2023-2 VMI Alumni Review

ALUMNI REVIEW

2023 - Issue 2

In This Issue . . .

This issue includes class notes and news items covering the time period of Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 15, 2023.

Our Alumni Serving

4 Dyer ’84 Promoted to Major General ...............................................................

Virginia Military Institute

2023-Issue 2 Volume 100, No. 1

PUBLISHER

VMI Alumni Agencies

Chief Executive Officer: David Prasnicki

Chief Communications Officer: Amy Goetz

Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Whitman

Assistant Editor: Mattie Montgomery

Communications Officer: Scott Belliveau ’83

Graphic Designer: Joe Czekner

Development Writer: Mary Price

Editorial Specialist: Molly Rolon

ALUMNI REVIEW ONLINE vmialumni.org/alumnireview

PUBLISHING OFFICE

The VMI Alumni Agencies Alumni Review Office

6 Massie ’77: “A Lifelong Joy”

8 Bellamy ’80: From Nichols to Yale 12 Louderback ’11 Supports Agricultural Community

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.

2 Message from the Alumni Agencies Chairman and VMI Foundation President

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

Periodicals postage paid at Lynchburg, VA.

VMI ALUMNI AGENCIES

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

The VMI Alumni Association: 540/464-7221

The VMI Foundation: 540/464-7287

The VMI Keydet Club: 540/464-7328

WEBSITE ADDRESSES

Alumni Agencies: vmialumni.org

VMI: vmi.edu

Outside Cover: Members of the Class of 2024 received their rings in a ceremony Nov. 18, 2022, with Col. Kevin Trujillo ’98 addressing the 2nd Class in Cameron Hall.—VMI Photo by H. Lockwood McLaughlin.

VMI Alumni Agencies Chairman and VMI Foundation President

Following graduation and commissioning in the Air Force, my early connection to VMI was sporadic, but I was aware the values I acquired at VMI were fundamental to me. My cadetship was made possible by a scholarship, and—convinced the VMI experience should be available to successive generations— I began my “career” as a donor. Since that time, I have been honored to serve on the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees.

I now know there are few things more important to VMI’s future than securing increased private funding. As a portion of VMI’s budget, state support has diminished to the point where private money now equals or exceeds state funding routinely. The dominant source of that funding is the VMI Foundation. Serving it became a priority for me as one of the most direct ways to support cadets and VMI’s bright future.

Joining the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees in 2007 introduced me to an incredibly astute group of alumni and friends devoted to preserving and improving the VMI experience. This gave me a greater appreciation of VMI’s needs and how they’ve evolved.

I’ve seen many changes. For example, when I began, the VMI Keydet Club, the VMI Alumni Association, and the VMI Foundation operated independently while serving the same audience. For a college with the highest aspirations, many wondered if another model might yield greater commonality of purpose, avoiding unnecessary competition for the attention of the VMI family. Following a thorough review of best practices and efficiencies and hearing from frustrated alumni as to inconsistent messaging and duplications of effort, all three organizations’ boards agreed that it was time for a change.

In 2017, the Agencies’ leaders carefully consolidated these entities into the VMI Alumni Agencies. I have seen firsthand the results and benefits of this strategic move. The staff is now more nimble, able to jump in and support key fundraising projects and events among the three organizations. Buying power is smarter, communications are coordinated, and working with the Institute has proven more effective. Not only has this made the Alumni Agencies—individually and as a whole—more efficient, but it also produced higher levels of engagement and financial support from the VMI family.

Another important change concerned the management of the endowment that supports VMI, generating millions of dollars each year in cadet and program support. The Agencies established VMI Investments, LLC, with a separate board made up principally of alumni—many of whom have served on the boards of the Agencies and all of whom have substantial experience in business, finance, and investments—who work with a hand-picked investment firm. Their mission is to avoid the recessionary swings we experienced in the past and ensure the endowment is sustained over the long haul. Our endowment’s performance is in the top quintile among U.S. colleges. Further proof of its success is that, as I write this, the endowment’s value stands at roughly $660 million.

Before I became a trustee, if you had asked me what the VMI Foundation did, I would have told you: Fundraising, stewardship, and financial management. What I learned as a trustee was the creativity and flexibility with which the staff and volunteer leaders approach how they communicate with the VMI family, develop ways to ensure potential donors find inspiration for their philanthropy, and express gratitude for donor efforts. I have been impressed that the Foundation has always been responsive to the Institute’s changing needs while maintaining strict adherence to donor wishes. VMI now receives a reliable flow of private money that lets it plan confidently for the future.

A further benefit of being a trustee is associating with accomplished alumni across several generations. It’s especially satisfying to see in my younger colleagues all the qualities we always have expected: Perseverance, purposefulness, and honesty. It is also refreshing to see their abiding love for VMI and their common willingness to give back to it. The most extraordinary benefit has been meeting our cadets. They are a remarkable group of young men and women. I am constantly impressed by their accomplishments, character, and especially their maturity, which is beyond their years. They are reminders of the transformative power of a VMI education and the enduring value of VMI to the Commonwealth and the country.

Recently, we have been swept up in the unforgiving political climate of the day. Some have cast the Institute as an anachronism and questioned the wisdom of maintaining it. To their credit, Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent; Tom Watjen ’76, VMI Board of Visitors president; and other leaders refused to compromise the Institute’s bedrock principles: The sanctity of our honor code and system and the rigors of our unique educational methods, including the Rat Line and the Corps’ leadership of the regimental and class systems. VMI remains VMI. It endures.

If the VMI Alumni Agencies asks you to join one of its boards, please accept. It means your fellow alumni recognize your ability to make a significant contribution to the Agencies’ common work: To ensure an ever-brighter future for the Institute, to provide the opportunity for alumni to engage with one another, and to provide future generations of cadets a time-tested education that will prepare them to be honorable and accomplished leaders to preserve our great country.

I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity to serve the Institute. God bless VMI and all in the VMI family.

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, or alumni volunteering at food pantries.

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: Alumni Review. We will review your submission and consider it for publication.

Dyer ’84 Receives Promotion

U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. William B. “Bill” Dyer III ’84 was recently promoted to major general. As major general, he commands the Army Reserve 108th Training Command, which includes more than 8,000 soldiers. The 108th provides drill sergeants who perform Initial Entry Training, ROTC cadre who train cadets, and security cooperation training.

Serving in the South China Sea aboard the USS Nimitz

Serving in the South China Sea aboard the USS Nimitz in February 2023 are (from left) U.S. Navy Lt. Nicolette Huntley ’17, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dennis Harbin ’08, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William Thomas ’17, U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Robert Fricke ’19, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Gately ’11, and U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Nikolos Van Leer ’19.

Pictured in February 2023 are (from left) U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Robert Fricke ’19, U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Nikolos Van Leer ’19, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William Thomas ’17, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dennis Harbin ’08, U.S. Navy Lt. Nicolette Huntley ’17, and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Gately ’11.

Broder ’21 Earns Enkeltkæmper Dagger

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Charlie Broder ’21 (front row, center) became the first American to earn the Enkeltkæmper Dagger by completing the elite Single Fighter Course in December 2022. The Enkeltkæmper Course is a three-week challenge that takes place every winter on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The course focuses on patrolling, leadership, survival, physical and mental endurance, and navigation. Approximately 30 soldiers qualify for the course and typically 30% graduate; Broder is one of fewer than 200 soldiers who has earned the dagger since the course began in 1967. Broder is stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

Lifelong Joy”

Bland Massie Jr. ’77, D.M.D., will complete his service as VMI Keydet Club Board of Governors president June 30, 2023. Although he has two more years of service on the board of governors remaining in his current term and will serve on the Keydet Club Executive Committee as the immediate past president, he agreed to reflect on his extensive service to the Institute and the broader VMI family.

Characterizing Massie’s service as “extensive” risks understatement. Not only has he served on the Keydet Club Board of Governors for 18 years, starting in 2005, but he also served for nine years as a member of the board of VMI Research Laboratories and was on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2009–16, making him one of the few alumni who have served on both boards simultaneously. On the latter, he represented Region VII, which covers Southwestern Virginia, as well as the Lynchburg and Roanoke areas. He also served his brother rats as class agent from 2008–12 and organized his class’ 35th Reunion. Asked why he has given so much of his time to the VMI family, Massie explained, “I like to be involved, and if people ask you to serve VMI, I think you can only say, ‘Yes,’ if you love VMI as I do.”

In the past 18 years, Massie has seen many changes at the Institute and the VMI Alumni Agencies. Asked which at the Agencies stand out, Massie cited the recent organizational changes. “Having served on three boards associated with VMI, I had a rare and amazing perspective on the workings of the Institute and the Alumni Agencies. It gave me an opportunity to see things from three different perspectives.

“Now, the staffs of the VMI Alumni Association, the VMI Foundation, and the Keydet Club are led by one CEO, and the Agencies’ senior leaders are on the combined VMI Alumni Agencies board. It has worked well,” Massie continued. “Everyone gets a good idea of what works, and it is easier for the different agencies to figure out how they can help the other—and the Institute.”

Although always interested in VMI, Massie admits to being surprised by a few things when he joined the Keydet Club board. Two had to do with money. “The amount of private money VMI needs every year to maintain the high quality of its programs staggered me, as did the proportion of VMI’s budget—now almost a quarter—that comes from private [support].” He was equally surprised by the amount the Keydet Club needed to raise annually. “It is not just scholarship aid to

cadets that costs a lot but operations, as well, because there is no state aid for intercollegiate athletics.” VMI’s relatively small size and location away from major metropolitan areas mean there are limited opportunities for advertising and corporate partnerships, Massie explained. “So, it falls to the Keydet Club to help make up the difference.”

But it is a challenge he has welcomed. “I was never on a board to say I was on it,” he says. “I was on it because I wanted to be engaged.” More importantly, he understands the value of being a cadet-athlete. Massie was a cadet-athlete himself, although, he admits, not a particularly accomplished one. He played baseball as a rat and tried soccer and swimming. “I soon realized that the other men on these teams were much more talented than me.” Eventually, Massie was the backup punter on the football team in his 2nd and 1st Class years. “I benefitted from that experience, even though I never started a game. Participating in sports reinforced what I was learning in barracks, such as the need for self-discipline and teamwork. And that is still the case for today’s cadet-athletes.”

VMI’s ability to give young people the chance to compete at the highest level of American college sports is something that Massie sees as “one of its great advantages.” He explained, “We can give young people a chance to compete at the highest level, NCAA Division I, and at a relatively early time at VMI. If they went to another, larger school, they might not ever get a chance to play until they’re junior or seniors.”

He realizes “some people want to divide the Corps in terms of athletes and non-athletes. To them, I make the point that the Keydet Club helps cadets who just happen to be athletes. Ultimately, what we do is not about winning and losing—although we certainly want to win. It’s about helping young people receive a good education that develops them into leaders of strong character who go out and do the right thing. That’s what we expect VMI graduates to do—and make our country stronger.”

Massie called for other alumni, young and not so young, to become volunteer leaders with the VMI Alumni Agencies. “Their work continues to make the cadet experience what it is. Basically, if it weren’t for the volunteer leaders—and those who donate money—VMI would not be what it is today, and it won’t become what we want it to be tomorrow.

“So, if your heart is in it, and you want to make a difference at VMI, do it. It’ll be a lifelong joy.”

Bellamy ’80: From Nichols

to Yale

“I’ve had just an amazing career for the guy who was terrible in math. You can’t take yourself too seriously.” That’s how Jack Michael “Mike” Bellamy ’80 describes his career—an almost 43-year span as a civil engineer which has included work in the United States at the Smithsonian Institution, among many other locales, plus stints overseas in places as varied as Italy, Iceland, the Caribbean, and Central America.

And while many of his brother rats have retired or are making plans to do so, Bellamy is still stepping up in the world. In summer 2022, he accepted a senior role as vice president for facilities and campus development at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Bellamy, a civil engineering major at VMI, is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and holds a Master of Science degree in building construction management from Purdue University. He is also four courses away from earning a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Iowa.

The whole of Bellamy’s career and lessons learned along the way can be characterized by work ethic, resiliency, and perhaps foremost, people. It all began with the example of his parents, whose wisdom carried him through graduating from VMI—an achievement he said was the pivotal starting point of his career—into the rest of his life.

At 12 years old, Bellamy’s father left home during the Great Depression to live with his aunt above a restaurant and support his family as the eldest child. At night, he was bitten by rats and bedbugs; by day, he shined shoes and sold newspapers, sending the money he made home to his siblings. While attending college at North Carolina A&T State University, Bellamy’s father was drafted into World War II as a private. After the war, he completed college, met Bellamy’s mother, went to the U.S. Air Force Officer Candidate School, and began the progression as a commissioned officer in the 1950s—a time when there were very few African American officers. Watching his parents persist and thrive in the 1960s, Bellamy learned perseverance.

“I grew up in the ’60s, experiencing a lot of racial injustice, and watching my parents go through that and be successful was so impactful,” said Bellamy. “The big message my parents taught was that once you start something, you don’t quit, and there is nothing you can’t do. Always persevere and achieve what you want to achieve.”

In 1972, when Bellamy’s father retired from the military, there was a recession. He was left with no job options at the time but to pump gas, despite being a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel. “I asked, ‘Dad, why are you doing this?’” recalled Bellamy. “And he said, ‘Michael, we’re Bellamy men. And we do whatever we have to do to take care of our families, even if it’s a temporary thing. You don’t turn down a job when you don’t have one.’ This left a big impression on me as a young man,” said Bellamy.

When Bellamy was in the ninth grade, his family moved to Hampton, Virginia, where Bellamy began playing football. He was recruited by the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and North Carolina Central University, and he signed a letter of intent to play at NCCU. Because of his parents’ guidance, however, Bellamy changed his mind and redirected his course to VMI.

“My mother came in the room that day I signed the letter and said, ‘Michael, I really wish you wouldn’t go [to NCCU].’ My parents were not helicopter parents. They let you make your own decision. But her saying that jarred me a little. So, I said, ‘I’m going to go to West Point.’ I called West Point and missed the cutoff by one day.”

Because of a call from Donald “Donny” White ’65, VMI football defensive secondary coach at the time, Bellamy instead arrived at VMI. White had one scholarship left and offered it to Bellamy, who decided on the Institute.

Just as he chose the challenge of attending VMI and performing as

a cadet-athlete, Bellamy also decided to push himself academically. In a rushed decision during his first few weeks at VMI, Bellamy decided to major in civil engineering. The only problem: Math was his weakest subject. “I was terrible in math,” Bellamy laughed. “That night when I called my parents and told them I was going to major in civil engineering, they looked at each other, and they said, ‘What is wrong with this boy?’”

Bellamy struggled with the demands of studying engineering in addition to the long hours of football, yet he prevailed. When a classmate suggested that Bellamy consider switching to a different major, Bellamy took this suggestion as a challenge to keep going rather than give up. “After my freshman year, I didn’t go home for the summers, as I stayed at VMI to make up for the courses I had failed and to take a course in order to have a lighter academic load during the football season,” said Bellamy.

“I carried 15 hours during football season, and then in the spring, it was 18-21. In my class, there were only two African Americans to graduate in civil engineering: It was myself and my very close friend, Aaron Bush [’80], who went on to have a very successful career in the U.S. Army and retired as a full colonel. We were both also athletes.”

Though Bellamy didn’t know it at the time, his time at the Institute and graduation would lay the foundation for a successful career. “They were very formative years in my life, learning how to stay focused and persevere through those very difficult four years,” reflected Bellamy. “I knew I wanted to finish. I didn’t want to quit. I wanted to graduate in four years with a civil engineering degree.”

After graduation, Bellamy began working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before moving on to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. While working for the Navy, Bellamy was mentored by Gary Mackey ’69, his supervisor at the time. The two maintain a close relationship, and Bellamy often thanks Mackey for investing in him. “[Mackey] played a big role in mentoring me as a young engineer. He encouraged me to pursue challenging international job assignments, professional registration, and made sure I was prepared to compete and be selected for high-impact jobs that were visible and career-enhancing.”

Some time later, Bellamy and his wife, Kimberly, were living in Iceland. During that time, he visited Italy in a consulting role and fell in love with the country, but he had no luck when he looked for a job there.

Then, he received a call one day from Mackey, who said, “They’re starting to forget about you. You need to come back so you’re more visible.” And so, in 1997, they returned to the U.S. Three years later, after prompting from Kimberly, who knew Bellamy continued to dream of working and living in Italy, Bellamy reached out to Mackey. “I went to see Gary [Mackey] that next day, and he said, ‘You won’t believe it, but the guy that’s leading the construction program in Northern Italy is coming back, and the job is yours.’” This was the largest construction program in the history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Bellamy enjoyed his time there as the work was challenging and career-broadening.

While Bellamy was happily employed in Italy, the Smithsonian recruited him to oversee the planning, design, and construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He, however, wanted to remain in Italy for another seven years and turned the offer down. A short time later, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command’s leadership told Bellamy he had been overseas too long and needed to return to the U.S. to work on other high-priority programs. This time when the Smithsonian reached back out to

Bellamy again, the offer was more compelling.

“The Smithsonian came again and said, ‘You might be interested in this. Not only will you be responsible for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, but all the planning, design, and construction for all the Smithsonian facilities across the country and down into the Republic of Panama,’” recalled Bellamy.

Bellamy took the offer. This job, which was two levels above his position at the time, allowed him to expand his skill set professionally. “I was fortunate to get that job. It really stretched me as a leader,” he said. “I got promoted from a midlevel leader to a senior executive leader, so it required a different set of skills. You’re not leading small teams; you’re leading a large and complex organization.” In this position, he led an 18-month strategic planning effort for this 1,800-person facilities organization, delivered $2 billion worth of capital improvements that included overseeing several major capital projects like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and co-led the implementation of major organizational realignment and change management initiatives.

Work on the National Museum of African American History and Culture took 10 years to complete. One of the amazing aspects for Bellamy was collecting all the exhibits that would be displayed at the museum, as well as the intention behind the museum design, including the choice to place the museum deeper into the ground. “The idea behind this design decision was to give you this sense of freedom and life as you leave the deep darkness and sadness experienced at the slavery exhibit in the lowest level of the museum and travel up to exhibits in the upper levels,” said Bellamy. Reflecting on why he finally took the Smithsonian opportunity, Bellamy recalled a poignant conversation with his pastor’s wife. He was making a comment about turning down the offer while attending church Sunday when his pastor’s wife pulled him aside. “She said, ‘Wait a minute, you turned down an opportunity to be involved in a museum that represents the entire African American race?’ I knew I was in trouble then,” Bellamy quipped. “She said, ‘This isn’t about you. It’s about your children and your grandchildren. You never know, this museum might be an answer to some slave’s prayer to remember what happened to them.’ When she said that, it had a big impact.”

After five years with the Smithsonian, Bellamy retired from public service and transitioned to Clark Nexsen Architecture and Engineering before moving to his most recent role before Yale—executive director of facilities services at Kaiser Permanente Health Plan Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic States Region. As part of that job, Bellamy oversaw a $130 million annual operating budget and a $3.5 billion multiyear capital program.

A former colleague who hired him at Kaiser reached out to Bellamy about the position at Yale, as he felt it fit Bellamy perfectly. “Yale has museums, labs, administrative buildings, academic buildings, residence halls, health care facilities, and I have experience with all those building types,” said Bellamy. “I honestly feel all my experience over my career prepared me for this. And what a way to end your career at such a prestigious institution of higher education that has so much influence around the world. The Yale facilities and capital development team is responsible for a $3.7 billion five-year capital program, an annual operating budget of more than $270 million, a diverse workforce of nearly 1,000 staff members, and the maintenance and operations of 20 million gross square feet of build space comprised of almost 350 historic and new buildings across three campuses and throughout New

“Investing in relationships is extremely important if you want to be successful in life.”

Haven and the state of Connecticut. It’s extremely exciting to be a part of this endeavor. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to lead at Yale.”

It comes down to one of the major takeaways Bellamy has carried with him throughout his career: The power of relationships with others. “It is just the people—the people [who] have helped me and mentored me. A big part of my life has also been mentoring emerging professionals and forming relationships with others,” he stated. His passion and conviction for mentoring and advancing others in their careers is largely shaped by Mackey’s impact on his life. “As I took on leadership roles of greater responsibility and influence, there was a deep sense of obligation to help others like Mackey helped me. So, I adopted Mackey’s approach to mentorship and have helped scores of high-potential employees advance in their careers as well.”

The most important relationship to him is with his wife of 41 years. “Investing in relationships is extremely important if you want to be successful in life,” said Bellamy. “My relationship with my wife, Kimberly, and our faith have been game changers. Without her and us working together, all the success achieved over the years wouldn’t have happened.”

During his 35th Reunion at VMI, Bellamy walked by Nichols Engineering Building and was suddenly overcome with emotion. “I just broke down and started crying,” said Bellamy. When Kimberly asked him what was wrong, Bellamy answered and pointed to Nichols and said, “All the fruit that we have experienced in our lives, it began right here.” He said we often do not realize the future impact of the decisions we make when we are young. And many times, the fruit of those choices shows up decades down the road. “You are going to reap what you sow.”

Considering the importance of persevering and graduating from the Institute to Bellamy personally, it may not come as a surprise that he made sure his headshot in Yale’s press release featured the piercing blue gem and unmistakable outline of his VMI class ring. In a sense, the picture reflects Bellamy’s own story. It tells of his progression from the first great challenge of his professional and personal life at VMI and the culmination of his career as his hard work led to this high-level position at one of the nation’s most prestigious Ivy League universities.

Haiti: Bellamy’s “Most Impactful Experience”

In his 42 years as a civil engineer, Mike Bellamy ’80 has sustained an illustrious career. He has worked in the United States and overseas in Italy, Iceland, the Caribbean, and Central America; served as the senior facilities executive for engineering, design, and construction for the Smithsonian Institution, which included overseeing the planning and design of the $500 million National Museum of African American History and Culture; and led facilities capital program delivery and facilities maintenance and operations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States Region as executive director of facilities services.

Considering the scale of projects he has worked on, including his most recent position, one stands out above the rest to Bellamy for the personal impression it left on him. This project was in 2010 when the Smithsonian asked Bellamy to lead a team into Haiti after the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which left much of the country in rubble. Their mission was to locate, secure, outfit, and bring into operation a cultural heritage recovery center to serve as a base of operation for the salvage and preservation of historical relics and artifacts that were an integral part of Haiti’s national identity.

At the time, there were 1.5 million Haitians living in tents without potable water or sanitary sewer facilities, and the country was full of cholera and death, with aftershocks at 4.5 on the Richter scale. In these conditions, Bellamy led his team of facilities professionals, archivists, conservationists, and a New York Times reporter into the country—all of whom were counting on him to bring them out safely. Of his many memories of the trip, he recalled two particularly impactful moments, both of which exhibited the persevering joy and resilience of the Haitian people.

In the first instance, Bellamy was leaving a destroyed museum when he noticed a very large group of children singing. When he asked his translator who they were, the translator explained they were all orphans who lost their families in the earthquake. “They had all this joy, and I couldn’t understand it. So, I asked what they were singing about, and the translator said, ‘They are singing about all the good things in life.’ Tears filled my eyes as I was overcome with emotion,” recalled Bellamy. Along the way, Bellamy was struck by the stories of survivors and their positivity. One of the individuals held a master’s in computer science and worked in an office building in Haiti along with his wife. He happened to leave the office just 30 seconds before the earthquake hit, and the building immediately collapsed. His wife, however, was trapped inside, and he began praying. In an hour or so, his wife emerged from the rubble. They had just bought a new computer desk, and she dove under the desk, which protected her. Bellamy said stories like this moved him for their perseverance and positivity. “It was the joy and the resiliency that I saw, and it changed my life forever. Anytime I have difficulty, I remember them,” said Bellamy.

“There isn’t enough time to tell you about everything that happened in Haiti, how everything came together, and the number of artifacts that were recovered and restored, and the number of Haitians trained in art conservation,” Bellamy continued. “But probably the greatest thing I ever did in engineering was leading this team into Haiti. Undoubtedly, it was one of the most impactful experiences I’ve ever had.”

Louderback ’11 Supports Agricultural Community

Thomas Louderback ’11 first heard about Farm Rescue—a nonprofit organization aiding family farms and ranches during crises—from a friend and immediately became interested in helping. Now in his fifth year of volunteering, Louderback is passionate about supporting the agricultural community. Part of his motivation to help these families is influenced by his time at VMI, during which the help and support of faculty and staff left a lasting impact on his life. Farm Rescue’s mission is to help family farms and ranches through difficult times by providing volunteer labor and farming equipment free of charge, allowing these farms to continue viable operations. In their mission statement, Farm Rescue explains the needs of those they help: “One of the biggest financial drains on a family is an unexpected medical injury or illness and, of course, a natural disaster. It is even more pronounced on a farm where a family’s livelihood depends

on the ability to plant, harvest, or provide for their herd.”

Louderback hopes people appreciate the importance of farmers and the precarity of their livelihoods. “I want people to understand that less than 2% of this country’s population feeds 300 million Americans three times a day and a lot of the world. Most people don’t realize that,” said Louderback.

Those might seem like great statistics for profit at first glance. However, Louderback explained that the intricacies and nature of the industry make agriculture a hard line of business, especially for family-owned farms. When it comes to livestock and crop farming, it’s a high-stakes game determined by the market; costs like fuel, grain, and fertilizer; and environmental conditions like soil health, rainfall, and temperature. A farm’s annual profit fluctuates due to an endless list of complicating factors, and the margins are

“It’s not how much money you make. It’s the way you make people feel and how you help them—that’s what you’re going to be remembered for.”

razor-thin for many. “The future of farming is why Farm Rescue exists,” explained Louderback. “There [are] not many people jumping into the [agriculture] sector because it takes a significant investment to successfully run a farm.”

“Farm Rescue helps those who have a catastrophic event,” continued Louderback. “They step in and give a hand up, not a handout. The farmer is responsible for all the input costs of fuel, seeds, fertilizer, and whatever else is required. John Deere is the keynote sponsor for Farm Rescue, so all the equipment is supplied by John Deere, and it’s run by Farm Rescue volunteers.”

Farm Rescue pays for volunteers’ room and board, but they must pay for their travel to get there. To be eligible for Farm Rescue assistance, an individual must undergo a strict application process. The nonprofit wants to ensure aid recipients truly have the needs they claim, and they must be specific about the help required.

The farms’ levels of need vary, but Louderback usually goes for a week to help, with two weeks being his longest stint thus far. Harvests are his favorite process to help with because he says it is draining but such a “well-orchestrated event.”

“You’re working 12 hours a day, and by the time you eat, you hit the pillow and you’re out. The adrenaline’s running in everybody, and the process is a well-oiled machine,” said Louderback.

Some of the harvest crews consist of six people, each operating different essential parts of the mechanism: A combine, grain cart, road tractor, semi, and more. “You do the job and load gear back up, roll into the nearest town, and you’re staying in a local motel and sometimes at the farmer’s house,” said Louderback.

What is especially meaningful to Louderback is the people he gets to know. “I think the biggest takeaway from it is you meet some of the [humblest] people in the world,” said Louderback.

“They’re cooking you homemade meals, and you’re really getting to know the family. It’s an experience that you can’t describe. In some ways, it’s similar to when you’re helping a rat through the process at VMI. You’re helping somebody you don’t know who may or may not make it later on down the line, but they are so appreciative of your time and your efforts.” Many of the volunteers are retired farmers or, like himself, passionate about the land. Louderback said some are Farm Rescue recipients who give back because they were helped.

One of Louderback’s favorite operations to help with is harvesting. With Farm Rescue, Louderback helps ensure farmers don’t lose their crops when calamity strikes their lives.

Though he has not been able to attend many reunions, Louderback’s work territory with Kubota covers Virginia. He always makes a point to return to the Institute when he’s passing through to thank those who guided and believed in him during his time there. He rattled off names of faculty and staff he visits, like Col. Gary Levenson ’80, former deputy commandant of cadets, and many professors from the history department who believed in and invested in him. His affection for the Institute wasn’t always so strong when he first graduated, but he came to see its value with time.

This conviction to help and appreciate those who helped you also parallels with one of Louderback’s key lessons from VMI. He wants to mirror the guidance and support he received from professors, brother rats, and alumni during and after his cadetship. He first chose VMI with the guidance of a high school mentor, a U.S. Navy SEAL. Louderback decided on VMI because “I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. ... It is four years to be part of something that is a legacy. Not only for four years, but you’re a part of

“When I graduated, I said, ‘I’m never coming back.’ But then, over time, as you grow and mature, you realize those people are so special. I guarantee you can talk to any cadet, and there’s one teacher or one person who inspired them to do something that was incredible.”

Today, he still views himself as part of the VMI legacy and carries that sense of service into his passion for the farming community, which is ultimately simply about his fellow man. “You’re going to be remembered for something, and it’s not your job,” Louderback reflected. “It’s not how much money you make. It’s the way you make people feel and how you help them—that’s what you’re going to be remembered for.”

Lead Like Yourself

Brigitta Borinstein ’19 has been pushing herself out of her comfort zone for a long time—and now she’s on a mission to help other young women do the same.

Borinstein, who was Brigitta Hendren as a cadet, launched a podcast, “Best You Can B,” two-and-a-half years ago, with the goal of sharing leadership lessons with young women who aspire to lead from a place of humility and confidence. Episodes focus on various aspects of leadership, personal growth, and wellness, with the overarching theme of trusting your own voice and finding your unique leadership style. “The goal of the podcast is to cultivate confidence through leadership and wellness,” she stated.

After high school, Borinstein followed her older brother, U.S. Army Capt. Hardy Hendren ’15, to VMI. During her cadetship, she was a member of the track and field team during her 4th and 3rd Class years and participated in the Institute Honors program, graduating with distinction with a major in international studies. At the same time, she took advantage of VMI’s many leadership opportunities, serving as a corporal her 3rd Class year, a cadet sergeant major her 2nd Class year, and commander of Company F her 1st Class year.

Personal growth was always a goal, but as she advanced up the Institute’s leadership ladder, Borinstein increasingly experienced pressure to act in a way that was inconsistent with her personality. “I asked different questions than my male counterparts would ask,” she explained. “I was butting heads against all my insecurities,” she noted.

One day, she reached out to her brother for advice on how to navigate leading from a place of authenticity in VMI’s challenging environment. “I am not a particularly masculine person,” she told him. “I’m not rough around the edges. I would describe myself more as bubbly and nurturing.”

At that moment, Hendren offered a statement that would change how his sister viewed her difficulties: “Brigitta, the women I admire in leadership are the ones who lead like themselves.”

His words struck home. “It wasn’t earth-shattering or anything like that, but it totally changed my perspective,” she noted. For example, realizing that being quiet wasn’t a drawback gave Borinstein the courage to utilize her leadership style rather than compare herself to her more vocal peers.

“I gained the courage to push past my insecurities,” said Borinstein. “I got comfortable being myself, even if it looked a little different

when I was interacting with my company.”

During her cadetship, Borinstein listened to leadership podcasts and was especially drawn to one by Craig Groeschel, a pastor, author, and life coach. It wasn’t surprising, then, that Borinstein decided to use that medium to reach young women facing the same struggles she’d experienced.

Ultimately, Borinstein would like to create an online community for her listeners. “I’m thinking about creating a community landing place where young women who [want] to challenge themselves in their leadership and [want] to do it from a place of confidence and security in themselves can make friends online and by plugging into the podcast community,” she stated.

By doing so, Borinstein believes she’s giving back, just as VMI once gave to her. In the years since graduation, she’s spent time reflecting on her cadet experience and just how much she grew in those four years.

“I think VMI really allows you to be challenged as much as you’re willing to challenge yourself,” she commented.

“If I’d gone to another school, I’m pretty confident there’s no way I would have been able to push outside my comfort zone as much as I could at VMI. ... And I think being in an environment that’s so focused on leadership, it sort of forces the level of introspection that lets you really focus on personal development. That’s also unique, and I don’t think you get that at another school.”

Leadership opportunities abound at VMI, of course— but so do listening ears, ranging from fellow cadets to members of the faculty and staff. Borinstein used that network for support regularly as a cadet, and now, her podcast offers that to others.

“It’s kind of part of my heart behind the podcast. When I was at VMI, I felt like I was very privy to a lot of people that I could go to, and I was big on asking for feedback,” she commented. “I don’t think everybody gets that.”

A podcast, of course, can be just one person’s ramblings—unless there are guests.

Borinstein spends much time finding guests whose life experiences and perspectives can resonate with her listeners. Recent guests have included Tanda Cook, a naturopathic physician; Debbie Neal, a leadership coach; and Cynthia Monteleone, a world champion sprinter who continued to compete into her 40s.

“I really try [to] get people I admire for their grit and humility,” she said. “And I think the trait I admire most probably when I’m looking for people is a humble confidence.”

Borinstein’s latest challenge—and greatest blessing—is motherhood. Russell Borinstein was born to Brigitta and her husband, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Drew Borinstein ’17, Sept. 7, 2022.

“Motherhood has already proven to be the most fulfilling challenge I have ever pursued,” she commented. “In an instant, my son’s life and future became infinitely more important than my own, and I have a new appreciation for how precious time is.”

Class of 2026 Breakout

Two weeks after Little John was fired in barracks for a fake out, the real Breakout took place Monday, Feb. 13, 2023. The weekday Breakout was different from the Saturday events that took place in recent years. Cadre woke up the Rat Mass at 5:30 a.m. for training activities before breakfast, then all cadets participated in a normal academic day. Breakout activities resumed in the afternoon, including a log march, a crawl across the Parade Ground, and stoop workouts. Col. Bob Phillips ’87, Institute chaplain, was the guest speaker at the Breakout dinner. The evening concluded with the first Old Yell for the Class of 2026.—Photos by Joe Czekner and Mary Price, VMI Alumni Agencies, and VMI Photos by H. Lockwood McLaughlin and Kelly Nye.

VMI Holds December Commissioning and Graduation

The day was sunny and brisk Dec. 21, 2022, as 22 cadets crossed the stage in Memorial Hall to receive their diplomas during the commencement ceremony.

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, welcomed all in attendance to the “much colder-than-May” and more intimate December graduation. He noted that VMI graduation dates have varied throughout history, initially coinciding with the July 4th Independence Day celebration and, during the 1940s, were held as early as February. But he assured the graduates, “It doesn’t matter the season or your tenure at VMI. What matters is each of you finished the arduous, demanding journey you started.” Wins told the cadets this was the last time he would be addressing them as cadets, saying, “From this point forward, you are fellow alumni,” and encouraged them to leave the Institute with the lessons they have learned on post: Honor, teamwork, discipline, and friendship. “Stay in touch and return as often as you can, as you are forever welcome here on post.”

Wins introduced the commencement speaker,

Gussie Lord ’01, who was part of the first coeducational class to matriculate in 1997 and graduated from VMI with a degree in English, with distinction, and is now a member of the VMI Board of Visitors.

Lord opened her remarks by reminiscing about the first time she and her parents saw VMI when arriving for the Summer Transition Program. They drove from their home in Michigan, which was a 16-hour drive that spanned over two days. “When we came into Lexington, we came down Route 11, under the walking bridge that says Virginia Military Institute. We turned right onto Letcher Avenue, and as we were coming up the hill, on the left, we saw these green lawns and red brick buildings with white columns. People were laying in the grass reading, and my mom said, ‘Oh, Gussie, this is beautiful!’ And I was getting kind of excited, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, this is nice,’ but it sort of dawns on me, wait a minute, this doesn’t really look like any of the pictures I saw. And then we came up the hill, and across the [Parade Ground], there’s barracks. Looking like a castle or a prison.

And my dad said, ‘No,’ as he points over the steering wheel, ‘that’s where you’re going to school,’” she mused.

After the audience laughter subsided, she continued by sharing her excitement and nervousness, as well as her parents’ apprehension with leaving her on post and understanding that most parents feel the same way. She thanked the parents in attendance for placing their faith in VMI and for entrusting their children to a school that imposes physical and mental challenges. Addressing the cadets, she said, “The truth is, VMI is very effective. Your experiences here will not easily be forgotten. The relationships you formed, the experiences you’ve shared, will endure. They will always be a part of your story. VMI, through the adversative method of education, strives to produce men and women who are fit to lead. So, when you are called upon to lead, and when things get difficult, I urge you to reach back to the lessons and skills you learned in this place.”

She continued by stating that those commissioning into military service will step into leadership as a new officers, but those entering

civilian life may step into a role with no authority at all. “You can be a leader regardless. You don’t have to have authority over others in order to lead. You can lead by example and through service—by seeing what needs to be done and taking the initiative to do it. You can lead by showing up on time, giving your best effort, and taking pride in your work. You can lead by having integrity, by owning up to your mistakes, and by treating others with kindness and compassion,” she said.

Lord warned the graduates not to define themselves by either their failures or their successes. “There is a danger in letting our failures become too big in our own minds. They can weigh us down, hold us back, suppress our confidence, and create fear. But there also is a danger in defining ourselves by our successes. It is tempting to do that—to point to accomplishments, or money, or awards, or recognition, as proof of a life well-lived. But often, success is born from luck, born from circumstances that were in place long before we had anything to do with them, and success almost always involves many people working together, not just one person,” she said. Instead, she urged them to learn from each experience and discover what could have been done better, what relationships were formed, and what stories arose that can be told. “As

VMI graduates, I believe, in many respects, you have an advantage over your peers. You have identified your capacity to persevere and to be resilient. You understand what it means to lead, what it means to succeed and to fail while others are watching,” she said.

Lord concluded by advising the graduates to be open to change, which is often painful and scary, but necessary for growth. “If the path seems uncertain, take comfort in knowing that every generation has faced unprecedented issues, every generation has brought change. There also are things for you to hold onto: Your values, your integrity, your faith, your resilience, and your loved ones. For generations, the principles VMI has endeavored to instill in her cadets—honor, discipline, service above self—have remained. Though we live in interesting times, I believe if you hold fast to those principles, they will serve you well, as they have served those who have gone before. Congratulations. Rah Virginia Mil.”

Lord is founder and managing attorney of the Tribal Partnerships Program at Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization where she represents Indian tribes and Indigenous communities in their efforts to protect the environment and sacred sites. Prior to joining Earthjustice, Lord worked at the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

She also spent several years in private practice representing tribes in environmental, administrative, and jurisdictional matters and representing public housing authorities in efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities.

While at VMI, Lord earned monograms in cross country and track and field. She also participated in cheerleading, soccer, the Promaji Club, and served as opinion editor of The Cadet and co-editor of the Sounding Brass. Lord was a member of VMI’s first coeducational class and was a 1st Class private. She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 2006.

The evening before commencement, the Joint Commissioning Ceremony was held in Memorial Hall in which four graduating cadets were commissioned into the Army as second lieutenants and one into the Navy as an ensign.

Offering remarks and administering the oath of office was Maj. Gen. Bowlman “Tripp” Bowles ’87, the J9 director at the Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His previous assignment was as commanding general of the 80th Training Command (the Army School System). A native of Richmond, Virginia, Bowles received his Bachelor of Arts degree and commission from VMI in 1987.

VMI Aquatic Center Dedication

The ribbon cutting and dedication of VMI’s Corps Physical Training Facility Phase III, the Aquatic Center, took place Jan. 27, 2023. Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, celebrated the event with local dignitaries and special guests, including Frank Friedman, mayor of Lexington; Lt. Gen. John W. Knapp ’54, former VMI superintendent; Thomas H. Zarges ’70, Alumni Agencies Board of Directors chairman; Thomas “Tom” Watjen ’76, Board of Visitors president; the VMI Board of Visitors; alumni; cadets; and many of those who had a hand in the project for the special event.

Lt. Col. Daren Payne ’90, deputy director for

engineering and construction, welcomed everyone and invited Wins to the lectern. Wins noted that it was almost 100 years ago to the day that VMI opened its first indoor swimming pool in Memorial Hall. “As opportunities expanded and demand increased, VMI leadership saw fit to build a new pool in 1969, the same one we have used through today,” said Wins.

Wins went on to describe the many positive circumstances that occurred during the 21st century that created a demand for a new aquatic center, such as the growth and size of the Corps of Cadets, the inclusion of women, growth in athletic offerings, additional course

offerings for water training, and expanded training for ROTC programs. “With the opening of this venue, we continue to meet the demands of the top-rated education VMI provides for all of its cadets, both academically and athletically,” he said.

Wins expressed gratitude to all those who took part in the construction of the facility, given the constraints of the site and the overall pace. He thanked the Commonwealth of Virginia for the majority of the funding, as well as their continual acknowledgment of the value of a VMI education and the impact VMI has on the local economy. He extended his sincere

thanks to the longstanding philanthropic support of many alumni.

Wins, Zarges, and Watjen held the scissors together and cut the ribbon, officially opening the facility, after which the crowd was invited to tour.

Construction on the $44 million facility began in December 2020, and it contains an indoor 50-meter swimming pool that holds 800,000 gallons of water. It has two 1-meter springboards, two 3-meter springboards, and a 5-meter dive platform, plus seating for 570 spectators. The pool is large enough to be divided into three sections, making diving, water polo, and competitive swimming practice possible simultaneously. NCAA teams will be able to use it for practice and competition, and ROTC and the Department of Human Performance and Wellness will use it for training, as VMI requires all students to take one semester of swimming. Cadet clubs, like the scuba club, will also find it valuable. High water entry exercises, which had been done in the Maury River, can now be conducted

indoors. The pool is a “smart pool” in that the chemical balance and temperature are all regulated by a computer. Various sensors are located throughout the system in the inner workings of the pool, and as water flows past the sensors, messages are transmitted to the computer. If the pH or temperature needs correcting, it is done by the computer.

Cadet Katie Lloyd ’23, captain of the water polo team, is thrilled to see the opening of the new facility before she graduates. “I can’t wait to get into the water with all my teammates. To be able to play in such a beautiful pool will do so much to enhance our competitive spirit and team morale. It will be a wonderful attraction in recruiting new polo team members from around the country. But more than that, this pool is for the entire Corps of Cadets. It will benefit everyone since every cadet is trained in water,” she said.

Approximately three-quarters of the total cost of the facility was included in the biennial budget, and that funding remained in the budget as it passed through both houses of the General

Assembly. The remainder of the overall cost of the project came from private donations. The completion of the Aquatic Center brings an end to the phased approach for athletic facility renovations and additions that began in 2014, which included renovations to Cormack and Cocke Halls and the building of the Corps Physical Training Facility, which opened in fall 2016. Each building provides significant and enhanced indoor fitness training elements for cadets, as well as homes to the Institute’s NCAA track and wrestling teams. The buildings also offer a venue for ROTC and individual cadet physical training in inclement weather. Altogether, the three phases of the Corps Physical Training Facility cost $164 million.

The Knights of Pythias building, also known as the American Legion building, a structure with historic ties to Lexington’s African American community, has been renovated and is connected to the Aquatic Center via a glass walkway. The main level is used as coaches’ offices and a conference room, and the upper level is used for classrooms.

VMI Cadet Assists in Avalanche Rescue

When Cadet Erik Gottmann ’25 boarded a flight to Austria for a ski trip with his family over winter furlough, he had no way of knowing he and his brothers would be an essential part of a Christmas miracle.

The family, who reside in Malta, New York, arrived for their first day of skiing in the village of Zürs in the Austrian Alps on Christmas Day. Erik, along with his two brothers, Troy, a 17-year-old high school senior, and Hans, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, have been skiing since they were toddlers and are considered to be experts. “We have been to that same ski slope twice before and know it fairly well. My brothers, a family friend, and I spent most of the day skiing the trails, which are quite long and challenging since the mountain is massive. My father was skiing in a less ambitious area, and my mom was in the lodge,” explained Gottmann.

The four stopped to rest, enjoy the view, and take some pictures when Hans first saw the avalanche and pointed it out to the others. “I thought he was joking at first, then I saw it too and quickly got my phone out of my pocket and began to video. Even from the distance where we were standing, we could see the snow covering up people. As soon as the avalanche stopped, we decided to ski over to help the people trapped.

“The first person we found was a German man who was buried in the snow up to his neck. We dropped down on our hands and knees and used our hands to dig him out of the snow. He was speaking German, and I know a little of the language, so I was able to understand that he injured his shoulder, but I didn’t understand much more than that. Once we uncovered him, we scrambled up the hill to try to find others.

“The ski patrol soon arrived and asked to see our videos to determine how many people had been covered by the snow. They ascertained there were 10. Additional ski slope employees, including lift operators, instructors, and maintenance crew, joined the rescue effort. Small shovels were distributed, so we no longer had to dig with our hands. They told us to look for skis and ski poles sticking up out of the snow and to dig wherever we found them since people were most likely nearby.

“Shortly after that, rescue helicopters arrived. There were so many coming and going, I lost count, but there were at least 10. They were

lowering paramedics and rescue equipment. They prepared to airlift the first victim we uncovered and instructed my brothers and myself to wrap the man with a metallic survival blanket to keep him warm. As we were doing that, he told us that he couldn’t feel his legs. At that point, the paramedics took over his care, and we went back to digging for others,” said Gottmann.

The four young men continued to dig for an additional 45 minutes. By then, enough police and other professionals arrived to complete the search effort. Long poles were used to probe the snow, but fortunately, no bodies were found. The entire rescue lasted less than three hours. “Clearly, these people have been trained for avalanches

and know exactly what to do,” said Gottmann. He and his brothers were able to talk with several of the survivors after they were rescued. Miraculously, the majority had only minor injuries. The most seriously injured was the German man, who was flown to the hospital.

“Ironically, on that very morning, the ski resort had used dynamite to try to loosen the snow in that particular section since the temperature had risen slightly. But the snow didn’t slide at all, so they thought it was safe,” noted Gottmann.

Confirmation that all the victims had been successfully rescued came in the form of church bells in the town of Stuben, where the Gottmanns were staying, just south of a ski resort in Zürs. “The ritual of ringing the church bells three times signals to everyone in the village that all were safely found. But to hear them on Christmas evening was extra special. They chimed for our Christmas miracle,” Gottmann mused.

Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, was amazed but not surprised when he heard of the report. “VMI is no ordinary college experience. Each and every day at VMI, our cadets choose selfless service, courage, and honor in stark contrast to other school experiences. So, it comes as no surprise that Cadet Gottmann chose to put the needs of others over his own. His actions in Austria perfectly exemplify the values of a Virginia Military Institute cadet,” stated Wins. Gottmann majors in civil engineering at VMI. He plays midfield on the Keydet lacrosse team and plans to commission into the Army upon graduation.

Hardwood Highlights Include Wins Over Navy, The Citadel

Given that VMI had the youngest team in the country heading into the season, the general understanding was that the team would be on a steep learning curve and take its lumps throughout the season.

The Keydets did indeed battle adversity the entire campaign but gradually learned to play together and made steady improvement from beginning to end under Andrew Wilson, first-year head coach. The Keydets finished with a 7-25 record but earned impressive wins against the U.S. Naval Academy and Radford University in December and SoCon wins over The Citadel and Wofford College in February.

Led by captains Sean Conway ’23 and Sam Wolfe ’23, the Keydets continued to battle and fight to the end. In the win over Navy, Conway earned a career high of 28 points, and in the win over Radford, all five starters scored in double figures to earn a slim team win by three points Dec. 10, 2022.

The Keydets fought hard and had close losses to the likes of Davidson College, American University, and Fordham University, in addition to a number of SoCon schools during league play. VMI learned to play well together over the course of the season and earned league wins over The Citadel and an 87-83 overtime thriller over Wofford in February. In the win over Wofford, all 87 points were accounted for by freshmen, an extremely rare feat perhaps never accomplished in NCAA Division I history. VMI used eight different starting lineups during the season to account for injuries and young team members as Wilson sought to find the best rotation for his team.

Conway became the 45th Keydet in program history to earn 1,000 points over his VMI career, doing so early in the opening half of VMI’s SoCon Tournament opening-round loss to the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, the final game of his career. He logged seven points in the game to finish his career with 1,006 points from 2019–23. As a 1st Class cadet, he ranked fifth in the SoCon in three-pointers made per game at 2.2 and seventh in three-point field goal percentage at .395.

VMI finished the regular season ranked first in the SoCon in both free throw percentage (.774) and offensive rebounds at 10.9 per outing. The Keydets also ranked second in the league in three-point percentage, making 35.6 percent of their attempts during the year.

Asher Woods ’26 and Tyler Houser ’26 were named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team for their accomplishments during the year.

A native of Newnan, Georgia, Woods ranked third among all players in the league in minutes played with 35.3 per outing. A stellar free throw shooter, he ranked ninth in the league in free throw percentage, making over 80% of attempts at the charity stripe with .804. The only Keydet to start all 31 games this season, Woods led the team with 14.1 points per game and scored a season-high 22 points in the home opener against Penn State New Kensington Nov. 10. He ranked fifth on the team in rebounds at 4.6 per contest and logged seven games with 20-plus points and totaled 23 contests in double figures scoring.

Houser ranked third on the team in points per game, averaging 10.9 for the Keydets during his freshman year, including a season-high 26 points versus Western Carolina in the regular season finale. The center from Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, ranked second on the team in rebounds at 5.1 per outing and grabbed a season-high 12 boards at The Citadel Feb. 2, 2023. Not only strong in the paint, Houser also proved his range by converting 41 three-point attempts on the season at .353. He was also effective at the free-throw line by making 42 of 58 attempts during the regular season for a .724 average.

Starting all but four games on the year, Tony Felder Jr. ’26 finished eighth in the league for his assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.4 and ranked ninth in the SoCon in assists with 3.1 per game.

Taeshaud Jackson II ’26 came on strong over the season’s final three weeks and earned five double-doubles during that span. He finished sixth in the league standings with 7.1 rebounds per game and sixth in both offensive rebounds with 2.1 and defensive rebounds with 5.0.

Wolfe had the greatest season of his VMI career and ended up with career highs in every statistical category as he earned significant playing time. He played a key role on both ends of the court to help VMI defeat Wofford in overtime Feb. 22, 2023.

Returning this year’s freshman class next year—in conjunction with the return of injured players D.J. Nussbaum ’24, Cooper Sisco ’25, and Brennan Watkins ’25—will bode well for the Keydets going forward. The future looks bright for the young program.

Swimming and Diving Teams Break Records at Championship

The VMI men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams completed a highly successful first season under Scott Thacker, first-year head coach. The Keydets concluded the year by breaking 17 records at the America East Championship Meet in Worcester, Massachusetts, Feb. 22–25, 2023.

On the first day of the AE Meet, Chino Vera ’24, Chase Lane ’24, Malik Nelson ’26, and Jack Sheehan ’23 set a new team record in the men’s 200 medley relay, while Noelle Tong ’26, Anne Bowles ’24, Jillian Maher ’24, and Kate Taylor ’24 set a new record in the women’s race. On day two, Nelson snapped the school and freshman records in the 50 free. Sheehan set a new school record in the 200 individual medley, and Tong broke the Keydet freshman mark in the 50 free.

Bridger Thurston ’23 makes one of the final dives of his VMI career at the America East Championship Meet in Worcester, Massachusetts, Feb. 22–25, 2023. At the competition, VMI men’s and women’s swimming and diving capped a successful season by shattering school records.—Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.

In day three’s competition, Nelson set a new freshman record and broke an hours-old varsity record in the men’s 100 fly. Collin Marks ’24 broke the 100 fly varsity record in the prelims, only to see it shattered by Nelson soon thereafter. Ethan Griffith ’25 broke his own team record set in

the morning in the 400 IM, while Sheehan set a new team record in the 100 breast. The men’s 400 medley relay team also broke the school record.

On the final day, Sheehan broke the team record in the 200 breast, while Nelson and Tong broke the freshman records in the men’s and women’s 100 free. Connor Doyle ’23 exceeded the program mark in the 200 back. In the 400 free relay, Tong, Taylor, Maher, and Carter broke the women’s team record, and Sheehan, Vera, Nelson, and Marks broke the men’s team record.

Two highly decorated divers concluded their VMI careers, as Bridger Thurston ’23 finished sixth in the 1-meter diving final and fifth in the 3-meter, and London Yerasimides ’23 was sixth on the 1-meter diving board.

Hicks ’24 Receives Rifle All-Conference Honors

From the women’s team achieving its highest aggregate score to high-scoring individual performances, VMI rifle concluded a strong 2022–23 season at the Southern Conference Championship in Charleston, South Carolina.—Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.

The VMI rifle program had a strong 2022–23 campaign, ending the season with high notes that included the women’s team shooting its highest aggregate score of 4484 at the Southern Conference Championship in Charleston, South Carolina, March 5, 2023.

Additionally, Christopher Hicks ’24 garnered All-SoCon Second Team honors for his championship performance, shooting a 567 in the smallbore competition to earn the award.

Hicks was as steady as they come all season as he led the team in smallbore and aggregate averages and ranked in the top 10 for both categories in the Southern Conference.

At the SoCon Championships, Hicks achieved the highest aggregate score, including a 575 in the air rifle, to finish with an aggregate of 1142. His 567 on the first day earned him Second Team All-SoCon honors.

Michael Annesi ’25 capped off the season on a strong note, shooting a personal-best 581 in the air rifle.

The season opened with stiff competition back in September 2022, as VMI’s first four outings came against teams ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Toward the end of the fall semester, however, the Keydets showed their strength by picking up two conference wins over Wofford College and a victory over John Jay College before facing top-20 squads at Morehead State University. VMI also had a good showing against rival The Citadel, defeating the women’s squad Jan. 28, 2023.

In a competition against West Virginia University, which is routinely in the mix for national championships, VMI set a new program record with an aggregate score of 4564 Feb. 18, 2023.

The Keydets shot 2242 in smallbore and 2322 in air rifle to earn the new program mark.

The West Virginia competition was notable for two other reasons as well, with Ryan Harlow ’25 (584) and Laini Morgan ’25 (582) each shooting personal bests of 584 and 582, respectively, in air rifle, which qualified them for the Junior Olympic National Championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in April.

Midgett ’24, Armstrong ’25 Lead Keydets at SoCon Championships

The 2023 indoor track and field season was memorable for Zack Scott ’89, second-year head coach and director of track and field and cross country, as the team earned many accomplishments and made gradual progress every meet.

On the men’s side, Keyandre Midgett ’24, sprinter and jumper, was named the Southern Conference Male Most Outstanding Performer as well as the Heath Whittle Male Most Outstanding Athlete as voted upon by the league’s nine head coaches. The honor marks the second year in a row that a VMI athlete has earned the Heath Whittle award.

Midgett was the top point scorer at the SoCon meet and posted a pair of podium finishes. The Portsmouth, Virginia, native won the triple jump Feb. 26, 2023, after finishing second in the long jump the day before. He also finished second in the 60-meter hurdles en route to a meet-best 26 points. His point total assisted the Keydets in placing fourth overall at the meet. He earned a 15.24-meter triple jump to place first and came in second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.18 seconds.

Andrew Granger ’24 won the SoCon individual title in the weight throw by placing first with a personal-record distance of 16.78 meters, while Herbert Brooks ’23 came in third with a personal-best mark of 16.68 meters.

Liam McBride ’24 placed third in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.20 seconds to earn All-SoCon honors just ahead of Xander Topos ’25, who placed eighth with a time of 8.68 seconds.

Nick Brown ’25 earned a second-place time of 48.25 seconds in the

400-meter finals ahead of Topos’ sixth-place mark of 49.95 seconds.

Trent Whittaker ’23 arrived in third place in the 800-meter finals with a time of 1:52.94 to earn All-SoCon honors for the event.

The VMI foursome of Topos, Edwards, Whittaker, and Brown came away with a second-place time of 3:18.04 in the 4x400 relay to secure All-Conference honors, capping a successful indoor season for VMI.

The VMI women’s track and field team completed the 2023 SoCon Indoor Championships with excellence Feb. 26, 2023, at VMI’s Corps Physical Training Facility. Eleyah Armstrong ’25 led the women’s side with first place finishes in the 60-meter dash and long jump.

Armstrong won her second event of the meet by coming in first in the 60-meter dash with a school record time of 7.56 seconds, beating the 7.58 seconds time of former Keydet Kerisha Goode ’18 from the 2018 indoor season. The day before, Armstrong took the podium in first place in the long jump with a new school record and personal-best distance of 5.86 meters, or 19’2.75”. She beat the former mark of Bria Anderson ’18 of 19’1.5” in 2016 as Armstrong earned VMI’s all-time best distance for the event.

Taylor Hill ’26 finished tied for second in the pole vault event with a height of 3.55 meters to earn All-SoCon honors for the event.

The VMI women finished in seventh place overall with 38.33 points. The Keydets again made full use of the state-of-the-art Corps Physical Training Facility, leaving Lexington for only two of their seven competitions. The SoCon Championship meet was held at the CPTF for the sixth year running.

Mousaw ’24 Leads Grapplers with 11 Pins

The VMI wrestling team started the season strong and had several noteworthy performances at the Southern Conference Championships March 4, 2023.

The Keydets began the year 5-0 with identical 53-0 wins over three opponents: Southern Virginia, Fairmont State, and Shenandoah Universities in Cormack Hall. VMI also defeated ACC member Duke University 28-9 Dec. 4, 2022.

Braxton Lewis ’26 took third and two other Keydets placed fourth at the 2023 SoCon meet in Boone, North Carolina.

Lewis capped an impressive rookie season by winning three-straight matches at 165 pounds after dropping his first contest of the day. He had a major decision victory over his foe from The Citadel and followed with two decision victories to take third. Lewis entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, and his win in the consolation semifinals was against the No. 3 seed. He finishes the season 26-11. Ryan Vigil ’26 and Job Chishko ’23 each took fourth place. Vigil seeded fourth and won two decision victories at 149 pounds, including a 10-3 win over the No. 5 seed.

Chishko, the No. 5 seed, opened the day by soundly defeating the fourth-seeded wrestler

16-1 by a technical fall in 4:53. He won 7-5 in the consolation semifinals and was defeated narrowly 3-1 in the third-place match by the No. 2 seed.

Josh Evans ’25 won a match by pin at 285, and Freddy Junko ’24 won a match at 141, as

did Jon Hoover ’23 at 174.

Tyler Mousaw ’24 led the team in 2022–23 with 11 pins and finished 21-13 at 197 pounds. Evans had an 18-16 record at the season’s end, while Hoover was 14-13.

Keydets Face Davidson, N.C. State in 2023

With the Southern Conference announcing the 2023 conference schedule, VMI football released its full slate of competition for the 2023 football season Jan. 23, 2023.

Under the guidance of Danny Rocco, football head coach, the Keydets will open their campaign at Foster Stadium Sept. 2 when they host Davidson. VMI then visits Bucknell, whom they defeated 24-14 at home Sept. 10, 2022, before traveling to North Carolina State to take on the Wolfpack in their final non-conference matchup of the 2023 season.

VMI hosts Wofford Sept. 23, then visits Mercer Sept. 30 before entering their bye week.

The Keydets will travel to The Citadel for the Battle of the Silver Shako in week seven (Oct. 14) before hosting Samford (Oct. 21) and Chattanooga (Oct. 28).

November brings a pair of road matchups at ETSU (Nov. 4) and Furman (Nov. 11) before VMI closes out the regular season in Lexington Nov. 18, hosting the Western Carolina Catamounts.

2023 Football Schedule

Sept. 2 – Davidson

Sept. 9 – @Bucknell

Sept. 16 – @N.C. State

Sept. 23 – Wofford

Sept. 30 – @Mercer

Oct. 7 – BYE

Oct. 14 – @The Citadel

Oct. 21 – Samford

Oct. 28 – Chattanooga

Nov. 4 – @ETSU

Nov. 11 – @Furman

Nov. 18 – Western Carolina

VMI Inducts 2022 Sports Hall of Fame Class

Virginia Military Institute inducted its 2022 Sports Hall of Fame class at a banquet Jan. 21, 2023, in Marshall Hall.

With the COVID-19 pandemic interrupting the standard three-year cycle of inductions, the 2022 Hall of Fame class consisted of 10: Seven members plus a veteran honoree and two special citation honorees as voted on by the committee. The seven cadet-athlete honorees were Alexander Alston III ’92 (men’s soccer), Donnie Cowart ’09 (men’s cross country/track and field), Audrey Falconi ’10 (women’s soccer), Chavis Holmes ’09 (basketball), Travis Holmes ’09 (basketball), Tim Maypray ’10 (football), and Reggie Williams ’08 (basketball). Additionally, Kelly Lombard ’79 (basketball) was inducted in the veteran category, while Mike Bozeman, the former VMI director of track and field and cross country, and George Tolley, athletics statistician, were inducted under the special citation category. The 10 were also recognized earlier in the day during halftime at the home basketball game against The Citadel Bulldogs in Cameron Hall.

Alexander Alston III ’92

An anchor for the Keydet defense, Alston became the second player in the men’s soccer program history to earn All-Southern Conference honors three times, earning All-SoCon Tournament recognition in 1989. Earning four SoCon Player of the Week awards during his career, Alston made 66

starts and helped lift VMI to a 9-7-1 record in 1990, the first winning record in program history.

Donnie Cowart ’09

An All-American in 2010, Cowart finished 12th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Holding the VMI record for the indoor mile (4:04.35), Cowart was also part of VMI’s top relay teams in history, running on the 4x1500m (2005 – 16:41.64) and 4x1600m (2006 – 17:44.63) teams, qualifying for the 2008 IC4A Championships, and finishing eighth that year in the Big South Indoor Championships. In addition to his track accolades, Cowart earned All-Big South honors in cross country in both 2005 and 2007. After leaving Lexington, Cowart raced semiprofessionally, meeting the Olympic B standard and was just 0.3 seconds off the Olympic A standard in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Audrey Falconi ’10

Perhaps the most decorated women’s soccer player in VMI history, Falconi was the first female recipient of VMI’s Three-Legged Stool Award, was elected to the 2000–10 Big South Conference All-Decade Team, earned Big South First Team honors twice (2008 and 2009), and earned Second Team honors in 2007. Holding down the back line at sweeper, Falconi played every minute of the 2009 season, receiving Big South Scholar-Athlete of the

Year honors, as well as the Big South Graduate Fellowship. Falconi helped VMI complete the biggest turnaround in Big South history in 2008, as the Keydets went 5-3-1 in the regular season. Ranking fifth all-time in games started at VMI (73), Falconi was named the 2006 Big South Freshman of the Year after totaling 15 points, five goals, and five assists in her rat season.

Chavis Holmes ’09

Combining with his brother and fellow inductee, Travis, the pair is the most prolific twin-brother basketball scoring duo in NCAA history, passing VMI’s own Ramon and Damon Williams ’90. Chavis is one of just six Keydets to score 2,000plus points, finishing with 2,065 as he averaged 17.4 points per game for his career. A sharpshooter, Chavis ranks third all-time at VMI in made three-pointers (306) and fifth in three-point field goal percentage (38.5), with 54 games of 20 or more points scored. Chavis was also a threat on the defensive end, totaling 304 steals (second all-time in Big South history) while collecting a 105 in 2008–09 after recording 90 in 2006–07. Helping his teams reach the 2007 and 2009 Big South Championship games, Chavis shone brightly as a senior, including playing a key role as VMI topped Kentucky 111-103, followed by a career-high 31-point effort against Virginia.

Travis Holmes ’09

VMI’s all-time leader in steals (309) and steals per game (2.7), Travis scored 1,733 points during his collegiate career on the hardwood—ranking ninth all-time at VMI. A lockdown defender, Travis was voted the 2006–07 Big South Defensive Player of the Year after a school-record 111 steals. Travis was a prime facilitator of the offense, dishing out 360 assists (ninth) in his career as he helped VMI to two Big South Championship game appearances (2007 and 2009). Earning Big South All-Freshman honors in 2005–06, Travis was named to the Big South All-Tournament Team in 2006–07 and the All-Big South Second Team in 2008–09. Pairing up with his brother, Chavis, as the NCAA’s all-time twin-scoring duo, Travis totaled a career-high 37 points against UNC – Asheville as a senior, scoring 30 in a Big South Tournament opening-round win later that season. After collecting another program-record 117 steals as a senior, Travis is currently the lone player in Big South history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds (590), 300 assists, and 300 steals.

Tim Maypray ’10 – Posthumously

A factor from the start, Maypray was named the

Big South Freshman of the Year in 2006 after averaging 6.8 yards per carry and totaling 244 yards receiving with two touchdowns for the Keydet football program. Maypray was a threat all over the field, being used as a receiver, running back, kick returner, and even quarterback en route to 228 career points scored (third all-time at VMI). Maypray would earn First Team Big South honors as a kick returner and Second Team honors as a wide receiver in his sophomore campaign, earning Second Team honors as a quarterback in his junior season when he became the first quarterback in the Big South to rush for over 1,000 yards. In his senior season, Maypray earned the 2010 VMI Intercollegiate Athletics Award presented to the most outstanding cadet-athlete after combining for eight touchdowns and 1,861 yards for the Keydets. A member of the Big South All-Decade Team (2000–10), Maypray set the league record for all-purpose yards (6,129) and ranks second all-time at VMI in touchdowns with 38.

Reggie Williams ’08

One of just three basketball players to have his jersey retired, Williams led the nation in scoring twice, including his senior year when he averaged 27.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in 2007–08 to finish his Keydet career as the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,556). Williams, who averaged an NCAA-best 28.1 points as a junior, is one of just nine players in history to lead the country in scoring multiple times, etching his name into the history books alongside names like “Pistol” Pete Maravich and Oscar Robertson. A four-year starter, Williams was named to the All-Freshman team as a rat, earning All-Big South honors in 2007 and 2008 while closing his career as the Big South’s all-time leading scorer. After his time on post, Williams embarked on a seven-year NBA career (Golden State, Charlotte, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans). As a rookie in Golden State in 2009–10, Williams scored 20-plus points nine times and averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

Kelly Lombard ’79 (Veteran Category)

A valuable piece to two SoCon Championship basketball teams (1976 and 1977), Lombard was a three-year starter for the Keydets, dishing out 383 assists (sixth all-time) while often guarding the opposition’s top perimeter player. During his tenure, Lombard played with seven teammates who scored 1,000 points and was the program’s leader in career assists at the time of graduation.

In his rat year, Lombard backed up Hall of Famer Curt Reppart ’76 at point guard, playing a crucial role for the 1976 team that upset the University of Richmond in the Southern Conference Tournament, earning an NCAA bid and ultimately reaching the Elite Eight. After earning the starting spot in 1976–77, Lombard helped a VMI team that would reach the Sweet Sixteen while recording a program-record 26 wins. Lettering for four years on the VMI baseball team, the ever-hustling Lombard earned First Team All-SoCon honors as a sophomore and would lead the 1977 team in batting with a .344 average.

Mike Bozeman – Director of Track and Field and Cross Country (Special Citation Category) Bozeman served for 23 years as VMI director of track and field and cross-country and enhanced the rich tradition of the program during his tenure from 1985–2008. Under Bozeman’s tutelage, the Keydets captured 12 conference crowns, and he earned Conference Coach or Co-Coach-of-the-Year honors 13 times. Bozeman also helped build a viable women’s athletic program at the Institute and started the women’s cross-country team in 1997, adding women’s indoor and outdoor programs over the next two years. Bozeman was also instrumental in getting VMI membership into the prestigious Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Conference (IC4A). A 1967 graduate of The Citadel, Bozeman rose to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve and, during his military career, earned various awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Ranger Tab. Bozeman’s diverse skills and expertise were called upon by the Institute in many ways. He was commandant of cadets from June 1994–July 1996 and was VMI’s interim athletic director in 1998.

George Tolley – Athletics Statistician (Special Citation Category)

A fixture at VMI athletics home events, Tolley served as chief statistician for VMI football and basketball for 46 years, starting in the hand-written era all the way until 2018, when the games were tracked electronically. Tolley was present for nearly 800 home athletic events and was noted for his pinpoint thoroughness and accuracy. He also served as head statistician for Southern Conference basketball tournaments from the mid-’70s until 1989.

Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter Senior Breakfasts

Central North Carolina – Raleigh Chapter members gather for their monthly senior breakfasts. Attending breakfast

Nov. 16, 2022, are (top photo, from left) Sam Hening, Richard Hening ’75, Paul Johnston ’61, Roger Rosenfield ’47, Bill Murchison ’70, Margaret Davis, Barton Pasco ’77, John Kuchnia ’57, Chip Davis ’77, Bill Gibson ’65, Pete Shelley ’74, Larry Wilson ’62, and Betsy Wilson. Enjoying a Christmas senior breakfast

Dec. 20, 2022, are (middle photo, from left) Mike Kelly ’73, Rick Hening ’75, Parky Parkman ’66, Bill Gibson ’65, Roger Rosenfield ’47, Bill Murchison ’70, Paul Johnston ’61, Kent Wheeless ’74, Sam Hening, Pete Shelley ’74, and Larry Wilson ’62. Present at breakfast

Jan. 17, 2023, are (bottom photo, from left) Glenn Garland ’75, John Kuchnia ’57, Paul Johnston ’61, Larry Wilson ’62, Bill Gibson ’65, Chip Davis ’77, Bill Murchison ’70, Rick Hening ’75, and Sam Hening.

Coastal Georgia – South Carolina Holds Watch Party

Coastal South Carolina – Charleston Chapter Oyster Roast

Cape Fear – Fayetteville Celebrates Founders Day

Virginia Beach Alumni Gather for Founders Day

In the Hampton Roads region, Virginia Beach Chapter alumni celebrate Founders Day Nov. 10, 2022. Christopher McCallum ’96 and Andrew Stone ’05 organized the event held at Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewery, where spouses, friends, and dogs joined the gathering.

New York City – Long Island Chapter Lunch

New York City – Long Island Chapter alumni welcome Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, superintendent, for lunch at the Empire Steak House in New York City Nov. 16, 2022. The chapter was also joined by David Prasnicki, VMI Alumni Agencies chief executive officer; Brig. Gen. Dallas Clark ’99, VMI deputy superintendent for finance, administration, and support; and Dennis Maguire ’80, VMI Alumni Association Region III Northeast regional director. Pictured at the event are (above, from left) Phillip Crane ’16; Maguire; Spencer Balson ’19; Ermin Mujezinovic ’11; Robert Davison ’15; Mark Gonsalves ’81; Wins; Jessica Hansen ’17; and Clark.

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 June 15 of each year. Scholarships are awarded in July.

Rocky Mountain and Pikes Peak Chapters Celebrate Founders Day

Rocky Mountain and Pikes Peak Chapters celebrate Founders Day at Bonefish Grill in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Nov. 11, 2022. Pictured are (from left) Rich Dixon ’97, Amanda Dixon, Ingrid Donato, Jay Donato ’97, Rae Goldman, Ruth Whitt, Dave Whitt ’66, Parke Smith ’79, Bob Fricke ’78, Barry Walker ’65, Josh Chao ’12, Paul Goldman ’61, Todd Baldwin ’06, and Henry Ehrgott ’98. Debbie Smith, photographer, is not pictured.

West Coast Florida – Tampa Chapter Celebratory Gathering

The West Coast Florida – Tampa Chapter gathers at Tampa Bay’s waterfront restaurant, Hula Bay Club, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022, to celebrate Founders Day and Gen. J.H. Binford Peay ’62 receiving the New Market Medal, as well as to remember the sacrifices made by soldiers. Pictured are (from left) Dan Gettings ’84 with his wife and son, Tom Anthony ’84, Grace Bailey, Bob Bailey ’72, Dave “Ox” Schrader ’71, Cal Lloyd ’62, and Ann Lloyd.

Florida Chapter Presents Award

to Thomas ’74

Wilmington, North Carolina Old Corps Breakfast

Graduate School Partnerships

The Virginia Military Institute has forged relationships with graduate and professional schools in Virginia and across the U.S. These agreements offer opportunities, including admissions concessions, internships, guaranteed interviews and, in some cases, guaranteed admissions.

Partnerships include Virginia Commonwealth University,

the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State University, Norwich University, Arizona State, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Programs include law, medicine, business, engineering, and communications. Contact Olivia Dirscherl at dirscherlog@vmi.edu for more information.

Alumni

Cadet-Alumni Networking Forum Builds the VMI Network

Nearly all cadets and alumni have heard about the VMI network and just how valuable it is. But what is that network? And how do cadets access it?

On Dec. 10, 2022, cadets and alumni gathered in Cocke Hall for the Cadet-Alumni Networking Forum, an annual event meant to help cadets answer those questions and more.

During the forum, cadets had a chance to gather in small groups or talk one-on-one with alumni working in a wide variety of fields, inquire about internships and jobs, and simply learn more about what it’s like to work in a particular industry. This year, more than 30 alumni returned to post to assist cadets, and they represented fields including but not limited to sales and marketing, legal, law enforcement, investments/finance, information technology, and construction.

New this year was an internship panel specifically created for 3rd Class cadets to get them thinking about pursuing internships and similar opportunities.

“We all get these phone calls on May 16 that say, ‘hey, I’m looking for a job,’” said Joel Andrus ’04, VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors member who serves as the Region XIII Hampton Roads director and took the lead in organizing this year’s event. The networking forum, in

general, and the internship panel, in particular, are designed to help cadets start thinking and planning long before graduation, he noted.

“It’s such a great opportunity for cadets to interact with executives and business leaders from across the country and numerous industry sectors,” said Andrus. “As they think about the careers that they are looking for after graduation, this is an opportunity early on to really tap into the Alumni Association network and start exploring what is out there and start building that network.”

Networking, he noted, is a skill to be learned. “When you’re a cadet, you have this idea that the network is just this magical thing that’s going to come and save you when you graduate,” Andrus commented. “It’s more complicated than that, so we’re just helping them understand how to use the network and how to network just in general. This is an opportunity to start picking that up.”

The networking forum began approximately 15 years ago under the leadership of Grover Outland ’81, explained Pat Griffin ’80, Alumni Association Board of Directors member and former Region III Northeast director. Today, both he and Andrus serve on the board’s Outreach Committee.

Even through the challenges of the COVID-19

pandemic, approximately 65 cadets were able to secure jobs through the networking forum, Griffin noted. A tool the alumni have developed works enormously in their favor: A database of over 11,000 alumni from the Classes of 1978 to 2022—so no matter what field cadets might be interested in, there’s almost certain to be an alum working in that field.

Griffin explained that the database can be sorted in numerous ways, among them by industry, geography, or branch of military service. “It helps us to focus in on a particular alum or alums that we can drive these [cadets] to,” he commented.

Attending the event for the second consecutive year was Cadet Ethan Carpenter ’23, a psychology major and cadet EMT who plans on commissioning in the Army Reserve. Last year’s event, he noted, was smaller in scope.

“This year, there’s a lot going on,” said Carpenter. “There’s a lot of different routes that people can go, a lot of different people they can talk to to find out what opportunities are out there.”

The forum, Carpenter noted, is of great value for cadets because it invites them to take a longterm view—something that can be hard to do when the urgency of passing a particular class or just getting to graduation looms large. “This helps you think beyond May,” he stated.

New Stewardship Initiatives Bringing Opportunity for Deeper Engagement

In an effort to enhance the donor experience and foster recognition of our generous donors whose gifts secure opportunities for the Corps of Cadets, the VMI Foundation and Keydet Club will be revising their stewardship programs effective July 1, 2023.

An all-encompassing effort, the stewardship revisions will affect not only annual giving to the Foundation Fund and the Keydet Club, but also bring enhanced visibility and opportunities to donors and give them access to a deeper connection with the Institute, both in terms of academics and athletics.

While many alumni may be familiar with

particular stewardship rewards, such as preferential seating at football and basketball games, the new initiatives will revamp the approach to such benefits so that both academic and athletic donors have opportunities to engage more deeply with all that’s happening on post.

“These [donor recognition programs] are a connected platform and a path that many alumni travel,” said Meade King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer. “Each of us is encouraged to travel this path.”

The goals of the new stewardship efforts are fourfold: First, to engage donors more deeply in VMI’s mission; second, to elevate VMI in the

minds and priorities of the VMI family; third, to create well-informed advocates for VMI and the Corps of Cadets; and fourth, lead to continued and increased giving for Institute priorities.

“We seek to enhance engagement, participation, and philanthropy,” said King. Better stewardship of donors, he believes, will increase engagement by all members of the VMI family.

“Our Institute Society and Keydet Club annual giving programs are important to the overall success of our annual giving fundraising efforts, and we’re excited to roll out a new platform starting July 1,” said Andrew Deal ’12, VMI Keydet Club chief operating officer.

Details about the new stewardship program will be announced in the summer.

Jumper ’66: Defining a Legacy

“General Peay’s legacy is permanently stamped here on the Institute. The permanence of the Peay Endowment will reflect the permanence of his impact here at VMI.”

That’s what retired U.S. Air Force Gen. John Jumper ’66, chair of the Peay Endowment for Academic Excellence, has to say about the critical importance of the Peay Endowment, which was established by the VMI Board of Visitors in 2017 to strengthen the Institute’s academic program and commemorate the long and illustrious tenure of retired U.S. Army Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62, superintendent emeritus and the Institute’s 14th superintendent.

As expressed by the Board of Visitors resolution, the Peay Endowment consists of three pillars: Full, merit-based scholarships for cadets; endowed chairs for faculty; and funding for graduate studies for cadets and alumni interested in pursuing a career in academia,

with the expectation that they will return to VMI to teach.

As of spring 2023, all three areas are flourishing, with four Peay Scholars receiving scholarships that cover the full cost of attendance at VMI, seven faculty members holding endowed chairs, and three young alumni selected to receive stipends toward the cost of graduate study. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of members of the VMI family, the endowment, which the VMI Foundation manages, currently stands at $58 million.

Planning for an initiative commemorating Peay’s time as superintendent began in 2015 and 2016, Jumper explained, with the late Donald “Donny” Wilkinson ’61 leading the way. Wilkinson, who served the Institute in many capacities, including terms on the Board of Visitors and the Jackson-Hope Board, led the Institute’s most recent major capital campaign, An Uncommon Purpose, which raised

approximately $345 million by the time of its conclusion in 2017. Jumper, former chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, was not only president of the VMI Board of Visitors during that time but also served as vice chair of the campaign and thus worked closely with Wilkinson.

At the conclusion of An Uncommon Purpose, Wilkinson turned his attention to honoring Peay, and according to Jumper, Wilkinson’s thoughts were inclined toward establishing a scholarship program similar to the Jefferson Scholars program at the University of Virginia.

“We already had a merit scholarship program at VMI,” Jumper stated. “But [Wilkinson] wanted to sort of supercharge that idea by adding criteria specifically reflecting the leadership and character of General Peay.”

Endowed chairs, which bolster compensation and thus help with faculty retention, were also already a part of the Institute landscape, but the fellowships to encourage graduate

study were new, and efforts to bring more alumni back to VMI as faculty members were underway even before the Peay Endowment was established.

Following Wilkinson’s death in April 2020, Jumper became chair of the Peay Endowment Cabinet, and he now leads the 12 alumni members of that cabinet charged with overseeing the endowment. For Jumper, the endowment is a way to secure VMI’s standing as one of the nation’s top-tier public institutions and honor Peay, whose transformative leadership ushered VMI into the 21st century with an ambitious building program and an academic renaissance.

Although their cadetships did not overlap, Jumper met Peay decades ago in the Middle East while Peay was commander of the U.S. Central Command and Jumper was his air component commander. The two were friends long before Peay became superintendent in 2003.

“I’ve always admired [Peay] as one of one of our great leaders—not only in the United States Army, but as a national leader—and a great American and, of course, putting all of that to work here at VMI for 17 years,” said Jumper. “All who fully appreciate the value of leaders that VMI delivers to the Commonwealth and to the nation must celebrate

General Peay as the engine of VMI’s promise. We owe it to future generations to embrace that promise.”

“It’s most heartwarming to me to see how grateful Peay is for those who support him in this regard and how gratified he is to see programs like the fellowship program, in particular, where we are creating an avenue for cadets and recent graduates who want to pursue a career in academia that are willing to come back to VMI in the future as part of the faculty,” Jumper continued.

As he leads the Peay Endowment cabinet, Jumper is cognizant that the Peay Endowment will create an even brighter future for the Institute—and he’s excited about what that will look like.

“When this is going and fully funded, I think we’ll have the resources for a very, very high class of scholarships,” he stated. “I think we will compete favorably with the [service] academies and the Ivy League schools for the most talented applicants by offering virtually full scholarships to VMI. The chairs, of course, I think, will benefit from having selection criteria that are, again, based on the high values and the example that General Peay set with his entire life.”

And while Jumper unquestionably supports all three pillars of the Peay Endowment, he

feels particularly strongly about the importance of bringing alumni back to teach, as they not only understand what it means to be a cadet but also lend better understanding of the VMI system.

“Getting VMI alumni back into the faculty, I think, helps us remain dedicated to the military part of VMI,” he stated. “And it helps the overall faculty be supportive of those class systems and regimental systems ... [and] the Honor Code, which is the basis of the VMI system.

“All of those things that you don’t find in other colleges, especially a strict honor code, I think are better understood if you have meaningful representation on the faculty in all the departments that promote a better understanding of the value proposition inherent in the VMI system.”

Donors to the Peay Endowment, Jumper stated, are continuing Peay’s unparalleled legacy of selfless service and unprecedented leadership at VMI.

“I think that it’s important for everyone to appreciate this opportunity with the Peay Endowment to honor the leadership legacy of our former superintendent, ever mindful of the greater good so dear to him—and important for our nation—and rising above the passions of our internal differences, define a legacy that must endure as the soul of VMI.”

Tran ’23: Peay Scholar

Cadet Binh Q. Tran ’23, from Ashburn, Virginia, is an electrical and computer engineering major. He came to VMI because he wanted to commission but also because of VMI’s small class size; alumni network; and the physical, mental, and academic challenges VMI offers. Tran was “extremely happy” when he learned would receive a Peay scholarship and immediately called his parents. He grew up in Vietnam and moved to the U.S. in 2015.

“Colonel James Squire [Ph.D.] has been a great advisor and mentor for me since my parents are unfamiliar with the college process in the U.S. or the engineering career field,” Tran said about his former department head. “Therefore, I turned to Colonel Squire for a lot of advice and direction on my career path.”

VMI’s small size and committed professors, like Squire, resulted in Tran’s participation in projects not normally available to undergraduates. In 2020, he worked with Hongbo Zhang, Ph.D., on improving light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, in self-driving cars. Through this project, Tran increased his knowledge of C++ and Python programming languages while contributing to improving the ability of self-driving vehicles to react appropriately and recognize other vehicles, pedestrians, and road scenarios.

Since 2021, he has been developing a free application called Audiogram Emulator to help parents of deaf and hardof-hearing children. With his graduation rapidly approaching, Tran realizes he is “running out of time” to complete the application. He has been working on the project with Cadet Cole Bowyer ’25, and Bowyer will continue work after Tran’s graduation. The ECE department often involves cadets from different classes on projects

so that when one graduates, the project can continue. In addition to these projects, IEEE SoutheastCon approved one of Tran’s research papers, written at the doctoral student level, for publication.

He’s the S2 staff captain and part of the Cadet Investment Club and Cadet Equity Association.

As the S2, he’s driven several improvements to make academic resources more visible and available to the Corps. His staff implemented an S2 bulletin board in barracks, improved the S2 website, added S2 door cards to increase S2 visibility, and began a new tutoring program. The program, called the “Cadet Peer Tutoring Program,” pairs cadets who need help with tutors. One of Tran’s “great friends” at VMI is fellow Peay Scholar and ECE major Cadet Dominick Lalena ’23, who has been part of the S2 staff in past years and currently serves as a department mentor for fellow cadets. Tran has also been able to offer guidance to the newest Peay Scholar, Cadet Julia Ward ’26, also an ECE major.

Managing his many commitments during his final year has been “rough” but overall valuable. One of the best rewards, Tran said, is when the S2 staff receives an email thanking them for their help and detailing a cadet’s academic improvement.

In spring 2023, Tran helped implement the Space Force structure into VMI’s Air Force ROTC Department. He was part of a team who oversaw and implemented training for all cadets in the AFROTC detachment. In 2021, he received the Raptor Award, given to VMI’s top AFROTC cadet.

In May 2023, he will commission into the U.S. Space Force as an active-duty developmental engineer officer.

Walker ’71: “The True Essence of Amateur Athletics”

The threads of a VMI tapestry wind their way through the life of Steve Walker ’71—threads of generational attendance, friendship, and gratitude for all the Institute has given the Walker family.

The family’s story begins with Walker’s father, Stephen M. Walker, Class of 1931, who matriculated from Gassaway, West Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He also played on the rat basketball team, and one of his teammates, Lt. Gen. George R.E. Shell, Class of 1931, would go on to a military career of great renown, culminating as a brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps and later serving as the Institute’s ninth superintendent.

When the younger Walker matriculated to VMI in 1967, Shell was superintendent. Like his father and Shell, Walker played rat basketball. Walker’s son, Stephen M. Walker II ’04, also attended VMI, extending the legacy of lifelong ties to the institution and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business. In appreciation for all the Institute has done for his family, both in terms of academics and athletics, Walker recently established the Walker Family Athletic Scholarship.

“I appreciate the concept of the three-legged stool,” said Walker, who attended VMI for two

years and went on to earn degrees from West Virginia University. For the past 50 years, he’s been a resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, where he operates his real estate firm, J.S. Walker Realtors, and employs 30 agents.

Life and real estate have both kept Walker busy. Still, over the course of the past several decades, he’s stayed in touch with his brother rats—among them Buddy Bryan ’71, Tim Golden ’71, and the late David Allen ’71, as both Walker and Allen matriculated from West Virginia. Like Walker, Allen was the son of an alumnus, James “Jimmy” Allen, Class of 1933.

As the date for his 50th Reunion approached in spring 2022, Walker not only made plans to attend, at the urging of his brother rats, but he also began to ponder how to best contribute to the Class of 1971’s 50th Reunion Campaign.

A black-and-white photograph that once belonged to his father provided inspiration: In it, the members of the 1927–28 rat basketball team are pictured in front of Cocke Hall, with Walker’s father in the middle of the front row and Shell on the end of the front row on the right side.

The former superintendent, whom Walker described as “a great gentleman and a great soldier,”

was the bridge between his father’s cadetship and his own, Walker realized. “That sort of crystallized my decision to do something with respect to an athletic scholarship,” he commented.

“I wanted to do something to support athletes who have the initiative to attend VMI and reap the benefits of a VMI education,” he continued. “I’ve always viewed intercollegiate athletics at VMI as the true essence of amateur athletics. With the transfer portal and NIL taking precedence in major college sports across the country, I appreciate VMI for adhering to the traditional model of the student-athlete, which also, by the way, makes it very enjoyable to watch.”

With enjoyment and appreciation for all sports and a background of more than 25 years as a referee for high school and collegiate soccer matches, Walker chose to create a scholarship that could support an athlete on any of VMI’s 18 NCAA teams.

“Major universities, public institutions, are driven by interests that are different [from] VMI,” said Walker. “In inculcating the three-legged stool philosophy, VMI prepares its graduates for success. I’m just pleased to be in a position where I can give back to VMI.”

New Staff Members, Promotions at the Alumni Agencies

Brandon Bissell ’98 joined the Alumni Agencies in December 2022 as director of alumni outreach. He matriculated from Lexington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI and a Master of Business Administration degree from Liberty University.

During his time at VMI, Bissell played on the football team and was a member of the VMI Army Aviation Association of America chapter and the Big Red Club. Upon graduation, he commissioned in the Army as a second lieutenant and commenced aviation officer basic course and flight training. In October 2018, Bissell retired following a 20-year military career. He married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca L. Bissell, and they have two daughters.

As the director of outreach, Bissell is focused on New Cadet Recruiting, building relationships with class agents, and reunions.

“Brandon brings a wealth of leadership and public relations experience from his 20 years in the United States Army and five years in the private sector and education,” said Ed Johnson ’79, VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer. “Coming from a VMI family and living in the commandant’s house as a child, he is delighted to be back on post supporting the best alumni in the world.”

Joe Czekner joined the VMI Alumni Agencies’ communications team in January 2023 as graphic designer and photographer. Czekner received a bachelor’s degree in design and visual communications from Virginia Tech. With over a decade of work in the design field, Czekner has experience in print,

Three Alumni Agencies staff members have new titles and job responsibilities. Christina Cummings was named director of advancement services effective Jan. 1, 2023. Cummings, who has worked for the Alumni Agencies since 2014, is now a member of the senior leadership team overseeing the advancement services team and the reunion team. “In the past eight years, Christina has increased the effectiveness and the efficiency of complex event planning at the Agencies, and she has developed an uncanny ability to maximize event budgets through a network of trusted vendor and venue relationships,” said David Prasnicki, Alumni Agencies chief executive officer. “In addition, she is now supporting the great work of donor stewardship. Having the director of advancement services on the senior leadership team will only benefit our work going forward.”

Christian Heilman, who has worked for the Agencies since 2019, was named director of digital content in September 2022. “This change in position moved Christian from a supportive role in creative direction and production to leading the team in the social

packaging, web, and everything in between. Czekner is excited to join the communications team and looks forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the visual storytelling of the VMI Alumni Agencies in order to effectively communicate the Agencies’ mission.

“Joe brings a wealth of graphic design experience to the communications team and will be integral in elevating the look of our publications and stewardship materials,” said Jordan Whitman, VMI Alumni Agencies editor-in-chief. “We are thrilled to have him join the Alumni Agencies.”

In January 2023, Virginia “Jinky” Garrett joined the Alumni Agencies’ advancement services team as reunion event coordinator. She is excited to join the reunion team and looks forward to building relationships with class agents.

Before joining the Alumni Agencies, Garrett most recently served as the chief deputy commissioner of the revenue for the City of Lexington. Prior to that position, she served as executive assistant to the dean of the college at Washington and Lee University. She has held numerous part-time positions in the hospitality field over the years and is looking forward to putting her event planning skills to work. She holds an associate’s degree in business management from Mountain Gateway Community College. Garrett resides in Buena Vista and has one son, Hunter.

“We are excited to have Jinky join the advancement services team,” said Christina Cummings, director of advancement services. “With her background, skills, and relationships in the VMI community, she will excel as the reunion event coordinator.”

media arena, total website direction, vendor contract representation, development of communications plans, and IT security,” said Amy Goetz, Alumni Agencies chief communications officer. “We are so fortunate to have Christian on the team. Not only is he committed to telling the VMI story, but he is also a leadership-level contributor in his area of expertise.”

In January 2023, Bridget Shanks was named director of alumni engagement. She serves as the primary contact for chapter engagement, working with the nearly 100 volunteer chapter leaders to develop and support alumni gatherings and engagement initiatives, and also serves as the primary contact for career networking. She has worked for the Alumni Agencies since fall 2021.

“Bridget is tireless in her support of VMI, its cadets, and our alumni base,” said Ed Johnson ’79, Alumni Association chief operating officer. “With her experience in the athletic department, education, and background in hospitality, as well as facilitating rat study halls, she is the perfect person to lead our alumni engagement.”

Class Notes

1942

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1942.

1943

vision created opportunities that enabled others to reach their goals. Thank you for teaching us humility, strength, courage, and the true meaning of integrity. Your legacy lives on in the philanthropic causes you supported, in those who benefited from your support of education, through the many individuals who were a part of the businesses you helped to create, and in the many lives you touched throughout your 100 years.

“Your grateful friends.”

1944

The Class of 1944 wishes to congratulate the Class of 2023 on their graduation.

The Class of 1944 now boasts a centenarian in its ranks. Robert Smothers celebrated his 100th birthday in December and became the oldest living VMI alum in January. Leading up to Bob’s birthday, I spoke to Jay Wegrzyn ’66, who lives a short distance from Bob and has known him for a number of years. Jay sang Bob’s praises and told me how he also knew

James Casey and James Lamb, both ’44, before they passed away. I really enjoyed hearing about his history with members of this great class. He wished Bob the very best, and I know he remains grateful to call him a friend.

Bob’s daughter, Kerry, organized a great party that was attended by 75-80 friends and

In the Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, issue of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, friends of Floyd Gottwald ran a touching remembrance of his life on the one-year anniversary of his death. It reads:

“In Remembrance of Floyd D. Gottwald Jr.

“July 29, 1922–Jan. 27, 2022

“Chairman Emeritus. Albemarle Corporation.

“A Virginian, a benefactor, a philanthropist, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend. Your life was an inspiration to all of us. Throughout your career, your hard work and

family from around the country. There were many kind tributes given about Bob’s life and experiences and a wonderful dance band that was enjoyed by all. To top it off, Bob received a plaque from the San Diego mayor’s office declaring Dec. 2, 2022, Robert Smothers Day.

To quote Bob, “It really was as good as it gets.” Here’s to 101, Bob!

Wishing the 1944 family my best for a pleasant and safe spring and summer.

1945

Jonathan

The Class of 1945 welcomes the Class of 2023 into the circle of VMI alumni.

This notes period saw the passing of Lt. Col. Douglas Lindsey Nov. 29, 2022, at the age of 98. Doug attended VMI for two years before the events of World War II compelled him to volunteer for active duty in the Army Air Corps. While with the famed 8th Air Force, he flew 23 combat missions in a P-51 Mustang with the 359th Fighter Group as a bomber escort for the 369th Squadron. After VMI and the military, Doug enjoyed a long, successful career in business and served his community in various civic organizations. I’m honored to have had a chance to know his story and share it with others. A true citizen-soldier from the greatest generation.

Unfortunately, another loss was suffered by 1945 during this period. Less than a week after Douglas Lindsey’s passing, Brother Rat Dr. James W. Tinsley passed away. He celebrated his 99th birthday Oct. 18. I had only established

contact with Dr. Tinsley just weeks before his passing, and I regret not having had the chance to get to know him better. I must thank John Youell ’71, Dr. Tinsley’s nephew, for reaching out to me with Dr. Tinsley’s contact information and filling me in on many aspects of his uncle’s long, eventful life from his VMI days to his time in the Army Air Corps during World War II, his doctoral career, and his beloved farm in southeast Virginia.

Lastly, I wanted to again call out a member I’ve been unable to reach; perhaps the VMI community could help track him down. He is Robert G. Moore. I’d love to hear from him or his family or friends and get an update if possible.

As always, I’m here for any members, family, or friends of 1945. Wishing you all the best in the coming months.

1946

Friends, Families, and Members of the Class of 1946,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this entry to report the passing of classmate John DuBose Naill Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas, Dec. 17, 2022.

Like many members of the Class of 1946, Mr. Naill did not graduate with his class at VMI. The war had different plans for him, as he was called to serve as an enlisted man in the Army. He eventually graduated from West Point and continued service as a company commander and general’s aide in Korea.

Mr. Naill’s loyalties remained firmly with VMI even after graduating from West Point. His father was VMI Class of 1921, and he remained active in the Arkansas VMI Alumni Chapter for over 20 years, according to Jim Dittrich ’76, chapter president. Mr. Naill even attended his 70th Reunion in 2016.

Mort Mumma, currently living in Virginia Beach, recalls Mr. Naill departing VMI after their 4th Class year, but they later reunited at West Point. Mort graduated from West Point in 1948 and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Naill was a successful farmer in Arkansas and eventually served as the chairman of the

board of Farm Credit in the Carter administration. In addition to farming, Mr. Naill’s long list of accomplishments includes being a licensed Episcopal lay reader, a private pilot, a tap dancer, a scuba diver, a published cartoonist, and a crack tennis player.

Mr. Naill’s was a life well led, and he will undoubtedly be missed by his son, daughter, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his farming community. Please keep them in your thoughts.

My best to you and yours for a warm and safe spring.

1947

It is my sad duty to inform you all that Maclin “Mac” Davis Jr. died peacefully in his sleep at home in Nashville just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Mac was born in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lived most of his life. Mac entered Virginia Military Institute and turned 17 in Lexington, Virginia, July 13, 1943. In the year he spent there, he played varsity football and basketball and was vice president of his class. At VMI, he learned draftsmanship, a skill that enabled him to design the house his young family would live in on Wayland Drive and the barn he had built in the 1980s on Chickering Road. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in July 1944 and attended the University of North Carolina –Chapel Hill in the Navy V-12 program from July 1944–July 1945. His full obituary is included in the Taps section of this issue. He had a life well lived.

Our thoughts are with the Davis family during this time of loss. Rest well, Mr. Davis Brother Rats, A few days after I submitted the last set of class

notes, I received a call from Charles Brown Jr. He told me that his father, Charles Ellis Brown Sr., passed away June 13, 2022. He was 94. Charles came to VMI in June 1944 from Shreveport, Louisiana. He roomed with Billy Guin and W.R. Parker, both also from Shreveport, in Room 219. Charles graduated from Byrd High School, which had an excellent ROTC program. I roomed next door in Room 217 with Henry Johnson and Cal Woodard. At the end of our first semester, Henry and Cal told me that Coach Pooly Hubert wanted me to move out so that another football player could move in. The obvious solution was for me to move into Room 215 with Mickey Mouse Lawson and Bob Duke and for Cameron Thompson to move into Room 217. I was shocked and argued that I didn’t want to room with Yankees. Charles Brown entered the room and, having heard the argument, approached me. He said, “Room 209 is empty; why don’t you and I room there?” I told him about my demerit problem and my troublemaker reputation. He did not withdraw his offer, so we moved into Room 209. Charles is in our class picture, four rows up from the kneeling Paul Applin. I am to Charles’ left with only my head visible. Between us and above is Hans Strohm, and below is Jimbo Fitts. Charles was a wonderful roommate who had a very steadying influence on me. Charles was a devout Methodist and attended Sunday services all his life. While at VMI, he encouraged me to attend my Catholic services every Sunday. One of Charles’ high school girlfriends attended Hollins College. He took me with him on a visit, and I met several attractive young ladies. Charles and I double-dated with Hollins girls at more than one VMI hop. Charles was the best roommate I ever had. At the end of our second semester, several ’48Bs were promoted to corporal. Charles was near the top of the list. He was very proud of this achievement.

Charles left VMI for World War II military service. He served in the Navy for one year as a seaman first class. He did not return to VMI but instead attended Centenary College in Shreveport. He graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. Charles and I had a very nice meeting in Shreveport in late June 1947.

After I graduated from VMI in 1947, I returned to Jeanerette. Those of us who were in artillery ROTC were ordered to report to Camp Campbell, Kentucky, in late June. I received a call from Bob Lacy ’48A. Bob and I graduated from VMI together, and we were both artillery ROTC. Bob said his father gave him a car as a

graduation present and that he would drive me to Camp Campbell if I came to Texarkana (300 miles north). My father drove me to Texarkana. On the way, we stopped in Shreveport and had a very nice visit with Charles Brown. We also met his mother and father.

While at Centenary, Charles met Alice Rose Curtis, and they married in 1949. They were married for 60 years before her passing in 2009. Charles was a lifelong supporter of Centenary and served on the board of trustees for 40 years. Charles received a Master of Science degree in geology from LSU in 1950. Later, Charles joined the Bayou State Oil Company. He soon became president and chairman of the board. He was still serving in that capacity when he passed away. Charles was involved in many geology organizations and many Shreveport civic organizations. Charles and I did not meet again until the ’48B 50th Reunion in 1998, which we both attended. Charles was accompanied by his wife, Alice, and I was accompanied by my daughter, Ann. We visited often during the reunion schedule and dined together at the class dinner.

A few years ago, Charles drove from Shreveport to Monroe, and we had a great lunch at the Waterfront Grill. We enjoyed going over our 1944 VMI experiences. We agreed to meet again in Shreveport a few months later. Unfortunately, when the time came for me to drive to Shreveport, my arthritis was so bad I had to cancel. Over the last several years, we talked on the phone frequently. Charles was preceded in death by his mother and father; his wife, Alice; and his sister, Eleanor Brown Greve. He is survived by his son, C. Ellis Brown Jr.; his daughter, Ellice Brown Richardson; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Farewell to another great ’48B.

Recently, I received a phone call from Charles’ double first cousin, William Cavett Brown ’47 of Georgetown, Texas. He supplied me with the Bayou State Oil Co. phone number. William and Charles were close lifelong friends. I remember William at VMI during summer 1944. He was quite tall and, I believe, was the first sergeant of Company B. William left VMI to attend the USMA. He was West Point class of 1949 and is now 96 years old.

George Ramsey of Lynchburg, Virginia, is still trying to recover from the passing of his wife, Harriet. George and Harriet were married in early 1949. The only time they were separated was when George was in Korea from late 1950 to early 1952. George said that Harriet passed away

Class notes

in her bedroom with two of her daughters at her bedside. I believe George has attended more reunions than any other ’48B. Now, he is not considering attending the ’48B 75th Reunion.

Al Loth of Richmond, Virginia, reported that “things are going well healthwise and general lifestyle.” He is not planning to attend the ’48B 75th Reunion.

Rod Kallgren of Dearborn, Michigan, reported that he is still testing positive for COVID-19. He feels all right but is under quarantine. He watched the movie, Patton, and was impressed by the frequent references to VMI in the movie. Rod said that the VA informed him that, at his age, he could claim the full value of his GI insurance. Rod claimed the cash and donated it to VMI.

I called Angus Crook of Nashville, Tennessee, after engaging in a strenuous home health exercise session. He answered the phone but was in the middle of his own strenuous exercise session. Angus sounded good but tired. We had a very short talk.

Brother rats, have a great spring.

1949A

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1949A.

1949B

These notes cover the period from Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 15, 2023.

I guess that I was wrong. Charlie Hurt left word on my answering machine that he is still working. That makes Charlie and Nux. Anyone else still working at 95 years old?

Joe Spitler sent me an email after reading our class notes in the previous Alumni Review and said that he realizes that he is one of the healthier brother rats remaining in the Class of ’49B. He does use a cane and walker. Joe was a longtime hiker; maybe that has something to do with

his good health but motion problems. He reports that all is well with Shirley and him, considering they are “old folks” and live a rather sheltered life in Arizona. He doesn’t hear well enough to use the telephone much and works a lot of Sudoku puzzles and reads newspapers and books. His family is OK, and he sees them often, as Kim and Tracy live in Tucson for half of the year. Tracy fishes the waters of Alaska commercially in season.

Perry Williamson called. He didn’t have much news but said that he is doing OK. He is having balance problems and using a cane. Perry has stayed in touch, which I really appreciate.

Jack Neunhoffer’s daughter wrote that Jack died six years ago and that his widow, Grace, passed away three years later. She added that Jack had always wanted to be buried in a National Cemetery and she wanted to fulfill his wish, so he and Grace are buried at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. She said that it is a fairly new cemetery, is very scenic, and you can just feel the sense of patriotism and honor when you walk amongst the graves. Jack had taken the family to VMI one summer, and she thought it was “pretty impressive and some of the stories must have been legendary, too.”

Evelyn Soucek had a note on her Christmas card saying that it was nice to get a VMI card from a’49B fellow.

I called Haywood France ’49C to find out how he is doing. He lives in Harrisonburg. We used to meet for lunch and see each other at alumni chapter events but have not recently. He is doing all right and lives in a retirement home but doesn’t drive anymore.

Also got an email from Greg Nelson, who is faithful in keeping in touch. He and Kitty are fine, and she spoils him rotten. They had a wonderful Thanksgiving with two children visiting them for the holiday. Greg says he thinks of our deceased BRs on occasion, and they are happy memories. He says he is proud of his association with them and their wives over the years. Me, too! There has never been a better group than the Class and wives of 1949B!

Jim “Crew Chief” Morgan made his annual Christmas telephone call and said that he didn’t have much new to talk about. Jim can no longer drive because of macular degeneration and has some hearing loss but otherwise is in pretty good health. Hester suffers from memory loss but is in generally good health. He wanted to know how many brother rats are still around, and I promised

that I would let him, and the others who have asked the same question, know. According to the records that the Alumni Agencies carefully tries to maintain, there are still 15 of us as of the writing of these class notes. A number of our class widows still maintain contact with the Institute, although, sadly, I have had little contact with any of them.

In a note in her Christmas card, Inga Van Hook said that she was going back to Germany to visit her family there over the holidays.

I’m sorry to report that the Alumni Agencies notified me that Doc Laville’s and Frank Kinsel’s widows have passed away. I had not heard from either of them since taking on the class agent duty.

Dave and Margaret Briggs sent a Christmas card with a nice note. He said that they send greetings to all the surviving class members, and we are a great group. He wishes we were all closer together geographically. He noted that his grandfather came to Texas from Virginia, so he has roots in both states. In August, Dave and Margaret moved to Presbyterian Village North, a large retirement community in Dallas. There are a lot of veterans from the various armed services, and it is a very agreeable place as everyone is very friendly. It is good to hear from Dave, and we remember the great mini reunion Rawles and Briggs hosted in Dallas.

Tommy Altizer finally has been able to go to his home in Florida after lending his apartment to a friend who had to relocate as a result of the hurricane that devastated the area last summer. Tommy will be back in Staunton in May.

Nobbie and I want to thank you for your Christmas cards. I am also grateful for the news you sent for this issue.

Until next time,

God Bless America, VMI, and ’49B, Ding

1949C

Editor’s Note: Before going to press, we received the sad news that Haywood France died Feb. 28, 2023. He served as class agent for 14 years. His Taps entry will appear in the 2023-Issue 3 Alumni Review.

1950A

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1950A.

1950B

Since we last met, we’ve made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and new years, and now it’s Valentine’s Day. And by the time you read this, Saint Patrick’s Day and April Fool’s Day will have passed. It’s hard to realize how fast time is flying by.

We seem to have come out of the COVID-19 doldrums. However, I’m saddened to report the loss of two brother rats during this quarter. Herb Harris died Dec. 2, 2022. Herb had an illness that set him back a year, but he always remained a ’50B at heart. We would see him at reunions, and he always wore his winning smile. Some of us sang with him in the Glee Club, and he was president of the club his 1st Class year. He shone above many of us; he wore academic stars for three years! He was a civil engineer, and after a two-year stint in the Air Force, he pursued an engineering career. William L. Morton died Dec. 8, 2022. He attended VMI for only a year, and I never received an obituary, so I cannot give you any details about his post-VMI life.

I had a long phone conversation with Braxton Green in January. He told me Hoge Sutherland is now living with his daughter, and his wife is ill. It’s sad that we don’t hear from Hoge, but maybe we will when he reads this. Brax says he was able the contact Hoge’s daughter by first contacting Paul Palmer. Surely would like to hear from Paul; we seem to have lost touch. Paul apparently is a “bricker,” one who has had a brick placed in the 1950B plot. And that reminds me to encourage you to buy a brick to both support the Institute and have a remembrance of

yourself for perpetuity.

Remember Tommy Altizer ’49B? He dropped out of his class to serve in the military. He came back and joined our class and graduated with us. He lives in Staunton, Virginia, and has a condo in Fort Myers, Florida. I remember we had a mini reunion one year in Fort Myers, and we had drinks at Tommy’s place. He still goes down there from November to April. His daughter drives him down, so he’ll have a car there, and she flies back. They reverse that when it’s time to come home. Brax’s oldest son, Alec, lives in the Orlando, Florida, area and wants Braxton and Judith to fly down for 10 days. They don’t do much traveling anymore, but now that there are daily direct flights from Richmond to Orlando, they decided they’ll go. During our conversation, we reminisced about the great food that Randy Trappey would bring us from Lafayette, Louisiana, to reunions. We ended up with Braxton asking about the book Tommy Kirk was writing. Brax remembers that at a home football game with The Citadel, the Institute set up a golf tourney, and he and Judith paired up with Tommy and Ann.

Prompted by Braxton’s query about his book, I touched base with Tommy Kirk. He said he hates to write to me when there’s no significant news. He and Ann stayed home for the holidays and just mingle with friends in the area. They both are still in good health, and as he puts it, they are enjoying golf, gym, friends, and old age. Oh, the book. Well, he finished it a couple of months ago, and it’s available on Amazon in

both hardcover and paperback. The title is Hits, Misses & Wins – a Fighter Pilot’s Life Story by Thomas H. Kirk Jr. I’m sure some of you received my email I sent about mid-February announcing the book and promising to tell Tommy’s story as to how it came about. Rather than paraphrase it, here it is in his own words. “There is a bit of story as to why I ever tried to write a book. Ann and I have a wonderful friend in Vail who holds an annual four-day leadership ‘roundtable’ in May of each year. We have attended 16 of the last 18 years. Six years ago, one attendee was there (several years in a row) and heard my story twice. He then came to me and told me that his dad had died without him knowing anything about his origin, life, etc. He said, ‘Tom, that is not going to happen to you; your story is so different and varied that it needs to be saved. I am going to have a professional video/photo expert record your story on CDs.’ Ultimately, over a year later, having recorded 11 hours of color, we finished my life story, beautifully recorded for my grandkids to remember grandpa.

“Naturally I told the guy, ‘No one, including me, will ever look at or listen to that much talking.’ I then told the fellow to separate the CD into three one-hour stories: a) birth through VMI, b) military career, and finally, c) life and work after retirement. He did this, and I am really happy with the results. Naturally, in the beginning, before the recording, I made up a pretty detailed group of notes to keep me on track for the CDs.

“When the above was all ‘in the box,’ I thought to myself, why not write a book? So, I did it ... over about three years. I finally finished in early April 2022 and found a group in LA to help with editing, punctuation, and grammar, etc. The firm has an agreement with Amazon for publishing books. There you have it. Never having written a book before, I cannot tell you honestly whether it is good or lousy, but it is my story. Sorry to write so much about the book, but it was a long grind, and I am happy that I was able to complete it.”

Tom’s recollections have a great teaching point. Before it’s too late, each of us should take the time and make the effort to somehow write our biographies for our children and grandchildren. It could be written, but perhaps easier and simpler is to record telling your story. You don’t need to go to a professional. These days, with all the electronics available to us, you can dictate into nothing more involved than your phone.

Get one of your children to help you. They will greatly appreciate it later. An extra bonus is they can hear your voice as if you were talking directly to them.

Touched base with M. Lawrence. I say M. because we knew him at VMI as Mike. But it turns out, before and after VMI, he goes by Mitch. That’s natural because his name is Mitchell. But how it became Mike at VMI is interesting. He says that as a rat, he roomed next door to an upperclassman who went by the name of Mitch. And that upperclassman said, “There can’t be two Mitches, so you, Lawrence, are going to be Mike.” And that stuck with him all his time at the Institute. He has moved from Waynesboro, Virginia, into an assisted living facility in Ashburn, Virginia. He has a son in Fairfax who is conveniently nearby. He also has a married daughter in Staunton. He’s had a bit of a rough time recently. At Christmas, he went into the hospital because he had water on his knees, and his legs swelled way up and had to be drained. Mitch said they drained 30 pounds of water (if I heard him correctly). Now, his legs are back to their normal size. He also had a bout with COVID-19, but that’s over, and he believes he’s doing well at 95. As you recall, Mitch was in the CIA. He was in Laos from 1968–70 and said he was near the Thailand border and traveled all over the country, even up to the Chinese border. I told him that Tommy Kirk’s book was now available, and Mitch laughed and said he could write a book, too, but they’d put him in jail. He has a new Cadillac and can still drive but often

has someone drive him. Mitch seems to be getting along OK and says he obeys what his therapist tells him to do or not to do.

With all the heavy rains and big flooding going on in California, I checked on Bert Jolly, who lives in San Rafael near San Francisco. He said although it’s been a disaster for a couple of weeks in the area, the Jollys have escaped. There have been trees downed and power losses nearby and some street and highway flooding. But they escaped by not going out when it was awful, he said. The statistics he gave are shocking. At his house, they had 21 inches of rain from July 1–Dec. 21, 2022. But they had 20 inches of rain in just the first two weeks of January!

Asked how he was doing, Bert said he and Marie are slowing down at 93 and 92, but they are still getting out, weather permitting. They both like to walk. Marie walks for about an hour in the morning and Bert walks about 30 minutes in the morning. He has a group that he goes hiking with once a week. They hike about an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

They are fortunate to have some children nearby. A son and daughter-in-law live in Santa Rosa, which is 40 miles away, and they visit about once a week. Another son lives in El Cerrito, which is near Berkeley, and they see him a couple of times a month. Thanks to modern electronics and the internet, Bert and Marie FaceTime about 30 minutes every morning with their daughter who lives in London.

Had a phone call with Randy Trappey and an email or two. So far, Lafayette, Louisiana, where he lives, has been spared the terrible storms that have been happening. Randy says he’s beginning to feel his age, and he’s finding it difficult to get around. He does have some care available around the clock. He wants to remain in his house with his dog. He does have a lady who comes in the morning and, among other things, handles his email. As he mentioned before, there is another young lady Randy has known for years who comes by in the afternoon. So, he has some folks to keep him company.

Because of his current immobility status, Randy missed the wedding of his granddaughter two days before Christmas, but she and her husband did visit him after new years.

The saga of the Trappey Cannery continues. There is still some property acquisition that needs to be finalized. Randy met with one of the architects, who updated him on the progress. He estimated the groundbreaking ceremony to be in

about a year to a year and a half. They are working on finalizing the architectural and construction drawings and getting prospective users to sign up for the property. This is an addition to an existing park system and will be called the Trappey Riverwalk. Almost all the original building will be preserved and will contain a variety of shops and stores.

In the meantime, Randy was presented with a certificate signifying that Trappey’s Cannery has been entered into the National Register of Historic Places. The certificate was signed by the lieutenant governor of Louisiana. He sent me a photo of the certificate, and I was planning to put it in this article. But the folks at the Alumni Agencies tell me that any photo with writing does not reproduce well in the Alumni Review, so they nixed it. As Charlie Brown said, “Rats!”

P.S. Just heard that Randy’s dog died.

Got a nice note from my roomie, Jack Lyons, which I’ll quote. “Christmas was great but tiring. Two of our kids (No. 2 son, Bill, and only daughter, Tracy) live on land next to us.” (Lynd’s note: Jack lives in an old mid-1800s house on a large plot of land in Vermont.) “One night, we had 16 for dinner that wife Terry fixed and fed all. Our original land piece was larger and more country; we gave two of them a few acres, and it took. Oldest, restless, No. 1 son didn’t want to come back East. Now lives in Durango, Colorado, with son Erik. They can’t stay off the mountains—skiing in the winter and biking in the summers. Jackie flew over his handlebars biking in Utah last summer and dislocated his clavicle from his scapula. Healing slowly. Did the same thing about three years ago so

now is trying to level up the two shoulders? I just read that Evel Knievel’s son, Robbie, died of a bad pancreas a few days ago at age 60. He was a daredevil like his dad. I sometimes think that I, too, have a son like that. My No. 4 child, son Jody, resides in midwestern Massachusetts (Holyoke) with my granddaughter, Caela, and an on-and-off wifey. They have three (count ’em) three big Leonberger dogs and a fat old black lovable lab retriever. That’s a houseful when they come to visit.

“So, Mr. Bob, ol’ roomie and friend, that’s about all for now. Terry and I puttering along with no known lethal definitive illnesses. Just old and tired.”

I had never heard of a Leonberger dog, so I Googled it, of course. How else do we do things these days? Well, let me tell you, they are big. I found this. “These large dogs are one of the world’s largest dog breeds and look like a lion. This giant breed typically stands 29 to 31 inches tall and weighs 90 to 160 pounds. Their typical lifespan is eight to 10 years.” I recall hearing one time that larger dogs don’t last as long as smaller ones. Don’t know if that’s a fact.

Jake Berberich ’76, John’s son, sent me a bunch of photos from John’s collection. These were obviously taken at some of our reunions, but not necessarily from the same one. In fact, I’m deducing this group shown here covers at least two different reunions. I’m embarrassed to admit I cannot identify a couple of our brother rats. But neither can the other person in the photo. So, I’ll ask for your help to identify these two “unknowns.” Let me know who you think they are, and I’ll correct that in the next edition. As you’ll note, we were still looking pretty good at that time.

Out of the blue, I received an email from Frank Fugate! Frank was with us only for a year and then went to VPI. I’m sure some of you remember him—at least his roommates during our rat year. I’d like to know who you are so I can pass that on to Frank.

He’s had an interesting life after leaving the rest of us. After graduation in 1951, he went in the Army and served a three-year stint in NSA. I suspect that was rather hush-hush, so no details on that. But then he had a two-year contract to work for Saudi ARAMCO in the Middle East, which I interpret as Saudi Arabia. He was hired as a permanent employee and wound up spending 34 years with the company. He kept moving up the chain and eventually retired as senior vice president of engineering and construction

and member of the board of directors. He still has many Saudi friends with whom he communicates regularly over the internet.

Post-ARAMCO, he worked for a couple of years as a consultant for McDermott International on a gas project in Siberia! Once again, he was taken on as a regular employee and became a group vice president. He oversaw the company’s engineering, computer operations, and two other fabrication operations. He declined the offer to become president. He is now fully retired.

Frank says he’s in good health for 93. As he puts it, “No walker or cane—yet.” But, like the rest of us, he says one of the bad things about getting old is you say goodbye to a lot of old friends. He gets the Alumni Review and the obituary notices which let him know that friends he made while at VMI are dropping off, one by

from VMI. These mainly are the ones who attended VMI for a year or less.

I hasten to add that if you are trying to locate someone, perhaps I can help put you to contact. Let me know.

Once again, to quote the Mouseketeers, “Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our company.” We’ve been living with and exposed to some interesting and concerning events during this past quarter year. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has been going on for a year. We’re told inflation is coming down, but one wouldn’t know it by pricing eggs, cereal, and other foodstuffs. Recently, we’ve had a Chinese balloon flying over us, and we’re told there have been other instances of such. And the list goes on. But we are hardy souls who withstood the rigors of the Virginia Military Institute and have benefitted from the life-guiding morals instilled in us there. We have survived and will continue to withstand the turmoil that may surround us because we are men of the red, white, and yellow, which floats on high. And though there be changes from when we were there, we know, “the Institute shall never die. So now, Keydets, with one voice cry, God bless our team and VMI.”

¡Hasta próximo vez!

These notes come from news from early November 2022 to Feb. 9, 2023.

one. Because he left VMI after a year, Frank says he never really considered himself a brother rat. But I assured him that because he signed that big Matriculation Book Sept. 9, 1946, and, in addition, completed our full rat year, he definitely is a brother rat. We don’t hold it against him because he became a Hokie!

And now, an update on our current “status.” On the rosters furnished to me by the Alumni Agencies, we have 33 living brother rats. That’s slightly over 10% of our matriculation number. I know, and the Alumni Agencies knows, there are probably three or four more brother rats, but the Alumni Agencies has dropped them from their rosters because there is no contact information available and/or they have requested not to receive any publications or correspondence

I have received an obituary from VMI for John Steed Evans. He will be buried in Greenville, South Carolina, where he and his wife, Ann, lived for many years.

I received a lovely note from Sam Scott’s daughter, Cynthia Scott Ries, letting me know of her father’s burial in Arlington Cemetery. I am sorry I was out of town, so I couldn’t attend. I know many of the brother rats will remember as fondly as I do the wonderful mini reunion hosted by Sam Scott. I don’t remember the year of the reunion, but the fried oysters were out of this world. I am sorry I couldn’t go to Arlington, as Jack Ross, Sam Scott, and Jigger Baxley went together to as many as they could.

Hob Richey wrote in November that he has had COVID-19 but is now doing fine. He

Class notes

thanked me for the few notes of sister rats I have included. He asked me to go through the pictures Jigger Baxley took for the Bomb and for the school. I will look, but it is a big old house, so please don’t hold your breath.

Paul Robinson called and told me he found the letters he wrote to his mother while at VMI. He told her of his roommate, Cab Pratt, had a hot plate in the room. I checked with Rav Marshall, and he remembered that, as well.

Rav Marshall and his wife, Sheila, drove to New York this December and stayed in Manhattan. They went sightseeing and had their picture taken in front of the Christmas tree.

I received an email from Robert Lynd ’50B, the class agent for the Class of 1950B. He asked about Jake Wamsley. I told him he was as feisty as ever. He also asked about Johnny Jordan. He was surprised that Johnny was the minister at our wedding.

Thank you all for sending me notes and answering when I call.

Dear Class of 1952 Family,

What an honor it is to serve as your class agent! When I received an email last fall from Jim Mecredy announcing his need to step down as class agent, I did not hesitate to say “yes” to this opportunity. My father, the late Jack Lanford, loved VMI with all his heart, and I can think of no better way to honor his legacy than to serve his brother rats and their widows as class agent.

I would like to begin by thanking all of you for your kind welcome. I received emails from Jim Wiley and John Roche, and I had numerous phone calls, as well. Mrs. Sugar Holland, widow of Chris Holland, sent me a Christmas card, which I appreciated very much. A quick and very honest note: A kind gentleman called me while I was in Wal-Mart just before Christmas (can you imagine a scarier place?), and while I greatly enjoyed our conversation, I forgot to write his name down after I got home with my groceries. Please call back, and this time I will make sure to take notes!

Regretfully, I must begin these notes by first

acknowledging the passing of a brother rat. George Harrington of Grand Junction, Colorado, died Jan. 16, 2023, at the age of 91, having entered hospice care a few weeks prior. Since I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Harrington, I searched the 1952 Bomb to learn about him, and here is a synopsis of what I found.

Matriculating from the Hawaiian Islands (can you imagine the journey from Honolulu to Lexington in the late 1940s?), he was a civil engineering major and a member of the swim team, serving as captain of the team his 1st Class year. I am well aware that that was “two pools ago,” as the Institute swimming pool was then in the basement of Memorial Hall.

His brother rats had this to say: “‘The Fish’

Class Notes

started his VMI career by arriving in the Rat Line with a large mustache and a loud shirt and by amassing a total of 99 demerits his first term. Hawaii’s tall, lanky contribution to the Class of 1952, Fish has since distinguished himself as a mainstay and captain of the swimming team and a constant agitator against pledge and Institute authority. He has never been one to pass up a good business deal, and his college career has been characterized by high finance and a keen determination not to allow studies to interfere with his activities. His easy-going attitude and friendliness assure us of the good future in store for him.”

Jim Mecredy adds that Harrington was ranked 10th in the nation in swimming his 1st Class year. What an athlete!

Please join me in sending condolences to his wife, Monica. Additionally, Jim Mecredy shared that he received a Christmas card from the family of Carol Clark, Yancey Clark’s widow, informing him that Carol died Nov. 20, 2022. Jim Wiley informed me in early February that Polly Tuck, widow of Frank Tuck, died recently, as well. May both Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Tuck rest in peace.

Jim Mecredy very helpfully provided a list of those who had sent Christmas cards to him and his wife, Lucette, this holiday season. Here is his list: Sugar Holland, Mary Shoaf (Charlie Shoaf’s

widow), Nancy Bookman (Bookie Bookman’s widow), Ed Wilbarger, Russ McCarthy (who also sent news of a recent adventure, but I do not have details), Cecil Puckette, Barbara Welsh (Cecil Welsh’s widow), Louisa Coker (Evan Coker’s widow), Barbara Wellford (Army Wellford’s widow), Ann Carman (Lee Rogers’ widow), Langhorne McCarthy (Joe McCarthy’s widow), Charlie Hogge, Mary Catherine Valack (Richard Valack’s widow), Gary Colonna, and John Taylor

I had a delightful phone call in January from John “Zeke” Finney of Gloucester, Virginia. We discussed his 58 years in the ready-mix concrete business, his upcoming 93rd birthday in February, and his plans to spend a month with family in Duck Key, Florida, from mid-February to mid-March. As I type these notes in early February, that sounds like a dream getaway. I hope Mr. Finney had a wonderful birthday and a most relaxing vacation.

More recently, I spoke with Langhorne McCarthy of Lynchburg, Virginia, whose husband, Joe McCarthy, died in 2015. She told me about the numerous VMI alumni in her family. (Including all three of her sons!) She was pleased to be able to attend the 70th Reunion in spring 2022.

As I close out these notes, I would be remiss if I did not thank Jim Mecredy for his years of dedicated service to the class and his patience with my many questions. Class agents work tirelessly to collect the information shared within these pages, and Jim’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. I wish Jim and his wife, Lucette, the very best.

Please call, email, or write to stay in touch. ’52, ’52, ’52!

1953

Brother Rats,

It is once again time to place some class information into the Alumni Review about the happenings of the Class of ’53. However, this time is quite different, as when you read these notes, we will have held our 70th (would you believe?) Reunion here in Lexington. I certainly hope that we have good attendance, as I have

sent out several emails to encourage your return—right now, 13 BRs have said they were coming, and with all the family support also coming, the attendance is more than doubled— but time will tell, as there is still two months until the event. As you will recall, we matriculated into the Institute Sept. 12, 1949—that’s almost 74 years ago—signing in at Memorial Hall and entering the Institute through the main arch with the Corps waiting to strongly/loudly greet our arrival. I am sure all of you remember that day. Then in May, we went through the gauntlet in the courtyard to end our Rat Line as “Bloody Sunday.” (Now Breakout is the first part of February.) Of course, we had a beautiful Ring Figure in Cocke Hall on Thanksgiving weekend as 2nds. And yet, we went on to graduate June 9, 1953. Now, I assume you have noticed how close our class notes have moved up to almost the front of them (four pages last issue) due to our senior years.

Now for the sad news of our class, which seems to increase as the years move on, but I guess that has to be expected when we are all in our early 90s. So, first off is “Red” Wilbur Whitten, who passed away in Lynchburg at the end of last year. Regretfully, Red chose not to have any interactions with VMI or BRs after the ladies were admitted into the Institute, thus there has not been any news/contact with him in the past 20-plus years. We also lost BR

Eustice “Oz” Bellinger out in Burlington, Kansas, Jan. 16. Oz did attend our 65th, and for the past year or so, he has lived in a retirement facility in Kansas but has done very little communicating, although I have tried several times. His son, Tom, said they had a very nice funeral, burial, and celebration of life for Oz, with over 40 family members attending. Also leaving us last year May 22 in Anderson, South Carolina, was Richard “Dick” Burdeshaw. Dick was with us

for three years, then graduated from Hofstra University. Paul LaForce’s passing was noted in the past class notes, but only that his services would be in Virginia. The service was actually graveside at Christ Church in Weems, Virginia. Paul lost a brother who was 16 when they were living in Kilmarnock, and Paul and his wife are now interred at the same site.

A note from Margret “Peggy” Skinner in Virginia Beach in September thanked me for our class notes. She says they keep her up with the Class of ’53, and she is very glad she still receives the Alumni Review each quarter. She is now living at Westminster Canterbury at “the beach.”

A note from Frank Spencer advised that, in June, he moved from Staunton to another retirement facility, but this one is in Charlottesville, the Martha Jefferson House. On Aug. 1, Frank celebrated his 93rd birthday, which I believe makes him our oldest BR. Frank “Poncho” Gonzales was our youngest.

Frank enclosed a photo of his rather large family at Thanksgiving. Ed Brown is still in rehab at their Williamsburg facility, as advised by his wife, Ingrid.

Warren Koontz is still on a walker from his fall last year but is getting around and even driving his car, and they will be at the 70th.

Jeff Bane called and said he plans to be at the 70th, but he is on a walker these days.

Lou Hibbitts says he is not sure he will make the 70th, as he has a very hard time getting started in the mornings and getting around these days. He is in a retirement facility in North Carolina.

Jack Trigg and Elizabeth plan to fly to Lynchburg for the 70th, staying initially with Elizabeth’s daughter, Holly, and family.

Judy and I attended the very nice program in Cameron Hall for Gen. Peay ’62 Nov. 11. It was a great tribute to his dedication and tenure at the Institute—very good speakers—and Gen. Peay summarized his service life in the military and VMI, as did other speakers. We did not get to speak to him down on the floor, as the line was quite long, and we had an adopted cadet waiting to go home with us for the evening. The portrait of Gen. Peay that was unveiled at the affair was

excellent; it looked as if he was just ready to step out and talk to you. He is certainly missed here at the Institute, and I feel it has been an honor, as well as enjoyable, to know him here. I did write him a personal note after the affair; he now lives in Northern Virginia in The Plains (above Warrenton). He also replied to the note I wrote him soon after he left the Institute.

Our adopted cadet from Texas, BR Art Moncrief’s nephew, Weston Gloger ’19, graduated finally Dec. 21, 2022. Those at our 60th might remember that Weston came with Art and Susan in their chartered jet. Art asked me to recruit him for VMI, which, of course, I did. We and his family had a graduation lunch after graduation at our house. I invited Art’s wife, Susan, to come and stay with us for the occasion, but she declined due to health reasons. There were at least 40 in attendance, which included his family; his

girlfriend, Hannah, and her family; at least six BRs he has kept in contact with; and, of course, our family, who has known him and cared for him during his VMI days. Judy cross-stitched and framed the inscription on the Parapet as a graduation gift, and we also presented him with a framed picture of barracks from the Memorial Hall VMI Museum store. Later that day/ evening, Weston and Hannah started their long drive back to Texas with a very packed car— no room to spare. And of course, this party was only four days before Christmas, so for us, getting ready for Christmas was tight. For the first time in 31 years, we did not send out Christmas cards, even though our granddaughter, Addie Jay (senior at CNU), had taken the picture for it. Save it ’til next year?

Now for this new year, our driveway looks kind of lost, as we only have our two cars in it

instead of four; Weston has departed for Texas, and our 1st Class Cadet Ridge Clark ’23 from Tennessee has obtained a space on post—making it much easier for him to vacate post on weekends, which he seems to do on a regular basis—and he is able to continue to wear academic stars. And, of course, this leaves more room for BRs for the 70th! Judy and I will be attending Ridge’s wedding in July. Our adopted rat (soon to be a 4th Class cadet) from Tennessee, Charlie McLaughlin ’26, goes to church regularly with us on Sundays then, after lunch in town, spends Sunday afternoon with us, and his parents have stayed with us a couple of times on their visits to Lexington.

A little historical trivia: As we look back from our 70th, there have certainly been some changes at the Institute since our graduation—some minor, some major. Of course, some changes have been brought on by technology, others ...? Then there is the addition of Third Barracks and other new buildings, such as the Center for Leadership and Ethics, Cameron Hall, Corps Physical Training Facility, and the just-opened Aquatic Center. Then there is the elimination of practice drill and parade Tuesday and Thursday afternoons; no longer wearing coatees and

white gloves to church (and church is now optional) on Sundays; now allowed to go uptown in class dyke; eating in the mess hall cafeteria-style (no table waiters); no longer signing out at the guard room on paper; no longer the magazine Turn-Out; no longer the 1st Class concessions cadets selling sandwiches on the stoops after taps; no longer playing VPI (Virginia Plowboys Inc.)/Virginia Tech in football in Roanoke on Thanksgiving Day; and most recently, the relocation of Stonewall Jackson’s statue to New Market. But then, rats still have to know and recite that inscription on the Parapet, and they still hang out the mattresses over the stoop rails on Monday mornings to air out; the mattresses and racks (cots) are basically the same. As you noted, some of the other changes were noted in the last class notes trivia.

MBA from Stanford in 1961. His time in the Air Force was spent as a flight test engineer. He participated in the first hydrogen bomb drop from a B-52 at Bikini Island. After the Air Force, Bob went to work for Douglas Aircraft, followed by IBM, serving in its marketing division and in the financial division in New York. He moved back to the Bay Area, working at Microform Data Systems and Memorex before co-founding Capital Concepts Investment Corporation, then forming Stanford Investment Group. This was followed by his formation of BRG Petroleum Group of Companies, and he remained on its board until his death. He was an avid fan and supporter of Stanford football and was active in the Stanford community and the Hoover Institute. His fundraising and work for the Stanford School of Business (Class of ’61) Renewal Fellowship Fund garnered for him the John W. Gardner Volunteer Leadership Award in 2011 and the Stanford Challenge Award.

Salutations:

Got news from Jock Wheeler, who has turned 90, and Bonnie. In December, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital recognized Jock and the 50year anniversary of the initial kidney transplant done in Norfolk. Although the recipient was not there for the celebration, two 1976 donor-recipient brothers were there to attend. The reunion was special, they wrote. Jock and Bonnie have also celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Their family is numerous and thriving, involving those of all ages. These and a 1-year-old Labrador named Charlie keep them very busy.

Don Walden wrote. His wife, Maureen, traveled with a group to Peru. Don did not go because he no longer travels long distances. On the trip, the group saw condors flying in Colca Valley and took the train trip to Cusco and saw the ancient Inca ruins at Machu Picchu at 14,000 feet. As for Don, he has had to give up his plot of ground in the community garden where they live because, as with many of us, he no longer drives. Maureen and he go to the local library a few times a week to read papers and check out books.

Bob Gee passed on at age 90 in Atherton, California, Nov. 5, 2022. He graduated with a civil engineering degree from VMI and obtained an

Lou Drake wrote. He sees Johnny Mapp and Jock Wheeler. Like all of us, they are dealing with various health issues stemming from the later years of our lives. Lou still manages to play golf. He plays with Buddy Addison’s brother, Ned, who he says is fun just like Buddy. Again, I am reminded of the tale (written about before) of Buddy in the Air Force when he, as a young officer, was responsible for getting together two general officers. In a meeting, he told each one of them that they had to speak up due to the hearing problem each had, which was not completely true. As a result, when the generals met, each was shouting at the other. No one but Buddy could have had the thought or the humor to bring that off. Still makes me laugh. We can easily picture Addison doing it and hooting. Hilarious.

Jack Gary passed away last November. He attained the rank of brigadier general in the Marine Corps. For a while, Jack was stationed close to Houston in the 1960s. As a young officer, he once led a 25-mile march of Marines on the outskirts of the city. Roy Alexander and I went out to see the finish. That reminds me of the stunt that Jack and Roy pulled. There was a fancy wedding reception taking place at Houston’s Cork Club, which was located in the same building as a law firm of which Roy was a member. The wedding was so lavish that the entertainment that was being provided was by none other than Liberace. Well, what did Roy, who was not invited, do? Although he was not a guest, and in fact did not know the bride and

Class notes

groom or any of the guests, he got with Jack, and they crashed the reception, introducing themselves to Liberace, sitting beside the piano, and swilling champagne with the best of them. It was typical of Texas, then anyway, to accept such things—the unwritten rule being that if you can get away with it, do it. And Jack and Roy did. (If Buddy Addison had been here, he would have been right with them. So would I. I did not know about it until later.)

Bud Bare sent a card and a note. He and wife Jacque live at Riderwood in Silver Spring, Maryland, where they have been for 10 years. COVID-19 hit them, but any symptoms persisting are relatively mild. Bud and she now have gained a fourth great-grandchild whom they hope to see soon.

We also heard at Christmas from Bob McGregor and Mari. They recently attended seminars at Hillsdale College, caught fish on Lake Michigan, and are now living in Aurora, Illinois, at Alden of Waterford senior living. He and Mari have been together for 67 years.

On January 6, Jock Wheeler, Lou Drake, Johnny Mapp, and Mud White and wives got together at Johnny’s house in Virginia Beach. Lou brought his daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is Johnny’s and Mud’s goddaughter. Tommy Mapp is Mud’s godson. Tommy was there. Mud says there were many laughs and exaggerated stories. A true ’54 party.

Doorway Room 223! Johnny, Lou, Jeff Robertson, and Mud were roomies for three years in that room.

Got a call from Glen Cock recently. Spoke about how we all miss Leonard “Honus” Wagner. Glen was a pretty close friend with him. I had many long telephone conversations with Honus myself. He had suffered from physical disabilities but never let them get him down noticeably. Great attitude. When we were at VMI, I did not know Glen or Honus well, but as every cadet knows, the shared suffering as rats and the small sizes of classes results in knowing all names and faces pretty well. As for Glen, I also remember him because of his military bearing, which to me kind of stood out from many of the rest of us. Honus stood out not only because of his great size but because of his good nature. A gentle giant.

Some other things we spoke about involved “rat pissers” in 1950–51 when we were rats. Dan Murdough, Townes, and Finney pretty much topped the list for me. Glen said he was lucky and was never targeted.

I notice that our class entry is getting closer to the front of the Alumni Review, and some of us know the guys in the list of the most senior alumni listed in the back of the Review. The following contributions show that we are still kicking, even if it’s teeing off from the short markers and taking early “hay down” for early bedtimes and spoiling our great-grandchildren (bragging permitted and not necessarily “certified”). If you check your last Alumni Review under the page of Provisional Appointments, you’ll notice that my rat year roomie and the rest of the Wainwright clan has listed John William Wainwright IV for the Class of 2044! And there have been other such entries from our class on that page, so the beat goes on. For years to come, someone in Smith Hall will always remark, “There’s always a shadow of the Class of ’55 around here.” Just look below at what our stalwart members are doing.

Fielding Tyler reports that all is well with the Tylers and adds, “I am moving up on the big ‘nine o,’ which is April 17. However, the entire family will be here for the weekend of March 24 (celebrating early to accommodate all the schedules). Should be lots of fun. We’ll have pics for sure for the next Alumni Review! Betsey and I still go to the gym three days each week. And we are staying well.”

Bill Cridlin says, “Charlotte and I are fairly healthy but not straying far from home. I am not in direct contact with other brother rats and am always interested in their activities and well-being.”

Pete Haake: “All’s good in Scottsville at the Haake household. It is amazing that Buffalo got (that’s 6) feet of snow, and we got about 1 inch. (We are only about 70 miles east.)

“Each night, we have a herd of whitetails (deer) (sometimes 20) in our side yard. It’s hard to keep them away from the birdfeeders next to the porch. Hope all are well and anticipating the spring, which is not too far distant. Looking forward to the next time we can visit the post for another ’55 get-together. My best regards to all.”

Jack Dorey started off his message with an

undeserved compliment. (I do not think this is thankless, but rather a privilege to be part of the greatest class VMI ever matriculated or graduated, and I thank you all for the great participation and support.) “Firstly, I thank you for all the effort you put into a thankless job. I have very little ‘news,’ which I suppose is a good thing. Joanne and I still enjoy good health. We spend October through May in Vero Beach, Florida, and the rest of the year in Ocean City, New Jersey. Our progeny (four) and their children are generally split between New Jersey and Vero Beach, Florida. We are playing much less golf and play shorter tees. We maintain a fairly active social life, albeit with earlier bedtimes. Our bridge games have deteriorated to some degree but are still reasonable. We thank God for our good health and wonderful family.”

Bill Nolley hopes you and all the family are well and safe. Richmond, the Holy City, because of its many churches, hasn’t lost its vitality, and VMI continues to be a popular choice of many high school grads. “‘Red, white, and yellow floats on high!’ I trust all BRs are on Bill Cridlin’s email list because he keeps some good entertainment flowing from the web. On a personal note, back in November, a surgeon strongly suggested that he repair a left inguinal hernia that was bulging in order to reduce the possibility of colon obstruction down the road. The road, which is 90 now, is getting shorter every day. Anyway, he promised to have me out of surgery in 90 minutes and home. He was not performing a laparoscopic procedure. By God, he did it beginning at 8 a.m., and I was home at 10:30 a.m. I was back swinging a golf club in two weeks. At this writing, our son, Tolar ’80, will have his hernia repaired next week. Staige is still having to stay close to home, but I have great caregivers 24/7. We chose to stay at home rather than move to an assisted living facility, although we signed up for one over 15 years ago and still remain at the top of the list if we wanted to move on. Our 70th Reunion is just around the corner, so hang in there. As old Tom Morris said. ‘I’ve got mae God and mae gowff to see me thro.’ Yours in the bonds of VMI.”

A fine contribution came from Rosemary Coleman, widow of Lamar Coleman: “Our household is quite excited by the major breakthrough in laser fusion at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Dec. 5, 2022. I will forward a segment of 60 Minutes that describes it. This is the project Lamar worked on for his many years at the lab. Our son, Will, now works

there in an auxiliary capacity. Three cheers!”

By the way, all you ladies are welcome to contribute to this column. Remember, you are part of us, too.

Tom Williamson reported, “Other than that, I am still doing well and happy in my retirement village.”

The Lawless household is about in the same mode as the rest of you. Helen and I are riding the gim and actively supporting the medical profession of Northern Virginia. I just had eyelid surgery, and all seemed to go well, but I couldn’t match Bill Nolley for speedy recovery. We still look forward to the 70th Reunion.

Taps: Elsewhere or in the next issue, you will see the obituaries for Wesley “Dusty” Rhodes, Robert “Bob” Timms, and Ruble Smith. They marched among us.

those who do, but I also realize there are other positions that are backed by valid arguments and thinking, and I feel that while we need to discuss such things, there is a need for civil discourse and polite discussions. It ain’t necessarily true that we have to have the same view, and we clearly don’t! Paul enjoys good health, apparently walking his dog twice a day and enjoying a bit of ice cream and sometimes a long-leaf cigar on the golf course! I can enjoy a good cigar, but these days only if someone else is providing the smoke for me! Paul has a great sense of humor and often shares bits that he enjoys! I suggest those who would like to have some smiles to go with arthritis and old age contact Paul and get on his extensive mailing list! There is humor to be had in life!

Dick Justice advised the Alumni Agencies of the death of Dr. Walter Graham Dec. 18, 2022. They were roommates, and Dick was told of Hop’s passing through a call from Hop’s daughter. Sad news, but nice to know that not only were the brother rats close but that a family relationship evolved over time. Our lives stay so intermingled, and friends and love are lasting effects of our heritage.

’56 Brother Rats, Families, and Friends of ’56 Brother Rats,

I had a very nice note from Carol Bittner, but of the sad news that Bob Bittner died in November last year. She has memories of 61 years to sustain her and is grateful for them.

I also heard from Russell Mathews, son of C. Russell Mathews, that his mother, Lula, passed on. I sent a birthday card to her, unaware of her death. It is nice to hear from family, and I appreciate such information, as I think others do.

The obituary (from The Roanoke Times) for G.Marshall Mundy was sent to me by Rocky Stone. This is something that we see more and more frequently for our class, not unexpectedly. Rocky did attend the funeral service and said that it was a celebration of Marshall’s life, and the obituary certainly supported the reasons for such a celebration. A Keydet from VMI played Amazing Grace—a nice touch!

Paul Gronroos sent me a really interesting letter about his view of the issues we of the Old Corps feel the need to address—issues that are so current in the day (certainly in society in general and at VMI, in particular). Paul sees and thinks about these issues but has some reluctance to take too strong a stand, as do I. I understand the need to take a position and admire

Bob Morris sent a message that life in Florida is good, and I can assure you that many of our BRs echo that sentiment. I have the good fortune to be able to visit on occasion (Julie’s daughter lives in St. Augustine), and while I can pick and choose the days and weather, truth is I love to get back to West Virginia! Come visit!

1957

The Virginia Military Institute. An Uncommon Purpose!

Ben Elmore once more led his intrepid team of callers into the communications fray of calling all standing brother rats and checking in on them with “how goes it.” Without pause, Nick

Class of 1957: Paul Muldowney and his grandson, Thomas Muldowney ’21, at Thomas’s graduation from the Navy’s Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina, in November 2022.

Kallelis, Kirk Hubbard, Clay Coupland, Jay Musser, Bill Gay, Dick Collier, Mo Levine, Ron McManus, Paul Muldowney, and Tony DiCesare stepped front and center, manning their respective call posts.

Team Caller No. 1: Nick Kallelis: Martin Andersen reported that he is doing well. It is recalled with great appreciation that he devoted a lot of effort and tedious time in arranging for Charlie Schwendinger’s wife, Kay, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside him. Martin still practices pistol target practice and has a collection of pistols. During our conversation, we discovered that we had a common interest, especially with my wife, Carmen. Martin got interested in archeology while in the service and has an extensive collection of rocks. Carmen has always had an interest in rock collection. She has rocks from all the sites we have visited both domestically and abroad. She was given a piece of the Berlin Wall, and it is displayed in her collection. Whereupon Martin suggested that he would send Carmen some rocks. You know how lucky I am when anniversaries and birthdays are celebrated. A rock is always appreciated and added to her collection. I am sure she would appreciate a rock of a different nature, but

Class notes

why spoil a good thing. We just received a 5-pound box of rocks and gems from Martin. “What a treasure,” was Carmen’s response upon opening this gesture. Nick signed off with, “I am keeping busy blowing leaves and recently finished building a new coop for Carmen to keep her birds of feather, several chickens, and a couple of ducks. We also have a couple dogs and a stray cat; what else could a man possibly ask for?” And then, he added, “I went to my granddaughter’s wedding in September, and while in Pennsylvania, I had a chance to visit Joyce Schalditz. She is doing well and enjoying family time.”

Al Baumgartner said he is doing well, from the waist up, that is. He was in my chemistry class, a small group that bonded quickly, and we always were rewarded by having several of our small class of 11 at the reunions. Our chem group consisted of Al Baumgartner, Jim Bryant, Dick Collier, Frank Gilmore, Carl Hellstrom, Frank Holmes, John Michelsen, Floyd “Pete” Riddle, Bob Susnar, Dick Ymiolek, and yours truly. “Big Al,” still tooting away on his tuba, says no rotten fruit has been thrown his way. Bill Batten is still in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and is doing OK, but says he forgets things (Class agent’s note: Welcome to the crowd!). He has a daughter that lives in Rock Hill, South Carolina, not too distant from Gastonia, North Carolina, the domicile of Nick. They plan on getting together for lunch whenever their paths might cross. Bill Boice attended VMI for one year and has not returned. I expressed we always consider anyone going through the Rat Line with us a brother rat. I briefed Bill on how much the Institute has changed and described “Vision 2039,” the new facilities, the change in physical conditioning, academics, and the success of the female cadets. There was a sense of appreciation by Bill in our contacting him, and he indicated that, if at all possible, he would like to attend the next reunion of the class. Bob Blocker is doing well and appreciated the call. He attended VMI for two years. Bill is still able to travel and has recently enjoyed visiting his siblings.

He was originally from Brazil and now lives in Markham, Texas, tending to his expansive cattle ranch. This led to a discussion of Joe Mixson, who was our 2nd Battalion commander, who was from nearby Buna, Texas. (Class agent’s note: In Texas, any place within 500 miles is considered close or nearby). Nick was unable to contact Brother Rats B.D. Ayres, Sam Barker, and Bill Benson but left greetings from the class wishing them well.

Team Caller No. 2: Kirk Hubbard: “Here it is, George, all the news that’s fit to print,” started off the report of Kirk. Bob Christopher is still hanging out in the Northern Neck community of Wicomico Church, following a career of working in high-rise construction in Northern Virginia, aka NOVA. I was unable to make contact with Bob Bolling but hear through the grapevine that he is OK and doing well, always supportive of VMI. Wiley Clapp must still be hiding behind his rifle rack as he does not respond to my numerous calls and attendant voicemails. Dick Collier reported he was working with other family members to close out the development of a 200-unit subdivision, after which he planned to retire ... “finally,” said wife Sarah. Bill Colvin said he and wife Helen were doing OK, but “pretty much grounded” and do not get out very often. Don Coombs and wife Judy are at Brandon Oaks, a senior living facility in Roanoke. Interestingly enough, Brandon Oaks is right

across the street from where I and friends went swimming when we were growing up. The community club facility never went up on its entrance fee. You could play in the water all day for a dime while all the teenage girls jitterbugged up on the deck to the music from a jukebox. Hot dogs were a dime. Great summers! (Class agent’s note: Ah, to only roll back some 70-odd years and do it again.) Don is getting all geared up for our class luncheon Feb. 25. He says he lives “out there” with Johnny Johnson ’55 and George Henning ’61. He tells me that George performed one of the first, if not the first, knee replacements in Roanoke. Claiborne Copeland is a team caller as well, and we chatted for a while about that. He and wife Linda are doing well, all things considered. I had a long and fun conversation with Tony DiCesare, and he and wife Gretchen are doing fine, happy retirees.

Team Caller No. 3: Clay Coupland: I was able contact the five brother rats on my call list and report in as follows: Lew Diuguid was quite upbeat despite having received heavy doses of radiation for a recurring prostate cancer and says he is now on the mend and hopefully free of the scourge afflicting most men in our age group. Life in the retirement community in which he lives in Baltimore “isn’t half bad,” but he bemoans the loss of his beloved Ravens to the Bengals in the AFC championship game. Says we should have won if it hadn’t been for a healthy Joe Cool versus an injured Lamar Jackson (Class agent’s notes: “them’s the apples,” an old Southern colloquialism, Lew.) Mark Doty sounded good despite being “somewhat under the weather,” still teaching chemistry and physics at Lee Academy in his hometown of Bishopville, South Carolina, with no retirement plans as of the moment. Carter Fox is living in a retirement community in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, just north across the Cooper River from Charleston. He sounded really good, is enjoying life, and staying very active in his local community. Bill Gay is doing well. He retired as a surgeon and then taught and lectured at

Washington University for 12 more years, finally retiring at the tender age of 76. He too sounded really good and let me know that he was also on a calling team, having been commandeered by “El Commandante” and making calls to brother rats as well. Ben “El Commandante” Elmore is ... well ... Ben is Ben, full of jokes and a delight to talk with. He alone has been instrumental in setting up the calling teams, soliciting new class callers, and sending out assignments, following up with threats of no whiskey, no candy bars if anyone fails to meet George’s deadlines for the drafting of the class notes. We as a class owe Ben our gratitude and continued support. (Class agent’s note: Amen, brother!) Everyone contacted said they were receiving all mailings and communications from the Institute, as well as those from George and Howard. All in all, I was not able to gather much new info or stories, but I do know the calls were most appreciated. And that to me is what is important.

Team Caller No. 7: Mo Levine: Mo had to laugh at himself with the comment: “It has been very difficult for me to interview our classmates as I could only hear half of what was said on the phone and then could not read my handwriting for the other half.” (Class agent’s note: Welcome to the club, Mo.). Mo went on to say he was unable to reach Paul Muldowney; however, George had seen Paul and wife “Lovie” at the memorial service for Billy Elmore

held in January in Blackstone. On a subsequent follow-up call, Paul related he had just returned from the graduation of his grandson, Thomas, from the Naval Submarine Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek (metro Charleston), South Carolina. Pictures of the event are included within these class notes that include Ensign Thomas Muldowney ’21, son Mark Muldowney ’87, and Paul. (Class agent’s note: We, the Class of ’57, are proud of the Muldowneys; congratulations. (Second class agent’s note: George went to work for Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, now Huntington Ingalls, fresh out of VMI and was assigned to work on the SSN 591 Shark, then in the design stage and the second atomic submarine to be built. Quite an experience.). Guy “G.E.” Murray was in an expansive mood when I reached him. G.E. left VMI, a five-year man determined to get as much out of the Institute experience as possible, and quickly proved his mettle by graduating No. 1 (Class agent’s notes: That’s numero uno to all you LAs) in his flight school class, then on as a fighter pilot in the USAF and finally the VANG (Virginia Air National Guard). Then on to take over Murray Chevrolet in Bedford until a well-earned retirement. He and wife of 36 years, Rosalie, have two daughters and six grandchildren. Aside from their home in Bedford, Virginia, they also have a vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake, originally a Murray family farm, where they are fortunate to have the children and grandchildren visit on a regular basis. His tales are many, worthy of enthralling stories (tales?), some tall, some not, to be told at a gathering of the class at his farm on Smith Mountain Lake, date TBA. Hopefully, G.E. and Rosalie will be planning this VMI class party in the near future. G.E. says he has held on to so many alcoholic beverages, aka Class 6 supplies, from past reunions that he has run out of storage space and needs some relief before evaporation takes its toll. The solution? Have a party at his farm (Class agent’s note: Have at it, G.E.; this time we’re going to hold you to it.). Jay Musser related that after 23 years of active duty in the Air Force, he made a career of stringing together a multitude of jobs, to wit: Real estate, roofing, and substitute teaching in a high school (lucky students), before retiring about 10 years ago. Now he says he just “piddles” (like most of us). Between he and wife Sonja, they have 12 children, 26 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Jay’s favorite hobby has been to video family functions,

birthdays, weddings, vacations, etc. Over the years, he has accumulated many a video. Now when the family gets together, they have a “field day” seeing all the old and recent videos. The “crowd” gets together at the Outer Banks, North Carolina, and/or in Mexico. I had a very nice call with George Niedermayer, who as a cadet started out as a civil engineer but switched to premed his 2nd Class year. He went on to MCV for med school and did his residency in internal medicine in Philadelphia. After finishing his residency and opening a practice for six months, the U.S. Army came calling. After service at Fort Rucker, Alabama, George returned to Philadelphia and, in my words, to take care of some very fortunate patients who were under his care. Upon his retirement in 2008, he started a medical-related assistance program wherein he helped take care of an elderly gentleman, wheelchair bound, with a significant neurologic disorder, but not as physician, instead as an aide. He would wheel him to and from different appointments, but mostly to physical therapy daily. This was a walk round trip of about 2 miles. This routine continued on a daily basis over a period of nearly eight years until the patient passed away. What a commitment to your fellow man, a worthy assistance program if there ever was one. During that same time and until today, George and wife Helen have worked in their church’s garden. Now, this may not sound like a lot except that a half a million dollars was donated to the church to fix up the garden. They are still working, and will be for some time, on the garden. George and Helen have three daughters and a son. When time permitted, they have done some traveling, but basically, they just enjoy their retirement years in the City of Brotherly Love, i.e., Philadelphia.

John “Pags” Paganelli: It sure was interesting for me to speak to John as we were both brother rats of the class of ’58. Before entering VMI, Pags had spent six months training with the Marines and subsequently studied at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, before matriculating to “Mother I.” He believes going to VMI was the best decision he made; I agree with that wholeheartedly for me as well. Pags and wife Diane have been happily married for 66 years: Witness three children and six grandchildren, all of which bring smiles to their faces. Pags had a most successful career in the life insurance business. After being successful at the “lower” ranks, John moved up the ladder to become CEO of a life insurance company in NYC. To

Class notes

prove that they “loved” him, he was allowed to live in Rochester yet work in NYC. The company provided his transportation on a regular basis between Rochester and the city; he was given an apartment and a chauffeured vehicle while “in company.” There is no doubt in my mind that if Pags had stayed in the military, he would have made “stars.” I called Randy Pendleton, but after a couple of attempts, we were unable to connect. Charlie Smith spent two years at VMI before transferring to Lynchburg College, where he graduated with a business degree. He spent six months on active duty and seven-anda-half years in the Army Reserve. He and wife Elizabeth have been happily married for 57 years. They have two daughters and six grandchildren, unfortunately having lost a son. He keeps up with a few BRs, especially John Whittle, and maintains a hobby business of furniture repair and restoration in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Team Caller No. 8: Ron McManus: Ron reported that Paul Phillips was in good spirits and that he and wife Ann were doing well. He and Ann were glad to have had the opportunity to share a dinner outing with Bill Huffcut and wife Betty back in October prior to Bill losing his battle with cancer and passing away in January. Paul says he will never forget the day Walt Kidwell threw weights down on a W&L student’s car who had the temerity of pulling into the New Barracks courtyard late one evening— the nerve of the “mink.” Jim Piggott and wife Toni have moved into Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg. Their new address is 501 VES Road, Apt. 324, Lynchburg, VA 24503; mobile 434.665.1765. As of the writing of these notes, Jim and Toni are on a trip to Africa. I was unable to make contact with John Poffenbarger in his hideaway in Charleston, West Virginia. But George talks with “Poff” frequently and stays up to date with he and wife Susan. They are doing relatively well under the circumstances of advancing years. Poff stays in regular touch with Katie Dickinson and says that she is doing OK and busies herself with ‘straightening out’ K.K.’s assets and ‘stuff.’” Ed Powell says he continues to do well, no complaints, just tending to his truffle horticulture. Dudley Price

remains in his Punta Gorda, Florida, oasis but may head back north later this year for a visit. “Pruney” and I reminisced about BRs that he knew well but has not seen in a while. No report on John Quillen but left a message hoping he and wife Judy were doing OK. Warren “Skip” Richardson is doing well and enjoying life in general, still talking about how much he enjoyed our 65th Reunion. He fondly remembers the perks that attended members of Band Company: The movie Mardi Gras with Pat Boone, governor and presidential inauguration parades, great times. Pete Riddle related that the return of cancer issues prevented him from attending our reunion last year. Taking no chemo at the time in order to give his body a rest and gain some strength prior to initiating use of a new drug treatment that comes from Israel. He goes to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Pete spoke fondly of his brother rats and remains a proud graduate of the Institute.

Team Caller No. 9: Paul Muldowney: Fritz Scholz had nothing new to report but keeps healthy by walking 5 miles every day, “rain or shine.” John St. George, ebullient as ever, said he and wife Betty had downsized to a unit in Suffolk and that everyday life was more manageable now since they “pulled the trigger” and made the move. Paul said he was sorry he did not have more success in contacting more brother rats; still out there but not in good health are Jim Rust, Van Sessoms, Garland Sullivan, and

Dixie Thomas. A note from Dot Wood recently advised that both Dixie and wife Dawn are in hospice. Joe Spivey surfaced briefly saying that he would like to host a luncheon for brother rats at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond in the near future but that he couldn’t afford to “foot” the bill and so suggested that the class agents George and Howard step forward and share some of their wealth (Class agent’s note: Gee, thanks, Joe; what a gracious offer).

Team Caller No. 10: Tony DiCesare: Tony made the poignant comment that the month of January has shown the reality of our lives; fading into the background is the bravado, the crispness of wit, and the boasting of our cadet years as so many face the difficulties so prevalent in our twilight years. Jack Trant recalled his many years as a practicing ophthalmologist, a career well spent, following studies at Duke Medical School along with Bill Gay, Harry Huneycutt, Ed Powell, and Dudley Price ... all Doc Carroll’s boys. Jack says: “life is in neutral now,” but occasionally he and John St. George get together for a fishing expedition during which they reminisce and reinforce their steadfast love for the Institute. Tony related he had a “crisp” conversation with Armand Wagner who said he always feels like he has a lot to do and will never get it all done, but that he is slowly “easing in place,” enjoying his five children and house on the Rappahannock River. All is well with Harry Warner and wife Sis, for the moment Harry adds, no particular news to report. Joe Wickes advised that his wife, Joan, had passed away after coping with dementia for an extended period. Joe said he had lived in the same house in Rockville, Maryland, for over 70 years ... probably a record for any of us. John Whittle and wife Carole were living the good life in Boca Raton at their winter domicile, basking in the sun, staying in touch with their “bunches” of kids and enjoying them all. Vic Wolf has become reclusive, it seems; neither Tony nor Ben have been able to get in touch with him either by phone or email, but we all hope he is doing OK. Jay Woodward relates that following retirement as the city planner for Brookline, Massachusetts, some 24 years ago, that he and wife Polly settled in an aura of

Class Notes

calmness and serenity in Harwich on the Cape. Of course, we all remember that Jay wore stars from “Day One” at “Mother I” and the fact that he later received his MS from MIT (with stars— what else?) came as no surprise. Due to space limitations, team caller reports No. 4 Musser, No. 5 Gay, and No. 6 Collier will appear in the next issue of Alumni Review.

The Widows’ Corner: We received a nice note from Kathy Espey, “a kidney cancer survivor, go to Texas for check-ups, therapy dog visits, and go to dog classes with my younger therapy dog.” Ann Gilmore on the passing of Bill Huffcut, the “warrior of all warriors.” Patti Hammond and

Bill Huffcut, both in his military and subsequent civilian career, a tribute to his VMI training. As the end of his life neared, Bill realized and discussed the time of life we are in and that once again he was leading us in our new direction. Howard commented on Bill’s continuous exhibition of courage from his painful back malaise when first captain, the surgery and near yearlong “flat on his back” (in a full body cast) recovery, and Marine Corps career including a helicopter bird strike that broke his neck etc., etc., and that he had always set us an example of honor, guts, and courage. He should have no regrets. (Class agent’s note: The next time you go to VMI, go to Marshall Hall and read his “valor citations” with two Navy Crosses and other decorations in the Hall of Valor. They will make you think ... he endured the final battle showing the same grit and determination ... the same old Huffcut!) Semper Fi.

Before signing off on this edition of our ’57 class notes, we continue our honored tradition of remembering those brother rats who have “crossed over the river to rest under the shade of the trees.” Our 11th list of “those gone but not forgotten” Class of ’57: Tim Maier, April 7, 2008; Walt Kidwell, April 8, 2008; Thomas “Tom Ed” Hays, May 7, 2008; Buddy Rogers, Dec. 20, 2007; and Bill Dick, May 27, 2009.

Rest in peace, brother rats who have passed, until, at last, we are all reunited; close ranks, brother rats still standing, as we continue our march forward on life’s path into the vast unknown with whatever the future may bring.

As it says in part in our Doxology: “The spirit blends with those we cheer, Our brother rats we hold so dear, So now Keydets with one voice cry, God bless our Class and VMI.”

Winter 2023 magazine, written by retired U.S. Army Col. John J. Wranek III ’85, director of development for the foundation:

“In February 1902, George C. Marshall commissioned as a [second] lieutenant of infantry in the United States Army. The Army was much smaller then, and Marshall had to fight for a commission—even waiting to see President William McKinley at the White House to press his case!

“VMI Superintendent Scott Shipp [’859]

Betty Mixson stay in touch with each other via occasional phone calls; both report doing well.

Since our previous class notes, we have lost brother rats Thornton “Billy” Elmore and Bill Huffcut. Representing the Class of ’57 at the memorial service for Billy were Kirk Hubbard, Paul Muldowney, with wife Harriet “Lovie,” and George Sydnor. The service was held at the Crenshaw Methodist Church in Blackstone, Virginia, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, with a reception following at the historic Schwartz Tavern. Alice Chloe Epes Elmore was most appreciative of their presence; it did not go unnoticed, especially after George walked up to her, saluted, and said, “The Class of ’57 reporting for duty, at your service, ma’am.” All in our class could not help but be impressed with the many accomplishments of

Your Venerable Class Agents, George and Howard

1958

It’s February, and what a pleasure it is to read about the commissioning of Gen. George C. Marshall ’901 in February 1902. I know the Class of ’58 shares my pride in having the same alma mater as the great general.

The following is from the Marshall Foundation’s

Class notes

supported Marshall’s application and, in a letter to President McKinley, compared him favorably to other VMI graduates serving in the Army, saying Marshall was ‘fully the equal of the best.’ Shortly after Marshall’s commissioning, he married and shipped out to serve with the 30th Infantry Regiment in the Philippines.

“Marshall knew he wanted to be a soldier, but he didn’t know how far that choice would take him or what great impact he would have on the military and political history of the United States.”

Laura and I have a handsome bronze bust of Marshall, courtesy of Sam Witt. Our friend, artist, and metal conservator, Andrew Baxter, says it is an excellent bronze work. Andrew and his collaborator, Steve Roy, restored the Marshall statue at VMI before it got its more prominent positioning on a new base, surrounded by handsome landscaping. Between the flag poles on the Parade Ground, it now looks majestic.

The other Marshall photo was given to us by our neighbor, Merrill Cann, grandson and namesake of Merrill Pasco ’937, at the neighborhood party we had when we “unveiled” the bust. Pasco served in Washington, D.C., as a top Marshall aide during World War II. He’s shown in the photo with some of his children, seated between Marshall and the renowned circus clown, Emmett Kelly, also known as his character, Weary Willie. Good to see there were some lighthearted moments during the war.

Pasco, who died in 2008, remembered Marshall in a 1976 Richmond Times-Dispatch interview. “He sat there with those cold blue eyes, his arms folded, saying do this or do that. I was told one day [probably not by Marshall] to open the door, sit down, don’t salute. ... He thought that was lost motion ... speak rapidly and clearly, and get the hell out of there when you’re through.” Other Pasco accounts of Marshall are much warmer, but this one gives you an idea of how the great general was able to leave the office in time to ride his horse after work.

Maybe someday we’ll find Marshall displayed prominently in Washington, D.C. After all,

he was Eisenhower’s boss, and the Eisenhower memorial is taking up a lot of acreage now. There are statues and plaques all over the world honoring Marshall. I expect some try to explain how a military man became the recipient of the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize. Marshall certainly kept his comments brief in his acceptance speech in Oslo: “I accept this honor with profound gratitude, as it has been conferred upon me by the Nobel Committee. And I do it not merely for myself, more specially for the American people who, alone, made

possible the authority and the funds which made the European recovery program [now known as the Marshall Plan] a reality. Thank you very much.”

Bill Harshaw’s grandfather, John Henry Fleming Jr. ’901, of Portsmouth, was one of Marshall’s classmates, and both were World War I veterans. Mr. Fleming completed his rat year but didn’t graduate as his father needed him at home to help run a business. He later served in France in the Great War and received the Croix de Guerre for his “gallantry and courage” as an ambulance driver.

Laura and I enjoy our Christmas messages from Sandy Yon, widow of BR Dan Yon, every year. This time she began by saying that she’d had an uneventful year, but she continued to describe activities that provided quite a contradiction. She’s still the secretary of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Volunteer League Board and is also still secretary of an auxiliary board at a hospital where she volunteers in the gift shop and at the information desk two days a week.

Summing up 2022, she said, “I have read more books than I can begin to count. And I think I have cleaned out almost every nook and cranny in the entire house, which was a very good way to get rid of a lot of accumulated stuff.”

Sandy, you’re an inspiration. Keep up the contributions you’re making to your community and to our goals for ourselves—read more books and declutter more nooks and crannies.

I still see Bob King for annual eye exams. He’s now working half days and no longer performs surgery, but he’s also a certified health coach. Bob is very informed about eye supplements, which I now take twice weekly to prevent macular degeneration. He recommended them because my mother had it, causing her to be legally blind at 65. So far, so good in my case. The package Bob’s holding is AREDS, an eye vitamin and mineral supplement. He recommends it to all of us.

In another photo, you’ll see Ernie Edgar and me at the Institute Society Dinner in November. I’d always admired the red, white, and yellow sashes many guys wear with their tuxedos but never knew what they meant. I guess I was wondering out

loud in front of my grandson, Jefferson Miles ’24, when he volunteered to find out. (Yes, the sashes are for all Institute Society members.)

When he returned with one for me, he and Ernie made sure I got it on properly. I brought it home, and now it’s part of what Laura calls my VMI shrine, which is a poor second to the shrine George Sydnor ’57 had before he gave it to the VMI Museum. His shrine includes his shako, which he had bronzed!

Since we’re short of news this time, I’ll once again show one of my favorite things in my shrine, a gift from son Derek McCown ’89

It’s a program from the Nov. 28, 1957, VMI football game against VPI, long ago rebranded as Virginia Tech. Those Thanksgiving Day games were a long and great tradition in my hometown of Roanoke. Laura always says the program’s cover art is worthy of Norman Rockwell.

The program has taken on new meaning since we now have a granddaughter, Dottie McCown, daughter of Derek, who is in her first year at Virginia Tech and really enjoying it.

Just before these notes were due, we learned of the death of Shelby Parrish Balderson, widow of BR Staff Balderson. Don Cuthrell sent this: “Lee, I remember Shelby as a teenager growing up in Virginia Beach. She was the center of a group of fun-loving girls that remained friends over these many years. I introduced Shelby to Staff, and she was his date for

our Ring Figure weekend. The rest is history. I have not seen Shelby since Staff’s death but have many wonderful memories of her and our summer partying together during high school years.” Rest in peace, Shelby. You and Staff had the most fun wedding in history.

In closing, I’ll send another rest in peace to Burt Bacharach, a songwriter Laura and I have both been very fond of for around 60 years. He died in February at age 94 with six Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement prize), three Oscars, an Emmy, and an astonishing combined 125 Top 40 hits, 39 of them with Dionne Warwick. More than 1,000 artists have recorded his songs, beginning in 1952 with Once in a Blue Moon played on the piano by Nat King Cole, but not sung in the version we found.

In the Spirit, Lee

1959

This past quarter was not kind to the VMI Class of 1959; we lost five brother rats. In December, we lost Jim McFalls, who passed

away peacefully in his sleep. Jim was not suffering from any illness but would have periods where he was not feeling well and had problems with mobility. Susan sent a nice note thanking our class for the lovely VMI color floral display sent for the funeral. Despite the winter storm of a generation, they managed to get Jim’s celebration of life funeral mass performed on time. Susan says that her sons, Andrew and Scott, as well as her daughter, Bridget, and she are doing well and so appreciate everyone’s support. Two weeks later, I received word that Fred Cavanaugh passed away. Fred, as you know, was the mayor of Aiken, South Carolina, for over 24 years and, from all accounts, was well-respected and loved by everyone. Royall Geis passed away shortly thereafter, succumbing to double pneumonia. Royall will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery as soon as they are able to schedule the ceremony. Geri is doing as well as can be expected, considering all the medical problems they both suffered these past few years. I received an unwelcomed call from Betty Sellers informing me that our good friend and our first captain, Bill Huffcut ’57, passed away in late January. Bill, Bud Mease, and I were high school classmates in Munich, Germany, back in the ’50s. He was a very close friend of Phil and Betty Sellers when he was the assistant comptroller for the state of Florida. After Phil’s death, he was a godsend to Betty and was always there to assist her whenever she needed help. A few days later, I received word that Bill Old passed away Jan. 31. I spoke with Susan, and she told me that Bill had been suffering from dementia for some time and was in a memory care unit under the care of hospice. He died of a massive heart attack. A celebration of life for Bill was held for friends and family on the first of April at Christ Episcopal Church in Winchester, Virginia. Just prior to going to press, I received the terrible news from Heather Smithson, Richard Bingham’s daughter, that Richard died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Tampa, Florida. A service, attended by Ann and me, Bill and Connie Nebraska, and Mel Anderson was held in Tampa. Unfortunately, Jean was unable to attend because she came down with a case of COVID-19. Mel was kind enough to separate himself from the rest of the group, but we missed interacting with him. Richard will be buried in West Virginia at a later date. Please keep both Susans, Lee, Betty, Geri, and Heather, as well as their families, in

Class notes

your thoughts and prayers.

Kent Decker’s widow, Betsy, has begun the arduous task of going through places where Kent stashed VMI paraphernalia and making decisions on what to do with it. She hasn’t even gotten to the attic yet. The thought has crossed her mind just to hire some guy to take everything out and let her take a look at it as it travels out the front door to the dumpster. Betsy moved a half dozen times in her lifetime, and there is nothing like moving to keep one from accumulating stuff. Having moved over 30 times during our career in the U.S. Army, Ann and I can say “amen” to that. Kent, on the other hand, was a hoarder and lived in the same house for over 40 years, so you can imagine her dread when tackling the attic. Betsy says her mind seems to be aging well but admits that her body is not so much. It seems she is going to one doctor or another every week. She reminds all her doctors that the World War II baby boomers have arrived, and they need to be prepared.

Jennifer Lee wasn’t born yesterday. After falling down the steps for the second time, she moved into a condo located about a mile down the road from where she and Bill Lee lived. It was a difficult decision for her to leave the neighborhood where they shared a home for over 20 years, but she is now comfortably settled in a lovely condo with both a view of the Gulf and the bay. Sunsets are awesome. Jennifer is still in two book clubs, working with

the homeless, and enjoying activities at church. She will be spending Christmas with son Adam and his family in Oakland, California, and wishes all peace in the new year and hopefully a return to sane governance.

John and Teddi Martin find it hard to believe that they have been at the Lakewood Retirement Home for three years; where does the time go? They feel even more blessed to have made the decision to move when they did; they are happily integrated into the daily activities and have enjoyed embracing many new families of friends that they have met there. Both of their children’s families are doing fine. Sydney is located close by, while Rod’s four are spread across the country. The family excitement this year was when granddaughter Hannah presented John and Teddi with their first great-grandchild, Little Willow Spriggs. John ran into a little bad luck this year when, after a physical, he found his PSA numbers were high. Further testing disclosed prostate cancer, and he has been undergoing radiation therapy since. John says he honestly feels no different now than when he started the journey. Our thoughts and prayer are with you, John.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a note from Robert C.W. Nicholl, previously known to us at VMI as Robert Wayne Nicoll Forbes Bob and his wife, Barbara, wrote that they appreciated the many cards and notes they have received over the past 25 years and promised to stay in touch in the future. Bob spent the majority of

his career as a mayor, having spent time in that position in Glasgow, Virginia; Dunn, North Carolina; Narrows, Virginia; and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. His wife, Barbara, is a retired high school mathematics teacher. They have three children and awesome grandchildren living within one-and-a-half-hours from their home in Dunn, North Carolina. It is great to hear from brother rats I have not heard from in many years. I hope the line of communication remains open.

Another pleasant surprise was a note from Mike and Anne Krickovic. Anne was concerned that I might have a heart attack when I received their card since it is the first time I’ve ever heard from them. It is always a pleasure to hear from brother and sister rats, no matter how long it has been. They are both hanging in there, enjoying life and doing as well as active octogenarians can do. It took Pat Hughes only 85 years to get his waistline back to 32 inches. Having contracted COVID-19 on two separate occasions helped a lot, but there was also a lot of self-discipline involved. Pat has had another bout with skin cancer, but modern medicine in the form of magical ointments, eliminating cutting, burning, and freezing has been the answer. He is cancer free.

I received a nice card from Jeff Strunk, one of Jud Strunk’s boys. Jeff and Sarah live in Eustis, Maine, and report that the whole Strunk family is doing well and have had a fun-filled and exciting year. Daughter Cassidy graduated from Carrabassett Valley Academy, a private ski and snowboard academy. The whole family traveled south and took a trip to Costa Rica and the Republic of Panama, followed shortly thereafter by a road trip to Montana in their Volkswagen van. Jeff and son Mason continue to put a lot of hours in on their plane, and they spend as much time on the slopes as they possibly can, especially since Jeff recently underwent successful back surgery. Jeff and Sarah still own The Rack, a sports bar located at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Harry and Terry MacGregor look back on 2022 and count their blessings. What their six children and their respective spouses, 20 grandchildren (eight who are married), and 15 great-grandchildren with number 16 “standing in the door” have accomplished thus far in their short lives amazes them. They feel pleased, proud, and blessed with their family. Thanksgiving was a wonderful event for them this year and such a visible reminder of how

much they have to be thankful for when they look at all 26 of them gathered around the Thanksgiving dinner table. I received a number of Christmas cards from brother and sister rats with short messages attached.

Bud and Denyse Kramer remind us that when you consider all the awesome things that have come to you, they are a gift from God.

Spence and Beverly Tucker are doing well. The kids are doing great, and Spence continues to excel as a superior gardener and a bona fide philatelist. Beverly is planning an Atlantic crossing in the spring to visit Spain and France.

John Tompson has moved to a retirement community since he has been having problems moving about without a walker, a situation he is not at all pleased with, but it is what it is.

Lee and Nancy Southard had to get out of Fort Myers for a short break after being deeply involved in housing the Hurricane Ian homeless and running a boat flotilla to Sanibel Island before the causeway was repaired. Lee had no idea where they were off to, he just knew that he was whipped and planned on doing nothing for the entire week. Al and Peggy Smith Colville checked in from Palmyra, Virginia, where they were looking forward to a peaceful, spiritual, and quiet Christmas at home. They wished everyone a joyous holiday season. Virginia Nowlin sends greetings from Hot Springs and the hope that we let Christmas come into our world and bring us all together. She enjoys the class notes in the Alumni Review and loves to read about what all the brother and sister rats are doing.

Harry and Ann Ray are doing great and wrote that Ann, who had stomach cancer, is now cancer free. Never a doubt; those prayers do work. Betty Whitescarver bit the bullet and put her Florida condo on the market. She will move to a townhouse in Maryland at the beginning of the new year. Her son and his family have convinced Betty that it is the best thing to do, and she concurs.

Max Guggenheimer checked in from Lynchburg, where he sends wishes for a merry Christmas filled with all your loved ones.

Billy and Sue Kornegay checked in from just down the road in Lexington. They wished everyone a very merry Christmas and pray that the blessing and joy of God’s greatest gift be yours.

Larry Wood wrote that it was not a very merry Christmas for Nancy, who suffered a very nasty fall and spent much of the pre-holiday season recovering. It was particularly difficult because Christmas is Nancy’s favorite time of the year, and she missed putting up all the decorations. Just before Christmas, she turned the corner and was able to get up and was able to get at least a little bit done before the big day. You are in our thoughts and prayers, Nancy. Received a nice note from Beverly Coniglio Mackintash, daughter of Bernie Coniglio, who said that Bernie had moved into an apartment in Oak Park, Illinois, and is doing well and is happy as he can be.

Lee Adams, Ed Adams’ widow, wrote to say how much she appreciates all the support she has received from Ed’s brother rats since he passed away 16 months ago. It is much appreciated. Carl Kasko writes that all is well in Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania. He is doing fine, be it ever so slowly. He really enjoyed the Florida group mini in Mount Dora last April and hopes to attend more in the future. It is not that he does not enjoy the company of the Florida group, but he wishes other brother rats from out of state would also attend. I second that motion.

Received a nice note from one of my favorite people, Marie O’Neill. George and Marie O’Neill were always such a pleasure to be around; they were two of the most congenial and pleasant people I have ever known. We do miss George and his tremendous sense of humor, matched only by Marie’s. Marie wishes all a season of peace and the very best in the coming new year. She enjoys reading the class notes and keeping up with all her brother and sister rats. Paula Galon Diaz, Zeke Galon’s widow, and her husband, Joe, send greetings from Myrtle Beach and wish all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Joann Fall checked in from Virginia Beach and wants everyone to rejoice in His life, believe in His love, and celebrate His promise this Christmas and always.

Ralph and Janice Rae Lawson took a 33-day cruise from Los Angeles to Tahiti and back. They saw a lot of the Pacific Ocean. Once they returned home, they continued to downsize in preparation for their move to Richmond in February 2023. They are sad about leaving their friends and activities in Mathews, but they anticipate many new experiences when they get to their new home.

Dick and Linda Phillippi send warm wishes for peace and happiness not only during the holiday season but for the rest of the year, as well. Ann and I thank them for the Starbucks gift they sent. We used it up waiting for planes on our Christmas vacation trip to Colorado. Happy to hear that Dick and Linda have signed up for the Florida group mini reunion in Winter Park, Florida, in April. Heike Walker wishes everyone a blessed Christmas and holiday greetings from Virginia Beach. Judy

Class notes

MacWillie writes all is well in Central Texas—just getting older. She spends much of her time with her grand and great-grandchildren. Don MacWillie would have been so proud of them.

Anne and Jack Reed are doing well in Fishersville, but things are so different, especially Christmas, without John Reed around. Asa (Sonny) and Skippy Bishop wish God’s peace and the pure joy of Christmas falls gently over all of us.

Ted and Ginny Harcke enjoy hearing about brother and sister rats through the Alumni Review class notes and emails. They send Christmas greetings to all.

Reliable Rusty “The Red Nose Bear” Loth sends warm wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy new year. My thanks to Rusty for all he does for the VMI Class of 1959.

Eddie and Carolyn Barnes are excited that they will be able to resume their annual trips to Sweden to visit son Rob and his family next summer. It has been far too long since they crossed the pond.

Brad Willard and Corazon, his significant other who gets more striking each year, send best Christmas wishes from the Great Pacific Northwest.

Heard from Dick Irons for the first time in years. Dick sent thanks for the birthday and Christmas cards sent over the years. He admits he does not say thanks enough, but he does appreciate all the effort.

Jo Anne Dreelin Anstett gathered her whole family together for Thanksgiving week this year at an Airbnb in Irvington, Virginia, on the “rivah.” Erin and Michael flew in from Michigan, and the boys drove up from Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. It was a wonderful family gathering, something they needed to do for a long time. All is copacetic in the Donnie Dreelin family.

Cec MacArthur and son Gordon are doing well in Conroe, Texas. The Luby’s, where Gordon worked, closed recently, so he is now working close to home as a courtesy clerk at Kroger. People are always stopping him on the street because they enjoyed his friendly service when he was working at Luby’s.

Daughter Kristen is still working for AT&T. She would love to join the Florida group but is hanging in there for the time being. Grandson Anthony is attending Sam Houston State. He loves living on his own, and it shows. He is doing great and getting very good grades. Cec continues to keep busy with her church, where Gordon sings in the choir and recently performed

in a beautiful Christmas program. All is well in the Douglas E. MacArthur family.

I contacted Kurt and Anne Berggren to clarify their email address. Kurt says he is in great shape. And why not? He is the youngest guy in the class, hanging in there at 84. His good health can also be attributed to his running; he has been a runner all of his life. We talked about losing Jim McFalls, and he related that when they were at UVA together, Jim went home to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a vacation, and when he returned, he brought back a case of Iron City Beer for Kurt.

Mel and Jean Anderson have had an exciting year. Their one and only great-grandson, Carter, celebrated his first birthday. Daughter Bonnie and her husband, Toby, are traveling the USA in their fifth-wheeler. Son Todd and his girlfriend, Tilly, got engaged. The grandchildren are all doing great. Diana is in college and assisting in cancer research. Brynne married the love of her life, Dakota. Logan is a programmer and living with his wife, Hanna, in Colorado. Ruthie and her husband, Cameron, and their son, Carter, are stationed in Hawaii. Cody is working as a special education teacher and firefighter. Tyler, and his wife, Talia, live just down the street from Mel and Jean. The whole family got together in Denver last summer for Brynne’s and Dakota’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding with a magnificent Colorado Rockies background. Mel and Jean got together with close friends and traveling companions, Bob Haines and Monique Harnetty, and hopped aboard the Oceania Riviera in Miami and made their way to St. Kitts, St. Vincent, Roseau, Gustavia, San Juan, and Puerto Plata. They had an unusual and interesting shore trip when they reached San Juan. They went on a walk-and-eat tour. Each time they stopped, they had a choice of beverage and a serving of special local food. It made for a most interesting day.

The year has been a challenge for Lee Ann since Max Blanchard passed away last February. However, with the help of her family, she is making progress. Last August, on the anniversary

of his birthday, Lee Ann flew to Max’s hometown of Crawford, Georgia, where she buried his ashes in the Blanchard family plot. She was joined by family members, including many of Max’s cousins. Lee Ann stays busy volunteering at the church and just hanging out with her wonderful church family. Max Jr. is still living in Albuquerque and helps her with any immediate problems. Christmas plans include a trip to Cincinnati to be with her daughter, Lorena, and her family.

Kurt and Jane Gloeckner are doing OK, except for the fact that just before Christmas, Kurt had another bout with the ticker. He is on the mend now, and to pass the time, he will be writing “Kurt Tales.” These will be his side of stories of the past. He hopes they might be of interest to and don’t offend our brother rats. You will recall that I wrote previously of Kurt’s book, Instances, his autobiography in poetry. Early after graduation, Kurt had the good fortune to keep in touch with many of our brother rats. He’ll write his second book of poetry, which will be stories about those encounters with classmates. He intends to present a copy to each member of the class.

John and Pat Van Kesteren are still hopping back and forth between Virginia and New Mexico but will be spending the Christmas holidays in their beloved foothill neighborhood in Sandia Heights, New Mexico. It is hard for them to believe that they are celebrating 63 years together. They realize how fortunate they are to wake up each morning to the blessings of being with each other another day. It is especially significant as they bid farewell to so many departed friends, family, and classmates. They love their place in Sandia Heights, where they are only 9 minutes from the longest tramway in the USA, making skiing conveniently accessible. In addition, there are more than 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that traverse the foothill area, some just outside their community gate. Their family is still scattered all over the map, but they are doing great. They get to see them often, even the Australians, who are finally out of quarantine. Where have the years gone? They no longer welcome toddlers into their home but now young adults.

Ann and I are doing pretty good, although we have had a rough couple of months. We flew out to Colorado to visit our granddaughter, Lilly, in Denver and then joined up with the Bud and Susan Mease gang in the quaint little ski town of Salida, Colorado. As soon as we got

to Denver, Ann and I began to suffer with altitude sickness—something we had never experienced before, even with all our ski trips to Utah over the years. After a few days in Denver, we drove to Salida, elevation around 7,000 feet, and got no relief. It wasn’t until we went to Colorado Springs, 6,000 feet, the next week that I finally wised up and took Ann to the emergency room. They put her on an oxygen tank, which gave her some relief. We made it home, and wouldn’t you know it, we both got the flu and were laid up for the next three weeks trying to shake it. We are both feeling better now, but recovery is slow. While in Colorado, we spent the week with Bud. Sue was in the hospital in Colorado Springs having a rod placed in her back. Once we got to Colorado Springs, we got to spend some time with her, but she was not really up to having visitors. Her recovery has gone well, and she is on a walker and getting rave reviews from her therapist. We pray her recovery continues. Bud is doing well. As you know, he has Alzheimer’s and is sometimes not aware of what is going on, but he is well enough to get around and spend the nights alone in his apartment.

This has been a tough quarter for our class, losing five brother rats. Ann and I attended Bill Huffcut’s memorial in Tallahassee and Richard Bingham’s service in Tampa. Each service was beautiful but reminded us once again how fragile life is. Keep those cards and letters coming in.

Yours in the Spirit, Shep

1960

Greetings from 12 Evergreen Tree Drive, Lexington, VA 24450. I finally came down with COVID-19 despite being vaccinated four times. I was in the hospital for two nights, but I’ve recovered.

This edition of class notes begins with birthday wishes for Jim Gibson and Jim Schaaf Nov. 16. I was unable to speak with them but did connect via email. Jim now lives in Birmingham, Alabama, having moved from Huntsville, Alabama, and tutors first-grade

reading and is a science volunteer at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. He also does some woodworking.

On Nov. 19, I missed Herb Vaughan’s birthday yet again but sent a voicemail wish later.

On Nov. 21, I caught up with Phil Spivey and had a long conversation. Phil related that he is healthy. We talked about what’s happening at VMI. The negative publicity is taking its toll. I tried to reassure Phil that, in my opinion, I think the Institute is appropriately stable and in good hands. I was reminded that Phil was responsible for transporting casualties to Saigon. He noticed his charge that day was a body bag named Bayliss. He told the officer in charge that he had been at VMI with a Bayliss. He was told that the casualty was a VMI man as he still had his class ring on. A small world! It’s a comfort to know that Eagle was in the hands of a brother rat on his way back home.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hope it was a “thankful” day for you all. We have much to be grateful for!

On Dec. 13, Hap Miller and I had a two-hour power lunch at Gina’s Trattoria in Lexington, solving all the problems of the Institute.

On Dec. 14, G.G. Phillips had his next birthday. We chatted, wishing him many more birthdays. He has a busy Christmas planned. G.G. remains very active with the Jackson-Hope Fund, which offers funds to academic programs at VMI. He has been so very generous to VMI with his time and talents over the years.

Class notes

On Dec. 21, I spoke with Bo Bowles and wished him another happy birthday. Be reminded that Bo and Nancy are “VMI producing machines” as they have two sons that are graduates of VMI as well as a granddaughter and grandson currently in the Corps. Bo still is working daily settling legal issues of the day.

Of course, Dec. 25 was a special day, Christmas. Ruth and I hope you all had a blessed day, have good health, and are safe. We received Christmas cards from the following (not in any order): Bobby Graves, Seafus Brown, Jack Willard, George Ax, Jon Quinn, Roy Quinn, Roy McLoud, Peanuts Elliott, Carl Benner, Henry Brown, Ed Robertson, Ed Davis, Jeep Goodwillie, G.G. Phillips, Herb Vaughan, Bolling Williamson, Vaughn Foxwell, Bill Knowles, Tom Kurkoski, Buddy Frith, Darryl Markland, Ray Crickenberger, John Hilliard, Wayne LeBlang, John Olsen, John Moore, Jimmie Seeley, and Reba Bayliss. Many of the cards were from spouses, as well. My apologies for not acknowledging them and also for missing a card. We can’t do without you ladies! Senior moments in Virginia.

On Dec. 29, I spoke with Ed “Robbie” Robertson. He is well. He got birthday wishes for many more birthdays.

On Dec. 30, Art Grafton had another birthday but I’ve no phone number. “Skip,” as he is now known, got a birthday email wish.

On Jan. 2, 2023, Hap Miller had his next birthday. He got a birthday phone call, but better yet, Hap and I had a two-hour lunch a few days later. Hap does so much for our class, keeping us informed and connected.

On Jan. 3, Bill Giles had a birthday, but I was unable to get through his phone system. Bill got an email wish.

On Jan. 5, Jim Bagby and Tom Kurkoski had their next birthdays. I didn’t speak with Jim but left a voicemail birthday wish. I had a long talk with Tom. He had just returned from his daily walk. He and Ann were planning to be with their two children the next day to celebrate.

From Jan. 6–Feb. 24, I will be in the Dominican Republic, so no phone birthday messages. Email when addresses are available.

On Jan. 6, Nick Hester had his next birthday, but I could only leave a voicemail message. Ed Davis celebrated his next birthday. I did catch up with him. His health is good.

On Jan. 9, Chris Fleet had his next birthday. He got an email message.

On Jan. 14, I had an email communication with Pete McGue for his next birthday. He reported all is well.

On Jan. 16, Ray Crickenberger celebrated his next birthday. Email wish only.

On Jan. 22, I did have a chance to speak with Dave Lennon for his birthday wish. He reports, “All is well.”

On Jan. 24, George Ax celebrated his next birthday. He emailed me that he was OK.

On Jan. 27, Buddy Frith celebrated his next birthday. No phone call, but he is well.

On Jan. 29, Denny Zay had his next birthday. Denny does not communicate. We wish him well.

On Feb. 2, Al Smith celebrated his next birthday. We hope he is well.

On Feb. 3, I spoke with Howard Moss. He was looking forward to a good day and many more birthdays. He’s getting by like the rest of us.

Jim Greathead passed away Dec. 24, 2022. His obituary from his children is the following: “Jim Greathead, our lovable father, Jim, was born in Richmond, Virginia, April 29, 1943, to Robert Newton Greathead and Edith Rutherfoord Greathead. He was called to Heaven on Christmas Eve morning, where we felt mom was calling him home to be with her for Christmas. Jim lived his life in humor. He was a prankster in his youth and had so many great stories to share. He passed on his sense of humor in the form of weekly, sometimes daily, jokes sent out to all of us on his email list! He was still joking around and telling stories with us the night before he passed! Jim was a loyal, trustworthy, loving, and sarcastic rock of a dad and grandpa. He had a very kind and generous spirit. Always warm and welcoming to those around him. He could be a complete sap or a romantic one minute and tell a dirty joke the next. Jim graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1960, a fourth-generation legacy. He

Class Notes

was a proud cadet and active alumnus over the years. After college, he was on active duty in the Army at Fort Sill from 1961–62 and then artillery captain in the Army Reserve from 1962–69. His career was spent working for large commercial construction companies until he retired from his dream position as facilities manager for various projects on the new buildings and colleges at the University of Denver campus. He was also the first senior warden at Good Shepherd and was instrumental in getting this church built. An active member in the Good Shepherd men’s group, [he cherished] those gatherings and friendships over the years. Jim met Reba through his classmate, Alec Dunlop, in 1964 in southern California. They wed in 1965, and shortly thereafter, Kim was born, and Becky followed in 1970. The love mom and dad shared for 57 years is one to be admired, and they are together again. They moved to Colorado in 1974, where they stayed most of their lives, with the exception of a six-year stint in northern California. Jim had a lifelong passion for cars! Racing his MG, Triumph, and Fiat with his weekend car club until a few years after Kim was born. He was also an avid ‘tinkerer’ on anything—cars, electronics, and computers. Nothing was safe from his curiosity and problem-solving skills.

“While not a huge athlete, dad was a golf enthusiast and skier for most of our childhood. He began skiing shortly after the family moved

to Colorado. We all had to learn to ski together, and if we didn’t get in an adequate number of runs before lunch, he got grumpy because the ‘tickets cost a lot of money!’ We enjoyed many multi-family ski trips with the Greens and Grotons. Jim loved to read, watch auto racing and Cosmos regularly, and he was a James Bond lover. He never stopped taking in information! Shortly after he retired, he joined his best friend, Charlie Green, for a few years volunteering in the Space Odyssey exhibit at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver. Jim is survived by his two daughters, Kimberly Ann Langhorst (spouse Eric Todd and their son, Jacob Henry Langhorst) and Rebecca Louise Yeomans (spouse Matthew William and Rebecca’s child, Margaret ‘Myles’ Nicole Voth).

“We’d like to thank everyone for coming today to help us celebrate our wonderful dad and grandfather, whom we miss terribly.”

On Feb. 10, Joe Morabit celebrated his next birthday. He celebrated with his grandchildren.

On Feb. 12, Jon Parnell and Ed Martin had their next birthday. I was unable to speak with either.

On Feb. 14, we all had a happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you all got hugged.

On Feb. 15, Bill Keens and Jeep Goodwillie had their next birthday. Since I’m in the DR, I did not communicate with them. We hope they both had good days.

This brings this edition of our class notes to a close. I send greetings from the Dominican Republic, where Ruth and I will be until Feb. 25.Please remember to donate to our Tumlinson Scholarship as well as our Eagle Bayliss award. VMI always needs your support.

It’s a privilege to be your class agent.

1961

Life is moving very fast, and I am just shuffling along. Balance is a problem, and I am doing my best to stay upright. Sue’s reverse shoulder operation is great, and she is working on building back her arm strength. Our weeks are cluttered with doctor visits, tests, and thankfully, we have Fridays with Bill and

Joyce Gibbings. Bill is coping, and Joyce is keeping him going. We made it to Annapolis, Maryland, for Thanksgiving with the family at the home of our daughter, Lynn, and celebrated three birthdays: Son Sal (60), daughter Barbara, and grandson Jackson. Our granddaughter, Gaetana (Tana), who is in culinary school, baked the desserts. Wow, what a treat. While in Maryland, we had lunch with my roommate, Carl Hirsch, and his wife, Becky. Like the rest of us, they are in OK health and take life a day at a time. Returning to Virginia, we went through Richmond and visited with my second-semester rat roommate, Tom Whalen. Due to poor blood circulation, the doctors amputated his left leg below the knee. Tom lives in Colorado but chose to come to Virginia for a special vascular doctor. Tom is recovering at his daughter’s home near Short Pump, Virginia. Early in December, our daughter, Cathy, came to Virginia Beach for several days to help Sue bake the special Italian Christmas desserts. For three days, we rolled dough, baked, washed bowls, and decorated cookies. I forgot how much work this was and hope Cathy will carry the tradition forward. Mid-month, we attended the VMI Christmas party and Maj. Gen. Wins ’85 spoke. There were only two alumni from the ’60s era, and I was one. We went to Annapolis for Christmas and stayed with daughter Barbara at her new home. I gave

Class notes

granddaughter Tana a lesson in making hand-crafted ravioli. Four hours later, we had 199 ravioli for Christmas dinner. Christmas Eve, we had our traditional seven-fish dinner at daughter Lynn’s home, and she has this dinner down pat. Christmas Day, the family gathered at Barbara’s house, and we had a wonderful time. On New Year’s Eve, we attended the Gibbingses’ dinner party. This year, several BRs were missing due to a variety of reasons. Attending were Larry and Jerri Wetsel and, for a very short time, Larry Williams. Soon after our arrival, Larry looked and felt poorly, and he left. It was a quiet evening, and we all made it to midnight. The next morning, Sue prepared brunch for all of us. In January, Sue attended a scrapbook convention with two daughters, and in late January, we went to Annapolis for Sue’s six-month shoulder surgery checkup, and all is good. In February, Sue and I attended the monthly Richmond BR breakfast at Joe’s Inn. Originally 11 gathered, and now there are only seven left. Five attended: Russ Stone, Bill Phillips, Dick Jarvis, Bill Daniels, and Dick Youngblood

Now for the class news: Bob and Bronnie Polk had a great holiday with the children and grandchildren celebrating in both Florida and Illinois. Bob and Kurt Polk ’95 played in the famous member/guest golf tournament, but there was no information on how they did. Lou and Jane Kiger are doing OK and now have three great-grandchildren, two boys and a girl, and are enjoying them.

Fred and Sheila Kressierer hosted Thanksgiving dinner, and the children did all the cooking. What a deal! Sheila said it is so much easier for the old folks, and they had a chance for a nap.

Tim and Sandy Bryant are doing fine, and he credits VMI for helping him to live better and longer lives.

Bill and Sandy Puette attended the VMI western North Carolina golf outing in August and enjoyed a few hours with several brother rats. Bob and Suellen Reitz were involved in a mission trip to Fort Myers, Florida, after Hurricane Ian. The trip was sponsored by the community thrift store where Suellen works, and coincidentally, she received the supervisor

of the year award from the store. Bob said it was very moving to see folks in need and so many people offer their assistance. Suellen had her first solo in the local theater as a singing nun. Bob received his 50-year Masonic pin and apron from his original Blue Lodge in middle Georgia.

Mitch and Jennifer Kot are on the move again and spent a happy day skiing in Austria and then went to Vietnam, where Mitch conducts his business training and seminars for Vietnamese businessmen.

Bob and Jeannie Burks report that everything in The Villages is the same. He talks to Dude Copenhaver every couple of weeks and monthly sees “Twinkle Toes Dude” at The Villages doowop dances.

Joe and Mary Ann Lisiecki are doing OK and enjoying their new rescue puppy.

Shirley Hartford is moving forward. In

September, her community was hit by a firestorm, and all 1,500 residents were evacuated for 13 days. Fortunately, Shirley was able to get out with her pets and stay with her daughter. The town was saved. Shirley spent Christmas and new years in Burns, Tennessee, with another daughter and, while there, looked for a home to purchase. Shirley said its time to get out of Dodge, so to speak.

David and Edwina Thomas’ biggest event of the year was the birth of the first great-grandson. David said they had a severe drought in the summer and had to feed the deer because they were starving.

Dave is still active with the UT swimmers, and Edwina is finishing the third year as a member of the vestry.

Richard McMurry had a quiet year, did a lot of reading, and is looking into senior living.

Bill and Connie Nelms are doing OK. Bill said his son, Jack, is prospering with his personal care agency. (Need to see what services he offers. Smile.)

Ben and Nancy Birindelli had a busy summer. Ben had some health issues and was unable to attend his 60th Reunion at the Naval Academy. He frequently visits his special mountain retreat in Wintergreen.

Harrison and Terry Fridley have not been visiting with friends as often as they used to. Not sure why, but they can at least cherish the memories.

Hill and Heather Browning had quite a year, beginning with COVID-19. Hill’s bucket list included going on a cruise to Nassau, the Kentucky Derby, and to Massachusetts and Vermont for a baptism. The Brownings made their annual trip to St. Martin while Hurricane Ian was blowing through Bonita Springs. They lost many of their Christmas decorations and three cars, only one of which was theirs.

Tom and Annett Jones dodged the bullet from the same storm that hit Florida. No damage. Annett loves her job at Lowe’s customer service desk, except for some of the rude customers. Tom is still able to shoot, communicate, and move with the aid of a walker and is trying to keep a step ahead of his Parkinson’s.

Mollie Popp stayed home for the holidays. She said her knees are tired and in need of attention. Mollie is quite busy with her quilting

and visiting with friends as the weather allows.

Tom and Barbara Phlegar have had quite a year. Barbara’s doing fine, walking without a cane, and driving on her own. Barbara received a good medical report. The cancer spot on her liver is gone, and bone cancer is still present but has not progressed. Tom is raring to cruise again, and they did a trial run on a four-day cruise to the Bahamas. The next adventure is a cruise to the Western Caribbean with Rod and Doris Hudgins

Ed and Phyllis Hollowell are in pretty good health. Phyllis stays busy with church, Bible study, quilting, and gardening, to mention a few. Ed spends a lot of time reading series of mystery books, which keeps him out of trouble. The family had a health scare when their son, Edgar, was diagnosed with an aortic dissection. Surgery at Duke fixed it.

John and Linda Moore had a relatively good year. They are now in a program associated with a retirement community about a mile from their house. John and Linda are considered residents, have all the benefits of a continuing care facility, and still live in their own home. What a deal!

Paul Johnston is so happy they live close to their children. Debbie’s health does not allow her to travel, and he feels they have the best senior living arrangements.

John and Doris Rudibaugh are trying to figure out what to do next. They are in good health and have three daughters within 10 minutes to keep a watchful eye on them. Their VMI rat grandson, John ’26, has gained approximately 15 pounds (all muscle) and looks great. Returning after Christmas was tough. His grades are good, and VMI is a good fit for him.

Jim and Carolyn McDonald are coping with Jim’s cancer and doing better.

Hershell and Cinny Murray are staying positive. Hershell has good and bad days with his walking. He is very positive, drives, and is independent, etc. Cinny is doing great.

John Gangemi is doing OK, all things considered. Balance is his main challenge, followed by joint discomfort and fatigue. John has fallen several times, and he has learned to

pace himself and think about movement.

I pressed John McDougall for an update, and here it is: Health is great; had a bout with cancer, but that’s history. He has a stoma, must catheterize but feels great, and can do just about anything he wants. John plays lousy golf, enjoys his friends, is happily married, has a good social life, and is a very successful businessman. His only wish is the return of Stonewall’s statue to VMI.

Jim and “M.C.” Harrison are coping. Jim dealt with prostate cancer, and after seeing various specialists, he did 28 rounds of radiation at Emory. Then he then ran into some complications from the hormone drugs that put him into A-fib. After a few ER visits, his health issues were under control, and now he is attending family functions and driving to the lake to just get away. M.C. still remains housebound due to complications from her 2020 fall. Even though the severe pain comes and goes, she continues to make dinner most nights, dog sits for the family, and makes her famous strawberry cake for birthdays.

Dunbar Hoskins hasn’t made many reunions due to health issues, and 3,000 miles to travel is more than he can handle.

Archie Ramirez is doing fine for a guy emerging from his youth. Archie did not make it to the primary election for the California 2nd

Congressional District; maybe next time. Archie is planning to be at our 65th Reunion.

Fred and Kathryn Stephenson enjoy their family compound on Lookout Mountain, Georgia. The main house is 4,000 square feet with a guest/pool house, a large pond, and generous trees which afford privacy. Fred has Parkinson’s disease, and he is receiving weekly occupational and speech therapy. The Stephensons celebrated 60 years of marriage this year.

Bill Hala sent some pictures of snow. The snow was so heavy Bill’s machine would not handle it. So much for climate warming.

Dave and Cammie Bella are doing fine in their Oregon wooded sanctuary. Dave continues to work on climate change. Cammie participates with the local therapy dog group to train their latest golden retriever, Athena. Following Dave’s heart attack and two stents, the Bellas outsource all indoor and outdoor maintenance work.

Clayton and Jan Smith organized a golf/mini reunion for April in Amelia Island, Florida. Clayton is feeling OK and hopes to have his golf game up to his standards soon.

Harold and Cilia Kurstedt sold their house in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and moved back to Christiansburg, Virginia.

Hugh and Nelle Gouldthorpe moved down the street on Fripp Island to a beachfront house. Moving is never easy, but it’s terrible at 83. Hugh is very active at his church (Sea Island Presbyterian), where he was recently elected an elder. Hugh continues to play tennis much as he can and is blessed that he can still move quickly on the court. This sounds like Hugh is ready to challenge Howard Dyer for a couple of sets. (Smile.) Nelle is very active in saving the turtles. Two to three days a week, she wakes up around 5:30 a.m. and goes on the hunt with her rescue team.

Renate Mowery is doing OK and finds it difficult without her partner and best friend of 57 years.

Spike and Mary Callander are still waiting for their new apartment construction to be completed. Spike had a spell in the hospital for what was diagnosed as congestive heart failure and had an issue with the medications that caused

Class notes

a high level of dizziness and necessitated the use of a cane. Mary is doing all the driving, although Spike is doing short trips.

The Myruskis are back in Florida for the winter.

The Brownings met Andy and Peggy at Cracklin’ Jacks restaurant for dinner. As I remember, Cracklin’ Jacks restaurant was not the fanciest place, but the food was good and the amount very adequate. I hear the restaurant made some changes and removed their manure spreader that was filled with ice and beer because the farmer needed it back.

The Alumni Review has a write-up on Harbert Alexander’s new and final book, Turnaround. The novel is an inspiring story about a preacher’s kid, Cole, who wants to play baseball. The book was published after Harbert passed, and some say part of it may be an autobiography.

Bill Maurer has undertaken a new challenge for the American Friends of Lafayette and is putting the pieces in place that will enable a Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Métier, Marquis de La Fayette (Lafayette) re-enactor, his entourage, and the dedicated supporters of the AFL, DAR, CAR, SAR, and many other organizations to retrace Lafayette’s footsteps in the Hudson River Valley during his farewell tour. Activities will take place during 2024–25. Bill needs to schedule land transportation and hotel accommodations for out-of-town attendees and contact museums, historical societies, and universities to request exhibitions on Lafayette, as well as mayors and city councils to apprise them and secure permits for the activities. The list goes on. The task at hand is huge, and Bill is delighted to take it on. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Having shingles is not keeping Lou Shuba from getting around.

Lou, Priscilla, and Larry Wetsel attended the funeral service for Jim McFalls ’59. The weather that day made the trip somewhat challenging due to a tractor-trailer overturned by the wind on the interstate. Jim McFalls attended many of the Shuba pig roasts, and when Lou introduced himself to the family, the immediate response was, “Pig roast.” Priscilla is doing OK with her knee replacement.

Dave Harbach is enjoying life and playing golf every chance he gets. Dave is very happy with himself since he learned that his DNA showed him to be 23.7% Ashkenazi Jewish and, you guessed it, 3.6% Italian.

Elaine Wilkinson was very pleased with the recognition VMI gave Don at Founders Day and says thanks to all of you who attended.

Jack Bell’s surgery to remove his existing two-wire pacemaker/defibrillator and replace it with a three-wire cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator went well. Jack said no golf for six weeks, and he is feeling better.

Mike Wash is alive and surviving all of the weird weather (and political stuff) that happens in California. Their second home in the Sierras, next to a ski area, had many feet of good skiing snow, but Mike quit skiing as he is “getting too old for that sort of stuff.”

Irene Gangemi passed Dec. 30 in Wilmington, North Carolina. John said the family was present, and he held her hand. Irene contributed to her community throughout her life. She was active with the Literacy Council (in several states), teaching both English and English as a second language, and was active in the initial organization of the NAMI Chapter in Wilmington and continued with fundraising support for many years. Kent and Bert Modine attended Irene’s memorial service. John seems to be doing OK, all things considered. As of now, he plans on staying in Wilmington, selling the house, and moving to something smaller.

Linda Argo Butler passed away Jan. 8, 2023, surrounded by family that loved her dearly. Fred and Carolyn Ayers and Alison Drescher and Kim Wise attended the service in Raleigh.

Brother Rat Stuart Crow passed away peacefully at his home Jan. 8, 2023. I remember Stu being on the VMI track team and was an excellent runner. During our 1st Class year, he dated Suzanne Wilcox, my wife-to-be. Stu said I had no chance with her and, should I be successful, to send him a wedding invitation, and he would send a gift. He made good on the promise. He was career Army, and I will never forget his family’s memorable evacuation from Iran in 1979, just before its borders closed. The family lost everything. Upon retiring, Stuart continued his career as an engineer with the National Ecology. Stuart loved playing golf and was very patient with duffers like me. A military service was held March 6, 2023, at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.

Brother Rat David R. Elliott passed away Jan. 16, 2023. Dave had been in memory care and hospice several weeks prior to his passing. The family was with him during his last moments. Dave was a professional soldier for 30 years and was twice decorated for heroism. His decorations include a Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters and “V,” the Purple Heart, and many other citations. Upon retirement, Dave joined the Inland Paperboard Company as the human resources manager and, upon retiring from there in 2000, moved to Naples, Florida. A service was held at the Grace Lutheran Church in Naples. In attendance were Andy and Peggy Myruski, Hill and Heather Browning, Bob and Bronnie Polk, and Hershell and Cinny Murray. John and Linda Moore attended the interment.

Edna Florence Rives Henning passed Jan. 30, 2023, from complications due to a stroke. Edna enjoyed sisters’ weekends filled with strategic bridge playing, puzzle building, and good food. Edna believed in random acts of kindness, supporting the local artists, and finding the perfect greeting card for any situation. Edna attended most all the VMI football games when George was the team doctor. Those who attended the family visitation and a celebration of life

service were Harrison and Terry Fridley, Dave Harbach and Sandra Coleman, Barry Orndorff, Battle Haslam, Bryan Haslam ’90, Pete Roberts, David and Kimberly Wright ’90, and Mitch Copenhaver ’93

Brother Rat Robert D. Tyson passed Feb. 2, 2023, at an assisted living facility in Georgia. The information was provided by his son. Bob left after his rat year, returned a year later, and graduated with 1962. I remember Bob was a smoke jumper. During our rat year, one of the tactical officers who had just earned his paratrooper badge came up to Bob in the ranks one evening. The TAC said, “I understand you’ve made some parachute jumps—is that true, and how many?” Bob replied, “Yes, sir, I was a smoke jumper, and I have about 200 jumps.” Bob requested to be associated with 1962. His funeral service was Feb. 9, 2023.

I want to thank all of the brother rats, widows, and VMI friends who took the time to remember Sue and me at Christmas with letters, emails, and family pictures. Unfortunately, this year some of our regulars are missing. I post the names so that you will know who is still alive and kicking. Al Ambrose, Peggy Alligood Hayes, Bella, Bryant, Browning, Burks, Birindelli, Bradshaw, Callander, Coen, Coltrane, Daniels, Doleman, Durrette, Drescher, Gerry Eubank, Fridley, Gangemi, Gibbings, Nina Grazulis, Goldman, Hanlein, Harbach, Harrison, Hartford, Haslam, Henning, Gaylia Hudgins, Hirsch, Ed Hollowell, Bonnie Hurley, W. Hoskins, Jarvis, Paul Johnston, Tom Jones, Keech, Kiger, Leola King, Kot, Kressierer, Lisiecki, Maurer, Miner, Moore, Hershell Murray, Dick McMurray McDowell, Jim McDonald, John McDougall, McLester, Myruski, Moore, Nelms, Oley, Orndorff, Bill Phillips, Phlegar, Polk, Mollie Popp, Nancy Preston, Puette, Ramirez, Reitz, Respess, Rishell, Pete Roberts, Rutledge, Clayton Smith Thomas, Wash, Weede, Wetsel, Whalen, Woodcock, Kim Wise, and Elaine Wilkinson. From VMI friends: My dyke’s wife, Gerry Madison ’64; Tori Lewane ’50B; and John Van Kesteren ’59.

Are we still in the Rat Line? What say you?

According to Roger Spencer, class historian, “The rat year somehow came to an end—a rather belated one in June—because the 1st Class suddenly saw fit to substitute a long and tough resurrection for the final company room, meal formation, and Rat Line.” They never gave us a ’61 Old Yell that would have set us free. We

did have a bloody Sunday. Please stay well and keep in touch. Call a BR or widow you have not heard from. I know you will enjoy the call. God bless our class, the military, and our country.

1962

I am sorry to begin with another sad note, but Jim Richards passed away Jan. 11, 2023. Jim was born Nov. 4, 1939, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and economics from VMI in 1962. He later achieved an MBA from New Mexico Highlands University in 1978. He received his Air Force commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. His first operational assignment was to the 346th Troop Carrier Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, where he flew C-130 aircraft. From 1966 to 1967, he served as an instructor navigator with the 774th Troop Carrier Squadron at Mactan Air Force Base, Philippines. He was reassigned in March 1967 to the 38th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. On Oct. 5, 1968, Jim married Florine Barnard, and they enjoyed 54 years together. In May 1969, he joined the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, serving initially as a wing

operations officer and then later as an instructor weapons system officer in the F-111E with the 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron. In October 1970, he became a radar strike officer. He was in the initial aircrew cadre and a member of the operational test and evaluation team for the F-111D. Jim was assigned to Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, as test manager for precision location strike systems in the Air Force Test and Evaluation Center. In February 1979, he became the assistant director of test evaluation. Jim was transferred overseas in June 1979, where he served as the chief of the Offensive Operations Division, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Station, Lakenheath, England. In February 1982, he became the assistant deputy commander of operations. Jim was promoted to colonel April 1, 1983. In his final role, he served as the assistant deputy chief of staff, logistics, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Jim was a master navigator with more than 3,900 flying hours, including 733 combat missions in Southeast Asia. His military decorations and awards included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Readiness Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, Small Arms Marksmanship Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Upon entering civilian life, Jim and Flo moved to Bavon, Virginia, in Mathews County. In 1994,

Class notes

they relocated to their beautiful homestead in Check, Virginia. Jim worked for Allstate Insurance Company as a special investigator and later worked in his family business, Richards & Associates, in Salem, Virginia. He was an ordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). At the time of his death, he was the chair of the Finance Committee. In the past, he had been a Sunday school teacher for youth, and he served on the Pastor Nominating Committee. He was also a friend and guide for numerous pastors and always volunteered for those special projects that make a church function. Jim will be missed by all who knew him.

Sal Vitale ’61 told me that Bob Tyson passed Feb. 2 at an assisted living facility in Georgia. Bob started VMI with the Class of ’61 but left after his rat year and returned and graduated with us. As I remember, Bob was a smoke jumper and may have hurt himself and was out for a year. Bob was buried Feb. 9 at West View Cemetery in Wrightsville, Georgia.

On another sad note, Ted Cooley’s wife, Betty, passed away Jan. 7. She was born Nov. 13, 1940, in Waynesboro, Virginia, where she met her soulmate, husband, and lifelong bridge partner, Ted. Betty and Ted lived in Waynesboro, Lawton, Killeen, Richmond, Greensboro, Worchester, Omaha, Bluffton, and Stone Mountain and raised three children along the way. They were married for 60 years. In retirement, they traveled the world and visited over 110 countries working on cruise ships as the formal bridge directors and teachers.

Lewis Graybill informed me that Renee Vest, widow of our Brother Rat Jim Vest, passed away Feb. 1.

I recently talked with Fred Shirley in Phoenix, and I am very sorry to report that his wife, Judy, passed away this past November.

Ed Northrop writes that when Binnie Peay was a captain in Vietnam, he commanded an artillery battery, 6-105 mm howitzers. His battery was assigned

to provide direct support artillery to his specific infantry battalion—600 men, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. Ed’s infantry company was supported by this same artillery unit on multiple occasions. Binnie assumed command of B/4/42 Artillery from January–July 1968. He was wounded and earned the Silver Star for his and his unit’s heroics in a specific battle. Ed’s infantry battalion was nicknamed the Red Warriors and is still used to this day. Because of his outstanding service to the Red Warrior infantry unit, Ed, as the honorary colonel of the 12th Infantry Regiment, opted to bestow upon him the designation of an honorary Red Warrior. Please see attached photo of the Tomahawk (17 inches long), which Ed sent to him last October. Normally these Tomahawks are only presented to the battalion commanders, lieutenant colonel, upon their change of command and also given to their respective unit command sergeant majors. He has also presented to a select few others that served with or supported the Red Warriors. The two sets of feathered rings are called dream catchers, and the feathers in the center are called prayer feathers. All are purchased from Native American entities.

Don Arey noted that Dr. Robert Ratcliff passed away at age 88 last July. Bob was an English literature professor at VMI, a civilian professor of which there were a few. He was from Reidsville, North Carolina, and he offered Don a ride to Danville for Christmas leave one year since Reidsville is about 25 miles beyond Danville. His car was a 1925 Rolls Royce with three rows of seats, but the amazing thing was that it cruised at 55 to 65 MPH with the greatest of ease and elicited amazing looks on people’s faces as they passed cars on the highway U.S. 29. Don was unaware that any car back in those days would go much over 30 MPH (think Model A Fords).

Tom Henriksen replied to my birthday email that he was very disappointed not to

be able to attend the Institute events honoring Binnie and Pam Peay but family health issues prevented his attendance. Since the publication of his book, America’s Wars: Interventions, Regime Change, and Insurgencies After the Cold War (Cambridge University Press), he has been working on small essays, not books. One dealt with Sweden and Finland joining NATO, which noted both countries’ many conflicts with Russia despite their recent neutrality. Sweden, for example, fought over 20 wars against Russia, dating from the 14th century until the Napoleonic Wars. Marc Muth writes that his old first sergeant sent him a VMI cap. He said that Sgt. Carter is one of the finest men he has ever known. Carter held VMI in high regard. Marc is doing better and is still

and two through Turkey. On April 8, 2024, one comes through his backyard with three minutes of totality. He sent a photo of a recent moon shot taken to test his new equipment. Dan is keeping busy all the time and says he has always known when it was time to go do something else. He follows Michelle Shocked’s advice: “The secret to a long life is knowing when it’s time to go.”

Ed Vinieratos sent the following on Christmas Eve: “May we all celebrate our comfort and safety on these special days, so near to our 83rd year for most of us on this planet. Here in Europe, it is already Christmas Eve Day. These words are written with my Kyiv friend in mind, who was not allowed Polish refugee status and suffers daily electrical power loss, putting her in solitude in below-freezing temperatures, darkness, and without access to water. All this while I am living comfortably in my Athens, Greece, hotel. Remember what we have, no matter how much we complain about our ailments and sorrows. For Thanksgiving, we celebrated differently with thanks for what we have, and presently we rejoice in our privileged lives, knowingly reassured of our individual futures. May God bless the Ukrainian people’s survival and keep us healthy and prosperous.”

Although there was some time between the “chase” and marriage, both couples were married in 1967, with Eldridge being Danny’s best man and Danny being Eldridge’s best man.

John Shelhorse writes that he and Bonnie are doing well in Manakin-Sabot. They both have part-time jobs to stay a little busy when the weather doesn’t favor golf. They had planned a Christmas luncheon with Pat and Sharon Morrison, Robert and Bev Evans, and Tom and Carpie Coulbourne, but COVID-19 raised its ugly head, so they had to postpone. John and Bonnie had lunch at The Jefferson Hotel after Christmas and are pleased to report that while Richmond’s Monument Avenue is no longer the same, Thomas Jefferson still stands proud in the lobby.

housebound, but his walking lessons are coming along.

Dan Prall celebrated his 82nd by spending the weekend making two trips to Lowe’s to buy paving blocks at 20 pounds each. He moved 480 pounds three times (stack to cart, cart to truck, truck to ground) for a total of lifting 1,440 pounds with no pain. This was to make a base for the new 10” Celestron StarSense Dobsonian telescope that is now occupying his front hallway and will be moved to the 3’x5’ shed he will be assembling soon after the freeze goes away. By the time this is in print, that project should be finished. Astronomy as a hobby has replaced scuba after his final trip to Indonesia in 2015 with over 3,000 dives worldwide. He can still pursue total solar eclipses, like the one in Nebraska in 2017—his fifth, after traveling to Baja California, Curacao,

I received a nice note from Bill Lewis in late December. He and Cathy reside in Stuart, Florida, from November–May and in Waynesville, North Carolina, from May–November. Bill has been retired from the airlines since he turned 60 and was forced to give up his seat. After that, he spent a bit of time just spinning in circles, wondering what he would do that day since there were no more schedules to follow. He and Cathy became landlords for several properties, which took up a lot of his time, and put a few coins in his pocket. As of 2021, they have sold most and now just settle into old age. From listening to his previous experiences, I doubt if Bill is “settling!”

Eldridge and Erika Blanton and Danny and Nancy Kiser decided it would be a fun holiday get-together at The Greenbrier in West Virginia for Christmas, and it was. They were there in the middle of December, so they got to enjoy the beautiful decorations. They did not go to the casino but enjoyed all the amenities The Greenbrier offers. El and Danny had a great time remembering their early days at the phone company and comparing their military experiences. El landed in Germany, where he met and pursued Erika, and Danny went to Korea!

I recently started to send Jim “Toad” Johnson a birthday greeting and realized I didn’t have his email address in my files. I corrected that and received a reply saying that he and Mary Anne are enjoying their life in Roswell, Georgia, where they have been for nearly 50 years. They have two daughters, three grandkids, and all is well. We reminisced about a weekend (I believe it was a G.W. versus VMI football game) that I spent at his parents’ home. Jim had gotten us dates. I will not go into further detail, as this a family publication. Suffice it to say, our dates were not impressed, nor were his parents.

That wraps it up for now. Keep those notes and pictures rolling in.

In the Spirit, Edmund

1963

I’m writing the Class of ’63 notes on a fine January day, Martin Luther King’s birthday. I watched The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman as tribute to Dr. King’s memory, and I found the film to be as moving and inspiring as when it was first aired on CBS TV in 1974.

As I write, a quartet of the Class of ’63’s finest is visiting the National World War II Museum this week to increase their knowledge of the Great War while at the same time trying to rid the city of New Orleans of all their tasty

entrees while making outrageous claims about the Gulf Coast’s oysters besting those from our own Chesapeake Bay. Blasphemy! The ambassadors are Bunny Reynolds, Bill Jones, Sleepy Moore, and Pete Brunel. Bon appétit, guys! You may view the pictures of their assault on New Orleans, as well as the Christmas cards and letters we received this year, online at vmi63.net.

Let’s begin with taps. Logan Reed Jennings, 81, of Hertford, North Carolina, passed away Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in his home after a full holiday season with family and friends. Logan was born in Roanoke, Virginia, Nov. 4, 1941, and was the son of the late Robert Watkins and Dora Poff Jennings. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Fred Jennings. A graduate of VMI and proud Army veteran, he was a retired building contractor and home inspector in Columbia, Maryland. Logan moved to Hertford for retirement and enjoyed the outdoor activities of this area, including golfing, hunting, and fishing. Surviving is his wife of 55 years, Cheryl Pardee Jennings; son, Scott Jennings of Honolulu, Hawaii; daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Larry Tiffany, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and grandson, Devin Tiffany. A private celebration of his life will be held by the family.

Also, William “Bill” Franklin Ballentine was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Jan. 25, 1942, to Bessie and Charles Ballentine. He was the

youngest of four brothers, Kenneth, James, and Charles. From a young age, he was always intelligent and able to figure out equations and puzzles with ease. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Portsmouth, Virginia. He then graduated from VMI and served as a lieutenant in the Army from 1963–66. His intelligence served him well, as he then received his master’s in electrical engineering and eventually worked for NASA and Digital as an aeronautical engineer. He lived in Manhattan and worked on Wall Street for a time, where he had two children, Randy and Pamela. In 1981, he married his second wife, Joey Todd, after meeting her on vacation in Hawaii. They had their daughter, Jordyn, in 1985 after settling down in Redmond, Washington. He was also a talented abstract artist who would paint in the garage in his spare time. He would pass on his artistic ability and passion to his daughter, Jordyn. Bill was a complicated man. He was quiet and a bit challenging to get to know, but his incredible mind and artistic ability spoke for themselves. You could always find him reading a book, which he found more interesting than making small talk. He loved dogs, especially Brittany spaniels; Bob Dylan; sailing; and history. He had a sarcastic and silly sense of humor and did his best as a husband, father, and man. This world is a little less interesting without him. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Joey Ballentine; daughters, Jordyn and Pamela; and son, Randy Ballentine. He had five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Tom Rountree sent notice regarding Robert

Leslie Knowles Jr. “... Just a short note to inform you that our Brother Rat Les Knowles passed away this morning. He has been fighting an illness for some time and has been in hospice for over a year. Tom Rountree.” At the time of submission of these notes, I had no further information regarding burial, etc.

Our beloved leader Si Bunting responding to an email this January last, in his usual cryptic fashion, replied, “From east and west, the flashing message came: He is no better he is much the same.” (Alfred Austin, perhaps?) A day later, I received a more serious reply, “Diana and I are in Southern Pines escaping from winter in Rhode Island; I am writing, Diana painting, looking forward to our reunion in the spring.”

In the same week, I heard from Doug Sterrett: “Took a trip to the U.K. to visit my sons, one in Wales and one in Scotland. Spent a month over there. It was great seeing them, but after five shots, I still got COVID-19 a few days after arrival.” (Maybe you should have tried a wee dram of Scotch whiskey instead of the injections, Doug?) “I was miserable about half of the time. Got back Jan. 12, and I’m doing fine now. I had not traveled for years due to Rachel’s dementia. I found the trip very hard, but I’m glad I did it. Still active teaching at our church here in Boone and walking about 2 miles most days. Hope to see you all at the reunion. Doug.”

It was great to hear from Willy Pendleton, even if I had to lift his message from an email copied to me by Dusty Custer. “I also like your idea of meeting in [Moody] Hall, Dusty. It is unusual how things come together. The VMI

Class Notes

Alumni Association has redone alumni rooms in Moody, and the Keydet Club just set up a reunion of VMI wrestling team past members and other VMI interested alumni and had also set up an honorary for wrestling Coach Ike Sherlock, who had excellent teams in the late 1970s and 1980s. My son, Nelson Pendleton ’94, and I reserved a twin bedroom for us to stay in Moody Hall for the weekend. The room was not fancy but satisfactory. We also attended all the events, including chapel service in [Memorial] Hall, now held at 8 p.m. Sundays. And part of the plan was to also have a chance to enjoy a fine weekend visit with Nelson’s son, and my grandson, William Nelson Pendleton III ’23. This Keydet Club wrestling reunion included a Keydet basketball game, attendance at a wrestling practice—with a chance to meet the team—and also set up a nice cocktail social in the Moody Hall Activities Room. The cocktail social was exactly what you would expect, with a bartender who mixed drinks— whatever a person wanted—and everyone had a chance to talk to everybody. The oldest wrestling team member attending was in the Class of 1957, Mr. Bob Bolling [’57], who told us that in his 1st Class year, the wrestling team won the Southern Conference Championship. After the cocktail social, Moody Hall served an extremely good buffet dinner. Well, this is longer than I intended, but I want to wish you and everyone else a happy and successful new year and say that I think we will enjoy our time together in April at our 60th Reunion and all the time in Moody Hall. Willy. William Nelson Pendleton. As always ... brother rats together!”

From Pete Brunel, whose emails are always brief but informative: “Will likely be solo at the 60th. Diana on walker from chemo/Hodgkin’s lymphoma/neuropathy last year. Bill Jones, Sleepy Moore, Bunny Reynolds, and I met at the World War II Museum in New Orleans last week. Good times.”

(Love

and prayers to Diana, Pete!)

Frank Allison also sent good news from Texas, “Christi Weddington is getting married Feb. 18. So happy

for her, as Chuck would be.”

Saved the best for last ... Mike Smither. (I love this man; VMI ’63 to the end!) I sent a quick entreaty to the class asking for additional copy and pictures for inclusion in these notes, and Mike responded with his plan for the 60th in complete detail! Here’s his email: “Here is my contribution for the February 2023 class notes. I’m also sending this to the Reunion Committee, as it contains suggestions for our

60th. Observations concerning Sept. 9, 1959: All 345 matriculants to the Class of 1963 were American-born, unusual even then. (Bob Heath signed in days later, as he had broken his arm during football practice.) Surnames with A to Z were represented, with the exceptions of X and Z. We have the makings for another Seven Dwarfs: Tank Amory, Beaver Bevins, Dusty Custer, Yogi Doar, Buddy Bennett, Buddy Cato, Sleepy Moore, Moose Peckham, Bunny Reynolds. We also have some colorfully named class members: Brown, Green(e), Redd, White, Gray, and Schwartz. And finally, to date, we have 244 living classmates, having lost 101 since matriculation.” However, not to be outdone in the matter of details, Art Phaup challenges: “Hey, Smither Your email is interesting; however, for accuracy, please note the following— total number matriculating, 345; joined from previous classes, three; lost to honor violation, four; and count that we carry forward 344, graduated 204, departed to date 103 (that we know of), and remaining 241. Looking forward to seeing you in April. Artie.”

And now, let’s return to Mike Smither: “Here are my suggestions for our 60th Reunion: The VMI Bookstore has the largest selection of items for sale, including on their website. The Marshall Library also has a small inventory, mostly books and hats, etc. And the VMI Museum carries a larger number of items of interest, most of which are historically related. For VMI belts and buckles, see Parsley’s website: parsleysbrass.com. Only cadets are allowed to purchase uniforms, and Parsley’s provides a source for graduates. And for more clothing, etc., options, see Sayre’s website: sayreinc.com. Sayre is in Natural Bridge Station, near the Natural Bridge Hotel. They make clothing and gear for the military, including for VMI. (Scott Sayre ’80 is a 1980 VMI graduate.) My bucket list must-visit destination is the VMI Archives. I’ve been there more than once, and it’s always a treat. Open Monday through Friday, a graduate can request and view his folder,

Class notes

which contains copies of articles and correspondence to/from the Institute. One may also view and request a copy of his transcript. The transcript lists grades, of course, plus demerits, majors, and specials received for each semester. Interesting and possibly alarming! Lastly, many thanks to Mike Curley for his years of faithful service as class agent. He will be missed.”

Since these are my last class notes, I’d like to comment on my practice of including obituaries in the notes. First, in my eyes, it is simply a matter of respect. I have been strongly criticized by a small number for including a brother rat’s entire obituary, not only for the length but sometimes even for the act of inclusion. On the other hand, most were remarkably silent on the matter until one considers the favorable emails I received regarding the content of said obits ... who knew Jim Stone was an avid model train collector, Logan Jennings was a builder/home inspector (never knew Logan worked in my industry), and that Bill Ballentine was an aeronautical engineer and had a sarcastic sense of humor? I particularly like comments from former roommates. I also find it pleasant to recall earlier events with these departed brother rats through their obituaries and recall, or perhaps discover, the quirky things about these guys that were a part of our bonding. I firmly believe they are due at least one more posting out of respect and that their obituaries may leave us with a pleasant memory or two. Perhaps the next class agent will see fit to omit this practice—that is, if someone finally raises his hand to take the position.

One of my most pleasant experiences as class agent is the thoughtful emails shared with me. Recently, Bob Powell sent this: “About 6 miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in Operation Market Garden in the battles to liberate Holland in fall/winter 1944. Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of ‘their’ soldier in a place of honor in their home. Annually, on Liberation Day, memorial services are held for ‘the men who died to liberate Holland.’ The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always Il Silenzio, a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in

1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland’s liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since. This year, the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi. Wait until the last note is reached.” Here’s the link: flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm.

Received this lovely note from Bonnie Reeder: “Hey, Michael! Congratulations to you and Peg on becoming great-grandparents! (Thanks, Bonnie ... another grandson due in April 2023, by the way!) You must be so excited and happy. What a treat! Thanks for posting it in the notes. I think of you and my VMI friends often. I’m doing well. I live close to all my children and see them often. They take good care of me. I gave up driving—my choice. I almost turned right when I should’ve been turning left. Scared myself. It was a red flag for me. Anyway, I’m thankful for Uber. My health is good; I’ve no complaints. Gil Minor calls me now and then. We get caught up with each other and reminisce. I miss Kenny something awful, but I’m thankful

we were together for 60 years. I hope this note finds you and Peg and your family all doing well. Stay safe.”

That’s the pleasant side of things; then comes a bombshell whose author shall remain anonymous. (Typed in all caps): “I had one of the worst rat years in my class. This occurred because I was both physically and emotionally immature. And yet, I persevered. Ending my rat year on a high note is one of the proudest experiences [of] my entire life. I have been unfortunate enough to have experienced several later crises where my commitment to the VMI version of honor has been challenged and have always taken the morally correct route.”

Back to the positive side, may I encourage you to read the account by William Pendleton ’23 of the VMI tradition of the “pledge” and our class’ firsthand involvement with the noble tradition. William is the grandson of our Willy Pendleton and is a 1st Class cadet due to graduate this year. As I’m sure you remember, our class voted to take the pledge to save the skins of a couple of our brother rats ... to this day, I’ve not heard a single word of regret from anyone. You will find William’s paper I posted in a recent email and possibly on vmi63.net.

Thanks to my fellow chorister, Tom Snyder, for this wonderful email: “Mike and Peg, a belated Merry Christmas to you and family, and sorry about your COVID-19 caper. Hope all is well or quickly improving by now. I was in Alberta’s hinterland without email or phone services for some days, and before that, Lynda and I were in remote places in Mexico, so I have been incommunicado. Thanks for the updates on VMI sports, which I otherwise would hear little about. But more importantly, thanks for your invaluable contributions as our class agent for more than 20 years. Though you will say that others in our class also made major contributions during that time and others, I know of no one since our graduation more important than you for sustaining class communication and loyalty. You especially have been a voice of deep empathy and respect in gracefully reporting the deaths and illnesses of BRs and family members—difficult news to share that you somehow managed during your own illness and treatments. Thank you! For what it’s worth, a book I have found very valuable in recent years is On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity & Getting Older by Parker Palmer. He’s a humorous, self-effacing Quaker writer who integrates Catholic, Buddhist, etc., writings with poetry and

Class Notes

social justice that you may appreciate. Serious stuff if you care to go there! As I write, snow is falling in a winter wonderland, which I still enjoy. Thanks again for your exceptional contributions to our class, and wishing you and Peg good health and many blessings in 2023. Respectfully and appreciatively, Tom.” (Thank you, Tom.)

Finally, I leave you with this thought. “Leaving the stage at the right time demands self-awareness. When asked the diva Beverly Sills how she knew when to retire, she answered, ‘I knew that to continue would not be worthy of what my audience deserved.” Thank you for the privilege of serving as your class agent for the past 20 years. I love you all!

Stay well, stay safe, and we may see you at the 60th in April 2023!

Curleyrat

First, please look above. We have moved, and we’re in what we hope is our final home. The city of Matlacha is correct. We thought it would be Cape Coral, but the official city limits change about four blocks from our house. All our phones and email remain the same.

I’ve recently sent an email to all those for whom I have an up-to-date email address. It was in regard to our 60th Reunion, scheduled for April 15–16, 2024. Except for the registration mailing, which will be sent officially early next year, all planning information will be sent via email. As of the writing of these class notes in mid-February, the majority of responding brother rats prefer we hold the reunion at Lexington/VMI.

Mike Murphy sent a nice note bringing me up to date. He still practices law and has no plans to retire. However he’s able to spend a lot of time with their stable of horses. Plus he remains involved in the care and maintenance of his farm/ ranch.

W.J. and Lauranne Kitchen, after feeling isolated due to two years of COVID-19, are back in the

traveling mode once again. I know they’re on a trip to South America as I type this, plus they have at least one more this year and are planning another in 2024. As to this last one, several of us are joining them. We gather in Cape Town, South Africa, in March 2024, cruising around the west coast of Africa and ending up in Barcelona, arriving in time to get to the reunion with five or six days to spare. As of this writing, in addition to the Kitchens and Cavedos, there will be the Atkinsons and Myers Plus, we’re pretty sure Bob and Cathy Warren

will sign up.

W.J. Kitchen wrote, “Great picture of your gym. Very well equipped and very nice. With your pool and home gym, all you have to do is add an aerobic bike or elliptical, then you would never have to go outside in the summer. We hope you both are doing well, staying safe and healthy. December and January were extremely busy for us but equally enjoyable. We had our Christmas over Thanksgiving weekend with Lauranne’s family, reaching a total of 13 at the high point. We went to Phoenix to attend youngest son Jeff’s girlfriend’s 50th birthday party, did some hiking there, and then headed to Tucson to visit L.K.’s best friend. Also, we were able to do some hiking there. We celebrated L.K.’s granddaughter’s birthday by taking her and her husband and young daughter out. We took L.K.’s youngest son and family to a day at SeaWorld. Our youngest and his contingent came over new years. We had dinner with Frank and Marcy Parker while they were in town for one of Frank’s environmental conferences and going to Pahrump, Nevada, to

Class notes

participate in the Corvette Performance Driving School. I spent between five and six hours a day driving their Corvette through a variety of exercises, including on the track, 0-60 time sprints, motor cross, figure 8 without stability and traction turned on, and a variety of other skill driving exercises. Lauranne was able to participate in a couple of ride-alongs with one of the instructors. On the dry day, he got her up to 112 MPH on the curvy track. Much faster than I achieved. It also made me realize that it is a good thing I never aspired to be a race car driver. I would have starved to death.

“I did experience a minor medical setback. I had a wart on my leg, so I got some wart remover from the drugstore and removed it. Luckily, I had a dermatologist appointment the day it fell off. They took a biopsy and determined that I had basal cell carcinoma. After 1.5 hours, they had removed the area after a 4-inch incision and applied 50 stitches. They made me slow down for a couple of weeks. Only walking/hiking, but no biking or weight lifting. I now use plenty of sunscreen and always cover my head. The good news is that I have a fantastic nurse. Lauranne is my ever-ready bunny, and she’s doing fine.”

Richard Beatty, always a good correspondent, told me they’re still stuck in Montana due to a stroke his wife, Mickey, had 18 months ago. Apparently, she has heart issues dating back to her time as a Navy nurse during the Vietnam War. She cared for many returning servicemen, many of whom brought home mysterious diseases. Richard lost a lot of his photography equipment when a storm dropped a tree on his studio.

Jerry Reid, still mourning the loss of his beloved Sandra, reports he is in relatively good health and involved heavily in his church, teaching a Sunday school class and doing other things in his personal ministry. He’s also able to spend lots of time with his very large family.

Bob and Cathy Warren, shortly after hosting a well-attended mini reunion in Chattanooga, took off on another trip,

this time to the Caribbean, to include Grand Cayman, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. They spend as much time with children and grandchildren as they can stand.

During the winter, we lost another brother rat, Bob Dewey. He hadn’t been active for many years, but several brother rats remembered him well.

Frank Parker wrote that he and Marcy are in good health and try to travel as much as they can. Most recently, they visited several national parks in the west, and Frank attended an Air Force reunion. He still testifies as an expert witness for people exposed to asbestos and silica.

Jake Kleinschuster wrote that he and Deborah are in excellent health and stay busy with their church. They’ve recently moved into their dream home in Waynesboro.

Ed Seager: “Just got your email re: Hurricane Ian. I know you are pleased to be in your new home and assume you sustained little or no damage. However, I’m sure you are frustrated at the slow pace of restoring things to normal. I remember Superstorm Sandy in 2012. We sustained no damage to the house but had some trees down and lost power for about 10 days. We had water and gas and had a gas insert in the fireplace, but that did not come close to heating the house. We withstood it for a week and finally packed up and moved to the house in Virginia. Looking at the photos and videos of Ian damage brings back some ugly memories, but we were very fortunate.

“We finally closed on a house in Holly Springs and moved in September 2020. Nice to be able to unpack some things and stop living out of boxes. However, we will still be unpacking for some time to come. Janice and I traveled to Tidewater last week to attend Bill Crone’s funeral. There was a huge crowd, which was testimony to how well-respected he was. We were pleased to see Tom and Helen Davis, Bill and Marian Garber, Dan and Sandy DeForrest, Tom and Penny Sebrell, and Butch Nunnally there, as well as a number of VMI grads from other classes, including John Rowe ’66 and Ben Lynch ’61. I did not see Jack Edwards, who apparently was there. We also attended a reception at Bill’s and Dyan’s oldest son’s house that evening. I regret that I took no photos, so I have nothing to send you.

“2022 has been an eventful year for Janice and Ed. The adventure began in late 2021 when we sold our home of 45

years in New Jersey and moved to North Carolina. We moved into an apartment while house hunting and lived out of boxes for far too long. Our home in New Jersey sold before it was listed, but the hot housing market meant we had to wait until September to close on a house here. Since then, we have been busy moving in and unpacking. We avoided COVID-19 but have had numerous encounters with the medical community to help deal with Janice’s painful back and Ed’s bad knee and vision issues.

“We are thankful for the availability of good medical care. After missing Barbados in 2021 and early this year, we finally got there for two weeks in July with both Ben’s family and Sarah’s family, and a good time was had by all.”

Walt Sykes and I have spoken on the phone several times. He says his overall health is good. The facility in which he lives provides good food, but he’s alone much. Plus, due to several issues, his mobility has decreased. He really enjoys talking to his family and brother rats on the phone.

While not much detail is provided, I’m able to speak on a regular basis with Bob Warren, Tom Sebrell, W.J. Kitchen, Hank Cronin, Dick Atkinson, and Tom Myers. I also exchange brief emails and texts with Bill McVey, Mary Jo Jordan, and Bill Garber. Andy Collier, who follows the political situation at VMI, provides regular commentary and updates, as does Butch Nunnally

David Ayers: “Don’t know if this is the correct pixel count, but it was a small mini reunion in Lynchburg. Red sweater is Jack Thompson ’67 and wife Sandra; then next to the left is my wife, Nancy; then Dianne and Tom Crush ’64; then Bob and Polly Flint ’69; then Martha and Bill Jones (Guilford College ’69 and ’67; old Lynchburg friends); and me standing. All the VMI men are ex-Wiley and Wilson (Lynchburg consulting engineering firm) engineers. Everyone in reasonably good shape considering our age.”

Tom Davis: “This brief note is to let you know that I’ve mailed you a letter this week to what I hope is your correct new address in Matlacha, Florida (on 33rd Avenue). Inside, you’ll find the program from the Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Helen and I attended Jan. 21. Our BR members in that Sports Hall of Fame are listed, of course: Bill Blair, Charlie Cole, Hank Cronin, Bill Davis, Bill Rimm, and Bill Welsh. And thanks to my book on VMI athletic history, I’m listed on the special citation page.

“Meanwhile, I’m talking to my barracks roommate of three years, Hank, about the possibility of him and Elizabeth hosting at their Rockbridge County home a cocktail party during our 60th Reunion in mid-April of next year (2024). That’s not a ‘set deal’—just a topic to consider.”

Joe Chompaisal: “Thank you for the new year card and note. Glad you have settled down in your new home and can entertain friends now. Ed and Janice Seager have also settled down in North Carolina near their daughter’s house and four grandchildren. Ed has trouble with his knees, and Janice still with her back.

“Pongsri and I shuttle between our two homes almost every week in my MG ZSEV and enjoy the drives. It is easily the best car we have ever had, and I enjoy the adaptive cruise control, which I can use for the whole trip.

“We have not traveled abroad since COVID-19. Maybe we can go to China next year. Bangkok has changed a lot since your last visit. We now have more than 10 lines of Sky trains and metropolitan rapid transit.

“Pongsri is having trouble with her knee and probably will have to take a new implant soon.”

Frances Giles: “Just dropping a note to say hello. Hope all is well with you and your family. I continue to miss Don so much. It’s been five years ago this past Jan. 20.”

As class agent, I really look forward to current information from and about our sister rats. So, thanks, Frances, for reaching out.

Three final reminders. I really need input to keep these class notes fresh and meaningful. Second, it’s vital that you inform family members of your wish to inform VMI (and me) in the event of death or serious health issues. Lastly, each time I send an email or Christmas cards, several are bounced/returned. If you want to be kept up to date, you need to inform both the Institute and me of changes to addresses and phones.

1965

Greg Robertson leads off this issue: “Inspired by Andy Williams’ speech about the George C. Marshall Foundation at our much delayed 55th Reunion, Greg Robertson served

as the co-chair of the Dinner Committee for the foundation’s awards dinner in NYC this past November. Condoleezza Rice, 66th secretary of state, and Ken Griffin, founder of Citadel Securities, were the honorees. VMI was well represented with Maj. Gen and Mrs. Wins [’85], pictured here with Greg, leading a highly visible contingent of staff and cadets, including Chaplain Robert Phillips [’87], the VMI Color Guard, and a brass ensemble. Many alumni and wives attended the event, and although they were unable to attend, Conrad Hall and Dick and Ellen Bernstein participated in supplementing VMI’s sponsorship to place the superintendent at the appropriate level table. The event raised over $700,000 for the Marshall Foundation and will help preserve the legacy of Marshall [’901], whose accomplishments, character, and reputation make him the centerpiece for promoting VMI as we move forward.”

From Brian McNeil: “First, about grandkids. They are wonderful but take up plenty of your time if allowed. My grandson, Connelly Early, was plugging along at West Point. He received a superintendent award for the ‘WP Athlete of the Year’ as a sophomore. He pitched on the Army team that won the Patriot League and played in the NCAA baseball regional. He won awards as Patriot League pitcher of the year and was on the Northeast Regional all-star team.

Class notes

Then, his coach left Army for Northwestern University. Connelly put his name into the baseball portal, and the lights, bells, and whistles came alive. He was wanted at 20 or so Division I schools. Finally, he accepted an offer at UVA and proceeded to transfer.

“So, here’s where the tie-in with a BR happens. In fall ball for UVA, they scheduled a game with ECU. I looked up BRs I knew in the area and ended up finding Frank Crawley. I was offering to take our wives to the ball game against ECU, where Frank had taught for many years. He couldn’t attend the game due to his activity helping with a church lobster event. But Joyce and I, along with Frank and his wife, Ellen, enjoyed their Southern hospitality. We visited their home for a glass of wine and had dinner at a local Italian restaurant. It was a very pleasant evening in Greenville, North Carolina. The fall ball game went ECU’s way, but seeing a BR for talk over wine and dinner certainly made the trip from Richmond to Greenville very memorable.

“Me? I have just completed a procedure to place a Watchman device in my left atrial appendage. I will have a follow-up visit this Friday and, within the next 45 days, should be able to stop taking blood thinning medicine.”

J.Mac Marshall: “Jamie and I went to Lexington in November for the New Market Medal ceremony for Binnie Peay ’62. It was very moving, and I am glad that we went. He was and is one of the finest products of VMI, and we were lucky to know him as cadets. The Institute Society Dinner was very special because we had a chance to have a mini reunion with Cliff Fleet; Richard Moring; Bill Cather; Jeff Gausepohl; Wayne Chiles; and even my dyke, Bill Gehr ’68. The good news is that all of us can still recognize each other and have some good laughs. Afterward, we went to Goshen with our daughter, Victoria. Tough duty.

“In January, I had to go to Walt Disney World for a construction conference. My job, as the only liberal artist at the meeting, is to try to educate engineers and construction folks what happens if the project goes sideways, and they end up in court as witnesses. It’s fun, but it does not interfere with

going to Epcot with Jamie and Victoria, as shown in the attached photo. After all, any excuse to have time with children, especially in the sunshine, is not really an ‘excuse.’

“We are buried in the ice storm (January 2023), but the good news is that in Texas, it won’t last long. Needless to say, we hope that all of the BRs are warm and safe, and we all will soon be out of the ‘Dark Ages.’”

Godwin and Sylvia Jones visited with Jeff Gausepohl and Vicki Kruse at The Citadel game in January. “Jeff and I attended practice the afternoon before (the game) and were in the film room for the scouting report and coaches’ game plans—sure a lot more high tech than watching blurry 8mm films!”

Fred Cochran: “Lou, it’s been forever since I’ve written. I think that I better get in the loop before it is too late. Jeanne and I have been doing pretty well, considering our age. Only problem is that I need a walker because of a balance issue. Most of our recent travels have been to Hawaii on the island of Kauai. We have a timeshare there which we visit often when we are not up at our lake home at Lake Tahoe. I have a model railroad that I have been building over the years.

“I have talked with my roommate of four years, Warren Self. He, Judy, Jeanne, and I are trying to get together sometime this spring in California. Looking forward to seeing you at our 60th.”

Phil Taylor reports that I am “Moving from Hanover County, Virginia, back to Raleigh, North Carolina. Independent living 55-plus apartment near Crabtree Mall.”

Bill Cather: “Thanks for reminding me (to send a note). Last month I thought it was time to take Mia on our first real trip since COVID-19, so I packed up the car with the oxygen concentrator, half a dozen of the portable O2 tanks, her home dialysis machine, six 14-liter boxes of fluid, a wheelchair, and a few clothes. We drove to Chattanooga for two nights and stayed in a suite at the beautiful Read House hotel. The bell captain was certainly surprised when he came out to carry our luggage to our room. The hotel has its own steakhouse restaurant and bar. The trip was a lot of trouble, but it did

Class Notes

wonders to raise her spirits.”

Carr Hyatt sends a note about my knee operation (Feb. 17): “Hi, Lou: I hope by now you are getting along well after your knee replacement. We are getting along fine after my second round of COVID-19. I have a conflict on our basketball game Feb. 22. I am going to bring my granddaughter up for a VMI visit this spring; I will let you know the date, and hopefully we can meet for lunch or dinner. Hi to Joan. Will be in touch soon.”

Dave Frantz visited in Lexington in October 2022. He also went to The Greenbrier in West Virginia.

Joe Straub has a thank you for the effort to put together the February basketball game event: “Great work from the team that organized the Donnie White memorial basketball game this year. Yes, Easley Moore in Lexington, Chuck Hough in the valley, and Joe Straub at the end of the valley, with support from Carr Hyatt and Lou, had us arriving in Lexington the afternoon of Feb. 22 to watch VMI play Wofford at 7 p.m. We are in a building year, although we did take The Citadel this year.”

From Lou: For those of you who don’t know, Carr Hyatt and Larry Egan started this event at least a decade ago. Maybe two decades. It has evolved into its own February get-together, mini reunion, like so many of you do in other areas. It is typically the last home game of the year. Be alert for next year’s February note.

Russ Proctor: “In 1998, we purchased an

old house across the street from Bruddy and Nancy Baillio to be a base for the family in the U.S. Bill Wilburn and I had been groomsmen when the Baillios were married in December 1965, and we had been close friends all these years. They had visited my family in Korea and Thailand, and we saw them every year in the U.S. It was only natural that we have a house across the street from the Baillios. The Baillios’ younger daughter, Anne, and her family live about a half mile away. I have hunted with Anne’s husband, Jay Standing, many times over the years, and in 2021, he brought their older son, Briggs, to Southwinds to hunt quail. This year, he brought their younger son, Butler. It was Butler’s first quail hunt and a great success. He is a senior at Norfolk Academy and a natural athlete, so he shot well. He hunted with his father, and we had a great time around the fire pit in the evenings. Butler learned to appreciate port and oatmeal cookies after a long day in the field, as well as Cuban cigars and Boccherini! We told a few

stories about Brud and the Institute around the fire. No better situation for a young man—or an old one! We are planning a bigger family hunt at Southwinds in November of this year. Also, all the Standings call me ‘Uncle R.,’ a real honor.”

All, take care of yourselves. See you at the 60th!

Aloha from deep “south-central” Texas! (Which is somewhere south of I-10 between Houston and San Antonio. Anyway, these notes reflect input from y’all since Nov. 15, 2022.) It was interesting to learn from Cliff Martin, who attended the Keydet Club Scholarship Banquet at the end of last November, that ’66 had a scholarship recipient, Cadet Naomi Hahn ’24, and she was seated at Cliff’s table. Cadet Hahn is an “impressive young lady, holding rank, wearing stars, and on the track team running steeplechase and cross country. She is obviously an

overachiever, just like the Class of 1966!”

Dale Saville wrote that the physics and math majors have held mini reunions and Zoom sessions since the 45th Reunion. On one occasion, Frank Louthan had two recent female graduates talk to this group on a Zoom session about their experience at VMI. We were all awed by the “presence” of these graduates—solid academic performance, excelling in athletics, demonstrating leadership, and with a clear vision about their goals in life. Dale recalled: “Twenty-five-plus years ago, there were concerns about female Keydets. Now, a quarter of a century later, I think they’ve made VMI an even better school.”

Frank Louthan also provided a list of the attendees at Bob Fowler’s memorial service: Ty Bland (Anne), John Bolger, Mrs. Chalmers Terry Crump (Penny), Mrs. Robert Fowler (Marge), Richard Hines (Wawa), Frank Louthan (Carey), Lou Nichols, and Marshall Taylor (Kathleen).

Cliff Martin continues to provide the class with the most recent VMI basketball scores and other updates. He was joined in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the game versus UNCG by Parky and Mary Fran Parkman and Ray and

Mary Melton for a pregame barbecue supper.

Cliff contends that watching the game “on a full tummy” makes for easier viewing!

Al Carr provided a piece of information that might be of interest to all: Al Conner’s son, Owen, has, for a number of years, been an assistant curator at the Marine Corps Museum

in Quantico. He was recently appointed as the head curator. Al had a long conversation with Owen regarding potential items for inclusion in the museum’s collection of artifacts. Al has made three visits to the museum recently: First with Reyn Young, then with Bob Odom, and finally with Jimmy Pauls. Each of those visits began with discussions with Owen, who is a knowledgeable, personable, and pleasant young man. Al strongly recommends that anyone with an interest in military history visit the museum and perhaps try to contact Owen. Al is presently working on a project involving the 8th Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia, which is very interesting and, hopefully, will result in the acquisition by the museum of a major collection of artifacts. Al notes that all of this activity prevents lengthy afternoon naps! “I’m not sure how many know this, but the 8th Air Force suffered more KIAs in World War II (26,000-plus) than did the Marine Corps.” Thanks, Al; a grim statistic.

Jim Smith sent in a great group picture from a ’66 mini reunion dinner in Short Pump, Virginia. (For non-Virginians: Use your browser to locate Short Pump). In attendance that evening were Doma Browder (Jamie), Jim and Sandra Smith, Delores Lee and Knox McEwen, Cliff Martin, Ray Melton, Susan and John Meybin, and Sandy Smith (Guthrie).

Tom Slater, along with Brother Rats John Jumper and Richard Hines and their wives, enjoyed a great time quail hunting at Seminole Plantation near Thomasville, Georgia. It has been in Wawa Hines’ family for many years.

Tom noted that the quail had nothing to fear as plenty flew away!

Pete and Anna May Charrington are doing well, especially since their three kids and eight grandkids have settled within about 15 minutes of their house. Their oldest “grandbaby” is finishing up her sophomore year at William & Mary and loving it there. Pete and Anna May keep busy with a lot of volunteering, watching grandkids play sports and then watching them so their parents get some time off. Still get together with Maini and Farley each year and miss Ray Cullen and Larry Wilkes. Getting to spend about 90-100 days in St. John, USVI, with about five visits a year and keeping the properties in tip-top shape for their guests. Pete: “Looking forward to my next visit with the boys from Room 423. Best to all BRs!”

Reyn Young recently took a trip to New Orleans

It seems as if there is a fire sale on replacement joints going on in early 2023 ... especially for hips and knees. So far this year, John Burgess, William Fleshood, and Phil Gioia have reconstructed hips, and I hear Mike Bagnulo was scheduled for a knee Valentine’s Day week. Phil said by email that our BR warranties are wearing out. He had a total right hip replacement Feb. 7, and rehab is going well. He said his book, Danger Close, is in its second printing, and he is halfway through his next book, Frumious, an alternate history novel set in 1959 during the Cold War, with dragons. Lots of dragons. Finding character development for dragons to be a fun challenge for him. (Jan wonders if a habit of jumping out of perfectly good airplanes many years ago might have contributed to some of these replacements.)

J.I. Orrison: “Brenda and I recently completed a bucket list cruise in the Caribbean that included transit through the Panama Canal. Opened in 1914 with most of the original facilities operating every day.” J.I. wishes his old body was as resilient.

In ancient days, 1st Class cadets gathered for a bonfire by the sentinel box in Old Barracks courtyard and “roasted” our smelly and wornout pants. Since wool does not burn easily, all sorts of well-used combustibles were needed to get the smoldering pile to be consumed slowly. The aroma of the pile was enough to make one gag. The townspeople complained so much that VMI eventually gave in and stopped the practice. Even cadets complained about the lingering smell—at least rats, 3rds, and 2nds did, but 1sts considered it a rite of passage, as they were now on a slide to graduation.

as a “great break from reality” and to visit NOLA. New Orleans is an “unreal” place to visit, and he is now looking forward to a trip to Cuba—another great photography place, especially Havana. Reyn remains an avid photographer and is currently in his “black and white” phase at this point and hopes to be “famous” by summer ’23!

Thanks to all who sent in items to keep our us informed about “stuff” going on in their lives.

Test question! When are your next inputs due to me? Answer: Please submit photos and notes to me by Thursday, May 11, 2023. If you can, submit your photos early so they can be checked for clarity and “fit” in the Alumni Review format.

Stay well, feel happy, and smile ... oh, and eat what is put in front of you!

Best to all!

Nick

Fred Smith: “We are in Florida for January and February in an RV park located in metropolitan Polk City, a very small community, but we love it. It’s close to Lakeland, where we do most of our entertainment and where most of the better restaurants are located. Our great niece, Captain Joelle, a VPI graduate, has left the Army and decided to retire in our home city of Lynchburg and we love having her there. This past summer, we transitioned from our 10-acre homestead in Forest, Virginia, to our twilight retreat at Westminster Canterbury in Lynchburg, and we are healthy and well. We plan to continue traveling the country in our RV until the wheels fall off. We got to visit with Lynn Beaulieu in Colorado Springs on our last trip out West this past fall and shared VMI stories over lunch and late into the night in the RV. Lynn has a fantastic memory and brought our years at VMI back to life for me.”

A lost rite of passage for the Corps: I am afraid cadets have missed a hallowed Old Corps tradition as they switch from wool pants.

I asked for memories of our Ring Figure, and here are a couple of replies. Jim Robertson: “I remember that we had a party at the Kazim Temple in Roanoke after the awful beating we took from VPI (I believe it was 70 to 12). We still had Friday afternoon classes and Saturday morning classes (I had organic chemistry Saturday). We had a party at Zollman’s in the afternoon Saturday. After the Ring Figure dance, we had a party at the old Mayflower Hotel. I changed out of my uniform at the Wesley Foundation house before that party. After the party was over, I went back to the Wesley House to change back into my uniform, but it was locked up. I had to go back to barracks in civilian clothes. Jack Vest went up to his room and got me Bill Creswick’s overcoat and hat to wear into barracks. I got back to my room OK. I then went next door to return the overcoat and hat. I got back to my room and was standing in my

Class notes

doorway, still wearing civilian clothes, when around the corner comes Major West doing a ‘stick check’ and asked me were these clothes I was wearing authorized. So, I got 10-2-10 for that.”

Rob Gates: “The main thing I remember is that my roommate and I ran the block Friday night after taps and went to where our dates were staying. I can’t remember the name of the place, but it was an old-style motel that was a collection of cabins. The cabins were duplexes, and when we got there, my date told me that a couple of guys (locals) had gone into the room next to hers and were bothering the girls. She wanted me—all 140 pounds of me—to go do something! I pulled the visor of my garrison cap down low, and when I went into the room, I used my best deep command voice and said, ‘I don’t think you belong here.’ To my great surprise, they left. I don’t know what would have happened if they had challenged me. The next morning (Saturday), we had classes. When I looked at my notes a couple of months later while I was studying for my history exam, all that I found on that page were some indecipherable scribbles and a line that trailed off to the bottom of the page. I don’t know what I slept through that period or if it was on the exam.”

John Chiles: “Giving Judy her miniature and walking through the giant ring was a great moment. I’m not a dancer, but I enjoyed the dance and the after-party in the basement of the Mayflower Hotel. I remember the combo singing Hot Nuts and the dance floor soaked with beer and liquor. I remember Max Toch broke the stone out of his new ring when he punched out a townie who was lurking in the hall trying to sneak looks into the ladies’ bathroom.”

John Forsyth had a fond memory: “The few car dealerships in my town used to cover showroom windows with soap or butcher paper in September just prior to the new models arriving—I assume to enhance the suspense—so, a few of us prepubescent drivers would scramble over (or through) a dealership’s back lot fence Sunday afternoons, scaling oil drums and debris piles for quick glimpses (through a transom window) of the soon-to-be-revealed shiny chrome beasts hidden in the maintenance bay! Somehow, bragging rights were earned for confirming design

rumors prior to the official unveiling. Did I realize kudos and admiration from my peers for sharing such discovery ... maybe only in my still fertile mind! Guess that could have been an early experience pursuing forbidden fruit! Please remember I was not Catholic, so I didn’t have to confess such sins to a priest, and I was pretty sure the good Lord wanted me to see His latest creations! Although any vision of me behind the wheel of a stylish land yacht would have to wait another 11 years, I remember fondly participating in the excitement, seeing the new chrome, the fins, and the wide white wall tires of that bygone era. Maybe you have similar memories, John.” (I still have the video that John sent with his story on my computer if anyone would like to see it again.)

When looking for lost BR connections, Jake de Steiguer noted: “The left coast is a great place to live. If any of you get out this way, I hope you will stop over; we have many bedrooms and lots of beer. I don’t know who Randy Mueller’s roomies were. My rat year was kind of a sleep-deprived blur. Randy was a boyhood friend and the reason I came to VMI. He didn’t want to be there, but his dad, Class of ’39, figured out that if I went, Randy would, too.”

Bert Burckard’s seeming obsession with the 100-year-old ham in the Gwaltney museum in Smithfield, Virginia, drew this from Allen Gwaltney. “BR Bert does get around, and the Gwaltney clan has adopted him. Just another ham hock doing what he does best. By the way, those old shriveled up hams look better than some of us Old Corp guys. Blessings to all BRs. Allen.”

J.B. Farley: “Wow, I just had a Virginia ham for Christmas, as we do every year! Big hit here in California! All goes to show that you can take the boy out of Virginia, but you can’t take Virginia out of the boy! Great little video! J.B.”

John Shea: “After reading your recent post about Confederate graves at Arlington, I remembered I had something to pass on. In September, Peggy and I took another Viking Cruise to the Netherlands. While there, we visited the Netherlands American Cemetery, I was able to locate the graves of two VMI men, Alexander Newton ’931 and Paul Borden ’937. The guide, a former Netherlands Army warrant officer, was very helpful as he navigated directly to the graves and did not mind that I left one of my VMI cufflinks at each grave. We had earlier been warned that nothing could be left at the graves. The Dutch take great pride in caring for the cemetery. Many of the locals sponsor graves. This was the third location we have visited and left VMI tokens. The other two were Luxembourg and Normandy American Military Cemeteries. Hope all is well with the class. John.”

George Sanborn: “Jan, I had always wanted to go to Antarctica after reading the incredible adventure of Ernest Shackleton. Neither of our wives had any interest in seeing Antarctica. I’ve asked other people in the past, but most said something about, ‘It’s too far,’ or ‘it’s too cold,’ and, ‘We can see penguins at the zoo.’”

Class Notes

“Tubby Wilkinson is as adventurous as I am. He and I have been traveling together to the VMI ’67 yearly golf event in Pinehurst, North Carolina, for years now. No one who has been through the Rat Line is deterred by cold weather, blowing snow (there were 5 or 6 inches of snow on the deck of the ship at times), high wind, or smelly penguins. (3rds?) Of course, we were on a Viking ship, so we were not exactly roughing it.”

Tubby Wilkinson’s view of the trip: “Jan, George, and I came up with this idea during our annual Pinehurst golf outing in 2022. George’s usual travel buddy did not want to make the Antarctica trip, so I volunteered to go. Neither of our wives is fond of cruising, so we decided to go together. Obviously, it’s part of the world that most people will never see in person, which is part of the allure. The scenery is spectacular, although it does not change much from one day to another. The wildlife is amazing: Birds, sea lions, and whales. And, of course, penguins—literally thousands of them. We had a great time, and I highly recommend it. But be prepared for some very rough water across the Drake Passage. Warmest regards, Tubby.”

Christmas 2022 messages from ’67 cards for Alumni Review (Feb. 15, 2023):

Mike and Anne Hall said that they have added a little one to their home in the form of an 8-week-old, 1.7-pound miniature long-haired dachshund. They named her Belle, as she quickly took over the training of the humans. They outfitted her with a bell on her collar so they know where she is and don’t step on her as she makes her rounds, especially when she is in warp speed mode. Anne went to Germany in September to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau and toured several other areas while Mike stayed home to hold down the home front. Bruce and Hollace Weiner took a bike trip to Italy last summer and are planning another one to France next summer, along with a few ski trips with the kids and grandkids this winter. He says they feel fortunate and grateful.

William and Jo Fleshood lost their daughter, Kimberly, June 1, 2022, after a long valiant fight with bile duct cancer. This was followed by Jo’s mom’s dementia accelerating so much they had to place her in memory care in Florida.

Her parents celebrated their 96th and 98th birthdays in 2022. Jo wound up getting COVID-19 during one of her trips down to Florida to care for her mom and then got shingles immediately after having the shingles vaccine.

Tom and Shirley Mustard sent blessings from Stone Mountain area this year. They said they were blessed with the baptism of a great-grandchild and the wedding of a great-nephew. Sadly, Ann Plentl’s mom and Bob Nablo’s wife, Janet, have passed since our last AR. Janet had been suffering for 10 years with both congestive heart and kidney disease.

Stan Waskiewicz said his brother, Joe, passed unexpectedly in February 2022. Then Ski and Carol Ann celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary in May. Their finale was traveling to the Lodge at Burr Oak State Park for Carol to celebrate her 70th birthday.

Doug and Carl Ann Mills headed to the Rhine for a river cruise in August. They said that except for football weekends in Gainesville, Florida, they have been close to home most of the time. Carol Ann stepped in to substitute teach, which turned into full-time as a special education teacher because they needed her. They are planning a trip to Normandy in June 2023 along with one to Virginia for Doug’s 69th high school reunion.

Barry Green said he recognized a deviation in his lower left eyelid’s inner border and, after having it evaluated, wound up having an ocular plastic surgeon and specialized dermatologist remove the squamous cell carcinoma. The reconstruction is undetectable they did such an excellent job. He has attended a variety of Tradorees in Virginia and North Carolina, which

is essential to his patch trading addiction and BSA brotherhood. They finally got to take their trip to Greece and Turkey, which they had planned for their 50th anniversary in 2021 originally.

Jim Waehler is now fully retired from his legal practice, which gives him more time to spend with Marie and visit with his children in Texas and Alaska. He plays tennis three mornings a week and has rejoined the gym.

Jim and Janice Clarke were delighted when their son was transferred to be a supervisor in Dominion Energy’s Lexington, Virginia, office. It was the perfect excuse for them to sell their home and move close by in Staunton. They will be renovating their previous property with the idea of selling in spring 2023. Janice says it may be time for Jim to part with his ’84 El Camino and his ’95 Cadillac, as this is the end of an era.

Cliff “Spook” Hagy says his daughter, Heather, is now a physical therapist, and his son, James, has become a banker.

John and Peggy Shea have continued their overseas travel sailing from Great Britain to Norway via the Arctic Circle, with the high point being the Northern Lights. On day two,

Class notes

they had 40-foot waves, with the ship pitching enough to restrict movement onboard. John said that he realized why God sent him to the Army and not the Navy after his bout with seasickness that day. Then in August, they traveled to Belgium for a three-day stay in Bruges before getting on a river boat to tour the Netherlands.

Mya and Chuck Krebs attended the 55th Reunion, with many others, but Chuck came down with pneumonia the second morning, and they had to head back home. Mya had to leave Chuck home in bed to drive to Virginia Beach to be with her sister, who was fighting her last battle with Alzheimer’s. In late August, they celebrated their 30th anniversary with an annual camping trip on Hatteras Island, North Carolina.

Terry and Beth Moore spent the holidays in Atlanta with their son’s family. They connected with Jan and Joan Abernathy for lunch while in town. On a recent visit to New Orleans, they went to see the Temptations and The Four Tops, with an original member present for each band.

Some recent moves and relocations: Ed and Peggy Poe have relocated to a great retirement community in Maryland, and John and Peggy Hilsabeck have done the same in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

Ray Gosney has moved into a unit at Providence in Northern Virginia, where he continues his rehabilitation from his aortic heart issue. He has been visited as of this writing by Rick Brooke, who had a similar heart challenge, and Tommy Tomlinson

Dave Bristow has moved back to Virginia again.

John and Leslie Forsyth decided to make an epic cross-country trek from Colorado to visit friends out east after completing 15 years of caregiver obligations. John called it his “final pass and review.” They were only 50 miles from home when a deer leaped in front of the car. They were unharmed but had to get the car back home to the repair facility. As is typical of the VMI spirit, they were not deterred but rented a car and continued on their journey the same day. For the next 17 days, they traversed 18 states, logging 5,198 miles. They saw grandchildren and Niagara Falls, had a mini reunion with high school classmates, visited brother rats, and had many more experiences. Upon returning home, they found their damaged vehicle had been repaired by USAA under their comprehensive, which was much to

their advantage financially.

Colin Campbell sent in a great photo with his daughter and five of six grandchildren, but it was not up to AR conditions for inclusion in our notes.

Mike Andrews: “Thankful you are still kicking higher than ever, it seems. Linda and I were able to enjoy Thanksgiving with one of my sons’ families. They cooked everything in five counties and ... I ate it! Now I am feeling a bit overstuffed.”

Joan and I received several messages about this holiday, but I am including this one. Mike did not graduate with us, but he has been a quiet BR who supports our class and VMI. Thanks to all who stay in touch.

Lots of updates this time. Keep your news coming, as your BRs want to hear from you.

1968

Dana Duthie (Broomfield, Colorado): “Candy and I are still splitting our time between the Front Range of Colorado and Steamboat Springs. I’ve been playing lots of golf up at The Boat and riding my bike—now a recumbent E-Trike. As always, our door is open to any BRs who want to visit beautiful Colorado, especially Steamboat in the summer.”

John Warburton (Sarasota, Florida): “Anne and I have enjoyed excellent medical care the past several months. Anne had very successful lower back surgery, and I had a successful string of six treatment cycles for a rare form of B-cell lymphoma. My doctor is now using the word ‘remission.’ We had a great Thanksgiving visit with both kids and grands. Our great-granddaughter, Faye, just celebrated her first birthday—what a joy to have that experience with her! We are feeling very blessed and look forward to our 55th!”

Dave Gibbons (Washington, D.C.): “I wish I could have been in Lexington for Founders Day. It’s the first I’ve missed in 25 years. The formality of the weekend has always been so special for both Martha and me, but I had another black-tie event to attend at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.”

John Kemper (Richmond, Virginia): “Spending

most of my time volunteering as strategic advisor to not-for-profits here in the Richmond area (Ronald McDonald House Charities, YMCA, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond). Also still very involved with the VMI basketball program—really like the new coach and staff. They lost five starters from last season to the transfer portal, so it will take a couple of years to rebuild. Ran into Frank Pinizzotto (Pawleys Island, South Carolina) at Taps bar in Lexington after The Citadel game—had a great time catching up with him and his wife.”

Berry Wright (Ashland, Virginia): “It appears that the COVID-19 virus is finally beginning to decline. Thank goodness. It has really kept people in seclusion. My roommates and I had a reunion planned in 2022 but had to cancel due to the virus. Those mini reunions are priceless memories that do wonders to rekindle old friendships. Maybe this year, we can make it work. We have lost so many BRs lately that it is really sad. I reflected back on memories of Rick Seigel this week. He will be missed at the reunion.”

Bob McDowell (Medina, Washington): “Lissa and I are still enjoying being up in the Pacific Northwest. We enjoy meeting with Pete and Patty Farmer (Edmonds, Washington) on a regular basis and at the occasional VMI event. I have had a challenging year and have seen that others in our class have had to deal with similar situations, as I had a stroke and was hospitalized but have had great outpatient care and am on my way to what I hope is a great recovery. I am not sure what our plans will be for travel next year but will stay in touch.”

From Hal Hostetler’s (Portsmouth, Virginia) 2022 Christmas letter: “The big shock for me this year was the discovery that I now have confirmed prostate cancer. I’m due to have it studied more thoroughly to decide treatment, prognosis, etc. Your prayers are solicited.

“Brenda and I made two long trips this past summer. In May, we attended a reunion of 750 retired Southern Baptist missionaries in Orlando. In June, we made our annual Vietnam Combat Tracker trip—this time to Kansas City.

“Brenda and I have been invited to sing at the 50th-anniversary performance of ‘Celebration Life’ at Carnegie Hall in New York next June.”

J.B. Meadows (Fredericksburg, Virginia): “We have had a good year here and have spent much of the last year getting back with the kids and family. We have both been busy with art projects, and Vicki has been active with her

Class Notes

heritage societies.”

Rick Brothers (Sedona, Arizona): “Still loving the Sedona high country. Currently doing pro bono medicine, so I don’t get bored. I tell my patients, ‘You looked on Google and thought maybe I need this lab test or imaging studies to maybe find the cause for x, y, or z.’ That way, I’m not interfering with their doctor/patient relationship. Jane and I are well, and 54 years married this month with a fantastic family. Grandkids are all adults now.”

Dick Rankin (Honolulu, Hawaii), “All is well here in Hawaii. I am retired but working hard as the president of our nonprofit Wounded Warrior Ohana. Cyn is still working three days a week for Hilton on her way to retirement. We have two trips planned this spring—one a cruise in South America, and the other is a vessel rental in Ireland. In between, we plan to visit with brother rats and spouses at the reunion.”

Howard Chapman (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina) from his Christmas card: “This has been a good year in Mount Pleasant. We passed a major parks and recreation referendum and started two major drainage projects. I am still keeping things civil and respectful on council, and we are accomplishing good things for our town. The South Carolina Gamecocks improved throughout the year, and I will be going to the Gator Bowl with them Dec. 30.”

Bill Millan (Phillipsburg, New Jersey): “I am still working in conservation. I bowed out of Latin America but still run a program in the Caribbean islands. My son, Mac, is working in New York City theaters. We live in New Jersey. I am still writing; the latest, available on Amazon, is a non-fiction memoir, The Only War We Had, mainly about Vietnam. Susan and I just returned from 10 days in Athens, and in April we will cruise the Danube.”

Skip Anders (Mesa, Arizona): “We did a little travel near the end of 2022. We attended the Special Forces Association Convention in September, traveling by car and sightseeing

between Phoenix and Colorado Springs. We had an unexpected trip to Florida in November to attend a memorial service for my old Army boss. We took the opportunity to visit with family and friends in various places in Florida, including some time with our ‘military family,’ the 7th Special Forces Group, at Eglin Air Force Base. Near the end of the year, our daughter and her significant other found a very nice home close by in the Tempe, Arizona, area, which delighted Marta. We continue to work on our various crafts and make short trips to local areas of interest.”

Dixon McElwee (Boca Raton, Florida): “Linda and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary just two weeks ago. Our three children are all healthy and living their lives in Santa Monica, California; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We have

five grandchildren, ages 2-12.

“Linny and I are in good health with the normal ailments that plague us as we age. I stay in touch with our BRs through email and occasional visits to Lex for football games. I see BRs from time to time, Gil and Tracy Piddington (Hilton Head, South Carolina), Bogart and Emily Holland (Virginia Beach, Virginia), Bill Bouck (Deerfield Beach, Florida), Kevin Henry (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), Bill Carter (Raleigh, North Carolina), and John Royster (Bermuda Run, North Carolina). All are good and worthy friends I look forward to seeing in April. Lastly, I have to support the continuing goodwill that John Augustine (St. Petersburg, Florida), Steve Powers (Malvern, Pennsylvania), Bob Waldron (El Paso, Texas), and Guy Wilson (Charlotte, North Carolina) share with us as they/we have reason and wisdom re: the events of our nation.”

George Woodbury (Lillington, North Carolina): “Waking up on the right side of the dirt is always a great day. Having good health and being active is a plus. My wife and I will celebrate 53 years this coming April, and I am in the process of transitioning to retirement. Just need to wrap up my current projects in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Then my wife and I hope to spend time traveling with our fifthwheel camper. We continue to enjoy life here in North Carolina and being an active part of our two sons’ and six grandchildren’s lives.”

Kit Tyler (Midlothian, Virginia): “For being two senior citizens, we are doing fairly well, although last week Jeanne and I both tested positive for COVID-19. We are recovering nicely thanks to the pharmaceutical industry. I am still working almost full time and had two of the best years in my career in 2021 and 2022.”

George Buzzard (Waynesboro, Virginia):

“Norma and I plan to attend the reunion in April. We are going to spend some time with Wayne and Sylvia Burton (Saint Marys, Georgia) and Lew and Joyce Yeouze (Peachtree City, Georgia). The three couples are planning

Class notes

a trip to Macon in September to see the VMI versus Mercer football game, and we all are also going to meet up in Charleston for The Citadel game. Norma and I have a trip planned to the Midwest this summer with our daughter’s family. It will be fun to see our brother rats in April.”

David Wagner (Columbine Valley, Colorado): “My special something for my birthday is that I am on Maui for the next 10 days celebrating. Tomorrow, we go to my favorite restaurant on Maui. I have a couple of tee times in the future. We are otherwise just relaxing and enjoying the weather.

“Fortunately, not much has changed for me this year. I still practice law part-time. We continue to enjoy living in our home (we have already been there 13 years and counting). I am very grateful for everything.

“I am going to try to make it to the reunion in April. The only challenge is that my wife might be having foot surgery. If so, I will be the caregiver for her during the reunion period.”

An article in an upcoming edition of VFW Magazine tells of the efforts of a Mr. Tom Ashmore and his efforts to teach seniors and disabled who use canes how to use them as a personal gym to increase flexibility and, when needed, to defend themselves. He calls the program Cane Loyalty and the defensive portion, Cane-Fu. Tom was recently presented an award by the Richmond, Virginia, chapter of The Purple Heart by its commander, Dick Wise (Richmond, Virginia). Billy Seargeant (Fredericksburg, Virginia), another life member of the Richmond chapter of The Purple Heart, sent me, and others, a copy of the article.

1969

Greetings, Brothers Rats and Friends of the VMI Class of 1969,

It is mid-February, and the days are getting longer and lighter. In January, we heard of the passing of John Godfrey and Ken Parris and the consequent services remembering them. The Arlington Cemetery service for retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Rudy Segaar, JAG, scheduled for Feb. 8, was delayed at the last moment

until May 22. See also news of many BRs gathering or getting out in noteworthy activities and the announcement of the dates for our 55th reunion in 2024.

The dates for our 55th Reunion have been announced: April 14–15, 2024. I am seeking volunteers to help put together our part of the time together. Those I spoke with said let us gather Saturday, the 13th, and stay together for the weekend and start of week. Our dinner with the VMI Alumni Agencies will be on the 14th, so we need an agenda for Saturday and Tuesday for those making the trip to Lexington. A new wrinkle to any visit to Lexington is the sharp increase in motel/hotel prices. The Main Street inns have all jumped significantly higher, so we will do our planning with that fact in mind. Do you want to volunteer to plan the weekend? Tell me soon, please. Planning for hotels and other activities will come later.

On Dec. 14, Drew Brantley organized another Christmas season luncheon for our class. Twelve BRs met at the Greek restaurant, Orapax, in Norfolk and shared a meal and lots of conversation. After all these years, we still laugh and share wild stories that might even be true. Bobby Watts, Bob Alexander, Walt Judd, Gary Mackey, Wip Priest, Jim Baker, Bob Flowers, Webb Hatch, Drew, Lee Barnes, Glenn White, and Bob Heely all gathered for the event. Most wore their reunion shirts or something with VMI prominently displayed. As usual, several other diners stopped by to encourage us or to mention their own connection to the Institute.

In early January, I heard of the passing of two brother rats in the Richmond area. The families of John P. Godfrey and Ken Parris posted their obits in the local papers.

John was a five-year man in civil engineering and completed his degree with the Class of 1970. He and Jim Long managed the wrestling team and kept a relatively low profile in barracks. “Godfrey, Mr. John Patrick, 75, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. He was preceded in death by his father, Roland J. ‘Bud’ Godfrey, and his nephew, William R. ‘Will’ Godfrey. John is survived by his mother, Patricia L. Godfrey; a brother, Charles W. ‘Chuck’ Godfrey (Nancy); a sister, Deborah G. ‘Deb’ Griffin (Robert); nieces, Stefanie G. Cain (Jeff) and Sarah G. Kling (Danny); a nephew, John C. Godfrey; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was born May 12, 1947, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. John

was a 1965 graduate of Douglas S. Freeman High School and continued his education at the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1970 with a degree in civil engineering. He spent more than 40 years working for the State Water Control Board (now the Division of Environmental Quality) in various engineering roles.” Jan. 12, 2023, Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Then Jan. 20, I got a note from Lee Swats telling me Ken Parris had died and would be remembered at a service on the 27th. He also reminded us that “as you may know, Ken was diagnosed with ALS in late November.” Ken attended VMI for two-and-a-half years and left after Ring Figure weekend. Gary Mackey kept up with Ken through the years—the bonds of the football linemen are great. Several were saddened by the news and attended the service.

“Parris, Kenneth Bishop, Jr., surrounded by his family, passed away Jan. 19, 2023. He was born to Virginia Gatewood Parris and Kenneth Bishop Parris Sr. Jan. 22, 1947. Ken is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Alisa Blackburn Parris; sons, Schon (Lisa) of Atlanta, and John (Ellie); and daughter, Cameron (Kevin) of Midlothian. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Alex, Keegan, and Neely of Atlanta, and Grace and Leigh of Midlothian; brothers, Julius (Kaye) and David (Donna); sister-inlaw, Diana Mahoney; and much-loved nieces and nephews. Ken retired from Philip Morris USA in 1999 after a career that spanned over three decades. His proudest accomplishments were the people he befriended and the cherished friendships that have lasted through the years. Born in Danville, Virginia, Ken was the eldest of three boys. The boys were famous (or infamous) for their antics, depending on who was telling the story, stories that included mischief with their mother, as well as firecrackers, bows and arrows, and BB guns. Ken was a man of strong but quiet faith and loved his family fiercely. His children were his pride and joy, his life revolving around theirs. Ken never missed a game of soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, football, a cheering competition, wrestling match, or dance recital. With the arrival of his grandchildren, the first being 22 years ago, he shared his love of sports and experienced great joy watching them excel. He became a childcare expert with the arrival of the two youngest. With only a slight bit of hesitation, he agreed to making bottles, changing diapers, and rocking babies. Before long, Ken was back at soccer,

softball, concerts, and birthday parties. Ken’s happiest moments were family gatherings. Sunday afternoons were spent poolside with family and friends and often included squirt guns, unicorn floats, and witnessing the finer art of getting ‘iced.’ Beach trips and holidays were spent in houses and rooms overflowing with family, love, and laughter. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at River Road Baptist Church Richmond, VA 23229.” Jan. 22, 2023, Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Spunky Butler gave us a quick recap of service. “First, big funeral. Held in one of the biggest Baptist churches in Richmond, there were 200-plus attendees. Ken’s three kids had spawned a big family, and they were all there, but the church family also showed up in strong support. The biggest surprise for me was the lead pastor was our BR Bob Clingenpeel’s kid brother, Michael. He said he was accepted at the ‘I’ but had no intention of coming in as a rat while his older brother was a 1st. He well-remembered Bob bringing BRs to their home in Roanoke, and their joy of civilian clothes, even for a couple hours. Three years ago, he had retired as the minister but [as the pastor emeritus*] had done lots with Ken’s family members and was asked to come back and lead Ken’s funeral. There were six brother rats in attendance: Gary Mackey, Lee Swatts, Bob Biddle, Mike Santoro, Courtenay Welton, and me. We sat together and stayed quiet but afterward couldn’t help laughing at ourselves as we all tried to straighten up and walk back down the aisle, more lurching than walking. Nice reception afterward in the fellowship hall. The line to speak to wife Alisa was still strong 45 minutes into the reception, so we each grabbed an extra cookie and headed home.” I passed these words to Bob in Arizona, and he confirmed Spunky’s stories as “true as stated.” *Toro added this line about the pastor emeritus name: “Which he described as a great title with no money. (Which reminded me of a couple of ventures I am involved with these days!)” Ah, the joys of working not-forprofit ...

Thanks again to Jim Campbell for keeping our class website current. He puts in the old and new pictures when he has them and posts obits

as they are available. Mike Santoro monitors our Facebook group page for similar but different information.

John and Nancy Scott, Fred Downey, Walter and Beverly Judd, Glenn White, and several others planned to be at Rudy’s service Feb. 8. Less than 24 hours before the scheduled time, Judy heard about a mix-up at the chapel. Her time slot had been scheduled for someone else in a massive mistake. She was able to reschedule for May 22. The Scotts had traveled from Florida to Fort Myer, while the Judds were halfway there when the word got out.

Road trip! On Saturday, Jan. 21, Bob Alexander and I started before 8 a.m. for a journey to Lexington and the VMI versus El Cid basketball game

Alice Wright at the halftime gathering. We saw Ron and Betsy Wall after the game and later at dinner. VMI won the first half, but El Cid came back in the second for the win. After a short rest break after the game, Bob, Toro, and I headed back to post to attend the Hall of Fame banquet. We sat with new inductee Chavis Holmes ’09 and his young family. His twin and fellow inductee, Travis, sat next to us. Before dinner was served, we chatted with current basketball players Sam Wolfe ’23 and Sean Conway ’23 and came away impressed. Many of the attendees at the dinner remembered the inductees, new and old, and gave them many rounds of applause. I never tire of seeing those star basketball players from the late 1970s. Our class members of the hall are Bob Biddle (F), Frank Easterly (F), Bob Habasevich (F), Jack Kennedy (W), John Mitchell (Bb), and Tim White (Ba).

and the following Hall of Fame dinner. We picked up Mike Santoro at his home in Midlothian and headed west over the mountains at Afton. Our timing was good, and we joined the pre-game crowd in Moody Hall for lunch. We saw Dave and Susan Prugh sitting with a prospective cadet and then Jim and Beth Long in the food line. We enjoyed a barbecue lunch and talked with my former neighbor, Terrell Williams ’74, and his wife, Sarah, and cousin, Gordon Williams ’70, brother to our BR Rawls. We walked downhill to the new indoor track facility and watched a few minutes of a big high school track meet before heading over to the basketball game. We sat with Jim and Beth Long and Tom and Nancy Catlett and noted John Sebrell and Mary

From Mike Santoro, who is one of three BRs associated with the Virginia War Memorial Foundation board, in late January: “I had the privilege of attending the opening of the Virginia War Memorial’s latest exhibit, ‘50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam Veteran Experience.’ It is a fantastic exhibit featuring the oral histories of 50 Vietnam vets from around the state. Three of the 50 featured vets have VMI connection: Jack Mountcastle ’65 (who was the moderator at our Vietnam discussion at our 50th), Eddie Swink ’68, and Al Hockaday [(’94 HBR)]. Sgt. Maj. Hockaday was first assigned to VMI as part of the team that set up NROTC back in the ’70s. He retired from the Marine Corps and stayed on as the VMI Corps sergeant major for many years. He was named an honorary BR of the Class of ’94. I had an interesting talk with him. This exhibit will be at the War Memorial until about this time next year.” Bob Flowers serves on the board of directors, and Charlie Bryan is a director emeritus.

Tom Jones started an email trail with several BRs in late January just before the VMI basketball team visited Mercer in Macon, Georgia. Tom will take the team out for supper Friday before the game. He and Ms. E celebrated their 34th anniversary in Asheville, North Carolina, a week earlier. When Tom mentioned he would

Class notes

entertain Coach Doug Bartlett of the Keydet Club staff, Doug Marks chimed in, “I just got home from having breakfast with the same Coach! Once a year breakfast at the Cracker Barrel for a lot of years now!” Bob Heely, John Sebrell, and Bruce Gregory added comments about our basketball team before the fun ended. Then the Keydets stopped by The Citadel Thursday before the Mercer game and ended their drought with a payback win in Charleston.

The two 1st Class cadets my small group had met at the Hall of Fame dinner (Wolfe and Conway) led the way with timely three-point shots and great defense.

Webb Hatch coached at Marymount University in NOVA for many years and recently went back for a mini reunion with some of his players from the inaugural 1987–88 men’s team. I counted nine players in a picture with Coach Hatch

He carried some unused basketballs with the old team logo with him and gave them away. His reward was a great picture of a future 5-or 6-year-old player with her new basketball and a huge smile. Webb also sent a picture of a clean bar glass with the inscription, “You smell like booze and bad choices. Come sit by me.” I love his humor!

Moving to a different sport, Rebel Good was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in late January. The inscription stated: “The North Carolina Tennis Foundation is proud to honor Rebel Good by induction into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2023, for the excellence of his activities in and connected with North Carolina Tennis which have brought substantial recognition and esteem to himself and the state.” Rebel has written several books about tennis and has been a regular official at the U.S. Open and other prestigious tournaments. Way to go, BR!

Sometime early in December, I finished signing and stuffing nearly 300 cards and mailed them to you. If you did not get one, please tell me, as that is one way I try to keep address info correct. I heard back from many of you and wish to pass on my thanks for all the

newsy replies. Sending me cards this year were Mike and Leigh Harper, Bowling Green, Kentucky; Marty and Cathy Parks, Galax, Virginia; Gail Brown, Wilmington, North Carolina; Webb Hatch, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Clint and Catherine Spencer, Gainesville, Georgia; Lou and Tanya Sidney, Alexandria, Virginia, planning a trip to Southeast Asia in early 2023; and Jim

and Linda Boggs, Herndon, Virginia, where Jim is completing his book, Reviving Our Republic. Also Art and Becky Bushey, Gordonsville, Virginia, with five cute grandkids; John and Betty Weber, Valley Center, California; Judy Segaar, now in Fairfax, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Mike and Martha Santoro, Midlothian, Virginia; Spunky and Linda Butler, Doswell, Virginia, just back from a trip to England with Hudsons; John and Marie Mitchell, Chapel Hill, Virginia; Mike and

Mary Giles, Somerville, Massachusetts; Sam Hoffman, Goochland, Virginia; John Edenfield, Stockton, California; and Bill and Louise McGowan, Lorton, Virginia, now closing down his law practice. More good friends: Joe and Michie Flanz, Alexandria, Virginia, who are still traveling and will visit the Netherlands and Gen. Patton’s [’907] grave in Luxemburg this spring; Larry Riegner, Port Orange, Florida; Joe and Jenny Howard, White Rock, New Mexico; John and Greta Campbell, Ozark, Alabama; V.J. and Margi Petrella, Mount Airy, Maryland; Bunny McLeod Junk, Deland, Florida, who remarried this year and lives on 3.5 acres of active wildlife habitat; Lloyd and Debbie McGrady, Navarre, Florida, who said “their kids and grandkids will never know what they missed [by not attending the ‘I’]”; Jim and Beth Long, Salem, Virginia; Roy Dana Swatts, Orlando, Florida; Rusty and Kathy Chamberlain, Durango, Colorado; John and Nancy Scott, North Redington Beach, Florida, whose letter included photos of kids, friends and a special dinner or two; Jay Jennings, Woodbridge, Virginia; Don and Noreen Mercer, Virginia Beach, Virginia, who tied for most grandkids when number nine arrived; Tom and Karen Buckner, Memphis, Tennessee, who appeared to be moving the pace forward by one in their family photo (10 and counting!); Jim and Malda Puryear, Midlothian, Virginia, with words about Jim’s triple bypass surgery and a momentous recovery process; Joe and Betty Oliver, Midlothian, Virginia, lots of photos of their large family; Glenn Hammond, Troutville, Virginia, shown happily with grandson and granddaughter; Gordon Bailey, Fairfield Bay, Arkansas; newlyweds Bob and Ginger Ladd, Raphine, Virginia, “Married and merry!”; David and Darlene Couch, Tucson, Arizona, looking comfortable with their sons and grandkids; Jack Robb, Hilton, New York; Pat Browning, Natural Bridge, Virginia; Harold and Jane Fleischer, San Antonio, Texas; and Gary Vitt, Alexandria, Virginia.

John and Nancy Scott have plans to honor John’s parents at an April 2023 service at a veterans’ cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida. Both parents signed up for service in World War II—she as an Army nurse in dangerous London, and he as a Naval Seabee in the Pacific. The Scotts wanted to honor another of the many Greatest Generation couples who dedicated years of their lives to protecting our country.

Don Mercer completed a truly remarkable journey in 2022. He visited the 63rd national park (in American Samoa) and got a certificate from the National Park Service for his efforts. Don’s renewed interest in scuba diving kept him interested in finishing his project.

Fred Downey’s grandson is soon to be a legacy cadet and our first grandson to go. Fred attended a weekend program with the high school senior and was pleased when he agreed to give it a go.

Rawls Williams noted the news in February that singer/songwriter Bert Bacharach had died. He pointed out the younger Bert was son of Bertram Max Bacharach ’920, who “graduated from VMI after serving [as a Marine] in World War I, played professional football, and became a celebrated columnist.” Our legacy from that same era includes relatives of both Jim Chapman (uncle, Flavius J. Chapman ’920; dad, James H. Chapman Jr. ’927) and Val Southall (dad, Valentine “Turkey” Southall ’923). L.R. also sent me a photo of him with Bob Slay taken in Sun Valley, Idaho, at his tennis club. Bob will soon be spending time there in Sun Valley.

Speaking of legacy and kids of VMI grads, I conversed via email with several BRs about Alan Wilson, current South Carolina attorney general and son of our BR Mike McCrory, who died too young. Paul Curs started the dialogue, and Bob Leibecke, Tom Hickman, Wayne Keesee, Frank Novakowski, and V.J. Petrella all chimed in with comments. While Mike never went to law school, his son did and has done well in his home state.

Time to remind you to complete your 50th Reunion pledges or start new ones. No matter how the political winds blow, cadets at VMI are still mastering a rugged, rigorous program. We need to continue to do our part in supporting them and their teachers. Keep on sending your donations!

In the Spirit, Walt

1970

Greetings, Brother Rats, Family, and Friends of the VMI Class of 1970, It’s 0430 Friday, Feb. 1, 2023. Light snow is falling, 37°, dense fog. Good writing weather.

Waite Rawls called to say that Carson Tucker passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2022, from complications associated with pancreatic cancer. In 2018, doctors diagnosed Carson with Parkinson’s disease. Many brother rats, Carson’s colleagues, and friends in Powhatan, Virginia, sent me memories of him. Those memories all paint a similar picture. He was less concerned with himself and far more interested in helping others. One colleague in Powhatan County, where he lived and worked for most of his adult life, had this to say about him: “The contributions he made to the betterment of our county are countless.” Another said, “We are all the better for having Carson in our midst.”

Jim Spacek died on this day, the day I begin my notes, eight days after Carson. Jim also

had Parkinson’s disease. Jim was a yellow, white, and red-blooded VMI man through and through. Taz Taylor visited with Jim a time or two just before his death. At the end of these notes, you can read a quote about Jim from Taz.

Brother Rat Cameron Seay reminded me that Doug Davis also has Parkinson’s, diagnosed 14 years ago. Dave and his wife, Yvonne, who have been married for 50 years, live in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area. Doug was a special forces officer and parachutist and served in Vietnam. His doctors ascribe exposure to Agent Orange as likely linked to his Parkinson’s. I spoke to Doug recently, and he wanted me to pass on an offer to talk with any other brother rat who may also be battling this disease. He has had ample experience and knows much about therapy and available resources. Contact me if you need his information.

Now, a few words on the antics of Stix Chandler, who reported to me that Nov. 5, 2022, the Northeast Florida VMI Alumni Association Jacksonville Chapter held its annual oyster roast, during which about 30 VMI alums, family, and friends slurped down 60 pounds of oysters, gobbled up 10 pounds of shrimp, and consumed Lord only knows how many gallons of swill. VMI Classes from 1955–2021 were there. Notables like Dick Valentine ’72 and

Class notes

Hugh Hopkins ’69 attended. From Nov. 29–Dec. 8, Stix, Nancy, and other traveling companions toured the Holy Land. They visited the Roman aqueduct and theatre at Caesarea and passed through the Valley of the Doves, the ruins of Tel Dan, Jericho, Bethlehem, and the Mount of Olives. Stix was baptized again at the Jordan River, wearing a VMI shirt that previously belonged to Warren Grasty. I guess the first one didn’t take. He and others attended a church service on the Sea of Galilee and floated in the Dead Sea. Imagine a skinny guy like Stix floating in the Dead Sea.

I heard from Dick Cheatham. Dick lost his sister, Peggy, in 2022 due to complications relating to a stroke. His beloved family dog, Sam, passed away after being with him and Patti for 13 years, and then Patti had to head to Oregon to assist her elderly mom. She’s been gone for over seven months. Dick presses on, still working, researching, and portraying historical figures. He did about 130 presentations in 2022 in Virginia and even out to Nashville, where he visited with Dick and Linda Knight He has done presentations about John Rolfe of Jamestown, Capt. Meriwether Lewis, Secretary Thomas Nelson, President John Tyler, and, of course, J.T.L. Preston. Dick’s latest projects include John Clayton and Richard Henry Lee. Dick visits Bob Hawthorne often, himself a VMI rock star. Bob and Dick recently went to the 50th reunion of the high school class of students he and Bob taught after they graduated. Bob eventually married Cathy, one of his students from that school. Well, now, that is handy. Bob is still going strong. Long retired from the Air Force. In recent years, he has worked with Martinair Inc., Washington, D.C., and was the Washington office manager. Martinair is a “premium charter service, offering the largest fleet of charter aircraft on the eastern seaboard.” Among other duties, he books chartered flights. He sent me pictures in the past of clients boarding Martinair’s luxurious-looking aircraft. Most of the time, those pictures show beautiful and classy young clients. What’s up with that? Bob also works on veteran issues, but arguably the most important work he does is depicted in the

enclosed picture of him Nov. 10 surrounded by attentive children at the Jack & Jill Lighthouse School in Richmond. On this day, the day before Veterans Day, Bob regaled these magnificent creatures with stories about his experiences in the U.S. Air Force over 30-plus years.

“We so enjoyed hearing firsthand about the meaningful sacrifices made by him and all of our military veterans and why all of our veterans deserve our respect, gratitude, and remembrance,” say Pam Brown and Mary Cox of the Jack & Jill School. Not a bad way to spend your day, Bob. Good on you.

English majors can take a pass on this part of the notes. Ben Morris reported having had

hand surgery to correct Dupuytren’s contracture. This condition causes one or more fingers to bend toward the palm, which makes proper saluting difficult and leads to the awarding of demerits and confinement. Knots of tissue form under the skin, eventually creating a thick cord that can pull the fingers into a permanently bent position, leading to more demerits and confinement. In severe cases, as Ben had, surgeons removed the offending tissue. Recently doctors scheduled me to have a trapeziectomy, where surgeons remove a trapeze from the base of the thumb. Wait a minute. That is a circus thing. They remove the trapezium, a small bone at the bottom of the thumb joint, impaired by osteoarthritis, which causes much pain, especially in wimps like me. Why am I talking about all these disorders? At our age, some days, that’s all there is about which to speak. Class is over now.

Ned Haley wrote to talk about VMI football. He spoke about the new head coach, Danny Rocco. I call him Rockin’ Rocco. Danny has added some “powerhouse assistant coaches, including Brian Stinespring, who previously was assistant head coach at Virginia Tech under Coach Frank Beamer.” Ned is looking forward to many trips to Foster Stadium this fall. Me, too. We can always hope. By the time the Review publishes these notes, Ned and Fricka will have finished a three-week trip to southern Spain with four longstanding travel friends. They will have visited Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, and other places. We will have to wait until next time for a full report on that adventure.

Next up to bat is the always smiling A.C. Arnn, who reports that he is living large in Burlington, North Carolina, the “hosiery center of the south,” which might explain why he is wearing hose these days. “The Arnn household had its first Christmas in its new townhome in 2022 and christened it with all five grandchildren present. It was a wonderful time, and Beth had the home decorated to the T.” By the time these notes get published, Beth and A.C.’s son, Patrick, will have retired from the U.S. Air Force and be flying for Delta Airlines. A.C. cautions brother rats to check the pilots on duty if flying anytime soon on

Class Notes

Delta. He is accustomed to doing inverted maneuvers in an F-16, which is not recommended for flying your everyday Boeing 747. I suspect the view from an inverted Boeing 747 is pretty spectacular. These two lovebirds plan to travel in 2023—Paris for Beth’s birthday in March and then a Viking River Cruise in southern France. In August, they will visit Spain and Portugal. But the important news is that Beth and A.C. have issued an open invitation to BRs traveling through the Burlington area to drop by. They counsel that you better hurry up before Stix Chandler gets his hands on a key to the guest room.

Artie Pates spent Thanksgiving in Louisiana with a niece. Her son is contemplating a run at VMI, which would put him in the VMI Class of about 2040. But Artie doubts he will be here to see it. Come on, Artie. You will only be 102. Suck it up.

I heard from Gordon Williams and saw him at the VMI versus The Citadel basketball game in Lexington Saturday, Jan. 21. Gordon still sits on the VMI Keydet Club Board of Governors and continues to run his engineering sales business in Chicago. Last fall, he brought several friends from the Chicago area down to Lexington for a VMI weekend. They stayed at Sunny Brook Farm and rented the entire house for three nights. “We had a blast that included visiting one of the local wineries,” he says. That explains the blast. “We attended the 25th-anniversary event celebrating women at VMI, viewed a full-dress VMI parade, and attended the VMI versus Bucknell football game. All had a great time.” In an email recently, Gordon reflected on this past Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022, and highlighted a former VMI cadet, John Luke Phillips ’17, who Gordon is proud to have supported during his cadetship. In 2016, Luke earned the No. 1 spot on the National Order of Merit list at the ROTC Cadet Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky. “He’s the epitome of the high-quality student, athlete, and leader that we look for in Army ROTC, as well as to represent Virginia Military Institute,” said Col. Michael Wawrzyniak, professor of military science and head of the VMI ROTC program at the time. Presently, Luke is a captain in the combat arms of the U.S. Army. Tom Morehouse is up to bat. He and Sallie went on a golf cruise on the Danube in August through Kalos Golf in North Carolina. He highly recommends Kalos. They arrived in Munich, and the Kalos staff was there to greet

them and whisk their bags away to the vessel AmaLea docked outside Munich. Tom and Sallie played six courses—two in Germany, three in Austria, and one in Hungary. This is making the GOMBAC crew’s heads spin. These two are planning for a Normandy golf cruise in June 2024. They also did a cruise to Bermuda in October, which was postponed from October 2020. On a sad note, they lost their beloved chocolate lab, Hershey, right before the cruise. “We don’t have an emergency backup dog (I’ve always considered any dog under 20 pounds to be an emergency backup dog), so we will shortly be looking for another lab.”

An emergency backup dog. What a concept!

On Nov. 19, 2022, Tom and Sallie attended the VMI versus The Citadel Military Classic of the South. They dared to bring along a Citadel grad and split their time between stadium sides. After watching a VMI versus The Citadel football game and playing all that golf, Tom finally decided that heart surgery was in order. On Jan. 6, doctors replaced the aortic valve via a catheter and pinned a gold golf tee to his heart for good measure, which sends signals to Tom’s Apple watch. “It literally saved my life,” he reports. “I got the watch mainly for golf, but it has

more than paid for itself with the health apps and embedded sensors.” I wonder if the watch drove him to the hospital. Tom sold his sailboat in 2020. Dec. 31, 2022, was his last day as commodore of the Hampton Yacht Club! “One more volunteer activity that I can lay aside, which was quite time-consuming. More time on the water and the golf course!” Tom is like me. Once you have a boat, you always have to have a boat. So, he has a spare one—a 27-foot cocktail cruiser lobster boat, a perfect platform for recovery from heart surgery. What better way? Tom sits on the board of Patriot’s Colony at Williamsburg. He and Sallie often see Bob and Carole Green ’67. This guy makes my head spin, too.

Now a note from Matt Curtis and his wife, Lynne, and Bailey Blackeyes, their ever-so-faithful Dalmatian, who says woof, woof. Nothing has changed for this trio, except that Matt keeps getting thinner, and the fish he catches under Lynn’s supervision keeps getting bigger. On Dec. 27, they were in Amado, Arizona, where they spent about four months of the year. Amado is a little hamlet south of Tucson (population 295 and a few stray dogs). The temperature on the 27th was in the mid-70s with

Class notes

gentle breezes. Matt was hoping for snow to get a picture of the Santa Rita Mountains from their patio. He corresponds with Charles Perry and Dewey George, old roomies of two and four years. They talk about important matters, mostly their puppies, a golden retriever, a mini-schnauzer, and a Dalmatian. Matt reports that all seem healthy and happy. In January, Matt, Lynn, and Bailey Blackeyes head back down to Bahia Kino on the Gulf of California, west of Hermosillo, Mexico, for spring fishing. They will make one arduous return to Amado to pick up mail and pay their taxes. Then a mad dash back to Bahia Kino to get the old boat running and resume the time-honored pastime of fishing. Matt figured out a long time ago that days spent fishing are not subtracted from one’s allotted lifespan. It doesn’t hurt to be married to a beautiful woman and attended to by a frisky Dalmatian. Woof, woof!

Three other BRs checked in at the last moment. In April, Caryn and Chad Lash will be in Nashville to see a fine string band, Nickel Creek, then hit the beaches in Delaware and North Carolina in July and October, and in August, tour Croatia, and cruise the Dalmatian Coast. These class notes are beginning to sound like a travelogue. Lois and Don Crawford live in Santa Elena, Costa Rica, in an apartment high on the mountainside in a tropical forest overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya and the Nicoya Peninsula. “The sunsets are beautiful! We watch the birds in the forest outside the windows and walk to town every day to buy groceries and have lunch or just coffee (incredible Costa Rican coffee!) and a snack. We explore nature preserves. Temperatures hover between 60 and 70 degrees.” Of course, all of this is torture for us BRs resigned to spending our winters in more temperate climes. And last but not least, and maybe the most spectacular, in February, Barbara and Ted Durvin returned from a cruise around the southern tip of South America, the Patagonian region of Argentina and Chile. They rounded Cape Horn, which has a reputation for violent weather and disturbed seas for large portions of the year. “Stark but incredibly beautiful,” Ted says. “And who knew that penguins made underground nests?” Along the way, some cheerful person introduced our adventurers to a Peruvian

brandy named Pisco. “I am fairly certain it is made from llama excrement, and I promise it is right in there with swallowing live goldfish,” says Ted. He suggests warming up to the task by downing a few shots of Drano beforehand. I bet that did not stop him from having a hearty portion of this potion. May I suggest Mogen David 20-20 as an alternative to llama excrement?

Meanwhile, back in dreary Virginia, I was in Lexington to celebrate VMI’s 183rd anniversary of its founding and see Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III ’62 receive the New Market Medal. Present were Thomas R. Watjen ’76, VMI Board of Visitors president; Blake Smith ’23, regimental commander; and Cameron Cavanaugh ’23, class president, who unveiled Peay’s official portrait together. Gen. Cedric Wins ’85, the superintendent, made remarks, as did Mr. Watjen ’76, Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. ’68, a member of the Virginia General Assembly, and Kyle Keith, the artist who created the portrait. Major General Wins said, “This is a day to remember our beginnings and to look toward our future. VMI continues to remain current while honoring our founding principles, training cadets to live a life of service and integrity that focuses on honor as a way of life.” Senator Norment noted that, under Peay’s leadership, “VMI has grown into a nationally recognized institution of higher education” and cited numerous superior rankings. He called Peay a visionary “who could also

implement his vision. His vision has been incredibly successful.” Dr. John Duke Anthony III ’62, president of his class, talked for about 45 minutes without notes and stole the show. He said of his Brother Rat Peay, “He is renowned for his emphasis on planning, preparation, pursuit, persistence, and perseverance. All those words begin with P, no pun intended,” he quipped. Dr. Anthony addressed the cadets and challenged them to consider, “Why are you here? Why do you exist? When you awoke this morning, what went through your mind? What will you be? What have you been? What are you to become? What is it you would die for? You have a purpose with service to others.” The other show stealer was the Corps of Cadets, who offered rousing applause and loud acclamations for all the speakers and, in particular, a standing ovation to Gen. Peay, whom they admire and love. It was a grand and dignified gathering. It reminded me that VMI, our alma mater, is alive and well, flourishing, growing more robust, and will weather any storm in its path, even though the current weather in Lexington sucks.

Finally, this: Bill Williams: “I had the honor and good fortune of serving with Carson on the 1st Battalion staff. He was a brilliant student and writer—and a naturally capable and superb leader. Most importantly, he was a good friend and a great guy.”

Linda Jones, a colleague in Powhatan County: “Carson’s passion was the satisfaction of seeing a person be the best they could be. I still have the notes he would leave on my desk, acknowledging something I had done that he thought was worthwhile. ... I wish there were more Carson Tuckers in this world— open-minded, thoughtful, compassionate, and passionate about fairness.”

Anonymous, the 1970 Bomb: “Jim always had time to lend a hand, listen, or give tactful advice. He never seemed to lose contact with two important concepts, ‘fairness’ and ‘brother rat.’”

Taz Taylor, on a visit with Jim Spacek before his passing: “He was wearing his red VMI reunion polo shirt from our 45th Reunion. Two VMI reunion baseball hats were hanging on the closet door. An old photo sat on the dresser of Jim getting his diploma from Gen. Shell [’931]. He loved the Institute.”

Before I get into the class notes, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of you who sent in Christmas cards. The pictures of families and the information provided were all heartwarming. I hope that everyone was able to enjoy the holidays with family and are ready for the challenges of the upcoming year.

As you know, we lost John Youell in December, capping a very hard year for the family as his wife, Kathy, had died the previous January. His quiet and steadfast nature will be remembered by all who knew him. We also lost Randy Stowe in late January. Randy came to VMI on a football scholarship and was with us for two years. After college, he attended law school and then served in the Air Force. After finishing his service, he settled in the Norfolk area, where he practiced for many years.

On a brighter note, our BRs battered by Hurricane Ian seem to be recovering. When we last left Ken Piernick, he had survived a quarter-mile swim through flood waters with wife and dog to reach a stilted house and rescue. Upon return to his home, he found utter destruction with loss of all his kitchen appliances, floor, and cabinets. The kitchen had just been completely remodeled 10 days before the storm. Also lost were all his upholstered furniture, artwork, and other furnishings. Ken immediately got to work, and he now has all his repairs nearly complete. In the middle of all this work, he developed a health issue and had to go under the knife but fought through that and is now well on the way to recovery of both home and health. This was indeed the personification of the VMI “never say die” spirit. We all take our hats off to Ken’s and Bernie’s determination and efforts in overcoming all these problems.

It seems that we have a large contingent of BRs in Florida who stay very active and keep in touch with each other. Jim Neale is in the Sarasota area and is doing well, still recovering from his shoulder surgery and itching to get back on the links. He sees George and Marsha Dancigers, who are back in the area, and Jim and Alis Sefick, who snowbird down for the winter. Alis spends much of her time crafting

personal greeting cards, while Jim is still trying to perfect his vertical leap. As I have mentioned before, Jim and Alis’ son, Peyton, is a very accomplished wheelchair athlete and is on the USA power soccer team. He played for Team USA in the World Cup for power soccer in 2011, 2017, and is now trying out for the travel team, which will participate in the World Cup again in Australia in August of this year. We wish him luck. The big question is, who has the greater vertical leap, Diamond Jim or a koala bear/kangaroo? Check out Fanduel for the latest odds!

Ox and Anne Schrader continue to seem to be everywhere in their efforts to help BRs in need.

Along somewhat similar lines, as a class, we’re starting to show our age. While HIPPA, the Health Information Patient Protection Act (ask any doctor), prevents discussion of our particular problems, we have BRs and wives with new joints, hearts zapped for being out of rhythm, pacemakers inserted for hearts with no rhythm, radiation to various and sundry parts, surgeries, and assorted other problems. It’s interesting that with all these maladies, I have not heard one word of complaint, only thankfulness or determination to get well. What wonderful attitudes in the face of some very tough situations. Superseding that attitude is the ineffable expression of fellowship expressed by the support that brother rats continue to give our classmates going through tough times. As one BR who is now going through a very tough situation so beautifully stated, “This is the VMI bond we all rally about, the bond which connects us, even 50 years after graduation.

I feel like Lowell Thomas in the old newsreels trying to narrate all the trips our BRs have taken. Jim and Pam Adams spent two weeks in Morocco touring the country from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert and included a camel ride. Jim said the country was beautiful, the people were friendly, and he recommends this trip with the National Geographic Society to anyone.

Lannie and Terry Sue Gault continue to burn up the roads and seas. In addition to their international travels, they have journeyed to Virginia Beach to see Dickie and Mary Ruffin Randolph. Lannie says that between “walking the dog” and yard work, Dickie is in “fighting shape,” and both of the Randolphs are doing well. The Gaults also came to Lexington for the dedication of the new VMI aquatic facility. Terry Sue has an extensive association with competitive swimming and has seen a great number

Class notes

of swimming facilities all across America. According to Lannie, she was “blown away” at VMI’s facility and found it truly remarkable for a school our size—or any size, for that matter. Starting next month, Lanno and T.S. will be back on the road/ship with France, Hilton Head, and St. Thomas in consecutive months. No moss growing on those rolling stones. In between all these trips, Lannie was also at The Citadel basketball game along with BRs Pickral, Whitley, Littleton, Bryan, Gentry, Kennedy, Strickler, Coleman, and Acuff

However, I do believe that Lanny has been displaced, perhaps just briefly, by our new Ferdinand Magellans, Bill and Margaret Ginder

Their itinerary leaves one breathless. Earlier in 2022, they attended the Kentucky Derby (his outfit was more splenderiffic than his red, white, and yellow bib overalls at the reunion), then the Indianapolis 500 (arrived and left by helicopter and watched the race from right across from the pits), then the 50th Reunion, and finished up with a two-month tour of France, Switzerland,

Ireland, Norway, Faroe Islands, and Iceland which included two Viking tours, several trains, and “a lot of gin and tonics.” This year’s plans include an 18-day tour of Antarctica (Margaret is threatening to leave Bill at the South Pole); a trip to Lexington for Legacy Day at VMI, bringing their grandson, a seventh-generation legacy; and then a trip to Key West in July where Bill is going to enter the Papa Hemmingway LookAlike Contest. We should all be thankful that we have among us folks with enough energy and health to enjoy life like this. Keep going, BRs and wives!

Tim and Leah Golden report from Irvington that they are doing well except for “the occasional aches and pains of 70-plus-year-olds”. They split time between the river and Richmond, where they see their children and grandchildren.

Rolf and Sally White have also settled in in Richmond only 10 minutes from their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, who bring them great joy. Their other child and family are in Birmingham, Alabama, but came up to see them for the holidays. Rolf sees Bobby Ross ’59 while walking in the community where they both live, and they share old VMI stories together.

Jane and I went to Williamsburg in early December and saw Skull and B.J. Turner. They both are doing well and split their time between Williamsburg and Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina. Skull is settling into his retirement from flying, as he and B.J. enjoy time with their children and grandchildren. Skull gave me a book describing his Air Force unit’s performance in the first Gulf War. It is fascinating reading, and I learned that his nickname in the Air Force was not Skull but “Steep.” I will need some help with its origin.

Danny Czupryna writes from Statesville, North Carolina, that he and Lori are doing well and are up to their ears, joyfully, in “grandparenting 2.0.” Not to be outdone by BRs Gault or Ginder, they spent early February cruising the Caribbean.

I received a very nice card from

Sharon Paton thanking the Class of ’71 for all the support she was given over the past year and what it meant to her and her family.

Jane and I just got back from some time at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Hard to call it a vacation (vacation from what) when you are retired, but just walking on an almost empty beach with no bugs and no humidity was wonderful.

Ned and Anne Mikula spent several days with us. Amazingly, we were able to tell the same worn-out stories, same jokes, and still laugh. The wonder of it all is that the wives have heard the same tales so many times that they can tell the stories better than we can!

While in South Carolina, we also had the opportunity to visit with Bob and Joan Sydnor. They both look great and are doing very well. Their schedule stays full visiting children and grandchildren in Alabama; Colorado; and Washington, D.C. On top of this, Bob continues hunting. The day after we ate together, he was off to Georgia and then to New Mexico on hunting trips, having just recently returned from the upper Midwest. Bob looks like he just stepped out of a time capsule and could wrestle his old weight without any problems.

Thank you all for writing and keeping me up to date on your lives. Some of your untold, to this point, life stories are fascinating, so keep sending me your adventures so we can stay in touch. Also, thank all who have continued to contribute to the Institute through gifts of time, talent, and financial means. The Institute is taking a lot of flak from a lot of sources these days, but I believe that the bonds, as demonstrated by the actions of our BRs for BRs in need, explain and justify the depth of our love, respect, and support—not only for each other, but also for our experience at VMI.

Greetings and salutations to you all! These notes are being finalized on a cold, dreary Super Bowl Sunday and cover Thanksgiving until this morning. At the risk of waking angry snow gods, we’re quietly reveling in the absence of ice, slush, and wintery mix in central Virginia (so far).

In light of any residual smoke and vitriol surrounding VMI, I thought I’d share this counterpoint from the Class of ’22 valedictorian’s (Cadet Christopher Hurlbut ’22) graduation speech. He acknowledged that their cadetship has been marked by vocal critics questioning the system that defines their daily lives at VMI. But, “in a time when several hundred of our peers in Colorado Springs, Annapolis, and West Point have collectively admitted to violating their honor, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to honesty, academic integrity, and responsibility,” he declared, to a loud roar of applause and cheers. He summarized, saying, “We came to VMI for many reasons, but we stayed for one another. Let us meet society’s loudest critics with the decency, care, and devotion that we have shown one another.”

Cadet Hurlbut echoes the statement by Gen. Peay ’62 June 4, 2020, to the VMI family. “As a unique institution of higher education in America with a mission unlike any others, we have the ability to build on the close relationships of brother rats, class and regimental systems, teammates, and on the work of our alumni. Our cadets graduate to become citizen-soldiers, who are expected to lead moral lives of character, honor, civility, and service.”

In that vein, VMI has been “designated ... one of only 10 colleges in the nation to be named a ‘community of practice’ from Braver Angels, the nation’s largest nonprofit grassroots organization bringing liberals and conservatives together to bridge partisan divides.” Braver Angels “promotes civil discourse to depolarize college campuses by harnessing the power of civil disagreement ... to combat the growing weaponization of language and data driving polarization of America.”

The designation is a result of collaboration

among the cadet-run Building Bridges Service Club, the psychology department, the Department of Economics and Business, and the Center for Leadership and Ethics. The announcement says, “... in an era when civility is not often the norm in resolving disputes, Braver Angels’ trained experts teach students to express their views, frame persuasive arguments, listen deeply, and engage respectfully with each other around issues that are typically difficult and divisive. Their debates are not competitive, but a collective exercise in thoughtfulness, respect, and a search for the truth.” I’m anxious to see how this works out.

OK, to our news:

Bob Stransky shared that we were well represented at the Institute Society Dinner and salute to Gen. and Mrs. Peay ’62 on Founders Day. Bob and Linda joined Bill and Pam Collier, Chris and Betsy Foster, Gale Sommers, John and Sharon Fick, and Walt and Debby Chalkley in the festivities. Bravo, ’72!

Phil Clayton wrote, “We are in the thick of our Ukrainian rescue operation. We picked up our ‘family,’ whom we had been in contact with since last summer and agreed to sponsor, from Dulles Airport Dec. 6. They were so relieved to finally make it to the U.S.! We got them tucked into their ‘new house’ on Main Street in Lexington, and thenceforth, they started their new life in America! Their full adventure can be read on our GoFundMe page under the ‘updates’ page. I have been so grateful to the 13 of our BRs who have donated to our fund, and some even made multiple donations! We also had Paul Robblee ’66 and his wife, Joanne, spend days helping us get the home ready for the family! We absolutely could not have done it without them! If anyone

would like to add to their generosity and make a donation, please go to gofundme.com and enter ‘House Mountain Circle for Ukrainians.’ Even if you would just like to read the updates, you will find the story of their odyssey in just escaping their hometown of Bovary under Russian bombardment and fleeing to Poland reads like a James Bond movie! Incredible story!” You’re doing the Lord’s work, BR.

Wade Houston wrote regarding the much-anticipated “Old Rats of ’72 Golf Tournament” scheduled for Sept. 24–29, 2023, at The Villages in Florida. Apparently, the planning process is going well, with 17 confirmed attendees (as of today). Both Wade and Walt Chalkley want to reiterate that all are invited, and if you are on the

Class notes

fence, give one of them a call. Even if you are not a golfer, there is much to do in that area of Florida, with Orlando only a short hop away.

Great news from Jim Snead! He says he received his new kidney Jan. 24, and he’s home recovering. “Everything is working as it’s supposed to.” We know it’s been a long, hard road, BR. We’re thrilled for you, Vicky, and your family!

Gale Sommers said, “Although I forgot to get a picture, my wife, Anne, and I had a wonderful dinner in Jacksonville with Dick and Donna Valentine. It was a great evening, and we had a chance to catch up.” Sounds like fun, BR!

John Sayers sent an interesting update of their goings-on. “It’s maple syrup time for us at our farm in McDowell. Joan and I are off to a good start with this winter that can’t make up its mind of whether to be winter or early spring. We have been making syrup here since the mid-1970s. My Dad read a book called Stalking the Wild Asparagus and started with hanging buckets, etc. We are more up to date now. We even use reverse osmosis before boiling now. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup. So, it really is watching a pot boil. We produce 40-50 gallons a year. It’s all up to Mother Nature! Stuart Seaton ’73 is coming up next week.” I’m picturing lumberjack plaids and axes, BR.

Ted Bremer shared this: “My daughter, Theresa, was married Feb. 4 at the Piedmont Room in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. So, I guess Dorothy and I are now officially ‘empty-nesters.’” Empty-nesting can be nice, as long as the youngins don’t stay away too long.

Bob MacMeccan included a great smallworld tidbit in his news. “Glenda and I took a Viking cruise to Antarctica in January. While on a land excursion at Damoy Point, we ran into our Brother Rat Joseph L. O’Brien Jr. He saw my hat, asked me what class I was in, and discovered we were classmates. He left VMI after our rat year, graduated from the University of Richmond, and lives in the Richmond area. His father was VMI Class of 1932 and was co-composer of Hail Varsity. What a small world!” Amen, and in Antarctica, too!

Dave and Sue Hall rented a van with two other couples and took a 5,000-mile trip with friends through the great American Southwest. Sue said they “started out in Killeen, traveled along the old forts trail; Big Bend, Texas; El Paso; the

Grand Canyon; Route 66; Roswell, New Mexico; Tombstone, Arizona; and many others. For lodging we stayed in a Harvey House, went to Winslow, Arizona, and camped in (air-conditioned) Apache teepees under the stars.” Then they were off on a three-week Discover Great Britain and Ireland Tour booked three years ago. Unfortunately, during the very first part of the trip Sue fell and, though she made it through the trip, they “... later found she had a fractured sternum, and it looks liked another eight months of light duty! And, as fate would have it, Queen Elizabeth died the day we arrived back in London, which led to most of our local tours being canceled. It was a sad time, and yet it was a fascinating moment in history!”

George and Mary Jane Williams wrote of prepping for Christmas with travel to the Arctic. They’ve RV’d to the Keys and “reunioned” with family in several places. Son Phil and family are close by, as he’s head recruiter at Richmond’s Arts and Letters Creative Company (ESPN, Tito’s ...). Son Clayton and family are living in Sydney, Australia, and will soon be moving to London—much more commute-able.

Herb and Penny McCulloch stay busy keeping track of grands (Midlothian to Zambia). Penny says, “Herb continues with his merry beer making, using 5-gallon kits that can be quite gourmet

and tasty ... I cannot imagine us trying to downsize into a smaller house because it would cause Herb too much sorrow. We figure we will age in place and get a stair lift installed—if and when necessary—it will also double as a beer elevator!” Remember, folks, lift with your knees!

Chris and Betsy Foster shared this: “Chris reduced his workload to 7/8ths this year at the VA hospital, which enabled us to think about checking off some destinations on our bucket list.”

“No one would read our obituaries and say, ‘Oh, they died so young.’” (Chris). Betsy says, “We really went overboard in putting our names on the lists for quite a few birding opportunities.” No kidding— they were “out of the country five times together and six times for me when I joined Katie’s family’s working vacation in Spain. Panama in March, Ecuador and the Galapagos in June, and Spain for 12 days in July. A week with family in Cape Charles. Colombia in September, Morocco in September, the Netherlands in November.” (Whew!) And when I spoke with Chris two weeks ago, they were on their way to Central America. Grandkids graduations (UVA, VCU) and daughter and son-in-law in Charlottesville. And Betsy says she would be happy to share any “details about these trips and other things like the squirrels chewing through the fuel line of our truck after relishing our wiring harness.” I can’t wait to hear about their escapades when Chris cuts out the remaining 7/8ths of his work schedule.

During the holidays, greetings came in filled with cheery notes, smiling families, grandchildren, beautiful scenery, and a random golden retriever or two. And Fred Bauer provided visual confirmation of his and Cathy’s 15 grandchildren.

On the Houseworth front, daughter Alli and son-in-law Russ joined Marie and me on our annual Delbert McClinton’s sandy beaches cruise in January. Due to COVID-19 and other family issues, it had been four years since Marie and I went. We stepped away from the music and frivolity long enough to tour Playa del Carmen and the Mayan ruins in Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Absolutely breathtaking!

OK, we’re at little toot—gotta scoot. Be good, do good, and stay strong, BRs.

Rah Virginia Mil!

Larry

Hello, Brother Rats!

And happy 50th Reunion celebration! As you read these notes, it is a couple of weeks after our big reunion. I hope that you have registered and attended. We have a super weekend planned. Thanks to Larry Mays and the subcommittee chairs, this should be the best reunion ever. I also want to give a special thanks to Ken Kalisky, who has chaired the fundraising subcommittee.

It is Valentine’s Day as I work to finish these notes, and we are in a new year. Although it is February, the weather this week is quite mild and warm, so a great time to be doing some of that outdoor work! I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday and are enjoying a prosperous new year! We had a really nice Christmas and were able to gather in the Atlanta area with four of the kids and seven of

the grandkids over the holidays. We had a great time just relaxing and being together. And we have since found out that my youngest son and his wife are expecting another little girl in June. Grandchild number 12 is on the way! Since new year’s, we have been to the “ranch” in Pulaski County for a couple of work weekends, trimming trees and bushes and getting up the last of the leaves. Spring is just around the corner, and we will have to start mowing again before long. Spring is always beautiful in the country.

Unfortunately, I have to share some bad news with you as we recently lost another brother rat. Arvin “Jerry” Brown passed away Dec. 21. Jerry lived just north of Raleigh in Wake Forest, North Carolina. I have not had any contact with him for quite some time, and he had not been able to participate in some of the local VMI chapter events. He is survived by his wife, Susan; five children; and five grandchildren. Please remember Jerry’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

As I have said in the past, one of the neat things about the Christmas holidays is that I hear from a lot of you I may not hear from on a regular basis, and with the reunion planning going on,

I have heard from quite a few of you that have shown an interest in attending the reunion. Several of our BRs have been actively working to “find” many of you that have fallen off the radar over the years, and we have been successful in getting in touch with a number of lost BRs. I want to remind everyone that if you are not registered on the VMI Ranks, please ensure that your contact information is correct there so we can stay in touch.

One of our BRs, Jim Reid, is the “lost BR” for this edition of the Review. Jim has corresponded with me a few times over the years but most recently sent me a note to say that he appreciates hearing from members of the class and reading up on what our BRs are doing. Jim lives in Milton, West Virginia, and is a retired consulting engineer. He said he might not be able to attend the reunion due to some health issues; he has had three knee replacements in the past six years! However, he sends his best wishes to all and will be with us in the VMI spirit. Jim said he is in touch with Howard Frank and John Kiracofe on a fairly regular basis. Great hearing from you, Jim. Please keep in touch. And tell Howard and John to give me a shout.

I had a nice conversation with Patricia Smith (Mrs. Thad Smith) in January. She is planning to attend the reunion, and her two daughters may come with her. Her oldest daughter, Tianna, is the assistant to the chief chaplain at the Pentagon and travels around the globe visiting military personnel. She hopes to attend our reunion and participate in the memorial service on Saturday. Patricia also sent a Christmas card with a picture of all the family members and grandchildren decked out in their Christmas outfits. Patricia lives in the Fort Worth area and said she has been close friends with Bob Crotty and his wife over the years; however, they have not been in contact recently. She was going to reach out to them about the reunion. Many of you sent me cards and letters during the holidays. Milt Salter said he had been traveling during the fall, attending a football game at West Point and a tank battalion reunion of Fort Hood folks in Orlando, and he went to Germany just before Christmas to visit some of the places he was stationed in the 1970s and 1980s. T.O. and Margaret Smith sent me a letter and said they had been doing some traveling in the fall to attend family reunions. Margaret and their daughter, Mary Margaret, took a trip to Europe to visit France and Italy. Margaret said they had a great time, and T.O. managed to keep the

Class notes

“home fires” burning while they were gone.

Doug and Claudia Muirheid announced that their son, Patrick, was sworn in as an attorney during the summer last year. Claudia and Patrick then took a vacation to travel to Portugal and Spain, and Doug and Claudia also traveled to visit family in Atlanta and on to New Jersey for their 50th high school reunions. The Muirheids live in the San Diego area.

George and Renee Goodwin are doing well in Mineral, Virginia. George had knee replacement surgery in October and is recovering nicely. Their daughter, Leigh, was successfully treated for cancer and is now cancer free! George “finally retired” from his 10 years of post-retirement work with the Virginia State Senate and was awarded a commending resolution by Sen. Mark Peake, who arrived at the beginning of a service at their church. It was a total surprise and a wonderful experience. George said he is really proud of the work he accomplished with the Commonwealth.

Blake and Sandy Thomas did a lot of traveling as well, attending a Southwest Airlines Golden Eagles meeting in Dallas and then to Delaware and Washington, D.C., to visit with friends. On their way back south, they stopped at VMI for a board meeting and then went on to a Halloween party with their neighbors in The Villages. They still own two planes, and when they are not traveling, they are up in the skies! Nice to have a runway and hangar in your backyard!

Hank and Leisa Weatherford are still in the Richmond area. Hank has officially retired but had no trouble finding plenty of things to occupy his time. Leisa is still working with an environmental and land surveying company and said she will keep Hank busy with a “honey-do list.” Their daughter, Savannah, is doing well in her third year of veterinary school. Wow—I remember when their Christmas cards had a picture of her as a little girl with a horse.

Mike and Mary Burke both officially retired last year; however, both of them went back to work part-time during the year—Mike taught English composition at the community college, and Mary taught dental hygiene. I think they missed their students but stayed occupied remodeling their house prior to going back to work. Mary has now started taking photography classes, which has been on her bucket list for a long time. They are planning a trip to Holland and Belgium on a photography trip in May through the community college. Their

daughter, Emilie, works with an environmental remediation and monitoring company in the St. Louis area. She has several OSHA certifications and specializes in asbestos monitoring, and Mike and Mary are very proud of her accomplishments.

M.B. and Mary Adelson are certainly enjoying being able to get out and experience a social life again! Like many of us, they were tired of being cooped up over pandemic concerns. They attended family reunions in Jacksonville, Florida, and Hubbard Lake, Michigan, as well as the 50th reunion of the Florida State’s rugby team. Mary likes being officially retired and enjoys her friends and weekly lunch bunch gatherings. M.B. is still practicing law but making progress from full-time to having some free time for the outdoors and their lake house. They are really looking forward to the reunion. Bob and Melanie Luther are in the Pittsburgh area and enjoy spending time with their kids and two grandchildren. Bob said that they recently were present for the commissioning of and pinned on the second lieutenant bars for their son, Kurt, who is in the Virginia Defense Force specializing in cyber security. He is a computer science professor at Virginia Tech and an adjunct professor at VMI. Kurt recently helped initiate a new program to assist VMI technology majors to get into the computer sciences

master’s program at Virginia Tech. Their other son, Rob, teaches law at George Mason University and lives in Alexandria, Virginia. Bob said they were also looking forward to the reunion.

I had a nice card and pictures of three lovely grandchildren from Dave and Susan Northcraft. They just finished remodeling some of their home and were glad to get that project out of the way. To celebrate, they took a trip before Christmas to Leadville, Colorado, to visit their son, Daniel ’10, and his family. While there, Dave met up with Tom and Bonnie Clark and spent some time touring the Air Force Academy and museums in the area.

John and Ann Pinner sent best wishes from Big Canoe, Georgia. They are doing well and really enjoy living in the Georgia mountains. They also traveled to Colorado last year to visit their son, Carrington, and his wife, Kristin, who had a baby girl in March. Ann said they got to enjoy a white Christmas. Their other son, Webb, continues oceanographic work and lives in Rhode Island. His work takes him to many areas around the world, and he has gotten into large craft and long-distance sailing. His most recent trip was from the coast of Spain to the Canary Islands. John and Ann went to Newfoundland, Canada, during the summer and had a great trip. They said it was absolutely beautiful. They, too, are looking forward to the reunion and

Class Notes

meeting up with old friends.

I have frequent contact with Klaus Worrell and Laura Loper. They live in Moseley, Virginia. Klaus has been very helpful in preparing items for our reunion and providing support for getting things done!

Yerry Kenneally and I have spoken a few times over the past months. Yerry is chair of the favors subcommittee. He and Tate are doing well and just left the cold weather in Virginia for a cruise of the Caribbean.

Roland Tiso and his wife, Judie, are staying busy with grandkids and church. Roland spends time on the computer helping to solve the world’s problems. I think he may have finally decided to retire! We miss seeing them,

greenway path along the South River. Willie said he always looks forward to the holidays and having some relaxing fun.

We also got cards and notes from Joe and Paula Wyatt, who live in the Lynchburg area; Rob and Carolyn Bowman, who are in Blackstone, Virginia; Craig and Linda Kugelburg, Franklin Park, Illinois; Stuart Seaton, Williamsburg; Michael Smith, Myrtle Beach; John and Carol Leon, Woodbridge, Virginia; John Kearney, Glen Springs, Pennsylvania; Dave Sutherland, Brownsburg, Indiana; Chad Brown, Staunton, Virginia; Scott McCarthy, Bethesda, Maryland; Doug and Pat Huthwaite, Murphy, North Carolina; John and Michaela Sykes, Bluffton, South Carolina; and a nice note from Tom and Lois Jennings, who are in Chesterfield, Virginia.

R.B. and Becky Newman are doing well. R.B. continues to work with national security consulting and sent a picture of their family on a ski trip. They live in the Richmond area. Bob and Sharon Bushnell live in Collinsville, Virginia, and are enjoying their grandkids. They sent me a picture of the kids playing soccer, riding horses, and just hanging out.

P.X. and Caroline English are still in Greenville, South Carolina. P.X. has been the local VMIAA chapter president but handed over the reins last fall. They are still involved with chapter activities in the area and have help from E.D. Woomer, who lives near Asheville, North Carolina. P.X. said they were really looking forward to having a lot of fun reuniting with all our BRs.

I had a nice note and card from Tim Hassell He and his wife, Ruth, live in Springfield, Virginia, and are looking forward to the reunion as well.

was because of his “weekend” immune system! I am sure Dean will keep us smiling at the reunion.

And as a last comment, I want to be sure to thank Larry and Debbie Mays for all their hard work this past year. More than a year ago, I asked Larry if he would be the chair of the Reunion Committee. Due to my work and other issues we were dealing with at the time, I knew I would not have the time to put into taking the lead. Larry graciously said yes and immediately began the process of putting together the committee and subcommittee chairs. Larry has had numerous health challenges this past year and spent a lot of time in the hospital. He always had his phone and laptop with him, and despite his health situations, he remained a bulldog and on a mission. I think that we all owe Larry a huge thank you. This 50th Reunion will be something very special. Larry said up front that he wanted this to be the best reunion ever. I have no doubts that it was. That is about it for now. It is great to hear from so many of you, and I really look forward to seeing everyone soon. Fifty years—time has gone by. We will have fun, do some reminiscing, honor our fallen BRs, and enjoy each other’s company. Take care and be safe out there. In the Bonds, Mike

as we don’t get to that area of Florida as much since my mother passed away last year, and my son has moved to Panama City from the Tampa Bay area. But we look forward to getting together with them this spring at our reunion. Our other roommate, Terry Howlett, has been in contact with me and is also planning to be in Lexington for the reunion.

We got a nice card and family photograph from Dave McCown with their Christmas outfits on! They all seemed to be really enjoying the season.

Ken and Sherry Kalisky have been in contact with us on a regular basis, and I had a really nice Christmas card from them. Ken chairs the fundraising subcommittee for our reunion and has been doing a great job of helping to locate our “lost BRs” and contacting folks to invite them to the reunion. Thanks again for all your hard work, Ken, and I look forward to getting together. Ken and Sherry live in Warren, New Jersey, when they are not at their island beach home in South Carolina.

I got a card from Dean Smith, who lives in Saint Cloud, Florida. Dean is doing well and included a few of his latest jokes. One of my favorites is that his boss asked him why he only got sick on workdays, and he told him it

Greetings, Brother Rats, Family, and Friends of the Class of 1974!

I trust these notes will find you in good spirits. The following covers the period from Nov. 16–Feb. 15. The Christmas notes are always chock full of news, so the entries will be somewhat cryptic to allow for more entries. So here goes: John and Irene McLaren were well-traveled in 2022. They took a February/March trip to see all the sights in Hawaii and high school classmate and VMI roommate, Russ Takata. In August, they went for a European River cruise: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. John slipped on cobblestones in Salzburg and tore his rotator cuff but is on the mend. They are happy

Class notes

to report all the kids and grandkids are doing well.

Bruce and Sue Jones’ highlights of the year— besides the Rhine River cruise with BRs—was the arrival of their fourth grandchild, Molly Sue Jones! Congrats, grandma and grandpa!

Gary and Alison Trinkle sent Christmas greetings from Yorktown, Virginia. Healthy, wealthy, and wise. Well, more likely—two out of three aren’t bad these days! They rescued a Brittany spaniel named Nutmeg in November after the shock of losing Bodie in March, a Brittany spaniel that had become family for the Trinkles. Nothing like a puppy and a trip to OBX to soothe the soul! Thanks for the card, Gary!

Also, I received an interesting three-page handwritten letter from BR Stan Hasty (Matriculation No. 139 from Nashville, Tennessee), who walked away from VMI the first week. Stan claims it was the biggest mistake of his life. Stan did a tour in Vietnam before matriculation and went back to Vietnam for a second tour after leaving VMI and made a career in the Army; graduated from Sergeant Major Academy; was assigned as first sergeant, Company D (TOWs); and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm. He retired near Fort Campbell after the Desert Storm redeployment. He told his commander we would be back; the mission had not been accomplished! Loved and hated the Army concurrently! His life has been rewarding—wife, five kids, nine grandkids, and a great-grandchild on the way. I hope Stan comes to the 50th. He will no doubt have some interesting stories to tell!

Received another interesting note from Brother Rat Tom Maxwell (Matriculation No. 294 from Independence, Virginia). Tom was a Company E BR who left early. He roomed in 410 with roommates Daniel Hogue, Sammy Ratcliffe, Wesley Creel, and Marvin Watts. He has served on the Independence Town Council for the past 20 years but had to step down due to health issues. Keep Tom in your prayers for a positive outcome as he deals with his health issue.

Charlie and Linda Gardner sent holiday greetings from Alexandria, Virginia. Charlie reports a mixed bag this year. He is still practicing medicine with no plans to change. Linda is recovering

from illness in April. Their son, Charlie, a dialysis nurse at UVA, is on the short final list for adoption; Charlie is soon to be a grandpa!

John and Jayme Kaniss are in their second year of retirement in Cleveland, Tennessee. After a home remodel, John is volunteering with Habitat. His son, Mac, left his IT job to assist his wife, Kaylee, with her growing massage business—Beyond Bodyworks. His daughter, Mallory, is a systems analyst with UKG (formerly Kronos) in Lowell, Massachusetts. They have had their traveling shoes on as well: Texas, Arizona, Maryland, and Cabo San Lucas. Thanks for the note, John!

Received a lengthy note with pictures from Hall and Martha Brodie talking about another blessed year highlighted by a rather moving trip to the Holy Land and Egypt. It snowed 3 inches while they were in Jerusalem. Their year has been filled with family gatherings, personal onsite support in multiple ministries, and a fabulous trip out West (Idaho/Montana: Rodeos, Big Sky, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons). There is something about service that warms the soul! What a blessing Hall and Martha have been to so many!

Craig “Snapper” and Cathy Carlock traveled with their son, Joe, to Boston to celebrate their

daughter, Catherine’s, new job with the Boston Globe. Joe is in his 10th year working at VMI. Snap enjoys substitute teaching at the high school and golf, while Cathy continues as a financial adviser, as well as finance chair for church!

Arnie and Maria Leonard sent their season’s greetings from Wilmington, North Carolina. Their year was highlighted with some great trips: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with their daughter, Sarah, then several days on a safari; several trips to Nashville to visit family; a week at Crested Butte, Colorado; and 13 days in Europe with BRs starting in Lake Como, Italy, and Lucerne, Switzerland, then river cruising up the Rhine through parts of Germany and France to Amsterdam. Maria added a trip to Puerto Rico to visit her mother. Their traveling shoes were about worn out this year! Chuck and Louise Ward are still in Charlottesville, Virginia, enjoying their grandkids. They are particularly proud of one in particular—she is on a full ride at Liberty University (studying mechanical engineering, like her granddad). They were headed to a second home in New York in search of snow for Christmas. My idea of a white Christmas (and I think John and Suzanne Pate might

Class Notes

agree and a few others residing on the coast) is beach sand.

Received an informative note from Kent and Brenda Wheeless (Rocky Mount, North Carolina). Highlights: Three trips to Disney in Florida, and one included their goddaughter, who was a certified princess who had to go meet all the princesses—royal obligations, of course. I’m told she enjoyed being addressed as Princess Lila Mae by the hotel staff. Teaching and coaching girls’ volleyball and umpiring girls’ softball made for a jam-packed summer. Sprinkle in some great concerts: George Strait, Mickey Dolenz, Happy Together Tour with Gary Puckett, the Association, the Cowsills, the Buckinghams, and the Turtles. They had tickets to Paul McCartney in Orlando, but Brenda caught COVID-19 while there, so they gave up their tickets to a friend’s son. It is official: Brenda has retired—this time for real!

Red Undercoffer has retired and is enjoying the quiet and slow pace of a small town— Lexington—while Shelly’s enthusiasm for golf has blossomed. She played in a tournament the weekend of Red’s email. All the Undercoffer kids are doing well. Their three sons, Andrew, Brian, and Cole, with their respective engineering and people skills, and daughter, Caity, is with the U.S. Secret Service, currently working in the White House. Very proud parents, I’d say!

Bob and Pam Johnson have finished their first year of retirement in Hendersonville, North Carolina. They did welcome a grandson, Owsley Gray, born Dec. 29, 2021. Mid-year, they moved to Paris for 90 days and had visits galore from a variety of family and friends, including

VMI roomie BR Steve and Anne Ham

Upon return from Paris, Bob found that he was selected to be a Kentucky colonel. Back on the ground in Hendersonville, Bob’s man cave is now complete with recliners and mega-screen TV. Bob and Pam are living large in the mountains of North Carolina!

The 25th annual Banning Christmas gazette arrived with little fanfare from Annandale, Virginia, having recorded another memorable year. Charley and Debbie provided some medical musings listing medical specialists they now

have on speed dial: Orthopedic, gastroenterologist, dermatologist, rheumatologist, endocrinologist, and a groinocologist ... however, they both agree their favorite—mixologist! A mixologist on speed dial; I’m pretty sure their Christmas was very merry and the new year memorable ... if only they could remember! Thanks for the clever musings, Charley!

Bob and Jeanne Slupik, Canyon Lake, Texas, are enjoying retirement. Bob has been asked to join the Comal County School Bond Issue Committee. Jeanne stays busy: Altar guild director; president, Canyon Lake Republican Women; San Antonio doll club; member birthday brunch bunch as well as home improvement manager—new floor, new wall unit...!

Jim and Robin Garten, Oro Valley, Arizona, celebrated their 40th anniversary on the Gulf Coast in Florida. Jim got a surprise Colt AR-15 from Robin for his 70th birthday. Jim reports, “She’s a keeper!” I thought, “Robin or the AR15?” I’m sure it’s both! Thanks for the note, Jim!

Mark and Michelle Prentice, Williamsburg, Virginia, have been doing some traveling this year: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a retirement party; Myrtle Beach (saw James Gregory, what a hoot!); Sandbridge, Virginia, with family; and Dayton, Ohio, for a 774th TAS reunion. Enjoy it while you can!

Paul and Rose Van Doren, Winchester, Virginia, were both enjoying retirement as of July. Not long after July, Paul was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and appears to be responding beyond expectation to treatment. Keep Paul, Rose, and family in your prayers!

Walt and Karen Wilson, Steilacoom, Washington, have been “snowbirding” in their new 55-and-over community house in Palm Desert, California. They are looking forward to golf, clubs, pickleball, and other activities. Living the life when Karen retires in early 2023!

Wilson and Anne Johnson are doing well in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Wilson’s acting pursuits continue; he is Hector, the dead husband of Annie in Foxfire in April and the ghost of Jacob Marley in Scrooge The Musical in November—the third play in a row where he played a dead guy ... typecasting? He is in rehearsals for the play, Twelfth Night, at this writing to be performed in January. Anne leads the Good News Club at a local elementary school and is director of a large vacation Bible school (staff and volunteers—100; kids—300). What a blessed life!

Rob and Joan Bacon sent their holiday greetings from Jacksonville, Florida. I understand Rob has set up a woodworking shop, while Joan has been appointed as the recruitment adviser for Alpha Sigma Alpha Chapter at Flagler College in St. Augustine. Joan is giving back to her beloved sorority and is slated to be facilitating the ASA East Coast Conference in Richmond, Virginia, in February. Their son. Sean, a relatively new

Class notes

seventh-grade science teacher, has been up for teacher of the year for the last two years ... a pretty good start to a teaching career!

Just in from Chesapeake, Virginia: George and Anna Van Laetham are retired, healthy, a little older, and a little slower ... but with ample free time to travel and enjoy their grandkids Tripp (7) and Amelia (2). On a trip to Cape Charles, they ran into the daughter of one of our TAC officers. She knew her dad’s cadet-given nickname, “Dirty Dan” Brittigan. Yikes!

Al and Judy Rasper, Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg, have been vagabonds this past year with trips to Breckenridge, Crested Butte, and Telluride last winter, then Bordeaux, France, in July, followed by a trip to Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand), and ending with their annual ski trip to Italy. They were blessed with a second grandchild Aug. 31, 2022: Evan James Gagain. Evan’s parents, Mike and Michelle, are doing well working remotely.

Andy and Pat Young are living large on the coast of North Carolina—Wilmington, to be specific. Andy continues to edit manuscripts from his former lab in Massachusetts, while Pat plays golf, sometimes as much as five times a week. Less travel this year, and they now have three kitties, Ernie, Jack, and Ollie!

Russ and Cheryl Takata send holiday greetings from Waipahu, Hawaii. Russ finally got off the island in April and August to visit their daughter, Courtnie, and her husband, Grant, and their grandson, Ian, in Lincolnshire, Illinois (northwest of Chicago). The highlight of the year was a visit by John and Irene McLaren

Tom and Patti Mascot are still loving life in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Tom’s golf game is interrupted periodically with fishing trips while Patti keeps the house and Tom in order. Trips to San Antonio and Hawaii highlight the year. All is well with the Mascot clan!

Mike and Lera Andriani report that their son, Mike, has wrapped up his active-duty time with the Army at Fort Bragg as a company commander with Army Special Operations Command and may join the Army National Guard. Vacationed in Singer Island, Florida, and saw good VMI friends Claude and Anne Crump ’83! Celebrated Mike’s 70th birthday at the Army Navy Club. Attended Constantinian Order of St. George Investiture Weekend in Philadelphia

with HRH the Duke of Calabria as the featured guest, North Central Lieutenancy’s Order of the Holy Sepulcher Investiture Weekend in Chicago, and Order of the Holy Sepulcher Investiture Weekend in D.C. They enjoyed breakfast at the beautiful Jefferson Hotel in D.C. in memory of the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Blessed Karl, attended by his granddaughter, Princess Marie-Anna, Archduchess of Austria. Well done, Mike!

Don and Barbara Whitten are still on course to finish building their retirement home in Beaufort, South Carolina, in April 2023. Don and Barb are both working from home. Don plans to retire in July 2023 and Barb in 2024. In July 2022, they welcomed their first grandson, Levi Whitten Jackson!

suggested a boat name change to Open Up Your Wallet Dumbo? All in all, the Terry clan (Ken, Betsy, Trevor, and Cat; Taylor and Luma; Jacque and Connor; and Tristan, Landon, Bella, Bailey, and Abbey) are doing well. Kudos to Betsy’s replacement first mate, BR Mike Fisher, for helping get the boat home!

Tom “Dooley” and Veska Womack send season’s greetings from Goode, Virginia. Busy year—a new track record (personal best for Tom) at the Virginia International Raceway, cataract surgery for Tom now seeing 20/20 again, and great progress on the music scene for both Veska (piano) and Tom with his vocals; he dusted off his trombone last played during his days at the Institute (still worked but Veska found him a new horn to play). All in all, it sounded like a good year!

Bill and Judy Candler, Port Byron, Illinois, took a trans-Atlantic cruise in September, and although vaccinated, Bill got COVID-19 (along with 10% of the passengers) and had to quarantine for five days. Bill mentioned he had 700 miles left to hike to complete the Appalachian Trail. He wants to get it done while he still has good knees. He said he and Arnie Leonard are talking about hiking some of the trail this spring. Press on, Bill; get it while you still can!

Who is the brother rat with matriculation No. 3? Alpha Company BR who roomed in 439 with Allen Fudger, Lou Dowdy, and Rick Kastelberg. It’s Daniel V. Ford of Baldwin, Maryland. Was lost but now is found. Welcome back, and thanks for the Christmas card, Dan!

After a couple of years, Ken and Betsy Terry’s family Christmas adventure missive is back with its legendary entertainment value. Besides the joy of having two sons move back home for a while, the description of the family gathering to watch the Fourth of July fireworks from a slip on the Capitol Mall while aboard Ken’s yacht, Enjoy the Journey, was by far the most entertaining. The trip up the Potomac, although expensive (diesel up from $1.59 to $6 a gallon), was easy enough, but the calamity and misfortune associated with the boat trip home

Pete and Susan Shelley sent a Christmas card featuring their grandchildren, Mazie (3), Miller (1), and Tessa (1). They did spend 10 days in Puerto Vallarta but had to cancel their trip to Europe with the BRs due to medical issues. After surgery to relieve pain in the neck (not Pete), Susan is pain-free and back teaching jazzercise. They do spend a lot of time at their new OBX abode!

Got a note from Mike and Janet Stark in Platte City, Missouri. Mike reports all are getting older with birthdays and anniversaries celebrated. Visits to Florida, Colorado, Branson, and a Royals game are highlights for the year, along with support work during the election season. I can identify, having served as the secretary of the Wilson County Board for Elections—noble and needed volunteer work for America! Thanks for the note, Mike!

Christmas cards received and very much appreciated: Russ and Mary Stuart Harlow (Lexington, Virginia), John and Irene McLaren (Chesapeake, Virginia), John and Suzanne Pate (Chesapeake, Virginia), Steve and Pat Orr

(Ijamsville, Maryland), Bruce and Peggy Pence (Roanoke, Virginia), Charlie and Tommie Toler (Hernando Beach, Florida), Ted and Susan Telle (Crossville, Tennessee), Craig and Debbie MacFarlane (Woodbridge, Virginia), Mike and Sarah Fisher (Rochelle, Virginia), Tom and Susan Eberly (Raphine, Virginia), Sam and Karen Powell (Burlington, North Carolina), Kevin and Cindy Nettrour (Mascoutah, Illinois), Ricky and Page Kastelberg (Richmond, Virginia), TJ and Kerri Wilson (Harrisonburg, Virginia), Ed and Jamie Blake (Kilmarnock, Virginia), Mark and Gwen Hays (Sandy, Utah), Steve and Carol Weaver (Monroe, Washington), Glenn and Grace Greene (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Bert and Cherryl Graham (Berwyn, Pennsylvania), David and Jan Lester (Midlothian, Virginia), Jim and Joanne De Ford (Manakin Sabot, Virginia), Bruce and Sue Jones (Richmond, Virginia), Terrell and Sarah Williams (Richmond, Virginia), Mike Cole (Carlisle, Pennsylvania), Bill and Deb McDonald (Arlington, Virginia), J.W. and Pam Simms (Midlothian, Virginia), Randy and Martha Gleason (Salem, Virginia), Twana Biram (Raleigh, North Carolina), Andy and Marcie Eason (Moore, Oklahoma), Chuck and Carol Collins (Lenexa, Kansas), Clint and Cheryl Anderson (Inez, Texas), Lane and Karin Toomey (Southern Pines, North Carolina), Sam and Colleen Mattocks (Fairview Park, Ohio), Jeff Huckabee and Kathy Dollard (West Chester, Pennsylvania), Donnie and Barbara Ross (Glen Allen, Virginia), Don and Patti Kilcullen (Richmond, Virginia), Buck and Loretta Buchanan (Newnan, Georgia), Frank and Jeanee Richardson (Newport News, Virginia), Bill and Pam Shumate (Stafford, Virginia), Mel and Vicki Clark (Ferrum, Virginia), Chip and Cathy Beaman (Chesapeake, Virginia), John Smithey (Roanoke, Virginia), Tom and Patricia Puskas (Oakton, Virginia), Henry and Peggy Moncure (Gloucester, Virginia), Mike and Clay Morrissette (Roanoke, Virginia), Rich and Ann Forbes (Nashville, Tennessee), Ted Zajac and Deb Klembara (Avon Lake, Ohio), Clarke and Brenda Peele (Glendale, Arizona), and finally Bailey and Doree Hurley (Ellisville, Missouri). I am out of space—my five-page limit has been met.

Class contacts: snookieparker1974@earthlink.net. Charley Banning cbanning@cox.net. Send me a note. Yada, yada, yada, and yaba daba dooooo!

In the Bonds, Snookie

Brothers, Sisters, and Casual Readers, Around the time you receive and read these notes, 40 or so travelers will be en route back to our respective home bases after traveling to England, Belgium, and France. I expect to fully chronicle and present notes on our class adventure printed in the August edition of these pages. Writing now in mid-February, I’m fairly quivering with excitement! The smell and feel of a new Solgaard carry-on closet suitcase and backpack does that to a naif like me.

Your notes this quarter cover news, trivia, and rumors collected between mid-November 2022 and mid-February 2023.

In late January, your class officers and representatives from ’76 and ’77 met with the superintendent, the commandant, and representatives of the VMI administration via Zoom to present a restart to the paused Pass In Review program. I’ve covered PIR in previous editions of these pages and regard the program as another way to keep alumni actively interested and involved with the VMI Corps of Cadets and as an excellent vehicle for recruiting potential cadets.

The midwinter tedium was broken with the much-appreciated notes from many of you sharing news of your world. Many others of you are somewhat thrifty in your use of the keyboard. John Plunkett has recently completed a renovation project at his Henderson, Nevada, home that was four years in duration. In late winter, John will act as the local host for Jim McCriskin, John Greene, Dean Armstrong, Glenn Garland, and Guy Conte as they come to Las Vegas for a few days of golf, R&R, and testing their mettle at the craps tables. Their arrival in Nevada is Feb. 27.

Three first-time and very much welcome emails came in around Feb. 1. The first was from Hamid Moghavemi-Tehrani in Northern Virginia. M-T is still actively working at running his own civil engineering company in Tyson’s Corner. He and Faye have two married daughters and two grandchildren. He exercises to stay fit. M-T shared a little more, but there it is, 48 years in three sentences!

The second surprise entry came from Oceanside, California. in the form of a lengthy email from Barry Lineback. Barry retired from the U.S. Army in 2000 as a lieutenant colonel and worked for 17 more years in the Washington, D.C., area for the government. In 2018, he said so long to Uncle Sammy and moved to California. He is married to a beautiful Vietnamese lady named Sang, and the pair travel all around the U.S., go on cruises, and on occasion, travel to Vietnam.

Third was a sincere and heartfelt letter from Wade Bowman. Wade lost his wife and best friend of 50 years Jan. 1. In 2021, he retired from Anthem in IT. He and Lee liked to camp (glamp), play golf, and fish. He hopes to continue these activities in due time. He has two sons, one of whom graduated from VMI in 2002. There was more, but I respect Wade’s privacy.

Dave “Sweets” Jensen reported in as “all right” from Charlottesville.

From Macon, Georgia, Richard Mines shared that he underwent Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer Dec. 23 up in Atlanta. Rich was honored and appreciative of calls he received from several BRs and two personal visits from Alan Hansen. Hopefully, by the time this note reaches you readers, Rich will be mostly back to normal.

Harley Myler remarked on your scribe’s rhyming couplets and went on to describe a January illness and infection gifted to him by his grandson. Harley appreciates the notes and updates provided in this narrow shaft.

Greg Stultz piped up with an “all right” from Stow, Ohio.

Bill Witherow and Steve Chapin both checked in via text as “thanks and all right!”

Ken Gerard should be fully retired by the time these notes print if he can quit work cold turkey.

A check-in from Jacksonville, Florida, finds Rick “Dawg” Law continuing to recover after hip replacement. With his therapy complete, he is now able to fish and half-swing the golf clubs. He and Pariolee will have taken a cruise out of Miami with stops in the Florida Keys, Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, and ending in Panama by the time these words reach you.

Upcoming events that will have occurred when these notes are published came in from Guy Conte. El Presidente has played golf with Keith Frey multiple times. Doug Conte lives

Class notes

approximately 70 miles from Phoenix and met Guy for lunch Jan. 31. The charming little lunch shop has a bakery and serves great pie! Guy will host Jerry DeWaters, Bernie Cobb, and Oliver Way out in Scottsdale for a spring golf tune-up week. This group will also toss some shrimp and steak on the barbie for a grand dinner finale.

I mentioned Charlie Hoon’s desire this coming June to host a handful of BRs at the Missoula, Montana, cabin in the last issue of these notes.

Tony and Teresa Farry sent a news-packed note advising of a year of highs and lows. The birth of a grandson, Mr. Farry’s homegoing in August at age 95, and Tony having a right knee replacement Nov. 30, 2022, and the left knee

scheduled a long-postponed European cruise that should produce a later story and photos.

The holiday season spurs much-welcomed activity, and I received several intriguing items in the mail. One came from Bink Rush. Bink spent two-and-a-half years with us before circumstances caused him to leave VMI. He plays music in a touring band.

Another fellow, Guy Wills, who was with us for two full years, sent holiday greetings.

Sosthenes Behn has successfully located and made contact with Craig Erickson. Craig has retreated from society and lives alone in a one-bedroom trailer in Seabeck, Washington.

Dev Miller’s widow, Bette Miller Frette, sent in a lengthy note thanking us for the birthday and holiday cards over the past five years since

from that class gypsy and always mobile Bernie Cobb

Robert Mills checked in from Aspen, Colorado, where a sudden snow squall had chased him off the slopes and indoors for a lunch break. Since early fall, Robert has languished on the Black Sea coast upon the ancient Thracian Cliffs near Varna, Bulgaria; lassoed his children into a sailing trip to Jamaica (Argh, ye old buccaneer!); and spent the Christmas holidays in Spain enjoying fabulous food, wine, and weather.

A lengthy and news-filled note arrived from Ellet and Fran Smith. Fran has beautiful penmanship, which explains why the notes always come from her!

Vern Conner checked in post-hurricane season and remarked on some travel (no specifics), and then signed off.

Bouncing between Florida and Connecticut, John Whitworth sent in a spirited, “All right.”

Felix Wolkowitz offered up news of recent travel to Anguilla and planned trips to Europe and Israel.

No moss grows under the bustling feet of Dan and Sandy Brooks. Last quarter, I mentioned their hike on Offa’s Dyke, which skirts the England/Wales border and where the walk was made more challenging due to several stops for a “cheeky pint.” Since then, they have been to Lexington and hiked House Mountain, traveled to Dominica in the Caribbean for more hiking and snorkeling, and finally wintered over in South Carolina, where saltwater angling will occupy many happy hours.

replaced a mere month later Dec. 28, 2022, has made fall 2022 challenging. Tony expects to be back on the golf course May 1 as Robocaddie. Meanwhile, Teresa is nurse and nanny as she tends to Tony and keeps grandson Grayson three days a week.

A local report from Harry McKnight relays how uplifting and meaningful the monthly class prayer meetings have been to him. As time passes, he is ever more appreciative of the brotherhood that will never be broken.

Kimo and Shelley Wong are officially Floridians now. They have occupied their new home in Parkland, Florida. Kimo will keep a small flat in Alexandria, Virginia, until he retires at the year’s end. He and Shelley have

Dev died. Bette has remarried (another C-130 pilot, retired) but expressed deep admiration for our class and for VMI. Their son, Andrew Miller ’04, graduated VMI, and she visits post each time she visits family in Virginia.

From chilly Alberta, Canada, warm wishes arrived from Mehrdad and Athena Andisheh

In December, the Army versus Navy game was enjoyed in Philadelphia by Bob and Shirley Holby and their son and his wife. All four rode comfortably in a private Amtrak sleeper car to and from Melbourne, Florida.

Bill Fowlkes has relocated from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Eureka, Missouri, to be near their daughter and two grandchildren.

Hearty greetings and a nice note came in

From eastern North Carolina, Rick Hening writes of life busy with work and pleasure. Sponges for learning and activity have sent Rick and Suzanne to numerous museums and excursions, plays, concerts, and football games. Of particular gastronomic interest was their travel to Elizabeth City, North Carolina, for the annual Hot Cocoa Crawl, where they savored the cocoa bombe dessert, an ambrosial pairing of vanilla and chocolate gelatos, cherry, slivered almonds, and a dash of cinnamon, all hugged by a milk chocolate shell. Anyone passing through Rocky Mount, North Carolina, are encouraged to stop and visit.

By the time these notes hit your mail slot, Charlie Collins will be somewhere between Springer Mountain, Georgia, and Mount Katahdin, Maine, attempting his solo through hike of the Appalachian Trail. It was great to hear from Chaz.

Class Notes

From Port St. Lucie, Florida, Frank Cole avers that he didn’t believe he’d ever provided an update to any class agent. He and Melody moved into their new home last September. They love it, and the medical care and weather are unsurpassed. He and Melody are avid pickleball players. The end!

Jeff Abravesh always submits a warm and kind greeting!

John, Cathy, Matt, and Heidi Maples sent a great card signed by their Welsh corgi, Jack! Thank you!

Rick and Stella Davison enclosed a nice year-end photo from their front porch in Athens, Georgia.

A card lamenting the uncomfortable hot weather in Central Florida came in from Larry Groome, hmm ...

Randy Frank represents the third M.D. (see Jim McCriskin and Phil Brzowzski ’76) we’ll have along on the history tour of England, Belgium, and France in May. Randy’s early February issuance reveals travel to New Orleans, great food, and ample time allotted to the National World War II Museum. Randy works a half-schedule at the local hospital in Bellingham, Washington, as he tapers down toward full retirement. He plans to run the Eugene Marathon on his 70th birthday, moments before the FTX.

An early January SITREP from John Moschetti came in from the wild Upper Peninsula of Michigan. John and his wife retired in ’99 and live in Marquette. Both teach at Northern Michigan University. He and Christiane do a lot of winter hiking as there are no insects and generally fewer bears about.

A December offering addressed to “The Master of Charmless Swill” arrived from Col./Dr. Glenn Garland, in which a deep dive into archival data was researched regarding our class’ record in football versus VPI & SU during our cadetship. It turns out to have been 2-1 after suffering a close 13-9 loss in 1971 during our rat football season, then winning the two huge tilts our 1st and 2nd Class years. There was also a veiled threat of requiring me to view a dance video of an event Glenn attended in Raleigh late last year!

It’s with much appreciation that I’m privileged to receive holiday season family photos such as what Mike and Sloane Hunter enclosed. The beaming pride is unmistakable on the faces of parents with grown sons and daughters and grandchildren in the pictures.

This same sentiment can be ascribed to the multiple pictorial greeting received from Dr. Billy and Lee Hunter

Andy and Mary Love Dearman responded with news of a relaxed retirement at their farm in Vestavia, Alabama, and some time in Birmingham and at Lake Martin. Plans are afoot to take the family (two children and two grandchildren) to the Calgary Stampede and to Banff, Alberta, this summer and spend bleacher time watching the grandkids’ athletic feats.

I like the combination of brevity chocked full of news, and TP and Celia Ridley did just that with their greeting, which exclaimed their new address, daughter’s marriage Nov. 5, and anticipation of the class trip across the big pond in May! Well crafted, sir!

The differing handwriting on content within the greeting card and the handiwork on the envelope suggests a tag-team effort to get the cards out the door more efficiently. This was the case with Tom and Peggy Jones in which the content was so spare that I knew it was Peg who neatly printed the envelope.

I do so love the pictures of the pets, especially our dogs! Bob Keller’s personal message distilled for me the relief the class agent feels when that last holiday card is written and released to the USPS. See you on the field trip in three months, Bob!

Bill Puttmann sent a quite beautiful card with a note sharing that two of his three children would be home for Christmas and that his oldest son, a Merchant Marine, was away taking a tanker of oil to China, to his (Bill’s) extreme vexation.

Tad, Beverly, and Blossom (the kitty) MacGowan have adjusted to life in Portland, Oregon, and being grandparents to some of the local family. This prodigious clan are spread all around the country, and family members seem to reside in Los Angeles, Colorado Springs, Northern Virginia, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, if I have it all straight.

Scott and Barbara Risser shared their annual Christmas letter. Both stay busy volunteering as docents at the Stonewall Jackson House, as well as with their church, library, and various clubs in Lexington.

Glittery (it’s all over my hands) greetings and a look forward to the class trip in May from Bill Terpeluk

Doug Dunlap’s card soothed the Christmas card trauma and promised a follow-up note about his two new grandsons.

I always get a great vibe when I hear from and talk to Charlie Hoon. We shared an adventure as rats way back when ...

Charlie and Maureen Freeman sent warm greetings and are doing “all right.”

Greg and Melody Diamontopulos sent joy and blessings; see you on the trip in May, Greg!

A delightful and charming photo of four beaming children arrived from Kevin and Nancy Tamez in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, along with a caption explaining that non-photogenic adults were banned from posing! Ha!

Sam and Robin Moultrie also adopted the grandkids and pets-only rule in their holiday card.

From right here in Roanoke, Art and Judy Nunn expressed best 2023 wishes and blessed our time together at VMI games and our small group outings.

For an engineer who has thrived on steadiness and boredom, Bob O’Conner writes an amusing year-end letter. The memo notes Jan’s propensity for minor injury; their annual travel to Oahu, Hawaii, to visit one daughter and her Navy family; and a second daughter’s knack for finding rent-free upscale work in Manhattan, New York. The big future plan for the O’Conner posse is an extended trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Jan will rough it in base camp while Bob and the vigorous, youthful offspring and spouses backpack in the Grand Tetons.

I really don’t have a great grasp on how much time Dean and Denise Armstrong actually spend at their home in Michigan. Dean’s report informs of a lengthy trip to the U.K., mentioning London, Poole (the U.K. Tank Museum), and the Isle of Jersey, over to St. Mal, France; Mont St. Michele; Normandie; Honfluer; Etretat; the Somme Region (see World War I); Reims; and the Champagne region. Their next midyear trip was a Baltic and Scandinavian cruise with stops in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Norway, then a link-up trip with Len Reidel and Bill Terpeluk for another week of scouting and planning the spring 2023 FTX trip for our class.

It’s time to put the brakes on the travel train a bit. Oliver and Bonnie Way are among the many of you who have supplied me with news, humor, and comfort during occasional low times. I’ve remarked on much of their 2022 travel in these pages. They plan trips to Mexico, Egypt/Israel, South Africa, and Italy in 2023.

Class notes

Three others who have been constant advocates, confidants, sounding boards, and safety nets are Al and Sandy Morgan and Art Sigsbury; their value to my sanity cannot go unmentioned.

One factual note about the lone photo in this pedestal of prose: The section of seats in which the group is shown was the row that Tom and Judy Baur occupied for many years. Now, there are no less than 12 seats on this row reserved by members of the Class of 1975.

Your class officers and I have already begun planning for our 50th Reunion. Stay tuned for more on this topic in the coming months.

And finally, Paul Blair reported in (really, certified) that he had absolutely nothing of note to report.

Hey, look, no rants or inane observations this time around!

Humbly, I remain,

Never above you, never below you, always beside you ...

Your Friend, BR, and Scribe, Tom Mason

Brother Rats, I hope everyone has had a prosperous 2023 so far. It’s flying past us quickly!

Like many BRs, you probably take care of the grandkids from time to time. Per Mark Scully, Bernadette flew to Hawaii last December to assist their son, Julian ’09, with his kids while Julian’s wife was TDY in Japan. Julian needed her help because he did not take the changing diaper course 101 while he was at VMI.

Bill Neal is the president of The Villages Chapter of the Alumni Association (The Villages is a retirement community northwest of Orlando, Florida). Bill said, “... am about a quarter of the way through my tour of duty. Have a good time coordinating events with the laidback village crowd. Am the only ’76er, but there are a number of early ’70s grads in our chapter, as well as a lot of guys much older.”

Bill and Deborah traveled much of last year, ending 2022 with a fabulous cruise.

Jack Christy checked in from Washington.

Jack won the Vancouver Open Reserve (under 1700) section chess tournament in Vancouver, Washington, last July! If my research is correct, 1700 is a chess skill level: The higher the number, the better you are. Google says, “1700-1900: A very good chess player. Makes few mistakes. Has reached a level of mastery that most chess players will never reach.” Any BR challengers out there? Jack and Charlotte are contemplating a move from Washington. They thought about Florida, but it is too hot, and they do not like hurricanes. South Carolina or Arizona are under consideration, but Arizona might have an edge. Jack said, “We’re going to visit Arizona in late winter, maybe early [this] spring. Maybe finally be there for spring [baseball] training, as we’ve longed to do for years.”

Remember this news: “Numerous strong to severe thunderstorms impacted Central Alabama during the morning and afternoon hours of Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. Several supercell thunderstorms spawned multiple tornadoes, which caused significant damage in many areas.” Well, our Alabama BRs were fortunate to avoid any associated weather issues. Ron LaGrone said, “The heavy weather was south of I-20. Minor damage here in Alexandria, Alabama. Selma was hit hard, as were some surrounding counties.” From Randy Esser: “Southeast side of Birmingham got a lot of rain but missed the most severe weather.” Richard Keith reported, “Doing well in Montgomery.” Ray Harrell was out of town at the time but said, “According to my kids and neighbors, there were some tornadoes about 40 miles from here. Mostly just really bad thunderstorms locally.”

Pete and Mary Ann Friesen are officially retired. They sold their home in Virginia and moved to Maryland, closer to family. Mary Ann said, “Peter retired earlier [than her]. He is now busy working on his hobbies, war games, miniatures, and model railroad.” Mary Ann works as a part-time nursing research scientist and volunteers with the American Holistic Nurses Association. Pete and Mary traveled quite a bit in 2022, visiting family and friends across the U.S., but their travel highlight was a trip to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. If you are not familiar with the event, here is a description: “The village’s Passion Play is a large production that tells the story of the passion of Jesus, from his visit to Jerusalem to his crucifixion. The Passion Play is performed on the world’s largest open-air stage.

The play spans an entire day and can run from five to eight hours, with an intermission long enough for a nice meal. While the production is in German, audience members are provided with the script in multiple languages. However, with the captivating storytelling and moving performances, most viewers find that language is hardly a barrier.” The first Passion Play was performed in 1634 and happens every 10 years.

Ted and Melanie Mouras are back traveling again! They said, “We finally learned the secret of travel in the age of COVID-19 (it’s a spreadsheet listing all the required documents, tests, and vaccines, in case you wondered, though I’ll note here that the test requirements changed while we were literally flying over the Atlantic Ocean).” After a couple of local trips in the Arizona and California area, the trip of the year was a cruise to Norway to see the Northern Lights. They said, “Norway, even snowed under, or maybe because it is snowed under, is a beautiful country. People were happy to see us, though COVID-19 protocols meant a lot was shut down (mostly shopping). We had a marvelous time. ... And we had a vast number of meals that included fresh seafood, sometimes hard to get in southeast Arizona.”

Kevin Pardus is still volunteering with various STEM-based robotics programs. He just finished supporting and judging for the Virginia–Washington, D.C. First Lego League competition season last year. (“First Lego League

Class Notes

introduces science, technology, engineering, and math to children ages 4-16 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experience through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together.”) Earlier this year, he started supporting two other programs: First Tech Challenge (“Teams design, build, and code robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. Robots are built from a reusable platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.”) and First Robotics Competition (“Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team brand, hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors.”) The first thing that comes to mind is: “Heads up, John Conner!” Kevin’s oldest daughter is married with two children and living on Long Island. His youngest daughter and fiancé still live and work in Singapore but will relocate to Brussels, Belgium, later this year.

Evan and Margaret Haberman hopped hotels in 2022. I imagine more are scheduled for 2023! Margaret said, “Evan found a book titled Historic Hotels of America, and [he] is determined to visit as many as practical.” So far, they have visited the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia; the Inn at Grove Park in Orange, Virginia; and four other listed hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In addition to hotels, the Habermans hopped back and forth between

Lexington, Virginia, and the Charlotte, North Carolina, area, visiting their kids and grandchildren.

Jim and Tish Dittrich had a humorous 2022: They did not know the answer to the doctor’s question when asked: Which side required the colonoscopy, the right or left? They had no idea what happens when you surprise 1,000 ducks during a hike near a lake—they all crap during takeoff. And they were not sure how to extract a skunk trapped in a box at their home in Arkansas—thank goodness for the skunk whisperer. Otherwise, Jim and Tish are doing well, and their kids are prospering out in Aurora, Colorado, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida!

Happy 44th wedding anniversary to Grigg and Cindy Mullen. They celebrated the milestone last March, each with COVID-19. Fortunately, their symptoms were mild. They said: “Our retirements continue to be a joy each day. The highlights of our year are the trips we are able to go on, any gatherings of family and friends, timber frame projects, stitching projects at Make it Sew, and the quiet time we get to enjoy at home. Grigg is having the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael’s, Maryland, build his second wooden boat. He gets over to the Eastern Shore as often as he can to help the museum staff on the boat.” Visiting Machu Picchu must be a BR thing (see Jack Christy’s picture). The Mullens also visited Peru and Machu Picchu last September. Both sons are doing well. Grigg III and wife still live in the Lexington area, managing their businesses, and Andrew, his wife, and daughter still live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This is the end of the good news. I hope everyone has a wonderful spring and summer. Here is an event to add to your calendar for the fall: We are planning a mini reunion Oct. 21 or 28 when VMI has a home football game. Details to be published.

Here is the sad news: Doug Hines passed away Dec. 22, 2022. He was 68 years old. He is survived by his sons, Chad (with wife Alison) and Brett (with wife Megan), his brothers, Glen and Daniel, and grandchildren, Kenna, Sienna, Jesse, and Nathan. While many BRs wrote touching stories about Doug, below are memories from his roommates.

Rocky Glass: “Like all of you, I am deeply saddened by the passing of Doug, and I have a couple of things [to say]. I could not have asked for a better group of roommates at VMI than Doug Hines, Ray Brooks, and Bill Favier. We

developed a true BR bond that still holds us together to this day. But with Doug’s passing, I not only lost my BR, but I lost my best friend. Doug and I have relived our antics at VMI and have developed new stories and unforgettable memories over the 50 years (1972–2022) we knew each other.

“I must have 10,000 stories about Doug, but one of them hits on all Doug’s qualities as the man we all knew and loved. Among all of Doug’s accomplishments, one that you may not have known is that Doug was an Eagle Scout. When our son, Hunter, earned his Eagle Scout, Doug graciously offered to emcee Hunter’s award ceremony. Doug was the ultimate professional in front of about 100 people, which scared the heck out of me because I knew sooner or later the ‘big doofus’ in him would surely emerge! Our pseudo-VMI roommate, Jim Brown, another Eagle Scout, could not attend the ceremony, but he sent Hunter a U.S. flag that he had flown in an F-22 Raptor above Edwards Air Force Base and put together a phenomenal video of the Raptor in action and a congratulatory speech for Hunter while in his flight suit in the aircraft hangar. It was quite emotional and had all the audience in tears, including me and Doug. At the end of the video, without batting an eye, Doug says, ‘Wow, how can I follow that video, but what you ... don’t know is that Jim would never made it through VMI without [our] help ... with his academics!’ The following laughter surely helped dry up the tears.

“Another Doug Eagle Scout story was at Myrtle Beach. Doug came down for our annual family beach trip and while on the beach someone asked, ‘What time is it?’ Doug immediately popped out of his beach chair and said, ‘Come on, Hunter, let’s show them some Eagle Scout $#!%!’ He points his right arm to the sun and his left arm (still holding on to his beer) to the horizon, brings them together, and says, ‘Well, according to the water and its relation to the sun, it’s approximately 2:45,’ (while reading the time on the watch on his left arm)!

“I am so fortunate to have had Doug as a friend for so many years. Like all of you, I took Doug’s passing very hard, but I was glad I was up here in Maryland the day he passed to help out with his family. I took Doug’s oldest son, Chad, to the hospital the night Doug passed. He asked me to accompany him into the hospital room, where I got the chance to say goodbye for the last time to my BR and best friend. As

we left the hospital room, I put my hand on his shoulder, told him I loved him, and gave him one last, ‘Rah Virginia Mil!’”

Bill Favier: “It’s taken me the holiday to begin processing Doug’s passing. I know this was a very hard Christmas for his sons, Chad and Brett, who he loved so much, and their families, as well as for his brothers, Glen and Danny. As Rocky said so well, Doug, Ray, and Rocky were the best roommates I could have ever hoped for, and we established a friendship that weathered the years well.

“When I remember Doug, I remember a really good-looking guy who was never vain, a fun-loving and funny guy who never hurt others in the process (well, maybe putting J.W.’s head in the heating pipes crossed that line a bit), an honorable man who took great pride in the trust you placed in him by selecting him for the

have made it through VMI without the kindness of Doug, Rocky, Ray, and their parents, who made sure that this kid from Texas never spent a holiday alone in barracks. They’ll never know how much that meant to me. When I got out of the Army, it was Doug and his wife, Sue, who welcomed me into their home for three weeks while I got on my feet in the civilian world. And my kids knew, loved, and respected ‘Uncle Doug.’ They got the rare opportunity of watching Doug (and some other unnamed roommates) ‘gatoring’ on the dance floor at our 15th Reunion. And when we were vacationing in Virginia Beach one year, Doug and his boys visited for a couple of days. He made the mistake of picking up and tossing one of my three kids out into the deeper surf, which was so much fun that the others wanted to be thrown also, again and again. Two hours later,

that equates to about 1,200 phone calls.) What a wonderful thing it was to be able to communicate with Doug about so many subjects and often just to share how our day or the week was going.

“There were golf rounds together either in Maryland or Lexington or in North Carolina. There were business or fun trips where we would meet for lunch or dinner. Rocky; Bill; John Swain; and Doug’s sons, Chad and Brett, played golf with Doug. Doug and many of us from VMI played in several VMI golf tournaments, including the Pup Cup in Williamsburg. When we were playing golf once, Doug, nor any of our foursome, were playing particularly well that day. Unbeknownst to any of our foursome, Doug had placed an aluminum softball bat in his bag. So, on a tee, he says, ‘I’m going to try another club off the tee this time,’ ... then Doug pulls out that bat and clobbered the golf ball down the fairway!

“Doug and I each had season tickets for our respective NFL teams; Doug had seats for the Baltimore Ravens, and I had seats for the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. About 15 years ago, we said that the next time those two teams played each other, we would attend the games together. A few years later, they did play each other. In 2010, the Panthers hosted the Ravens. Then in 2014, the Ravens hosted the Panthers. We had fun tailgating with Doug’s buddies in Baltimore and with mine in Charlotte. The Ravens won both games, so Doug especially enjoyed that!

Honor Court, and a kind person always willing to offer a helping hand. Underneath that easygoing exterior was a determined, competitive spirit that made him successful on the football field and the handball courts (where he and Ray delighted in smashing opponents between them) and carried over into his success in business. He was intensely loyal. When I talked to him last year about why he didn’t sell/close his business given the challenges he was facing, he told me some of his employees had been working for him for decades but weren’t quite at retirement age, so he wanted to keep it going for them.

“Doug often mentioned he might not have survived VMI’s math without my help, but what he never took credit for was that I would never

he finally quit and could barely lift his arms the next day!

“I will miss Doug and his spirit. He found a home, a brotherhood, and friendships at VMI that only grew over the years. I’m sure he’d be appalled at all these sappy words and would advise us to ‘raise a cup for me, boys, and then go on and enjoy your lives and your families. Rah Virginia Mil!’”

Thoughts from Ray Brooks: “I was blessed to have roomed with Doug, Bill, and Rocky in barracks my 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class years and doubly blessed to have remained friends with them these 46 years since we graduated in 1976.

“Doug and I communicated at least twice per month over the 46 years since we graduated. (I had never done that calculation before, but

“As with many of us VMI alumni, VMI served as a special place to Doug. Almost every year since we graduated in 1976, a group of us would schedule a VMI football game we would attend. Those were some fun times to plan toward and to attend tailgates, the Saturday morning VMI parade, and the game with Doug and other VMI buddies and our growing families.

“VMI was quite a different place to attend college, what with the Rat Line, strict military rules, and structured daily schedules. So many of us were blessed with making strong friendships during our cadet years there. Many of those friendships have continued through the years. Doug was a significant part of those VMI friendships to many of us. Doug Hines was a wonderful example of how to kindly treat others, love his family, and be ready with that great laugh of his. Doug and his fun, friendly demeanor will be so missed. Many have been positively affected by knowing Doug.”

Greetings, Class of ’77,

I am writing these notes in January that cover the period of Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 15, 2023. Hopefully, while reading this, you will be making final plans to attend our ’77 mini reunion the weekend of Oct. 28, 2023. Hope to see you there!

I must first sadly report the passing of Maj. Evan “Skeet” Ashby, who left us Jan. 26, 2023. Skeet suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome for many years and finally succumbed to this debilitating disease. I also want to mention that Kim Rose recently lost his father. Our condolences go out to these families, and we ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

The class was honored to have several classmates attend the award ceremony for Gen. Peay ’62 during Founders Day weekend. Gen. Peay was presented the prestigious New Market Medal, VMI’s highest honor. This was also the weekend of the official unveiling of Gen. Peay’s superintendent portrait. This portrait will hang in the Turman Room of Preston Library with other VMI superintendents’ official portraits. Class of ’77 members present for these events included Kimber Latsha, Keith and Pat Gibson, Mark Bryant, Bland and Jane Massie, Eric Hutchens, Chris

Nash, and George Borojevich George’s sister, Mary Borojevich, also attended. Mary worked for Gen. Peay while he was on active duty and continues to stay in contact with the family.

During that same weekend, the Club of the Triad Chapter held a Founders Day dinner at the Greensboro Country Club. The guest speaker was our own VMI historian, Keith Gibson, who gave a very interesting talk on the “Cadet Coatee Through the Years.” Others present included Tommy and Travis Underhill, Steve and Mauri Kelly, and Mike and Pat Kelly ’73

I received a nice note from George Borojevich George recently visited Randy Hartley in Florida, where he drove Randy to his last visit at Bennett Cancer Center in Tampa. George reports Randy is healthy and happy. We hope to see Randy back at VMI soon! George had recently returned from California with his new prosthetic foot/ankle and planned to attend the VMI Sports of Hall of Fame banquet and VMI basketball reunion in late January.

I also received a note from Don and Nipa Browder. They recently returned from a trip to Thailand, where Don and Nipa played some golf, visited Brother Rat Prasobchai Kasemsant, and did some professional modeling.

John “Buster” Pace sent a note and picture showing the impressive results of a Costa Rica fishing trip with Bruce Cann and Tommy Underhill. They reported catching over 600 pounds of mahi and sailfish (not sure if that was a certified weight or not, and their guide could not be reached for comment).

Richard Moore reports that he has started a new chemo regimen after being cancer-free for some time. Richard wanted me to pass along that we need to become familiar with signs of prostate cancer and, if in doubt, get screened now and not later. Continued prayers for good treatment outcomes, Richard!

Steve Neas also passed along a story from

J.J. Marshall that happened our 1st Class year involving members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. You may want to catch Steve or J.J. sometime and listen to this humorous story about life in the “Old Corps.”

I am in the middle of “moving mania,” so if I left anybody out who emailed me, please let me know, and I will correct that error in the next edition of the Alumni Review. My new address is listed above. Hope to see you all at the mini reunion Oct. 28, 2023. Blessings!

1978

Greetings and salutations, Brother Rats and Friends of the Class,

Unfortunately, I must begin with the reporting of the loss of two brother rats: Tim Fredrikson and Chuck Early Tim left this life at VCU hospital in Richmond Feb. 2, 2023. He was surrounded by family and passed peacefully. Tim’s life can be celebrated with your furry animal companion or by making a donation in his honor to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA.

Chuck passed away Feb. 8. He had been in the hospital for five weeks and was fighting excess iron buildup in his system. Both Tim and

Chuck were gentle souls who will be greatly missed. We look forward to celebrating their lives at the reunion this fall.

As you are reading these notes, we are about four months from the reunion, Oct. 27–28. As of this writing, plans are still in the making. Our base of operations will be the Wingate. To keep up to date, check out vmialumni. org/events/reunions and select the second fall reunion. The plan is to have time to visit and share memories with one another. The football game that weekend is with the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga. There will be no stick check that weekend!

It is time again to pass along the happenings from around the class.

There were many check-ins via Christmas cards. Terry Dorn was blessed with grandchild No. 8, Emma Melinda Dorn. They sold their homes in Virginia and have moved to the Raleigh area, and the biggest news is that Terry has retired from work and is living the retirement life with Beth.

Paul Mitchell tells us that he is in good health and is slimmer than when he was a Keydet. He also shared that the Richmond BRs had a holiday gathering with Ronnie Milligan, Billy Way, Bill Hardy, Anthony Moore, Bob Jenvy, and Bill Grove in attendance.

Alec Earle and Sheila were in Las Vegas, loving being able to see family and friends. They enjoy their new RV and are now into pickleball.

Don McGinnis was on the road to a Van Gogh exhibit when he sent greetings.

Dave Ring reports that he and Bobbie are retired in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and have been enjoying family and traveling.

Stan Walchock, Garry Spencer, Ed Little, Keith Barber, Bob Zaccardi, Tim McGreer, Bil Greg, Scott LaCagnin, Chip Schelhorn, and Allen Moore all sent along their Christmas greetings as well. Thanks!

Now for the status checks:

Ed Little: “Mary and I are blessed. The family is healthy, and the pre-retirement tasks are moving along. We are looking forward to a vacation and exploring new opportunities.”

Blaine Vorgang: “Wendy and I continue to be in an ‘all right’ status here in Plainfield, Illinois. Not too much snow this year as compared to past years; winter overall has been mild.”

Tim Pishdad: “Well, made a public shaming of my weight, so by the reunion, I had better lose 15 pounds, or I have egg on my face. Getting back

into physical activities after a year of nursing my hurt right foot after playing racquetball. Cynthia and I should have returned from Thailand, and we are planning on seeing all at the reunion in October. Please come visit us in Viera, Florida. Doing some part-time at Port Canaveral for Carnival, so if you cruise out of Port Canaveral, look me up.”

Bob Jenvey: “All good with me and family here in Richmond. Wife Tamara and I are doing a joint vacation in Antigua in early March with Max Floyd ’77 and his wife, Karen. No other news for now.”

Tom Sliwoski: “All right in Williamsburg.”

Bill Hardy: “All is well and have my oldest daughter, Hillary, getting married in October in Charlottesville, Virginia. I am staying busy with my CPA practice. Looking forward to our reunion!”

John Forsyth: “Alive and well. Hope the same applies broadly.”

Steve Murray: “All right, staying in with roomies.”

John Tucker: “All right in Columbus, Ohio.”

Nelson Curtis: “Have returned to Virginia, now living in Williamsburg. Not missing the New York winter at all.”

Mark McKissick: “All right. Had a shoulder replaced in January.”

Pete Manoso: “All OK in Newport News, Virginia. Looking forward to our 45th Reunion in October 2023. Have not missed one yet and will not miss this one if I can help it. Hope to see you there!”

Ron Carter: “We had a great weekend at VMI celebrating Kelly Lombard’s [’79] induction into the VMI Hall of Fame. Dave Montgomery, Anthony Moore, Johnny Garnett, Rex Wiggins, and Andre Gibson all joined in on the celebration. We all were able to return home safely with new memories and tall tales. Keep an eye on the Chicago mayoral race Feb. 28. If Mr. Paul Vallas is elected mayor, I may have a big announcement about becoming a member of his administration.”

Steve Powers: “Per your request, we in New Hampshire are ‘all right!’ Have left the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and took a part-time security position with the state of New Hampshire. I will be working for the New Hampshire Department of Safety and their Department of Motor Vehicles. Guess I’m kind of pitiful, however. Retirement and I haven’t been getting along and need to keep active, both mentally and physically!” Take care and stay well, BR!

Bob Fricke: “All right in Colorado Springs! Retiring from teaching! Going to dabble in private investigations and enjoy being retired!”

Leland Horn: “All right here on the Space Coast ... still working on the B-21 Raider program.”

Jimmy Leech: “We’re ‘all right’ here in Corpus Christi. Nothing new to report.”

Bruce Kay: “‘All right’ here! I retired Dec. 31 and am enjoying not setting the alarm anymore!”

Mark Seely: “Rosemary and I are spending this winter in Palm Springs playing lots of golf and enjoying the sunshine. Looking forward to seeing you at our reunion.”

Jim Mackin: “Regina and I continue to thrive in our little coastal OBX heaven. She and I became grandparents for the first time in early November last year, and another of our four daughters, and her husband, VMI ’11, are expecting in late March of this year. If he doesn’t apply for a provisional appointment, I will!”

Vagel Keller: “All right! Debbie and I made a trip to Sarasota, Florida, for a family ‘check formation’ in late January and stopped for a few days in Savannah, Georgia, where we had a nice evening visiting with Bill and Ann McCampbell, who recently retired to Hilton Head. A good time was had by all.”

Paul Campbell: “All right! I retired as a Department of the Army civil servant in December 2020; however, I was recently asked if I wanted to do some consulting. After some thought, probably not very carefully, I decided

to accept. It’s supposed to be a couple of hours a week for the next five weeks. We’ll see how this works out and whether or not I will continue should it go beyond the five weeks.”

Mark Lowe: “All right! Greetings from Troisdorf, Germany. Stacey and I are visiting our daughter and son-in-law and our first grandchild, a granddaughter! So, all is good.”

Dave Colonna: “All is well in Winston-Salem!”

Alec Earle: “‘All right’ here in Las Vegas. All is well, and the weather is starting to get better.”

Butch Brown, Rick Wetherill, Phil Fore, Hugh Crawford, and Billy Young checked in as “all right.”

Mark Lambert: “All right in St. Charles, Illinois. Denise and I are celebrating our fifth anniversary and both birthdays Feb. 18! I call it the Triple Crown. All else is good. Looking forward to the reunion in October and getting caught up with all the BRs.”

Bill Robertson: “Everything is ‘all right’ in Midlothian. I caught up with Rick McDonald recently. Great to catch up.”

Mike McCarthy: “Sorry for being off the grid for a bit. Last December, I got a call asking me if I had ever thought about living at Fort Benning, to which I replied, ‘No, why?’ The end of May, I was notified that I had been selected and confirmed to be the deputy director of the OSD Close Combat Lethality Task Force. Interesting work modernizing the Close Combat squads and their enablers out to 2035–

2040. Although I think about it, I am not quite ready to retire. I will give fair warning when it’s time.”

Rick Wolffe sent along a great picture of the ’78 crew at the Hall of Fame induction that Ron Carter spoke of. Such a distinguished-looking group.

The ’78 prayer group continues to grow thanks to the efforts of Jay Hutt, Kenny Blythe, Bill Robertson, Ron Dolan, Bob Beaver, and Dave Mecredy. We gather on the third Tuesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. Eastern to raise each other up and to share memories and needs. Please join us or send along your prayer request. All are welcome. Look for the Zoom link in the monthly email.

That concludes the news from around the class. Thanks all for making your notes so informative. Unfortunately, our ranks are getting thinner, and the opportunities to connect with brother rats are something to take advantage of. Reach out and visit, call, text, PM, or even mail your BRs. It is a bond that we hold dear and must nurture. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion in October.

In the Spirit, Tom/EZ

Brother Rats,

I hope this finds everyone safe and well and that you and yours had a great holiday season. A lot of things have been going on, so let’s get to it!

Chuck “Jos” Biviano, our intrepid adventurer, writes in: “I’ve been in Antarctica for the past seven weeks as artist in residence for South Polar Regions, accompanying a group of science expeditions in the western region of Antarctica. Seeing this majestic, ancient continent was life-changing. My daily routine involved following documenting science teams as they ran tests on glacial movements, glacial core samplings, and Antarctic marine life counts. I have the next eight months to produce landscape paintings that will eventually be sent to various Antarctic offices and museums around the world. On another note, I heard

Class notes

from BR Hank Chase. He’s doing very well. We’ve spent the past few weeks catching up on our lives via email since leaving VMI. Hank is still the great guy I always remembered him to be!”

For those that have not heard, Kelly Lombard was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame! Our on-site reporter, John Arthur, sends: “The weekend of Jan. 20–21, 2023, was a big weekend for the Class of ’79. It was the 2022–23 induction of Kelly Lombard into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame. Back in July, John Krovic ’77 and I linked up to work on ensuring the last starting player of the amazing 1976–77 basketball team was selected for induction into the SHOF! In August 2022, we began the development and submission of Kelly Lombard’s Sports Hall of Fame nomination. John and I reached out to teammates, classmates, coaches, and other opposing players and coaches. Many thanks to roommates (and brother rats) Mike Vela, Randy Atkins, Harlan Niehaus, and Jeryl Salmond for their input and support! We submitted him as a twosport athlete for basketball and baseball. Many might not know that he was an All-Southern Conference athlete as a catcher in the same year that he was the starting point guard on the ’76–’77 basketball team! And he was the team captain for both teams our 1st Class year!

“It was a great gathering for the celebration weekend! Frank Jester, Butch Manning, and Chappy Lucas made the drive up and back to be there to support Kelly during halftime of the basketball game! Also there for the weekend were Grey Farthing, Jeryl Salmond, Harlan Niehaus, Steve Lyon, Greg Weaver, and myself. There were a couple of folks not available for the picture at the basketball game but who attended the induction ceremony dinner Saturday night. Attending the induction ceremony: Tim ‘T.K.’ Bridges (fellow hall-of-famer), Al Soltis, Randy Atkins, and Dave Crawford! Also, his induction was at the same time as a VMI basketball reunion weekend! Invites for the reunion also included J.V. basketballers! Attending the hoop reunion activities were Kelly Lombard, Harlan Niehaus, Jeryl Salmond, John Arthur, Grey Farthing, and Jeff Smith! Many thanks to Grey for all the various pictures from the weekend!”

Ed Johnson, the newly hired chief operating officer for the VMI Alumni Agencies, brings us up to date: “The last six months have been a whirlwind. Judy broke her back in mid-August

and was put in a back brace for six weeks to attempt to stabilize the injury, but no luck. So, she will undergo back surgery in late September and continue in the back brace until late December. Physical therapy is helping, but it is a slow process. During this same time, I was offered the chief operating officer position at the VMI Alumni Association, retired from 16plus years with the federal government, moved into our tiny house in Lexington, started at VMIAA in late November, bought another

house, and am now putting our house in Northern Virginia on the market this week. I really enjoy working with and representing our great alumni. I have attended a couple of Virginia chapter events, and my first out-of-state event is in a week. I look forward to seeing you all as I get on the road.”

Dariush Alipanah shares: “During the weekend of Feb. 3–5, 2023, there was a mini reunion of Iranian BRs from the Classes of ’79 and ’80 at Pirooz and Soheila Borojerdi’s house in

Class Notes

Plantation, Florida. Attending from our class were Dariush Akhavan, Farshad Majidian, Abbas Erfani, and Dariush Alipanah. Those attending from the Class of 1980 were H. Ali Mahan ’80, Bill Bigdely ’80, Mehdi Shakibafar ’80, Mohammad Ardaki ’80, and Hoss Eshaghi ’80. This was the first time for most of us to get together since graduation to reminiscence our days at the big ‘I.’ It was good to see that everyone is doing well; some are retired (Dariush Alipanah, Abbas Erfani, Mehdi Shakibafar, and Hoss Eshaghi), and others are still busy working. We exchanged stories, shared pictures from our days at VMI, and talked about family, kids, and grandkids. A big thank you to Pirooz and Soheila for hosting the events. They did a fantastic job in making sure everyone had a memorable time during those three days.”

Ralph Briggs writes: “Sitting in the airport in Amsterdam and read your plea for notes. Here [mine] goes. My wife, LuAnn, and I spent new year’s with Travis and Terri Callaway at their beautiful new home on the Chesapeake. Bill Sarvay and his better half, Ellie, joined us. This is the second year in a row that we got together with Travis and his wife for new year’s. I guess now it’s a thing. I am in Amsterdam on my way to Poland for business, going over about every month to work with the Polish Army. Great country and wonderful people. On a personal note, we are expecting our second grandson in August. Well, that is the most I’ve typed in 43 years!”

Frank Jester says he saw Uncle Stosh Morris at the Christopher Newport University hockey game Jan. 27, 2023. He also ran into a woman he worked with in the mid-80s. He hadn’t seen her since then! Her son plays for VMI hockey—Jake Clift ’24. Small VMI world!

Ben Bauman checks in with: “Tracy and I are doing well. Our children are doing well. Alana is preparing to go to college with her GI Bill at the University of Central Florida to finish her degree. She is off active duty now. Bill is a merchant mariner serving on some ship in the Pacific. All of the other four children are busy and doing well, too. John and Julie Vaughan just visited with us last week here in Peachtree City, Georgia. They are doing well and looking for a house to buy in Georgia

in the mountains north of Atlanta. They are busy with real estate agents but found some time to stop by. Our last vacation in Puerto Rico in November was fun, and we hope to go back at some point. Tracy and I are looking forward to a nice vacation at Saint Kitts in June before hurricane season really builds up. We have other trips planned to Arizona and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, later in the summer, too. We are both working but traveling while we have our health. We continue to putz around the house on the weekends doing some projects to improve things.”

John Kailey reports: “Another mundane quarter, except for my oldest son getting married in January. Other than that, there is the two-year countdown to retirement. I understand it comes highly recommended.” Why, yes, it is most highly recommended!

Bill Albro, “Mr. Class Notes Reliable,” opines: “I got no pictures with captions—I’ll leave that to the fine group who attended Kelly Lombard’s induction into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame. Woohoo, and congrats! Well, here it is, February 2023. We had a quiet Christmas and new year’s at home. Barbara and I are planning a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as a getaway this spring. Dan Sheahan and I are beginning the planning of the fall Key West dive trip with Randy Pekarik. Randy is on the island of Hawaii for a few weeks of touring, teaching, and diving—poor guy. Dan has been visiting family east and west. Dean Smith invited me to a brunch in Alexandria with BR Scott Beale the other day. It was great catching up with Scotty, as I had not seen him in several decades. Scott and his family are fine in the ‘pine tree state.’ Recap equals the normal stuff—kids are growing, careers are maturing, and seeking solace in outdoor activities. Scott has an island camp in the middle of a lake. How cool is that? He continues to work on lining up the normal old guy medical-type things while working on swimming, fixing things around the house, reading, pickleball, ham radio, and such other folly that fills my time—the busy life of a retired guy. Who knew it would be three years already? For a cerebral closing, ‘As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle the light of meaning in the darkness of mere being,’ Carl Jung. ‘The early bird may get the worm, but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese,’ Steven Wright. That is all—return to what you were doing.”

Mark Cheek dropped a line: “Chuck Billingsley, Richard ‘Doc’ Bates, and I got together for lunch and caught up on our careers. Doc is planning to finish another couple of years at his dental practice, and Chuck retired from the chemical industry with his wife, Doreen, to a farm on the James River. Chuck says he is working harder now than he ever did at Allied-Signal-Honeywell-AdvanSix. Chickens, llamas, goats, and beef

cattle need feeding and care daily. I’m planning to work until 70 at AdvanSix in Hopewell, Virginia. My youngest graduates from high school this spring and then has to decide what to do next.”

Finally, a Facebook post I found rather amusing from Craig Myler: “Recently, I’ve been questioning whether Bravo or Echo Companies really existed. This came about due to naming conventions used prolifically during my incarceration (cadetship). I was a tree in Alpha Company and knew trees in Foxtrot. All of Charlie and Delta Companies were, of course, squat-butts and were easily identifiable from the tops of their heads. But what about Bravo and Echo? Were they really there? I can’t recount anyone in those companies. Is it possible there were so many squat-butts they simply broke Charlie and Delta into halves for parades and formations? What would be the purpose of a Bravo or Echo? I thought that perhaps they might have been called “normies,” but I was immediately drawn to Hitchcock’s Psycho (Norman Bates) and realized that would simply be right back to squat-butt or anyone living in ‘the ghetto.’ I followed up with the yearbook. That would surely put the record straight. As I carefully reviewed the picture of ‘Delta Company’ in the ’79 Bomb, I discovered that it was a ruse. All of the ‘cadets’ in the picture were simply heads of random men—really ugly ones, probably convicts—pasted onto the picture of Charlie Company. It was the same with Echo Company—really, really ugly random guys’ pictures. I have now become principally paranoid of what depths the Institute would go in order to maintain this deception and for what

purpose. I have also become aware of strangers lurking around, seeming to be gathering intelligence about my whereabouts. Have I made my way onto the Smith Hall watchlist? Have I uncovered dangerous secrets? The conspiracy is prolific, and the depths that the administration will go are yet unchartered. While I am not advocating pitchforks and torches (yet), we must get to the bottom of this. P.S. If any of you think you were actually in Bravo or Echo Companies, please seek immediate psychiatric help.”

Renee and I are first-time grandparents! Leah Jaymes Ogden was born Dec. 20, 2022, to my youngest son, Matthew, and his wife, Ashley (U.S. Naval Academy Class of ’04). Leah will have a provisional appointment to the Class of 2044! (Besides her mother, she has two aunts and two uncles who are USNA grads, oh so thppt! RVM!) We are overjoyed, as you might expect! The kids and granddaughter are about an hour away—so, how great is that!

These Class of ’79 notes were reviewed, proofed, corrected, scrutinized, and approved by Renee.

I got a C- on the first draft. (Sigh.) Stay safe and well BRs, –M

live in the San Antonio area. Apologies to Bill Kelley for omitting you.

On Nov. 17, I attended a New York City –Long Island Chapter lunch where Gen. Wins ’85 was the featured guest. Larry Ciacci and Dennis Maguire also attended. That evening, Patti and I attended the Marshall Foundation 2022 Awards dinner as the guests of Dennis Maguire. His daughter, Hannah, also attended.

I spoke with Andy Ludlum on his birthday. Andy is a retired airline pilot and is kept busy by his grandchildren. Andy and Nicki hosted Walt and Mary Lynne Wood over the summer, and they also spent time with Rob and Ginger Gearhart. Andy also said that he visited with Landon Wellford on a trip he and Nicki took to San Antonio.

John Runyon sent an email after reading about Bill Kyle in the class notes. John asked for a connection, which I provided.

Walt and Mary Lynne Wood sent an email with photos as they returned to Peru after oneand-a-half years away and were updating their personal database. While traveling through Maine, they visited with Phil and Sue Hourihan.

I communicated with Boyd Gaines on his birthday. Boyd is retired and lives in The Villages in Florida. I provided him with the address of one of my younger brothers, who is also retired and lives in The Villages.

I also communicated with Walt Kreitler on

Hello, Brother Rats!

These notes cover the period Nov. 16, 2022, through Feb. 15, 2023, and include the sad news of the passing of David Humphrey. Ave atque vale. Apologies for the omission in the last set of notes. When Tolar Nolley visited in November, he said that he had been in touch with Bert Liverance and that Bert was living in Canada. I exchanged text messages with Bert but, my fault, we have not yet connected otherwise.

The period began with an email from Kirk Deadrick. His two children are grown, and he and Dana have three grandchildren. After 25 years in Atlanta, Kirk took a new position, and they relocated to San Antonio. In separate messages, I connected Kirk with Mike Flinn, Landon Wellford, and Alex Woelper, who

Class Notes

his birthday. He celebrated by swimming freestyle for 65 minutes. Walt is sponsoring a Thai cadet at VMI and planned to visit in connection with a football game. I also exchanged text messages with Josh Priest on his birthday.

I spoke with Steve Andrews on his birthday. Steve and Kathy were spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Boston visiting their daughters, Virginia and Caroline, where one works and the other is in grad school.

I received a happy Thanksgiving text message from Rich Zott

I spoke with Phil Munisteri on his birthday. Phil and Kathy are retired and live on Long Island. Phil keeps in touch with Pat Griffin, John Hughes, Matthew Keys, and Bruno Loefstedt Phil and Kathy are planning a cycling trip to Georgia in March with Bruno and Janet Loefstedt, who are retired and live in South Carolina. They also participate in a Facebook cycling group that includes Joe Belkoski, Don Bradshaw, Russ Early, Rob Gearhart, Dave Hagemann, Frank Hilton, Rob Leatherbury, Bruno Loefstedt, Tuck Masker, Joe Paustenbaugh, and Phil Raeburn.

I spoke with John Alerding, as John and Anne share a late November wedding anniversary with me and Patti. John is still working full-time with no immediate plans to retire.

December began with an exchange of text messages with Ed Baker on his birthday. Hugh Fain and Wade Stinnette were included—an Honor Court text. Ed and Dianna reside full-time on the Outer Banks. Ed has not fully retired from medicine; he works two days a week. They celebrated Thanksgiving hosting their two children and 3-year-old granddaughter.

Patti and I hosted Gary Levenson at our house in the Poconos. Gary is retired from his deputy commandant position at VMI but is employed in a civilian position in the VMI Army ROTC department.

I exchanged email messages, separately, with Frank Leech and Sean Gallagher on their respective birthdays. Frank wrote that, at 64, he still has six more years until retirement. Sean has relocated from Roanoke to Newport, Oregon.

Mark Sobota sent an email with photos from Ohio after receiving his 64th birthday card. He ran the 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving with his son, Luke. Mark

finished first in his age group. He is fully retired but is an active volunteer and a member of the local Alumni Association chapter.

I exchanged text messages with Ken Baybutt on his birthday. Ken celebrated with his roommates Dennis Hackemeyer, Steve Ikenberry, and Walt Kreitler.

Bert Schneider sent a text with photos and a link to videos of Bert trooping as Darth Vader in the Tucson Parade of Lights.

Don Bradshaw sent an email after receiving his Christmas card. He noted that as Pat Griffin’s son transferred from Hawaii, he would miss seeing Pat and Beth, who visited annually at Christmas. Tom Gelles and Tom Kelly also sent an email with Christmas wishes after receiving their respective cards. John Hughes sent a merry Christmas text message from snowy Kansas City with a photo that included Marlene and their grandson, John.

I received an email from and then spoke with Tom “Gunny” Kelly. Tom is retired from the Marine Corps and from his civilian job and moved with his wife, Lynn, to Boise, Idaho, in 2021. Tom is on the board of a 501(c)(3), the VMI Class of 1980 Foundation, created to

support the spirit of VMI and to assist fellow graduates of the VMI Class of 1980 and their widows in financial need.

Each year, I receive Christmas cards from our BRs—some with photos and others with notes. Cards arrived from Vince and Sheila Copenhaver from Rocky Mount, Virginia; Gary and Karen Levenson from Richmond; Paul and Angela Keel from Hawaii; Patrick and Roni McCarthy from Maryland; Bert and Peggy Schneider from Arizona; Wade and Lannie Stinnette from South Carolina; Tracy and Jennifer Wilson from Alexandria, Virginia; and Rich and Beth Zott from St. Louis.

Cards with photos arrived from Ed Elliott from Salem, Virginia; Pat and Beth Griffin from Lynchburg; David and Diana Hagemann from Michigan; Bill Kelly from San Antonio (the photo showed 12 grandchildren); Rick and Debbie Legere from California in matching PJs; Tim and Becky Mecredy from Augusta, Georgia; Phil and Kathy Munisteri from Long Island; and Terry and Kelly Stoneman from Delaware.

Aaron and Nancy Bush sent a card from Hershey, Pennsylvania, with an enclosed photo of their extended family (the Bush-HepnerMcBride crew—15 people and a dog) and a note. They celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary, and in July, Aaron will retire from teaching and coaching.

Mickey and Jo Cole sent a card from Richmond and wrote that they hope to attend a football game in 2023.

Gary and Mindy Fellows sent a card from Vienna, Virginia, with a photo that included their daughter, Nicole, and dog, Oreo. Nicole received her master’s in accounting and relocated to Dallas. Gary and Mindy are both still working.

John and Barbara Lillard sent a card from Alexandria with a note saying that John “pre-tired,” meaning he is now working part-time. They welcomed their first grandchild, Grace Theresa, in September. Their oldest son, Jim, graduated from JMU and now works in Philly.

Dennis and Donna Milsten sent a card from Richmond. Their note said they are busy traveling the world, spending part of the year in Portugal and part in Virginia. They also wrote that they encounter many VMI people on their travels.

Jody Morgan sent a card from Raleigh, North Carolina, with photos of her three

Class notes

grandchildren, Louise, Olivia, and Hudson.

Tolar Nolley sent a card from Richmond with a note reflecting on his visit with Patti and me in the Poconos in November to participate in our club’s season-ending golf tournament.

Joe and Michelle Paustenbaugh sent a card from their home in Utah with a note and photos. Joe retired from Northrop Grumman after 39 years but serves on two local boards. Michelle is a full-time chemistry professor at Weber State University and is training the two new horses they added to the family. The family also grew with the birth of their grandson.

Mark and Darlene Sobota sent a card from Ohio with a note and a page of 10 family photos. Mark is fully retired but does volunteer work. They also travel, including to Florida to visit Larry and Lynn Avery Larry is Darlene’s brother.

Robby Wheeler sent a card from Texas with a note saying he is looking forward to our 45th Reunion.

Finally, Hal Snyder sent a holiday letter, his first in three years, via email. Hal and Kathy became grandparents in June 2020 and again in 2022. They continue to run Hal’s dental practice in Maryland.

December closed with the sad news of the passing of David Humphrey. Tim Hodges was David’s roommate and called me with the news. Blast email messages alerted the class and provided information on his February memorial service. Our BRs responding to the email messages with condolences and fond remembrances were Steve Boyer, Don Bradshaw, Kevin Davis, Mike Flinn, Joe Paustenbaugh, Rob Quarles, Bert Schneider, Wade Stinnette, Massoud Tahamtani, John Tinsley, Jeff Washington, Bob White, and Tracy Wilson

In his message, Massoud Tahamtani asked to be connected to Tolar Nolley

Steve Boyer also wrote that he has retired from the City of Lynchburg and is very active in local community organizations and his church. He is also the director of the Appomattox Chamber of Commerce.

I sent an email on their shared birthday to Bob Hillard and to Mike Knapp. They separately responded and sent along best

wishes for 2023.

January began with email messages to Ed Kopsick, Kent Oelrich, and John Runyon on their shared birthday and separately to John Stallings on his birthday. John Runyon wrote that he spoke with Bill Kyle for more than two hours, and they plan to get together in 2023.

I spoke with Wade Stinnette on his birthday. Wade said that he and Lannie and their extended family are all well and that 2022 was a good year for his investment business.

John Shuman sent an email asking to be connected to Craig Cox, Keith Frazier, and Bill Roelofsen. I connected them via email.

Walt and Mary Lynne Wood sent an email from Peru with photos and a description of a 22-mile hike taken by Walt. Kirk Cole responded to a birthday email noting that he is doing very well.

Wayland Patterson lives in the Florida Panhandle and organizes events for local alumni of VMI, The Citadel, Texas A&M, and Norwich. He included me in his January gathering email.

Rob Quarles sent an email noting that the group of our BRs, who typically gather in Lexington in the fall in connection with a home football game, will this year be traveling to Charleston, South Carolina, in October for the football game against The Citadel.

Only Hugh Fain reached out Jan. 28 to remember our breaking out of the Rat Line and becoming a class.

Larry Hupertz responded to a birthday email and wrote that Vera, their two daughters, and 16-month-old Owen are all doing well. His planned visit to Lexington was postponed due to the weather in Cleveland.

As January ended, I spoke with Chris Dombalis and separately with Dennis Maguire on their common birthday. Dennis lives in Boston and said he would be connecting with Paul Burkholder during Presidents’ Day weekend in Boston. Chris said he and Jen are well and that he has taken a new position as executive vice president with an LA-based shipping company. Their daughter, Taylor, is a junior at Drew University. Alexis is a senior in high school awaiting college acceptances.

I also spoke with Tom Bersson. Tom is a retired Navy captain. He and Amy were visiting family in Kentucky.

February began with a call with Tim Hodges. Tim was planning to attend the memorial service for Dave Humphrey in Colorado Feb. 4. Tim said that Dan and Cindy Sweeney were also planning to attend. Dan then sent an email that he received from Lisa Humphrey. Her message contained a link to a livestream of David’s service. I communicated the information via a blast email. Responses were sent by Dan Conn, Phil Munisteri, Bob White, and Tracy Wilson. Tolar Nolley called, as he could not connect to the livestream. I also could not connect.

Tim Hodges sent a photo taken with Dan

Sweeney at the service. Tolar also said that he is feeling great. He had successful hernia surgery and is considering knee replacement surgery.

I exchanged email messages with John Tinsley. John lives in Reston, Virginia, and also has a home in Orlando. He is still working but is considering retiring in the next year. His professional career has included the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and Northrop Grumman. He is looking forward to seeing everyone at our 45th Reunion.

I spoke with Jeff Washington. Juice is retired, and he and Renee are doing well. They see Gene Scott in Richmond.

I spoke with Craig “Wiennie” Wilson on his birthday. He lives in the Virginia Beach area and is doing well both personally and in business. We discussed trying to gather for golf this season, possibly in the New York City area. I suggested reaching out to Elliott Wolffe for a round at Baltusrol.

I spoke with John Alerding after John received the Alumni Review. John is still working for SAIC remotely from Lexington and

occasionally in Oklahoma City. He has no immediate plans to retire. Anne is a full professor in the VMI biology department and is also doing very well. John’s son, Johnny ’12, and his daughter-in-law, Brooke, are expecting their second child.

Steve Andrews sent an email with an attachment that publicly listed, hour-by-hour, the schedule for Breakout of the Rat Mass.

I exchanged text messages with Ed Baker each time his Carolina Hurricanes played my New York Rangers in a hockey game. I also exchanged several email messages with Jim O’Connor. Jim lives in Louisiana, where he is the head of the Department of Communication and Media Studies.

Thank you for your continuing support and for keeping me in the loop via phone calls, text messages, and email. Apologies to all who sent photos that are not included; I received more than 20. Please stay safe.

Brother Rats, Brides, and Friends of ’81, These notes are being written in February 2023 for publication in May. Time has flown by since our last submission in November, and I pray everyone had very healthy and happy holiday celebrations! I spoke with a number of you over the extended Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and new year’s seasons, but I want everyone to know that you were all in my thoughts during those blessed times.

When you read this composition, it will be midMay, and planning efforts will be well-underway for ski bash 2023 at Smith Mountain Lake. This annual event, hosted by BR Jim Hart and his brother, Derek Hart ’94, is always a tremendous class/alumni gathering, and I encourage all to attend. Core dates for this year are June 30–July 4. (Early arrivals and late departures are welcome!) Contact Jim Hart, Rob “Cos” Costello, or me if you have not yet signed up but are interested in attending. We hope to see you there!

Quick input from me about life in Powhatan: I became a grandfather for the second time in late October, and proudly, I now have provisional appointments for two grandsons—the Classes

of 2042 and 2044, God willing! At this writing, Shannon and I are hoping to close on a new home in the next few weeks, so please note the new address above. We love living in the Village of Powhatan, as we have great neighbors and can walk to the local Three Crosses Distillery, the 1933 Public House restaurant, the local YMCA, and parks. However, we want a bit more space for the grandkids and future pups. Since being in Powhatan, I have been blessed with the opportunity to engage with quite a few BRs and alumni over the past few months. I have, in fact, routinely run into more VMI alumni and VMI families than I could have possibly imagined. The past few months have been no exception. Wirt Shinault stopped by Shannon’s coffee shop in November on his way to his cabin and the VMI versus The Citadel football game. When I showed up at the shop, I found Wirt sitting at the window bar writing in his journal with coffee in hand. We had an outstanding time catching up and sharing. We were also blessed to see Marc Barthello along with Tim and Kim Nitz in January. Unplanned, all three stopped in at the coffee shop on the same morning. In the past few months, we have also been graced by the presence of respected members of the Class of ’79: Tom Manley ’79 (my beloved and “much” older brother), Anthony Pais ’79, and Pete Underwood ’79. Other alumni we have seen include Chad Gill ’96, Chip Hancock ’03, Laura and Kennan Kincaid ’03, Summer and Chris Duane ’08, and Patrick Coor ’13. I also have the pleasure of frequently seeing dear friends Michelle and John Davenport, parents of Ella Davenport ’26 and owners of the Three Crosses Distillery here in Powhatan. It is a great place, and I highly recommend the Barrel Strength Bourbon when you can get it. I can write about many more, but time, article space, and your attention spans (ha!) are being strained, so I will end there. Hope to see many more of you this spring and summer, and certainly at ski bash!

Onto class inputs and updates:

Jeff Davies gets top billing in this edition for reaching out and providing an update on his crew! Ann and Jeff will celebrate their 40th anniversary in June 2023. From Jeff (and try to read this in his native “Suffolk-ian” accent): “2022 was full with work; golf; reunion with the best class in barracks; and the continuing home life with Ann’s dad, Jack Nurney ’50B, residing with us. Ann continues teaching second grade at Nansemond Suffolk Academy, and I am still

Class notes

the HR manager for an Oldcastle company that manufactures block, pavers, and retaining walls at four M&H sites and Sakrete and Amerimix at two bagging plants. Our biggest event of 2022 was the wedding of our middle son, Matthew, in October, which yours truly was the officiant of. We were able to get to the Outer Banks at our shared family cottage several times and hosted a couple of birthday celebrations there with our grandkids. Our family status today has Michael and Melissa Davies with two kids, Jonathan and Hannah Grace, who are likely the brightest students ever in their schools in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Michael is a banker, and Melissa is an OB/GYN doctor. Our son, Matthew, and his wife, Stacee, are in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Matthew is a customer service representative for the same company I am at, and Stacee is a fifth-grade teacher in Virginia Beach. Our daughter, Margaret, lives in Suffolk and is a fourthgrade teacher in Smithfield, Virginia.”

Great input, Jeff, and God bless Ann for keeping you on the straight and narrow for these 40 years!

I spoke with Jeff “Hammer” Hamilton several times. Jeff has done a tremendous job working with the Institute and the Alumni Association in setting up and overseeing our class scholarship fund, the VMI Class of 1981 Scholarship in Honor of Don & Priscilla Jamison. I have shared about this scholarship in several class emails. To our class, Don Jamison ’57 was not just the head of the civil engineering department, class advisor, Honor Court advisor, tennis and golf coach, and more; he was a true role model and a friend. Any donations to this scholarship are restricted gifts and, as such, must be applied to scholarships for select cadets. Funds under this scholarship cannot be applied to other priorities that VMI or the Alumni Association may seek to fund. Should you wish to contribute in 2023, go to the VMI Alumni Agencies home page (vmialumni.org); select “Give Now” on the top right of the page; under “Make a gift today!” scroll down to “Additional Funds,” and select the down arrow for “Other”; scroll down to and select “VMI Class

of 1981 Scholarship in Honor

of Don & Priscilla Jamison.” The other option is to simply contact Jeff Hamilton or me, and we will send you a link.

Ray Lawson shared that it has been a busy few months at the Lawson house! His daughter, Savannah, completed her studies at the University of Central Florida and relocated to Florida to start the senior aerospace engineer position at the Kennedy Space Center. Ray underwent a successful procedure to remove a small, slow-growing cancerous tumor, and Gale, true to form, did an incredible (and loving) job of helping Ray with his recovery—no small task as Ray “self-identifies” as a lousy

patient. The University of South Carolina – Aiken took Ray on as adjunct faculty in engineering and as a part-time math tutor. Things went really well last semester for Ray, so they now have him revamping their math lab and math tutoring programs. Ray says that he is “too darn busy in retirement” but that he really likes working with the students. In addition to dealing with Ray, Gale stays busy with their four grandbabies, helping out with all the activities they are involved in. As busy as things have been, Ray has managed to arrange his schedule to allow for many three-day weekends to go hiking and trout fishing in the South Carolina mountains. I received a quick note from BR Clay Wommack. Clay shared that it has been an unusually hot year here in Florida and that, in January, they were just now enjoying cooler weather in the mid-60s to low 70s. Per Clay, “that’s ‘cool’ for us in the tropics!” Clay’s past year was spent mostly on many trips back to Virginia to assist his mom, the beloved Jane Burchett Wommack, whom he lost after Thanksgiving at age 96. From Clay: “She will be missed. ... She received her first and only speeding ticket at age 94 on her own street. She was a pistol. I very much appreciated the BRs who attended her service in Suffolk, Larry Butler, Ann and Jeff Davies, Mary and V. Wood, and ‘Lighthorse’ Harry Lee (aka Hank). So many folks commented on the BR attendance. Thanks, guys!” Clay also shared that he received a very nice Christmas card from BR Mike Colgan, Clay’s roomie for three years and our first scholarship tennis player at VMI. Mike shared with Clay that he is busy with family and may have mentioned that retirement was very close. Mike then hopes to travel and relax a bit. In closing, Clay underscored his appreciation for “all the reach-outs from BRs regarding Mom” and hopes to see as many BRs as possible this coming year. (Clay, our hearts and thoughts remain with you, BR.)

Ken Pierro reported that he is still working from home thanks to FEMA’s loosening of telework rules stemming from COVID-19. They are enjoying their 10-acre spread on the Olympic Peninsula close to Lake Crescent in Washington. Ken

and Diana now have adult supervision— Diana’s parents moved up from San Diego and are now living with them. Ken shared that he and Diana received their most cherished Christmas gift this year when their daughter announced that their first grandchild is due in July! While there is a lot going on in the Pierro household, and even though he truly misses the BR camaraderie back east, he is loving life in the Pacific Northwest. Ken closed with an open invite: “There’s always an extra seat at the firepit and a comfortable guest room (or plenty of space for an RV) if anyone finds themselves up this way!” God bless you and Diana, Ken! Hopefully, we can find an excuse to take you up on that extra seat at the firepit!

Ann and Greg Wolven chimed in to share that their time this fall has been very busy between family and Greg’s consulting firm, Wolven Power Solutions LLC. Greg is working on projects for a rural electric power cooperative in Indiana and on a project for a country in Africa. When Greg is not busy with work, he is involved with family, friends, and projects around the house. The Wolvens were able to see BR Dave Loduca and his bride, Linda, when they traveled to visit Greg’s parents in Vincennes, Indiana, the week before Christmas. Their Indiana visit was cut short due to winter storms, but they were able to make it to Maryland from Indiana to see Greg’s youngest brother, Jim, and to visit Ann’s parents and family. They were joined by their daughter, Katie Meyer, and son-inlaw, Billy Meyer, who drove from Fishers, Indiana. With the extremely cold weather, Billy learned that his Tesla wouldn’t charge outside! Ann’s brotherin-law moved the Tesla into the garage to charge the car in warmer temperatures. After the Christmas festivities ended, Greg and Ann headed down to see their son, Chris, in Charleston, South Carolina, for a long weekend and some great seafood!

It is always good to hear from BR John Dixon! John reports that he and Patricia have also been busy in the new year. They are elated over the arrival of their ninth grandchild, Nathan Lee Dixon. John shared that the baby and mother are

doing well. John has already applied for Nathan’s provisional appointment, Class of 2045! (Note for John: My grandson, Bodhi, could be Nathan’s dyke! Haha!) John also wrote, “For anyone who wants to look for a little ‘obscure’ history, my uncle, John Glen Parker, was a U.S. Army master sergeant and later, a first sergeant in an armored company 1941–66.John Glen Parker drove my parents and me out to Powhatan, Virginia, to meet Charles ‘Hank’ Franklin Noble ’932 when I was applying to the Institute. I applied only to VMI, and I maintained a warm relationship with Hank Noble for many years. One of his roommates was John Monks ’932, who survived the Pacific ‘island hopping’ campaign as a Marine and who went on later to produce the movie Brother Rat. Hank Noble went on to become the principal at Tacoma High School in Richmond many years ago. Sadly, these heroes have gone on to their reward.” Great history, John, as I sit here in Powhatan scribing these notes!

Grover Outland was busy on several fronts (and, Grover, I will refrain from any jokes speculating on just how many “fronts” that could be ... I won’t even suggest it! Haha!). Our beloved Grover orchestrated an outstanding meal event at Cantler’s Riverside Inn in mid-November. It was a tremendous showing with the following BRs and family in attendance (See accompanying picture: George and Robin DePaoli; Gregg Lynam; Gary Morgan with daughter Liepha Morgan and her boyfriend, Tony; Dave and Lilly Openshaw; Grover and Melissa Outland; Mike and Sherrye Shupp; and last, but definitely not least, Noel and Beth Williams. Grover and Melissa, along with Lilly Openshaw, were also fortunate to connect with Mike and Katherine Denton in late January in Annapolis, Maryland. Mike and Katherine were in town because of the Forrestal Lecture at the Naval Academy honoring Mike’s mother, Jane Maury Denton, and other POW’s wives for their role in organizing the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia during the 1960s. The efforts of these magnificent ladies ensured their captive husbands were not forgotten

Class notes

or abandoned. Mike and Katherine were guests of the U.S. Naval Academy superintendent in honor of his mother’s courageous and unyielding efforts.

Quick hitters:

News from Rich and Nancy Bartholomew indicates that Rich’s retirement is going well, with his golf handicap slowly creeping down. Nancy and Rich are getting lots of time with their grandchildren and enjoying every minute. Rich is helping out a friend in California with some part-time consulting, but he is being very careful not to get so busy that it interferes with other, more important retirement activities. Rich and BR Mike Duval get together every Tuesday evening to catch up and also do a short Bible study together.

Deb Baron reported on her holiday travels. Deb was able to connect and raise glasses with Dave and Linda Loduca and Steve and Marianne Tennant. She also proudly shared that her granddaughter, Grayson, was inducted into the National Honor Society at Texas A&M. Grayson is now a senior, and we will partake in the “ring dunk” ceremony in April when she receives her Aggie ring.

Dan Gallagher shared that his agent seems to be making progress with Skyhorse and Simon & Schuster Publishing Companies, as well as Sony and Paramount Pictures, in their evaluations of his works, Ancient of Genes and $ecret$. (We pray for your success, Dan, and hope to see your works on the “Big Screen,” BR!)

C.P. Davis wrote a brief note sharing that he attended the Sports Hall of Fame banquet in January. In attendance at the dinner were also Bernie Banas, Adrian Bogart, Marty Cristo, Andy Kolesar, and Kurt Owermohle. C.P. also attended the VMI versus The Citadel basketball game earlier that day and caught up with BRs Bruce Kitchen, John Locher, Gene Loving, and Vince Wood

In closing, please keep the Alumni Review inputs coming. I know that many of you have enjoyed tremendous travels, wonderful family events, BR gatherings, and more. Your inputs on such events and achievements for the Review are a great way to share with BRs and other alumni. Our class notes can only be as good as the inputs received.

Stay healthy and well. Stay in touch and keep the bonds alive. Cheers and God’s blessings to you all!

Jerry

1982

Will Council

Hello, BRs,

Welcome to that wacky time of year when the weather in Tennessee can’t figure out if it’s spring or still winter. As I type away at these notes, I am listening to the wind rattling around my house, and I am just hoping nothing starts lifting off towards Kansas. First of the year, while I was out of the country on vacation, my house/pet sitter sent a text saying a tree had fallen on my house! Well, slight exaggeration, it was a really big branch from a really big pine tree, and it landed on my back deck and destroyed the stairs, railing sections, and punched a big hole through the deck. Nothing I could do about it, being a thousand miles away at the time, so I ordered another rum punch and turned on some beach music. Now the very threatening tree has been removed, and I am trying to find an open weekend to rebuild my deck. Anyone want to come out for a few days and help? We can start the whiskey/moonshine tour after the work’s done.

This session of notes is not a happy one. We lost two BRs in December. First, Tom Farmer passed away mid-December after a battle with lung cancer. Larry Williams caught the news via Facebook, and I tried to get as much information as I could from Tom’s daughter, Kimberly Keyes. Tom had requested no funeral services, so we were not able to rally up some guys to attend. Kimberly and her mom were able to give us a little look into Tom’s life after graduation.

“After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he went to Pensacola to fly P-3s. Dad suffered some vision loss, so they told him he couldn’t be a pilot but a navigator. Dad said, ‘If I’m not flying the plane, I don’t want to be in it.’ He fell back on to his engineering degree and became part of the Civil Engineer Corps. He and my mom, Patricia Farmer, married in October 1983. During his time with the Civil Engineer Corps, he did many projects at the Washington Navy Yard and was transferred to Guam as a base civil engineer, but not before his first daughter, Kaitlyn Mae Farmer, was born in September 1987. In 1990, he joined NMCB 74 and was Bravo Company commander. During the Persian

Gulf War, he was promoted to command Alpha Company and deployed to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. While in Saudi Arabia, dad got word that his second daughter, Kimberly Lyn Farmer, was born in February 1991. After the war and a brief time home, he was then deployed to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. Dad left the Navy as a lieutenant in 1993, and he and the family moved to Beltsville, Maryland, where he remained for the rest of his years. After leaving the Navy in 1993, Dad became a senior project manager for Kellogg Brown & Root for 23 years. He and my mom divorced in 2005, and dad remarried the same year. In 2013, he was promoted to the best position of all, grandpa. Mckenzie Lynn was born in April 2013, and she was the light of his life and pushed him to work toward early retirement. Dad welcomed three more grands over the years: Fletcher Thomas in February 2015, Preston William in April 2017, and Vera Mae in September 2017. The list of dad’s priorities was as follows: Work, grandchildren, and daughters—in that order. From 2016–22, he worked for a few more

companies as a project manager. Sixty-two might just be the year he makes the jump to retire and move closer to the grandkids, but then in July 2022, he was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. He began treatment for his cancer at the end of August 2022, but unfortunately, we learned at the end of October that his treatments were not working. Dad was the smartest, most stubborn person I ever met, right to the end. At the end of November, he came to stay with me in Westminster, Maryland, where he eventually passed Dec. 14, 2022, with my sister and I holding his hand.”

Kimberly closed out by saying her dad had many awards from his time in the Navy, which she has not been able to work through yet. Apparently, he did get an award for having the most parking tickets while working at the Navy Yard and wasn’t allowed to park there anymore. If you look up her Facebook page, you will find more photos of Tom. There is a great photo of Tom in his Navy choker whites holding his then-two little daughters. Also, an awesome rat year photo straight out of the Bomb!

Then, while I was out on my island vacation trip, Dick Justice reached out to see if I was aware that Melvin Nowlin had died right after Christmas. Mel died in a freak accident on his property. He had gone out to cut firewood and didn’t come back. His wife, Martha, called EMS, and they searched the property and found his chainsaw, phone, his wet dog, and a hole in the ice on his frozen pond. They recovered his body from the pond. No witnesses, so we can only guess that maybe his dog fell through the ice, and he rescued it but then was unable to get out himself? Services were held in Bedford, Virginia, but I don’t know if anyone from the class was able to attend. Mel also was very active in his church, and if you wish, you can go watch his memorial service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bedford, Virginia. It is on Facebook, but I found it while searching for his obit. From what I found on Melvin, he was a longtime member of the volunteer firefighters and had earned the rank of lieutenant, as well as many awards in his years of service. As treasurer, Mel turned their financial troubles around and, within a year-and-a-half, went from being in debt to

buying a new half-million-dollar firetruck. Isn’t that what we were challenged with upon graduation? To go out into our communities and be citizen-soldiers and not just in the military way. Sounds like Mel was doing that.

In lighter news, Bob Klenke has now started building rockets! He was approached by his students in the engineering department at Virginia Commonwealth University to be the faculty advisor for the new rocket club. It requires lots of work and also several levels of certification as you step up to bigger and more powerful rockets. The one he is sharing with us is 12 feet tall and is capable of reaching 5,000 feet of elevation in 10 seconds. He hopes to launch it in March at the Tripoli Central Virginia launch park. He went into a lot more detail than this non-engineer can ever hope to convey to this audience. Let’s just say if you have seen the movie, October Sky, Bob is channeling Homer Hickam but as an adult.

My old roomie, Steve Fudge, called me after getting the most recent Alumni Review well before normal delivery. For me, the pony express does not get the Review to me until just a few days before these notes are due back out. Anyway, we had a great catch-up time ... meaning we don’t call each other often enough, so we had plenty to banter about. He is still working in the Raleigh area of North Carolina. I guess the wildest news he shared was about his son, Travis ’16. If you recall from previous notes, Travis is a member of the West Virginia National Guard. He is also currently employed as a National Park Service ranger in Death Valley. Last I checked my geography maps, Death Valley is way on the other side of the U.S. This may sound ridiculous, but his unit will not allow him to transfer to another unit nor resign. He is also the XO, so that makes it worse. Anyway, he has to fly back each month for drill weekends on his own nickel. I am pretty sure what little he makes on his drill weekends does not cover the cost of his airplane tickets.

I shared Jeff Modisett’s contact with Steve, so maybe the old roommates will start communicating more often. We’ll see. We have now heard from Kevin Smith! He claims he has not sent anything in for a

Class notes

long time. This may be true, but Kevin, we will still take anything you are willing to share. Kevin has been retired from the Wilmington, North Carolina, Police Department going on a year now. He finished a 15-year career after 20 years with the U.S. Air Force. He reports that he is still in touch with Cory Attra, Guy Marangoni, George Seiferth, and Dick Justice. Kevin has now switched to a uniform of sweatpants when he is not playing a unit commissioner with the Boy Scouts of America for the Coastal District of the Cape Fear Council. That is wonderful, Kevin! We need more people in those volunteer positions to make our Scouts units better.

Last story regarding me and Scouts. I got a call late one night, and it was from one of my Eagle Scouts, who is currently a 1st Class cadet at VMI. I have mentioned him over the past few years: He was heading to The Citadel but took one last look at VMI and completely switched paths. I saw him at our reunion last year, and he is nearing graduation as a civil engineer and is going for Armor. He was calling to ask me to come and perform his commissioning. I was really touched by his request. So, there you have it. Look for me in May in Lexington. I hope to snag a place on a couch in either Keith Jarvis’ or Joey Keyes’ place.

After calling Keith to ask for said couch, I was fortunate that I caught him driving back from a trip to The Greenbrier where some VMI families got together. We may have heard about them before: Mitch and Becky Heishman, Joey and Carol Keyes, and Keith and Jeanne Jarvis. They were there celebrating Valentine’s Day. Reported lots of fun, and no one lost money at the casino! I have never been there myself, and I didn’t know they had a casino!

Just in time, my place on the couch is confirmed! May have to share a pillow with the dog, though. I know there will be drinking and telling stories involved. Maybe even a picture or two.

Sincerely,

families experienced a wonderful winter season. Upon receiving this edition of the Alumni Review, our 40th Reunion was held April 14–15, 2023. In the next edition of the Alumni Review, there will be a summary of our 40th Reunion.

Mary and I want to thank the many BRs we received Christmas cards from during the holiday season. Recently, I researched through the VMI Alumni Agencies’ system, which emails alumni class agents and VMI Alumni Agencies messages. The email addresses used are only as good as the alumnus who provides updates to the VMIAA. In January 2023, I sent an email message with information pertaining to our 40th Reunion. The data revealed that the email was sent to 239 recipients (BRs), 124 emails were opened (52%), 114 emails were not opened (48%), and one email address was undeliverable. There are two points I would like to share with our BRs. One, be sure to update your email address with the VMIAA by either logging on to the VMIAA website on the VMI Ranks page or calling the VMIAA at 800-444-1839 to speak to a representative in order to provide your information. The second point is 48% of the recipients (BRs) didn’t open the email. If 48% didn’t open this important reunion email message, how many other messages from VMIAA and or from the respective class agent are not being opened (read)? Now, off to some class notes updates from our BRs.

or so. Staci and I were going into Golf Galaxy, and Cal Murray was coming out with—wait for it—socks. We came out with a golf GPS, but socks are in there, too. Who knew, well, other than Cal? Hope that fills a paragraph or so. See you at the reunion.” Skip, thanks for your added comical class notes update.

Howdy BRs,

The period for these class notes is from Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 15, 2023. I hope you and your

Skip Goodwillie dropped me an email, and he stated, “Steve, first off, thanks for the outstanding effort you do month in and month out as the class agent. I know too well the labor of, uh, we’ll call it ‘love,’ that it takes. I got the birthday card. This year’s birthday qualifies me to take some money back from the government that I’ve paid in for all these years. Now the big question is whether to do it or wait, right? That said, I don’t have much at all for class notes. The Goodwillies are still in Richmond—well, Staci and I are actually in Goochland, Virginia, but close enough. Our son, James Goodwillie ’12, and his family are in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and our daughter and her family are actually in Richmond. James started a mortgage firm, Brightleaf Mortgage, with an eye towards upending the way mortgages are done, i.e., less about volume and more about long-term advising. He’s been doing that for about two years now. Ashton is busy raising Caleb, their first. He’s 22 months old and tipping the scales at over 35 pounds. So, the head coach for the Eagles has been calling for updates every quarter

In a text from Will Creekmur, he was visited in January 2023 by BR Mark Henderson. Mark was in Douglas, Arizona, participating in a running event, then traveled to San Diego, California, and stayed five days with Will. Mark is an ultra-marathoner and is affiliated with Runners Church, whose mission is to bring the church to where the runners are. Will also said, “Also, recently bumped into—well, not really—I actually bumped into the wife and sister-in-law of John Studt. Will, thanks for the update and the picture you submitted with you and Mark.

In an email from John Manning, he wrote, “Hope all is well. Just a short update. I am officiating high school basketball in the Richmond area these days. So, if any BRs are attending a game, make sure to give me a shout. Looking forward to the reunion.” John, thanks for officiating these young adults.

Ivan Marcotte provided me an update that stated, “I spent eight days in September 2023 in the most expensive hotel in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (aka the hospital) with a leg infection related to wading in bad water. The putrefying cow

Class Notes

upstream was the likely culprit. A 24/7 I.V. antibiotic cocktail and another month or so in the wound care clinic back home. Wound care is a bit like being the pig in a pig-picking contest. Funky scars that Spence Westbrook says are just an abstract leg tattoo. I’m back to 100%. We were actually on the other side of the Tetons in Idaho fishing the south fork of the Snake [River] when the incident occurred.” Ivan, we are so glad you are fully recovered from that bizarre incident.

An email update from Bryan “Binky” Henderson provided an interesting personal story. “Hi Steve; wow, talk about getting this in by shake-a-leg. But with a few seconds to spare. I hope you and Mary are doing well. We are loving being back in the South again (Albany, Georgia) and not having to deal with the seven months of winter in New Hampshire. It seemed like up there, I spent my whole life doing

something with firewood. Now, the gas truck just pulls up every so often and fills up my tank. Lovely. Just a short update as to what else has been happening in my life. I moved down here to Georgia at the end of 2019 to work for the U.S. Marine Corps after 36 years of working for the U.S. Air Force. Whew! Talk about a different way to think. It was a challenging transition, but we overcame it. However, the whole COVID-19 saga arrived shortly thereafter. I opted not to take the vaccination, but they threatened to scramble my brains every week with a cotton swab. Having that done once and remembering the ultimate discomfort of that encounter, I decided I would opt out of that program, as well. So, I retired from federal service Dec. 31, 2021. I took all of 2022 off to rest, gather my thoughts, and figure out what I would do with the rest of

my life. I am still pursuing several employment avenues. I’ll keep you posted as that develops. On another note, I started running a little more than the daily three to five miles I had been running since graduation. My brother, Mark Henderson, has been a distance runner for years. I never really had that desire; in fact, no real desire to run even a half-marathon. But when they sent us home to telework from COVID-19, I had an extra half-hour I didn’t have to drive to work every day, so I started running ‘up to that next mailbox’ or utility pole, or whatever. In a couple of months, those little increments got me to 12.5 miles. I couldn’t see the reason why I shouldn’t just check the half-marathon box, so I started running 13-plus miles and kept doing that every morning before work, even after I started going back. I had to get up earlier, but it was a good personal challenge. I did run a couple of local half-marathons. On my first one, at 59, I placed 25th out of 209 overall (second out of 12 for men ages 55-59). From May 1, 2020, to Oct. 11, 2022, I ran that distance 267 times. A couple of months after I retired, I decided to run ‘up to that next mailbox.’ Last July, I ran my first marathon distance, and Nov. 12, 2022, Mark and I ran an eight-hour race in Nashville, Tennessee. I ran 39.2 miles; Mark beat me by running 41 miles. Running—it’s an insidious sickness that creeps up on you. I have also been in contact with Scott McGee. He is a local physician and lives nearby. We haven’t been able to link up yet, but we are working on it. I am still composing and arranging music, mostly for church services. I am starting an orchestra for the church, so that has kept me busy. My youngest daughter is in labor and will likely be headed to the hospital tonight; more notes for the next update. That’s all for now. Rah Virginia Mil.” Binky, thanks for the inspirational message and great picture with you and your brother, Mark.

Jim Stader submitted another update on his ongoing medical condition, which he reported to the class in the February 2023 edition of the Alumni Review. In his email, Jim said, “Steve, I hope all is well. As for my update, I am feeling better and consistently improving every day since my month visit in November into December 2022 timeframe for my stem cell procedure. I am going through a series of tests in the February 2023 timeframe to assist me and my doctors as I prepare for my all-important ‘100-day’ post-procedure appointment in early March 2023. I appreciate the recent notes, calls, and emails from the BRs as to how I am doing.

It is very much appreciated by my wife, Clara, and myself. Since my stay in the hospital, I have lost all my hair. As Tony ‘Snake’ Arnold has reminded me, sporting the Snake hairdo is a great thing, and it saves on buying shampoo, which he is correct about on both counts. Also, on the family front, we learned that our daughter, Jackie, is pregnant again, so we look forward to this magical day in August 2023. Thanks again to all for checking in with me, and I hope all those that attend the reunion have a great time. Best always, Jim.” Jim, our prayers are with you and your family for continued improvement as you complete your treatments for multiple myeloma.

In February 2023, BRs Tim Craul, Jamie MacDonald, and I attended the Potomac River Chapter event, an evening in Northern Virginia with Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins ’85, VMI superintendent. Maj. Gen. Wins provided a very good update on VMI and answered a variety of questions for over 30 minutes. Tim, Jamie, and I reconnected with many acquaintances and new alumni.

BRs, till the next class notes update, I continue to pray for you all to be safe, stay healthy, and God bless you all!

Class notes

Bill Janis

As I sat down to conjure up the theme for this edition of the notes, I dispensed with any attempt to inject humor into this report. So instead, I’ll take as my theme the essential lesson we learned Aug. 20, 1980, our very first day in the Rat Line:

“For better or for worse, in victory or defeat, whether rejoicing or mourning, we are all in this together, brother rats!”

Since our last edition of these notes, I received news that was so startling, so amazing, so—dare I say, “incredible”—that it simply had to lead off these class notes. Bill Dyer was recently promoted to major general (?!) in the U.S. Army Reserve. Yes, that Bill Dyer! With the promotion, Maj. Gen. Dyer took command of the Army Reserve 108th Training Command. The 108th includes over 8,000 soldiers and spans 50 states and two U.S. territories, providing drill sergeants and ROTC cadre who perform initial entry training for newly accessed soldiers. Although this reporter was unable to attend the ceremony in person, Bill was kind enough to forward a photo from the ceremony. Bill reported that “Clay Goss and Tom Graham were in attendance. I am certain, for both of them, this fell into the category of ‘I’m not going to believe it unless I see it.’” Congratulations and bravo zulu, brother rat general, sir! Some of our brother rats have been facing significant health challenges lately. As previously reported, Hank Selman has been battling lung cancer with his characteristic good humor and elan. So, when several of our brother rats learned that Hank would be grillin’ and chillin’ at the VMI versus The Citadel game, they flocked en masse to join ranks with him. While doing his “pre-game warm-up” with Warren Winning, Bruce Hauck texted the group to say: “So glad that Bill Janis is a true friend. A real class agent and true brother rat would be here this weekend.” Ouch! I am rightly rebuked, Bruce. Steve Hupp managed to herd the brother rats together for a photo and sent it to me. Bob Doyle offered his assessment of the photo and the day: “If this picture is not Alumni Review worthy, then nothing

is. Yes, some of us look odd, some of us have closed eyes, but we all showed up and were accounted for. It was a fun day, and ’84 was heard from today. God bless you, brother rats.”

Frank Kollmannsperger’s report was characteristically insightful, brutal, and succinct: “It is 6:25 p.m., and Alec Thompson is already snoring. Could be a long night.”

On the Tuesday after the game, we all received some scary news. Mark Morgan reported from Richmond that Frank Kollmannsperger was rushed to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain, which was later diagnosed as an abdominal aneurysm. Because Mary Cay recognized the seriousness of the situation and took swift action to seek emergency medical care, the surgeons were able to treat Frank and quickly stabilize his condition. Needless to say, prayers were lifted up from around the class and around the country for Frank’s rapid recovery and restoration to fullest health soonest. When I spoke with Frank a few days later, he seemed characteristically thoughtful and in good spirits. Please continue to keep Frank and Hank in your prayers. That’s what brothers do.

I received a really moving email from Stephanie Thacker, the twin sister of Steve Sullivan’s widow, Samantha. I had met her years ago, when Sully and Sam were first dating, and they all came to Lexington to see VMI play their alma mater, Marshall University (as I recollect, she was holding her own in the “smack-talking” category that day). Stephanie and Steve were very close, and when I called her, she described Sully as her “best friend.” Stephanie wanted to update Sully’s brother rats about his son, Wade Sullivan, who like Stephanie and Samantha, also attended Marshall, where he graduated spring 2022 summa cum laude from the honors college—one of the top 50 graduates—with degrees in creative writing and philosophy. Wade has won a number of awards for his writing and has been published. Now, Wade is continuing his studies at Marshall, pursuing a master’s degree in microbiology and working as a graduate assistant. Stephanie wrote: “Although Steve passed away at this time 22 years ago, I still think of him so often. I would be interested in any memorabilia or photographs or thoughts/remembrances of Steve that you or any of his classmates might have—and I know Samantha and his son, Wade (who was 2 years old when he passed), would be interested, as well.” We all can agree that, during our time in barracks, Sully loomed larger than life. I know many of you have memories and stories about

him that would be cherished by Sam, Stephanie, and Wade. If you send them to me, I’ll pass them along (unedited).

Finally, the Alumni Agencies reunion coordinator informed me just before going to print that our 40th Reunion will be held April 26–27, 2024. Please mark your calendars, clear your schedules, and plan on being in attendance. I would appreciate your input on any activities you would like incorporated into our reunion agenda. (Sorry, Zollman’s pavilion is closed, and mudslides in Old Barracks are strictly prohibited?!)

On that note, please take the time to catch up with your brother rats, especially if it has been a long while since last you spoke, and make sure to send me photos and updates! So until next time, I’ll close by saying, “Goodnight, Jeff Vielock, wherever you are!”

shortage of domestic and global challenges that require monumental leadership endeavors. As I know you are all too aware, there is nothing new under the sun, and the chaotic universe grinds on, crying out for pragmatic leaders to step up and make a difference. One such leader was Brother Rat Col. Steve Motylinski, who recently passed, as many of you are aware. Several of our BRs attended the services for Steve. There was also a long chain of friends communicating through the Class of 1985 network when the word came out that Steve was gone. As an FYI, I sent two dozen red, white, and yellow long-stem roses on behalf of the class for the wake and funeral. Mots was a #*@& of a nice guy, a strong leader, a fine American, husband, father, son, and friend. Jim Spellman was in attendance and shared the following: “Beautiful service at his former parish with his brother, Kenneth, a Catholic deacon, delivering the sermon/eulogy. VMI, brother rat, and Mot’s antics all got a considerable mention. The U.S. Air Force rendered honors at the military cemetery afterward. Very fitting and very moving. ’85ers in attendance were Brent Hearn, Mark Utke, and me.”

Class of 1985 departed brothers and friends are as follows:

Mr. Christopher A. Touhill, Oct. 30, 1992; Mr. Thomas D. Dunnington, Oct. 25, 1996; Mr. Raymond Edward Cervera, Aug. 15, 2000; Capt. James W. Keays, May 4, 2001; Col. Kurt W. Iversen, Sept. 26, 2002; Mr. Brian A. Burton, March 4, 2004; Col. Sontichai Toomhirun, Feb. 25, 2006; Mr. Justin B. Howe, May 26, 2010; Mr. Lawrence A. Thomas, Jan. 6, 2011; Mr. LaMont F. Toliver, Feb. 28, 2012; Mr. James B. Soden, Jan. 22, 2014; Mr. George W. Headley, Nov. 20, 2017; Mr. Christian J. Wolf Jr., Nov. 5, 2018; Mr. David P. Othling, Sept. 26, 2020; Mr. Henry J. Murphy III, Dec. 12, 2020; Mr. Kyle I. Winter, Feb. 3, 2022; Mr. Kenneth B. Cade, April 27, 2022; and Col. Stephen V. Motylinski, Jan. 3, 2023.

please take a few minutes and shoot me a quick email at billw175@yahoo.com. Reach out and let me know what’s up, where you are, and what you are doing so we can close ranks before we meet again soon in Lexington. The 40th Reunion is approaching fast in 2025, and it may be the last chance many of us will get to see each other, so let’s close ranks before we get there.

I heard from Matt Carter that he will be returning home to the U.S.A. very soon! Welcome home, Matt! Let us know when you land, and we will get our crew together for some eats either in Northern Virginia or Lexington! Greenie is buying! And since he is buying, all are welcome! As I mentioned, Jim Spellman, Mark Utke, and Brent Hearn attended Mot’s funeral, and I want to thank them and Jake Spivey for keeping us all informed about what happened and what we needed to know. In addition, Jim Spellman informs us that he is eyeing the prize of retirement soon after decades of hard work and selfless service in law enforcement for the great state of New York! Way to go! He is also advancing in the ranks with a second star in a few weeks when he takes on the role of the commanding officer, office of the chief of investigations division in the New York state attorney general’s office, being promoted from assistant chief of detectives for statewide operations, a position he has held since late in 2021. Hunh, no wonder you would never sleep in my hay! I had to torture poor Mike Harvey to take on the burden of my late-night wanderings! No matter where or

Hello, Everyone,

I hope you made the turn into 2023 OK and are girding for what is coming at us in the upcoming year. By the look of things, the world continues to shake, rattle, and roll on, and there is no

Time is a precious commodity, now more than ever, as we all seek our own horizons. I am thankfully reminded of the need to always gird oneself up and guard against the dangers of the world, time, apathy, and cynicism, never forgetting why we are here together and that we are always stronger together. A few weeks ago, I put out a request to the class for updates, and many of you responded, which I really appreciate. The following is what came back, coupled with what else I know is going on in the world of ’85. Again, I ask the rest of the Class of 1985 to

Class notes

how hard he tried to hide!

I got a ping from Tucker Maloney, who was doing well and checking in with all the latest news about stuff regarding both the Institute and other current events!

Jake Spivey shared that the 2023 Charlie Company golf safari is planned for Aug. 4–6, 2023, so all interested parties should put it on their calendars.

Chuck McCarthy sends hello from Richmond, Virginia, sharing that he and his brother, Jack McCarthy ’87; Spencer Williamson and his brother, Todd Williamson ’87; Al Comer ’86 and his brother, Teddy Comer ’83; Roy Woolwine ’86 and his brother, Sammy Woolwine ’81; and other cool “lacrosse cats” were recently hanging out at a VMI lacrosse game somewhere in Lexington with someone playing against someone else and with someone winning at some score or another against whoever the other guys were. Chuck and his family are doing well, and he is really enjoying his work and life.

Barry Brockway dropped a quick note wishing me well in my new role with the class. Thanks, Barry!

Col. Steve Medeiros was let loose in Northern Virginia at the superintendent’s alumni function when Maj. Gen. Wins, VMI superintendent, was in town to speak with local VMI alumni and friends of VMI. Bob Ivy (former rat roomy!) declares that he swears there was a Medeiros sighting that night at the event. He was sure he saw him and then ran for cover when Steve ran under a chair and disappeared. In addition, Bob said that he observed Steve was there with several others from some company between “Bravo!” and “D Stud Delta!” Let’s see, Owen Bush McIntyre and Terry Ormsby were there, too.

Hey Bob, I spoke to Dave Ditt last week and sent him the picture you sent me. He said to say “hello” and hopes you and yours are well. Dave is doing great and living down in Shreveport, Louisiana. He owns a food manufacturing business with Steve Umberger ’83 He is married with two sons—both doing terrific, with one in college and one getting ready to go off to college. Steve Medeiros reports that he and his family are doing well. Steve is currently director of logistics for Marine Corps Installations Command,

where Steve and his teams support all of the Marine Corps based and stationed worldwide. Good stuff, Steve! Steve and his wife, Sirrah, are planning a few trips to the Rhine and Alaska if they are able in 2023. Sirrah continues to pursue her writing career in dark fiction, and she already has two books published. Steve informed me that the turnout for the VMI Alumni Association Northern Virginia event with Maj. Gen. Wins, VMI superintendent, was well attended, and the program and engagement were excellent.

Terry Ormsby informs us that his son, Timmy, recently broke out the U.S. Military Academy ratline—his second! We all wish Tim well on his journey and know he will be a great leader and friend to all, like his dad. Terry and Annie Ormsby, Joe and Cindy Irby, and Tom Greenspon sent along a greeting from their lovely evening dining out somewhere in Virginia, I assume. It is a lot of fun and gives me great pleasure seeing

everyone getting together, eating, drinking, having fun, enjoying each other, and just enjoying the moment—except for the one most important fact that I never get invited!? Who paid!? I refuse! Oh, sorry, I blacked out there for a second. Now, back to the notes!

Palmer Hamilton was recently hosted by Matt and Donna Hadley and Alex and Terrie Mason (my old friend and co-dyke) when they traveled to the Northern Neck of Virginia with their family to honor his mom’s passing last year and fulfill her final wish. Hi, Terrie! What a wonderful visual that is. It is great that you had the support of your friends and family for that. Plus, it was rumored that there was an oyster bake after. Nice. She would have loved that. He also informed us that he and his family went to Charlotte, North Carolina, to hang with Jim and Audrey Trible at a tailgate for the Panthers versus the Patriots. Had to have been a while ago, but it is memorable as he is throwing it out there in 2023. I guess because he thinks I am a Patriots guy?! He would be right. Also, he shared that Jim is quite the cook, so that settles it for me! Let’s go! Road trip to Jim’s house! “Food king! Food king! Food king!” Knobby!? You are driving!

Mike Lamore was at The Citadel game in November when a bunch of us descended on LexVegas for the Silver Shako! It was a heartbreaker but a great game nonetheless! The best part about going back for a game is seeing all the guys from ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’85B, ’86, ’87, etc., etc., and hanging with the Old Corps. The tailgates will never be what they were when we were there and for the first 15 years after. That’s right. We did better than the rest! Those football weekends were epic, and the good news is, “there is still time left to do it again!” So, come to Lex for a game! Usually, we try to rally there once or thrice a year— once in spring, once in summer, and once in fall. Let’s make a plan for 2023. Come back for a visit. I will name names in the next Alumni Review.

Steve Palmer reached out to say “hi,” and I hope he has recovered fully from his first safari experience. Everyone was thrilled you showed up! You are lucky Borny didn’t make you float on the USS

Never Sails as he did to others he forced into crewing in the past! Scotty is still traumatized. Matt Henderson sent me a hello and an update with a picture of him and Jessie Waltz, who are both doing well and continue to inspire all of us who keep in the loop with what they have been up to. You guys look great, and I wish you good luck in all things. I heard from Tim Bailey, and he is well. He sent along a picture of him and Robert Neal mugging on one of their cell phones in Saint Louis, Missouri. Here is what Tim shared; I love it! “Here’s a picture of Robert Neal and me [taken] when he came to the STL July 29, 2022, and we had dinner. We were roomies at VMI. Rah Virginia Mil! Tim Bailey—VMI ’85.” The joy of crashing around with your BR roomie buddy! That is cool! You guys got nothing to lose now! Go nuts! Saint Louis is closed!

Meade! King! Meade King sent along a nice note and informed us that the oldest son of his lovely wife, Leslie (Meade’s, too, but I just like Leslie more), and his wife are expecting their first child—a boy. Meade and Leslie’s first grandchild will be born in April 2023, and they are going to name him “Bill” after me! Wow! Oh, wait a minute, that’s just some jelly that fell off my donut onto his email. Never mind! My dear college friends continue to pass on my long-standing and generous offer of one U.S. dollar—yes, one dollllaaaa—for naming rights for their kids, grandkids, and/or pets. Male or female, it doesn’t matter! Name them all “Bill,” and you get a buck! Just ask Murph how that worked out for him! Keep it in mind. You know, not everyone has their own chickens, turkeys, eggs, and stuff!

Since we are on all things kids and grandkids bandwagon, I must report Doc’s family had one, Borny’s family had another one, Scotty’s family had another one, Murph’s family had one, Neb’s family had another one, and Knobby’s son is getting married. Chuck and Mollie Baker are getting ready to celebrate their 15th grandchild, due late summer. They were married 38 years ago, May 18, 1985, just hours after graduation! Congratulations!

Joe Pauly informs from his rabbit hole that he has a son getting married later this year and that he and his wife, Marty, are proud grandparents to one grandson currently and another on the way! Good luck to all of our BRs! The universe is a much brighter, happier place with all their kids’ and grandchildren’s new little souls

bounding all around it! Right on!

Joe Pauly also shared that he ran into Kelly Berkhimer after the 2022 Charlie Company golf safari, and he is doing well, but he will let Kelly inform us about his “current activities?!” Well, that is a tell right there! Kelly better send me an email ASAP, or I am going to make some stuff up the next time I have to crush the class notes. You’ve been warned—out with it, man! Give!

Dave Wood reached out and, like many of us, has experienced some life-changing events, but he is doing great and creating both a new life and business unit at Griffith University in Australia called the Griffith Defense Network. His kids are thriving with his daughter, Mikayla (22), a research assistant in Australia, and his son, Aidan (25), an amphibious reconnaissance and patrol leader with the Australian Army. Dave is settled into his new home and job and is enjoying living in Australia on the Gold Coast. He is also offering us all jobs, free boat rides, and free food! Oh wait, that was more jelly. Never mind. However, he does welcome anyone who wants to come to visit to come on “down for shrimp on the barbie!” Eh? OK, moving on. Sincerely, Dave, good luck!

Dave Campbell is doing well in Florida, and he recently left his role as project manager for a massive infrastructure program in Florida. He has, once again, hung out his shingle for his private practice as a civil engineer. Now, I know many of you know Dave, and he is a machine! Nothing Dave does, does he do half speed! So, he named his new company something I had never ever seen or heard of before! And I am

kind of old. What is the name, you ask? Get ready for it: Civil Engineering. Yes! That is it. That’s the name of his company, and—believe it or not—the logo is even better than the name! Brilliant! Congratulations, Dave! Proud of you, brother! Keep doing the work!

Dave told me he hooked up with Mike Cook via phone at Christmas and again last month. Mike is doing well and taking care of some health issues at the moment, so let us all wish Mike a speedy recovery. Doug McGowen wrote in, which is very cool. He has retired as a Navy captain after multiple tours as commanding officer of an F/A-18F Super Hornet Squadron and installation commander at NSA Mid-South. Doug is now residing in Memphis, Tennessee, having risen to the position of president/chief executive officer of Memphis Light, Gas and Water after serving over a decade as their chief operating officer. He says we are all invited to a free barbecue at his house! Let’s go! Knobby!? Gas up the truck, man!

Kerry Kirk checked in and shared that he will be retiring from Cambridge Associates in spring 2023 but will continue to maintain his volunteer work via Kirk’s WriteWorks. He says he will round things off by continuing to be a brand ambassador for Honor Brewing Company. He then should have just enough free time to be defined as a “retired human.” Rumors are swirling that Mark Bornhorst, Scott Vaughn, Steve Hagan, George Halages, and Tom Greenspon will be traveling to Arizona again for their annual golf outing, and I am sure the stories that come out of it will be epic. I have shared a picture of George modeling his finest winter golf wear for your enjoyment. Big heart! Bigger than life!

And all in!

I got to spend some time with John and Anne Powers and their kids over the holidays in Massachusetts. John, Anne, and his son, Garrett, attended the VMI New England Chapter VMI versus The Citadel basketball watch party at Jimmy D’s Pub (Thanks, Jimmy!) in Franklin, Massachusetts. We all got to partake in the yumminess of large quantities of pizza, wings, desserts, steak tips, and all kinds of assorted libations. It was a lot of fun. John is doing really well, and his four kids (Sarah, Ben, Garrett, and Kate) are quite a crew of solid, accomplished young people. Congratulations, John. You have a lot to be proud of and have an amazing family.

Shane Sullivan informs us that his son,

George, has officially applied to VMI as well as several other top schools, and we should know soon what George’s next step is going be! Good luck, George! Let us hope if George goes to VMI that he has wonderful roommates as you did, big daddy!

Finally, I made a stop at the Marshall Museum last time I was in Lexington and visited with J.J. Wranek just before he left town for a Marshall Foundation fundraiser in New York City, New York. He continues to do important work in bringing Marshall’s legacy of leadership and public service forward to inspire and educate others regarding who Gen. George C. Marshall ’901 was and his selfless service to our nation and world. The immensity of what he and that generation were able to accomplish together cannot be understated. His vision and commitment to America and the world were clearly on display through his selflessness, leadership, and willingness to collaborate with so many to achieve so much through the course of his entire life. He gave all for his nation and world. Amazing and inspiring.

In closing, once again, I ask you to please keep all those we have lost and their families in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray for all those who need our prayers as they and their families do the heavy lifting that life can demand. God bless our country; God bless our men and women in uniform; God bless the Corps of Cadets; and God bless VMI, our VMI family, and our VMI friends.

Rah Virginia Mil, ’85! ’85! ’85! Stay safe and well.

Happy new year, brother rats of ’86—and all those who wish they were! These notes are being formulated in February, and you will read them in print probably around New Market Day. The leaves will be on the trees, the grass will be green, the flowers will be blooming, and the birds will be singing—and by that time, we will have celebrated 40 years since breaking out of the Rat Line on a chilly March 16, 1983. Forty freaking years! That does not seem possible, but at the same time, I am sure we are all grateful for 40 years of brotherhood and camaraderie among the finest human beings on the planet. In a strictly platonic and heterosexual way, I love every one of you.

Who can name the BR who: (1) married someone with the last name Midgette, (2) has a cat named Chicken, and (3) was a private for three years until he became a regimental staffer as a 1st Class cadet/five-year man. This is totally legit; I’m not making any of this up. It is a true story, and I’ll wager unparalleled in the annals of VMI history—at least part three. Think about it, and I’ll share the answer next quarter.

Tim Spivey may be retired from his first job, but he is fully keeping up with the news and reading the newspaper every day. As a sign of age, he reads the obituaries first. Recently, he noted and passed along that BRs Gordon McKinley and Gene Walton both lost their fathers within a day or so of each other. Condolences to Gordon and Gene, respectively, and their families. Their dads were surely good men to have raised fine sons like our brother rats.

A great update came this quarter from Vince Carag living in Austin, by God, Texas. Vince retired after a stellar career in law enforcement but is staying busy with a side gig teaching active-threat mitigation for preschools. BR Carag says that’s an area that really isn’t covered in any of the current law enforcement training materials. It has a double meaning for Vince, as he is a grandfather again—for the third time now!

BR Carag’s son’s newest daughter, Lily Mae, was born Sept. 22, 2022. Vince says that, just like his other two grands, she’ll be getting a provisional appointment to “Mother I” and offered the further declaration that “By God, one

of these kids will wear the ring!”

In June 2022, Vince had the honor of accepting a Congressional gold medal on his father’s behalf for his service as a Filipino-American during World War II. BR Carag noted that the ceremony was very moving to him personally, and the presentation was made by the mayor of San Antonio and Congressman Castro. Then, Vince was invited back to San Antonio later to serve as the presiding officer for a Medal of Honor ceremony honoring Telesforo Trinidad, a Filipino-American sailor who earned the Medal in 1915 and will have a new destroyer named after him. Both events were sponsored by OFT—the Organization of Filipinos in Texas. BR Carag said the only downside was his disappointment at the dinners, though. While he says the food was great, he was disappointed it was Anglo and not Filipino. Before anyone feels too sorry for Vince, according to the weekly pictures on social media, he is eating well at home with some awesome-looking red meat prepared in a variety of methods. Rest assured, it is a valiant enough effort to make our beloved class grill meister and favorite harmonica player, Dave “Papa G” Grimm, proud.

And while he enjoys Texas, BR Carag (and Michelle) are looking for another spot for full-on retirement once their youngest daughter (blended family) is out of high school in about three years. They were getting close on a 200-year-old house near Roanoke, Virginia, with (in Vince’s words) “amazing mountain views and potential ghosts,” but it had too many structural issues, so they are back to square one. I don’t know about the rest of you, but the “potential ghosts” would have been enough of an issue for me. The Carags are also potentially looking at Birmingham, Alabama, as they have another daughter (I believe) living there. Thanks for the excellent update, Vince, and a tip of the old steel pot to your dad for his service. Just outstanding!

There was a big crowd of our-era Keydets at The Citadel football game in November. The BRs in attendance of whom I am aware included Fred Albrecht, Stew Barnes, Al Comer, Stu Heishman, Frank Ladson, Todd McCullough, Dan Monahan, Jon Moody, Mike Necessary, and Steve Pancham

There was also a host of guys from the Class of ’84. I can’t name them all but did have a nice conversation with former F-Troopers Frank Kollmansperger ’84 and Bruce Hauck ’84—two great guys. Hank Selman ’84, formerly of Richmond but late of Rome, Georgia, asked to be included in the ’86 class notes because he brought

a special guest with him to VMI and also because the ’86 class notes column is where all the cool people hang out. Hank retired early from the (legal) pharmaceutical industry about a year ago and moved back to his hometown of Rome, Georgia. It was good to see him back in Virginia at the “Mother I.” The special guest part is that Hank was accompanied by one of his new neighbors— Hughson Jaszohl. In the small world department, it turns out that Hugh was an Alpha Tau Omega brother from one of the universities of Georgia (can’t remember which one) but had never been to VMI (VMI was the founding place of ATO fraternity; it is in your Rat Bible). Hugh was a great guy—uncannily similar to Hank in his personality and behavior, and we hope he enjoyed his visit to VMI. So, there you go, Hank; on behalf of ’86, let the record show that Hank Selman ’84 and his buddy, Hugh Jaszohl, are like fraternal twins. We hope to see both of you again sooner rather than later.

Unless Bruce Nickle is still globing and anchoring it, then I believe our last active-duty BR has received his DD-214. Generalissimo A.D. Hirtz, M.D., recently hung up his bone scanner as a U.S. Army doctor at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In layman’s terms, Tony Hirtz has officially retired—the question is, how will they know? To re-use an old line, “We’re not surprised you became a doctor; but we all thought you’d be a witch doctor!” Just kidding, of course. On behalf of the Class of ’86 and a grateful nation, thanks, Tony, for your years of wearing the uniform and serving our country so well, so faithfully, and for so long.

A few weeks before Christmas, while Christmas shopping with my bride, we ran into a jolly old elf named Bryan Amsel in the L.L. Bean store. Bryan and his Ring Figure date, Caroline, have just returned to the U.S. after spending a three-year stint in Italy at Aviano Air Force Base, where BR Amsel was working in a procurement role with the DoD. He is now back in his old billet at the Defense General Supply Center just south of Richmond. Bryan said they loved the tour in Italy and were able to enjoy a fair amount of travel as there were much fewer tourists due to COVID-19. BR Amsel did mention with a chuckle that his boss in Italy (active-duty guy) was a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate who was born about the time we graduated from the Institute. We also shared a good

laugh about how poorly his class agent kept tabs on him, and he acknowledged he’d left the country without telling me. As they used to say in Cocke Hall, “No blood, no foul.” It was good to see you, Bryan; I hope Santa brought you that hat you were trying on!

In early December, Bob and Kirby Rainer hosted their annual 1986 brother rat Christmas party at their healthful and pleasant abode. As usual, BR Rainer exhibited his excellent bartending skills with some craft cocktails, and Kirby’s prowess in the kitchen is fabulous. Attendees at this superb bash included the following BRs and many of

holidays. I’m pretty sure BR Poremba still has family in the Northern Virginia area. No real details on his visit other than he appeared to eat well and often at the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, a restaurant in Chantilly, Virginia. From the pics I saw, he appeared to be doing just fine—and looks like the Lazy Dog might “throw on a good prim,” as Frank Trice might say. Or maybe it was Karl Sjolund who said that? Or was it Botts Smith? It doesn’t matter, a good prim is a good prim, right?

Speaking of a good prim, taco Tuesday continues to be the rage in the RVA. Several BRs started meeting on Tuesdays at a local restaurant, 804 Bistro, and now it is a full-on event each week with normally about 10-15 BRs and wives/girlfriends. The usual crowd includes Jay Ball, Paul Burch, Wayne Fuller, Clint Hubbard, Jon Moody, Gordon Poindexter, and Scott Wagner, with an occasional showing of Brett Hayes, Cy Kump, Andy “GrapeApe” Mason, Jeff Morgan, Bob Rainer, and Tim Spivey. Recent new attendees included Steve Pancham, Joe Schinstock, and John Stevens. If you’re ever in the Richmond area on a Tuesday night, hit us up. We’ll be there, and it is a good time—you can be home and in your hay by 9 p.m.

John Stevens recently hung up his shingle in a new spot. John retired after 30 years at the Virginia State Corporation Commission and walked about four blocks over to take a job with a subsidiary of Appalachian Electric Power Company. Otherwise, BR Stevens keeps busy with family obligations and still does a little shooting every now and again.

the ladies: Paul Burch, Jay Ball, Mike Colletti, Wayne Fuller, Gordon Poindexter, Brett Hayes, Clint Hubbard, Jamie Inman, Andy Mason, Jon Moody, Jeff Morgan, Tim Spivey, Scott Wilson, and Roy Woolwine. It seems I could be leaving someone off the list, but unfortunately, I did not write everyone’s name down at the time. We all missed Robert “Santa Claus” Nussey again this year. BR Nussey, don’t make us come and get you.

If you believe what you read on social media, Sean “The Dude” Poremba made a trek from the West Coast to Virginia over the Christmas

Joe Schinstock is living in Crozet, Virginia, (just west of Charlottesville) but working for a state engineering office/ agency in downtown Richmond. Healthy commute each day but gets him down to join taco Tuesday on occasion, which is a bonus for all of us. Stay safe out there on the road, BR Schinstock

Speaking of another good prim, on the eating well but low-key department, the Hubbards rang in the new year at casa de Poindexter along with the Fullers and four dozen grilled oysters, followed by some marvelous shrimp and grits and topped off with several homemade desserts. There may have been a few cocktails and a couple of beers, as well. It was a happy new year and good living.

And to follow that one up with what is sure to be

Class notes

another good prim, let’s look toward the fall 2023 football season. On Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, the Keydets will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Gametime is TBA—but the tailgate is on. When Gordon White left VMI, he went to NC State, where he graduated, and he now lives in Raleigh. He retains a fierce loyalty to VMI and his BRs and has offered to host an ’86 tailgate in the Wolfpack tailgate area. So, everyone in the area and those who wish to travel, this is sure to be a good time. More details to come as they are finalized and the time draws closer. Thanks, BR White!

Before we finish, I want to be sure and mention Harold D’Amico and the VMI Honor Roll of Donors. The VMI Alumni Agencies annual Honor Roll of Donors came out in December and lists all who have made monetary gifts to the Institute in 2022. Among many other generous BRs was the name of Harold D’Amico. BR D’Amico was with us only for about a semester; I remember him from rat chemistry. Harold departed VMI on his own accord, actually probably went home for Christmas and stayed there. But lo, 40 years later, he has made a gift to VMI, which speaks to the impression VMI made on him but also speaks volumes about his character in making such a classy move. If you’re reading this, Harold, thank you for your generosity. We are proud to call you brother rat and hope you will come back for a visit to the “I” or a reunion sometime.

Late-breaking news: Scott E. Bradley passed away Feb. 17 after a short illness. Steve Thacker, his roommate and friend since eighth grade, said he collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he died from acute kidney and liver failure. Steve says a memorial service will be held in Baltimore, probably in May—more details to come.

All right, men, such as it is, that’s the report for now; you may stand down for the remainder of this quarter. Smoke ’em if you got ’em. I hope 2023 is shaping up well for you and yours. Reach out to a BR and/or your class agent to share an update. Take care, brother rats.

as the class agent! Thanks to Curt Schoonmaker for a very smooth change of command after a great five-year term. Additional thanks to our 35th Reunion Committee of Scott Jewell, Tracy Porter, and Tom Peer for a job well done.

It has been a busy three months for your class agent. I started reaching out to BRs to touch base and re-engage with many old friends now that I have their contact information. I hope, through the course of the year, I will be able to speak with each of you personally. I travel quite a bit for work, and I use my windshield time to call randomly.

As with every reunion, we make promises to stay in touch or get together more frequently than we have in the past. I decided to accept the challenge, and in December, I was able to get a bunch of the Richmond area ’87’s together for some holiday cheer. Picking a date for 30 people is never perfect, but we had a great turnout. More importantly, there was a tremendous appetite for future events, and I will do my best to make it happen in multiple cities. As for attendees, Derrick Johnson, Charlie Early, Bruce Bones, Matt Morgan, Kevin Reardon, Todd Williamson, Tim Chester, Mark Barth, and Howell Taylor were in attendance. Ashley Abernathy, Eric Davis, Chris Stathis, Trip Bowles, Clifton Coger, D.T. Wood, Tracy Porter, Steve Wilson, Joe Massie, Curt Schoonmaker, Ted Fishback, and Tom Mitchell were unable to post but will be in for the next event. I was asked to throw a wider net next time to include others, and I will happily do so. The more, the merrier in my book, so consider it done.

As far as random phone calls are concerned, I had a great chat with Scott Jewell. He just took over as supervisor of the water system in Greensboro, North Carolina. Todd Arris is still out on the West Coast outside of San Francisco, California. Todd was kind enough to grab dinner with me a few years ago while I was interviewing for a company. John Pilloni and I talk ever so often about all things Russia, Chairman Meow, and VMI.

always make time to get together to watch football and catch up on his family. He keeps me up to date on our resident TV star/referee, Keith Washington, as well as Terry Fortune and Bobby Blackwell. We all love the “Where’s Waldo/ KW” posts and the matching outfits Keith wears to signify the town or teams he is officiating in the NFL.

I spent a lot of time in Florida over the last 15 years, as my parents and in-laws live on either coast. East Coasters like Jay Nagle and I talk about hurricane season, as he is just a few towns north of my parents in New Smyrna Beach. Adrian Garcia and Owen Curley both live in Jacksonville, and Steve Cade recently moved into town, as well. Adrian and I were both Northern Virginia rats who rode the bus home rat year and spent some time in summer school together. He mentioned Bill Trammell also lives in the area. Owen “O.J.” Curley and I spent 30 minutes trading 2nd Class year stories of life above the commandant’s office on the second stoop. He has four kids who are keeping him busy. Kevin Price, our three-walled racquetball specialist, is also somewhere in the sunshine state.

On the west coast of Florida, we have Jim Bean, Andy Zolper, Carl Feddeler, Ernie Edgar, and maybe a few others in the greater Tampa area. Zolper and I had kids at Sewanee over the last few years, so we have stayed in contact around parents’ weekends and other school events.

While I have yet to have a conversation with the South Carolina contingency, I do know that when visiting the beaches for golf or beach fun, you should look up Drew Campi and Bob

Class of 1987, What an honor to represent the Class of 1987

Michael Maxwell and I talk all the time now that he has retired from Excelon (Pepco). He lives 20 minutes from my parents in South Florida, so I

Buxton in the Myrtle Beach area. Paul Russo and Bill Wanovich are in the Hilton Head/Bluffton/Beaufort region. Paul recently joined an optometry practice, and Wanno seems to be enjoying retirement on the golf course.

You may have seen on Facebook that my youngest daughter is a senior at Texas Christian University. The McCarthy family has been crossing the U.S. watching the Horn Frogs play in the college semifinals against Michigan State University in the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona. Of course, this was the one week that Bob Eckhoff decided to take his grandson and family to Disney in Orlando, Florida, so we were unable to connect. Bob and Sam Nelson are the administrators of the Facebook page, so I message with them frequently.

After a great victory against Michigan, the McCarthy family flew out to Los Angeles the following weekend to see TCU play Georgia in the finals. Although the national championship game was a huge victory for Georgia fans, such as Hiram Morales and Brad Kinn, it was not that great for the McCarthys! We had a fantastic weekend in California, and I was able to catch up by phone with Rob Susnar and Randy Janey. Rob is living the dream on the canals in Venice Beach and is still a workout fiend. Randy is up in Santa Barbara and working on developing a Formula Motorsports complex in Hungary.

Steve Tooker and his wife, Ruth, lived in Manhattan Beach for many years and still have a place there. Steve and I play golf together when he comes back to Richmond from Europe. He is currently living in Wales, U.K., running the sales and European operations for a U.S. company. Speaking of the United Kingdom, Craig Covert has been living the last year in England and providing almost daily historic tour journal updates through Facebook.

Mike Upton sends his best from Grapevine, Texas! Mike had a fantastic time catching up with everyone at the reunion and is already looking forward to our 40th Reunion! Mike flies for American Airlines out of Dallas and was overnighting in St. Louis when I called. If you travel, there is probably a chance that you will run into some of our pilot BRs like Alan Greene, Ted Fishback, Jon McLean, and Bill Trammell

My apologies if you are a commercial pilot and I missed recognizing you. I will get better at this over time.

I caught up with Brad Maak on his birthday. He had a great time at the reunion seeing everyone. Brad has lived in Las Vegas for the past 16

years, and he works at the University of Nevada –Las Vegas running events. If you are headed to Vegas, give him a call before you go! He usually finds out after they leave town and post pictures on the internet.

Jack McCarthy was trying to get a bunch of guys and gals together for the annual Valentine’s Hop that the Lynchburg Chapter holds each year. He tried to sweet-talk me, Denis Kiely, Glenn Ferguson, and others into going, but conflicts got in the way. Tim Chester did make the trip to the “Hill City” for the event, and everyone had a great time. It is definitely in consideration for next year. Jack, Bruce Bones, and Fergie got together for the Richmond Chapter quail hunt, and by the pictures sent, it seems that everyone had a great time.

Wilson Brown and I have spent hours talking since the reunion. Wilson lives in Greenville, North Carolina, and is always looking for great restaurant suggestions or a round of golf. We keep saying we will have a home/away match sometime soon if anyone cares to join in on the fun.

I called Kelly Jordan to wish him a happy birthday. Be forewarned, expect a call from me versus a card because no one can decipher my handwriting. Currently, Kelly teaches online classes for the American Military University in military studies. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and then went on to run the Notre Dame Army ROTC program. After that was a stint as commandant at Culver Military Academy. He got his master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the Ohio State University in military history and has published a few books on the topic, with more to come!

On a side note, if you have not downloaded the VMI Alumni mobile app, I would highly recommend you do. It is always fun to track down a BR when you are on a business trip or just in town for a few nights. Feel free to call or email me anytime!

1988

Brother Rats,

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas, new years, and holiday season! As you are receiving

and reading this, our 35th Reunion will be rapidly approaching; just another reminder that the dates are Oct. 27–28, 2023. I hope to see everyone there! You can check the class Facebook page, VMI ’88 Facebook, for updates and information about the reunion and to connect with BRs. You can also use the VMI Alumni mobile app to locate BRs and other alumni. The VMI Alumni mobile app can be downloaded from the App Store.

Things were quiet on the class communication front over the winter. I only heard from a few BRs over the last few months. I exchanged a few texts with BR Brian Egloff, M.D., as he was graciously helping guide a young man that I referred to him through the medical waiver process to become a Marine and hopefully attend OCS. Brian has worked as a doctor at Fort Detrick, Maryland, for the past several years and recently accepted the role of chief medical officer with the Defense Health Agency. Congratulations to Brian!

During the Christmas holiday season, BRs

Class notes

Tom Kennedy, Hugh McGloin, Sam Tate, and Dan Shrimpton got together with their wives, Lorri, Regina, Amy, and Fiona, for dinner and drinks.

In January, BR Bill Cronenberg was in Virginia and connected with John Keppeler and Derek McFarland for lunch. Bill is still traveling back and forth from his home in Estonia and his place in Pennsylvania pretty frequently for business and gets back to Virginia at least once or twice each year. John is working at Quantico as a civilian after retiring from the Marine Corps and is living in Stafford. Derek is living in Culpeper, working in construction, teaches gun safety as an NRA-certified firearms instructor, and shoots competitively and for recreation.

I hope to hear from more of you over the next few months and look forward to seeing you all at the reunion!

Until then, stay safe, and all the best to you and your families. RVM! Rah, ’88!

My correct phone number is 703-283-8293.

Greetings from the home office in snowy Bellbrook, Ohio, where once again, recalling our time together at “Mother I” is like a warm, wooly mantle insulating me from the cold winter’s chill. Here I sit, sipping Old Gran-Dad to stay warm, trying to cobble together something worth your time. Speaking of grandad gives me an idea.

George C. Marshall ’901 had much to say about parenting and VMI. In fact, he married Lily Coles, who lived just outside VMI’s southern gates. Lily’s maternal old grandad was Edmund Pendleton ’842, a member of VMI’s first graduating class. In the 1850s, Pendleton had an epiphany and moved to Ohio (aka the Mother of Presidents state), working as a lawyer a few miles down the road from where I sit. Isn’t history amazing?

History lesson over, and cheers to our favorite Old Grandad! With Father’s Day just around the corner, June 18, 2023, this edition of the notes honors our dads, grandads, parents, moms, and

your legacy parents. Dad was always teaching me something with his vast repository of witticisms like, “They said you weren’t fit to eat with the pigs, but I stood up for you and told them you were.” Ah, those Crozet days! Not bad for an old Korean War coastguardsman; good prep for the Rat Line, I suppose.

Not sure about your upbringing or how you raise your kids, but we can’t talk about being a parent without entering into a fiscal discussion. Dad always said a father carries pictures of where his money used to be. When I was a rat, dad mailed me large envelopes filled with cardboard. He taped quarters to the cardboard because, during those first few weeks in August and September 1985, walking down four stoops to get change for the pop machines on the fourth stoop took hours. BRs stacked like cordwood on third stoop sally port looked like traffic backed up on I-495 around D.C. on any given Friday afternoon. Recall that pop machines didn’t take dollar bills back then. Postage alone must have cost dad more than the change affixed to the cardboard with scotch tape. Thanks, dad. Anyhow, let’s start class business with finances.

As a father (no, you can’t call me “your daddy,” this means you, Breheny, who recently crossed the century mark in the number of countries visited), I was delighted when my college-age son recently earned a small scholarship from a Texas oilman. As a history major, I had rocks in my head, along with a lot of gas, so no wonder my son is into studying rocks that might contain petroleum. Anyhow, the oilman said to his school, “I will provide an annual scholarship with two conditions: First, the recipient will send me a handwritten letter of thanks. Second,

I get some say where my money goes ... geology or oil.” Interestingly enough, the stipend is the approximate annual gift of one of our Class of 1989 scholarships. After these notes were submitted, much of what follows has been resolved. I suggested in writing (three times) to the Alumni Association that we could receive something similar from cadet-recipients. Since I suggested this three years ago, I have heard about the recipient of one of our scholarships only once. In response to my third unanswered email on the matter—the suggestion that the recipient thank the Class of 1989—I was told that my suggestion was unacceptable. Having recently bent over backward to try and get our three scholarships fully funded and spoken to many of you, many perceived this slight as anathema to further support of Class of 1989 scholarships. For the record, I strongly support giving in any manner and will continue to support giving to VMI. Needless to say, over Christmas break some years ago, one of the first things my rock-loving son did was write that letter of thanks to the oilman. The oilman replied immediately and said he was impressed with my son’s prose and his parents, especially my son’s dad (me). Anyhow, the oilman continued, saying the two of them should stay in touch and asking if my son would please send a resume halfway through his senior year. OK, I made up the blurb about the oilman’s compliment to my son’s parents, but my dad always

Class Notes

said never let the truth get in the way of a good story. The oilman’s logic is flawless.

I am happy to report that a kind soul in the AA pledged once again to send quarterly reports on the 1989 scholarships. I, likewise, pledge to forward updates in these pages. Income statements for FY 2023 first quarter indicate the Class of 1989 Military Scholarship has $27,921; the Class of 1989 Athletic Endowment is worth $19,541; and the granddaddy of them all, the 1989 Memorial Scholarship, has $114,852 in the kitty. Approximately 10% of you made a significant contribution to VMI and/or these scholarships last quarter. This contribution is very impressive, and we continue to thank you for your donations. I don’t know how much went to cadets or to whom but will continue to press for more fidelity from the AA and feedback (thanks!) from recipients. Don’t want to give money? Then how about your time? The reunion is right around the corner.

Dad told me once that being a parent is a thankless job and the pay sucks. Nonetheless, one can’t help but be ecstatic over Billy Miller’s son, Jackson Miller ’24, who continues to excel with academic stars, leading us to wonder if Billy adopted Jackson when Jackson was 17. Billy continues to support VMI football and tailgating; many ’89 tailgaters recently met with Jackson under Billy’s umbrella. He is an articulate young man with a bright future, recently earning his EMT certification with VMI’s blessing. Further proof that this apple fell far from the tree, Jackson is an All-American in boxing and probably destined for a prestigious medical school. Keep up the good work, Billy Miller!

Steve and Deanne Nezas don’t have kids at VMI, although Steve probably feels like he adopted John Brodie (Hon), the band director. Steve also volunteered to be my daddy for a weekend as I cruise through Norwalk, Connecticut, in May on a special secret assignment for the Alumni Review Class of 1989 page. Steve continues to sound the trumpet for all things VMI Band-related and recently expressed some news that his 102-and-a-half-yearold grandfather, Dick “Grandpa Dick,” passed. Grandpa Dick served in the U.S. Navy World War II Pacific theater as a motor machinist’s mate 3rd class on four ships. Apparently, he had enough of the Pacific theater, as he became an expert at finding East Coast clams, inventing something he called a “clam-poon” to facilitate

putting the clam into the bucket. Grandpa Dick was driving boats right up until his 102nd year; Steve sent a picture of Grandpa steering Steve’s boat off the Long Island coast. Indeed, the Nezas clan continues to excel, and as an ordained minister, Steve has already volunteered to officiate at Steffi and Doc Martin’s 50th wedding anniversary. (In 25 years!) Father Steve was on the hook to officiate at the 1991 wedding of his roommate Tate Jackson but had to pull out. Steve and Tate hoped to relive the Room 148

ghetto corner halcyon days. This is a reminder that thanks to you, we have class funds to honor family members with a flower or a donation. Contact Nezas at keydet3@gmail.com or me.

Continuing with our parent/grandparent/ministry theme, Steve and Amy Stafford (Nana and Papa Stafford) are now grandparents to Gideon Ward, who is—at the time of this writing—16 months old and holds a provisional appointment to the VMI Class of 2043. He’s now walking and seems quite adventurous and curious, meaning he is always on the move keeping his mom and dad on their toes! His dad, Christian, their sonin-law, is an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman, introducing Gideon to nature at every opportunity. This is a perfect fit for their daughter, who recently completed her master’s program at Liberty University and now has an online business.

“Amy (Nana) continues in her role as president of Body and Soul Fitness Ministry, recently returning from several weeks in multiple countries throughout the continent of Africa, teaching and inspiring instructors and sharing the message of Jesus Christ through faith and fitness. She’s also loving living here on the panhandle of Florida in our pre-retirement lifestyle on the Emerald Coast. We’ve even joined the golf cart brigade of local transportation options,” said Steve. Steve (Papa) recently was asked to take on the role of building official for Bay County, Florida, where he said, “my team serves hundreds of contractors, around 185,000 citizens, and more businesses and developers than can be counted. Our recovery from Hurricane Michael continues and is strong. It’s an honor to lead such a team. We are in the process of becoming accredited by the International Code Council, which will be great confirmation that our policies, procedures, and practices are in alignment with industry best practices and are actively recruiting new teammates.” Sounds busy, but the Staffords found time to squeeze in a 3,800-mile motorcycle trip. “We rode through eight states totaling roughly 3,800 miles, visited several landmarks to include the Cadillac Ranch and the Petrified Forest, and even spent a little time standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, before attempting to outrun a storm. The 2008 Honda Goldwing continues to impress with its ability to devour miles in comfort with the greatest ease and reliability. Happy to answer any follow-up questions you might have. Hoping you are well and enjoying

Class notes

your retirement, sir. We’re looking forward to the upcoming reunion. Rah Virginia Mil!” Great update, Steve; thanks.

Also dealing with the mother of all storms is Andrew Tunnard. In September, he was asked by the New Jersey State Police to join a team heading to Puerto Rico to assist FEMA in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. Andrew was the rat-daddy, deploying as lead transportation and infrastructure specialist, traveling to some of the worst-hit areas of PR. “It was a very interesting experience in seeing quite a bit of damage but also heartening to witness the resilience of the Puerto Rican people who have been through so much.” Closer to home, Janie and Andrew became grandparents to

Virginia. Erick and Betty’s son plays football at W&L. “My wife and I spent a lot of Saturdays in Lexington watching the Generals play. He is graduating this year, and I look forward to catching some Keydet games in the future. Kirby, our daughter, is an 11th grader and starting her college search. We’ll be empty nesters soon.” Erick went on to note that, as a Mink parent, he has spent way more time in the town of Lexington than as a wrestling and electrical engineering cadet. Does anyone else feel a tinge of that historical dread upon crossing the Maury and seeing barracks off to the right? Thanks for the inputs, Erick!

lieutenant with the Baltimore Police Department. Well, he didn’t really volunteer, but he recently sent a note that he and Missy retired from law enforcement and education. The Fanshaws have kids in Illinois, Maryland, and Ohio (yes, Ohio!) and also agreed to host a certain someone en route to their next adventure on class business off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.

their second grandchild in August. “Henry Andrew Alford blessed our family and became the little brother of George Alexander. Our daughters and their families are doing great. Janie and I are enjoying the empty nest but love it when little people come to visit. All is good, and I look forward to seeing everyone at our 35th [Reunion]!”

Erick Ames is a father. Fathers often set the example for others to follow (hint for those freeloaders following along, contributing nothing to the notes) and were among the first of you to send an update this quarter. Erick is entering his 21st year with Capital One in Richmond,

Derek and Anu McCown continue to provide parental guidance to us wayward ’89 souls during football games, much as Pete and Dawn Lampman put a roof over some of our heads. Pete was all agog when the VMI football schedule came out, crashing the VMI ’89 Facebook page with all his “likes.” A veritable plethora of BRs, including John Osborne, Chris Mitchell, Chris Ogden, Kent Doane (’89 class armorer), Mike Mezzaca, Tom Inge, James Black, and Mitch Fridley, comprised the “field of lost souls” seeking sustenance around the McCown-yurt before, during, and after football games. It’s so good that many don’t (can’t?) even make it to the game. The Lampmans have vowed to take it up to another level with several enhancements to Pete’s backyard palace for all things football related. Indeed, he can’t wait to show us all how to “do the Lampman!” this coming season. On the Parade Ground, seek out the McCown legacy sign, repping 1931, 1958, 1973, 1989, 1989+22, and 1989+35. It’s always educational talking to Derek’s parents/grandparents/cadets. Kudos to Anu McCown for making us rehearse an Old Yell for ’89 after plying us with elixirs—er—strongly encouraging us before a game. It’s clear we have some work to do before our 35th Reunion! For her outstanding motherly efforts, Anu and the guest (we hope it’s Derek) are hereby upgraded to box seats in the supe’s box, VIP parking near east Lexington, and one free drink ticket at the reunion! Reminder to check out the ’89 Facebook page for the latest on who is going to the games. Meanwhile, Jack McCown ’24 continues to excel as a cadet and, like Anu, is a breath of fresh air underneath the McCown banner.

Speaking of the mother-of-all reunions, Tom Fanshaw volunteered to take the lead in the Reception Committee, as well as be the keynote speaker on parenting techniques, which apparently are not far removed from his service as a

Likewise, I send a shout out to assistant class agents and Facebook moderators, Chris and Amy Ogden. Their son is keeping America safe from his new perch at the State Department, and Chris, likewise, just got bumped up to head crank-dude at Ford in a crankshaft division. Yes, Chris, I should know what your position is, but as a history major, after a few of your technical words, my eyes sort of glaze over, and I don’t know what you are trying to tell me.

Chris’ grandfather also served in the World War II Pacific theater as a motor machinist’s mate 2nd class on submarines, assisting in the sinking of a 4,000-ton trawler while serving on the USS Cabezon in 1945. Today, Chris continues to defend America, working hand-in-glove with our class armorer, Kent Doane, organizing a class shoot for our 35th Reunion or mini reunions on the margins of the football games. Not to be outdone, Amy has plans to take it to a new level as hospitality coordinator.

As we went to press, a lot of you reached out immediately as the February 2023 Alumni Review hit your mailbox faster than a Chinese weather balloon transiting the U.S. Look for your input in the August 2023 Alumni Review.

As we close, remember that our 35th Reunion is right around the corner. The feedback, ideas, and volunteerism from spouses are incredible, validating dad’s old adage that “behind every successful man is not a woman ... the woman is beside him.” Dawn Lampman, Amy Ogden, Anu McCown, Steffi Martin, and others as yet to be named. Keep it coming! Also, thanks to all the parents out there. One of the highlights of my dad’s life was getting the chance to commission me. As a coastguardsman, he went to war under the Department of Transportation and not the DoD. We had to get a waiver for him to administer the oath in May 1989. Who knew that in war, U.S. Coast Guard equals U.S. Navy? A strong supporter of all things VMI-related, a longtime Lexington resident, and a former neighbor of Chaplain Caudill, he had a great 95-plus years.

Fair winds and following seas.

ONE-989!

Greetings, Esteemed Classmates,

This is your class agent coming to you from wintry LexVegas amid the “dark ages” as the rats are trying to figure out when Breakout will be, the 1sts are counting days until graduation week, the 2nds are still admiring their rings, and the 3rds continue to eat you-know-what. As usual, I was able to visit with and catch up with a number of BRs during this reporting period, so let’s take a look at the news.

This reporting period started off with The Citadel football game that coincided with Ring Figure and “get-away Saturday” right before Thanksgiving break. There was a near-capacity crowd on hand and a really great post-game ’90 event hosted by BR Brian Tate at the Paxton House downtown. The weekend brought out a number of BRs who haven’t been seen in these parts in quite some time, such as Ken Ross, who was down from Pennsylvania, and Dave Amsden from Massachusetts, plus Kelly Bledsoe up from Roanoke with his son, who told me he’s actually seen John Jordan, who is working and living near Altavista. We also managed to get Dave Ratliff down off the mountain. Glenn Dickenson came over from NOVA, while Raynor Garey, who came up from North Carolina, dragged along Mike Trahar The Atlanta rhythm section (Quill Healey, Andy Sewell, Tom Bailey) joined us, along with all the VMI ’90 parents (Mike Doczi, Brian Tate, Kevin Hanford, A.J. Johnson, Pete Mantz, Ramil Ibanez, John Cabell, Jim Manning, and Dave Rich). In the tailgate area, we had a great setup going, as Fred Minnigerode with Mikes Morelock and Pilley joined me and A.J. Johnson tailgating together. Other attendees on hand I saw were Dennis Fogler, Andrew Kvasnicka, Glenn Thompson, Charles Plageman, and hallof-famer Ramon Williams It was an exciting down-to-the-wire game and a great weekend event put on by Brian Tate.

Around the holiday times, I heard from a number of guys, including George Palomar (Prince William); Hal Jones, who is still down around Goochland area; Chris Watson from western Maryland; and Mike Mullori, who moved his

office but is still practicing law in Prince William. As the basketball season got underway, I was able to take in the games with several BRs, including Don Bowers at the Navy game; Matt Hemenez, who made it over for a weeknight game from California; Matt Schwarzmann; and I also saw the other Williams, Damon, at a couple of games, along with our VMI attorney Pat O’Leary. John Hahn made it up for the New Year’s Eve game, but I missed seeing BRs Aydlette, Tallat-Kelpsa, Mullori, Bender, Herbaugh, and Henning for their annual pilgrimage to Cameron Hall. I saw Charles Plageman at a weeknight game, and he told me he’d met up with Vice President Finnie Coleman and Gray Riddick while out in New Mexico. Gray is still flying as a civilian, and Finnie is still teaching at the University of New Mexico. Charles also told me he’d been in touch with Dan Caine, who was up to his eyeballs dealing with Chinese balloon shoot-downs at the time of this writing. Speaking of Lt. Gen. Caine reminds me that I believe we are now down to two classmates still on active duty: The aforementioned Dan Caine and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Bill Bowers BR Maj. Gen. Tom Pugh retired from active duty last fall after 32 years of service as an Army Signal Corps officer, including command of a company, a battalion, and two brigades; multiple overseas deployments; and combat tours. In addition, Lt. Col. Dave Kaulfers retired in February 2023 after 30 years of service during a ceremony in San Francisco where Dave serves as chief of staff for the Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division. Dave is also a veteran of numerous deployments and combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an engineer officer. Big congrats to both of you guys and many thanks for your service! I know we have several guys who are still on duty with the reserve, including Sean Hoover (who is slogging through ILE as we speak!) and Brig. Gen. Weedon Gallagher, to name two. If there are any others out there still serving, we’d love to hear from you.

I also heard from Don Bowman, who is down in Southwest Virginia, and Luis del Valle reached out in search of Neil Whitmore. Neil recently moved on from VMI after 25-plus years of service to the Institute and has taken a new position as the assistant planning and zoning officer for Rockbridge County. Right before the deadline, I also heard from Bryan Haslam, who passed on the unfortunate news that Matt Henning’s mother had passed away in January. Matt is now pastoring a church in Savannah, Georgia.

Also saw a nice photo of Greg Hatchett at his son’s graduation from VCU and even got a note from Tom Tolley, who is down the road in Buchanan. Right before the deadline, I got a text from Tom Slater, who was getting ready for spring training and in his second year with the Miami Marlins.

Out of the blue one day, I get an email from J.P. Lanzillotta wanting to know if we have any BRs in Rome. I thought he meant Rome, Georgia, but he was actually in Rome, Italy. You never know where that guy will turn up, but he sure gets around. I also heard from Paul Hartigan in Colorado.

Barry Johnson also reached out to let me know he located Bob Butler and wanted to get him added to the class email list. Bob is in Norfolk with Capital Group, where he is the assistant vice president for business support services. About the same time, I was able to catch up with Joey Jones here in town. Joey is already getting set for another year of coaching high school football at Rockbridge County and just got back from a coaching clinic in Pennsylvania.

Dave McGraw keeps up a great conservative group text with a number of BRs, including Jamie Setze and Brian Woodford, and he recently added BR Jeff Kaster.

In some business news, I learned Chuck Smith is now a senior staff systems engineer at Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, and Terrence Kerner, president of Atlantic Constructors, Inc., has been named ABC-VA’s 2022 member of the year. Mike Kimberly was promoted to business strategy manager for Verizon, and Doug Spitz now has an additional duty as vice chairman of the board of the World Iodine Association, while Tim Feagans is a managing member at Tommy’s Gourmet Market and Deli in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, opening for the season in March. It also appears Mark Cheadle is now the Scholarship Committee chair for the Public Relations Society of America, where he resides in Texas, in addition to his work for Emergency Management Solutions.

In addition to all the BRs, I heard from a number of wives during this reporting period. Karen Dick checked in with me back in December, and she was doing about as well as one would expect since Mark’s passing. I heard a couple of times from Chris Ann Weening, who is still in New York and wanted to let us know how much she appreciates all the updates. Mint

Class notes

Ralston’s widow, Stacey, contacted me to let me know the details for Mint’s funeral and services at Arlington Cemetery, which should have taken place by the time you read this. Finally, Becky Paul sent along some pictures and updates on the new recreational shelters built in honor of Jeff at the local baseball complex in North Carolina, where Jeff spent so many hours coaching youth league sports. I want to make sure all of the spouses of our departed BRs out there know that they can call on us at any time for anything, and between all of us in our class, I have no doubt we can find the right person to help with anything that might arise. I also intend to try to coax all of them back for our next reunion weekend.

There are a few of us I have not heard from in quite some time. I am wondering if anyone has the whereabouts or status of BRs Larry Johnson, Scott Mead, Arland Moon, Dave Osborne, Ian Duthie, Dave Chong, Scott Smith, Leon Altman, or Tom Talley. If you have seen or heard from any of these guys, let me know ASAP and help get them back in the fold.

That’s all the notes I have for this go around, but I look forward to seeing many of you up here during the spring and coming summer. Until next time, take care, rah ’90, and go Keydets!

mental health issues in Australia, particularly for youth. Steve Smith continues to upgrade and improve his home-built boat.

Richard Coupland continues to serve our class and the greater alumni body on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Chuck Story was also recently appointed as a director at large.

John Matthew Childs and Don Cribbs continue to have a competition to determine who has the best humor on Facebook. (Sorry for the loss of your father, Don.) Todd Kuchler, Ray Dotterweich, Chuck Story, Dan Robinson, and, most recently, Bill McClary are really becoming grill masters. Cook off at the next reunion!

Frank Louthan reports moderate success hunting with Mike Jeffries in Arkansas—see the picture. Rob Edwards and Chris Isakov are keeping shotgun shell manufacturers at full capacity, too!

It is cool to see the success Will, the son of Rob Sayegh, is having in acting. I see Andy Collier and Dan Robinson had their Facebook pages “hacked.” Yeah, sure, guys. You are just trying to have a side hustle selling crap. We get it. I saw that Justin Martin went tautog fishing

a few weeks ago; I love fishing in the winter! I think we need to set up a class fishing tournament. We have plenty of anglers. Congrats to Steve Costello for being assigned as senior pastor at Mentor United Methodist Church.

I’m writing these notes on a damp Sunday morning, then I will be packing to go to the Miami International Boat Show for a few days. This is a busy time of year for me—New Orleans, Miami, Palm Beach, Atlanta, Charleston, and Orlando over the next two months. Oh, and Nashville, too! I’m fortunate to have decent health and an interesting job.

In the news: Congrats to Eric and Dana Hyde on the news that they are soon-to-be grandparents. Congrats to Dap and Wanda Tillery on the birth of their grandchild, Desmond. I hear that Matt McQuinley is involved with solving

Chuck recently met up with Pat Warner, Dave Peters, and Pat Madigan in Lexington. Pat Warner’s son, Ryland, was attending an academic open house for the weekend. As of this writing, he’s been offered a spot in next year’s Rat Mass. If he accepts, he will be joining Charlie and Lynette Schindler’s son, Joshua, and Ed and Tricia Arnaldo’s son, Joshua, on Matriculation Day. Charlie and Cheryl Cathcart’s son, Cole ’24, will be the 1st Class General Committee president and will have his hands full selecting dykes for his room. Mad Dog has recently relocated to Rockbridge County. He is now the director of public works (I hope I got that right, Pat) for the City of Lexington. He now takes great pleasure in telling VMI to pay their utility bills on time.

Finally, hats off to the Richmond breakfast club—Eddie Arnaldo, Chris Nunn, Joe Rioux, Andy Apostle, Wacky Davis, and Jamie Tavenner. I know others, like Tom Heffern, have made guest appearances; I’ll pop by one day, too!

It’s also been interesting to see our BRs get to their first retirement and watch for Bill McClary’s next hobby. (Pizza? Smoking?) I’ve also noticed the hobbies of Mike Milner: Drone photography, motorcycling, and traveling to exotic places.

I had the chance to catch up with Mike and get some of his back story. Mike grew up in Newport News and wanted to go into the Air Force ROTC. He looked at Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and VMI. He started out as a history major, which generally leads to the best employment opportunities, and ended up being one of the first international studies majors—actually receiving a degree in both fields.

After graduation, Milner was commissioned into the Air Force, working in the general support MOS. He left active duty in ’94, though he stayed in the Air Force Reserve until 2003. He decided he wanted a law enforcement career, and his last Air Force duty was in security policing.

Federal law enforcement wasn’t hiring at that point, so he joined the police force in Smithfield, Virginia, in 1995. Smithfield was a small force, which allowed Mike to work on many different aspects of law enforcement that he might not have had in other agencies. “Smithfield didn’t really offer specialized services, so I was able to oversee investigations [and] do things like SWAT operations—and I was able to start the first bike patrol,” said Mike.

In 1997, Mike moved over to the DoD law enforcement for a short stint in the exciting field of conducting background checks. He then moved over to the State Department of Diplomatic Security Services, where he began to specialize in the new field of cyber investigations. In 2002, he moved over to NASA cyber investigations, where he worked to prevent hacking into NASA’s system and also investigated NASA employees and contractors for things such as fraud. In 2004, Mike moved back to the DoD doing program management in cyber investigations. In 2006, he was promoted to the Army’s director of computer criminal investigations and did that until 2012. During that time, Mike did a tour in Iraq as a senior adviser to Iraq’s equivalent to the FBI. He helped with building capacity and leadership development.

In 2012, Mike moved to the Department of Energy, working in the inspector general’s office. He worked on fraud as well as white-collar, cyber, and high-level misconduct/ethics violations. He was now in the senior executive service—equivalent

to flag rank in the armed forces.

His last job was as the assistant director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. While there, he oversaw nine training divisions and a staff of instructors and support staff that numbered close to 500. Mike retired from this job in 2019.

I asked him how he made the transition from being an international studies and history major to being involved in cyber investigations. Mike related that “a lot of my success was timing and specialization in a field that not many people were doing at the time. This allowed me to get promoted quickly. Even though I didn’t have the technical background, I was able to get the training I needed.”

Mike also said, “My year in Iraq also helped me greatly, as it showed my dedication and willingness to be a team player—two traits I picked up from VMI.”

Along the way, he got married in 2004 to his wife, Jillisa, who was a contractor for NASA at the time he was there. Mike also picked up a master’s degree in criminal justice in 2007 from the American Military University. In 2008, Mike became an adjunct professor in criminal justice for the University of Maryland’s online global campus, which he still does. Mike says, “I really enjoy training and education.”

I asked him about his thoughts on current trends in law enforcement. He replied, “Law enforcement is a tough sell these days—it’s hard to get qualified candidates. We need better training. Most police academies last from two to six months, and quality varies widely. We need more training in de-escalation skills.”

I mentioned some of Mike’s hobbies earlier; he enjoys riding his BMW motorcycle and did a ride from Georgia to Alaska and recently took a trip around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While riding, he decided to take pictures of his trips and began using a drone. He’s now a licensed commercial drone pilot and an accomplished photographer. He’s traveled to Mount Kilimanjaro, Madagascar, the Galapagos Islands, and, earlier this year, the Falklands, Argentina, and Antarctica. He’s taken some spectacular pictures, and you can see them at michaelscottmilner.com. It is well worth the visit!

Class notes

BRs,

Here are the latest updates from our classmates:

As a follow-up to last class notes discussing Frank Harrar’s retirement from active duty June 1, 2022, after 30 years of service in the Marine Corps and Army Special Forces, Mark McCary sent in a congrats note in which he said, “On occasion of the Good Colonel Harrar’s retirement, his fellow suitemates on the fifth stoop wanted to say that it was a privilege to have bivouacked with some of the toughest guys in our class. Hats off to 30 years, sir.” Mark went on to say that all is well on the home front in Texas and that he was “trying to get our first of three children launched and headed into open water.”

Col. Todd Pegg retired from the Virginia Army National Guard Jan. 29, 2023, after 33 years of service. See the enclosed picture in the Our Alumni Serving section. Brig. Gen. Weedon Gallagher ’90, Virginia Army National Guard assistant adjutant general, presided over the retirement ceremony.

Mike Haverty sent in a quick update in which he said he is still in the Tidewater, Virginia, area and still working with the same company, Norfolk Dredging Company, since graduation.

For those who had not heard, Alex Alston was inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame for soccer in January 2023. Many BRs were in attendance, including Andy Tate, Brian Mason, Matt Ott, Ed Davis, Courtney Lambert, Whiting Chisman, Jerry Allen, and Tom Timmes

Joe McClung sent in an update (and a picture of him and Dave Womack) in which he said, “My wife and I had visited Dave back in summer 2019 when he was stationed in Hawaii. We knew then his next assignment would be in Europe, and we talked about visiting him there, as well.

COVID-19 canceled our original plans to visit Dave and his wife in Poland [during] Christmastime 2021, so we postponed the trip until Christmastime 2022. Dave and

his wife picked us up in Munich, Germany. We spent the next few days traveling around, enjoying all the food, sights, and beer Germany has to offer. Dave is the deputy commanding general for maneuver for V Corps stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. Life in the McClung household is going very well. My wife and I enjoy staying fit at a local fitness center here in Delaware and train for obstacle course races throughout the year. The races are basically 5K through 21K over a series of obstacles, water, and mud that test your strength and endurance. There are a number of local races across Maryland and Pennsylvania that we train for every year. It’s more fun than simply running or lifting, and my wife and I enjoy our local fitness community. Honestly, I’m just trying to keep up with my wife! Bob Burgess lives about 3 miles away, and we stay connected fairly often, but I haven’t been able to convince him to join me at 0500 for our workouts.”

Franco Neto sent in an update in which he said, “I had a few contracting positions since retiring from the Navy and just recently accepted a government civilian program manager position back with the Department of the Navy in the Navy secretariat.”

Jay Frey reports that, following his recent retirement from the Marine Corps, he and wife Jennifer recently settled in Purcellville, Virginia, and will split their time between there and Lake Murray, South Carolina. Jay is consulting with two aerospace firms and enjoying the semi-retired life. In March, they planned to travel to Bahrain to watch the kickoff of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

John Brodie (Hon) reports that he was able to take the brass section of the VMI Band to the Czech Republic and Germany over the 2023 winter break and had a really great time. The jazz band played for a VMI alumni Valentine’s Day dance in Lynchburg in early February. John was also going to have the VMI Band participate in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade in late February 2023.

Rusty Hale and Mark Thackston both sent me a picture of the aforementioned Valentine’s Day dance that occurred in early February for Lynchburg, Virginia, area alumni. Dave and Jenifer Massie, Mark and Erin Thackston, and Rusty and Mary Hale were among the over 100 alumni in attendance. Rusty said they had

Class Notes

a great time at the Massie Inn.

My rat roommate, Carl Engstrom, sent in the following hilarious update, “Derrick Lapp, Scott Price, Rob Schonberger, and I were able to meet Rich O’Quinn at Port City Brewery in Alexandria in January 2023. Rich moved to Australia after retiring from the Army Special Forces with his wife and three kids and was in the U.S. over the recent holidays. He finished his Ph.D. and is a professor of economics at the University of Queensland in Brisbane and, to maintain fitness, boxes kangaroos for sport in his spare time. Scott Price remains VMI’s most lauded living poet. Last year, he received the 2022 Cuddy Family Foundation for Veterans and Military Writers Society of America Award for Best Poem or Short Story for one of his poems. He lives outside Charlottesville, Virginia, and works for his other alma mater as the operations and logistics manager for the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Derrick Lapp and Rob Schonberger continue to be largely unchanged. Derrick is the pallet king for CHEP and teaches adult education classes at a local junior college. Rob still teaches German immersion math classes and pours beer at Port City part-time.

“I will be playing poker with Dave Weisenberger, Dick Richardson, and James Cherry over Super Bowl weekend. Dave remains an insurance executive at James River, and we manage to see a few Caps hockey games together. Dick still owns an industrial HVAC engineering company while moonlighting as a Hanover County deputy sheriff, where he deals his own unique brand of justice in the mean streets of Hanover. Since last spring, James has been living in an 8x10 former goat shed on his property outside Hendersonville, North Carolina, while his house is being built. I have run into Col. Mark Thackston through Army stuff and trade texts once in a while. He’s a JAG in the VaARNG and president of a bank in South Boston and the exact same awesome guy we all knew at school.

I took a serious fall in April 2022 and suffered significant breaks in both arms and my right heel. The Army, thankfully, has refused to retire me until they have fixed me as much as they are medically able. I have endured seven surgeries and should have my eighth and,

hopefully last, surgery in March or April 2023. This has been an extremely humbling and life-changing event, and I have become certain of one thing—prayers work. I truly appreciate all the prayers and well wishes from my BRs over the last 10 months.”

Mike Starling sent in an update in which he said, “Jenny and I still live in the Winchester area. Two of our four children remain at home, a high school junior and a senior. I resigned from the position as commandant at Randolph-Macon Academy in June 2022 and initiated my post9/11 GI Bill and am doing so at George Mason University for an MBA (expected spring 2024). This is providing me the time and space to look more discerningly for a direction change into the business sector where I can use operations management and cross-functional team leadership skills in a service-oriented business such as a nonprofit, veteran affairs position, or veteran’s service organization. Enclosed is a picture of me with five of the eight R-MA graduates currently at VMI. Of the two rats to the left, furthest left was an all-star athlete at R-MA, while his BR, second from left, emigrated from Iraq. The young lady in gym dyke, a 1st and member of the powerlifting team, is pursuing a commission as an Army infantry/Ranger officer. The OD and his other two classmates are pursuing commissions in the Navy and Air Force as Naval aviators and Air Force intel. They serve as EMTs in the Corps, and one is on the superintendent’s cadet advisory board. The 2nd on the far right just received her ring and is a soccer player and S-5 sergeant. The eighth R-MA cadet (not pictured) is a 3rd. I’m very proud of these fine cadets. They will make awesome fellow alums over the next several years.”

Do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions you may have related to what is going on at VMI. If I do not know the answer, I will contact someone at VMI who does and get back to you. 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 Agencies and me know so that we can make sure you get all VMI correspondence.

In the Bonds, Woody

Class notes

Brother Rats!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and that 2023 is starting off great for all of you!

Jumping right to the updates:

Matt Eads checked in: “It’s hard to believe that our 30th Reunion is approaching. I want to be 22 again. Getting old is definitely not for the faint of heart. On a personal note, not much is new. I have lost 35 pounds and am tempted to try on my coatee; I’m sure it has shrunk. I am trying to do as much sailing as possible, a lifelong passion of mine. Outings are few and far between, given that I live in Atlanta, but I make the most of them when the opportunity arises. My youngest daughter and I spent several days bareboat sailing out of Charleston, South Carolina, in October. Funny story—as we were sailing out of the harbor into the Atlantic, a gust of wind ripped my red VMI alumni hat off my head and donated it to the Atlantic Ocean. Hours later, as we were returning to the harbor and after traveling many miles, one of the crew yelled out from the helm, ‘Hey, isn’t that your hat?’ Sure enough, I saw my red hat bobbing only a short distance from the side of the boat. Unfortunately, the conditions didn’t allow a man-overboard rescue. But what are the odds? It was hilarious! I own(ed) two of those hats, so I am still covered. Work is going very well. I really enjoy working with clients navigating this tricky economy. The company celebrated its 35th year of business in 2022! I’ve been there for 30 years as of 2023.

“My wife, Rebecca, began a new job this fall. She is a paraprofessional support teacher with Atlanta Public Schools; previously, she was a teacher at a private preschool program. She doesn’t have a teaching certificate, so despite possessing

ideal teacher skills and personality, she is somewhat limited in the world of teaching. Our three children are doing very well, and I consider them my greatest life achievement. Nathan, 21, is a senior at the University of Alabama, majoring in mechanical engineering. He is beginning the job hunt. He already has three engineering internships/co-ops on his resume. After graduating in 2023, he’d like to get a full-time job with someplace like NASA/JPL or something similarly exciting. If anyone has suggestions or leads, please reach out. He has standing offers from two of his former internship companies, but he continues to look for ‘impactful’ opportunities; he’s passionate and envisions doing great things. Caroline, 19, is a freshman at the University of Georgia, majoring in biology. I think it’s funny that when our son started at Alabama, they were No. 1 in

college football. Now, our daughter is with the new champs at UGA. Anna, 16, is a high school junior. She is brilliant. She has published a book and is extremely sophisticated. She seems to know a lot about a lot, if that makes sense. Plus, she is a caring, warm-hearted person. Sadly, she suffers from chronic, debilitating migraines, a problem with which we’re all struggling.

“I love my brother rats. Life is short. The ‘little stuff’ in life is outweighed by simple kindness to one another and enjoying/appreciating what each and every person has to offer. My door is open to all BRs. I hope to reconnect whenever the opportunity arises.” Great update, Matt; congrats on the weight loss (I might have found that lost weight for you), the sailing, and your family’s successes. Glad you’re doing well.

Bud DaRin also sent in an update. It was actually for the last update, and I missed it, which is my neverending fear. “For the prior class notes, I was going to draft some cool little narrative about ice hockey old-timers me, Brian Melvin, and Jon Lauder ’94 tearing up the ice with the VMI alumni team at the BodyArmor Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, this past June, but the fact is we were barely staying alive with the young VMI guys and were outmatched by even younger opponents, who seemed, justifiably enough, a bit scared by Jon and the other retired Marines among our ranks. It’s not a great excuse, but I was playing with an already busted shoulder and recently had surgery, so I’m drafting from the IR of a more recent success by our boys. I’ve attached a few photos for the post—Brian M. may have some more from the more recent tourney. So, now home on the IR, nursing my shoulder in a sling, I’m anxiously awaiting Facebook posts from the tournament. Brian Melvin, Jon Lauder, and the boys led by Pete Saragnese ’09 went up to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for the ‘Slapshot’ tournament Nov. 4–5, 2022. Outnumbered but mighty, only nine of our proud alumni ranks won this tournament named after the iconic hockey movie, Slapshot I’m proud of our boys but bummed that I had to sit this one out. There’s

Class Notes

always the next tournament if my wife ever lets me play again. Now with both shoulders and both knees reconstructed, I’m feeling absolutely bionic—not! Other than that, not much news other than I recently retired from 25 years of USG service and am now working at a D.C. think tank called Energy Futures Initiative as a project manager. Being outside of government work has been fun; I’m currently developing an international division of this growing organization and am soon to travel to Saudi Arabia to work with some partners in energy work. I hope that you and yours are well!” Thanks for the update, Bud. Sorry again, and good luck with the shoulder, although by now, you’re hopefully all healed up.

Cliff Foster made it to VMI for The Citadel

game last fall. He met up with John Reilly, Lee Yowell, Rich Weatherly, and Andy Yowell ’67 It was cold, but they had a great time.

Kevin Morris also sent in an update saying he and his wife, Helen, took a break from Amsterdam, where they moved earlier this year, to return to the U.S. for a couple of weeks. Kevin got a chance to attend The Citadel game and saw Tim Ervin, Brian Piccioni, Brandon Freel, Darin Ramsey, Don Spears, Mike Howard, Vic Kane, Brian Cox, Ayen Torchik, Raleigh Trumbo, Matt Gill, and Kevin Smith. Everyone had a great time, even though it was freezing.

Bob Matson checked in with this update: “With Nikki off to Shenandoah University, Marsha and I are enjoying life as empty nesters. We went on a nice trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last week. A nice vacation for me, not as much for Marsha, as it was a work trip for her. So, the hotel and her flight were paid for, and I just tagged along. While there, I met up with James Akers, a native of Fort Lauderdale. We met for a few beers at a local watering hole and caught up. Although he forbade me from posting the obligatory selfie, I can assure you he’s aged better than I have (although that doesn’t say much). A great thing about the ‘I’ is having folks all over the world to run into and catch up like you’d never left off.”

As for me, well, I got up to our beloved Institute in February for a recruiting event. I saw the Parade Ground portion of Breakout Feb. 13, 2023. I know there’s a lot of “well, back in the Old Corps, we had to fight our way up barracks” or “we had to fight our way across a muddy field

and up the hill while Lexington Fire Department was spraying us down,” but I’m just going to say that I think Breakout is probably a “day o’ suck,” no matter how or when you break out. It did not look easy from my vantage point on the top balcony of Moody Hall with a bourbon in my hand. While there, I saw Terrence Kerner ’90, who still makes me nervous, even though I see him fairly regularly, but, best of all, I got to have dinner with Lee Clark and Stephen Allison and his wife, Regina. Regina organized the whole recruiting event, as she’s been working at VMI since they moved to Virginia. Their son graduates this year, so they’ll be empty nesting it soon enough. It does sound like they’ve opened their home to the BRs of their son and have really enjoyed it for the last four years. Steve was actually nice enough to take us to dinner since it was my birthday. Lee Clark is still working at VMI and living in Staunton and actually did a study, at the request of the Institute, that ended up with Lee and his staff no longer having to wear Virginia Militia uniforms. They get to wear civvies now, which suits Lee just fine. It sounds like Lee’s job is a lot like herding drunk cats, so I’m just glad he gets to be comfortable.

We also had a Kindred Spirit get-together in January. My continued thanks to John and Heather Barefoot for giving us a place to gather and for picking up the tab this last time around. Very kind of them. The gathering was a lot of fun, with me, Darin Ramsey, Brandon Freel, Dale Johnson, Jon Peters, Rory and Matt Gill, and of course, the Barefoots. I’d very much like this tradition to keep going; I think getting together once a quarter is a pretty good thing, and I always have a great time.

The family Swineford is rolling along now, with the oldest living in Alexandria. Still not in love with that. The middle and youngest and April are all doing fine dealing with nursing school, high school, and putting up with me, respectively.

So, the reunion is coming up fast, and with the reunion, a new class agent will most likely take over and start with the class notes, so this might be it for me.

I just wanted to take a chance to say thank you to all of you. I have thoroughly enjoyed being your class agent. We’ve seen a lot of %#$* over the last five years: Job changes, marriages, kids, grandkids, illnesses, moves across the country, moves out of the country, moves back into the country, retirements, new beginnings, calls for help, bragging on each other, and problems and issues that we came together to help our BRs and

Class notes

their families deal with, whether it was something public or just a couple of brother rats helping another with something, and we even saw the death of one of our own.

I have loved playing my small part in these stories, being the guy to be able to share the stories or post about something cool. It has really been a privilege to be able to do this, and I thank everyone sincerely who sent in updates or reached out, or just helped out in any way, whether it was me or another BR. Except for Bill Cox, obviously.

I’ve got a sort of running list of memorable moments and updates, ranging from Mac to Dan Hill’s retirement ceremony when he thanked his mom and made everyone cry; to Greg Vinci’s wife, Lauren, announcing her recovery (probably my favorite update I ever got to provide); to Mike Zamalis restoring Dave Grave’s RoadRunner with the class’s financial backing; to Rip Rawlings becoming an author; to Van and Mari Hardenburg setting up a charity using his limo to take sick kids to and from the hospital to attending Zoom class happy hours during COVID-19 (one of which I still don’t remember ending, just that I woke up in our spare bedroom wearing just a T-shirt and one sock); to Cameron Briody blowing through Richmond like a hurricane a couple of times a year (which, long story short, is how I discovered I love brandy); to hearing from longlost (to me) BRs like Hunter Hutchens, Greg Chiasson, or Dallas Grubbs, or Jon Peters.

All of these moments mean a lot to me, but this last update I’ll provide is probably one of the coolest, at least to me: Scott Coleman and his wife, Stephanie, are moving back to Northern Virginia after a lengthy Texas stay. That is cool, but what’s really cool is that on his final day in mission control at NASA, Astronaut Josh Casada read the following from space: “We’d like to recognize PME Scott Coleman on his last shift in MCC. Scott has been with NASA for almost 25 years, and we want to thank him for his many contributions. After serving as an aero-medical specialist in the Air Force, Scott came to JSC in 1998 to work as a PME flight controller for the shuttle program. He was the PME mission manager for 10 shuttle missions, from STS-10 to STS-134, before he transitioned over to ISS in 2011. In the last 10 years alone, he has worked over 10,000 hours in MCC. Scott has served in a number of roles during his tenure with ISS, but most importantly, and most recently, he was PME for Crew 4 and subject matter expert on CSACPs, Palms, and HazMat Databases, among many others. Scott is leaving NASA to move

back to Virginia, where he will be working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Health Administration. We wish him all the best in his new position, and we will miss you, Scott, and thanks for taking care of us in yet another capacity.”

Scott can be heard on the transmission thanking them for their kind words. I’ll just say that it took me about 15 minutes of listening to the recording over and over to transcribe it, and I know that I have messed up some of the acronyms and abbreviations, and I sincerely apologize for those errors, Scott. They were mine and mine alone, and I just hope it doesn’t take from how absolutely awesome I think this is for you. Congratulations on a great career with freaking NASA, and good luck to you and Stephanie on the next step.

As I will email this out and post it on Facebook prior to our reunion, even though you’ll be reading it in hard copy well after the reunion, I hope all of you will consider attending. I would love to see you there and catch up.

In closing, thank you again, my brother rats. Cheers to the best class ever on the hill! ’93, ’93, ’93.

Congrats to the newest class in barracks, 2026—they broke out this week as I write these notes. If that doesn’t make you feel old, I received word that our 30th Reunion will be next year, April 15–16, 2024.

Dustin DeVore has been doing a great job keeping brother rats together, and he recently hosted a dinner in Richmond for Sgt. Maj. Hockaday (HBR). In attendance were Frank Boehling, Brett Wilkinson, Chris Doss, Hernan Barerro, Dustin DeVore, Danny Felty, Dave Bruce, Jon Lauder, and Fritz Ligday

Wayne Lambert reached out that he attended the Auburn basketball game with Matt Ankrum and Pete Major

I was able to attend an open house at Andy Mulcunry’s over Christmas. It was great to catch up and hang out.

Always, Pig

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 1995.

Brother Rats,

This past November we had such an incredible experience honoring Jamie Edge and his family at VMI during an amazing mini reunion. It was a truly inspiring event, and the turnout of 100plus BRs and family members was a true testament to the strength, character, and brotherhood we have as a class. We hosted Jamie’s mother, Janice; brothers, Tommy and Will; and for the first time on post, Jamie’s now

grown-up daughters, Helena and Rachel. Jamie’s family was so grateful for this opportunity to learn more about him during his time at VMI, but even more rewarding for them was the opportunity to witness how loved Jamie was by his classmates. A special thanks to John Adams for making the connection with Jamie’s mother to start this wonderful process. During the event, we were able to connect Jamie’s family with the

first Jamie Edge Spirit Scholarship award winner, Cadet Benjamin Schreher ’25. Bryan Smith created special artwork for the scholarship, and Nick Latsios made it into a patch and went above and beyond to acquire Cadet Schreher’s robe and get the patch sewn on in time for our tailgate party and gave it to him in front of Jamie’s family. Tom Danielson introduced Cadet Schreher to the group and spoke about the amazing support the scholarship has received thus far, and with your continued support, it will continue to grow. Special thanks to Kevin Faust, who arranged for Cadet Schreher and many cadet leaders to meet with the Edge family. Jim Zepko gave an emotional speech to Jamie’s family and the whole crowd that I will remember forever, as I am sure his family will, as well. John Pearce took the Edge family to Jamie’s old room, where stories of their time in barracks were told. I must also acknowledge Dallas Clark ’99 for making this event so memorable. He opened his home on post for our tailgate party overlooking the Parade Ground. He escorted the Edge family to the superintendent’s box at the football game. He arranged for the superintendent and other senior VMI leadership to come to our tailgate and meet with the Edge family. And he led a private tour of post, including an after-hours visit to the VMI Museum, where Jamie’s shadow box was on display. VMI really showed the family the utmost care and respect throughout the day, and we owe a debt of gratitude to Dallas and his family for their efforts to make this so special. Then, of course, thanks to all of our BRs for helping out and bringing food and material to the tailgate, which made it the ultimate party. I would like to share with you two notes of feedback I received.

The first was from Jamie’s mom, Janice, to Dallas Clark ’99. “I am writing to thank you for your kindness and hospitality that you extended to me, my sons, and my granddaughters during our VMI weekend to honor Jamie’s memory. It was so gracious of you to open your home and host the Class of ’96 tailgate party. Your thoughtful arrangements to transport my family and I to the box to watch the game, then touring the museum and the barracks, were a blessing. Meeting you and members of the class of ’96 was a great pleasure. Sharing your stories of Jamie with us was heartwarming and priceless. We miss him so much, and his daughters were able to get a glimpse of their dad as a young man. The entire experience was phenomenal for all of us.”

Jamie’s daughter, Helena, sent me this message, which pretty much sums it up, fellas. “I

just wanted to give you a sincere thank you for this weekend. I know it couldn’t have been easy organizing everything. My family and I will always be grateful for you and for everyone in the Class of ’96 who was kind and open enough to share their stories of our dad. I feel like it was a healing experience for everyone involved. We definitely came to a better understanding of what kind of person he was. Rachel and I are both very focused people. Once we set our

Class notes

minds to something, there’s no going back, and we’ve been told for years that we must have gotten that from our dad. Having this fact confirmed this weekend makes me feel that he isn’t gone, so thank you. We will never forget this weekend.”

In other news, we heard from Mike Waltz! He got re-elected to a third term and named chairman of military readiness as well as placed on the intel and foreign affairs committees. They have one daughter in college and a baby boy in diapers. His amazing wife let Mike name him Armie, so “Go, Armie!” has a whole new meaning in the Waltz house. Mike made it a point to say if anyone is visiting D.C. or wanting a Capitol tour, we are all always welcome!

Curt Bourn reached out to let us know that he finally decided it was time to grow up and

Artillery and a small VMI “Old Corps” print in December.

We had two brother rats attend this year’s Super Bowl! Barron Mills was one of eight veterans across the country selected for an all-expenses-paid trip to Super Bowl LVII. This was through USAA’s Salute to Service initiative and their partnership with some veteran service organizations. Barron’s nomination and selection came through his membership in the First Marine Division Association. He has served for the past five years as the vice president of their Central Florida chapter. Barron is a lifelong Raiders fan, and the experience included getting to meet up with Darren Waller from the Las Vegas Raiders. Barron and his girlfriend, Trish Murphy, were able to meet up in the stadium with Andre Johnson just before kickoff. Andre’s brother is a defensive coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, so he has been able to enjoy a lot of Eagles games this season and an amazing trip to the Super Bowl. It’s so great they were able to meet up.

Finally, after a successful social media influencer campaign, Vern Wilkens has really found entrepreneurial success with a V-neck T-shirt product he has branded the “Vern-Neck.” This concept for the everyday man has really taken off. The demand has been strong, especially across the Sun Belt states. Unfortunately, Vern has encountered disruptions in his supply chain out of Asia. But with a never-say-die attitude, Vern sold his remaining shares of Verncoin and invested in a new high-altitude balloon delivery company that can bypass crowded cross-ocean shipping lanes through the air. There are a few wrinkles he needs to figure out with that model, but he says it’s pretty promising.

All the best to you and your families,

1997

upgrade to captain at Delta. Sadly, he will be leaving behind the European pubs and Hawaiian surf breaks he was used to seeing on the 757/767 and returning to the “burgs” and “villes” of the Lower 48 on the 737. He had his captain winging ceremony at the Delta Museum in Atlanta with his wife, Laura, and pinned on his dad’s wings. Anytime y’all are flying Delta, take a peek up front, and you may see a familiar face.

Spike Solovey reached out to tell us he is still at Fort Eustis and doing very well. He is training for his second triathlon. He just finished a historical lineage lithograph for the U.S. Army Field

Gentlemen of the Old Corps!

Welcome to the new and not-so-improved 2023 version of your class notes! No, you’re not reading notes in 2023 for the first time, but you are reading notes written in 2023 for the first time! Can you feel the difference? Can you feel the improvement? You should! This edition of notes is

as innovative as a Chinese weather balloon and as exciting as UFOs being shot down over the Canadian Yukon. By now, the words should be leaping off the page, swarming through your minds, and immersing you in what will surely be the stunning and nonstop goings-on of the Class of 1997. Like a document written by George Santos, you will hardly be able to believe these words yourselves! I’m so excited that I’m going to start all the way back in November 2022 when many of us were still negotiating hangovers from our reunion weekend and start in.

Porto, Portugal, where my wife, Dana, and I had arrived for a spur-of-the-moment trip in what was a seemingly random and somewhat remote location of the world, only to discover one of our BRs and his wife had exactly the same idea! As we were walking across the grounds of a vineyard in the Duoro Valley with our small tour group, imagine my surprise when, in a different tour group, I see Jimmy Smythers and his wife in the same seemingly random and somewhat remote location of the world. Unplanned and uncoordinated, we had arrived at the same spot at the same time. So, we promptly snapped a picture, had a drink, and went about our separate tours. While Dana and I have since returned home and have remained stateside since, rumors persist of Jimmy’s continued global travels. I believe he was last seen in Moldova. Drop us a line when you get a chance, Jimmy, and travel safely!

In other globetrotting news, our long-distance brother rat down under, Jim Rogers, checked in from Sydney, Australia, where he has been living with his wife, Betsy, and serving in the Australian Army. He is a major now and just completed a master’s degree at the University of Sydney. In the coming weeks, he is leaving active Army service, joining the reserve, and taking a civilian job with the Australian Department of Defense.

When he wrote me, he had just returned from a Christmas holiday trip to Europe for a few weeks. He says he and Betsy will someday return to the northern hemisphere permanently, but there’s no rush. In the meantime, he is welcoming any and all visitors to Sydney. So, start saving your frequent flyer miles now. Thanks for the note, Jim, and best of luck with your transition to the civilian workforce.

Back in the continental U.S., I was contacted by one of our several brother rats in the clergy, Jared “Woody” Wood, from Tennessee. He sent me an American Legion press release from Dunlap, which reads as follows: “Post 190 extends congratulations to Rev. Jared Wood, of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, the 2023 recipient of the Four Chaplains Award, in honor of his service to God and the community of veterans. Four Chaplains Day honors four military chaplains (one Jewish, one Catholic, and two Protestant) from World War II who sacrificed their lives for fellow service members. On a sinking troopship, they helped with the evacuation, gave up their life jackets, prayed, and sang hymns until the torpedoed ship sank, giving their lives for flock and God. Living up to our motto, ‘for God and country,’ Post 190 recognizes a pastor each year for their service to God and the community of veterans.” He sent the accompanying photograph of the event. Thanks for sharing, Jared, and congratulations on your award! Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that, as of this writing, there is a new class in

barracks. Jake Hickman informs me the Class of 2026 broke out Feb. 13, 2023, and contains his daughter, Susan Hickman ’26, 4th Class cadet. Also in the newly designated Class of 2026 is Kern Aughinbaugh ’26, 4th Class cadet and son of BR Brad. Jake also gave Addison Hagan’s son, Addison Hagan V ’24, a shout-out for keeping an eye on Susan and Kern throughout the year. Congrats to proud dads Jake and Brad, and congrats to the newest members of the Corps of Cadets in barracks representing ’97 well! That will wrap up this edition of ’97 notes— short and sweet, like a Rihanna comeback! Enjoy your Easters and your spring breaks. Don’t forget to drop me a line with your tall tales of conquest and world domination in the coming months, ’97 style. Rah Virginia Mil!

1998

Hello again from Lexington, Virginia, and welcome to 2023. I find myself finishing these notes on the plane with the family heading out to Hawaii for the next two weeks and one day removed from returning from Phoenix for the Super Bowl, which was great but not as much as it could have been if Dak had won the MVP there

in lieu of the Walter Payton Award, but maybe next year.

Since the last update, I have had the pleasure of spending time and breaking bread with a few BRs. Thierry Lemercier and his family joined us for Thanksgiving, and he just returned from visiting his family in Tahiti, where he continued to work on our reunion! Thierry’s connection to the hospitality industry is a game-changer for our class and all of our reunions to come. He and I visited, and we have secured a great venue, and our class is breaking ground as the first VMI event ever booked there. We have it for both nights as “reunion central” at a great rate, and we have secured excellent food choices for both nights! We reviewed several music options and landed on one for both nights, which should be great. No promises, but I made some headway with the Hampton in the middle of town, and it is possible that we can take that whole hotel in five years, but we shall see!

Brandon Bissell is back in Lexington (more below), and we have met up for beverages twice now and gone to a basketball game.

Kevin Trujillo and his family returned for The Citadel football game, and while the outcome was not as we intended, it was great to meet his family and catch up quickly. Kevin was the guest speaker for Ring Figure, and if you have not watched it already, I encourage you to give it a look on YouTube; it was great. Kevin, I owe you a phone call on my next drive—sorry!

Sean Hicklin and I remain in frequent contact (sometimes more and sometimes less). My son and I hunted his farm a few times this year, and Thierry and I met him for a county tour looking at land. Sean and I are currently planning

a Kansas muzzleloading hunt now, so more to come in 2023. He did share a text message or two with Dale Paxton over Christmas but was unable to link up. As of today, I have not received a reply back from the Silk DoGG, but I am going to try and rectify the situation!

Brook Barbour checked in and provided a picture along with his wife, Mary Katherine, and their children, Hadley Jane (10) and Alden (9). He also shared that they moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, this summer after three years in New York and four years in Texas. Hadley Jane and Alden are active in soccer, basketball, and tennis and are doing well at their new schools. Brook is still in state and local government consulting, and Mary Katherine is in philanthropy for UVA’s Darden School of Business. They are enjoying reconnecting with old friends, experiencing four seasons, and hiking the trails of Virginia. Good to hear from you, Brook, and I hope we can link up sometime!

Check out Luke Miller in the alumni spotlight in this issue; Brandon Bissell shared an update from one of Luke’s direct reports, and the time that this gentleman took to write in about Luke was riddled with pride and aspirational awareness.

It was truly a nice tribute to Luke’s leadership and selflessness, and I felt compelled to direct your attention there rather than steal the thunder of the article. Luke, I am glad you are doing well—send us an update sometime soon!

Brandon Bissell has returned to VMI and is now the director of alumni outreach, which is great for VMI and our class! He and I have met out twice since his return, and I included a picture for the Review from a night out at Devil’s Backbone, where we took the brides but failed to take a picture with them. ... Maybe next beer out, we will. A better update to come later from Brandon himself, but I wanted to share this news as we are now up to four BRs in the city (several more very close), and soon we will be looking to take over.

On the reunion front, if you are on Facebook, then please join the class page as updates galore are out there as I write this in February. We have made a lot of progress and have secured a fantastic venue for the entire weekend, live entertainment for both nights, amazing catered food for both nights, a bonfire on Saturday night following the game, and we will be able to accommodate all that can make it. Kids of all ages or no kids at all, we will be ready for a great weekend with great food and a good time.

By this submission, you will have begun receiving more frequent email updates from myself or Christian Craft, who has been working diligently with a group of volunteers to reach out to each of you about the reunion weekend.

Unrelated to fundraising activities, I have challenged VMI to have Balfour (they acquired ArtCarved) to create an order guide for distribution of new items that are available or items that we wish we had purchased years ago but did not with our designs, etc. A second trip to Ring Figure, so to speak, or at least the ability to order jewelry. More to come, but I think that is a nice addition, given the questions I have received over the years.

Be on the lookout for updates regarding reunion event fundraising activities that will help fund the class “operational account,” which covers expenses for our reunions, etc., and will help keep costs down for these events without compromising quality for years to come.

We should have a spring “shop” available to purchase class gear (likely a summer one, as well).

There will be an Olde School blazers pre-order opportunity; a framed picture from our 2nd Class year, along with the Ring Figure poster (really

cool, as Christian Craft had it in a frame, so we signed it out on the borrow sheet and took his idea); and a customized challenge coin for the reunion.

The quickest way to reach me is via text or at joeybates@hotmail.com, and my commitment to you is a response, along with working hard tirelessly to make sure that we all enjoy the trips to post in the years ahead.

I hope you are well and, when you read these notes in May 2023, that you take a few minutes to shoot me an email, Facebook message, or text message so that I have more to share. If you are coming to town this summer/fall/winter for any activities, then please give me a shout in advance. Rah Virginia Mil! ’98, ’98, ’98.

1999

Greetings, Brother Rats and Friends of the Class of 1999,

It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you our dear friend and brother rat, Jeff Golden, lost his wife, Sarah, Jan. 7 after a seven-and-a-halfyear battle with cancer. Sarah passed away in the early morning hours in a restful sleep with Jeff

at her side. Jeff and his daughter, Alyssa, 15, are doing as well as could be expected during this time and are holding each other up. Brother Rats Dan Wilbun, Ali Morales, Patrick Henderson, and Shane Stille were with Jeff and Alyssa at Sarah’s celebration of life Jan. 15, 2023. It is in these shared struggles of life that our bonds for one another grow deeper, and the ties that bind our VMI family together grow stronger. Our prayers of comfort and healing go out to Jeff and his family. Brother Rat Ben Ashmore reports that he is doing his part in growing our extended VMI family. Ben’s youngest, Lucienne “Luci,” committed to VMI in February. Ben was excited to say, “We are looking forward to having a good reason to spend some extra time in Lexington

over the next several years and to having a rat on the fourth stoop to give a ’99 Old Yell at our 25th Reunion.” Congratulations, Ben, and best of luck to Luci!

Jeff Morrison dropped the class a line to note that he has accepted a promotion within Securitas Security Services to become a program director with their Global Clients America. Effective March 1, 2023, Jeff assumes control of security contracts for a client in 11 states and two countries. Jeff closed his update, sharing that he and his family are all well and still enjoying North Carolina. Congrats on the promotion, Jeff!

It was great to hear from Brother Rat Daniel Payne. Daniel writes: “My lovely wife, McKenzie, of 17 years, and I are still in Hanover and returned recently from a trip to Roatán, Honduras. (Not recommended!) My boys Cooper, 8, Gabriel, 15, and Jack, 16, are doing well—all healthy and active playing rugby and basketball. Our businesses, Widespread Solutions (painting) and Clean Living (real estate and development) are doing well and having great success in the central Virginia market. Much of the success is attributed to the strong VMI alumni and their support over the 18-plus years. Still sober now for over 20 years and extremely grateful for all the intangible gifts provided by my recovery! It gives me great perspective and gratitude for all of our class and the four years we spent together. So much grace is offered from the men of ’99—thank y’all for your continued support!”

Thank you for the fantastic update, BR Payne!

I was able to catch up personally with Brother Rat Van Carson (more on that below), and Van shared that he has left NAVFAC after 23 years and taken a job with the U.S. Coast Guard at Shore Infrastructure Logistics Group. Congrats to Van on his new job!

Quite a few men from the Class of 1999 got together for the VMI versus The Citadel basketball game this past January. It was great to grab some pizza and beers at Salerno’s with Charles

Faulkner (with son Charles) and Van Carson (with son Wesley) Friday night before the Saturday game. All of our sons threw hatchets in the basement of Salerno’s—after an appropriate safety briefing, of course—while we three enjoyed catching up. Also in attendance at the game were Brother Rats Joel Christenson; Jeff Sprague; Kris Turpin with sons Max and Alex; Patrick Henderson with son Jack; Brad Wineman; Cameron Tabor; Jeremy Obenchain with his wife, Samantha, and daughters, Olivia and Natalie; and Greg McDearmon with his wife, Steph. Brother Rat Dallas Clark was working the event but was able to catch up with everyone after the game.

As you know, our 25th Reunion is approaching, and you will begin to see emails about the event coming to your email inbox. Please keep the Alumni Agencies informed of your updated contact information so you don’t miss an update on the reunion and other class events. Changes/ updates can be sent to Mary Price at mprice@ vmiaa.org or to me. I look forward to speaking with each of you soon, but until then, all the best to you and your families, and Rah Virginia Mil!

Is it 2023 already? The holidays went quick for me. 2022 was rough, as my colon ruptured in March ’22, and I almost didn’t make it. Twenty-three days in the hospital, three surgeries, and an ostomy bag saved my life. It was a long eightmonth recovery, but I had successful reattachment surgery on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), taking a little longer than normal (six days) to recover in the hospital. It was the hardest journey that stretched my mental limits, surpassing anything I have experienced to date. I still made the dive trip with Adam, Paul, and Rich but didn’t get in the water myself. You feel like everyone is staring at you. The experience reinforced the importance of family and friends as the only true thing I valued when everything else was so easily discarded. Helping myself, I wrote a short book I could share with others struggling with the mental challenges. All this to say, our class is a family. If you enjoy reading about what’s going on and

Class notes

haven’t reached out to me to update your BRs, I encourage you to do so. Regardless of what VMI is or isn’t doing today, we as a class really are the same 18-year-old rats that got together. Celebrate each other’s families, accomplishments, and retirements. Planning for the 25th Reunion is underway, and I ask all of you to put in the vacation time, plan ahead, and celebrate the brotherhood! With that ...

Scott Hillyer is engaged, healthy, and happy. He has been living in Berlin, Germany, and/ or traveling to the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America for work 75% of the time. He is running the DMart business (think Gopuff) globally for Delivery Hero and spends the remaining 25% hanging out in Philadelphia.

Matt Parker is still living in Richmond, working at Dominion Energy where he just moved from manager at North Anna Nuclear to manager of electric transmission planning. He works closely with Mike Lamb ’88 and Nathan Howard ’13. He and his wife, Alicia, stay super busy with the kids, especially with sports and extracurricular activities.

Joe Odak hasn’t been tracked for a while because he doesn’t do social media, and now we know why. He is married to the same girl he dated back at VMI and now has nine kids taking up his time. John Archer, please mail the trophy for largest family to Joe. He currently lives in Atlanta and owns a travel baseball org called USA Scout Baseball. He connected with Josh Spradlin about a year ago, who is also happily married with kids (not nine).

Brent Kennedy is currently stationed at Camp

Smith Hawaii working at USINDOPACOM as a strategic exercise planner.

Charles Minski retired in December from the Navy. He was hired by United in October and a pilot on the 737 out of Houston since December. He hasn’t run into any BRs for a while (I was looking for him at Gasperilla this year) but is hoping to soon! He was in basic indoc with Mark Redman ’98, who will be a first officer on the airbus in Houston, as well. United will be opening a pilot base in Orlando next year so hope you get an opportunity to fly “the friendly skies soon!”

Conrad Bicknell calls Stuttgart, Germany, home with his wife and two boys. Spends about two weeks per month in the Dallas, Texas, area where he flies for American Airlines.

Paul N. Belmont III is still up at West Point moving into the future via the past. Twenty-two years of active duty and 21 years of marriage this February. Both of his sons are gearing up for sectional ski championships as they wait for college acceptances for Paul IV.

Donald O’Sullivan is still bald. Is still the managing director for Pega. Is still married to Krysta (very lucky). Still living in Hudson Valley, New York. His kids are still great. And he still travels a ton with them, currently in Disney for gymnastics (I wasn’t notified), and if they aren’t doing that for their daughter, they are traveling for the boys in soccer.

James A. Royce is in Stafford, Virginia, with his wife, Hilary. Took a new position in the Pentagon as an adviser for the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisitions, logistics, and technology. He plans to stay in the area for a couple more years, then either the mountains of Colorado or beaches of Florida (I can offer guidance). He said Hilary gets to pick this time. (The only time it is appropriate to say, “Give your wife my number.”)

B.J. Arvin is in East Tennessee teaching in Knoxville. Almost done with year 15. The last of his step-kids has finished high school. Occasionally will connect over Zoom with Tony Cerella, Brian Skusa, and/or Clint Mundinger. He will be traveling to Jamaica in March and October this year and will be in Cincinnati the first week of June for a work thing.

Brian Skusa is pissed because B.J. Arvin plagiarized one of his lines without specifying “work cited.” It’s like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class year all over again. Must be because he is currently living in Portland, Oregon (technically Washington state), with his wife and daughter

(in 10th grade and driver’s ed). He is entering his 17th year in technology staffing/consulting. Not surprisingly, he has become a very mediocre online chess player. He occasionally will connect over Zoom with Tony Cerella, B.J. Arvin, and/ or Clint Mundinger. (Did someone already say that?) He is planning on traveling to Italy in May for Tony Cerella’s retirement ceremony, also because he’s never been to Italy. (You’re convincing me, Brian.) Trying to conceal his fatness by lifting weights and has crazy respect for those of you still serving and having to do fitness tests/ timed runs. He wishes y’all are good and families are healthy.

Ryan Cengeri didn’t remember the last thing he sent me, so he started an email from birth. For the sake of space, I decided to start here: FedEx pilot, U.S. Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel, daughter graduates high school in May, other three kids are still alive.

Lee Davis had his retirement ceremony in January from the Coast Guard, and he doesn’t want to jinx his future plans, but if you make it to Lexington, there are big things in his near future.

We have two BRs with kids graduating from VMI this spring, Lee Davis and Justin Dodge’s kids (they didn’t have them together—their wives were involved), and Joe Gorski’s kid is going to break out any day now.

John Lee looks at dead people for the City of Virginia Beach, except now it’s with a degree as a PA.

John Hartsock is doing important things as the

man at VMI. I believe his official title is deputy commandant or something high falutin’.

Don Ferguson is keeping his two babies and two full-size kids alive in Lexington as well. That’s all he knows but plans to research more.

Brad Allen was able to retrieve a piece of the China balloon. He is currently selling it for $5,000. He’s asking that you don’t lowball him; he knows what he has and to only contact him via WhatsApp or his OnlyFans.

Tony Gagliardi is one year into an alcohol-free life (an oath to his brother, Peter ’97, who passed two years ago). I’ll say I speak for the class: So very happy and proud of you, BR! He is going on 13 years as principal operator at Sly

Como, Italy. His retirement from the Army is fast approaching, July 1, 2023, and his ceremony is May 19, 2023, at the NATO base near Italy. Leaving the Army is an ongoing challenge and opportunity that allows him to find a new identity and community. It’s a slow shift with steady and unsteady days, but it’s time to move on. He is currently on a six-month SkillBridge transition internship with Kaveo Leadership (a leadership development and coaching startup). Ale Rodriguez ’99 is the CEO. Coaching and leadership development is the path he is pursuing after the Army, earning the ACC certification with the International Coaching Federation and is joining coaching benches with a few U.S. and EU-based companies to get there. The family is content living in Northern Italy (sounds horrible), and they plan to stay there after he retires so that Tony and Sophie can start and finish the equivalent of high school in one place. If you find yourself in Northern Italy or Switzerland, please send him a note. He is always looking for a great meal and good wine. (No seducing us with candles, Tony!)

solutions firm, Powercor, and also lives in Northern Virginia. Tony is still in the electrical contracting industry, currently at Rosendin Electric. As for my family, my son, Tyler, just left for a tour in Korea as a first lieutenant, and my daughter, Bree, just transferred from SEU to UWF on a full academic scholarship for a better CPA program as a junior. (I didn’t even know there was a University of West Florida—look it up. It’s real.) Beck and I are doing great and looking forward to enjoying the sunshine this summer!

Stay in touch!

2001

Session Partnership (Creative Design Boutique) slysession.com. (Got a graphic or video design project?) Seven years into the best relationship of his life (came with a set of twin boys and a daughter who’s the doppelgänger of her mother, making the total kid count five with his son and daughter). But if you’re looking to find him in the U.S., you’re out of luck. He is 20 years into expat life in Canada (now in Ottawa, Ontario—Canada’s capital). And yes, he does say, “Eh.” He is currently two days into grueling lower back pain. My only concern is that Pat Haddock might reach out. Ignore his requests, Gag!

Tony Cerella has been popping up all over my LinkedIn feed. He and his family (Bethany and 14-year-old twins, Tony and Sophie) are still in

Danny Boyers is living in Lynchburg, Virginia, with his lovely wife, Doris, and five daughters (impressive, but still behind Joe). The oldest three are in middle school and play just enough sports and musical instruments to keep him tired and broke. He is still working as an assistant principal at an elementary school in Lynchburg, working mainly with families from a lower socioeconomic background. Work is tough but rewarding. Every year, he has decided to add a few pounds, and now he looks somewhat normal, as if you remember, he resembled a flagpole at the “I.” His knees and feet hurt, as his grandmother told him they would, but he wouldn’t take any of it back. He occasionally speaks with Chris Boswell, Ryan Wheeler, and Eric Adams, who is living his best life in Cape Charles. Recently, Eric and his wife flew to California to visit with Vern Dooley, who, from my understanding, quit the law to run a daycare out of his home with his bride. Just imagine Vern changing diapers all day and watching SpongeBob! (I think Arnold played him in a movie?)

Tony Esteve shared a great pic of himself, Matt Black, and Scott Kuebler from Sept. 14, 2022, at the 2 Silos Brewing Company in Manassas, Virginia. He ran into both of them at a data center industry association networking event. It was great to share a meal and beer and catch up. Matt Black is living in Charlotte, North Carolina, and working in business development for a steel erection company (Sure Steel Inc.). Scott Kuebler is a director for an electrical testing and power

Spring is upon us, and I welcome the warm weather and all the outdoor projects that come with it! By the time you read this, my children

will have completed (or almost completed) their freshman years of college and high school, and I might have inched forward in completing the Wagoneer. We’re a few years late to the party, but Heather has a Peloton account now, which means she requires me to run on the treadmill (read: Keep her company) while she rides her bike. It’s a good accountability system, except

we start at 4:30 a.m. Whew! Other than local events and, oh, teaching our second child how to drive, there is not much else going on! I was happy to hear from a few of you and am always impressed and proud of what you have accomplished.

An incredible accomplishment, Gussie Lord spoke at the December commencement ceremony for 22 cadets graduating mid-year. With her address coinciding with the 25th anniversary of women at VMI, what an incredible honor for an incredible woman from our class. Congratulations, Gussie!

Matt Meyers came up with a great idea to tag me on your social media posts worthy of class updates. I can’t help but think our class will run away with this idea, and I’ll have five pages of typing every three months! Speaking of Matt, he attended the SHOT Show 2023 Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January and, not surprisingly, met up with Eric Poole and Chris Gaddy. I also heard from Adam Love, or should I say, Lt. Col. Love, in February. Adam is in the PAARNG and is the chief at the Department of Public Works for the training center at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Vic Zottig was able to attend and share in the celebration. Congratulations, Adam!

Speaking of celebrating, Rich Groen and Adam Woytowich were selected for colonel, and we’re all anxiously awaiting our promotion party invitations. Congratulations to Rich and Adam! Meanwhile, Guy Workman continues to flood my phone with text memes, but I’m afraid he still can’t unseat the king of memes, Brandon Bowman. Guy shares that he wants everyone to know he loves you, and he is always thinking about you, but he won’t have enough space on the compound for everyone.

Ethan Weber, I hope you enjoyed your trip. He’s your problem now! All the best to the best class to grace barracks. See you in the countermarch!

2002

Brother Rats,

I hope these notes find you and yours well. I am so thankful to say that Matthew Cichy has broken the class notes dry spell with some wonderful news. Matthew and his spouse, Sarah, welcomed a son, Nicholas Bodhi Cichy, to the world Nov. 28, 2022. What a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and congrats to Sarah and Matthew!

Those are the notes this go-around. Don’t be a stranger!

Again, I hope all is well with you and yours, and Rah Virginia Mil!

In the Spirit, Salmaan

William Talley V

Brother Rats,

This set of notes is short, and by the time you’re getting these, our 20th Reunion will have occurred about a month prior. I hope that everyone who came will have enjoyed getting

back to the Institute and catching up with BRs.

Right before this set of notes was due, Chaz Wagner reached out, concerned that y’all were going to think he was an attention hog due to the frequent photos of him in the Alumni Review. I told him not to worry about that, as he is typically one of the only people who sends me photos. This set of notes is no different. Chaz is a social butterfly when it comes to catching up with BRs and fellow alumni. He’s always sure to send me a text with a photo, which is much appreciated. So if you’re tired of seeing his face in the AR, then you need to send me some photos! Chaz caught up with BRs Chris Drinkwater and Pierre Ngankeu in December 2022 and then took a trip out to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, catching up with BR Ben Booth and fellow alumni Matt Erwin ’02 and Jim Nemish ’02. Chaz is almost like a “where in the world is Carmen Sandiego” these days.

Between this set of notes being submitted and our reunion, BR Kyle Haire will celebrate his retirement from the Marines after 20 years of service. I look forward to being there in March for this wonderful event and providing some photos and commentary in the next Alumni Review. Kyle, Matt Brady, and Jason Harr all caught up over Christmas at the Norfolk Chapter party.

Jared Swanson reported that Band Company had a lot to say this time around.

Jason Boatright and Curtis Nieboer will both retire from the Navy in June. Wow, three retirements from our class this year already. We are getting old!

David Mayo is leaving his position as technical adviser to the assistant secretary of defense for space policy to take a director position within Space Systems Command. David was also promoted to lieutenant in the Navy Reserve.

From an entrepreneurial standpoint, Jordan Fox’s construction company doubled in size in 2022. Greg Shpunder now owns a few gas stations, self-storage facilities, a Subway, a coffee franchise, and apartment buildings.

Adam Monteleone and his wife just opened an Anytime Fitness location.

Finally, from Band Company, Mihaela Froehlich reported that she is happily unemployed with five kids. That’s a report right there for Band Company being heard from in 2022!

That’s all for this set of notes. Our next set is sure to be full of updates and photos from the reunion.

Class notes

Paul Boulden Jr. continues to do engineering consulting work in the nuclear industry. When he’s not traveling around the country or overseas, he is busy managing the family farm, Studley Farms. Studley Farms spans Hanover County, Virginia, from east Hanover (Studley) to central Hanover (Ashland) and west Hanover (Beaverdam). Studley is a family farm run by Paul and his wife, Kim; their two daughters, Lucy and Mena; and Paul Boulden Sr. ’81 and his wife, Tammy. Studley Farm offers the largest diversity of any farm in Virginia, raising and bringing to market beef, pork, lamb, goat, and poultry. Paul had the opportunity to be in class one of Virginia State University’s certificate program for operation of the mobile processing unit for small ruminants. He subsequently achieved the first USDA grant of inspection to operate the MPU in Virginia. Working with another local farm, Paul was also granted his retail food license in 2022, allowing him to cut and pack his own meat. As if this wasn’t enough, Paul was also accepted into class six of Virginia Tech’s Virginia Agricultural Leaders Obtaining Results Program and will graduate in May 2024.

On Feb. 7, 2023, Studley Farms also had a visit from Ben Abbott, bladesmith and Forged in Fire judge, and Tanya Cauthen, Belmont Butchery owner and Chopped champion (May 2017). The duo teamed up to teach a class on processing pigs, and Ben tested out the “hog splitter” he made. The video is up on Ben’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ashgroveforge. Paul, send us an invite for the next class!

Harley Jennings and his family wrapped up battalion command at Fort Stewart in June 2022 and headed east for their first overseas assignment. They are living in Stuttgart, Germany. Harley is working for Special Operations Command Europe along with Brother Rat Derek Raymond. They have also had the opportunity to reconnect with Brian Hudak, Anthony Peters, and Josh Mulford Harley writes, “The Mulfords’ daughters

and our daughters play international soccer together, which comes with opportunities for travel and fellowship as pictured below. We are making the most of our time in Europe, both personally and professionally. I was recently selected for O6 promotion and will compete for brigade command this coming fall. We hope to make it back for the 20th Reunion and look forward to seeing everyone who can make it.”

Congratulations on selection for colonel, and good luck with the command board!

Sean McElroy is “amazing!” He’s working for Boeing as a manufacturing manager and

writes from North Alabama, near Huntsville, “It’s a really awesome job, and I love it. I am in the reserve, and I will be going to Kuwait later on this year. Other than that, my family is great. It’s been a while since I wrote, so a quick update on my family is as follows: Dylan (stepson) is a junior in high school, Jayda (daughter) is in 6th grade, Degan (my son) is in 2nd grade, and Delanie (my daughter) is 2.” Sean, happy to hear everyone is doing well! Good luck with the Kuwait trip.

Maja Čavlović is still hanging out in California. She writes, “Hello to all. It seems that the U.S. military education is my destiny. I am currently attending the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and am scheduled to graduate in September 2023. If any of you are in the area or passing through, let me know. Best to all!”

Speaking of the West Coast, Matt Sharpe is there, too. From Matt, “We completed our transition back to the San Francisco Bay area in the middle of last year, settling back in Mountain View, California. Enjoying the California sunshine, In-N-Out Burger, and mountain trail runs. I’m still at Capital One as head of design for our commercial card products and for a payables area, which is more leaning into the AI/machine learning space for predicting payment rails and card acceptance. Life’s ... busy. We took in a foster in the fall who was a former student of Alexis’. We went from playing with Barbies with Adelaide (4) and Myla (8) to teaching a senior in high school how to drive and helping with college applications.”

Misia and I have finally reached the point in our renovation where we need permits. Those only took three months. In the meantime, I will be leaving Booz Allen after a little over four years. I will join Zach Becker ’95 at High Street Consulting, LLC, starting March 1, 2023. Booz Allen made my transition out of the Army an easy process. High Street is focused on emergency management, and this move will bring me back into that community. I’m looking forward to it! In my spare time, I started taking an EMT-B class at the beginning of the year. Who knows where that’s taking me. We’ll see.

In other news, our 20th Reunion is set for April 26–27, 2024! I need help with planning and fundraising. Call me! Take care! Be safe, and keep in touch!

2006

Greetings, Brother Rats!

I hope this edition finds you and your families in good health and high spirits as we quickly approach summer.

Just one update to pass along this quarter, and that comes from Dr. Ted Henderson: “My family is well here in Richmond. I’ve stepping into a managing partner role with my pediatric practice, and I’m getting ready to return to Papua New Guinea with my family for another twomonth medical mission trip to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, where we’ve lived and served a couple of times before. Prayers are welcome, and BRs can follow our work on the missions blog at hendersonsinmissions.blogspot.com.

“I also recently had the opportunity to spend time with Franklin Graham at the World Medical Mission annual conference, where I was a guest speaker. It was a great honor to be a part of the Graham legacy!”

I also hope you were all able to see the feature in the February 2023 notes featuring our own Daniel Harrison on page 27. If you missed it, make sure you go back and check him out!

That’s all for now. Please keep those updates coming in, and I will catch you all again next quarter! As always, stay safe and be well.

Will Collier

Brother Rats of the Overachieving Class of 2006,

Han Jin checked in, saying, “I am currently working in D.C. as assistant military attaché and will be redeployed back to Taiwan Army HQ G3 in January 2023. Thank you and wishing you a happy new year.”

Jeff Sale updates us that “we (wife Kelsey Stafford ’09) welcomed our fifth child Jan. 2, and our son, Michael, finally got his first brother, Joseph Stephen Sale! This was the second at-home birth for us, and both have been super incredible experiences. I am coaching youth wrestling for my 10th year and finally have our oldest two children coming to practice with me and enjoying it. Rah Virginia Mil. Love, Boat.”

Zohn Burden shared that he is the “pass game coordinator/WR coach at Duke University. Me and my wife, Toren Burden, and kids are in Durham, North Carolina. We (Duke) were 9-4 last year. Sean Mizzer came to our bowl game to show some VMI support.”

Colleen Barton sent in two photos of our BRs at the 25th anniversary celebration of women of VMI and updated that she started a new position at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center as their integrated case manager transition navigator.

On Feb. 10, 2023, Maj. Gen. Wins ’85, superintendent, came to speak to Northern Virginia alumni. The event was very well attended and held at the Village Brauhaus in Old Town Alexandria. Brother rats from 2006 who were in attendance were Frank Dolberry, Miguel Cervoni, and Will Collier. It was a great evening hearing about the school and catching up with friends.

Colin Adams and his wife, Melanie, and their children live up in Burke, Virginia. Colin and I got together to attend a couple of Washington Commanders games this past fall. Colin has season tickets and has a regular tailgate before games. He said our BRs

are always welcome to come say “hello” before games.

As always, please continue to send in updates and photos. If you don’t send updates, I will be forced to fill our space with the boring things I have been doing. BRs, we want to know how you are doing!

Your BR, Will

Class notes

Diego in the coming months.

Adam Spontarelli and his wife, Elise, are celebrating the expansion of the nonprofit they founded in Lynchburg seven years ago. Vector Space is expanding into a 23,000-square-foot facility to house the hands-on educational programming they offer in wood, metal, textiles, rapid prototyping, electronics, and fine art. The move is scheduled for March with opening planned for April.

Newly promoted Lt. Col. Joe Pickenpaugh is working in the engineering division at North American Aerospace Defense and U.S. Northern Command. He is fortunate enough to be cubicle mates with Mr. Larry Peplinski ’82 and Lt. Col. Brandon Bennett ’02. They help keep Joe out of mischief and on the straight and narrow!

The Boykin family has expanded to 10! Michael Boykin and wife Serena welcomed their eighth child Jan. 12, 2023. Magdalene Josephine, aka Maggie Jo, tipped the scales at 6

2007

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2007.

2008

Evan Lyne, Patrick Clark, and Chris Haviley had the pleasure of joining Eddie Burke for his wedding in Chicago. Eddie and the former Ms. Amanda Siegel were married Jan. 7, 2023. Evan and his wife, Nicole, are also expecting their first child in June, just in time for the fall reunion! Get some sleep now, Evan! He also passed along congratulations to Stu Montgomery, who was recently promoted to lieutenant commander in the Navy. The Montgomery family will be relocating from Hawaii to San

pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 19.5 inches long. Congrats to the entire Boykin family on the new addition!

A quick reminder: If you haven’t secured your hotels for the reunion Sept. 22–23, please do so as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing everyone in a few months!

if anyone wants to see it.

Well, that about takes care of things this go around. Stay safe, and keep doing awesome things.

of Fame. Congratulations, Audrey; well deserved!

Tim Maypray was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was accepted by his wife on his behalf. It’s good to see both honored and 2010 making VMI history!

Hunter Cantrell has recently been assigned to Joint Force Headquarters DODIN at Fort Meade. He’ll start there July 1, so if you’re in the Baltimore area, give him a shout.

Chris Dommert sent a quick down-and-dirty update. He is married to Rachel Dommert and has three children, Noah (10), Hazel (7), and Rosemary (3). He is currently working as a water-wastewater engineer at Burgess and Niple (with a long i, and only one p). This is after teaching AFROTC at The Citadel (2014–17). He separated from active duty Air Force in 2017, then joined the Virginia Air National Guard with 203 Red Horse, and separated from VAANG in 2022. He’s currently living in Richmond.

Also, once again, Brandon Stratz is still alive and wants everyone to know that.

Brother Rats:

I hope this edition of the Alumni Review finds you and your families well. I have had a chance to catch up with a few here and there this go around, and it sounds like everyone is doing well. Michelle DeLeon got a chance to catch up with Becky Harris in Ocala, Florida, for a horse show where Michelle’s horse was competing. Michelle said it was a fitting venue since both Michelle and Becky were on the VMI equestrian team together.

I also had an email sent to me from VMI in which another alum had sent them an email about one of our brother rats. Lt. Cmdr. Thelmar Rosarda, who was captain of the USS Thunderbolt (PC-12) based out of Bahrain, had a news article published about his superb leadership during a situation he encountered by senior Navy leadership. The article was sent to VMI Capt. Bob Heely ’98. I will publish the link to the article on our Facebook group page

Howdy, All!

I heard from Dave Messina a while ago, and he’s doing well. Dave has a new addition to his family, Bennet Christopher Messina, born in May last year. Dave is currently working as an engineering supervisor for Columbia-class subconstruction. We also both agreed that getting old sucks.

Our own Erik Blum is currently working in the Air Force ROTC department at none other than our very own Institute! He also is one of the COMSTAFF TAC officers.

Audrey Falconi was also recently honored at VMI and was inducted into the VMI Hall

2011,

I have some unfortunate news to share. Our classmate, Matt Piazza, passed away Jan. 6, 2023. Matt was always the life of the party, the first to get the RDC gold card, and like Nick Bates said, “Piazza was always smiling no matter what the circumstances were.” He will be greatly missed.

Zach Henke wanted to share that he’s gotten to fly several Army trips with Tim Moran ’10 Moran is a Navy SEAL, and Zach has been flying him around a lot with the 160th. Additionally, he and his wife, Samantha Henke ’12, also just bought land in Lexington.

Zach Kier and his family left active duty this year but are still in central Alaska after a career total of three infantry company commands (40 months) and promotion to O4 while on terminal leave. Back in late 2022, he volunteered with the Free Burma Rangers in Syria in October/November to assist in humanitarian relief efforts for Kurds and Arabs affected by

Class notes

the complex conflict. They are expecting their third child in June of this year.

Joe Kang recently had a short vacation visiting Taipei, Taiwan, and met up with Alan Chen. Alan said, “We had a wonderful time. It’s been more than 10 years, and I miss you all. Rah, 2011!”

Vinnie Doh has reached exalted levels of service to our country and now receives an 80% military discount from Lowe’s.

Brian Skiff wanted to share that he and his wife had a son, Dalton, born Nov. 10, 2022.

Frank Tontala says, “Tidings, BRs! After a couple of years in Cairo, I decided it was time for a bit of peace and quiet, so I moved to Kayenta, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation for a taste of the American Southwest. The two-hour drive to the nearest Walmart is restorative to the soul, the backdrop is Monument Valley (the most photographed landscape in the world), and I’m teaching high school English to pass the time. Along for the ride are my wife and a spunky pair of Egyptian street cats.”

I wanted to also wish Ryan Buel, aka the Bueldozer, the best of luck as he started at the fire academy in February of this year.

Lastly, my old rat roommate, Matt Brode, wanted to give a shout-out and say “hi” to the class. He’s living up in the Northeast and has been teaching his 3-year-old son how to ski.

Bruce Howard

Brother Rats,

I hope this edition of the Review finds you and your families well. Later in this article, you will read about the common updates and life changes for those in our class; however, I would be remiss if I did not start off by acknowledging the unfortunate loss of one of our very own, Bryan Loring. Bryan passed away Jan. 15 in El Paso, Texas. It’s never easy to lose a BR, let alone a friend, which from the turnout of his funeral, Bryan was just that to many. From what I am told, several of our BRs were able to attend his service and pay their final respects. I’d also like to share that the Institute was a class act for performing an Old Yell in barracks in honor of Bryan following his passing. During this time, I hope we can all strive to live our lives in a way that not only honors him but all our BRs that have passed since our time at VMI began. RIP, Capt. Bryan Loring. You will be missed.

Jon Colon has moved back to New York City. He remains an active participant in his South American real estate ventures, most notably his vending machine outfit, which I’ve been told is surprisingly successful. He still has plans to expand operations into North America by 2025. Colon also wants us all to know that he is now the proud owner of a repossessed 2010 PT Cruiser. For further details, please follow his cat, @ CarmineTheMobKitty, on Instagram. It’s worth a visit by every cadet.

At the time of this writing, Trevor Childers will be married in a week. Therefore, by the time this Review comes out, congrats, Trevor, to three months of marriage! Wishing you the best!

Quinn Adams and his wife, Danielle, have welcomed a son, Ambrose Kolbe Adams, into the world! I’m being told that Ambrose has already told his Uncle Justin Dwight that he hopes to “be a part of a real company like Tiger Echo, not that Hotel trash like my pops ...” It turns out he’s very advanced for his age! We look forward to cheering him on during parades in 18 years.

Justin Dwight has become a “boating influencer” on Instagram. You can find his exploits on the Instagram page @QualifiedCaptain. He is currently shopping for a new “unsinkable” boat with

a “self-driving” trailer, so if anyone knows of a good deal, please reach out to him. Justin also spent some time in Germany visiting Max Yates I was told by both to reassure the class that they ate and drank enough during this trip to make everyone proud! One of the places they were sure to visit was Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest monastic brewery in the world.

Ben Denton still resides in Texas and wants to remind everyone to “pay their taxes so [he] can keep his job.” Within the calendar year, he plans on moving back to the National Capital Region with the intention of “moonlighting” as an oyster farmer with BR Dwight. We eagerly await the stories this venture will produce.

David Yost is doing a great job with the Benedictine High School wrestling team in Richmond. It is truly a gratifying spectacle to see what he’s done with that team, so if you’re in the RVA area, please go check out a match. We’re all super proud of him and wish him the best of luck this season! Somehow, they also allow him to teach the next generation of young men, so I can only imagine the inspiration he provides.

Royce Chung is still out there somewhere. He pops up from time to time to let us know he still loves his former roommates.

Ross Stolle and his wife, Emily, are new homeowners in Virginia Beach. We’ve seen pictures, and it looks wonderful! BR Ross has also volunteered as the chief constable of their Neighborhood Watch. As it turns out, old habits die hard. The Stolles also have a new puppy named Virginia!

Craig Waldman is currently in the beginning

stages of starting up a graphic T-shirt company. He is looking for investors and partners interested in “the late-90s dirt bike aesthetic.” We wish him the best of luck.

T.D. Hoover and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their son, Torrance Dudley “Trip” Hoover III, into the world this past year. Trip is a voracious reader and enjoys listening to Phish and the Grateful Dead. Trip also told his Uncle Dan Fiasconaro that he “wants to be a Tiger Echo” when he matriculates. We look forward to cheering him on at parades in 18 years! Oddly enough, I ran into T.D.’s dyke on a construction site a few months ago, proving the VMI community is everywhere.

Dan Fiasconaro was recently engaged! I’ve been told to acknowledge his fiancée, Casey, as she has been given two out of two thumbs up, and we wish them the best of luck with their wedding and beyond. Dan can still be found picking on a guitar in the greater Richmond area, so be on the lookout for a South Hill Banks show near you!

Dan Vaden returned home in December from a deployment in Iraq and Syria with the 1-111 FA battalion of the Virginia National Guard. Dan was also promoted to senior trooper within the Virginia State Police after 10 years of service. So, if anyone gets pulled over, just name-drop BR Vaden, and you should get out of that ticket! Congrats, Dan, on all the success over the past year.

A special thank you to Will Wild for helping

with many of the updates for this edition. Will didn’t give me anything to write for himself personally, but I appreciate the details for many others.

Take care and until next time!

In the Bonds, Bruce

Charles Jones

2013,

As this gets published, we’ll be a short four months away from our reunion! I recently heard from Kip Zechman, who wanted to express that he is “looking forward to a helluva party for our 10 year.” I concur.

For those who aren’t already aware, the reunion planning is well underway as I write this (February 2023). Kip Zechman, Donnie Martin, and Dante Morales are the committee co-chairs. There are a number of others involved in the reunion planning, but if you have questions, feel free to reach out to any of the three mentioned above or don’t hesitate to give me a shout.

I’ve talked to several of you about the reunion so far. Some have expressed concern about being able to make it for the full weekend; if you can come for just a portion of the weekend, I’d urge you to consider it. During some of the initial conversations, I’ve heard anecdotally that some folks have reservations about the reunion gift campaign. A couple of things worth mentioning are: You should still come to the reunion regardless of whether or not you’re contributing. If you

are willing to contribute to the class gift, you have the option to specify exactly which fund that donation is going toward. Dante’s Jan. 9 email laid out the goals for the campaign. I encourage you to take a minute and go back to review it. If you have questions about the campaign, honest feedback, or general concerns, reach out to anyone of us to discuss it.

In addition to Kip’s not-about-complete rager of a party that our 10th Reunion will be, I recently heard from Eddie Chang. Here’s a quick note from him: “Hi, everyone, figured it’s time to send a quick update about where I’ve been. I’m currently living in Brussels, studying international relations at UCLouvain as an Olmsted scholar. Since my last time communicating with the class, I married Grace and welcomed our daughter, Lauren, last year. Here’s a picture of us in Salzburg, Austria, as we traveled during my winter break. If any of you stop by Europe, please feel free to reach out to me!”

If any of you have additional content you’d like included in the Review, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Otherwise, I look forward to seeing you all in a few months at the reunion!

Johnny Partin

Dear BRs,

2023 is off to a great start! This year has been a big year of life changes for me. I started a new position with the Virginia National Guard as a fuel operations officer for the 29th Infantry Division at Fort Belvoir and as an engineer with Fort Lee’s public works department on the civil service side. I was also blessed with the opportunity to serve as the mayor of Hopewell for the next two years. I’m very excited about all these new adventures. Hopefully, I will run into many of you on my escapades. If you are ever in the Richmond/ Hopewell/Fort Lee area, please feel free to hit me up. My house is always open for BRs, and there is always a pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge!

Class notes

Anyway, enough about my life changes. Let’s move onward and upward to more important news and class updates. I think this is the largest set of class notes we have produced! So, let’s roll!

Thomas Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship update: Mike Sobey, Garth Harbert, and I are continuing to work on and refine the scholarship. If you would like to donate to Tom’s memorial scholarship, then please donate to the VMI Foundation and memo your donation, “Tom Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship.”

Ray Montolin, Christian Beale, Riley Newsom, and Nate Myers met up at VMI for the VMI versus The Citadel football game back in late November. It was great to see the pride and joy of “Tiger Echo” rendezvous together back at ole “Mother I.” I ran into Christian Beale at a Rebuilding Together event that our employer, AdvanSix, put on back in November. It was great working together improving a lady’s house so she could have a better quality of life. Christian was the quasi-electrician, and I was on the painting crew.

In addition to the “Tiger Echo—Echo Shuffle” crew, Tristan Thrasher is now a daddy! He and his wife welcomed Penelope “Poppy” Thrasher into the world Nov. 13, 2022. Congratulations, Tristan; we know you and your wife will do a great job raising Poppy!

Additionally, Robert Macias and his wife welcomed Michael Carlos Macias to this world Dec. 19, 2022, at 0014. He was 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and 21 inches long. Congratulations, Robert!

Ted Gottwald and his wife welcomed their second son, Edward Floyd “Teddy” Gottwald, Dec. 19, 2022, too! Little Teddy is named after Ted’s dad, Class of ’83, and great-uncle, Class of ’43. I sense another generation of Gottwalds carrying on the family legacy at VMI is on the rise!

Flora Edelbrock, Eva Edelbrock, and Afton Bricker met up at VMI for a football game and to spend time together in ole Lexington. I think ole Lexington was in for a bumpy ride with these three in town. Flora, and Eva, and Afton, oh my!

I caught up with Sam Gillespie back in December. He and Chris Jaronsky were conducting some caveman medicine training during one of their training exercises

with the 3SFG at Fort Bragg. Hopefully, Sam and Chris will never have to operate on me!

Santa Claus was extra good to Kyle Reavis for Christmas. Kyle got his long-awaited Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection watch. Hopefully, it will help him keep better island time.

Sean Fish recently got out of the Army. He is now enrolled in a program with Amazon Web Services for people transitioning out of the military to learn how to manage their cloud storage. Wishing you the best of luck with this new chapter, Sean. Heck, I may be calling you for some IT support and help since I am still one of the most tech un-savvy BRs in our class.

I got to meet up with Ben Kier and his wife, Stephanie, and their two adorable kids, Riley and Tristian, at the beginning of January. They allowed me to crash at their place over my first in-person drill weekend with my new guard unit. It was a blast catching up with him and getting to meet his wife and kiddies. We got to enjoy a wonderful dinner at Mission BBQ in Alexandria, Virginia. I learned his kids much prefer French fries over mac and cheese. Haha!

We enjoyed the dinner and fellowship so much that we decided to hold a BR fun, friendship, and fellowship dinner at the same Mission BBQ Saturday, Feb. 4, a month later. Those in attendance were Eva Edelbrock, Robert Brent, Lucas Champion, Thomas Pierpoint, Cabell Willis, Eric Triassi, Ben Kier, Phil Pryor, Cory Reinecke, and me. We had a grand time! Shockingly, Lucas and I could still fit in our duty jackets. Nathan Couteret is doing very well and excelling in the Navy. He is currently the deputy manager for the Cyber Security Ops Center for the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In addition to that, he just completed his Master of Science degree in astronautical engineering. Keep up the amazing work! Looking forward to seeing you achieve that admiral status! Looks like there may be a competition between Nathan and Hunter Harvey on who makes it to admiral first.

I also got to catch up with Carly Day in late January. She is now an aviation

physiologist in the Navy. This is a big flex because now she gets to wear two sets of wings. This is a big research and training opportunity for Carly. She will study the factors of acceleration, altitude, and survival of our aircrew in modern Naval aviation aircraft. Nathan and Hunter, y’all better

watch out, Carly might make that admiral status before both of y’all. Congratulations, Carly!

Zach Hill is now engaged! He proposed in late January to his girlfriend, Sarah Golusky, at the viewpoint on the hanging rock trail near the Wintergreen Resort. Congratulations, Zach and Sarah! We wish you the very best wishes for a long, happy, and healthy marriage!

Last but certainly not least: Attention inside and outside of barracks, the right honorable gentleman of the West End, Sir Cabell Francis Willis, our beloved S2 lieutenant, proposed to his girlfriend and is now engaged to the beautifully divine and glamorous Victoria Busse! So excited for y’all— can’t wait to see the engagement pictures! To celebrate the occasion, Jonathan Reardon, Matthew Reardon, Jacob Lysher, and I met up with Cabell and Victoria at the Hardywood Brewery in Richmond over Thanksgiving weekend, and yes, I did have a glass of red wine to celebrate. I do ask that you please ignore the fat whale in red in the picture, definitely not my most flattering picture.

Last reminder to everyone! The deadline to order your brick for in front of barracks is June 30, 2023. If you want your brick, please go ahead and order it because this program is being discontinued after this fiscal year.

with friends and family next year.

Drew and Chandler Craighead had their second son, Hudson Thomas Craighead, Sept. 3, 2022. Everyone is doing well, which is always wonderful to hear.

As always, if you need anything or someone to talk to, please do not hesitate to call, text, or email me. Continue to be that healthful and pleasant abode of a crowd of honorable youths!

Take Care, Johnny “Party” Partin

Brent Clark and his wife welcomed their third son, Gabriel, July 9, 2022. When Brent originally wrote to me, he was looking forward to attending the wedding of Jeremy Sanders Dec. 3, 2022, 2015

Keydets!

Quick set of notes this quarter—we’re catching up on a few from our big submission at the end of 2022. Meghan and I are busy planning out our 2023. There may be a few more Keydet weddings on the horizon!

Nick Dreybus eloped with his now-wife, Micaela Rubio. They plan to celebrate with a reception

in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I’m sure it was a great time! I’ll be on the lookout for photos in a later update.

Quincy Murphy is currently at 1st Combat Engineer Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps. There are a number of VMI alumni in the Marine Corps, including the new commanding officer, Lt. Col. Christopher Kim ’03

James Robert Singleton got engaged! Congrats, Singleton!

Tyler Brickles was in Belize conducting a facility audit of an approved water source for the State Department and DoD. While there, he got to visit Altun Ha, an 1,800-year-old Mayan ruin.

Will Luxhoj and his now-wife, Stephanie, got married in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in September 2022, and they are expecting a son this June. Will says, “Big year ahead!” No kidding! Congrats, Will!

We’ve still got a few more baby photos in the backlog I’ll have to save for the next set of notes. You’ll have to wait three more months to see who!

As always, I hope you and your family are well. Ping me if you or a BR needs an address or contact information updated with VMI or if you just want to catch up. I am always game for a call.

Rah Virginia Mil, Henry Meredith

2016

Patrick

2018

Carlee Anderson

MattEsnardo

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2018.

2019

Nathan D.A. Mumford

AnnikaK.Tice

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2016.

2017

Benjamin

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2017.

As we write this class note, Nathan and I are making our way back to the Institute this weekend. I will be speaking in an English department forum with fellow graduate Joseph Murray ’21. I am excited to finally return to VMI after almost four years, and Nathan is already preparing for our 5th Reunion. We hope that many of you will be able to make it next year. More details to follow. I apologize for the lack of class notes these past few months. Most of it is my own fault. I have not changed my old ways of signing up for too much and pulling all-nighters. I finished my first master’s degree this fall and am already working on my second without a second in between. Nathan is back in Virginia at Army CCC in Fort Lee, Virginia. He has enjoyed catching up with many of you since his return. He is the reason why our class notes are full of amazing accomplishments! He keeps tabs on every single one of you on our Facebook and Instagram! Here’s a sneak peek.

For engagements, we are screaming congratulations to Tyler Thacker and Courtney Brown! They are happy to announce their engagement that happened Dec. 23, 2022, in historic downtown Fredericksburg. Thacker has been employed as an FBI contractor since his graduation. Brown, a George Mason University alumna, is employed with Faegre Drinker Biddle

& Reath LLP. The couple plans to marry in the historic downtown Fredericksburg area where they currently reside. Cole Bloomer “did the $&#@ thing” and joined the group of newly engaged couples. Joe Flynn popped the question to his girlfriend by a waterfall. Nathan Fowler sealed the deal with a wedding!

I had the chance to meet Maddy Curran’s beautiful baby boy and Peter O’Neill ’18 around the holidays! He is absolutely full of life, and it’s so amazing to watch him grow. Nick Schweers is a dad! He welcomed his baby boy, Leo Declan. Jeremiah Norman has also welcomed his son, Lois, to the world.

I hope to connect this year with many more of you! We have weddings coming up (Virginia Villani and Matt Zwiren!), more babies, and more engagements! Send your news to us so we can add it to our next notes!

Mizpah,

2020

Alexander Dragan

HollyK.Njabo

Editor’s Note: We did not receive notes for the Class of 2020.

2021

Jonathan Krauss

LeviKennedy

Greetings, Brother Rats, I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy new year! I appreciate the notes some of you sent me in response to receiving the Christmas cards. Before I get into my updates, with much sadness, I must inform you of the passing of Connor Noyes’ sister, Meghan. Meghan had been battling leukemia for the past three years and unfortunately passed away in October. Connor asked me to include the importance of loving your family members and friends, as well as appreciating the sacredness of life. If you would like to donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Meghan’s memory, please go to donate.lls.org/ltn/donate.

Our seagoing Navy brother rats have some exciting news! Thomas Muldowney has been assigned to the USS Montana out of Norfolk, Virginia. Thomas Clements has been assigned to the USS Illinois out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (lucky). Johnny Vesterman has been assigned to the USS Ohio out of Bangor Base, Washington. Dan Carlson has been assigned to the USS Columbus out of Newport News, Virginia, and Parker Martinez has been assigned to the USS Florida out of Kings Bay, Georgia. Dan

Carlson graduated from Navy Dive School as a qualified scuba diver, and Whit Armbruster qualified as a surface warfare officer.

Now to our land walkers. We have a bunch of brother rats who have been promoted! Congratulations to 1st Lts. Adam Fodness, Jacob Mills, James Booth, Ciera Henderson, Allen Wyche, Gabriella Danielle, Ben Doehler, and Casey Allen! Jacob Menders graduated Army OCS and earned the Distinguished Leadership Graduate award and was also a distinguished military graduate. Congratulations!

In December, our very own Charlie Broder became the first and only American to earn the Enkeltkæmper Dagger by completing the elite Single Fighter Course in Bornholm, Denmark.

Grace McDonald graduated from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Literature, Languages, and Cultures in November. Noah Cook graduated from Liberty University with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and is now attending the University of Virginia for his registered nurse degree.

Finally, Sean Wilson, who defected to West Point, got engaged back in November, as did Elijah Spradlin. Tyler Citta and Noah Weaver both got engaged in December, Jack Matteo and Alexandra Duklis finally got engaged, Landon Knappenberger got engaged, and Thor MacDonald got married!

Congratulations to everyone on your accomplishments these past few months. You are an amazing group of people, and I am so proud of all of you. Please stay safe and happy. As always, if you ever need anything from me, hit me up at vmiclassagent21@gmail.com

Mizpah, Jonathan Krauss

2022

Seth McRoberts

Kelly Rollison

Greetings, Brother Rats, I would like to first preface this by saying what a wonderful privilege it has been to keep

Class notes

up with many of you and your wonderful journeys thus far in life outside the Institute. We’ve had many weddings, quick developments in the professional world, some serious furthering of education in the graduate world, and even one new beautiful baby welcomed into the ’22 family. So, without any further ado, let’s get started with some weddings.

So, kicking off the wedding season had to be Mr. Connor “Coach” Arnold himself to his lovely wife, Haylee. They have also not taken very long to start their beautiful family, either. Haylee just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Annistyn Mae Arnold. Two other early weddings that can be added actually happened on the same day, May 21, 2022, and those were of BRs Emma Flora and Bric Nicholl and Will Comberg and his lovely bride, Katherine. A few other BR weddings consisted of Kaylee Wedding and Justin Nase, who were wed Aug. 5, 2022; Garrett Johnson and Sophie Svoboda, Dec. 28, 2022; and McKenna Moore and John Adams. Two other early weddings in May were Jared Hunzicker and his beautiful bride, Danielle Thompson, and Cy Anders and his lovely wife, Madison. And our last three that occurred over the fall and winter were Max Higgins and his bride, Rosa; Nic Shier and his wife, Marissa; and Leon Thomas and his bride, Eileen. So, it seems our wedding season has been quite the success, and we wish nothing but happiness and love in the future for all of these couples.

We’ve had many military professional developments in the past few months. Now, I know I’m partial, so we’re going to start out with the Army, but we’ve had many military successes so far.

So far, Brian Anderson, Michael Hoffman, Christopher Soo, John Nardi, Tommy Chelednik, Nick Cho, and Zach Wright have all graduated with flying colors from Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course. And in that same graduating class, Brian Anderson and Michael Hoffman have ripped through Army Ranger School in a cool 62 days to receive that coveted Ranger tab. They graduated Jan. 27, 2023. Now, over on the other side of Fort Benning, our Armor BOLC graduates include Ryan Cooper, Kelly Rollison, John Samitt, and Mason Powell. In the same vein of the Armor side of the house, Ryan Cooper has also graduated Army Scout Leader Course to get him fully qualified for cav scout in the 101st Airborne Division. Continuing in the Army combat arms theme, Field Artillery BOLC was a huge success

with Luke Lynch, Khalid Muhammed, Michael Tempesta, Mason Tarkenton, and Jacob Parmeter all graduating with flying colors and off to their home units now. Sarah Hudson, Garrett Finan, and Garrett Defazio are on the verge of graduation within the next few weeks. Staying in this theme of artillery, Harrison Peglar successfully graduated from Air Defense Artillery BOLC and is currently stationed in Seoul, South Korea, along with Zach Boudabbous, who successfully graduated from his Signal BOLC.

Leland Briggs, Gerson Carrera, and John Angerer all successfully graduated from Army Engineering BOLC and are on their way or currently at their permanent duty station. Leland Briggs, along with getting stationed up in Alaska at the 11th Airborne Division, recently graduated from Army Airborne School. And our last Army news is Ahliyah Williams, Johnny Miller, and Mike Lester successfully graduated from Army Basic Training. Mike Lester is currently toughing

it through RASP, and Johnny Miller is similarly hanging tough in the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Now over to the Navy side of the house. Dane Hamilton has graduated from BDOC and already gotten his sea legs wet as he embarked on the USS Normandy, as he ventured over to Normandy, France, for his first ship assignment. Chris Loren, Jacob Benny, Gen Petrassi, Tommy Wiltshire,

and Liam Walker have all graduated from their respective BDOCs, as well, and are all stationed out in San Diego. Christopher Loren has been underway several times already in the Pacific Ocean on the Navy’s newest flagship, the USS Zumwalt. Noah Kirk and Bryant Walker have both successfully graduated from Navy Dive School down in Panama City, Florida.

I currently apologize for the lack of knowledge of our Marine Corps and Air Force BRs. We’ll make sure all your exploits are logged for next time.

In corporate America, we have many successes so far from a few BRs. The first to mention is Jake Menders. After leaving VMI’s BaseCo upon graduation, he has chosen to be a multitalented individual just like he was at the “I” and has successfully completed Army Basic Training and OCS. He is serving as an infantry reserve officer out of Northern Virginia and is currently working as a software contractor for the Department of Defense. Adam Jewell is a true entrepreneur and is currently running a painting business out of Mechanicsville, Virginia, and has helped his father increase the business’s income by 47% since his family purchased it from the previous owners.

Now we have a good quantity of BRs who are pursuing a furthering in education. We have

multiple future doctors in our midst. Holly Arnold is working on her doctorate through the U.S. Air Force. Daniel Hamner is currently in Richmond at MCV. Jon Tobin, VMI basketball star, and Thaddeus Wegrzyn, our esteemed HCVP for education, are both at VCOM. Solomon Ghosh is currently furthering his studies in law and is still competing in track and field down at The Citadel. Kiara Anguiano is currently at the University of Richmond, starting her law career by obtaining her juris doctorate. Elliott Madden is currently working in the legal field and will be attending law school in the fall at the institution of his choice. And our last scholar is Robby Adelstein, who is currently attending Marshall University to obtain his master’s in conservation biology with hopes of getting into veterinary school in the next year. In continuing athletics, we have Nathan Light and Will Lopez returning to post to lead BaseCo off to another successful season at Gray-Minor Stadium and have already done that with two huge wins over Mississippi State. On the football field, our BRs continue to excel, as well, with Mike Jackson at the University of Delaware, Nick Hartnett at the University of Buffalo, Jacob Peace at Florida International University, Warren Dabney at Western Michigan, and Jake Harris at the University of Richmond.

Now a few things to add about our BRs doing a few things for the Institute. Sean Whearty has been working for the VMI admissions office as a part of his Air Force contract before his basic officer training and has had the pleasure to work alongside a few older alumni, such as Mr. Bill Creswick ’67 and Mr. Tom Puskas ’74. Ryan Cooper has still continued to be a front man for an NCAA NIL business that he has recently started, which has been helping both local Lexington businesses and cadets to increase profits and credibility within the Corps and the greater Rockbridge County community. He also is a part-time swim coach for the Columbus Aquatic Center Hurricanes, where he’s stationed.

And lastly, in amusing news, ’22s, our good ol’ Mason “Country” Powell won the largest pig competition at the Annual Fort Benning Hog Hunting Competition this past year. This win came with a hefty cash prize.

As always, proud of you all and all the accomplishments you all have been awarded and the little ones that we gain in our day-to-day lives. Continue to never stay complacent and change the world with every little action. Remember, “you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness,” Benedict XVI.

As Always, God Bless and Rah ’22, Kelly Rollison and Seth McRoberts

Baby Keydets DEGREES

BOYKIN—A daughter, Magdalene Josephine, to Serena and Michael Boykin ’08, Jan. 12, 2023.

THRASHER—A daughter, Penelope, to Connie and Tristan Thrasher ’14, Nov. 13, 2022.

MACIAS—A son, Michael Carlos, to Angie and Robert Macias ’14, Dec. 19, 2022.

GOTTWALD—A son, Edward Floyd, to Bridgette and Ted Gottwald ’14, Dec. 19, 2022.

BORINSTEIN—A son, Joseph Russell, to Brigitta Borinstein ’19 and Drew Borinstein ’17, Sept. 7, 2022.

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December 2022

May 2020

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 W. Smothers ’44

Robert G. Moore ’45

Paul E. Greenlee ’45

James L. Moore ’50B

Malcom B. Lacy Jr. ’46

Selden S. McNeer Jr. ’46

Lawrence Altaffer Jr. ’46

Harvey E. Wise ’50B

Gene D. Thornton ’46

George W. Coleman ’46

Dec. 2, 1922

June 15, 1923

May 18, 1924

June 1, 1924

July 27, 1924

Jan. 8, 1925

Jan. 10, 1925

Feb. 5, 1925

Feb. 20, 1925

March 15, 1925

Provisional Appointments

2027

Avery Baird

William M. Stith V

William R. Baird ’89

William M. Stith III ’71

W. Meade Stith Jr. ’933

Jesse H. Heath Jr. ’938

2028

Ann D. Orgain

Frazer M. Orgain ’99

Albert M. Orgain IV ’65

Albert M. Orgain V ’92

Father Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Great-uncle

2039

Blake E. Borges

Harmony Mainvielle

Tayloe C. Orgain

Robert W. Anthes ’11

Angela L. Vizzi ’02

John M. Vizzi ’77

Frazer M. Orgain ’99

Albert M. Orgain IV ’65

Albert M. Orgain V ’92

Uncle Mother

Grandfather Father Grandfather Uncle

James F. Douthat III

Anderson W. Douthat IV ’82

Anderson W. Douthat III ’57

Anderson W. Douthat Jr. ’925

Father Grandfather Uncle Cousin Uncle

Great-grandfather

2041

Emma Price

Lillian E. Yates

Natalie G. Alls

Dean A. Kershaw ’68

Stephen C. Price ’71

Maxwell L. Yates ’12

Charles F. Hilton ’80

Step-grandfather Grandfather Father

Step-grandfather

Peyton Archer

Jake Yokubaitis

2030

Kyle Chaidez

Sascha R. O’Day

2031

Jackson Archer

Jackson P. Houk

2032

Ransom A. Griffith

2033

Theodore Gough

2034

Mia Sakellariou

John-Michael B. Archer ’00

Vincent D. Carag Jr. ’86

Dean A. Kershaw ’68

Buckley E. O’Day III ’95

John-Michael B. Archer ’00

Charles T. Houk ’98

Richard A. Griffith ’12

Charles E. Gough ’15

Paul Sakellariou ’98

Angelo T. Sakellariou ’01

2035

Rain Mainvielle

Angela L. Vizzi ’02

John M. Vizzi ’77

2036

Aspen I. Granger

2037

Luke Sakellariou

Karl F. Zeller ’65

Paul Sakellariou ’98

Angelo T. Sakellariou ’01

2038

Henry F. Orgain

Frazer M. Orgain ’99

Albert M. Orgain IV ’65

Albert M. Orgain V ’92

Father

Step-father Uncle Father Father Father Father

Tucker D. Alls

2042

Mark F. Borges

Paul L. Dorn III

Charles F. Hilton ’80

Robert W. Anthes ’11

George W. Gearhart Jr. ’70

James D. Gearhart ’71

C. Jesse Gearhart ’77

Gregory A. Gearhart ’78

Step-grandfather Uncle Grandfather

Great-uncle Cousin Cousin

Father

Father Uncle

Mother Grandfather

Grandfather

Father Uncle Father Grandfather

Uncle

John C. McClure Jr.

Waller McCraken

Julia R. Lemon

Fiona R. Williams

2043

Clayton H. Bradley

Cecilia A. Varughese

Edward Price

Paxton Crites

Brooks M. Freeman

2044

Andrew R. Radi

AaLiyah C. Prather

Bryan Rodriguez ’02

James E. Rogers ’67

Mary G. Lemon ’14

Matthew A. Williams ’07

Aaron J. Bradley ’12

John M. Gibbons Jr. ’65

Dean A. Kershaw ’68

Stephen C. Price ’71

Sabina K. Crites ’14

Nathaniel L. Cross ’89

Matthew D. Radi ’11

Richard W. Glass ’76

Roy M. Glass ’71

James C. Sutherland ’53

John H. Sutherland ’926

William A. Sutherland ’939

Henry C. Sutherland ’42

Gabriel S. Sutherland ’18

Step-father Uncle Mother Father Father Grandfather

Step-grandfather Grandfather Mother Grandfather Father Grandfather

Great-uncle

Great-grandfather Cousin

Great-uncle

Anne C. Brown

Braxton I. Wilson

Charlotte J. Fedison

Fleet McCraken

Grant Mendillo

Gabriel E. Clark

George Lawrence

John C. Ishon ’69

Richard D. Wilson ’19

J. Tyler Fedison ’19

James E. Rogers ’67

Christopher J. Mendillo ’10

Brent S. Clark ’15

Austin L. Bajc ’17

Great-uncle Cousin Grandfather Father Father Uncle Father Father Father

Provisional Appointments

2044 (cont.)

Hunt S. Burton

Louis J. Burton ’16

James E. Burton IV ’79

James E. Burton III ’52

James E. Burton V ’12

Douglas B. Burton Sr. ’80

Robert H. Patterson III ’79

Daniel H. Burton ’85

Douglas B. Burton Jr. ’14

John E. Burton ’16

Jacob D. Burton ’16

Robert H. Patterson IV ’18

Andrew H. Burton ’22

Father Grandfather

Great-grandfather

Uncle

Great-uncle

Great-uncle

Great-uncle

Cousin

Cousin

Cousin

Cousin

Cousin

Marshall B. Yates

Nolan Meier

Robert E. Ellison III

Timothy F. Eddy III

Wade O. Condrey

Palmer L. Manning

Maxwell L. Yates ’12

Nicholas J. Meier ’16

Charles G. Ellison ’12

Carl R. Ellison ’15

Timothy F. Eddy Jr. ’16

William R. Dowd ’90

William B. Condrey ’16

Ross A. Condrey ’18

Henry H. Brant ’65

W. Davis Manning ’91

Thomas H. Manning ’85

2045

Jackson S. Rodriguez

Jacob D. Burton Jr.

Bryan J. Rodriguez ’02

Jacob D. Burton ’16

Daniel H. Burton ’85

James E. Burton III ’52

Andrew H. Burton ’22

James E. Burton IV ’79

Robert H. Patterson III ’79

Douglas B. Burton Sr. ’80

James E. Burton V ’12

Douglas B. Burton Jr. ’14

Louis J. Burton ’16

John E. Burton ’16

Robert H. Patterson IV ’18

Gerald R. Manley ’81

Joseph A. Morelli III ’78

Thomas F. Manley II ’79

John S. Manley ’83

Thomas F. Manley III ’05

Miles E. Manley ’16

Uncle Father

Grandfather

Great-grandfather Uncle

Great-uncle

Great-uncle

Great-uncle Cousin Cousin Cousin Cousin Cousin

Grandfather

Great-uncle

Great-uncle

Great-uncle Cousin Cousin

Ambrose K. Adams

Beckham B. Heely

C. Quinn Adams ’12

Justin T. Dwight ’12

Robert A. Heely Sr. ’69

Robert A. Heely Jr. ’98

James E. Heely ’71

Dale H. Heely ’40

Connor L. Heely ’05

Father Father Father Uncle Father

Great-uncle Father Uncle Great-grandfather Grandfather Great-uncle Father Uncle Grandfather Uncle Great-uncle

Great-grandfather Cousin

Lakely R. Sutherland

James C. Sutherland ’53

John H. Sutherland ’926

William A. Sutherland ’939

Henry C. Sutherland ’42

Gabriel S. Sutherland ’18

Great-grandfather Cousin

Marco A. Santos

Lindsey L. Santos (Parkman) ’12

Mother

Nathaniel L. Dixon

Benjamin B. Scaplehorn

Cooper A. Bradley

Jack W. Ellison

Nicholas B. Cichy

Rosalie L.L. Freeland

Sloane C. Burchett

John H. Dixon ’81

Michael K. Scaplehorn ’13

Aaron J. Bradley ’12

Carl R. Ellison ’15

Charles G. Ellison ’12

Matthew D. Cichy ’02

Eric A. Schwartz ’95

J. Kyle Burchett ’08

John M. Patton ’42

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. John Mercer “Jack” Patton ’42 of Lees Summit, Missouri, died Jan. 26, 2023. He was 101.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He taught in the Air Force ROTC Unit at VMI in the late 1940s.

He is survived by his daughters, Martha-Frances Patton (Richard Conant), Judith Patton O’Donnell, and Patricia Patton; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and step-daughters, Diana Ladd, Stephanie Shobe (Bryan), and Kerry Loetscher (Nick).

He was preceded in death by his wives, Patricia Featherstone Patton and Geraldine Morphew Patton; daughter, Pamela Patton; step-son, Michael Morphew; and son-in-law, David O’Donnell.

Douglas G. Lindsey ’45

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Douglas Griffith Lindsey ’45 of Alexandria, Virginia, died Nov. 29, 2022. He was 98.

He matriculated from Alexandria and spent a year-and-a-half at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his children, Douglas McMullen Lindsey, Bruce McRee Lindsey, and Robert Warfield Lindsey, and granddaughter, Brittany Nicole Griffith Lindsey.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sara Ann Lindsey, and daughter, Ann Griffith Lindsey.

James W. Tinsley III ’45

James Whitfield “Jim” Tinsley III ’45, M.D., of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, died Dec. 12, 2022. He was 99.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Virginia and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

John D. Naill Jr. ’46

John DuBose Naill Jr. ’46 of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Dec. 17, 2022. He was 98.

He matriculated from Biscoe, Arkansas, and spent less than one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy.

He is survived by his wife, Sally; son, John D. Naill III (Laura Connaway); daughter, Rebecca Reagan; granddaughters, Molly Turner and

Katherine Pares (Michael); great-grandchildren, Bee, Zev, Julen, and Rafael; and daughterin-law, Jacqueline Crenwelge Naill.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann; son, Bill; and grandson, Ran.

Maclin P. Davis Jr. ’47

Maclin Paschall “Mac” Davis Jr. ’47 of Nashville, Tennessee, died Jan. 11, 2023. He was 96.

He matriculated from Nashville and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Hager Davis; children, Maclin P. Davis III (Vicky), Joseph N. Davis (Cindy), and Dorothy Savage Davis; grandchildren, Laura Rose Davis, John Paschall Davis, Mary Elaine Davis Treuba (Jules), and Paul Maclin Davis; and step-children, Judy Burch (Charles), Auborn Lee “Bud” Hager III (Lindsay), and Joannie Pietramale.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Jane Savage Davis, and sisters, Norma Davis Owen (Penn), Edith Davis “Deedie” Whiteman (Harold), and Priscilla Davis.

William L. Morton ’50B

William Looney “Bill” Morton ’50B of Wilmington, California, died Dec. 8, 2022. He was 94.

He matriculated from Appalachia, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University.

Herbert L. Harris ’50B

Herbert Latham “Herb” Harris ’50B of Rydal, Pennsylvania, died Dec. 2, 2022. He was 93.

He matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.

He is survived by his wife, Mary-Morrison “M.M.” Harper Harris; sons, H. Scott Harris (Lois Thomson) and Wayne M. Harris (Dana Reed); grandchildren, Timothy Harris (Carly), Julie Schneebele (Rob), John Harris, Abigail Harris, and Charlie Harris; and great-grandchildren, Paul Harris and Eleanor Harris.

John S. Evans ’51

John Steed Evans ’51, M.D., of Atlanta, Georgia, died Jan. 5, 2023. He was 92.

He matriculated from Murfreesboro, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree

in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University.

He is survived by his wife, Ann Nowell Evans; daughter, Patra Ann Evans (Ted Buchanan); grandson, John Buchanan (Perrine Voisin); and brother, Joe Evans.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Katy Evans Johnson, and brother, H.L. Evans.

George S. Harrington ’52

George Saudray Harrington ’52 of Grand Junction, Colorado, died Jan. 16, 2023. He was 91.

He matriculated from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Monica.

Eustace S. Bellinger Jr. ’53

Eustace St. Pierre “Bell” Bellinger Jr. ’53 of Bel Aire, Kansas, died Jan. 16, 2023. He was 92.

He matriculated from Bessemer, Alabama, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his children, Thomas Bellinger (Margie), Valerie Hanson (Bill), and Shauna Meier (Jonathan); step-children, Cassie Barrett (Kent) and Cindi Knapp; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 13 step-great-grandchildren; and sister, Ann Bellinger.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Garrett; sister, Edith Murray; and father, Eustace St. Pierre Bellinger Sr., Class of 1927, who died Feb. 25, 1987.

Wilbur C. Whitten Jr. ’53

Wilbur Carrington “Red” Whitten Jr. ’53, Ph.D., of Forest, Virginia, died Dec. 6, 2022. He was 91.

He matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

He is survived by his son, Paul C. Whitten (Marnie); daughter, Jennifer A. Whitten (Michael McElheny); grandchildren, Tyler Whitten, Brandon Whitten, Hannah Knowles (Bryce), Avery Whitten, and Andrew Whitten; great-grandchild, Colvin Knowles; and brother, Thomas P. Whitten.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Jean Whitten; sister, Mary Lynn Whitten;

and brother, Franklin Hardwell Whitten.

John H. Gary III ’54

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. John Hamilton Gary III ’54 of Sarasota, Florida, died Nov. 16, 2022. He was 91.

He matriculated from Kinston, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from George Washington University.

He taught in the Naval ROTC Unit at VMI from 1978–81.

Robert E. Gee ’54

Robert Edward “Bob” Gee ’54 of Atherton, California, died Nov. 5, 2022. He was 90.

He matriculated from Kenbridge, Virginia, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Johnson Gee; daughters, Kathleen Adams and Melinda Kirkpatrick (John); step-children, Sarah Marcum, Meg Maloney (Tom), and Bruce Johnson (Olga); grandchildren, Bayley (Zoe), Eileen (Tim), Kate, Bill, and Paul; step-grandchildren, Meg, Meredith, Natalia, Jasper, Jackson, Charlie, and Mia; great-grandchildren, Billee, Prince, Brenna, and Logan; brother, William L. Gee ’58 (Vivian); and former wife, Kathleen L. Drever.

Wesley E. Rhodes Jr. ’55

Wesley Eliot “Dusty” Rhodes Jr. ’55 of Lexington, Virginia, died Nov. 27, 2022. He was 89.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley “Rody” Rhodes; children, Steven Rhodes (Sue), Wesley Rhodes (Maria), and Katherine “Scottie” Belanger (Paul); grandchildren, Stephanie Blair Belanger, Philip Evan Rhodes, Courtney Campbell (Hunter), Aaron Mitchell Belanger, Brett Eliot Rhodes, and Garrett Norman Rhodes; and great-grandchildren, Braxton Cody Rhodes and Brynn Kay Rhodes.

Ruble L. Smith ’55

Ruble Lea Smith ’55 of Knoxville, Tennessee, died Jan. 21, 2023. He was 90.

He matriculated from Salem, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; daughters,

Debbie Chesney (Gary) and Nanci Allen (Jeff); 11 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Lewis Smith.

Robert B. Bittner ’56

Robert Blaine Bittner ’56 of Thousand Oaks, California, died Nov. 26, 2022. He was 88.

He matriculated from Jennerstown, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Bittner.

Walter H. Graham ’56

Walter Hopkins “Hop” Graham ’56, M.D., of Yorktown, Virginia, died Dec. 18, 2022. He was 88.

He matriculated from Hampton, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Smith “Sug” Graham; children, Walter Graham (Teresa), Ann Broad (David), Gary Graham (Kim), and Cindy MacDonald (David); eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Thornton H. Elmore Jr. ’57

Thornton Hurt “Billy” Elmore Jr. ’57, D.D.S., of Williamsburg, Virginia, died Nov. 28, 2022. He was 87.

He matriculated from McKenney, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Medical College of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Epes Elmore; sons, Thornton Hurt Elmore III (Donna) and Edward Epes Elmore (Carol); grandsons, Thornton Hurt Elmore IV and Jason Edward Elmore (Megan); granddaughters, Morgan Tuttle Elmore and Jessica Elmore McManus (Kaleb); and great-grandsons, Logan Elmore, Everett Elmore, and Kameron McManus.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Spencer Hardy Elmore.

William H. Huffcut II ’57

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. William Harwood “Bill” Huffcut II ’57 of Tallahassee, Florida, died Jan. 25, 2023. He was 87.

He matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from Auburn University.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Stewart;

daughters, Evelyn Harrison (Leslie), Natalie Stanley (Kevin), and Marilyn Bopp (Thomas); nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Samuel R. Harrison Jr. ’58

Samuel Reynolds “Sam” Harrison Jr. ’58 of Arlington, Virginia, died Jan. 11, 2023. He was 86.

He matriculated from Arlington and spent one year at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Natty Tapia Harrison; children, Samuel Harrison, retired U.S. Army Col. John Harrison, and Adina Harrison Roe; grandchildren, Kaden Harrison, Kiah Harrison, Bridger Harrison, Alexandra Harrison, Jonathan Harrison, Ian Harrison, Torrin Roe, Quinlan Roe, Declan Roe, and Peyton Roe; and sister, Dorothy “Dottie” Campbell.

Ronald X. Swirk ’58

Ronald Xavier “Ron” Swirk ’58 of Dunedin, Florida, died Nov. 23, 2022. He was 86.

He matriculated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI.

He is survived by his son, John.

Lawrence E. Wootten Sr. ’58

Lawrence Edward “Larry” Wootten Sr. ’58 of Newport News, Virginia, died Jan. 11, 2023. He was 86.

He matriculated from Laurel, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen B. Wootten; children, Patricia Leary (Calvin), Larry Wootten Jr. (Joyce), David Wootten (Penny), and Scott B. Wootten (Jen); grandchildren, Kathleen Leary, Christopher Leary, Jill Wootten, Paige Wootten, Lindsay Coward (Marcus), Erin Kuettel (David), Sam Wootten, and Max Wootten; and great-grandchildren, Josiah, Eva, Malakai, Leif, and Robin.

Richard D. Bingham ’59

Rev. Richard Donald “Dick” Bingham ’59, D.Min., of Tampa, Florida, died Jan. 31, 2023. He was 86.

He matriculated from Gary, West Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University.

He is survived by his sons, Christopher Bingham and Shawn Bingham (Angela); daughter,

Heather Bingham

Smithson

(Christopher); grandchildren, Eva, Emma, Aubrey, Isla, and Charlee; and brother, Bill Bingham.

He was preceded in death by his son, Geoffrey Bingham; sister, Elizabeth Collins; and brothers, James Bingham, Alfred Bingham, Luther Bingham, Eugene Bingham, Thomas Bingham, David Bingham, and Louis Bingham.

Frederick B. Cavanaugh Jr. ’59

Frederick Bates “Fred” Cavanaugh Jr. ’59 of Aiken, South Carolina, died Dec. 28, 2022. He was 86.

He matriculated from Aiken and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Lee Quinn Cavanaugh; sons, Alex and Brian Cavanaugh; and sisters, Judith Lee Cavanaugh, Mary Anne Cavanaugh, and Tish Cavanaugh Hudson (Larry).

Royall W. Geis ’59

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Royall Willis Geis ’59 of Naples, Florida, died Jan. 24, 2023. He was 85.

He matriculated from Riverside, Connecticut, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He is survived by his wife, Geri; daughter, Stacey Geis (Peter); and grandchildren, Hope and Parker.

James C. McFalls ’59

James Casper “Mac” McFalls ’59, M.D., of Falls Church, Virginia, died Dec. 13, 2022. He was 85.

He matriculated from Sturgeon, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from VMI. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Virginia.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Bridget, Scott (Nancy), and Andrew (Kate); and grandchildren, Kelley, Keegan, Nora, Hugh, and Corey.

He was preceded in death by his sons, Ryan and Brady, and granddaughter, Baby Mo.

William H. Old Jr. ’59

William Hayes “Bill” Old Jr. ’59 of White Post, Virginia, died Jan. 31, 2023. He was 84. He matriculated from Cranford, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from VMI. He earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Memphis State University.

He is survived by his wife, Susan.

James R. Greathead ’60

James Rutherfoord “Jim” Greathead ’60 of Castle Rock, Colorado, died Dec. 24, 2022. He was 84.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

Stuart J. Crow ’61

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Stuart Joseph Crow ’61 of The Villages, Florida, died Jan. 8, 2023. He was 83.

He matriculated from Short Hills, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University.

He is survived by his wife, Lee; four children, including Robert S. “Rob” Crow ’88; five grandchildren; and step-daughter.

David R. Elliott ’61

Retired U.S. Army Col. David Robert “Dave” Elliott ’61 of Naples, Florida, died Jan. 16, 2023. He was 83.

He matriculated from Weymouth, Massachusetts, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Central Michigan University.

He is survived by his wife, Judith; sons, Douglas, Donald, and Robert; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sister.

James C. Richards ’62

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. James Cooper “Jim” Richards ’62 of Check, Virginia, died Jan. 11, 2023. He was 83.

He matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from New Mexico Highlands University.

He is survived by his wife, Florine Barnard Richards; daughters, Kim Huerta (Tony) and Dee Marion; grandchildren, Sonjia Clifton (Jeff), Dustin Huerta (Lori), Brandon Huerta (Katie Jo), and Rachelle Jaeger (Brad); great-grandson, Caleb Burley; sisters, Sally Dorr (Fred) and Susan Nunally; and brother, Bill Richards (Teresa).

William F. Ballentine ’63

William Franklin “Bill” Ballentine ’63 of

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, died Jan. 1, 2023. He was 80.

He matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Joey Ballentine; daughters, Jordyn and Pamela; son, Randy Ballentine; five grandchildren; and great-grandchild.

Logan R. Jennings ’63

Logan Reed Jennings ’63 of Hertford, North Carolina, died Jan. 5, 2023. He was 81.

He matriculated from Roanoke, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science degree from George Washington University.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Pardee Jennings; son, Scott Jennings; daughter, Kelly (Larry Tiffany); and grandson, Devin Tiffany. He was preceded in death by his brother, Fred Jennings.

William H. Crone IV ’64

William Henry “Bill” Crone IV ’64 of Corolla, North Carolina, died Nov. 6, 2022. He was 80.

He matriculated from Portsmouth, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Science in Engineering degree from Old Dominion University.

He is survived by his wife, Dyan; children, Lory White (David Powers), Bill Crone ’89 (Maureen), Dusty Crone ’90 (Jo Cole), Sandy Crone ’93 (Rhonda Williams), and Brady Crone ’96 (Heather); grandchildren, Alli, Amity, Connor, Haven, Sophie, Carson, Burke, Ella, Campbell, Everly, Addison, and Molly; great-grandchild, Blakely; and siblings, Jane Robinson, Kenny Crone (Susan), and Cathy Jordan.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Tanner Crone, and brother-in-law, Richard Jordan.

William M. Cranford ’65

William McAvoy “Mac” Cranford ’65 of Palm Desert, California, died Nov. 9, 2022. He was 79.

He matriculated from Arlington, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca.

Theron A. Creel Jr. ’65

Theron Alton Creel Jr. ’65 of Sharpsburg,

Georgia, died Oct. 9, 2022. He was 79.

He matriculated from Riverdale, Georgia, and spent two years at VMI.

Ernest A. Pritchard Jr. ’65

Ernest Alpheus “Bucky” Pritchard Jr. ’65 of Elk Creek, Virginia, died Nov. 25, 2022. He was 80.

He matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and spent just over two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory & Henry College and a Master of Business Administration degree from New Hampshire College.

He is survived by his wife, Scottie Pritchard; children, Matthew Pritchard (Stacy), Grayson Pritchard (Sarah), Ernie Pritchard (Amy), and Gini Greenlaw (Robert); 10 grandchildren; great-grandchild; and brother-in-law, Robert Borum.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Dee Dee Borum.

Alexander E. Schultes ’65

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Alexander Ernst “Alex” Schultes ’65 of Great Falls, Virginia, died Jan. 7, 2023. He was 79.

He matriculated from Alexandria, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI. He graduated from the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; children, John, Derek, Alex, and Lyn; and grandchildren, Savannah-Leigh, Sebastian, Scarlett, Natalia, Tobi, Chloe, Jenna, and Alina.

Robert F. Fowler II ’66

Robert Forrest “Bob” Fowler II ’66 of Atlanta, Georgia, died Nov. 20, 2022. He was 79.

He matriculated from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; children, Elizabeth Vigil (Brian) and Robert Fowler III (Jenny); grandchildren, Lily, Walker, and Forrest IV; and sister, Jeanne Forrest.

Thomas L. Thompson Sr. ’67

Thomas Larry “Tommy” Thompson Sr. ’67 of Natural Bridge Station, Virginia, died Nov. 30, 2022. He was 78.

He matriculated from Natural Bridge, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta Ferguson Thompson; children, Krissy Thompson and Tom Thompson (Allison); step-children, Leigh Ann McCoy (John) and Katie Vreeland (Cass); grandchildren, Cody, Kayla, Colin, and Kevin Thompson; step-grandchildren, Andrew McCoy, Blair Vreeland, and Abbey Vreeland; and brothers, Jimmy Thompson (Sheila) and Bobby Thompson (Susan).

He was preceded in death by his wife, Reedy Clark Thompson; brother, Wayne Thompson; and sisters, Carol Thompson Faulkner and Mary Jane Thompson.

John P. Godfrey ’69

John Patrick Godfrey ’69 of Richmond, Virginia, died Nov. 26, 2022. He was 75.

He matriculated from Richmond and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his mother, Patricia L. Godfrey; brother, Charles W. “Chuck” Godfrey (Nancy); and sister, Deborah G. “Deb” Griffin (Robert).

Kenneth B. Parris Jr. ’69

Kenneth Bishop “Ken” Parris Jr. ’69 of Midlothian, Virginia, died Jan. 19, 2023. He was 76.

He matriculated from Danville, Virginia, and spent just over two years at VMI.

Carson L. Tucker ’70

Carson Linwood Tucker ’70 of Powhatan, Virginia, died Jan. 24, 2023. He was 75.

He matriculated from Newport News, Virginia, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He earned Master of Arts degrees from the College of William & Mary and George Washington University.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah, and his mother, Maggie Tucker.

Randolph D. Stowe ’71

Randolph Daniel Stowe ’71 of Norfolk, Virginia, died Jan. 27, 2023. He was 74.

He matriculated from Raleigh, North Carolina, and spent two years at VMI. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy; brother, Steve Stowe; and sister, Melody Scott (Ron).

He was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel L. Stowe Jr.

John R. Youell ’71

John Rice Youell ’71 of Chester, Virginia, died Dec. 19, 2022. He was 73.

He matriculated from Sangley Point, Philippines, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his children, John Blanton Youell and Katherine Nelson “Katie” Youell; grandchildren, Maddie, Claire, Ryn, Liam, and Eli; and brother, William N. “Bill” Youell ’72.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Jones Youell, and father, Rice McNutt “Mac” Youell Jr., Class of 1943, who died Jan. 28, 1997.

Arvin H. Brown III ’73

Ar vin Harrington “Jerry” Brown III ’73 of Wake Forest, North Carolina, died Dec. 21, 2022. He was 72.

He matriculated from La Jolla, California, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Bacher Brown; children, Arvin, Kathleen Hecker (Tim), Joseph, Rachel Newberry (Steve), and Margaret; grandchildren, Timmy, Keira, and Astrid Hecker and Maria and Alice Newberry; brothers, Michael Brown (Roseleen) and Gregory Brown (Faye); sister, Kathleen Brown Lowery; and parents-in-law, Rudolph and Patricia Bacher.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Maria.

William V. Mason Jr. ’74

William Vincent Mason Jr. ’74 of Forest, Virginia, died Oct. 26, 2020.

He matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and spent three years at VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey.

Lawrence S. Bradshaw ’75

Lawrence Smith “Larry” Bradshaw ’75 of Elizabethton, Tennessee, died Nov. 4, 2022. He was 69.

He matriculated from Norge, Virginia, and spent one year at VMI.

He is survived by his children, Tom Bradshaw, Eliza Hilyard, and Andy Bradshaw; brothers, Anderson (Ann), Richard, Philip (Melanie), and Russ (Linda); and sister, Nancy (Chuck).

He was preceded in death by his brother, Adolphus Gilliam Bradshaw III ’71, who died June 19, 1970.

Douglas W. Hines ’76

Douglas Wayne “Doug” Hines ’76 of Burtonsville, Maryland, died Dec. 22, 2022. He was 68.

He matriculated from Elkton, Maryland, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business from VMI.

He is survived by his sons, Chad (Alison) and Brett (Megan); grandchildren, Kenna, Sienna, Jesse, and Nathan; and brothers, Glen and Daniel.

Evan H. Ashby III ’77

Evan Hamilton “Skeet” Ashby III ’77 of Remington, Virginia, died Jan. 26, 2023. He was 67.

He matriculated from Remington and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from VMI. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Ashby; children, Evan H. Ashby IV (Rachel), Blair L. Harlow (Trevor), and Robert W. Ashby (Alison); granddaughter, Charlotte Ashby; sister, Kee Miller (Bill); and brother, Will Ashby (Dawn).

David A. Humphrey ’80

David Allan Humphrey ’80 of Parker, Colorado, died Dec. 27, 2022. He was 65.

He matriculated from Lynchburg, Virginia, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He earned a Master of Science degree from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa Staton Humphrey; son, Steven David Humphrey (Amanda); granddaughters, Savannah Mae and Charlotte Pearl Humphrey; and brother, Michael Dale Humphrey.

Thomas E. Farmer ’82

Thomas Earl “Tom” Farmer ’82 of Beltsville, Maryland, died Dec. 14, 2022. He was 62.

He matriculated from Vienna, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI.

Melvin L. Nowlin ’82

Melvin Leonard “Mel” Nowlin ’82, Ph.D., of Big Island, Virginia, died Dec. 30, 2022. He was 62.

He matriculated from Salem, Virginia, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He earned a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Virginia and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Emory University.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Paxton

Nowlin; daughters, Sara Hall (Greg), Theresa Peregroff (Michael), and Kimberly Burnette (Lacy); granddaughter, Elizabeth Burnette; sister, Joann Sprouse (J.D.); brother, Gary Nowlin (Maryellen); and brothers-in-law, David Paxton (Vicki); Joseph Paxton (Annette), and James Paxton (Hilda).

He was preceded in death by his brother, Alan Ray Nowlin.

Stephen V. Motylinski ’85

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Stephen V. “Mots” Motylinski ’85 of Palm Coast, Florida, died Jan. 3, 2023. He was 59.

He matriculated from Eastchester, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from VMI. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Central State University of Oklahoma.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah O’Connell Motylinski; daughters, Melissa Baker (Cabot) and Jennifer Granstrand (Aidan); granddaughter, Skylar Baker; brother, Kenneth Motylinski Jr. (Michelle); and sister, Valerie Tulotta (Phil).

David F. Baker ’88

Retired Army National Guard Lt. Col. David Fontaine Baker ’88 of Boylston, Massachusetts, died Jan. 13, 2023. He was 57.

He matriculated from Acton, Massachusetts, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Amy Gates Baker; daughters, Megan F. Baker and Sarah G. Baker; parents, Harold and Nicole M. Baker; and sister, Stephanie L. Baker.

James M. Lee ’94

James Michael Lee ’94 of Kernersville, North Carolina, died Nov. 2, 2022. He was 50.

He matriculated from Wytheville, Virginia, and spent six days at VMI.

Matthew A. Piazza ’11

Matthew Anthony Piazza ’11 of Oahu, Hawaii, died Jan. 6, 2023. He was 34.

He matriculated from Fort Myers, Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI.

He is survived by his wife, Megan; sons, Bode and Lyle; parents, Philip and Darlene Piazza; and brother, Michael Piazza.

William B. Loring ’12

William Bryan Loring ’12 of El Paso, Texas, died Jan. 15, 2023. He was 32.

He matriculated from Kingsport, Tennessee, and was a distinguished graduate of VMI, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies.

Clyde C. Crone ’17

Clyde Carson Crone ’17 of Mechanicsville, Virginia, died Jan. 6, 2023. He was 27.

He matriculated from Cumberland, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

He is survived by his father, Steven Crone; sister, Elaine Renick; and grandmother, Joyce Crone.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lisa Crone.

VMI Family

John L. Kimmey

John Lansing Kimmey, Ph.D., of Greenville, South Carolina, died Dec. 5, 2022. He was 100. He formerly taught English at VMI.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Columbia University.

He is survived by his children, Julia Mullen (Dr. Charles Mullen), Dr. Gerritt Kimmey, and Jessica King (Stephen King); grandchildren, Mary Ware, Laura Nix (Charles Nix), Susannah Bartko (Alex Bartko), Geoffrey Mullen (Claire Mullen), Andrea Mullen, Kathleen King, Julia King, Sylvia Fulton (Morgan Fulton), Samantha Kimmey, and Anna Kimmey; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Kimmey, and son, John Lansing Kimmey III.

Patrick M. Mayerchak

Patrick M. Mayerchak, Ph.D., died Dec. 28, 2022. He was 79.

He taught international studies at VMI for 33 years.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from American University.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane “M.J.” Mayerchak; children, Martin Mayerchak (Laila Kuznezov) and Suzanne Mayerchak (D. Christian Duncan); and grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexandra Mayerchak and Broeden Duncan.

Maclin Paschall “Mac” Davis Jr. ’47 was a living legend in the courts of middle Tennessee. He died Jan. 11, 2023. He was 96 years old.

Davis matriculated with the Class of 1947 in September 1943, stayed at VMI for a year and three months, and then left for the U.S. Navy, in which he served as an officer. He completed his college education at Vanderbilt University and earned his law degree there in 1950.

He joined a Nashville law firm and, in 1954, ran for a seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives. The six Nashville/Davidson County legislators were elected at large out of a field of 46 candidates. Having gone to bed on election night in seventh place, Davis was very surprised when he woke the next morning in sixth.

This brought home to the freshman representative one of the worst-kept secrets in Tennessee politics. The population of each legislative voting district across the state should have been approximately the same. If the state had been properly reapportioned in accordance with its constitution, the first 12 at-large candidates in Nashville would have been elected, not just six. The Tennessee constitution and the constitutions of almost all the states required reapportionment every 10 years with the publication of the results of the U.S. Census. Tennessee had not been reapportioned in 50 years despite the fact that the population had moved from agricultural areas to urban centers.

One of Davis’ first acts as a state representative was to introduce a bill to reapportion Tennessee’s legislative districts. At a Nashville Bar Association function in fall 2012, I asked Davis why he filed the bill, which he knew was going to be hugely unpopular. His response was simple and serious: “When I took the oath of office, I swore that I would uphold the Constitution of

Maclin “Mac” Davis ’47

the United States and the state of Tennessee. It was just like being certified at VMI.”

Davis’ bill was blocked at every turn by the rural senators and representatives. He could not even get the state attorney general to render an opinion on the constitutionality of his proposed legislation.

What Davis did next set in motion one of the greatest reforms in American history. He filed a lawsuit in the chancery court of Davidson County, Tennessee, which opened a road from Tennessee to Minnesota, back to Tennessee, and finally to the U.S. Supreme Court. He put in motion an effort that resulted in the reapportionment of every state in the United States.

The lawsuit Davis brought was styled Kidd v. McCanless. Kidd was Gates Kidd, a Ford dealer in Johnson City, Tennessee, whose name happened to be the first on a long list of plaintiffs. McCanless was George McCanless, the Tennessee attorney general. Ironically, Davis, the plaintiff’s counsel, had to recuse himself from the case when the entire membership of the Tennessee House of Representatives was added as party defendants. He could not represent the plaintiffs in the same suit in which he was a defendant.

The case was tried before Chancellor Thomas Wardlaw Steele, whose ruling infuriated the state’s legislative and executive branches. He held that the state’s General Assembly was a de facto legislature. No one could deny that when the General Assembly was in session, there were senators and representatives debating, voting, and walking the halls of the state capitol. But, he ruled, it was not a de jure legislature because its members were not elected by a properly apportioned electorate. Therefore, any action taken by the General Assembly was subject to attack in any court in the state because the law

Carson L. Tucker ’70

in question had not been passed by a legally assembled General Assembly.

Unfortunately, the Tennessee Supreme Court reversed the decision. But Davis’ cause was one whose time had come. In Minnesota, Daniel B. McGraw would convince his neighbor, Frank Farrell, a lawyer in the legal department of the Northern Pacific Railroad, that a suit patterned after Kidd v. McCanless should be brought in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. In this case, McGraw v. Donovan, a three-judge panel announced from the bench that it was going to rule in a written opinion that Minnesota’s failure to reapportion for decades was a violation of the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Conveniently, the Minnesota legislature was just about to go into session. The court said it would issue its written opinion when the legislature adjourned. During the session, Minnesota reapportioned its voting districts, rendering McGraw v. Donovan moot.

This set the stage for Tennessee lawyers to initiate what would become the landmark case Baker v. Carr, which Earl Warren, then-chief justice, called “the most vital decision” of his turbulent years on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The entire VMI family should take great pride in the accomplishment of this alumnus who made “one man, one vote” the law of the land.

The 50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Baker v. Carr was celebrated by the Nashville Bar Association with a three-hour historical continuing legal education program at the downtown Nashville Public Library Nov. 8, 2012. The program can be viewed at the following YouTube link: youtube. com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLY41A-hkTv39ZpnAYwG-jZ4RBUtzFUn_4

Carson Tucker ’70 had the temerity, the unmitigated gall to die in January. I had believed him invulnerable—immortal and immutable, even. After all, he still maintained a full head of hair, immune to thinning, baldness, or

even receding. His follicles defied aging. Why wouldn’t the rest of him do the same?

It’s all the more upsetting because Carson was a mensch, a Yiddish word meaning “a person of integrity and honor.” English

doesn’t have a suitable synonym, so I borrow the term. I saw Carson every day across four years at VMI and not nearly so many days across the five decades that followed, and I speak with certainty when I say that he was a

man you could rely on and trust—a mensch.

To Carson, the Institute was not four years of torment to survive but a thousand chances to excel—and excel he did. Asked to send representatives to the premiere of the Oscar-winning film, Patton, the VMI administration selected Carson. The Woodrow Wilson Foundation granted him a prestigious fellowship. At graduation, he wore academic stars and the insignia of a cadet captain, commanding the 1st Battalion. The Institute’s faculty awarded Carson the Society of the Cincinnati Medal, and his classmates voted him valedictorian. Carson was the cadet many of his brother rats aspired—and failed—to be.

Not that his successes came easily. Two incidents stand out in my memory. One occurred because Carson had to earn his tuition himself. He worked as a cadet waiter, then won an ROTC scholarship to pay for his final two years. This committed him to additional service—and likely a successful career—in the military.

But ROTC summer camp dealt Carson a devastating blow. Rat rifle training had damaged his hearing, rendering him unacceptable to the military. The Army dismissed him from the ROTC program and withdrew his scholarship, forcing Carson to scramble again. I believe Col. Herbert Nash Dillard,

Class of 1934, then-head of the English department—and Carson’s mentor, advisor, and friend—stepped in.

Then, following Christmas vacation in his final year, Carson was aboard a bus returning cadets to Lexington from the Newport News area. A blinding snowstorm turned the roads treacherous and unsafe to drive fast enough to reach VMI within the authorized leave period. As the senior cadet aboard, Carson directed the bus driver to slow down. He took full responsibility for delaying the return of several dozen cadets and received a No. 1, the most significant penalty a cadet could receive and remain at the Institute. He had acted for the safety of other cadets, and when the Institute disciplined him for that decision, he accepted his punishment without complaint or rancor. A mensch, indeed.

Carson was my friend, faithful and just to me, throughout all four years of our cadetship, including three years as roommates. Our friendship began before the “rat mixer,” an event organized by VMI to enable rats to meet and socialize with coeds bussed in from other colleges. While we were awaiting our turn to enter Cocke Hall, Carson told me he was uninterested in the event, as he had a longstanding girlfriend at home. I remember

my skepticism that such a commitment would endure, but I stood with Carson four years later as he married Sandra.

Carson saw things in others that they may not have seen in themselves. Late in our 1st Class year, someone suggested that only about 10% of cadets understood and embraced the Institute’s mission of building citizen-soldiers. Carson identified those among his classmates he believed to fit in that 10% and awarded them certificates indicating they belonged to the “Society of the Ten Percent.” I—and others—still have and treasure those certificates. I cannot speak to Carson’s life after VMI. We visited occasionally, and when we did, our conversations started as if they had only been briefly interrupted. But then we allowed months and years to pass between visits. We exchanged letters rarely and called each other infrequently, trading Christmas cards devoid of news. I know he built a respected career, retired, divorced, remarried, served in public office, and traveled. He wrote, read, and learned voraciously. But these are just fragments, snapshots from a life that others know far better than I do. I know that in the days of our youth, in the years of promise and possibility at VMI, Carson was the best of us, and I shall deeply mourn his passing.

G. Gilmer “Gil” Minor III ’63 was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Virginian Awardee by the Virginia House of Delegates in the House chamber session Feb. 13, 2023.

Betsy B. Carr, Virginia delegate, said it was her “tremendous honor and delight” to present the award on behalf of the Outstanding Virginian Committee. “Throughout his remarkable life, this amazing man has led, contributed to, and inspired the citizens of our Commonwealth through his work and his presence,” said Carr.

Over his career, Minor led his global healthcare logistics company, Owens & Minor Incorporated, to Fortune 500 status. Owens & Minor, which is headquartered in Richmond, was co-founded and led by four generations of the Minor family. The company provides vital supply chain services nationally to health care providers, health care product manufacturers, and other entities.

In addition, Minor has devoted his time to civic, professional, educational, and charitable organizations. He also served as chair of the Virginia State Council of Higher Education and of the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell appointed Minor to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation, and Investment.

Carr noted the emergence of Minor’s leadership as early as high school when he was co-captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams and received all honors in each sport his

senior year at St. Christopher’s School. At VMI, Minor was co-captain of both the football and baseball teams, later earning an induction into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame for both sports. In 2006, Minor was a Three-Legged Stool recipient.

Minor has been honored with numerous awards and accolades over the years, including the Distinguished Service Award from the VMI Foundation; induction into the Junior Achievement Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame; and the United Negro College Fund’s Flame Bearer of Education Award.

Minor matriculated from Richmond, Virginia, and earned a degree in history from VMI. After graduation, Minor earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He also served as a member of the VMI Keydet Club Board of Governors; member and president of the VMI Board of Visitors; and member and president of the VMI Foundation Board of Trustees. Joining Minor as he received the Outstanding Virginian Award was his wife, Charlotte.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society honored John “Jack” T. Avis ’87 as one of three community leaders at their 31st Annual Roanoke Dinner of Champions at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia, Sept. 7, 2022. The Dinner of Champions gala is the society’s premier event, which pays tribute to the vast network of individuals, corporations, organizations, and volunteer leaders who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people living with MS.

This year’s Frank N. Cowan Silver Hope honorees, Avis, Ginger Poole Avis, and Don Halliwill, were recognized for their ability to inspire hope through resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the National MS Society’s mission.

Avis is chairman and treasurer of Avis Construction Company, Inc. in Roanoke. Avis Construction is a full-service general contractor specializing in commercial and industrial construction. Avis has been with Avis Construction

in various capacities for 40 years and has worked there continuously for the last 33 years.

Avis is married to Virginia Poole “Ginger” Avis, who was also one of the three community leader award recipients, and has a daughter, Anne Tillison. Avis matriculated from Roanoke and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI. Avis also earned a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Richard C. Wolffe Jr. ’78 led the restoration and improvement of Monument Park in Summit, New Jersey. A rededication ceremony was held Dec. 10, 2022, after the monuments were

successfully installed with new flag poles and concrete work. About a year ago, Wolffe of Summit Elks Lodge and Henry Bassman of the Lindsey-Street Post of the American Legion noticed the small war monument area on the village green in Summit had deteriorated.

Wolffe started a campaign to upgrade the monuments and garnered the support of the city. Through the generosity of over 260 members of the Summit Elks Lodge, Lindsey-Street Post, and the Summit Foundation, the campaign raised over $100,000 in nine months. Wolffe matriculated from Short Hills, New Jersey, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business from VMI. Wolffe earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and

State University in 1982.

Matthew C. Howard ’87 was recognized as veteran of the game at the Washington Commanders versus New York Giants NFL game at FedEx field Dec. 18, 2022. The Travis Manion Foundation, where Howard serves as a volunteer and mentor, nominated Howard for the award.

The Travis Manion Foundation aims to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.

According to its mission statement, the Travis Manion Foundation “strives to unite and strengthen communities by training, developing, and highlighting the role models that lead them. We develop programs, training opportunities, and events designed to empower veterans and families of the fallen and then inspire them to pass on their values to the next generation and the community at large.”

Howard matriculated from Charlotte, North Carolina, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from VMI.

Turnaround by Harbert Alexander ’61. ISBN: 979-8-9850605-7-7. HillHelen Group Publishers, 2022. Available via Amazon.

Turnaround is an inspiring novel about a preacher’s kid, Cole, who wants to play baseball. A school bully goes after Cole, but nothing will stop him, not even an injury, just as major leagues beckon. In Turnaround, Cole knows when God throws you a curveball, you use it. His curveball will take him to the major leagues if he keeps swinging. His fortitude and faith will set him on a path to dream even bigger.

Uplifting and inspiring, Turnaround is more than the story of a boy who loves baseball. Cole builds his world around learning to play. In doing so, he learns how to love and serve the world around him.

Turnaround was Alexander’s first fiction novel, written over three years, and reflects his life as a small boy who wanted to play baseball. He finished the novel shortly before his death April 24, 2022. Turnaround was published posthumously in November 2022.

About the Author:

A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Alexander

graduated from Jackson High School in 1957, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Virginia Military Institute in 1961, and a graduate degree from Rutgers University. He served as an Army artillery officer in West Germany, retiring as a captain. A banker in Jackson for more than 43 years, Alexander served as president of Jackson National Bank and Union Planters National Bank and as chairman and chief executive officer of the Bank of Jackson until 2010.

He served as a past board chairman of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. In 1991, he was Jackson Exchange Club’s Man of the Year.

An author of seven books, Alexander was the Madison County, Tennessee, historian for 23 years. Alexander was an avid hunter and amateur archaeologist. He served on the Tennessee State Museum board, and he wrote for numerous magazines, including the Tennessee Historical Quarterly and Ducks Unlimited.

Carolina’s Ring by Lynn Seldon ’83. Koehler Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781646638840. Available via Amazon.

Carolina’s Ring is a modern coming-of-age story between Carolina Stone and Ben and Alf Marshall, childhood friends and twin brothers. With unexpected life-or-death events shaping their futures, Carolina’s Ring follows these three friends from the foothills of South Carolina to the campuses of Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel and ultimately to the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and beyond.

Carolina’s Ring is the second book of Seldon’s The Ring Trilogy.

About the Author:

A VMI graduate and Army veteran, Seldon is a longtime writer with more than 500 magazine and newspaper credits, including USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, TrailBlazer, airline inflights, several AAA publications, and dozens more. He is the author or coauthor of six nonfiction books, and his first novel, Virginia’s Ring, was hailed by Pat Conroy as “a triumph and a tour de force.”

Seldon lives in Beaufort, South Carolina, with fellow writer and wife, Cele Seldon. Seldon matriculated from Winchester, Virginia, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business from VMI.

How the VMI Alumni Agencies helps support VMI

VMI Alumni Agencies

Creating strength of purpose for efficient and effective operations, stewardship, fundraising, communications, events, advancement services, and engagement in support of the VMI alumni family, the Corps of Cadets, and the future of the Institute. The VMI Alumni Agencies Board consists of the president and vice president of the Foundation Board of Trustees, the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Keydet Club Board of Governors, as well as a representative from the VMI Board of Visitors.

VMI Alumni Association

Primary purpose: To organize alumni in one general body to keep alive the memories of Institute life and to efficiently aid in the promotion of the welfare of the Institute and the successful prosecution of its educational purposes in the future. The VMI Alumni Association supports alumni engagement and the Institute through chapter activities, admissions recruiting, Moody Hall activities, career support, and alumni reunions with support from advancement services.

VMI Foundation

Responsible for fundraising and comprehensive giving options, including vital unrestricted funding, directed giving funds and scholarships, cadet life and leadership programs support, and planned giving—all types of financial support with the exception of NCAA Division I athletics.

The VMI Investment Holdings, LLC board has the overall responsibility for the management of the VMI endowment, operating within fiscal best practices and processes to secure a strong future for the Institute.

VMI Keydet Club

Responsible for the financial support of NCAA Division I cadetathletes via scholarships, coaches’ salaries, academic support, and operating budgets for VMI’s 18 individual NCAA teams. The Keydet Club provides directed communications to donor leadership and supports engagement at sporting events. Financial support from the Keydet Club creates opportunity for cadet-athletes.

Separate but Connected

While the VMI Alumni Agencies collaborates, engages, and supports VMI, it is not involved in the below chain of command.

Governor of Virginia

VMI Board of Visitors

Superintendent

Virginia Military Institute

More than 3,500 alumni attend VMI meetings, events, and gatherings per year.

Private giving supports more than 23% of the annual operating budget at VMI.