Contact Information:
Norman I. (Skip) Lee
63119 East Cat Claw Lane
Tucson, AZ 85739
Tel: Home: (520)825-7980
E-Mail: Primary 54wrs@msn.com or
lindaandskip@robsoncom.net
Class News: 1963, Winter 2005
In early November we were notified
by the AOG of the passing of another of our classmates. George E. Kern died
after a long illness on October 26th in Allentown PA. Condolences may be sent to
the family: Mrs. Ellen Kern 2234 Mack Blvd Allentown PA 18103-5624.
We were also informed of the death of another member of the Class of 1963
family; Johnnie Hall’s wife, Jo Ann Dorris Hall, passed away Nov 14th, and was
buried at USAFA. According to Johnnie, she succumbed to metastatic breast
cancer. Johnnie wrote to express his appreciation to members of ’63 who knew of
her passing and were able to attend the services. Johnnie wrote that “. . . as I
approached the grave site I was overwhelmed by the sight of the class flags
carried by Everett and Susan Vaughn, Bob Hayes, and Jimmie Butler. A special
thanks to them. Jo Ann and I were married on June 6th, 1963 and she has now
returned to her mountains.”
Two of our classmates are running for the AOG Board: Tom Fryer and Mike Christy.
You are encouraged vote in the upcoming AOG Board election either electronically
at the new AOG web site or by ballot which is included in this issue of
Checkpoints. You are also encouraged to check out the new AOG web site at
www.usafa.org.
A few rosy-cheeked faces at the mini-reunion.
Everyone’s a little bundled up, so here are the names that go with the
rosy-cheeked faces. Front Row: Tim Gallagher; Bob Hayes, Bill Ball, and Gordon
Bredvik. Second Row: Jimmie Butler, Drue Deberry, Denny King, Bill Wecker, Jim
Gaston, Bryan Cary, and Steve Savonen. Jimmie said Bob Donovan joined us at the
game and up in the AOG, we had John Helinski, Ken Kopke, and Jerry McClellan,
and perhaps one or two more. Afterward we had a meaningful ceremony in the
turning over of 6 class cups for Bill Bryant, Henry Horton, George Kern, Harry
Murk, Bert Reinstein, and Roger Sims. A bit of a somber reminder: Last year at
our 40-year reunion, we honored 63 classmates who had died in those 40 years.
This year we recognized 6, which was a jump over the normal 1 or 2 per year over
the last several years. So take care of yourselves out there. Thanks to Bill
Ball, Bob Hayes, Jim Gaston, and Drue Deberry for their efforts in making this
year’s gathering come off and be a success. Jimmie added he wouldn’t comment
about us apparently needing 4 guys to replace Butch Verdier, who normally
wrangled these mini-reunions, with a little help from his friends. A good time
was had by all, and I think we agreed to try this again about the same time next
year at the Army game. Some voted for September, but some of us reminded the
crowd of a rather significant snow storm at USAFA late in September 1959.”
We were recently asked why the Class Cups are turned each year since we have the
5-year Class Cup Ceremony at each major reunion. Most of you know that through
Jim Gaston’s efforts the cups now reside in a beautiful cabinet in the office of
the AOG CEO. Now that the cups are displayed, it seemed appropriate to many of
our Classmates to turn cups each year instead of leaving a cup upright for up to
five years after the passing of a classmate. Us locals, and anyone else in town
for the home game with either Army or Navy each year (unless they play at night)
normally have a mini-reunion on that weekend. Following the game, at Doolittle
Hall, a Class Cup Turning Ceremony is conducted. Each year a classmate is
designated to make some remarks about each of the six. This is a nice way to
spend a little more time on each classmate than we’re able to do at the
five-year with many more to recognize by name. When we gather again in 2008, the
ceremony in the chapel will include the final turning of the cups of those who
have passed between 2003 and 2008. It is important to note that the toast using
Cognac, graciously provided by John Borling, does not take place at these annual
ceremonies; that is reserved for the 5 Year gathering. Many thanks to Jimmie for
these inputs.
The following is from an e-mail from Tom Derieg welcoming me to Arizona. Peg and
Tom have lived in Paradise Valley for the past 10 years. Tom says they did not
use their AZ house much the past three years because they we were working and
living in Houston. Tom retired again in May. They also have a cabin in McCall,
Idaho and spend the summers there. It’s that summertime heat in the “Valley of
the Sun.” He and Peg celebrated their 40th wedding anniversaries with Barb and
Chief Nacrelli by renting a house in Tuscany and touring Italy for about 3 weeks
in October. The attached photo was taken in Santa Margherita while waiting for a
boat to Portofino.
Waiting for a boat to Portofino
Tim and Roberta Gallagher have moved to Colorado—probably old news but new to
me. Tim says “We’re in a wonderful new home on the 14th tee of the Buffalo Run
Golf Course with a grand view of the front range of the northern Colorado
Rockies – all the way to Wyoming!” After reading Tim’s note on the traveling he
and Roberta did last year, I have concluded they are not spending much time in
their new home.
Here is some interesting information given me by Larry McLaughlin: “If any of
the rest of you has joined me with Prostate cancer, and you also served in Viet
Nam, the VA has now approved compensation based on possible exposure to Agent
Orange, and a link between it an prostate cancer. I'm just filing the paperwork,
so don't know all the details yet. You will need your DD Form 214 to go with
your application.” Thanks, Larry.
At the end of December Jim Thyng sent a note expressing his appreciation of the
support shown by the Class for the Harrison Thyng Memorial project. The Memorial
was dedicated on July 17th with Ron Fogleman as the keynote speaker. The Class
of 1963 will be named as a major contributor.
Thanks go to all of you for the many inputs you have made for the Class News.
They make preparing this column a lot of fun so keep them coming. Linda and I
have really begun to settle in to our new home and new environment. The weather
has been a little cool and stormy for southern Arizona this winter but it hasn’t
kept me away from the golf course too much. The latest change in my life is a
new friend, Molly, who is our Son’s (David) two year old Golden Retriever.
David’s company moved him and his family to Singapore for about 3 years and it
was deemed too much to take Molly along. Now I get a couple of walks per day
which seems to do me more good than it does Molly. That’s it for this time—take
care.