TAPS inducted into the National Football Hall of Fame in 1956 and the VMI Hall of Fame for football in 1972.
Thomas M. Hayes ’68 Col. Thomas Michael Hayes ’68, USA (Ret), of Falls Church, Virginia, died on June 1, 2009. He was 63. Hayes attended VMI for one year and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, class of 1969. Hayes remained in the U.S. Army following graduation and retired as a colonel after 30 years. A master aviator, he served tours in Vietnam, Korea and Germany and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device. Following his military career, he joined Inter-Coastal Electronics. During his 10 years with the firm, he became the director of International Business Development. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lana Robertson Hayes; his son, Patrick Michael Hayes; siblings, James Patrick Hayes, Sharon Hayes Keller and husband Dan, David Christopher Hayes, and John Joseph Hayes Jr. and wife Christine; and his mother, Mary Rambler Hayes.
Joseph G. Spicer Jr. ’69
junior Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) programs in Fairfax County, Virginia, and beyond. In 1995, he led the formation of the Hayfield Secondary School JROTC program for Fairfax County Public Schools and became the program’s first senior Army instructor. He spent 15 years there, teaching and mentoring hundreds of young men and women. Spicer also served as an assistant professor of military science at VMI. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Harriet Carrow Spicer; two daughters, Elizabeth Windley Spicer and Susan Carrow Spicer; a grandson, Kintan Praveen Spicer; two sisters, Gwen Spicer Osborn and Eileen Spicer Blaha and her husband, Chris.
Peter R. Candler ’71 Peter Ransom Candler ’71 of Spartanburg, South Carolina, died on Jan. 11, 2011. He was 61. Candler matriculated from Roanoke, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from VMI. He spent a large part of his career in the insurance industry in Virginia and South Carolina and the retail furniture business in Duncan, South Carolina. Candler is survived by his wife, Page Stansbury Candler; three sons, David and his wife, Ann, Bill and his wife, Kelly, and John and his fiancée, Leslie Thomas; one stepdaughter, Carrie Scott and her husband, Tripp; one brother, John S. Candler ’62; two sisters, Margaret Reed and husband Bill and Susan Henderson and husband Potter; and four grandchildren.
Lt. Col. Joseph Gordon Spicer Jr. ’69, USA (Ret), of Springfield, Virginia, died on Oct. 26, 2010. He was 63. Spicer matriculated from Hopewell, Virginia, and earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He went on to earn a master of business administration degree from Florida Institute of Technology. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War, Steven T. LaHowchic ’74 Grenada Police Action, Desert Storm Steven Thomas LaHowchic ’74 of and the Panamanian Police Action. He Southhampton, New York, died on Nov. was awarded five Meritorious 8, 2010. He was 57. Service Medals, one with four LaHowchic matriculated oak leaf clusters; four Army from Oradell, New Jersey, and Commendation Medals, one attended VMI for three years, with four oak leaf clusters; a four months and 15 days, Legion of Merit; and an Army taking a year off to recover Achievement Medal. He served from football injuries and for more than 26 years and restudy at Fairleigh Dickinson tired as a lieutenant colonel. University. While at VMI, he Spicer was instrumental was a defensive tackle for the Spicer ’69 in establishing a number of Rat and varsity football teams, 150
a member of the Young Republicans, a member of the Rat wrestling team and a drummer in the Regimental Band. After college, he was part-owner in Rhiannon’s Restaurant in Springfield, Virginia, where he occasionally played drums with visiting bands. Later, he started a home construction business in Fairfax and Alexandria, Virginia, and then opened a tile and trim store in Water Mill, New York. At the time of his death, he was involved in construction projects in Southampton, New York, building homes, additions and historical home restoration. LaHowchic was an active member of his class, booster to the Keydet Club and an involved member of the Knights of Columbus. He participated actively in charitable initiatives within his community, including an organization that he formed to provide graduating high school students with scholarships to trade schools. He is survived by his mother, Mary LaHowchic of Florida, and two brothers, Michael and wife Maryann of Pompton Plains, New Jersey, and Nicholas and wife Diane of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Lawrence A. Thomas ’85 Lawrence Allen Thomas ’85 of Fairfax, Virginia, died on Jan. 6, 2011. He was 47. Thomas matriculated from Martinsville, Virginia, and graduated from VMI with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He was commissioned into the U.S. Army and served from 1985-94, including combat in Operation Desert Storm as a member of the 101st Airborne Division, as well as assignments in Japan and Germany. He served a tour, as well, in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom with the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, a Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Commendation Medal. Thomas was employed, along with his wife, by the U.S. Department of State. Their assignments included postings in Istanbul and Dubai. He served in Bagdad in the Green Zone for a year. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Deborah Barrett Thomas; a daughter, VMI ALUMNI REVIEW