Class Notes For many, the reunion weekend began Thursday evening, so the hospitality room at the Wingate Hotel was busy early. Reunion events began Friday morning with BR golfing at the Lexington Golf & Country Club. Andre Koneczny assembled an outstanding group of golfers for the tournament: Oscar Cammuse, Kent Carrington, Dyke Davies, Jim Delisio, Dexter Gilliam, Jim Joustra, David Lowe, Greg Lucado, Jim Mallon, J.R. Mott, Hunt Ozmer, Ray Ramos, Mike Tate and Kavie Thrift. Despite the rainy weather – for about four holes – everyone had fun. Note: J.R. Mott used my clubs, so I know his score was very low. Margaret Haberman and Cindy Mullen hosted a wives brunch Friday morning at the Habermans’ beautiful home in Lexington. Michelle Bhatta, Teri Coleman, C.J. Cox, Leigh Anne Delisio,
Lois Diggs, Joanne Knight, Sevanne Gilliam, Susan Mallon, Margaret Ramos and Ulla LaGrone attended. Brother rats, this is for your wives and guests: I want to have at least one wives’ event at the next reunion, so put on your thinking cap and send me your feedback. Grigg Mullen continued his Friday afternoon reunion tradition of hosting the slaughter of poor defenseless clay pigeons at Quail Ridge Sporting Clays. Come to think of it, the clay pigeons were safe with these BRs shooting at them: Ray Brooks, Tom Diggs, Bill Favier, Rocky Glass, Doug Hines, Gary Knight, Ron LaGrone, Paul Parker and John Swain. Friday evening, we met in downtown Lexington at the Sheridan Livery Inn for supper. It was the first reunion opportunity for all BRs to meet, find old friends, update each other on life events and
tell an occasional Old Corps BR war story; the stories seem to get better every five years. Saturday morning began with Raff Waff leading a memorial service to honor and remember our lost BRs: Bruce Undercoffer, Pelham Felder, Dennis Puckett, Tom Zeugner, Joseph Joiner, Gregory Shreve, Van Ardan, Rick Radtke, Vernon Pope, Paul Carine, Michael Miller, Nelson Jeffers, Scott Kasler, Chip Deyerle, Michael Maher, Mike Williamson and Curtis Butterworth. Wayne Eastham honored Curtis, who died last year, with a humorous and serious commentary on his life and the impact it had on others. “Taps” and “Amazing Grace,” performed by Band Company cadet volunteers, concluded the ceremony, stirring our hearts and memories of all lost BRs. Check out the Class of 1976 picture in front of Preston Library with everyone decked-out in the
Class of 1976: Photos opposite page 1. Pictured April 23, 2016, marching to Old Barracks were John Coleman, leading, followed by Will Adams with the 1976 guidon. Front rank: Carrington McVeigh, Rory Walsh, Andre Koneczny, Jim Mallon, Bill Bhatta, Jeff Wall, Jay Foertsch and Paul Parker. Second rank: Mark Swank, John Dorsey, Charlie Aycock, J.B. Kirk. Rear: Clint Davis, Hunt Ozmer, Jake Berberich Jim Joustra and John Strock. 2. Pictured in Old Barracks before the Old Yells were, from left, Jim Dittrich, Mack Curle, Garry Varney, Wayne Eastham, John Swain, Kurt Luckenbill and Ray Brooks. 3. The “golfers” following play at the Lexington Golf & Country Club April 22, 2016, were, from left, Jim Joustra, Ray Ramos, Dexter Gilliam, Hunt Ozmer, Dyke Davies, Kavie Thrift, Jim Delisio, Jim Mallon, Andre Koneczny and Mike Tate. Class Agent William Bhatta said of this photo, “Missing are J.R. Mott and Team Cammuse-Lowe-Lucado-Carrington: They were still on the course, probably swimming back to the club house.” 4. At McKethan Park pavilion April 23, 2016, were, from left, Bill Bhatta, Andy Stewart, Bill Neal, Mark Sculley, Jim Dittrich and Oscar Cammuse. 5. The Class of 1976 “gunners” about to enter the clay pigeon shooting range April 22, 2016, were, from left, Tom Diggs, Paul Parker, Rocky Glass, Bill Favier, Grigg Mullen, Doug Hines, John Swain, Ron LaGrone, Gary Knight and Ray Brooks. Class Agent William Bhatta said of this photo, “It appeared to me the ground destroyed more clays than aimed shots. John Swain explained the misses were caused by shotgun shells not loaded with shot.” 6. Pictured in front of Preston Library April 23, 2016, following the class photo for the 40th Reunion were, from left, Dave Lowe, Greg Speaker, Ron LaGrone, Bill Ryals, Rory Walsh, D.B. Johnson and Barry Helms. 7. At McKethan Park pavilion April 23, 2016, were, from left, Jeff Wall, Maury Gatewood, Andy Stewart and Hunt Ozmer. 8. Pictured at the Wingate Hotel April 22, 2016, waiting for the bus to the Sheridan Livery Inn were, from left, front to back: Grigg and Cindy Mullen, Ben and Cindy Weaver with son Clint, Mack Curle, Tom and Lois Diggs, Oscar Cammuse, Andy and Julie Stewart, Charlie and Betsy Keen, Tom and Louise Brooks, John and Lillian Swain, Jim and Susan Mallon, Dave and Caroline Lowe, Barry and Francine Helms, Charlie and Dell Aycock, Ron and Ulla LaGrone, Marshall Coyle, Maury Gatewood, Ray and Margaret Ramos, Ron and Deb Hottle, Mike Tate, Greg and Rosie Lucado, Jay Foertsch, Bill Bhatta, Jim and Leigh Ann Delisio, Carrington and Kim McVeigh, Jake and Dianne Berberich, Rocky and Betsy Glass, Duff and Debby Joseph, John Strock, Kurt and Cindy Luckenbill, Greg and Lyn Hedley, Pete and Mary Ann Friesen, Doug Hines, Al and Ruth Ann McCarthy, Bill and Patricia Brown, Bill Grant, Gary and Joanne Knight, Henry and Deborah Foresman, Charlie Archer, Jeff and Mary Totaro, Jim Dittrich, Kavie Thrift, Clint Davis, Garry Varney, Ray and Kayann Pavlosky, Rory Walsh, Bill and Debbie Neal, John Dorsey, Andre and Lois Koneczny, D.B. Johnson, Jack and Charlotte Christy. Present but not pictured were Marilu Tate and Michelle Bhatta. 9. Manning the beer kegs at McKethan Park pavilion April 23, 2016, were, from left, Greg Hedley, Rocky Glass, Tom Brooks, Greg Lucado and Dexter Gilliam. 10. Pictured on a Lexington carriage ride April 23, 2016, were, from left, Dell and Charlie Aycock, Sheri and Will Adams, Ray Pavlosky, and Pete and Mary Ann Friesen. Class Agent note: Kayaan, sorry for missing you behind Ray in the picture! 108
VMI Alumni Review