CLASS NOTES The Charlotte Chapter also hosted a great Rat Send-off picnic at Lake Norman, and I was able to catch up with new North Carolina resident Danny Chu. Danny moved to Newton earlier this year and trekked down the lake for the gathering. I have always heard the anecdotes about the Rat whose first visit to VMI was matriculation, and can now say, I have heard a first-hand account. Danny regaled fellow alumni and perspective Rats with the tale of his Class of 1982: Photo at left: On May 15, 2013, 2nd Lt. Charlie Shutt ’13, right, son trip via Greyhound bus from northern of Col. Dave Shutt, USA (Ret), returned his first salute from Brother Rat Tom McConVirginia to Lexington and the taxi nell ’13, son of Joe McConnell. Photo at right: Dave Shutt, left, gave the Army Oath that deposited him at Jackson Arch of Office to his son, Charlie, who graduated the next day With Distinction, earning a for his first look at the Institute. At bachelor’s degree in biology. Young Shutt is also a Distinguished Military Graduate. that time, English was very much a second language to him, and it to inform me of his great coup. He spent serious was several weeks before he learned that being money to convince Google to select him as a beta Hugh Daughtry called a maggot was not a compliment. Danny tester for Google Glasses. Actually, he is called a continues to serve the Institute as a member of Google Glass Explorer. Ron went up to New York the Foundation Board and encourages you, if you City on the train, met a couple of hundred of his have not already, to order you pictures from our newest and closest friends, got outfitted with his 30th Reunion. His company provides the B2B glasses and started his experience. Steve Varga is in training to run his fourth maraGreetings from the Old North State! These notes back end to our alumni website, among others, thon. This time it is the Marine Corps Marathon. should find you midway through what we hope is a to do the photograph fulfillment of your order. I Steve and his son will have a race team called successful Keydet football campaign this fall. This love it when we keep it in the family! This summer was also a special time for several VMI ’82 and they are raising money to give to will be my first attempt at this as I try to fill the big Fisher House, the charity that builds and provides shoes left by Jim Outland. His service to our class of our Brother Rats as they retired after long caa warm and welcoming place where families can and the Institute over the past five-plus years has reers on active duty and the Guard and Reserve. stay and support their loved ones at no cost while been outstanding and much appreciated. His notes Brig. Gen. Rock Donahue retired October 1 but the patient receives specialized medical care at a have always been packed with news and fun to read. a ceremony to honor him was held June 28 at Fort I hope I can carry on. military or VA medical center. Bragg. During their illustrious career, Rock and As I finalize these notes, we are less than one Bill Jennings and I attended the memorial Nancy experienced 19 moves and five combat service for Rat roomie Chris Simmons’ wife in week from the class of 1983+34 matriculating. Our deployments. You would think that a ceremony Leesburg back in April. It was a very touching class will be represented by five sons: Michael Bel- to honor his service would be a highlight of the service. We did not wish to part company after liveau, William Cornett, David Groseclose, Holmes summer. You would be wrong, as that would be the ceremony, so we decided to grab a bite to eat Laughon and Matthew Outland. These last couple of the birth of their first grandson, “3d LT” Ryan with Bill’s girlfriend, Cynthia. Bill appears to weeks have seen Rat Send-offs at various chapters. Lee Pacheco, Rock’s daughter, Jenna’s, first be enjoying the hell out his middle age. He now Jim Outland checked in to report he and Mat- child. Captains Jenna and Leo Pacheco currently rides a Harley, works when he wants to and enjoys thew attended the Richmond chapter’s event at the serve as Army nurses at Fort Gordon, GA. Rock visiting friends and family. Virginia War Memorial. The featured speaker was and Nancy’s son, Eric, is at Fort Benning and Shaun Gillilland had an interesting summer the RDC vice president from the class of 2011. Jim daughter-in-law, Claudia, is flying choppers in vacation away from his farm in the Adirondacks. says the best way to describe the presentation was Afghanistan. His twin daughters, Taylor and Shaun supervised the transfer of U.S. Navy patrol to imagine Tuck Masker ’80 or Brent Dunahoe in Morgan, start college this fall. Currently Rock is craft from Norfolk, VA, to Bahrain in the Persian a suit and tie speaking two weeks before matricula- consulting with GE Healthcare but is working the Gulf. He was very happy to have returned home to tion. Jim said by the conclusion of this “shock and long-term retirement plans. It sounds like a busy the coolness of upstate New York on July Fourth. awe” presentation most Rats were slack-jawed time in the Donahue family. Summer draws to a close, and I have yet to catch and some may have been contemplating a bolt Steve Amato reports an outstanding retirement a fish because I have been too busy with work and for the door. ceremony was held August 11 for Col. Lionel failing in my attempts to corral Mrs. Kause and Lynn Seldon attended the Rat Send-off hosted Urquhart, USMC. Lionel concludes a 30-year the Daughter of Darkness, who will be heading by the Wilmington, NC, chapter. Lynn reports a career in the Marines, which included a combat off to high school in a few short weeks. To keep fine event held at the Cape Fear Club with several deployment to Iraq. Steve, Steve Ross and Scott them both occupied, I acquiesced and got them a Rats-to-be in attendance. Lynn is finalizing his Belliveau attended the ceremony. puppy; a yellow Labrador retriever named Zeus, novel based at VMI, which was recently re-named Col. Jamie MacDonald retired from active duty who is stout of heart and spirit. He keeps them Virginia’s Ring by Pat Conroy. Lynn is using Con- in the U.S. Army on June 19 with an impressive on the go and away from me. That magnificent roy’s long-time cover artist and hopes to have the ceremony at the Pentagon. Attending were Gregg beast is eating me out of house and home and has book out by spring 2014. Lynn is keeping some Brinegar, Tim Craul, Mike Devens, Matt Wardeveloped a fondness for toilet paper. pretty impressive company, and I look forward to ing, Rock Donahue and Mark Sykes. Bring on the crickets! Col. Skip Goodwillie retired June 1 after 30 the movie!
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2013-Issue 4
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