2019-Issue 1 Alumni Review

VMI 2019 - Issue 1

Alumni Review

Contents

Virginia Military Institute Alumni Review 2019-Issue 1

In This Issue . . .

This issue includes class notes and news items covering the time period of Aug. 15, 2018, to Nov. 15, 2018.

Our Alumni Serving 4 4 6

McDew ’82 Rises to the Top Shepherd ’917: Experiences in World War I Kurtz-Phelan on George C. Marshall ’901: “A Study in Leadership”

................................................................................

4 21

In Memory 10

................................................................................

Features 11 12 14 16 18 20 21

34

2019-Issue 1

Col. Thomas S. Baur ’75

VMI by the Numbers: Striving for Extraordinary Cadet Life Academics Athletics The Military Component Private Support: The VMI Difference Fall Reunion Nov. 2-3, 2018

Volume 95, No. 4

PUBLISHER The Chief Executive Officer of the VMI Alumni Agencies

CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER: Amy Goetz Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Whitman Assistant Editor: Molly Rolon ALUMNI REVIEW ONLINE www.vmialumi.org/alumnireview

PUBLISHING OFFICE The VMI Alumni Agencies Alumni Review Office VMI Moody Hall, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450; 540/464-7224 review@vmiaa.org PRINTER Progress Printing Co., Inc. Lynchburg, Virginia The VMI Alumni Review (USPS 954-740) is published four times yearly in fall, winter, spring and summer by The VMI Alumni Agencies, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450. It is sent to alumni and friends of the Institute without subscription.

ATTENTION POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to: VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450

................................................................................

Periodicals postage paid at Lynchburg, VA.

News and Updates

VMI ALUMNI AGENCIES TELEPHONE NUMBERS The VMI Alumni Association: The VMI Foundation:

The VMI Keydet Club:

2 24 34 40 51 54 56 180 181 185 186 189 190 192

Message from the CEO On Post Athletics Events Progress Staff News Class Notes Provisional Appointments Taps After Taps Alumni News Alumni Agencies Directory VMI Alumni Chapter Directory Calendar of Events

540/464-7221 540/464-7287 540/464-7328

WEBSITE ADDRESSES Alumni Agencies: www.vmialumni.org VMI: www.vmi.edu

ON OUR COVER Front Cover: Founders Day parade 2018.

Inside Front Cover: Dedicated on Founders Day 1978, the statue of George C. Marshall ’901 stands outside barracks. Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

1

Message from the Agencies CEO

by CDR Stephen M. Maconi

It has been an exciting time on post. Following an inspiring December commissioning and the graduation of 33 cadets, the Corps of Cadets returned from a well-earned Christmas furlough in mid-January, and life at the Institute has quickly returned to its normal schedule and pace.

We have just completed another successful year of support to VMI thanks to the dedicated work of the Foundation and Keydet Club staff and our thousands of alumni and friends. As a result of their diligent efforts, we will provide VMI in excess of $20 million of private gift support this fiscal year (approximately 25 percent of VMI’s operating budget).

It has been an exciting time at the Alumni Association, as well. Late in 2018, the Alumni Association staff traveled to both southern California and New York City to engage alumni and friends. In November, Col. Jamie Inman ’86, VMI chief of staff, traveled to the greater Los Angeles area, and in December, Col. Bill Wanovich ’87, commandant, interacted with alumni and friends in New York City. The Alumni Agencies are also looking forward to spring furlough, when our staff will accompany Gen. Peay ’62 to the Carolinas and Maconi Georgia to spread the word on the remarkable story that is today’s VMI. As we did in Texas in 2018, we plan to tell our story to headmasters, guidance counselors, junior ROTC cadets and other non-VMI affiliated folks in the Carolinas and Georgia, in addition to alumni and parents in the area.

Finally, in mid-February, there is another signature event for VMI that takes place off post. The event is the annual Legislative Reception that is hosted by the VMI Alumni Agencies in Virginia’s historic capitol in Richmond. The members of the General Assembly and other government leaders are invited to attend the event in order to meet Institute’s leaders, current cadets and alumni. Held in conjunction with the General Assembly’s session, it is always well-attended by delegates and senators.

Annually, there are those who come to this event who are only vaguely familiar with VMI. Some are aware of it because it is where Virginia’s current governor attended college. Some know it is a military college and public college – but not much else. But, just as they did a little more than a year ago at the inaugural parade for Gov. Ralph Northam ’81, our cadets’ poise, bearing and maturity will make a positive impression, and the people who meet them will come away with a greater appreciation of the Institute’s mission and the means by which it is accomplished.

It takes hundreds of people to ensure that the Institute retains its ability to accomplish this mission. In this issue, a feature we call “By the Numbers” provides an informative look at the important work the men and women who are our faculty, staff and coaches do day after day, month after month, year after year. I urge you to look at it closely; the magnitude of the effort is truly remarkable.

But efforts to maintain and advance the Institute are not limited to what the faculty, staff and coaches do. Alumni, parents and friends of VMI are constantly helping, as well. Parents, for example, are among the Institute’s most ardent supporters, as they see firsthand how profoundly their children are affected by their time in barracks and how well-prepared they are for life after VMI. They are often instrumental in bringing VMI to the attention of young men and women who are considering college. Our alumni, of course, are renowned for their common interest in the Institute’s future – and their shared willingness to support it. Indeed, they make up the largest portion of those who make a gift or commitment to VMI every year, and most of the private financial support that is of such critical importance to VMI and its cadets comes from them.

Helping to bring the VMI family ever closer and to encourage them to play significant roles in the future of the Institute is the responsibility of the VMI Alumni Agencies. The alumni and friends who are the Agencies’ volunteer leaders and the men and women who are their officers and staffs work tirelessly to meet these responsibilities. And just like the cadets, faculty, coaches and staff of VMI, we, too, benefit from the effort of the VMI family. All of us at the VMI Alumni Agencies, therefore, thank the members of the VMI family who inspire us through your willingness to give so much of yourselves to the Institute and who encourage us to improve how we serve the VMI family on and off post.

2

VMI Alumni Review

Our Alumni Serving Recognizing Those Who Serve Others in Their Communities, Country and the World Are you or someone you know serving the community, country or the world? Send in a photo and a description of what you’re doing, where and for whom. See instructions below.

The VMI Alumni Agencies would like to pay tribute to our citizen-soliders, who are, as Col. J.T.L. Preston said and as printed on the parapet, “an honor to our country and our state, objects of honest pride to their instructors ... and ready in every time of deepest peril ... .”

Those alumni whose photos and articles appear in this section of the Review could be members of the armed forces serving anywhere in the world, or they could be members of police and fire departments, legislators, doctors offering their services to those less fortunate, alumni volunteering at food pantries or

2019-Issue 1

serving as Boy or Girl Scout troop leaders.

If you or someone you know is serving others, please submit a high resolution photo (3 or 4 megapixels, minimum) taken at the location you are serving or with the people whom you serve.

Along with the photo, please submit a caption that explains what your service is, where you perform it and for whom. Send these to the VMI Alumni Review staff at review@vmiaa.org or by mail to VMI Alumni Review, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450, Attention: Assistant Editor. We will review your submission and consider it for publication.

3

McDew ’82 Rises to the Top In 1978, a young Darren McDew ’82 from Hampton, Virginia, stepped onto the grounds of Virginia Military Institute to begin Matriculation Day. He didn’t realize that day would begin a journey that would end 40 years later as a U.S. Air Force 4-star general and senior leader in the Department of Defense.

According to The Cadet newspaper, “McDew was not always on the top.”

“No matter what they did to me, I was too stubborn to leave,” he said. “And then as I’ve grown farther, I decided I was going to be somebody’s goodleadership example.”

In 1981 McDew, a civil engineering major, became a regimental commander, setting a pattern of rising to the top that he would continue throughout his career.

After his 1982 graduation he was commissioned into the Air Force and began pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona.

During his nearly four decades as a military leader, his career culminated in command of U.S. Transportation Command, one of ten combatant commands.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Darren McDew ’82, right, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, “If you would have told me as a young second shares a moment with U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint lieutenant in Strategic Air Command, flying KC-135s, Chiefs of Staff, during McDew’s retirement ceremony at the Scott Events Center Aug. 24, that I would one day be sitting in the U.S. Transporta2018. (Photo caption by Rob Wieland, USTRANSCOM Public Affairs.) tion Command headquarters, I would have told you that you were absolutely out-of-your-mind crazy,” “I’m an introvert, but she told me I had a story to tell and I should tell said McDew during an Airman Magazine interview.

At his recent retirement ceremony, the VMI alumnus was humble in his it,” McDew said. “She got me out of my comfort zone and inspired me to help others achieve their full potential, especially during my times as remarks about his career, and the people he worked with.

“I’ve been blessed to work with many amazing people,” said McDew. a commander.”

McDew concluded his remarks with a nod to both the past and future.

“You inspire me every day and I thank you deeply for your outstanding “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in the United States milicontributions to the defense of this nation.”

He credited his wife, Evelyn, for encouraging him to become a better tary, and I will watch eagerly as future generations continue to dream and innovate to keep our nation a global superpower.” mentor and helping him progress in his military career.

Lemuel Shepherd ’917: Experiences in World War I

By Pete Underwood ’79

When America declared war on Germany in April 1917, VMI held an early graduation for 1st Class cadets commissioning in the Army and Marine Corps. One of those was Marine Lemuel Shepherd. Less than two months later he was in the port of Saint-Nazaire, France, with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment – part of the first American combat force in Europe.

When his regiment arrived its first order of business was constructing a tent camp. Displaying the energy and efficiency that consistently impressed his superiors, Shepherd completed raising a camp for more than 2,600 men in just six days. After

4

unloading their equipment, the Marines moved to eastern France to train in trench warfare. This continued from July to March when, as part of the 2nd Infantry Division, they headed north to trenches near Verdun for “training under fire.”

Shepherd’s was the first Marine battalion to move into the trenches. The night before, Shepherd led a patrol to reconnoiter their new position. Shepherd recalled freezing motionless during the reconnaissance when star shells burst, turning the night into day. When he returned, his report describing the battalion’s position impressed his battalion commander. The next night the commanding officer

rewarded Shepherd with the honor of leading the first Marine Corps patrol into no man’s land. In May, after two months in the trenches enduring German artillery, gas, flame throwers, grenades and bayonets, the Marines moved northwest of Paris to train for “open warfare.” There was also time for liberty. Shepherd bicycled to the city of Vernon, enjoying a sumptuous meal on the Seine.

Orders to move east came May 30, 1918, placing the Marines in the path of a German offensive nearing Paris. From June 2-5, the entire 2nd Division repulsed repeated attacks. While checking his platoon’s position June 3, an artillery shell

VMI Alumni Review

landed in front of him. Miraculously, it was a dud.

Moments later, a machine gun bullet hit him in the neck. Again, miraculously, the round ripped off his collar but only grazed his neck – leaving him with a lifelong scar. Stunned, he continued on, refusing to be evacuated.

Halting the Germans, the Americans now attacked. June 6 began the battle of Belleau Wood, one of the bloodiest in Marine Corps history. On the second day, a bullet tore through Shepherd’s left thigh. In an evacuation hospital, he waited for assignment to a rear area. When a corpsman approached with tags assigning hospitals, Shepherd authoritatively said, “Send me to Paris!” He would go to recover in southern France. Able to walk on crutches, he asked to go into town to buy a new uniform. The doctor agreed, but he had to return to catch the southbound morning train. In town, he met a wounded friend. Their pockets full of back pay, they dined in a restaurant, went to the Folies Bergère, enjoyed drinks at clubs and stayed in a plush hotel. When he returned the next morning, his train had left. He would have to wait another day. Going back into town to pick up his new uniform, he met a friend from Washington and Lee University. Another evening on the town ensued. This activity finally caught up with him.

When he returned to the hospital, he promptly fainted. Gangrene had set in, requiring additional surgery that kept him in Paris.

The French held a parade honoring the U.S. July 4. Shepherd watched from the crowd until he recognized members of his company marching in the procession. On crutches, he joined them for a short distance, an event he would always recall with pride. His recovery continued in a hospital in the Breton village of Savenay. The regimen of the isolated army hospital did not suit him, and he requested a transfer to the Biarritz hospital.

Before leaving, he and other officers visited Nantes, enjoying more fine dining. He arrived in the seaside resort of Biarritz July 20 and checked into the Red Cross hospital, located in a converted hotel overlooking the Bay of Biscay. He spent a month regaining his strength, swimming in the ocean, consuming excellent food and generally enjoying the resort city as his wounds healed.

In mid-August he rejoined his battalion to command a platoon in his old company. Preparations were underway for the St. Mihiel offensive, the first all-American operation. During the attack, Shepherd’s platoon helped shoot down a German plane. It crashed near his position, so he and his men quickly “field stripped” it for souvenirs. He recalled this as one of the war’s most exciting moments. Next came a far bloodier affair: Mont Blanc. By the fifth day of battle, there were two remaining officers in the company: The executive officer, and Shepherd, who was now the company commander. When an artillery shell exploded near them, the executive officer’s body absorbed most of the blast, mortally wounding

2019-Issue 1

Shepherd ’917 him but shielding Shepherd. Shrapnel tore into Shepherd’s right thigh, ending his WWI combat.

In the Blois hospital, his VMI roommate, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Fielding Robinson ’917, visited. Robinson was in nearby Tours, serving as aide-de-camp to Maj. Gen. James Harbord.

Robinson offered to take Shepherd to lunch. The doctors agreed, but instead of lunching in Blois, the two Keydets drove to Paris in the general’s staff car. Before returning, they enjoyed dinner, the Folies Bergère and a comfortable night in a Paris hotel.

After the Armistice, orders came to report to Le Mans for reassignment. Tours was on the way, and Shepherd stopped to see his roommate.

Robinson introduced him to Harbord, who insisted Shepherd have dinner and spend the night.

Even though the dinner included 10 generals, Harbord, who had commanded the Marines at Belleau Wood, placed Shepherd on his right as the guest of honor.

In Le Mans, Shepherd received orders to rejoin his battalion which was marching to Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. Replacements would not join until the unit reached the Rhine, so he lingered in Le Mans. This inactivity led him to request leave to visit Nice. He stopped in Paris to draw pay and learned he was a captain. This cash windfall led to another night on the town with dinner at Maxim’s. The next morning, he left for the Riviera.

He visited Nice, Monte Carlo and Cannes, where he met Lt. Lucius Lyle, a fellow 55th Company officer wounded at Belleau Wood who was the adjutant of a local U.S. rest camp.

Lyle introduced Shepherd to American civilians living in Cannes, resulting in an invitation to an extravagant and memorable Thanksgiving party at one of Cannes’ finest clubs.

Returning to Le Mans, Shepherd impatiently waited. With Christmas approaching, he obtained a pass, spending a raucous Christmas

Eve and quiet Christmas Day in Paris. When he returned, he had his orders to join the 2nd Division in Germany. His train was delayed in Paris on New Year’s Eve, giving him another night in the capital. He later recalled, “I made the most of it.” When he rejoined his battalion, he found that his company – the 55th – already had a commander, so Shepherd asked if he could join 51st Company, commanded by Capt. Samuel “Funk” Cumming ’917, another VMI classmate. Capt.

Hardin Massie ’916 was also in the 51st. By all accounts, this collection of VMI alumni made for an enjoyable mess.

Shepherd eventually took command of the 55th Company, but garrison life with the Army of Occupation was not demanding, so he visited England. On the way, he met a fellow Marine officer and friend, Todd Wool from Norfolk, whose sister Shepherd had taken to VMI hops. The two Virginians traveled together, seeing London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Occupation duty continued until June 1919 when the Germans seemed poised to reject the Treaty of Versailles. The Americans moved to positions in the Neutral Zone to either repulse a German attack or advance further east. Shepherd’s battalion moved as the advance guard for the 4th Marine Brigade; his company led the battalion, giving it the distinction of advancing deeper into Germany than any other Marine unit. Fortunately, the Germans signed the treaty and everyone returned to garrison.

Shepherd was soon assigned to the brigade staff as assistant adjutant and aide to 4th Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Wendell Neville, a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. In July 1919, the 2nd Division began returning to the United States.

Shepherd’s first great adventure was over. In the two years since graduating from VMI, he had fought in four major battles and was wounded three times. While he endured the ordeal of combat, he retained his sense of adventure and grabbed every opportunity to enjoy his experience in France to the fullest. It was an auspicious beginning to an auspicious career.

Sources: “The United States Marine Corps in the First World War” by Edwin N. McClellan. Honolulu: University of the Pacific, 2002. Reprinted from the 1920 edition.

“Tidewater Warrior: The World War I Years: General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., USMC, Twentieth Commandant” by Tom Fitzpatrick. Fairfax, VA: Signature Book Printing, 2010.

“The Second Infantry Division in World War I”

by George B. Clark. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company Inc., 2007.

5

Kurtz-Phelan on George C. Marshall ’901: “A Study in Leadership”

By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

On Nov. 27, 1945, the day after George C. Marshall ’901 retired from the United States Army – and more than six years after he became Army chief of staff – he was at his beloved home in Leesburg, Virginia. That afternoon, the telephone rang. The caller was President Harry Truman who asked Marshall to become his envoy to China, where he was to attempt to broker a peace between the Nationalists and the Communists and prevent China from descending into civil war.

Marshall’s response was characteristically to-the-point, “Yes, Mister President.”

Those who extol the virtues of Marshall often point to that particular moment to illustrate the depth of his sense of duty and leave it at that. Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, currently the executive editor of the influential journal Foreign Affairs, has written “The China Mission: George C. Marshall’s Unfinished War, 1945-1947,” the first book to provide a detailed account of Marshall’s time in China and set it in the context of the rapidly changing domestic and international political situation of the late 1940s.

Asked what prompted him to take up the task of researching and writing about this important but little-discussed episode in Marshall’s service, Kurtz-Phelan harkens back to his service on the State Department’s policy planning staff, an organization founded by Marshall when he was secretary of state. “At the State Department, Marshall still looms large because he played a major role in creating the model for American diplomacy from the late 1940s and well into the 21st century,” he recalled. “Also, the undeniable success of the Marshall Plan has meant that whenever there is a new challenge – foreign or domestic – inevitably someone will call for ‘a Marshall Plan’ to meet it.”

Yet, there was more to the story that intrigued Kurtz-Phelan. First, there was the fact that, like the Marshall Plan, Marshall’s mission to China concerned the fate of hundreds of millions of people and the future of an entire continent. Then, there was the opportunity to write about “history as it was being formed and to place mythologized figures, like Marshall, Zhou Enlai and Chiang Kaishek, on a human scale and show how living through that dramatic and consequential time felt to them,” Kurtz-Phelan explained.

6

Asked why, given the attractions of the story of the China Mission, it receives little attention, Kurtz-Phelan said that, from the perspective of Marshall’s admirers, it is an apparent failure that “comes between two heroic episodes in his life – his time as Army chief of staff and as secretary of state.” Then, there were the politics of the 1950s. “In the ’50s,” says Kurtz-Phelan, “a big question was, ‘Who lost China?’ In fact, McCarthyism got its start partly on the basis of that very question. So, for the fans of George Marshall, his time in China was tainted by failure and politically volatile, and they stayed away from the subject.” He sees this as a mistake because “studying and discussing the mission gives you a much clearer picture of Marshall as a diplomat and a man.”

Kurtz-Phelan is aware that, for many, Truman’s decision to send a soldier on a diplomatic mission seems odd. He says that Marshall made sense in many ways, not the least of which was his experience at the high levels of diplomacy during “years of wartime summits” from the Atlantic Charter meeting in 1941 to the Potsdam Conference in 1945. He also was familiar with China, firsthand as an officer in the 1920s and as chief of staff, because it was a major theater of war. The appointment made sense, too, because few other Americans had Marshall’s presence and prestige.

Perhaps the most important reason Truman turned to Marshall for this job, however, was his immense respect for him. Its seeds were planted when, as a U.S. senator, Truman was in charge of an investigation into the defense industry. He greatly admired, as Kurtz-Phelan puts it, “how Marshall handled questions straightforwardly.” In the few months he served as vice president, Truman was not privy to the highest councils of government at which strategy was discussed. When he became president in April 1945, therefore, Marshall provided strategic advice in the same straightforward manner in which he had answered Truman’s earlier questions. And he treated Truman with obvious respect, unlike some senior figures who derided Truman – often quite openly. Based on this, Truman developed “an amazing and enduring reverence” of Marshall that he never lost.

But, if Truman had many reasons to ask Marshall to take the job, Marshall had ample

reason to reject it. The situation in China in late 1945 was characterized by the intense animosity between the Nationalists and the Communists, itself rooted in a well-founded mutual distrust and a shared ambition to dominate all of China. In “The China Mission,” one American official describes China as “a trap” and “the graveyard of officials.”

Asked why, considering that Marshall, who again was somewhat familiar with the Chinese situation, would agree to go to China, Kurtz-Phelan’s answer is simple. “He had a profound sense of duty. When the president of the United States asks you to do something, you do it.”

Arriving in December 1945 and establishing himself and his small staff in what was then known as Chungking (the headquarters would move Chiang’s prewar capital, Nanjing, later), Marshall initially enjoyed success, using what Kurtz-Phelan calls “deft orchestration” to hammer out a cease-fire and an agreement to unify the Nationalist and Communist armies Jan. 10 and Feb. 25, 1946, respectively. He then traveled back to Washington to lobby Congress for an economic aid package he saw as vital to the long-term success of his mission. He was so devoted to this effort that he did not attend the christening of a goddaughter and declined an invitation from Harvard University to accept an honorary degree.

In his time away, the situation in China began to unravel as both sides sought to gain strategic advantages. The Nationalists moved troops into important areas with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army often providing transportation, and the Communists established a presence in the key area of Manchuria, thanks to the Soviets who had taken it from Japan in the waning days of the war. They also turned over large stocks of captured Japanese weapons and munitions to the Communists.

Commenting on the earlier negotiations, Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, who had served in Asia and was widely (although ultimately erroneously) tipped as the next U.S. ambassador to China, observed, “The permanence of [Marshall’s] accomplishment ... is ... contingent upon his physical presence.” Yet, when Marshall returned to China in summer 1946, the situation did not improve. Kurtz-Phelan attributes this to many factors, including the hardening of the lines along which the Cold

VMI Alumni Review

War would be fought over the next several decades. He points out that on the same day Marshall visited Mao Zedong’s headquarters in Yenan and received a rapturous and wellorchestrated welcome, Winston Churchill was delivering his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in Fulton, Missouri.

Not only international but domestic politics as well played a role in Marshall’s mission.

“There’s a myth that this period was some Golden Age in which domestic politics ‘stopped at the water’s edge,’” explained KurtzPhelan. “But, throughout this entire period, the fate of China was an issue that politicians and others tried to turn to their advantage.”

Truman’s decision to call on Marshall to attempt to solve the problems in China had a political dimension. Putting Marshall into the position helped defuse intemperate remarks about U.S. policy toward China made by the former American ambassador to China, Patrick Hurley, in late November 1945.

Many prominent Americans, such as the publisher Henry Luce, greatly admired Chiang Kai-shek and his American-educated wife, Soong Mei-ling (often called Madame Chiang), as much, if not more. “Chiang and the Nationalists were getting signals from these people,” according to Kurtz-Phelan, “telling them that no matter what Marshall said, the U.S. would support them.” With such knowledge, Chiang often was intransigent; confident, it seems, in the belief that, with such political support behind him, the U.S. government would never let him fall.

By mid-September 1946, Mao and Chiang

2019-Issue 1

both sensed they had an advantage – Mao on the battlefield, Chiang in Washington. They ended negotiations and ramped up their rhetoric and their actions. With full-blown civil war about to break out, however, Marshall refused to leave China and indeed stuck it out until January 1947.

Asked why Marshall did so, Kurtz-Phelan pointed out first that “there is no evidence of vanity” behind his decision. “He had no need to get another trophy.” It was his commitment to seeing a mission – any mission – through to the end that was behind his refusal to leave.

“He wanted to make sure that he had tried everything. It was Mrs. Marshall who said that if he thought he had a 1 percent chance of success, he’d try.” Even when it was clear the original mission was a failure, Marshall never stopped encouraging the Nationalists to improve their means of governance and frequently offered them military advice, such as warning Chiang to not overextend his armies.

On Oct. 1, 1949, the Chinese Communists had won the war and proclaimed the People’s Republic of China. By that time, Marshall had served as secretary of state for approximately two years, resigning in January 1949; created the framework of U.S. policy in the Cold War, to include embracing George Kennan’s policy of containment; and received that honorary degree from Harvard, using the ceremony to announce what became known as the Marshall Plan, the successful American effort to rebuild the shattered economies of Western Europe. He would later serve as defense secretary during the Korean War, a conflict in which U.S. and other forces squared off against the armies of Communist China.

Regarding how his opinion of Marshall had changed after spending several years getting to know Marshall through the research and writing of the book, Kurtz-Phelan said, “I started with a great admiration of him and came away admiring him even more because I saw him in adversity. He bore up so well, even when it was obvious that the mission would fail.”

“The book also gave me a chance to shine a bright light on how Marshall changed over time. We’re used to him as the general, ‘the Architect of Victory,’ as Churchill described him – stoic and steady. But as a younger man, he was beset with worries about his career and suffered bouts of nervous exhaustion. It was only over time that he developed the persona we associate with him now, and he did that – created his character – by conscious effort.”

While the book focuses on Marshall, KurtzPhelan also dealt with an amazing supporting cast. “It was fascinating to watch these giants

of the 20th century come together in very personal ways and in situations we all find familiar. You see them eating dinner together and playing Chinese checkers afterward.”

Among the many interesting other characters he encountered he singled out a few. “Madame Chiang was just incredible. She was very charismatic and exceptionally shrewd politically, and she was capable of immense charm, speaking English as she did with what someone called ‘a Scarlett O’Hara accent.’ It was no wonder she ended up playing a key role in managing the relationship between Chiang and Marshall.”

“Charismatic, too, was Zhou Enlai. Mao’s perpetual deputy, he was committed to advancing Communism, but he too was charming and cosmopolitan. Many Americans, Marshall included, deeply respected his intelligence and ability.” In the book, Kurtz-Phelan quotes an American who said of Zhou after meeting him that if Zhou were in the United States, “he’d be running General Motors.”

As much as Kurtz-Phelan enjoyed delving into the actions and personalities of the well-known dramatis personae, during his research, he found other, lesser-known people just as interesting. “Often the best perspectives, and the best insights came from them.

There is an American diplomat, John Melby, for example, whose letters and journal were a wonderful source on how the Americans in China saw the mission.”

“The process of getting to know these people, but especially George Marshall, would have been impossible without the help of librarians and archivists across the country and of many scholars of the period.

I am especially thankful for the people at the George C. Marshall Library, specifically, Jeff Kozak, the director of the library and archives – and his predecessor, Paul Barron – and the historians Mark Stoler and Barry Machado.

The library and these people were amazing resources for me.”

Asked how he’d like people to view his book, Kurtz-Phelan said believes it to be more than an account of a fascinating episode in history.

“It’s a study in leadership. It is incredibly powerful to learn what it took to lead this mission and to watch how Marshall overcame so many challenges and confronted failure. I also wanted to take a time we have mythologized and the people of it who we also have mythologized and make them more accessible, more human, and by doing so, help readers understand that these people and our country faced challenges and questions that we’d find in many ways very familiar.”

7

Alumni Deploy to Afghanistan

Seven VMI alumni served together in Afghanistan, supporting the NATO Resolute Support and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Operation Freedom’s Sentinel mission to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The alumni are part of the Train, Advise and Assist Command-South, and are deployed to various areas inside Afghanistan. The alumni are serving in the U.S. Army, the Army National Guard, the U.S. Air Force and the Air National Guard. The seven alumni span 28 years of VMI history, from the Class of 1985 to the Class of 2013. Left photo: Capt. James Lockett ’11, Maj. Jason Pettengill ’08, Col. Michael Leeney ’88, Capt. Andrew “Drew” Epps ’13 and Lt. Col. Andy Valenzuela ’85. Right photo: Maj. Quentin Rohlfs ’06, Valenzuela and Maj. Patrick J. Szvetitz ’03.

Secrist ’91 Assumes Command of Mosul Dam Task Force

While serving in Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Army Col. Philip “Flip” Secrist ’91, right, assumed command of the Mosul Dam Task Force from Col. (promotable) Mark Quander in June 2018. The MDTF serves as the engineer for the government of Iraq and executes drilling and grouting operations to stabilize the geologic formations under the Mosul Dam. The dam, located in northern Iraq, is the fourth-largest dam in the Middle East. Quander is now the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Transatlantic Division.

8

VMI Alumni Review

Gaskell ’92 Relinquishes Command

Lt. Col. Dan Gaskell ’92 relinquished command of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in September 2018. After training for a year, the battalion deployed to Okinowa, Japan, for six months under Gaskell’s command. In addition to Japan, the battalion trained in the Philippines and Thailand, and some servicemembers were able to visit Tarawa Atoll, where the battalion was part of an assault during World War II. The battalion, pictured, trained at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, in July 2017 under Gaskell’s command.

Nguyen ’92 Serves in Afghanistan

Lt. Col. Antuan Nguyen ’92 was the officer in charge of Defense Logistics Agency disposition service in Afghanistan. Nguyen, pictured during a site visit to Hamid Karzai International Airport in June 2018, was deployed for more than 200 days.

Cadets Complete Marine Corps Officer Candidate School

Brig. Gen. Stephen M. Neary ’88 was the reviewing officer at the Aug. 18, 2018, Marine Corps Officer Candidate School graduation in Quantico, Virginia. From left: Cadet Brody Taylor ’19; Cadet Daniel Chisner ’19; Cadet Theodore Ryan ’19; Cadet Riley Neary ’19, daughter of Brig. Gen. Neary; Brig. Gen. Neary; and Cadet Merit Patterson ’19.

2019-Issue 1

9

In Memory: Col. Thomas S. Baur ’75

By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

Baur ’75 Col. Thomas S. Baur ’75, professor emeritus of biology at VMI, died in a traffic accident in Rockbridge County Aug. 23, 2018. He was 64. Matriculating from Huntington, West Virginia, as a cadet, Baur was a corporal, sergeant and lieutenant and played football for two years. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, he commissioned in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and served for a combined eight years on active duty and in the U.S. Army Reserve.

After completing his active duty commitment, he attended West Virginia University where he earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology. He then went on to Purdue University and earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the same discipline. He was employed as an exercise physiologist at the U.S. Army’s Soldiers Physical Fitness School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana, for six years.

He returned to VMI in 1988 and, after a year in the physical education department, joined the department of biology. There, he taught a wide variety of courses, including ones in

10

genetics, physiology, biochemistry and bio-statistics. Renowned as an engaging and effective teacher, he received the Institute’s Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award and its Distinguished Teaching Award. He also was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.

Baur also served as a mentor to hundreds of cadets and supervised numerous cadet research projects. His exercise physiology laboratory was known as a place where cadets learned the true limits of their fitness and how to conduct proper experiments. His skill on the racquetball court – he taught it as a course – was such that there is no record of him ever losing a match to a cadet or fellow faculty member.

Baur retired from full-time teaching in 2013, and the Institute presented him with its Meritorious Service Medal that April upon his retirement. He continued to serve the Institute as an adjunct instructor in the biology department.

“Tom made many contributions to the department,” said Col. James E. Turner ’65, current head of the biology department. “He was the biology head from 1992-97 and oversaw a number of substantive changes to move the department forward. Tom was responsible for initiating an interest between the biology and PE departments to initiate discussions leading to the establishment of an exercise science minor in 2012. This program is now one of the most popular choices for our majors.”

In his tribute to his colleague at the memorial service in Jackson Memorial Hall Sept.

8, 2018, Col. Dick Rowe described Baur as “a dedicated teacher. He put in a tremendous amount of time preparing his classes and especially his laboratories” and “set high standards and expectations” which cadets worked hard to meet. He also spoke of Baur’s willingness to give cadets selflessly of that most precious commodity: Time. He said this was based on the fact that he “loved working with cadets, whether it was a student in one of his classes, a member of the Honor Court

or that random cadet who came to his office just to seek his wise counsel.”

In addition to his teaching duties, Baur served the Institute on numerous faculty and Institute committees, as well as an officerin-charge of the barracks, as director of the summer session and as the head of the department of biology. He directed the Summer Transition Program and often led morning physical training during it, what was known as “the Power Hour,” and just as often “out PT’d these young people,” to use Rowe’s words. He was also adviser to the Class of 2005, and the faculty chairman of athletics for several years.

Perhaps his greatest contribution to the life of the Institute was his long service – close to 20 years – as the superintendent’s representative to the Honor Court. Fond of saying, “Honor is a lifestyle,” Baur was tireless in his devotion to the honor code and the Honor Court. A reflection of that was the presence of the members of this year’s Honor Court onstage at the memorial service.

As the superintendent’s representative, he kept the superintendent informed of every case in front of the Honor Court and counseled the members of the court in the performance of their duties. But there was more to it, according to Col. Robert E. Phillips Sr. ’87, chaplain to the Corps of Cadets, who said in his introductory remarks at the memorial service, “For Tom, this was not just an additional duty, but a high and noble calling. It was something he believed in, cherished and poured his life into.”

Col. Baur is survived by his wife, Judy, along with their two sons, Daniel and Stephen; two daughters-in-law; and a grandson, as well as a brother and sister.

Those members of the VMI family who wish to honor his legacy at the Institute are asked to give to the Thomas S. Baur ’75 Honor Endowment. Checks should be mailed to c/o VMI Foundation, P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA, 24450. Credit card gifts can be made at www.vmialumni.org/give.

VMI Alumni Review

VMI by the Numbers

Small class sizes, quality athletic facilities and strong ROTC programs are present at colleges across the nation – so what makes VMI different? Founder J.T.L. Preston’s 1837 vision for a different type of college – inscribed on the parapet (background photo) and memorized by all rats – has served as the foundation of VMI’s mission for more than 179 years. Turn the page to delve into the numbers representing the efforts of a distinguished cadre of faculty, staff, alumni, friends and cadets who aren’t afraid to strive for an extraordinary experience.

2019-Issue 1

11

Cadet Life

A Crowd of Honorable Youths In addition to their regular studies, cadets also adhere to structured day-to-day living on post. This structure is affected by life in barracks, the class system and the leadership roles taken on by cadets in the Corps. Every aspect of life at VMI is shaped by the traditions of the Institute, including enforcement of VMI’s unique single sanction honor system.

37,000 VMI dining prepares 37,000 meals weekly (breakfast, lunch and dinner for the Corps seven days per week). Dining contractor services are provided by Parkhurst, which concentrates on fromscratch cooking with fresh ingredients, local sourcing and decreasing waste and energy usage.

24/7 The infirmary is open 24/7 during the academic year and is staffed by qualified medical personnel. (Most universities do not have a 24/7 medical clinic.)

365

210,000

The post engineer and the VMI police maximize safety on post 365 days a year during normal operations and during disasters – manmade or naturally occurring. Ongoing routine checks, drills and exercises result in thousands of preventative security measures to keep VMI safe and secure.

Mail services processes over 210,000 pieces of mail annually.

More Than 40 Clubs Cadets participate in more than 40 clubs at VMI (including The Bomb, Regimental Band, ethics club, VMI theater, club sports, academic societies and professional societies). The types of clubs change often, depending on interest and funding for each group.

The cadet lifeguard program trains and certifies 15 cadet lifeguards to cover the VMI pool during regular swim hours.

The Corps EMT program has 49 certified EMT cadets who provide coverage on post during training activities.

$

Cadet Investment Group (CIG): Cadets invest $300,000 of actual capital in the U.S. stock market and monitor growth throughout the academic year. Group members meet financial firm representatives in New York City and can compete for internships in the investment field.

• • • • • •

22 Club Sports 3 Military Clubs 3 Performing Arts Clubs 5 Service Clubs The Bomb 8 Special Interest Clubs

VMI’s cadet firefighter program has 16 members who volunteer with three local agencies.

12

VMI Alumni Review

32,000 The barbershop keeps cadets looking their best by giving 32,000 haircuts annually.

40,000 The tailor shop performs 40,000 repairs or alterations each year.

352 The Corps of Cadets forms up about 352 times during the academic year.

$12 million The Quartermaster Department and Military Store maintain $12 million in uniforms used to service the Corps.

173,000 A total of 173,000 separate uniform items are issued to the Corps of Cadets.

VMI Points of Pride 2019-Issue 1

The U.S. Department of Education Scorecard ranks VMI No. 1 of all Virginia public institutions in median salary earnings for alumni.

300,000 Laundry services wash 300,000 uniform items annually.

“Whether someone is commissioning or going into the private sector, I think that [VMI’s] leadership is needed.”

- John D. Hatgas ’19 Biology major Institute Scholar Cadet S-4 EMT Chief Vice president, Cadet Superintendent’s Advisory Board

U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 rankings listed VMI as the No. 4 top public liberal arts college and No. 26 of 405 ABET accredited engineering programs.

Ninety-nine percent of graduates are commissioned, employed or will attend graduate school within five months of graduation.

13

Academics

Pressing up the Hill of Science What makes an education from Virginia Military Institute stand out among the 4,627 degree-granting accredited institutions in the United States? VMI possesses a combination of dedicated professors, cadets, and staff who contribute to a rigorous and comprehensive learning environment. Because of this VMI is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report.

11

VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics Programs Routinely engage cadets across post to obtain a national leadership presence and include: • VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference • Cadet Superintendent’s Advisory Board • Cadet Leadership Enrichment Opportunities • Leader-In-Residence • Symposia • Intercollegiate Ethics Team • Small Group Engagement with VIP Speakers • Cadet Leadership Book Program

23

Chairs and Professorships

With 23 endowments for chairs and professorships, VMI is able to recruit, retain and reward its distinguished faculty.

265

Cadets

265 cadets presented 195 research projects during the 2017-18 academic year.

Rhodes Scholars

VMI is proud to have the second most (11) Rhodes Scholars of all public colleges and universities in Virginia, surpassed only by UVa (53).

14

Majors

VMI offers a carefully-selected core curriculum with 14 majors and 21 minors and 13 concentrations in engineering, science, liberal arts, social sciences and math.

129

Cadets

129 cadets studied abroad in 24 countries during the 2017-18 academic year.

Three (3) Academic Enrichment Programs Miller Academic Center: Offers course-specific group study sessions, advisor assistance, coordination of need-specific learning skills programs for the Corps of Cadets and offers individual tutoring sessions.

Mathematics Education Resource Center (MERC): Enhances and improves the mathematical skills and reasoning abilities that cadets will need in the military/community/private sector after graduation. The open math lab provides subject-specific review, complementing and supporting VMI’s core mathematics curriculum and advanced courses.

Writing Center: Assists cadets with the goal of enhanced writing skills at all levels and in all academic disciplines. Writing center consultants aid cadets in conquering writer’s block, brainstorming and choosing a topic, developing outlines, narrowing topics and formulating theses, effectively incorporating sources and acknowledging sources properly and developing strategies for revision, editing and proofreading.

14

VMI Alumni Review

82

Institute Honors

There are 82 Institute Honors cadets who participate in: • Honors Forum each semester • Honors Seminar in Science or Engineering • Honors Seminar in Humanities or Social Sciences • Senior Honors Thesis or Project

14

Honor Societies

There are 14 honor societies on post with 119 cadets participating.

1/3

Dean’s List

1:10 Professor to

Student Ratio

The proven and successful class model of a 1:10 professor to student ratio ensures a personal education taught by experts in their field.

Approximately 1/3 of the Corps of Cadets make the Dean’s List each semester by attaining a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Private support for academics: $5.8 million Cadet financial assistance: $11 million

“The pride that all of us have in this school is because it is so difficult. We share this experience with no one else in the country.” - T. Scott Hayes ’19

Col. Gerald “Jay” Sullivan and Cadet Scott Hayes ’19 discuss Hayes’ CubeSat project.

2019-Issue 1

15

“I was sold on the ‘No Ordinary Life,’ and this place offered every opportunity I could ask for.” - John K. O’Donnell ’19

Athletics

A Gratifying Spectacle Many cadets take the difficult balance of everyday Corps and academic life to the next level by participating in NCAA athletics.

430 NCAA cadet-athletes

270 Cadet-athletes with Keydet Club scholarship support

14,910 Study hall hours

66.5% 135/203 Number of NCAA-allowed equivalencies* funded in 2018

ROTC NCAA Cadet Standout Lacrosse team captain John O’Donnell ’19 (pictured above) is commissioning into the U.S. Army upon graduation.

Economics and Business major Institute Scholar Captain, VMI NCAA lacrosse team Winner, Three-Legged Stool Regimental S-1 Captain Vice chairman, Cadet Investment Group Officer, Cadet Superintendent’s Advisory Board

492 Days coaches spent away from VMI recruiting

* Awards which can be split into partial scholarships in any proportion up to the number allowed by the NCAA.

Photos courtesy VMI Athletics.

16

VMI Alumni Review

Anticipated Fiscal Year 2020 budget is $13.7 million: $8.2 million operational and $5.5 million scholarship support.

18 NCAA teams: 18 • 11 men’s • 7 women’s

41% 41% of NCAA cadet-athletes made the Dean’s List in the 2017-18 academic year

281 Games/contests: 281 • 96 home • 185 away

363 Cadet-athletes pursuing commissions

5,870 Individual tutoring hours

$5.14 million Keydet Club scholarship dollars in 2018. An increase of nearly 50% since 2013

“Life at VMI is challenging and at times can feel like a balancing act with sports, schoolwork and military time ... Being a part of a team helped me to get through the tough times.”

- Amber Y. Risheg ’21

Recent Conference Accolades • 132 cadets made the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. To meet the standards, cadets are required to hold a 3.0 GPA, be a varsity sport member, have eligibility for the entire academic year and be a member of final squad lists.

• 16 cadet-athletes were named SoCon Player of the Week during the 2017-18 season.

• 3 baseball players were drafted to Major League Baseball teams in 2018.

2019-Issue 1

17

The Military Component Fair Specimens of Citizen-Soldiers

The continuous success shown through ROTC and commissioning is a testament to the well-rounded instruction and leadership opportunities available at VMI. After graduation, non-commissioning cadets enter civilian life with a confidence and ability to be part of a team that sets them apart from their peers for years to come.

100%

55

One hundred percent of VMI cadets complete four years of ROTC training.

Fifty-five military, federal and state civilian employees and federal contractors work in Kilbourne Hall to directly support the ROTC mission.

5

98%

84%

Five FTXs are conducted annually.

Two FTXs are conducted by the ROTC departments and the New Cadet Military Training program conducts three for new cadets. During ROTC FTXs, select non-commissioning cadets perform service-oriented projects.

For Fiscal Year 2018, 98% of Army cadets received one of their top three branch choices and 77% received their first choice.

During the 2018 fiscal year, 84% of Naval cadets received their first choice of Aviation, Submarines, Surface Warfare or SEAL.

57% During Fiscal Year 2018, 57% of VMI graduates commissioned into the armed forces.

ROTC Training and Awards • Seven Air Force cadets were distinguished summer training graduates.

• Cadet Alec Hoopes ’19 was the No. 1 all-around Army ROTC cadet in the nation. Luke Phillips ’17 also earned the No. 1 spot two years ago.

• Cadet Alex Dragan ’20 graduated at the top of his summer 2018 Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course. Richard Dow ’17 earned the same top honors in summer 2016. Both were awarded the Marine Corps Commandant’s Trophy.

• VMI ROTC Ranger Challenge teams placed second and third among 18 teams fielded by senior military schools at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Oct. 25-27, 2018.

Additional ROTC summer training includes: • Air Force - USAFA freefall training • Army - Air Assault, Airborne, SERE and Cultural Understanding Leadership Program (six cadets visited six countries) • Navy - Navy cruises and Marine summer training

18

VMI Alumni Review

Military Activities • • • •

Cadet fitness training Rat Challenge Program: Two times per week, August through November Corps Marksmanship Program for 3rd Class cadets (M4s) and 1st Class cadets (M9s) New Cadet Military Training- 3 FTXs to train: ◆◆ Marksmanship ◆◆ Survival ◆◆ First Aid ◆◆ Land Navigation • Corps Physical Training Program • Cadet Lifeguard Program

Post Infrastructure to Support Military Activities • • • • •

Varied landscape and water training opportunities at McKethan Park: 210 acres Drill fields: 3 Chessie Trail: 7 Miles Obstacle course on North Post: 50 obstacles Corps Physical Training Facility: Climbing wall and high ropes course

VMI Points of Pride

2019-Issue 1

The State Council on Higher Education ranks VMI the 3rd most selective of 15 public institutions in Virginia.

Money Magazine placed VMI at No. 14 on its 2018 list of best small colleges in the nation.

The 2018 Forbes Magazine rankings place VMI at No. 55 of the nation’s public colleges and No. 11 of the top 25 public colleges with the highestearning graduates.

19

Private Support to VMI You are the VMI Difference A quarter of what happens at VMI is made possible through private support. VMI’s multi-faceted private support includes the VMI Foundation, the VMI Alumni Agencies Board, the VMI Keydet Club and the VMI BOV Endowment. All of these entities provide a wide range of assistance to VMI’s operations and to cadets through scholarships: Merit, need, specified and athletic. Each gift supports a cadet on post and reinforces VMI’s mission to educate citizen-soldiers.

Total private annual support to VMI: $23.1 million.

25% of VMI’s $91.6 million budget.

$3.9 million $3.9 million of unrestricted annual and endowment support allows the Institute to determine the areas of its extraordinary education program most in need and provide for VMI’s long-term advancement.

$19.2 million $19.2 million restricted funds • Academic Instruction - $4.7 million • Academic Support - $1.1 million • Direct Support to Cadets - $850,000 • Institutional Support - $1.1 million • Public Service - $485,000 • Cadet Financial Assistance - $11 million ◆◆ Athletic - $5.4 million ◆◆ Merit - $1.1 million ◆◆ Need-based/Specified - $4.5 million

768 cadets

100%

768 individual cadets receive scholarships from the VMI Alumni Agencies (45% of the Corps).

100% of financial need is met for Virginia residents through grants and subsidized loans and 60% of out-of-state cadet need is met with federal and institutional need-based aid.

Fostering Connections, Supporting Brotherhood and Caring for the VMI Family

Over 220 alumni engagements are conducted worldwide each year through the VMI Alumni Association. These events serve to reunite and strengthen bonds between both classes and generations.

Our deepest gratitude is extended to each and every alumnus, faculty, staff, family member and friend who devotes their constant and loyal support to the vital institution that is Virginia Military Institute. *VMI by the Numbers was compiled using data from 2017-19.

20

VMI Alumni Review

Fall

Reunion Nov. 2-3, 2018

Classes of 1973, 1983 & the Honored Class of 1993

2019-Issue 1

21

22

VMI Alumni Review

2019-Issue 1

23

Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

On Post

24

VMI Alumni Review

On Post

VMI and CubeSats

By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

What measures 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters, can be built in a VMI laboratory and will provide cadets hands-on experience in the space industry?

The answer is: CubeSats. And soon, cadets will have the means to research, develop and build them on post and watch them get into orbit, thanks to an $82,800 grant from the JacksonHope Fund that will fund the new Spacecraft Design Laboratory, led by Col. Joseph Blandino of the mechanical engineering department.

CubeSats began as a way to introduce university students to the design and building of satellites and offering them the reward of seeing them fly in space. Now, although they still fly almost exclusively in the lower thermosphere, CubeSats have come into their own as research and commercial platforms.

According to Blandino, the increasing interest in CubeSats marks a sea change in the approach toward satellite development. “In the past, the space community focused on large, multipurpose satellites that take years and cost billions of dollars to develop and build.” He gave the example of NASA’s Webb Space Telescope, which has been under development for 20 years and so far has cost NASA about $10 billion. “These are impressive machines, but if they fail in orbit, you have wasted enormous amounts of time, money and effort.”

National security policymakers, Blandino pointed out, now realize that depending on a relatively small number of multipurpose satellites makes the U.S. military’s space capabilities increasingly vulnerable. If an enemy compromises 30 to 40 satellites, the Department of Defense would lose communications as well as what he terms “its eyes and ears.” CubeSats provide a means by which the military’s space assets can be distributed over a wider network of satellites, making them “more redundant, more robust.”

Further accelerating the drive toward CubeSats is the rise of “commercial space,” including companies such as SpaceX and Blue Horizon that offer launch services, often using smaller rockets to boost smaller payloads into orbit. A block of a dozen CubeSats, which would weigh about 40 pounds, can be launched – often, according to NASA, as auxiliary payloads on previously planned missions – for as little as

2019-Issue 1

$30,000. Contrast that to the $8,500 to $10,000 per pound it costs to launch a payload on a large rocket, such as a Delta V. These are motivators for the expansion of the use of CubeSats – and the establishment of the Spacecraft Design Laboratory at VMI. But, according to Blandino, the central reason to establish of the laboratory was not the “gee-whiz” nature of the technology, but a desire to add value to the education that cadets receive.

“I can’t say there was a ‘struck-by-lightning’ moment when it hit me that VMI should establish this lab,” said Blandino. “It grew out of talking to hundreds of cadets, prospective cadets and their parents. From those conversations, I realized that, although VMI stands out from so many other schools in so many ways, we had to find a way to ensure that our cadets, our alumni, stand as people who are thoroughly prepared to be leaders in the field of engineering.”

He continued, “Sure, we can say with all honesty that we have excellent faculty. But other schools have great teachers, too. We can say that we have a demanding curriculum, but the fact remains that we teach courses like thermodynamics and materials much like every other school.”

In the Spacecraft Design Laboratory, Blandino says, “cadets will gain invaluable practical experience in this rapidly expanding field by developing platforms to test what some see as ‘high-risk’ technologies.” When asked what he meant by “high-risk,” Blandino explained that neither government nor industry will use anything in a high-value project that does not have “flight heritage.” “There are some exciting new technologies out there, but unless they can be tested in space, their development will be significantly slowed.

CubeSats offer a low-cost way to develop and test high-risk technologies.”

In the short term, he sees cadets developing a ThinSat (a satellite that is around 10 x 10 x 2 centimeters) next year and, in two years, a CubeSat that will test either a deployable boom that is an essential component of solar-sail technology or a deployable solar array technology.

His vision for the long term is ambitious indeed.

“Over their time at VMI, cadets will be on a team that will first develop and fly scientific balloon payloads. The next year, it will design and build a ThinSat and get that into space. In the third year,

the goal will be to get a CubeSat launched. Put another way, over the space of three years, they will be designing, building and flying spacecraft of increasing complexity. These are ‘hands-on’ projects that both faculty and cadets love.”

“This is an objective way for VMI to demonstrate how good its cadets are. It will put them in front of the people who make hiring decisions and offer internships at established corporations like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman as well as the small companies that are claiming a growing share of an industry that does $320 billion in annual business,” explained Blandino. “The military is placing even greater emphasis on space because it is the new ‘high ground,’ and it will be contested by more and more countries. For those cadets who want to serve in a space-related role in the military and national security agencies, the knowledge and experience they’ll get will enhance their ability to serve the country.”

Blandino also offered some thoughts on the Jackson-Hope Fund grant that will make the laboratory’s development possible. “I am very grateful that the board of overseers decided to support this project by awarding it one of the fund’s Grants for New Directions in Teaching and Research. Quite frankly, there is no way we could create a Spacecraft Design Laboratory without that support. Using this money, we’ll be developing a program that will release cadets’ untapped potential by giving them opportunities to do meaningful research and practical work that will culminate in building and flying spacecraft.

That will demonstrate their intelligence and effectiveness and so open doors for them in terms of internships while they’re cadets and of graduate education and jobs when they graduate.”

“The world is in a new Space Age – India plans to have manned flights by 2022 – and the United States is in a new Space Race,” Blandino said.

“If we hope to compete in all aspects of space, economic as well as military and scientific, we need to develop the technologists, scientists and engineers who can lead the space industry. With this new laboratory, VMI can play a significant role in meeting that national need.”

Photo: This spacecraft, shown here with a NASA employee, deployed from a Mars-bound NASA probe in May 2018. Photo by NASA.

25

On Post

Founders Day 2018

26

VMI Alumni Review

Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

On Post

2019-Issue 1

27

On Post

Mattis Addresses Corps of Cadets

By Ashlie Walter, VMI Communications & Marketing

Secretary of Defense James Mattis addressed the Corps. Photo by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

Exuberantly received by the VMI Corps of Cadets, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis detailed the challenges cadets will soon face in a military – and a society – that needs leadership, allies and modernization.

He is the third secretary of defense to speak at the Institute this century and spoke to cadets, faculty and staff in Cameron Hall Sept. 25.

Mattis, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1969 and has played a leadership role in multiple wars, defined the primary powers of American influence in the world – those of intimidation and inspiration.

To illustrate that power of inspiration, Mattis shared a story about one of the men who had failed to kill him over the years – an enemy engineer who was captured attempting to lay an improvised explosive device on the road Mattis was taking to a remote base overseas. Following the engineer’s capture, Mattis spoke with him.

“I want you all, especially you young people, to listen to me here. He said, ‘General, do you think if I’m a model prisoner, could I one day immigrate to America?’ Think about that.

“The hatred he felt was so much that he would go out and put a bomb in the road to kill us, but the example of America was so strong that if he could be sitting where you are today or have his son or daughter in that audience, he’d have given his eyeteeth,” said Mattis. “It wasn’t just because we caught him. This was deeper.”

Mattis reminded cadets that each of them are part of that legacy of inspiration and they must fight to defend it.

“You give up that moral and ethical high ground, that historic legacy that we carry with us, at our nation’s peril,” said Mattis. “So you hold that close. You take care of each other.”

He described the U.S. military as the first line of effort to keep the American experiment alive. Its purpose, he said, is to intimidate adversaries. It does that by being ready and willing to engage in the difficult,

28

often vicious, aspects of war when called upon.

A second line of effort Mattis highlighted is maintaining and strengthening alliances.

“Anyone who reads history knows that nations with allies thrive, but nations without allies basically wither away,” he said. Mattis praised George Marshall, Class of 1901, for creating a plan to unite broken countries on both sides of the conflict following World War II. “He extended a hand to our allies flattened in the war ... but he also went to adversaries. Think of how vicious [the fighting] was,” he said. “Then he turns around and helps set up a plan to draw these nations back together into this community of nations.”

After rebuilding Europe, Marshall was also instrumental in establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, something an Australian ambassador told Mattis was the “most sacrificial act in world history.”

However, he also noted that the U.S. is no longer in the post-World War II era when a devastated Europe was rebuilding. Mattis emphasized that those same countries now have substantial resources and should not rely on the U.S. to “carry the full burden.”

Mattis went on to say the U.S., as a nation, is still working on building something better. “We’re still building a nation; it’s hard work but noble work. Don’t ever think we are done. We are not perfect, but we will always strive to be better,” said Mattis. “We are stronger when we are together.”

In terms of building a better nation, VMI serves as the model for the skills U.S. society needs, including leadership and maintaining a “fighting stance,” Mattis said.

In addition to elaborating on policy and strategy details, Mattis drew a personal connection with members of the Corps, referring to them throughout the address as, “my fine young cadets,” and offering advice on how to engage with their subordinates after commissioning.

During a question and answer session, cadets asked questions on topics including the role of women in combat, vulnerabilities in cybersecurity, the U.S. military as a global police force and the need for a more physically fit society. Mattis encouraged cadets to take individual initiative to contribute to a stronger nation.

“We need some of you to be the Spartans at the gate, because we’re not going to hang onto these freedoms because our grandfathers fought,” said Mattis of the current state of physical fitness in the nation. “Every generation is going to have to fight to keep this experiment alive,” he continued.

Mattis also spoke about the evolving nature of strategic challenges.

“How we protect the country was brought into stark relief on 9/11 ... everyone in a uniform knew we had let down America on 9/11,” he said, emphasizing that U.S. defenses must remain adaptable to current threats.

Regarding cyber threats, Mattis proposed that a plan down the road might be offering government-backed cybersecurity solutions to private businesses.

Before leaving the stage to a standing ovation, Mattis gave the Corps a few final words to remember. “Every one of you could have picked an easier school to go to. Here are three words I leave with you to keep you from laying on a shrink’s couch at 45 wondering, ‘Where did my life go?’” said Mattis. “Put others first.”

VMI Alumni Review

On Post

GRIT: Growth, Resilience, Integrity and Tenacity

By Ashlie Walter, VMI Communications & Marketing GRIT, as defined by VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics, is exemplified by the virtues of growth, resilience, integrity and tenacity. These attributes are embodied by the many speakers featured during the CLE’s annual Leadership Conference in Marshall Hall Oct. 29-30, 2018.

The conference drew students and faculty from institutions across the state and the nation, including Texas A&M University, Hampton University and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Bill Bennett, the conference’s keynote speaker, opened the conference by reflecting on his time in the federal government under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He compared their character with that of our current president.

“The times call for different types of characters and different types of grit. Sometimes in America you need Mother Theresa, sometimes you need Dirty Harry,” Bennett said.

Bennett served as the third U.S. Secretary of Education from 1985-88 under Reagan. In the following administration, Bennett accepted the position of director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, also known as the nation’s first “drug czar,” under former President George H. W. Bush, whom Bennett described as the “kindest, most considerate boss.”

The resilience and growth aspects of GRIT were showcased in a panel with community leaders in Newtown, Connecticut, who witnessed the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting Dec. 14, 2012.

The mass shooting killed 20 children and six adults and brought a town of approximately 28,000 people together.

Pat Llodra was the first selectman, similar to a town mayor, of Newtown at the time of the shooting. She said she wanted to convey to the audience how a community can have grit. “How a community of 27,000, I think it’s 28,000 now, was able to, individually and collectively represent in their daily choices that ‘yes, we won’t be defined by this horrible tragedy. We won’t forget it, but tragedy won’t define us,’” she said.

Nancy Crevier, a features reporter at the time of the shooting and now an editor at the Newtown weekly newspaper, The Newtown Bee, said the tragedy showed the ability of every individual to help.

“One of the things is the ability of ordinary

2019-Issue 1

people to do extraordinary things when you don’t expect a challenge, which is what we did as a community newspaper,” Crevier said.

All panelists noted a large religious population in the town which was served in part by Monsignor Robert Weiss, a pastor at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church. Weiss said he remembered putting tags on Christmas presents in the church’s attic when he got the call about the shooting. “I was brought into an intimate part of this tragedy, meeting with families and planning funerals,” he said.

Almost immediately after, a threat was made against the St. Rose church and Weiss recalled the church being under constant SWAT team surveillance while holding funerals for the children.

Llodra noted there are two events after a tragedy happens: The response and the recovery. Neighboring towns stepped up to offer support, even another school for the children to attend because they could not go back to Sandy Hook. Donations flooded in from across the world, including 650,000 stuffed animals for the survivors.

Counseling was another part of the recovery process and Weiss encouraged not only the survivors to pursue help but also the volunteers and workers during that experience. “Don’t be too proud to get help; you are of no help if you don’t get help yourself,” he said.

Helping yourself before others was another theme in one of the six breakout sessions that followed the panel.

One of the panelists, Ryan Glynn ’96, played for VMI’s baseball team while a cadet at VMI and then went on to play for minor and Major League Baseball as well as on the international field. Glynn said he struggled during his first few years at VMI with academics. “[Baseball] was my medicine at VMI; it kept me sane,” he said.

He met internal challenges head-on while traveling back and forth from Calgary, Canada, to Indianapolis to play for two baseball teams. His constant lesson was to take care of himself first.

“You need to build yourself up before anything else,” he said.

Meanwhile, Elise Reed ’15 spoke on the challenges of being a Mixed Martial Arts fighter at her petite size and the grit that kept her going.

“The grit is where there is no instant gratification,” she said. “The tougher challenges are mental.”

At 25 years old, Reed is a combat veteran, owns an MMA school and has plans for getting into professional MMA fighting.

Other VMI alumni speakers included Will Lyles ’02, a college baseball player, U.S. Army veteran and double amputee, as well as retired Lt. Gen. Carl Strock ’70, former commanding

Cadets John O’Donnell ’19, left, and Emory Lieber ’19 facilitate discussion among Leadership Conference participants during the GRIT Café session in Marshall Hall. VMI photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

29

On Post general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a VMI Board of Visitors member.

Several conference speakers chose to tell their stories of grit by sharing profiles of the people surrounding them who made their journeys or successes possible. Participants heard from Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha, who was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He was presented the Medal of Honor in 2013 for actions Oct. 3, 2009, during a firefight at Combat Outpost Keating in northeastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province.

Romesha spoke of the members of Red Platoon with candor and honesty, portraying them as the imperfect human beings they were, rather than some comic book heroes. Said Romesha, “More than anything else, it was love for each other and not any desire to kill the enemy that allowed our band of 50 men to hold our positions against a force of 300.”

The next morning, several cadets and a few faculty involved in the CLE’s Leadership Book program attended a breakfast with Romesha where they, having read his memoir, “Red Platoon,” could ask more personalized questions about his experiences. “Facilitating these kinds of meaningful experiences, especially with high profile individuals like Clint Romesha, are what we strive to coordinate for our cadets,” said Col. Pat Looney, CLE deputy director.

Likewise, James Hatch – closing speaker,

former Navy Seal, author of “Touching the Dragon” and founder of Spike’s K-9 Fund – credited the courage of law enforcement officials who responded to his wife’s 911 call for help when she found him with a gun at his mouth in their backyard one evening. “At that point, I felt like I had become a liability, and I just didn’t know what else to do,” he explained. Arriving on the scene, officers skillfully distracted Hatch and got him talking about baseball to diffuse the situation. During rehab, he realized that his work with military dogs might be of use to their unit, and they graciously allowed him to share his skills and knowledge with them. These acts of kindness gave Hatch a means for giving back which eventually grew into a new purpose in life.

As a result, he founded Spike’s K-9 Fund, which

Cadets Abigail Schlemmer ’19 and Isaac Wampler ’19 participate in a table discussion during the first day of the 2018 leadership conference. VMI photo by Kelly Nye.

now operates in 43 states. Expressing gratitude for the collective intervention of family, friends, skilled law enforcement officials and mental health professionals, he told the audience, “Never underestimate your ability to affect the trajectory of someone’s life, especially when they are at their most vulnerable.” He added, “Great leaders are compassionate.” Hatch’s talk was followed by a book signing where many took the opportunity to pose for pictures with him and his service dog, Mina.

In addition to the plenary speakers and breakout sessions, cadets and other guests participated in several interactive exercises to provide different learning experiences. These included a physical “GRIT check” held at VMI’s Corps Physical Training Facility, a post-wide GRIT search – which allowed guests to learn more about VMI and its leaders – and a series of self-assessment exercises led by cadet facilitators. “We wanted to up the ante on the kinds of engagement experiences our audience would have for this year’s conference,” explained Maj. Kim Connolly, CLE assistant director for conference planning and programs. She continued, “This conference had a lot of moving parts from the logistics of getting everyone down to the CPTF and across post for the GRIT Search, to the research and cadet facilitator training that went into conducting the GRIT Café. We feel it was well worth it for the kinds of experiences and engagement opportunities it afforded our guests this year.”

Spring 2019 CLE Events Feb. 22-23, 2019 Commonwealth Cyber Fusion and Virginia Cyber Cup Competition This invitation-only event is for Virginia community colleges and universities that are National Centers of Academic Excellence in cyber security. Students participate in cyber challenges, learn from industry professionals, network and attend a cyber job fair. Administrators from these programs mentor their students, network with industry and attend faculty roundtable sessions. This event is co-hosted by Sen. Mark R. Warner and Gov. Ralph Northam ’81.

March 26-28, 2019 30th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium Created by the late Capt. Ron Erchul, this is the commonwealth’s premier environmental conference and provides all sectors of this industry a place to meet and engage in a mutual exchange of ideas and information. The event also features a session on career opportunities where cadets and other college students may hear what kinds of skills and credentials they need to acquire in order to be an environmental professional.

April 11-13, 2019 Business Leadership and Innovation Summit BLIS is a two-day conference which provides a platform for VMI alumni entrepreneurs and business leaders to come together to network, build alliances and share experiences. This event will provide an opportunity for alumni to educate, mentor and inspire the next generation of VMI entrepreneurs.

Spring 2019 Leader-in-Residence Exact dates are still being determined for this spring’s Leader-inResidence program. Please check the CLE website at https://www. vmi.edu/about/center-for-leadership-and-ethics/upcoming-events for updates. Visit http://www.vmi.edu/cle to learn more about CLE programs or to link to the CLE conferences website and social media.

30

VMI Alumni Review

On Post

Inaugural Wortham Speaker Shares Grit Insight

By Mary Price, VMI Communications & Marketing

Milana Hogan addressed Leadership Conference participants in Marshall Hall’s Gillis Theater Oct. 30. Hogan was the first speaker in VMI’s newly established Caroline Dawn Wortham ’12 lecture series. VMI photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

Don’t accept self-limiting beliefs. Practice the things you’re not good at. Then go back and practice them some more. Learn from failure and negative feedback. Most of all, be realistically optimistic – and seek to uplift others, not just yourself.

Those were the key concepts that Milana Hogan, chief legal talent officer at Sullivan & Cromwell LLC, shared with attendees at the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics’ 2018 Leadership Conference, “Grit and the American Character.” Hogan was the first speaker in VMI’s newly established Caroline Dawn Wortham ’12 lecture series. The series honors the life and legacy of Wortham, a humanitarian activist who died in 2015 at the age of 26 after being hit by a car while riding her bicycle in Hanover County, Virginia.

“She had a total sense of mission in life,” recalled her father, Dr. Edwin Wortham V, who came to post to attend the inaugural lecture.

“Nothing stopped that girl.”

Following graduation from Richmond’s allfemale St. Catherine’s School in 2008, Wortham sought a new challenge and matriculated at VMI, plunging into all that the Institute had to offer. Not only was she one of the founding members of Keydets Without Borders, traveling to Bolivia with that organization, she also served

2019-Issue 1

as the regimental S-2 captain (academics) and was captain of the women’s track and field team.

She was a recipient of the Society of the Cincinnati Medal, given by the faculty to a member of the graduating class distinguished for efficiency of service and excellence of character.

After graduating from VMI, Wortham lived and worked in Haiti, where she strove to improve prenatal care for pregnant women. The Carrie Wortham Birth Center in Cabestor, Haiti, opened shortly after her death.

Dr. Edwin Wortham said that he hopes the lecture series will help current cadets to draw inspiration from his daughter’s legacy of service.

“If [Carrie] were here, she would say, ‘Dad, it’s not about me. It’s about what we can do to serve the world and make a difference,’” he stated.

Serving the world, though, is an enormous undertaking, and one requiring that strength of character known as GRIT – which is often thought of as an acronym standing for growth, resolve, integrity and tenacity. In her remarks, Hogan spoke about some of the research findings contained in her recently published book, “Grit: The Secret to Advancement.”

Hogan, who holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, defined grit as behavioral

perseverance in the face of adversity and the sustained, passionate pursuit of goals.

Seeking to explore the connection between grit and success, Hogan used the example of Roger Federer, the famous Swiss tennis player who has won 20 Grand Slam titles. Talent alone didn’t get Federer to the top of his game, Hogan noted – he also had a very supportive family and put in the hours and hours of practice necessary to get to the top of his sport. He also failed, over and over again, yet kept going.

“Whatever natural talent you have is only part of the story,” said Hogan. “People of average intelligence and skill can and do become worldclass experts and performers.”

Mind, she argued, is just as important as body, if not more so. Hogan stated that a growth mindset free of “ceilings” or self-limiting beliefs such as “I’m just not good at ...” is crucial to success, as research has now disproven the idea that intelligence is fixed.

“Having a growth mindset puts you in a position to engage in gritty behavior,” she commented. “The brain is a muscle. The more you work it, the smarter you become.”

Yet there’s good grit and bad grit. Hogan defined good, authentic grit as “the passionate pursuit of hard goals that awes and inspires others to become better people, flourish emotionally, take positive risks and live their best lives. ... Authentically gritty people are the people who inspire us.”

When thinking of good grit, “Carrie [Wortham] came to mind over and over again,” said Hogan.

“Reading about her and what she accomplished after VMI really resonated with me.”

Bad grit, by contrast, involves taking shortcuts, having “summit fever” and refusing to bow to common sense in the pursuit of goals, and focusing narcissistically on the self.

Building good grit, said Hogan, can be accomplished by getting comfortable with uncertainty, learning how to handle failure and rewarding oneself and others for effort, not outcomes.

“Most of the time when you’re getting really good at something, there’s also failure along the way,” Hogan commented. “Grit is about playing the long-term game.”

The Leadership Conference concluded Oct. 30 with small-group GRIT Café exercises and a speech by James Hatch, Afghanistan war veteran and author.

31

On Post

Oath Day The rat mass learned about VMI’s heritage at the Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market before taking the New Cadet Oath Sept. 2, 2018. After the ceremony, the new cadets charged the battlefield as cadets did in 1864. Following the charge, company commanders handed out shoulder boards to the rats. The visit ended with a parade through downtown New Market. VMI photos by Kelly Nye.

32

VMI Alumni Review

On Post

The Vietnam War at 50: Critical Reappraisals

By Molly Rolon, Assistant Editor

Ron Milam, Ph.D., left, and Phil Goia ’67 at a panel during the Center for Leadership and Ethics’ “Vietnam War at 50” symposium Sept. 24, 2018. Both men are Vietnam veterans and served as tactical small unit leaders and advisors. Photo by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics skillfully orchestrated a one-day symposium about the Vietnam War titled “The Vietnam War at 50: Critical Reappraisals” Sept. 24, 2018.

The symposium was inspired by the Ken Burns/Lynn Novik Public Broadcasting Service documentary on the Vietnam War, a war which shaped a generation and still resonates with many Americans today.

“Controversies over the proper strategy and tactics to pursue, the quality of leadership and discipline in fighting units, the media’s impact on popular support for the war and the mistreatment of American prisoners of war raged then and continue even now,” explained Col. David R. Gray, Ph.D., center director. He continued, “The Vietnam War remains the most controversial and consequential conflict in the post-World War II era. The war’s outcomes profoundly impacted not just American domestic politics, but also the existing international order ... which fractured American consensus on political, social and military affairs, leading President Richard Nixon to vow for ‘no more Vietnams’ in the future.”

The event drew many VMI alumni, including 11 brother rats from the Class of 1967. One of their own, Phil Gioia ’67, was a speaker during the afternoon panel discussions.

The symposium began with opening keynote

2019-Issue 1

speaker and Vietnam veteran former U.S. Sen. Jim Webb. He referred to a map of Southeast Asia, calling it “the most dynamic region in the world at the end of World War II.” Webb noted that the region’s economic success today likely stems from America’s efforts fifty years ago. After Webb, participants gave their attention to four panel discussions: U.S. strategy, Vietnamese strategy for both the north and south, experiences leading tactical troops and the role of journalists and media in the Vietnam War. The well-rounded panels began in the morning with professors, who were able to present overviews based on years of research.

The afternoon panels were presented by journalists and veterans who discussed Vietnam using their first-person experiences in the war.

After lunch, Gioia, along with Ron Milam, Ph.D., shared their combat experiences commanding and advising troops at the small unit tactical level, discussed their preparation for war and offered advice to cadets.

The day’s final panel was a spirited discussion about media coverage in Vietnam. In the realm of media and journalism, the war was notable in two main regards: Technology and freedom of the press. On the technology side, television brought the war into the majority of U.S. homes, Gray said. Presenters and seasoned correspondents Joe Galloway and Jim Sterba

described the freedom given to reporters in Southeast Asia, differing from previous wars.

The symposium was capped off by the moving testimony of Dr. Hal Kushner, dinner keynote speaker. Kushner captivated his audience with his detailed description of the five-plus years he was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was captured after a helicopter crash. Soon after, he was offered a post working in a Vietnamese hospital. The catch was he would be required to denounce the U.S. and its efforts in Vietnam. Kushner refused, telling his captors he preferred death over betraying his country. His captor responded that, in light of the coming maltreatment Kushner would experience, death would be the easier choice.

Captured Dec. 2, 1967, Kushner and his fellow prisoners were released March 16, 1973.

“With 50 years’ perspective, this symposium reflected on several ... issues,” Gray said. “Our speakers and panelists did a great job covering these topics, helping us achieve our desired outcomes for our cadets and guests.”

Full video of all conference speakers and panels are available for viewing at the center’s YouTube channel.

(Editor’s Note: The full version of this article is in the October 2018 edition of Turnouts at www.vmialumni.org.)

33

Athletics Hadra ’04: “I’m Working for Them”

By Molly Rolon, Assistant Editor

Jonathan Hadra ’04, third from right, coaches the Keydets to a win over Washington and Lee during a fall baseball game. Hadra is the third-most winning skipper in VMI baseball history in both wins and percentages. Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

Jonathan Hadra ’04 – the third-winningest baseball coach in VMI history – is coming into his fifth season as the Keydet skipper. He has a lot of reasons to love his job: The support of a “tremendous” coaching staff, his personal history at VMI and his family’s affinity for Virginia’s great valley – but cadet-athletes are the driving force behind why he has been coaching at VMI for nearly a decade.

“I’ve been at two other institutions and loved every minute of it,” Hadra said. “But there’s just something different about these cadetathletes and what they’re going through.”

Hadra was a four-year letterman and the team captain his 1st Class year, experience he uses to mentor his team through their years on the Keydet diamond. One of the things Hadra and his staff teach their cadet-athletes is to focus on things they can affect. “That’s something VMI taught me as a young person,” he recalled. “You learn pretty quickly you can’t worry about stuff you have no control over. There are so many things; it’s impossible to do it all. You can’t worry about it. You just worry about what you can control.”

New cadets are also learning to mentally switch gears, Hadra said.

They spend their days and nights on the upper part of campus, in the thick of VMI’s military activities. When they come down to GrayMinor Stadium, they need to be ready to play baseball.

Conversely, when the players return to the top of the hill, Hadra needs

34

them to “turn off the baseball side and turn on [military] side. It goes both ways. There’s a learning curve. You’re going through the Rat Line, and you’ve got all this stuff up on the hill. Then you come down and you have to practice. Sometimes it’s hard to leave that behind.”

Although coaching at VMI involves challenges unique to the Institute, there are distinct positives that are unlikely to happen in other college baseball programs. Topping the list is the closeness built through the Rat Line, which “naturally creates a very tight-knit group,” said Hadra.

Adding to the team’s camaraderie is the “high character” of the young men he coaches. “Their make-up is outstanding. You’ve got guys who are ready to have a good time and work hard. As a coach, what more can you ask for?”

Hadra also calls on his own cadet background when he’s on the road, recruiting.

He is, along with Sam Roberts ’11, fellow VMI alumnus and assistant coach, able to give parents and prospective players a first-hand idea of what four years at VMI will entail. “We can speak the same language,” he said.

Recruiting is “all about transparency. I do not hide anything from anybody. I tell them how hard it’s going to be. We will show them the Rat Line. They will stay in barracks. They’re going to eat a meal in Crozet Hall,” Hadra said. “Quite frankly, there are some times when

VMI Alumni Review

Athletics we lose kids early in the process because of that transparency.” The cadets who do choose to come to VMI, however, have a “firm foundation” and a clear understanding of what to expect at VMI – making them more likely to succeed at the Institute.

Hadra holds not just his players, but himself, to a high standard. His job, Hadra said, is helping his players make their way toward their objectives, starting with earning a degree and – for some – making it all the way to the major leagues.

“As a coach, I ... want to invest in my players. The best coaches and leaders are people who invest in their players. Their players understand that [the coach] is working for them, to help them get to an end goal.

I don’t really see [the players] as working for me. I treat it as ‘I’m working for them.’”

In that investment, Hadra has the company and support of his three “outstanding” assistant coaches: Roberts, Geoff Murphy and Grey Finwood. “I lean a lot on my staff,” Hadra said. “I’m only going to be as successful as the staff that I have. I ask a lot of them, and I trust them. They do a tremendous job while spending countless hours working for our players and program.”

Murphy – the recruiting coordinator – is the newest member of the staff, coming on board in summer 2018. He coaches hitters and catchers, drawing on his own experience as a catcher for Boston College.

“Murphy has a great work ethic and is an excellent communicator,” said Hadra. “He’s an up-and-comer in this profession.”

Hiring Finwood, whose father is Chris Finwood ’88, Old Dominion University head baseball coach, was a great opportunity to get a “really good young coach,” Hadra said. The sports information office at ODU – where Finwood was an infielder – took note, as well, dubbing the 2018 Keydet/Monarch match-up “the first-ever Finwood Bowl.”

Finwood works with Keydet outfielders and, as a Virginia native and

son of an alumnus, has some familiarity with the Institute.

Roberts is number one in career hits at VMI, and is listed over a dozen times in the VMI baseball record book. An all-conference short stop for the Keydets, he also pitched when needed. Roberts was drafted by the Oakland A’s and began as an infielder, transitioning to solely pitching toward the end of his career. “He brings a unique skill set because he’s played on both sides of the baseball,” Hadra noted.

Once a player is has been recruited, Hadra pulls out his spreadsheet – “I’ve gotten really good at excel,” he laughs – and starts mapping out how to make VMI as affordable as possible for the new recruit and his family. He works and plans three years ahead, Hadra said, to best utilize the scholarship dollars under his control – those dollars raised through the Keydet Club.

VMI’s NCAA sports are not fully funded, plus baseball’s allotment of scholarship equivalencies is smaller than other sports, like basketball and football. This leads Hadra to reach out across the Institute to find other avenues for his players to pay for VMI – including non-athletic scholarships endowed by VMI alumni, academic scholarships for high achieving students, ROTC scholarships for future service members and financial aid for high-need families.

“We are working hard towards becoming a fully funded program.

Until we reach that point, I never use ‘not being a fully funded program’ as an excuse or a crutch for not recruiting the best players we can possibly get,” Hadra said.

The options to pay for a VMI education are myriad – as are the reasons that draw cadets to the Institute. VMI attracts cadets with its multitude of diverse opportunities, encompassing everything from Division I athletics to top academics to military discipline.

“That’s the beauty of VMI – there are so many reasons to come to VMI, and they’re all the right reasons,” Hadra said.

Hadra’s son, Colton, sometimes serves as a batboy for the Keydets. “I have so many incredible memories from my experiences doing this job but few are more special then when Colton is on the field with me,” said Hadra.

2019-Issue 1

35

Athletics

Providing Opportunity and Making Dreams Happen

By Meade King ’85, VMI Keydet Club Chief Operating Officer A new conversation.

In a perfect world, our NCAA coaches could go where the players are, throughout Virginia and beyond and, once there, have the scholarship dollars to win the recruiting battle for those who have what it takes to successfully navigate VMI and raise our level of competitive play. Athletics and leadership are intertwined and are an important part of the Corps of Cadets. Scholarships, the principal focus of the Keydet Club, make our distinctive education more affordable. Access and affordability can be obstacles for many who seek a college education in today’s landscape.

Since 1934, the Keydet Club has welcomed the responsibility to help provide scholarships to deserving cadets. While we routinely see, read and hear about what happens in the spaces between pre- and post-game gatherings, thinking of our cadet-athletes as only athletes does them a disservice; there is so much more that happens here. Their best effort in all aspects of cadet life is expected and their performance is commendable.

Case in point: At the Keydet Club’s Scholarship Banquet last October, Cadet John O’Donnell ’19 was awarded the organization’s Three-Legged

Stool, recognition of the cadet who best represents the fullness of the Institute’s educational philosophy by thriving academically, athletically and militarily. In impromptu remarks offered as he accepted the award, O’Donnell reflected that he has simply done what all cadets do – their best – at as many opportunities as can be done well.

He tipped his hat to his teammates, to VMI for its comprehensive offerings and to the benefactors who help fund these opportunities.

O’Donnell is a Rhodes Scholar candidate majoring in economics and business with minors in mathematics and cyber security and a concentration in financial management. His academic honors include Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Epsilon and Omicron Delta Kappa, and he is a four-year starter on the VMI lacrosse team, as well as team captain.

He led the Southern Conference in 2018 for points scored by a defensive midfielder and is contracted to commission into the U.S. Army.

O’Donnell is also the regimental S-1 captain of the Corps. He is part of the Institute Honors Program and a member of the Cadet Investment and Athletic Advisory Groups.

In a perfect world, more of us would come to a deeper appreciation of the life of a cadetathlete, recognizing that the attributes taught and reinforced on athletic teams extend beyond the fields of play and are the same as those that make effective military and business leaders: Effort, persistence, teamwork and integrity are embedded in NCAA programs. Col. Joey DuBose ’96 (track) is a top vascular trauma surgeon with the U.S. Air Force; Andre Thornton ’98 (football) was an engineer with Lockheed Martin and now leads his own consulting firm; Kelly Sweppenhiser ’06 (baseball) is head of Pension and Insurance General Account Solutions at Vanguard; and Capt. Heidi Beemer ’11 (soccer) is a company commander stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and previously served on the Mars One Project to colonize Mars; and naval science Cadet Anna Armfield ’21 is consistently a top performer on the cross-country team while thriving academically as a civil engineering major. Among scores of others, each of these current and former cadetathletes attributes much of his or her success to participating in NCAA sports.

This success notwithstanding, many of us are

Cadet Neal Richards ’19, left, was named SoCon Wrestler of the Week Dec. 12, 2018. Photo by Jamie Severns.

36

VMI Alumni Review

Athletics disappointed that our teams routinely lose far more often than win; a widely shared frustration.

And while our game-day results may leave us wanting, our rosters should be seen as points of pride. Our athletic program is conducted with the highest care and integrity, recruited players excel in all facets of cadet life, and they graduate into well-paying jobs and productive careers, including, for many, military service.

While VMI rolls up its sleeves and continues to work on logistics, scheduling, player development, practice time, recruiting and a host of other issues, we, too, must be resolute in the important role we play.

As the athletic foundation for VMI, the Keydet Club provides the most visible and one of the largest scholarship programs available to the Institute. Its mission is to inspire greater access to an incomparable VMI education while making it more affordable for cadets who dream of competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. And while the Keydet Club successfully provides more opportunities than ever before, the gap between a fully funded athletic scholarship program and what we are currently able to raise falls far short of meeting what the NCAA allows.

It may be that too many alumni are simply not aware of this significant gap nor how it affects our ability to compete.

For the teams VMI fields, the NCAA allows 203.8 equivalencies (awards which can be split into partial scholarships in any proportion up to the number allowed). VMI is currently able to fund approximately 135.5 – a difference that translates into fewer scholarship offers being

made to accomplished, would-be cadets. Many of our conference foes are further along and that hurts us competitively. Closing this gap, some 33 percent, is a critical requirement.

Of the 28 percent of alumni who made a charitable gift to VMI last fiscal year, 13 percent directed all or a portion of their gifts to athletic scholarships. Collectively, their donations totaled a handsome $3.3 million. These scholarship dollars made the Institute more accessible and more affordable for increased numbers of cadetathletes to seek their personal best in all aspects of cadet life.

Is it reasonable to ask more of the current membership of the Keydet Club, or does a sustainable, gap-closing, field-leveling path forward include the financial gifts of many more supporters than we have today? The way forward is one best shared by many more donors – all who appreciate the value of a VMI education and the role athletics plays in it, and all who want terrific high school student-athletes to become terrifically successful cadet-athletes and citizensoldiers like those noted above.

So, what do dreams look like? For VMI’s NCAA athletes, the dream looks like an opportunity to excel in a wonderfully distinctive college experience and to compete without compromise on a level playing field. It looks like commitment and sacrifice and late nights. It looks like teamwork and strength training and standing toe-to-toe with Goliath. At VMI, cadet-athletes’ dreams include profound reassurance that, win or lose, they are becoming educated and honorable difference-makers in an Institute renowned as one

of the finest colleges in the country.

Unlimited reach and resources may well be a perfect world scenario. You and I know, however, that perfection can be illusive. Though we are an immensely capable alumni body, closing our equivalency gap overnight may be a bridge too far. So, let’s start with this simple appeal – join the Keydet Club. Help us increase the number of scholarships available to deserving cadets who want to be part of the VMI legacy. Invest in providing opportunity and making dreams happen. All it takes is a willingness to get involved.

Keydet Club Annual Scholarship Gift Levels Full, out-of-state $45,000 Full, in-state $25,000 Scholarship

$15,000 Sportsman

$8,000 Spirit $6,000 Flying Squadron

$4,000 Letterman

$2,500 Big Red*

$1,500 Hail Varsity All other annual scholarship gifts First-year discount of 25% at all levels *Alumni before their 15th Reunion: $500 2019-Issue 1

37

Athletics

Keydet Football Players Selected to SoCon Teams Eight VMI football cadet-athletes were honored on SoCon postseason teams as announced by the league in November.

Selected to the All-Southern Conference second team as selected by the media were Cadets wide receiver Kris Thornton ’21 (Manassas, Virginia) and defensive back A.J. Smith ’21 (Virginia Beach, Virginia). Return specialist Cadet Rohan Martin ’20 (Stafford, Virginia) was named second team All-Conference by the coaches.

Five cadets – offensive lineman Marshall Gill ’22, wide receiver Jakob Herres ’22, linebacker Brett Howell ’22, defensive back Ethan Caselberry ’22 and defensive back Collin Loftis ’21 – were all named to the all-freshman teams as selected by the SoCon coaches. VMI had the most representatives of any SoCon school on the all-freshman squads.

Thornton set a new VMI single season record with 87 catches and was second in the league with 7.9 catches per game and third in receiving yards with 90.7 per game. Smith co-led the team in tackles with linebacker Cadet Elliott Brewster ’20 with 90 total tackles and also led in solo hits with 55. Martin averaged 15.9 yards per punt return in 2018.

VMI quarterback Cadet Reece Udinski ’21, operating in the first year of “Air Raid” system installed by offensive coordinator Brian Sheppard, rewrote the VMI season passing record

Defensive back A.J. Smith ’21 goes in for a tackle versus The Citadel. Smith, along with teammate Kris Thornton ’21 was selected to the All-Southern Conference second team by the media. Return specialist Cadet Rohan Martin ’20 was named second team All-Conference by the coaches. Five cadets were named to the all-freshman teams as selected by the SoCon coaches. book by throwing for 3,082 yards and became the first VMI quarterback in school history to surpass the 3,000-yard threshold. Udinski also set season marks for completions (302), attempts (523), total plays (570) and tied the season mark for most touchdown passes in a season (20).

Udinski also established a VMI single game record for passing yards when he threw for 491 yards in VMI’s 52-50 loss at Western Carolina

Sept. 22. He finished the year with three 400-plus yard passing games and surpassed 300 or more yards passing in five games.

Defensive lineman Zach Baker ’18 and Smith were named to the Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 squad as voted on by college and university sports information personnel in the Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee region.

Hernandez ’21, Jenkins ’22 Earn Cross Country SoCon Honors Another successful cross-country season went in the books for the 2018 campaign as both the men’s and women’s teams earned exceptional marks in their respective meets this season.

The men placed fifth at the SoCon Championship with 169 points while the women came in eighth place with 190 points at the event. On the men’s side, Cadet Davone Hernandez ’21 placed 11th in the field to earn Second Team All-SoCon honors and was followed closely by freshman teammate Cadet Gavin Jenkins ’22, who placed 32nd to earn SoCon All-Freshman team honors.

The men performed well in other meets during the year with second-place marks at the James Madison University Invitational Sept. 8 and the George Mason Invitational Sept. 29. Before

38

the SoCon Championship, the men raced at the VertCross Championship and placed sixth overall out of 18 teams to finish in the upper echelon of schools at the event.

The women placed eighth at the SoCon Championship with 190 points fueled by Cadets Anna Armfield ’21 and Logan Luckett ’20, the top two performers on the squad at every event this fall.

The Keydet women performed well at the JMU Invite Sept. 8 with a third-place finish and came in fourth at both the Virginia Tech Invite Aug. 31 and the GMU Invitational Sept. 29.

Cadets Sara Belamarich ’22, Kathleen Yates ’20 and Emily Hattman ’22 showed tremendous potential for the future as all three scored for the Keydets at the SoCon Championship.

Cadet Davone Hernandez ’21, left, running at the SoCon championship, where he placed 11th, earning Second Team All-SoCon honors.

VMI Alumni Review

Athletics

Women’s Soccer Recap In what can properly be coined the highest of times and the lowest of times, the VMI women’s soccer team fit the bill, as the squad witnessed both during the 2018 season.

The team earned its best start in program history as the Keydets opened the year with a six-game winning streak going 6-0-1 to open the campaign, topping the previous 3-0 best starts from three prior seasons. Goalie Ceci Keppeler ’19 was named the SoCon Player of the Week Sept. 4, the first time in program history the weekly award had been granted to a Keydet.

All signs pointed up as the Keydets began the conference season Sept.

21 against the University of North Carolina Greensboro, but the Spartans claimed a 4-0 victory to defeat the unbeaten Keydets. VMI attempted to bounce back strong the following weekend with games at Mercer and rival The Citadel but faded late in both games. Mercer claimed a 2-1 win Sept. 28 with a goal in the final 10 minutes of play and two days later, The Citadel scored three goals in the final 20 minutes of regulation to come from behind and earn a 4-3 victory.

The Keydets never fully recovered from the frustrating losses and went on to lose the next five league games versus Wofford, Furman, ETSU, Western Carolina and Samford.

Despite a 2-1 loss to Samford Oct. 19, the game provided a spark for the program as VMI fell by just a 2-1 score to the league-leading Bulldogs and was tied until the 76th minute when Samford scored a late goal for the win.

On Oct. 21 – Senior Day – the Keydets earned a 2-2 tie with Chattanooga at Patchin Field to earn a rematch with the Mocs in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament the following week. As a No. 10 seed, the Keydets went in and took care of business on the road, taking down the No. 7 Mocs in Chattanooga by a 1-0 score.

The win propelled the Keydets to the second round to face No. 2 seed UNCG to try to avenge the prior loss. Ahead 2-1 with just over 30 minutes to play, the Keydets almost accomplished the feat but allowed two late goals

The team earned its best start in program history as the Keydets opened the year with a six-game winning streak going 6-0-1. Cadet Sierra Brewer ’20 led the Keydets with five goals on the season. from the Spartans to permit UNCG to advance to the semifinals.

Cadet Sierra Brewer ’20 led the Keydets with five goals on the season while Cadet Kiley Cropper ’21 finished the year with four. Cadets Julianne Knoblett ’20, Blake Cashin ’19, Whitney Edwards-Roberson ’22 and Sam Franklin ’20 finished with three goals apiece during the year.

Men’s Soccer: Schull ’22 Led Division in Saves, Saves per Game

Cadet Broden Schull ’22, goalie, earned earned Southern Conference Men’s Soccer All-Freshman honors and led Division I in saves and saves per game. Photo by Firehouse Photography & Trophies.

2019-Issue 1

The VMI men’s soccer team had ups and downs in the 2018 season, understandable with a roster that included only two juniors and three seniors.

The future looks bright, especially on the defensive end. Goalie Broden Schull ’22 earned Southern Conference Men’s Soccer All-Freshman honors after an outstanding fall. It was the Keydets’ secondstraight season with a player on the all-conference freshman team and a first in program history.

The Portland, Oregon, native led all of Division I in saves and saves per game. He posted 121 saves on the year, starting all 18 contests. Schull had a 68.4 save percentage and made 6.72 saves per outing.

His 121 saves rank fifth all-time in school history.

The Keydets scored a big 4-1 win over Regent University Oct. 2 and played well against tough Southern Conference competition, but finished 1-16-1 overall.

39

Events Annual Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet

The lacrosse team congratulated Cadet John O’Donnell ’19, team captain, above, after O’Donnell was awarded the three-legged stool at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Oct. 20, 2018. Guest speaker Kelly Sullivan ’01, right, with Dr. Dave Diles, director of intercollegiate athletics, spoke about her experiences at VMI. Over 760 cadets, parents, scholarship benefactors, alumni, coaches, faculty and staff attended the dinner in Crozet Hall.

More than 760 scholarship benefactors, cadets, parents and alumni gathered in Crozet Hall for the annual Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Oct. 20, 2018. The night started off with Keydet Club Chief Operating Officer Meade King ’85 greeting the crowd along with an invocation offered by Cadet Caroline Wojtas ’19. Guest speaker Kelly Sullivan ’01 moved the crowd with her inspiring speech about her struggles and triumphs while attending VMI. She was very thankful for the network and opportunities that VMI has created for her. The recipient of the Three-Legged Stool award was Cadet John O’Donnell ’19. He was joined up on stage by Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent; Brig. Gen. Bob Moreschi, dean of faculty; Col. William Wanovitch ’87, commandant; and Jerry Acuff ’71, Keydet Club first vice president. O’Donnell gave an impromptu speech which was very fitting for the night’s occasion, and closed his speech by leading an Old Yell.

A term originally coined by the late Giles Miller ’24, one of the Institute’s most beloved sons and ardent athletic fans, the three-legged stool represents the fullness of VMI’s educational philosophy – that each cadet might thrive

40

academically, athletically and militarily. Since its founding, VMI has endeavored to ensure that cadets receive the training and encouragement necessary to successfully balance each leg of this stool as they become educated and honorable difference-makers.

The VMI Keydet Club is especially pleased to sponsor this award, recognizing the First Class cadet-athlete who has excelled throughout his or her cadetship. O’Donnell is a four-year starter on and team captain of the lacrosse team and led SoCon in 2018 for points scored by defensive midfielders. He holds a 4.0 GPA in economics and business, and is pursuing both a minor in mathematics and cyber security and a concentration in financial management. O’Donnell has been selected as a member of several honor societies, including Beta Gamma Sigma, Omicron Delta Epsilon and Omicron Delta Kappa. O’Donnell is contracted to commission through Army ROTC and received the National Defense Award. He is the regimental S-1 captain, an Institute Honors cadet and participates in the Cadet Investment Group and Athletic Advisory Group.

VMI Alumni Review

Events

50th Anniversary of Integration Celebration

Dozens of alumni attended events Sept. 28-29, 2018, recognizing the 50th anniversary of VMI’s racial integration. Attendees watched a video of three of the first five African-American cadets – Dick Valentine, Harry Gore and Philip Wilkerson, all from the Class of 1972 – speaking about their experiences at the Institute. Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62, superintendent, honored four alumni in recognition of their leadership and roles in VMI’s integration: Gen. Darren McDew ’82, Dr. John C. Gregory ’89, Anthony Hamilton ’79 and Eugene Williams ’74. Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

Alumni from across the decades were invited back to post to enjoy a weekend of fellowship and recognition of VMI’s 50th anniversary of integration Sept. 28-29, 2018. More than 100 alumni and friends attended a cocktail hour in Moody Hall Sept. 28, during which a video of three of the first five African-American cadets – Dick Valentine ’72, Harry Gore ’72 and Philip Wilkerson ’72 – was shown. In recognition of their leadership and role in the racial integration of the Institute, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, honored four alumni: Gen. Darren McDew ’82, first African-American regimental commander; Dr. John C. Gregory ’89, first African-American Honor Court president; Anthony Hamilton ’79, first African-American General Committee president; and Eugene Williams ’74, who was recognized for his 30-year life mission working with at-risk students to reach their college goals, during halftime at the Sept. 29 football game. These four alumni also joined Peay on the Parade Ground for pass and review during the morning’s parade.

Thom Brashears ’95, Alumni Association chief operating officer, said, “The weekend’s events connected many folks who had either not been able to see each other in several years or who hadn’t been back to VMI since graduation. It also helped many of them to see and better understand the strides VMI has made in recent years.”

A number of attendees mentioned that they had been “on the fence” about whether to attend or not and they were thrilled they had made the decision to do so. One observed, “The friends you made at VMI remain a significant part of our life history.”

2019-Issue 1

41

Events

2018 Cadet-Alumni Networking Forum The Cadet-Alumni Networking Forum was another success this year for both cadets and alumni. Over 30 alumni panelists, ranging from recent graduates to experienced professionals, returned to the Institute for this year’s event Oct. 6, 2018. The alumni panelists made up 10 industry groups that served as networking circles for cadets to ask questions and receive valuable information about their future careers. This year’s forum consisted of two breakout sessions, a keynote speaker and one hour of open networking.

Jeremy Clement ’08 served as the keynote speaker for the Forum.

Clement is the co-founder of Project Expedition, a personalized vacation planning service. He spoke to cadets about the importance of networking, seeking advice and perseverance throughout the job searching process.

His story was both riveting and humbling.

“We were honored to have Jeremy return to VMI to help positively impact current cadets,” said Brittney Matthews ’15, Alumni Association program outreach officer. “The strength of VMI’s remarkable network can be seen through the returning alumni and their mission to prepare, mentor and guide cadets for their future careers. Thank you to all the alumni who took the time to attend and contribute in the career development process for current cadets. By sharing your life events and career decisions you are sowing seeds into our future generation. We thank you!”

To inquire about being a panelist for an upcoming forum contact Matthews at bmatthews@vmiaa.org.

Jeremy Clement ’08, above, was the keynote speaker for the Cadet-Alumni Networking Forum held Oct. 6, 2018.

Clement is an entrepreneur who co-founded Project Expedition, a personal vacation planning service. During the forum, cadets and alumni, left, interacted through networking circles representing 10 different industry groups.

Photos by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

42

VMI Alumni Review

Events

Walking in His Footsteps: Daniels ’61 Pilgrimage

By Molly Rolon, Assistant Editor More than 30 VMI alumni, family and friends gathered in central Alabama Aug. 10-11 to remember and carry on the legacy of Jonathan Daniels ’61, a civil rights worker who was killed in Hayneville Aug. 20, 1965. Fifty-three years before, the country was in the midst of a struggle for African-American civil rights. Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had passed the before Daniels’ death, implementation of the new law was slow. Martin Luther King Jr. sent out national appeals for “clergy of all faiths” to aid in the civil rights movement.

King asked clergy specifically to participate in a march from Selma to Montgomery. Daniels, then an Episcopal seminary student at Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was one of many who flowed into Selma. He remained in the city after the march and after several months moved east to work in rural Lowndes County, which in 1965 had a majority black population – but none were registered to vote. About a week before his death, Daniels was part of a nonviolent group picketing whites-only stores in the town of Fort Deposit. The group, numbering about 20 people, was arrested and sent to a larger jail in Hayneville. Daniels was offered bail after a few days in jail but refused to leave the jail without the rest of the group. Six days after their incarceration the local government, fearing it would be found in violation of federal civil rights laws, decided to release the group but did not offer them an explanation.

Under the oppressive Alabama heat, four in the group – Daniels; Father Richard Morrisroe, a white Roman Catholic priest from Chicago; Ruby Sales, a 17-year-old African-American Tuskegee Institute student; and Joyce Bailey, a 19-year-old African-American from Fort Deposit – decided to walk to a near-by store to purchase cold drinks. When they reached Varner’s Cash Store, unpaid volunteer deputy sheriff Tom Coleman met them at the door – holding a shotgun in his hands and wearing a pistol strapped to his waist. Coleman threatened to shoot if Daniels and his group attempted to enter the store. Daniels pushed Sales out of the way and was killed instantly from the shotgun blast at point-blank range. Coleman also shot and seriously wounded Morrisroe, was charged with manslaughter and acquitted after one hour and 31 minutes of deliberations by an all-white jury.

VMI alumni began the annual remembrance of Daniels’ action by gathering at Montgomery’s Renaissance Marriott, where several alumni spoke.

The next morning, the VMI group joined with a larger group, organized annually by the Episcopal Church, for a pilgrimage beginning at the Lowndes County Courthouse – the same courthouse where Coleman was acquitted.

From the courthouse, marchers made their way to the now-defunct jail where Daniels and his companions were held. After the jail, the group made their way to the site of Daniels’ death, what used to be Varner’s Cash Store. At each stop, those assembled heard a reading of the events that led to Daniels’ death. Alumni, including the Rev. David Pittman ’70 and Kurt Berggren ’59, carried a placard with a large black-and-white photo of a smiling Daniels holding an also-smiling Rachel West in his lap. West was the daughter of an African-American family who housed Daniels during part of his time in Selma.

The group then walked up the curved staircases into the Lowndes County Courthouse’s courtroom, where the Episcopal Church holds a service annually.

Berggren, who was friends with Daniels at VMI, called Daniels “a remarkable person, and ... good in so many ways.”

More than 30 VMI alumni, family and friends gathered, left, in Hayneville, Alabama, Aug. 10-11 to remember and carry on the legacy of Jonathan Daniels ’61, a civil rights worker who was killed in Hayneville Aug. 20, 1965. The annual pilgrimage, above right, goes through Hayneville and pauses at the jail where Daniels was held and at the site of his death.

Photos by Molly Rolon, VMI Alumni Agencies.

2019-Issue 1

43

Events

“Ride to the I”

More than 30 alumni rendezvoused at Lexington’s Tractor Supply Sept. 29, 2018, for the annual “Ride to the I.” Riders guided their bikes up the hill past Crozet Hall, along the south side of the Parade Ground and ended in front of Moody Hall.

Minnesota Chapter Gathers

When Ramon Williams ’90, VMI Foundation major gifts officer, visited Minnesota in late August, the Minnesota Chapter had an impromptu meeting. Present at the gathering were Walt Coleman ’88; Williams; Brent Schaufert ’15, Minnesota Chapter president; Ron Reiman Jr. ’85; Rob Clark ’90; Greg Gooch ’88; and Sev Maynard ’88.

44

VMI Alumni Review

Events

More Than 250 Incoming Cadets Attend Rat Send-Offs Each year, rat send-offs provide a fantastic opportunity to engage alumni across the country and introduce incoming rats and their families to a key component of what makes the VMI experience so special: The alumni network. This year was no exception. Once again, VMI alumni came out in droves to connect with fellow alumni and send the class of 2019+3 off. The VMI Alumni Association assisted in coordinating and communicating 42 send-offs. Over 50 alumni chapters participated, and over 250 rats – more than half the incoming class – attended some kind of send-off.

In all, over 400 alumni and well over 1,200 total people including alumni, spouses, current cadets, incoming rats, family and friends shared in the VMI spirit at a send-off.

The Alumni Association would like to extend a warm thank you to all of the chapter leadership and alumni volunteers who made this year’s events a great success!

2019-Issue 1

45

Events

46

VMI Alumni Review

Events

2019-Issue 1

47

Events

VMI, Citadel Alumni Hold Watch Party

Even outnumbered by Citadel fans, Tampa’s “Big Red Krewe” stood strong and shared camaraderie with their Bulldog hosts. Dan and Sandy DeForrest ’64 and Steve Hartnett ’13 are in the midst of the Bulldogs. Nate Salatin ’09 was present but is not pictured.

October College Fair The Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter was represented by Ben Huger, father of a 2016 alumnus; Larry Wilson ’62, chapter president; and Elle Avery, mother of a 2017 alumna, at VMI’s booth at the North Carolina State University college fair in October 2018.

Post-Graduate Scholarships Available Graduates from VMI may apply for post-graduate scholarships to support their graduate and professional study. These scholarships are for those pursuing a graduate degree in any field, including law, business or engineering. Application materials and instructions are available from Lt. Col. Meagan Herald, chair of the Graduate Education Subcommittee (heraldmc@vmi.edu). The deadline for the receipt of all application materials is March 15, 2019.

48

VMI Veterans Transition Program Are you retiring or planning to transition from active duty military service to another job or career? If so, The VMI Alumni Association, Inc., can help. Please contact Brittney Matthews ’15, program outreach officer, at bmatthews@vmiaa.org, to discover how you can find a rewarding career in the civilian workforce through networking with other alumni.

VMI Alumni Review

Events

Central North Carolina – Raleigh Senior Alumni Breakfasts

The Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter holds a monthly senior alumni breakfast. In October 2018 were, front row, from left, top photo: Bruce McCreedy ’56, Pete Shelley ’74, Paul Johnston ’61, Dixie Walker ’70 and Bill Murchison ’70. Back row: John Kuchnia ’57; Henry Shirley ’60; Don Brown ’71; Larry Wilson ’62, chapter president; Mike Kelly ’73, Carolinas regional director; Bill Gibson ’65; and Rick Hening ’75.

At the September 2018 breakfast were, clockwise from left, bottom photo: Wilson, Gibson, Jim Workman ’65, Kuchnia, Hening, Walker, McCreedy, Murchison, Johnston, Ed Andrews ’70 and Shelley.

Save the Date: Legacy Day Saturday, April 13, 2019

For more information, contact: T.J. Lighton ’15, Alumni Association Program Outreach Officer 800.444.1839 x259 tlighton@vmiaa.org 2019-Issue 1

Jonathan M. Daniels 1961 Seminary Scholarship Dr. G. Lee Southard ’59 and his family established the Jonathan M. Daniels 1961 Seminary Scholarship in 1985.

The purpose of the scholarship is to assist VMI graduates pursuing an advanced degree leading to Protestant Christian ministry. The scholarship is named in honor of Jonathan M. Daniels ’61, who, after graduating from VMI, followed a call to ministry and entered seminary.

For more information, applications and instructions, please contact Mary Cannon, administrative assistant in the VMI Chaplains’ Office, at cannonml@vmi.edu. The degree pursued must lead to service as a pastor or military chaplain in Protestant ministry. The deadline for submitting the application is July 15 of each year. Scholarships are awarded in August.

49

Events

Alumni Pedal in Sea Gull Century Nearly 50 VMI alumni participated in the Sea Gull Century bicycle ride in Salisbury, Maryland, Oct. 6, 2018. Alumni sported customized VMI bike jerseys. Several members of the Agencies team participated, including Steve Maconi, Thom Brashears ’95, Meade King ’85, Addison Hagan ’97, Joe Irby ’85, along with personnel from VMI, to include Brig. Gen. Dallas Clark ’99, Lt. Col. Kevin Ryan and Col. Dale Brown. After the race, participants gathered for a social where Col. Keith Gibson ’77, VMI Museum System director, gave a fantastic presentation on key facts about VMI, known as “Amazing but True.”

The VMI Business Leadership and Innovation Summit is a VMI-centric event to highlight VMI entrepreneurship successes open to alumni and cadets. BLIS is a collaborative effort to celebrate VMI alumni successes in business innovation. The goal is to provide a platform for alumni to come together to bond, educate, mentor and inspire the next generation of Keydet business leaders and innovators. The first event brought more than 80 alumni to post to network and interact with more than 200 cadets. The 2019 summit will be held at VMI in Marshall Hall April 11-13. For more information on BLIS, visit conferences.vmi.edu/BLIS.

50

VMI Alumni Review

Progress

Paul A. Bouis ’67 and Lois W. Ford-Bouis: “It’s We Who Are Truly Blessed”

By Scott Belliveau ’83, Communications Officer

Dr. Paul Bouis ’67, right, and Lois Ford-Bouis on post in October 2018. Photo by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

At a football game at VMI, the focus is properly on the players and the coaches. However, many people are essential to ensuring a proper game day experience: Those who prepare the field, stock the concession stands, ensure the team’s equipment is ready, and sell and collect tickets. And there are some who might not even be present but who play an important role in VMI athletics as a whole: Those who give so generously of their treasure, talents and that most precious commodity of time in support of VMI’s cadet-athletes.

Two such people are Paul Bouis ’67, Ph.D., and his wife, Lois W. Ford-Bouis. Both have been longtime donors to the Keydet Club. Bouis made his first gift to what was then the Alumni Educational Fund in 1967, and through graduate studies in chemistry and a long career in the chemical industry, he has given every year since then – with the sole exception of one when he served in Vietnam. He later honored his first wife who died in 2004 by establishing the Nancy Peterson Bouis Scholarship, which supports multiple sports teams because “it would keep her spirit – her memory – alive at a place of which she was a big fan.”

Ford-Bouis’s first gift in support of VMI athletics came in 2004, after she had retired to Lexington following a decadeslong career managing human resources for many large corporations. Greg Cavallaro ’84, then-Keydet Club chief executive officer, approached her

2019-Issue 1

to consider establishing a scholarship in honor of her brother, Robert L. Watson ’64, who had captained the basketball team that won the 1964 Southern Conference championship. In 1977, Watson, who was then the head coach of the University of Evansville basketball team, and his entire team died in a plane crash. She liked the idea of a scholarship, because as she recalls, “It is what [Bobby] would have done if he were alive.” However, rather than create the scholarship in his name alone, she decided to honor everyone who was on that VMI championship team. “Like Bobby, those teammates went on to do great things with their lives, and I wanted to recognize their accomplishments by giving other young men the same opportunity they had.”

Thus, she established the 1964 Championship Team Basketball Scholarship.

Their support of VMI cadet-athletes doesn’t end there. Both have served several years as academic advisers for the Athletic Department, each helping approximately 10-15 cadets a year. In this role, they meet with cadets once a week and, as Ford-Bouis describes it, “help them with their study skills, help them learn time-management skills and, overall, keep them on track, which often isn’t easy considering the distractions that they encounter being a VMI cadet.” Bouis also tutors some of them in chemistry, applying the teaching skills he picked up as an adjunct professor at many schools and as a cadet. “During

my 1st Class year, one of the assistant football coaches, Jim Sam Gillespie ’59, brought me three rat football players and told me they were in danger of flunking chemistry. We worked hard, and they all passed. And, I am happy to say, all three were instrumental in VMI’s victory against VPI in November 1967.”

Asked what they enjoy about their role as academic advisors to cadet-athletes, Ford-Bouis said, “You see them mature over time. It’s amazing how much progress they make in just one year as you encourage them and build them up.”

Bouis observed that the interaction with the cadets allows them to “get to know them as individuals, and that’s important because there’s more to them than being athletes. For example, two of VMI’s current football captains have academic stars in STEM majors.”

“I wish more alumni and friends could interact with cadet-athletes like we do,” said Ford-Bouis.

“Often they don’t have a good understanding of all they have to do. They forget the demands on them as cadets and students and just see them as athletes.”

The couple also has served as host families for cadets since 2005. Asked what the challenges associated with that are, Ford-Bouis replied, “Every cadet is different. Some definitely need help adjusting to VMI’s demands; others are just fine with them. We just need to adapt to them. But, as with academic advising, the effort is worth it,

51

Progress because we get a front-row seat as they mature.

It is amazing to witness.”

And the two don’t limit their service to just cadets. Both have served on the Keydet Club Board of Governors, and Ford-Bouis was a member of the VMI Alumni Agencies’ search committee that eventually hired Steve Maconi as the Agencies’ first CEO in March 2017. They also assist new coaches at VMI with acclimating to the area and the Institute. Bouis also serves as an unofficial photographer, attending games and practices of many sports and shooting pictures of the cadet athletes. He adds a personal touch by sending the images directly to the cadets.

“I know from firsthand experience what being a NCAA athlete at VMI can give you,” said Bouis. “For me, it gave me a lot of confidence – and not just in my physical abilities – and it gave me my first opportunity to be a leader. It

was something that I saw in other athletes when I was a cadet. For example, as a rat, I dyked for Buzz Birzenieks ’64, who roomed with Lois’ brother. I saw how Bobby acted as team captain, and I learned from him that your walk had to match your talk.”

Ford-Bouis said she thinks that for many athletes at VMI, the experience is something of a wake-up call. “Many of them were the stars on their high school teams and among the best players in their region. They come here and see that their teammates are often better than they are, and they realize that, if they want to get some playing time, they’ll need to work hard.

Then, they confront the challenges of barracks and the classroom. All that helps them develop not only humility, but also a sense of purpose and an ability to focus.”

Some might wonder why these two have been

so generous with their treasure, talent and time for so many years, but for them, there are no such questions. “I’m aware that, for many, athletics is all about wins and losses,” said Bouis, to whom the Keydet Club presented its highest honor, The Spirit of VMI Award, in 2011. “But, at VMI, it’s different, because its cadets graduate with a set of values that are timeless and invaluable and an education second-to-none. They are ready to win at the game of life.”

“These young people become a valued part of your life, and you have the satisfaction of seeing them go and do great things with their lives, in their careers and in their communities,” said Ford-Bouis. “Parents often come up and thank us for what we do for their son or daughter. I always tell them there’s no need, for it’s we who are truly blessed.”

Class of 1993 Presents Initial Proceeds of 25th Reunion Campaign

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, and Steve Maconi, VMI Alumni Agencies chief executive officer, accepted the initial proceeds of the Class of 1993’s 25th Reunion campaign Nov. 3, 2018. Making the presentation of more than $1 million in gifts and commitments were, from left, Jim Sharp ’93, class agent; and Clifford Foster ’93 and Tom Ripley ’93, co-chairmen of the campaign. Photo by Micalyn Miller, VMI Alumni Agencies.

52

VMI Alumni Review

Progress

540 Loyal Donors Honored at Institute Society Dinner On Nov. 9, 2018, VMI celebrated the generosity of spirit and impact of giving with almost 540 loyal donors at the 44th Institute Society Dinner. At this annual black-tie event, the VMI Foundation has the privilege of recognizing Institute Society members – alumni and friends whose generosity marks them as leaders in support of the Institute and the Corps of Cadets. In Fiscal Year 2018, the society’s more than 900 members donated $2.1 million of the $2.9 million received by the Foundation Fund, a source of critically important unrestricted money for VMI, and more than $31 million in other gifts and commitments to VMI. In his remarks, T. Bryan Barton ’68, VMI Foundation president, praised the members of the society for their willingness to support the Institute and for what their support means to VMI. “What is truly important is the impact your generosity has on post. The impact it has on our faculty and staff and their ability to educate our cadets in VMI’s own unique, demanding style.

And the impact it has on the futures of our cadets ... who VMI is preparing to lead lives of consequence for our state, our country and the world.”

Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, addressed the guests as well, saying, “We are here not only because we love the Institute, but also because we are proud of the strong citizens and leaders that this institution produces.

We stand for something that our nation needs. It is the ‘VMI difference,’ and it is why you have heard me say with repetition, ‘VMI is a national treasure.’”

4.

5.

6.

1.

1. Guests were greeted by music from a cadet piper.

2. Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, thanked Institute Society members for their generous support of VMI. 3. T. Bryan Barton ’68, VMI Foundation president, addressed the crowd.

4. Attendees viewed a short video showcasing several highly-accomplished cadets.

5. The Hall of Valor was filled to capacity for the black-tie affair.

2.

2019-Issue 1

3.

6. The VMI Herald Trumpets played the National Anthem. All photos by Steve Shires.

53

Staff News Agencies Staff Welcomes New Additions Pam Harris joined the degree in sports administration from the director of reunions in November Alumni Agencies as Texas A&M University. Cosh resides in 2018. She graduated from Campbell administrative assistant Lexington with her husband Billy, who University in 1993 and commissioned to the director of an- is currently the wide receivers coach for in the U.S. Army as an ordnance nual giving in October the VMI football team. Meade King officer. She also holds a Master of 2018. Before joining the ’85, Keydet Club chief operating officer Arts degree in teaching from Liberty Agencies team, Harris said of Cosh, “As a former scholarship University. Of Cook, Thom Brashears served almost 15 years athlete at the University of Houston, ’95, Alumni Association chief operatin the financial industry Kelsey has a deep appreciation for ing officer, said, “I could not be more in various capacities that the mission of the Keydet Club. She is excited to have someone like Patti join included retail, complitalented and bright; a welcomed addiour team. The breadth of her experiHarris Gibson ance, and fraud and fi- tion to our team.” ence with reunions will be essential and nancial crimes. For the past five years, she served Crystal Gibson joined the Alumni Agencritical to us as we enhance how we support our in the fraud department of a local bank as Bank cies as director of annual giving in November valued alumni.”

Secrecy Act coordinator.

2018. Gibson began her career as a political After arriving in Lexington in 2003, Cook Harris resides in Buchanan, Virginia, with fundraiser while a student at Roanoke College. became the founding director of Blue Ridge her husband, Garrett, and daughter, Reagan. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Autism and Achievement Center in LexingBuddy Bryan ’71, Foundation chief operating political science, she continued her career in ton. She led the charge at the local school for officer, stated, “We welcome Pam to the Alumni Washington, D.C. students with disabilities for eight years beAgencies as we build a team dedicated After returning to Roanoke in fore delving into higher to Annual Giving.”

2004, Gibson spent several years in education fundraising.

Kelsey Cosh, a native of Houston, sales before continuing her career in As assistant director for Texas, joined the Keydet Club in higher education fundraising. She reunion giving at WashOctober 2018 as office manager most recently held leadership posiington and Lee Univerand executive assistant. She comes tions with the annual giving offices at sity, Cook led the reunion to VMI from Indiana University as Virginia Tech and Hollins University, effort by recruiting, trainthe former staff assistant for their where she earned a Masters of Arts ing and leading volunfootball team. Kelsey was a four-year in Liberal Studies degree in Social teers in the execution of scholarship student-athlete at the Sciences. About Gibson, Bryan said, outstanding fundraising University of Houston where she “We are fortunate to have a person efforts. Cook resides in Cosh Cook earned her Bachelor of Science degree with Crystal’s experience join us to Rockbridge County with in sports administration. Following her time at lead our Annual Giving program.” her husband of 25 years, James. They have Houston, she received her Master of Science Patti Cook joined the VMI Alumni Agencies as three adult children.

Volant ’88 Retires

Volant ’88 54

After more than 22 years devoted to serving his alma mater, Col. Adam Volant ’88 has retired from the VMI Alumni Association.

Volant’s retirement became effective Nov. 15, 2018.

For the past two decades, Volant served the Institute in varied capacities. Volant spent the past year-plus on active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve. Following a period of military leave Volant decided to retire from the VMI Alumni Association, where he last served as the executive vice president.

Volant matriculated from Bartlett, Illinois, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI. He also earned a Master of Science degree in management from Capella University.

“Colonel Volant served the Alumni Association and our country with distinction for many years, rising to the position of executive vice president of the Association,” said Asa Page ’79, Alumni Association president. “We greatly appreciate his years of service not only to the VMI Alumni Association, but also his distinguished military service. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

VMI Alumni Review

2019-Issue 1

55

CLASS NOTES

1941

Stuart Seaton Jr. ’73 116 Meadowbrook Williamsburg, VA 23188 804/938-4400 smseatonjr@gmail.com

Greetings from the VMI Class of 1941.

For this edition of the VMI Alumni Review, I thought it would be interesting to list several facts about VMI and the Class of ’41.

The following was obtained from “Hurled From the Institute into a Hostile World, The Virginia Military Institute Class of 1941,” a History 460 class paper written by Matthew Triplett Pumphrey ’06.

On Sept. 12, 1937, 257 young men matriculated into VMI. 188 brother rats later served in the military, and 135 graduated June 11, 1941. At this time, the Corps was made up of 700 men.

Maj. Gen. John Archer Lejeune was VMI’s superintendent until Oct. 1, 1937, after which Lt. Gen. Charles Evans Kilbourne ’894 became superintendent for the remainder of their cadetship. Col. Withers A. Burress ’914 was commandant of cadets until 1940, followed by Lt. Col. Henry B. Holmes Jr. ’916.

The football team was named the Fighting Squadron with Pooley Hubert serving as head coach. It was during their cadetship that Herb Patchin developed the intramural sports program at VMI. The movie, “Brother Rat,” was made during their rat year, and during their 2nd Class year, Glenn Miller’s orchestra performed at Easter Hops.

The class president was Stan Navas, Lucius Hill was the class valedictorian and the first captain their 1st Class year was Charlie Moore.

During World War II, 22 of the VMI Class of ’41 were killed in action, and five brother rats survived imprisonment.

In 2005, there were 54 surviving brother rats in the VMI Class of 1941. Today, the ranks have been reduced to three: Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Charles W. Abbitt of Richardson, Texas; retired U.S. Army Col. Robert C. Maling of San Antonio, Texas; and Jack N. Williams of Hot Springs, Virginia.

56

In closing, I would like to wish these three surviving VMI ’41 brother rats a healthy and prosperous 2019.

Respectfully submitted, Stuart M. Seaton Jr. ’73

1942 There is currently no class agent for the Class of 1942. If you would like to be the class agent, please contact Crystal Gibson at 800/444-1839.

Editor’s Note: Before going to press, we learned the sad news of the death of Harry Siebert, class agent, Oct. 31, 2018. He was 98. His Taps entry appears on page 181 of this Review.

1943

Jeffrey G. Smith

9000 Belvoir Woods Pkwy.

Apt. 404 Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-2706 703/780-6186 genjeffrey@aol.com

Just two brother rats showed up for our 70th Reunion: Bill Gottwald and Settle Frank. Among other reasons, as I might have said before (but it bears repeating), I think 70th Reunions are a waste of time.

Our only two attendees (Bill and Settle) just dropped by for a photograph to be taken and were off to other pursuits. There are multiple good reasons for discontinuance, but your imagination is as good as mine. Axiomatically, it is difficult for a 90-year-old to travel, because we older folks need more assistance.

My really big news is that I would like to step down as your class agent. I’d dearly like to step down effective after I submit my next class notes. I would hope that one of my brother rats would volunteer to succeed me, and I would be happy to assist him. Seems to me I have had this duty forever and ever. It’s certainly been a long time. Any volunteers?

I have no other news. As I frequently report – actually, complain – I depend on you, my classmates, for news.

However, while poring over old files, I came across a gem from Bruce Suter. He

wrote it to give any new class agent some ideas. As you can see for yourself, they are informative, interesting items. They follow: During the year 2005, class notes for the Class of 1943 reported an on an average of the activities of 12 members of our class (not the same class members). Recently, I’m fortunate to be able to report on items of interest on only two. That is 2! Reason for the drop is simple: We are growing older and more inclined to be bothered with things that seem bothersome. We are inclined to do as little as possible that disrupts our daily routine.

At our age and stage, nothing, it seems to me, is as frustrating as the duties of a class agent. Eventually, members of each class and its class agent reach this point. As for me personally, I certainly do not feel more infirm, but eventually I will. Perhaps sooner than later. Given the ages of our brother rats, it is wise to be prepared for any eventuality.

Did you know that the Class of 1943 averaged three children, 51 percent being boys and 49 percent girls? For the Class of 1943, the first retirement came in 1969 (I do not have the name). By 1988, 78 percent of our classmates were fully retired.

Of those classmates serving overseas in World War II, 49 percent were in the European Theatre, 44 percent in the Pacific and 7 percent in the China-Burma-India Theatre.

Our first brother rats killed in action in World War II were Hawes Adams and Marvin Anderson, both in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Some of the nicknames that our brother rats had: Do you remember them? Slugger, Snapper, Mad Russian, Beakman, Ding Dong, Nasty, Box, Waddy, Ace, Odd, Duck, PeeWee, Poker Jim, Fireball, PruneFace, Dudley, Tripod, Sonny, Doctor, Silky, Porky, Rabbit, Pedro, Honey, Bloatie, Stinko, Admiral, P.P., Pretzel and Yankee. (Note: I remember some but certainly not all.)

Well, there you have it: Your class notes.

Not so very incidentally, I think Bruce Suter would be a great class agent. How about that, Bruce?

So long, Jeff VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

1944

Tom L. Peyton Jr. 1739 Signature Place Wilmington, NC 28405 910/256-6412 lewis1923@msn.com

There are a lot of things to like about serving as class agent, but there is one very negative aspect – namely, reporting the deaths of members of our class family. This time, we have recently lost Meade Bell, Rose Tucker and Mabbot Warren.

Frank Meade Bell Sr., 96, died in Annapolis, Maryland, Oct. 16, 2018. He was born May 16, 1922, in Washington, to Frank Jr. and Eliza (née Meade) Bell. He attended Woodward Preparatory School in Washington and VMI from 1940-43. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1943, together with the majority of our class, and was called to active duty in 1943. He completed basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas, attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and subsequently served overseas. When World War II was over, he returned to the United States but elected not to return to VMI for his final year and instead co-founded, with his younger brother, David, the F.M. and D.P. Co. homebuilders in Montgomery County, Maryland. Meade was a charter member of The Hammer and Nail Society, which in time became the Montgomery County Builders Association.

He held the association’s license No. 1.

Meade married Nancy Creech, who sadly died suddenly at an early age. In time, he married Virginia Dunigan, who survives him. He is also survived by sons Frank M. Bell Jr. (Jocelyn) and Hunter C. Bell (Betty) and daughter Eliza B. Smith (Christopher).

Meade was a step-father for Ginna Quinn, David, George (Betsy), Bruce (Ellie) and Peter Dunigan.

Although Meade and I spent most of our K-12 growing up while living in Bethesda, Maryland, we did not meet until 1940 when, shortly before attending VMI, his mother arranged a social gathering at the Bell home for approximately a dozen or so metropolitan area teenagers about to enter VMI. It was a great event and went a long 2019-Issue 1

way toward calming some of the fears held for the rat year about to be experienced.

Mrs. Bell was a member of a well-known Virginia family, which included Episcopal Bishop William Meade. She was a wonderful Southern lady who was a perfect hostess for our group.

Meade projected a laid back, somewhat ambivalent attitude about going to VMI. He probably wouldn’t have picked the Institute as a place to spend the next four years, but out of respect for his mother, he joined us and hung in there. In time, he seemed to mellow about his experience there and was active in class alumni events. I talked with him on the phone a few weeks before he died about our forthcoming 75th Reunion.

My impression was that he was giving serious thought to attending. A final thought: I have been forever grateful to Meade for arranging a blind date in 1944 which eventually resulted in my 64-year marriage.

Rose Wallace Tucker, 90, a resident of Westminster Canterbury Richmond, died Feb. 25, 2018. She was the widow of our Brother Rat Daniel Moseley Tucker. Rose was born Sept. 27, 1927, the daughter of Robert Lucius Wallace and Esther Gregory Wallace of Chase City, Virginia. She is survived by her sister, Martha Wallace Goode, of Virginia Beach; two nieces; two greatnephews; and four great-nieces.

Rose attended St. Mary’s in Raleigh and graduated from Randolph-Macon Women’s College, Lynchburg, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She was an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years in the Mecklenburg County, Virginia, school system, teaching both the first and fourth grades. She was greatly admired, loved and respected by her students.

Rose married Dan Tucker of Chase City, Virginia, March 1, 1953, and they made their home there for more than 45 years.

Dan, editor of Chase City Progress newspaper, died Dec. 17, 2003. Both Rose and Dan were active and loyal citizens of the town of Chase City and throughout Mecklenburg County, participating in many local and county events. They were active members of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Rose was a member of the Women’s Club of Richmond,

the National Society of Colonial Dames and the Jamestown Society. A celebration of life service was held at Westminster Canterbury Richmond March 8, 2018.

Mabbot Perkins Warren, 91, of Radford, Virginia, widow of our late Brother Rat Joseph Turner Warren, died Feb. 18, 2018. She was born July 24, 1926, to Deryl Rodney Perkins and Margaret Myers Perkins. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a brother, D.R. Perkins Jr.; and an earlier husband, George M.J. Sarofeen. Survivors include her daughter, Robin Rideout Borkowski; son and daughter-in-law, David Rideout Jr. and Connie; step-sons, Robert A. Sarofeen and Nike, George F. Sarofeen and David Ferguson, and Joseph T. Warren Jr.; step-daughters, Mary Ann Warren Diehl and Janice L. Serofeen; brother and sisterin-law, Jeffrey T. Perkins and Margaret; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mabbot graduated from Petersburg High School and attended Longwood College.

Later, she became a kindergarten teacher at Petersburg School of Childhood. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Radford, where a memorial service was held March 3, 2018. In correspondence with Mabbot’s daughter, Robin, she commented that her mother was now at peace, with the hope that she is singing and dancing in heaven. We join her in that hope, with memories that she was always a warm and enlivening presence at our class gatherings.

Judy Beam and I continue what has become an annual tradition by meeting each summer at a North Carolina beach with Porter and Randy Hutto, who vacation from their home in Atlanta. Porter is the daughter of our late Brother Rat Charlie Parker and his wife, Sophie. Porter accompanied her parents to one of our Lexington class reunions and always has a lot of enthusiasm about VMI. Her husband, Randy, a Washington and Lee University graduate, as might be imagined, adds to our fun. These meetings provide an opportunity for Porter to bring us up to date on her mother, Sophie, who continues to reside in the Milwaukee area and experiences an active life enhanced by her exceptional artistic talent.

Don’t forget your annual support to the VMI Foundation and the Keydet Club.

57

Class Notes

1945

William Quarles 1022 Heth Place Winchester, VA 22601 (C) 540/772-2616 (H) 540/270-2257 5quarles@comcast.net

Russell B. Newton Jr. shared a quick note about himself and his family. As a young man, Russell was a bomber pilot in World War II and later attended Princeton in 1948, followed by Wharton School in 1949. He married his first wife, they had five children together. The family continued to grow and both were blessed with 11 grandchildren. After her death, Russell married Joanie, who has three children of her own. Again, the family expanded with nine wonderful grandchildren and currently 18 great-grandchildren. Wow! Russell’s oldest daughter is a landscape architect in Los Angeles; his firstborn son operates an investment firm in Jacksonville, Florida; and his next-in-line son lives in Connecticut. His other daughter is a professor of Russian politics at Oxford in England, whilst his youngest son works in real estate, as well as for a water purification business.

Russell speaks highly about VMI, even though he did not graduate. His one-anda-half years as a cadet greatly influenced his life, especially with his military career.

Last summer, Robert Allen was recognized in the University of Oklahoma publication, The Sooner Magazine, for his love and passion of rocks. Robert, a petroleum geologist, earned his degree from the University of Oklahoma after serving in World War II. His career began with Globe Oil and Refining Company in 1949. After working with two firms, Continental Oil Company being the other, he soon realized he wanted to become an independent geologist and has studied rocks for over 70 years. Unsurprisingly, Robert has been recognized with many accolades including the 2010 Distinguished Service Award from OU’s Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy and the 2010 Legends Award from the Oklahoma City Geological 58

Foundation. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the midcontinent section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists also recognized his accomplishments with a certificate of merit and an award. Robert continues to be a lifetime member in the Ardmore Geological Society.

Until a few years ago, Robert was leading tours in the Arbuckle Mountains, and he continues to work in his Ardmore office, identifying potential drilling prospects for clients. He also assists in managing the Ardmore Sample Cut and Library, which is a massive collection of geological information. Mr. Allen takes pride in his work and prefers the old ways of examining rocks. He refuses to use computers or any digital technology but enjoys plotting the complexities of southern Oklahoma geology with paper and pencil. He is known as the “geologist’s geologist” for his expertise and intuitive understanding of rock structures.

1946

William A. Eliason 6307 St. Johns Wood Williamsburg, VA 23188-5703 757/349-6939 eliason2@cox.net

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1946.

1948B

Lionel T. Wolford

607 Rowland Drive Monroe, LA 71203 318/680-4956 lionelwolford@comcast.net

Brother Rats, I received a phone call from George Ramsey a week before the VMI versus The Citadel game in Lexington. He was planning to go but had little hope of a VMI victory. He reported that he received a call from Doug Hamner. Doug wanted to know why the basketball season started so early.

He was sarcastically referring to some of the VMI football scores. Indeed, some did look more like basketball scores than football

scores. VMI did lose a close game to The Citadel, their 24th straight loss. The next week, they lost again for 25 straight. The losing streak was finally broken against Division II Tusculum on homecoming weekend.

Congratulations to the team and to Coach Wachenheim.

George tried, without success, to reach Sonny Laine by phone. He did have a brief talk with Lou Castellano.

The alumni office informed me that Ed Laraja died Oct. 4, 2018. After completing his rat year in early 1945, Ed served in the Merchant Marine. After the war, he returned to VMI in early 1947 for an additional semester, and then transferred to Colgate University where he graduated with top honors.

Ed had an outstanding career as an international food broker for S.A. Laraja and Sons.

He was also a vice president for Progresso foods. Ed was an avid golfer and a member of the Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, New York. He is survived by his wife, Carol; two daughters; and five grandchildren. I remember Ed from our rat year as a nice looking, dark haired young man of above-average height. Since they were both from New York, I called Lou Castellano to see if he knew Ed. We both remembered marching to church with him in the Catholic detail Sunday mornings. Lou also remembered getting boned for sleeping in church by the detail commander, J.M. Reardon ’47. Doug Hamner thought that Ed played on the VMI basketball team in 1944. When Ed returned to VMI in spring 1947, he did play on the VMI baseball team. VMI played its home baseball games on the athletic field which was designed for football. If I remember correctly, the baseball field’s home plate was on the northwest corner of the athletic field. This allowed deep right and center fields but a shallow left field, which abutted the cliff to the south of the football stadium.

I remember a game which I saw from the back windows of the engineering building where I was working off penalty tours. Our opponent was VPI. From a distance, I saw VMI rally to win the game. The next morning, I read in the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the winning hits were delivered by Ed Laraja and Doug Hamner.

A few words about class history which VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes may not be completely accurate: When I arrived at VMI in June 1944, I thought I would eventually be drafted and engage in combat with the Germans or Japanese. I imagine that every one of us felt the same way. Perhaps a few ’48Bs, like Jim Warrington, saw some combat in Europe, but I am not sure any actually did. Almost half the class left in early 1945 for World War II service, but the war in Europe ended in May 1945 and ended in the Pacific that August. Due to the need for basic training and perhaps advanced training, it was almost impossible for our class members to get into combat in Europe. The three month difference in surrender of the Japanese made it more possible to serve in the Pacific. Buck Ruffin, the highly regarded Florida physician, did see combat in World War II. I remember taking physical education with Buck in 1944. He was perhaps the tallest ’48B, and the instructor, Joe Daher (HBR), took an immediate interest. Joe was also the basketball coach. But, after watching Buck make a few clumsy jumps, Joe’s interest faded.

Buck and his lovely wife, Ann, attended several ’48B reunions. At the ’48B 60th Reunion, I had a conversation with Buck and Paul Applin. Buck reported that he served with a cavalry unit in the Pacific in 1945.

All the officers in his company were killed or wounded, and he received a battlefield commission to second lieutenant. Buck thought that he was the first of our class to receive a commission. After some research, I concluded that Buck saw service with the First Cavalry Division on Luzon in the Philippines. Although the main battle for Luzon took place in 1944, significant pockets of Japanese resistance remained.

Fighting continued until the final Japanese surrender Aug. 14, 1945. Buck’s commission was probably dated June or July 1945.

Lt. Gen. John R. McGiffert II achieved the highest military rank of any member of the Class of ’48B and also likely saw combat in World War II. Despite his high rank, I cannot find much about John’s early military career. He left VMI in January 1945 and likely immediately went to basic training. He did receive a commission as a second lieutenant via OCS, presumably just after completing basic training. His commission could 2019-Issue 1

date as early as May 1945. If this assumption is correct, then he probably served as a second lieutenant at the Battle of Okinawa. John did receive the Silver Star (our nation’s third highest decoration for valor).

John was one of four ’48Bs to receive the Silver Star. The others were Col. Paul Applin (Korea), 1st Lt. Henry Dunbar (Korea), and Col. Sonny Laine (Vietnam).

John attended the ’48B 40th Reunion. He was introduced by Henry Johnson at the class dinner as attaining the highest military rank in our class. Henry remarked that he remembered John as a very quiet young man and expressed surprise that he attained such a distinguished rank. John’s immediate reply was, “I roomed with ‘The Lip’ and couldn’t get a word in edgewise.”

We all remember Rex Shepperd, “The Lip.” Brother rats, I received a phone call after I submitted the class notes. Here is the update: John Boyd, the retired district judge from Amarillo, Texas, called and reported that he and his wife of 68 years, Bonnie, are doing well. I failed to list John as a ’48B survivor (although I thought of him) in the last set of class notes. John left VMI in early 1945 for World War II Army service. After the war, John completed his undergraduate studies at Baylor. He further received law degrees from Baylor and from the University of Virginia. John reported that he knew his VMI roommate, Jay Walker, since the first grade. He sends greetings to all ’48B survivors and especially mentioned Doug Hamner. I did speak at length with John at the ’48B 60th Reunion. We discussed Baylor’s highly regarded women’s basketball coach, Kim Mulkey, who is from Louisiana. John regretted not making the 70th Reunion. His address is: 3803 Fleetwood, Amarillo, TX 79109.

1949A

James Harrington

1475 Midland Road, Unit #4 Southern Pines, NC 28387 (C) 919/880-3755 jameseharrington@bellsouth.net

Sadly, I have to report the passing of our class president, William B. May, who died Oct. 1. Bill was a great leader for us and a

loyal alumnus of VMI. He frequently represented our class at class agent meetings and was one of the few who visited us at Bald Head Island. He’s survived by three sons and five grandchildren. We’re also mourning the loss of Herb Johnston, and I’m now down to only two correspondents in the class.

Please note my change of address and phone number. Our beloved home on Bald Head Island survived six hurricanes, but the seventh and last one (Florence) did us in. Although we suffered some wind damage, the ocean came over the island from the south, ran up over our elevated driveway and left 3 feet of water in our basement for 10 days. We lost our three golf carts, two HVAC units, the water heater, and a multitude of tools and pool furniture. We evacuated to our second home in Southern Pines, where we’ll stay for the foreseeable future – at least until Ann completes her extensive medical regimen and/or repairs at Bald Head are complete.

I can’t tell how long this will last – or how long I will.

Allen Penniman, with assistance of his loyal assistant, Carol Ray, submits the following: “Once again, I received a request for a word or two about the Penniman family and what we are doing. Like all of us, it seems like we are slowing down a bit and sitting when we used to stand. This is to be expected, and I hope that the few of us that are left will continue to stand.

“In this quarter, I had a wonderful visit in Galveston, Texas, with a gentleman I have been in business with since I began.

He is a few years younger, but we have walked the same path together for almost 70 years. We spent four days together simply reliving the stories of our lives ... most good and a few not so good. It was a great experience for me to spend much time in Galveston. We laughed about most of our experiences, and there was a time or two we both wished things had been a little different. A friend like this is certainly treasured, and there are just a few left.

“As I said before, most of Joanie’s and my involvement comes from our children and the rest of our family. They love to visit and frequently do. I have an office at 59

Class Notes home, and I always spend time with each one when they visit in an effort to share some of the experiences I have had with them. The lives they are living are quite different from the life I had as a younger person. By that I mean it is greatly improved.

They have more to spend, more to learn and their opportunities are unlimited.

“With a huge change in our lifestyle, Joanie and I have adopted a six-weekold golden retriever. She is appropriately named Honey. I now wonder about her name, because at this point, there is not much sweet about our new acquisition.

She runs in the house, gnaws on furniture, will run when told to ‘come’ and snaps when one tries to pet her, not to mention her poor urinary habits. It is the case of two older people adopting a too young puppy. Her future is cloudy at this time, but we are being patient and trying to learn how to raise the newest member of our family. In my next writing, I will give you the results of our experiment.

“A word about VMI. I am so impressed in reading about the Institute and what it is doing in terms of education and the opportunity for the cadets enrolled at this time. The classes are directed about many of the problems we face in our world, and these studies will be of benefit to all. I am certainly proud of all of the positive changes that have happened at VMI since we were there, almost seventy years ago.

“Joanie and I remain in good health and still continue to look forward to tomorrow and what we are able to do. We are blessed.”

Harrison Whitten responded to my email but only said he had nothing new to contribute.

And that’s the extent of my remaining contacts.

1949B Dan Smaw

2905 Green Valley Road Snellville, GA 30078 770/736-7795 dgs49b@bellsouth.net

My son, Danny, and I went and stayed with the Pattons in Staunton, Virginia, and 60

1950A

Bill Moore

7041 Richmond Hwy Lynchburg, VA 24504 (H) 434/845-7714 (C) 434/941-5995 VMI50A@aol.com

Class of 1949B: Ding Patton and Dan Smaw stopped by the Alumni Review office to say hello on Dan’s 90th birthday, Nov. 8, 2018. Dan was in town to attend the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 9, 2018.

went to Institute Society Dinner with them in November. There were four people from the Class of ’49B at the dinner: Ding and Nobbie Patton; Nux Enochs; Grover Outland and his grandson, Cadet Benjamin Outland ’19; and me with Danny.

I had my real birthday while I was up there. They celebrated it at my home church before I left. We celebrated my real birthday at the Pattons.

Danny drove me up and back. If he didn’t do the driving, I could never drive all that way by myself. We went up Wednesday and came back Sunday. It’s always fun staying with the Pattons.

Grover Outland has moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia so he can be close to one of his children who lives over that way.

Harvey Bradley was at VMI for the Old Corps Luncheon in October. He and Ding Patton got together.

God Bless America, VMI and ’49B.

1949C

Haywood France 1029 Aberdeen Loop Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540/437-8771 hgfrance@ntelos.net

Editor’s Note: The Class of 1949C is no longer submitting notes. Haywood France remains the point of contact for the class.

Brother Rats and Ladies, Unfortunately, this job is getting more difficult as time goes by. Death and disability has taken its toll on our already thin ranks.

I’ve lost contact with the following: Mary Ripley (Joe), Charlotte Logsdon (Harold), Beverly Stealey (Syd), Mrs. Donald Hurst and Mrs. William Collier.

Anybody on the above list or a relative or friend with information, please contact me using any of the venues associated with my name in the heading of these notes. The Class of 1950A has five living brother rats out of a class of 43 that matriculated March 4, 1946. These are Jennings Bunch, Ralph Mooney, Kenny Stagg, Gene Witcher and me, Bill Moore.

Gene is the oldest at 92, and I’m the youngest at 89. Jennings, Gene and I seem to be doing well insofar as serious health issues are concerned. Kenny is suffering with a cancer that is controlled, and Ralph has had about everything you can think of during the last few years. Thank God for his lovely wife, Judy, who takes extraordinarily good care of our BR. There’s not much detail to share about the five living BRs other than we’re doing well for our ages. Of course, we don’t indulge in the strenuous activities that we did a few years ago. Jennings and I seem to be the most active of the five. I am still fighting Anthem over my leaky mitral valve.

I’ve been assured by my cardiologist that the rest of my heart won’t be damaged by my neglecting getting the thing fixed. Of course, this is not a forever solution. My problem is that I’m still “working” sort of for my locality, Campbell County, Virginia. I’ve been on our local sewer and water authority board for the past 32 years. It is an interesting and satisfying side job, and it keeps grandpa off the streets. The only perk that we get is county health insurance, VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes which means that I’m not required to buy coverage for the 20 percent that Medicare doesn’t pay. It’s taken care of an aortic valve, both knees and a hip replacement over the years with nary a squawk. However, I want to use a fairly new repair procedure (10 years old!) to avoid open heart surgery. My coverage is with Anthem, and they won’t pay.

Under the Affordable Care Act rules, I can buy regular coverage for the 20 percent and then they’ll have to pay. I may have to go that route. More than enough about me.

Jennings Bunch walks 2 miles a day and stays fit. Harriet is doing well, also.

I got the thrill of a lifetime recently. I found Beth (Jim) Duke’s phone number in some old papers and gave it a try. Lo and behold and will miracles never cease. Beth answered the phone. I’m so excited I can hardly think.

I promise to have more about Beth next time. Thanks, Beth, for being there.

Nan (Elliott) Hudgins has had hell to pay with her New Bern, North Carolina, home being near the center of flooding damage from both Hurricanes Florence and Michael. I’ll give you the short and dirty synopses of her experiences with those two. Nan was not at home when either of the monsters hit North and South Carolina. I kept trying to reach her, but she had no power, etc. She’s safe with minimal damage. I’m going to ask her to write a few paragraphs to insert in the Feb. 15 edition of these notes.

She has an interesting story to tell, and I can’t do it justice.

I did talk with Nancy (Hank) McWane.

She’s fine and still living on her farm at Forest, Virginia, which is on Lynchburg’s west side.

1950B

Joseph B. Kohen Jr.

1840 Tice Creek Drive Apt. 2224 Walnut Creek, CA 94595 (C) 925/878-1718 (H) 925/949-8323 jbkohen@sbcglobal.net

Sadly I received the obituary on the death of our Brother Rat Ed Smith. After graduation, Ed served in the armored cavalry in Germany and was honorably discharged as a captain. Ed resumed the responsibility 2019-Issue 1

of his family’s telephone answering service when he returned to Richmond. Whenever I, as a physician, returned to one of our class reunions, Ed would share answering service stories with me. I envied Ed’s time with his family and friends at their mountain retreat on Devil’s Knob in Wintergreen.

I received a lovely note from Ann Witt containing the full obituary from the Richmond Times-Dispatch as well as the church service. Ann attended the funeral with Mary Virginia Harwood, who drove down from Leonardtown, Maryland.

I received a lovely note from Jean Oast, who has been spending a lot of time with her family at their wonderful cottage on the Atlantic Ocean at Sandbridge, Virginia (part of Virginia Beach).

1951

Jacob H. Wamsley II 5403 Springhouse Circle Stone Mountain, GA 30087 404/216-4826 jake820@comcast.net

Just a couple of days after sending in the last class notes, I got a letter from Jim Close, who reported that Steed and Ann Evans are doing well in Greenville, South Carolina. He and Alice visited them in the spring. They also paid a visit to God’s country at the Homestead in Bath County, Virginia – my home country some 30 miles from the Institute. He also suggested the following: “If you publish this sentence or so, I think it would be great fun for everyone who is reading this to think back about two hours before arriving on the post that September 1947 day and reflect on what he was doing the few hours before he was to become a true rat. What we didn’t know what we were about to get into.” Amen!

Piggy Baber, to whom we owe so much for his email work, noted that one of his roommates died just recently, A.J. Marchand Jr. His death was noted in the Taps section of the last Alumni Review under the Class of ’52. He matriculated and went through the Rat Line with us but graduated with the Class of ’52. I did not know until recently that under circumstances

like this, the individual can decide with which class in the alumni records he – or now, she – should be identified. Regardless, Marchand, in my opinion, is our brother rat.

As we often say, “VMI is everywhere!”

To illustrate, I recently got an email from David Hagemann ’80, who lives in Minnesota. He said he has known Henry Bryan for 20 years and still sees the Bryans regularly. He said they are doing fine in their new environment, a retirement community.

Now for some statistics – there are 51 of our illustrious class remaining. Of that number, 55 percent have contributed to the Institute in the current year. That ranks us pretty high, but not as high as last year. Of course, as our numbers dwindle, the percentage goes up – e.g., the Class of ’39 has only one member remaining, so its percentage, along with the Class of ’40 with two members, is 100 percent. Nevertheless, maybe we can dig a little deeper in 2019.

After Hurricanes Florence and Michael, I checked in with Sam Scott and George Cohen, both of whom live in the path of those storms. Neither of them suffered any major damage and were not forced to evacuate. Sam had some distressing news: He has been declared legally blind, although he still has some vision left. He is planning to sell his house and move into an assisted living facility in the next few months.

Shortly after posting a birthday note to Jim Enochs, in which I mentioned it being his 89th, he sent an email chiding me about my error – he just turned 88. He reported that his annual hiking expedition with his daughters was enjoyed again this year, although his participation was limited just a tad – the 88 years, you know.

Back in July, the alumni office notified us of the death of Lang Sheffield in Americus, Georgia, July 18. He would have been 88 in the next few days. Those of you who subscribe to the Class of ’51 email chain will be aware of this. Lang had spent his entire life in his hometown of Americus and was active in all facets of civic affairs there and in the state of Georgia, as well.

61

Class Notes

1952

James M. Mecredy 536 Oak Chase Drive Martinez, GA 30907 706/863-3565 mecredyjim@gmail.com

I am opening the fall class notes with an email I received from Ed Wilbarger. I had called Ed in May and left a message. He emailed me Aug. 13. He had not returned my call because he was involved in an auto accident and forgot to call me back. He was not hurt, but the other party claimed injury, and it took some time to resolve the insurance claim. On the plus side, Ed is still playing golf (he didn’t mention scores). His oldest granddaughter is starting at USC, and Ed is wondering how time flies.

I called Lou Delisio and he was able to report he is doing well considering he has to get blood transfusions every so often. He is still playing golf, but he doesn’t play if the temperature is over 90. He tires easily walking so he uses a golf cart which is fine as long he doesn’t hit the ball on the side of the fairway away from the path for the cart.

I talked to Wilson Gaillard Aug. 16.

Wilson was telling me of a visit he made to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The VMI band was there and they gave Wilson a personal Old Yell.

Chuck Haley called to thank me for the photos of the wooden stature of a VMI cadet in the recent issue of the Alumni Review. Chuck said he had 150 guests for his 90th birthday.

Rich Falwell sent me an email saying: “I am reading the VMI Review No. 3 and the thought came to me that I have not thanked you for being class agent and keeping us up to date on the class news as well as what is going on at the Institute. You deserve a big cheer and a great thank you. We out here in outer space lose contact without your input thru this book. While reading thru it, I get confused by the class numbers. For instance, it mentions Gen. George R.E. Shell ’931.

What would ’931 mean? Also it mentions Col. Arthur Lipscomb ’934. Again, what does ’934 mean? This has bothered me for 62

quite a while. I hope you can straighten me out. Again, thanks for your service to us.” I was able to answer his question by explaining that ’931 means the Class of 1931. As we now have graduating classes in 2000, we distinguish early 1900 classes by adding the number “9.”

Vann Boudreaux sent me a note that he is still upright and working on the homestead which consists of rural acreage, horses, chickens and two dogs at last count. His son lives across the road and helps with the big jobs. His son also keeps Vann in shape by jogging 30 minutes every morning at 5 a.m. I don’t know about 5 a.m.; the sun doesn’t come up here in Augusta until 6:50 and I walk for 30 minutes (not jog) most every morning after daylight.

Jack Lanford returned my call to tell me that he is continuing to recover from a fall in 2016. He is in a wheelchair and is working to eventually get back on his feet.

He sold his business to the employees and continues to have an interest in a construction company. He has a good spirit.

Cecil Webb’s son called me Aug. 21 to let me know that Cecil died July 31. Cecil had moved in with his son a few months before.

Joe Webber woke up from a nap to answer my phone call. Joe claims to be vertical, having gone through knee operations several years ago. He and his wife live on the top floor of their retirement community, so he gets to watch the airplanes in the nearby airfield. Joe has done enough flying (10,000 hours) in a Cessna 190 to be entertained watching the landings. His other entertainment comes from refurbishing computers for all of his old friends who are trying to keep up with changes in personal computers. Every July 4, they get to see plenty of fireworks. All in all, this keeps him from getting bored.

Charlie Piper and Sharon are hoping to take another trip to visit family here in the USA instead of another trip to Europe like they took last year. Charlie has recently had some heart monitor concerns which he is expecting to decline so they can continue with their trip plans.

Estelle Gordon sees that Bill is being well cared for in a memory care facility by a hospice staff. She and the family are coping

with the changes and doing well. They came through Hurricane Florence with their new roof from a storm last year and the addition of new gutters this year. The hurricane actually stayed north of them. We also missed the effects of the hurricane, as we live further south in Georgia than Estelle does.

Bill Gordon died Sept. 22. Estelle got a call from the memory care facility where he had been since July at about 3 a.m. that he quietly took his last breath and slipped away. His preplanned arrangements include cremation and interment in the family cemetery plot in his

Class of 1952: Russ McCarthy with a 25inch northern pike.

Class of 1952: Russ McCarthy at the controls of a Boeing 737.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes beloved Virginia where he will rest in peace.

Per his request, there will be no funeral.

I called Jack Roche in California and left a message. I am waiting to hear back from him. I am also awaiting a call back from Tom Sokol. It seems that some of our brother rats are keeping active. I called Ted Ball a couple of times with no answer. Cameron Barr’s phone is out of service. I find “No answer” and “phone out of service” are becoming more frequent. Ted Ball called me a couple of days later. They had been at their lake house in Tennessee, and he had left his cell phone at home. They are working to repair their lake home because they have not been using it recently. Ted had two operations which kept them at home. Now he is recovered and they are spending more time at their lake house, which is much nicer than being in the city of Tullahoma, Tennessee. They were back in Virginia recently at a restaurant in Fairfax Station and met a member of the VMI Class of ’72 or ’73.

I received a call from VMI about my brother rat and roommate Howard Williamson. His brother Robert had written to VMI regarding a legacy for Howard. Apparently Howard is still living, but Robert did not have any information about Howard’s current status. I haven’t heard from Howard in two years and have been unable to reach him by phone or email.

Neal Petree is doing fine. He and I spent some time reviewing members of the football team. Most have passed on. We could name a few still with us: Chris Holland and Jack Lanford come to mind, but offhand, we couldn’t think of others. (As you read this, let me know who I have missed.) Neal is continuing exercises five days a week and is thanking the Lord that he can keep it up.

After talking to Neal, I called Chris Holland to let him know we were talking about him.

Chris and Sugar are both well. Chris had to give up driving because of limited eyesight, but Sugar still drives. They no longer like to drive long distances.

Ann Carman (Lee Rogers’ widow) wrote to thank me for her birthday card. She sent me photos of her walk on Mount Whiteface with her grandkids Evie (13) and Harry (17).

Unfortunately they are not sharp enough to include them with these notes. She is happy 2019-Issue 1

and grateful that she can continue to be active. She wrote that age 80 is a bit scary, but a few days after the birthday she found herself thinking, ”It’s only 80!” and she is grateful to have a bit more time ahead to see the direction our country and world will take and help in any way possible.

Bill Ruffin called to ask how we were affected by Hurricane Florence. He was visiting Army Welford in Richmond to escape the hurricane. I also talked to Army, and they are all doing well. I was able to report that we were just on the southern edge of the hurricane and do not expect to be affected very much. We will see when the storm actually passes us tomorrow and Sunday.

Red Austermann sent me the following email: “Recently, I have been giving thought to some of the coincidental events that I have encountered over the years. One stands out, and for what it might be worth, here it is: In either July or August 1952, I was driving from Seattle to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, (Field Artillery Basic Officers Class), via Los Angeles.

It was a blistering hot day (no AC), the drive had been tiring and I was looking for a brief relief. I pulled off the highway when I saw a sign leading to Tucumcari, New Mexico, and spotted a pleasant small-town hotel with AC among its amenities. I had found an oasis and – since I was running ahead of schedule – I decided to take a couple of days delay en route. That evening as I was walking along the main drag seeking a highly recommended restaurant (steaks), I spotted a person approaching and quickly recognized him as our BR Keith Bleeker who was then en route (if memory serves) to his home in Bakersfield.

Ours was a relatively small class when we scattered in June ’52, and Tucumcari is a minor community located in a vast expanse of the continent. Therefore, the chances of an encounter like this are minuscule. Like many of us, I have had several coincidental encounters. This one leads the pack.”

Joe Webber responded to Red’s email.

“Thanks for the remembrance of this encounter, Red. It reminds me of the summer between our 3rd and 2nd Class years.

There were a few of our class who were in summer school at the Institute who would ride into Roanoke with Keith Bleeker in his black Buick to do some partying. At the time,

I was the local guy who had a few contacts with local gals and set up dates. Among the group were Swede Larson, Abie Bickerstaff, George Bookman and Bucky Greear. Joining us at one gathering were Bob and Betty Lambert and old Jim Mecredy, my local Roanoke BR. Keith always seemed to have other plans, as I recall.”

Ann Hutchinson (Hutch’s wife) died in 2018. I received her birthday card returned as deceased. I also received an obituary. Ann had a very full life of service to many through her teaching, her church and civic organizations.

Rich Caldwell sent me an email Bible lesson which essentially says we need to choose the kind of a nation we want to have, either governed by our Lord God or governed by man alone.

Russ McCarthy described some of his activities this past year. Last year, they traveled to the Thousand Islands in upstate New York.

This year they went to Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. Actually they have more than 10,000 lakes. Lakes in Minnesota have to be certain size before it is named. It should be called the state with 10,000 named lakes.

Russ continues with his exercises walking and climbing stairs. He and Pat returned from 10 days in northern Minnesota Sept. 9.

Russ had great time fishing for bass, walleyes and northern pike. He caught about 20 fish and kept the eight largest. Patricia and Russ fished two of those lakes. They sent a photo of a 25-inch northern pike and one of Russ at the controls of a Boeing 737. It was the first time he has been in the cockpit of a large aircraft since he retired in 1980.

Russ’ No. 1 priority bucket list item is to attend, and enjoy our 70th Reunion without the aid of a wheelchair, walker or cane and eat what he wants to eat, not what the doctor says eat.

To make that happen he intends to continue his Fitbit program. He sent me two charts to confirm his walking and step climbing. The charts show a yearly total of 3,219,926 steps and 1,866 floors climbed. This amounts to 1,620 miles (4-6 miles a day). Russ says that is not too shabby for 88 years old and two artificial knees. In addition to Fitbit, he is working out, with weights, at the gym a couple of nights per week. Throw in a couple of nights 63

Class Notes swimming in the pool, and that makes for a busy week. (I, Jim, say that is awesome! I think I am doing well at 1 mile a day.)

Patricia stays busy with their ranch of 4 acres, a house plus six miniature horses. She insists he cannot call it a ranch in Texas unless it has 1,000 acres. He told her if he is paying for it he can call it anything he wants.

They are the proud owners of the Grey Ghost Ranch. He never dreamed that at 88 he would be hitching up a horse trailer and trying to convince two stubborn horses to get into the trailer.

That is the news for this round. You will read this in February. I hope you all enjoyed Christmas.

With blessings, Brother Rat Jim

1953

William C. Noell Jr. 3 Woodduck Road Lexington, VA 24450 540/463-5135 noellharbor@cs.com

Brother Rats, Regretfully, I have to start off these class notes with the loss of a Brother Rat – Dr. Robert “Red” Haden in October in Pasadena, Texas. Details on Red are in the Taps section of this Alumni Review. Webb Maddox lost his wife, Helen, also in October after long medical issues, which did not allow her to travel, thus they did not make it to recent reunions, or the Richmond spring lunches. I have memories of Webb and Helen with Judy and I in Charlotte before The Citadel game at the VMI party in a very wet and soggy field, eating in tents adjoining Citadel tents – and the white ducks of both were muddy up at least 6 inches of so. I did write Webb on behalf of the class, and Parker has talked with him. Webb sent out an email saying he was canceling his landline phone, and would now only have a cellphone: 434/203-1541.

Our adopted 1st Class cadet, Weston Gloger ’19, Art Moncrief’s great-nephew; his mother, Kim; and her friend, Paul Richard, from Houston; stayed with us from Thursday to Sunday for Parents Weekend in October.

Friday afternoon, we took our house guests to the VMI parade. Saturday morning, we 64

tailgated on the Parade Ground with them, along with our adopted 3rd Classman, Kyle Donnelly ’21, and his family, from Los Alamos, Texas. We all attended the VMI versus The Citadel game afterward, with The Citadel winning by two points – however, it was a pretty good game despite our loss and the weather was very good. On Friday night, Judy and I took the group to the Country Club for dinner: Weston Gloger ’19; his roommate, Taylor Ayers ’19; his mother, Kim Gloger, and her friend, Paul Richards; Kyle Donnelly ’21 and his parents, as well as his brother and sister and a roommate; along with our son, Andy, and one of his sons. We also visited with Barry and Dawn Coceano ’84 at the football game. Barry was Judy’s adopted football rat in the days where you could adopt football players, and she became good friends with Barry’s parents. Barry is also the brother rat of my No. 3 son, John Lee W. Noell ’84, who roomed with Greg “The Cav” Cavallaro ’84 his rat year.

The first weekend of October, Judy and I spent the weekend with Win and Warren Koontz at their Smith Mountain Lake home. We had a great visit, doing mostly visiting, and eating in, as it was not the best of weekend weather. We did take a cool boat ride Saturday morning up the lake to take in the views. This was the first time either Judy or I have been to SML in many years, even though it is only about an hour and half away for us in Lexington. Warren also has a wooden 18-foot MoCraft that was purchased by his father in 1964, which was built in Roanoke.

There were only five built – one has sunk, one burned, one is not known what happened to it and two are at Smith Mountain Lake – one being Warren’s, which has never been anyplace but SML, and the other is on a trailer there.

In November, we spent six days with Bob Cheatham in Summerville, outside of Charleston, South Carolina. He went with us to Columbus for the Tennessee versus South Carolina football game on Saturday – Bob did the driving since we had our Mazda convertible for touring the Charleston area. We spent one day at Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms, and two days in Beaufort, where we were able to have lunch outside overlooking the water in very nice weather. We

Class of 1953: Bob Cheatham and Bill Noell in South Carolina.

Class of 1953: Cadet Weston Gloger ’19 with his mother, Kim, during Parents Weekend.

Class of 1953: Bill and Judy Noell with Barry and Dawn Coceano ’84 at the VMI versus The Citadel football game.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Trivia/historical: The patriotic song “God Kate Smith was born just up the road from also drove down the islands below Beaufort as far as Fripp Island with the top down on Bless America” was introduced to the coun- the Institute, about 20 miles north in the small the car, and stopped and walked on a beach. try by Kate Smith on her national radio show town of Greenville, Virginia, on U.S. Route 11 The evenings we spent visiting and catching back in 1940. Kate was looking for a song to – en route to New Market. up with Bob, which was very enjoyable – not boost the morale of the country just before too many Old Corps tales, as Judy has heard WWII, and went to Irving Berlin with her ideas of a song for him to write for her. It them too many times.

Also in October, the Alumni Association turned out that he had written a song back J.M. Perry Archer held a senior alumni lunch at Moody Hall in 1917 that he had never released. He pulled 623 Lee Shore Lane Houston, TX 77079 for alumni that have already been through out then song from his file, and gave it to 281/814-4859 their 50th Reunion. Judy and I attended, and Kate – “God Bless America” – to sing to the keydet54@gmail.com had a very enjoyable visit with Bob Phillips country over the radio with her orchestra on Greetings and Salutations: ’87, the Corps chaplain, during the meal. As her program. It was an instant hit throughout This is being written about a month before you will recall, Chaplain Phillips gave a very the country. Of course, in those days there good talk at our reunion. He was the speaker was no television, only the radio – to which my report is due, because wife Shirley and I at this lunch, talking about various aspects of all listened. It has been said that Frank Sina- are soon going on a trip to Spain and other the Corps. Warren Koontz and “Fluggie” tra considered Kate Smith the best singer of places. It is a trip I have thought of making Moore came up for the lunch from Rich- her time, and said that when he and a mil- for 64 years. Just after our VMI graduation, lion other guys first heard her sing “God Bless I was given the trip of a lifetime – a summer mond.

I understand that Betty Woodward was at America” on the radio, they all pretended to in Europe. I went across the Atlantic on a the Institute Society dinner this year. Warren have dust in their eyes as they wiped away a ship (the SS Seven Seas) that was carrying a and Win Koontz had to cancel due hurri- tear or two. As I learned while at the Institute, couple of hundred college students. It took a bit over a week. (Just a bit of partycane maintenance problems at home. ing!) Anyway, part of the trip found While all were enjoying a nice dinme and buddy from the University ner and warm seating at the Institute of Virginia in Barcelona in August Society event, Judy and I were at the 1954. The trip had been fantastic Tennessee versus Kentucky football through a bunch of cities, but after game in Knoxville at a temperature several weeks of trains, we wanted to of 33 degrees. After thawing out, we settle in some place without tourists. wound up with pizza about 9 p.m. on A hotel in Barcelona recommended the way back to the lake – quite a cona place called Cadaques on Spain’s trast to an Institute Society Dinner.

Costa Brava, northeast of where we Judy was looking at the new Alumwere. Off we went on a bus, through ni Review today, and let out kind of Figueres to Cadaques. Turns out we an unprintable expression and some comments, when she noted how Class of 1953: Bob Cheatham with his daughters, Cathy and were the only Americans there, and there were almost no tourists at all. close our class notes were now to- Karen, in Kiawah, South Carolina, in August 2018.

Picturesque does not even begin to ward the front of the Review – even describe the little Spanish town. Recounted off the note pages to ours as ally beautiful. It was so far from busy only nine – think we might be getting places that there was only one motor kind of old (?). For a more pleasant vehicle in town, a yellow 1959 Studethought, since you will be receiving baker, and no running water – it had these notes after the first of the year to be brought in over a mountain by – about February, soon thereafter, an donkey, towing a long red water tank. email will be sent out announcing the One hotel. Lovely harbor with lots of resumption of our “Richmond and small fishing boats. We settled in and Beyond” annual spring ’53 lunch in soon found a small cove we could Richmond, now that the 65th has walk to and go swimming. On the passed. The lunch is normally on a way to the cove, we came to a large Thursday, the second or third week white house. It turned out it was the of April, so think about holding open home of Salvador Dali, and one day that time until you receive an actual Class of 1953: Warren Koontz’s boat. as we were going to swim, we found date statement for your calendar.

1954

2019-Issue 1

65

Class Notes

you have as they occur to you. At this Dali himself sitting beside the house, time, we are in the process of choosworking on a small landscape painting hotel(s) and beginning the planing. By that time, we had met a young ning of meals, meetings, events and girl named Maria Rosa, who was such. Please begin to think now about with us. Actually seeing Dali for the the reunion. We are hoping for good first time was a very big deal for my attendance. Although this may seem friend and me. Maria Rosa introduced early to being planning an April reus in Spanish; we didn’t know the lanunion, there is much organizing and guage, but she managed for us. She scheduling which must be done from knew some English. During the small Class of 1954: Several class members were able to attend the talk between her and Dali, he told her Old Corps Luncheon held in Moody Hall in October 2018. Bob here in conjunction with VMI, and it is brand-new to me. he would like to paint her sometime. Phillips ’87, Institute chaplain, was the guest speaker.

A bit more on genealogy. One of Well, that was the only time we saw the great artist and the very last time we saw said she wanted to join. The boys consid- my family’s ancestors, John W. McCue Maria Rosa. Years later, I bought a book of ered it, accepted her and she became a gang ’867, was a young (15) member of the VMI Class of 1867 and brother of my maternal Dali’s paintings, and lo and behold, in a true member after initiation.

Daliesque style, was our former friend, Maria We also talked genealogy. I guess all of us grandmother. When the War Between the Rosa, leaning on a balcony railing and gazing at this later life stage have become interested States began, McCue ran away from the Inout at a seascape, her “behind” toward Dali. in our lineage. It turns out Al is truly de- stitute and joined Mosby’s Rangers. He was The painting was made in 1954, and she was scended from Pocahontas, also called Ma- captured in spring 1865 over in Maryland in wearing ballet slippers and seamed hose, toka (or Matoaka). And Al’s father was pre- Prince George’s County while on a scouting nude above the waist. (Maria Rosa had, on scient. There was a huge railroad yard that expedition and sentenced by a military tria couple of occasions, danced for us outside Al and his father used to drive by in Salem, bunal to hang, as he had killed a Yankee dewith ballet slippers and playing castanets.) where the family lived, and there were huge tective, one of a group of six such detectives It was quite a time. Oh, in 1955, my father stacks of scrap metal there. Al’s dad used that were sent to capture him and a compansent me a copy of the old Holiday magazine to say, “The Japanese are going to buy that ion. Too much historic detail to go into here, with a wonderful story. Artie Shaw, the great scrap metal and probably use it to bomb us!” but suffice to say McCue was ultimately bandleader, had engineered the discovery of On Dec. 7, 1941, Al was in the house listen- pardoned after his mother went to President water in Cadaques. (A discovery, I would ing to the radio and Mr. Mattox was outside Andrew Johnson. President Johnson rudely think, second only to his discovery of Ava cutting the grass. Al yelled out, “Dad, the denied her pleas, but then she went to Gen. Gardner).

Japanese are bombing Pearl Harbor!” I have Ulysses S. Grant, who interceded with the I talked at length with Al Mattox this morn- heard that the Japanese did indeed import president and obtained a full pardon for her ing, and we reminisced about growing up in tons of scrap metal from America and did son. Note: There is a fascinating book that Staunton. I may have mentioned that Al and use it to develop much of its war machine, we have obtained through a Google search entitled “Mosby’s Keydet Rangers: Virginia I were born on the same day – Oct. 17, 1933 turning it against our country.

– he in Staunton and I in Bluefield, West (by Note please: April 15-16, 2019. On that Military Institute Men Who Rode with God) Virginia.

Monday and Tuesday, our class will hold its Mosby’s Rangers” by Eric S. Buckland. Lots Al, I found, was way ahead of his time re- 65th Reunion. I will be sending information of entertaining war anecdotes and historical garding the equal treatment of females. At between now and the reunion and questions fact. Fifty-seven VMI boys rode with Col. about the age of nine, he and two other boys concerning attendance and so on. Please John Singleton Mosby. For information and had what kids used to call a gang, and a girl contact me with any questions or desires questions contact info@mosbymen.com.

66

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 1954: Tommy Williamson at the Westminster Canterbury VMI dinner with Susie and Jan Orgain Oct. 23, 2018.

As you can tell, there is almost nothing to report this time. We need news, and the best way for us to receive it is either by regular mail or email. Recent news, stories, anecdotes from our time at VMI and photos; all is welcome – the more the better. Thanks.

Until next time.

In the spirit, Perry

1955

Read Hanmer

Brookdale Carriage Club 5800 Old Providence Road #4205 Charlotte, NC 28226 703/864-2112 readandlois@cox.net

Here are gleanings from my inbox, gathered since my last submission to the Institute Aug. 15. You should have received your copy of the Alumni Review for 2018-Issue 4 by now.

Dusty Rhodes sent me this discouraging note: “The Rhodeses have had a rough go; in early July, Rody got her feet tangled and fell face down on a concrete floor. Fortunately, no bones or teeth were broken, but she was otherwise pretty badly injured. In the process, they performed a CT scan and catheterization and had a stent implanted to correct a 95 percent blockage in her heart. Thanks to 2019-Issue 1

modern medicine, her prognosis is good.”

Rody, Lois had a similar fall recently. Y’all need to take better care of yourselves.

Bob Rennicks wrote: “I am still hacking away on the tennis courts of my Hilton Head Plantation tennis club. I play four times a week and can still ‘run around’ quite well.

The attached photo shows a recent pre-match account of me and my mixed doubles partner (in blue) who won the Moss Creek Tennis Club Championship last month. My partner, Pattie, and both of our worthy opponents are all in their 60s. We won by a score of 6-2, 6-2.

I am the oldest active member of my tennis club.

“I credit tennis with keeping me in semigood physical shape, and I plan to continue as long as my wheels allow it. I am also captain of the ‘Duck Soup Group,’ an eight person trivia team that competes against 25 other trivia teams every month. This activity helps to keep my noggin in shape. All-in-all, Clara and I are still having fun times in the ‘sunny South.’”

Ron and Nita Bryan sent Lois this note of encouragement: “Nita and I are sorry to hear about your move to Charlotte. We all know that if we hang around long enough, these decisions must be made. Here’s wishing you smooth sailing during this move. We took our annual trip to Hilton Head in March. Nita fell the first night there and cut her head just above her right eye. That required an emergency room visit and 11 stitches. Needless to say, she did not feel well the whole week. We had plans to have dinner with Bob and Clara Rennicks while there but had to cancel. Bob and I did get to play a round of golf together, as we always enjoy doing. In June, we had another wonderful visit with Frank and Judy Brooke at their lake home. Good company, good drinks, lots of old stories and a great time. They are doing well. So much from the Bryans.”

Bob Beale advises that he and Mary Ellen sold their home in Florida and now live full time at Kings Mill Golf Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia. “I have fully recovered from my February 2017 stroke and have recently finished a heart cardioversion procedure, etc. (too complicated to describe here). Hopefully, no more a-fib/flutter. We will cruise with Viking Nov. 22 to Cuba, Panama and

the Pacific Islands, ending in Los Angeles Dec. 13. I still play golf, and any brother rat visiting Williamsburg, please give us a call (757-259-5966) and join us for a drink, golf or whatever.”

Pete Haake empathized with Lois’ and my move to Charlotte, saying, “I know it must be a difficult decision to make when you have been in one place so long. We are close to our kids (One son is about 2 miles away and our daughter is 20 minutes away). Of six grandchildren, four are local and two away (one in Chicago and one in Florida). Our summer weather is hot but pleasant. We are on the St. Lawrence River a lot. Fishing has not been good, but swimming has. As I peruse the email list, it kindles so many good memories and hopefully some good future ones. My very best regards in the bonds to you Lois and all our brother rats.”

Reg and Alice Ridgely wrote: “Our best to you and Lois. We trust you and Lois are settled in your new home close to your family, enjoying your new area. How nice to be away from the increasingly congested traffic here. We’re still here in Arlington – knees wearing out for both of us along with other aging parts needing replacements that don’t exist yet.”

Rosemary Coleman sent congratulations on our move, saying, “I did the same thing last March and moved into a retirement community with all the amenities. I have passed on my new address to VMI but will give it to you as well: Mrs. Lamar W. Coleman (Rosemary S. Coleman), 900 E. Stanley Blvd, #183, Livermore, CA 94550-4235. Phone and email remain the same: (925) 447-6978, colemanrs@comcast.net.”

I received a nice note from Jean Lathram: “Our church in Birmingham is closely related to the church I am sending contact info for. If you can, go out of your way to enjoy all that Covenant Church offers. Kevin DeYoung is unbeatable as pastor and teacher! Christ Covenant Church 800 Fullwood Lane, Matthews, NC 28105. Church phone: 704-8473505.” Many thanks, Jean. Lois and I don’t get around like we used to, so we probably won’t get over that way.

Reg Ridgely has written to me regarding his VMI friend and roommate, Ben Angle, who has had poor health for years and is now 67

Class Notes in a home where he is getting good care. His wife, Chris, had a stroke a year ago, has not been able to walk and is in hospice now. Their daughter recently called to give us Ben’s address and an update on Ben and Chris’ situation. Ben has been an ardent VMI supporter over the years. Some of his VMI friends may want the following contact information, as he would be delighted to hear from his brother rats. Ben Angle, 19 Hunters Valley Lane, Rocky Mount, VA, 24151. Phone: 540-4837500. Ben’s daughter, Ann-Lewis Dessart, manages her parent’s home care. She can be reached at aldessart@aol.com.

I must now turn to the most difficult part of these notes: Frank Lloyd Beale Sr. died Nov. 5, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Patricia B. Beale. Frank attended VMI and the Southeastern Signal School. His career in retail included Western Auto, Chuck’s Supermarket and Hannaford. He was interred in Franklin, Virginia.

1956

from a brain tumor. He wasn’t sure when he would be coming back this way.

Bob Brickner is planning to run in as many marathons as possible this year. He sent pictures of the one recently completed, called Madness Run outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. It went up a ravine with broken rocks, tree branches and roots. He was awarded first place in the group of 75 and older participants. He works out in the YMCA gym three days a week for two hours to keep in shape. He started physical training when he was a regular army officer in Airborne Paratrooper School. Bob is continuing to work with the VMI Foundation to increase his support for various scholarships.

Fred and Mary Jo Farthing were delighted to learn I had been given tickets to the Oyster Bowl football game between VMI and Old Dominion University and invited them to join me and Honey in November.

Jim Dillard called to check on me and pass along some information. He had talked with Al “Tiger” Jackson and learned that he

and Nan have moved into an assisted living residence. Nan had a fall and broke her hip and has also become almost blind. They are selling her home soon.

A number of BRs joined Honey and I at the funeral of Jack Pittman in Franklin, Virginia. Those in attendance were the Belshas, Hesleps, Farthings and Motsy Foster. After the large church service, a celebration of life reception was held at The Villages at Woods Edge retirement home. Quite a number of former VMI graduates were also there to join Ina Gee and the family in remembrance of our beloved BR, Jack. I received a nice note from Susie McKinnon, widow of our BR Frank McKinnon, who still lives in Marietta, Georgia, where Frank practiced medicine for many years. She writes that she still enjoys reading the Alumni Review articles and following things that are happening at VMI. I was surprised to receive a phone call from BR Scott Boland informing me that he and his wife, Artis, and daughter, Stacy, were in

Richard M. Smith

2181 Siouan Road Ebony, VA 23845 434/636-2552 Birdhunter1956@gmail.com

Upon reading of the death of BR Fred Judge, Pete Jennette sent me this email. He was with Fred at a friend’s house in Virginia Beach before they came to VMI and recalled this funny account. They decided to go swimming, and Fred had shorts but needed a jockstrap. A female clerk at a local variety store was eventually requested to find one by Fred. Not knowing what one was, she called out to another clerk, Mariam, to which Fred hollered, “Maroon will be fine.”

Pete and Sue recently returned from a car tour of the Canadian Maritimes, about 4,000 miles. They enjoyed Prince Edward Island and all the scenic farmland.

I recently talked with a number of BRs on the phone. Jim Dillard called to check if I got washed away in the hurricane, and I informed him I was still here, thanks to its changing course. He is hitting a few golf balls after the regular golfers go home from the course he lives on in San Diego. He informed me his lady friend died recently 68

Class of 1956: Bob Brickner earned first place in his age group after completing the Trail Madness Run near Tulsa, Oklahoma, and sent photographic proof of the course’s difficulty. Brickner plans to run seven distance races this year, and works out at a YMCA to maintain his physical fitness.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Lexington and coming by to visit. They arrived at my home around 6:00 and spent the night before heading home to Winter Haven, Florida. They had been at VMI since Friday, showing their great-nephew around the place since he is interested in attending in a couple of years. We enjoyed a dinner of Brunswick stew, which they had never experienced the thick type as is made in this area of Virginia. They got a good night’s rest at the empty house of my sister’s next door before starting on their 11-hour trip from my place home. It had been more than 20 years since their last visit to our 40th Reunion, and they couldn’t believe how the place had changed.

This concludes my report, and I hope all of you had a happy Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Yours in the spirit, Dick

1957

George Sydnor Jr.

P.O. Box 108 313 East Main Street Fincastle, VA 24090 540/397-3019 georgesydnor@ntelos.net

Howard Lawrence

1510 Red Oak Lane SW Roanoke, VA 24018 (C) 540/520-7418 (H) 540/989-5955 howard_lawrence@me.com

Remember: “All the news that is fit to print.” Our news depends on your input.

We value your news, photos, suggestions and constructive criticisms; let us hear from you, we count on everyone to be a Class of ’57 reporter-correspondent.

And, for this issue, we focus first on what we hear from our widowed SRs: Betty Mixson reported in indicating that she is in reasonably good health and hopes to attend our 65th Reunion in 2022, three short years from now. Betty went on to say how much she appreciated the attention our class gives to its brother rat widows. And Betty, we thank you for your consistent strong support of VMI, most notably your contributions to our Annual Fund campaigns that 2019-Issue 1

are so helpful to the cadets.

Shay Peters sent a nice note reporting that Phil is “holding his own.” He is resting comfortably and is well cared for at Lexington’s Kendal Borden Center. Per Shay, Phil enjoys company but “keeps on the quiet side.” What else would expect from a cadet who always earned academic stars and went on to a lifetime distinguished physics professor?

Toby Gilbert sent a nice note thanking the class for the “close follow” during Joe’s extended illness. And, a special thanks to Don Coombs, who steadfastly kept in touch with Toby and Joe. To quote Toby: “Joe’s brother rats are the most gallant of men; I know Joe is watching all this care from his VMI brothers and is as grateful as I am.”

Pat Saunders wrote: “It was a real warm feeling to be remembered on my birthday by the Class of ’57. Thank you so much.”

Joyce Schladitz is doing well, so reports Nick Kallelis in an email to George. Nick stays in touch with Joyce on a regular basis, along with roommates Ray MacKay and Don Coombs. All are looking forward to a possible mini reunion when Don relocates, but all will miss the “Kraut,” as do all of his BRs. Don Coombs then checked in from Kerrville (somewhere northwest of San Antonio), Texas. Don indicated that after a long, hot summer, he and Judy had taken their house off the market and delayed their intended move to the Roanoke area, where living is good – never terribly hot, never terribly cold – in order to attend to some health issues. Don is optimistic they will still be able to place their grand plan in motion within the coming year.

Don plays golf with Gayle Goodloe, a great-grandson of Hardaway Hunt Dinwiddie ’867 who fought at the Battle of New Market. My son here in Fincastle lives in a house built by James Spiller, engineer and builder of the James River and Kanawha Canal from Lynchburg to Buchanan, and who had the Buchanan to Covington part 85 percent complete when the canal company was forced to cease operations in 1872. His two sons, George Spiller ’866 and Holis Spiller ’870, were

in Company A at New Market. Both survived, although George experienced several wounds.

On the other extreme, some 154 years later, George Sydnor reunited with Travis Uminski ’12 tailgating during Family Weekend in October before The Citadel game. George’s only question was, “Whatever happened to the fountain of youth?”

To which Travis replied, “I am here sir!”

George had been a mentor to Travis during his cadetship, and somehow Travis, a biology major, rose thru the ranks in Company A to company commander and is now a captain in the Armed Forces serving at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a liaison between the city of Colorado Springs and the base.

It is obvious that Travis had made note of and had heeded my related experiences with having received five specials over the Class of ’59 Ring Figure weekend. Those specials were: Leaving my sabre imbedded in front of the viewing stand while passing in review; improper parade uniform (my garrison cap had accompanied the embedded shako); possession of alcohol (five cans of Bud in a laundry bag hung outside of the window so as to maintain desired ambient temperature); civilian clothes in room (tux shirt and cummerbund from a then recent Hollins dance); live ammunition in room (rounds for a .22 cal. long rifle used to

Class of 1957: Nick Kallelis in front of the Kremlin Walls and St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow, Russia.

69

Class Notes shoot squirrels on the north side of the “Nile,” such squirrels to be taken to the cooks for proper preparation for Saturday night’s supper). The net result of these hilarious episodes was 125 (plus or minus) demerits, four months confinement, 185 penalty tours and reduction in rank to private. On graduation day the following June, Maj. Gen. Milton ’920, superintendent, greeted me with “Cadet Sydnor, I never expected to see you on this stage today,” to which I replied, “General, there was never a doubt in my mind.”

And then we move on to John Whittle. At your class agent’s request, John has written a fine review of Harry Warner’s new book, “Ditheism and the Dual Faces of God.” You may recall that John and Harry were roommates during our cadetship and remain fellow Episcopalians to this day. John wrote: “Our class agents have asked me to review BR Harry Warner’s new book ‘Ditheism and the Dual Faces of God.’ By no means am I a ‘book critic,’ but I have read his book, so here goes. Harry, being the consummate L.A., did a splendid job of composing and writing the book. My personal take on why: A group of eight, including Harry, which he deems ‘The Jesus Group,’ meet weekly to contemplate the broad topic of religion. Out of that, or even before, Harry apparently became obsessed with seeking and finding or coining a definition of religion that he thought was more realistic and that he was comfortable with, and why. His obsession led him to review hundreds of books, newspapers, magazines and documents, including but not limited to The Holy Bible, Quran, Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, New Yorker, Wall Street Journal and even The Dead Sea Scrolls. He quoted Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Ben Franklin and Stephen Hawking, just to 70

Class of 1957: Travis Uminski ’12 and George Sydnor at a tailgate party during Family Weekend Oct. 20, 2018.

Class of 1957: Curly and Darrel Mason at the Institute Society Dinner.

Class of 1957: Dick Collier, Bill Moore, Curly Mason and Ron McManus at the Institute Society Dinner.

name a few. He very cleverly forged his research into the book’s title and clearly shares his logic in doing so.

It is a pleasant journey, however, sometimes a difficult read, but well worth it. I still go back to his book to clarify to myself, thoughts he has engendered which I am still mulling over. Read it. You will be pleasantly surprised and deeply enriched. John P. Whittle – one of Harry’s three VMI roommates.”

Class agent note: The book is a limited edition, as Harry had only a few copies printed. Howard has volunteered his copy to anyone, upon request, interested in reading “Ditheism and the Dual Face of God.” George received a nice letter from Bill Benson and subsequently had a good phone conversation with him.

Bill has had custody of the class guidon, with ’57 numerals and staff with leather shoulder holder, for lo these many years since our first reunion in June 1962. Bill’s concern was that the guidon needed to be closer to VMI for future reunions and asked if George would accept future custody for the class. Thank you for your confidence, Bill; the guidon has been received and is “under lock and key” in my home office.

Claiborne Coupland sent a nice note regarding his well-received birthday greeting: “Can’t believe I will be 84.” Well, Claiborne, the fact is, you are and thankfully so. He and “bride” Linda have downsized as have so many of us and can now be reached at The Landings, 955 Bolling Ave., Unit 402, Norfolk, VA 23508.

“World traveler” Nick Kallelis has continued his travels throughout Europe, this time on a cruise on the Volga River from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Nick was in his “full-dress uniform” in front of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square in the background. Nick made the interesting observation: The population of Russia is down VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes from over 300,000,000 to 143,000,000, due to the split of the Soviet Union and poverty that lowered birth rate during the Soviet Communist regime. Said Nick: “I had not realized that when the Soviet Union dissolved the countries gaining independence reduced the population of Russia so much.

Russia is now asking the population to have children because they need soldiers.” Class agent note: Political correctness is not alive and well in Russia; of course, it never has been of great concern to the Russians.

Then there was a letter from “Tiger,” Locke, that is ... originally from Big Stone Gap and an impressive figure in the ’53 Rat Line; an imposing rat that sent many a 3rd frantically scurrying to get out of his way as he stridently headed for the fourth stoop.

Tiger advised he had a good conversation with John St. George, who indicated he was calling to locate lost (MIA) brother rats. While Tiger allowed as to how he may have been deficient in written communications, he never thought such a deficiency to be declared “long lost.” Tiger went on to say following retirement after 47 years of teaching at the secondary and community college levels, he thought he would give the community theater a shot. Only one slight problem arose: No one from Hollywood discovered him. Not to be deterred, Tiger has since turned his attention to a local choral group called the Senior Show Choir.

The group primarily performs at assisted care facilities for “older” folks.

While perusing the 2018-Issue 4 of Alumni Review, Howard Lawrence noticed, on Page 38, a smiling Frank “Gus” Kline at a gathering of the St. Louis Chapter on New Market Day. Frank led both the meal prayer and the New Market prayer for the occasion. Notable by his absence was Bill Gay; so, where were you, Bill?

An email just received from Dick Collier about the Institute Society Dinner in November reported there was a small “crowd” this year from the Class of ’57. But representing the “faithful” were Bill and Florine Moore, Curly and Darrel Mason, and Ron McManus, in addition to he and Sarah. Darrel took a picture of the four BRs. Smile, Curly! Flash: An email from Curly came in as we were going to press; it seems as 2019-Issue 1

though he had also been searching for the fountain of youth. The email caption was: “Found it in Lynchburg, Tennessee.” Class agent note: Yeah, and that just so happens to be the hometown of Jack Daniels. Imagine that, what a coincidence.

The 2018 Class of 1957 project of the year award goes to Ben Elmore, who organized our ongoing BR contact program. A report from Ben to all BRs: “We have implemented a new calling program to reach out to all of our ’57 brother rats. Every six months, each of us will receive a brief ‘how goes it’ call from a BR. This call is intended to verify mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. It is also intended to update everyone on events going on at VMI as well as news on our other BRs.” The first team calling effort was completed by the end of October with more than 97 BRs being contacted. The effort was received extremely favorably with a 99 percent approval rating. We also found 18 BRs with whom we have had no contact for many, many years (this was called our MIA location effort) – in some cases decades! Ben had even found and spoke with Victor Wolf in San Jose, Costa Rica, who was doing well and sent his regards to the class!

All of our BRs were spoken with and all gratefully appreciated a call from a VMI BR of years past. Ben’s group was unable to reach Bruce Dunseth, who, as we were advised by a family member, does not take calls from anyone. Also, Art McCrary has

Class of 1957: Bill and Betty Huffcut before Hurricane Michael.

requested not to be contacted in the future for personal reasons.

Our sincerest thanks go out to our BR team who volunteered to help make these calls: Drewry Fox, Bill Gay, Kirk Hubbard, Bill Huffcut, Mo Levine, Ron McManus, Guy Murray, Jay Musser and John St. George.

The next phone team calling will be in April 2019. We will be rotating the call list amongst the team callers, so you can expect to speak with a different BR every six months. And if you would like to be a team caller, we are accepting applications.

Everyone will be pleased to learn that each of the nine BRs who helped with the team calling program received a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey from Ben as a “token” of his appreciation. We say “token” as the bottles were miniatures, not two-gallon jugs as may have been more appropriate for the extraordinary efforts of all involved. So, if anyone would like to be a team caller, please get your application in with alacrity.

(How’s that word for a civil?) A warning, however: Ben will review all applications for authenticity before formal acceptance.

That all being said, it is rumored a long line has already formed.

Team member Bill Gay had a great talk with Claiborne Coupland, who roomed next door (158) to us (156) during our 1st Class year, along with B.D. Ayres and the late Ron Kaye, the “Great White Owl” and founder of The Owl Society. Class agent note: Bill, although these rooms are now part of the women’s sinks, I seem to remember our having our pictures taken in “these sinks” on the occasion of our 50th Reunion. Confirmation?

Bill went on to say that B.D. recently went through Clarksville, Virginia, the hometown of Greg Taylor, and had visited Greg’s gravesite there. B.D. then found some nearby wild flowers and placed them on the grave; a moving and thoughtful action, B.D. Class agent note: Greg roomed with Bill Gay, Drewry Fox and George Sydnor during our cadetship years.

Ben Elmore chimed in with his contacts saying he had a very nice, long, friendly chat with Dick Hunt’s wife, Christine. She said that Dick had had a stroke some time ago and was recovering nicely. She said he 71

Class Notes appreciated the call and would return it when he felt better.

The class agents would be remiss if they did not also recognize Ben for his earlier efforts on behalf of our class. His initial effort was known as the MIA project, aka: Find those brother rats we have not heard from in years.

Howard Lawrence was the initiator of the project and then handed it off to Ben, aka “Chief Spook,” with the official title of “El Comandante,” who then said: “Don’t even ask me where my information comes from, if I told you, I would have to kill you.” Understood, Ben; we got the message. To our readers here, please refer back to the previous class notes in Issue 4, where we covered in detail the BR responses and success of El Comandante’s “MIA” project.

The class contingent on the Florida panhandle – Huffcuts, Elmores and Phillipses – all survived Hurricane Michael with little disturbance other than the inconvenience of “boarding up” and moving to higher ground; they were the fortunate ones. As far as the daily typical and difficult life generally led by this group, see the picture of Bill and Betty here, but let us all remember what the Marines have always said: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

At this magical time of the year, I can’t help but remember the epic countdown day-byday as we marched down to Club Crozet for SRC ... the countdown beginning the Monday following Thanksgiving and Ring Figure to Christmas furlough. You will recall, it went thus: “Hark the Herald Angels shout / 28 days ’til we get out / 28 days ’til we’ll be free / From this place of misery / Hark the Herald Angels shout/ 28 days ’til we get out!”

And thus, we will close this edition; it’s 2346 hours, just short of our mandated submission time of 2400 hours Thursday, Nov. 15, our Institute designated deadline for this issue, and, “I have had enough wine for one night.”

But, keep tuned-in for the next episode, when attention will be directed to “BarrackRoom Ballads” by Rudyard Kipling, together with an appendix therein entitled, “The Formula.” Ah-ha, got your curiosity up? Then check out NASCAR and Franklin County.

Until then, and as always, we are proud to be your class agents, George and Howard 72

1958

Lee McCown

1404 Floyd Avenue Richmond, VA 23220-4663 804/354-9768 aleemccown@verizon.net

Greetings, BRs and Other Readers of These Notes, This is the final report from the Class of ’58 in the year of our 60th Reunion.

On several occasions spent with Jane and Jack Cunningham, Laura and I learned that their granddaughter, Caroline Mauck, and her husband, Colin Healy, are finding success in their music making, performing as Colin & Caroline. Needless to say, Jane and Jack are very proud.

We went to their website and found their beautiful folk harmonies and, in the video for their song, “When You Love Someone,” a starring role for Jane and Jack.

In the very touching video, people of many ages, complexions and combinations sit down with the person they love the most, or a photograph of them. On big white boards, they write why they love this person.

When the camera is on Jane and Jack, Jack shows his sign that says, “My best girl since 1956, saw her on a college float, now 62 years later, that’s all she wrote.” Jane’s sign has a heart and an arrow pointing to Jack and says, “Together for 62 years – Wow! Just look at him!” Of course, they both look great. Check them out on http://smarturl.it/ WishIWasEP. Tony Lash can point with pride to his nephew, Glen Lash ’22, who is, as Tony puts it, “In this year’s rat mass on a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship. He’s in A Company, unlike us squat butts.” You will be able to see Glen in photos not big enough for publication that we will email when this issue of the Alumni Review comes out. Tony’s photo that works fine for printing is of himself at what he calls “a recent and rare” VMI alumni party in Portland with Christian Tujo ’94, whom Tony recruited to VMI. He also recruited Christian’s brother, Charles Tujo ’90. Both played baseball at VMI. Christian majored in economics, rose to major in the Air Force and is now a

financial adviser in Sisters, Oregon.

Our periodic Richmond BR lunches moved to a new venue when Extra Billy’s Barbecue, which had served us so well, consolidated into another location. We chose another popular place, Buz and Ned’s Real Barbecue, which has the irreverent slogan “Ned is dead.” Buz, however, is very much alive and makes great barbecue. The following BRs attended and enjoyed the food and conversation: Dave Camper, Brooke Doggett,

Class of 1958: Tom Saunders received the Clare Boothe Luce Award from the Heritage Foundation, its highest honor.

Class of 1958: Michael Tomaso, recipient of the Class of 1958 Football Scholarship, with a friend and two very photogenic fish.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes because of its two beautiful shades of Charlie Hayes, Lee McCown, Moon blue enamel, plus a diamond.

Menefee, Frank Norvell, Paul Royer, Roy was honored by The Society of Stir Williamson, Sam Witt and StuExperimental Test Pilots with this pin art Whitehurst. in 2013, and while the news was covA highlight of our summer was the ered in the Alumni Review, it wasn’t August memorial service for Duke in our class notes. “This organizaJohnston at Arlington National Cemtion was started by [astronaut] Neil etery. Duke matriculated from WilmArmstrong and some other test pilots ington, Delaware, and attended VMI at Edwards Air Force Base, Califoron a football scholarship. We all know nia, prior to Neil being selected by his role as quarterback on our undeNASA,” Roy says. “There are four feated team of ’57. Duke’s 25-year levels of qualifications and a differcareer in the U.S. Air Force included ent pin for each.” Roy’s pin represents four tours and 157 combat missions Fellow, the top level, which means he in Vietnam. He was the first U.S. Air was selected by his peers following a Force Tactical Air Command pilot to detailed review of his accomplishfly the F-16 Fighting Falcon. After retiring as a colonel, he worked for Gen- Class of 1958: Tony Lash enjoyed an alumni event in Port- ments and a vote by existing Fellows. eral Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, land with Christian Tujo ’94, whom Lash recruited to VMI. Only about 10 reach this level annually. RIP, Duke, and keep on flying, Roy. using his pilot experience to create Also attending Duke’s service were Pilot Vehicle Interface for Lockheed, Linda and Brook Doggett, Joe Gray, which changed cockpit design.

Charlie Hayes, Becky and Onza HyAt Arlington, the U.S. Air Force att, Moon Menefee, Jerry Paull, Elhonored Duke in the way he deeana and Stuart Whitehurst, Jane served, with a chapel service, a horse and Stir Williamson, and Warren drawn carriage from the chapel to the Yaun. We all enjoyed lunch together gravesite and most significantly, a flyafter the service with Annette and her over, which Annette and their son, refamily and friends. tired Lt. Col. Mark Johnston ’84, said In May, BR Tom Saunders received took months to arrange.

Class of 1958: A horse drawn carriage took Duke Johnthe Heritage Foundation’s highest The Air Force flyover consists of ston to his Arlington National Cemetery resting place. honor. “We are so excited to present four planes flying fairly low over the the Clare Boothe Luce Award to Tom. It is a gravesite when one plane suddenly takes off recognition of his tremendous leadership and up into the sky – a very dramatic moment commitment to the conservative movement,” in sight and sound. Duke’s flyover held exsaid Heritage President Kay Coles James. tra meaning in part because his memorial Tom served as board chairman for nearly 10 service included the beautiful World War II years. Congratulations on this honor, Tom. poem “High Flight.” The poem was written Tom has also given generously of his time in 1941 by American John Gillespie Magee and resources to the VMI Foundation, the as a 19-year-old British fighter pilot. He told Thomas Jefferson Foundation (which owns his parents, in the letter he sent them that and operates Monticello, where Tom has a included the poem, that the poem “started great looking bridge named after him), the at 30,000 feet and was finished soon after I Darden School at UVa (he is a graduate) and landed.” Three months after writing “High no doubt other institutions of which I am not Flight,” Magee was killed in a midair training aware. He certainly helps make ’58 look good exercise. in the Annual Giving Report from the FounRoy Palmer, another distinguished Air dation! Thanks, Tom. Force pilot, brought a great touch to Duke’s This inspiring communication is from graveside by passing out nickels for everyone Class of 1958: Roy Palmer’s sky blue Annemarie Roberts, widow of Wes Robto toss around the grave, representing this trapin designates him as a fellow in the erts: “This narrative begins about four years dition: “Throw a nickel on the grass, save a Society of Experimental Test Pilots, its ago, in summer 2014. I was standing in the fighter pilot’s a%$.” Roy was wearing a very highest honor. front yard, after collecting the mail, when a special pin on his lapel, which Laura noticed 2019-Issue 1

73

Class Notes strange car pulled into the driveway. I walked toward the vehicle, as the woman behind the wheel let down her window and exclaimed, ‘Oh, I’m so glad to see you outside! I saw your VMI flag in the yard and wanted to stop and talk to you but was hesitant to just come up and ring the doorbell.’ I found out that her daughter was entering the rat class that August. Her mother was excited beyond words. I later found out that this delightful lady, Donna Serrano, was a friend of a friend, which gave us a double connection.

Her daughter, Rebecca Serrano ’18, was the up and coming rat.

“Over the next four years, we had occasional contact. In the spring of Rebecca’s rat year, after Breakout, the two Serrano ladies stopped by the house again. Rebecca had brought two new VMI garden flags, as she had noticed ours was becoming quite faded.

‘This is a very observant, considerate young woman,’ I thought to myself. I followed her mother’s online posts, reporting Rebecca’s achievements at VMI with the swim team and water polo team.

“This summer, about a month or so after Wes’s passing, the doorbell rang. There stood Rebecca, now a graduate and new Marine, and her mother, with yet another surprise.

Upon hearing of Wes’ death, Rebecca, still at VMI, bought a large VMI banner, about 6 feet long, white, bound in red and displaying the VMI spider.

“She had taken it upon herself to garner the signatures of as many cadets as she could from all the classes in the Institute.

This was her tribute to a VMI man, a man whom she had never had the good fortune to meet, but one she respected nonetheless.

Likewise, all the cadets who took the time to sign the flag never met this man whom she was honoring. This speaks so loudly to the values which are engendered at VMI. They are, surely, ‘a crowd of honorable youths...’

Kudos to them all!” Such a great story, Annemarie. Thank you.

Laura and I had the pleasure of spending a football Saturday in Lexington with Landa and Bill Holt that concluded with dinner at a German restaurant. Bill is getting a good response from cancer treatment and enjoyed the day. Landa and Laura ran into Barney Odend’hal in Crozet Hall – yes, he’s still 74

working for the Institute – and shared his enthusiasm about the caliber of cadets enrolled today. Barney loves watching them come in as rats, scared to death and unsure of themselves, and by 3rd Class year, they blossom into confident adults. Barney likes to ask cadets to guess his age. No surprise that they are rarely correct, as Barney is fit as a fiddle with barely a wrinkle. He says he is most proud of two things in his life: His service in the Marine Corps and his education at VMI. Some of those outstanding cadets were featured in the inspirational video shown at November’s Institute Society Dinner. Laura, Carolyn and Bill Harshaw and I marveled that most of them had grade point averages close to 4.0 and lists of achievements that made you wonder how they ever find time to sleep. The Harshaws are very much enjoying their new home in Virginia Beach.

In the last Alumni Review, you read about Jim Poteet’s delicious meal at the restaurant owned by the Tomaso family, whose son, Michael ’21, is the recipient of our ’58 football scholarship. Michael spent the summer on a charter fishing boat and the accompanying photograph was too good to keep to ourselves. Maybe these are the fish Jim enjoyed!

We had the pleasure of visiting with Michael and his parents, Mike and Becky, at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet. Michael was ailing as he had injured both ankles in that day’s game against The Citadel, but we were all inspired by speaker Kelly Sullivan ’01, a member of the first VMI class that included women. Given that we all remember the opposition to the admission of women, it was interesting to hear how certain Old Corps folks who had opposed coeducation rallied around and helped her toward her very distinguished career. Sullivan is one of the highlights of the documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsberg, “RBG.” She was a mechanical engineering major and All-Conference indoor and outdoor track and field winner for three years in a row. At the time VMI scheduled her to speak at the dinner, she was in a high position with Google Fiber but by the time of the dinner had left to join a promising startup.

I am very pleased to announce the receipt of an anonymous gift of $50,000 to the Class of 1958 Football Scholarship Fund and have heartily thanked the donor. This extremely

generous gift will push our fund total over the $100,000 mark, which will generate about $4,000 each year for scholarship help to the cadet-athlete recipient. To quote our memorandum of understanding with the VMI Keydet Club: “This scholarship will forever be known as the Class of 1958 Football Scholarship at the Virginia Military Institute and will enable a young cadet of character and ability to contribute his talents to the success of the football team while availing himself of the excellent educational and personal growth opportunities at VMI.” The scholarship honors “those BRs who were members of the undefeated team of 1957 who provided outstanding play and leadership: Sam Woolwine – co-captain, Lou Farmer – co-captain, Duke Johnston, Bobby Jordan, Ron Swirk, Benny Day, Dave Martin, Harry Shepherd, Nick Evanusich Persin, Roland Tharp, manager, and Bob King, trainer.”

To this list, I would add our cheerleaders: Bob Greathead, Jack Payne, Tom Smyth and Bill Thomas. Who can forget their energy and enthusiasm in protecting our cannon “Little Johns” from the Lehigh mob as well as getting us on our feet to cheer our outstanding team?

Laura – whose enthusiasm for football, be it recreation league, high school, college or professional (although she retains some enthusiasm for the owned-by-the-community Green Bay Packers), is limited to say the least – reminds me that the “VMI Spirit,” still sung proudly at every game and reunion, is totally football focused: “For when our line starts to weaken, our backs fail to gain, our ends are so crippled, to win seems in vain ... we’ll gain through the line, and we’ll circle the end.” It is VMI’s oldest sports tradition, and she says she honors that.

To date, we have 37 BRs who have made contributions to the Class of 1958 Football Scholarship fund. I thank these BRs for their support and hope all will continue to make contributions in the future. I hope others of you will join what Jim Moore, Stirling Williamson and I (signatories to the memorandum) feel is a very worthy cause. It is entirely voluntary and carries no liability for the class.

To quote the memorandum again: “It is impossible to convey the pride the Class of 1958 took in the accomplishments of this team VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes and the positive effect it had on the morale of the entire Corps of Cadets.”

One of our most enthusiastic scholarship supporters was Hull Negley, also a proud member of Doc’s boys, whose death occurred in August. Hull had two things he wanted to do in 2018: Get to our 60th Reunion and return to the beautiful Canadian island where he and Judy spend summers in a cottage built by her father, grandfather and uncle in the 1920s. He was able to do both, died a peaceful death and is now buried on the island. Rest in peace, old friend.

In the bonds, Lee

1959

Shep Shepard

1270 Palm Garden Place Melbourne, FL 32940 321/259-7791 shepvmi59@gmail.com

This quarter began with the sad news that our BR Bill Kirkland died in August. I spoke with Susie and extended condolences from our class. Bill was a retired civil engineer from CSX Railroad, a retired captain from the U.S. Army and a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Louisville. Susie received the red, white and yellow flowers sent to her by Rusty and expressed her appreciation to the class for our thoughtfulness. She said that Bill would have been pleased. VMI Class of ’59 was very special to him. A memorial service was held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Unfortunately, BRs were unable to attend because of the late notification. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kirklands.

We will be extremely lucky if Dick or Linda Phillippi acknowledge any of us at the 60th Reunion, since they have been hobnobbing with the elite. They have been seen running about with none other than the governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam ’81. The governor’s VMI roommate was Howard Conduff ’81, who has a house next to Dick and Linda at Clayton Lake and the governor was visiting him. Howard had a small get-together at his home and invited Dick and Linda. The governor, the Conduffs and the Phillippis were the only VMI folks there, but they had a great evening visiting and making small talk.

2019-Issue 1

Dick said the state of Virginia can be proud of Gov. Ralph Northam ’81.

Tex Carr and Emily Hanzok tied the knot and got hitched in Pennsylvania in Emily’s hometown. I have been encouraging them to get married for years, because it saves space when writing the class notes; it is much easier to write Tex and Emily Carr. Congrats! They celebrated their honeymoon on a riverboat on the Rhine River in the Mosel Valley of Germany where they not only enjoyed each other’s company but the delicious Mosel wines. Tex and Emily celebrated Ron Marley’s birthday at the Sanddollar on the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, where they embellished old VMI stories, laughed and had a good old-time.

Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson were once again at the Homestead and got the chance to visit with Buzz and Virginia Nowlin. Buzz had an operation to restore his hearing and has since had equilibrium problems and still can’t hear. He hopes the doctor can fix him.

Ann and I had the unique experience of visiting Kennedy Space Center not long ago to observe an inaugural event. Our daughter, Christine, works at the center and invited us to join her on family day. We watched the very first test drive of the mobile launcher from Pad 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The ML is on top of a modified crawler for the Space Launch System/Orion; the first time the crawler has been used since the end of the shuttle program. The ML will be used to assemble process and launch NASA’s SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. These are the vehicles that will get the USA back to the moon and deep space. Interesting day for us and an exciting time for the space program.

John and Anne Reed’s son, Jack, now in middle school, made the JV basketball team, is a straight-A student (just like John was) and is an all-around good kid, also like John.

Anne is now the deputy assistant commonwealth attorney in Staunton, while John will be taking a student group to Haiti in April.

The Reeds are all well, healthy and happy.

Eddie and Carolyn Barnes sold their home in Roanoke this summer and have moved into a condominium. They have plenty of room for visitors since their condo unit has more square footage than the 98-year-old home they moved from. Brother rats are welcome.

John and Chris Patane had a great summer with the usual bad golf, jet skis, boat and a lot of social contact. On the other side of the coin, the politics of distraction made watching the news difficult. Will our country ever be able to heal the wounds and act like adults?

Lee Southard’s son, Todd ’85, and his wife, Trish, were invited to Dallas for a VMI recruiting dinner. Giving the blessing to 185 VMI alumni, recruits and guests was quite an experience. They sat with Gen. Peay ’62 who, as usual, gave a great report on VMI. Binnie said he was surprised at the size of the crowd and thought maybe VMI should spend more time in Texas. Todd laughed when Lee asked him about the football program, as it was a key topic among alumni. Binnie is committed to Division I, and they believe next year will be the turnaround year. Getting the right coach that understands the military school environment has been a problem but maybe the current one understands since he is an Air Force Academy graduate. When you look at the stats, the team is improving. We went through this in 1956-57 and then had the breakthrough, so we need to be patient. Lee continues to do his thing on his book, “To Know with Certainty,” with many speaking

Class of 1959: Mike Vargosko with Stan Musial’s bat at the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.

75

Class Notes engagements and writing opportunities. Grandson Chase, a senior at Carmel High School in Indiana, is the top scholar athlete in the school. He is a tackle on the football team that will be going to the state championship.

Lee’s praying that he will look at VMI when the time comes. After being told he has his choice of any school in the country on an academic basis alone, and when Stanford, Harvard and Northwestern are in the picture, it is hard for VMI to compete, especially with our football win/loss record the past years.

Carl and Phyllis Kasko are still not fully settled in Pennsylvania, but they are making progress. The move has not been as smooth as they had hoped and have had some issues with their builder, but they seem to coming to an end. Phyllis is beginning to adjust to living in the north but at times misses Mobile and their many friends. The move to Pennsylvania to get closer to family was the right move. Carl’s daughter has been very helpful, and she and Phyllis have developed a great relationship. Physically, Phyllis is just about the same but seems to be improving each day. They will miss going to the annual Florida group mini reunions.

I spoke with Judy MacWillie, and she is safely settled in her new digs in Killeen, Texas, just across town from where she used to live. She loves her new home and is happy that she made the decision to move. Judy will be attending the 60th Reunion. She plans to visit family in Veterans Affairs and will attend with her loving brother, who unfortunately is a Hokie.

Ron and Mary Alice Marley are doing fine, and Ron finally admits to being the worst communicator in our class. He promises to change, but I’ve heard that story before. Their oldest daughter, Tracy, and her family were living in Panama City when Hurricane Michael hit and initial reports are that everyone is safe – son-in-law Wayne, grandson Sam and Tracy.

76

Class of 1959: Shep and Ann Shepard met with Jeff Galon ’92 and his family at the American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne, Florida. Pictured were, from left, Polly Diaz, Jeff, Karen and Zeke Galon, and Shep and Ann Shepard.

Class of 1959: Linda and Dick Phillippi hobnobbing with Gov. Ralph Northam ’81.

Class of 1959: Tex Carr and Emily Hanzok tied the knot in Pennsylvania.

Lots of damage to their home and no electricity for days, and the roads are a mess. It’s going to take a long time to recover. Sam’s been working on a cleanup crew, and Wayne, a fireman, is in the state disaster center. Ron and Mary Alice will be in Kentucky for Thanksgiving when grandson, Parker Boone, gets his Boy Scout Eagle Award. Ron finally got a chance to go fishing and had a big hit. He set the hook, and as far as Ron can tell, that rascal is up off the New Jersey coast by now. It was probably a world record.

Spence and Beverly Tucker continue to enjoy the abundant benefits of living in Lexington, Virginia. Spence is endeavoring to complete a twovolume encyclopedia of some 600 important weapons through history while at the same time struggling to put together the class history in time for the 60th Reunion. Beverly is busy with myriad activities, including many social and community events all to support the community of Lexington.

Jim Edmunds writes that he just got engaged to a wonderful woman named Miki Paul, a psychologist. Jim thinks that’s good; so far, he hasn’t detected evidence of any psychological manipulation. Although, when you think of it he wouldn’t, would he? Jim and Miki are planning a July wedding. Jim is planning to attend our 60th Reunion but is not sure whether Miki will make it or not. I immediately responded to Jim that we would all be very disappointed if we could not meet Miki at the reunion. I also informed Jim that Miki could expect a phone call from me if she persisted in the idea of not attending.

Jack and Joy Angolia continue to live by the motto, “Every day an adventure.” The most recent significant adventure in Jack’s life was becoming a member of the pacemaker club. So far, he has had great results. Not to be outdone, Joy had a stent inserted leading to her heart. With their new body parts, they are both doing great. Jack’s VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes 44th book is due for release shortly, and he’s currently working on the last book that he will do, which deals with the threat currently facing the world population as we have already entered phase two. As far as travels go, the globetrotters try to get on the road every four months and hope to continue this routine until they are no longer able to get about, which they anticipate should be another 10 years. Unfortunately, Jack and Joy will be on the high seas cruising in Southeast Asia in April and will be unable to attend our 60th Reunion.

While attending the Old Corps luncheon for the North Carolina crowd not long ago, Skip White enjoyed an afternoon while sitting at a table with the guy who Bill Gwynn dyked. Bob and Lois Hobson enjoyed a family reunion at Bear Lake on the Utah/Idaho border. They had 72 people of the 75 potentials, and a great time was had by all. The attached picture of the Hobson family looks more like a convention in Las Vegas than a family reunion. Bob and Lois will be visiting their daughter in Georgia in mid-December and will stay until early June, which makes it a good jumping off point to attend the 60th Reunion in Lexington. Bob will have a procedure done at the University of Virginia hospital to reduce his tremor shake sometime during that period. Hope all goes well for you, Bob. I got an update on our Class of 1959 Football Scholarship program from Bobby Ross.

Bobby and Alice attended the scholarship banquet in October and sat with our scholarship player for the year, Cadet Syour Fludd ’22. He is a freshman quarterback from Monacan High School in Richmond. Bobby and Alice agree that he is a fine young man, and we could not have picked a better person to benefit from our scholarship. They met his parents, who were very appreciative of the scholarship. The financial role the Keydet Club plays inspires access to an incomparable VMI education while making it more affordable for cadets who dream of competing at the highest level of college athletics. We currently fund 135.6 of 203.8 equivalencies allowed by the NCAA. We have $74,572 in the Class of 1959 Football Scholarship fund, so the next time you make your annual contribution to VMI, make sure you earmark a 2019-Issue 1

portion of it to the support our football scholarship fund.

Max and Lee Ann Blanchard are celebrating the birth of their first great-grandchild, Nora Jane, who was born in July. Nora and most of the remaining family made their way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the end of October to be with Lee Ann to celebrate her birthday.

John Van Kesteren is on the speaker circuit now supporting science and philosophy seminars. John talks not only about “Reflections on War,” both hot and cold, but farming, as well. He gives these presentations to local Rotary Clubs and realizes that other BRs such as Spence Tucker and Jack Angolia are far more qualified to speak to these subjects, but on the little Virginia Eastern Shore, they seem to be satisfied with John. Recently, John and Pat made it to the Reno Air Races for the first time; John loves those P-51s. Both are proud to announce that their Australian greatgranddaughter is on the way in May. Larry Wood is on the road again. Every Veteran’s Day weekend, Project Hero sponsors a single day, 20-mile honor ride down the Las Vegas strip. Funds raised support Project Hero’s veteran rehabilitation programs. PH recovery programs are available at no cost to wounded veterans and first responders and have proven results improving the mental and physical health and wellness of our healing heroes. They also build and provide adaptive bikes to physically-challenged and injured veterans and first responders. In 2016, they founded the PH Institute for Mental Health to support clinical research programs.

Penn and Betty Whitescarver just enjoyed a reunion in New Orleans with their 1962 Air Force pilot training class. The annual reunions are a big hit for the remaining 11 retired pilots, including three retired generals.

Next reunion will be a weeklong Celebrity cruise. John Martin recently retired from 20 years of serving as a lay hospital and hospice chaplain. In the fall of next year, John and Teddi plan to move into a new independent living facility currently under construction in Richmond. Those of you who have already experienced the task of downsizing, more positively referred to as “right-sizing,” know firsthand the work ahead of them. John reports the biweekly lunch bunch, including Ned Addison, Rusty Loth, Dave Goode and Marvin Myers, has gone monthly since Rusty moved to Memphis. They miss him and having difficulty keeping his old stories straight!

Last spring the Florida group had a mini reunion in Punta Gorda, Florida, where we not only had a wonderful memorial ceremony at the Punta Gorda Vietnam Wall, but we had an informative morning visiting The Military Heritage Museum at Fisherman’s Village. As a token of our appreciation for the special treatment we were given, snowbirds Don and Carol Messner, recently returned from Pittsburgh, presented the museum with a copy of “On The Field of Honor – The Military Heritage of Virginia Military Institute” by Bolling Williamson ’60 that honors the military contributions made by VMI alumni. Don was quick to point out to the museum director that he chose Williamson’s book because

Class of 1959: Bob and Lois Hobson had a family reunion at Bear Lake on the Utah/ Idaho border. The Hobsons had 72 of 75 potentials attend the reunion.

77

Class Notes he noticed that our honorable rival, The Citadel, had stolen a march on us. It seems that they have a publication on display featuring The Citadel but nothing referencing the Virginia Military Institute. Thanks to Don and Carol for their thoughtful gesture. Don and Carol took a Canadian Rockies train tour from Vancouver to Lake Louise and then on to Banff and Calgary. Don said they had a great time, and the scenery was spectacular.

Rusty Loth invited Noland Pipes to be his guest at a Veteran’s Day luncheon held at Trezevant Manor, Rusty’s new digs. The guest speaker, Col. Elmer Follis, served 32 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force as a fighter pilot. He flew 400 combat missions in fighter and recon aircraft in the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. Both were impressed with his talk, especially Noland, who spent four years in the Air Force.

Noland reconnected with some of his parishioners from his former church where he was rector. He continues to get compliments on his 50th Reunion walking cane. He depends on the cane every day. Noland will have his 29th abdominal lymphatic fluid drain midNovember and will continue to have this drain every four weeks. One day, he hopes the lymph leak will be found and sealed. Rusty invites all BRs to Memphis for Qs, brews and blues. It’s a great city.

Ned and Bunny Addison visited Lexington not long ago and attended the VMI versus Furman football game. Their grandson, Addison Lagarde ’20, is a 2nd Class cadet with the rank of sergeant, something Ned never got close to while he was at VMI. Ned and Bunny were accompanied by two other grandsons who were there just to look things over. They had a great time touring post and Lexington and reliving past experiences. The parade was great, as always, and brought back many wonderful memories. They ran into Jimbo Smith ’60 and his wife, Ruth, at the parade. Jimbo, a retired surgeon, is a fellow class agent.

Al and Peggy Smith Colville recently returned from a wonderful Boston Harbor River Boat cruise just in time to see Peggy and Ken Smith’s first grandchild, Joey Lee Gibson, marry his sweetheart, Donita. It was a beautiful wedding, and Peggy knows Kenneth would have been very proud. He was 78

only there in spirit, but his presence was felt all around them.

Max Guggenheimer attended the VMI versus Furman football game with his son, John ’93, and his family. It was John’s 25th Reunion and VMI’s first win in two years.

It was especially nice for Max since he has attended most of the home games and does not like to see our young football players get beat up week after week. Yet, they continue to give it their all. They are an outstanding group of young men. While at the game, Max ran into John Reed and his son, Jack.

John looks good and is enjoying retirement.

Jack is 13 years old and is a fine young man.

He is about as tall as John. Max misses seeing Spence at the games but is looking forward to seeing everyone at the 60th Reunion coming up in April 2019.

Truman and Jackie Baxter are doing great but report that Marvin Myers just had a kidney removed and Lloyd Thacker had back surgery. Both are doing well. Lloyd says that the pain has been manageable while under the care of “Nurse Bette,” but his biggest concern is his golf game. The doctor says he will be ready in time for Florida in February.

Bill and Mary Kessler are doing well in Long Beach and grateful that their “age-related medical irregularities” are thus far treatable. Bill has been spending time writing. Not long ago, he submitted a candidate article to Wikipedia. The article was accepted and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ John_Kessler_(naval_historian). A second article is in work for submission to Wikipedia sometime soon. Bill keeps in touch with Bill Wray ’63 and Leland Caldwell ’63 to get updates on their blind BR. They said he has successfully completed his first eye surgery and will undertake successive surgeries at the Richmond Veterans Affairs hospital. We are hoping that eventually his eyesight will be partially restored.

You will recall I mentioned in the last class notes that Zeke Galon’s son, Jeff Galon ’92, and his wife, Karen, were thinking about leaving their jobs at Lockheed-Martin in California and moving to Melbourne, Florida. Well, they made the move and are now settled in Satellite Beach, Florida, just across the river from where we live. Ann and I met with Jeff and his family at the Muscle Car

Museum here in Melbourne, followed by a pleasant evening at one of our fine eating establishments located on the river. Jeff’s mom, Polly, Zeke’s widow, and her new husband will also reside in the Melbourne area. It was nice meeting Polly after corresponding with her for the past 20 years. Jeff’s son, Zeke’s grandson, is also named Zeke and is only 8 years old, which means that Jeff and I have about 10 years to work on him. Zeke already has a provisional appointment to VMI. We look forward to seeing a lot of Jeff and his family in the years to come.

The 60th Reunion for the Class of 1959 will be held in Lexington April 14-17, 2019, two months from when you receive this publication. A lot of work has gone into putting this together under the able guidance of Billy Kornegay and 11 BRs who were recruited last April. We had our first meeting in June, where several critical decisions were made and individuals were designated to accomplish assigned tasks to ensure everyone has a fun-filled weekend and memorable reunion.

It is still not too late to sign up for the reunion.

If you have any questions, contact Billy Kornegay at 540-461-8761 or me.

Keep those cards and letters and emails coming in.

Yours in the spirit, Shep

1960

James A. Smith III 3228 Seagrass Court Southport, NC 28461 910/253-9254 jasrds@atmc.net

Greetings from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ruth and I toured the beautiful area of northwestern Canada from Aug. 13-29. We enjoyed being pampered and the vistas! We then returned to St. James, North Carolina.

Before I left, I had two emails from Walt Witchard and Jim Pittman.

Walt wrote: “Great to talk to you yesterday. Went to the Pacific Northwest alumni meeting and saw George Coulbourn. He is good physically and is great, as always. He mentioned that his son fell and hit his head and has massive brain damage. He is doing six hours a day in various therapies. We VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes visits to friends in the Staunton/ need to keep him in our thoughts and Waynesboro area, Delaware shore, prayers. I will be going to Charleston, lighthouses, gardens, and to Long IsSouth Carolina, to visit The Citadel land (daughter) and Pittsburgh (two which I have need seen and then to granddaughters). I attended our PitVMI for the VMI versus The Citadel tman reunion in Memphis in May, football game. A British colonel who visiting family and friends along the I meet when he was at Command and way. I had to cut short the second General Staff College wanted to see part of the trip to Florida to see the VMI. I will meet him and then will other daughter, grandchildren and show him New Market and a Friday great-grandson. I had attempted too and Saturday parade and the football much too soon after the flu and just game. Best from the great northwest, ran out of steam in Memphis. Will Walter ’60.” We must keep George have another try at the Florida part in and his son in our prayers!

Jim Pittman wrote: “Hi, Jimbo. Class of 1960: Jimbo Smith, Joe Morabit and Joe Sisler at October. Thank goodness my granddaughter posts pictures of the greatThought I’d send my news since I will Ross Bridge on the RTJ Trail. grandson frequently on Instagram, be traveling on my birthday at the end so I have been able to follow his deof the month. My health is relatively velopment for these first 16 months. good as long as I stay within the limiThe Jeep (my fountain of youth) has tations imposed by my severe asthma. nearly 45,000 miles. My most recent Because my lungs impose exercise project is what I think of as my MIA limits, I have constant weight issues search mission. As you know I did aggravated by periodic crash courses the memorials of deceased brother of steroids. Also had a case of real inrats for the 50th and 55th Reunions. fluenza in May that took longer to reI try to attend funerals/memorial sercover from than in past – two months vices when I can – most recently the before I even started getting strength one for Tom Leary in Portsmouth. back. Having that out of the way, life I was sitting in the same pew with is good. I still give weekly tours at Bill Knowles and Mike Shoemaker; the Washington National Cathedral. there were others sitting behind us, I have produced books and CDs on Class of 1960: Joe Sisler, Joe Morabit and Jimbo Smith at but I don’t recall who. I decided that several aspects of the iconography Golden Rule Barbeque. maybe I should get a head start on the and symbolism through the years and memorials for the 60th Reunion, given our give several specialty tours (healing arts, milimean age. I quickly realized that there were tary, wrought iron), as well as both highlights some deaths that came from the Alumni Asand in-depth general tours. I am more than sociation that were attributed to the Class of happy to give special tours to any of the class. ’60 but long forgotten by us. In trying to sort I give a tour at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays prethis out, I started trying to find out about the dictably, but let me know and we can work BRs who had been lost (sort like bringing the out another time if desired. I am also the hisMIAs home). To make a long story short, I torian for our 200-plus-year-old Greenwich combined Hap’s living and deceased lists and Presbyterian Church located in Nokesville, separated the last names, matriculation numVirginia. Opposite end of the spectrum from ber, date of birth and date of death into sepathe National Cathedral, both physically and rate fields for sorting purposes. Then I comtheologically, but equally fascinating. My talk pared it to several other sources, principally centers around the first century of the church the matriculation sign in sheet, but also to the which includes the Civil War (Mosby, Ewell, VMI Ranks online database and the Register etc.), close ties with some wealthy merchant of Former Cadets 2010, and various issues families from Savannah, and great mysterof the Bomb and class notes in the Alumni ies, scoundrels and saints. Working on a Review. In general terms, we have considered written history, but after about six abortive everyone who signed that matriculation sheet drafts, I am looking for help in the form of Class of 1960: Guy Smith and Ed Bomar. as brother rats, even if that association was a real writer. My travels have included short 2019-Issue 1

79

Class Notes measured in minutes or hours. Then, I set about the tedious chore of doing an internet search on each one who has not been in communication in the last several years ...” Thank you, Jim. On Aug. 20, I spoke with Steve Sewell and gave him his birthday wish for health and more birthdays. Steve is leading our pack of octogenarians.

I also received another wonderful email from George Uhlig. George wrote, “Great writing. Appreciate all you and Hap Miller do to keep us connected. Bought three copies of Howard Moss’ book, ‘Kiss the Tailsman’ – one for each of our daughters and one for me – and two copies of Bolling’s book (both signed) for our two daughters. Our youngest daughter has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Utah (in addition to her Doctor of Optometry degree) and indicated she thought Howard’s book was quite riveting. She thought that, while of fiction surrounding real events, the ending may not have been fiction but something Howard had actually lived. We discussed my recollections of Howard and his graciousness in inscribing the two books each of our daughters got and shared that the ending (you’re going to have to buy the book; proceeds go the Bayliss scholarship fund) was, indeed, too unique not to have been experienced personally. Just as a side note, she is published in Issac Asimov’s science fiction journal and is residency trained in optometry; kind of like onions and ice cream. Thanks again for all you do in preparing our class notes.”

On Aug. 26, I caught up with Tom Royster to wish him a happy birthday and many more. Tom and his wife of similar vintage are going to Ireland shortly to celebrate. We wish them safe travels.

On Aug. 28, I tried to catch up with the Powell twins, Jim and John, for their 80th birthday but could only leave voicemail messages. Jim wrote: “Thanks for the various calls. John and I had a big birthday celebration last night sponsored by our brother, Ed ’57, who was a 1st Class cadet when we were rats at VMI. I am doing a fair amount of traveling and beach time (Morehead City) these days with an interest in military history. I don’t know if I told you, but we had five brothers that graduated from VMI in the 80

1960-75 timeframe. Brother John is still writing books; you may have seen his book on VMI and the Battle of New Market. In the book, he mentions an officer named DuPont from the Wilmington, Delaware, crowd. This DuPont was part of the burning of VMI by federal forces in the Civil War, and he later went to Congress and was responsible for a grant by the federal government that was used to construct J.M. Hall. My brother, Ed, ran across one of the DuPonts recently and gave him a copy of John’s book. This DuPont then went to their family history and reported back that he had found this DuPont, and all of the information was correct; I think that there are now about 250 DuPont ancestors, so he had a little research to do.” Thank you, Jim, for the update.

On Aug. 29, I spoke with Don Hammonds and gave him his birthday wishes. Don says he gets around with a cane but is doing well.

I received a nice letter from Neal Callahan Sept. 5. Neal had been at a rat send-off dinner in North Houston, Texas. Bill King also attended. Bill lives in South Houston. There were seven new rats celebrated. I appreciate letters like this one.

On Sept. 10, we had two brother rats with birthdays, Bill Knowles and Alex Dunlap.

I could only give them birthday wishes over their voicemails but did send emails. We wish them good health. I also got an email from Bill relating that some of the Tidewater brother rats and wives got together for lunch.

Present were Mike and Alice Shoemaker, Howard and Susan Moss, Mike and Betty Pitt, and Bill and Sue Knowles. They unanimously agreed that Gen. Peay ’62 is the best superintendent VMI has had in our lifetime.

On Tuesday, Sept. 11, Ruth and I went to Durham to avoid Hurricane Florence. We have been with very generous children. Florence has incarcerated eastern North Carolina. As of Sept. 17, there were no roads into Wilmington or St. James. Henry and Linda Brown were incarcerated in Raleigh, as well.

Our home was reported to be OK with power after five days. Otherwise, we were safe and well cared for. On Sept. 17, I spoke with Earl Marquette. He got birthday wishes. He is tolerating his surgical infirmities well. I wished him many more birthdays.

On Sept. 18, I tried to get in touch with Bill

Driver and Barry Worst on their birthday. I left voicemail birthday messages. Barry got an email wish. We don’t have Bill’s email.

Bill, send it to us if you read this note.

On Sept. 20, Ruth and I returned to St. James Plantation after a nine-day evacuation from Florence to Durham. Our home was completely undamaged. Unfortunately, St. James and surrounding areas – Brunswick County, New Hanover and Pender counties and Wilmington – have been severely damaged. We all pray for recovery in those damaged areas. After we got home, I received a wonderful email from Tony Di Caprio. He wrote: “Hey, this is Tony Di Caprio; it’s been a long time! Jay and I bought a small condo in Florida and are anxiously awaiting our children and grandchildren to come here to celebrate my 80th birthday next week.

“The reason I am in Florida is because I have traumatic brain injury from my two Vietnam tours. I can’t speak very well, but I do go to a speech pathologist twice a week.

When Veterans Affairs found out what I had, they said it would be better for me to go down to Florida for the sunshine, walks on the beach and quiet relaxation. I walk on the beach for one hour every day, lift weights and have my wonderful wife drive me everywhere. I can’t believe I will be 80 years old, because I don’t feel 80; thank God! People tell me that I don’t look that old either. Jimbo, you have been a great class president, and I always look forward to reading the VMI Review. Every year, I send a contribution to the VMI Class of ’60 funds and to the Paul Bayliss fund. Please tell all our brother rats that I am doing well physically and can be reached in Florida at 321-241-6393 (all summer and winter). If no one answers, try our Pennsylvania home phone at 717-412-7024. Take care and stay well. Tony.” It so good to hear from and about you all. Please write.

On Sept. 24, I sent voicemail and email to Mike Shoemaker for his birthday. He acknowledged with an email.

On Sept. 27, I sent an email and voicemail to Tony Di Caprio on his birthday. On Sept. 29, I sent a voicemail and mail to Nick Delaplane for his special day. He sent me a nice thank you email. On Oct. 1, I sent voicemail and email birthday wish to Jon Quinn.

Jon called me later to say had spent his big VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes day with children. He is well. I hope all of the other recent birthday boys are healthy and safe.

On Oct. 3, I spoke with Roy McLeod, one of the senior citizens of our class, along with John Thompson, Steve Sewell and Jon Parnell. Roy and Sewell had just returned from a two-week trip to Spain to celebrate his big day. Roy is well and remains active in church work. On Oct. 5, I spoke with George Uhlig.

He was enjoying his 80th birthday and is well. On Oct. 6, I spoke with Ed Duncan and wished him a happy birthday. Ed is still farming, telling me that he still had some hay to bale. He is well.

On Oct. 8, Joe Sisler, Joe Morabit and I descended on the Robert Trent Trail golf courses in Birmingham, Alabama, for three days of golf. Henry Brown was also to make the trip but had to cancel due to a short illness.

He is recovering nicely. Sam Horner and Otis Pool could not come, either. We played well and ate much barbecue.

On Oct. 12, I spoke with Seaborn “Seafus” Brown on his birthday. Seafus is the youngest of our brother rats, as he was the youngest matriculant in our class in 1956. He has some visual difficulties and has an upcoming hip replacement but otherwise is doing well in Sarasota, Florida.

On Oct. 20, we had two brother rats have birthdays, Jack Willard and Roy Quinn. I got lucky and was able to speak to both. Both are well considering their age. It was good

to speak with both. On Oct. 21, I called Bill Spicuzza and left a voicemail. Bill wrote me a thank you, saying that he celebrated at the restored Cavalier Hotel. He is well.

On Oct. 27, I spoke with Frank Ferrier, who was celebrating his 80th at his ranch in Montana. He is healthy.

On Oct. 29, I celebrated my 80th with Ruth in the Dominican Republic at the Casa de Campo Resort. We enjoyed ourselves, the Dominican sun and five days of golf on three beautiful Pete Dye courses, one of which is “The Teeth of the Dog.” On Oct. 20, Ruth had arranged an elaborate birthday party in Chapel Hill with all six of our children and their spouses and 14 of our 16 grandchildren.

On the 29th, I also received much appreciated birthday emails from Joe Morabit and Mike Shoemaker. Ain’t it fun to grow old!

On Oct. 30, I received the following email from Jeep Goodwillie: “All is well with the Goodwillies. Linda is still very active with property management for the real estate company she works with and continues to spoil me far beyond what I deserve. They have 350 rentals to manage. Son James IV ’83 is still in the information technology industry in Richmond and now a retired full colonel in the Army Reserve. He and wife Staci just won the annual couples golf tournament at their country club, Country Club of Richmond. Daughter Dia is running her business in Illinois doing books for three firms. Grandson James V ’12 is also in the

Class of 1960: Linda Brown, Ruth Smith, Bill “Peanuts” Elliott, Theresa Williamson, Jan Elliott and Bolling Williamson at the Institute Society Dinner.

2019-Issue 1

information technology business and took the bronze medal in his age group last year in British Columbia at the World Iron Man Triathlon Canada (I’m sure I got the exact title of the competition wrong). He has presented us with our first great-grandson, and there is another one in the oven. I became certified as a Christian counselor and do counseling three times a week through our church, handling individuals, families, court-mandated, substance abuse, marital, etc. Will gladly give BRs family rates (since all counseling is free).

Metal detecting, genealogy, doctor visits and other volunteer work takes up the other spare time. Going to a VMI breakfast tomorrow morning in The Villages with some of the local alumni. Herb Vaughan is the only BR in the chapter but several in classes next to ours.

Even have a two-star general here. Bought a new car the other day and would you believe the general sales manager at the dealership was a driver for Dave Maddox while he was commanding in Europe. Sergeant 1st Class Carmelo Cortez was also a drill sergeant and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year in ’98 for the Fort Knox base. Loves VMI and needless to say, I got a great deal. The VMI network lives on! Keep on keeping on and thanks for your great job as Class Agent and all-around good guy. Jeep.” Thanks, Jeep.

On Nov. 2, I spoke with Jay Jarrett one day after his birthday. He was well. He had celebrated his day with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Class of 1960: Bill “Peanuts” Elliott, Jimbo Smith, G.G. Phillips, Jack Horgan, Bo Bowles and Henry Brown at the Institute Society Dinner. Bolling Williamson was present but not pictured.

81

Class Notes On Nov. 6, I tried to call Fred Murrill, one day after his birthday but didn’t get him. I left a voicemail. He called me back Nov. 14. He had a good birthday. Other than some manageable orthopedic problems, he is well. On Nov. 6, I also spoke with Fudd Caldwell.

Fudd had a stroke in December 2017 but says he is “coming back.” Fudd has worked mighty hard over the years. He sounded good and optimistic.

On Nov. 8, Ruth and I went to Lexington for Founders Day weekend. We were able to go to the Institute Society dinner Friday night with G.G. and Frances Phillips, Bolling and Theresa Williamson, Henry and Linda Brown, Peanuts and Jan Elliott, Jack and Nancy Horgan, Bo and Nancy Bowles and Dave and Ethelmary Maddox. On Saturday before the VMI versus Furman University football game we had lunch with Jim O’Dell, Howard Moss, Herb Vaughan and Tom Daniel. It’s always good to visit with our old friends.

It is time to close down this version of our class notes. As always, I ask that you stay in touch, letting us all hear from and about you.

Remember to remember the Institute in your donations as well as our Class of ’60 Bayliss Memorial Scholarship.

Stay healthy and safe. God bless you all.

In the spirit, Jimbo

1961

drove me and Ray, also had to pull off the road several times. The rain did not dampen our spirits, and we had a great time. Mike Bissell looks great considering all his challenges, and the same goes for Bill Keech.

Mike was feeling so good that he ordered a rum and Coke, and Mike and “J.C.” devoured scrumptious desserts. Holmes Smith is still working as an engineer/surveyor, is very busy and appears to be in great health.

Since Holmes was the last one to arrive for lunch, his penalty was treating us all to lunch, which he did. Bill Keech says living at Westminster Canterbury in Winchester is very acceptable, Marcia is in good health and, best of all, they can see their children and grandchildren frequently. Ray Hanlein and “J.C.” Tharrington are both doing well after their recent orthopedic surgeries. Spike Callander is having some knee issues, but it didn’t seem to affect his golf handicap. Mike’s son, Gary Bissell ’89, retired after 30 years in the Army and is still working at VMI as deputy chief of staff and operations. Gary’s wife, Marti, was promoted to brigadier general, and Gary recently visited her at her assignment in Sarajevo, where Marti is doing great!

Hurricane Florence affected brother rats in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and parts of Virginia and Maryland. Thankfully, we did not lose any brother rats or spouses during these terrible storms. As Florence was approaching, Spike Callander, Robert

Williamson and Ray Hanlein (Williamsburg golf chairpersons) were trying to decide what to do about the golf outing. Due to the forecast path of the hurricane, J.C. Miller, Jim Miner, Bud Alligood and Clayton Smith were planning to drive and had to cancel early due to safety and travel concerns. Those who did arrive in Williamsburg had a good time and included Jim and Blair Bickford; Ray and Sally Hanlein; Spike and Mary Callander; Tom and Barbara Phlegar; Dick and Judy Youngblood; Harrison and Terry Fridley; Bill and Joyce Gibbings; Sal and Sue Vitale; Jud McLester; Susie, Judd’s friend; Robert Williamson; Randy Williamson ’88; and Wyatt Durrette. The Williamsburg Hampton Inn lobby was an excellent location for our Monday happy hour, and later we had an outstanding dinner at Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant. Tuesday morning was a beautiful golf day until we learned that the governor ordered an evacuation of all those in the Area A floodplain and a shutdown of southbound lanes of I-64 at noon so traffic could use those lanes go north. After breakfast, the Vitales and Bickfords bailed out to avoid the I-64 shut down and returned home.

The I-64 traffic northbound was stopped dead for miles. Tuesday, golf was at the Williamsburg National Golf Course, and it was a nice place except for the heat index on the course was pushing 100. Bob Polk, Jud McLester and Rod Hudgins took the closest

Sal Vitale Jr.

4112 Hermitage Point Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757/363-9493 vitalesal@yahoo.com

This past quarter has flown by. As I write these notes, it is Halloween, and the weather is pleasant. However during the past months weather was the news, but that did not deter the class from getting together. During late August, Spike Callander, John “J.C.” Tharrington, Holmes Smith, Ray Hanlein, Bill Keech and I had lunch with Mike Bissell at the Firebird Restaurant in Gainesville, Virginia. The morning rain was so very heavy that Bill Keech, who was driving from Winchester by himself, had to pull off on the shoulder until the rain let up. “J.C.” Tharrington, who 82

Class of 1961: Class members gathered for the 10th annual fall lunch at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in Paint Bank, Virginia, Oct. 13, 2018. Pictured were, from left, Betty Orndorff, Barry Orndorff, Connie Oliver, Jim Oliver, Tom Phlegar, Barbara Phlegar, Harrison Fridley, Terry Fridley, Mitch Kot, Sal Vitale, Jennifer Kot and Sue Vitale.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes to the pin competition. Tuesday night dinner hammered. Andy Myruski’s son has three pretty close, but she is fine except for about 4 was at the Aberdeen Barn, and there were 24 boats on the Potomac River that needed tend- inches of rain and a swamp in the backyard. present: The Reitzs, Polks, Phlegars, Wood- ing, but the calm weather eliminated the need. Dennis Curtis also missed the tornado and cocks, Respesses, Callanders, Hanleins, In the Richmond area, there were tornadoes, experienced heavy rain. Judy Youngblood Hoskinses, Fridleys, Robert Williamson, rain and wind. Marina Van Orden said that was in the hospital for knee surgery durRandy Williamson ’88, Judd McLester and one of the tornadoes that touched down was ing the threat of tornadoes, and the nurses moved her to the hall, away from the Suzie, John Tharrington, and Larry windows. Dick Youngblood said the Williams. Wednesday golf was canJames River overflowed its banks and celed, and everyone departed to avoid fortunately damage was minimal. Fithe hurricane. What hurricane? The nally, Lou Kiger said Lynchburg had next four days were beautiful. the Florence high wind and heavy I called those brother rats who were rain, and he had a soggy yard.

Florence’s crosshairs, and I reached On a lighter note, Sue and I have been Dickey Stone in Southport and John in relatively good health and busy. We Gangemi in Wilmington. Dickey decided to get a portion of our great Stone left his home and went north. room floor refinished, as it was getting He had no damage at his house and worn, and at the same time, we reonly minor damage at his condo near the ocean. John Gangemi closed his Class of 1961: The Kigers took their first camel ride near placed the carpet in our dining room with a wood floor. What a nightmare, storm shutters and rode it out. The Qumran in Dead Sea, Israel, March 24, 2018. and what a mess. Our daughter, Barhouse survived, and his generator kept bara, came to help us pack up all the the refrigerator cold. It took a week for china, etc., in the dining room and all power to return, and finally both I-95 the knickknacks in the kitchen so the and I-40 were opened. Dick Youngfloor contractor could do his work. blood has a condo at Wrightsville After the contractor left, Sue and I unBeach and had someone secure their packed everything, washed it and put cruiser and runabout at the marina. it back. Within two weeks, the dining The condo had no damage, but the room floor planks started to buckle, cruiser had its canopy ripped off. Dick and now the floor has to be torn out Hartman lives in Shalimar, Florida, and replaced. The thought of packand was OK. Dick said he had some ing and unpacking again certainly wind and rain and power fluctuations, removes any enthusiasm we had for a but no real problems. The people east Class of 1961: Several class members gathered for lunch of him got hammered. Bud Alligood with Mike Bissell at the Firebird Restaurant in Gaines- wood floor. We still attend most of the lost power and all means of commu- ville, Virginia, Aug. 21, 2018. Pictured were, from left, Bill Friday night beer and cookies at the nication for weeks. Jim Bickford was Keech, Spike Callander, Holmes Smith, Ray Hanlein, Sal Gibbingses, and it is continues to be a fun evening. Hershell Murray was in in the mandatory evacuation Zone Vitale, J.C. Tharrington and Bissell. town and was staying with Respess.

A, and he stayed. Jim emailed me Hershell wanted to experience beer a photo which showed all their first and cookies, so they braved the traffic floor furniture raised above previous on the HRBT and attended. Hershell flood levels. (Blair said she saw some recently went through several diffidust that had been missed for a while, cult operations and is still recuperatsmile). The Bickfords were concerned ing, and I am pleased to say he looks about their two dogs that are afraid of great! Cinny retired, and Hershell and high winds and thunder. Bill and ConCinny sold their New York property nie Nelms were at their timeshare in so that Cinny could be full time in Virginia Beach and managed to have Florida taking care of Hershell. dinner with Irv Wells at Bubba’s that Sue and I and Larry Wetsel were Tuesday evening. Bill left Wednesday morning and took Route 460 to Class of 1961: Hershell Murray and Ken Legum were special invited to a Hillsdale College event Richmond and had a beautiful drive. guests at the Gibbings’ beer and cookies night in Virginia in Norfolk. The speaker, Dr. FolBeach, Virginia, Oct. 5, 2018. Pictured were, from left, Bill Alison Drescher was fine and still had Gibbings, Larry Wetsel, Larry Respess, Murray and Legum. som, was outstanding. Some of you might want to look into their online power. The people to his south got 2019-Issue 1

83

Class Notes educational programs that are free of charge.

Sue and I attended the annual Swinging Bridge dinner at Paint Bank, Virginia. As in past years, the food was great and the company outstanding. For the first time, Sue and I decided to stay at the lodge across from the restaurant, and we really enjoyed the accommodations. Tom and Barbara Phlegar did a great job setting up the dinner, and those present were Barry and Betty Orndorff, Harrison and Terry Fridley, Mitch and Jennifer Kot, and Jim and Connie Oliver. Barry and Betty Orndorff are in good health and enjoy taking short daily trips, as they prefer to be home in their own beds at night. Harrison Fridley still has his balance issues, and Terry, who feels great, does most of the driving. Mitch and Jennifer Kot were visiting the Fridleys and joined us. It is hard for me to believe that Mitch is as old as we are and looks so young.

Mitch talked about missing Vietnam, and in 2019, they are going to go back Vietnam via a skiing trip in Austria and to teach business ethics classes for the Vietnamese for a few months. Connie and Jim Oliver are planning to attend the class cruise to New England, and Jim says his son is doing a good job with the family business. Jim said his brother (who many of us know) is not doing well. Tom Phlegar is still recuperating from a shoulder injury incurred when a car hit his bicycle. Healing is slow, and Tom has recovered enough that he can now hold his banjo. For Tom’s 80th birthday, he is planning to jump out of an airplane again! Barbara is still working on improving her knee strength.

The following weekend, Sue and I traveled to Fredrick, Maryland, to participate in the bat mitzvah of Carl Hirsch’s grandson, Marcus. Marcus did a very professional job leading us through the service, and as one of the observers commented, Marcus had more to read from the Torah than his father did. Following the ceremony, we had lunch with the family and friends, including Dennis Crowley ’63, who is married to Hirsch’s sisterin-law. Our last event for that weekend was meeting with Paul and Rae Goldman at their hotel in Arlington. Paul’s children arranged for an 80th birthday party, and Paul’s relatives, high school friends and many of those he served with in Vietnam were there. I finally met Paul’s brother, Peter Goldman ’68, 84

who is a bald version of Paul (smile). A bit of trivia! Did you know that during our time at VMI, there was a quota on incoming cadets of the Jewish faith? Goldman filled the last available spot for our year. (Fact checked with Hirsch, Legum and several others.) Our next event was the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 9, 2018, and attendance from our class was down from previous years, (usually 25-30 brother rats). It was very nice to see Ben and Diane Lynch. Diane has made a remarkable health comeback. Stu and Sylvia Woodcock, Larry and Jeri Wetsel, Hugh Gouldthorpe, Ray and Sally Hanlein, Willard and Pat Hoskins, Carl and Becky Hirsch, Ed and Phyllis Hollowell, Bill and Joyce Gibbings, Dick and Judy Youngblood, John “J.C.” Miller, Don and Elaine Wilkinson, Bill and Marsha Keech, Battle Haslam and fiancée Elisabeth, George and Edna Henning, Gates and Margaret Richards, Harrison and Terry Fridley, and Sue and Sal Vitale enjoyed the event. The program highlighted the achievements of cadets, and several were at the dinner. Col. John Brodie (Hon.), along with the VMI Glee Club, performed a military medley. The group picture was available soon enough to make the Review submittal deadline. Our percent participation in contributing to VMI is down and for

Fiscal Year 2018. We slipped to fifth place in the ’60s rankings. However, six of our class’ widows contributed to VMI and that is up from last year. Thank you, ladies!

Despite the crazy summer weather we had, brother rats and spouses traveled throughout USA and the world. In late August, Doug and Mollie Popp were on their way home from Mount Rushmore, pulling their RV, when major flooding shut down Interstates 80 and 39. Bridges and roads were washed out. The state police were directing traffic through the mess, and Doug decided to follow several semis as they “paved the way” home. Larry Wetsel and members from the Star of the Sea parish in Virginia Beach had a pilgrimage tour to Italy from Sept.3-13 (while we were fighting hurricanes). Cities included were Milan, Padua, Venice, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Rome and the Vatican, including a papal audience. On Nov. 1, Larry Wetsel and Hugh Gouldthorpe took a trip to Europe with the Virginia Historical Society to participate in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Trip details were not provided at this time, but they enjoyed it. Larry and Hugh flew back from Paris just in time to attend the Institute Society Dinner.

Lou and Jane Kiger, along with 30 people

Class of 1961: Class members gathered for the Williamsburg golf outing at the Hampton Inn in Williamsburg, Virginia, Sept. 10, 2018. Pictured were, from left, front row, Blair Bickford, Jim Bickford, Ray Hanlein, Mary Callander, Sally Hanlein, Tom Phlegar, Dick Youngblood, Judy Youngblood, Harrison Fridley, Terry Fridley, Joyce Gibbings and Sue Vitale. Back row: Jud McLester, Robert Williamson, Bill Gibbings, Randy Williamson ’88, Wyatt Durrette and Spike Callander. Barbara Phlegar was present but not pictured.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes from their church, traveled to New York on AMTRAK, cleared airport security and boarded ELAL at midnight to fly to Tel Aviv, Israel. Lynchburg to Tiberius “only” took 40 hours, and Lou did not sleep. Arriving, they boarded a bus for a two-hour ride to Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee. Their tour guide was a seventh generation Israelite and former member of the Israeli Navy SEALs who converted to Christianity, and he carried his firearm at all times. While in Tiberius, the group visited several historical sites, including the ruins of a Jewish synagogue in Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, the Jordan River (where several of the group were re-baptized), the Golan Heights, a Syrian border bunker and Lou got up at 5 a.m. to see the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee. Leaving Tiberius, they visited Beit She’an, where an almost perfectly preserved Roman theater is located, and Megiddo on the southern edge of the Plain of Armageddon, which is the most famous battlefield in the world. They stayed in the Holy City, Jerusalem, for four nights. It happened to be during Palm Sunday, so the city was very crowded. Jerusalem highlights included: Mount of Olives where you can see the entire city of Jerusalem; the Garden of Gethsemane; Caiaphas House where Peter denied Jesus three times; the Western Wall; the old City of David; the Upper Room; Calvary; Golgotha, or the place of the skull; the Garden Tomb; the Pools of Bethesda; and the Jerusalem Holocaust Museum, where they heard from a lady who is a Holocaust survivor and was a girlhood friend of Anne Frank. The day before they left Israel, Lou and Jane were given a chance to ride a camel, swim in the Dead Sea and visit the location of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Other than the flight over and back, Lou said the trip was well worth going on.

Barbara Jean “B.J.” LeFon took her annual trip to Europe. Bootsie and B.J. did this trip many times. Barbara Jean started in Vienna, Austria, for a few days, went then on to the Austrian lake country and Bavaria and ended up in Switzerland.

Pete and Carol Roberts were in Saint Martin in July for a week and said the island people are rebuilding. There still is a lot of damage in the poorer areas. Hill and Heather Browning spent two weeks there in September, but I have not heard their comments on 2019-Issue 1

the rebuilding. Sue and I plan to be there in March 2019.

My rat roommate, Joe Lisiecki, reports from Chicago that his son, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Joe Lisiecki, will soon have 29 years in – eight years active and 21 years in the Reserve.

I remember when Joe was in Iraq for eight months in 2005, and he saw a lot of action.

Except for reserve duty in Iraq, Joe has been a Marine criminal law judge, had his own law practice and now lives in California where he is a full time federal administrative law judge.

The BR Lisiecki scorecard reads four children, 11 grandkids and one recently born first great-grandchild.

Lou and Pris Shuba just returned from Germany, where they had a great time. Lou has devised a new way to clear customs in seconds. How? Have your wife develop a bloody nose (dry air does it) on the plane, and when leaving the plane, have lots of bloody napkins in your hand. On the brighter side, Lou sent a picture of Pris’ sunflowers, which had an estimated 4,000 blossoms. Carl and Becky Hirsch traveled to Texas in September to attend the wedding of their daughter, Karen (she was a widow for 10 years). Karen’s son, Travis, is a senior at Baylor and son, Trevor, is a sophomore at Texas Tech.

Sue Patrick held her annual National Night Out Against Crime night in her cul-de-sac and provided food to the neighbors and the six police cars that showed up at 6 p.m. Kenton loved this outing, and Sue’s neighbor, Cooper Browning, sang “Chicken Fried”(a Wyatt Durrette III ’98 song) for the crowd.

Bill Hala had dormers added to his Ontario home, and it looks very nice. Bill also added to his toys a 17-foot aluminum fishing/water sport for the kids to use skiing.

John McDougal, via email, shared the words to taps. John said he now has an even deeper respect for the song than he did before.

Paul Myatt has relocated to the Paul Spring retirement complex in Alexandria, Virginia.

His daughter is still an O-6 military nurse.

Fred Stephenson turned 80 years old, and even though he is beginning to get accustomed to his new home in Georgia, he still misses the home he enjoyed in Culpeper, Virginia. Georgia is OK, but Virginia will always hold first place as the most enjoyable places of residence.

Sometimes I hear you complain about the gim list being included in the Review. I can assure you that I ask permission before I include anyone’s name. So, let’s start with some good news. Irv Wells had a procedure to correct his brain aneurysm at Norfolk General.

The first event, the exploratory probe, was to get a blueprint of his brain (no jokes); and the main event was about 60 minutes. The procedure went flawlessly and was a success. Irv had no aftereffects except tiredness for a few days. Now Irv is as good as new, and contrary to the nasty rumor that went around, he did not get a personality transplant. Dennis Curtis had cataract surgery, and what a difference it made! He also had an eyeball overhaul (never heard of that) to the right eye and is back to driving near normally. Paul Johnston spent an evening in hospital with a possible TIA, and while no evidence was found, his family was deeply disturbed. Bob Coltrane’s arm is more flexible and the pain has decreased, but he still has a ways to go with the rehab therapy. Len Kassel had his gallbladder taken out and then spent nine days in the hospital because he did not go in when the pain first hit and pancreatitis resulted. The best part was Len lost 23 pounds, so he is at normal weight again. Judy Youngblood is doing physical therapy on her latest (and last) knee replacement. Judy said this one was not as easy as her first. Lou Kiger had an infection on his neck, and the doctor operated and removed all of the infected area. To show for it, Lou has about a 2-inch scar on the side of his neck. Bob Burks had stents placed in his legs to help circulation and is doing a lot better. Bill Haeberlein needed a heart valve, and now he has a new pig valve (like me) and is doing fine. How they placed the valve was interesting, to say the least. Charlotte Harbach had heart surgery and she is well on her way to feeling like her old self. According to George Henning, Edna continues to feel better every day after her recent operation. (She looked great at the Institute Society Dinner).

Jack Bell has had many heart issues over the years. Jack flew to Chicago to have a special heart procedure performed, and it went very well. After several days in the hospital, he was well enough to fly home and is doing great.

John Butler has moved in with his daughter in Raleigh and now is in hospice care. When 85

Class Notes I talked to John, he intimated that his time here on earth is short. Ken Legum is coping with issues, and hopefully the doctors will tell him something. Charlie Stevens is barely hanging on.

I’ve been told many times that now we are at the age when we will experience the loss of loved ones, and it is not easy. The following have been reunited with their creator: Rita Huneycutt, wife of Brother Rat Richard D. Huneycutt, died after a long fight with cancer. She was a beautiful, strong lady who was dearly loved by her family and all who knew her. Rita attended our reunions and golf outings. The last time we saw her was in Southport.

Mary Cleveland, wife of Brother Rat Ben Cleveland, passed after a lengthy battle with angiosarcoma, a rare cancer of the inner lining of blood vessels. Ben was in Company B and left after two years.

Lenny Rishell, son of Brother Rat Don Rishell, died due to his inability to get a kidney for a transplant. Lenny contracted kidney disease while he was with the special strike force at the 75th Ranger Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington.

I have reached my page limit for the Review.

Please stay well, consider communicating with a brother rat you have not heard from and please communicate with me. God bless the class, VMI and the USA.

1962

Monty Williams 5211 Shoal Creek Road Suffolk, VA 23435 757/676-8563 mcwvmi62@me.com

Jerry Burnett

P.O. Box 835 South Boston, VA 24592 434/572-3411 drburnett@gcronline.com

The 2018 hurricane season is over as I begin this edition of the class notes. I’m hoping that all survived with no or minimal damage.

I begin with a sad note and report the passing of Brother Rats Jim West and Johnny Cooke.

Jim passed Aug. 8, 2018, following a long battle with dementia. A celebration of life 86

service for him was held Sept. 29, 2018. Tony Curtis and Nick Nicholson attended the service. Johnny passed Sept. 10, 2018, due to colon cancer. He was only with us for two years and was on a football scholarship from Chesapeake, Virginia, as a quarterback. During summer 1960, he broke his neck in a swimming accident at Virginia Beach and did not return to VMI. He did attend our Ring Figure and got his ring. He came back for summer school in 1961. Fred Consolvo and I roomed with him in an apartment above the College Town Shop. A celebration of life was held for him also Sept. 29, 2018, in Chesapeake, Virginia. Bruce Ballard attended.

Tony Curtis’ wife, Judy, died Aug. 4, 2018, losing her long battle with pancreatic cancer.

She went out fighting for over a month, but now she is with her maker and in no more pain. A celebration of life for Judy was held Oct. 13, 2018.

Joe Weakley reports that his wife, Theresa, is enjoying her retirement from teaching. She makes a comment just about every day how glad she has retired from public school. She is still involved with music and gives lessons on guitar, flute and keyboard.

Also, she plays and sings with the Shenandoah Valley Minstrel group, which plays Civil War era music. As for himself, he had another “downer.” He rounded a corner to turn out a light and tripped on a box and fell. X-rays and a CT scan in the emergency room showed no breaks; however, a few days later, he had an MRI which revealed a massive tear in his rotator cuff. He was referred to an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulders. Fortunately, no surgery was required, and he is doing physical therapy.

This has really restricted his backswing. Joe doesn’t have the corner on stupid accidents.

On Labor Day, I had spent the day pressure washing our patio furniture and cleaning the patio for dinner with friends. I was sitting on a camp stool (three-legged) putting some beer in the fridge (to be enjoyed later) and fell off the stool with a bottle in my hand, resulting a very large gash in my right hand requiring about 20 stitches. The following Tuesday, I was lucky to get an appointment with a hand surgeon (with the help of our CRNA daughter). I not only cut my hand but severed a tendon and some nerves. I had

surgery and am now undergoing occupational therapy to regain use of my right thumb. I’ll recover by the 60th.

Don Arey reports that neither he nor Ellen are doing well. He had an aortic valve replacement in March 2017, and though the surgery went well, he has never recovered.

All that obscene energy he had before surgery is gone, and he can do very little that is physical. Ellen has pulmonary fibrosis as a complication of her rheumatoid arthritis and is only ambulatory with a walker. They

Class of 1962: Tom and Carpie Coulbourn with Sonny and Elizabeth Robbins.

Class of 1962: Monty Williams with Cadets Maddy Fay ’20 and Lauren Dost ’20 at TASTE Harbour View in Suffolk, Virginia.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Danny Kiser says he didn’t used to care are basically homebound. Life is tiresome about his birthday, but these days, he is really with little pleasure. He never thought getglad to have them. He and Nancy are stayting old would be this hard. Tom and Donna ing busy at their Northern Neck homestead, Bandy visited them recently. but Danny is not as active as he used to be In August, Linda and Seymour “Sam” because of very bad arthritic ankles. In OctoSamuels celebrated their 50th anniversary ber, he had the left one fused and planned to at Linda’s memory care unit. The celebrahave the other one done in January. Recovtion was highlighted by visits by family and ery will be slow, as he will not be able to put the friends who introduced them. In Octoany weight on the ankle for six weeks. He is ber, Sam donated his military history/scilooking forward to a hunting trip in Argenence library to the ROTC detachment at the tina next June. In July, they had a great cruise institute. There were about 100 books in his in southeastern Alaska with some Northern collection with several more that he will send Neck friends. As Danny recovers, they love to when he can corral them (they are lent out). have visitors, so if anyone wants a quiet stay In August, Orlando and Joan Severo aton a beautiful little creek with crabs, oysters tended the wedding of their granddaughter, Class of 1962: Bobby Howard and Andy and delicious fish, they’d love to have you Sydney, in Huntsville, Utah.

Higgins. visit them.

Bill Harris recently had gallbladder surgery Other than traveling to Martha’s in August. He and Christa planned Vineyard and Costa Rica for a little to fly to Germany to visit a son just rest and relaxation, Buck and Loubefore Christmas. They planned to ise Bradley have been close to home celebrate her birthday there Dec. 23. and Goshen. They did attend the They are looking forward to visiting Old Corps luncheon at VMI hosted the place where they met. by the Alumni Association. The Bruce and Cindy Ballard celClass of ’62 was well represented at ebrated their 51st wedding anniverthe event. sary in August 2018. In July, they, Bobby and Katie Howard traveled along with their 18-year-old grandto Paris, Normandy and Amsterdam daughter, went on a Mediterranean in September. The Normandy visit cruise. Bruce was only with us for was awesome. He says with a rental our rat year but graduated from Old Dominion University in 1968. He Class of 1962: Sonny Robbins and Bill Cook with their wives car, there are many interesting things to see but a guide for at least one day retired as director of purchasing at in Las Vegas, Nevada. is mandatory. He met Andy Higgins East Tennessee State University in at Utah Beach. Andy Higgins was 1993. Bruce’s brother, Alan ’60, the designer and manufacturer of graduated with the Class of 1960. the World War II landing craft veAll is well with Tony Waddell. He hicles known as the Higgins Boats. is living in Brownsburg (as you may Bobby says a visit to the American remember, Lexington is a suburb) Cemetery is a must. There are aland is still working with his business most 10,000 young heroes are burpart time in western North Carolina. ied there. Many of them were 17, 18 He has a great longtime partner, so and 19 years old. The flag is lowered he doesn’t have to go there much at 4 p.m. Next year will be the 75th and gets to spend most of his time in anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. the Lexington area.

In October, Sonny and Elizabeth Larry Wilson recently attended Robbins went to Richmond to a rugby match between VMI and visit their son and his family. While North Carolina State University. there, they had lunch with Tom and About 30 members of the VMI family were there to support the Class of 1962: The University of North Carolina Ashville inducted Carpie Coulbourn. Tom’s doing team. Among those attending were four people into the Athletics Hall of Fame Sept. 22, 2018: Guy fine and is still recovering from a Betsel, basketball; Kristi Cummings Melis, soccer; Elif Unlu Enfall in June that broke his hip. Tom Dennis Easley and his son. glert, volleyball; and VMI’s own Bob Yearout, former faculty. stopped using a cane recently and is In response to birthday wishes, 2019-Issue 1

87

Class Notes anxious to get back on the golf course. Their son now owns and lives in the house that Tom and Carpie owned in the ’70s. A couple of weeks later, they were in Las Vegas for a flying convention and spent an evening with Bill and Miriam Cook who live in Henderson, Nevada. Bill retired from Sears at age 60 and moved to Nevada and has been there ever since.

Tony Curtis flew up to Washington, D.C., for his Falls Church George Mason reunion with Larry and Betsy Wilson. Walter Hylton was kind enough to pick him up at the Dulles Airport, and they went to the Mad Fox restaurant in Falls Church for a fantastic lunch and great up-to-date conversations! Both Walt and Larry are looking great and plan on making it to our 60th!

When he got back, he met with Dick Speidel who told him his wife, Virginia, had died in his arms Sept. 23, 2018, 19 days after Judy’s passing. Dick and he go way back to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as Army brats in the ’50s. Dick still plans on traveling around the world, scuba diving when he can. Dick is headed for Africa next. Tony says he received more than 90 sympathy cards about Judy’s death, and more than 40 were from brother rats. They were greatly appreciated.

John Anthony reports the following. He participated once again in the ninth Annual [Arabia and the] Gulf Research Meeting at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom in August. Before the assembled 200 scholars, researchers, analysts and observers from all over the world, this was the first time he was asked and privileged to introduce Maj. Gen. Dr. Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al-Zayyani, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. John noted that, among international leaders he has known, Secretary Gen. Al-Zayyani is the most uniquely educated and trained for the position he has ever known. One could argue that he had to be, given that he has been tasked with helping to protect and advance the legitimate interests of countries that contain more than half of the energy that drives the world’s economies, including our own. Before assuming the post to which he was recently re-elected to serve a third three-year term, Al-Zayyani served for 88

10 years each in the Kingdom of Bahrain’s respective ministries of internal security, external defense and foreign affairs.

On King Muhammad VI’s first official visit to the United States in 2000, at a ceremony in the nation’s capital attended by hundreds, the king presented John the Quissam Alawite Award, the Kingdom of Morocco’s highest recognition for excellence. So far as is known, he is the only VMI graduate ever to have been knighted by a foreign head of state. This past year marked the 23rd year of a program where John annually escorts delegations of CENTCOM officers to Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The program would not have come to pass without the aid of Binnie Peay, when he was commanding general of U.S. Central Command. With the officers continuing to be selected yearly by CENTCOM’s commanding general, the program provides further evidence that Binnie’s legacy, and his and John’s sometimes jointly collaborative and at other times parallel but related activities and commitments in the service of America’s national interests, reaches back much further than when Binnie began his remarkable achievements as VMI superintendent. On June 18, John and Cynthia celebrated their 35th anniversary of their wedding, which Brother Rat Robert Evans attended. The selection of that particular date was more than a matter of chronology. The wedding itself marked the 150th anniversary of a momentous event in the lives of his and Binnie Peay’s families. To wit, their respective great-great-grandfathers and their wives were married on the exact same date, June 18, 1833, by the exact same pastor, at the exact same place. His and Binnie’s forebears pronounced their respective vows to their wives that pivotal day in their families’ lives in 1833 at Richmond’s historic St. John’s Church. This is also where Spencer Elmore, our late beloved brother rat, was buried two years ago in conjunction with a service beautifully choreographed by Patsy, Spencer’s widow, with John and some 30 other brother rats in attendance.

Jim Richards says the he and Flo spent a week in Helen, Georgia, a very pleasant German themed town in the northern part of the state. They had some great food while there.

They are still enjoying the country life in the

beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Bob Yearout was inducted into the University of North Carolina Asheville’s Athletic Hall of Fame Sept. 22, 2018. The honor was based on first being UNCA 1st Division I faculty athletic representative to the NCAA. As such, he fought a long battle with faculty, supporters and community to keep the university a Division I program. Most of the faculty wanted the program to drop Division I and be a Division III program. He formed a committee and, after an economic analysis, proved that Division I was economically the only option that the university had if it wanted to be competitive. Secondly, he introduced and mentored athletes as well as students to the Undergraduate Research Program and encouraged academic excellence. The Hall of Fame citation is as follows: “Dr. Robert Yearout, 1987-2016 faculty. Dr. Yearout served UNC Asheville for 29 years. An avid supporter of UNC Asheville athletics, Yearout first joined the university’s Faculty Athletics Committee in 1988 before taking over as the faculty athletics’ representative in 1989. A retired professor in UNC Asheville’s management and accountancy program, Yearout received the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in 2006. He received the UNC Asheville Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award in 2000. Inducted Sept. 22, 2018.”

In October, Bob and Nancy Miller drove to northeast Ohio, outside Youngstown, for his 60th high school reunion. He had 47 in his graduating class. Of those, 24 came to the reunion and about 15 are deceased, so they only had eight who couldn’t make it for some reason or another. They also went to the VMI versus Tusculum football game and saw the Keydets win. Mostly, they make an annual trek to Lexington so they can eat at Edelweiss in Greenville (Staunton). In December, they planned to head to Germany with their son, daughter and grandson for a Christmas Market river cruise.

In September, Carol and I went to a local restaurant for lunch, and upon entering, we were approached by two young ladies who noticed my 55th Reunion ball cap. They were Cadets Maddy Fay ’20 and Lauren Dost ’20, both 2nd Class cadets at the Institute. We had a nice, long chat, and they were very excited VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes to be receiving their rings at Ring Figure. In October, Carol and I attended my 60th high school reunion. Mercer MacPherson was there.

Mercer is enjoying retired life in San Juan Capistrano, California. He graduated from Virginia Tech, and while there, he was the first “Hokie bird,” the Virginia Tech mascot.

Mercer, Richard Bartlett John Morris and I graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1958 and all went to VMI together.

Begin plans to attend the 60th Reunion in 2022, and in the meantime, keep the info coming.

1963

Michael J. Curley

11803 Sussex Square Drive Henrico, VA 23238 804/852-5754 curleyrat63@verizon.net

Class agent’s corner: I trust this issue of the Alumni Review finds you healthy and happy, as we just matriculated a new “rat mob” of record size in August, nearly beat The Citadel and encountered lots of upset from the recent violent weather that played havoc with many lives, including those of a few of our brother rats. We’ve heard stories from the East and Gulf Coasts, as well as Texas. Even Richmond was the target of nine tornadoes, in addition to a great amount of rains and flooding, Thank God losses did not include lives, and from what I’ve heard, all will recover. Point of interest: The Straub family legacy continues as Mollie Straub ’22 entered the Rat Line in August following her sister, Maggie Straub ’16; uncle, Joe Straub ’65; and dad, Brother Rat Charlie Straub.

We wish her great success, especially with so much inspiration!

We lost a couple of our remarkable women this quarter: Carol Drake, wife of Frank Drake, and P.K. McMahon, wife of Jim McMahon. Carol began her nursing career as an Army captain at the University of Maryland in 1968. She requested and received her first assignment to Thailand so she could marry one Dr. Francis Drake ... clever! P.K. met and married our own U.S. Air Force Capt. James McMahon in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1966.

2019-Issue 1

May they rest in peace! I would be happy to send you a copy of either obituary should you desire, as space does not permit room for an adequate tribute here. Both women were amazing partners to their husbands for nearly 50 and 52 years, respectively; their vita makes amazing reading!

Peg and I just returned from a brief stay at The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia, courtesy of the 55th Reunion Committee and you, the Class of 1963. The gift wasn’t widely publicized; in fact, Peg and I knew nothing of it until after the dinner at Natural Bridge that Tuesday evening. The Tides Inn is in the beautiful Northern Neck between the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay; it is one of the most restful places we’ve ever stayed, and we thank each of you for your enduring love, support and our wonderful stay.

The scribe’s corner: Linda Crowley wrote to say, “C and I and his sister and brotherin-law went on a wonderful Road Scholar trip to Egypt in May. We went to the Giza Pyramids, Alexandria, Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Aswan and more. As lovers of history, we thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many ancient sights. We had an awesome time.” So, where are the obligatory pics of all of you on camels?

George Blood reported having lunch with Mike Warring in September at the Queenstown Pizzeria, Queenstown, Maryland.

We’re talking about the alto sax section of the VMI Commanders circa 1959-62.

Logan Jennings says he’s still “here in North Carolina. Have had a few health issues, but they are being resolved as I type this.

I should be clear of all issues by the end of the year. We’ve had no damage to our environment from the hurricanes.” Is there anyone left in the class without any health issues? If you say, “Me,” I advise getting a second opinion!

George Lanahan sent in a picture of him and Sugie “taken at dockside in Malaga, Spain, where we disembarked from the Royal Clipper while on a 12-day sailing cruise leaving from Cannes and ending in Lisbon with stops and shore excursions at Bonifacio, Mahon (Menorca), Ibiza (one of the Balearic Islands), Motril, Malaga, Puerto Banus, Gibraltar, Tangier, Cadiz and Seville. One of the most memorable stops en route was at

Class of 1963: George and Sugie Lanahan dockside in Malaga, Spain, during a recent 12-day cruise on the Royal Clipper.

Class of 1963: Dave Wade during his recent Swiss rail trip from on top of Mount Stanserhorn in the Alps near Lucerne, Switzerland.

Class of 1963: Mike Warring and George Blood enjoyed pizza in Annapolis and remembered the good old days in the alto sax section of the 1959-62 Commanders.

89

Class Notes Gibraltar where we toured the tunnels built by the British and Canadian forces stationed there in World War II. Once we arrived in Lisbon, we spent four days visiting and touring historic sites throughout the country. Our first visit to Portugal, and we would recommend it highly! That deserves a final note: Portuguese wines are fantastic.”

Bob Walton and Mary Landon sent pictures of their August trip to Niagara Falls and said, “This was a bucket list item for us.” The falls look great and so do you guys!

David Wade, pictured wearing a Keydet Club hat, said it was “taken in May on my Switzerland rail trip. View is from the top of Mount Stanserhorn overlooking the Alps near Lucerne, Switzerland; it was the second trip of a two-parter. I spent the two weeks just prior in southern Italy and Sicily. On this trip, I was to see Bob Troxler in Geneva, but he had change of plans – something about his wife’s birthday and trip to Italy; an appropriate priority.” David, your craggy features blend in well with the mountain backdrop!

Jim Schornick emailed Mike Curley and Steve Riethmiller to let them know “I’m alive and well. Judy and I have been living in Manassas, Virginia, since 1981. After I subbed at VMI for two years, Judy and I headed off to Florida State in Tallahassee, where I did my Ph.D. in chemical oceanography. Never saw the ocean after that, as I got a job with the U.S. Geological Survey as a water-quality hydrologist. I retired in 2000 or so and did adjunct teaching in the chemistry department at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, until formally retiring last summer. I spend my time now building my model railroad (a lifetime desire!), playing some golf and serving as a commissioner on the Manassas Utility Commission. Judy and I are in pretty good health, but I have continuing issues with my lower back and right hip (replaced three times until they got it right!) all from a near fatal car wreck in Pennsylvania in 1978, just three months after our son, Jeff, was born.”

Pete and Diana Brunel visited Christi Weddington at Mount Calm and were joined by Jim and Tik Ellis. While the ladies supervised, the “gentlemen” (the term is used loosely) “mowed, brush hogged and gathered brush.” Pat and Gwen Kelly were also 90

supposed to be there, but Pat went on the gim; he helped Christi and Chuck on numerous occasions during Chuck’s final years and continues to work the ranch in a hand-up to Christi. Thanks to all the BRs who are able to help out the sisters.

Bill Jones reported a September gathering of the “boyz in the wood” hosted by Bill “Sleepy” Moore at his ranch near Burke’s Garden, near Wytheville in southwest Virginia. Along with Bill, the “boyz” included Mike Smither, Willy Pendelton, Doug Rowe, Dusty Custer, Pete Brunel and Johnny Mills. Bill summarized the mini as “another wonderful experience at Chateau le Moore and environs ... mountain-side rambling ATVs, sassy horses ridden, bikes rediscovered, shucked oysters raw and roasted, nearly gourmet meals with over-the-top desserts, topics raised from body-part reconstruction (referring to dissertations by Dr. Doug, retired plastic surgeon) to Keydet football misery, one-sided political rants, cattle gate rehangings and inspection of previous works, beverages from beer to wine to cognac, hand gun and shot gun practice, one wanna-be secret agent packing heat, and spectacular sunrises that evolved to rain and fog all taking place in a parallel universe that is my needed ‘country fix’ accompanied by friends of 59 years – wow. How blessed are we?” The photos of the guys on horseback looked convincing, but then, the horses weren’t moving.

Mike Smither added a follow-up to Bill’s summary of the above outing by writing, “In August, I watched Matriculation activities shown on VMI’s website. It gives me goosebumps every year, but I watch anyway. With some nostalgia and much pride, I feel that we in the Old Corps endured mighty tough challenges. I do, however, realize the truth in what Mell Lacy once said, ‘The older I get the tougher it was.’” (Mike, I have to say I think women’s beach volleyball is a lot more fun to watch!)

“In September, I flew to Virginia for an overnight with Doug Rowe, and together we met other BRs for a few days of swatting flies and telling lies. I then visited Ghada and Beau Walker and was happy to overindulge on my favorite seafood in my old stomping grounds.

Betty and I are following our daughter and son-in-law who are in the process of opening

a brewery. The Essex County Brewing Company has produced nice-tasting selections so far, thanks to their brewmeister. My favorite to date is Zwei Opas (Two Grandfathers), a fine German Pilsner. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to opening day. Prosit!”

Bob Mathews provided an update on his knee operation. “My new knee is doing well, but the operation (which kept me from attending the 55th) has apparently increased neuropathy pain in my feet and worsened arthritis pain in my right shoulder. Oh, well; at least No.1 on the list of the operation side effects (death) did not occur.” Bob also included a very interesting historical perspective of his great-great-grandfather MacLean who attended VMI briefly in 1859 before being “kicked out” by Superintendent Francis H. Smith. Although Bob excelled academically and stayed the course, he feels he may have inherited not only the genes but perhaps his grandfather’s spirit, as well. I’ll edit for both brevity and political correctness. “I admit I was, ultimately, a military misfit at VMI, but I got a very good undergraduate education there. It is in the archives that, as a new cadet, he (MacLean) did ‘not get along with Thomas J. Jackson.’ Yes, the General Jackson of Stonewall fame. MacLean enlisted in a (Unionist) West Virginia medical unit for the remainder of the War Between the States. VMI cadets fought for Virginia and the Confederacy in their hundreds, but not my ancestor; he was one of a very small number of VMI cadets to have fought for the Union. For reasons rather obvious, I never told anyone about this while I was a cadet.

Doctor MacLean lived until 1922, but some of his family never spoke to him after the war, treating him as a traitor to Virginia and, by extension, the entire Confederacy. I matriculated exactly 100 years later and graduated (against all odds). I took after ancestor MacLean in several ways. I had absolutely no military rank on my sleeve when I graduated, but I did have ‘stars on my collar.’ I was forced to walk penalty tours the day before I graduated, which must be a record for senior-year cadets. [Name redacted] tried his very best to force me out by assigning a never-ending list of penalties (e.g., ‘improperly rolled toothpaste tube in cabinet’), but he ultimately failed. I just gave him a beaming VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes smile as he walked past me (after I safely had warmed my heart to receive this email, and up with him, and he filed the following from my diploma in hand). I pointed to my empty it also brought me a lot of comfort. I have Charlotte: “OK, your admonishing email sleeve and to the stars on my collar; he im- always felt that VMI was a large part of who got my attention. So, here’s a quick update mediately turned a beet red – one of the best Peter was, and it influenced his values and from Charlotte. The Charlotte gang (Yogi images I’ll ever remember.” Well, Bob, misfit choices his entire life. Yes, I would love to Doar, Harry Tatum, Mike Stockdell, John that you think you were, I believe the BRs join the next reunion if possible. As for me, Yurachek and me) continue to meet weekI am very busy, still traveling as much as I ly for lunch and camaraderie! We just lost would agree you’re a credit to the Institute!

Pat Kelly chimed in with some downer can. Our three children live in D.C., Seattle one faithful member, Jim Hickerson, who news that he’s “about to begin the dialysis and Alabama, so I head out in all directions. decided the warmth of Florida beckoned regimen for kidney failure. Seems I neglected I sold our large motorhome and bought a him back to the sunshine state after gracing to maintain my kidneys over the past years Class B for me to use, since I have so many North Carolina with his presence for the last of debauchery and gluttony, and now it is friends who enjoy that lifestyle. I continue to 10 years. We miss him! But, since moving to payback time. I will be able to do the dialy- enjoy good health and look forward to mov- Ocala, he tells me that he’s been able to consis at home, which is a big thing, since we’re ing to a smaller home next spring. I look for- nect with Frank Drake and hopes to develop 80 miles from the nearest treatment center. ward to seeing you all again, Diane Wick.” a regular lunch routine like we have in CharOnly effect felt so far is some weakness, and I certainly want to hear from more of our lotte. Our gang is also active with the Charlotte Chapter Old Corps group, and we have I get tired a bit faster than I did before, but all ladies out there!

Leland Caldwell’s guilty conscience caught 25 to 30 old guys and gals for our lunches in all, I’m OK. Diet has radically changed, every three months. No funny stories however – no dairy products, no althis time! Blessings to all.” I demand cohol, less meat and more veggies at least one funny story from Charthese days. The bright side is I can lotte for the next notes! still travel, as the new equipment Now for some grins and guffaws available is fully portable. But before I with a bit of “gray humor!” Pete Ipstart dialysis, Gwen is allowing me to polito managed to find at least one go to Ireland for a few weeks in Nofunny thing about our rat year when vember-December to attend a Project he recalled, “One funny story that Children event or two in Northern still has me laughing. It was our rat Ireland. I’ll be able to see friends and year, and I was rooming with Paul family there, and on my return, the diQuinter, Dave Dibbs and Buffy Dealysis preps will begin. Growing old is Leo. As I remember, it was in either certainly not for sissies.”

February or March and late one Artie Phaup wrote to say, “Ann and I are doing well. Two recent storm Class of 1963: At the September gathering of the “boyz in Saturday night. I was sort of awake, the wood” hosted by Bill “Sleepy” Moore at his ranch near events in the Richmond area with Burke’s Garden in southwest Virginia were, from left, Mike since I remember hearing the stick thankfully no personal property dam- Smither, Pete Brunel, W.O. Jones, Dusty Custer, Sleepy check coming closer to our room, and as it got closer, I could hear someone age. Much better than many in neigh- Moore, Doug Rowe and Bill Pendleton. running down the stoop. All of a sudboring states. Interestingly, I met John den, the door to our room flies open and a Cockey’s young grandson the other day slurred voice exclaimed, ‘I made it.’ Unforwhile paying for gas at a small neighborhood tunately, the unnamed cadet who thought he gas station. Saw a couple of young boys buyhad made it was actually a 3rd on the wrong ing soft drinks, and one of them was wearfloor! He realized it pretty quickly and made ing a shirt with a VMI logo. I asked if his a dash for the stairway trying to get to his dad had gone to VMI, and he told me no, his room before stick check!” grandfather had. ‘Well, who’s your grandCharlie Talbot is also a contributor. “My father?’ He replied, ‘John ‘King’ Cockey.’ rat year, I roomed with Frank Allison, DaNow, how about that! I knew John, who lives vid Way, Bill Morris (deceased) and Doug in Georgia, had a daughter who lives not too Rowe. Apparently, I was the ‘goodie two far from me in Richmond. Small world!” shoes’ of the group, and they constantly I sent an email reaching out to our sister rats teased me. Yeah guys, I haven’t forgotten. who have lost their guys to let them know we Class of 1963: Bobby and Mary Landon Well, one night I woke up from a deep sleep care and want them to remain connected Walton stopped off at Niagara Falls in to see a ring of fire around my entire bunk. to the class. Diane Wick responded with, August 2018.

Doug Rowe had squirted lighter fluid around “Dear Pres, VMI is truly a special place. It 2019-Issue 1

91

Class Notes my bunk and lit it. They all got a tremendous laugh, but I don’t recall it being one bit funny.

Oh, well; I survived.” Charlie, I’m happy to say your sense of humor has improved over the years.

Ken Reams had a flashback: “I think it was our 1st Class year. Captain Lewane was the officer of the day. He was a very strict disciplinarian and the nemesis of all of us 1st Class privates, but he had one unique uniform flaw. Instead of wearing typical military shoes, he wore Wellington boots. Since my 3rd Class year, I did the same with white socks. I guess this was a cardinal sin since they were considered ‘civvies.’ One morning, we were formed up in sections to march to class. I think BR Sterrette was marching the section. All at once, Captain Lewane ordered Doug to halt the section. Lewane walked through the section straight to me.

He reached down, pulled up my trouser legs, looked at my Wellingtons and white socks, let go of my trousers and walked off, saying only, ‘Carry on.’ I have no idea why. The only other encounter I ever had with him involved Buddy Cato, Bob and Mike Walton (my roomies), and me during the week of finals our 1st Class year. Too long a story to tell now.” The most gung-ho guy I ever knew; he was a great soldier – always firm, always fair.

Ken, I expect your input concerning the finals caper in February – possibly it might be better reported by you rather than the other dubious characters you cited.

Stay safe, well and in the bonds!

Pres

1964

John R. Cavedo

22 Carriage Creek Way Ormond Beach, FL 32174 843/290-2278 johncavedo@gmail.com

Bob O’Hara: “Reporting from southside Virginia. All’s well. Still mediating several civil cases each month for the Virginia Supreme Court. Farm chores, hunting and fishing take up the balance of my time.

Two grandsons, ages 10 and 7, involved in any sport that has a ball, take much of Marilyn’s and my time on weekends.

We’re seldom away from home, thus a 92

good rest stop for those traveling I-95. I was recently in touch with Andy Tucker and Charlie Cole. We have nothing to complain about; life is good.”

Dick Atkinson: “Things were quiet for a little while after our big family reunion in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in August.

In late September, I visited Pakistan for a trip that was supposed to be two weeks but ended up a bit less. I had applied for a visa to Pakistan, and two months later, my trip was looming and no visa, despite lots of contacts with the Pakistan Embassy in Washington. The visa arrived the day after I was to have left, so my hosts scrambled to get me tickets. Anyone going to Pakistan should apply months in advance. I was a visiting professor at the University of Karachi. I have been an adjunct professor at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences there for about five years, and we tried to arrange a visit a couple of times but the terrorist situation was not stable. With some trepidation, I flew into Karachi and was not completely reassured to have an armed guard accompany us to the university and everywhere else I visited while there. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful, all speak English and the students were great. I gave seven lectures and met with a number of faculty. Two faculty expressed an interest in doing collaborative research, so I hope to set up a lab again, this time in Pakistan, and have lab meetings by Skype each week. It wasn’t possible to see much of Pakistan other than a little in Karachi. Apparently, they are trying to increase tourism to Pakistan, but it is still a little dicey for Americans and perhaps Europeans. I hope to go back in a year or so if the lab gets going, but Pakistan is still listed as the fourth most unsafe country for tourists.

“Susan and I went to the VMI Richmond Club’s oyster roast Oct. 13. I was disappointed that no brother rats from ’64 were there. There were several guys and wives from the Classes of ’70 and ’71, but predominantly it was the later classes. The oysters and other food were great. BRs from Richmond should try it next year.

Unfortunately, we will miss the Institute Society Dinner in November this year,

as I have to be at the annual meeting of The Obesity Society for an editorial board meeting for the International Journal of Obesity. I plan to step down as editor of IJO year after next and will be able to start attending the VMI dinners then.”

Andy Tucker: “Things could be better, but the family’s well and doing well. Still on

Class of 1964: Marion and Bill Garber visiting distilleries on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail in July 2018.

Class of 1964: Frank Parker and Don Reed in Tennessee in August 2018.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes the ranch but not able to take part as much as I would like. Hope to make the 55th but currently not sure. Durn back has almost got me grounded. Many surgeries later, I’m reduced to epidural radio frequency ablations and meds. Able to still walk OK, drive and get around, so I can’t complain too much.

“Enough about my miseries. I’m still blessed with good health, wonderful kids and grandkids. Still get up with the sun to God’s great gifts of wonderful sunrises and sunsets from front and back windows across our lake. Hope to see all in Lexington.”

Frank Parker: “I’ve sent in a picture of Don Reed and me at his and Diane’s house in El Paso recently.

They are doing great in retirement.

Don’s pretty well finished his cancer treatments and back in the gym three days a week.”

Ancher Madison: “I have finally gotten to the point I can now see out of one eye after surgery. My Crohn’s is in remission and the cancer (melanoma) in my lymph system. Eleven cancerous nodes have been removed with surgery. I can still get around with my oxygen tank, but I am limited to three hours at a time. Things are good right now. My wife, Gerry, drives most of the time. I don’t do much, so I have nothing to send but medical problems.

Hopefully, I will be able to go without the oxygen tank after I see doctors Oct. 29. I hope you and yours don’t have any problems, but if you do, I pray that everything will get better.”

Don Carson: “Margaret and I are enjoying the cool weather (70s and 80s) after a long hot summer. My vegetable garden is growing well. Soon, we will have tomatoes with some flavor, and my banana trees are loaded with fruit.

“My oldies band, DejaVu, is getting all the bookings we want, and we have a great new professional drummer from Nashville. Playing together sure is fun. I hope to still be rocking when 2019-Issue 1

Class of 1964: Margaret and Don Carson celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary on Halloween in Jupiter, Florida, with their son and daughter-in-law, Patsy.

Class of 1964: Tom Sebrell herding cattle in Colorado in September 2018.

Class of 1964: Somsak Roongsita ’83 and his wife, Gen. Tony and Dusadee Putamanonda, Gen. Joe and Pongsri Chompaisal, and Gen. Thitinant and Natchayatorn Thanyasiri ’79 at a mini reunion in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2018.

we have our 60th Reunion. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone at the 55th Reunion.”

Tom Sebrell: “I just returned from our September trip to Vista Verde Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In the attached photo, I was in the middle of sorting cows and moving them to different fields.

“Penny and I are in the process of making a move to Franklin, Tennessee, if we can ever sell our house here in Savannah. Things have been pretty slow in real estate here, and owning two houses is becoming stressful.

Hopefully, we will be able to move before the first of the year.”

Bill Garber: “Marion and I attended the graduation and commissioning ceremonies at Virginia Tech for one of our grandsons. It was a proud moment when our son, Colonel William Garber III, administered the commissioning oath to our grandson, who is now on active duty at Fort Bragg.

“In September, we went on a road trip to Kentucky and Tennessee. After our second visit to distilleries on Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail, we headed south to Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry and several Tennessee distilleries. While there, we had lunch with Tom Sebrell in the nearby town of Franklin, Tennessee.”

Jan Rudinoff: “It is Sunday, Oct. 28, the day of the Venice Marathon.

I didn’t run, but Paula and I attended St. George Anglican Church in the midst of acqua alta. Due to the excessive water in the streets, it was high gum boots for me. If you walk slowly, you may stay dry. Of course, Paula had fashion footwear which was just a little too short, but hey, looking good matters. Remember, I was a first class private cadet waiter and grub was a requirement, therefore the gum boots.”

Don Jones: “Our summer has been full of fun activities, to include trips to VMI and work around the house, topped off with an excursion to Tacoma, Washington, to attend the 93

Class Notes 54th annual Studebaker Drivers Club International Meet. Most of the events were held on the grounds of the LeMay America’s Car Museum site with trips to the LeMay Family Museum, the Space Needle and a few other places on the side. While in Tacoma, I got a chance to visit my first duty station, Fort Lewis, which brought back some fond memories from 54 years ago. It was from here that I deployed to Southeast Asia in June 1966 with the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division as the forward brigade adjutant. I also had the experience of being the troop movement adjutant on the USS Nelson M. Walker, a troop ship refurbished from the Navy’s Mothball Fleet for these trips. We were the first unit they moved to Vietnam but not the last.

“I have also been busy leading private tours of Civil War battlefields in the Appomattox area and other places over in the Shenandoah Valley, as well. Most recently, I had the pleasure of taking a group of senior business executives from Fortune 500 companies to VMI for the day during the rat orientation weeks. To say the least, it was an eye-opening experience for them as they were able to lunch with the rats and talk to the cadre, as well as members of the VMI staff. We also toured post with Colonel Keith Gibson ’77 as our guide. Want to really know what went on in Appomattox or the surrounding area in 1865 come and visit, and I’ll tell the whole story.

“In the middle of October, I was again on post as the guest speaker at the Rockbridge County Civil War Roundtable speaking on Partisan Ranger John Hanson McNeill. In today’s world, he is a lesser known but important character in keeping the war alive in western Virginia and tying up 50,000 Federal troops guarding the B&O Railway for the length of the war.”

Sherrel and I have spent many years researching ancestry. In January 2018, we both submitted our DNA for testing. The results have been amazing. All sorts of cousins have been popping up all over the world – most notably from Canada, Australia and Scotland. I always knew my maternal grandmother’s maiden name was McIntosh but had forgotten her mother was born a Munro. Anyway, the Munro connection led 94

us to attend a “gathering” in Halifax, Nova Scotia. While there, we got to know lots of cousins, mostly second and third, with a few “removeds” along the way. Lots of bagpipes and kilts in evidence from these relatives who take being a Munro seriously.

As long as we were in Canada, we explored Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and then finished up with four days in Quebec City. A really nice little vacation.

Finally, as a result of meeting so many Munro relatives, we are going to a larger clan gathering in Scotland next August. It seems there’s a large 16th century castle north of Inverness still lived in by some of my relatives.

It will be the site of the four-day gathering.

Sherrel and I returned Nov. 13 from Lexington and the Institute Society Dinner remembering VMI’s founding. Also attending the dinner were Jake and Deborah Kleinschuster, Buzz and Jane Birzenieks, Tom and Helen Davis, Floyd Duncan, Cliff Crittsinger and Bill Welsh. The next day, we watched our Keydets play Furman.

They tried hard, but Furman had the size and speed in almost every position. It was a cold and windy day, but the sun was bright and the view of the Institute is really amazing from the home field side.

That night, Buzz, Jane and I went to Hank and Elizabeth Cronin’s house for a wonderful salmon dinner. Tom and Helen were there, too. The guys all watched the game with Jane and Sherrel, but Elizabeth and Helen stayed warm and went shopping.

While in Lexington, I took the time to meet with all four of the Institute staff working on reunions. I came away feeling good.

They’re all competent, helpful people. We’ll have a grand time at our 55th.

Bill Crone: “Nothing spectacular happening in the Outer Banks, which is the way we like it. We did lose almost 100 feet of our pier in Tropical Storm Michael but fortunately went unscathed a week or so before during Hurricane Florence. Our pier only lost one structural bent and a portion of another.

After replacing those, all we had to do was place new stringers and re-deck the pier. My VMI sons came down for a long weekend to help – actually, they did most of the work – because at our age the old muscles just don’t work like they used to. After completing the

pier, we spent two days on the beach surf fishing. Bluefish, trout, sea mullet and one puppy drum were our reward – not to mention how much beer was consumed as we basked in the November sun. Good times spent with family makes for fond memories.

“Dyan and I just received some fabulous news from our oldest granddaughter that we are going to be great-grandparents. She was so excited when she called to let us know, and we’re anxiously awaiting a May 2019 arrival.

Kind of hard to believe we’re at that point in our lives, or that our son, Dusty ’90, is going to be a grandfather – tempus fugit.”

Parker Duncan: “My purpose is to urge all brother rats to attend our 55th Reunion, which is scheduled for April 14-17. I know it is not as symbolically significant as our 50th, but it is significant in other ways. Had we but world enough and time, we could pick and choose when to get together with our BRs, but we don’t. Time and our age are against us. Since our 50th, we have lost an additional seven BRs. Personally, Bill Thompson’s death last December hit me hardest. He and I (along with Tony Putamanonda) roomed together all four years of our cadetship. The last time Tony and I saw him was at our 50th.

Before our 60th, we will probably lose even more. Therefore I urge you to come if at all possible.”

Don Carson sent along a photo of him and Margaret with their son and daughter-in-law celebrating their 54th anniversary on Halloween. Margaret says she still has not decided if she was tricked or treated.

Cliff Crittsinger: “I recently hosted dinner for the upper three class officers along with Brigadier General Smith ’79 and Moreschi (the former and new academic deans) while at VMI. I later met separately with the class officers of 2021 to better acquaint them with the Cadet New Market Legacy Award. The award remains in good hands! I also met with Colonel Gibson ’77 at New Market during my VMI visit to begin the process of creating the full size statue of the New Market cadet to be placed at the New Market Battlefield.

More will follow on this. Finally, by pure happenstance, Wes Hitchcock ’14, the 2014 class president and recent Army captain who just resigned his commission, was also staying at Moody Hall, and we had the opportunity to VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes what eight BRs are up to! Thanks for the help, Chuck “Ears” Hough!

Johnny Mac Marshall has been busy. “This autumn has been so busy for Jamie and me that it seems like we went straight from summer to winter here in Dallas. In September, we went to Galveston for the annual judicial conference, and that led us to an unexpected mini reunion with Phil Grant ’93.

He had appeared before me years ago as a lawyer, and he is now serving as the judge of the 9th District Court in Texas. It was a very happy meeting after so many years. Of course, it was very tough duty to have to go to the beach and have no hurricanes. That, Mickey Finn however, was a delusion that would be made 426 Black Diamond Drive clear later. The big news, though, was that it Wilmington, NC 28411 was about this time that Jamie decided that, 910/686-2355 having had a law degree for 20 years, it was mickeyfinn1@mac.com time for her to take the bar examination! I am delighted, even though I know that it means Dees Stallings responded to my call for inthat between now and the end of February, I put first. “As I continue to be fully engaged will not be getting many home-cooked meals. teaching and training, not much ’65 news to I keep reassuring her that I am living proof relate except that Charlie Russell and I are that she will pass with no difficulty. running a pilot computer security course at “In October, Jamie had planned a family the Graduate School USA in December. Jim party for my 75th birthday. As a special event, Hall is the only classmate I know of in the of course, it needed to be where they could immediate locale, and I have not heard from all show up, so we went to Williamsburg. She him for four or five years.” had not seen the memorial garden where we I absolutely love to read this type of inhad had our wedding 15 years earlier four formation from a BR: “Joe and Kitty Bush days after my birthday since its renovation, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in so on the way to Williamsburg, we stopped October. Thanks for your continued service in Lexington. Of course, it is lovely. In Wilas class agent. Joe.” Joe, thanks so much for liamsburg, we were joined by both daughsharing that good news! ters and their mother (at Jamie’s invitation), Joe Straub reports: “My niece, Mollie and we had a great visit for three days. The Straub ’22, is the young lady on the right side T-shirts were designed by Jamie, no surprise. of the eight of 2018 with glasses and a pony“Our travel adventure began afresh on our tail on the cover of this quarter’s (2018-Issue way back from Williamsburg. First we spent 4) VMI Alumni Review.” Joe, no one ever part of the day with Victoria in Chesapeake, doubted your sales ability! Congratulations! and then we started back to LexingCarr Hyatt sent: “A note to let you ton for the night. Ha! We made it as know Sergeant Larry Egan fell and far as Richmond when the remnants fractured his elbow. Had it surgically of Hurricane Michael hit I-64. From repaired and rehab. He is doing well Richmond to Afton, we moved at and will go home Dec. 1. We are lookabout 40 miles per hour through rain ing to our winter mini at VMI. Hope that was so heavy we could not see to see you there.” the hood ornament most of the time.

Lou and Ruth Lahendro “went Once we got across the mountain, to Lexington for Founders Day activities. Several of our brother rats Class of 1965: Johnny Mac Marshall celebrated his birth- it was relatively smooth sailing to were there, including Russell Proc- day in Williamsburg, Virginia, with Victoria ’05, Jamie, Al- Lexington. By the way, we stayed exandra and Mary Lynn. at the Robert E. Lee Hotel, and it tor and Jack McEwan.” share some meals and catch up on the past several years.”

As of this writing, we have 10 committees, consisting of 19 brother and sister rats who are working hard on the details for the 55th. Each of you should have received a mailing and have had the opportunity to submit your registration form. If you have some physical or medical reason for not attending, give me a call. I’m certain we can work something out. My contact information is at the top of these notes.

1965

2019-Issue 1

Harry Bartosik thanked Chuck Hough and Jeff Wilkins: “Chuck, thanks for riding herd on us BRs and coordinating this luncheon.

Jeff, thanks to you for arranging the lunch at Lowery’s. Don’t get the opportunity to have fried oysters very often. Not quite as sweet as Apalachicola oysters but quite passable. Oh, and is the moonshine safe to drink? And did you use a proofing hydrometer to measure the proof? In any case, glad to get together once more.”

Chuck Hough provided the list of no shows with excuses.

Lou Siegel: “Joan and I are flying to Tahoe City, California, to spend Thanksgiving with our oldest son, Taylor, and his son. See you in December?”

Brian McNeil: “I think I already mentioned that Joyce has me with her in NYC Nov. 14.

Hopefully December or January will work out!”

Godwin and Sylvia Jones: “I have my second cataract surgery the day before, so I will pass on this one. Enjoy.”

Conrad Hall: “Thank you for getting another great occasion organized. Peggy and I committed that day and look forward to an early event in the new year. Our best to you and our band of brothers.”

Doug Thomas: “I’m sorry, but I’ll be in Roanoke that day. Hope all have a great time.”

Mel Brannan: “Sorry, I have an all-day commitment and will not be able to attend.”

Alex Schultes: “It doesn’t look like I will be available until after the first of the year. Have a great time together. Best.”

Marshall Henry: “Negatory, Chuck – just a usually busy fall with lots of commitments and two vacations. Hope to catch up with all before the new year.”

Now, wasn’t that fun? Great rundown on

95

Class Notes was delightful. All told, it had taken about six hours from Chesapeake to Lexington. The next day was sunny and clear, perfect for driving to Memphis, but it was just a tease. After a good day like that, we got payback in North Little Rock when the remnants of Hurricane Sergio hit us. This meant that the rest of our trip was through Lake Arkansas and Lake

Class of 1965: Bill Cather and Charlie Russell at VMI’s Center for Leadership and Ethics’ symposium titled “The Vietnam War at 50: Critical Reappraisals,” held Sept. 24, 2018.

Class of 1965: Johnny Mac Marshall and Phil Grant ’93 enjoyed a mini reunion at the Texas Annual Judicial Conference in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 6, 2018.

96

East Texas. Another 40 miles per hour day.

“All of that said, though, it was a wonderful birthday and has been a great autumn.

Church work and writing the revisions to my book on civil procedure have added to the generally hectic world I am living in right now, but I am working on deluding myself that it will get quiet with the holidays.

Sure! Jamie and I wish you and all the BRs a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas! ’65! ’65! ’65!”

Bill Cather: “Just got back from the Institute Society Dinner, and we had about a dozen brother rats in attendance. In September, I also went to the Vietnam seminar and was surprised that only Charlie Russell was there from ’65.

“Mia and I have been traveling a lot with trips to Boston and Cape Cod; Savannah and Ponte Vedra; Orlando; Chicago; and Cashiers, North Carolina. I joined son Robbie’s family for a trip to Moab, where we did a lot of hiking.

“I am still working with my scouts. I led a canoe trip on the Blackwater River last May, and this Sunday, I have organized a100-mile bicycle trip for a dozen scouts on the Chief Ladiga and Silver Comet trail from Atlanta to Anniston (one day) and then next month, I will lead our annual 20-mile hike which I have done for the last 21 years.”

Mickey Finn relates: “Jane and I hunkered down for what we thought would be a level 4 Hurricane Florence. We had a level 1 plus an amazing amount of rain. Initially lost was our Dish antenna and power for four days.

The entire 500-plus yards of the 17th fairway behind us were under water. Fortunately, we are 10 to 12 feet higher than the men’s 17th tee. Unfortunately, we were visited by a tornado at 2125 hours on the third day of the hurricane. We had four trees in the backyard; now we only have one – the ugly one.

None of them damaged our home. One of my neighbors was not as fortunate – they lost eight of the nine trees in the back and side yards and damage to his home on the side that is nearest to us. And, yes, tornadoes sound like the passing of a diesel locomotive at a crossing, only louder and faster and no warning whistle except for the three minute warning from my cellphone on the nightstand. We hit the deck just as it passed.”

On Oct. 6, 2018, I received an email from Tim Lennon, younger son of our BR Thomas John Lennon. Here is the text of the email from Tim: “Mickey, my father passed away Sept. 28 of cardiac arrest. It was shock to everyone. He was at the gym on a treadmill talking to the man next to him, when he collapsed. He passed instantly. His burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery. We are waiting on confirmation of the date for services. His obituary is below: https://m.legacy.com/obituaries/unionleader/obituary. aspx?n=thomas-j-lennon&pid=190400752& referrer=0&preview=True. Thank you, Tim Lennon.”

The service was held Jan. 30 beginning at 0830 at the Fort Meyer Chapel proceeding to burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

We are at the beginning of a new year, 2019, and will be preparing for out 55th Reunion in 2020. If you wish to serve on the reunion committee please contact Lou Siegel at clsiegel65@gmail.com. His cell number is (757) 876-2635.

All together for the new year, an Old Yell for ’65! ’65! ’65!

1966

Nick Hoskot

3699 CR 271 Moulton, TX 77975 951/852-1906 nhoskot@yahoo.com

Welcome to the final class notes for 2018.

Thanks for all the words and pictures that you took the time to send along. Without your input, there are no notes to update the class on what events have occurred in our personal lives. In June 2018, the Institute held a brief workshop for alumni chapters and class agents to update us on several significant changes which are intended to keep us informed about happenings at the Institute, primarily through the quarterly publication of the Alumni Review and the VMI Turnouts electronic newsletter.

Before continuing, I would like to request your assistance regarding the passing of brother rats. If you and your family want the class to be informed, please contact both the Institute (review@vmiaa.org) and the class agent with pertinent information (names of VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes surviving family members, location/date/ we got there. They went to the ‘war colleges’ and USA have ‘won the war on the ground?’ time of any services, etc.) to be included in of the USSR and went home to fight the Jap- There was information from the conference the notification. Also, if possible, indicate anese, the French and eventually the USA. that supported that conclusion. But when the specific charities/organizations to which do- They had only one goal from the start: Cre- USA pulled out and Congress cut off all the nations in lieu of flowers may be made. For ate a sovereign nation of Vietnam. The South funding, the Communist north was going to example, as your current class agent, I have Vietnamese leadership was also committed, march south. And so, my question is how can used funds from the class account to make but the leaders who the French and the USA a democracy whose leadership can change a small donation ($66.00) in the deceased’s signed on to help were finally abandoned by over the course of only two years compete name to the charity or organization indicat- the French and the USA. Could the south with these methods that have a singular and despotic leadership goal?” Intriguing ed, including the VMI Foundation. question, Craig; thanks for the sumWhat is contained in the notification mary of the conference. provides the basis for the brief obituJim Smith wrote in about a mini ary that is published in the Taps secreunion hosted by Dick Goodall at tion of the magazine. Additionally, Dick’s place in Chestertown, Marythe After Taps section is available for land, this past October. Attending input/meaningful anecdotes as an op– some with their ladies – were Jim portunity to recognize and honor the Upton, Dick Daugherity, John Knox life of our BR. Of course, the desires McEwen, Taylor Goodall ’03, Guthof the deceased and the family will alrie Smith, Herb Chittum and, of ways be followed. course, Jim and Dick.

I received a great letter from Gen. Bits and pieces: Tom Morris is Buri Montrivade containing his new working on a book about the nexus of address and a cellphone number. If sports and politics. “Watching games anyone would like that information, and reading sports books qualify as replease contact me. Buri is looking at search for me these days. The sports joining us at our 55th or 60th meetfocus is on the American-created ing/reunions “if I can still walk then!” sports of baseball, football and basketBuri, that is a concern several of us ball from youth leagues to the profeshave thought of as we “mature!” We sional level. The intent is to identify certainly look forward to seeing you lessons learned and examples from then.

Jay Wegrzyn sent along a picture Class of 1966: Dick Goodall, along with his son, Taylor ’03, team sports that will enable readers of grandson Cadet Thaddeus Zion and grandson, Cole Gray, competed in the Chestertown to better understand and maybe imTea Party 5K race May 26, 2018. prove the team sports of politics and Wegrzyn ’22 taken in front of bargoverning. Suggested sports lessons racks on Matriculation Day in August and example from brother rats will be 2018. The governor has reappointed appreciated.”

Rich Hines to a four year term on the R. Neil Fisher wrote that he had Board of Visitors. Congratulations, no real personal news, still widowed, Rich, and thanks for serving again! working part-time for the U.S. Census Craig Caldwell provided a detailed Department. Pete Charrington noted summary of the symposium “The that room 423 met in mid-October for Vietnam War at 50: Critical Reapthe marriage of Pete Farley’s daughpraisals,” which was held at the Institer, Kate, to Tyler Robinson. “Great tute Sept. 24, 2018. The ’66 attendees weather and great friends for a festive were Craig Caldwell, Joe Gesker, occasion.” He is still enjoying golf, Paul Robblee, Rob Ritchie, Woody tennis and paddle when at home and Sadler and Hugh Adams. The presensnorkeling, hiking and sailing in St. tation focused on the military and poJohn. litical history of the Vietnamese leadJoe Dictor attended the Old Corps ers of both North and South Vietnam. Class of 1966: Nancy Chittum, Sandy Smith, Kathy Daugher“Boiling it down to a few sentences, ity, Sandra Smith, Judy Upton, Delores Lee and Joyce Ken- lunch Oct. 18 with Hugh Adams, Bill nedy attended a mini reunion at Dick Goodall’s house in Gregory, Eddie Willis and Paul Robthe north leadership took the Com- Chestertown, Maryland. blee; a pleasant crowd, but we were munist fork in the trail decades before 2019-Issue 1

97

Class Notes

Class of 1966: Jim Upton, Dick Daugherity, John Knox McEwen, Jim Smith, Dick Goodall, Taylor Goodall ’03, Guthrie Smith and Herb Chittum attended a mini reunion at Dick Goodall’s house in Chestertown, Maryland.

the new kids on the block! The meal was very good (Gregory ate his dessert first), which accounted for some comparisons with Club Crozet cooking back in the day. The speaker was Col. Bob Phillips ’87, Corps chaplain, and he did an excellent job. He’s a great VMI pitchman. Almost made you wish you could do it over again. Joe and family also visited Joe’s rat, Top Palmer ’69, in Nags Head, and Top asked about our 50th. Joe said, “Then it dawned on me – these guys will have theirs next year. That can really make you feel old!”

(Not old, Joe; maybe just more mature?)

Jim Pauls informs that his local VMI chapter hosted the VMI Glee Club, and they included a song (written in 1966) Nick Mager wrote, “The VMI Blues,” as part of their performance. They received a good response from the audience. Jim and Marvella hosted two of the Glee Club members, both rats, and they “were truly impressive young men.” Jim was unaware that Nick had written the song, and Nick responded to Jim’s query: “I would be interested to know how the words have

changed now that there are female cadets!”

Rick Kiernan continues to speak at the rededication of Republic of Vietnam memorials around Pennsylvania. Thanks, Rick, for your time and dedication in keeping those RVN memorials alive and viable.

Ray Saunders ventured east from New Mexico for a mini reunion entitled “Physics and Math Meet History.” A number of the physics and math majors met for their annual mini reunion in Charleston, South Carolina, this past October. Attending were Tommy and Angie Harrel, Frank and Carey Louthan, Charlie and Sandi Rothwell, Dale and Kay Saville, John Bolger, and Ray. During their three-day visit, they soaked in the Southern charm of Charleston and toured a number of historic Charleston sites, including The Charleston Museum, Fort Sumter, Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown (CV-10), and The Battery. They also indulged in the great Southern cuisine for which Charleston is famous.

And, last but not least, Clark and Marion Reifsnider were in Richmond recently and spent several hours visiting roomie Bill Gregory. Coincidentally, Frank Louthan was in town visiting his mother and stopped by to see them after a lunch.

This will be a test question on the next exam: What is the next date when I have to let the class agent know any news for the period Nov. 15, 2018, through Feb. 15, 2019?

Please provide input no later than Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019!

Y’all be safe and have a wonderful Christmas wherever you may be. Happy New Year!

1967

Jan Abernathy

3200 Deer Creek Drive Canton, GA 30114-8148 770/591-8979 JanAVMI67CA@outlook.com

Class of 1966: A group of the 1966 physics and math majors held a mini reunion in Charleston, South Carolina, in October 2018. One of the stops during the three-day gathering was a visit to The Charleston Museum. At the museum were, from left, Angie Harrel and Tommy Harrel; Frank Louthan and Carey Louthan; Sandi Rothwell and Charlie Rothwell; Kay Saville and Dale Saville; Carl Borick, director of The Charleston Museum; John Bolger; and Ray Saunders.

98

Fall on post and in barracks was always my favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving was approaching, and as rats, we anticipated our first home visit with excitement.

It began right after the freezing cold trip to Blacksburg and the VPI game. The maple trees by the cannons outside of Washington Arch had the prettiest golden leaves of any VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes tree in Virginia. The cannonball was painted for Ring Figure with the newest version of class memories. Even parades in overcoats seemed almost pleasant as we contemplated our families gathering for Thanksgiving during our two-day home visit (after you discount for the travel time). Our break was from return to barracks after the game Thursday until midnight Sunday. Today, cadets are just as excited as we were, as some things never change. But some things do, as the current furlough is for 10 days. Ten days!

Did we even get 10 days for Christmas?

Football has often been a touchy subject among VMI folks. It begins with rats and cadets complaining about players avoiding the Rat Line and missing many parades and such during their cadetship. The complaints include the training table food, which seems a little more interesting than what our cadet waiters slopped on to the wait stations “upstairs.” And yet, for all of the grumbling I recall over many years, I have known VMI men who excel as graduates as their character was built enough in what others view as a truncated VMI experience.

It has been difficult to watch the season that ended Nov. 10 with a visit by Furman University. Especially painful with the games where we were evenly matched with opponents and still fell short by a couple of points. Hope springs eternal for a winning season, as we all hear the echoes of pundits saying, “Wait until next year.” But there are a number of alumni who are lobbying the administration for a change in … coaching, conference, division, etc. I wonder if the Corps would be satisfied with their complaints with a winning season or perhaps with just a couple of wins. And would supportive alumni be encouraged to further athletic funding?

It is time to move onto actual class news, but I close the football topic with two things.

First is a quote from Tubby Wilkinson. We should all remember Tubby on the football field in our day, along with many other BRs. “Even though we have had decades of losing, many (including me and General Peay [’62]) feel that football is an important part of the VMI experience. During my three years of varsity experience (freshmen were ineligible for varsity at that time), we only 2019-Issue 1

won six games in three seasons, but I would not trade that experience for anything. First and foremost, it paid for my education. Second, we played some great teams (Georgia, Virginia Tech, UVa and Boston College, to name a few), and that was a great experience. I could name a lot of men who had the same experience and have gone on to do great things in life, and many of them (myself included) could not have gone to college without that football scholarship.

Dropping down to Division II or Division III would not change things as far as winning and losing, in my opinion. The same factors that keep us from getting the top talent in the scholarship pool would also be a factor in the lower divisions. Giving up football altogether would just mean fewer scholarships, which would deprive some very great potential VMI grads from having the VMI experience. Another aspect to consider: VMI football players really are student athletes – something that is rare in college football today, especially at the Division I level. The coach and the athletic director focus as much on the academic progress as the football – something that is even more rare in Division I today. VMI does play a few ‘money’ games, which brings in a few hundred thousand, but most of that money stays in the football program, I think. I was just on post last week and had a chance to meet with the football team and coaches.

Judging from their enthusiasm, you would think they were 3-0, not 0-3. Just my two cents. Best, Tubby.”

My second thing is my belief in Gen. Peay’s guidance for all things VMI. He is a man who leads with well-informed convictions and heart in all things. Your observations are welcome.

The symposium on Vietnam, a retrospect perspective, was an experience I found to be enlightening. Eleven BRs attended, and these men included combat veterans and those who served in places other than Southeast Asia. As one of the listed speakers, Phil Gioia spoke about his two tours at some length. I listened to Bob Poland speak about being a gunship helicopter pilot in a private conversation. Max Toch, Jim Joyner, George Elmore, John Lee, Phil Gioia, Bert Burckard, Kip Jones, Carter

Melton and Johnny Watt Vaughan also attended. On Sunday evening before the full day of speakers, Max, Kip, John and Sandy, Carter and Connie, Bob Poland, and Johnny Watt joined Joan and me for a meal at Applebee’s with six cadets. Phil Gioia joined us with Joe Galloway and Kushner and introduced them to cadets. I am not sure who enjoyed the evening more, but here is a comment from Max Toch: “For me, the conference was a day very well spent. I have retained a keen interest in all aspects of the history of that period since my time in country, but I still learned a great deal at the conference. The conference was superbly well organized, efficiently executed and reflected a level of excellence that suggests VMI is as good as it has ever been, perhaps better.

Of course, it is always a pleasure to visit with brother rats and other alumni, and the short visit did not disappoint in that regard.

Regarding the interactions with cadets, I had the opportunity to have dinner with 4th Class Cadet Ryan Cooper, 2019+3, at Applebee’s. Thanks, Jan, for arranging that dinner. I thought the informal sprinkling of cadets amid our brother rats was very effective for the informal exchange of observations on the VMI experience then and now.

I remember my occasional interactions with members of the Old Corps. I recall my wonder at both the differences of some aspects of the VMI experience across the decades, but also how much that experience was unchanged. I am pleased that we can offer cadets currently on post that same perspective.

Given the dramatic societal changes over the past 50 years, it is a credit to General Peay and his staff that the more valuable aspects of the VMI experience remain and have been improved in several respects. Thanks again for the great work that you and Joan do for VMI and our class. During the evening BR Phil Gioia came by and joined us and brought Joe Galloway with him. The cadets with us that evening were amazed to be able to meet this famous author! Max.” Pete Wells: “Karen and I took a 3,700 mile, 17-day road trip this fall. We drove to Nashville to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and catch the Classic Country show at the Ryman Auditorium; to Memphis to see friends from graduate school at 99

Class Notes UCLA; to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to stay the parade Friday but cleared enough for was allowed set up on the asphalt in front at the Price Tower (the only realized Frank one Saturday. But there was no parking of New Barracks to feed the Corps burgers Lloyd Wright skyscraper – now a hotel); on the Parade Ground either day, so tail- and hot dogs with all of the trimmings. The then through Wichita, Kansas, to visit the gaters were squeezed into small spaces all volume of food consumed by cadets was imFLW Allen House; and then on to Colo- over the place. Parking for many was at pressive, and the grills were kept very busy. rado Springs for the reunion of my Vietnam Lowe’s with shuttle busses being provided A further reference to the football game on unit (3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th In- all day and evening. The Parent’s Council that day is really not necessary here beyond that the team played hard in a true fantry Division). While there, we had VMI manner. lunch with Mike Ingelido. After the We also spent time with the Kereunion, we drove to Denver to catch bluseks and Will and Ann Plentl the last baseball game of the season that weekend, as we all stayed at the at Coors Field between the Nationals Holiday Inn. Jim and Liep Wilson and the Rockies (we lost). Then it was were also at the Holiday Inn and off to Leavenworth, Kansas, to visit joined us for social time, but most with two friends from Fort Hood, and BRs were elsewhere. The Plentls then on to St. Louis to see my squadhad their niece with them, and we ron chaplain. Finally, we went to arranged for cadet female sitters Dayton, Ohio, to visit the Air Force for Jennifer, as the 9-year-old was Museum. (Karen’s reaction: ‘There’s not invited to the dinner. The next really a lot of airplanes!’) We’re still Class of 1967: Jan Abernathy, John Lee, Bob Poland, Burt evening, we, along with the Plentls, talking and still married. Pete.”

Burckhard, Max Toch, Carter Melton, George Elmore, Phil Barrett Graham: “We’re still dig- Gioia, Jim Joyner, Kip Jones and Johnny Watt Vaughn attend- Kebluseks, and John and Sandy Lee, treated five cadets to dinner at ging out from the ravages of Florence, ed the Vietnam War symposium Sept. 24, 2018.

Niko’s Greek restaurant. It was a and I suspect it will be years before mix of females and males with varour county fully recovers. My office is ied majors and plans. No Marines or pipers, still in our living room, and we’re estimating as the pipe band was off to a Knights of CoDecember, at the earliest, to get back into lumbus Veteran’s Day gig in Washington, the office. I have no projected completion D.C., and the Marines were off to the U.S. date for the removal of all the debris from Marine Corps birthday ball. our yard – just a piece at a time. In October, John Forsyth: “Our daughter, Becky, was I made my annual pilgrimage to Myrtle in Las Vegas last weekend coaching CrossBeach to attend the annual joint meeting Fit, and daughter, Carrie, returned yesterof the North Carolina and South Carolina day from Atlanta where she was a principal Chapters of the International Association speaker at some big journalism/high school of Arson Investigators. It’s five days of yearbook symposium. I also heard from my training with an exam at the end and usuniece, Morie (who lives in Golden, Coloally a lot of fun. One of our presenters this rado), who is in Salt Lake City doing her time was John Duckworth ’97 (mechanical AARP thing. Other loved ones supporting engineering), a former Secret Service agent their spouses’ careers are ensconced around and presently a special agent/investigator the Denver area keeping the home fires burnfor the Office of the Inspector General of ing! Winter came to us last weekend with a the U.S. Postal Service. His topic was cellbitter storm which moved through but left phone forensics. In the course of the class, cold temperatures in its wake. Although it’s he explained that whenever anyone plugs a warmer now, the cold snap reminded me device into a USB port in a motor vehicle, that I had get out and pick up the yard. Yesthe vehicle’s system automatically downterday, in my quest to spruce up the place, I loads everything in that device to wherever came around the corner of the house where the vehicle’s data is stored. You might want ‘Bambi’ and I surprised each other. I believe to pass this little tidbit on to our BRs.” Class of 1967: Max Toch with Joe Gallohe is fairly old but appears to be in good Chuck Keblusek’s heart ablation surgery way, author of “We Were Soldiers Once … and Young: Ia Drang – The Battle That health. I feel he’s been separated from the went extremely well. Joan and I spent time Changed the War in Vietnam,” at the Vietherd, as the young bucks have probably with him and Ginny at the Institute Society nam War symposium Sept. 24, 2018. stolen all the ‘ladies’ for comfort through and Founders Day events. Rain prevented 100

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes as we all know too well, but we did the pending long winter nights! We do a train move for one relocation. respectfully backed away from each Very nice alternative. Glad to have other a bit while I pulled out my been on a cruise ship, as the cities iPhone. If I was about to be gored, in U.K. as well as Copenhagen were I wanted to preserve a record of the much more crowded than I rememculprit. However, I don’t believe there ber from the ancient past. Too many is much fight left in him. I know you people to make the experience much folks in the eastern states have more fun anymore. Have turned into a terdeer interactions because of the thick minal old fart – but we didn’t have natural cover all enjoy back there. to cook! It has taken us months to If we see deer or elk here in a subadapt to our return to reality. Now urban setting, it’s usually some distance away on the neighborhood’s Class of 1967: At the Institute Society Dinner in November ‘re-capitalizing’ for 2019. The goal is periphery. We’re OK. Managing the were George Elmore, Tom Richardson, Jan Abernathy, Will to keep moving and prioritize the ‘denormal age-related aches and pains. Plentl, Jim Phlegar, Chuck Keblusek, Ed Poe, Jim Wilson, Jim ferments.’ Also trying (more or less) Joyner, Carter Melton and Tom Rhodes. Present but not picto keep away from the medics as long Leslie loaded her suitcase up with ar- tured were John Pasco, Bob Kyle and Jim Rogers. as possible, but the horizon seems a thritis Tylenol on her way to St. Loulot shorter in time than, say, five or 10 years is because nothing is going to get between ago. Jim.” her and a fun time singing (and listening to One of the cadets I have followed since he others sing barbershop harmony). I continue was a rat is Clayton Hogge ’20. He is takto scratch at the book I want to write, but life ing U.S. Air Force military science but plans just has a habit of getting in the way. Other to take his commission in the Coast Guard. than that, the ‘honeydos’ keep coming, and I His family is from Middlesex County, Vircontinue to age. I took Leslie’s mom, Lila, to ginia, down on the Chesapeake. Last sumPresbyterian St. Luke’s in Denver today for mer, he completed his license to be a coman epidural injection (she’s too old for surmercial captain for U.S. waters in vessels up gery at 92) in an attempt to bring her some to 50 tons. I referred him to Bo Traywick, relief from her sciatica issues. I stayed with and I also mention he is a piper. Clay is just her a while at her senior living residence to one of the two dozen cadets Joan and I folmake sure she is steady on her feet. Stay in low. Each one has his or her own unique touch. John.” skills and goals. One female who will graduI hope you have seen the photo of Dave Class of 1967: Jim and Liep Wilson cruising around Norway. ate next spring (one of 11 children) is an Fink and Bruce Wiener at lunch the week electrical engineering and cybersecurity enafter Dave’s surgery. Dave was smiling as if gineer. Another, a 3rd, is off to Spain next he had just played a great round of golf, and semester as a language major. Another fethe bladder cancer is no longer in play. Folmale, whose parents were Vietnamese boat low up and care will soon have him back on people, will commission in the Marine the golf course. I spoke with Dave a couple Corps next spring. Finally, one young lady of days after the “repair,” and he said he is is part of the VMI Ranger Challenge team looking forward to the new equipment makand traveled to the fall event at Fort Knox. ing it no longer necessary to get up several She competed with a cold and returned times each night. with pneumonia. Few things we have ever Jim Wilson: “Liep and I, as part of done have been as rewarding as working my wayward philosophy that ‘you can’t with these young men and women. They take your credit card into the next life’ or appreciate the exchanges with alumni, and ‘shrouds don’t have pockets,’ took an exwe trust they will be part of the future leadtended escape to U.K. (land) and a Norway ers of our great nation. I encourage you (cruise) in July-August. Made it up to Norto meet some cadets and share with them dkapp, where heavy clothes were approyour stories and knowledge about VMI and priate. No trees, just many, many reindeer your career. They value your stories and exgrazing for the summer. Otherwise, most of Class of 1967: Pete and Karen Wells on periences at VMI and in your lives. trip (except when going to higher elevations) their 17-day nostalgia road trip.

Each of us supports VMI in our own way. was shorts weather! Airline travel is no joy, 2019-Issue 1

101

Class Notes Thank you all for the things you contribute to our great and amazing school. It is not mired in musty old thinking of our day, but VMI is vibrant and full of promise for the next generation of cadets. The international travel opportunities, the research projects, the language options and so much more are possible through your contributions of time and treasure. Let us keep up our great and generous support.

In the bonds, Jan

1968

Tom Hickey

6008 Winter Grain Path Clarksville, MD 21029 410/531-5720 tomhickey1968@verizon.net

I’m going to start with a “remembrance” from Dave Law (Reston, Virginia): “With the newfound freedom of our 3rd Class year, several of us formed a band, The Kneewalkers, and began playing some garage rock and soul music together. I was on guitar, Joe Petitta (Safety Harbor, Florida) on drums and Jack Bagby (Charlotte, North Carolina) on bass and doing the promotions. Eventually, we added John Pearson ’69 on vocals and Ned Hood ’69 on keyboard once they were out of the Rat Line. The next year, we acquired some decent band equipment and began practicing in the then-new Lejeune Hall, and by summer 1967, we were actually playing gigs at the Buffalo Creek bowling alley, W&L frat houses and even a VMI hop one fall evening (at the last minute) when Gary U.S. Bonds failed to show up. Mike Dellinger, Terry Emerson (Winter Park, Florida), Leigh Edmonds (Pilesgrove, New Jersey) and John Pabst (Williamsburg, Virginia) seemed to be our greatest fans and always added a wonderful sense of humor. Jack always kept us headed in the direction of soul music, and even added ‘General Soul,’ an old, burned out, black guy who couldn’t sing, to our group one evening ... painful. I can’t say we were ever really all that good, but we did have a great time, and it was a fun distraction from our everyday cadet life. Needless to say, as with so many young ’60s rockers, we made some really bad decisions and crashed and 102

burned that Thanksgiving. The good news was beating VPI that weekend. Our sincere thanks to all those brother rats who actually liked our music.”

Steve Hubbard (Maplecrest, New York): “I still live in Catskills upstate Windham, New York, with my dog, Jeter. I try to stay in reasonable shape by skiing and golf – good annual complement. It is getting a bit harder though as the years go by. I am blessed with good health and a great family. My son, Stephen, and his wife, Mary, have Sarah and Rosie (9 and 12). They live in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. We all went to Tanglewood (summer home of the Boston Symphony) last weekend for a celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday. The program was a look back at some of Bernstein’s music, e.g., ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Candide,’ drawing parallels with some of the music of Beethoven, e.g., ‘5th Symphony’ and ‘9th Symphony,’ the purpose of which was to teach the children what music is all about. You might remember ‘Bernstein’s Young Persons Concerts,’ a series on CBS in the ’50s and ’60s. Jamie Bernstein narrated the program at Tanglewood geared to teach the children. The concert showed video of the old TV shows interspersed with the music of Bernstein and Beethoven. The esteemed conductor, Andris Nelsons, also added commentary. I particularly enjoyed it, being a Beethoven freak. (I had to upgrade my smartphone so the memory would hold his complete works.) In addition to the concert, there was a chance for kids to try different instruments. My daughter, Josephine, is in a Ph.D. program in animal behavior at University of California-Davis. She is spending this summer doing research in Kuala Lumpur and attending the Diverse Intelligence Summer Institute at St. Andrews in Scotland. World traveler.”

Ned Harris (Phoenix, Arizona): “Joe Smith (Annapolis, Maryland) and his bride, Joan, visited us in Ipswich last weekend from Annapolis. We have a small house on the shore here where we spend the summers away from Phoenix. The weather was perfect for their visit, and we had a great time. They arrived Friday evening and reluctantly left Monday afternoon. Cornelia and I hated to see them go, but they promised to visit again in Phoenix in the spring and next summer

here in Ipswich. Joe and I caught up on our lifetimes of ‘adventures’ both at Fort Bragg with the 82nd, and later in Vietnam where he and I were in the same company in the 101st.

I can report that both he and Joan are doing well.”

Mike Malone (Bonsall, California): “I’m sorry that I missed our 50th Reunion, but from my perspective, it was more for my brother rats who had spent all four years there and graduated. I know that it was a great experience for everyone involved. I have really enjoyed seeing all of the pictures and trying to recognize BRs. Tough, to say the least. My old 3rd Class roommate, Skip Roberts (Lexington, Virginia), and I talked by telephone several times before the reunion, and he was consistently encouraging. I’ll always be a BR, but never a VMI grad. But, even way out here in California, I still often think about and reflect upon my years at VMI very fondly.”

Gil Piddington (Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania): “I attended Les Martin’s funeral service with Tom Jeffrey (Glen Allen, Virginia), Tom Hickey and Tom Arensdorf (Sumerduck, Virginia). It was comforting to be with classmates at such a sad time, though I learned much more about what an accomplished and good man Les was. Tracey and

Class of 1968: Joe LeVine wore Howie Chapman’s coatee at John and Cindy Crim’s house in Dayton, Virginia, during a mini reunion Sept. 1, 2018.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes I have been healthy for several months now without operations, so that is a wonderful thing to report. Three days after I returned from our 50th, I had a tennis ball sized GIST tumor removed from my stomach, and now all is well. Amazing surgeons continue to repair my body and deliver full recoveries. I am truly grateful. We’ve been playing a fair amount of golf this year. Tracey is playing well, while I’m going the other way and not improving. The Rat Line was easier! We are fortunate to have many friends in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area and in the 55-plus community in which we live. We are always doing something and going somewhere.

Spent our annual long weekend in Cape May, New Jersey, with a big gang in June, and just returned from a golf trip to Seven Springs Resort in western Pennsylvania. Also took our third European Viking Cruise in June from Budapest, across Slovakia and Austria, to Passau, Germany, and then on to Munich.

After rat parade, we will head down to Ocracoke, North Carolina, for our annual week there with about a dozen friends; and then we plan to spend much of the winter in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with trips planned next year to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico; Italy; and Greece. Life is good!”

Larry Ryan (Riga, Latvia): “Enjoying some hiking here in Austria just above Innsbruck and on to the Dolomites next week.”

Pete Farmer (Edmonds, Washington): “VMIAA Pacific Northwest Chapter had their annual family picnic and rat send-off in August. I’m president and was pleased that Larry and Lynn Stetson (Tacoma, Washington) attended. Larry had to cancel the 50th due to a broken hip (later followed by breaking the other hip). He is walking and slowly recovering. Patty and I are doing a bus tour of Croatia and Slovenia in October, followed by visiting northern Italy cities we didn’t see while living in Rome. I’m back at VMI September for the one-day Vietnam conference at the Center for Leadership and Ethics.”

Phil Lanier (Lakeway, Texas): “While visiting our daughter and her husband in Denver, we enjoyed a dinner, accompanied by storytelling, with Creigh Kelley (Centennial, Colorado) and Renee. Kelley is still traveling to and fro, piling up frequent flyer miles.”

Herb Laine (Chesapeake, Virginia): 2019-Issue 1

“Enjoyed the reunion and being with my brother-in-law and his wife, B.J. Waldo (Lakeside, Arizona) and Ronnie Dowling.

They live in Arizona, so we don’t see them often. Our children and their families came in July for our annual trip to the Outer Banks for a week. One daughter lives in Carmel, California, and the other daughter in Chicago.

We had a great week, but the grandkids (ages 10, 7, 6 and 3) are like the Eveready batteries; they keep going and going. When they left, it took us a few days to recover and get the house straight. Celebrated a birthday in August, and five days later, Betty and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Where did the time go? At the end of September, we’re going to Richmond to meet John and Susan Royster (Bermuda Run, North Carolina) and Howard and Sally Donald (Richmond, Virginia). We all decided we’re too old to wait five years for the reunion to meet old friends.

Looking forward to seeing all in the spring for the annual WGD Memorial Golf outing.”

When Hurricane Florence came ashore in September, I heard from several brother rats who were impacted by the storm. Here’s what they wrote: Bob Schmalzriedt (Wilmington, North Carolina): “Stayed with Bill and Jan Warren (Indian Land, South Carolina) in Charlotte area Thursday and Friday. We enjoyed our time by sharing personal histories – 50 years’ worth. Yesterday, I drove further west to stay with an Army buddy from Korea in 1970. I made the best of my opportunity to fish in the beautiful lake his home overlooks in Sevierville, Tennessee. We caught our limit (20) in two-and-a-half hours. But, the eye of the storm is headed this way now. Optimistically, we bought more bait tonight. ‘What, me worry?’”

Howard Chapman (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina): “I am in the TOC in Charleston, South Carolina, with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade National Guard working on the storm.”

Tim Underwood (Hampstead, North Carolina): “We evacuated to Detroit after being kicked off Hilton Head Island resort Monday.

We plan to head back to North Carolina tomorrow with arrival Monday in Wilmington area. We are expecting some flooding delays but are hopeful we can make it home.” Later,

Tim sent me an update: “Denise and I have survived Hurricane Florence with minimal roof/shutter damage which we are waiting on USAA to resolve. The flooding was the worst but did not affect us. I have been able to attend some local VMI gatherings, including the rat send-off in Wilmington. Denise and I took a fantastic Alaskan cruise vacation. We saw lots of scenery and wildlife. The Alaskan culture seems to be way different from here on the East Coast – lots of colder weather and use of airplanes for transportation. There was a heavy emphasis on conservation and tourism. I recommend the trip for everyone’s bucket list.”

When Hurricane Michael came ashore on the Florida panhandle, Jack Bareford (Swainsboro, Georgia) wrote: “I am hunkering down for the coming storm. It could still be a hurricane when it gets here. I’m sleeping in the hall with my dogs tonight, as my house is surrounded by hundred-year-old trees.”

Chandler Williams (Midlothian, Virginia): “Robbie and I continue to enjoy full and rewarding lives. Much of our calendar is geared around all the activities of our now 10 grandchildren. Having had nine grandchildren aged 7-12, my daughter, Elizabeth, had a bonus child 18 months ago when she was in her early 40s. With Elizabeth having two sons and with this child being a girl, the blessings of this baby are enjoyed by everyone. Robbie has recuperated from the major back surgery she had last fall and is again able to play golf.

We continue to enjoy traveling. This November, we will be in Riviera Maya, between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, for two weeks and will miss seeing BRs and friends at the Institute Society Dinner. We will be back in Nuevo Vallarta next to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which is on the Bay of Banderas, for the month of January. The weather there in the winter is gorgeous. My brother, Randolph (Williams ’66), and his wife, Priscilla, will be joining us for part our stay to celebrate his 75th birthday. Also, my daughter, Elizabeth, along with her infant daughter, will join Robbie and me at the resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, for a few days as well. Yes, at 72 every day is a blessing.”

Buzz Sprinkle (Greer, South Carolina): “This has been the year for looking back and reflecting. First, the reunion at VMI in April 103

Class Notes and the gathering of our brother rats after all Bryan works at Micron and has been there in downtown Boston and works at Wayfair those years! Thanks to all involved and their 20 years. We have three great and wonderful in their supply chain group and is doing effort to make it a great success. Then in June, granddaughters, and it is always fun to be well. My wife, Linda, is always busy doing Nancy and I celebrated our 50th wedding an- around them. Our oldest is 15 and is playing things for other people and helping me spoil niversary, a VMI/Southern Sem marriage. varsity soccer at Boise High School, while our granddaughters.”

Jim Haney (Sun City Center, Florida): Looking back, I consider myself very fortu- her sister is 12, also playing soccer, and “We’re still living outside Tampa. In adboth are doing well in school.

Our youngest nate to have experienced the life I have had dition to our 21-year-old grandson so far.”

(New Jersey), we now have a 6-yearRev Jones (Prosper, Texas): “We just old granddaughter (Florida) and celebrated our 50th wedding anniver4-year-old grandson (Florida). sary with trip to Ireland, Scotland and “I’m playing ‘at’ golf two to three London for three weeks – a great time. times per week, interspersed with parWe are now (October 2018) in Mazaticipation in several veteran service ortlán, Mexico, for a month and waiting ganizations. We traveled to Iceland on on Hurricane Wilma (oh, what fun). a cruise during early 2018.”

Our granddaughter is now a freshSkip Roberts (Lexington, Virginia): man at Texas Tech. Now, does that “BRs, as Kay and I close out 15 years make you feel old? After over 15 years in Lexington, we face the reality of our of retirement, I can say it has been a ages and have decided to move to the hoot. Doing nothing is great, but I do Westminster Canterbury retirement volunteer work weekly with what you Class of 1968: At the end of September, Gen. J.H. Binford could call golf and reading along with Peay III ’62 was in the Dallas, Texas, area and spoke to a repre- community at Virginia Beach to be travel. We see our two sons and their sentation from northern Texas. Present were Phil Lanier, Hal near our youngest daughter and Kay’s sister. Like so many BRs facing the families weekly, as they live nearby. Switzer, Rev Jones, Jay Slaughter and Andy Bradley. same issues, this is a tough decision Mother will be 100 next year and is to make. In our case, it is even more still in good health. She lives in Morso, as we leave the views of House gantown and is big West Virginia fan.

Mountain and the valley. However, Dottie and I are both in good health.” and more importantly, we will lose the Dee Biggs (Acton, Massachusetts): opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of “It has been a very nice summer for the company of so many BRs in our us, as I have been playing lots of golf home as we have over the years. To all and also continuing to work on the of you who have stopped by, you have project to put veterans back to work. enriched our lives immensely, and for I get to travel around the country and that we are eternally grateful. Having talk to companies about hiring vetersaid all that, we’ll have plenty of space ans to fill supply chain roles in their to see BRs and spouses at the beach. company. It has been a lot of fun, and The facility fronts right on the Chesawe have gotten several hundred veterpeake Bay with great views and plenty ans hired so far. Travel basketball started the past weekend, which means we Class of 1968: Members of the class held a mini reunion at of beach. We’ll also see you in Lexingthe parade in New Market, Virginia, Sept. 2, 2018. After the will be busy until March coaching parade, Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent, joined ton on occasion. P.S. Downsizing is a fifth-graders and teaching them the the class for a photo. Pictured were, from left, front row, Bill real pain, and the kids don’t want our fundamentals of basketball. I get lots Cloyd, John Hart, Peay and Billy Seargeant. Row 2: Bryan Bar- ‘brown stuff!’”

Pete Farmer (Edmonds, Washingof tips from Steve Powers (Malvern, ton, Richard Wallach, Dave Clark, Clay Thompson, Dean Kershaw, Paul Hebert, Gil Piddington and Kit Tyler. Row 3: Tom Pennsylvania) on how to get my kids Hickey, Walton Jeffress, Joe Smith, Joe LeVine, Jim Polley, J.B. ton): “Herb Brasington (Milwaukie, Oregon) and Sarah Bohnenkamp to become better rebounders. We trav- Meadows and John Crim. Photo by Ginger Wallach. hosted Patty and me at their wondereled to Boise, Idaho, this summer to ful Portland, Oregon, area home for a weekvisit our son and daughter and their families granddaughter belongs to our daughter and for a week. Our daughter, Jenna, and fam- goes to a Spanish-speaking school in Port- end. They hosted a VMIAA Pacific Northily live in Portland, Oregon, but came over land, which is a bit unusual. She turned 10 west Chapter Social. There were 16 alum to Boise where her brother, Bryan, lives, to yesterday and is fluent in Spanish. All three plus guests, and a good time was had by all. spend the week with all of us. Jenna teaches are a pleasure to be with, and we enjoy them I also manned a table for two days at the Nahigh school photography and loves it, while immensely. Our youngest son, Casey, lives tional College Fair in Portland recruiting for 104

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes VMI. I’ll do the same this coming weekend in Tacoma and Seattle, Washington.” Later Pete wrote: “I attended the all-day (Vietnam symposium) event. Good group of speakers and panelists. In preparation, I binge-watched Ken Burns. Proud of my service. Steve Wilson was there. I got back to Seattle, and one day later Patty and I left for 20 days in Croatia, Slovenia and northern Italy.”

Ron Gallagher (Poquoson, Virginia): “My last few years have been centered around my wife, our two children and four grandchildren. Add a dog for fun. We purchased a motorhome and have traveled four times to either, and or both, Eugene, Oregon, and Phoenix, Arizona. Add up the mileage, throw in a near dozen national parks and we have 33,000 miles in three years. The high point for me was my son, Capt. Ira Andrew Gallagher ’09, graduating with his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon in May. He is now finishing his welcome back to the Army in Georgia and heading to JAG school in Charlottesville this fall and then to Fort Drum for three years and soon will be a major. I am retired, and my hobby of black powder cartridge and muzzle loading competitions keeps me entertained. I have no ongoing VMI BR relationship but occasionally see ‘brother rats of another class’ as we call ourselves.

I did receive a nice note from General Peay ’62. I will continue to support the Institute and remember our class.”

Ed Anderson (Lynchburg, Virginia): “In September, my wife, Pat, and I visited four national parks in Utah: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon. We also went to Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada and Lake Powell in Arizona/Utah. While at Lake Powell, we were able to spend some time with former roomie, Skip Anders (Mesa, Arizona), and his wife, Marta. We enjoyed getting together and catching up over a few meals. The four of us also took a boat cruise on Lake Powell that included a trip to the Rainbow Bridge National Monument.”

John Hart (Staunton, Virginia): “Our daughter, Christina, had a baby boy, Caleb Andrew Hildreth, Oct. 9. Maybe another Keydet? Grandfather ’68, great-grandfather ’40 and uncle ’99.”

Steve Wilson (Mathews, Virginia): “2018 has been a ‘good to me’ year with the successful reunion campaign and great attendance at our 50th in April. I see Bryon Barton (Oakton, Virginia), Walt Jeffress (Fairfax, Virginia), Skip Roberts (Lexington, Virginia) and Jim Henry (Williamsburg, Virginia) regularly while at VMI for Board

2019-Issue 1

of Visitors and/or VMI Alumni Association meetings. Linda and I have traveled with and routinely get together with Dave and Bobbi Gehr (Williamsburg, Virginia). We attended the annual Institute Society Dinner and sat with Tom and Rosemary Hickey and J.B. and Ann Timmons (Winston-Salem, North Carolina). It was a great evening, and the Class of 1968 was very well represented. In addition to serving as the VMIAA liaison to the BOV Cadet/Military Affairs Committee, I continue to serve as the chairman of the Mathews Memorial Library Board of Trustees. On the fun side, we will make our annual pilgrimage to Key West in January-February and visit Buzz and Nancy Sprinkle (Greer, South Carolina) on the way south. In the fall, we will take a 14-day Viking River Cruise in France with the Gehrs, which will include a visit to Normandy.”

1969

Walter Judd

313 Tides Run Yorktown, VA 23692 757/890-0749 walter.judd.vmi69@outlook.com

Greetings, Brother Rats and Friends of the 50th Reunion Class of 1969, This edition of our class notes talks of the loss of a short time BR and two high school teammates and close friends and speaks of the preparation of our coming 50th Reunion. Gathering friends from the past and raising money to fuel our legacy at VMI are the main topics.

One of three BRs to leave VMI after a year and start again at USMA, Tom Hood’s tale ended this year. “Thomas Harvey Hood of Ashburn, Virginia, died peacefully at his home Oct. 19, 2018. Tom was born May 22, 1947, the son of Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Reuben C. Hood Jr. Tom’s early years were spent as an ‘Air Force brat’ in South and Central America. Tom’s school years were spent in the Washington, D.C., area; Durham, North Carolina; and Cookeville, Tennessee. Tom graduated in 1965 from Castle Heights Military Academy.

He attended the Virginia Military Institute and the United States Military Academy. He transferred to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. Tom met and married Judith, his wife of 47 years, while they both attended Georgia Tech. After college, Tom worked first for Martin Marietta and Honeywell and then as a senior systems

analyst contractor for the government. Tom served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for 37 years and retired in 2003 as a lieutenant colonel. Tom is survived by his wife, Judith; a daughter and son-in-law; and a son. A service [was] held Nov. 3, 2018, at McLean Bible Church, McLean, Virginia. Interment will be later at Arlington National Cemetery.”

From Casselberry, Florida, “Charles A. ‘Buddy’ Pope, 71, died Aug. 26, 2018, in his home after a long illness. He grew up in Capron, Virginia, and was a son of the late James D. ‘Punk’ Pope and the late Dorothy Jones Pope. Buddy enjoyed playing football and baseball at Southampton County High School and had fond memories of attending [VMI for one semester and] Ferrum College.

He inherited his father’s love of horses and spent many years working with trotters and pacers. He is survived by his wife, Marie Bradshaw Pope; a sister; and; two brothers. At Buddy’s request, no services will be held.” Gary Mackey, Doug Marks and Gene Beale talked afterward of their time at VMI during rat year. Doug, Gene and Buddy all came from smaller high schools in southside Virginia and were thrilled to be recruited to play football at VMI. Thank goodness we had a rat football team as each had some adjustments to make from high school life. Doug and Gene sweated along while Buddy had a hard time. He left after one semester and made the coaches and teammates a little sadder as he was a terrific player.

On Sept. 11, 2018, Gene Beale and his wife, Katherine, died in their home in Norfolk, Virginia. Their memorial service was held Sept.

19 in their church in Norfolk. There was a good showing by the BRs from the class and many of the wives. Doug Marks greeted many of his and Gene’s high school and family friends. I noted the following BRs at the service: Tommy Thompson, Bob Heely, Bob Waldo, John and Jane Ishon, Pat Branch, Tommy and Nancy Catlett, B.A. and Peggy Rennolds, T.O. and Arlene Palmer, Chalk and Iona Hardy, Gary and Peggy Mackey, Webb Hatch, Lee Barnes, Wip and Barbara Priest, Bruce Gregory, Bunny Paulette, Charlie Bryan, and Drew and Carol Brantley. Yes, there were red, white and yellow flowers up front (from one unnamed BR and the class). We even saw other friends with a VMI connection: T.O.’s brother, Jack “Tip” Palmer ’72; Dick Hamlet ’70; Ms. Beverly Branch; and Bogie Holland ’68. Gene was a consultant in the hog industry his entire working career and left behind two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.

105

Class Notes Two days later Friday, Sept. 21, Tommy bringing such an event to VMI and for including rooms and had the VMI staff contract for more Thompson hosted his annual golf tournament VMI grads in the planning and execution of the at three local motels. All three are now accepting for the class and friends at the Petersburg Country event. reservations for the April 25-28, 2019 weekend: Club. We had another good turnout and enjoyed The next day, Bob Waldo and the social com- Holiday Inn Express, Best Western and Wingate lunch, beverages and golf together. Doug Marks, mittee met at VMI to discuss all issues remaining in east Lexington off Route 11.

Dick Jeter, Jim Chapman and TBT’s friend, for the reunion planning team. Bob, Jamie and On Oct. 9, Jamie Totten’s 50th Reunion FunDane Ragsdale, won the care of the trophy for Jody Totten, Rudy and Judy Segaar, Mary Alison draising Committee met at dinner in Richmond a year with a five under par score. Close behind Wright (Ralph Wright’s widow), Fred Downy, and then again at Bunny Paulette’s business site were all the other teams consisting of Tommy Glenn White, Gary Braswell, Bob Heely, Dave the next morning for a planning meeting. BRs Ron Catlett, Glenn White, Walt Judd, Jamie Wall, Joe Lynch, Mike Santoro, Tom Totten, Bob Heely, Lee Barnes, Tommy Morris, Charlie Bryan, Bob Flowers, Thompson, Tom Morris, Dan Gibson, Mike Harper, Jamie Totten, Bunny PauBob Waldo, Larry Seekford, Ken Flemlette, Bob Heely, Ron Stead, Bob Waldo, Doug Marks, Chris Brothers and Walt ing, Pat Branch, Bruce Gregory and Ned Judd shared a meal at the Commonwealth Caldwell’s nephew. Manning the nonClub. Chunkie Neale, T.B. Thompson, playing or “heckling squad” were Spunky Bob Flint and Bruce Gregory joined us Butler, T.O. Palmer, Chalk Hardy, Drew the next morning at Bunny’s business loBrantley and Ned Caldwell. Also playing this year was a team from ’70: Dick Marcation for a meeting. VMI Alumni Agenshall ’70, Herb Braun ’70, Paul Dickincies staff Andrew Deal ’12, Sam Sorrels, son ’70 and Bill Huffman ’70. Jim “Skin- Class of 1969: Glenn White, Drew Brantley, T.O. Palmer, John Wranek ’85 and Terri Conrad joined ny” Baker and Bob Flowers had to cancel Gary Mackey, Lee Barnes, Chalk Hardy, Jim Baker and Webb us for dinner, and all but Andrew attended Hatch met for lunch and conversation Aug. 23, 2018. the meeting. As we confirmed with the at the last moment due to family issues. alumni reps, Andrew and several more After a quick weekend at home, Drew alumni are designated development ofBrantley and I headed to Lexington Sept.

23 to be in place for the Vietnam seminar ficers for the Alumni Agencies, and most at Marshall Hall, the Center for Leaderhave geographical target areas to work throughout the year. They are trained to ship and Ethics, Monday. We stayed in help alumni and friends of VMI find the Moody Hall and were ready for the main right fit for their donations. The focus of event bright and early Monday morning. the meeting was ways to donate money “The Vietnam War at 50: Critical Reapto VMI and the various ways VMI uses praisals” was the name of the academic our money to make good things happen. affair and the Hon. James Webb was We learned that current gifts are used to the keynote speaker. Jamie Totten and support a variety of needs at VMI in the Dr. Charlie Bryan joined Drew and me current years while the deferred money is for the all-day affair. Cadets and alumni considered in our legacy and the school’s comprised the audience and alumnus Phil endowments. Gifts of property and insurGioia ’67 was part of one panel titled, “Courage and Loyalty: Leading Citizenance must be accepted by VMI before they Soldiers in Combat.” Phil and another become official. professor who, as an Officer Candidate Oct. 20 brought to Lexington the footSchool grad, had led volunteer and drafted ball game with El Cid and a good showsoldiers into battle discussed their experiing of BRs. Mike Santoro and I met in Richmond and drove up together. Knox ences with American soldiers who fought Class of 1969: Gene Beale, Buddy Pope and Doug Marks, Hubard and Pat Branch did the same. As and died in the Republic of Vietnam. Also three southside Virginia rats in fall 1965. usual, the pregame picnic near the stadium seen were guys we knew back when: Steve was excellent for food, beverage and comradery.

Wilson ’68, Paul Hebert ’68, Pete Farmer ’68, Prugh, Dick Camp, Drew Brantley (as an observMike and I joined Tom Jones, Jim and Beth Long, Hal Hostetler ’68, Jan Abernathy ’67, Woody er) and Walt Judd took part. VMI’s reunion staff Tom and Nancy Catlett, Dave and Susan Prugh, Sadler ’66 and Charlie Ramsburg ’66. I felt the – John Wranek ’85, Norma Robinson and Sam Chuck and Beth Becker, and Ron and Betsy Wall seminar was mostly an academic affair and mostly Sorrels – attended and made several helpful sugground-centric (without a lot of emphasis on the gestions. We hammered out a schedule of events before the game and sat with Bruce Gregory, John Sebrell and most of the others mentioned. Notauses of airpower to shape both tactical and stra- and deconflicted several problems before they octegic operations). I salute VMI’s CLE staff for curred. We agreed we needed a few more motel bly missing was Mr. Paulette who was traveling

106

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes in Charleston, South Carolina, to a wedding that day. The stands are just a bit quieter when Bunny is missing in action. Although the game was full of excitement and was close in score, the Keydets dropped the game by two points. John Sebrell also reported he saw at lunch BR Marty Parks on his way home to western Virginia.

Mike Santoro and I had a short time after the game to check in to our motel and then head back to Crozet Hall for the annual scholarship banquet for cadet-athletes and their parents. Each year, the Keydet Club brings together the athletes and their parents and the benefactors or representatives of scholarships supporting those cadets. Mike and I sat with the young football player cadet (from Monacan, Virginia) receiving our class athletic scholarship plus another with his family from Dublin, Virginia. Tom Jones sat with the athlete receiving his lacrosse scholarship and John Sebrell sat with the recipients of other class scholarships. There are several scholarships funded by ’69 BRs in lacrosse, football, baseball, wrestling, basketball and soccer and room for more in rifle, track and field, and swimming and diving.

Enjoying the beautiful fall weather in early November, Tom Morris invited Jim Baker, Glenn White and me to Williamsburg for golf at the Kingsmill River Course on the first. We enjoyed the play and laughed a lot. We also accomplished a little reunion business on the side.

Attending the Institute Society Dinner on Founders Day, Nov. 9 this year, were Gary and Nancy Braswell, Charlie and Cammy Bryan, Richie Daub, Fred Downey, Bob and Lynda Flowers, Bob and Lush Heely, Tom and Elizabeth Jones, Walt and Beverly Judd, V.J. and Margi Petrella, Dave and Susan Prugh, Mike and Martha Santoro, and Dennis and Anne Witt. We heard a new version of the “VMI Blues” from the Glee Club after the meal and words from several alumni and school leaders. We also got to see a new film of current cadets talking about how we the donors helped them attend school. Our hats go off to the new chief communications officer for the Alumni Agencies, Amy Goetz, for the short film. Many guys stayed over to attend the football game the next day. Nov. 10 was cold, blustery day and not kind to the VMI football team. I noted the Jones family all bundled up at the pregame, as well as Dave Prugh, Jim and Beth Long and Ron Wall.

I need some help from you. VMI and I don’t always get word when a BR moves to a new home or dies. That affects several things: Whether we

2019-Issue 1

honor that individual with a memorial gift from the class, whether we send Alumni Reviews or birthday cards to the address we have, or whether we can send class activity reports or invitations.

Please help me keep our records current. My address info is always included with my class notes in the Alumni Review. I am also fine with getting change of address info as you move around, and I will pass it to VMI for you. It surely helps to have current data, so I can keep you informed.

Now to the reunion next April. By the time you read these words, it will be about time for “little toot” with respect to reunion planning. The registration page on the VMI Alumni website has been active since the first of January, and hotel reservations have been collected for several months. The registration page will offer you a look at the events scheduled for the weekend and any costs associated. You (BRs and families of ’69) will sign up and pay for events like sporting clays or golf Friday or dinner Saturday evening.

Widows of ’69 BRs are guests of the class for the weekend. People going to the site will see the times of our big dinner at Marshall Hall Friday evening and the Saturday morning class memorial service at our memorial room in Preston Library, the class picture soon after on the library steps and the parade in our honor (including the presentation of our class check to VMI). You will see the time Friday afternoon for the Vietnam symposium highlighting experiences of BRs, and the many tours on post of current buildings and new areas. You will be offered a chance to eat lunch in “Club Crozet” Saturday or visit homes in Natural Bridge on the annual Garden Club tour. There will be free time to take a tour of historic Lexington or just shop in one of Virginia’s most scenic small-town areas for arts and crafts and other unique items. Just to be clear, the dinner Friday is provided by the VMI Foundation as a thank you to us for our dedication and donations through the years. You may bring a check or pledge with you as a last moment gift that night, but that is not necessary to attend the dinner.

Here is more info on the Vietnam seminar or symposium Friday. Dr. Charles Bryan has arranged for the event to be conducted in Gillis Theater of Marshall Hall. Brig. Gen. Jack Mountcastle ’65, professional historian in his career with the Army, will moderate the event with BRs Chris L’Orange (U.S. Marine Corps), Jim Hitchcock (U.S. Army), Fred Downey (U.S. Army), Paul Curs (U.S. Air Force) and Frank

Easterly (U.S. Army) participating. Each BR will bring a different perspective to the discussion as each met different challenges on their tours to the battleground. Potential attendees who schedule other activities that morning (like golf, cycling, skeet shooting or tennis) should make plans to complete those morning activities in time to be at the CLE at 1400 Friday. The symposium will be completed in time for participants and attendees to get ready for the big dinner that evening at the same facility.

Your class social committee will provide the Saturday evening supper at the Holiday Inn Express, and there will be a bill to pay for that function. You will be asked to help pay for a live band, if you wish to attend, or not if you just wish to “chill” with friends and a beverage. We will collect online a registration fee and that will cover the costs of the Saturday supper, gifts for BRs and their wives or dates, and any food or beverages consumed in the hospitality room during the weekend. We are the honored class that weekend and will get transportation provided by the Alumni Association to and from most functions on post. Our desire is that you come and enjoy a happy and safe time with your friends from the past and do everything you can to rekindle friendships with BRs and an association with VMI. We are the “grand old men” of the Institute for the weekend, and we want to show anyone paying attention that we were unique and productive as Institute alumni. BRs attending will receive a special classy ball cap and polo shirt to wear to the parade Saturday. Plan to be there and be part of the action.

By the way, if you wish to attend but have trouble paying the various fees, advise me, and we will work a solution. This is a “check formation” occasion, and we will work hard to remove any impediments to your attendance.

I offered Jamie Totten space for a few words on the fundraising part of our reunion campaign in these notes. Before he found time to send me anything, however, he ended up in the emergency room with a kidney stone. Nasty stuff, and a good reason not to spend time writing a status report. So, I will do my substitute gig and tell you we are well underway toward our goal of $9 million for the campaign. We will accept gifts of several kinds and give credit to you and the class for the donations. First, let me remind you of the bricks in front of barracks scheme. You give a minimum of $2,500 and you get a brick with

107

Class Notes your name on it. Your first brick will be placed with other 1969 BRs in a class section on the right as you approach Jackson Arch. As gift amounts grow, you may designate bricks for others in your family or your class. Those bricks will likely end up near the Third Barracks sidewalk. You may get credit for up to five bricks in this campaign.

Second, as the class 50th Reunion commitment form says, you may give current gifts to an endowment or to annual giving at VMI. Several funds are listed for each category, and each has a history with members of our class. In addition to the current giving, you may make a deferred gift with all the details of when and how much.

Wills and trusts and proceeds from retirement accounts can be the instruments for those deferred gifts. Add any deferred gifts and all the gifts you give for any one year, and then pledge to continue the current amount for five years to determine the total for your part of the class gift. While our dykes’ class total was over $50 million, our goal is more modest. We all understand the objective of the campaign is to leave our legacy with VMI. Do your “thing” and be a part of the action. Your BRs, the reunion committee and the Alumni Association thank you.

It is time to close these notes with one last request. We have been out of VMI for nearly 50 years. Some BRs have died during that time and others are in ill health now. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Plan to be at the 50th Reunion activities next April and plan to visit with all your old buds from way back. Be there for certain by

Class of 1969: Jim Long shared a photo of former Keydet Club president Jim Chapman’s golf cart at the Desert Falls Country Club near Palm Springs, California, in February 2017.

108

Friday afternoon so you can attend the big dinner on post, and stay for the fun times of all activities Saturday. If you have any questions about the reunion activities or fundraising, call or write me. I will get you the info you need or send you to the right person.

In the spirit, Walt

1970

Warren Grasty

2903 Mother Well Court Herndon, VA 20171 703/904-8151 classagent1970@aol.com

Fall brought the usual tremendous turnout of brother rats at various football games. Liz and I made it to the Mercer University game in September, where we partook of the over-the-top tailgate put on by Lew and Judy Reynolds. Also imbibing were Tommy and Jill Cooke, Ralph and Marsha Costen, Peel Dillard, Bill and Wysor Gearhart, Chuck and Penny Wills, and Tom Zarges. There was an even larger turnout at the Tusculum game: Herb Braun, Bobby Brown, Jud Collier, Tommy Cooke, Ralph Costen, Steve Craddock, Peel Dillard, Bill Gearhart, Bill Huffman, Mike Iwanik, Russ Marshall, Bill O’Connor, Lew Reynolds, Kent Schlussel, Carl Strock and Buck Talley. Thanks to Buck for the group picture. He also sent a picture of five of the above who were roommates: Carl Strock, Jud Collier, Peel Dillard, Mike Iwanik and Bill Huffman. I have posted these to the VMI’70 Facebook page.

There was also a great virtual turnout for the game against The Citadel via ESPN3 from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, where 12 brother rats and wives rented a beach house/hotel for a week in October. Joining us were John and June Bailey, Herb and Susan Braun, Gray and Nancy Chandler, Tommy and Jill Cooke, Bill and Marilyn Huffman, Tom and Sarah Massey, trip meister Jim and Judy Mawyer, Mike and Suzanne Snead, Charles and Peggy Perry, Charlie and Margaret Walker, and Gary and Lynn Weishaar. What a great game and a great week of fun, food and comradery – or camaraderie for you purists. It’s quite amazing that this group made it through an entire week without a major mishap or failure of any body parts.

Attending The Citadel game for real were

Howie and Barbara DeWolf, who took one of their (many) grandsons and a friend of his who is interested in VMI on a tour of the Institute. A few weeks later, they took a friend who has an interest in Stonewall Jackson through the Stonewall Jackson House and the George C. Marshall Museum. Unfortunately, rain caused cancellation of the Friday parade, so they didn’t get to quench their thirst for bagpipe music.

In September, I played in the VII Corps annual golf tournament in Gainesville, Virginia, spearheaded by Bob Candido. This event raises scholarship money for children of the Corps’ Desert Storm veterans. I was much luckier with raffle tickets than I was on the course, taking home four prizes from my four tickets. For some reason, I didn’t think to stop by 7/11 on the way home to purchase a lottery ticket.

During the first week of November, I had the pleasure of attending the initial gathering of our 50th Reunion Campaign Committee, which is co-chaired by Ralph Costen and Tom Zarges.

Also volunteering for this committee are Herb Braun, Tommy Cooke, Bob Copty, Steve Craddock, Peel Dillard, Ted Durvin, Bill Gearhart, Reed Heddleston, Bill Huffman, Dave Miller, Paul Munch, Bill O’Connor, Ned Perrow, Charles Perry, Waite Rawls, Lew Reynolds, Bill Richardson, Carl Strock and Gordon Williams.

More information about our 50th will be coming out as we get closer to this event, but please go ahead and block out the weekend of April 25-26, 2020, on your calendars. As always, reunions are not just for brother rats who graduated, but for all brother rats who made it through the Rat Line.

For our 45th Reunion, we had 104 brother rats join in the merriment, and we are hoping to have upward of 200 brother rats and their wives attend our 50th. As you may already be aware, we ain’t gettin’ any younger.

Speaking of Bill O’Connor, in October, he represented our class at the Keydet Club’s annual athletic scholarship dinner with the Class of 1970 Scholarship awardee, Cadet Ty Cloyd ’21. Ty is a 3rd Class mechanical engineer with a 2.5 GPA and is a starting outside linebacker. He is from Benedictine High School in Richmond and is a super young man. At the end of this year, Bill is finally hanging up his green eyeshades and retiring from Essex Bank. He says the bank has a chance to survive without him, as the board includes Bill Hardy ’78, Oliver Way ’75, Hugh Fain ’80 and our very own Waite Rawls. In anticipation of that

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes said that he still interviews veterans for event, he and Paula have moved to the Atthe Veterans’ History Project that he lanta area to be closer to their grandchilheaded up at the Library of Congress dren. Congratulations, Big! in order to capture their stories. They Rat-year roomie Dick Cheatham has have already marked their calendar for been keeping busy. In June he portrayed our 50th Reunion.

Col. J.T.L. Preston at the VMI leadership Also traveling out west, Chad and center, and he is hoping for a return inviCaryn Lash rafted the Colorado River in tation next year to go into more depth on the Grand Canyon in the summer, and in Col. Preston’s vision for VMI as a muchthe fall visited Lake Tahoe and Yosemite improved version of West Point. Dick National Park. They planned to drive to also feels strongly that there should be Dallas for Thanksgiving with Caryn’s a statue of Col. Preston outside Preston family, taking in several battlefields on Arch leading from new New Barracks. the way, with a stop at Fort Knox, where In early February, he will be in Hawaii a street is named for her father, retired on the USS Missouri as John Rolfe of Maj. Gen. Robert E. Wagner ’57, first Jamestown and in Honolulu at Chaminade University as Capt. Meriwether Class of 1970: Tony Rolfe with his friend, Katharine Fodn- commanding general of the Cadet ComLewis. Dick will also be doing follow-up aess, and his race car after winning a race in Maine. mand. In May, Caryn will do her second presentations on the inspirational lessons pilgrimage to Santiago de Composfrom those two stories. He says that Mike tela, this time on the Camino Portugues Shealey, who is on the board of the Pathrough Portugal, 611 kilometers from start to finish. Feet, don’t fail me now! cific Aviation Museum in Hawaii, has ofOne of our few brother rats who actufered up a potential speaking engagement at the museum. Certainly more inviting ally lives in the Southwest, Jon Vorderthan North Dakota. Meanwhile, Patti mark, checked in to say that not much has been working hard on her food buyhas happened lately in the Taos area, so he continues to paint. Pictures, not housing club, Fare Thee Well, which sources healthy and organic food from farms es. You can check out some of his work at such as Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm just www.studiojsv.com. He is offering major north of Lexington. One of the people discounts to any brother rats. No menshe collaborates with is Jonathan Scott Class of 1970: At the VMI versus Tusculum game Nov. 2, 2018, tion of free shipping. ’93, who is chef at the Greek Taverna in were Bill Huffman, Peel Dillard, Russ Marshall, Kent Schlussel, Jesse Glidewell took a break from skiSteve Talley, Jud Collier, Mike Iwanik, Carl Strock, Steve CradRichmond. ing in Utah and sent in an update with dock, Bill O’Connor, Bill Gearhart, Bobby Brown, Herb Braun, Tony Rolfe sent in a picture standing Ralph Costen, Lew Reynolds and Tommy Cooke. several pictures of he and “trophy wife” by his race car after winning the yearof 38 years, Bobbye, (drum roll, please) end race in Maine, which he says got him some skiing! If you remember, a while back he had Champagne and allowed him to stand on the the VMI spider painted on his skis. Personally, I podium. “I do all the work on the car which prowould think a picture of the saint of unbroken bones would be more appropriate, but that’s just vides a lot of fun and satisfaction. My three sons me. Anyway, according to Jesse, “The topsheets race also, and we all help each other. Of course on my skis were designed for me – not for sale I am the ‘brains’ behind it all.” Tony said that anywhere and approved by the Institute. Perforright out of school, BR Bob Patrick helped with his first race car. So, it would appear to me that mance-wise, they are great for deep powder both Fuzzy should get a cut of the action. in and out of trees and best on challenging terSpeaking of Fuzzy, he wrote in that he and Valrain.” Jesse, old pal, the last time I checked, skis and trees don’t mix together that well. Anyway, erie are still traveling around the globe. After he reports that Bobbye is as tough on a mountain their annual trip to St. Vincent and Val’s art trip bike as she is on skis. Jesse keeps tabs on all the to Mexico, they went to Seattle, where they achurricanes that threaten the East Coast, as he retually saw Mount Rainier without the clouds and then went on to a church mission trip members dreading these during the three years he to Honduras. Their latest jaunt took them to spent on minesweepers out of Wilmington and Class of 1970: Bobbye and Jesse Glidethe southwestern U.S. to check out the Grand Charleston. well, right, with a skiing friend in Utah.

Canyon and some other national parks. Bob I had a nice email exchange with high-school

2019-Issue 1

109

Class Notes buddy Dave Price from his and Priscilla’s new home in the Huntsville, Alabama, area. He recently had lunch with Dave Lawrence, who lives about an hour north in Tennessee, and he keeps up with Dave Trenholm and Bob Grossman on a regular basis. Dave promises to make it to our 50th. It’s hard to believe we haven’t seen each other since our time in Roanoke in the early ’70s

Class of 1970: Chad and Caryn Lash during a Grand Canyon rafting trip this summer.

after graduation, when I worked for the power company and he was in graduate school at VPI and SU EIEIO. Also hailing in from Alabama was Tom Norris, who recently moved to Fairhope, Alabama, on Mobile Bay. At the start of the year, he turned over his business at Morgan Stanley to his son, but he still has an office and goes in once a week, which leaves ample time for golf and fishing in the gulf. He and Amy have a second home in Gulf Shores, and they invite any brother rats passing through south Alabama to check in with them.

Another denizen of the Gulf Coast, George Yurchak sent in some pictures he had posted to Facebook of his and Sheila’s “Kill Bill” regalia they donned for the Krewe of Boo Parade on the Haunted History Tour float in New Orleans during Halloween. Unfortunately (I think), I was already over my five-picture allotment for these class notes. Obviously enjoying going around incognito, he also sent pictures of him portraying a Greek who was buried in Old Biloxi Cemetery for the Biloxi Cemetery Tour. If you ask me, and since I’m writing this that’s merely rhetorical, George seems to be digging pretty deep for an excuse to dress up. Anyway, he reported that he and Sheila helped host 10 Ukrainian orphans for a day. They must have really done it up right, as the kids said they felt like they were at Disneyland. Sounds like a costume thing again. But wait! There’s more! They also travel all along the Gulf Coast during the year doing Ukranian dancing in costume at Armed Forces retirement

Class of 1970: Fall brother rat week in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina: Nancy and Gray Chandler, Jill and Tommy Cooke, Gary Weishaar (Lynn was the photographer), Charles and Peggy Perry, Susan and Herb Braun, Margaret Walker, Bill and Marilyn Huffman, Tom Massey, Judy and Jim Mawyer, June Bailey, Sarah Massey, Mike Snead, John Bailey, Suzanne Snead, Charlie Walker, and Warren and Liz Grasty.

110

homes, public libraries and local festivals. They even have a gig lined up dancing for 360 kids at Bel-Air Elementary School. George, you’re having way too much fun down there.

Meanwhile, the ever-wandering Phil Jornlin has returned back “home” to Roanoke from Cyprus, and will have a short trip to Bangladesh over Christmas. Which is certainly better than a long trip to Bangladesh. Good luck, Phil.

Congratulations to Paul and Judy Dickinson on the arrival of their eighth grandchild (a boy) Oct. 23. Paul reported that Taze Taylor came up for the Friday round of the Dominion Energy Classic golf tournament, a Champions’ Tour event. In the morning, they had a good time watching the golf and then had lunch before Paul had to do his volunteer duty.

And congratulations to Neil Littreal, who was recently elected treasurer of Southeast Asia Veterans Association Old Spooks and Spies.

The association is made up of Vietnam veterans from the Army Security Agency. Good to hear from you, Neil.

And one more huzzah, this one for Kent Schlussel, who swore his grandson, Cadet Ethan Schlussel ’22, into the Air Force in August, one of 15 four-year Air Force ROTC scholarships awarded at VMI. I’m still not sure what Kent was most proud of, swearing in his grandson or finding out his old Air Force uniform still fit. My money’s on the uniform.

Anyway, their grandson is in the Class of 2022 and a proud member of Band Company, so they have tailgated with him and his dad, Jeremy Schlussel ’94, before football games.

On the travel front, Kent and Judy flew to Montreal in May, from where they took a St. Lawrence River cruise and on to Boston, taking in the Canadian maritime islands along the way. And in September, they spent a few days in Amsterdam on their way to Morocco. Over the next three weeks, they toured the country, covering its major cities as well as rural areas.

They even spent several nights in tents in the Sahara Desert, complete with toilets, showers and electricity. Highlights included partaking of Moroccan food and wine and Kent riding and milking a camel, which he said is easier than milking a cow. (Because you can do it standing up?) In Casablanca, they went inside the Grand Mosque, which holds 25,000 and another 80,000 in the courtyard. Back home, Kent volunteered to be in charge of security for

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes their local synagogue during the anniversary weekend of the 2017 riots in Charlottesville.

Fortunately, no major problems materialized, and Kent said he was impressed by the presence and professionalism of the local police.

Also jet-setting around the world were A.C. and Beth Arnn, who recently returned from three weeks in Europe. They began in Prague and ended in Paris with a Viking Rhine River Cruise sandwiched in between. From the “small world department,” the couple in the room next to them on the cruise was Stuart and Edna Byrd ’82 from Wilmington, North Carolina. I can just imagine the look of horror on the faces of the other guests upon hearing an Old Yell echoing through the Aquivit Lounge.

Sweet! By now son Patrick should be safely ensconced as commander at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, for a three- to four-year assignment. So now they will have to prorate their time between granddaughters Adelaide and Eleanor in South Carolina and Charlotte and Caroline in Burlington, North Carolina.

A pretty nice conundrum. In the meantime, A.C. continues breaking in his replacement at MB Kahn Construction and tuning up his golf game at Windermere Country Club. I feel a mooch coming on. What say you, Stix?

Speak of the devil! In early November, Stix and Nancy had dinner in Jacksonville with Charlie and Margaret Walker, who had trekked to nearby Atlantic Beach, Florida, to visit Margaret’s sister, Katherine, and her hubby, Lew. A rare sighting of Stix near his own home!

On Nov. 9, the VMI Foundation held its annual Institute Society Dinner on post. Representing our class this year were Dewey and Brenda George, Dave Miller, Ned and Florence Perrow, Waite and Malou Rawls, Kent and Judy Schlussel, Carl and Julie Strock, and Tom Zarges. This event recognizes alumni and friends who have given generously to the Foundation during the past fiscal year, and we have some very generous brother rats.

That’s about it for now. Be sure to check out the VMI’70 Facebook page for pictures and comments posted by our BRs. Also, if you are not on the brother rat email list, just send me an email at classagent1970@aol.com so you can keep up with BR and Institute related news, including information on our 50th Reunion. By the way, it’s a check formation.

In the spirit!

2019-Issue 1

1971

Jim Kelly

1504 Westwood Drive Pulaski, VA 24301 540/230-4878 jkellyvmi71@gmail.com

Once again, the November notes bring news of parts of the country that experienced devastating losses from hurricanes and tornadoes, especially Florence and Michael. As if those storms were not bad enough, the wildfires in California have been described as the worst in the state’s history. We have many brother rats in Florida, North Carolina and California who may very well have lost property or had some property damage. The rainfall during the hurricanes’ aftermath also caused severe flooding in many other parts of the U.S. Thankfully, as of this writing, the BRs I have heard from are doing fine. Richmond, Virginia, had 10 reported tornadoes on the afternoon of Sept. 17, 2018. Grandchildren Lauren and Ryan were locked down in their schools in Midlothian, and parents Chuck and Veronica were sheltered in place at their work places for quite a while on that scary day.

I am saddened to report the deaths of two of our Brother Rats Bob LaMoe and Wayne O’Brien.

On behalf of the Class of 1971, I extend our sincere condolences to each family.

Robert “Bob” LaMoe died March 8, 2018, in a Maryland nursing home after suffering a debilitating stroke. He matriculated at VMI from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was a physics major and member of the rat and varsity swim teams. Bob was an engineer by trade and was self-employed.

Surviving are one sister and brother-in-law. A celebration of life was held May 6, 2018, in Sykesville, Maryland.

Wayne O’Brien matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and remained at VMI for our rat year.

He died Aug. 29, 2018, and is survived by his wife, Pam, of Goochland, Virginia. Wayne was a retired carpenter with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 388.

Funeral services were provided by the Cremation Society of Virginia-Richmond.

After 13 years as an adviser with the Department of Homeland Security, Buck Hamilton is retiring as of Dec. 31, 2018, and is considering working in the private sector for a while. Buck and his wife, Aga, are both licensed Texas private investigators,

and if nothing turns up in the corporate world, they are not ruling out starting their own small security company. Buck sends his regards to all and says he will try hard to make the upcoming 50th Reunion. John Caulfield and Reid Dudley have also announced their retirement. John’s was effective this past July. He has a new granddaughter (Hope) and has recently relocated to Hillsboro, Virginia. His son and family have moved to England which will give him a chance to go overseas toward the end of this year (2018). After 40 years, Reid is closing down his engineering and survey business in December 2018. He plans to spend more time traveling and visiting with family.

Calfee Park in Pulaski is currently the home field of a New York Yankees rookie league team. In mid-August, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ’81 visited Pulaski as part of his “summer of baseball” tour. The tour was a series of visits to the nine minor league stadiums in the commonwealth to tout the importance of baseball in Virginia communities. The trip to Pulaski was stop No. 8, with the Norfolk Tides scheduled to be No. 9. Kathryn and I were enjoying a pregame hot dog when the governor appeared right next to our table. We took advantage of the chance to introduce ourselves and chat briefly with him. A member of his staff was kind enough to snap the picture of the three of us which appears in this edition of the notes.

The Goodyear Blimp made an appearance the week after the governor was in town to celebrate the anniversary of a local tire dealership and to circle the Yankees game. The path of the blimp was directly over where Kathryn and I live in Pulaski and honestly it seemed close enough to reach out and touch it. The aircraft makes its way to “Blimp Worthy” events all across the country and when it comes through here it actually is tethered at our own New River Valley Airport in Dublin, Virginia.

A total of 519 new cadets matriculated in August making it the largest class ever to enter VMI and the Corps now numbers over 1,700. Thirty states and five foreign countries are represented, with 67 percent of the class entering from Virginia. The class profile indicates that the average SAT score was 1210 and the average GPA was 3.7.

Earlier this fall, Barry O’Donnell attended one of his grandson’s baseball games and sat with a group of other grandparents he had not met before. One of the group noticed that Bear had on a VMI hat and inquired as to when he was at VMI. When the timeframe got established,

111

Class Notes environmental, social service, educational they discovered that Mr. and Mrs. Dave and historic projects in Texas and Virginia.

Braine were in attendance at the game.

Thanks to the endowment, the lodge has Dave Braine coached the rat football had a complete interior and exterior overteam at VMI in 1967 and later coached at the University of Richmond. While he haul and has once again become a popular was still single and had a house in Richtourist attraction. The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association recently mond, three of our BRs also lived there: named the lodge as the Hotel of the Year Bob Pickral, Zeke Ellington and Murphy and its manager as the Hotelier of the Year Sprinkle. A few stories were shared about (reported in The Southwest Times Oct. those days, and Bear says that Dave never 28, 2018). You probably realize at this mentioned that he went on to become the point that the same foundation involved athletic director at Virginia Tech. On the in the Mountain Lake project was responsame day that Barry met Dave Braine, Zeke reported that an article appeared sible in large part for the construction of in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about Moody Hall at VMI which was completed Frank Beamer, former coach at Virginia circa 1969. Mountain Lake is a nice place Tech. In the article, Frank recalled that to visit (even with no lake) but be sure to Class of 1971: Pictured at Calfee Park in Pulaski, Virginia, his boyhood heroes were Carroll Dale, were, from left, Gov. Ralph Northam ’81, Kathryn Kelly do so in the summer. The elevation is just Sonny Utz and Bob Schweickert, all leg- and Jim Kelly. under 4,000 feet and during the winter, it would closely resemble the locale from endary Hokies in the ’60s who went pro.

Stephen King’s book “The Shining.”

Frank gave Dave Braine high marks for his supOur first home football game with Eastern Tenport during his early (and rough) start as the head coach at Virginia Tech. Zeke and I also revered the nessee State University was moved up due to Hursame players back in the day, and I spent many ricane Florence and played on a beautiful Friday Saturdays in Blacksburg at the old Miles Stadium afternoon in Lexington. The ’71 contingent at the and later in Lane Stadium with visions of taking game included Gault, Strickler, Golden, Pickthe field one day. Zeke says that he saw every ral, Acuff, Coleman, Hepler and Bryan. Lanny Thanksgiving Day game from 1957 until the last brought me up to date on some of the members of time VMI played Virginia Tech on Thanksgiving the group. The Stricklers and Goldens had just reour 2nd Class year. Truth is that, unlike Zeke, I turned from a trip out West, which included visits was never college football material, but as a high to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Nancy and school sophomore at Pulaski I did play both footBobby Pickral have been busy with their move to a new home. The Heplers have discussed moving ball and basketball against Frank Beamer when back to Virginia but the decision is complicated he was a star at Hillsville High School. It is amazby having their daughter nearby in Georgia and ing that these connections pop up from time to Jerry Acuff’s son, Ryan, appears to be holding up time, and we realize what a small world it can well with his rat year. On a different trip, Ellingbe out there.

Class of 1971: Lanny Gault, T.S. Gault, Most of you I suspect have seen the 1987 movie ton, Wiese and wives made a five day trip with Anne Ohle and Dave Schrader on a va“Dirty Dancing.” If not, it is on TV about once the Stricklers and Goldens to Chicago. The final cation in the Florida Keys. a week. Parts of the movie were filmed at the home game of the season was held during FoundMountain Lake Lodge in Giles County, Virginia, ers Day weekend Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, and by which is not far from Pulaski. An odd geological all accounts, it was very cold and windy all aftersituation developed over time and the once fanoon. On hand for that day were Gault, Acuff, Strickland, Palmer, Lawson, Strickler, Pickral, mous Mountain Lake drained itself and has never Bryan and Mikula. fully recovered. Financial losses began to pile up The annual Institute Society Dinner was also around the year 2000, and by 2008, the lodge held during the Founders Day weekend with a stood empty with little hope of recovery. The origigood number of ’71’s society members in attennal lodge was constructed in 1856 and served as a stopover for stage coach riders. William Lewis dance. That group included Beattie, Bryan, ElMoody constructed the sandstone lodge in 1936. lington, Honeywell, Kirby, Patrick, Price and Class of 1971: The Goodyear Blimp passed Currently the Mary Moody Northen EndowWiese. Most all of the wives were also present and over Jim and Kathryn Kelly’s backyard on accounted for. ment owns the lodge. The charitable endowment the way to the airport.

This year marked the 100th anniversary is a Texas-based foundation that awards grants to

112

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes of Armistice Day and the end of World War I. your contributions that keep VMI “no ordinary and your humble scribe’s two cents on items Events were held in many places and bells tolled college.” As the cost of college continues to in- of interest (pardon the gratuitous alliterative on the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th crease more of our cadets need financial support. assault). It covers mid-August through Thanksmonth to commemorate the day. Located in Byrd Currently, 87 percent of VMI cadets receive some giving – the first semester at the “I,” the footPark in Richmond, Virginia, stands the Richmond form of financial aid with 52 percent of that figure ball season, the briefest of falls and the blessed Carillon. The Carillon is a 240-foot memorial being need-based. The rate of giving by alumni to relief of postelection silence. to the men and women of Virginia who died in VMI is roughly 28 percent which is a respectable I thought I’d share an interesting note regardWorld War I. The Carillon has undergone a $2.8 number but less than half of those alumni con- ing annual giving. A recent article in the U.S. million restoration and was opened back up to tribute to VMI athletics, which plays a significant Military Academy at West Point’s alumni rethe public on Armistice Day. Our Brother Rat role in being able to recruit athletes. VMI is not view touted “victory” in outpacing rivals AnJim Gearhart has portrayed President Woodrow currently allowed to award athletic scholarships napolis and Colorado Springs in alumni giving Wilson on many occasions and was part of the with “in state” student tuition rates and that fac- percentages. WooPoo went to great lengths to celebration in Byrd Park and is pictured in several tor alone limits our ability to attract student ath- pat itself on the back for achieving – get this postings on social media. letes outside of Virginia. When considering your – 17 percent participation. Granted, federal As you already know, our football team scored a gifts to VMI and how they are designated give the funding covers a far larger percentage of the lot of points and came so close to winning several academies’ operating budgets than VMI reabove some extra thought this year. of their games. To date our only win came against Kathryn and I hope all of you had a great holi- ceives from the federal and state government.

Tusculum University Nov. 3 in Lexington. It was day season and that 2019 will be a healthy and But, our 30 percent-plus participation rate a fall reunion weekend which made the win more happy year for all of us. clearly demonstrates our acknowledgement of special for the returning classes. Reece Udinski the values of the VMI experience and commitLet VMI be heard from today. ’21, quarterback for the Big Red, has had a great Jim ment to the resources required. I’m convinced individual season and has now broken virtually it supports VMI’s national rankings by U.S every passing record in the books. He was also News and World Report, the Wall Street Journamed the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week nal and Washington Monthly (a ranking on par Larry Houseworth for the game against Western Carolina. Red shirt with the academies). sophomore Elliott Brewster ’20 (former Pulaski 6508 West Franklin Street Moving on to the football season, here are a Richmond, VA 23226 County Cougar) has consistently played well on 240/472-2354 few interesting stats. While the overall record the defensive side of the ball. One good way to lehvmi72@msn.com looks agonizingly familiar, consider this: More support our team and get complete information than 60 percent of the team are rats and 3rds; on every game and the status of our players is to Brothers and Sisters, Legacies, Families, average points per game has gone from eight become a part of the Gridiron Club. Andrew Deal Friends and Passers-by, (2017) to more than 24 (2018); the defensive ’12 does a great job each week of the season with This short epistle is cobbled together from unit is new after losing six starters (the wellemail updates and he “tells it like it is.” your notes and news, insights from the Institute regarded linebacking corps) to graduation; The Big Red basketball team opened its fourth down conversion percentage is season with a big wins over Washington better than Miami’s, Clemson’s and College and Goucher and a loss to Pitt.

Alabama’s; pass completion percentage We are on the road to Kentucky where is better than Tech’s, UNC’s and LSU’s; the Keydets have been known to surprise and VMI is penalized far fewer times the basketball world. Our team has had a per game than NFL factory programs couple of personnel setbacks that will likesuch as Alabama, Michigan, Wisconly impact this season. Senior guard Austin sin and Miami.

Vereen ’19 had wrist surgery and is out unAdditionally, VMI’s aerial offense is better than all but seven FCS teams til January. Austin was the second leading and six FCS/Division II teams; and scorer last season. Cadet Jordan Ratliffe quarterback Reece Udinski ’21 is only ’21 was our third leading scorer last year a 3rd. Granted, we need work on the but will miss this season with a torn ACL. defensive side, but there’s a glimmer of The alumni giving figures for the first hope out there. quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 were released The reception and parade commemoin early November. Our class had an alum- Class of 1972: Bob and Sharan Gore, Chip Woodall, Bub ni participation rate of 8.58 percent, which Robbins, Joe and Kathy Knick, and John and Joan Say- rating the 50th anniversary of integrais slightly higher than at this same time in ers at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, for a tion at VMI was most impressive. If Matriculation day celebration Aug. 25, 2018. Chip’s wife, FY18. So many of you continue to be loy- Beth, served as the photographer. you’ve not seen the video featuring Harry Gore, Dick Valentine and Phil al supporters of VMI, and I thank you for

1972

2019-Issue 1

113

Class Notes

Class of 1972: The class celebrated the 50th anniversary of Matriculation at Blue Ridge Taps in Lexington, Virginia, in August 2018.

Wilkerson, I recommend it highly; you can find it in the November newsletter on the Alumni Association website. The class was well represented.

Mike Sadler sent a remembrance of our matriculation: “I have Aug. 22 marked on two calendars in red. You are so right BR! What a hot day/week. I also have an aerial photo taken of barracks on our first Friday at VMI, before upper class arrived, with our hay draped over the stoop rails (fourth stoop only) on my office wall. My recollection is that we dropped off dirty laundry Friday and picked it up Saturday morning. I must have done a fair job of, as James Clapper would say, ‘unwittingly’ following your dad’s advice, as it wasn’t until October or November that I made my first and only trip up to the RDC or the Executive Committee for a grueling. But I vividly remember that, too, and being strained with the steaming water gushing! By the way, I have recently tried to read Superintendent Josiah Bunting’s [’63] book from about 20 years ago, ‘An Education for Our Time.’ It’s not an easy read, although the idealism is there.” Thanks for the memories, Mike.

Joe Knick sent the photo of what’s hoped to be an annual Matriculation Day dinner at the Jefferson here in Richmond. Bob and Sharan Gore, Chip and Beth Woodall, Bub Robbins, Joe and Kathy Knick, and John and Joan Sayers marked the occasion in a far more genteel and proper manner than our first Aug. 22. And thank you, ladies, for gracing this assembly with much appreciated elegance and adult influence.

114

Rich Wilson sent a short note saying he was sorry he couldn’t join the Matriculation event in Lexington, but he enjoys catching up with the Old Corps and new grads at Pacific Northwest Alumni Association events. Carry the ’72 banner proudly, BR. That’s it for now. The next edition will be more extensive, I certify. Take good care of you and yours, BRs. Rah Virginia Mil! Larry

1973

Mike Kelly

4746 Ludwell Branch Court Raleigh, NC 27612 919/787-2689 kellyvmi73@gmail.com

Those of you who were unable to make our 45th Reunion really missed a great weekend. We had 79 brother rats present at some time over the weekend, along with 58 spouses or significant others, all enjoying three days of social activities and events, to include our first win of the football season! Go Keydets!

One of the real highlights of the weekend was having our class vice president, Joe Duffy, and his wife, Mary, present. Joe led our Old Yell from the second stoop at Jackson Arch, next to our Class of 1973 banner that Larry Mays had made for us.

We had three brother rats attending who had never been to a reunion and several guys who have not been back to VMI for years. I think those folks were pleasantly surprised to see all of their

classmates and the changes at the Institute. Folks are already planning for the 50th!

I want to pass along a big thanks to all of the folks who helped out for the weekend, both before and during the reunion. And I especially want to thank my wife, Pat, for her hard work and allowing me to make our living room a staging area for a few weeks!

For those of you who may not have heard, Klaus Worrell’s wife, Susan, died in September after a lengthy illness. They had been married for 49 years! Klaus really misses her but tries to stay busy with other things like the reunion and cooking.

During the summer and following Susan’s passing, Klaus worked steadily on gathering information and making historical summaries about our class and shared the information at the reunion. He had copies of our matriculation book and asked BRs present to sign it again beside their name for comparison. One item Klaus put together was a “wheel-of-fortune” listing of birthdays, anniversaries and spouses of our brother rats. And most impressive was a banner honoring the 30 deceased brother rats. Thanks for all of your work, Klaus, and we will always keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

We had the banner posted in the hospitality suite and moved it to our memorial service on the bricks Saturday morning. Terry Howlett led us in a beautiful service and a roll call of our deceased BRs. I think everyone attending had a few tears in their eyes! I am also pleased to say that all of our deceased BRs are remembered and have a brick in front of barracks with our class.

Dave Woody worked with the country club to get our four teams of golfers around the links.

Danny Williamson and Mark Skupien spent several days setting up a trap shoot on Danny’s neighbor’s farm. We really had a great time shooting, and were fortunate that the weather gave us a break so that both the shoot and golf outing were completed before it started raining again! Mark said that Danny about worked him to death, but apparently he felt better after declaring that he had beaten Danny in the final “shoot-out.” Art Pendleton kept score and verified Mark’s winning.

Thanks also to Darrell Rickmond for bringing his clay launcher for us to use. Skup said he was trying to talk Danny into buying one like it so he could practice!

Craig Kugelberg was recognized for having traveled the longest distance to attend. He and his wife, Linda, traveled from the San Francisco area. This

VMI Alumni Review

Present at the reunion were: James Ackley, Robert Ball, Douglas Basham, John Boland, Robert Bowman, Michael Burke, Thomas Burke, John Burton, Robert Bushnell, Neil Carlson, Tommy Cates, James Chalkley, Thomas Clark, James Davidson, John DiGiovanni, Joseph Duffy, Paul English, Edward Gibson, George Goodwin, Garland Gray, Charles Gundlach, Edward Hall, Charles Havasy, Terry Howlett, Douglas Huthwaite, Paul Jalbert, Thomas Jennings, Thomas Jones, Frank Joyce, Michael Kelly, Craig Kugelberg, John Landry, Stephen Lane, John Leon, Lee Lingamfelter, Richmond Lykins, Larry Mays, Scott McCarthy, David McCown, Christopher McGreer, Maurice McNamara, Tom Napier, David Northcraft, Marion Payne, Arthur Pendleton, John Pinner, Donald Poynor, Corey Regelin, Donald Reisch, Richard Rogers, Milt Salter, Stuart Seaton, John Semmel, Mark Skupien, Michael Smith, William Spencer, Charles Steelman, William Stephens, John Sykes, Nathan Tanner, Blake Thomas, George Tisdale, Roland Tiso, Webb Tyler, Malon Updike, William van Deusen, Peter Walters, Howard Weatherford, Mark Weiss, William Wells, Hugh White, Daniel Williamson, David Woody, E.D. Woomer, Klaus Worrell, Joseph Wyatt and Glenn Younes.

Class Notes

2019-Issue 1

115

Class Notes was also the first time Craig attended a reunion.

Paul “P.X.” English researched and found a company that could reproduce our class blazer patch, which was given to each attendee. Thanks, P.X.!

Other events for the weekend included a cocktail and social gathering in Moody Hall Friday night, Saturday lunch in Crozet Hall, the football game and a nice dinner at the Lexington Country Club Saturday night. There was a post tour Friday, and some folks attended a private tour of the Marshall Museum and then went to experience an authentic Japanese tea room at Washington and Lee. Special thanks go to Mr. Jerry Acuff ’71, who was our guest speaker and shared his experiences at VMI and how his later involvement with the Institute helped shape his career and get him to where he is now as a top businessman in the country; founder and chief executive officer of Delta Point in Scottsdale, Arizona; and author of four books on sales excellence. He has been ranked as one of the top 15 sales experts in the world.

I also want to thank the VMI Alumni Association for all of their help and guidance in the planning and execution of our reunion.

Some folks who had initially signed up to come were unable to attend due to illness or other personal issues. Chris and Nancy McGreer had to cancel at the last minute; Webb and Donna Tyler both had colds and decided to stay home, however they were well enough to attend the Society dinner the next week. Jim and Susan Ackley canceled at the last minute because Susan had to undergo a heart procedure the week before our reunion.

Sandy McNamara went by to see Jim and Susan after the reunion and reported that Susan was doing fine. We missed all of you and hope you are doing well now.

It was good to see my roommates, Roland Tiso and Terry Howlett, although they had to leave early Saturday to get back home for other things.

Roland is still contracting with security companies and was due to head back to Iraq for a short visit a couple of weeks after the reunion. Hopefully his lengthy stays over there are over! Terry is mostly retired but still flies border control missions in South Texas for the Civil Air Patrol.

While some folks were not able to attend at the last minute, Doug and Margaret Baumgardner were able to come. It was great seeing them and I am really glad Doug felt up to coming. I failed to recognize Doug at the banquet when I was talking about class participation in VMI boards and

116

chapters, but Doug was perhaps the first of our class to serve, as he was on the Board of Visitors many years ago!

I recently had a note from R.E. Lee “Boot” McNeely. Boot had wanted to come to the reunion, however he couldn’t pull it all together. After graduation, Lee went into the Marine Corps for four years, and then went to the LSU School of Forestry, graduating in 1980. After graduation, he fought forest fires with the forestry service in Texas and across the country for 37 years and retired in 2017.

Not long after retiring, Boot was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After surgery in August 2017, he has been receiving treatments every three months.

Lee said his last report was good and the treatment is effective so far. He has hopes that things will continue to allow him to lead as normal a life as possible. Good to hear from you, Boot! Take care. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Lee sent his regards to all of our BRs and said he hopes to be there for the 50th.

Jim Wrenn also sent me a note to say he would not be able to attend the reunion. Jim works with Cummins Diesel in Whitakers, North Carolina, an hour or so northeast of Raleigh. The company makes a large percentage of the diesel engines used in automobiles and trucks, so he stays pretty busy.

Jim was lamenting that he frequently thinks about things he learned at VMI and how those experiences keep coming back to him even though, in the scheme of things, our time at VMI was short.

Great hearing from you again, Jim. Keep in touch.

John and Ann Pinner were at the reunion. They recently moved from the Tidewater area of Virginia to the little town of Jasper, Georgia, where they are close to family members and enjoy the peace and quiet of rural living! John and I suffered through biology together and used to hang out a lot. Another BR we hung out with was Yerry Kenneally and his wife, Tate. Yerry called me a couple of weeks before the reunion to say they were not going to make it, as they were working with their daughter at James Madison University that weekend. We missed you guys and hope to see you soon.

I mentioned in the last issue of the Review that Doug and Pat Huthwaite sold their home in Kure Beach, North Carolina, and moved to Murphy, North Carolina; they went from one end of the state to the other. They were at the reunion and said they just love being in the mountains and are thoroughly enjoying their cabin in the woods.

Doug is helping with P.X. English’s chapter in the

western part of North Carolina and recently attended the events at Western Carolina University, where the Keydets lost 52-50 in the final minutes!

The lost BR award for this quarter goes to Cary Yanagi. I have not been in touch with Cary for some time but recently got a note from him saying that he had retired from teaching computer science at Merced College and was looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Hopefully, you will stay in touch more now that you’re retired.

M.B. Adelson really hoped to attend the reunion, however he was unable to because a hurricane named Michael (no relation) hit the Tallahassee area pretty hard. They had a lot of damage due to trees falling, wind and flooding at the lake house.

He was glad for his military training as he was well prepared with a generator, food, water and Class VI provisions as they lost power for several days.

Overall, by comparison to some of his neighbors, M.B. said they made out pretty well. We missed you all! Hope you have a speedy recovery. He said he appreciates all the calls and messages from BRs checking on him.

I had a message from Neil Carlson who said that after the reunion, he continued his travels south and met up with Bill Spencer and Jim Chalkley in Jacksonville, Florida, to party a little more.

Jeff Minch posts regularly on Facebook and in early October he had some pictures and information from a gathering in Austin, Texas, where Gen. Peay ’62 came to the state to visit with alumni in several cities. Jeff thoroughly enjoyed the evening and listening to Gen. Peay talk about his past and future vision for the Institute. Jeff has been the regional director for the alumni association in the Austin area, but as I understand it, is getting ready to move to Savannah, Georgia, to be closer to his daughter and granddaughter! Wow, pigs must be flying to get Jeff to leave Texas! Or perhaps a little granddaughter has more persuasive powers? Best wishes, Jeff. Jeff’s daughter has also started a new company called Weezie Towels, so I expect he’ll be doing some baby-sitting while she gets that company going.

Tom and Bonnie Clark were also at the reunion.

Fortunately, they were able to get out of Colorado Springs, as they had snow the day they left! Tom and Bonnie travel a lot with their camper, and in August, they passed through Papillion, Nebraska, on their way home from one of their trips. They stopped in to see John Ciriaco while there. Tom said that they roomed together for three years, but he had not seen John more than 15 years, so they

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

4.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Class of 1973 1 & 2. Class members enjoyed greeting each other in the hospitality suite at the Best Western Plus Hunt Ridge at the beginning of the 45th Reunion.

3. Shooting trap was one of the reunion activities.

4 & 5. Members of the class enjoyed dinner at the Lexington Golf & Country Club in celebration of the 45th Reunion. Dinner was followed by a talk by Jerry Acuff ’71.

6. The class was led in their Old Yell by Joe Duffy, class vice president; Billy Stephens, historian; and Mike Kelly, class agent.

2019-Issue 1

7. Members of the class joined in a memorial service on the bricks led

by Lt. Col. Terry Howlett in honor and memory of the 30 brother rats who have died.

8. At the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 9, 2018, were, from left, Scott McCarthy, Bill and Judy Boland, Klaus Worrell, Pat and Mike Kelly, Pete Walters, and Donna and Webb Tyler.

9. Members of the class lined up for the parade and marched into Old Barracks for the 45th Reunion.

10. The class enjoyed a get-together in Moody Hall during the reunion.

117

Class Notes had a great reunion of their own. Tom said John continues to do well.

That is about all of the news I have for now. As you read these notes, winter will be upon us and we will be looking forward to spring! I hope that each of you had a great new year’s and that things are going well for you in 2019.

As I have mentioned before, I am now using the VMI Ranks as my primary means of communicating via email. Please be sure you register in the Ranks and keep your information current. You can visit the website to get information on BRs, to include their addresses and phone numbers, but you have to be a member in order to do that.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures in the class note pages, and there are more in the Events section of this Review. Also, several BRs have posted pictures on our class Facebook page, so check those out, as well. (And join the FB page if you’re not on it! Send Tom Clark a message to get added.)

Take care, keep in touch and be careful out there!

In the bonds, Mike

1974

Snookie Parker

614 Raleigh Road NW Wilson, NC 27893-2107 (H) 252/243-6759 (C) 252/315-3162 snookieparker1974@earthlink.net

Greetings, Brother Rats, Family and Friends of the Class of 1974!

The following are notes from Aug. 15 to Nov. 15.

I’ll open this set of notes with a flash back to some fond memories provided by Rich Forbes. Rich, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, made note of the following: One of the older local breweries in Nashville makes a Pilsner that would takes any BR back in time ... Daddy-O Beer! Daddy-O, the biggest rat daddy of them all! Assessment: Beer pour – a light yellow with 1-inch head; aroma – faint with some citrus hops; taste – very crisp finish with bread and crackers – light bodied and drinkable. Rich says this beer is what beer should have been when we were kids back in the ’70s, and as the label suggests, this is a throwback to when beer was very basic and simple. Rich says the beer is simply delicious and hopes to find some to combat the Nashville heat and humidity. Wow, Daddy-O Beer – takes me back. Who would have guessed

118

that such a humble man of meager means could have the impact he did on so many? I suspect any BR passing through Nashville will feel a tender tug to hunt down some of that beer that would likely evoke so many good memories. His memory rode along in life with several who changed history and impacted our society ... how amazing. Just saying, it brings a smile to my face!

Fading memories. Got a “correct the record” note from Thomas Walton regarding trivia about VPI in the last set of class notes. No doubt – my aging memories are blurred and fading fast. I stand corrected ... Tech’s manure gimmick was our 3rd Class year. Thomas did confirm our rat year was the last year that the Virginia Military Institute marched into Victory Stadium on Thanksgiving Day. Thomas recalls a grand ruckus at halftime – on the field as we the rats engaged the highly touted “Highty Tidies” in a classic brawl of sportsmanship. It was the next year – our 3rd class – when those Blacksburg High fellas did humble us with the manure gimmick. In addition, what Thomas remembers about the game our 1st class year – something about Laz hitting a mounted policeman (and his horse) and wondering why they did not cuff Laz. After the game they all went to the Muskrat, Virginia, home of one Roland Lazenby for one heck of an evening. I had recently heard remnants of the story … sounded more like a BR invasion (large numbers, unannounced, I understood) of the Lazenby abode following the Tech game. Appreciate the clarification, Thomas.

Keep me straight!

Speaking of fond memories, Marla and I were at the Outer Banks in February and I was telling her about my last visit to the banks – in the early ’70s, some 45 years ago – at John Pate’s parents’ Nags Head beach cottage along with a select crew of BRs from the “ghetto” and their respective escorts from Southern Sem. Those who were there and reading this are flashing back to some really fond memories, but I digress. I was trying to find the Pate cottage, but alas, in 45 years, so much has changed that it was totally unrecognizable.

I contacted John Pate to see if the cottage still exists. John said that not long ago, he and Suzanne were at the Outer Banks and tried to find the old cottage, but they couldn’t find it either.

John’s not sure if it was swallowed up by the encroaching shoreline, demolished for new construction or he just can’t remember where it is/was. Well, it was a fond memory even if we can’t remember where the cottage was.

Still on the same memory theme, John Pate and Rod Beard were playing in a two-man golf tournament this summer and were paired with another twosome. It was a husband and wife team with the husband being the same age as Rod and John. They all introduced themselves (first names only). As they were playing and conversing, the husband kept saying to himself and his wife that John looked familiar, and John thought that he had seen this fellow before but could not place it.

This went on the whole round. When they got to the clubhouse for a drink afterward, they were all sitting together and somehow the subject of VMI came up. Rod and John both told the husband that they went to VMI. The husband said he went there also but only for one year. John and Rod asked him what year? He said 1971 – he played on the rat basketball team and transferred the next year to ODU to play basketball with Gray Eubank. Small world. It turns out that the husband was none other than BR Thomas Keeling (No. 354). They all freaked out at the prospect that they had spent all day together and did not know that they had traveled a road less traveled – together. John asked if he had been to any of the reunions or sporting events etc. Tom said he had not been back to the Institute since he left. He lamented that he did not feel that he was part of the class since he left. Tom said he missed some of the guys – his roommates: Jim Roper, Steve Wolf, Charlie Tyler and Gray Eubank (No. 355) – and would like to see them again. John told Tom that we had a big reunion coming up in 2019. Tom said he would love to attend and take a stroll down memory lane. Once John told me the story, I reached out to Tom and

Class of 1974: The Yazoo Brewing Company’s seasonal Daddy-O Beer out of Nashville, Tennessee.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes got a delayed response. Tom apologized about the delay but said when he saw that he had an email having anything to do with VMI, he went into “panic mode” thinking “they were going to make me come back and finish.” Well, my thoughts: What are the chances of playing an entire round of golf with John Pate and Rod Beard and the subject of VMI not coming up? I suspect Tom and Sandy spent most of their time in the fairway, while those two yahoos (John and Rod) spent the majority of their round in the woods looking for their balls. For BRs who would like to make contact with BR Tom Keeling, his cell number is 757635-9723. His email is keelingtw@aol.com.

On Aug. 21, John Smithey forwarded on update on J.B. Smith. J.B. retired in May figuring he had worked long enough for money and was looking for something with a different; a more noble purpose. He was contacted by a friend from their time living in Germany who asked J.B. to consider leading the reconstruction of the Christian churches in Iraq. The area is known as the Nineveh Plains and extends east and north of Mosul almost to Erbil. Some 13,000 homes and 360 church properties had been burned, damaged or destroyed by ISIS. Now that humanitarian efforts have been well underway, it’s time for some serious reconstruction so people can resettle. J.B. says that a reconstruction program has been roughly defined for homes and church properties which will be cost somewhere around $250 million to execute. I understand that there was a conference on this program at the Vatican late last year where the program was called the Marshall Plan for the Nineveh Plains. It occurred to J.B. that they likely had no idea of the symbology of having a VMI grad in the middle of this. In late August, J.B. left for his first trip to Iraq – a man with a mission.

We all should keep J.B. and all those helping in our prayers.

Speaking of prayers, how about prayers for those still recovering from Hurricanes Florence and Michael. Hurricane Florence had Carolina “coastie” BRs scrambling for refuge. Pat and Andy Young, Maria and Arnie Leonard, and Jim “Space” Huddle, all residing in the Topsail/Wilmington, North Carolina, area evacuated for safer ground well to the west and north. In fact, I think Arnie had a plan to head west and turn south toward Atlanta but decided to change direction while en route and head north as Florence hit the North Carolina coast and turned south. Mike Mahoney (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) decided to weather the

2019-Issue 1

storm in place. As far as I know, Bob Franks’ Topsail beachfront palace, designed to withstand category 5 hurricanes, survived. As far as I know, no one was injured and most of the damage has been repaired – a major inconvenience for the families affected.

On Oct. 14, I received a “USS Yorktown at Patriot Point” postcard from Mike and Sarah Fisher. They were enjoying a week with friends in Charleston, South Carolina. Mike said they were seeing the sights and of course, along with good food and good cheer; it doesn’t get much better than that! Thanks for the card, Mike!

As of Nov. 10, Red Undercoffer is out in the

Class of 1974: Billy Haught at the southernmost point of the U.S. in Key West, Florida. BR Pat Flynn was the photographer.

Class of 1974: Sam Brown, son of Kate and David Brown and Pat Flynn’s grandson, in Billy Haught’s coatee and shako.

Sahara Desert. I understand the Euros (French, Germans, Italians and Spanish) are in the process of heading toward Red’s location. Red says the issue of the moment is the immigration problem, similar to our own issue with the Mexican border.

The challenge is to keep Africans south of the Sahara. Red laments, “Temperatures are dropping.

Yesterday it was only 106 degrees, down from 120 a month ago.” Stay safe Red. Watch your six!

Hopefully, you will get a break and be home for the holidays!

The wanderlust of retirees Ed and Jamie Blake has resulted in a fall trip around the country via automobile. They started off on their 32nd wedding anniversary (congrats) from their home in eastern Virginia through West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and on to New York with a visit to Niagara Falls (U.S. and Canada). After spending two days at Niagara Falls, they drove through Canada to Michigan, then south, braving the traffic near Chicago, driving through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and beyond. They walked around Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and visited the Little Big Horn battlefield in Montana. From Montana, they traveled through Idaho into Nevada, then to Wendover, Utah. After crossing the desert, they drove east and then north again through Wyoming, back through Montana, Idaho and then south to St. George, Utah (this detour to avoid a snowstorm).

After the detour, they took back roads to Arizona then through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and finally back to Virginia. In all, they traveled more than 8,000 miles. Ed’s advice: If you ever do a lot of traveling across the country by automobile and plan to visit many of our national parks, Ed would strongly recommend you purchase the lifetime pass for senior citizens to the national park system ($80.00 one-time) which permits free access to the national parks for the pass-holder in a noncommercial vehicle, and up to three other adults who may be in the vehicle. Ed said that pass more than paid for itself on a previous 8,700-plus mile trip across country they took earlier in 2018.

Ed and Jamie had planned to continue their trip for at least another week but had to cut it short when they got word that the winds related to Hurricane Michael had ripped some of the siding from their house. Turns out that they were fortunate that it was just siding. Wow, what an adventure.

There is so much to see … thanks for the note, Ed. In October, Billy Haught migrated south to visit Pat and Sue Flynn at their St. Augustine Beach

119

Class Notes abode. Billy enjoyed the Flynn hospitality and was impressed with Sam Brown’s (Pat’s grandson, son of Kate and David Brown) disciplined demeaner upon the wear of Billy’s coatee and Pat’s shako which it appears (Pat Flynn tradition) was in severe need of some brasso – a cadet in the making. After a couple of days in and around St. Augustine, they trekked south – way south – to the southernmost point in the continental U.S.A. in Key West. Will Key West ever be the same? I understand Billy is growing his beard for the reunion.

I could be wrong, but Billy is starting to look a lot like ZZ Top in “Cheap Sunglasses.”

Speaking of wanderlust. June 2019 is the 75th anniversary month of the D-Day invasion. The following crew of BRs and spouses are committed to visit history via a Seine River cruise from Paris to Normandy and back in June 2019. T.J. and Kerri Wilson, Mike and Clay Morrissett, John and Suzanne Pate, Charley and Debbie Banning, Pete and Susan Shelley, Bruce and Sue Jones, Wilson and Anne Johnson, Arnie and Maria Leonard, and David and Leslie Pepper (T.J.’s sister and brother-in-law). T.J. and Kerri hatched the idea and it evolved from there. The trip is shaping up to be a grand adventure ... more to follow in the August 2019 class notes. Fair warning – what goes on in Paris will not stay in Paris ... I’m just saying!

Save the date reminder: Reunion is Nov. 1-3, 2019; be there or be square! Everyone remember – don’t come alone – bring a roommate/wingman.

By the way, I am soliciting for volunteers to assist in the planning and execution of our reunion soiree. Send me a note if you are able and willing to assist: snookieparker1974@earthlink.net, Charley Banning cbanning@cox.net or Kevin Nettrour (our webmaster) nettrour@accessus.net. Check out the website. Send me a note. Yada, yada, yada and yaba daba dooooo!

Warm regards, Snookie

the beginning of September, and more than 30 of you, as well as many from the VMI community, attended to celebrate Tom’s life. Kimo Wong gave a tribute to his friend, Tom, and Garland Isaacs, one of Tom’s roommates, sang the same song that he sang at Tom and Judy’s wedding, “You’re My Home.” We all knew Tom. Some better than others, but we all knew him. What sticks out to me is that Tom worked directly with the Corps of Cadets as a professor, the adviser to the Class of 2005 and as the superintendent’s representative to the Honor Court. He directly touched their lives.

He made a difference. Doug Dunlap wrote that his son, Ian Dunlap ’05 was in Tom’s biology class his 3rd Class year. Doug said that Ian gave Tom the highest compliment a student can give a teacher. Ian said that Tom’s class was interesting, he learned a lot, Tom was a great teacher, and he was well liked and respected by the cadets and the other professors alike. Mike Soares said of Tom, “Tom was the epitome of a VMI man: Soldier, scholar, athlete. He gave more than two decades of service to the Institute and had a positive impact on hundreds of lives: Cadets, colleagues, community and family. He was also a member of the last VMI football team to win the Southern Conference Championship. We will miss him dearly.” Tom’s death is a significant loss to our class and to the whole VMI community but his spirit lives on in everyone he touched. Farewell, brother rat.

Bo Temple finished another several weeks of

focused radiation therapy at Walter Reed in August. He said that he has mostly recovered from this latest effort and he has resumed his consulting and board activities. He and Nancy sincerely hope that this round gets the last of the tumors that they know of. He said that it’s been like playing whacka-mole but that they were just going to keep on whacking. He and Nancy are planning a trip to the Normandy invasion beaches for the 75th anniversary and said that if he finds a good tour he will let us know as perhaps other BRs would like to go.

Mike Farris said that he met up with David Bohon in August at a funeral. He said that was the first time that they had seen each other since graduation. He observed that they were a little older, grayer and balder but they both thought they could go a couple of rounds with anyone.

Greg Diamontopulos reports that his latest visit to the orthopedic surgeon in September confirmed that Greg has a torn right side meniscus in his knee. Now the surgeon considered the tear to be small and recommended a wait and see approach.

He said that it would most likely get worse but that could be anywhere from two weeks to 20 years.

All depends on whether you do something stupid or not. What, Greg do something stupid? Do you all remember the story of his ascent of House Mountain? The doctor told him that sports that include lateral movement are out, but walking on flat surfaces is OK. Doesn’t sound like trips to Lexington for games or just walking around town are recommended. I doubt that will keep Greg down,

1975

Robert Keller

1530 Rosewood Street Clearwater, FL 33755 727/510-0493 lette2@me.com

We lost one of our own this time. Tom Baur died in August. This issue of the Review has a tribute to Tom at the front, and I encourage you to read it. A memorial service was held in J.M. Hall for Tom at

120

Class of 1975: Present at the wedding of Mike and Sloane Hunter’s son, Charles Morris “Budge” Hunter V ’10, to Dr. Stephanie Mitchell at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in early June were Ron Bongiovanni, Rob Taylor, Lowrie Tucker, Oliver Way, Mike Hunter, Tom Baur, Robert Mills, Budge Hunter ’10, Steve Chapin, Stephen Sargent ’11, Matt Deacon ’11, Al Morgan, Bobby Hunter, Billy Hunter, Andy Dearman, Dave Schuyler and Bogie Holland ’68.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes the presentation. The runner -up team of and he indicated that when the pain gets Steve Chapin, Kimo Wong, Oliver Way too bad, it is knee surgery for him. Greg and Tom Mason also received the newly noted that getting old sucks. Hmm, where established runner-up cup with the inscriphave I heard that before? Good luck, Greg.

As you all know, Hurricane Florence tion, “Room for Improvement.” Saturday visited the Carolinas this September, and the group took in the VMI versus Mercer we had several of our BRs in the path. I football game and then had a great dinner was able to contact a few and learned that with the Flemings. Even though everyone Jim and Nancy McCriskin were under a had a great time, the absence of Tom Baur mandatory evacuation order and headed was a void that will be hard to overcome. to their son’s home at Fort Benning. They Pond House group forever, guys. fared well though, with only minor damRick and Suzanne Henning are on the age and lots of yard debris to clean up. Jim Class of 1975: Class agent Bob Keller said about this pho- go as always and now even more so as they to, “This expresses the class’ loss and our tribute to Tom are now empty nesters. Some of the events did say that the storm hit the area (Wilmas we sang the ‘Doxology.’” that they have visited are the Winterville, ington) pretty hard and it is now only back North Carolina, Watermelon Festival, the Scotty about 85 percent. John Young has a seasonal home McCreery concert and as many Friday night high in Kill Devil Hills but told me that his contractor school football games as possible. They also took had his house all buttoned up, and he expected to in the North Carolina State Football Victory Night be OK. Bob and Jan O’Conner were in the proevent, where the players were supporting and parcess of building a new home in Beaufort, South Carolina, but delays still had them at their home ticipating on the field with young people and adults in Maryland. Fortunately the contractor was still with special needs. Son Sam led the team in the working on the house and the storm spared that “wolf howl” and was praised by Coach Doren for area. This is a nice house-warming present from doing an excellent job. Sam was also chosen that Mother Nature. I also heard from Frank Cole. He night to get free tickets to the North Carolina State and Melody evacuated to Lancaster, Pennsylvaversus Madison game, and all of the Hennings had a great time at the game. Sam has moved to nia, from their home in Nags Head.

Raleigh, North Carolina, where he works at the Bob and Jan O’Connor finally did get moved Pet Supplies Plus store and also volunteers for 321 into their new home in Beaufort, South Carolina, Coffee. 321 Coffee is a pop-up coffee shop that is and shortly thereafter, Al and Sandy Morgan visthe idea of several North Carolina State students ited them and helped install plantation shutters and they have embraced the special needs populaon their windows. Actually Bob says that Al did Class of 1975: Ron Norman ran into Sam most of the work, and he noted that doing all of tion who work and serve the coffee. As a result of Moultrie and Raleigh James at the VMI versus Tusculum game Nov. 4, 2018. this while the house was still in “move in” disarray 321 Coffee having a location at the Raleigh farmprobably felt more like a camping trip. Nevertheers market, Rick often travels to Raleigh to support them, and on the one-year anniversary of 321 Cofless they did enjoy some meals and time together.

Bob noted that Sandy and Jan are both somewhat fee, he and Suzanne were the keynote speakers for chatty while he and Al tend to be far more subthat celebration. Rick and Suzanne continue to be lucky in winning tickets to events and the latest dued which Bob attributes to them being linguistioccurrence was to see pianist Thomas Pandolfi. cally suppressed by their wives for several decades.

Suzanne continues to stay busy with her work Really!? helping international students at North Carolina The Pond House group held their annual golf Wesleyan College and often has students over to tournament/football game weekend Sept. 28their place for dinner and board games. The Hen30. The tournament takes place Friday at the Lexington Golf & Country Club with the dinnings attended their homecoming football game against Methodist College, and NCWC won 3 ner/awards ceremony that same evening. The -10. Since Suzanne works with the international winning team with a seven under par score students and many of the male students play was the team of Stu Fleming, Allen Morsoccer, Rick has attended several of their soccer gan, Art Nunn and Ben Vanderberry. The matches. They next attended the Downeast BBQ winning team was awarded the newly estabClass of 1975: Dave Bohon and Mike Farris Throw-down enjoying the festivities, the food and lished tournament trophy with the inscription, meeting up for the first time since graduthe music. Rick and his son, Andrew, attended the “The Annual VMI Adequate Golf Tournament in ation in early August 2018.

Deep South Calvary Chapel Men’s Conference in Memory of our BR Tom Baur,” and Judy Baur did

2019-Issue 1

121

Class Notes Lexington, South Carolina, and had a good time and learned a lot about holiness. Rick has been a regular at the VMI senior alumni breakfast meetings in Raleigh and loves listening to all of the Old Corps stories. At work, Rick has been promoted to the position of trainer and he really enjoys working with the new Chick-fil-A hospitality workers. Rick and Suzanne attended the VMI versus Tusculum football game and ran into Ron Norman before the game in the bookstore. This trip was part of Suzanne’s birthday celebration and the Hennings stayed at an Airbnb in Staunton, visited many fine restaurants and took in the play, “Our Town.” Just another busy quarter for Rick and Suzanne.

Also at the VMI versus Tusculum game, Ron Norman ran into Sam Moultrie and Raleigh James. Ron said that it was really great to meet up with them and they had a good time catching up with each other. Also at the game were Jelly Bear Taylor, Ben Vanderberry, Judy Baur, Tom Mason, Glenn Isaacs and Oliver Way. Looked like a perfect day: Good weather, good friends and a win!

In the last issue, I noted briefly the wedding of Mike and Sloane Hunter’s son, Budge Hunter ’10, to Dr. Stephanie Mitchell and noted that it was well represented by our class. I was able to get a picture of the VMI contingent. The Hunters, Mike and Sloane, along with Billy and Lee, hosted a welcome party at the Beach Club of Kiawah Friday night, and the evening wedding took place at the River Course also at Kiawah.

Guy Conte wrote to let me know that his son,

Chris Conte ’11, found a unique way to celebrate Founders Day this year. Chris, along with several of the troops in his Air Defense Artillery Battery C, ran and completed the marathon in Athens, Greece. The race took place on the original marathon course that has been used for more than 2,000 years. The race starts in the small town of Marathon, which is where the race originally got its name, and the finish line is in the Panathenaic Stadium. Guy says that legend has it that the course follows the same route that Pheidippides ran to deliver the message of the Greek victory over the Persians 2,500 years ago. Chris wore his VMI logo socks for good luck.

Ellett Smith retired from DARPA Sept. 30 of this year and immediately he and Fran took a holiday to see their son, George, in California. They had a great time and did not want to come back to the grind, as Fran says. Ellett has been kept busy making repairs to their house from the storm damage, and they hoped to be completed by Thanksgiving. Their next goal is to find a place to move to.

Rick Law touched base to let us know that all is well in northeast Florida. They are enjoying retirement and have been cruising. Their latest trip was to the northeast where they visited Maine and Canada, doing some fishing and beaching.

I received a short note from Art Sigsbury commenting on his latest birthday card and my comment about the Medicare club. He relayed that while he was updating his retired military ID card, he experienced a flashback back to summer 1974 – specifically about summer camp at Fort

Class of 1975: The members of the Pond House group held their annual golf tournament/ VMI football game weekend in Lexington during weekend of Sept. 28, 2018, weekend.

Present were: Ben and Anne Vanderberry, Tom Mason, Sandy and Al Morgan, Maryann and Stu Fleming, Judy Baur, Steve and Sherry Chapin, Art and Judy Nunn, Bonnie and Oliver Way, and Shelley and Kimo Wong.

122

Bragg. He got the chills when he remembered how we would visit the bars downtown. The word he used to describe them was “sleazy.” Yeah, those were the days.

Bill Robson reports that it has been an adventurous quarter for him and Edith. They spent July and August at their house in The Villages, Florida.

Thanks to dental issues, he caught up with Larry Hendry at his office and followed that up with going to dinner with Larry and Kathy. He says that both the dental procedures and the dinner were painless. After their time in Florida, they returned to Suffolk and prepared for a trip to Wiesbaden, Germany, to visit with their daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Rob, as well as their granddaughters Penny (5) and Mackenzie (2). They had a great two weeks, drank some good German beer and ate plenty of schnitzel. They visited several castles, and Bill is certain that Edith and the kids were trying to walk him until he dropped. They will be staying in Suffolk until mid-January and then back to Florida until the end of March.

Dean and Denise Armstrong are on the road again and this time they ended up in Egypt. As you know, Dean really loves to visit and tour World War II battlefields and this time they visited the El Alamein area which was the site of two famous battles during the war and resulted in ending the Axis threat in Egypt, the Suez Canal and the middle eastern and Persian oil fields via north Africa. They also visited the pyramids and the Sphinx.

Randy Frank sent me a nice update and reports that he and Terry have had a pretty eventful year.

They had decided that after living for 16 years in the Pacific Northwest, both in Eugene and Bellingham, that it was time to relocate to Roanoke.

Randy reports that his roommates, Uncle Dave Schuyler, Artie Nunn and Mike Fleenor insisted that southwest Virginia was equivalent to northwest Washington, and after experiencing several of the brew pubs populating the Old Dominion, he was inclined to agree. So in June, he and Terry stuffed their old Volvo wagon to the point of being technically unsafe to drive and made their way east, accompanied by two of their Irish setters for the weeklong trip east to Roanoke, traveling about 90 minutes ahead of the moving van. Randy returned to Bellingham several times since to complete some work at St. Joseph Hospital and to Los Angeles where their third setter had been residing since June with their eldest son Zach. Randy officially retired from the hospital Sept. 30, which was

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes 16 years to the day that he retired from in investment banking. Nick said, “I have the Army. He plans to continue work as a been a day trader on a small scale, and I’ve locum tenens psychiatrist on an intermittaught both my kids to day trade. Where most families camp, jog, play golf or tentent basis for the next few years as he is not quite ready to call it quits. He thinks he nis, I’m as shallow as ever and the three of might need to see a shrink about that decius day trade together.”

Jim Mallon reported he started a second sion. He also tells me that he was able to job last summer – his wife retired from complete one of his bucket list items this teaching so now he is working for Susan past summer when he and Doug Conte Mallon LLC. were able to visit the Nixon Library in As I mentioned in our last notes, J.R. Yorba Linda. Welcome home, BR. Mott returned to the United States from Finally, I want to thank a group of our Stuttgart, Germany. He is living in West BRs that are working on putting together Springfield, Virginia, with his wife, Mei, plans for future mini reunions. Bill Terand two daughters. J.R. is working at the peluk is leading this group that includes Ellett Smith, Al Morgan, Glenn Gar- Class of 1976: Bill Bhatta at the VMI versus The Citadel game Defense Threat Reduction Agency at Fort Oct. 20, 2018. Also attending were, Steve USMA ’76, Bhatta’s Belvoir, Virginia. land, Bill Turpin, Ben Vanderberry, Tad friend; Hunt Ozmer; Kavie Thrift; and John Strock. John ColeMark Sculley and family also returned MacGowan, Harry McKnight and Larry man was present but not pictured. from Stuttgart, Germany, except via KeHendry. The first of these mini reunions is planned for May 3, 2019, in Williamsburg, Virnya. Mark said, “We packed out and left for Kenya at the end of August. The safari was everything we ginia, which, by the time you read this, will be dreamed of, including close encounters with lions, right around the corner. The group is also working cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, water to have a second event in fall 2019 possibly in the buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, bawine country of California. Bill Terpeluk said it best, “As we try to process the sudden and tragic boons, rhinos, flamingos, leopards, etc. – many as loss of Tom Baur, I think it also important that we close as 10 meters – all living free and wild. We realize the importance of enjoying opportunities had five-star lodge accommodations, a private to get together ...” vehicle and driver, and great weather at 2,200 That is all I have – the shoebox is empty. When meters (very cool) down to the savannah at the you read this, Thanksgiving and Christmas will Maasai Mara Reserve, where temps were pleasbe over, and we will be deep into the dark ages of ant to hot. Kenyans are lovely people and very winter. I sincerely hope that your holidays were friendly. After a week in the bush, the four days at filled with peace, joy, good cheer and surrounded an Indian Ocean beach lodge allowed us to chill with friends and family. out before our journey back through Europe and In the spirit, on to the states.” The Sculleys settled down in Bob Salt Lake City, Utah, and will rent a house the next couple of years while they figure out what Class of 1976: Doug Hines’ second grandshould happen next. Mark said, “At least we’ll daughter, Sienna Hines, was born Sept. be comfortable in a large house with great views 7, 2018; her parents are Chad (Doug’s William Bhatta of the mountains and the Salt Lake City valley. oldest) and Alison.

1006 Jennys Place There are beautiful national parks all around the Midlothian, VA 23114 Richmond area to stop here and buy me lunch.) state, and of course, great skiing 30 minutes from 804/356-3076 Nick Tarzi checked in. He is enjoying the re- the front door.” Hmm? I’ve always wanted to ski wkbhatta@gmail.com tirement gig. Nick and his wife, Sheila, plan to Utah. Mark does not plan to go back to work but It is February 2019: Some BRs are freezing their relocate from Ashland, Virginia, to Roanoke this said there were plenty of opportunities in the area butts off, and other BRs are much too warm. It spring; Shelia has family there, and they both like if he ever gets bored. does not really matter, because these are your Nov. the mountains as well as the slower pace. Their The Richmond BRC met last September. Here daughter, Brittany (28), is married and also lives 15, 2018, class notes. is their update: Rocky Glass, Lee Bradshaw, Thank you, Jim Joustra, for buying lunch! Jim in Roanoke. She has enrolled in a Liberty Univer- Lee Godsey, Kavie Thrift, Tom Hawthorne, Al was passing through Richmond on his way to sity master’s program in forensic and counseling Kinker, Mack Curle and Jim Mallon attended.

Norfolk, Virginia, so we linked up at a local eatery psychology. Their son, Nick Jr. (31), is finishing up Al is having fun kayaking and does as little as posand discussed how to solve the world’s problems. a Master of Business Administration degree prosible now that he is retired. Tom is still gainfully (I strongly encourage any BR passing through the gram in finance at VCU; he wants to be involved employed as a consultant supporting highway and

1976

2019-Issue 1

123

Class Notes Sadly, since our last set of class updates we bridge work. Lee G. is helping plan the Ski Carlos famous for tubing on the Comal and Guadalupe have tragically lost two more members of super February 2019 ski trip to Colorado with Ray Ra- River, as well as a host of German stuff!”

Finally, on a sad note, our thoughts and prayers ’77. We were stricken in late August with the mos, Jim Mallon and two other VMI ’86ers. Kavie is doing well and still working. Mack thanked are with Mike Outten and his entire family. Mike’s sudden passing of BR Ralph George, and in Jim for continuing to work and pay for his Domin- 33-year-old son, Stephen, died suddenly Oct. 27, early November we received the sad news that ion retirement. Lee B. continues to play golf and 2018. Please support the Outten family by mak- John Quackenbush had also left us. Please see enjoy retirement, too. ing a donation in Stephen’s memory to St. Jude’s the Taps and the After Taps sections of this isRocky Glass is doing well and reported Doug Children Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, sue for our remembrances of these BRs. Their Hines is now the proud grandfather of two Tennessee. stories and their memories will be richly rememgranddaughters. Sienna Hines was born Sept. bered at all of our future gatherings.

7, 2018; her parents are Chad (Doug’s oldest) Ralph’s family requested any donations to go to and Alison. Doug said she could be in the Class the Wounded Warrior Foundation or to the VMI Mark Bryant of 2040, with his other granddaughter, Kienna Foundation (Class of ’77 fund). Any donations, of 315 Jennifer Drive Hines, born May 14, 2018, to Brett (Doug’s course, can go to the Class of ’77 fund at the FounFairfield, VA 24435 youngest) and Megan. Doug said, “So, any BR dation in memory of Ralph or Quack.

434/962-5687 grandsons can be introduced to his girls in about John Quackenbush had a brick with his name mhbryant77@gmail.com 25 years, but no sooner!” in front of barracks, and arrangements have been I went to the VMI versus The Citadel game Greetings to all of you BRs. These notes being made to add one for Ralph George the next time Oct. 20, 2018, with a buddy of mine (Steve), a written in early November and will come to you in the bricks are updated and re-laid.

West Point 1976 alum. We both had our class the new year of 2019. Hope your recent holidays Some members of the Class of ’77 helped orgahats on; he really got some odd stares. I planned were good ones. nize and run alumni participation in the century to meet J.R. Mott and his family at VMI, but I As I write these notes, the valley is in its full fall bicycle ride (100 kilometers) at the Seagull Cenalso bumped into Hunt Ozmer, Kavie Thrift and color season, we are preparing for Founders Day tury in Maryland in October. The interest by bicyJohn Strock. John Coleman was also there but activities here on post and the football team recent- cling alumni was so popular that the Alumni Asnot in the picture. I do not think you would have ly won the Homecoming game! sociation lent its support to our BRs in making it a recognized him anyway with his beard. It VMI alumni event! Thanks to the Alumni was good to see everyone. This trip reinAssociation for organizing support and for providing VMI jerseys and social events forced the face that we all live in a small after the ride! This looks like it may well world: Unbeknownst to me, (1) J.R. went be an annual event, and perhaps more bike to the Armor Officers Advanced Course events will be added, as well! Thanks to all with Steve back in 1980. (2) I took Steve of our BRs who helped organize this and to see our class New Market painting in participate in it!

Moody, and when we returned to the PaThe usual suspects gathered in Las Verade Ground, we ran into a Citadel grad – Steve and this guy’s father were classmates gas for the annual golf, drink, eat, talk Class of 1977: John Quackenbush in his Ranger School pho- fest that has become a ’77 event know as in the same West Point company.

Congratulations go out to Dexter Gil- to. Quackenbush is in the front, kneeling with hand on the Vegas? Rich man’s Vegas? We had a poor streamer. man’s Vegas event centered on Lexington liam – he was elected mayor of the town in June. At any rate, the crowd looked of Halifax, Virginia, last Nov. 7! So if you great, and along with the BRs who biked are passing through, stop in and see the in Maryland, they made sure to use the mayor. event to honor and remember our recently Steve Joyce sent me an update. Last lost BR Ralph George. Thanks, guys! summer he moved to the San Antonio, Our original plan to have a mini reunion Texas, area. Steve said, “Bigger house, Sept. 15 was overcome by the hurricane cheaper taxes; you know the drill. Plus a arriving in Virginia and all events in Lexlot closer to family members.” If he sticks to his plan, by the time you read these ington being canceled. (The game was acnotes, he will be retired. Steve has been tually played Friday afternoon before the active in the Boy Scout organization the weather struck town.) There was a good past 30 years and plans to continue supdeal of interest, and I had more than 40 porting the local Boy Scout organizations. Class of 1977: Brother Rats Bryant, Wolfe, Manteuffel, Manno people planning to attend our tailgate Steve said, “Obviously anyone in the area, and Short gathered in Texas in November for funeral services event, the game and dinner Saturday honoring BR John Quackenbush. night. We decided to try again Sept. 29. feel free to look me up. New Braunfels is

1977

124

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 1977: Brother Rats Bentley, Andrews, Marshall, Farrell, Northen, Underhill and Pace gathered in Las Vegas and proudly displayed the VMI jersey and number worn by BR Ralph George, who died in August 2018.

again planning a golf getaway in the spring. In June it will take on a new identity as “The Ralph” and will be dedicated to our BR Ralph George.

Brother Rats Kerry Mullin, Tom Cole and Steve Billingsley have organized a memorial and golf outing in memory of Ralph George and his extraordinary legacy.

Just last year, Kerry, Tom and Paul Farrell started an annual golf tournament called poor man’s Vegas for those who could not join the group of BRs that annually hold a tournament in Las Vegas. The first event in Lexington awarded a green jacket to the winner. At Ralph’s funeral, they decided to change the name of the annual tournament to just “The Ralph.” The winner will receive the green jacket with a patch in memory of Ralph and can wear it proudly for one year – until the next tournament. The date of the tournament will be June 15 at the Lexington Golf & Country Club. You can contact Kerry Mullin at kerrykelly1998@verizon.net. There will be a memorial to Ralph the day before the tournament, June 14.

All proceeds will go to the athletic scholarship in honor of Ralph.

1978

Tom Brown Class of 1977: BR Gus Robbins escorted his father, Gus Robbins ’47, in Moody Hall during the Old Corps Luncheon, a special Alumni Association event for senior alumni.

The turnout was smaller, of course, with the date change and all, but we managed a tailgate cookout thanks to the crew (thanks BRs Billingsley, Davidson, et al.) Even though it was a crowded weekend due to Washington and Lee University parents weekend and alumni reunions at VMI, we had a good crowd share a dinner meal Saturday night at the Lexington Golf & Country Club. We will continue to try to organize a mini reunion around one of the home football games each fall.

At a special alumni event for senior VMI alumni, Gus Robbins got to escort his dad, Gus Robbins ’47, to a special luncheon and event in Moody Hall for our more seasoned alumni. “Big Gus,” as he’s affectionately known, is a true VMI man, and he loved being back on post. Like a second father to me, I was very pleased that the Alumni Association reached out to these alumni who find it difficult at times to travel and get back to VMI. The organizers of Poor Man’s Vegas are once

2019-Issue 1

1519 Club Terrace Lynchburg, VA 24503 434/582-1981 tbees@comcast.net

Salutations, Brother Rats, This is the latest news from around the class from August to November 2018. I hope all of you have had a pleasant holiday season and are enduring another fun-filled winter. It is with great sadness that I must report the passing of two brother rats. Harry Siegfried passed away suddenly in September. Craig Wallen passed away in his sleep in October. Both BRs are fondly remembered and will be greatly missed. Please refer to the Taps section for their obituaries.

Status from around the class include: Mike McCarthy: “All right. The Army has me in Crystal City on an extended TDY to work with the Army Futures Command Task Force.

I am working in the same building with Bruce Kay. I am scheduled to be here through midDecember – hopefully I will find out if I was selected and confirmed to go back to Leonard Wood. If not, I suspect I will be joining AFC after the beginning of the year.

Mike Bragale: “All right here in Gaithersburg, Maryland.”

Bob Fricke: “All right!” Bob was also at the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet along with Rick Wolffe and Danny Thornton.

Chris Stone: “All right!”

Steve Burns: “Greetings from the frozen north (or should I say rainy, icy north). Alaska is still as beautiful as ever, and Tume and I are doing fine.

Tume has had some health issues but is doing better now. I am currently working for the city of Anchorage as Project Manager for information technology. Don’t know how long this will last but am enjoying the challenge for now.”

Greg Gearhart: “All right!”

Mark Lowe: “Everything is somewhat quiet here with an empty house. So, it looks like we will be adding another cat to the family and possibly a dog, since we have no grandchildren yet. Stacey and I are beginning to plan our return to Germany next year.”

Les Shimanek: “All is good with me. I just got back from Guam – second time since reunion. I hope to get with Sam Saunders, Tom Sliwoski and Bob Kirby during the winter.”

Jim Simons: “All is well here in Rockbridge. At this writing, I’m prepping for Virginia’s deer season, at which time I’ll be hosting Will Shehan ’14, Ben Osen ’14 and Col. Lee Dewald, VMI professor emeritus. Back in October, the Cadet Fishing Club had its annual saltwater fishing trip to Kiptopeke State Park on the Chesapeake Bay. As I’d been working in the Tidewater all week, I drove up to Cape Charles the night before, just in time to ride out the remnants of Hurricane Michael.

Apparently Holiday Inns are better built than one might think. The following morning, I awoke to an email from the Virginia DCR advising me that our campground reservations had been canceled due to storm damage. Not wanting to disappoint the cadets, I drove down to Kiptopeke, fully anticipating that I’d have to beg and plead to get the park to let us in, only to learn that the park staff was completely unaware of the closure notice and that the park was up and running. The cadets, accompanied by the club’s faculty adviser, Keith Gibson ’77, arrived that evening without incident, setup camp and crashed for the night.

Everyone was up early the next morning ready to head to the fishing pier, where we were joined by Tim Berhimer. Fishing was pretty slow, but the weather was beautiful and there were enough fish to keep the cadets interested.”

125

Class Notes Jay Branscome: “All right.”

Bob Magnan: “Only news: After 16 months of dealing with sciatica, tests, etc., it turned out that a lot of my latest mobility problem is that the cup in my left hip replacement moved. I am having replacement surgery on Black Friday – no shopping, no football, no turkey sandwiches. This will make three hips and three knees, and a total of nine orthopedic procedures, thanks to modern medicine.”

Terry McKnight: “All is well. I had the great opportunity to ‘tee it up’ with Bill Hardy this fall. Bill and I took on the best ’77 could offer, First Captain Fredrick Allner ’77, and our nation’s leading truck driver, Billy Hupp ’77. To say the least, it was no match. On a sad note, Tim Gompers and I represented the Class of ’78 at Harry Siegfried’s funeral, may he rest in peace.”

Tim Berkhimer: “All right, sir. A recent Saturday, I met BR Jim Simons and his VMI Fishing Club over at Kiptopeke State Park on the Shore.

Also in ranks Col. Keith Gibson ’77, director of the VMI Museum System, and some great kids.

I finally met another civil engineering major who failed calculus II more than once, like me! Shared some Old Corps stories with the mostly 2nds, and they couldn’t believe what we were talking about!

Great day. Rah Virginia Mil! ’78! ’78! ’78! Jim picks up the tab on a lot of stuff for this group, and he will certainly appreciate any assistance you can provide. We caught a bunch of black sea bass, puffer fish and croaker.”

Bruce Kay: “All is well on our end. Mark and Kim Engle were in the D.C. area for a few days, and we had dinner with them recently. All is well with their recent move to South Carolina. I also keep running into Mike McCarthy, who is on temporary duty from TRADOC here in the Pentagon/Crystal City area, as well as Jim Mackin, who is working in the Pentagon.”

“Ron Carter’s status is all right! The Carter clan has been making progress! Ron Carter III graduated from Long Beach State University and now operates his own business, RSee Photo Studio.

Paul Carter graduated from Minnesota University with a bachelor’s degree and University of Illinois Chicago with a master’s degree in education and is now in his ninth year as a professional basketball player, currently in Belgium. Bria Carter graduated from Michigan State University and is now working on her master’s degree at the University of Illinois Chicago. Brooke Carter is a junior at Purdue University. Mrs. Carter earned a bachelor’s from

126

Point Park University and a master’s from North Park University. We are very pleased to say that we are two years away from being empty nesters!”

Rick Sherman: “All right!”

Vagel Keller: “All right in Pittsburgh.”

Blaine Vorgang: “As of this stick check, my wife and I are in an all right status. Winter seems to have arrived a bit too early here in the Chicago area, though.”

Don McGinnis: “Kinda all right. Bugged out of Michigan and moved back to Pennsylvania to settle my deceased sister’s estate. What a mess!”

Kevin Callanan: “All right!”

Sam Saunders: “All right!”

Ron Lee and family are doing well. His daughter just got married, so things have been a little hectic.

Rob Parker: “All good with me. I’ve recently moved from Riyadh to Muscat on another Bechtel project. The adventure never ends, and the time stops for no one. Look forward to getting back stateside for the holidays. Found myself a nice 50-meter pool so back at it again.”

Garry Brumback: “Jennifer and I are all right in Treasure Island, Florida!”

Nelson Curtis: “All right!”

Leland Horn: “All right! Left right after the stick.”

Jim Conrad: “All right in San Antonio.”

Jim Mackin: “I’m all right. About five weeks to go before I fully retire. But who’s counting?”

Mike Freeman: “Not much change in the Chapel Hill area. Missing my warmer weather and survived another sinus surgery. But all is well here.”

Chip Schelhorn: “My youngest daughter is at the University of Florida, and we’re going up to a UF football game. Working very hard in south Florida and looking forward to the day that I can stop. I just booked two ski trips, one in January to go to Utah and one in March to Colorado. I need to put something on the calendar for me. Something to work toward. I could not make the last reunion, as I had a wedding to go to in Maryland for my cousin’s daughter. I know we’re all getting older, and having two daughters, I need to pay for two weddings. My oldest daughter is an ICU nurse at Mount Sinai in New York. She just called to say where she wanted her wedding, really. Can’t believe how the time is flying by. Now 63. Wow!” Bob Longwell: “All right here. Loving retirement in Florida.”

Don Robey: “I am back from my six-month deployment to the U.K. It appears my next assignment will be in Uruguay in the spring (their fall).

Meantime, I am staying busy helping with the cleanup and rebuilding in Panama City.”

Bill Pearson: “Everything is good here in Richmond. In a week, I’ll be picking up my kid from graduation from Marine boot camp. I’m the proud owner of a brand-new killing machine. I just hope we get it pointed in the right direction.”

Tom Tucker: “No real news here. Doin’ OK!” Bill Robertson: “All right in Midlothian!”

Rick McDonald: “All right!”

John Tucker: “All right in Columbus, Ohio.”

Ken Singleton: “Checking in from Minneapolis. All fine here. Still thinking about retirement, but no plans yet. I did hear from Bob Rockefeller, and I left a message for Jim Routson. Both BRs are doing well.”

Class of 1978: Rick Wolffe, Danny Thornton and Bob Fricke attended the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet Oct. 20, 2018.

Class of 1978: At Select Bank’s grand opening in Lynchburg, Virginia, were Jay Hutt, Danny Thornton, Bert Loflin, Stu Gitchell, Tom Brown and Mark Lowe.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Alec Earle: “All’s well with us! In November, I attended the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees meeting, which is held in conjunction with Founders Day and the Institute Society Dinner. At the dinner, I sat with BRs Glenn Dallinger plus Mark McKissick and Danny Thornton and their lovely spouses. It was fun catching up. On a farming note, we had our first almond harvest this year and are now prepping for next year.”

I had the opportunity to visit a couple of football games and saw many familiar faces, including Danny Thornton, Bert Loflin, Don Robey, Stu Gitchell, Rick Wolffe, Bob Eagle, Stan Walchock, Anthony Moore, Bob Fricke, Kevin Callanan and Tom Ferguson. All of us had a great time reminiscing. If I left someone out my apologies, I suffer from CRS – can’t remember stuff. The Lynchburg crew got together at the grand opening of Select Bank’s newest location. Bert Loflin, Stu Gitchell, Jay Hutt, Mark Lowe and I were guests of Danny Thornton, who is a board member there.

That is the status from around the class. Remember to reach out to your BRs and let the rest of us know how they are doing. Please join us on Facebook at VMI 78. Have a great spring and as always, it is time to send your status for the next set of notes.

In the spirit, Tom/EZ Bear

1979

Michael Ogden

5430 Sunnyside Road Cape Charles, VA 23310 757/620-1617 VMI79ClassAgent@aol.com

We start off with my favorite kind of submission: A first timer! Greg Martin writes, “I’ve never submitted anything, but I was saddened to read your recent class notes re: Nectar’s passing and to a lesser extent other BRs’ medical situations. Aging is staring at us all, and it’s not getting any better. Nevertheless, I read of other endeavors of our BRs’ service and adventures. I suspect each of us do our best to stay in shape and live a full life. On Sept. 29, I met a close, much younger (35) friend at the Grand Canyon. At 4:20 a.m., we descended the South Kaibob Trail into the canyon for a run/ hike rim to rim to rim. Our goal was to complete the 40-mile 9,000-foot gain in 14 hours. It took 17.

The Grand Canyon is a spiritual place by itself.

2019-Issue 1

Anyone who has been there would agree. Despite training and preparation, the effort turned out to be spiritual, as well. There is no doubt many angels were put in place to see me through the toughest physical challenge I have ever attempted. Of course, this is all VMI’s fault. The quickest way for me to get back to my rack on Tuesdays and Thursdays was running three miles with Jack Dewell for Doctor Kenneth Cooper’s aerobic points. Running continues to be my preferred exercise today, along with CrossFit three days a week. One of my top regrets is not graduating from VMI, but things seldom happen the way I want them to ... they always happen the way they’re supposed to. After leaving Lexington, I transferred to the University of Alabama. Reasons: Winning football and coeds! We won two national championships the two years I was there, and I met my wife, Kristi, (37 years this December) on the third date! I would have flunked out my first semester had I gone directly to a civilian college. The lessons learned at VMI continue to play a part in my life today. The three years there were sufficient to instill a personal need to maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit.

I am grateful to VMI and the Class of ’79.” Thank you, Greg, for joining the ranks of class notes contributors and so glad all is well.

We continue with another first timer, Jim Faist, who sent, “I have always followed our class and run into BRs over the years but have never submitted to the notes. As mentioned in the last issue, I took the oath of office in August to lead advanced capabilities for the Department of Defense. (The last time I took the oath was May 1979!) It was something very unexpected and a great honor to be chosen. As my wife, Barbara, and our three kids (and two grandkids) tell me, retirement has been delayed!” Thanks for also joining the ranks of class notes contributors, and congratulations on the promotion and new position! Two newbies – a banner day!

Jeff Curtis says he and Betsy are still waiting for their Williamsburg house to be rebuilt, and as usual, it has taken longer than expected. They are still hanging out in St. Pete waiting but hope to be moved back in by Christmas.

William “Smitty” Smithson pens, “I traveled back to Richmond last week from Charleston, South Carolina. It was just a spur of the moment kind of thing. While staying at my brother’s house, there was a loud knock at the door, and Meade Spotts somehow tracked me down. I believe he may be part hound dawg, or perhaps I should not

Class of 1979: John Arthur caught up with Eddie Semler in Lexington in October. Eddie is an active NCAA lacrosse and women’s field hockey official, and he refereed the VMI red-white lacrosse scrimmage Oct. 19, 2018. leave bread crumbs outside.” We are everywhere!

Asa Page checks in and passes that he ran into John “J.B.” Brown and Nancy as they were walking out of Foster Stadium at the conclusion of the VMI versus The Citadel football game in late October. Shortly thereafter the four of them were joined by both Jeff and Linda Minnix, Jim and Sarah Harrington, and Jeff’s father, whom as many of you recall was our former physics professor, Col. Minnix, for a short mini reunion. Earlier, Asa spent the day with John Arthur, Al Soltis and Ed Johnson at a Keydet Club event. Additionally, Asa and Karen enjoyed dinner with Chip and Maria Humphrey in Lexington on Founders Day and got caught up on “who’s who in the zoo” back in Richmond. Asa also reports a Dave Taylor sighting, as he ran into Dave and Carrie Taylor, who drove down from Ohio for the VMI versus Furman game in November.

Dariush Alipanah checks in, saying all things are going well with work and family and that he is looking forward to seeing everyone in April.

April? Oh, yeah, April – our 40th Reunion is in April! By now, everyone should have all they need to know about the reunion and have no real reason not to attend!

The always-reliable Bill Albro submits, “I got a voicemail from Dean Smith and Dan Sheehan a few weeks ago; they chastised me for not

127

Class Notes answering the phone. Little do they realize that voicemail is my clever tactic to avoid miscreants.

I spent two days at Fredrick-area battlefields with Jim Crossman last week – he lives down there. My cousin, Bernie, from Scotland was in town, and we did the guy thing and walked around battlefields.

Jim and family are fine; Jim is looking at retirement, as well. We agreed that it will be great to do more things like that in the future. Sput Leadbetter and pup had to evacuate Antipoison Neck several times due to the storms but are now ensconced in Jackson Ward for the winter. I just heard that Brad Jones’ mom has passed, and my prayers are with the son (and family) of a true supermom.” Thanks for the note, bro, and for volunteering to help with the reunion. How did you miss the “never, ever, volunteer” lecture?

Doug and Corinne Doerr traveled to Denver over the Columbus Day weekend to meet with Parke and Debbie Smith. Doug says, “We had a wonderful weekend, planning our big trip next year.” Trip? What trip? Reunion trip, or some other trip? Huh? Can we come?

Rod Decorte sent a quick note: “Mom and Dad’s ashes were just interred at Arlington National Cemetery. It has been a long time coming.

Dad passed two years ago, and Mom passed a year ago. Lots of paperwork and timing. It was the full ceremony with the caisson and all – very nice ceremony. Interestingly enough, it was his rank as major that qualified him for ANC, not his exploits in the civilian side of the house that got them into ANC. No, he did not get a star on the white marble wall, thankfully. He passed at the ripe old age of 90; Mom with a full life at 87.” Sorry for your loss, Rod, and great to hear from you.

Reza Zeinali pens, “I would like to say hi to you and other BRs through your notes. I spent a long time for curing my illness, MS, and I have almost recovered, and I am OK now. My son, Mohammad, got married a couple of weeks ago.” Great to hear from you, Reza; glad that your health is improving, and congratulations on your son’s marriage!

Gleb Taran visited the Institute for the VMI versus Furman game. He writes, “Disappointing result but the mighty Keydets give it their best effort. Watched the game with BR Tim Cordle from the windswept top of the stadium. Did not see any other ’79 BRs. Must have too cold for our brethren! I see BR Rich McGruder regularly here at the State Department. We are both working as contractors. We worked in the same project office until this past March, when I moved to another office that deals with Russia and China projects.

In this capacity I have been working in Moscow, which has been challenging given the status of our current relations, and mutual closing of consulates in St. Petersburg (ours), and San Francisco and Seattle (theirs). I have also been working in Minsk, where our relations have been improving.

We had a well-attended brother rat BRC breakfast over the summer out at the Cracker Barrel next to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Our BR Doug Doerr did a great job scheduling the BRC and notifying the northern Virginia/D.C./Maryland BRs.” Renee and I are deep into finalizing plans for our 40th Reunion. We are visiting the Natural Bridge Hotel this week to meet with management and staff, working with vendors and preparing an information letter with what we hope is all you need

Class of 1979: Jeff and Linda Minnix hosted the Minnix mingle 2018 at their home in Suffolk, Virginia, in August. In what promises to be an annual event, a grand time was had by all. Class Agent Mike Ogden said of this photo, “Who’s in the picture? Recognize anyone? I have it on good authority that all will be at our 40th Reunion, so why not attend and see for yourself!”

128

to know in order to attend and enjoy the weekend.

If you have not yet signed up or are on the fence then let’s “get with the program!” (Snicker.) As most of you know, my first reunion was our 25th.

I had talked roomie Jim LaRose into attending ... it would be his first, as well. We met up with Jim on the Parade Ground that Friday afternoon, immediately striking up easy conversation. After a bit, I noticed a look on Renee’s face and asked what was up. She replied, “It is like you two have not seen each other in 25 minutes, not 25 years!”

Later that afternoon at the hotel, I was a nervous ball of sweat. At least, I was, until Chuck and Roberta Smith came up to us in the hotel lobby at registration and started up a conversation like it was just yesterday ... and all of a sudden, all was OK. Nerves calmed and the fun began. My point is for all of you first timers that have yet to attend a reunion, as daunting as it might seem to be, that uneasy feeling in the pit of your gut gets washed away instantaneously after the ice gets broken by something as simple as that first interaction with a long lost BR. Soon, you’ll be wondering why you never attended any of the previous reunions. I will also say that the reunions seem more important, carry more weight as I age. Off my soap box. Give it “a think.” There’s still time to join the fun. Just sayin’.

Stay well and see you in April, –M

1980

John Gibney Jr.

419 E. 57th Street Apt. 11E New York, NY 10022 917/324-1818 jrgvmi80@aol.com

Hello, Brother Rats, These notes cover the period Aug. 16, 2018, through Nov. 15, 2018, and are being written as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons approach.

The period began with an email from Wayland Patterson containing an invitation to local military college alumni in the Panama City, Florida, area to a Veteran’s Day lunch. Wayland runs these gatherings on a quarterly basis. See below how Hurricane Michael impacted Wayland and this planned event.

I received text messages and email messages from John and Margie Caplice, as well as from Mike Barnes, containing a photo of several of our BRs who gathered to sail on the Rappahannock

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Parade Ground, attendance at the football game River. Hosted by Ken Baybutt, attendees included Luning that listed the itinerary for the annual Lexand an after-game gathering back at Gary’s house.

Mike Barnes, John Blankenship, Dusty Boyd, ington get-together that Mike, Rob Quarles and There was a stated goal of remaining awake until John Caplice, Hugh Fain, Dennis Hackemeyer, others organize each fall. The gathering this year Steve Ikenberry, Jay Melvin, Tolar Nolley, Allen occurred Nov. 1-3 and included dinner for early 2300 hours which would surpass by 30 minutes Ramer, Dan Sweeney and Craig Wilson. arrivals, a round of golf Friday followed by dinner the 2230 breakup of last year’s group. However, August ended with snail mail from Bob Titus in at Natural Bridge, a Saturday morning tailgate on with no scheduled nap appearing on the itinerary, response to receiving his birthday card. Bob wrote the front lawn of Gary Levenson’s quarters on the this goal seemed unattainable.

October opened with affirmative reafter returning to his Pittsburgh-area home from VMI where he dropped off his twin sponses from Tom Bersson and Ali Masons, Joshua and Joseph, for their 3rd han. Regrets were sent from Kirk BerkhClass year. imer, Don Bradshaw and Preston (Shari) September opened with a text from Vock.

Gary Levenson, VMI’s deputy commanThe weekend chosen for the gathering coincided with the 35th Reunion of the dant. Gary, Karen and their grandson, Class of 1983. I was contacted by their Tyler, confirmed their visit to New York class agent who generously invited any City over the Thanksgiving holiday. We of our BRs (their dykes) in the Lexington planned to dine at Peter Luger’s steak area to participate in their Friday evening house, and they planned to stay in our activities. I handed that ball to Mike Lunapartment after Patti and I travel to the Poconos for the holiday. ing, who kindly ran with it.

The first message related to the hur- Class of 1980: Patrick McCarthy and his wife, Roni, scuba Josh Priest copied me on an email with a regret for the November weekend in Lexricanes that made landfall this summer diving with sharks to celebrate Pat’s birthday. came from Ed Baker. Ed and Diana ington but with an invitation to his house now reside full time in the Outer Banks in connection with the Nov. 17 VMI at of North Carolina, and as Hurricane Old Dominion University football game.

Florence approached, they were evacuBert Schneider sent an email after reated. They returned safe and sound. I also ceiving his birthday card. His message spoke with Wade Stinnette who lives in contained a “some news” teaser – see beColumbia, South Carolina, another area low. impacted by the hurricane. Wade reportThe October issue of VMI’s Institute Report contained another article featuring ed that all was well and that his middle Lt. Col. Anne Alerding (John Alerding’s daughter, Katie, is engaged, and Lannie is wife), an associate professor of biology at busy planning the wedding.

VMI, and her work (with 19 cadets) studyJack Keane sent an email with a photo following an annual gathering that he Class of 1980: Tom Gelles, Peyton Campbell, Phil Munisteri, ing soybeans. hosts in Old Lyme, Connecticut. This Rick Fowler, Pat Griffin, Bruno Loefstedt and Jack Keane, As October ended, Don Bradshaw sent flanked by Nick Gelles ’12 (’80+32) and Dave Phillips ’83 year, all were celebrating the big six-oh! In a follow-up message with his permanent (’80+3), at a gathering in Connecticut in September 2018. attendance were Payton Campbell, Rick address in Hawaii. Don left Fort Hamilton Fowler, Tom Gelles, Pat Griffin, Bruno in Brooklyn to become chief, G34 ProtecLoefstedt and Phil Munisteri. tion for Installation Management ComTom Gelles followed with an email after mand – Pacific at Fort Shafter in Honolureceiving his birthday card, noting that all lu. Pat Griffin’s son is stationed in Hawaii, had a great time and that Jack continues to and Don and Pat plan to connect when be a great host.

Pat visits over the Christmas holiday.

Jack Keane then sent an email with a November began with an email from link to the U.S. Naval Institute website John Lillard with an attached photo taken (www.usni.org) containing a summary of at a quarterly dinner held Nov. 1 that Jack the book, “Flight Risk,” written by Forrest Keane organizes. Attendees were Joe BelMarion. Included was a bio on Forrest, a koski, Marty Bernet, Dan Conn, Tom very favorable review of the book and a “Gunny” Kelly and John Lillard (Jack Class of 1980: Brother Rats Dan Conn, Joe Belkoski, Marty was a no-show). Conversation included photo of the book jacket.

Bernet, John Lillard and Tom “Gunny” Kelly after dinner As September closed, I was one of in northern Virginia in November 2018.

Joe refereeing a cross-country meet, 37 BRs copied on an email from Mike Gunny’s elbow injury (received while

2019-Issue 1

129

Class Notes running), Dan’s dreams of Smith Mountain Lake and Marty skating on rat training as a member of the VMI cross-country team.

I tried to speak with Tolar Nolley, but his voicemail box was full. He then sent a text asking for an email address for Landon Wellford. Did you guys connect?

I exchanged email messages with Jay Melvin, who wrote that things are going well with his businesses in Lexington. He also wrote that he’s been in touch with John Rudolph.

Margie (John) Caplice sent a text message with an attached photo of Tolar Nolley driving the grand marshal’s car in the 62nd Urbanna Oyster Festival, held in Urbanna, Virginia.

Rich Zott sent an email from his home in St. Louis where he is still chief, Department of Public Safety for Metro Transit. His younger son is a Ph.D. student in chemistry at Cal Tech. His older son is a Federal Reserve Bank examiner. Rich was a guest lecturer at the Chicagoland Fraud Conference. His topic was a fraud investigation that was showcased on “48 Hours” on CBS. Wayland Patterson sent an email from Panama City, Florida, detailing the damage he suffered from Hurricane Michael and noting the cancellation of his quarterly lunch. Wayland and his family are physically fine. However, they suffered property damage, including losing seven of the nine huge oak and magnolia trees that were in his yard, two of which hit the house, doing both

external and internal damage. As of this writing, electricity and water and sewer were back. Good luck, Wayland.

Bert Schneider followed up with a message that his team at Raytheon Missile Systems received the President’s Award for Global Growth. Congrats, Bert!

Pat McCarthy sent an email with 10 attached photos. Pat and Roni celebrated Pat’s 60th birthday scuba diving with sharks (both are advanced divers), an option Pat chose over a birthday party.

They also traveled to Alaska for their anniversary where they took a land/sea journey but did not see Walt and Mary Lynne Wood. And, they traveled to Peru on a mission trip.

In preparing the November birthday cards, I noticed that Steve Andrews (my four-year roommate) had a Richmond address. Coincidently, Steve sent me a Facebook message, which I could not open as I am not Facebook savvy. So, I called him. Steve and Cathy both retired from their positions with pharmaceutical companies, sold their home in Connecticut and relocated to Steve’s hometown of Richmond. Their older daughter, Virginia, has relocated from Arkansas and is enrolled at George Washington University working on a master’s degree in public health. Their younger daughter, Caroline, is using her food science degree working in food product development in San Antonio, Texas.

Ed Bower called after seeing my 1977 dyke at

the football game against The Citadel. Ed lives in Lynchburg where he is semi-retired. His son, Mitchell, is doing very well and works at Liberty University.

I intercepted a call that Robby Jones placed to my wife, Patti. Actually, Robby, a jeweler in Lexington, repaired jewelry for Patti, and I answered her cellphone. Robby said that business is good and that Beth and their two daughters are also doing very well.

As the period ended, I spoke with Rob Quarles, who lives and runs his own business in Roanoke.

His son, Fielding, is a 2nd Class cadet at VMI who received his ring. Rob provided further detail on the group that convened in Lexington, noting that they had excellent weather for golf and saw the football team win a game! Rob provided the list of attendees as including John Alerding, Tom Bersson, Boyd Gaines, Dave Hageman, Mike Luning, Ali Mahan, Jay McConnell and Dixon Tucker. Rob also saw Kent Oelrich at the football game. Kent traveled to VMI from California with his son, who is considering attending VMI to play baseball.

Thank you for your continued support. Please enter my cell number and email address (both listed above) into your phone so you can more readily keep in touch. And, if we haven’t connected recently, please use the arrival of your birthday card and Christmas card, as well as this issue of the Alumni Review, as an excuse to reach out.

1981

Jerry Manley

15140 Stillfield Place Centreville, VA 20120 703/254-3232 vmi81classagent@gmail.com

Class of 1980: Brother rats after a day of sailing on the Rappahannock River in August 2018 were, kneeling, Ken Baybutt and Craig Wilson. Standing: Dan Sweeney, Steve Ikenberry, Tolar Nolley, Allen Ramer, Jay Melvin, John Caplice, Mike Barnes, Hugh Fain and Dennis Hackemeyer.

130

My Dear Brother Rats, Family and Friends, It is mid-November as I rush to get these notes in by the deadline. I am flashing back to class assignments during midterms circa 1981 as I struggle to complete. Writing these class notes has got to fall into the category of “a labor of love.” Why else would I be up at “flippin’” 0445 putting on the finishing touches? (Rhetorical question, BRs. Please don’t send me any “colorful” responses!)

By the time you read these, it will be well past the holidays. Before I forget, let me extend my thoughts and prayers, in advance, that each of you had a very blessed Thanksgiving, Chanukah and Christmas. Now, on to a few updates:

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Donna, you have your work cut out for First and foremost, a quick note of pride you with Gunny, and I suspect the BRs for all the support the class and their famiwill refer to you with the honorable title lies have shown to our very own BR Jim of “commandant” as you whip our BR “Mig” Migliarese. No need to go into into shape. Congratulations to you both!) details on the challenges Jim and Brenda Mark and Donna are on the lecture tour have been dealing with. Suffice it to say, for microgreens, having presented at the Mig and Brenda, we love you both! Bruce Leavenworth Kansas Master Gardeners Kitchen was the catalyst for coordinating Program. They are also mentors for the a tremendous event in honor of Mig – apLeavenworth High School freshman biolpropriately centered around the Dallas Cowboys’ “sound thrashing” by the Washogy class. They will continue to live in the Leavenworth area and are looking for a ington Redskins. The event was graciously hosted at the home of Mike Denton. BRs Class of 1981: Brother Rats Mike Denton, Grover Outland, small farm in the local area.

I received an inspiring input from Louis in attendance (and my second prayer for Dave Openshaw and Mark Gonsalves (with Maria Gonthis write up is that I don’t miss calling out salves in the background) at “Denton Abbey” in July 2018. Darden. The best way for me to honor Louis is to provide his input as he drafted anyone) were: Matt Merriman, Ken “Catit: “VMI family lineage is important. I visman” Morris, Vince Wood, Tim Nitz, Mike Denton, Henry “Hank” Lee, Bruce ited Germany and France to trace my faKitchen, John Locher, Grover Outland, ther’s (VMI 1943) footsteps during World Greg White, Rob “Cos” Costello, Wirt War II serving under George Patton ’907 Shinault, Loy “Chip” Collingwood, and in the 12th Armored Division during the our extended family of wives, girlfriends, Battle of Herrlisheim in France. The town sons, daughters and in-laws. Mig shared was devastated by the Germans. Numerwith me a few times that it was the most ous photographs compared Herrlisheim fun he had since he started his battle, and then to now. I was escorted by Lise Pomit was great seeing Mig in his element and mois through the battlefields and the in all his glory – especially when Kitchen water works where so many Americans had to kiss Jim’s Redskin logo – a sight from the 12th Armored Division were that could not have been missed. (But, Class of 1981: Class members and VMI alumni at Allie and Will killed. Lise was 5 years old living in Hernow an image that I can’t erase from my Boyan’s wedding were, from left, Jerry Manley; Johann Coo- rlisheim where she knew and met the 12th mind!) It was all in honor of you, Mig and per, father of the bride; Mike Denton; Allie (Cooper) Boyan; Armored Division American soldiers who Frank Cooper ’83; Maureen Cooper, mother of the bride; Brenda, and we were all proud to be there. John Ferry; Rob Digby; and Steve Cooper ’85. Kneeling: Mark liberated her home. It was gut-wrenching Speaking of pride, BR Johann Cooper “Sloppy” Gonsalves and Grover “Endo” Outland. to see the aftermath still etched in the has been beaming with pride since his buildings and bridges just like it was yesbeautiful daughter, Allie, was married to an interday. My family’s VMI traditions continue. My great-grandfather was VMI Class of 1867 and was credible gent, Dr. Will Boyan. Johann and Mauwounded in the Battle of New Market and whose reen were so happy to have the VMI roommates life was saved by Thomas G. Jefferson ’867. My and other BRs at Allie and Will’s wedding Sept. dad was VMI Class of 1943 and fought in World 1, 2018. Allie and Will will be living in Chicago War II under Patton’s 12th Armored Division. for the next two years, as Will is doing his surgiMy brother was Class of 1977 and serves our comcal fellowship at Northwestern Medical Center.

Johann’s joys did not stop there. He and BR Mark monwealth today. I was VMI Class of 1981 and “Sloppy” Gonsalves successfully completed the served in the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War U.S. Marine Corps Marathon in October. Sloppy in command and control of the U.S. Triad of Strawas Johann’s “understudy” over the past year, and tegic Nuclear Weapons. Now my son, Benjamin, the dedication and hard work for both paid off. is applying to VMI (VMI 2022) and aiming for the (Very proud of you two, and Grover still owes me Air Force. Benjamin is dedicated and ready for $20 for his betting against you surviving the run, the challenge of keeping America safe. VMI famSloppy. You know who loves you, Mark.) ily traditions should continue into the future. Just Not to be outdone by the Boyans, BR Mark remember, every class at VMI is the best class in “Gunny” and Donna Olson were married Oct. barracks. You’ll understand when you enter VMI. Class of 1981: Newlyweds Donna and 15, 2018, in Deerfield, Kansas, by Mark’s brother, To all those who have served and will serve our Mark “Gunny” Olson.

Rev. Doug Olson, U.S. Air Force, retired. (For great nation, God bless America and God bless

2019-Issue 1

131

Class Notes VMI.” (Very well said, Louis. Very proud to be your BR, sir!)

Ray Lawson checked in. Ray’s doctor’s report from over the summer is that he remains cancerfree. (Great news, Ray!) Gale and Ray welcomed their second grandson, Gideon Ryder Lawson. As Ray put it, “A big boy who loves to eat!” Ray has stayed way too busy this fall between his day job as an engineering manager and his side hustles as adjunct faculty in both Tulane University’s Homeland Security graduate program and the University of South Carolina – Aiken’s engineering undergraduate program. He enjoys teaching a lot and is hoping South Carolina opens up a fulltime position for him in the not too distant future. Ray and family made it through Hurricane Michael unscathed. He did have the opportunity to help others, as in the midst of the storm, he heard a loud crash which turned out to be a car that had hit a downed tree in front of his house and was crushed when going under it. Ray was first on the scene and helped a young woman who, while very shaken, was thankfully uninjured.

Greg and Ann Wolven wrote in. They reported on a pretty busy fall after a relaxing summer. In mid-September, Ann’s Mary Baldwin College roommate (Anne Kirchdorfer Lach) lost her mother, so they headed to Louisville for the visitation and funeral. She is married to John Lach ’78. Ann shared that it was bittersweet seeing them under the circumstances. Greg was gone the last week of September for the National

Class of 1981: Louis Darden touring World War II battlefields in Herrlisheim, France, with Ms. Lise Pommois, historian and guide.

132

Class of 1981: Class gathering in October to honor BR Jim and Brenda Migliarese at the home of Mike Denton. Brother rats are identified in the class notes.

Electric Safety Code board meeting in Piscataway, New Jersey. In early October, Greg headed to Iowa to give a speech on automated meter reading at the Landyis & Gear user’s group meeting. Two weeks later, he was in Indianapolis the Indiana Statewide Electric Cooperatives meeting where he gave a speech on the National Electric Safety Code. While in Indianapolis, Greg was able to work in a dinner with their daughter, Katie, and her boyfriend. When he’s not on the road, Greg’s been working on finishing the renovation project on their garage and other projects at the house – just to fill in all his “free time.” Ann remains busy teaching at Lincoln Trail College where she earned the rank of full professor of English last spring. She is also the director of English and communication assessment plus teaching and serving on numerous committees. All in all, in addition to maintaining our class Facebook page, the Wolvens are keeping busy and looking forward to next summer when we can head back to the Shenandoah Valley area and VMI again.

A brief note on me: I have been pretty busy since our last Review inputs. I spent approximately one month traveling overseas for work between Bahrain, Italy and Romania. Still doing what I can to support the warfighters of our Navy and Marine Corps teams. I have also been focused on my sister-in-law, Anne, widow of brother Jack Manley ’83. As many know, Anne has had some of her own medical challenges, but it

has been awe-inspiring to see the support from family, friends, VMI Classes of ’81 and ’83, as well as Anne’s classmates from Randolph Macon Woman’s College. Please keep Anne in your prayers as she will have a long recovery period.

Several “quick hitters” follow: Dave Openshaw shared a great picture of himself with Mike Denton, Grover Outland and Mark Gonsalves. This picture is of particular note as it was taken July 28, 2018, on the dock at “Denton Abbey” on the banks of the beautiful Rappahannock “Rivah.” On the ritual sunset cocktail cruise on Mike’s pontoon boat, Dave received the sad news of his dad’s passing (Jim Openshaw ’55). Dave shared that it was really good and truly meaningful to be in the company of BRs that weekend. (Dave, although this is a belated sharing, our hearts and prayers are with you, BR, and you have our deepest sympathies. Glad the BRs were with you!)

I heard from Mike Hatfield! Mike wanted to share that he has moved back to Virginia. He is now the county administrator for Wise County. At a Virginia Association of Counties in November, he reports that “Gov. BR” Ralph Northam was keynote speaker.

Ed Boylan is always one for a quick note. Ed has been staying in contact with Mig and routinely reports on the great conversations they always have.

Ed did share that in their more recent conversations, Mig can’t seem to stop talking about all the

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes BRs who showed up for him and Brenda at Denton’s for the game.

I received a quick note from John Goode after one of my email updates that I believe warrants sharing. John extended loving thoughts for our BRs stating that we should all, and I quote, “Embrace each and every day with excitement, enjoyment and laughter.” (Well said, John! Very well said.)

I found BR Rich Nehls! Rich made contact and shared that he has “signed back on with the Navy” and is working in emergency management at Naval Air Station Key West. (Hope to find reason to travel there and share a brew or two, Rich!)

I had a great phone call with Ricky “Moose” McCue. Moose is doing well living and loving life in Cary, North Carolina. He spends most of his time at the gym and playing on an “old man’s” softball team. He did visit VMI with his son, Gabe, and a couple of Gabe’s friends from high school.

They are all just sophomores, but they have VMI on their short list of desired colleges. Gabe may be a solid lacrosse prospect.

As of this writing, I have received nothing but good news regarding Deb Baron, beautiful wife to BR Keith Baron. (We are still scratching our heads, Keith, on how you captured the heart of such a beauty!) Please keep the prayers going for Deb’s continued good health.

I want to also re-share from an email that BR Larry Butler’s beautiful daughter, Megan, was evaluated as cancer free after three months of chemo, ultimately defeating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

(God bless Megan and all your family, Larry! We are feeling the joy for you and yours!)

I am still praising God that Jim and Mei-Ling Frishkorn survived Hurricane Michael. They survived a direct hit on the panhandle of Florida.

While they may still be dealing with some property damage issues when this edition of the Review goes to print, they remain thankful and praise God for their many blessings.

Corky Mitchell and I keep threatening to visit one another. We text often and still have our occasional shared drinks over the phone. (We will make the visit happen in 2019, Corky!)

In closing, I offer a shameless plug for donations to our reunion fund. I am going to start slowly building committees to help plan for our 40th Reunion in 2021. We also use this fund for flowers, when appropriate. I would like to use the next two years to “build the pot” so we can have yet another reunion to remember! (Last reunion was

2019-Issue 1

great thanks to Trip Lloyd and the planning committees!) To provide a donation, checks written out to either “VMI Foundation” or “VMI Alumni Agencies” with annotation on the bottom of the check that reads “For VMI Class of 1981 Reunion Fund” should be sent to: VMI Foundation, c/o Cathy Blalock P. O. Box 932, 304 Letcher Avenue, Lexington, VA 24450.

That is all I have for this edition, BRs. I hope I have not missed any inputs. Once again, sorry so rushed. Seems to be my norm, and it seems that I never learn! That said, I still love and take great pride in each of you “rapscallions.” I am proud to be able to call myself your brother rat.

Cheers to all, and God bless!

Jerry

1982

Will Council

8500 Rancho Drive Ooltewah, TN 37363 (C) 423/400-2209 (H) 423/238-8186 willis-council@comcast.net

Hello, Brother Rats, I hope these notes find you full of good cheer, or at the very least, good beer.

Back in August, several of us traveled out to St. Louis to attend the retirement ceremony for our very own Gen. Darren McDew at Scott Air Force Base. Ron Mecredy, Van Noah and Joel Bennefield joined Susan and me for a formal yet fun weekend celebrating 35 years of service with Evelyn and Darren. For those of you who missed it – well, you don’t get too many opportunities in life to see a friend get that sort of recognition. About that recognition, the Institute was heard from that weekend. We got called out by both Gen. Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of Defense Mattis in two separate ceremonies. They were both pleasantly surprised that we were there and sober; our reputation was preceding us! I am sorry to report we could not even finish our beer and bourbon back at the hotel room. That’s more telling of our graceful moving into our refined golden age.

So what did I take away from this big weekend?

First, the Air Force has a tradition of presenting a retirement pin for one to wear on their jacket lapel.

The protocol office went above and beyond – or would that be up, up and away – and reached out to VMI and sent Darren’s pin to Lexington for a

photo shoot. The pin was imaged in various places around post where Darren (and we all!) started out. One photo included the registration log with Darren’s signature and date of Matriculation. Exactly 35 years to the day for his retirement! Second, somewhere out there is another photo of Darren presented to him by the lead singer of the Air Force band from our Thursday evening festivities. There is a backstory with it that I will not bore you with the details of, but basically it is of Darren wearing a Kenny G. wig. Got that image now stuck in your brain?! I am sure it is proudly displayed on his mantel at their new home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ask him for it.

Before we get away from the retirement weekend, I want to also mention that we had other alumni in attendance. Tim Bridges ’79, Andy Brown ’80 and Mark Johnson ’87 all stepped into the photo, but we could not get an Old Yell out of them. There was another rear admiral, Larry Jackson, University of Virginia ’84, who came into our group after the change of command ceremony.

He was part of UVa’s marching band back in our days and recalled the football games between our schools. Did you know they actually had a song made up for us? Very similar to our Blacksburg “Hokie High” song. Larry promptly recalled it and sang it for us. We were impressed.

From the ranks, our very own class president, Harry Bitzberger, sent in a note that he recently had visitors above the Mason Dixon Line. Daryl and Sherry Deke with their son, Benjamin, were visiting Philly and stopped by to see all the sights, which included casa de Bitz. There was a mandatory cheesesteak meal somewhere on the agenda.

Class of 1982: Jack Wainwright, Dewey Martin and Mark Ciarrocca celebrated Martin’s son’s wedding.

133

Class Notes Lots of great times catching up. Harry also reports that his son, Harrison – OK, that types out awkwardly – Harry’s son, Harrison, is a freshman at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Young Harry’s son is enrolled in the Professional Tennis Management Program with a business major. Youngest daughter Morgan is a high school junior, and her volleyball team just qualified to play in the state tournament. The team has a remarkable coach who looks a lot like Daryl Deke; no, wait, it’s Harry.

Fall is football season, and at VMI, it also means time to see other BRs in the stands and have mini reunions while trying not to watch us lose again.

My frequent contributor, Scott Crumpler, recently played golf in October with Todd Minnix, Dan Clymore and Nick Roper. No scores, so it must have been a great time! Scott also made it down to VMI for the Parents Weekend game versus The Citadel. Scott reports that he saw, hung out or has evidence of the following BRs in attendance: Jack Wainwright, Jim Hickey,

Class of 1982: Program from Gen. Darren McDew’s retirement ceremony.

Class of 1982: Gen. Darren McDew gives his final salute.

Class of 1982: Pictured at Gen. Darren McDew’s retirement ceremony were Tim Bridges ’79, Andy Brown ’80, Joel Benefield, Van Noah, Evelyn McDew, Gen. McDew, Maj. Gen. Mark Johnson ’87, Will Council and Ron Mecredy.

134

Mark Shifflet, Emmitt Heltzel, Keith Jarvis, Bill Towler, George Mayforth, Scott Woodell, Russ Stewart, Mitch Frailer, John Mathews, Dave Holsbach and David Gallalee. I am sorry, but my sources failed to include all the wives or girlfriends, so I will leave that explaining to you guys.

John Mathews had some guests in town for a recent game against The Citadel. Former roommates Dave and Sheilah Holzbach and Mike Frailer came down. They were all roommates from 2nd Class year onward. After John’s wife, Anita, passed away four years ago, Mike and Dave rallied around and helped him in dealing with his loss. Fast forward to present day: John has been dating Mary Stuart Van Metre, a local lass who grew up in Roanoke and claims to know Andy Douthat from high school! Too many photos for once, but John and Bill Towler were in the stands together. John says they did not cross paths while at VMI but wound up going to pharmacy school together.

Bill Jennings makes it to a lot of the games. He also emailed a great catch up letter about everyone he saw. Back in September, he ran into Darren McDew at the game commemorating the 50th anniversary of the integration of the Corps, which was right after Darren had retired from the Air Force. Most recently at the Mercer game (we won!), Bill and Cindy spent time with Joey and Carol Keyes. They are starting to see some progress on their new home they are building. After the victory, the four went to the Palms for a nice meal.

(Where else!)

Joey reports that Mitch Heishman has found a new position where he is able to work from home.

Back to game attendance, Bill also saw Jim Cosby, but they only talked briefly. Jack and Colleen Wainwright were there because it was Parents Weekend and their son is a 2nd Class cadet and some kind of ranker, S-2 or S-4. Jack is doing well representing computer service to the government.

He also gets to work from home in Fredericksburg and reported that Mark Ciarrocca would be stopping by soon.

Speaking of “Hiz Honor,” Mark was indeed stopping by, but it was in Florida for a rendezvous with Dewey Martin and Jack Wainwright. The occasion was Dewey’s son’s wedding in Orlando.

From Mark, Jack’s two oldest boys are both in the Army, and the youngest is at VMI. For his part, Dewey is living the life of a retired senior citizen in Florida. Mark is still “happily being ‘judgmental’ for the state of New Jersey.” Class agent note:

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes they! Backed up a generation, my family is from Those are his words; I am not making this up!

George Mayforth’s name popped up several North Carolina. So were they! South of Fayettetimes crossed referenced in these notes. George ville in Bladen County. So were they! Turns out Hugh Daughtry also went up for Parents Weekend to catch up with we are second cousins (something removed). We 300 State Street #410 Wainwright, Mark Shifflet, Russ Stewart and knew each other’s parents but had never crossed Knoxville, TN 37902 Jim Hickey. (I got a great group photo of them paths at family reunions. Emily noticed my VMI 704/400.1847 on the deck at Moody Hall, but I am over my limit soccer hat and got very excited as she connected keydet1983@gmail.com for these notes.) Also, he reports that Jack has a the dots of our relationship and introduced me Steve Amato special pass to the Parade Ground for tailgating. to her sleeping daughter, Aubrey June Council. 12849 Valleywood Drive Jack and Colleen always put together a wonder- While searching for names for their expectant Woodbridge, VA 22192 703/670.3927 ful spread for both adults (bloody marys followed baby, they ended up going back through the fam- msamato@verizon.net by bourbon) and hot food cooked up by Jack for ily registry. They settled on Aubrey, which is my Brother Rats, the cadets. Scott Woddell and his wife dropped father’s name that I also share as my middle name.

These notes cover the period of mid-August by, along with the Crumplers and Heltzels. Then They remembered my dad from the reunions, as there was this guy named Bill Towler who wan- he was the family patriarch for several years until through mid-November 2018. These will be the dered up. George got a hike in up to House Moun- he passed in 2016. About that VMI hat, Emily’s last quarterly class notes update I will do. Effective tain before the Friday parade, but not one of those brother was Howard June Cook ’01. Howard with our 35th Reunion, Steve Amato has agreed lazy (insert colorful, descriptive word) would join was killed by a drunk driver in 2011 while serving to take over the reins for our class.

Obviously, the highlight of this period was our in the National Guard in Texas. He took the hit him.

The Will and Susan Council household is still on the driver’s side to save his passenger. He was 35th Reunion in Lexington Nov. 2-3. I will try to capture the events of the weekend in these notes, in all systems normal mode. Normal being, Su- awarded the Texas Medal of Valor posthumously. and if I leave anyone out, you have my sincerest Since there does not appear to be any hope of san is working as an MD temp a few weeks out apologies. Also, several of you reached out beforeof the quarter while also running her store, Bead my kids ever getting married and having kids, Therapy. I am still contracting in logistics at VW, this is as close as I will get to have a grandchild. I hand to let me know you could not be there but still involved in scouting and our son still has not wonder if I can get her a provisional appointment. would certainly attend in spirit.

We are now friends on Facebook, and although I moved out and found employment.

Bruce Cohen definitely registered so he could get Now, let me tell you all a pretty neat story about get weekly photo updates on her, I look forward that sharp-looking fleece with our class ring ema special talent I have. My family swears I can’t go to watching little Aubrey June Council grow up. broidered over the heart. But as we were marching anywhere without running into someone I know Closing out this story, after spending the day at the across the Parade Ground, Bruce was in Poland soccer match with my newest favorite cousins, I on a bucket list tour of the ghettos and concentraor am related to. Sort of like the seven degrees of Kevin Bacon. Here’s my latest and in my humble challenged them that should they decide to have tion camps from World War II. This was a longopinion, coolest experience. This past August I at- another baby, Willis is a very good name to con- planned trip that, of course, meant a great deal to him. In other news, Bruce continues as a lawyer tended a soccer match in Charlotte, North Caro- sider.

Hope I did not bore you too much. Have a great at Pepsico and recently completed his Master of lina, with my daughter. Teams were Liverpool verLaws degree at Michigan State. His son, Michael, sus Dortmund, the Reds being one of my favorites winter and don’t forget to write. just started ninth grade, and his daughter, MagSincerely, from the English Premier League (for the record Willis Aubrey Council Jr. – Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal – quite gie, eighth grade. Bruce said he normally feels like Ciarrocca). We arrived early enough to he’s pretty old to be a parent of children enjoy the block party festivities outside in their early teens, to which Tom Jewett the stadium. While walking around, I says, “Hold my beer.” spotted another fan wearing a Liverpool Lynn Seldon also let me know he would jersey with Council on the back. I had to be missing reunion, and I am sure we all investigate. A brief pursuit followed trysaw his comments on the email threads throughout the weekend as he let us know ing to find what turned out to be a young he was not happy he was missing the fun. family – Frank and Emily Council, with Lynn has a hardcover edition of his novel, their 4-week-old baby strapped into a chest “Virginia’s Ring,” out now, and sales are harness, amongst the thousands of others brisk! wearing identical red. I asked Frank how As I have told you on several occasions, he got the jersey – duh. Not the best openevents like our reunion do not put theming line. What I meant was how he got the name on the back – another duh moment. selves on. I was fortunate to be assisted Class of 1982: Roommates John Mathews, Mike Frailer, Dave OK, I introduced myself by name and said Holzbach with Sheilah Holzbach and Mary Stuart Van Metre. by a wonderful team who I will call out I was originally from Virginia. So were throughout this update. I hope all who

1983

2019-Issue 1

135

Present at the reunion were: Theodore Adams, Mark Airaghi, Billy Akers, Robert Allen, Steven Amato, Anthony Arnold, Joseph Barra, Scott Belliveau, Mark Benvenuto, Garland Boone, Jamie Call, Donald Carter, David Clarke, Bruce Cohen, William Cornett, John Costello, Benjamin Cottrell, Timothy Craul, Hugh Daughtry, Michael Devens, John Dodge, Timothy Doody, Paul Dunahoe, Owen Dunlap, Robert Edwards, Stephen Goddard, Steven Godwin, James Goodwillie, Thomas Gottwald, Robert Greenwood, Warren Groseclose, Chris Hair, David Hall, Jon Hanna, Bruce Hazelgrove, James Henry, Richard Hewitt, Stephen Hodak, George Horan, Maywood Hudgins, Jonathan Hunt, Thomas Jewett, James Johnston, Andrew Jones, Paul Karafa, Edward Kluckowski, Joseph Link, Charles Luck, Anthony MacDonald, Ivan Marcotte, Daniel Mason, Paul McCusker, Robert Mednikov, Malachi Mills, Calvin Murray, Bradley Norwood, Graham Nuttycombe, James Outland, Whitney Owens, Charles Patterson, Owen Peery, Vernon Perdue, Christopher Peta, John Preston, Mark Pruden, Borden Ray, Charles Rogers, Mark Roltsch, Keith Sawyer, Phillip Shepard, Timothy Shobbrook, Steven Simonson, Barry Smith, Lewis Smith, Franklin Tifford, Alan Toler, David Via, Douglas Wainwright, Matthew Waring, Eugene Warren, David Warriner, Mark Waters, William Westbrook, James Williams and Scott Woolwine.

Class Notes

136

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes attended had the chance at some point to thank each of them, as they are the reason our weekend was so enjoyable.

Unofficially, our weekend kicked off Thursday as the first wave arrived early to get set up. Spence Westbrook, Bill Cornett, me and Robin got in early to stuff the goodie bags and set up the hospitality room. We then adjourned to the Devils Backbone Brewery to hold a “staff meeting” and were joined by Brett Allen and son Rob ’19, Doug Wainwright, and Ivan and Donna Marcotte. It was a good start to the weekend.

The first official activity of the weekend was something I don’t think any class had done during a reunion. Spence Westbrook thought it would be a good idea if we had the opportunity to relive our rat year and hike up House Mountain. We did not have any screaming cadre corporals along to provide incentive, but Franklin Van Valkenburg ’13 from the Alumni Agencies staff came along just to make sure we got back down alive. All agreed it was a little more challenging than we remembered, but the views were fantastic as the leaves looked beautiful and the weather cooperated.

Making the trek were Chris and Cindy Peta, Jon Hanna, Paul McCusker, Cheryl Henry, Dortch Warriner, Jamie and Ann Call, Ivan Marcotte, Spence, and yours truly.

Meanwhile out at the Lexington Golf & Country Club, Owen Peery led a golf outing that included Keith Sawyer, Chris Hair, Skip Goodwillie, Gene Warren, Dave Hall, Franklin Hudgins, Cal Murray and Mark Roltsch. As with the hike, the weather cooperated. Skip said it helps if you pick up on the 15th hole, and all enjoyed the course.

Unlike the 20th, though, there was no John Gordon hole-in-one.

The skeet shooting was led by Doug Wainwright and in a change from years past, Mary Amato did not put everyone to shame; just slight embarrassment. She was out there with Steve, Brett Allen, Mark Pruden, Bill Cornett, John Dodge, Bobby Edwards, Jim Henry, Scott Horan and John Preston.

The rain came after the off-post activities and Friday parade were canceled but stopped just as our Friday night party at McKethan Park got cranked up. Jay Williams did yeoman’s work organizing this event, lining up world class chow and two kegs of craft beer. Is there nothing this man cannot produce with only a moment’s notice? Our entertainment was The Strain Featuring Sammy Shako, a band whose members are a bunch of our

2019-Issue 1

rats, including Dave Grimm ’86, Dave Miller ’86, Tony Hirtz ’86, Paul Boos ’86, Ralph Frye ’86 and Rob Mason ’86. Special thanks to their agent – class agent, that is – Clint Hubbard ’86, who got us in touch with them and made the scene, as well.

The evening was entertaining and offered a great opportunity for everyone to visit in an informal setting. It was great catching up with BRs from all points of the compass, particularly Joe Barra who had just relocated to Boston, and Garland Boone.

Garland is retired and living in New York City.

This reunion was his first trip back since graduation! Bordon Ray came by with his daughter, Mary Claire, who is a Midshipman at the Naval Academy.

Scott and Pam Horan took a break from their busy social lives to come down from Fredericksburg to remind us how we partied back in the day. Franklin Hudgins and Snake Arnold were up from Virginia Beach and it was great seeing Whitney Owens, Tim Shobbrook, Steve Simonson, Barry Smith, Graham Nuttycombe, Brad Norwood, Mark Airaghi, Tim Doody, Frank Tifford, Steve Godwin, Gibby Smith, Dave Via, Tim Craul, Bobby Greenwood, Jim Johnston, Mark Waters, Paul Karafa, Ed Kluckowski, Dave Clarke, Phil Shepard, Steve Hodak, Bob Mednikov, Mark Benvenuto, Steve Goddard, and my old buddy from Eglin days, Grey Carter. BR Benvenuto’s book, “Twisted Tales from VMI,” was a hot seller in the hospitality room.

Our plan for Saturday started with a tailgate (this is a Class of ’83 event, after all) and Jay Williams assembled a team to be at the Parade Ground at 0 dark 30 to grab prime real estate. Jay’s team included Cal Murray, Dortch Warriner, Dave Hall, J.J. Costello and Jim Outland. There was a rumor that Brent Dunahoe called shotgun with Dave and was curled up in the back seat. Marines can sleep anywhere. Murphy’s law was in play though, as enough rain fell Friday to cause the Institute to close the Parade Ground to parking and tailgating.

Our team quickly called an audible and grabbed some great space behind Maury Brooke Hall, and let’s just say a party ensued. The grills and cookers were cranked up and Jay, Cal, Dortch, Billy Akers, Jim Henry and Scott Horan were quickly producing ribs, oysters and other assorted delicacies.

With Owen Dunlap working the bar it quickly became the go-to place before and after parade. Others seen include Tray Adams, Derek Patterson, Malachi Mills, Richard Hewitt, Ben Cottrell, Matt Waring, Joe Link, Bubba Hazelgrove, Jon

Hunt, Dan Komara, Warren Groseclose, Andy Jones (attending once again from Thailand), Dan Mason and Breck Gorman. Tom Jewett was even seen pushing a stroller for his 1-year old daughter with his 3-year-old in tow. Tom, you are the man.

The Class of 1983 proudly marched across the Parade Ground, passing in review and into barracks for the Old Yell. True to tradition our class president, Teddy Gottwald, scaled the sentinel box, with the help of a few brother rats, putting to shame younger classes that felt the need to use the ladder. Teddy was joined on the sentinel box by an honored guest and our honorary BR, Chaplain Charles Caudill. Chaplain Caudill has recently relocated to Lexington, and it was great to have him march in with his class. I know I am biased, but I am pretty sure our Old Yell was definitely the loudest.

After an afternoon spent at Alumni Memorial Field watching the victorious Keydets, we adjourned for an evening banquet in Marshall Hall. This is a wonderful venue for what was a little more formal gathering than Friday. Given that our reunion was a week before the centennial of the armistice that ended the First World War, we asked Col. Keith Gibson ’77, the director of the VMI Museum Systems, to deliver remarks on VMI’s participation in the conflict. This, combined with entertainment by the VMI Commanders, made for a good time. But by far, the highlight of the evening was a little different history lesson led by Jamie MacDonald. After an invocation

by Scott Belliveau and assisted by Mike Devens and Ivan Marcotte, Jamie took us on a little walk down memory lane as they conducted a grog bowl ceremony with various ingredients related to our class history. With vodka representing water from the Maury River, Old Milwaukee and National Bohemian for our favorite haunts like The Palms, Spanky’s, the Cockpit, Estelle’s and, of course, Fireball for our 3rd Class birthday “event,” the ceremony was very amusing and brought back a lot of great memories. The original plan had called for Jamie to ask for a volunteer to sample the grog, and we were a little worried we would be stuck with a large bowl of liquid that would just be dumped out. Jamie asked for “perhaps a chemist, a doctor or a four-year private to determine if our grog is fit for human consumption.”

John “Stoney” Preston led what turned out to be a line of all BRs in attendance to the bowl to sample, and eventually drink almost all of it. I believe there were several who may have gone up more than

137

Class Notes 2.

4.

3.

1.

6.

5.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Class of 1983 1. Jim Henry and Scott Horan took a break from cooking during the tailgate on Saturday.

2. Chris Peta and Garland Boone at the Friday night party at McKethan Park. The 35th Reunion was Boone’s first trip back to VMI since graduation.

3. Franklin Hudgins and Gene Warren at the Friday night party at McKethan Park.

4. Brent Dunahoe and Scott Belliveau at the Friday night party at McKethan Park.

5. The class contingent that climbed House Mountain on Friday of reunion weekend were, from left, kneeling, Ivan Marcotte, Cheryl Henry, Cindy Peta and Ann Call. Standing: Jon Hanna, Chris

138

Peta, Hugh Daughtry, Paul McCusker, Dave Warriner, Jamie Call and Spence Westbrook.

6. Andy Woolwine and Mike Devens at the Friday night party at McKethan Park.

7. Ann Parker Gottwald, Ben Cottrell and Teddy Gottwald at the Friday night party at McKethan Park.

8. Retired Cols. Dave Hall, Paul Karafa and Hugh Daughtry at the Friday night party at McKethan Park.

9. Mike Devens and Ivan Marcotte sampled the grog after assisting Jamie MacDonald with its construction. Dave Clarke, Bobby Greenwood, Jim Outland, Skip Goodwillie and Andy Jones waited their turn.

10. Brother rats Saturday at the tailgate before the Tusculum game.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes once (looking at you Scott and Billy). Stoney gave the grog two big thumbs-up, and even Col. Gibson downed a cup after his remarks. Well done, Jamie!

The evening concluded back in the hospitality room at the Best Western where your outgoing class agent was ready to kick back and Alan Toler had a little game for BRs and guests who were still up. A little matching game of BRs and their number ones for which they served confinement made for a good way to finish the weekend. Each miscreant got a bottle of wine that had his picture on it, and Vernon Perdue gave an excellent overview of cadet spring break trips. It made for some pretty good laughs and the rolling of several wives’ eyes.

All in all, I would say our 35th Reunion was a great success with wonderful attendance. I even had a couple of Alumni Association staff ask me how we were able to get so many brother rats back. Once again, I want to thank the guys that helped put the weekend together: Spence Westbrook, Owen Peery, Doug Wainwright, Jay Williams, Scott Belliveau, Jamie MacDonald, Steve Amato, Dortch Warriner, Bill Cornett and Jim Outland. A special thank you to Mary Amato and Cindy Warriner who jumped in to help, also. And I would be remiss not to thank the weekend’s registration desk host, social media director and staff photographer, my wife, Robin. A team like this is why we had such a great crowd make it back to the “I.” It has been my honor to serve as your class agent, and I am proud to hand over the duties to Steve Amato. Please support him like you supported me: Plenty of updates and pictures. I cannot thank him enough and am confident he will do a great job. As always, I encourage you to get back to Lexington if you have not been in a while. You will not believe how good the post looks and how impressive the Corps is. I look forward to seeing you there.

That is all.

1984

Andy Protogyrou

1519 Commonwealth Avenue Norfolk, VA 23505 757/679-7077 protogyrou@prlaw.org

This has been the fall of wacky weather. We had a football game and two of three tailgates on the Parade Ground canceled because of the wet conditions. With this being Demetra’s 1st Class year,

2019-Issue 1

we had to improvise and move the party to the house in Lexington. Last game I got a call from Chris Bruch as he was driving in from Richmond.

I told him to come on over. We did not miss a beat (the Bloodies helped). It felt like we had just woken up in 141 and started hiding our flasks in our sock before march down. Chris is an insurance executive in Richmond and soon found our neighbor Albert Vargas (Albert’s daughter is a rat soccer player and his wife, Stacey, is a VMI physics professor), the local Allstate agent in Lexington, and they went off talking in their own world that only a lawyer can appreciate. Chris has a son in New York who is a top designer and a daughter working in youth ministry at a large church in Virginia Beach. We had nine women cadets over and Chris had a great time getting all the updates as to the way the modern Corps functions. Needless to say, it was eye opening for him and the girls as they enjoyed their time with two old Corps dinosaurs.

Our son, Tony ’16, visited us from his second year in law school at West Virginia University. He was on his way to his Virginia National Guard Ball in Staunton where he, a young first lieutenant field artillery officer, found the VMI color guard presenting the colors. Needless to say, the color guard and he had a good time together.

Part of the crazy fall weather brought Norfolk a hurricane that was not one. I woke up and saw the national news from Macon, Georgia, discussing the destruction of some local gas station. I immediately called Johnny Mitchell to see if all was well. That evening, Johnny called back and said Macon was spared and at best he had to rake his yard. Little did I know the now tropical storm would track to Norfolk at 3 a.m., cause an electrical fire in our front yard by taking out a transformer and leaving us without electricity for three days.

Did I tell you we have had some crazy weather?

This year, we lost Kevin Sample after a longfought illness. A memorial service was held in his hometown of Salem this past September. I know I will leave someone out, please forgive me as I am trying to pull this together from sources, but those attending included John Karafa and his wife, Kimberly; Curt Hinton and his, wife Una; Bill Seaver; Todd Henderson; Chris Parks; Sam Brown; Jim Kenkel; Mike Kay; Hank Selman; Jamie Clark; and Greg “The Cav” Cavallaro.

The night before the service, a group of brother rats hung out at the Hampton Inn in Lexington listening to Todd Henderson play guitar and sing and toast Kevin. There were tears, laughter and

memories. The next day, everyone traveled south to Kevin’s family church. John Karafa was asked by the family to speak at the service. Kevin was in research and development at a controls company and his wife, as John says is an angel, is also an electrical engineer who has spent much time caring for Kevin. After the service, Curt Hinton tried to give a note to Kevin’s mother but she asked him to read it to all gathered. I understand it was beautiful. Brother Rats, you are the best!

Spruill Thompson was kind enough to write about a welcome surprise he got when Tex Maxwell blew into Wilmington for some posthurricane fly fishing. Spruill and his wife, Karen, learned they had mutual friends from Augusta with Tex. They had a good time catching up over cocktails and sharing stories.

I had a chance to speak to Kyle Sinisi. Kyle was on his way to Clemson with his wife, Christina, to attend their daughter’s ring ceremony. They have an older son who graduated from University of South Carolina and is at Florida State getting his master’s in history (a chip off the old block). Christina, like Kyle (doctor of history), has her doctorate in psychology and teaches at Charleston Southern University. Kyle did a short stint in the Army and ultimately got his master’s and doctorate degrees from Kansas State University. Kyle is the “John Barrett” of The Citadel. He has been a professor there for 25 years where he has taught Civil War and military history. Kyle appreciates the young people of The Citadel where they are similar to VMI cadets in many ways. He said that their young people think beyond themselves, have a duty to serve and are highly patriotic. Kyle still manages to find time to play ice hockey in two leagues – one for men over 50 and one for young men. Similar to our professors, Kyle is a colonel in the “South Carolina Unorganized Militia” and wears his uniform every day. He is well known amongst the South Carolina National Guard and local Army for whom he conducts staff rides of various battlefields. I understand he is a tour host extraordinaire of the Charleston area. He encourages all to visit, and I promised him that Kathy and I would be coming down soon to visit him and Christina and tour the various restaurants of Charleston. I really enjoyed spending time with him on the phone and cannot wait to see him.

I miss and love you all.

Yours in the spirit!

Andy

139

Class Notes

1985

Matt Daniel

10428 Collingham Drive Fairfax, VA 22032 610/393-5670 vmiclassagent85@aol.com

Notes by class agent Matt Daniel (with a heavy assist from Dr. Jake Spivey).

A sad start to the notes: A respectful nod to Christian “Chris” Wolf who died quietly Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, after fighting cancer for the last several years of his generous and kind life.

Chris’ obituary should be posted in the Taps section of the next Review. He is survived by his sister, Edith “Edie” Marucci (New Jersey), and many, many close and good friends. Edie and Chris’ good pal Marty Mason ’86 are planning a memorial service on VMI post for his VMI family, the Martinsville community, his church and the judicial community which he served.

This service is to be held at VMI sometime in the spring. We will inform the class when we have details. Chris was in Band Company during his cadetship, where he played the trumpet.

He hailed from North Bergen, New Jersey, but lived in Martinsville, Virginia, for much of his adult life. Chris served his Martinsville home as a magistrate, where he was much loved by the community. God bless you, Chris.

Adam Babcock joined Advanced Academics

Class of 1985: Jim Stinebower and his sons.

140

Instructor with Advanced Concepts and Technologies International, LLC (ACT I). He is an experienced Air Operations Center and Air Force forces subject matter expert providing really good (agent: my words) and hard to find experience for hardened combat warriors. Adam instructs at U.S. Air Force Base Hurlburt Field, Florida – on the beach with a chilled drink in his fist.

Don Monday (the young version of Joe Friday) returned to duty with the FBI as a personnel security specialist. He had been a supervisory special agent (retired).

Random Name Drops do work!

Discovery No. 1: Bruce “Benny” Hill is an operations research analyst, working as a test and evaluation specialist for Calhoun International at Fort Hood, Texas. Benny has spent many years planning and executing operational and developmental tests in support of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. He is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel (all source intelligence). He left the service in 2006, and from 2012 on, he has been successfully ignoring his class agent, which he could finally no longer do! I think it was the mention of one Coach Wade “Elmo” Williams and Coach Tom “Crazy Cajun” Virgets that forced his hello. Hello, Benny!

Discovery No. 2: As a result of an RND in the last notes installment, I received a note from John “J.J.” Smart the other day. He told me to quit bothering him, but if I must know, he lives in Fairfax (Chantilly), Virginia, and has two kids (Clemson and Christopher Newport). J.J. says that he will kick Tom Greenspon’s rear end on the golf course and John Adams in a road race. J.J. works at HP, selling to the government. They have a home in Surf City Beach, North Carolina, (near Camp Lejeune) which got smacked around by Hurricane Florence. J.J. sends: “I love my brother rats, and I hated to hear about Chris Wolf.”

Discovery No. 3: After a prompt from the RND (patent pending, VMI Class of ’85), Joe Pauley sent in a very cryptic whisper. “Psst, Matt. Over.”

“I am alive and well. Over.” “I live in Germantown, Maryland, and work for Perspecta. Over.”

“I am enclosing a picture or two that may or may not be able to be printed in your magazine. Over.”

“I miss my BRs. Over.” “I can’t tell you any additional information, other than that Marty and I are having a great life. We’ll see you after I retire. Over.” “But I can’t tell you when that will be.

Over.” “Keep up the good work. Out.” On to other news.

J.J. Wranek became the director of development and communications at the George C. Marshall Foundation (effective Nov. 1). He had been with the VMI Alumni Agencies since September 2006, except for a year of service in Afghanistan in 2011. J.J. first served as the new cadet recruiting coordinator in the Alumni Association before going to the Foundation in 2008 to serve as associate director of annual and reunion giving. For the last five years he has been the vice president for annual and reunion giving. In an email, Dave Stinnette lamented he would miss J.J. rolling into Richmond, giving Dave a mere 15 minutes notice to meet at some (hard to find, with limited parking and no booze) event that J.J. was attending! (More on “Steve Dinnette” later.)

Jake Spivey’s (aka the Commodore) roommate David ‘Doc’ Campbell (Jennifer) evacuated to Atlanta before Hurricane Michael came ashore.

Doc said the eyewall of the hurricane missed his house by 2-and-a-half miles. Their house came through unscathed (Panama City). Apparently, the storm shifted to the east approximately an hour before making landfall (and knocking the snot out of Mexico Beach, Florida, and Tyndall U.S. Air Force Base). Dave says that it must be all that good, clean living that kept him safe. “Take a lesson from that, class agent!” Doc sends. (Agent: noted.)

Gary “Mac” McClelland is now “Deacon Mac,” having been ordained in Richmond in mid-September. Brother Rats Spivey, Irby,

Class of 1985: Joe Pauley and son.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes “Quintin was named Deputy Secretary of Stinnette and Rowlett were all in attendance in of VDOT, forwarded to me by Jeff.

From: Brich, Stephen Sent: Thursday, Oct. 11, Transportation by Gov. Ralph Northam [’81] the standing-room-only ceremony. God bless you, in January 2018. He was previously appointed 2018 9:52 a.m. Subject: A Message on behalf of brother Mac! Congratulations.

Big Jim Stinebower sent a nice note: “I am final- Secretary Valentine “Dear VDOT employees, it is as Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Virginia ly retired and relaxing. Unfortunately, I still seem with sincere gratitude and personal sadness that I Department of Transportation in January 2014 by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe. to get dragged back into one thing or the other so announce the retirement of Deputy Secretary of “Quintin will now move into the esteemed still traveling way too much, but I am trying to Transportation Quintin Elliott. With 32 years of spend half the year at our place on Lake Michi- outstanding service to our commonwealth, we role of full-time dad, a position about which he gan and the rest of the time in McLean, Virgin- are indebted to Quintin’s vision for accountability, feels very fortunate. His grace under pressure ia. My wife, Cari, is lawyering in D.C. at Crow- commitment to excellence, and genuine foresight and calm presence are certainly skills that will ell & Moring, and our boys (Rheese, fifth grade, regarding our next generation of transportation serve him well in this new chapter of this life. and Aiden, eighth grade) are at The Landon leaders. He focused clearly on serving the citizens And while his shoes may be impossible to fill, and businesses of Virginia, always with integrity it is with great admiration and appreciation that School. All is well, and we are looking forward we wish Quintin and his family all the very best. to seeing more of the VMI family in the D.C. and respect, and he will be sorely missed by all.

“As we move through this transition, area now. Although if the weather is Deputy Secretary Nick Donohue will be warm, it is beach time at the lake house, returning from paternity leave Oct. 15, so if any ’85ers are in the Pentwater, and Morteza Farajian will continue in Michigan, area during the summers or his role as Acting Deputy Secretary of holidays, come on by; the bar is always Transportation. With warmest regards, fully stocked!

Shannon Valentine.”

RND: Greg Bond, Tom Pully, Mike While clicking around the VDOT Robless. website I found that, back in January Pat “Mags” McGuire and I met up 2018, Jim “Ferrigno” Utterback was with John “I Run for Days” Adams named as director, Hampton Roads in Lexington in September. We all like Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project. “Pribeer, so we met at a beer place and drank beer and laughed. Joe Irby also showed or to that, he was VDOT’s Hampton up and drank beer, too. J.A. is doing Roads District administrator from 2013 great, looks 25 years younger than he is Class of 1985: Brother Rats Spivey, Irby, Stinnette and Rowlett to 2018 and Culpeper District adminiswere all in attendance for Gary “Mac” McClelland’s ordinaand is as funny as I remember him. We tion in Richmond in mid-September. trator from 2008 to 2013. He has more drank beer, then he went back to Gerthan 30 years of experience managing large-scale projects in military, private and state many. organizations. After being selected as VDOT’s Joe “Beef ” Irby sends that while overnighting Hampton Roads District administrator, Utin southern Maryland, he ran into Steve Chill.

One of Steve’s children (daughter) was getting terback led the development of a construction married. Contact Beef for more details. program that now exceeds $1.2 billion including Speaking of Joe Irby, Beef and Mrs. Irby the $409 million Interstate 64 High Rise Bridge, (the lovely Miss Cindy) along with Meade “It’s VDOT’s largest design-build project, and four Good To Be” King and Queen Leslie, particiadditional interstate construction projects each with a contract value over $100 million. He pated in the Seagull Century, a nationally acjoined VDOT in 1999 as an engineer, workclaimed bicycling event, starting and ending on Salisbury University’s campus. The LAR ing in its management services, location and (agent: long ride) tours the picturesque eastern design, and innovative project delivery divishore of Maryland and it “goes on for centuries, sions. Utterback led VDOT’s Charlottesville if not millennia” (so says Queen Leslie). Proresidency from January 2005 to mid-2006.

He then became project management officer ceeds from the Sea Gull Century benefit dozens Class of 1985: Jake Spivey and Churchill in VDOT’s scheduling and contracts division. of nonprofit organizations.

Bowles ’92 atop Spy Rock in Virginia.

In that role, he oversaw statewide implemenJeff “That’s a Big” Hill contacted Jake Spivey Bowles is an assistant scoutmaster for (also known as “Safari 6”– he’s a master of tation of VDOT’s project management proTroop 444 in Richmond, Virginia. Spivey is a parent volunteer. Their sons are disguise) to let him know BR Quintin Elliott gram, including the development of policies, members of the troop and had hiked to is retiring from the Virginia Department of procedures and processes. He also oversaw the the summit from the Virginia state fish Transportation. The ceremony date is in quesintegration of state-of-the-art project managehatchery in Montebello. tion, but here is the email sent out by the head ment software tools to support delivery of the

2019-Issue 1

141

Class Notes agency’s six-year improvement program.”

This link from the Williamsburg paper has more: https://wydaily.com/local-news/2018/01/26/ vdot-announces-project-director-for-hrbt-expansion/ Neil Lowenstein was a presenter at the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law discussing owner, designer and contractor project issues Oct. 15. He shared the stage with Ms. Shannon Onook, senior legal counsel, TransCanada Corporation, and M. Eric Schatz, associate vice president, Arcadis. The Forum on Construction Law fosters exchanges of ideas about the law and practical project coordination.

RND: Todd Southard, Darren Sawyer, Vic Bernet.

Rev. Tim Martin, pastor, Grace Covenant Church (Roanoke, Virginia) returned to his church after a several monthslong sabbatical.

When he took his leave of absence, he was pictured alone atop Roanoke Mountain communing closer to the Lord, flowing robes, beard out to ZZ Top length. He said the reality was much closer to simply finding time to recoup, re-cup, recover and rest. His church was very supportive, and he is back ministering (gerund? verb?) again. Tim said he “did not achieve Yogi status,” but he did let his beard grow until it kept getting into his mouth when he tried to eat!

Beard hair-infused oatmeal, mmm.

Jake Spivey was on a rock with Churchill Bowles ’92, and not just any rock. Spy Rock.

Oh, and as threatened, Steve Dinnette (Remember? Earlier?): We (Mrs. Agent and myself) saw him at a VMI Saturday parade and football tailgate this October. He was with his son (Steve Jr.) and his daughter, Olivia. After I waved hysterically at him during the parade (I was trying to gain his notice), Mr. Dinnette turned and walked the other direction. Cupping his face behind his hand, Steve walked briskly away but was chased down by yours truly and the pretty Mrs. Agent. As we caught up to him, I tapped his shoulder and my wife yelled out, “Steve!” He chuckled graciously and added, “Dang, you caught me,” with a smile, “but my name is Dave.” Then we talked for 15 minutes about Speedos, rat boxing, burning our woolies and the merits of Slurpees over Icees. The Speedos discussion made Olivia blush.

Semper Fi my brothers and families, until next time, M.D. and J.S. (sittin’ in a tree)

142

1986

Clint Hubbard

102 El Dorado Drive Richmond, VA 23229-5932 804/282-0117 rch.270@gmail.com

You know what passes faster than Wayne Fuller driving down Washington Street in an old Mustang during summer school? Or faster than the hop privileges of a 3rd Class man? Or faster than Jay Ball coming back from the Cock-Pit at Washington and Lee right before Taps? The time between submissions for the class notes in Alumni Review, that’s what! These notes are being submitted on or about Nov. 15 and should appear in print in early 2019.

The big event for this quarter was the slew of BRs who made it to the “I” for the football game weekend versus The Citadel. Insofar as the Class of 1986 was concerned, the headline event for the weekend was not the football game, it was the musical interlude between the parade and the ballgame. The headliners were ’86’s very own The Strain featuring Sammy Shako. Our boys (Ralph Frye, Dave Grimm, Steve Grudi (honorary BR), Tony Hirtz, Rob Mason and Dave Miller) played multiple sets from the plaza at Moody Hall and were met with rave reviews by the tailgating crowd.

And it was a crowd as that weekend was Parents Weekend. In the spirit of Parents Weekend and the question of, “Who’s your daddy,” Sammy Shako is everyone’s favorite daddy; Sammy is the rage! If you’re not already, you need to get on the Sammy train.

In addition to Sammy and the boys as listed above, the attendees at the tailgates included (in no particular order): Jon Moody, David Moore, Stewart Barnes, Mike Colletti, Frank Clark, Al Comer, Frank Ladson, Roy Woolwine, Dan Monahan, Mark Muldowney, Louis Rucker, Ronnie Mays, Steve Pancham, Mike Necessary and Stu Heishman. I’m doing this from memory, so if I left anyone off, please forgive me. Of course, our favorite chief of staff (Jamie Inman) as well as our favorite inspector general officer (Jeff Boobar) were both in attendance, as well. And, yes, you read correctly; I said BR Woolwine was there. Ol’ Roy was reportedly quite taken with the parade; it was rumored he had never seen nor participated in one before.

It was great to see Louis Rucker all the way from

St. Louis, Missouri. He looks like he could suit up for the Keydets, and he even said he thought he could go for a couple of plays. He and Mrs. Rucker have become empty-nesters, and he promises to come back more often. He has been working out and looks great – fit as a fiddle.

In the lead for 2018’s “He’s Still Got It” Award is Sammy Shako’s favorite lead guitarist, Dave Miller. It seems BR Miller represented the Waynesboro 1st Class Private’s Association on a recent trip to New York City, and the Waynesboro in him came out. He and Mrs. Miller were plowing the froth off a cold one at a comedy club where Amy Schumer was appearing, and Dave busted her for using notes. She started trying to heckle him, and he gave it as good as he got – the waiters were asking him to tone it down or be thrown out of the joint – like Dave Miller’s never been thrown out of a bar before?! I’m sure he’s been thrown out of better joints than that one! Long story longer is that the headliner realized she had met her match and backed down. BR Miller left with the upper hand and his testosterone in check.

In late August, we took a family trip to Charleston, South Carolina, to squeeze the last little bit out of summer. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend it, as it is a great town with much to see and do – and plenty of great restaurants, too.

One of the stops we made was at the Charleston Cub Scout camp – known as The Citadel – as I hadn’t been there since fall 1982.

When you drive onto their post, they have “checkpoint Charlie” access point manned by a cadet. As I pulled up, the cadet asked how he might help me so I asked him, “Where is the VIP parking for VMI alumni?” He got the joke and tried to send me on a wild goose chase; he seemed like a fine young man. We checked out the library, which houses a small, one-room museum. Their museum is not equal to the VMI Museum, but it was nice enough and had some interesting artifacts about the school. They have a pretty campus, and I was surprised to learn they have five separate barracks; they are billeted by battalion. They also have a neat dock out into the Ashley River which could be primo for alumni with a boat, and their PX features a Chick-Fil-A. Just as we all suspected, the place is a country club. If you’re in Charleston, you should stop by and give the place the onceover; although, be prepared that they may not treat you with the deference and awe I thought a VMI alumnus would warrant.

Speaking of people who should be treated with

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes awe: How about an update from our own Sgt. Ca- McKethan Park, and the attendees included much Sheriff’s Association for his work as a law enforcebell? Make that Cabell, R.S., Norfolk, Virginia, sir! of the Class of 1983 including their talented and ment chaplain. Lou is a former law enforcement Bobby C. writes in that his youngest son, Hayden, gifted class agent, Hugh Daughtry ’83, as well as officer and currently pastor of a Lutheran church is a high school senior with potential aspirations the famous Mr. P.B. Dunahoe ’83. By all accounts, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. BR Florio volunteers of becoming an Air Force or Navy fighter pilot. our dykes loved their dykes, and Sammy rules! A as a chaplain with the Hanover Virginia Sheriff’s BR Cabell reached out to BR Steve Gray to ask good time was had by all. Interestingly, the only Department. Well done and congratulations, BR if Steve would mind having a conversation with member of The Strain that Brent Dunahoe rec- Florio!

Hayden and offer some counsel that would come ognized readily was BR Ralph Frye! It seems that Before we close, let’s put out an all-call for Tom from someone else other than Hayden’s dad (Bob). Brent and Ralph got together on a regular basis Kardos, Mike Grochowski, Rich Weede and Jim BR Cabell reports that Steve went above and be- back in 1982-83.

Dillon. Hope you boys are OK. Well, that’s a wrap for this quarter, boys. Here’s Just under the wire is a quick update from Jim yond the call of duty down at Randolph Air Force Base outside San Antonio, Texas. Not only did Daly. Jim reports that he has retired from law en- hoping the Dark Ages are not too dark for you BR Gray hook young Cabell up with a lieutenant forcement for the second time; he has hung up his and that 2019 is your best year yet. If you’re so colonel and a couple of civilian instructors to talk, badge with the Loudoun County, Virginia, Police inclined, remember VMI in your charitable giving.

Steve actually got Hayden into a T-6 simulator and Department. Jim has started a new career teach- Also, don’t forget to reach out to a BR or two to made arrangements for Hayden to see a T-6 up ing and consulting law enforcement and emer- keep in touch; it can even be to your class agent close and personal. His simulator experience last- gency management-related topics to police de- to share some news for our next installment. Take ed roughly 45 minutes, and Steve had the headset partments, businesses and colleges throughout care, brother rats. on with him telling him what to do, and Hayden the United States. BR Daly reports that he is executed pretty well (per Steve). Bob reports that a lot busier than he thought he would be when Hayden had a permanent smile for a week. he first retired but he’s thoroughly enjoying the BR Cabell notes that they had a great time new life. (Agent note: I am not surprised in the Curt Schoonmaker catching up with Steve over lunch and dinner and least that there is a market for that type of con- 420 Mosby Drive SW Leesburg, VA 20175 hearing a lot of great pilot stories. Bob closed with sulting work out there what with Ranger Carl 540/538-9639 a request to provide a BR shout-out for BR Steve Gitchell, Tom McHugh and John Kiefer still vmi87schoon@yahoo.com Gray, U.S. Air Force, retired. at large out there somewhere.) BR Daly closed I’ve never had so many photo submissions.

Speaking of potential new cadets, several of us with an apology to “tell our BRs that they must attended a new cadet recruiting event in Richmond behave in northern Virginia, as I can no longer Thank you. I wish I could have included them all.

Lots of other good submissions, so here we in early November. Jon Moody, Russ Spriggs and bail them out!” Well done, Jim, and best wishes go, less Andy Kestner’s latest, frightening news. your dedicated Class Agent all attended with our on your new endeavors. high school-aged sons. BR Moody has a son who Speaking of law enforcement, BR Lou Florio, or While doing something, he broke his “finger” and had to have surgery with lots of stitches. Stitches is currently a Rat and one who might be interested if you prefer, Pastor Lou Florio, was recently honin it in a year or two. BR Spriggs’ son is a cur- ored with the Medal of Merit from the National in his “finger.” He asked me to not say much more than that. After surgery, he was inrent high school senior. Russ is working as the chief technology officer for Richstructed to not use his “finger” for a couple months. I think compliance lasted 10 days. mond Christian School in the Richmond We are a special lot, owing in large part area. I also saw Chip “Hide-and-Seek” to the longest Rat Line in the history of DePasquale at a VMI football game this anything that matters. fall when he brought his son down for a Go to Kevin McClung’s Facebook page look-see. Good luck to these youngsters on and buy his CDs. He’s very skinny. If making a college choice. enough people like his Bluegrass recordBy the time you read this, there will be another Taggart with a ring, as Jim Tagings, he’ll play at our next reunion – and – we probably won’t have to pay him much. gart’s son, Jack ’20, is a 2nd Class cadet Unlike his album covers, he will be fully this year. I told Jack that Ring Figure was clothed as a courtesy to our wives. in 1984, but congratulations on the junior Brother Rat John Boughton checked in prom and welcome to the brotherhood of just after the submission deadline for the the ring.

In addition to playing on the plaza of Class of 1986: Representing the class at the Institute So- last notes. He says, “Hey, Curt; I don’t think I’ve laid eyes Moody Hall, The Strain featuring Sam- ciety Dinner in November 2018 were Stewart and Susan my Shako was the headline act for the Barnes, Jon and Brynn Moody, Jeff and Audrey Boobar, on you since my short stint in Pensacola ...

Jamie and Lori Inman, and Clint Hubbard and son John.

The last I remember was trying to diffuse 35th Reunion of the Class of 1983. The John is a high school freshman and interested in VMI. a fight between you and some butt-headed setting was Friday night in November at

1987

2019-Issue 1

143

Class Notes Academy grad ... I have often thought I should have kicked that guy’s %#$ instead of peacemaking. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t, even if he seemed to deserve it. Nonetheless, I pray and trust you are well. It would be good to catch up over a beer someday. Thanks for taking on the thankless job of class rep.

“Just a quick note to tell you of yet another couple of mini reunions. A bunch of us went to Dave Furness’ change of command with the 2nd Division. John Nolan hosted a pre-party at his home in Virginia with John Pilloni, John Sachrison and Ken Kovac ’90 in attendance, with a last minute wave off by Chip Bierman, who sent fond regards.

Edna Nolan and the ladies provided a wonderful spread of food, and it was a great visit. John has a wonderful family and is doing very well.

“The next day, Nolan and I drove to North Carolina, where he peppered me with five hours of questions about life, the universe and everything.

It was fun. Then we met up with Andy Zolper, Owen Curley, Al Cowan and his bride, Dennis Butts and Rob Goodwin. Dennis and Rob had a running bet to see how many words into their first conversation with Furness he would ‘drop the F-bomb.’ They both lost. It was his first word! It’s good to see there are constants in the universe. It was a real treat for me to see Dennis and Rob, and Al; they are all doing very well. After the parade, we all made our way to Dave’s new house on General’s Row, and in proper BR fashion, we arrived before he and Lynda did, and we started clearing out his fridge and stayed way too late, causing a general row. John and I drove back to Virginia the next morning, where he peppered me with five more hours of questions about life, the universe and everything. He has an amazing mind; I answered everything with confidence ... I figure, every question deserves an answer, right or wrong.

I may often be wrong but never show I’m in doubt.

“To a man we are all very proud of Dave and Chip and the rest of our BRs who are carrying such heavy leadership burdens for our country. ’87 is being well heard from.

“Let me know if you or any BRs are in New York City anytime, I have cheap tours of the South Bronx.”

This class is full of legends, and dear John Boughton is certainly one of them. He certainly immerses himself amongst the sinners.

Another John has also been quite helpful in filling in the blank spaces. Old Roanoke John Johnson types, “For purposes of the class notes: I’m

144

Class of 1987: Kevin and Maria Reardon received the Best of the Best Award in Richmond, Virginia, in November 2018.

Class of 1987: Bill Wanovich, Neal Naff and Kevin Reardon over the Founders Day and Institute Society Dinner weekend in November 2018.

still practicing law here in Roanoke. By the time this goes to press, Gwyn will be one year-plus post-open heart surgery and is thriving. We truly were blessed. Our daughter, Anne, graduated from George Mason University in May and is gainfully employed in Arlington in health care administration. Son Thomas is a sergeant with 1/1 of the Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton. He’s trying to find a way back to Lejeune. I told him about Dave Furness taking over at Lejeune and he was thrilled – he has such fond memories of thenCol. Chip Bierman paying him a special visit at Parris Island. His drill instructors were excited to learn that he knew important people in the Corps!

They richly rewarded him. Mike Moore was in town for a meeting and we caught up for lunch.

Big things going on with the Moore clan in Richmond. That’s it from Roanoke.”

Anyone on Facebook has no doubt observed the exploits of “Fearless-Post-Hole-Digger-By-Hand” Kevin Reardon. He has a new tractor but doesn’t want to get it dirty. He keeps winning awards. He writes, “Curt, Fat Dog instructed me to send you photos, so here they are in a couple of emails. One is a photo of Maria and I accepting the award for Best Local Men’s Clothing Store for 2018. As you may remember, our store was started in 1972 by her father, and today, her brother and I are coowners. We have two stores in the Richmond area – one in the Short Pump Mall and the original location, where I hang out, on the north side of Richmond.

“The other photo is of Neal Naff, me and the commandant touring Old Barracks before Saturday’s parade. We were up for the Institute Society Dinner and had a great time with Neal and also with Bill Wanovich and Tina and Lapthe Flora and his wife. Bob Phillips was doing the chaplain thing. Lots of guys at the game Saturday but missed a few, I understand. My wife decided to paint another barracks painting, so it was a business trip, also. Here’s the link to the press release: https://www.richmond.com/rtd-the-best/shopping/best-mens-clothing-store/” Congratulations, Kevin, and your substantially more talented and better looking wife, Maria. That guy has always been a chick magnet, hasn’t he?

One of the other Kevins, Kevin Barker, gets around quite a bit west of the Mississippi. He sent pictures of him with Robert Eckhoff, Warren Michelsen and John Ferguson. Hopefully there’s room for them all.

Now, for the news that really matters; another

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes during a prospective cadet visit. Guy is glorious northern Virginia mini redoing well and still very active in miliunion! Steve Cade has a job and did not wear sweatpants this time. We allowed tary re-enactments. We had a nice time one outsider, Bill McCarthy from catching up and trading stories.

Richmond, to attend and take notes to Two weekends later I was able to enlighten those other knuckle draggers catch up with Bill Cronenberg and from around Richmond on the particuMike Bryant there. Bill arrived in Lexlars of how to conduct a gathering. He ington after making the rounds at John describes the meeting and other imporKeppeler’s and Christian Comberg’s.

On Parents Weekend, we had quite a tant things thusly, “I see BRs occasioncrowd on post: Walt and Missy Coleally around Richmond. I ran into Fishback, who is busy flying for JetBlue. I man; Al and Holly Cuellar; Dan and went by Franco’s, which is a high-end Ann Riley; Rucker and Beth Ann Slatclothing store that Kevin Reardon’s faer; Eric and Margaret Lassalle; Christher-in-law, Franco Ambrogi, founded tian and Pam Comberg; Tom and when he came over from Italy. Now Tracey Reimann; John “Rock” Kepthat his twins have graduated from the Class of 1987: Ted Fishback and Bill McCarthy in an undisclosed peler; Brian and Raye Durham; Sean Institute, he and Maria are spending a bar location in October 2018.

“Red” Cantrell; my rat, Sean Boyle lot of time down on the farm outside ’91, and his wife, Amy; and Andy Tate of Lexington. ’92, along with me and my wife, Sheila. We were “Todd Williamson and I meet with a bunch of not able to gather everyone at the same time but VMI guys for breakfast gatherings in the neighbordid get a good picture of most of the crew.

Brother Rat Brig. Gen. Steve Neary was able hood. Notable attendees include two of our dykes, to attend the Marine Corps OCS graduation Hank Selman ’84 and Jeff Levenson ’84. ceremony for his daughter, Cadet Riley Neary “As always, the trip to D.C. brought out some ’19, and sent in a great picture. (Editor’s Note: Alpha Company studs and some other nice guys.

See page 9 of this issue of the Review for the Steve Cade, Schoon and Kyle Oliver enjoyed photo.) some cold barley soup along with John Lightner Derek McFarland hosted an “’88 and sons” and Reynolds Renshaw. Steve Wilson was exweekend of camping, stories and shooting at pected but had some business travel the next day. his place in Maryland. Present were John KepMike Maxwell and I talk fairly frequently, mostly Class of 1987: Todd Arris and Bill Callaabout getting daughters through college and the peler, Bill Reagan and his son, Josh Ehret, Bill han, with Bill McCarthy holding the camhealth benefits of adding more Spam to your diet.”

Cronenberg, Derek McFarland, Hugh Brien, era in an undisclosed West Coast bar loBill sent pictures of Todd Arris, Bill Callahan and John Ryman with his three sons. cation in October 2018. and Ted Fishback in various poses. Some may apWe had a good showing at the VMI versus pear here. Talk about retaining a boyish physique!

That’s all I remember. My Air Force daughter got picked at first try for E-5. She’s at Shaw in Sumter, South Carolina. She’s put in for an opening in Richmond at Defense Supply Center. I’ll relay whatever I hear. Love you boys.

Schoon

1988

Ed Wetherell

301 Lake View WAy NW Leesburg, VA 20176 703/737-3501 elw@v-m-i.net

I have been fortunate to see a number of BRs in Lexington since the last Alumni Review notes were submitted. I saw Guy Gormley and his son

2019-Issue 1

Class of 1988: Walt and Missy Coleman, Ed and Sheila Wetherell, Dan and Ann Riley, Al and Holly Cuellar, Rucker and Beth Ann Slater, and Brian and Raye Durham during Parents Weekend.

145

Class Notes please send me a picture and drop me a line. It is always good to catch up and hear how everyone is doing. I am happy to provide contact information for anyone in the class you would like to get in touch in with – just call, text or email me. Please encourage BRs to join the VMI 88 Facebook page, as well. It is a good way to stay in the loop on what everyone is up to.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Lexington. Until then, all the best to you and your families and Rah Virginia Mil! Ed

1989

Steve Chiles

889 Eaton Ave. Akron, OH 44303 703/727-7331 schiles@gmail.com

Class of 1988: Bill Reagan’s son, John Keppeler, Bill Reagan, Josh Ehret, Bill Cronenberg, Derek McFarland, Hugh Brien, John Ryman and Ryman’s three sons during a camping weekend. for keeping our VMI ’88 lunches going. We have been meeting for lunch about seven or eight times a year now for the past five years in the Quantico and Fredericksburg area. Our most recent gathering included Rock, Mike Beyer, Hugh Brien, Kirk Dewyea and his daughter, Derek McFarland, Scott Stachelek, and me.

Whenever you run into a BR or have an update,

David A. Martin

3 Whaley Court Sterling, VA 20165 (H) 703/444-2286 (C) 703/283-8293 david.a.martin4@gmail.com

Winter is here for many on this mid-November day – snow and ice throughout much of the Eastern U.S., and Ohio is no exception. I hope none of you were materially impacted by some of the storm events that ravaged the southeast earlier this year, especially in the Carolinas and Florida.

Class of 1988: A.J Williams, Drew McKone, Sam Tate, Cadet Spencer Chaszar ’21, John Keppeler and Andy Tate ’92 at a VMI rugby game. the U.S. Naval Academy rugby match in Annapolis, and A.J. and Rosemary Williams graciously hosted a get-together at their lovely home after the Keydet victory. In attendance were Drew McKone, Cadet Spencer Chaszar ’21, Sam Tate, John Keppeler and Andy Tate ’92.

Congratulations to BR Col. Dan Shrimpton, who recently retired from the Army after 30 years of service! He was joined in celebration by Hugh and Regina McGloin; his wife, Fiona Shrimpton; and Sam and Amy Tate.

Continued thanks to John “Rock” Keppeler

146

Class of 1989: Steve Chiles, Felicia Chiles, David Martin and Steffi Martin at the VMI Labor Day football game in Toledo, Ohio.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Dave and I, along with our far-better halves, were part of the small VMI contingent at the Labor Day football game in Toledo. The team made an unusually strong showing against a tough opponent. Since our band didn’t join for the trip, it was great to see Toledo’s marching band march in front of the visitor’s section and play our fight song. Stay classy, Toledo.

We’re getting our reunion planning underway with assistance from some of the fine folks at the “Mother I.” Stay tuned for more info as we move into the new year. We’re going to place extra emphasis on keeping the production value low while maximizing our opportunities to hang out and enjoy each other’s company.

Another lean update. Please don’t hesitate to drop an update anytime to Dave or myself.

I hope all of you and your families had a joyous holiday season!

Airborne School. Brad, me, Brian McCarthy, Mike Mullori and Gray Riddick were among the paratroopers qualified that week at the “Benning School for Boys.”

I also heard from Airborne Sal Bora, who is looking to change jobs. Sal is fully recovered from his terrible accident and back out and about doing so many of the things he loved, such as sailing and dining out almost nightly.

The Lexington Class of ’90 contingent gathered in early September at Beam Me Up BBQ in Lexington with BRs Ramon Williams, Joey Jones, Matt Schwartzmann, John Burleson and me in attendance. John’s again helping out BRs, as he’s being doing some work to assist Joey on his renovation project out in the country. Absent from said gathering were Col. Neil Whitmore, who is busy running for re-election to the Rockbridge County School Board, and Keith Kornegay, who had a business conflict if memory serves correctly.

Glenn Thompson’s company is involved with a number of construction projects at VMI, and he passed along the following note in August: “My role in business development had me involved with Preston early on when we were pursuing it.

Mark Reilly ’88 is our project executive in charge of the operations portion of the project. I am always looking for that next opportunity, but we really need to finish Preston before we go our chasing another – like CPTF3. (Aquatics Center).”

Barry Johnson stopped by to have lunch with me right after Matriculation. Barry’s son, Carter ’20, is back for his Ring Figure year, and his younger son is now a freshman and playing soccer for Eastern Mennonite University. The very same afternoon, I accidentally dialed John Gottwald. BR Gottwald was in the midst of laying blocks in an effort to

Class of 1990: Fred Minnigerode and Dave Darden visiting down at Virginia Tech in September 2018.

restore a house on his 80-acre farm and hunting property. He is doing most of the work himself and hopes to be moved in by January.

On the anniversary of our own Matriculation, I had a number of BRs check in to comment on Dave Yockel’s apparent lack of math skills (he thought matriculation was 22 years ago) including Willie Crane, Sean Hoover, Ramil Ibanez, Barry Johnson and Todd Jacobs. “Just about this time, Daren Payne when we were in the racquetball courts trying to 320 Institute Hill understand our decisions,” noted Bill Gaspar, as Lexington, VA 24450 Col. Mike Manning recalled, “Fond memories of 540/287-1252 paynerd@vmi.edu the racquetball courts, det cord in the courtyard and pissing-down rain!” Rich Mehl added some As I prepare to turn these notes in, we are really cool ’80s videos and links that left no doubt mere days away from the start of Thanksgiving it has been 32 years and we are almost all 50-plus Furlough and Ring Figure for the Class of ’20. years old by now. Speaking of Mehl, he was right The Corps changed into woolies and the dark in the eye of the hurricane and spent a couple of ages are officially upon us. By the time you read weeks without power and living off a generator, this, “national goof-off month” will be over and but his home and property made it through the everyone will be back to work and enjoying the storm OK compared to so many others in the winter weather. I, for one, am hoping for a few Wilmington area. snow days!

I had a nice phone call with Jim Hubbard We started off this reporting period with Maright before Hurricane Florence. Jim was kind triculation for the mass of 2019+3 with enough to volunteer to handle finances about 520 matriculating. Among those for our upcoming 30th Reunion. He in attendance dropping off rats were lives in Signal Mountain near ChattaGlenn Dickenson (No. 3), Dave West, nooga, Tennessee, and sees a lot of BR Arturo “A.J.” Johnson (No. 2), Mark Rob Uhorochuk, as their kids go to the Hennigan and Andy Kvasnicka. Notice same school. I can’t thank Jim enough the first three were all from Company F, for being willing to take on the finances as that company has sent I think like 11 for our class, and we all owe him a free kids to VMI. It was really great to see one at the reunion. once again how much has changed yet I had a couple notes from our first rat how much remains the same as this new sentinel, Mark Cheadle. Col. Cheadle is class entered barracks for the first time finally back in the states stationed at Fort and moved through the cadre period.

Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He Brad Steverson checked in shortly says he plans to make this his final stop Class of 1990: Hunter Trumbo and Jim Hynes at the U.S. Canaafter the deadline on or about the 29th before retirement, but like many of us, he da Border conference in September 2018. anniversary of our graduation from also thought he was only going to stay in a

1990

2019-Issue 1

147

Class Notes Phil Smith was in charge of security and traf- A.J. were in town for the 50th anniversary of couple of years – and that was 30 years ago.

I also heard from Terrence Kerner who was fic control. Phil is the commander of the 4th integration event held before the game.

The Citadel game had a whopping number of looking for football game day parking passes for Regiment of the Virginia Defense Force. Phil The Citadel. Terrence continues to be busy with spent most of his civilian career in the insur- BRs come out of the woodwork. The outcome Atlantic Constructors, and he now has a project ance industry and is currently the underwriting of the game (a two point loss and our fourth going at Washington and Lee next door. Also manager for Pacific Life based in Lynchburg. loss by single digits this season) was not what emailing was Mike Doczi, who I finally got on our Thanks for your service, Phil, and thanks for we wanted, but it was a great atmosphere for distribution list – if you are not on that, please be the great support to the Institute by your outfit! college football with both cadet corps marchlike Mike and reach out and join us.

Hunter Trumbo was on Post along with Maring onto the field, awesome weather, excellent I also saw a great Facebook post from John shall Simpson for the baseball showcase camp. tailgating and nearly sellout crowd of almost Golden, who is still on active duty with 10,000 in the stadium. Among those the U.S. Marine Corps, reminiscing in attendance were BRs and former about the ’80s and the great times in football players Jim Hubbard, Mark the D.C. area back then. Doug Harper Hennigan and Chilton Morris; soon was in the area for some business in to be retired Col. Tripp Anderson; and November for his company, Gilbane fellow Army retirees Chris Larlee and Engineering, down in Charlotte, North Bryan Burchette; recently returned Carolina. Finally, I heard from Judge from Afghanistan Scott Spellmeyer; John Franklin in Fredericksburg, who Mike Mullori; VMI parents Kvas, Don was looking for the parade schedule Bowers, Dickenson, Carlos Fernandes for the coming months. I’m hoping his and Minnigerode (who passed along schedule will give him the opportunity a lovely picture of himself and Dave to visit soon, as it’s always fun to talk to Darden); along with Simpson, BeasClass of 1990: At the VMI versus The Citadel game in Octojudges about their experiences in court. ber were Brian McCormack, Don Bowers, Neil Whitmore, ley, Vu and Whitmore.

I wanted to give a shout here to some Daren Payne, Chris Larlee, Scott Spellmeyer, Chilton Morris, Just before these games, I caught up of our “endurance athletes” from our Mike Mullori, Fred Minnigerode, Tripp Anderson and Brian (finally) with Chin Vu on one of my Burchette. Also present but not pictured were Chin Vu and class who are still out there getting it trips to Richmond. We were both atJim Hubbard. done as we all hit the big 5-0. First up tending the architectural and arts rewas Andy Schaff, who completed the view board in the capital. Chin actually 100-mile Leadville Run in Colorado. has a nephew, Cadet Cpl. Armbruster Andy shared this note with me: “I com’20, who is the son of his brother-in-law George Armbruster ’89. Chin is doing pleted the Leadville Trail 100-mile foot very well for himself as the director of race in 28 hours and 33 minutes – althe office of construction management most a full 1-and-a-half hours under the for special projects at the Department cutoff time. It was an amazing experiof General Services in Richmond where ence – not sure if I want to do it again. he oversees construction on a variety of Smile. I could not have done it without capital projects for the commonwealth. your encouragement and the help of Speaking of Vu, has anyone heard my crew! Most importantly, we raised from my rat roommate Liu? I’d heard almost $8,000 for Rancho3M, which is he was still in the Taiwanese Army, but going to help purchase equipment necI haven’t had an update from Li, Lin or essary for starting a business that will Class of 1990: Members of the class at the 2018 Institute Wang with the Taiwan contingent in provide hope and opportunities for a Society Dinner. quite some time, so I was wondering if brighter future for the orphans.” How exciting!

Each of them had a son auditioning in front BR Liu may have made general by now?

As to roommates, I had the sad misfortune to Going even further was Dave Kaulfers, who of about half a dozen college coaches from attend the funeral for BR and roommate Dave did the 243-mile hike of the John Muir Trail around the region. at Yosemite National Park in 21 days, includWe had quite a crowd on hand for the tough loss Ratliff’s mother in October, along with Johnagainst Mercer in September. BRs Don Bowers, ny Hahn. John and Dave’s family go back to ing a summit of Mount Whitney. Tim Haynie also reported he was doing a half-marathon in Mark Hennigan, Glenn Dickenson and Andy middle school, and I, of course, was representKvasnicka all came by with their rats/cadets and ing room 161. Do keep Dave and the family in Colorado this fall.

For the rat trip to New Market, I was pleased families. We also ran into Matt Schwartzmann, your prayers, along with all the others who’ve to see that none other than long lost BR Lt. Col. Arturo Johnson and Greg Hatchett. Greg and recently lost parents.

148

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Tim Feagans called from the Dallas metroplex to talk football and how life has changed in that area in the past 20 years. I try to convince Tim he needs to move back to God’s country here in the commonwealth. He’s doing great; his youngest in his junior year of high school and his middle son is a senior at Villanova, while the oldest already graduated from Southern Methodist University.

Speaking of service to the Institute, I have to give a call to Andy Beasley who generously volunteered to represent our class at the annual Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet at Club Crozet. Andy represented us in awarding our Class of 1990 Athletic Scholarship to Cadet Corey Johnston ’19, who is a pitcher on our winning baseball team and is from the Richmond area. Joining Andy at this annual gala were Marshall Simpson and Fred Minnigerode.

As to the other annual gala, the Institute Society Dinner, we had Chuck Ellis, Sam Stocks, Ramon and Damon Williams, Jim Cox, Tony Baker and Matt Schartzmann present.

In town for that same weekend we had BRs Ellis, A.J. Johnson, Marshall Simpson, Barry Johnson, Hunter Trumbo and Andy Kvasnicka – all of whom passed through my tailgate at some point during the weekend.

In response to my query as to who got boned for having a car, I got the following from Rob Oviat: “I got boned for it when I (OG) blabbed about it in front of Vespa (OD) while we were sitting in the guard room. It was only my first or second week back from being suspended, and I was technically an Academic 2nd, but I had all the 1st Class ‘class’ privileges. Weird let me off with a ‘make it disappear’ kind of warning. Only time I pleaded stupidity with him that it worked.”

I also heard from Eliot Assimikopolous who was trying to figure out with his apparently failing memory who his scuba instructor was 1st Class year.

In conclusion, our 30th Reunion will be only 18 months away by the time you get this, so prepare to keep open the weekends in April 2020. We are already making plans, so if you are not getting my weekly email updates, please contact me so I can add you to my growing distro list of 160-plus BRs. I really appreciate all you are doing for VMI and our class. To those still serving or in harm’s way, do stay safe out there. Until next time – go Keydets!

2019-Issue 1

1991

Chuck Story

1908 Prophet Road Goode, VA 24556 434/258-1991 vmi91chs@gmail.com

The weather outside is frightful, but the BR stories are delightful. I’m heading out the door to join a motley crew of BRs on a hunting trip. I almost forgot to hit send on these notes before I left.

Eric Hyde retired from the Air Force after 26 years of service in July. They had an awesome party to celebrate the event which was highlighted

by Dan Robinson’s mad barbecuing skills. He and his lovely bride, Marci, smoked a whole hog and put on a huge spread. After a 3-month sabbatical, he is back working for Universal Consulting Services supporting Air Force Medical Service in the same building he was in before retiring. Congrats on the outstanding career, Eric! Their youngest attends the University of Lynchburg, so they make their way down here and kick in David Ahrens’ door whenever they get a chance.

Flip Secrist came out of hiding after some time overseas. All I really got out of him was “Grout 6” and a job title of “commander, Mosul Dam Task Force, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” More interesting stories to come if I can nail him down longer than that. Even the Institute can’t nail him down for a forwarding address. At least Pat Womack saw him long enough to catch up and do some zip lining.

In the picture worth a thousand words department, Matt Childs sent some awesome shots of his time in the Department of State. He just recently transitioned from the protection detail for the Secretary of State. He’s now in the Miami field office supervising the protective liaison unit.

Class of 1991: Andy Collier and Tom Harmon in Tokyo, Japan.

Class of 1991: John Childs and Billy Canedo in Miami, Florida.

Class of 1991: Joe Gionti and Spike Watson at Joe’s surprise birthday party.

Class of 1991: Col. Philip Secrist and Patrick Womack zip lining in Austin, Texas.

149

Class Notes my potential arrest for not re-registering He recently attended a training program my evil-scary looking AR rifles as assault at the Federal Law Enforcement Training rifles by July 1, 2018. Anyway, it’s great to Center in Glynco, Georgia. He ran into be back in America again. The beach life the Deputy Director of FLETC, our very is rejuvenating to the soul and we can actuown Mike Milner. He’s also been catching up with Billy Canedo in Miami from ally live comfortably off one income, but time to time. most importantly, we’re much closer to the Joe Gionti and Spike Watson spent a ‘I’ and other BRs and alums!” weekend together recently when Spike I received an update from Jake Spivey showed up for Joe’s surprise birthday ’85 which included a picture (in the 1985 party. class notes) of him and Churchill Bowles.

Speaking of birthdays, several BRs Jake said that they led Boy Scout Troop gathered in Pamplin, Virginia, for Char- Class of 1991: Attending Charlie Schindler’s 50th birthday 444 (Richmond, Virginia) to the sumlie Schindler’s birthday celebration in celebration were, from left, front row, Kenny Draper, Greg mit of Spy Rock from the Virginia State September. Larry Murray, Kenny Drap- Hurst, Charlie Schindler, Bob Cole and Larry Murray. Back Fish Hatchery in Montebello, Virginia. er, Bucky Bridges, Bob Cole, Denton row: David Manning, Pat Madigan, Mike Jeffries, Chuck Churchill is an assistant Scoutmaster for Story, Michael Robichaud and Denton Sisk. Not pictured: Troop 444 and Jake is a parent volunteer.

Sisk, Greg Hurst, Charlie Cathcart, Pat Charlie Cathcart and Bucky Bridges.

Both have sons in Troop 444.

Madigan, Mike Jeffries, Chuck Story, Joel Coleman sent in a picture of him along David Manning and Michael Robichaud all Wagman Heavy Civil design build integration with his son, Ian, and wife, Michelle, at the Balmade an appearance at one point or another over manager; and Quintin Elliott ’85, Virginia depthe weekend. uty secretary of transportation) joined Governor timore, Maryland, Running Festival in mid-OcTom Harmon dropped me a note as he flew over Ralph Northam ’81 in Fredericksburg to break tober. Joel is the Upper School head at St. Paul’s Lynchburg flying into Charlotte. He is a pilot with ground on VDOT’s I-95 southbound collector American Airlines, based out of Charlotte. He and distributor lanes and Rappahannock River crosshis wife have moved to Asheville, North Carolina. ing project. Wagman Heavy Civil was awarded He retired from the military in August 2018 after the $101.6 million design build project in January 29 years in the Marine Corps Reserve, Marines 2018 which requires the design, permitting and and the Air Force Reserve. Flying for American construction of three new travel lanes along a six has allowed him to travel to a lot of places. He ran mile segment of I-95 and four major bridge strucinto Andy Collier while on a trip to Japan. Andy tures. This project is a key component of Virginia’s recently retired from the Navy and is working for Atlantic Gateway, currently services over 150,000 Lockheed Martin in Tokyo. vehicles per day and is scheduled to be completed Mike Jeffries is relocating to Daleville. He’s join- in summer 2022.” Be on the lookout for the asClass of 1992: K.C. Bratton, Alex Alston and ing forces with Greg Hurst to take over the world, sociated picture of the event in the Alumni News Brian Mason at VMI during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of integration. or at least the southwest Virginia portion of it. section of the May 2019 Alumni Review.

Thank you all for taking the time to keep me in Dan Gaskell reported in from Camp Lejeune, the loop and make this job easier.

North Carolina, where he was able to attend a Until next time.

VMI alumni gathering in early November. Look in the Class of 2015 inputs for a picture from the event. Dan also has a picture in the Our Alumni Serving section of this edition of the Alumni ReWilliam Woodward view from his deployment to Okinawa, Japan, 5930 Westchester Street which was completed in September 2018.

Alexandria, VA 22310 Jeff Galon sent me an update in which he 703/924-1844 woodyandleslie@verizon.net reports, “After 20-plus years of burning our candles at both ends in the Silicon Valley, we BRs, had enough and joined the California middleHere are the latest updates from our classmates: class mass exodus in late September. We perGreg “Jabba” Andricos, Wagman Heavy Civil manently left the left coast for Satellite Beach, president and chief operating officer, reported Florida. Started my new job as a principal Class of 1992: Ian, Joel and Michelle Colethat “in late August 2018, [I] and several alumni systems engineer for Range Generation Next man at the Baltimore, Maryland, Running (Glen Mays ’83, Wagman Heavy Civil vice presiat Patrick Air Force Base. World of difference.

Festival in mid-October 2018. dent and general manager; Jerry Whitlock ’02, Happy to have beaten the big earthquake and

1992

150

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes Guard, as is Lt. Col. Todd Pegg in the Virginia National Guard. Of course, Col. Anhtuan Nguyen is still in the Army Reserve, and by the time this is published, he will have returned from a mobilization in Bagram, Afghanistan.

Anhtuan reported that “my tour as the officer-in-charge of Defense Logistics Agency disposition services in Afghanistan came to an end in November 2018.

I had a highly successful tour where I learned a lot. While in country, I was field promoted to O6 in a ceremony ofClass of 1992: Woody Woodward, Chuck Weatherman, Cart- ficiated by Brigadier General Conley, er Bostwick, Mark Thackston, Andy Krug, Andy Tate and commander of Bagram.” A picture of Dave Soldow.

Anhtuan in Afghanistan will appear in the Alumni Serving section of the May 2019 Alumni Review.

Doug Vincent’s sister, Lisa Vincent Olshove, sent in an update which said her son and Doug’s nephew, Cadet Tucker Olshove ’20, were able to parachute together in summer 2018 while Doug was commanding the Ranger and Airborne schools at Fort Benning. This was Tucker’s first jump and Doug’s 100th jump. A picture from the jump will be included in the Alumni Serving section of the May 2019 edition of the Alumni Review.

Brian Mason sent in a picture of him, Class of 1992: Allan Stoneman ’89, Matt Tederick ’89, Da- K.C. Bratton and Alex Alston at the vid Massie, Rusty Hale and Troy Barbour ’89.

50th anniversary celebration of the integration of VMI in September 2018.

As for me, I attended all of the home football games this past fall and was able to see a number of BRs. We were only able to tailgate on the Parade Ground once during the season due to the frequent rain. Over the course of the five games, I was able to link up with the following BRs: Taylor Holt, Charlie Martin, Chuck Weatherman, Carter Bostwick, Mark Thackston, Andy Krug, Andy Tate, Dave Soldow, Tom Timmes and Bob Burgess.

Please let me know of any major life events such as marriages (including for our children), births, deaths and advanced degrees so that I can inform the Alumni Review. If you have a change of address, let the Alumni Association and I know so that we can make sure you get all VMI correspondence.

In the bonds, Class of 1992: Brother rats commissioning in the U.S. Army May 15, 1992.

Woody

School in Brooklandville, Maryland.

David Massie sent in an update in which he said, “I had the opportunity to catch up with Rusty and Mary Hale; along with my dykes at the VMI versus Mercer football game in September.

We were also able to spend some time with Chuck Weatherman and Andy Krug during the game. Rusty also met up with his dykes during the game, J.C. Gregory ’89 and Brian Pannell ’89.

Prior to the game, we tailgated and celebrated my 50th birthday. This day was also the official dedication of the ‘Matthew Tederick [’89] Tailgate Lot’ – North Post entrance parking lot adjacent to the tennis courts. Fun time was had by all.”

Tom Timmes sent in an update from VMI which said he is enjoying life back at the “I”. He got an email from the professor of military science which listed our BRs still on active duty in the U.S. Army. It was an impressive list of nine colonels, including Jason Carrico, Neal Corson, Frank Harrar, Eric Larsen, Lee MacGregor, Jim Myers, Todd Viar, Doug Vincent and Dave Womack. Tom was able to dig up the Army commissioning photo from May 15, 1992. In addition to those nine BRs, Tom also mentioned that Col. J.J. Eget is still serving in the New Jersey National

2019-Issue 1

151

Present at the reunion were: Sandy Akers, Stephen Allison, John Barefoot, Curtis Barker, Kevin Barnes, Richard Barnes, Wesley Bosiger, Matthew Bowers, Todd Brickhouse, Braden Briller, Cameron Briody, Joseph Buchanan, James Camp, Brian Canaday, Thomas Carlsen, Lorenzo Carpenter, Jon Cederquist, David Charlton, Howard Clark, Benjamin Coleman, Jonathan Comer, Robert Copenhaver, Brian Cox, Edward Cox, William Cox, Mark Cumashot, William Currie, Brian DaRin, Michael De Spirito, Alex DeVarona, Matthew Eads, Timothy Ervin, Craig Eubank, Sean Farley, Michael Fisher, Patrick Foley, John Foster, Brandon Freel, Matt Gill, Gerald Goodwin, Michael Gorman, Philip Grant, Stephen Grim, Dallas Grubbs, John Guggenheimer, Marron Hak, Michael Hammond, Charles Hardenbergh, John Harper, Marcus Harring, Anthony Hatzis, Kelly Holbert, Michael Howard, David Hoy, Thomas Hubard, David Hurst, Allen Johnson, Andrew Joyner, Andrew Jurewicz, Victor Kane, Joseph Kennebeck, Tom Kent, Edward Kerns, Jimmy Langley, William Lee, Philip Leone, Benjamin Lilly, Kevin Link, Christopher Martin, Nicholas Martinson, Robert Matson, Paul Meadows, John Moore, John Morbitzer, Kevin Morello, Kevin Morris, Thomas Nelson, Richard Nevitt, Erik Nilsson, John O’Keefe, Harry Oldfield, Michael Parker, Hans Pauley, John Perry, Louis Petrillo, David Petty, Christopher Radford, Darin Ramsey, John Reilly, James Richards, Thomas Ripley, Richard Robinson, James Romasz, Kevin Roop, James Sharp, Bryan Shorter, James Smith, Kevin Smith, Brian Southard, Charles Spears, Douglas Stransky, Blake Svendsen, Lincoln Swineford, Maximillian Swoboda, Hans Sylvester, Patrick Thompson, Stephen Thrasher, John Timmons, Edward Tomlinson, Raleigh Trumbo, Michael Tuck, Rodney Turbak, Bryan Van Deun, Gregory Vinci, Philip Walker, Michael Wallace, Richard Weatherly, John Weeda, Matthew Williams, Tucker Worsham, Michael Wysong, Ra Yoeun, Lee Yowell and Michael Zamalis.

Class Notes

152

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

1993

Jim Sharp

1133 Andover Road Charlotte, NC 28211 704/609-5252 jimsharp93@carolina.rr.com

Brother Rats, Wow, what a great 25th Reunion. We had 126 alumni and 96 guests in attendance. At our 15th Reunion in 2008, we had 55 BRs. To the ones who could not make it, you missed a jam-packed weekend full of good laughs, memories and one or two beers. I know a couple of people could not attend due to military commitments.

Tom Nelson emailed the week of with the news that he was just mobilized. Speaking for the class, we missed your presence but are thankful for your service.

I want to acknowledge several BRs (including their wives) who helped make the reunion weekend special. John Barefoot and David Hoy did an unbelievable amount of work on the social front to organize the events, including providing beer for the weekend. I cannot thank them enough for their efforts. Augmenting the Social Committee were Lee Clark and Erik Nelson. On the fundraising side, both Tom Ripley and Cliff Foster did a tremendous job of reminding us how much VMI means to each of us and how it is our duty to support the Institute for the next generation.

On Friday night of the reunion, we had a formal dinner with Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 as our guest speaker. The general packed a lot into his speech detailing the progress the Institute has made over the past 25 years. The facilities are topnotch and the academic and military programs have progressed accordingly. Just a small observation, when Cliff, Tom and I were standing in review of the Corps the following day, we could not find one out of shape cadet from the rats to the 1st Class cadets marching.

Following the superintendent’s speech, I included in my comments to the class a letter I received from Lydia Butler, Bill Butler’s widow. I think the actions of our BRs referenced in the letter set the bar on how as a class we need to carry ourselves.

The following is the letter in full. “Dear Jim, this email comes to you long overdue. As you know, my husband, Bill Butler, died suddenly from epilepsy in May 2014. As the 25th Reunion approaches, I wanted to reach out and express my

2019-Issue 1

thanks and gratitude to his classmates at VMI. It is because of the love and support from the Class of ’93 that Axel and I, now almost five years from his passing, stand on steady ground.

“Within a week of Bill’s passing, Tom Ripley and Hans Sylvester were on a flight out to Bozeman, Montana. I had only heard stories of Tom and met Hans just once. No one asked them to come. They made it their mission to make sure Axel and I were all right. They understood the real work that needed to get done, and over the course of a few days did what takes most people months.

Together, we met with attorneys, accountants and businessmen to help assess and sell Bill’s businesses. They laid a solid foundation and set us on the right trajectory.

“Tom made several trips out to Bozeman over the course of that year to help me negotiate my way through the sale of the businesses, as well as help me buy a new house. He was only a phone call away and always willing to assist in any way possible. He instilled confidence and helped me summon the strength necessary to get through this difficult time and see the opportunity and possibility for the years ahead.

“David Youngclaus took it upon himself to organize a Youcaring site, and with the generous contributions of many from the Class of ’93, raised over $40,000 for our son Axel’s 529 Plan.

“A beautiful bouquet landed at my doorstep on July 18, our wedding anniversary, in 2014. There was no note, and after contacting the florist, I discovered it was from the VMI Class of ’93. Coincidence, who knows?

“A memorial service was held in Charleston on the first of August 2014 at Folly Beach. Rick Barnes, Frank Dingle, Mike Howard, Tom Ripley and Hans Sylvester made the long trip and, in turn, made it that much more special.

“Over the course of the past four-and-a-half years, Tom, Hans, Axel and I, along with various family members and friends, make of point of getting together, usually around President’s Day weekend, for a ski trip, something they did for years with Bill. They continue their support by including us, and we so look forward to this ongoing connection.

“For our son, Axel, it means the world to know his dad’s friends were men of such high moral character and decency. He is learning to understand the true meaning of friendship and loyalty.

I asked him last night what it meant when Hans and Tom came out in the spring of ’14 when he

was just six. He said, ‘They helped turn around a very sad time.’

“You are the friends you keep, and Bill had some of the finest friends in you, his brothers from VMI. With deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks, Lydia Butler.”

These are my last class notes as class agent. It has been an honor to serve the Class of 1993. As is a tradition with our class starting with Bill Cox, I kept my eye out for a BR who may have been overserved to take the helm as the next class agent.

I tried to tell Lincoln Swineford to be careful of the company you keep. After trying to hang with Jim Romaz and Kid Currie, he ended up missing the bus after the football game back to the hotel.

Since I don’t have the power to bone and issue a 10-6-30, I simply sentenced Lincoln to a five year stint as class agent.

By the way, Lincoln Swineford has already started to organize a mini reunion in Key West (at least that is the rumor I am trying to spread).

Before I wrap up, I did receive a nice email from Johnny Mac Marshall ’65. “In September, my wife and I went to Galveston for the annual judicial conference, and that led us to an unexpected mini reunion with Phil Grant ’93. He had appeared before me years ago as a lawyer, and he is now serving as the judge of the 9th District Court in Texas. It was a very happy meeting after so many years. Of course, it was very tough duty to have to go to the beach and have no hurricanes.

I hope that this arrives in time for your class notes, as you should be very proud of your BR Phil. I am honored to have him as a judicial colleague.”

Thanks, Johnny, for submitting.

Good luck to Lincoln. Help him out by timely submitting class notes.

Jim

1994

Clay Campbell

7263 Joffa Circle Warrenton, VA 20187 703/507-9108 classagentvmi94@gmail.com

Dear Brother Rats, I stand corrected from the last class notes. I spoke with John Campbell, and he got yet another new sheep dog and she had pups. So I now understand for a proper sheep farm in Lexington you must maintain a constant ratio of two dogs to every sheep on the property. I think John is trying

153

Class Notes to keep up with Fat Jimmy Bratina; every Federal. Matt is living in Culpepper and time Fat Jimmy has a baby, John gets a doing well. Before the game started, I dog. John, Jacob and Sally are competing met up with Thom Brashears, Jamie in sheep dog trials and loving it.

Joyner and Shannon Lucas. Thom was Recently, I went out to dinner and met heading up to call the game with his a young man in VMI attire; we chatted trusty spotter, Jamie. Shannon is now and ended up sharing a table. It was Paul back in Virginia and looks about the Busenberg ’02 and his wife, Shannon, and same as he did the day we graduated. it was fun to sit back and swap stories and Shannon, whatever you are doing, bottle cheap tequila with them. it and sell it to us guys who have actually I heard from Sean Lanier while trying to aged over the past 23 years. You’ll be a rope him into helping with the reunion; he rich man! As I was leaving the game, I is at Long and Foster in Old Town Alexsaw Chris Yeatts and Drew Dunningandria. He is also still working toward his ton. It was great seeing you guys. They Ph.D. both are doing very well.

About the reunion, Merce Brooke has Class of 1994: Vince Porter, Leandro Worrell and Sean Lanier.

Sean Burke emailed and has been thankfully stepped up to help take charge meeting up with some BRs. He hosted of the Fundraising/Financing Committee.

Virginia University in the anatomy division, Dave “Fatty” Johnson’s retirement party. Dave Michael Grose wrote in to let us know he just and was also named vice chair of the pathology, retired from the Marine Corps and has moved finished a three-year tour at the U.S. Embassy in anatomy and laboratory medicine department. to Connecticut. Sean also ran into Drew Bissell the United Kingdom; he was also promoted to He has written two textbooks, and they are due in Gainesville, Virginia, and then randomly ran commander. out in 2018.

Dale Hybl is with the U.S. Air Force deployed Brad Yeatts is living in Virginia Beach and in Afghanistan with Operation Resolute Support. working for Norfolk Southern. He recently anAlexander Morgan is in Dayton, Ohio, and is nounced that he is getting married in May 2019. doing contract research for the Department of Jason Nicholls is still undergoing treatment Defense. for his cancer; he recently underwent a stem cell I heard from Mike Moore. Since his retirement transplant. Please keep Jason, Beth and their from officiating, he has started on his Master of daughter in your thoughts and prayers.

Business Administration degree. He also said that Always, he caught up with Gene Long in California earlier Class of ’94 in the year.

Pig Ed Hosken came out of nowhere to let me know that he and Erica are celebrating 22 years of marriage and that all three kids are “blowers in the Joseph W. Doyle band – two horns and one flute.”

4310 Siden Circle NW Class of 1995: Maj. Gen. Mark Johnson Jim McCoy also dropped a note that he and his Roanoke, VA 24017 ’87 and Col. Sean Davis. wife, Stacey, are celebrating 21 years together.

540/537-5835 Sean Murray wrote to let all know that he land- vmijoe95@aol.com ed a job teaching in Pittsburgh.

I recently had the chance to speak with Drew Brother Rats, Vandergrift on the phone. He moved from CaliI hope this set of notes finds all of you well. As fornia to New York – not sure if that’s an im- I write, the Institute has just celebrated its 179th provement or not. He was promoted to the vice birthday, and it’s now snowing and sleeting. The president of patient engagement and sales for the football team had another tough year, but we do oncology and technology company. have a win under our belts and some really close Doug Estes was promoted to associate professor games. Look out, as this is a young team with a and just released his seventh book in October. Paul lot of potential.

Whitmore is with Joint Forces Staff College as a I attended The Citadel game on Parents joint planning instructor; he developed a three-day Weekend and ran into a few guys. I ran into military staff ride at Gettysburg battlefield as part Stewart Mallory and Matt Reiner at the paClass of 1995: Rick Franco and Sean of the course lesson. rade. Stewart is in northern Virginia and just Burke.

Wayne Lambert is a full professor at West started a new job as director of security at BT

1995

154

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 1995: Shannon Lucas, Thom Brashears, Jamie Joyner and Joe Doyle during Parents Weekend.

Class of 1995: Celebrating Dave Johnson’s retirement were Chris Yeatts, Johnson, Sean Burke, Drew Warren, Drew Dunnington and Rich Pitchford.

fall doing various races with his son, Colin. For those of you who are not aware of Chris’ and Colin’s adventures, I encourage you to check out Colin’s Corner on Facebook. Chris and his son have been running various road races together for almost 10 years and added triathlons to the mix this past year. Their last triathlon of the year was the Liberty University Triathlon at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, in October where they got to compete with the VMI triathlon team. Chris stated, “It was just like our old days on the track team as I watched the VMI jerseys disappear Class of 1995: Gordon Williams ’70; Thom Brashears, VMI Alumni into the distance! They were already Association chief operating officer; John Mengelt, former Aupacking up by the time we finished.” burn and NBA basketball player; and Andy Stanley, Williams’ friend; at the Park Ridge Country Club in Park Ridge, Illinois, in Chris also wrapped up the racing October 2018. year with another Marine Corps Marathon, where he and Colin ran in personally helped Mike with his campaign, honor of our fallen friends, including Jamie. I and many more made monetary contributions know Mike Ohleger also ran his 12th Marine giving him the chance to compete and ulti- Corps Marathon, once again wearing “Blue mately win. Mike won his race with 57 percent to Remember.” Congrats to Chris, Colin and of the vote versus a highly-funded establish- Mike on your continued accomplishments in ment candidate. Huge congratulations, Mike; honor of the fallen.

Tom Danielsen your entire class is proud of what you’ve acAnother first-time contributor, longtime 8 Hartford Avenue complished. reader for this edition is Rick Orr. Rick writes Bellingham, MA 02019 While the rest of this edition of notes will the following: “Well, this is a first. Twenty-two 508/463-7312 have a tough time competing with Mike’s ac- years is a long time to keep quiet, but rest asvmialum1996@gmail.com complishment, I did hear from quite a few of sured I was not living life quietly. In that time, our BRs this edition.

Brother Rats, I’ve been blessed with 11 children (10 living – First off is Christopher Watson. Chris little Peter, who sojourned on this earth but a Exciting time for the class of 1996: Our very own Mike Waltz was elected to the United checked for the first time. Chris is based in the short time, is looking down on us from above), States Congress representing Florida’s Sixth Washington, D.C./northern Virginia area and two outstanding sons-in-law and three grandDistrict. I know many members of the class can be found most weekends from spring to children. In 22 years, I’ve held seven different into Rick Franco out in Yellowstone National Park. Rick is now living in Bozeman, Montana, and has started working for Heroes and Horses.

I want to also send out condolences to the family and friends of our BR Andrew Shultz. His life ended too early, and he will be missed.

Say a little prayer as we get ready to start planning our 25th Reunion soon. I am so thankful to have Thom Brashears to give me advice and support. If you guys have any ideas on things you would like to see this time, let me know.

Thanks to all of you guys for reaching out. I hope to continue hearing from you. Please keep sending me pictures and updates. I will try to be in touch with you guys as I am traveling so that maybe we can get together. If any of you are traveling to the Lexington area, let me know, and we will meet up.

I hope you all had a happy holiday!

Rah Virginia Mil! ’95 ’95 ’95.

1996

2019-Issue 1

155

Class Notes

Class of 1996: Mark Foutz and Matt Bahen at Foutz’s new fitness facility just outside of Richmond, Virginia.

Class of 1996: Doug Bartlett in Arequipa, Peru, where he led a mission from his church to work at a local orphanage. Bartlett is pictured with one of the 50 children.

Class of 1996: Coach Doug Bartlett and Rusty Parrino, former coach and player, met up at The Palms in Lexington.

156

jobs, working for Bechtel, GE Power Systems, Rolls-Royce, Aerodyne Engineering and GE Aviation. Currently, I’m employed with AECOM working as a contractor for the Navy at Crane NSWC in Indiana.

“Life has been anything but quiet. I didn’t walk this journey alone – my wife of 22 years has been by my side through it all; she is my rock. While there aren’t a whole lot of you here in the Indianapolis/Cincinnati area (translated as none), I do keep in touch with Max Casteleyn and Curt Bourn. Curt and I caught up in Indianapolis this past January (2018); man, it was good to see him. I had plans to attend our 20th Reunion and catch up with old friends, but my daughter, Zelie, decided that was the weekend she was to come into this world. I tried to convince my wife to have the baby in Lexington to no avail. You would think that after nine children I would know what not to say to a woman about to give birth, but I just can’t help myself. In any case, I look forward to being in Lexington for our 25th Reunion in 2021. If any of you are ever in the Indianapolis/Cincinnati area, look me up.” Great stuff, Rick! Congratulations on your family and journey over the last 22 years.

Speaking of congratulations, big congrats to Mark Simon, who earned the title “Journeyman Commercial Carpenter” Oct. 1 with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. I know Mark worked very hard and made big sacrifices to attain this status over the past year and should be very proud of what he’s accomplished. Way to go!

Another “been a long time BR” is Shawn McFadden, who is a lieutenant colonel and one of our last standing active duty Marines.

Yes, Shawn outlasted almost all his fellow USMC BRs, and reports the following: “I was just recently was approved for retirement, so I figured I would drop an update. I’ll be departing the green machine next summer. Official date is June 1, 2019, but with terminal leave, etc., my last day in a Marine Corps uniform will be late February/early March. Trying to stay here in eastern North Carolina, but we’ll see based on the job prospects. Ben Venning is still slaying dragons, and I fully expect that to continue. Not too many of us in the USMC side still kicking around. I hear from Rick Mattoso frequently, as he has achieved his dream of flying with the big dogs. He’s with Southwest and

loving every minute. Talked to Ced Canada recently as he took a position in the Army Inspector General’s office. Ironically, I’m currently serving as the inspector general for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, so small world there. Additionally, Ethan Astor was working in the USMC Inspector General’s office as a senior investigator last I spoke to him. Quen Emick is still practicing law and is currently in Chesapeake, Virginia. Bobby Prince and Darren Kirby are both doing well in Roanoke.

Haven’t yet reconnected with everybody since returning from our four years overseas in Japan. Kind of went into a communication black hole but hope to re-establish comms with folks in the coming months.” Great update, Shawn; definitely use your BR network as you transition into the civ div.

Matt Bahen also sent me a quick note with the following: “I started my own fitness training business in my garage in 2017 after being a co-owner of a CrossFit gym here in Richmond for 6-plus years. As of Nov. 1, I have moved it and all my clients out of my garage into a 2,700-square foot facility in Henrico County, just outside of the Richmond city limits. Would love for any BRs in the area to drop in and check it out – and see if they can still do 20 pushups!

I recently ran into Mark Foutz while participating in business network meetings. He’s the owner of The Greystone Group, which does residential and commercial painting. Mark and

Class of 1996: Christopher Watson and his son, Colin, during the Liberty University Triathlon in October. The Watsons linked up with the VMI triathlon team at the event.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes his team are now doing some accent work at my new gym. Finally, as of Nov. 1, I’ve retired from the U.S. Navy with 11 years of active duty and 11 years of reserve duty under my belt. I’m going to have a ceremony/celebration here in Richmond Sunday, Dec. 2. That’s it for now and I hope everyone is doing well. Rah VA Mil!” Doug Bartlett and I spoke this week. He left Medtronic to take some well-deserved time with his family. He’s now been to all lower 48 states, camped in Yellowstone and checked off a few more baseball stadiums with his sons. He even completed a three-day pistol course led by a former member of Delta Force. The highlight for Doug, however, is his work with an orphanage in Arequipa, Peru. He recently led a mission team there from his local church, spending time with 50 incredible kids and helping complete a new dormitory building for the kids to use. He is very grateful to the BRs who helped sponsor the trip; you can check out more at www.peruhope.org.

Finally, it would not be class notes without the latest from Col. Chris Noe, who checks in from Korea and writes the following, “As you know, Melissa, the kids and I returned to Korea in June after only a year away. I’m the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command chief of staff until next year, when I’ll take command of Materiel Support Command-Korea. It is a large logistics brigade here on the peninsula that does everything from maintain equipment to store ammunition in case we go to war. In addition to my day job, I am also standing up the Korea Chapter of the Alumni Association. We’ve got about 20 alumni on peninsula who are interested in getting together for alumni events throughout the year. I also had the chance to get back to Lexington in October for The Citadel game. I caught up with Mike Ohleger, whose son is a rat this year. I also was able to catch up with Mike Belenky ’97 and his family, who I hadn’t seen in almost a decade.

It was a heartbreaking two-point loss for the football team. Strange what a difference of a week makes, as I’d just been in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a week before with my son who is a sophomore at the University of Alabama watching the Crimson Tide dominate on the gridiron.” Thanks, as always, Chris!

That’s all for this edition. Truly appreciate all the contributions – especially the first time in a long time or ever!

All the best to you and your families.

Tom

2019-Issue 1

1997

David M. Hudock

1441 Rhode Island Avenue NW Apt 219 Washington, D.C. 20005 410/570-4220 davemhudock@hotmail.com

Gentlemen of the Old Corps!

Greetings and welcome to autumn, such as it is as I write these notes. For those of you lucky enough to not be on the East Coast, we have, in this region of the country, made our annual leap from the sweating heat of summer to the bonechilling cold of “winter” in the span of about 72 hours. And, true to form, a decidedly gross mixture of ice, sleet, rain and snow fell out of the air today, confirming without any doubt we can safely pack away our speedos (you know who you are, Slemp).

But let us not concern ourselves with such trivialities as the weather and Slemp’s swimwear on such an august occasion as class notes! Let us discuss the goings-on over the last couple of months of the best class in barracks by starting in, well, Lexington, Virginia, where our Brother Rat Matt Coley has been closely watching his son, Nate, navigate his way through the Rat Line with the mass of 2019+3 (yes, I am afraid to report, gentlemen, that Matt has proven again we are what is commonly referred to and generally known as old). Anyway, Nate is kicking arse in hard charging Company H, majoring in computer science, minoring in cybersecurity and, despite this manic work load, manages to find time to play club basketball. I have not confirmed but have reason to believe that Matt is the second of us to have a son matriculate (the first being Billy LaMountain).

Someone prove me wrong, and I will offer a thousand mea culpas in beer-form! Thanks for sending, Matt; that is fantastic news, and we sincerely wish Nate the best!

Staying in Lexington, let us pick up the pieces left on the field of battle following The Citadel game and mention a few mentionables from that weekend. A veritable “who’s who” of ’97 was floating around the Parade Ground, to include your faithful reporter; the aforementioned Matt Coley checking on his rat; Eric Ash; Nate Shepperson, Matt “Butthead” Smith, Andrew Clark; Chris Strock; and the distinguished elder statesman of Rockbridge County, Thomas “Wags” Wagner. Mike Belenky was present in force with

Class of 1997: Matt Coley’s son, Nate, marched at the 2018 New Market Cadet Oath Ceremony with the rest of his brother rats of mass 2019+3.

Class of 1997: Ed Bonham and his fiancée, Lynne, shortly after their engagement.

Class of 1997: “He does exist! I linked up with Ian Brooks this fall just before Halloween in Hawaii,” said Class Agent Dave Hudock of this photo.

157

Class Notes Hon. Dan Evilsizer, formerly of family Belenky and took the time Medina, Ohio, fame but now goto snap a photo in the stands with them and his former Army neighing Gangnam style in the Far East.

I was hoping to include a photo of bor in Germany, Chris Noe ’96. It this storied visit to Southeast Asia was a bright, beautiful day in Lexbut, as you might expect, the one ington, and despite how the game photo available to me contains an turned out, it was great to see the object not-quite-suitable for all auboys put up such a valiant effort on the field (the football field, not the diences, and while the object is – in tailgating field). this reporter’s humble opinion – Speaking of Belenky, he is one pretty identifiable, Jerry White was of two brother rats who put eagles apparently confused enough by the on their collars in October. On the object’s appearance to request an same day but on the opposite side identification. See the class FaceClass of 1997: Col. Mike Belenky with members of VMI’s cadet Army Tenof the planet, U.S. Air Force Col. Miler team just before the race in Arlington, Virginia, in October 2018. book page for further clarification, Billy Edmunds, currently serving as but I think we can safely assume it the J-3, Joint Region Marianas located in Guam, was, as Dan helpfully pointed out, a harmless soap was promoted. He arrived in Guam in July and dispenser. Hope you had fun, boys, and your shots. could be there as long as two years but is hoping to Slemp lives. be short-toured. U.S. Army Col. Belenky was proGreat news to report from Eduardo Bonham, the don of Caroline County, Virginia: He is now moted at Fort McNair, and on hand for the event engaged to the lovely Lynne Lawler of New was a motley crew of ’97-ers including yours truly, Hampshire. You may recall from the last edition John Bushman and Andy Clark. We managed to of your Pulitzer Prize not-winning class notes that remember to snap a photo around a bust of none Lynne moved down to Virginia with her kids and other than Gen. Marshall ’901 to memorialize the now lives with Ed. They knew each other in high occasion. Congratulations to you both, gents; your school and reconnected relatively recently. On services are better off with you in them as colonels!

Columbus Day, he took Lynne to Belle Island in Wanting to put his newfound executive-level Richmond at sunset and asked her to marry him. mentoring skills to work, Mike immediately set Matt Smith was “coincidentally” located nearby out to find someone in need of mentoring and with his wife, and when Ed texted Matt the mishappened upon an unsuspecting group of Army cadets from VMI’s Army ROTC department at sion had been successful, the four of them linked the Army Ten Miler in Arlington, Virginia, in earup for Champagne and cigars! And if this isn’t enough of a tear-jerking story already, Ed noted ly October. He huddled up with them, told them that he had Lynne’s ring custom made with his briefly how great the Army is, snapped a photo grandmother’s engagement diamond which she and proceeded to run 10 miles. Rumor has it Will wore for 65 years of marriage. The wedding date Tong was on the course with him somewhere, but Class of 1997: Mike Belenky and his famis set for Nov. 23, 2019, in Powhatan, Virginia, so photo evidence has been hard to come by. ily were joined by Chris Noe ’96 at the Citadel game in October 2018. plan accordingly. Ed is already planning a photo Donnie Hasseltine dropped me a line the other booth with a “Slemp lives” backdrop, so what day with an update from fabulous San Francisco, California, where he is serving as the inspector-in- Stanford’s Hacking4Defense Program, where could possibly go wrong? Lynne’s 12-year-old structor for the 23rd Marines. When not running he helps solve impossible problems for the Depart- girl has not only met Slemp and survived, she is the regiment, he has been reinventing himself as ment of Defense by using Silicon Valley business also talking about possibly matriculating to VMI. a cybersecurity guru and will be graduating in techniques. He is retiring from the Marine Corps Congratulations, Ed; this is awesome news! Best May from Brown with an Executive Master next summer, so anyone who wants free drinks wishes for a great engagement and a wonderful degree in cybersecurity. In the meantime, he’s should plan on being in San Francisco in July. wedding next fall.

While you may not be pleased to hear it, I am received a CrowdStrike Foundation scholar- He’ll be in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future ship, won the New York University Cyber while his kids grow up and his wife continues to pleased to report a recent Ian Brooks sighting. As Security Awareness Worldwide Cyber Policy lay down knowledge as a lecturer at Stanford. another of our brother rats who has “gone native” and confined himself to a tropical paradise, it is Competition (beating Army and Navy) and Thanks for checking in, brother!

Paul Bickford checked in, albeit briefly, to report looking more and more like the only way to see earned second place in a cyber warfare essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute. of a recent visit to Thailand where he met up with him is to visit him in his adopted Hawaiian habIn the spring, he will be again working with the mayor of a local village outside of Phuket, the itat. I was on the road for work in October and

158

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes stopped in Hawaii for literally 36 hours but did have enough time to drop by Ian’s place to say hi to him, Katie and their girls. He still did not have any of his soon-to-be-on-the-market bourbon to try but assured me it is coming soon. I hope so, brother, and make sure you bring cases of the stuff to the 25th!

In the ugly fish department, Don Crook was busy recently on the rip-roaring waters of the James River in Bedford County somewhere between Lynchburg and Natural Bridge in a little tiny place called Big Island, Virginia (population 303 – now 304 after Don hauled in his catch). He was attempting to reel in a musky but caught a cat instead, which had the good graces to at least pose for a photo with Don. Thanks for checking in, Don, and dare I say, “Keep it reel?”

That’s about all I have been able to musky ... er ... I mean, muster for this edition of your highly regarded, seldomly sought after and frequently misquoted class notes. By the time you read this, the holidays will have passed and it will be, unfortunately, 2019! I hope each of you and your families had a warm holiday season and a fantastic start to the new year. Thank you for your inputs, as always, and keep them coming – always! See ya in the spring!

1998

Joseph Bates Jr.

102 Brickyard Road Fort Mill, SC 29715 vmi98classnotes@gmail.com

Hamel Reinmiller

10138 S. Hudson Place Tulsa, OK 74137 (C) 918/640-9291 (H) 918/298-5508 HBRVMI98@Vmialumni.org

In November, we all received the 2018-Issue 4 (I cannot believe it) Review and the notes that were submitted in August. As I write this one on Founders Day, I hope it finds you all well. The next submission is due Feb. 15, 2019, and I would truly enjoy having more information from you all to submit.

I can tell you that a lot more of us are active on Facebook. You can join our class page and keep up with what everyone shares on there if you are like me and curious to see what our class is accomplishing now.

Since the last submission, I have shared a few

2019-Issue 1

Facebook messages with Kevin Trujillo who seems to be doing well, Addison Hagan ’97, and I reached out very last minute to Justin Lewis and Chris Floom by finding them on the VMI app while traveling in San Diego. We were unable to link up as it was very last minute over the weekend on my part and life happens (not to mention Justin was out at sea when I emailed), but it did convince me that I need to do a better job at looking up classmates on the app when traveling. I encourage each of you to check it out and see what you think.

Christian Craft sent me several updates and pictures. He and his family made a trip to Stone Bay, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 10 and linked up with BRs Lt. Col Tim Hough, John Hamilton and Jason Dickerson to attend the retirement ceremony of Maj. David Pouleris from the U.S. Marine Corps. Christian wrote that “it was a honor and privilege for [my] family to be there. God bless Dave; his wife, Missy; and his son, Ethan.” Congratulations and thank you for your years of dedicated service, Dave – send in an update for the class as you are getting settled into this thing we call the rat race!

The Craft family continued their summer tour by heading to Cherry Grove, South Carolina, for a weeklong vacation with fellow BR John Gonzales and his family. Following vacation, Christian continued his mini reunion tour in late August by meeting up with fellow roommates Justin Wolfe, Chris Braun and Matt Guise in Richmond, Virginia, for one night of good ole fun. Christian closed his update with, “It is amazing that 20 years has gone by so quickly, but I feel as though I just walked through my door on a Sunday night after a weekend pass, and there we were, just hanging out.”

Moving forward, each edition will include something about our 25th Reunion. My intent is to strike the match that gets everyone fired up to come back together for the event in 2023. We will include all individuals who would like to be involved in the planning so that we can make it the most successful reunion to grace Lexington, Virginia, in decades. We embraced the challenge and successfully integrated women into the Corps of Cadets our 1st Class year. We paved the way for the next 100 years of cadets to enjoy the experience that we all share, and no other class in history can lay claim to that accomplishment. The 25th celebration of the distinguished Class of 1998 truly has historical meaning at the Institute, and I cannot think of a better time nor place for our

class to come back together as one. I have provided some facts from the incoming class for all to see at the end of this submission.

In that spirit, several BRs from Richmond are planning a “Matriculation anniversary celebration” to commemorate the 25 years since we came together for the first time Aug. 15, 1994. Christian Craft is leading these efforts, and over the next eight months, we will be working together with others who have expressed an interest to put together a weekend gathering for our class.

Please mark your calendars for the weekend of Aug. 17, 2019.

The intention is to create a family-friendly celebration in Richmond, Virginia. The exact times, locations, activities and details are a work in progress, and more information will be forthcoming.

Class of 1998: Roommates Christian Craft, Justin Wolfe, Chris Braun and Matt Guise.

Class of 1998: Hamel Reinmiller and Stephen Schwanke in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in September 2018.

159

Class Notes

Class of 1998: Christian Craft, Dave Pouleris, Lt. Col. Tim Hough, John Hamilton and Jason Dickerson along with a friend of Pouleris’ father.

Please contact me at the email address provided or on Facebook, or Christian at christiancraft@ hotmail.com, if you have any questions or suggestions!

Routinely, the class agents send out letters regarding donations to the Institute, and in this edition, I am sharing some numbers with you only to serve as a thought provoker. We all have our personal reasons, commitments to family and obligations that far outweigh donating to the “I.” Candidly, over the years I have not been the most “generous” by any means, which is something I committed to changing just over two years ago, and I still have work to do.

Below are some Class of 2019+3 and VMI statistics.

About the Corps: This year, 519 rats matriculated with an average GPA of 3.7 and SAT score of 1,210. The Corps has 1,722 cadets –11 percent are female; 61percent are in-state. In-state tuition is $28,344, and out-of-state tuition is $55,188. Of these cadets, 87 percent are awarded financial aid and 52 percent receive needbased financial aid, with 63 percent graduating with one or more loans.

About the FY19 VMI budget: The total budget is $91.6 million. Of that, 52 percent is from cadet tuition and fees, 25 percent is from private funding, 17 percent is from state funds, 4 percent is from other revenue and 2 percent is federal funding Alumni facts: There are 21,500 living alumni – it is hard to believe that we are “one of only 21,500” – and the overall giving rate is 28 percent.

First quarter (ended in October) Class of 1998 giving information: 2.64 percent of the class

160

Class of 1998: Pictured were, from left, Christian Craft, Carter Craft, Cate Craft, Camden Gonzales, Emerie Gonzales, Chasity Craft, Karen Gonzales and Jon Gonzales when the Craft and Gonzales families got together recently.

donated (the second-lowest percentage of the ’90s). The total amount donated by the Class of 1998: $1,904.70. (Lowest dollar amount of the ’90s).

Gentlemen, VMI is blessing and with that, count them all that you have!

Rah Virginia Mil – ’98, ’98, ’98.

1999

William Steinbach 13569 Princedale Drive Woodbridge, VA 22193 804/938-3086 bill9d9@hotmail.com

Brother Rats, Greg McDearmon sent me the following: “It has been ages since I have checked in before class notes were due. We are coming up on our 15th year in Louisville, all of which has had me working for NTS Development Company. My role at NTS is to manage the property management company for NTS. In that portfolio is about 3 million square feet of office space and 6,000 Class A apartments, along with some real estate assets for University of Louisville. It’s remained a great job that I am very thankful for and enjoy immensely. We really like living in Louisville, with the exception of watching all of our hometown college sports teams burn to the ground these past two years.

As a family, our passion is traveling and hiking together. We spent a nearly a month in Zambia and South Africa this past summer and hope to hike through sections of Scotland next summer.

Our oldest will be driving in a month, which

makes you feel like life is passing quickly.” That it does, Greg.

Jeff Morrison says it has been a busy few months.

On Sept. 2, his wife, Erin, and he welcomed home their second child, Charlotte Victoria. Big brother Creighton is showing her the ropes and enjoying the relatively quiet nights. Jeff and family moved from Denver, Colorado, to Cary, North Carolina, as Jeff took a promotion from district manager to director of loss prevention within Performance Bicycle, where he has been employed since 2010.

Jeff is looking forward to getting Creighton and Charlotte to VMI for the first time for Founders Day and many times after. Jeff said that since his family had already arrived in Cary, Eric Marshall joined him for the drive from Denver. Jeff tells me they pulled a cannonball run, making the drive in just over 25 hours! I asked Jeff if he and Eric were trucking Coors beer when they made their cannonball run, but alas, they were not. Just the dog and some ammo the moving company wouldn’t take. Probably for the best, since hauling Coors beer east of the Mississippi is boot leggin’.

Chuck Reinhold was selected for battalion command of the 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Brigade Combat Team in the Virginia Army National Guard, and he will take command sometime in the summer. He was also less than five weeks from earning a Master of Business Administration degree from Liberty University, which he says he will be putting to good use on a new project in the near future – details to come in a later issue.

Barry Williams is still in the national capital region, having transferred from the Pentagon to Fort

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes John said he was actually involved in a dust up between the two entities! I thought it may have just been an urban legend, but John recalled it in such detail that I believe it to be true. He didn’t mention fisticuffs, but he said that the frat boys were physically restrained by some of the cadets while others went into the frat house and redecorated.”

It’s always great to hear stories from those who were before our time, and I am sure we will be the ones telling our stories one day soon. A couple that come to mind for me are a toilet getting blown up in sally port and Keane calling a class meeting to discuss the amount of empty Jim Beam bottles Jim Boatright and beer cans left in the corner bathroom each 213 Brighton Road NE weekend. Shawn Segreti sent an email to organize Atlanta, GA 30309 a tailgate for the VMI versus The Citadel football 404/569-5178 Class of 2000: Shawn Segreti with his classnotes2000vmi@gmail.com game. Jimmy Sheldon responded he could not atthree daughters, Margaret-May, Chartend due to training at Fort Rucker. Chris Lucas lotte and Amelia, at the Moody Hall lunch over the VMI versus The Citadel Brother Rats, also checked in and said he could not attend. Ben weekend.

As I write this update, it is Veteran’s Day, which Inyama planned to be there, but I did not hear if always has special meaning to those of us in the he made it. Shawn sent me a follow-up report that VMI family. Let us not forget that Veteran’s Day is Brett Martin and his wife, Kenny Denton and held on the anniversary of the end of World War family, Tony Esteve and family, and Don FerguI to honor U.S. veterans and victims of all wars. son all came out to join in the fun.

Brother Rat Ryan Doltz, we honor you.

Matt Keller sent a note saying he joined Praemia The year 2019 is right around the corner and Law as a partner in October. He is still focusing will bring the one-year countdown to our 20th Reon federal contract law, and the firm focuses on representing businesses in the D.C. area. Matt also union. Shawn Segreti (today is his 40th birthday said that Matt McComas and his wife just had anas I write these notes) has already volunteered to begin planning the reunion and making it a special other baby, Wesley Joseph McComas. Their kids event. We will need some brother rats to step up go to school together, so the Matts stay in touch and help make this an epic event. Please be on the regularly. Congrats to both Matts! I received a lookout for updates and opportunities to volunteer note from Doris Boyers, Danny Boyers’ wife, and Class of 2000: Shawn Segreti, Brett Maras the year unfolds. The last set of notes had a tin and Kenny Denton at the Moody Hall she included a great family photo with their five lunch over the VMI versus The Citadel great response; we had fewer brother rats check in daughters, ages 10, nine, eight, five and 18 months. weekend. for this edition, but the updates are great.

Doris says Danny always says God has a sense of I did receive a return to sender birthday humor – giving him what he probably card for Brent Kennedy, so if anyone deserved. Danny is an assistant principal stays in regular contact with Brent, please at the largest elementary school in Lynchask him to update his address with the burg and continues to serve as the course Alumni Association or send me an email director of the Virginia 10 Miler and also at classnotes2000vmi@gmail.com. dabbles with teaching history courses.

Landon Allen sent a note and said he Thanks for the great update, and what a had the pleasure of flying with an Old beautiful family!

Corps alumnus recently. John Greene Eric Schnabel caught up for the first ’75 was his captain for a day from Baltime in quite a while, and it was great to hear from him. Eric has been martimore to Cancun and back. John retired from Southwest in August, and he is also ried to “my way better half, Trish,” for retired from the U.S. Air Force. Landon 15 years, and they have been together also shared this story from VMI: “You since VMI. They have one daughter, ever hear the story of the cadets who Julia. Eric is still in the U.S. Army as Class of 2000: Danny Boyers with his wife, Doris, and their were marching back from church and a lieutenant colonel in the infantry. He daughters, who are ages 10, 9, 8, 5 and 18 months. were heckled by the W&L frat boys? has spent the majority of his career Belvoir to take command of an Army contracting battalion. He also noted he and his wife bought a house in Burke, Virginia, and plan on sticking around awhile. Barry and I made tentative plans to grab lunch soon, since I am working at Belvoir now, as well.

That is a wrap for this go around. Keep the updates coming.

In the bonds, Bill

2000

2019-Issue 1

161

Class Notes As I keep up with the class, it’s great to in the 101st Airborne Division and the hear that you are all doing great things in 82nd Airborne Division and has combat the world! deployed five times (three to Iraq and two Charlie Bunting said, “I’m well and in to Afghanistan). Eric is currently serving Hoboken across the river from New York in the Pentagon in the Joint Staff J-7 DiCity – anyone coming through the city has rectorate Office of Irregular Warfare. He a guest room in which to crash anytime. replaced Brother Rat Lt. Col. Ed Clarke I’ve started the New York Chapter of who moved to Special Operations ComMerging Vets and Players with Nate Boyer mand in Tampa, Florida. Eric sees a lot and Randy Couture; it’s a program that of VMI alumni in northern Virginia. Eric helps combat vets and former pro athhas been in touch with Tony Esteve, Chris Lucas and Sean Segreti. He has also run letes form a community built on fitness into Mike McDaniel a couple of times and trust that meets weekly. NYC can and says Mike is doing well with a new be a lonely place, which is particularly business. Eric says he is very proud of our Class of 2001: Alex Tedla, Drew Carbone, Steve Kolenich and dangerous for vets, so we’re excited to brother rats and how successful they have Brandon Farris gathered in northern Virginia for Carbone’s expand the program into the Big Apple!

40th birthday. become. Thanks for the great update, Eric!

Thanks for everyone’s support for the TContinuing the tradition of recognizing shirts for Wear Blue; they all look great. our brother rats who have celebrated 40th strength and honor!” Wow, Charlie! birthdays since the last set of notes: Matt What a great program and glad to hear Keller; Nick Mollenhauer; Jonathan you are doing well!

Palmer; John Downs, M.D.; Jason Cole; Another classmate on the East Coast hit Aaron Burnett; Will Beverlin; Jason me up – Kim Herbert sent a quick update.

Maslow; Andrew Pelton; Chris Haney; She is still living in Boston, working full Dave Merchan; Bill Sjem; Abbott Keesee; time as a physical therapist assistant and Brian Hay; Marty Silman; Jack Thornbrand ambassador for Wattie Ink, a U.S. Triathlon based clothing line. Great to ton; Shawn Segreti; Brent Harrington; hear from you, Kim, and awesome to see Doug Black; James Powell; Mike Goldyou pushing hard through your races! man; T.J. McCarthy; Ben Inyama; Aaron Our military classmates are all over the Taylor; Rob Mason; Vern Dooley; Paul Class of 2001: Jonathan Mazur and his family visited Ayers Rock, also known as Uluru, in Australia’s Northern Territory world representing our class. Brandon Gray; Ed Clarke; and Aaron Demory in August 2018.

Bowman writes, “Longtime reader, first (the youngest member of our class). That time writer to the class notes. Vanessa and I are is it men – we’re all 40, and we even have a couple still stationed in Washington, D.C., along with our of BRs closer to 50 than 40. Here is to 50 more dog, rabbit, goat and four horses. Since I have been for all of us.

Please remember you can send updates to classnotes2000vmi@gmail.com. Finally, and most importantly, to all of our brother rats who have served or are currently serving our great country, be safe, and thank you!

2001

Rich Groen

13240 Ridgeview Drive Platte City, MO 64079 913/702-4414 rich.groen1@gmail.com

Brother Rats of the Class of 2001, I hope you are all well! Things are great in the Groen household – Gemma Groen just came into the world Sept. 12, so that means she’ll be Class of 2039! Wow, I’m getting old!

162

Class of 2001: Kim Herbert finished her first Ironman in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in September 2018.

Class of 2001: Meade Spotts ’79 and Will Charlet enjoyed their first honey harvest over the summer.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes notes submissions from anyone this go around.

There are many of you I haven’t heard from in a long time, and I would like to take this opportunity to say that for those who have never submitted a note, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line or a call! I hope to have more notes to submit in the next edition of the Review.

In the spirit, Salmaan

Class of 2001: Charlie Bunting with Nate Boyer, MVP co-founder, former green beret and Seattle Seahawk; Capt. Florent “Flo” Groberg, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient; and Groberg’s fianceé, Carsen, before the New York City Veterans Day Parade in November 2018. a paratrooper my entire career, the Army decided that it would be best for me to be a battalion commander of a mechanized unit. Therefore, in the spring, we will be moving to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where I will have the privilege to command the 5th Engineer Battalion. Also, Vanessa and I just welcomed our first child, Jamie, who was born Oct. 5.” Brandon, the Army works in mysterious ways! Glad to see you taking the colors and congrats on the new addition. Let me know if you ever come to Fort Hood, and I’ll show you how to shoot a tank!

Jonathan Mazur contacted me to say, “I’m with wife Jessica and kids, Joshua and Julia. We PCSed [moved] with the Air Force to the Australian outback in August. They are doing great and look forward to exploring the Southern Hemisphere. If anyone finds themselves in Alice Springs, Australia, feel free to reach out.” Jon, great to hear from you, and I can honestly say that I’m jealous of your assignment in the Air Force!

It’s amazing to see the strong bonds that our class displays despite distances. It was great to hear from all of you, and please stay connected! ’01, ’01, ’01!

2002

Salmaan Khawaja

16100 Old Castle Road Midlothian, VA 23112 804/687-7122 salmaan.khawaja@gmail.com

Brother Rats, I hope this edition of the Review finds you and yours well. Unfortunately, there were no class

2019-Issue 1

2003

William Talley V

the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. Huge honor. He was named along with a former congressman, chief executive officer of the Democratic National Committee and other political hot-shots. Also, Greg Shpunder is back from Korea and headed to Fairbanks, Alaska, to work with a Grey Eagle Unit (Army).

Billy Schaller sent me an email that he and his wife, Katherine, welcomed their daughter, Diana Bernal Schaller, into the world Aug. 11, 2018.

Billy already has her outfitted with VMI clothing!

John Roche reports that everything is good

506 Greenside Court Chester, VA 23863 804/733-2011 wht5@whts.com

Well, Brother Rats, Things didn’t turn out quite like we expected this fall. However, this isn’t the first time life’s thrown a curve ball at any of us. Our 15th+1 Reunion is set for Sept. 27-29, 2019. You’ve had 10 months’ notice, so there’s no excuse for anyone to miss this event next fall. We’ll do another offering of VMI ’03 clothing items next summer in advance of the reunion for those that didn’t order this fall or those that want to order some additional items. If there are any specific items you’re interested in, let me know and I can look into possibly adding those to what’s already been offered. I wasn’t able to make it but know several of our BRs gathered at the Bocek residence for a mini reunion since ours got rained out. Thanks for stepping up and hosting, John and Stephanie!

So, without further comment, on with this set of notes! Chris Adams reports that he and Jennifer are welcoming their second son, Jameson Luke (in honor of Luke Wullenwaber ’02).

Jenn was scheduled to be induced Nov. 16.

Chris will be transferring to a new unit as a battalion officer in charge in San Antonio come January. He was able to catch up with Spence Robbins, Nick Foster, Phil and Angee Kerns, John and Stephanie Bocek, Steve Nakazawa and girlfriend Laura, Vicki Ortiz, and Chaz Wagner at Matt McQueen’s wedding Oct. 13.

Great time had by all. Congratulations to Matt McQueen and his wife, Catherine Lloyd, on their recent nuptials!

The always-faithful Jared Swanson reports things are going well in Boston and that John Noonan was selected as a Resident Fellow for

Class of 2003: During their impromptu trip to VMI, Phil Harris and his daughter, Maggie, and were able to see the only Keydet victory of the season Nov. 3, 2018.

Class of 2003: Billy Schaller had his daughter, Diana, all decked out and ready for a VMI game.

163

Class Notes As some of you know, I was diagnosed with in the Roche household: “The girls are now in early November. Steve is doing well and is colon cancer in March 2018. I had a successnine and seven and growing fast. I was promoted now with NASA, which I personally think is to lieutenant colonel this past May. There was a cool! I also saw Phil Harris and his daughter, ful surgery in April to remove the tumor and pin-on ceremony in September. Aaron Campbell Maggie, at the Nov. 3 game. They decided to finished up chemo in late October. To date, and his wife came up. It was nice to see them. take an impromptu trip to VMI. Phil is doing things look good. I’ll have one more surgery in Aaron had a wicked beard but has since cut it. So well in West Virginia, where he and his wife, mid-December and then hopefully will be on the world mourns. Civilian work is going well. I Deborah, stay busy with their four kids. the follow up path. I want to thank all of you enjoy being in the 29th Infantry Division who have reached out to me and kept in in the Guard, as I get to work with lots touch over the last seven months. The of other alumni such as Chief Hall and love and support that was shown and Major Will Mustian ’01.” felt is truly appreciated by me as well Doug Warner and his wife, Sarah, as Amie-Anne and the kids. The bond announced they’re expecting a little that we have as BRs is truly a tight and one sometime in 2019. They currently unique one, different than any other. living in Colorado and enjoying the Life gives us all a reality check every scenery. now and then, and while I already had Blake and Jennifer Traina just welan appreciation for the bond we share, I now have a much deeper appreciacomed their second son, Daniel Robert Traina, into the world Sept. 19. Daniel tion for that bond and am grateful to Class of 2003: Webb Tyler ’73, Kyle Haire, Stuart Cham- have such an awesome support system. is guarded over by older brother, David bers, Lara Tyler Chambers and Bill Talley V tailgated to(4), and his four-legged sister, Chloe.

Thank you for being there for me and gether for the last home game Nov. 10.

I spoke with Willie Hale and found my family. out that he and his wife, Ashley, are expecting Well, BRs, that’s about it for this set of notes. their fourth child. Willie is doing well in PuWhen they hit your mailbox, it’ll be February. I hope each and every one of you and your familaski with his family’s pharmacy.

Andy and Chelsey Biesterveld have relocatlies had a good holiday season and a happy new year as we welcome in 2019. Thanks to all who ed back to Ohio, where they’re surrounded by sent in submissions for this set of notes, and keep others who appreciate that the Buckeye is more them coming! Rah Virginia Mil ’03, ’03, ’03! than just a nut that can be eaten.

I’ve been fortunate to catch up with several BRs since the last set of notes. The most unexpected was Will Gentry. Will and I both happened to be in St. Louis for business in Scott E. Campbell Class of 2003: Bill Talley V and Will Gen407 Beechwood Drive late September and were staying at the same try just happened to be staying at the Henrico, VA 23229 hotel. I think we were both shocked when Will same hotel in St. Louis while on busi804/943-4537 walked in the lobby one evening to see me there scott.edwin.campbell@gmail.com ness trips this past September. with some friends. Will and his wife, Carrie, C. Justin Roberts are down in Texas with their three kids. Will 342 Foxridge Drive SW continues to climb to the highest peaks he can Leesburg, VA 20175 find in his spare time. Additionally, I was able 540/460-6178 cjroberts04@hotmail.com to catch up with Lara and Stuart Chambers along with Kyle and Juli Haire at the last VMI home game. Lara and Stuart are doing well James Volosin and his wife, Kristen, weland staying busy with their two boys. Lara, of comed a son, William (Liam) Volosin, to the course, is serving on the VMI Board of Visitors world July 13, 2017. Congratulations! and representing our class well. Kyle Haire is James transferred to Guam with the Naval now in the Virginia Beach area with his wife, Criminal Investigative Service in July 2018. He Juli, and their two boys and doing well. Juli is writes, “The kids and family have been doing adjusting to being in colder temperatures this well and enjoying the island life.”

Class of 2003: Steve Nakawaza and his winter compared to where they were previousJosh Montero wrote that, in May, he and girlfriend, Laura Massey, met up with Bill Brandon Turner ’03 graduated from the Maly in South Carolina. I also caught up briefly Talley V and Billy Talley VI at a Redskins with Steve Nakazawa and his girlfriend, Laura rine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, versus Falcons game in November.

Massey, at the Redskins versus Falcons game where they studied the operational level of

2004

164

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes war and traveled to Europe and Asia/Pacific to conduct staff rides. They sent photos from those staff rides. Josh, along with his wife, Kari; three kids; and two dogs drove across the U.S. from Quantico to Atlanta, to San Diego, and to Seattle before flying to Japan, viewing some amazing sights along the way. He’s now on his payback tour as a planner at 3rd Marine Logistics Group in Okinawa. Ross Garnett, who is the staff secretary for III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, Lt. Gen. Smith, lives just a few houses down from him.

Let’s hope those two can stay out of trouble.

Ryan Koniak caught up with Lt. Col. Mike Waltz ’96 at his change of command ceremony. Waltz took command of Ryan’s unit, Special Operation Detachment – OTAN/NATO, June 10, 2018. Ryan has been in the SOD for three years now and served as the detachment’s primary jumpmaster and personnel manager.

Waltz was elected to serve Florida’s 6th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Congratulations, Congressman Waltz!

Clark Laster met up with Clark’s dyke, Jim Bourie ’01, for lunch Nov. 12, 2018. Jim and his wife are moving to Los Angeles soon.

The Lasters also met up with Clark’s rat, Vic Rosen ’07 and family for the VMI versus The Citadel game and tailgating Oct. 20, 2018.

Joe Montagna and his wife, Jessica, are in the process of adopting. Congratulations! We hope it goes well!

John Casper and his wife, Lauren, also made it to The Citadel game. “It was great running into Clark Laster and his family,” said John.

They also ran into Craig Hamilton and Daniel Ropp, who made the trip to the game together.

“Things continue to move right along here at the Institute,” John said.

I ended a 15-month long job search at the end of October and started working for Booz Allen, accepting a position at Fort Lee, Virginia.

So far, so good!

Misia and I made it to the Institute Society Dinner Nov. 9, where we caught up with Bree (Adams) Guiterman, and her husband, Justin. We’re all hoping more of the class will join us next year!

I’m happy to announce that we have dates for the reunion! Sept. 20-21, 2019! Details to follow. See you all there!

Take care! Be safe, and keep in touch!

Scott Campbell

2019-Issue 1

2005

Tom Hardinge

645 SE Willow Creek Drive West Des Moines, IA 50265 515/208-1561 hardingetc@gmail.com

Timothy Johnson 1824 Robindale Road Richmond, VA 23235 804/272-5201 johnsontm1@verizon.net

Happy New Year, brother rats! I hope all of you survived another busy holiday season no worse for the wear. Maybe a few extra pounds to shed before spring, but who is counting? I have received quite a few updates to pass along this month, so let’s get right to it.

After three years with Duke Energy, Sam Johnson has taken a new position as chief programs officer with the Independence Fund.

Founded in 2007, the Independence Fund is a Charlotte-based nonprofit committed to empowering our nation’s severely wounded, injured or ill veterans to overcome physical, mental and emotional wounds incurred in the line of duty. He said, “I will lead mobility, adaptive sports, caregiver and family programs. I will still be based in Charlotte but travel across the nation. Hopefully, I’ll get to spend some time to catch up with some of our BRs.” Conor Heely checked in: “Erin and I are excited to report we are back in D.C. (from Oklahoma) as of Nov. 3. I am going to be working at the Pentagon as a requirements officer for OPNAV [Office of the Chief of Naval Operations] N98 (Aviation Warfare). We’ll be living in Alexandria. So happy to be in the area and looking

Class of 2005: Roommates Gabriela Arraiz and Kathy Aldrich caught up at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

forward to getting down to Lexington. We now have three kids: Finn (6), Jack (4) and Bette (1).”

Gabriela Arraiz graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. During her time in Kansas, she had a chance to catch up with a bunch of VMI folks, including Tasha Jones ’02, Jeff Berwell ’06 and, most notably, her roommate of four years, Kathy Aldrich. Gabby is now stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Aaron Thatcher dropped in a quick note: “My wife and two boys have moved from the United Arab Emirates after 12 years living in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We are now living near Bristol in the United Kingdom and excited about this new chapter in our lives! If anyone is in the area, make sure to drop a line!”

The Air Force is still keeping Derek Rankin plenty busy. Recently, Derek met up with Brother Rat Andrew Miller at the Airlift/Air Tanker symposium in October. Also last fall, Derek met up with his classmates from the Advanced Studies of Air Mobility School, including BR Jessie Stewart. On top of all of that, Derek ran into a crowd of Air Force Keydets from Detachment 880 at the National Harbor in Maryland during the Air Force Association Conference. As I said, he’s been a busy man!

It’s always good to see classmates making time to visit each other from afar throughout the year.

Last July, Andrew Stone met up with Paul Bryant for a long weekend in Roanoke. In addition to taking part in the Deshutes Brewery Street Pub event, the two of them joined fellow alums retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Greg Otey ’87 and retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dan Hogan ’65 for a round of golf.

Andrew Karnes also made time to hit the links last fall with a large contingent of BRs. “Once again we went to Pinehurst, North Carolina, for our annual golf trip and once again the white team prevailed against the red team. The white team credits superior physical fitness as a key to continued success, but does concede that [John] Baber could probably out lift Lawton [Way] if push did come to shove.”

Dr. Ted Henderson, along with his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Penniella Mae, are very happy to introduce newborn son Solomon Edward Henderson, born Aug. 6, 2018. Ted continues to enjoy a thriving pediatric practice in Richmond, Virginia, most recently joined by Lyon and Charlie Engelhard, sons of Abbie and Cory

165

Class Notes

Class of 2005: Dan Harrison, Ted Henderson and Chris Perry attended the memorial service for Col. Tom Baur ’75 in September.

Engelhard. Solomon Henderson and Charlie Engelhard share the VMI matriculating year of 2036.

Ted was also back on post in September and caught up with Dan Harrison and Chris Perry to attend the memorial services of Thomas S. Baur ’75. As you have heard, Baur died in a traffic accident in Rockbridge County in August.

Baur joined the VMI department of biology in 1988, and in addition to his teaching duties, he served the Institute in numerous faculty and Institute committees – the most important (selfishly) being the adviser to our great class of 2005. He continued an active role even after his retirement from the classroom in 2013 and will be missed by many throughout the VMI community.

Class of 2005: Derek Rankin met with VMI Air Force ROTC Detachment 880 cadets in Washington, D.C. That’s all for this edition, BRs. Thank you for all of those who sent updates, and please continue to keep those submissions rolling in so that we can all remain touch.

Stay safe and be well, Tom Hardinge

2006 Andrew Upshaw Class of 2005: Retired U.S. Air Force Brig.

Gen. Greg Otey ’87, retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dan Hogan ’65, Paul Bryant and Andrew Stone.

Class of 2005: Attending the annual red versus white golf outing in Pinehurst, North Carolina, were, front row, from left, Henry Lynch, Jeff Smith, John Baber and Jimmer Kingsley.

Back row: Ryan King, Tom Innes, Rich Litwin, Andy Karnes, Duke Acors, Will Paulette, Ben King and Lawton Way. 166

CMR 467 Box 1778 APO AE 09096-0018 vmi2006classagent@gmail.com

Brother Rats, Hope everyone is having a great winter! All is well on the western front at U.S. Army Europe.

Everyone can sleep well now that Mark Searles has arrived to the 173rd Airborne Brigade here in Europe after finishing his internship in Washington. I’ll hopefully link up with him sometime soon.

Jimmy Angerman: “In May, I joined Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ONE in Gulfport, Mississippi, as the operations officer. Currently I’m deployed to Rota, Spain, until February. If you find your way down to southern Spain, let me know! On Nov. 8, Jess added a little girl, Stella Grace Angerman, to our family.

I was in Germany at the time, but I was able to FaceTime. Jess and Stella are doing well, and we’re excited to give our boy, Finn, a little sister. While in Germany, I met up with Chris Gathmann. He’s stationed at Ramstein with the Air Force, and he and Lindsay will be moving to Oklahoma in about a month. I included a family

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 2006: Andrew Upshaw with his wife, Eugenia, in Heidelberg, Germany.

Class of 2006: Pictured were, from left, Capt. Ray Montolin ’14, Capt. David Downing ’09, Lt. Col. Colin Mahle ’00, Maj. Henry Zhang, 1st Lt. Brian Boyle ’15, 1st Lt. Stewart Milne ’16, 1st Lt. Andrew Leib ’16, 1st Lt. Ansel Dante ’16 and 1st Lt. Ned Wilkinson ’16 at a brief reunion of VMI alumni that occurred during a relief in place between the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment and the 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment in the Republic of Korea. with all the renovations and investments that have been made through the Vision 2039 initiatives.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the continued support, and I hope you all had a great holiday season!

Rah Virginia Mil!

2007

Maury Denton

Class of 2006: Chris Stolle and Brad Steidle are both stationed in Norfolk.

Class of 2006: John and Anastasiya Plachta had their first baby, Zachary Jonah Plachta. He was born Oct. 15, 2018.

2019-Issue 1

Class of 2006: Nick Mazzenga and John Diehl with their daughters. picture with this email. It’s ‘Flat Jimmy’ and the family after the birth of Stella.”

John Plachta: “My wife, Anastasiya, and I had our first baby, Zachary Jonah Plachta. He was born Oct. 15, 2018.”

Chris Stolle: “Here is a picture of Brad Steidle and myself. We’re both stationed in Norfolk. We both occasionally run into Matt Plant, but never on purpose.”

Henry Zhang sent in a photo of a “brief reunion of VMI alumni during the recent Relief in Place which took place in the Republic of Korea between 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment (1/3 Armored Brigade Combat Team) and 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment (3/1 ABCT).”

Not much else new on my end. Just busy with work, as I’m sure everyone else is. My parents were at VMI recently for Parents Weekend, and they said that the Institute is as impressive as ever

2122 Liesfeld Parkway Glen Allen, VA 23060 804/921-6607 maurydenton@gmail.com

Brother Rats, I hope everyone’s fall went well, as we head into the holiday season as I write these notes. My family just got back from a VMI trip for Founders Day weekend with all our roommates’ families.

BRs who made the trip included Rich Meredith, Josh Copes, Ryan Smith, Brian Welch, Graham Forbes and Greg Schwartz. For some of us, it was the first time bringing our kids to post. Watching the parade, sharing stories and getting that classic pit in your stomach driving up Letcher Avenue were experienced amongst all. Even though the rainy weather kept us off the Parade Ground, we had a blast, as always. Start of a new family tradition!

On the family news, Kathleen Brett Sain and her husband had their second child, Parker Todd Sain, July 12, 2018. Their family is doing well living in Arlington, Virginia. Congrats, Kathleen!

Matt Kania and his wife had their second child,

167

Class Notes

Class of 2007: Matt Kania and his wife had their second child, Gavin Blane Kania, Nov. 2, 2018.

Gavin Blane Kania, Nov. 2, 2018. As you can see, Gavin is already born a Steeler fan. Cheers to your growing family, Matt!

Those are all of the major class updates for this quarter. As always, please continue to keep me informed so we can stay up to date on everyone’s key milestones.

In the bonds, Maury Denton

2008

Robert Hill

5530 Edsel Street Harrisburg, PA 17109 717/648-1276 classagent08@gmail.com

When I wrote the last edition of these notes, I figured by now we would have celebrated

168

breaking out of the Institute more than 10 years ago. Little did I know, Mother Nature would have other ideas. We’ll try again next September. Like September, Mother Nature is wreaking havoc over central Pennsylvania while I write these notes. Everyone has been sent home from work during the snowstorm, leaving the roads stop-and-go and me plenty of time to stick it out and talk to all of you.

These are short and sweet!

Jack Jackson is at Fort Benning going through Infantry Basic Officer Leader’s Course after commissioning back in August. “Grandpa,” as he’s affectionally known at school, is going through the training with eight Class of 2018 graduates. After graduation, Jake will head back to Texas and join his wife, Kristina, and son, Samuel, in Lubbock and return to the 2IC of the 2nd Battalion, 142th Infantry.

Jason Pettengill is doing well while deployed at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. He arrived overseas in August. Jason’s serving a role under the Train, Advise and Assist mission as an UH-60 air adviser. The majority of his time is used to advise Afghan Air Force pilots on flying and helicopter operations. Soon after arriving, Jason ran into Quentin Rolfs ’06. While working opposite shifts, they were able to catch breakfast together and catch up after not seeing one another for nearly 10 years. The plus side to the reunion issue is that Jason should be stateside and able to attend next fall with wife Sarah and the kids, Rosley and Rhett.

Lauren and I are enjoying watching Addyson grow. A few of you warned me how quickly it would fly by, and it sure did.

In November, we celebrated Founders Day with the Central Keystone Chapter. We are looking forward to visiting Kansas in February to see the Mitchell family and others stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Until next time.

2009

Bradley Simpson 4717 Horseman Drive Roanoke, VA 24019 540/266-7124 simpsonbj09@gmail.com

Brother Rats, I hope this edition this of the Review finds you and your families well. I have had a great time catching up with all of you from the emails and messages I have gotten.

Michael Harvey sent me an email and said he

was currently deployed and is currently a fire support coordinator for Task Force Southwest. He is deployed to the Helmand and Nimroz provinces of Afghanistan. He is conducting train, advise and assist missions with the Afghan National Army.

Chris Lilly also reached out and said he is currently stationed at the Sacramento, California, Military Entrance Processing Station after serving as a U.S. military training mission air and missile defense adviser to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia down on the border of Yemen where he advised the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces on defending their population center from Houthi-launched ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft systems.

His current assignment is a good chance to reconnect with his wife, Samantha, whom he married Sept. 20, 2014; and two sons, Tristan, born June 18, 2016, and Colin, born Feb. 2, 2018. He commanded the Army’s only Airborne Short Range Air Defense Artillery battery (Avenger/Stinger), Battery E, 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which supports the 82nd Airborne Division’s and XVIII Airborne Corps Global Response Force at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After almost two years in command, he moved to the kingdom.

Vincent Abruzzese is still stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base but shifted over from the legal office in June to become the area defense counsel.

He is enjoying litigating more cases and has already tried six courts-martial with another three docketed through January 2019. He was also best man at Christopher Cole’s wedding to Becca Hartley in early September where he saw rats Glenn Ingham ’12 and Raphael Dongieux ’12.

Maj. John Casper ’04, the associate chaplain at VMI, presided over the ceremony.

I had a chance to catch up with Brian Nilles over email. He told me that Justin Smith recently got engaged to Rachel Rugman and they are planning on getting married in May in the Boston area. He also sent me a lovely picture of Alex Kelley. Alex is trying to raise awareness for men’s prostate cancer by growing the super creepy mustache. I am sure he has gotten a white van to go with it. Alex, I am sorry for putting this picture in, but you know what gets sent gets put in.

Also, go Vols. I personally got to catch up with Reza Eftekhar at this year’s Institute Society Dinner on Post on Founders Day. We just so happened to have been seated at the same table. Reza is doing well, and we all had a good night catching up.

Well, that about does it for this edition of the

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 2009: Chris Lilly’s children getting indoctrinated in the ways of VMI.

Class of 2009: “Alex Kelley being Alex Kelley,” said Class Agent Bradley Simpson about this photo.

Class of 2009: Chris Lilly and his family. notes. It has been crazy how time has flown.

Next time we all will be together will be our 10th Reunion, which I hope everyone will be able to make. Please keep an eye out for information that will be sent to you about the reunion. If you have not updated you contact information with VMI, I urge you to do that as soon as possible. This way, you will not miss out on any information on the reunion.

Well, that is all for me; stay safe and can’t wait to see all of you crazy kids at the reunion.

and we will all be smack dab in the middle of winter!

I feel I say this is every issue, but of course, it has been a crazy few months. Not that any of you care, but Jess, Wyatt and I moved to D.C. this past fall. It has been an incredible adventure so far. Once I got down here, it did not take long to find all the Keydets lurking in the shadows. Laugh out loud.

Corey Morgan and I have been getting together regularly. A lot of beer is being consumed! Laugh out loud. Corey recently got engaged to a beautiful young lady, Caitlyn. She is a registered nurse in the U.S. Navy. If you haven’t seen Corey’s proposal on Facebook, you should check it out!

Matt Sagar is another Keydet I have been getting together with regularly. A lot of beer is being consumed! Laugh my butt off. He and the amazing Chelsea Jacobson got engaged this past fall. Matt proposed on a trip to Disney; I’ll just leave the rest of my comment to myself.

Anyway, I found John Manning ’11 wandering the halls of the U.S. House of Representatives. We have been able to grab coffee a handful of times. He and his wife have a beautiful son and love being in the national capital region!

Moving our way out of the northern Virginia area, Frank Keeney and the beautiful Hannah Davidson tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in southwest Virginia. Evan Aguirre, Charlie Barnett, Lucas and Jordan Whitman, and Will Correll were all in attendance. Great job,

2010

Cody Hennelly

60 L Street NE Apt 920 Washington, DC 20002 609/713-1239 vmiclass2010@gmail.com

Garland Gray III

4215 West Franklin Street APT A Richmond, VA 23221 757/880-2370 VMIclass2010@gmail.com

Class of 2009: Bradley Simpson and Reza Eftekhar at the Institute Society Dinner.

2019-Issue 1

Brother Rats, I hope this message finds you all well. By the time y’all read this, the holidays will be over,

Class of 2010: Budge and Stefanie Hunter at their wedding reception in June 2018.

169

Class Notes

Class of 2010: Nelson and Aubrey Page with their son, Will, on Will’s adoption day.

Class of 2010: Tony Nweke and his daughter, Lillian Grace, who was born to Tony and his wife, Caitlin, Nov. 4, 2018.

170

Frank (probably the only time I will ever say this to you)!

Tony Nweke and I got a chance to catch up briefly after he and Caitlin welcomed Lillian Grace. She is so beautiful and perfect. Congrats, you two!

I got a wonderful email from Nelson and Aubrey Page. Nelson writes, “After five years active duty, I was a company commander in the reserve for three years, ending this summer. Yes, three years of commanding a combat engineer company. I’m currently living in Cincinnati, Ohio, still married to my Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership ring figure date, Aubrey. Aubrey just returned from her second deployment with the Navy, but her first time in Afghanistan, as a public affairs officer.

“My wife and I have been foster parents for two years, with over 25 kids passing through our home, one of which was Will. A year ago, we adopted William Elijah Page, who is now 13 years old.

“We have owned and managed a small apartment complex in Cincinnati for about two years. Focused on providing safe stable housing for low-income families, we have noticed the children aging out of foster keep being drawn to us. Currently, they consist of about half of our tenants; we support them working with local nonprofits and foster care agencies.

“I work for a California-based software company, consulting and selling engineering software to military, trucking and recreational vehicle manufacturers. The autonomous market has kept us quite busy, but my favorite customers are working with the engineers who designed the armored trucks I used overseas.”

Absolutely incredible, dude. As I have said to you, I am so proud of y’all!

Last and not least, Budge Hunter married the beautiful Dr. Stephanie Mitchell. Their wedding was at the lovely River Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, this past June. Budge’s father, Mike ’75, and his wife, Sloane, of Pounding Mill, Virginia, welcomed more than 20 Keydets to celebrate Budge and Stephanie’s happy day. Of note, Carl Josey made an appearance all the way from London!

Well, that does it for this issue, my friends! I hope you have all the health and happiness in the world (not Will Correll)!

Mizpah, Cody

2011

Allen McCown

5575 Summerdean Road Crozet, VA 22932 571/438-1233 Vmiclassagent11@gmail.com

I’d like to start off these notes by thanking many of you for contributing but also some for sending me the first update in years, if not their first ever. It’s evenings like this, with the sun setting on Afton Mountain and on another semester at the “I,” that I am thankful once again to be a member of such an incredible group of people I am fortunate to call brother rats. I hope these notes find you and your family happy, healthy and I hope to see all of you again soon.

I want to start these notes wishing heartfelt congratulations to Matthew Deacon and his wife, Anne-Simms Deacon. The two were wed in Lynchburg, Virginia, at the Virginia Episcopal School with the reception at Boonsboro Country Club. It was a beautiful ceremony attended by friends, family, and many BRs and VMI alumni.

Colin Sexton dropped me a note to let me know he moved back east this past summer.

Colin and his wife, Keira, have spent the last three years at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. This summer they made a cross country move to Winchester, Virginia, where Colin will work as a project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers while he eagerly awaits the major promotion board. Colin has been in command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 555th Engineer Brigade, for the last year and wrapped up his 15 months in July. I greatly enjoyed catching up with them this past fall at a football game Colin and Keira came down for. Jon Razack is also out in Washington at JBLM and currently serving as the S-2 for his battalion. Jon will be wrapping up his time in the Army this summer and is excited for his next adventure. Colin also works alongside Dan Frederick ’10, who is in command of an engineer heavy construction company. Colin also gave me an update that Matt Covalt is currently deployed with his Fort Bliss-based unit and is currently in the Middle East.

One of Colin’s other roommates, Jon Twigg,

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes from her about their beautiful family. is deployed in the Middle East currentJosh, Samantha and their two girls just ly, as well. finished up almost three years in Utah, Tom Pace and the rest of his room and they are eager to get back home to were quick to update me that their love Virginia, where Josh will be at Expedifor the Institute has never wavered.

Tom ran into C.J. Knight ’10 while C.J. tionary Warfare School at Quantico. trained on the PC-12 simulator earlier Upon their return, they’ll be seeing this year.

Todd Minnix ’82 who married one of I want to wish the most sincere of Samantha’s friends’ mothers and has congratulations to Matthew Talbott, turned into one of her close friends. who graduated June 2 from medical The Bookwalters and Minnixes will be school with a Doctor of Osteopathy celebrating Josh and Samantha becomdegree from the Alabama College of ing first time homeowners; congratulaOsteopathic Medicine. Dr. Talbott Class of 2011: Anne Simms-Deacon and Matthew Deacon tions to you both! More celebrations took his talents to the beach and started were married in Lynchburg. Those attending the wedding were in order when they attended the included Budge Hunter ’10, Kyle Goodale, Phil Steinhoff, wedding of Cash Register and Samanhis residency in emergency medicine at Tom Pace, Matt Talbott, Wayne Cunningham ’09 and Kyle Grand Strand Regional Medical Cen- Drumheller. tha Cunningham; the two were wed in Japan a few years ago, and now that ter, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in they are back, they had another beautiful stateJuly. Matt was as an EMT prior and during college, then graduated from VMI with a deside ceremony. For all of you guys who aren’t great at putting something together (a lot of gree in civil engineering. After a few years in you), please invite your wife/husband/other the engineering field he then proceeded to take half to shoot me a note, as well. As you can the needed prerequisites for medical school. It tell, Samantha had a lot of great news to share! was not an easy, nor a typical, journey to be a Laura Resetar was pleased to share that she doctor, but you did it, Matt; congratulations. began business school at George Mason UniWe currently have a number of BRs at Fort Drum, New York. Jared Claus wrote me a versity in pursuit of a Master of Business Adnote and said after this winter, he’s not going to ministration degree. Laura currently resides in look back when he’s (finally) able to drive to a and is from northern Virginia. She continues warmer climate. Jared is currently in company her consulting work with the Small Business command of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Jordan Peck is also a company commander Development and looks to return to the private at Drum. Unfortunately, Jared was injured sector upon obtaining her MBA. She’s staying recently during training and ended up needed extremely busy, but time is flying between gradsurgery on his leg. As he typed this to me, he uate school modules, her career and a social life. had just gotten the green light to walk without In another part of the commonwealth, Ryan Class of 2011: Anne Simms-Deacon and crutches; to say he was excited is an understateNeinstedt and Roland Richardson are roomMatthew Deacon. ment. Hoping for a quick recovery for you, mates in Virginia Beach. Roland works on a Jared! He’s now in good company, as Casey dredge that is currently dredging the Norfolk McElligott and his wife, Racheal McElligott Harbor. Ryan is also on the water as a Virginia ’10, just moved to Drum, as well. Casey headharbor pilot and runs ships by Roland frequented to 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. ly. Their time is filled with work, hanging out at Casey just completed a brief stint in Hohenfels the beach and rewatching Nicholas Sparks movTraining Area in Bavaria, Germany. He was ies. I had a great time earlier this summer runout there for a short temporary duty to support ning into and catching up with Roland and Anthe Joint Modernization Command. The VMI drew Duty at a bar in Richmond this summer. community, being as small as it is, Casey ran This past July, Adam Kruithof and his wife welinto Bri Keirstead who was finishing her comcomed their second son, William Heath Kruithof.

Life with two boys is keeping them on their toes mand and has been there as an observer/conbut is a total blast. Congratulations to the Kruittroller since January. Before his move to New York, Casey was at Fort Benning. hofs on the newest member of their family!

Class of 2011: The Lowe family – Mac, KyI want to thank Josh’s wife, Samantha BookKorey Tighe and his wife, Emma, have seen lie ’12 and Matt – at Kylie’s FBI graduation. their family grow in some size since graduation, walter, for writing recently. It was great hearing

2019-Issue 1

171

Class Notes as well. The two have four “future Keydets” running around their home: Saralainn (6), Callie (4), Kilian (2) and Lorelei, who just turned one. Korey is currently deployed to Iraq in command of a reconnaissance troop out of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment in Fort Hood. Emma is doing well at home with her hands full, of course, with their children. She moved the family to Texas, as well, and somehow found time to train and run her first half-marathon this past year.

Michael Curtis Herron just took the next step in his military career. In last year he left the Marine Corps and headed straight to Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning. Curt was commissioned in April and just graduated from infantry Basic Officer Leader Course.

Steven Henry was in attendance for his graduation along with many of Curt’s family and friends. Congratulations on your next step and good luck, Curt.

I received a very cool update from this past Founders Day about Chris Conte. Chris’ dad (Guy Conte ’75) sent an update to his class agent (Bob Keller ’75) that Chris and some of the troops in his Air Defense Artillery Battery all ran the marathon in Athens, Greece. The race starts in Marathon (where the distance gets its name) and finishes in the Panathenaic Stadium. Legend has it that the course follows the same route that Pheidippides ran to deliver the message of the Greek victory over the Persians 2,500 years ago.

This past summer, I made the trip from Virginia to Detroit, Michigan, to visit Quinn Wicks. Quinn is an emergency room doctor in one of the busiest trauma ERs in the country.

Quinn lives outside of Detroit in a beautiful town called Royal Oak. For all the things you may have heard about Detroit, there are also the opposite. Quinn showed me some great restaurants and a great time in an incredibly interesting city. We saw some live music at a storied concert hall and drove by some historic buildings, as well. We managed to meet up with Chris John as well, who is wrapping up his last year of his anesthesia residency before going active duty this coming summer in the Air Force. A huge thanks to Quinn and his girlfriend, Danielle, and Chris for showing me a great time.

Jimmy Stevenson sent me an update this summer and has been at Fort Hood, Texas,

172

for a few years. He just finished up his time as a company commander. Jimmy and his wife, Haley, have a son, Weston, who just turned 4 years old this past September. Jimmy has run into Heidi Beemer a few times in Texas, and recently, she attended his change of command ceremony. VMI can make the world a small place: The other BR Jimmy ran into was Matt Parmer, who he saw in Germany of all places.

Matt and his wife, Courtney, are in Germany for another few months, trying to soak up all the travel and experience they can before they move.

Matt Lowe and his wife, Kylie ’12, just moved to Sacramento, California, and are getting settled in. Matt is still in the Air Force and working on development of future capabilities at Beale Air Force Base. Kylie graduated from the FBI Academy as a special agent in May and is working at the field office in California. Matt was excited to send me a photo of his son, Mac, who was also in attendance for Kylie’s graduation. Congratulations to both of you on all these exciting changes!

John Manning and his wife, Mia, are doing great in Northern Virginia. John just finished his master’s in military operations. Their son, John Manning III (Jack), is doing great!

At Devils Backbone in Lexington recently, I ran into the brother rat who wrote one of the best update emails I’ve ever received. I loved catching up with him and his wife, Laura, during a crisp afternoon in Lexington. I do also have to give him a hard time; he closed the email with, “If that doesn’t work, I also ran the Marine Corps Marathon honoring Capt.

Shawn G. Hogan ’06.” Brother rat, I can tell you that both were worth including in this write up. This BR spoke and was honored alongside fomer President Bill Clinton; the former President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haris Silajdzic; Gen. Sullivan; Gen. Clark; Sanela Diana Jenkins; and Bill Carter in the Hastor Foundation. Ermin Mujezinovic wrote a tear-jerking speech that detailed his life story.

While I am not able to publish the speech in its entirety, I encourage anyone curious to ask him for it and read it. Ermin describes growing up a child in Bosnia. Before he turned 10, he had watched a village burn to the ground and had accidentally detonated a grenade, escaping luckily with mere scratches. As adventurous children, many of us ran through the woods,

skinned our knees and played in the mud.

Ermin detailed collecting bullets and other ordinances in the street and being dug out of rubble by his father after a shell struck their home. He spoke of NATO and other NGOs who cleared mine fields where he grew up so another generation of Bosnians wouldn’t experience what he did. He did remind the room of the thousands of mines still in place and that those children have yet to be granted a sure future. In May 2001, Ermin and his family set foot on American soil and settled in Fairfax with nothing but a white plastic bag of belongings. He continued and explained how Sept.

11 and the D.C. sniper shaped his worldview and led him to the realization that he must one day protect the freedom he holds so dear.

Ermin spoke about his experience at VMI and recalled his first visit to New Market, describing it as a moment of realization that soldiers of all walks of life have heeded the call when their freedom was at stake. Ermin closed with the famous poem “First They Came” by Pastor Martin Niemoller. I will not reprint the poem, but I will close out with my favorite paragraph from the speech.

“Another lesson that I learned [at VMI] that I will carry the rest of my life is that in our life, we will all face a New Market – an unexpected call to action. We will have to fight for what is right and for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”

I am thankful to be so close with so many who have answered the call and are fighting their own New Market across the globe. Stay safe and Rah Virginia Mil. Allen

2012

Bruce Howard

10264 Pamunkey Drive New Kent, VA 23124 804/814-3089 howardbl@mail.vmi.edu

Brother Rats, I hope this edition of the Review finds you and your families well.

Mike Gwinn and his fiancée, Kathy, will be moving back to northern Virginia in fall 2019.

The happy couple will be getting married next year, and Mike will start working for a law firm near Tyson’s Corner. Best wishes to you

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Class of 2012: Troy Warcewicz, Tim Johnson, Lansing Wilson ’11 and Kirk Stokes ’05 hanging out in Singapore.

Class of 2012: Samantha Henke and her husband, Zack ’11, welcomed their second child, Charlie Rose Henke, into the world Sept. 25, 2018.

Class of 2012: Troy Warcewicz and Spencer Wackelin ran into each other unexpectedly in Vietnam.

2019-Issue 1

Class of 2012: Kippur Taylor and his wife, Mary Katherine, were married this past September in Charlottesville.

both! Ross Stolle was acknowledged this past November for his work as a police officer in Virginia Beach. Ross was awarded the honor of “Top Cop” for the region thanks to his courageous actions in several circumstances throughout the year, as well as his diligence to serve. Congrats, Ross, and keep up the good work.

Kippur Taylor and his wife, Mary Katherine, were married this past September in Charlottesville. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Mexico, and the wedding was not only a great time for everyone involved but was also an opportunity for BRs to have another miniature reunion. Personally, my wife and I were honored to be a part of their special day, along with all the other VMI brethren in attendance. Also, Tyler Brown lived up to all expectations by giving a great wedding toast!

Congrats to Kip and MK, and I wish you both a great life together.

Troy Warcewicz has been up to some traveling this past year. He and Spencer Wackelin actually ran into each other unexpectedly in Vietnam. Both Troy and Spence hold the rank of captain in the Army. To go along with the Vietnam trip, Troy, Tim Johnson, Lansing Wilson ’11 and Kirk Stokes ’05 were hanging out in Singapore together. Apparently, a local restaurant they were visiting has a wall in which customers are allowed to write on; Troy let me know they made their mark before leaving and left a VMI spider on the wall for future patrons to see. Appreciate you representing halfway across the world, boys, and also, thank you again for your service!

I was not able to get a picture in time, but congratulations are in order for William Klick and his wife, Susannah. Will reached out and let me know they were married this past October. Thanks for the heads up, and I wish you both the best going forward!

Samantha Henke and her husband, Zack ’11, welcomed their second child, Charlie Rose Henke, into the world Sept. 25, 2018. The growing family is currently stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Congrats, Sam, and I’m glad to know you both doing well.

Chase Worthington and his wife, Amanda, were married this past August. The happy couple celebrated their wedding Aug. 25, and they were able to share their special day with not only family and friends but also several BRs in attendance. Congrats to you both!

Finally, Graham Neal and I were able to go on an elk hunting trip in New Mexico this past October. Fortunately, we were both able to harvest a mature bull and brought home plenty of meat for our family and friends. I think this is an example of the original “farm-to-table” phrase. As tempting as it was to include a picture of our hunt, I think these wedding and baby pictures turned out a little better.

Thank you to everyone who sent in information, and I apologize if there were any updates I may have missed. It’s great to see how involved brother rats continue to be in each others’ lives, even after our time at VMI has passed. I look forward to hearing from you all before the next edition. Take care and until next time!

In the bonds, Bruce

173

Class Notes son, Julian Stonewall Leet, this past August.

I’m sure I speak on behalf of all of us when I say congratulations! He’ll make a great Company F cadre corporal one day. For everyone reading this, if you’d like to send in photos of your future Keydets or any other updates, please don’t hesitate to send them to me or John Wilson for publication in the Alumni Review! We’ll be submitting the next round of notes Feb. 11, 2018.

2013

John Wilson

224 Lankford Avenue Charlottesville, Va 22902 540/383-5674 wilsonjc13@gmail.com

Charles Jones

390 N. Bracken Fern Lane Southern Pines, NC 28387 703/628-4900 charliejones@vmialumni.org

Brother Rats, As always, I hope this round of notes finds you well. If you read the last edition of the Alumni Review you may have noticed that I mentioned our 5th Reunion. For clarification, those notes were submitted for printing before the scheduled reunion. The reunion did end up being postponed and will take place in September 2019. While I know this was disappointing for many of you, I hope to see everyone next fall. If you’re on the fence about attending the reunion, I can assure you it’ll be worth your time. We’ve lined up some good times, including a catered barbecue dinner party with an open bar and live music. I’ll be putting plenty of information out on Facebook about the reunion, but if you have any questions don’t hesitate to text, email or call me.

As for updates, I’ve been lucky to have Matt Dudek in my Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course squad for the past few months.

Class of 2013: Julian Stonewall Leet, son of Erika and Patrick Leet.

174

2014 Class of 2013: Logan Sorensen and Thomas Hulcher at Oktoberfest in Germany.

Samuel Guidry

504 Brumsey Court SW Leesburg, VA 20175 703/777-6175 guidrysj10@mail.vmi.edu

Taylor Floyd

915 Briar Ridge Drive Houston, TX 77057 713/467-9222 floydtj@mail.vmi.edu

Class of 2013: From left to right, Thomas Hulcher, Katie Hulcher, Taylor Ladyman and Logan Sorensen.

While we may not have learned much about intelligence, we have earned the title of undisputed champions at the local bar where we compete in weekly trivia. I also ran into Brent Shull while at Fort Huachuca. Brent is in the Army Reserve and works in the intelligence community in the Washington, D.C., area. I recently got my orders to the 101st Airborne Division and will be at Fort Campbell by the time you read this. If you’re in the area, hit me up!

Logan Sorensen recently made the trip to Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest with Thomas Hulcher. Despite being formally declared “persona non grata” by the Federal Republic of Germany, I’ve heard they had a great time.

Just kidding; they allegedly made it through the trip without anyone getting in trouble.

Patrick Leet and his wife, Erika, had their

Brother Rats, I hope that these notes find you all well. Happy Founders Day, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

As we come into 2019 we have an exciting year ahead of us with our 5th Reunion coming up in the fall of this year. It’s truly incredible to see how fast time has gone since graduating.

From watching our rats get rings, watching our rats graduate and watching our grand-rats get their rings; by the time we all get together in fall 2019, our rats will be 1st Class cadets and have rats of their own; anyway, I digress.

In real class news, O’Neal recently moved to Anchorage, Alaska, with his family, where he is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Johnny Partin won his city council race in Hopewell, Virginia, back in November. He won a three way race with 44 percent of the vote. Partin, congratulations – excited to see where you go from here. Paul Edwards recently got out of the Army and is working as a management consultant in New York City.

Have you started listening to Huey Lewis and the News? Juan “The Kraken” Adams had his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in Wisconsin Dec. 15. I hope you read this still undefeated and survived Wisconsin in December. Ben Keir and his wife, Stephanie, had a

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes beautiful baby girl back in March 2018, Riley Grace Keir. As I write this, Capt. Keir is getting ready to deploy to Iraq with the 101st Airborne. Good luck overseas Ben; give ’em hell.

1st Lt. Mary Grace Lemon is currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and is the commander of the Bravo Battery in the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery. She has been selected for Maneuver Captains Career Course in March 2019 and will be relocating to Fort Benning, Georgia. Congratulations, Mary; I hope you get your pin before our 5th Reunion!

Matthew Ray was bored at work (don’t tell anyone) and decided to help me out. Matt is stationed at Fort Bragg, where is he awaiting his Special Forces assessment and selection date in April 2019. He and his wife just had their second son, and he graduated jumpmaster school in May 2018. Tyler Spedine had a male human Sept. 15, 2018. Cameron Dunnavant had a kitten, and his name is d’Artagnan.

Abigail Dawson has finally finished paying off her student loans and is officially free from the Institute. (I wish I could say the same!) Brett Nichols medically retired from the Army in January and moved to Henderson in July. His daughter, Athena Bree, is due April 13! Congratulations, Brett! Jonathan Vignali started work at Walter Reed in Bethesda, Maryland, in the internal medicine department. Jeff Mitchell just completed his first sea tour. He is

Class of 2014: Joshua Wells with his wife, Abigail, and son, Ezra.

2019-Issue 1

Class of 2014: Ben Keir and his wife, Stephanie, had a baby girl, Riley Grace Keir, in March 2018. headed to Monterey, California, to attend the Naval Postgraduate School.

Brandon Dodd graduated with his Ph.D. in mechanical and nuclear engineering back in May 2018. He is working in the night vision and electronic sensors directorate for the Army out of Fort Belvoir and moved to Dumfries, Virginia. He recently married Kari Norquist!

Congratulations on graduating and getting married, man! Josh Vaughan finally made it out of flight training and into the real Marine Corps, and is with the Marine Helicopter Light Attack 269 as a UH-1Y pilot. John Delekto is also stationed with the same unit. Predabon recently moved to northern Virginia and is teaching history at BASIS Independent School in McLean, Virginia.

“The Wells family has been doing well!”

Very glad to hear it! Josh recently celebrated two years with Southside Electric Cooperative, as the substation and apparatus supervisor. He is currently enrolled in a Master of Business Administration degree program through East Coast Polytechnic Institute University. His wife, Abigail, is working as a freelance graphic designer from home. The lovely couple has an 18-month-old son, Ezra. The Wells family is hoping that Ezra will be part of the VMI Class of 2039. Rah Virginia Mil! After a corporate change up with Monsanto following the Bayer Corporation acquisition, we are free to discuss Thomas Bradshaw; he is working for Bayer Corp Science out in Hawaii

as well as serving with the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade in the U.S. Army Reserve. He’s out there living the dream, surfing in those shark-infested waters and has learned to enjoy long walks on the beach. Tom doesn’t know it yet, but I will be visiting and staying with him sometime in the near future.

That’s all I have for y’all at the moment.

Thank you all for sending in updates; it is always good to hear from so many BRs. Looking forward to seeing everyone in the fall, dates coming soon, and in case anyone missed the previous announcement: Thomas Pierpoint graduated!? Sorry, I still can’t get over it.

P.S. I would like to apologize for my rat’s lack of class notes; I thought I raised him better.

Very respectfully, Samuel Guidry

2015

Henry Meredith

900 Lakefront Commons Newport News, VA 23606 757/650-1371 henrywmeredith@gmail.com

Johnny McDonald 2541 Lemon Lane Tallahassee, FL 32308 850/559-6668 mcdonaldjw15@gmail.com

Brother Rats, Welp, I waited until the last minute to write these notes. I’m just going to rapid-fire them out there and hold back on making fun of Henry Meredith. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to make up for it next time.

Tyler Brickles and his wife, Brittany, are expecting a baby boy in April 2019. Tyler is planning to brainwash the VMI plan – Class of 2043! You’re making us feel old.

Connor Lawrence and her husband, Joshua Lawrence ’13, are expecting their first daughter in December.

Ross Barnett and his wife, Breanna, had their second daughter, Charlotte Marisa Barnett, at the end of last summer.

Chris Gray is getting married to his fiancée, Whitney, in June. He is also sponsoring, through his work, the Big Beam competition for the civil engineering department. He is excited to work with Lt. Col. Swenty. All civil engineering majors remember when Lt. Col.

175

Class Notes

Class of 2015: Several alumni attended a Crystal Coast/Jacksonville Alumni Chapter meeting Nov. 7, 2018, where 2015 had the most BRs in attendance. Present were, from left, Stephen L. Skakandy ’01, chapter president; John Richards; Kelly McKenzie; Benjamin Hayes; Luke Van Zandt; Dan Gaskell ’92; and “Jumping” John Holmes.

Class of 2015: Taylor Kennedy and Owen Duggar shared a moment before Taylor said, “I do.” Duggar, Tyler Brickles and Stephen Krakie ’18 were groomsmen in Kennedy’s wedding, and Damian Arnaiz also attended.

Swenty came to the department as a young eager Pfc. Swenty. Good job to Chris for staying active and supporting the civil engineering department.

The class has the most attendees at a gathering of the Crystal Coast/Camp Lejeune Alumni Chapter: Stephen L. Skakandy ’01, John Richards, Kelly McKenzie, Benjamin Hayes, Luke VanZandt, Dan Gaskell ’92 and “Jumping” John Holmes (’82 HBR).

BR Ian McFarland got married, and there

176

were a plethora of BRs down in Wilmington to celebrate the occasion. These BRs include, but are not limited to, the VMI lacrosse captain Mike DeBlasio; Minnesota native, the esteemed BR Peter Fisher; former Army 2nd Lt. Ty Trobridge; BR Sam West; and the one, the only, Gaston Ledford. Permits.

Tyler Brickles, Owen Dugger and Steve Krakie ’18 were groomsman at Taylor Kennedy’s wedding to the former Ashleigh Hays.

They had a great time and were able to share a beer or two with some old friends. Damian Arnaiz was there, too. There are conflicting reports on whether Dam is a smooth Virginia gentleman or if he drank a bottle of Virginia Gentleman – or both. Either way, he was able to spend some quality time with the groomsmen.

Quinn Ellis is in the Navy as a Civil Engineer Corps officer at Yorktown. Rob Miller just got back from a deployment to El Salvador as the officer in charge of all Marine forces under Combined Joint Task Force Hope. Brandon Campbell just started an aerospace engineering position at Redstone Arsenal for U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Command.

Drew Craighead took a weekend trip to New Orleans with BR Hunter Linton and Andrew Rozyskie ’16. When I asked how the trip was, all he was willing to say was, “Bourbon Street was wild!” The rest he was not willing to talk about over the “internets.” Understandably so.

Joey Baron and Sean Turner still meet up from time to time to March PTs, just for old-time’s

sake. Dave Souliotis re-matriculated to the most recent rat mass. He was really wanting to strain again. He still only does “one for the Class of 2012” when he pushes, though. Alex Wong needs a hobby or better Fantasy Football competition.

Over the summer, Joel Hoisington earned his USA Track & Field level 2 coaching certification in the throwing events. If he completes the level 3 course, he will be eligible to coach athletes for international competition, including the Olympics and World Championships.

That’s all for this time – feel free to send me stuff anytime you think of it. I will keep it until it’s time for me to wait until the absolute last minute to write the notes and then submit it.

This rat is a rat, Johnny

2016

Jacob Norris

622 Hancock Street Watertown, NY 13601 781/424-0554 Norrisjm16@mail.vmi.edu

Patrick Hine

6368 Fieldcrest Court Dunkirk, MD 20754 443/286-2123 hinepm16@mail.vmi.edu

BRs, It is that time again, and we have a lot of updates this time around. Thank you to everyone who reached out.

Cody Portell graduated Naval Officer Candidate School Oct. 12 and is now serving as an ensign in the Navy.

Trey Rose and his fiancée, Abigail, were set to be married Dec. 15 at “Mother I.” Trey promises this wasn’t his idea for location but could not be more excited. The happy couple just purchased a home in Pittsburgh, where Trey is working full time for the Pittsburgh Pirates, if anyone is in the area and wants tickets. Abigail works for an adoption agency and is pursuing her master’s in social work. They have graciously opened their doors to any BRs in the area who need a place to crash or want to see a game.

Ryan and Megan Miccio were married April 14, 2018. They are honored his new father-in-law on their wedding day by holding his retirement

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes flag, which was flown over Iraq in February 2006.

Aidan and Kelly O’Connor got married Sept. 22. Best of luck and congratulations to both of these new couples.

Lorenzo Stola is living in Giessen, Germany, and working for Bayer Pharmaceuticals as a sales representative.

anyone needs anything please don’t hesitate to reach out.

2017

Benjamin Stewart 2400 S. Glebe Road Apt. 311 Arlington, VA 22206 703/554-3853 benstewart13@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes from the Class of 2017.

2018

Carlee Anderson

4256 Toddsbury Drive Vinton, VA 24179 540/797-2102 cmanderson02@email.wm.edu

Class of 2016: Ryan and Megan Miccio were married in April 2018.

Class of 2016: Aidan and Kelly O’Connor were married in September 2018.

Class of 2016: Cadet Weston Gloger ’19 tailgating with his dyke, Jack Wilkins.

2019-Issue 1

Dylan Davis is going strong at Fort Hood; he has not been flying as much as he would like, so he has taken up the habit of jumping out of planes instead.

Will Gregory recently made a trip up to Watertown, New York, to see Lexi and me. It was a great visit with lots of laughs.

Please reach out to fellow BRs – catching up really can mean a lot to people. As always, if

2018, I hope the alumni life is still treating you all well! It has been six months since we said our goodbyes to the Institute. It is no surprise at all, though, that this class is making waves in the real world. I am happy to share the few updates I got!

Samantha Brisco married Anthony Pacheco ’15 May 18, 2018, with Dave Souliotis ’15 as the best man and Reagan Goulla as the maid of honor. Other Keydets in attendance were Ted North ’15, Alex Wong ’15, Kyle Leonard ’15, Gaelle Browning ’15, Clarke Ruska ’16, Patrick Doolin, Nick Holdren, Elijah Dean, Ben Washecheck, Hunter Wolfe, Jon Chao, Rawls Fortenberry, Julia Daly, Cadet Cara Strachan ’21 and Cadet Hannah Rater ’21.

Ben Fields married his wife, Kayla, Aug. 25, 2018, in Charleston, South Carolina. Several members of the class of 2018 were able to make it: Liam Burke, Brian Maguire, Ryan Scherer, Jacob Schaver, Zach Freeman, Patrick Johnson, Zach Pokrywka, Pierson Fowler, Alex Rofail, John Keppeler, Max Liebl and Evan Hitt.

From Oct. 20-22, 2nd Lt. Niles Tate partnered with Generations United Church to help with Hurricane Florence relief in Niceville, Florida. The organization provided food, water, toiletries and maintenance work for those affected by the devastating hurricane. Good work, Niles!

God bless you all!

177

Class Notes

Class of 2018: Attending the Fields wedding were Liam Burke, Brian Maguire, Ryan Scherer, Jacob Shaver, Zach Freeman, Patrick Johnson, Zach Pokrywka, Pierson Fowler, Alex Rofail, John Keppeler, Max Liebl and Evan Hitt.

Class of 2018: Robert Dowling, Chance Dickson, Rob Woolfolk and Ian Horkan at Andrew and Samantha Stockmals’ wedding.

Class of 2018: 2nd Lt. Niles Tate partnered with Generations United Church to help with Hurricane Florence relief in Niceville, Florida, Oct. 20-22, 2018.

178

Class of 2018: Ben Fields married his wife, Kayla, in Charleston, South Carolina, Aug. 25, 2018.

Class of 2018: Samantha Brisco married Anthony Pacheco ’15 May 18, 2018. Dave Souliotis ’15 was the best man, and Reagan Goulla was the maid of honor. Other Keydets in attendance were Ted North ’15, Alex Wong ’15, Kyle Leonard ’15, Gaelle Browning ’15, Clarke Ruska ’16, Patrick Doolin, Nick Holdren, Elijah Dean, Ben Washechek, Hunter Wolfe, Jon Chao, Rawls Fortenberry, Julia Daly, Cadet Cara Strachan ’21 and Cadet Hannah Rater ’21.

VMI Alumni Review

Class Notes

Baby Keydets KUEHNE – A son, Preston William, to Stephanie and Jeff Kuehne ’02, Sept. 19, 2018.

VOLOSIN – A son, William, to Kristen and James Volosin ’04, July 13, 2017.

PLACHTA – A son, Zachary Jonah, to Anastasiya and John Plachta ’06, Oct. 15, 2018.

NWEKE – A daughter, Lillian Grace, to Caitlin and Tony Nweke ’10, Nov. 4, 2018.

HENKE – A daughter, Charlie Rose, to Samantha ’12 and Zack Henke ’11, Sept. 25, 2018.

VMI’s 10 Most Senior Alumni According to the records of the VMI Alumni Agencies, the people listed below constitute the 10 senior alumni of the Institute.

Please contact the Alumni Review staff if any errors are noted.

Robert C. Maling ’41

Aug. 16, 1919

C.W. Abbitt ’41

May 25, 1920

John Y. Embrey ’42

June 17, 1920

B.W. Baker ’42

July 1, 1920

George Eng ’43

July 6, 1920

Jack N. Williams ’41

Sept. 8, 1920

Donald H. Foster ’43

Dec. 24, 1920

W. Settle Frank ’43

Jan. 20, 1921

Gunyon M. Harrison Jr. ’43 Richard H. Catlett Jr. ’43

2019-Issue 1

March 6, 1921 May 1, 1921

179

Provisional Appointments APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

APPOINTEE’S NAME

ALUMNUS-CLASS

RELATIONSHIP

2038

2023 Tyreke Jackson

J. Addison Hagan IV ’97

Uncle

Sophia G. Canceran

Gabby V. Canceran ’06

Father

Lauren Kattmann

Peter R. Kattmann ’83

Father

Silas Clark

Brent S. Clark ’15

Father

Owen Solomon

John O. Solomon ’66

Grandfather

Lilly M. Yowell

Lee C. Yowell ’93

Father

2039

William A. Yowell III ’67

Grandfather

Avery J. Appleton

Vernon L. Beitzel ’72

Uncle

Brady P. Goodwin

Frederick D. Goodwin IV ’08

Father

Ian F. St. John

Frederick W. Sherman Jr. ’78

Grandfather

2024 McKay Lindsay

Eric D. Hutchings ’77

Uncle

David A. Lawler ’71

Cousin

Michael B. Hutchings ’10

Cousin

Edward Ernouf III ’67

Cousin

Benjamin K. Summers ’97

Father

Samuel J. Summers 2025 Andrew G. Caul

James C. Caul ’71

Grandfather

2040

Madeline D. Jackson

Timothy S. Jackson ’87

Father

Harold J. Boone

Jason E. Boone ’04

Father

Duncan M. Byrd Jr. ’65

Great-uncle

Adaleigh J.S. Frizzell

William R. Frizzell ’09

Father

Hale H. Byrd ’56

Great-uncle

Louis C. Wise ’865

Great-uncle

Jawan Johnson

DeShawn J. Johnson Jr. ’97

Father

John S. Wise ’866

Great-uncle

Katherine Lowery

Christopher S. Lowery ’99

Father

Hugh D. Wise ’891

Cousin

Delton G. Lowery ’01

Uncle

Jennings C. Wise ’902

Cousin

Lee C. Yowell ’93

Father

John W. Burton III ’70

Cousin

William A. Yowell III ’67

Grandfather

Algernon S. Buford ’934

Great-uncle

Lanier D. Buford ’938

Cousin

Eleanor D. Yowell

Henry A. Wise ’927

Cousin

Robert E. Mills ’68

Grandfather

Anderson Wise ’60

Cousin

Malachi M. Mills ’48B

Cousin

Henry A. Wise Jr. ’862

Cousin

Christopher S. Lowery ’99

Father

Richard S. Wise ’68

Cousin

Delton G. Lowery ’01

Uncle

Henry A. Wise ’894

Cousin

Henry A. Wise III ’05

Cousin

Michael M. Strickler ’71

Grandfather

Edmund R. Strickler ’62

Great-uncle

2027 Bishop T. Bosher Jr. Kaidan Lowery

Cyrus P. Green

2030 Kody Lowery

Christopher S. Lowery ’99

Father

Delton G. Lowery ’01

Uncle

2033 Andrew D. Slota

Donald S. Crawford ’70

Grandfather

Stephen A. Strickler ’68

Great-uncle

Elinor C. Halin

Jason M. Halin ’02

Father

Christopher P. Kitchen

Christopher E. Kitchen ’12

Father

Duke A. McKinney

James B. Bartley ’72

Grandfather

Phillip R. Anderson ’70

Great-uncle

John W. Pinner III ’73

Great-uncle

William E. Powell ’77

Grandfather

Samuel P. Pace ’79

Uncle

2034 Bodie G. Jones

Eric R. Jones ’97

Father

Hudson J. Rice

Samuel P. Pace Jr. ’11

Cousin

Charles C. Crim ’72

Father

Jordan M. Riley II

Jordan M. Riley ’13

Father

John D. Crim II ’68

Uncle

Theodore A. Yoffe

Holly A. Yoffe ’09

Mother

Chelsea V.R. Yowell

William A. Yowell III ’67

Grandfather

Lee C. Yowell ’93

Uncle

2036 Eliza G. Crim 2037 Joseph T. Appleton

180

Vernon L. Beitzel ’72

Uncle

VMI Alumni Review

Taps Charles B. Miller ’42

Richard Anthony Jr. (Heather), Lee Bare (Rob), Anthony DuBose (Tiffany), Brantley Byers, Libba Falke, Will Starr (Caroline), Katherine Starr, William Anthony, David Anthony Jr., John Starr, Ann Hazel (Wesley), Harris Anthony and Wilkerson Anthony; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Henderson Anthony, and his sister, Virginia Anthony Broughton.

Charles Bruce “Charlie” Miller ’42 of Richmond, Virginia, died Aug. 29, 2018. He was 97.

Miller matriculated from Richmond and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his sister, Nancy Phillips; daughters, Lindsay Miller (Peter Ambler) and Barrie Miller Sutton; grandchildren, Alex (Rachel), Miller ’42 Jeff and Maryanne; and great-grandchildren, Wesley, Olivia and Wyatt.

Graham A. Barden Jr. ’45 He was preceded in death by his first wife, Graham Arthur Barden Jr. ’45, M.D., of Trent Anne, and second wife, Mary Easterly.

Woods, North Carolina, died Oct. 19, 2018.

He was 94.

Harry J. Siebert ’42 Barden matriculated from New Bern, North Harry John Siebert ’42 of New Smyrna Carolina, and spent two years at VMI. He Beach, Florida, died Oct. 31, 2018. He was 98. earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Siebert matriculated from Richmond, VirDuke University. ginia, and spent more than three years at VMI. He is survived by his daughter, Maryann Siebert is survived by his wife, Joan; Joan’s Berry (Dr. John Berry Jr.); son, Dr. Graham children, Gregg Swentor, David Swentor A. Barden III (Nora); grandchildren, Dr. (Kristi) and Kimberly Millican (Marshall); John Berry VII (Jennifer), Dr. Barden Berry, and grandchildren, Lindsay, Kevin, Leah, Chase Barden (Brittiany) and Emily Barden Madeline and Garrett.

Wall (Kendall Wall); and sister, Agnes Barden Siebert was preceded in death by his daughSabiston. ter, Michele, and sisters, Muriel Taylor and He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Shirley Black.

Louise Moulton.

F. Meade Bell Sr. ’44 Frank Meade Bell Sr. ’44 of Annapolis, Maryland, died Oct. 16, 2018. He was 86.

Bell matriculated from Bethesda, Maryland, and spent three years at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Virginia L. Bell; children, Frank M. Bell Jr. (Jocelyn), Hunter C. Bell (Betty) and Eliza B. Smith (Christopher); step-children, Gina Quinn, David, George (Betsy), Bruce (Ellie) and Peter Dunigan; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Creech Bell, and his great-grandfather, Valentine M. Johnson ’860, who died Oct. 19, 1909.

Eiland E. Anthony Jr. ’45 Eiland Eland Anthony Jr. ’45 of Andalusia, Alabama, died Oct. 24, 2018. He was 95.

Anthony matriculated from Troy, Alabama, and spent two years at VMI. He is survived by his children, Richard Anthony (Ginny), Katherine Dubose (Terry), Elizabeth Starr (Sam), David Anthony (Angela) and Bill Anthony (Happy); grandchildren,

2019-Issue 1

Edward D. Laraja ’48B Edward David Laraja ’48B of Greenwich, Connecticut, died Oct. 3, 2018. He was 91.

Laraja matriculated from Mount Vernon, New York, and attended VMI for more than one year. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Taomarina Laraja; daughters, Susan Lemonier (Mark) and RoseLynn Jarrett (Thomas); and grandchildren, Dana Lemonier, Caroline Lemonier, Edward Lemonier (Alison), Elizabeth Jarrett and Estelle Jarrett.

Dolphin H. Overton Jr. ’49B Dolphin Henry Overton Jr. ’49B, M.D., of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, died Aug. 4, 2018. He was 90.

Overton matriculated from Shelby, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University.

He is survived by his children, Dolphin Henry Overton III ’79, Leslie Overton Mosley and Joseph Nicholas Overton (Tracey); 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and brother, Joseph Louis Overton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elena Eleanor Overton; son, Michael Lee Overton; and sister, Faye Patterson Overton Webb.

Walter C. Land ’49C Walter Cornelius Land ’49C of Morgantown, Indiana, died Oct. 1, 2018. He was 92.

Land matriculated from Madison, Georgia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Jane; sons, Casey and David; daughters-in-law, Magee and Julie; grandchildren, Tara DeWitt (Eric), Megan Leahy (Soren), Hunter Land (Anna Suozzi), Lucas Land, Eric Land (Megan Jacoby) and Patrick Land; and great-grandchildren, Simone DeWitt, Lilianne DeWitt, Beau DeWitt, Margy Leahy, Will Leahy, Michael Leahy, Hudson Land and Colton Land.

He was preceded in death by his sisters and brothers.

Calvin S. Snoddy Jr. ’49C

Herbert N. Johnston ’49A

Calvin Stewart “Stew” Snoddy ’49C of Lexington, Virginia, died Oct. 15, 2018. He was 91.

Snoddy matriculated from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree in chemistry from Purdue University.

He is survived by his wife, Ann; son, C. Stewart Snoddy III; and three granddaughters.

Herbert Norris “Herb” Johnston ’49A of Columbus, Ohio, died Aug. 17, 2018. He was 90.

Johnston matriculated from Sebring, Ohio, and spent two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; children, Jeffrey and Christine (Steven Glaser); and granddaughter, Nina M. Glaser.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Jerry, Edwin and Mary.

Edward Loyola “Ed” Smith ’50B of Richmond, Virginia, died Sept. 18, 2018. He was 89.

Smith matriculated from Richmond and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Johnson Smith; children, Paula Saurs (Mark), Edward Smith Jr. (Donna), Charles Smith, Jeffrey

Edward L. Smith ’50B

181

Taps Smith (Laura), Robin Edwards (Glenn), Patricia Smith (David); 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

William L. Gordon ’52 William Lynwood Gordon ’52 of Cumming, Georgia, died Sept. 22, 2018. He was 88.

Gordon matriculated from Charleston, West Virginia, and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Morris Harvey College.

Cecil H. Webb Jr. ’52 Cecil Henry “Sonny” Webb Jr. ’52 of Wildwood, Missouri, died July 2, 2018. He was 88.

Webb matriculated from Whitesburg, Kentucky, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He is survived by his sons, Cecil Henry Webb III (Charlotte) and Jonathan Webb (Teresa), and grandchildren, Michael Webb, David Webb, Rachael Webb, Henry Webb and Megan Thompson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Bates Webb, and son, William Webb.

Herman R. Decker ’53 Herman Reid “Deck” Decker ’53 of Belmont, North Carolina, died Sept. 21, 2018. He was 88.

Decker matriculated from Buena Vista, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He is survived by his children, Allison Decker Crotts (Dallas), Robert Dixon Decker (Patricia), Charles Benson Decker (Christiana) and Mary Denny Barker (Jeffrey); grandchildren, Leann Crotts, Sally Crotts, Chad Crotts, Rob Decker, Ben Decker, Heath Decker, Annalee Decker, Connor Barker, Catherine Anne Barker and Abby Barker; great-grandchild, Jadah Braefield; sisters, Virginia McClung (Vane) and Barbara Jean Phillips; and sister-in-law, Wanda Decker.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Hall Dixon Decker; grandson, Will Crotts; brother, Kenneth Decker; brother-in-law, Robert Phillips; and sister-in-law, Martha Underwood.

Robert F. Haden ’53 Robert Francis “Red” Haden ’53, M.D., of Friendswood, Texas, died Oct. 11, 2018. He was 87.

Haden matriculated from Arvonia, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-medical from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

He is survived by his brother, Earl Haden

182

Jr.; daughters, Elizabeth Haden, Katherine Haden Driscoll (Harry) and Tammy Haden Randle (Mike); and grandchildren, Haden Randle, Lauren Palek, Molly Prach, Everett Randle, Nathan Driscoll and Katelyn Driscoll.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Laura Haden Hughes.

James P. Holley ’53 Rev. and retired U.S. Army Col. James Paul Holley ’53 of Lawton, Oklahoma, died Sept.

4, 2017. He was 86.

Holley matriculated from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from Shippensburg University.

He is survived by his wife, Sonja; daughter, Theresa Love Raney; sons, Ross Holley (Lisa) and James P. Holley II (Leia); grandchildren, James M. Raney, Heather H. D’Amico, Michael J. Raney, Samara S. Holley, Benjamin P. Holley, James P. Holley III and Sean P. Holley; four great-grandchildren; and brother; retired Col. Richard H. Holley.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert C. Holley.

George R. Johnson Jr. ’53 George Ray Johnson Jr. ’53 of New Bern, North Carolina, died Oct. 14, 2018. He was 87.

Johnson matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent more than one year at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Joan H. Johnson; son, George Ray III; daughter, Virginia Killinger (Keith); granddaughter, Blair Kelly (Marshall); great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Grey; and sister, Linda Hock (Ray).

John S. Moss ’55 John Stanton Moss ’55, D.D.S., of South Bend, Indiana, died Oct. 9, 2018. He was 85.

Moss matriculated from DeKalb, Illinois, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Loyola University.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Kathryn Kay, Bryn Bodden (Ashford), John Jr. (Patty) and Kevin; grandchildren, Valarie Sukolics (Matt), Matt Rearick, Rance McCurry (Bailee), Elizabeth McCurry, Jeremiah McCurry, David Bodden, Joanie Bodden, Leilany Bodden, Stacy Bodden, Michael Moss, Jenna Moss, Tyler Moss and Annaliese Moss; and great-grandchildren, Lucas

Sukolics, Liam Sukolics, Nolan Rearick and Braxton McCurry.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Lynn Perry, and grandsons, Aaron and Christopher Bodden.

Henry M. Chambers ’56 Henry Morgan Chambers ’56 of Danville, Virginia, died Oct. 18, 2018. He was 84.

Chambers matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and spent more than two years at VMI. He is survived by his daughters, Susan C. Oakes (Harry) and Judy C. Pergason; sons, David Chambers and Henry M. “Butch” Chambers; sisters, Cornelia “Sis” Holland, Lee McKenna and Jean Boyce; grandchildren, Kelli O. Clay (Jeromy), Will Oakes (Jessica), Allen Purgason (Lauren), Bradley Chambers, Patrick Chambers and Samantha Purgason; and greatgrandchildren, Caroline, Bridget, Layla, Jaxon, Tripp, Henry and Kinsley.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean King Chambers; a sister; three brothers; son-in-law, “Rocket” Roger Purgason; and daughter-in-law, Janice Chambers.

Frederick L. Judge ’56 Frederick Linwood Judge ’56 of Encinitas, California, died Aug. 11, 2018. He was 84.

Judge matriculated from Bayside, Virginia, and spent two years at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Janet Judge; daughters, Christine Mills, Carolyn McDonnell and Sandra Burton; son, Paul Judge; brother, John Judge; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel D. Judge.

John P. Pittman ’56 John Powell “Jack” Pittman ’56 of Franklin, Virginia, died Oct. 30, 2018. He was 83.

Pittman matriculated from Capron, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Ina Ridley Pittman; children, Virginius Sebrell V. Pittman II (Anne) and Margaret Pittman Green (Ward); grandchildren, Jordan Ridley Green, Sumner Willingham Green, Edward Jackson Green III, John Powell Pittman II and James Scott Hotchkiss Pittman; and cousin, Paul D.C. Marks ’69.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Virginius S. Pittman Jr. ’43, who died July 13, 1998, and Robert E. Pittman ’45, who died March 13, 2006.

VMI Alumni Review

Taps William S. Brooks ’57 William S. Brooks ’57 of Rising Sun, Maryland, died Feb. 4, 2013. He was 77.

Brooks matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville University, a Master of Public Administration degree and a Doctor of Public Administration degree from Nova University, and a Master of Science in Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

James T. Vaughan ’57 James Thomas “Tom” Vaughan ’57 of Williamsburg, Virginia, died April 3, 2018.

He was 83.

Vaughan matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Vaughan Syer (John) and Christine Vaughan Warhurst; grandchildren, Madison and Grace Warhurst and Vaughan and Virginia Syer; and brothers, Herbert E. Vaughan ’60 and Dr. John W. Vaughan ’67.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Gunn Vaughan.

(Editor’s Note: In the Taps entry for James Thomas Vaughan ’57 that appeared on page 196 of the 2018-Issue 3 Alumni Review, Mr. Vaughan’s name was listed incorrectly. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Vaughan’s family, brother rats and friends for this error.)

Harry H. Negley III ’58 Harry Hull Negley III ’58, D.D.S., of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, died Aug. 14, 2018. He was 81.

Negley matriculated from Huntingdon and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Arizona. He earned both a Master of Dental Surgery degree and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

He is survived by his wife, Judy; step-sons, Brian and Jeff (Linda); five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

William C. Kirkland ’59 William C. “Bill” Kirkland ’59 of Louisville, Kentucky, died Aug. 23, 2018. He was 80.

Kirkland matriculated from Abingdon, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Catherine “Susie”

2019-Issue 1

Kirkland; sons, Todd Kirkland (Lori) and Craig Kirkland (Becky); daughters, Omea Holmes (Jeremy) and Susan Lipscomb; grandchildren, Christopher, Andrew, Matthew, Abbey, Alexis, Grace and Sophie; brother, Pat Kirkland (Paula); and brother-in-law, Louis W. Dolt Jr.

Henry T. Cornick Jr. ’60 Henry Thomas “Tom” Cornick Jr. ’60 of Yorktown, Virginia, died Oct. 21, 2018. He was 81.

Cornick matriculated from Yorktown and spent more than four months at VMI. He is survived by his wife, April Peltz Cornick; daughter, Lynn Mendibur (Tony); step-sons, Andrew Douglas Wright (Cathi) and Matthew Christian Wright (Kelli); seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; brother, Robert Bruce Cornick; and sister, Jane Dominick.

John D. Cooke Sr. ’62 John Dahl “Johnny” Cooke Sr. ’62 of Chesapeake, Virginia, died Sept. 10, 2018.

He was 78.

Cooke matriculated from Chesapeake and spent two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his daughter, Jane Cooke Richards (Ryan); son, John Cooke Jr.; grandson, Ethan Richards; half-brother, Larry Cooke; and former wife, Julianne E. Cooke.

James C. West Jr. ’62 James Claiborne West Jr. ’62 of Spring Hill, Florida, died Aug. 8, 2018. He was 78.

West matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Carole J. West; sons, Thomas C. West ’90 (Helen) and David West; daughter, Susan D. West; grandchildren, Alexis, Tyler, Samantha and Hannah; and brother, Fred (Julie).

Thomas J. Lennon ’65 Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas John Lennon ’65 of Amherst, New Hampshire, died Sept. 28, 2018.

He was 76.

Lennon matriculated from Rockville, Connecticut, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Master of

Arts degree from Golden Gate University.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn; children, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Lennon Jr. and Timothy Lennon; daughters-in-law, Amie Lennon and Emily Lennon; grandchildren, Thomas Lennon III, Jackson Lennon, Jay Lennon, Kylie Lennon, Dailey Lennon and Leon Lennon; sisters-in-law, Karen Petraglia and Barbara Gallaher; and brother-in-law, Leon R. Schweir Jr.

William P. Korink ’67 William Patrick “Bill” Korink ’67 of Millersville, Maryland, died Aug. 10, 2018. He was 73.

Korink matriculated from Falls Church, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Old Dominion University and a Master of Arts degree in business economics from Claremont University.

He is survived by his children, Shannon, Christopher and Brandon; son-in-law, Sean; daughter-in-law, Susan; grandchildren, Eliza, Elinor and Egan; and sister, Lynn Hall.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sheri.

Charles A. Pope ’69 Charles Ashby “Buddy” Pope ’69 of Casselberry, Florida, died Aug. 26, 2018.

Pope matriculated from Capron, Virginia, and spent less than five months at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Marie Bradshaw Pope; sister, Katie P. Edwards (Tye); brothers, James D. “Pete” Pope (Jane) and Benjamin Gregory Pope (Kitty Lou); and aunt, Ethel P. Francis.

Robert R. Lamoe ’71 Robert Richard Lamoe ’71 of Westminster, Maryland, died March 8, 2018. He was 68.

Lamoe matriculated from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from VMI. He is survived by his sister, Judith Ann MacPherson, and brother-inlaw, Gordon F. MacPherson Jr.

Wayne R. O’Brien ’71

Lennon ’65

Wayne Russell O’Brien ’71 of Goochland, Virginia, died Aug. 29, 2018. He was 69.

O’Brien matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI.

183

Taps He is survived by his wife, Pamela Robin Kitchen O’Brien.

Kevin A. Daigh ’72 Kevin Alexander Daigh ’72 of Locust Valley, New York, died Oct. 21, 2018. He was 69.

Daigh matriculated from Goochland, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his children, Katherine Chalmers Berry (Nathan Daniel Berry), Kevin Alexander Daigh Jr. (Elizabeth Alston Armfield Daigh) and Elizabeth Byrne Daigh (Luis Jairo Perez Jiron), and grandchildren, Hudson Reisinger Berry, Lucas Daniel Berry, Mailo Augustine Perez Daigh, Alexander Armfield Daigh, Eleanor Chalmers Berry and Gloria Avelina Perez Daigh.

Osborne; son, Jamahl Alexander Osborne; and sisters, Rev. Josine C. Osborne, Hon. Viola O. Osborne and Violet O. Mensah.

Harry D. Siegfried ’78 Harry David Siegfried ’78 of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, died Sept. 19, 2018. He was 64.

Siegfried matriculated from Norwood, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from VMI. He is survived by his wife, Caryn; children, Andrew (Jennifer), Elizabeth (John Hyland) and Catherine; grandchild, Grant Siegfried; siblings, Richard H. Siegfried Jr. (Helen), Peg Rae (Kevin), Denise Scala (Richard) and Daniel Siegfried (Carol); mother-in-law, Rita Setcavage; and sister-in-law, Justine Dial (Fred).

Col. Thomas S. Baur ’75

Craig L. Wallen ’78

Col. Thomas S. Baur ’75 of Lexington, Virginia, died Aug. 23, 2018. He was 64.

(Editor’s Note: An extended obituary for Col. Baur appears in the In Memory section of this issue.)

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Craig Leonard Wallen ’78 of Chesapeake, Virginia, died Oct. 8, 2018. He was 62.

Wallen matriculated from Wilmington, Delaware. He was a distinguished graduate of VMI and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He earned Master of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from Golden Gate University.

He is survived by his wife, Diane; parents, Harry and Salonia Wallen; daughters, Andria and Jennifer; sons, Hunter and Clyde D. Nelson; and sister, Sherry.

Ralph H. George ’77 Ralph Hallam George ’77 of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, died Aug. 20, 2018. He was 63.

George matriculated from Lakeland, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He is survived by his three sisters, Gerri Willett, Jane Wilkins and Susan Sharp.

Clifton C. Osborne Jr. ’77 Clifton Cleveland Osborne Jr. ’77 of Richmond, Virginia, died July 18, 2018.

He matriculated from Richmond and spent less than two months at VMI. He is survived by his wife, Avis Wright

184

He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Janine Schultz; father, Arthur Joseph Schultz III; and brother, Arthur Joseph Schultz IV.

Andrew J. Schultz ’95 Andrew Jason Schultz ’95 of Pasadena, Maryland, died Aug. 18, 2018. He was 46.

Schultz matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent two years at VMI. He is survived by his sister, Adrienne Trout (Michael); former wife, Linda; and daughters, Taylor Long, Alexandra and Addison.

VMI Family Alan Lau Alan Lau, Ph.D., of Lexington, Virginia, died Sept. 22, 2018. He was 83.

Lau formerly taught at VMI. He is survived by his daughter, Karna; sons, James and John; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Cain Lau.

Richard A. Reitz Richard Allen Reitz of Cambridge, Massachusetts, died June 27, 2018. He was 81.

Reitz previously taught at VMI. He is survived by his son, Allen, and grandchildren, Charlie and Emma Reitz.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy.

Jerry E. Roane Jerry E. Roane of Lexington, Virginia, died Aug. 12, 2018. He was 88.

Roane formerly worked for VMI in the psychology department, as a hospital attendant and as an assistant baseball coach. He retired in 1993.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Roane; children, Kirk (Sandy), Valarie, Yolanda (Phillip) and Troy (Cynthia); 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Herman Roane Jr., Naomi Watts, Frances Green and Leon Roane.

VMI Alumni Review

After Taps Ralph H. George ’77

By Col. Mark H. Bryant ’77

Ralph Hallam George ’77, beloved brother rat and friend, passed away suddenly at the age of 63 Aug. 20, 2018.

Ralph was born April 17, 1955, in Ironton, Ohio. He was a graduate of Santa Fe High School in Lakeland, Florida, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI in 1977.

He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation. After completing many years of active and reserve duty as a field artillery officer and obtaining the rank of captain, Ralph retired to form the first of two prominent steel fabrication construction companies in Sarasota, Florida, where he resided the last 38 years of his life.

Ralph had a passion for sports, the Virginia Military Institute, his brother rats, his family and his many friends. He loved the game of golf, wherein he combined a wicked but woefully unreliable drive with his gift for story telling (winning many games by convulsing his more talented partners) and an infectious smile and attitude. He only rarely hurled a club.

Ralph was an aggressive, physical athlete who played Division I college football with reckless abandon and at the highest level. He and his teammates led the ever powerhouse VMI Keydet football team to the Southern Conference Championship title two years running.

During his senior year, he was offered a tryout as a wide receiver

with an NFL team, which, sadly, determined Ralph’s speed to be the only second-rate thing about him. He was an avid music lover and dancer, a dedicated and active VMI alumnus, and a tormented but faithful Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan.

Ralph was renowned for his integrity, humor, leadership, loyalty and compassionate spirit. His talents and achievements are too numerous to list. As our class composed our profiles for the 1977 Bomb, Ralph contributed the following to his life to date and his hopes for the future: “I have pounded some beers, done some scrapping, and lost my head over some tantalizing women. Most important, I have found all my weaknesses the past four years. It depends on my strength if I can become the man I seek to be. I love my family, respect many of my friends, and be patient because I am still growing.”

Ralph became the man he envisioned and so much more. In his richly lived and celebrated life, tragically more brief than his devoted sisters, family and legion of friends can accept, he became a lodestone of support, enthusiasm and joy. Our loss is incalculable.

Military honors were held Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at Sarasota National Cemetery. The family requested that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, support.wounded-warriorproject.org, or to the VMI Scholarship Fund in Ralph’s memory.

John E. Quackenbush ’77

By Col. Mark H. Bryant ’77

Our brother rat and friend John Quackenbush passed away Nov. 6, 2018, at his home in Texas. John had been battling cancer.

We lost a true warrior and friend, and to his family, a husband and a grandpa. “Quack” was a memorable character and member of our class throughout our cadet years and lives after. He came to VMI from Long Island, New York, determined to be a military man. He was a career Army officer, retiring from the Army and working in later years for Disney, and for the Department of Homeland Security.

He never let his stature stop him from achieving his goals (5’2”): Ranger, airborne infantry officer and Army aviator. He was a “go-to” guy in every role he ever held. He had more energy than an entire infantry squad.

2019-Issue 1

Not only was John a distinguished civil engineering major, but he minored in English. The English majors said John ruined the grading curve in every class they had with him. He is reputed to have rewritten the entire program of instruction for the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced courses at Fort Rucker. During the First Gulf War, John was in St. Louis as an aviation logistics officer and was responsible for diverting every known helicopter turbine engine in the Army inventory to the “sandbox” in order to sustain the aviation squadrons deployed. His impact on everything he touched is his legacy.

“Quack,” the world will never be the same without you, but as long as your brother rats gather, you will be celebrated and remembered.

Well done, BR.

185

Alumni News Marquis Who’s Who presented Jack W. Trigg Jr. ’53, M.D., with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished career and service as a medical doctor. The award was presented to Trigg to note his decades of experience in medicine and to celebrate his achievements and leadership qualities in his field. Marquis Who’s Who selects profiled individuals based on their current reference value and takes the following factors into consideration: Prominence in the selectee’s chosen field, noteworthy accomplishments and visibility.

Trigg served as a medical doctor for four decades, including more than 30 years at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to serving as the president of St. Vincent’s medical staff, he served on the courtesy staff of other Birmingham hospital boards and as president of his medical group from 1987-96. Trigg also served as diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and was elected as a fellow of the American College of Physicians. Trigg has served with numerous local organizations. After completing medical school, Trigg completed a one-year fellowship under Dr. Tinsley Harrison in 1956-57, and he asked Harrison during the fellowship how he made decisions about the patients under his care. Harrison replied simply that he always referred to the “Golden Rule,” treating patients as he would want himself or his family members treated. Trigg followed this principle throughout his career. Aside from the Marquis Who’s Who, Trigg is listed in many other Who’s Who editions, including Who’s Who in the World.

Trigg matriculated from Birmingham, Alabama, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Alabama.

James E. “Jim” Henry Jr. ’68, John E. Karafa ’84, and Louis J. Petrillo ’93 were featured on the cover of the November 2018 issue of Colony Life magazine, which is published for residents of Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia. Inside the magazine, there is an article about the three alumni and the “unlikely” fact that they all live in the in the same small neighborhood. The article notes that though all three alumni are

John E. Karafa ’84, Louis J. Petrillo ’93 and James E. “Jim” Henry Jr. ’68 were featured on the cover of the November 2018 issue of Colony Life magazine, which is published for residents of Ford’s Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Dr. William G. Harshaw Jr. ’58 and Mrs. Carolyn Harshaw donated a VMI regimental flag to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ’81. The flag, which was presented to Northam July 26, 2018, stands outside the governor’s office. At the event were, from left, Conrad M. Hall ’65; Stephen M. Maconi, Alumni Agencies chief executive officer; Mrs. Harshaw; Warren J. “Buddy” Bryan ’71, Foundation chief operating officer; Mrs. Pat Gibson; Col. Keith Gibson ’77, VMI Museum System director; Northam; Samuel B. Witt III ’58; Dr. Harshaw; S. Waite Rawls III ’70; Mrs. Sally Witt; Brig. Gen. Dallas B. Clark ’99, VMI director of finance, administration and support; and Col. Kim Parker, VMI government relations director.

186

VMI Alumni Review

Alumni News utilities, construction management and structural engineering. He has been involved with a reclaimed wastewater Robert J. Gudz ’90 was promoted reuse project since he joined the firm, to vice president of the mid-Atlantic which will reuse reclaimed wastewater region for ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC. In as irrigation. Tillar spent most of his his new position, Gudz is the contact career in central Virginia, and worked for federal clients, including the U.S. most recently for a contracting comDepartment of State, the Departpany as the director of business develment of Defense and the intelligence opment and engineering. Dewberry is a community. ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC privately held company that provides a Lloyd N. Bell ’89 and his law firm, Bell Law provides testing for construction materiGudz ’90 variety of professional services to both Firm, were named a Litigation Team of the Year als, geotechnical engineering, facilities private and public sectors. by the Daily Report. In 2017, Bell Law Firm engineering and environmental consulting in Tillar matriculated from Emporia, Virginia, won two large cases with verdicts of $26 million Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New and $3.8 million. Bell has more than 25 years of Jersey. ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC is an operating and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil experience in the legal field and has been recog- entity of the ECS Group of Companies, which engineering from VMI. nized consistently as one of the best attorneys has over 60 locations throughout the U.S. John O. Noonan ’03 was named a 2018 in his field of expertise. Since 2005, he Gudz, a registered professional engihas been named to Atlanta Magazine’s neer in several states, has worked in the resident fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Super Lawyers list every year. In 2018, engineering and architectural industry Institute of Politics. Resident fellows live on the Harvard campus and hold study topics Bell was listed on Super Lawyers’ Top for more 25 years. He maeach week. Topics include the future 100 Lawyers in Georgia list. In the last triculated from Gales Ferry, of social change, presidential comfive years, Bell has helped his clients by Connecticut, and earned a munication, the process of governing winning more seven and eight figure Bachelor of Science degree and bipartisanship, the intersection verdicts in medical malpractice cases in mechanical engineering of politics and national security, and than any other attorney in Georgia. from VMI. women in politics. Noonan has served Bell is a veteran of the U.S. Army as the senior counselor for defense and JAG Corps and founded Bell Law David B. Tillar Jr. ’95 Bell ’89 military affairs with Sen. Tom Cotton Firm in 1999. He matriculated from joined Dewberry’s Pensacola, and national security adviser for both Atlanta, Georgia, and was a distinguished Florida, office as the branch manager.

Gov. Jeb Bush’s and Gov. Mitt Romgraduate of VMI. Bell earned a Bachelor of Tillar has more than 20 years of experiTillar ’95 ney’s presidential campaigns.

Arts degree in biology from VMI and Juris ence in land development, surveying, from different generations, they share a common bond: Love for their alma mater and a continuing desire to serve their communities and country as citizen-soldiers. Henry and Karafa, who are both active volunteers with the VMI Alumni Association, knew each other through the Williamsburg Chapter of the VMI Alumni Association. Karafa and Petrillo met when Karafa spotted Petrillo wearing a VMI shirt while shopping.

Doctor degree from Mercer University.

... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ... Book Announcements ...

Starlight on the Rails: A Vietnam Veteran’s Long Road Home

by H.V. Traywick Jr. ’67. Dementi Milestone Publishing, 2018. ISBN: 9780999289181. Available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the publisher.

“Starlight” is Traywick’s first person narrative of his return from Vietnam.

He wrote about his experiences in Vietnam from 1969-70 in a previous book, “Road Gang.” About his return from Vietnam, Traywick said, “It always seems like yesterday whenever I think about it. We all came home alone. I felt like a stranger in a strange land – everything I’d believed in shot all to hell. So I wiped the slate clean, hopped a freight train and set out in search of the truth.” He writes about his experiences on freight trains, as a diver and on boats.

2019-Issue 1

About the Author: H.V. Traywick Jr. matriculated from Irvington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. Upon graduation, he commissioned into the U.S. Army. His service included qualification as an airborne ranger and command of an engineer company in Vietnam. He received a Bronze Star medal and eventually made a career as a tugboat captain.

After Vietnam, he earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Richmond with an international focus on war and cultural revolution.

He is a member of the Jamestown Society, the Society of Cincinnati in the State of Virginia, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Society of

Independent Southern Historians. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, where he writes; studies history, literature and cultural revolution; and occasionally commutes to Norfolk to serve as a tugboat captain.

National Geographic’s The Civil War, A Traveler’s Guide edited by Len Riedel ’75.

National Geographic Partners, LLC. 2016.

ISBN: 9781426214899. Available via Amazon, Barnes and Noble and shop. nationalgeographic.com.

Filled with striking full-color photographs, more than 500 historic battlefield sites and dozens of exquisitely detailed maps, the book is the best-in-class travel guide on the market. Beautifully illustrated and built on the expertise of

187

Alumni News the country’s most renowned Civil War historians and dozens of National Park Service experts, the book is an indispensable guide for exploring America’s Civil War. The book includes comprehensive information on the more than 330 sites recognized by the NPS as official battlefield sites, colorful walking tours with detailed instructions, short histories and maps, off-the-beaten path sites near main battlefields, overview maps for each state that include all battles and points of interest, and a list of the war’s 25 most important battles to put the war into historical perspective. The book, which was conceptualized and edited by Riedel, features a walking tour of Civil War Lexington which begins at J.M. Hall on the VMI post.

About the Author: Len Riedel matriculated from Norfolk, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from VMI. While serving in the U.S. Air Force, he burnished his interest in the Civil War, earning a Master of Arts degree in history from Old Dominion University in 1992. He founded the Blue and Gray Education Society, www.blueandgrayeducation.org, in 1994 and has been running BGES since its founding. This book is the fourth collaboration between BGES and National Geographic.

Rationality in the North Korean Regime: Understanding the Kims’ Strategy of Provocation by David W. Shin ’86. Lexington Books, Imprint of Rowman and Littlefield. ISBN: 9781498566254 and 9781498566261. Available via Amazon.

Over the years, many observers have argued the Kims of North Korea are “crazy” and irrational. Others have claimed they were “smart” and rational. However, there has never been a study that develops rationality as an analytical framework and applies it to the Kim regime to understand its strategy of provocations over seven decades. This book answers the question how and why are the Kims rational? This important question answers whether the Kims are rational and, if treated accordingly, there is a way to prevent the current nuclear crisis from escalating toward nuclear war. “Rationality in the North Korean Regime” offers a concise and finite method to assess rationality and, after examining more than 10 cases of provocations from the Korean War to the August 2015 landmine incident, asserts that Kim Il-sung was predominantly a rational actor – though the

188

regime behaved irrationally at times under his rule – but both Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un have clearly been rational actors. As a rational actor, Kim Jong-un is unlikely to give up his nuclear weapons, but he can be deterred from using them as recently demonstrated by the Trump-Kim Summit in Singapore in June 2018.

That can happen if the U.S. demonstrates its willingness to coexist with his regime and pursues long-term engagement to reduce Kim’s concerns that North Korea’s sovereignty needs defending from U.S. hostile policy. This could allow gradual social change within the country that could eventually lead to positive systemic change as well as soften Kim’s rule. In this regard, time may be on the side of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, but the two allies must embrace the long view and learn to be more patient or risk another conflict on the Korean peninsula.

About the author: David W. Shin graduated from VMI with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He served in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence and northeast Asia foreign area officer for more than 25 years in various staff and leadership positions with the Intelligence and Security Command, 3rd Special Forces Group (A), Defense Intelligence Agency, United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, U.S. Army Pacific and the Joint Staff. His experience dealing with officers in the Korean People’s Army at Panmunjom and North Korean diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Six-Party Talks in Beijing sparked his interest in writing this book. He also graduated from the Defense Intelligence College with a Master of Science degree in strategic intelligence, the University of Washington with a Master of Arts degree in international studies, the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy with a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy and Cranfield University, the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Defence and Security Studies. After retiring as a colonel, he began serving in his current position as an associate professor and deputy department chair, regional intelligence issues department, at the National Intelligence University in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Great War in America: World War I and its Aftermath by Garrett Peck ’90. Pegasus Books, 2018. ISBN: 9781681778785. Available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble in print and ebook formats.

The Great War’s bitter outcome left the experience largely overlooked and forgotten in American history.

This timely book is a re-examination of America’s first global experience. The U.S. had steered clear of the European conflagration known as the Great War for more than two years, but President Woodrow Wilson reluctantly led the divided country into the conflict with the goal of making the world “safe for democracy.”

The country assumed a global role for the first time and attempted to build the foundations for world peace, only to witness the experience go badly awry – and then the country retreated into isolationism.

Though overshadowed by the tens of millions of deaths and catastrophic destruction of World War II, the Great War was the most important war of the 20th century. It was the first continent wide conflagration in a century and it drew much of the world into its fire. By the end of it, four empires and their royal houses had fallen, communism was unleashed, the map of the Middle East was redrawn and the United States emerged as a global power – only to withdraw from the world’s stage.

The Great War is often overlooked, especially compared to World War II. “The Great War in America” presents an opportunity to re-examine the country’s role on the global stage and the tremendous political and social changes that overtook the nation because of the war.

About the Author: Garrett Peck is an author, historian and tour guide in the nation’s capital.

“The Great War in America” is his seventh book.

Peck is a member of the advisory council at the Woodrow Wilson House and has lectured at the Library of Congress, the National Archives and the Smithsonian Institution. He often speaks at historical societies, literary clubs and trade associations. A native Californian, Peck matriculated from Carmichael, California. He is a distinguished graduate of VMI and earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in history, modern languages and international studies from the Institute. Peck earned a Master of Arts degree from George Washington University and lives in Arlington, Virginia.

VMI Alumni Review

Alumni Agencies Staff Directory P.O. Box 932 Lexington, VA 24450 1-800-444-1839

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Stephen M. Maconi smaconi@vmiaa.org

David Prasnicki dpras@vmiaa.org

Chief Communications Officer Amy F. Goetz agoetz@vmiaa.org

Chief Operating Officer

President

Warren J. Bryan ’71 bbryan@vmiaa.org

T. Bryan Barton ’68 bryanbarton1@verizon.net

Vice President - Development Thomas H. Zarges ’70 tomzarges@gmail.com

Vice President - Administration Stephen E. Hupp ’84 steve.hupp@estes-express.com

Chief Operating Officer Meade B. King ’85 mking@vmiaa.org

President

Ralph L. Costen Jr. ’70 rcosten@costenfloors.com

Bland Massie Jr. ’77 super77@vmialumni.org

Chief Operating Officer

President

Thomas A. Brashears ’95 tbrashears@vmiaa.org

Asa H. Page III ’79 vmi79@verizon.net

Anthony U. Moore ’78 amor_78@comcast.net

Directors at Large

Jim E. Henry ’68 henryjejr@aol.com A. Damon Williams ’90 damonwilliams@msn.com

2019-Issue 1

Gerald J. Acuff Jr. ’71 jacuff@deltapoint.com

Historian

Second Vice President

Second Vice President

First Vice President

U. “Buzz” Birzenieks ’64 bjbirzenieks@gmail.com

Historian J. Bolling Williamson ’60 bollingwmson@gmail.com

Hilbert S. Wilkinson ’94 bretwilkinson@gmail.com E. Sean Lanier ’94 av8sean06@gmail.com

First Vice President Samuel N. Stocks ’90 sstocks@kbsgc.com

Immediate Past President Robert P. Louthan ’82 bob.louthan@veterancrowd.com

Douglas B. Warner ’03 douglas.warner1@vmialumni.org Joel W. Andrus ’04 jandrus@kemperconsult.com

189

VMI Alumni Chapter Directory

Region I – Southwest Chapter Arizona Greater Los Angeles Inland Empire Nevada Northern California Rio Grande San Diego

Director: Matthew R. Hemenez ’90 Chapter President

richard.coupland@cox.net rawlingaj@gmail.com kenny@mpowermortgage.com Bradley.maak@yahoo.com brian.k.andrew@gmail.com

Christoph Lohr ’08 Stephen A. Breheny ’89 Andre S. Gibson ’78 Lawrence M. Wood ’59 Todd E. Arris ’87

Max H. Hopkins ’97

max.h.hopkins@gmail.com

William R. Creekmur ’83

Director: David P. Loduca ’81 Andrew D. Washbish ’09 Daniel C. Young ’88 Brian D. Skusa ’00 David C. Hagemann ’80 Jeffrey D. Vordermark ’79 J. Brent Schaufert ’15 J. Micah North ’00 David P. Loduca ’81 Ronald G. Hull ’02

A. Bruno Loefstedt III ’80 R. Conor Evans ’02 Richard C. Wolffe ’78

Region IV – Mid Atlantic Appalachian Central Keystone Maryland Southeastern PA – Delaware Valley Stonewall Jackson Western PA – Pittsburgh

Terence L. Bowers ’68 David R. Nagel ’01 William H. Cather Jr. ’65 Mark P. Parton ’08 Christopher R. Jones ’96 Charles M. Rogers IV ’83 Herbert U. Fluhler ’77

190

terrybowers@vmialumni.org nageldr78@hotmail.com billcather@bellsouth.net partonmp@gmail.com crj2112@gmail.com max.rogers@mobileinfirmary.org huf2000@aol.com

Director: Michael A. Kelly ’73 Stephen L. Skakandy ’01 Michael A. Ceroli ’85 Laurence B. Wilson Jr. ’62 Michael S. Anderson ’88

stephen.skakandy@gmail.com mceroli@thekratosgroup.net lbebwilson@aol.com vmi2army@gmail.com

George Troy Mosby ’97 Robert M. Kirby ’78 Carl B. Hammond ’00 Michael M. Smith ’73 Paul X. English III ’73 John P. Gangemi ’61

gmosby@liquidnet.com rmkirby@dekirby.com hammondcb@yahoo.com michaelmsmith5@gmail.com pxenglish@gmail.com jgangemi@ec.rr.com

Region VII – Florida Central Florida Northeast Florida – Jacksonville Northwest Florida Southern Florida Southwest Florida – Fort Meyer The Villages – Florida Treasure Coast West Coast Florida – Tampa

rphill48@gmail.com gleason@umbc.edu jpace@astm.org jasongruse@hotmail.com james.m.hennigan@gmail.com

Director: C. Patrick Haddock ’00

Region VI – Carolinas Crystal Coast/Jacksonville Cape Fear/Fayetteville Central North Carolina – Raleigh Charlotte Club of the Triad Coastal SC/Charleston Eastern North Carolina Midlands SC/Palmetto Myrtle Beach Upsate SC/Pisgah NC Wilmington, North Carolina

bruno.a.loefstedt@saint-gobain.com conorevans@marchassociates.com rwolffe@tspcapitalmgt.com

Director: H. Larry Mays Jr. ’73

Robert P. Hill ’08 David R. Gleason ’80 John T. Pace ’77 Jason K. Gruse ’97 J. Mark Hennigan ’90

Region V – Southeast Augusta Atlanta Birmingham Coastal GA – South Carolina East TN – Knoxville Mobile Tennessee Valley

andrew.washbish@gmail.com dan.young@wfadvisors.com bskusa@prolinkstaff.com dhag80@aol.com vordermark@juno.com brent.schaufert@yahoo.com micah.north@resonantsciences.com loduca@pbworld.com ron@ronaldhull.com

Director: Patrick J. Griffin ’80

Region III – Northeast New England New York City – Long Island North Jersey

Chapter Representative

Richard C. Coupland III ’91 Alexander J. Rawling ’07 Kenny T. Stigler ’00 Bradley J. Maak ’87 Brian K. Andrew ’03

Region II – Midwest Bluegrass Chicago Cleveland Detroit Kansas City, Missouri Minnesota Southwest Ohio St. Louis Wisconsin

President’s Email

Email: mrhemenez@cox.net

Director: Blake W. Thomas ’73

John C. Nagle IV ’87 Jason M. Goldstein ’02 James D. Friskhorn ’81 Scott A. Houser ’98 Bradford T. Herrell ’01 Alan H. Vicory Jr. ’74 Donald D. Carson ’64 Robert M. Bailey ’72

jay.nagle@hdrinc.com jason.goldstein@amecfw.com vmi81@comcast.net housersa@yahoo.com btherrell@basspro.com ahvicory@gmail.com dcarson678@bellsouth.net bobngracebailey@tampabay.rr.com

Email: loduca@pbworld.com Hugh R. Hill ’85 Donald A. Noschese Jr. ’92 Stephen M. Chiles ’89 Mark A. Benvenuto ’83 Todd J. Jacobs ’90 Robert C. Polk ’61

Email: anchors1980@gmail.com John R. Gibney Jr. ’80 Kevin P. Sincavage ’87

Email: hlarrymays@gmail.com Campbell C. Hyatt III ’65 H. Larry Mays Jr. ’73 Thomas M. Wirth ’98 Phillip L. Harris ’03

Email: vmitranspo@hotmail.com Raymond R. Lawson ’81 Charles F. McCallum III ’94 Kevin L. Snell ’82 John H. Friend III ’82 Raymond J. Pietruszka ’77

Email: kellyvmi73@gmail.com Charles L. Toomey ’74 Ronald R. Wall ’69 James A. Sharp ’93 T. Matthew Creech ’96 Eric L. Duncan ’99 George H. Ritko ’70 F. Grey Farthing III ’79 E.D. Woomer Jr. ’73 David L. Pouleris ’98

Email: blaket606@aol.com John C. Nagle IV ’87 Grafton D. Addison III ’82 Wayland H. Patterson ’80 Brett R. Martin ’00

VMI Alumni Review

VMI Alumni Chapter Directory

Region VIII – Southwest VA Chapter Lynchburg New River Valley Roanoke

Chapter President Matthew T. Vordermark ’00 Gerald B. Burrus ’96 Andrew D. Fuller ’99

Region IX – Shenandoah Valley Allegheny Highlands Blue Ridge Charlottesville North Shenandoah Valley Rockbridge County Valley

James F. Dittrich ’76 Stephen J. Barcik III ’85 Michael M. Wallace ’93 William E. Kirby III ’96 Philip J. Altizer Jr. ’80 Dakota W. Nicely ’15 Hamel B. Reinmiller ’98 Daniel J. Fitzgerald ’89 Steven P. Weiss ’86 Murray F. Hudson ’82

Brian P. Duffy ’89 Russell Shun Takata ’74 James R. Farmer ’68 Todd M. Baldwin ’06

Region XII – Central Virginia Richmond Tri Cities

Region XIII – Hampton Roads

Norfolk Peninsula Rappahannock Virginia Beach Western Tidewater Williamsburg

jfdinarkansas@aol.com steve.barcik@htds2.com michaelmwallace@mac.com ktkirby@comcast.net paltizer@bellsouth.net dnicely37@gmail.com hbrvmi98@vmialumni.org daniel.fitzgerald@hdrinc.com spweiss@earthlink.net murfh@urbaneng.com

duffvmi89@gmail.com russell.takata@yahoo.com seattlefarmer@comcast.net todd.baldwin1@gmail.com

chadlawson43@gmail.com samuelmattocks762@gmail.com

Director: Michael S. Ogden ’79 Director: Sean P. Hingley ’07

Matthew J. Outland ’17 David G. Tyler IV ’86 Joshua P. Priest ’80 Thomas F. Morehouse III ’70 Richard A. Duke ’90 Gary J. Haste ’77 John L. Rowe Jr. ’66 John J. Kokolis ’96

Region XIV – Metro D.C. Fredericksburg – Quantico George C. Marshall Potomac River

troy.barbour@hcahealthcare.com weastham@carrhyde.com jim@realcentralva.com kjcallanan@comcast.net 19sorisser75@gmail.com cameronseay@me.com

Director: William R. Charlet ’01

Chad A. Lawson ’11 Samuel L. Mattocks ’74

moutland@comcast.net dtyler4@cox.net joshua.p.priest@navy.mil thomasmorehouse@me.com rduke@hf-law.com ghaste@associatedcontracting.com jrowe66@cox.net jjkokolis@cox.net

Director: Jessica J. Schmaus ’04 Director: John D. Kearney Jr. ’00

Carl J. DeBernard Jr. ’94 Matthew R. Keller ’00 A. James MacDonald ’83

Chapter Representative Joseph W. Hutt III ’78 Alan G. Soltis ’79

Email:

Director: Clifford A. Crittsinger ’64/’66

Region XI – Northwest

Eastern Shore

vordermarkmt@hotmail.com bradburrus@yahoo.com andyfullervmi@gmail.com

Director: Jeffrey L. Minch ’73

Arkansas Centex Greater New Orleans Middle TN – Nashville Midsouth/Memphis North Texas – Dallas Oklahoma San Antonio Southeast Texas – Houston Third Coast (Corpus Christi)

Email: dennis@nanoseptic.com

President’s Email

Director:

T. Troy Barbour ’89 G. Wayne Eastham ’76 James E. Duncan ’98 Kevin J. Callanan ’78 Scott O. Risser ’75 D. Cameron Seay ’70

Region X – South

Alaska Hawaii Pacific Northwest Pikes Peak Rocky Mountain

Director: Dennis A. Hackemeyer ’80

carl.debernard@dhs.gov matthew@kellermail.com macvmi83@yahoo.com

Harrison L. Fridley Jr. ’61 R. Edward Duncan ’60 Lewis V. Graybill ’62 Don M. Bowers ’90

Email: jminch2011@gmail.com David W. Walsh ’90 Christopher J. Whittaker ’90 Charles S. Sanger ’82 Garry C. Varney ’76 Thomas R. Shaw ’78 M. Douglass Payne ’73

Email: keydet6466@gmail.com

Robert L. Fricke ’78

Email: wcharlet@gmail.com Matthew T. Mikula ’04 Augustus Robbins III ’47

Email: vmi79classagent@aol.com Email: sean.p.hingley@wfadvisors.com Thomas F. Wilson ’80 John M. Garrett ’13 David J. Trenholm ’70 William F. Brent ’67 M. Andrew Stone ’05 Oliver D. Creekmore ’66 Jim E. Henry ’68

Email: jessica.schmaus@gmail.com Email: kearneyjd00@gmail.com R.C. Thompson III ’74 L. Randolph Williams Jr. ’66 L. Randolph Williams Jr. ’66

Region XV – Pacific Rim Guam Korea Taiwan Thailand

2019-Issue 1

Michael K. Scaplehorn ’13 Christopher D. Noe ’96 Ching-Pu Chen ’85 Vaipot Srinual ’72

scaplehornmk@mail.vmi.edu noevmi96@hotmail.com chingpu@saturn.yzu.edu.tw

191

Alumni & Post Events March 6

April 15-16

Jonathan Daniels Ceremony

First Spring Reunion

March 15-24

April 19-22

Spring Furlough

Easter Break

March 26-28

April 26-27

Environment Virginia Symposium

Second Spring Reunion

April 5-9

May 14

Spring FTX

April 11-13

Graduation Parade

May 15

Business Leadership & Innovation Summit

New Market Day/Commissioning

April 13

May 16

Legacy Day

Commencement

To see more alumni events as they are announced, visit: www.vmialumni.org/ events

2019 Baseball Schedule

*Denotes Home Game

Feb. 22-24

March 19

April 9

Clemson

Radford*

Radford

Feb. 26

March 22-24

April 12-14

James Madison

The Citadel

Wofford

Feb. 27

March 26

April 16

Old Dominion

VCU

Richmond*

March 1-3

March 27

April 18-20

Northern Kentucky*

James Madion*

Mercer*

March 6

March 29-31

April 23

VCU*

Samford*

Virginia Tech

March 8-10

April 2

April 26-28

Binghamton*

Virginia Tech*

Western Carolina

March 15-17

April 5-7

April 30

ETSU*

Longwood

Lehigh*

192

VMI Alumni Review

VMI Turnouts A VMI ALUMNI AGENCIES DIGITAL NEWSLETTER

Be on the lookout for Turnouts, our digital newsletter, in your inbox each month for even more news and alumni stories!

www.vmialumni.org/turnouts Not receiving Turnouts? Update your alumni profile to ensure we have your most recent contact information.

Have you updated your alumni profile lately?

Keeping your information up to date ensures the latest news from the Institute and its alumni reaches you.

?

New users: www.vmialumni.org/newuser Returning users: www.vmialumni.org/myproďŹ le