HELLO ’68! It is the second full-day of a US Government shutdown and I’m wondering whether the concept of compromise is on the scrap heap of history for our two-party system. As the late Rodney King once said “Can we all get along?”


“Begert Family Celebration: Left to Right: Bill’s grandson: Will Fabbre; Bill’s son: Bill Begert; Bill’s wife: Jody; Bill; Bill’s granddaughter: Hannah Goldman; Hannah’s husband: Jason Goldman; Bill’s daughter: Kary Fabbre; Kary’s husband: Joseph Fabbre”

‘68ER SELECTED USAFA DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE: To echo the Four Seasons — “Oh What A Night!” Our Class had a near mini-reunion with 24 of us joining in the celebration of our classmate, Bill Begert, receiving a USAFA Distinguished Graduate award for 2025. The event was held at the new 5-Star Polaris Hotel located near the North Gate and featured an outdoor reception with the Rocky Mountains standing tall in the background. After a “This Is Your Life” background introduction, Bill provided the packed banquet hall with some well scripted and extemporaneous remarks. If you would like to see the photo gallery of those who attended, please go to our Class website and click on Photos #99. To Bill and Jody, please accept our hardiest congratulations!

’68 MYSTERY THEATER: Pat Russell is asking for all of you out in “Checkpoints Land” to dust off your Sherlock Holmes hat and magnifying glass to solve “The Tale of the Lost Bracelet.” Pat writes: “I received a charm bracelet from two sisters who said, in part: ‘Hi, I know this sounds very strange. But my mother found a charm bracelet a few years back from what I'm assuming was the wife of one of your alumni. Mom said she bought it in Colorado." The bracelet has 30 charms, nearly all marked sterling, see Class website Bulletin #72 for a list of the charms with photos. Please contact me if you have any information or suggestions.”

                     “Class of 2029 March Back. Left to Right: Don Sutton, Bill Crimmel and Mark Torreano”

‘68ERS JOIN THE CLASS OF 2029 IN MARCH BACK FROM JACK’S VALLEY: Bill Crimmel sent me a short note and some photos of the Class of 2029 March Back from Jack’s Valley in August. Bill writes: “Good to see you (your Scribe) at Bill Begert’s DG event. Bea and I couldn’t stay for a Class picture – she made it to the end of Bill’s speech, though. And, a great speech it was! In sending the photos of the March Back, it is notable to me because my granddaughter, Brynn Makros, is in the Class of 2029, and her mother, Beth, is a 1998 grad and a permanent professor.”


“Space Systems Command’s 2025 Wall of Honor Honorees — Tom Taverney is to the right of Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, US Space Force."

‘68ER ADDED TO SPACE SYSTEMS COMMAND (SSC) WALL OF HONOR: On September 4th, our classmate, Major General Tom Taverney, was selected as one of six honorees to have their names inscribed on the SSC’s Wall of Honor (in essence their Hall of Fame). The Wall’s honorees “are individuals who have had permanent and positive effects on the beginning, growth, evolution, and/or made a significant contribution to the success of National Security Space and/or Missile Programs.” Mucho Congrats, Tom!

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We were saddened by the loss of two of our classmates. Philip Quentin Dowsing passed away on May 31, 2025 in Mission Viejo, California. He was a member of 9th and 23rd Squadrons. MacWain Phillips passed away on September 25, 2025 in Emeryville, California. He was member of 6th and 21st Squadrons. Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers.

THAT’S A WRAP: My mailbag is virtually empty. If you have some news and photos that would be interesting to your comrades-in-arms, please send same to me. Mind the flak; keep ‘em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Ciao for now. Tim