August , 2006
Class Notes
Greeting to all from the fair city of Richmond. I trust everyone had an enjoyable safe summer and are now looking forward to enjoying the cool fall weather and watching the Keydets play inspired football!!
Retirement news — After 35 years of serving in a multitude of positions and assignments around the world, our last active duty military BR tendered his retirement. Lt. General Carl Strock retired as head of the Army Corps of Engineers after 2 years of guiding the Corps through many unprecedented challenges of nature and war. Carl on behalf of a grateful country, the entire Class salutes you and Julie for your service. There are not many people who could cope with what you had to deal with – thank you for all that you have done. You made us proud. We wish you and Julie the best and look forward to seeing you all more often in Lexington.
Another retirement was noted this summer — Stix Chandler retired after 35 years of railroading with CSX. Stix’s appeared to jump into retirement by polishing up the golf clubs, restringing the tennis racket and pulling out Rand McNally. Stix and wife Nancy along with Warren and Liz Grasty went on the Princess Line Alaska Cruise and had a fabulous time. He indicated that the cruise was better than advertised and highly recommended it to everyone. After Alaska, Stix and Nancy were heading to Nags Head for a week with Jimi and Judy Mawyer and John and June Bailey. Stix plans on starting consultant work when he winds down but still plans on swinging the clubs on a frequent basis. Congrats Stix — you’ve earned it. By the way I think Stix has given hope to the agnostics of the world. Stix’s daughter (who is a lovely talented young woman) won the Miss Jacksonville beauty pageant and is competing for the state title. There has to be a God or she could have inherited Stix’s looks instead of those of her mother!! We all wish her well in the competition.
Jon Vodermark wrote from Lubbock, Tx. where he is trying to get a urology residency established at Texas Tech. Apparently it is a long complicated, stressful process and Jon unwinds by taking to the streams for some serious fly fishing. Good luck Jon.
The Keydet Club held it’s annual Leadership Outing in June and ’70 was well represented. Ralph Costen, Al Kirk, Bob Copty , Walt Ivkovitch, Bill Gearhart, Roy Heddleston and yours truly enjoyed the golf, food and alcohol. The high light of the function were the remarks made by the coaches, most noticeably those by Coach Reid. There is a new attitude in Lexington and you will see it and more importantly feel it this fall. Good times are on the way.
Don Crawford sent a nice note with lots of info. The note follows:
Here’s news from the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. My wife, Lois, and I attended the Rockbridge Alumni Chapter 4th of July party at the Institute last week. This was our second year of picnic at Moody Hall with a spectacular view of the fireworks over barracks. (Probably looked like what the towns people saw when Hunter shelled the place!) I had nice long visits with Cameron Seay and his wife, Mary, and Tom Zarges with his wife Jan and son Scott. Tom and Jan are building a home outside of Lexington and hope to relocate there someday. Might be a good location for reunion headquarters?
The company I work for, Shickel Corporation, is a custom metal fabricator. We were just awarded the subcontract for the railings, stairs and miscellaneous metals for the New, New Barracks being built where Lejeune Hall now stands … or more correctly stood … by the time this gets to press. I had the drawings for New, New Barracks at my office when Ed Trinkle and his wife, Marky, stopped by Harrisonburg for lunch on their way to Mark and Sandy Albright‘s son’s wedding. Hey, Trinkle is Trinkle what more can I say and I probably won’t have to since he is much faster at sending news to you than I am.
My wife works for the Mine Action Information Center, an NGO that deals with land mine remediation world wide. She is the editor of their scholarly journal there. (Yep, she can write, unlike this here engineer.) Twice a year they have a course for senior managers in land mine remediation from all over the world. While they are here in the Valley for 5 weeks, we indoctrinate them on Southern culture. One Saturday we took them to VMI for a post tour. The tour guide was a rising third – she was a Rat only a couple of months ago. Quite the bubbly young woman whom we couldn’t get to speak more slowly so the foreigners could understand her. As we passed over the bricks by Jackson Arch, she mentioned that an Alumni would get his name on a brick for a contribution of $500,000! I know that some of our Brother Rats have done quite well but Trinkle‘s name is on one brick and he ain’t that rich. Oh well one mistake like that is expected from someone who just finished her rat year. But then near the end of the tour as we were standing near the cannon ball I asked her how House Mountain got its name. She didn’t know!! I guess that fact has been removed from the Rat Bible! And it’s one of the few I do remember.
Recently I stopped in to see Bob Spore, the HR guy on Post. He is doing well, likes his job. He has worked for the Commonwealth for 30 years. That’s incredible to me who has worked for 9 companies, including one of my own, since we graduated. Soon he’ll retire on a State pension and be able to buy a brick or two!
And like Shellhammer, I bought a Porsche, too. It’s white and doesn’t have a cute name. My wife says it’s my mid-life toy. If 58 is mid-life, then it looks like I’ll be around for many more reunions. “
Thanks Don for all the news. It was good to hear from you.
Tom and Jill Cooke had some recent good news – another grand daughter. Son Todd ’98 and wife Sally welcomed daughter Katie into the world on Aug. 9th. Tom and Jill have been busy this summer moving into a new home here in Richmond while at the same time decorating their lake home in South Carolina.
Spoke with Dick Hamlet recently and he is on the mend from his hip replacement. Dickie has pulled out the sticks and is heading back to the links so you know the surgery was successful. He continues to stay busy with his construction company and is looking forward to getting to Lexington this fall for some football games.
I spoke with Paul Dickinson recently and he informed me that his daughter Jane was engaged to a University of Wyoming graduate and will be married this fall in Utah. Paul and Judy are excited about the wedding and are looking forward to the trip west. Jane like her mom is also a nurse. Congrats to Paul and Judy.
Received a late night call from Julian Smith recently and JuJu was fired up about the new football coach and the pending season. Julian is planning on attending a couple of games in Lexington this fall in addition to the Richmond game. He said he has missed VMI and is looking forward to seeing everybody again. Julian recently pledged $25,000 to our Class scholarship. JuJu you are the man!!!
Herb and Susan Braun, Tom and Jill Cooke and Paula and I spent Memorial Day weekend with Ralph and Marsha Costen at the Costen’s Ocean Isle (NC) beach house. As usual the Grey Goose was good while the golf was so-so. Ralph recently brought a 26’ Sea Ray and has become quite the sailor. As always a good time was had by all.
Some excellent news to report. The FY 2006 Annual Giving results are in and the Class of 1970 gave a total of $192,077!!!! HOORAH. This includes giving to the Foundation, the Keydet Club and Athletic Operating Fund. Total giving was a record breaking $5,181,633. Well done guys.
I would like to ask a favor of everyone. When you receive these notes, please take a minute to drop me a quick line about what’s going on in your life. Doesn’t have to be long, just a line or two. I would like to hear from you and pass it on to the class.
You all take care. Look forward to hearing from you.
Good bless our troops and the Class of ’70.
