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HELLO ’68!! For those who
missed my spring column (because class news was not contained in the
hard copy version of Checkpoints) please go to our ‘68 website
to catch up on that edition of “All My Classmates” and specific
articles about Mark Torreano, Tony Robertson, J.B. Schroeder,
Jim Reese, Dennis Busch, Skip Pardee, Steve Mish,
and Mike Nash. Thank you!
“‘68’s Class Senator and His Bride: Garry &
Tina Dudley” LEGACY CLASS FOR 2018: With USAFA getting older, the Legacy Class has been re-designated as the class that graduated 50 years earlier. Hence, we are now the legacy mentors for the Class of 2018. This designation offers opportunities for us to become more involved in Academy life and heritage events with this year’s incoming class. The point-of-contact for these activities is our Class Senator, Garry Dudley. The first scheduled event is the Acceptance Parade on 5 August. The featured speaker will be General Bill Begert and classmates who will be presenting Contrails to the Outstanding Basic Cadets from 2018 will be Carl Janssen, Garry Dudley, Bill Eckert, Bill Crimmel, Bill Maywhort, Bill Wood, Dan Hites, and Al Blumberg. Garry said he will be posting photos and information on this and future legacy events on our class website. In addition to thanking him for serving as our Class Senator, we extend congratulations to Tina and Garry on the celebration of their 46th wedding anniversary. ‘68ER AUTHOR RETURNS TO COLORADO: After reading my spring column of Checkpoints, Geo Roberts wrote: “In case you don’t know, there is some news from Heidi and I – after 38 years living and working in the UK, we are returning to Colorado Springs to establish our permanent residence. It has been a long term goal of ours that is finally coming true. We’ll be back in the UK to visit family and friends and do some work with the charity I support; otherwise, it will be catching up with the great friends we have made over the years; our family in the US, and catch up on some long overdue sunshine! Also, you may remember I have written a book, IMPACT! How to Make a Positive Difference. This is a book semi-autobiographical, how a small town Nebraska boy ended up in England and how people have made life changing impact on others through developing some core skills. It is a practical how to book as well for those who do want to make a powerful difference in their own worlds. Hopefully ages from teens to 90’s will enjoy it. We look forward to catching up with you in Albuquerque at the Reese AFB 70-01 UPT pilot training reunion in September. Hopefully, if our sale goes through, we’ll be residents of Colorado by the mid-summer.” To Geo and Heidi: Good luck with your move and please accept a warm welcome home from your classmates! 
“East Coast Reunion at
the Eberhart’s.” L-R: Front Row: Dan Bucchioni, Roger Sorensen,
Mike Bednarz, Lew Reed, Bill Hoge, Bob Pavelko, Dennis McLain, and Scribe.
Back Row: Gerry Wyngaard, Mike Wagner, Jim Seevers, Bob Mirabello, Bill
Drennan, Tom Mc Daniel’s White Tuft of Hair, Steve McPhail, Pat
Heinig, Ed Eberhart’s Left Eye, John Gonda, and Nick Nicholson."
EAST COAST REUNION: The reunion season kicked off at Ed and Karen Eberhart’s home in Arlington, Virginia on 21 June with ‘68’s annual East Coast Reunion. We had a great turnout with classmates coming from as far away as North and South Carolina to join in the festivities. As noted in previous columns, we are indebted to the warm hospitality of Ed and Karen who have so graciously welcomed us into their home and hosted these wonderful events for so many years. 2ND BREAKFAST AND BIPLANE GATHERING: A pot luck breakfast and biplane gathering is scheduled for 12 August from 7:00AM – 11:00AM at Dave and Jeanne Allen’s home/airplane restoration and flying operation. The notional time for breakfast is 8:30AM. It is a beautiful setting located on Kelly Air Park and features both powered and glider operations. Attire is casual and you may want to bring a windbreaker if you are fortunate enough to get to fly. Questions? Contact Carl Janssen or Dave Allen. August 14th is the weather back-up day. REESE AFB 70-01 UPT 45-YEAR REUNION: Jim Lozito has done a great job organizing and coordinating events in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Reese AFB UPT Class of 70-01’s 45-year reunion. The dates are 18-21 September. The reunion lodging is at the Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. The itinerary includes visits to the: New Mexico Veterans Memorial; 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB; International Balloon Museum; tram ride up Sandia Mountain; and sights around Old Santa Fe. A coat and tie banquet will follow on the evening of 20 September. Many thanks to Jim for all of his efforts. RANDOLPH AFB 70-02 45-YEAR REUNION: Steve McPhail is organizing a 45-year reunion for Randolph AFB UPT Class of 70-02 in San Antonio, Texas. The reunion dates are 17-19 October and lodging will be at the Omni la Mansion del Rio. Itinerary includes golf, tour of Randolph AFB, BBQ dinner, river cruise, and a Mexican fiesta. Many thanks to Steve for his efforts, too! 
"Clark and Maria Gerhardt at American Alpine Club (AAC)
Dinner with USAFA Mountaineering Club." MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS ARE US: Clark Gerhardt writes: “The photo above is of me (ex-president USAFA Mountaineering Club--now on the American Alpine Club Board), Captain Kate Schifani (OIC USAFA Mountaineering Club--USAFA ‘09), my wife Maria, and the current USAFA Mountaineering Club President and club officers at the AAC annual dinner in Denver last January—who were guests at my table. . I got my start climbing at USAF via the Mountaineering club and climbing has been a life-long passion, taking me all over the world in search of summits. Being on the AAC Board is a great honor as well as a lot of fun--great people/climbers involved. We had about 600 people at the Denver annual dinner. It was a pretty unique gathering and I was able to introduce the USAFA contingent to many of the old and new mountain gods that were there. I think they really enjoyed themselves...it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Hope all is well with you---on our way to Canada for a month near Banff. Cheers!” THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We lost our classmate Jim Madsen on 15 May 2014 in Chandler, Arizona after he suffered complications from surgery. Please keep Jim’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Special prayers are also offered for Debbie Janssen as she undergoes chemotherapy treatments in Colorado. 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. Ciao for now. Tim |
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