As this unusually hot summer winds down and the coolness of the fall is just around the corner, one wonders if there is something to the global warming alarm or did we just experience the consequences of the hot air generated by Al Gore in his quest for the Holy Grail. I don’t know but one wonders. The summer yielded very little news regarding our BR’s and I suspect vacations, retirements and such were the culprits but some did offer some news. Ben Dick wrote fromCharlottesville pleading poverty as he has both son Tyler and daughter Brittany in college. Ben continues to practice law and occasionally sees Kent Schlussel and Ned Haley. Ben reported that his brother, Tom Dick ’74, son, was stricken with cancer and has waged a major battle to survive and the ordeal has been very trying on the family. We wish your nephew the best Ben and will keep him in our prayers. Ben wishes all BR’s the best and hopes to get to Lexington this fall for some Keydet football.
As you all are aware, Roland and Jeannie Vaughan’s son, Bear was severely wounded while serving in Iraq earlier this year and was sent to Walter Reed hospital for treatment and convalescence. Carl and Julie Strock visited Bear and Jeannie at Walter Reed and Carl reported that the family was bearing up bravely in a tough situation and that thankfully, Bear will recover. Bear, we wish you a speedy recovery and a debt of gratitude for your service. God bless you and all who serve. Carl retired from 37 years of active duty on June 1. He and Julie purchased an old family farm in Westmoreland County and just finished building a vacation home on the water at the farm. They have not decided what they want to do next but are taking some time off to enjoy their new digs and I suspect, readjusting to civilian life. Carl says “life is good”. The Strock boys, John and Chris are in Northern Va and Blacksburg respectively. John is getting married this summer and Chris is working on his PhD and teaching at Tech. The Stocks’ have visited with “neighbors” Peele and June Dillard in Tappahannock and plan on attending some games in Lexington this fall. Carl, on behalf of the Class thanks to you and Julie for all your years of service – you certainly made us proud. Enjoy your retirement!! Ned Haley reports that he moved to Richmond in April and was married to Fricka Raycroft on June 30th. Son Adam was Ned’s best man. Attending the wedding from’70 were Gary and Lynn Weishaar and Larry and Penny Thompson. Apparently they had a killer “Motown” band at the reception and a good time was had by all. Ned and Fricka then embarked on a two week honeymoon cruise along the western Mediterranean with ports of call in Spain, France, Monaco and Italy. Needless to say a trip to remember. Thanks for the update Ned and welcome Fricka to the VMI family. Speaking of traveling, Cameron and Mary Seay had a super vacation out west this summer. Mary sent in the following; “We were visiting our daughter Elizabeth and her husband Steve Martin, who live in Buffalo, Wyoming, a typical Old West town on the edge of the Big Horn Mountains. We took them to Glacier National Park where we met up with the friend that Cameron hiked the Continental Divide the entire length of Colorado with 35 years ago. Then we went to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Then spent a rootin’ tootin’ 4th of July with old army friends in Lander, Wyoming. Then back to Buffalo through Crazy Woman Canyon to deposit the kids. Then on to Crested Butte and Gunnison, Colorado where my nephew and more old army friends live. Some of the wild fires far away made for spectacular sunsets. It was hot as all get out, but the wildflowers were abundantly in bloom”. Sounds like the old Rand McNalley got a workout. Thanks for writing Mary, and thanks for your concern regarding Bear Vaughan. Our most active retiree has to be Stix Chandler. Since Stix retired earlier this yea, he is either on the golf course or the tennis court or is traveling. This summer the Chandlers have visited Tuscany, Anchorage AK, Wintergreen, Jamestown and the Outer Banks. The North Carolina excursion included Jim and Judy Mawyer and John and June Bailey. Stix’s loves the retired life and shows no sign of slowing down. Herb Braun and I ran into Dave Nuckols at a local golf course this summer. Brother Dave reported that his daughter was married in April and has moved to Abington. Dave said that John and Brenda Jordan attended the wedding and that John’s engineering company continues to prosper. Dave stopped by VMI on the way to Roanoke recently and was amazed at the construction that has taken place over the past year. For those of you who have not been back to the Institute in a while, try to make it back this fall for a ball game. In addition to seeing a win you will be very proud of the capital improvements that have occurred. Thanks Dave for the update and look forward to seeing you this fall in Lexington. Mike Carruth reported in from Northern Va. to announce that he and Jeannie are the proud grandparents of Caroline Carruth McCall born on 24 April to Cherilyn (their daughter) and Michael McCall. Mike is retired from the Air Force and currently working for a defense contractor in the DC area. When time permits he continues to knock the little white ball around (which he does very well). Thanks Mike for the update and congrats to all. On May 28th reality hit me right between the eyes as I experienced my 60th birthday. Paula and I were at Ralph and Marsha Costen’s beach house along with Tom and Jill Cooke, Herb and Susan Braun and they did their best to ease the pain of becoming a senior citizen. My two sons, daughter and son in law also came down to help the “old man” celebrate. The birthday week was filled with golf, good food and a great time. The best thing I learned about turning 60 is that on Saturday and Sunday you get to tee them up at the gold tees! To all those who are on the verge – it really ain’t that bad!! I had an opportunity a few weeks ago to get together with Snead Luck. Snead roomed with Ralph Costen, Tom Cooke and Leonard McClure but left our second class year and transferred to Richmond. Snead has been in the construction business since finishing at UR and now owns his own general contracting business, Trent Construction Company here in Richmond and is doing well. Snead sees Mike Wood from time to time. I believe he said that Mike is in Va Beach and is a guidance counselor. Snead it was good to see you and continued success with Trent. The second annual R-Cities golf match was played in May with once again, Roanoke edging out the Richmond team. The Roanoke team of Bob Copty, Bill Gearhart, Dave Bush ’69 and Jim Chapman ’69 was this years’ host to the Richmond team of Ralph Costen, Herb Braun, Bill Paulette ’69 and yours truly. The two day event was held at Wintergreen and everybody had a good time. As the old saying goes “Wait until next year”!!!! Speaking of golf the Keydet Club Leadership outing was held in June and Bob Copty, Bill Gearhart, Ralph Costen, Herb Braun, Warren Grasty, Roy Heddelston, Neil Steverson and I attended. It is always a fun and informative event. The golf is good; the food is great, the liquor excellent and the updates from the coaches inspiring. I would encourage all Keydet leadership members to attend next June, you won’t be disappointed. Herb Braun, Jimmy Mawyer, Warren Grasty and John Bailey got together for a Northern Va – Richmond golf outing in July. They met half way in Fredricksburg and played one of the new courses. They are hoping to make this an annual ’70 event. Next spring with some advance notice this could develop into a big event. Talk it up Northern Va and we will do the same in Richmond. June 30 closed the fiscal year for all of the VMI gift giving. As usual the Class of 1970 did its part. Our Class had a total gift giving of $215,196. 112 BR’s made contributions which represents 43% of our solicitable classmates. Our Class of 1970 Athletic Scholarship had cash contributions of $27,510 and additional pledges of $43,000. To date 25 BR’s have contributed. We still have a ways to go but I am confident we will achieve our goal of $400m by our 40th reunion. To all those who have contributed thank you very much – your generous gift is truly needed and appreciated. To those who have not contributed, please consider doing so. It is not the amount that is important it’s the participation. In another two weeks the 2007 football season begins. There is a lot of enthusiasm and high expectations this year. I promise you this; you will see a very competitive team on the field in’07. The tide is turning, be part of it. Please try to come to Lexington this fall to see the Keydets, you won’t be disappointed. That’s about it. You all take care and please drop me a line with an update on what’s going on with the Class of ’70. God bless all who serve defending our country.
