Once again I regret to have to report the passing of one of our classmates. Richard D Martin died of a heart attack on Friday, 24 Jan 2003, in St Gabriel, LA. Condolences may be sent to his family: Mrs. Constance M Martin, 2335 Hwy 75 Lot E, St Gabriel LA 70776. Our deep felt sympathies go out to the family.
The 40th is coming! Did you get your packet from the reunion planning team—Butch and Bob? Reunion “headquarters” will be the Wyndham Colorado Springs Hotel. You can find them at http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/COSCO/main.wnt. The Hotel phone: 1-800-WYNDHAM or 719-260-1800. We promptly made our reservations at the Wyndham. The rates are excellent (read very inexpensive for such a quality hotel)—we got 3 rooms to accommodate family members that will be joining us. When you contact the Wyndham make sure you tell them you are with the USAFA Class of 1963 Reunion. You can monitor planning updates at the Class Web Site: http://www.usafa63.org/. Again, your planners and coordinators are Butch Verdier (pcverdier@juno.com) and Bob Hayes (bobhayes@pcisys.net).
The AOG doesn’t have addresses for some of our folks. I have reprinted the list names to help get the word out: Bryan, Cardoza, Dunn, Horner, Lloyd Kelley, Manuel, McKean, Murk, Odefey, Paprowicz, Schuman, Edward Smith, Sutton, Watt, Weber, Wetherington, Joe Wilson, and William Wilson,
Great Story! Just this week I got e-mail from a fellow in Alaska--Steve Herschbach. Steve was in Hawaii recently, on the island of Kauai, and while underwater metal detecting—his hobby--he found a ring from the Air Force Academy. He said the ring was obviously from the Air Force Academy, Class of 1963 but it was otherwise not in good condition due to the time underwater. The inscription on the inside of the ring was good enough to give him some clues. After checking out the AOG Web Site he contacted Bob Hayes and me separately asking for help locating the ring’s owner. Turns out, both Bob and I gave him the same answer—the first and middle names of the inscription were “Howard” and “Michael.” The last name inscribed on the ring was difficult to decipher but “Howard Michael” could only lead to Mike Tomme. As of this writing, Steve says he is in contact with Mike and arranging to return the ring. Maybe Mike will bring this extraordinary ring to the reunion for all of us to see. Try Steve’s Web Site and get a look at the ring. Website is http://www.akmining.com.
Dean Hess wrote and asked me to make a pitch in the next class scribe notes to encourage everyone to correct their AOG email address. Dean tried to verify some addresses--Skinner Simpson and Gary Bender—and they were not current. Taking the hint, I immediately went to the AOG site to check my addresses and they were accurate. After that, I checked the ’63 Website only to find my old AOL address—5 plus years ago. Dean is right! The future is now and e-mail is an important part of our life. Think of what you are missing.
Gil Merkle sent along a note from a Fourth Class Cadet at USAFA who is doing some research on a member of our Class Killed In Action in North Vietnam. The Fourth Classman picked a name at random off of the War Memorial to research and learn about and then make a presentation to his squadron. The name he chose was Maj. Robert Michael Gilchrist. He is looking for some information about Bob’s personal life and his career here at the Academy. If you can help or know anyone that can, and wouldn't mind sending it to C4C Mike Fech he would be grateful. His e-mail is C06Michael.Fech@USAFA.edu.
Jerry Adinolfi says that small-town parish ministry is literally the mother of all 7/24 jobs. He says the job makes his six years at the Pentagon look like the proverbial Sunday school picnic. “What challenges! And my goodness, no solutions!” Their parish, St. Paul's Episcopal in Coffeyville, Kansas, is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year and there are lots of planned events. Jerry’s main reason for writing was to say he and Marsha will not be able to attend the 40th. They are committed to participate in their diocesan convention that same weekend. This one is a special event. Jerry asked if I would “ . . . give all the guys our love and prayers and have one for us. Already I am planning for the 45th mentally.”
In March Hank Hoffman (hankthird@aol.com) sent a request to advertise the Willy 65B get together in Scottsdale the latter half of June. We are a little late on this but who knows, some of you can still react quickly. He has the Scottsdale Renaissance hotel booked for 19-22 June 2003. Rates are $69 for a basic room with two and three room suites available for another $20 per upgrade. I can personally vouch for the hotel, it is superb and those are great rates! There will be a hospitality house with your own private pool on the grounds. The hotel is located on Scottsdale road next to the Borgata shopping plaza (don't let your wives go there alone). Go to http://www.marriott.com/DPP/propertyPage.asp?marshacode=PHXSR. While you are there, Hank asks (pleads) that you please make your reservation and mention that your group is Class 65B to get the right rate. This is very important to Hank personally because he has signed up for 30 rooms at the moment. A varied and full agenda of events are scheduled with a formal dinner on Saturday the 21st. For more info or a request, call Hank at is 480-657-9636.
Loran Schnaidt tells us he retired from the Missouri ANG in 2000 and started a company that does outdoor lighting at residences, small businesses and subdivision entrances etc. He also volunteers and is currently the President of the St. Louis Chapter of AFA and Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee at the Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Weds AFA Grad! That’s what the headline said in The Press-Tribune of Roseville, CA—more or less. One item I have been saving for the right time is a packet of info I received from Bill Heinlein last year. Have to admit that for a while the packet was lost in and amongst all the stuff on my well-organized desk. Bill and Claudia were married in Roseville on February 2, 2002 or as Bill put it 2-2-2. Claudia is the Mayor of Roseville. There is more—Bill’s daughter Julia is the Assistant to the City Manager of Roseville. Sounds very political to me. Bill’s wife, Judy, of 37 years passed away in 2001 on February 25th. Judy lost a very courageous two-year battle with cancer. Claudia lost her husband Tom to cancer three years earlier. Isn’t it wonderful how things work out? I love it!
That’s it. Need to get this version of the Class News to the AOG. Are you ready for some football? Make your reunion reservations now!