CLASS NOTES the brain is a resilient organ! But I do remember that night as the ultimate low point for me. By that time, it seemed that each new event they ran us through at VMI only continued to prove that things were simply deteriorating from horrible to absolutely unbearable. Yeah, the good old days!!”
’69
Walter Judd
Greetings, BRs and friends of VMI ’69. It is mid May, and spring is in full swing. I just got back from a short visit to Boston, MA, to see my grandson just before his first birthday and noted the strength the city and its citizens show in their recovery. “Boston Strong” has joined two other notable charitable organizations on the left field wall of Fenway Park and has been supported well by donors from all over our proud nation. Bill Kirkpatrick, a BR who matriculated with us and spent two years at VMI, sent in his update. Bill said he graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked through the years with several engineering firms in this country and France. The time in France was with the Michelin Corp., where Bill said he learned to appreciate wines and started his collection. Bill mentioned his met his wife, Jane, through BR Jay Hoenig and enjoys her art and her studio in North Carolina. See Jane’s website, janekfineart.com, for more info. Bill’s and Jane’s two children live down the road in Greenville, SC. Since retirement from Michelin at their headquarters in Greenville, Bill has been remodeling his beach cottage in Bethany Beach, DE, building furniture, and working as a mentor for at-risk minority students in an organization he and his wife founded for middle school children. Bill reports they are making good progress in providing coaching and opportunities not normally available. Thanks, Bill, for checking in with the class. April 19-20 were the dates for the annual Class Agents Meeting in Lexington. This year, the conference name was changed to Class Agents/ Volunteer Leaders Conference, as we also had interaction with Alumni Association regional directors for the first time. BR Bob Heely, Alumni Association president, kicked off the meeting on Friday afternoon and worked with both groups for the weekend. I had the pleasure of leading a workshop with Charlie Ramsburg ’66, director for North Carolina alumni chapters, about maintaining lasting relationships with our alumni. Both groups met again Saturday morning and received a “state of the Institute” briefing from Gen Peay ’62. When viewed from a perspective
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of his time in the superintendent’s position, Gen. Peay has spearheaded many changes and updates for the “I.” “Vision 2039” is well underway, with more new buildings expected in coming months. The next big project will be to build a physical education building on route 11 next to the football field and basketball arena and then renovate the “Pit” (our era basketball and indoor track facility). The large facility will contain room for physical fitness activities when the weather outside is not conducive to sports or exercise. Having seen the similar facilities at USNA and USAFA, I am sure this building will get a lot of use by cadets and the faculty. (Editor’s Note: An article about this facility appears in the Institute section of this Review.) Saturday afternoon was beautiful – cool and sunny. My wife and I joined John and Sallie Sebrell for a tour of 11 artists’ studios located around the county. We traveled the back roads connecting the small communities in Rockbridge with Lexington and got to see true artisans in action. One man mined his own copper to make tools; another dug his own clay and fashioned pottery, while others painted or sculpted with various media. One lady we visited turns junk heap items into whimsical art. That yard had to contain the most eclectic “art items” ever. The old axiom was still correct: one man’s junk is another person’s treasure! It just depends on a creative mind to put things together. The three BRs – Sebrell, Heely and Judd -- and wives then completed the day with a lively meal in downtown Lexington and lots of conversation at the Southern Inn and the Sebrell’s home later. On 26 April, I sent out the following: “Lots of noise about retirements as we -- collectively -- get to age 66 this year. Lots of news from Boston, as VMI connections to the marathon bombing and aftermath come out. Lastly, spring gathering for a sporting event is announced. Bob Heely has set his retirement date from his current job. Bob announced his retirement like this: “Brother Rats, after three years in the Marine Corps, 29 years in commercial banking and 10 wonderful years here at Westminster-Canterbury, it’s time to retire!!! I announced it here last Thursday and will stay around until my current projects are finished and a new person is found. Semper Fi!!” WIP Priest suggested his last day with NOAA will be Nov. 12, 2013. Others – like me – are targeting dates later this year. Pat Webb, vice president for annual giving at the VMI Foundation, a ’69 grad from Texas A&M, also submitted his retirement papers for June. Larry Brydon pointed out this info to me and sent me the website below. Little did we know when the annual marathon began on Patriots’ Day in Boston that the day would end in tragedy for nearly 200 people. One of the prominent players in this real life drama was a 2002 grad Richard “Dic” Donohue. Officer Donohue was a MBTA
police officer who normally just kept the Boston subway system safe for passengers. On this day, he was involved in the fire fight with the two brothers (the two bombing suspects) and was hit in the leg. While the battle raged around him, Dic nearly bled out and was in serious condition when he was finally tended to by the emergency personnel. I heard the EMTs kept CPR actions going for over 30 minutes to keep him alive and pumped him full of life saving fluids. He underwent surgery and is now considered on the way to recovery. Dic has a young family and is being cared for by his BR family. The site below gives a little more info. Whenever things happen around this world of ours, VMI men (and soon, women) seem to be in the middle. Website: http://www. indiegogo.com/projects/injured-mbta-officer-dicdonohue. Lastly, VMI comes to Norfolk on April 30 for an evening baseball game against ODU. BR Brantley is organizing the get-together for anyone interested in attending. The action will start at Fellini’s restaurant on Colley Ave (near the campus) between 1600 and 1700 and continue to the game (1800 start advertised) later on.” Drew Brantley later reported on the ODU baseball game in Norfolk: “The outing at the ODU game went very well. Leo [Barnes], TO [Palmer], Bobby and Lush [Heely], Gary [Mackey], WIP [Priest] and a host of other VMI types from other classes showed up at the feed before the game, and many went to the game in spite of the weather (rainy and cold!).” I received many other replies from BRs with tales to tell. John DuBose: “I would like to report that we have lost another of the Greatest Generation. My father-in-law passed away a few weeks ago. He served in the 29th Division, joining the unit about a month after D-Day. He fought across France and Germany and, as a sergeant, was in charge of the weapons platoon when there was no officer left. He was wounded near Julich, Germany, by an artillery shell. He was twice offered a commission but would not take it, because he would have to go to another platoon, and he did not want to leave the guys he knew. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the European Campaign medal with four battle stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. Rest in Peace, Sgt. Dee L. Flynn, Co A, 1st Bn, 115th Infantry Regt. Thank you for your service.” Rusty ‘the former Wilt’ Chamberlain: “Retire? I don’t think so. It would be nice, but Kathy and I need to pay for our ramblings. Besides, I am going to wait until I get old. And prayers for Officer Donohue and all those affected by the bombing in Boston.” Paul Curs: “Speaking of retirement, I’ve ‘reversed’ my full retirement decision. The local country club, one of the finest in the Republic of Texas, needed a part time marshal, and a golfing
VMI ALUMNI REVIEW