Hamerin was owner of the former Patio Lounge in Broad Ripple in the early 1970s and, after retirement, he worked for Connor Prairie as an interpreter. He earned a degree in finance from Indiana University. He was a member of the 500 Festival Association and was executive director of the Indiana Rose Festival. Surviving are his wife, Virginia; two sons, a daughter, a brother, and four grandchildren. Robert B. Wilson W’51, ’54 (Band) died May 18, 2009, at his East Dundee, Ill., home. Mr. Wilson was the retired president of Elgin Corrugated Box Co., and the success of the business was chronicled in the book “Thriving on Chaos” by Tom Peters. Mr. Wilson was a graduate of the University of Chicago, where his adviser was Norman Maclean, author of “A River Runs Through It.” Drafted into the Army in 1959, Mr. Wilson served in West Germany and was a civilian employee of the Army Intelligence Corps and involved with rounding up Nazi war criminals. He began his career in the packaging industry in New York in the early ’60s and joined Elgin Corrugated as CEO and vice president in 1981. He became the president in 1991 and retired in March 2009. Surviving are three children, including Natalie Weidemier ’95 of Chicago and Michael W’90 of San Francisco; two grandchildren, and his partner, Shirley Solberg.
Rayburn R. Smith ’55 (Co. C) of Plymouth, Ind., died June 1, 2009. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served four years in the Navy and then earned his MBA at the Harvard Business School. A sister, Betsey, survives.
Rafael Muniz ’61 (Troop) died Sept. 6, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Maria Luisa, three sons, among them Eduardo ’00 Mexico City and Rafael ’90 of Houston, and two grandchildren. A brother, Jose ’63, is deceased.
Dallas businessman E. Pierce Marshall ’56 (Artillery) died June 20, 2006. A graduate of Pomona College, he began his career at General Motors as an engine test engineer, followed by a tour with the U.S. Navy. Mr. Marshall then worked for the New York investment banking firm of Loeb Rhodes, an experience he later used in the securities brokerage business. In 1969, he moved to Houston to manage various investment projects with his father, including various roles at Koch Industries, International Oil & Gas, and Marshall Petroleum. In 1981, after his father-in-law’s death, he was elected chairman of the Electron Corporation (an iron foundry concern). Later, he was appointed president and led the company through a successful turnaround, saving over 300 jobs in Colorado and Oklahoma. In 1993, Mr. Marshall ceased his securities brokerage business, delegated his responsibilities at Electron, and assumed operational responsibilities at Marshall Petroleum. Mr. Marshall is survived by his wife, Elaine, two sons, and a brother, J. Howard III ’53 of Pasadena, Calif.
Attorney Benjamin B. Cassiday III ’69 (Troop B) died June 2, 2008, in Honolulu. Mr. Cassiday had practiced law in Hawaii since the 1970s. He was known for representing former state House Speaker Daniel Kihano on federal corruption charges. According to published reports, he also represented his second cousin, auto dealer and land developer James Pflueger, in civil and criminal cases related to environmental damage caused by a Kaua’i real estate development. The Cassiday family traces its roots in Hawaii to the arrival in 1811 of a British sea captain. Mr. Cassiday is survived by his father, Ben Jr. ’40, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general; a sister, Carol Orr ’72 and her husband, Steve Orr ’72 of Washington, D.C., and an uncle, Paul Cassiday ’46 of Honolulu.
John A.D. Curtis Jr. H’57 of Mishawaka, Ind., died Feb. 27, 2009, after an extended illness. Mr. Curtis was an independent overthe-road trucker for over 30 years. He attended the Lincoln Technical Institute in Indianapolis, where he developed his skills as a mechanic. He was an avid drag car driver, racing funny cars, motorcycles, jet cars, and even a semi, on tracks across the country. Mr. Curtis is survived by his wife, Shirley Takace; two daughters, a son, three sisters, and three grandchildren. Samuel E. “Ed” Wilhite ’60 (Co. A) died Feb. 19, 2009, in Ojai, Calif. He graduated from Yale University and received his law degree from Stanford. Most recently, he was the Naval Company II counselor during the 2008 summer session and was remembered at a July 5 memorial service. Surviving is a brother, Jim of Palm Desert, Calif.
Jan G. Schab ’79 (Troop) of Niles, Ill., died Jan. 12, 2009. Mr. Schab is survived by his wife, Deborah; his mother, Harriet; a brother, and sister. Augusta W. Woods ’89 (Atrium) of Tampa, Fla., died Jan. 29, 2009, after a brief illness. She graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in finance. She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Harrison and Thomas Giddens, and a brother, Frederic III N’86. She was predeceased by her father, Frederic Jr. ’54.
IDNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine
from UCLA, he spent five years among the Kurds in Western Iran. He consulted with many countries in hydrogeology, including a special consultant to the government of Rwanda, where he spent 2007 working to bring potable water and the gospel to villages, schools, and hospitals. Mr. Helweg wrote over 100 reference papers and three books. He received a number of honors for his work in both engineering and volunteer work, including the Hoover Medal in 1997. The Hoover Medal has been described as the equivalent to a Nobel Prize by the engineering community. He is survived by his wife and three sons, among them Otto NB’82 of Seattle and Mark ’87 of Raleigh, N.C.
Culver Alumni Magazine
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