Look alive with Seventy-Five!
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Look alive with Seventy-Five!
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Dear ’mates: Let’s begin with the traditional congratulations to Coach Ken Niumatalolo and the Big Blue football team for their outstanding season—8-4 record, C-in-C Trophy, dominating victory over Army, and a sixth consecutive bowl game. It seems that our old saying (“we’re small, but we’re slow”) is no longer accurate. The Mids are still small by football standards, but they’re quick and smart. Congrats as well to the water polo team who made it to the Final Four. The Pensacola alumni enjoyed the Army game at Phineas Phoggs in Seville Square, bringing back some rather hazy memories for many former midshipman and flight students. Tammy and Gary Jones and D.C. Ray represented the class along with Nancy and me. The night before the big game Tammy and Gary hosted a wonderful Christmas Open House at NAS Pensacola Quarters A. News from earlier in the football season: On October 25 some of our classmates gathered at the SMU game. In addition to the 34-7 win, the day was notable for the monsoon-like wind and rain and the fact that Navy did not even attempt a pass. Carl Klee sent a nice report. Something about the term nonreunion was very appealing to the Flower Children of the Brigade and the Class of 1975 managed quite a gathering at the SMU game. The only problem was the weather did not cooperate and the rain and 25 knot winds made it a challenge to stay dry. As the picture shows, umbrellas and foul weather gear were plentiful. Steve Curlee did a fabulous job of organizing the event. Sixth company was well represented with Jack McCorkle, Charlie Floyd, Kim Loll, Fred Graff, Brian DiAntonio, and Gary Reed there besides me. Marina and Mike Stephenson made the trip down from Champlin, MN. I also spoke to fellow physics major Bill Chimiak. John McTighe and I closed down the tailgater and helped Steve and his daughter Tiffany dismantle and load up Steve’s Suburban. We hope Steve keeps hosting the tailgaters after Sam graduates in May. <photo 75#1: “The wet and windy non-reunion tailgater”> One of our regular reporters noted that just before the start of the Notre Dame game the M&T Bank Stadium announcer stated that Steve Hubbard and family were being upgraded to premium seating. Next thing you know, Steve was waving to everyone on the Jumbotron. (Thanks JJ) The next president and CEO of the USNA Alumni Association and Foundation is Byron Marchant ’78. I’m glad we chose someone who had a real plebe year. Tony Barbieri checks in from sunny San Diego: Howdy from San Diego! I put together a low level tailgate to kick-off a WORLD CLASS fireworks display at Qualcomm stadium on 11 Oct: Sky Show XXXIII. It’s billed as the largest display west of the Mississippi and has a theme set to music. We’ve gone to the show the last three years and have been wowed every time (18 minutes of full-fledged “shock and awe”). Anyway, the big attraction is clearly the fireworks, but we had to suffer through a San Diego State game—this year versus another Mountain West Conference team—none other than Air Farce! Despite licking their wounds from last week’s 33-27 loss to the good guys, AF took out SDSU 35-10. Not really an impressive game, mostly because of State’s “Rick Forzano” like play. Air Farce was clearly sparked by the single fly-over of a C-17. The photo shows the sign we debuted at the tailgate and flew the entire game from the View section of the east end-zone. Tipping a few with me at the tailgate are fellow USNA grads at Raytheon—Karl Bunker ’80, (left), Glen Wauchope ’90 (kneeling), and me. <photo 75#2: “Skyshow tailgate”>
During Norfolk’s Fleet Week in October John Maynard (CEO of JPM Financial Services) was a gold sponsor of the Military Citizen of the Year award. Special guest at the MCOY luncheon was ADM Jon Greenert. Later in October, Jon returned home to PA to speak at his alma mater (Butler Area High School) and at Pittsburgh’s Downtown Duquesne Club. In other flag officer news, RADM DA Gove plans to retire as the Oceanographer of the Navy next year. Retirement and Change of Office is planned for 1 May at the U.S. Naval Observatory in D.C. The Queen of the Dance made a trip to San Diego to catch up with the Jeanette and Dick Arnold and Leslie and Chip Stratman. Nancy Burd says she hopes to make it an annual excursion. Thanks to Zack Wilhoit for forwarding the e-mail string and the photo. Zack reports that Nancy and Jamie’s son Andy Burd ’03 is flying helos on the East Coast and has found himself a Texas sweetheart. <photo 75#3: “Arnolds, Nancy Burd, and the Stratmans in San Diego”>
Andy Howard survived his latest surgery and even survived the hospital bed. About a week after escaping from the hospital he had to return due to stupendous pain in his lower right rib cage coupled with a low-grade fever. It appears that the pain came from a bursting liver cyst. The fever was from a urinary tract infection—zapped by penicillin. Phil Ray (Phil at pray7506@yahoo.com) has volunteered to be the 26th Company Rep. See our class web page to make sure your company is covered. The company rep network is valuable when the word has to go out widely and quickly. A good example follows: On Sunday 2 November, MIDN 1/C Paul Lietzan ’09 (a member of the USNA cycling team) was out for a 100 mile bike ride. Forty-five miles from Annapolis he broke a spoke. He called a few buddies who weren’t able to help. Standing dejected by the side of the road, he was rescued by a member of the great class of ’75, who turned around and drove him 45 miles back to USNA. They had a great conversation on the way back, but Midshipman Lietzan failed to get his name. He told his mother the story that night. She posted it on the USNA Parents list on USNA At-Large. John Howland sent it to us on 3 November, we posted it through the Company Reps, and by 4 November the Good Samaritan Flower Child was properly identified. John Wildfong did the right thing, rescued the firstie, and made the class look great! BZ John! … and thanks to company rep Dave Pruett for making the connection. Regular contributor Alex Plechash checks in just in time to make the deadline. (As the president of his USNAAA chapter, Alex has the inside gouge on Shipmate deadlines.) The Upper Midwest Chapter had yet another blowout Army-Navy game party (see Chapter News). There were a total of 41 grads in attendance. The class of '75 was well represented, with the highest number of any class. Shown here are Alex Plechash, Rick Udicious, John McCauley, John Ginn and Neil Tollefsrud. I also had the privilege of getting back to Annapolis for the Fall meeting of the USNAAA Board of Trustees during the week of Army-Navy. Present at the meeting and show here are Kerwin Miller, Alex Plechash, Ron Casey and Bill Neal. <photo 75#4: “Upper Midwest Army-Navy party”> <photo 75#5: “75 at the Board of Trustees meeting”> Hope you all have a great 2009. I’m signing off until March, when I’m sure we’ll have lots more gouge to share. --- ’75 Sir! Larry |
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