HELLO
'68!! Happy 2011 to you and yours!! Many thanks for all who wrote to Pat Russell
and me during the holidays. Your greetings and breaking class news are always
much appreciated.
'68'S FIRST USAFA DISTINGUISHED GRAD ANNOUNCED:
I am delighted to report our very own Ed Eberhart was named one of the
two USAFA Distinguished Graduates for 2010. "The award recognizes Academy
graduates whose singular and distinctive contributions to our society and nation
have set them apart from other graduates." Ed and Max James (USAFA
'64) will be honored at a Founders Day banquet at USAFA on Friday, 1 April 2011
and during a parade on Saturday, 2 April. I am working with the AOG to provide
our class with a reserved section for the parade and am encouraging as many classmates
who are able to participate to attend both functions. If time and resources permit,
it would be great to have these events serve as a mini-reunion prior to our 45th
in 2013. Points of contact for '68 activities related to Founders Day will be
Carl Janssen and Garry Dudley in the Colorado Springs area and Pat
Russell and me for information in general. As specific details become available,
Pat will post them on our class website. A hearty '68 congratulation to Ed on
this distinctive honor and recognition!
Young
Rob Linsmayer Blasts Two Goals Against Falcons
LINSMAYER
SON STARS ON FALCON ICE: I received notes from Carl Janssen and Liz
(Linsmayer) Johnson who met at the USAFA Field House to watch our classmate Rob
Linsmayer's son (also named Rob) skate for Holy Cross and nearly score
a hat trick against our Falcon Hockey Team when the two teams met on 4 December.
The photo above was taken after Rob (#26) checked one of our Falcon defenders.
Liz said that young Rob is the same height as Rob, Sr., but is 210 pounds of solid
muscle. If you happen to be a college hockey fan, Carl suggests you root for the
Falcons first and should you happen to catch a Holy Cross game then please cheer
for #26.
BASIC SUMMER ROOMIE MAKES GOOD BREAD: I received a short
note from Basic Summer roommate, David Mann, who with wife, MarcheAnn,
established a new enterprise in Fort Worth called the Black Rooster Bakery. David
said the bakery has a neighborhood appeal and specializes in hand-made traditional
breads and pastries. To see more about the Mann's "new baby," please
go to www.theblackroosterbakery.com. Classmate
and His ALO: L-R: Greg Shuey and Col John Riffle
'68ER
REUNITES WITH ACADEMY LIAISON OFFICER: Greg Shuey noted, "After
40 years of enjoying the merry adventures of my classmates in Checkpoints, I thought
I would finally add a bit of fodder for your quarterly updates on old friends."
The photo above is of Greg and Colonel John Riffle, USAF (Ret) and was taken during
Colonel Riffle's 95th birthday party. Greg wrote "John Riffle was my Academy
Liaison Officer (ALO) who introduced me to the Academy when I was in 8th grade
(1958) and mentored me until my appointment. He was the first regional ALO Director
in the Kansas City region when the Academy was first built and was responsible
for dozens of candidates being selected over the years. As a life-long cattleman,
Colonel Riffle was head of the Cattlemen's Association in the Midwest and is an
icon among Air Force officers who inspired generations of young people, including
myself." Greg ended by saying he is looking forward to the next reunion and
is taking up the challenge to come up with some new musical treats to beat his
last effort during our 40th.
NC MAYOR DOES BLUEGRASS AND ALMOST SAWS
OFF FINGER: Classmate and Mayor of Hendersonville, North Carolina, The Honorable
Henry T. Johnson, began his 12th year as leader of his city. In addition
to mayoral duties, H.T. finds time to play standup bass in a bluegrass band, gets
in a round of golf when he gets the chance, and does some amateur woodworking.
While working on some Christmas gifts he confused one of his fingers for the piece
of wood he was shaping and ended up in the emergency room with a mangled finger
and a lifetime reminder to be careful around power tools. In his Christmas
letter, H.T. mentioned some highs and lows for the year. He writes, "The
highest of the highs occurred when daughter Caroline and her college sweetheart
became Mr. and Mrs. Chase Livengood on 10.10.10." Caroline and Chase both
live in L.A. where they work in the entertainment industry. Caroline is an actress
(most recent work "Hello Movieland") and Chase is a lighting and electrical
technician for the TV series "House." The low side has revolved around
his wife Fair's health who is dealing with a progressively dehabilitating case
of "Parkinson's plus" or "multi-system atrophy." The disease
causes her to have difficulty reading or communicating and the loss of her dexterity
limits her computer use to read-only. H.T. said with the help of a full-time caregiver
and some home aides, Fair and he are doing the best that they can with cards they
have been dealt. Jack
& Fred Webb Beam Warm Smiles by a Cold Glacier
SEAFARING
COUPLE DOES ALASKA: Jack Webb and wife, Fred (a.k.a., Susan), logged
another year on their beautiful vessel "The Denali Rose" traveling from
Curacao to Wasilla and all points in between. Their journeys were marked by meetings
with friends and family and drama on the high seas with onboard fires and emergency
surgeries required at neighboring ports. To get a much better appreciation of
Jack's and Fred's adventures, see their newsletter and travel history at our class
website along with some absolutely beautiful photos taken with Jack's new underwater
camera.
REESE AFB 70-01 REUNION: The Reese AFB Class of 70-01 will
hold its next reunion at the San Diego Embassy Suites Downtown Hotel from 13-16
October. Confirmed activities will include a Navy SEAL tour, lunch aboard the
USS Midway, and visits to local venues such as Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, and
Seaworld. For more information, please contact Bob Daley or me.
COVEY
FAC REUNION: A Pleiku Covey FAC reunion is in the works for spring 2011. For
all who are interested, please contact Ed Eberhart or Gene Rose.
GONE
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: We lost our classmate Glenn Gillette on 1 November
2010. Following his Air Force career, Glenn became one of our class' wittiest
authors and had several of his books published. Our thoughts and prayers go out
to his wife, Jeanne, and his children Tanya, Diana, Scott, and Barb.
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 our Class Website
to see photos included in this column in full size by clicking on Scribe's Page.
Also, check for updates on Founders Day activities where Ed Eberhart will
be honored on 1 and 2 April. Ciao for now. Tim |