Norm Blake and his wife, Karen
“ ...I developed the ability to assimilate into any situation, a skill that proved useful throughout my life.” —Norman P. Blake, ’60
Blake next took on the hospitality industry and became Chairman, President and CEO of Promus Hotels Corporation, the third largest hotel chain in the US with over 1200 hotels including such brands as Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, and Doubletree. Blake was brought in to right the operating performance after an earlier merger and ultimately successfully merged the company with Hilton hotels. Probably Blake’s most disappointing turnaround was as CEO of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) in 2000. As a precondition of hiring Blake, the organization’s constitution and by-laws were changed to create a CEO position. Upon becoming CEO, and only months away from the Sydney games, Blake restructured the organization, built a new management team and developed a new strategic plan more focused upon better serving the needs of athletes. This redirection alienated some members of the volunteer organization, nonetheless, the Sydney Games go down as one of the most successful summer games for the US ever and the basic strategic plan remains in effect today. Blake is now retired and currently serves on several boards, including the Owens Corning Corporation, Keraplast Technologies Inc., as well as the US Army War College. He is devoted to his wife, Karen, whom he met at Purdue. They evenly divide their time between Carmel, Indiana, during the Purdue football season, and spend the winters in Marco Island, FL. They are the proud parents of three married children and eight grandchildren. What did Blake take away from Riverside? “I remember Sandy Beaver saying to us, ‘Be true to the man who wears your coat.’ I have never forgotten that.”
RMA Alum Elected Mayor of Cozumel Fredy Marrufo, ’90, was recently elected mayor of Cozumel, Mexico. He takes office in late September and will hold the office for the next three years. RMA President Colonel James H. Benson and the Academy Sergeant Major, Sgt. Maj. Jorge Sosa, traveled to Cozumel in July as guests of Marrufo and other Riverside alumni, and they helped out with the campaigning. Cozumel is a very important tourist spot in the state of Quintana Roo and the number one port for cruise ships in Mexico as well as one of the most important ports in the Caribbean. Cozumel is wellknown for diving and is the second best place to dive in the world after Australia. Pictured l-r: Sgt. Maj. Jorge Sosa, Mr. Fredy Marrufo, Col. Jim Benson and Mr. Ruben Barahona.
A D VA N C E M E N T
Reveille I SUMMER 2013
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