CLASS NOTES handful of times since he graduated, the longest being the two months he was assigned there by the Army ROTC as a “Gold Bar Recruiter.” John notes that if you ever happen to be making a helicopter landing into VMI, then you probably will be using a descendent of the SOP written in part by our BR McConnell. After his graduation in 1988, BR McConnell went into the Army for 3 years, getting to enjoy some time in Germany with time in Southwest Asia during Desert Storm. He commenced a job with LOGICON (later bought out by Northrop Grumman) in 1992, and have been in the DeClass of 1985: James Stinebower with his two boys durpartment of Defense contracting ing a visit to VMI. world ever since. BR McConnell moved over to Electronic responsibility for all digital marketing efforts Data Systems (EDS) in 2000 – email, websites, social media and online and became a Hewlett-Packard employee when marketing. Is it just me or does that sounds like H-P bought EDS in 2008; his office is in Falls a big job for a Marine? Anyway, that little jab Church, Virginia. Clint Hubbard ought to provoke the rest of our Marine BRs to On a personal level, John and Melissa were check in and send an update. Urie, Malavet, married May 2001, and they’ve been to Russia Walpole, Rivenbark … where are you boys? a number of times to adopt their two children, BR Weede is married with an 18-year anAnna (age 7) and Michael (age 5). The neatest niversary coming up in September 2010. Rich part of that story is worth a direct quote from says they have two daughters – ages 16 and John: “Coincidently, I went on a VMI-sponWhen I wrote the notes in February, I whined 14. He closed with a great Rich Weede quote sored trip to Russia and Germany in the sumabout all the snow we had; here it is August, “Hands full with two daughters - car insurance mer of 1988, and the changes there have been and central Virginia has had 10-12 days of temis sure expensive for teenage girls.” Tell me you pretty profound. It was kind of amazing to see peratures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s hotthe switch from Communism to Capitalism in ter than a … well, I really can’t use that analogy can’t picture him standing in front of you saying that! It was great to hear from you Rich and the span of not so many years. Interesting also in a family publication like Alumni Review, but know that our Weede has not been eradicated. that a trip brought about by my time at VMI I think y’all know where I was headed. After hearing from Rich, the floodgates of went to the same places overseas that I ended In my opinion, one of the greatest gifts from news from long-lost BRs continues: reading up spending a lot of time for very different our VMI Experience is the way we can drift the update from Pete Kramer inspired a report reasons.” away from one another for a few years but from John McConnell. John filled in the blanks Thanks for a great update, John, and look when we re-connect, it’s like we never lost on his world since May 1986. BR McConnell forward to seeing you at the 25th. touch at all. Or to put it another way, most of left us after Christmas of our 2nd class year – Time for a bit of housekeeping: in the last edius haven’t changed a bit since 1986. To wit: I guess he figured he had the Ring so it was time tion, Ed Talbott’s Web site was mentioned, but got an update from one, each, Weede, RH. As I to take a sabbatical. John says he returned to the unfortunately, there was a typo in the address. read his e-mail, I swear I could hear him saying Mother I in the fall of 1986 and actually graduThe correct address is: http://www.pbase.com/ the words with that patented dry, wry sense of ated with the Class of 1986+2. He said he had a humor he obviously still has. (For another huaquilaet. I highly recommend you check it out great time with them although retaining his ’86 morous example, get out the Bomb and re-read to see Ed’s many adventures; don’t forget his identity. One story that John enjoys relating is his first class history with his description of classmates from pharmacy school. once when he was coming back from a furlough compromising with his dad.) Rich retired from You may recall in the last edition, there was and Captain Wilcockson greeted him with a the Marine Corps in 2007 after a last tour at some discussion of a certain former battalion “Welcome Back” as though he was a returning CENTCOM and took a job at Kforce Services commander who may or may not have been alumnus. BR McConnell says he wonders what Corporation. Other than the job, BR Weede involved in a “Smokey and the Bandit” bootleg the Deputy Commandant’s thoughts were when says he’s not sure why he stayed in the Tampa, run to transport kegs of beer across state lines he (John) had to answer a special report to him FL, area with the hurricanes, oil spills and drab from Idaho to Utah. (Is that a violation of later on in the semester. economy. But he offers that the weather is awethe Volstead Act?) No official word as yet on John has made it to the five and 15 year some, except for July through October. “Father Troy” Lanier’s “family trip” to Lake reunions and hopes to continue the tradition and Powell in June. Just to jog the memories of you Kforce is a nationwide professional staffing make it to the 25th in the fall of 2011. Other and solutions firm, and Rich is the director for boys, it was to be four families and a 60-foot than reunions, he’s been back to VMI only a Kforce’s Internet Operations Department with house boat. That is just what the world needs – Marathon and the Paris Triathlon. His studly picture is included in this edition of the Alumni Review. (I’m sure this photo will spawn another “biker shorts war” with Hugh Hill – remember gents, this is a FAMILY magazine) “Shoe” was in the States in June and hooked up with old pal Jeff Hill in Annapolis. (Jeff doesn’t head that for north for just anybody!) I received a nice note from Jim Stinebower and a nice picture of himself with his son, Aiden (almost 6), and his (unnamed!) youngest don on his 3rd birthday. Thanks to all that “poked” me on Facebook on my birthday – it was very much appreciated. It’s been quiet, dull, work-filled summer for your faithful scribe. I have been able to venture out on my ’61 BMW motorcycle a couple of times after getting it running again after a 26 year sleep. It runs much better than I do at its advance age! Gotta Run! ... Eck
’86
2010-Issue 4
117