CLASS NOTES delegate positions available, and eight people ran for the three Republican slots. I am pleased to say that Cathy outpolled all and led the number two person by a very comfortable margin. According to those who support Cathy, her reputation is rooted in honesty, and she does what she says she will do. Cathy is running for a second four-year term as a Republican Maryland State Delegate. We attended the final dance performance for our granddaughter, Victoria. She was featured in over half of the dances performed that night. We are very proud of her. When we got home, we found a water service break in the front yard and lots of water spinning the meter. Reconciling the amount of water we should be charged for with the water department has been an adventure. As June came to a close, we attended the Lou and Pris Shuba pig barbecue party in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lou did a great job preparing the pig and the brisket, and his neighbors and friends filled in the rest of the menu. Enjoying the pig were Bill and Sandra Fout; Carl and Becky Hirsch (along with their guests: Stephen Wenzel, a political science major at Texas A&M and Carl’s son, Jonathan; his wife, Monica; and their son, Marcus); Ray and Sally Hanlein; David and Charlotte Harbach; Jim McFalls ’59 and his son, Scott; Lou’s dyke, Bill Tornabene ’64 and his wife, Lola; Ed Fox; Kent and Bert Modine; Sal and Sue Vitale and their grandson, Mark Muckelbauer; and Kenny Legum. Bill Fout was back in Frederick, Maryland, until October, and then went to Arizona until 2015. Bill’s health is improving. Ray Hanlein is back in shape after his shoulder operation and is playing tennis as well as golf. Dave Harbach enjoys his trips to Richmond to take care of the grandkids while his son, David, works as a federal prosecutor in Richmond. I hear that “young” David has been offered the position of special council to the director of the FBI. The director only has two lawyers that council him. What an honor! Jim McFalls ’59 still has some interesting doctor jokes and stories and never stops talking. Ed Fox is still working with his wife, Sue, in the bed-and-breakfast and hopes that this winter we have plenty of snow so they will be very busy with people skiing in the area. Ken Modine finally has had a taste of the Shuba pig and was very pleased to make the trip. I am sure he will be back. Kenny Legum looks great, was in good humor and appears to be doing OK since he is back in Virginia Beach. Ken had to leave before the picture was taken in order to be back to Virginia Beach before dark. I can completely understand not wanting to do any more night driving than is necessary. In July, Sue had her foot operation. For the next six weeks, she was in a boot and not doing much except going to beer and cookies at the Gibbings.
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The Friday night attendees have grown in number, and there are regulars. Most Fridays, you can find Larry and Jerri Wetsel (as long as he brings his famous chocolate chip cookies); Charlie and Ann Stevens; Charlie Fuller and his friend, Lillian; Larry Williams; some neighbors and workout friends; and Sue and me. During the past few months, Rabbit and Sue Patrick, Robert and Pat Williamson, Garland Payne, Kenny Legum, and Craig Pitman ’85 also made several visits. One evening, Larry Respess’ son-in-law, Col. Jamie McAden, had a few beers with us old timers. Jamie is an embassy intelligence officer and was in Virginia Beach for special training before he and the family headed off to Burma. Mike Bissell has two of his children stationed in the Virginia Beach area and said he would encourage them to come meet us. Joyce Gibbings always has interesting nibbles, and Bill is very generous with pouring his special collection of Dogfish Head crafted brews. It was at one of these Friday night beer and cookies that I had the pleasure of meeting one of our current VMI Board of Visitors members retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Fran Wilson and her husband, Ed, a retired Navy captain. Larry Wetsel met her at a World Affairs Council meeting, introduced her to Gibbings and the rest is history. Fran, as she prefers to be called, lives in Virginia Beach and is a very intelligent and charming person who, in my view, is interested in seeing that VMI is the best it can be. We talked about the challenges VMI faces and her views of women in the military. Fran enjoys working with Gen. Peay
’62 and Mike Bissell when he was at the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin College. After a few minutes with Fran, you can see how she earned her three stars, and it is impossible to BS her – especially since Fran is a Marine. (Smile) Larry Williams, Bill Gibbings, Ken and Sue Patrick, Larry and Jeri Wetsel, Wetsel’s two grandsons, and Sue and I attended the going away party for new cadets. Thirty-five boys and girls and about 175 parents and alumni attended the function chaired by John Rowe ’66. Sue and I sat with the family of a new cadet whose father, Mike Freeman, is with the FBI. I asked Mike if he knew BR Irv Wells, and he smiled and said, “Irv is a FBI legend. Everyone knows AIC Wells!” Every so often, we see Ashby and Sandra Taylor, and the renovation of their historic home is coming along. The Taylors were not affected by the tornado that hit a campground near them where three people died. Ashby and Sandra attended the Eastern Shore new cadet going away party for their one 4th Class cadet. The August 2014 issue of Leatherneck Magazine included a very interesting article titled, “Gunpowder in Their Blood – Four Generations of George Van Ordens.” The article is a career synopsis of BR George Van Orden’s grandfather, father and son and is a very interesting read. An excerpt from part the article: “The United States Marine Corps celebrates many warriors. Leathernecks recognize names like Lejeune, Butler, Daly and ‘Chesty.’ We know their accomplishments. Many times, though, names are not included
Class of 1961: Mitch Kot visited and had dinner with some BRs and their significant others June 8, 2014, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. From left, front row: Beth Legum, Sylvia Woodcock, Joyce Gibbings, Sue Patrick, Jeri Wetsel and Jennifer Kot. Back row, as heads appear: Ken Legum, Larry Williams, Bill Gibbings, Ken Patrick, Larry Wetsel, Stu Woodcock, Lee Badgett and Mitch Kot. Photo taken by Betsey Badgett.
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