Tim's March 2019 Checkpoints Class News Article

HELLO ’68!! Welcome to the return of the “Dark Ages!” Winter in the D.C. area is particularly cold this year due to the weather and politics. Leaders and problem-solvers are urgently needed to forge a more stable and encouraging future for all of us.

50TH REUNION PHOTOS, BIOGRAPHIES, ETC. NOW ONLINE: As promised in my fall column, our ’68 Webmaster, Pat Russell, has established a place on our Class website to display 50th Reunion photos, biographies, stories, etc. Please send same to Pat so we can capture and share more of these special memories with the rest of the Class.


“Tuff Two Muster: L-R: Kneeling: Rhip Worrell, Bill Hoge, and Steve Staley; Standing: Dave Hunn, Mark Torreano, Jim Seevers, Bill Wood, Mike Boots, Dave Allen, and Dave/Mike Phillips.”
      
TUFF TWO DOES ITS AIR POWER POSE: Many thanks to Bill Hoge for sending this great photo of 2nd Squadron’s gathering for a special Kodak moment during our 50th Reunion. I saw cameras clicking throughout our 50th and hope that more of you follow Bill’s lead by forwarding the resultant pictures to Pat Russell and me.

REMEMBRANCE STORY FROM THE TERRAZZO: Among the many remembrance stories from our 50th, one that stands out was told to me by Mark Torreano. It seems that during the evening meal formation when the Class of 1965 first “greeted” and “welcomed” all of us Basic Cadets on the terrazzo outside Mitchell Hall, one of our members, who hailed from the southern portion of our great nation, was asked where he was from and how he was doing. Our classmate politely and enthusiastically replied by answering the question in a most friendly manner and then proceeded to ask the Firstie how he was doing. The Firstie then called over a contingent of his classmates to “introduce” themselves to our classmate by positioning themselves only inches away and providing our classmate with full-throat responses to his inquiry about their “feelings.” The fact that this story was still remembered 54 years after its occurrence shows that our classmate’s concern for the Class of ’65’s “well-being” is still reverberating after more than half of a century.


“24th Squadron Doolie Brunch. L-R: Front Row: Gary Teeter, Jim Camp, Bob Pauli, and Pat Russell; Middle Row: Ken Wilhelm, Don Sutton, George Kramer, Bruce Buono, Bert Bauer, Neal Starkey, and R.K. Brown; Back Row: Rick Moran, Jim Lozito, Manny Bettencourt, Dean Kocian, Mike Wagner, Mike Cryer, Bill McKee, Don Motz, Paul Cousins and Charlie Seifert.”

DOOLIE BRUNCH WAS A HIT: Among the wide variety of activities during our 50th, the Doolie Brunch—an initiative honchoed by Art Miller—stood out as a clear favorite for an overwhelming majority of you out in Checkpoints Land. The sharing and updating of lives from grads and non-grads who had not seen one another in so many years provided some of the most cherished memories of the reunion. The photo from Paul Cousins showing 21 members of 24th Squadron in attendance is particularly noteworthy in visually demonstrating the life-long bonds that exist within USAFA’s greatest Class.


“Buzz and Susan Glade at our 45th Reunion.”

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: In the aftermath of so many revitalized relationships during our 50th, we were deeply saddened by the passing of two of our classmates, Buzz Glade and Chuck Yoos. Bernard William “Buzz” Glade, Jr. passed away on 16 October 2018 in Florida following a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer. He was born in Galveston, Texas and graduated from Lufkin High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Susan Clarke, in 1969 and served as a C-130 pilot during the Vietnam War. He dedicated the majority of his professional career to founding and operating Phoenix Commercial Corporation, an Orange Park, Florida construction company. He was a skilled craftsman who built and flew three of his own aircraft. He was a devoted husband, father of two sons and one daughter, and grandfather of nine grandchildren, who cared for his family, community, and church. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Susan, and their family at address: 1692 Village Way, Orange Park, FL 32073-5262.

Charles Jacob “Chuck” Yoos, II passed away on 26 November 2018 in Monument, Colorado after a long battle with cancer. He grew up in Lisbon, Ohio and graduated 4th in our Class from USAFA. After the Academy, he attended graduate school at UCLA and received an MBA in 1969. In that same year, he married Linda Betz. He went on to earn a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Colorado and served on the USAFA faculty for 19 years. Upon his retirement in 1998, he was appointed USAF Academy Professor Emeritus. Following his military career, he joined the School of Business Administration at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where he served on faculty until he retired in 2017. He was buried at the USAFA Cemetery on 10 December 2018 and leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Linda, and their two children, Heidi and Jake. Condolences may be sent in care of Linda at address: 575 Silver Saddle Road, Monument, CO 80132-8089.

In an open letter to our Class from Jim Thompson, Jim writes: “We 68ers should know that one of our own, Sam Gibson, has been in a nursing home for several years, the victim of a series of serious strokes. Until recently, he was in a nursing home in Columbus Ohio. Just prior to Thanksgiving, his daughter transferred him to a group home in Pasadena, California. Over the last several years, several of our classmates, including Frank Moore, Tony Marshall, and me have visited Sam at the Ohio facility. During that time, Sam has become non-ambulatory, and is paralyzed on his right side. Due to his deteriorating condition, Sam was not able to attend our 50th reunion. While Frank and Tony visited Sam in the summer prior to the reunion, I visited Sam after the reunion and took the reunion to Sam via a video that was produced by Maurice Ecung.

This is an opportunity to show some 68 love to one of us that is having some serious health challenges, should you have occasion to be in the Pasadena area, or would like call. His daughter, Stacie, has approved, in advance, visits/calls from classmates and other friends. His contact info: 5881 Hillview Park Avenue, Valley Glenn, CA 91401; Phone: (818) 988-3320. Note: A caregiver will answer and pass phone to Sam, if available. A call in advance of visiting is advisable. At first, Sam may be slightly difficult to understand. He tries very hard to make himself understood and doesn’t appear to mind if asked to repeat something. You’ll quickly get accustomed. He seems to really appreciate and enjoy any contact.
Warmly, your classmates, Jim Thompson, Frank Moore, & Tony Marshall
                               Please keep all of these people and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

THAT’S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep ‘em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat and me. Ciao for now. Tim

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