| HELLO '68!! Happy 2009 to you and yours and best
wishes for 401Ks and IRAs that actually gain equity instead of hemorrhaging our
hard-earned Social Security dollars!
"An Uncanny Family Resemblance!" L-R: Pedro Cant and Steve "Cisco" McPhail TWINS SEPARATED AT BIRTH REUNITED AT '68's 40th: After the seventh classmate in a row thanked our morning waiter, Pedro Cant, for his service at the Embassy Suites by calling him "Steve" (McPhail), Mark Torreano and I knew we were standing witness to the reuniting of twins who must have been separated at birth. The facial resemblance was so remarkable that Mark asked to check Steve's Green Card! Steve claims that the resemblance is merely a coincidence of the world's gene pool, but Steve's hitherto unknown middle name of "Cisco" raises doubts for Mark and me. Look at the photo and judge for yourself! '68's DODO EDITOR HONORED AS IEEE FELLOW: Dr. Bill Radasky, best known during our cadet days as '68's Dodo Editor, has demonstrated a much more serious side to his technical writing and speaking skills than we may have remembered from our time together at USAFA. After graduating with a double major in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Science, Bill became a research engineer at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico working on the theory of the electromagnetic pulse (EMP). He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1971 and the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1981, respectively with an emphasis on the theory and applications of electromagnetics. In 1984, he founded Metatech Corporation in Goleta, California, where he is currently President and Managing Engineer. During his 40-year career, Bill has published more than 380 technical papers and reports dealing with electromagnetic interference (EMI) and protection. In 1989, he began his volunteer work with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) developing reports and standards to protect commercial equipment and systems against the threats of high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) and Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI). (Scribe Note: I realize for you urban dwellers and West Coasters that "hemp" takes on a completely different connotation, but for propriety's sake, please try to keep your mind on the scientific definition of this acronym. Two! For the non-grads out in Checkpoints Land, "Two" means to return to what you were doing.) In 2004, Bill received the Lord Kelvin Award from the International Electrotechnical Commission for exceptional contributions to international standardization. This award is presented annually to up to three individuals of the 15,000 active participants within the IEC. In September 2008, he was honored again by being named an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Fellow for his contributions in high power electromagnetics. Bill and his wife, Arlene, have two daughters, Christy and Kendy, and two grandsons, Drew (6) and Ian (3). He has promised to scan in copies of the Dodo publications from our era and will send them to Pat Russell to post on the Class website. Congratulations, Bill, for your significant contributions, achievements, and honors in such an important field of study and research!
"The Camp Twins and Friends" L-R: Gene ('69) and Jim ('68) Camp, Paula and Bill Walsh ('68) TWINS SEPARATED BY USAFA CLASS REUNITED AT '68's 40th: I believe that Jim and Gene Camp are the first twins ever to be separated by USAFA classes with Jim being our classmate and Gene being a proud member of '69's "mighty fine." If my premise is correct, it marks another first for our class! Jim and wife Nancy live in Carlsbad, California and he is currently an instructor pilot of Airbus Training for Korea. He formerly flew the A-330 and B-757/767 with US Airways/US Air and was with PSA Airlines out of San Diego prior to his move to US Air. Brother, Gene followed a similar path working with the airlines and flew with Saudi Arabian Airlines, Braniff International, and Alaska Airlines before retiring in 2006. Gene currently lives with his wife Wilhelmina in Englewood, Colorado. The photo above was taken at the AOG tailgate prior to the USAFA - USNA game.SEASON'S GREETINGS: Thanks to many of you, your Scribe's holiday mail bag is sufficiently stuffed with news from the far reaches of the planet. In fact, most of the "far reach" reporting comes from one classmate and his wife, Jack and Susan (a.k.a., Fred) Webb. In 2008, the Wandering Webbs traveled aboard their ocean-going vessel, the "Denali Rose," to Trinidad, Venezuela, Bonaire, Curacao, China, New Zealand, Australia, England, Wales, and back to Dunedin, Florida. Jack and Fred's letter told tales of traveling along old pirate routes in the Caribbean, grabbing a berth for safety in the midst of British ex-pats off the coast of Venezuela, and being buzzed by a squadron of pink flamingos near Curacao. If this sounds like one great adventure, I imagine Jack and Fred would agree! Their plans for 2009 include setting sail for Curacao in January, then off to Aruba, then back to Bonaire - "for lots of diving," and then catching up with friends and family during an extended visit to the USA in May. They plan to haul out, again, in late fall to sail farther west and maybe end 2009 in Panama. You can follow their trip by logging onto www.Winlink.org then click on Position Reporter and type in: KG4BYM (Jack's Ham radio call sign). For baseball fans Marty Cole and Buck McCants, I'd say Jack and Fred are providing you with a variation on your theme for a "bucket list!"
"Fred"
and Jack Webb Celebrating a Romantic Sunset THAT'S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep 'em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Please go to the Class Website to see photos included in this column in color and in full size. Ciao for now. Tim |
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