Checkpoints Class News
Class of 1960
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Littleton, CO 80127
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Well, here we go again. The beginning of Fall for me writing this column, and close to Christmas when you read it. It would be nice to have a crystal ball for projections into the future so that the news could be a little more topical. Anyway, you have probably noticed the length of this column becoming shorter with each issue. Well, that is a direct result of the lack of communication from you folks out there as I cannot manufacture news. The response to the crowd of letters I've sent out has not materialized; so, I have little choice but to rely on what little I can glean from the change-of-address cards forwarded to me from the AOG. Come on guys, exercise your pens a bit or just send me a copy of your latest resume. My mail box is collecting dust.
If you did happen to read the last issue, you know that the Class of '59 is well along in the planning for their 30-year reunion. You also know I mentioned that if we are going to have a 30-year get-together, our planning must begin now. There is no way that any one or two of us can pull off such an event without your interest and support. R.L. PENN ('59) printed a letter sent to him by Pete TODD conveying some very appropriate thoughts that struck home with me. Our 25th event was so great I can't imagine a 30th being any less enjoyable or rewarding. You may want to dig out the past summer issue and read Pete's letter. The real question is, "Do we want to commemorate our 30-year escape from the zoo, and if so, how?" Jim GLAZA's recent letter to me asks that question.
"As our '30th' draws within the realm of feasibility, we need to consider whether or not we want to celebrate the event--and if so--how? I know we all are loath to think '30th,' but alas, it's true! Those of us who are captive (i.e. live here) should probably initiate the activities which will be required to determine whom we must lean on. There are several options available to us which we must consider prior to making any decisions.
"In my opinion, there is nothing more desirable than seeing each and every classmate again, and the sooner the better. The '30th' is a very special occasion and as the "railroaded" class president, I don't have a very good consensus of the class feeling for such a celebration. Would you initiate the action to sample the class for their opinion as to the direction we should proceed?
"Pursuant to our several conversations, will you send to the class a Survey form soliciting their desires for a 30th Reunion. We need to know their druthers for this potentially dynamic event. The AOG is simply incapable of fully supporting us in this, as they haven't the assets to cover all class events. If we need their assistance then we must confine our planning to the spring or summer (1990). Of course, if we chose to do it on our own, then we can expand to any time, any place. In any event we must have the class position prior to launching our effort
"We must have some consensus from the class before we can proceed. Please stress the necessity for immediate class response. We are eager and willing to promote a 30th reunion; do we have any support'?
Class of' 1960"
In my travels, I had the great good fortune to run across Russ CURREY in Atlanta. As it turned out, we were both headed for Dayton, OH to con ASD on two separate projects, neither of which held any interest for the ASD Commander Lt Gen Mike LOH. Retirement agrees with Russ who is "mired" in West Palm Beach, Florida helping Pratt & Whitney select and employ the correct materials in their military jet engines. Other than appearing a bit snowy around the temples, he looks exactly the same as the day we graduated. When I pumped him for news around his home grounds, he stated that Syd GURLEY was in South Florida flight-testing rotary wing vehicles. Syd, drop me a note and bring us all up to date on your activities.
In June, immediately after I sent in my last effort, I did get a letter from George FRIES explaining his position as the Pacific Regional Manager for the Data Systems Support Division of EATON CORP. He will be working with folks who have computer hardware which processes intelligence data. If that isn't exhausting enough, he will also be guiding the development of a four- and one-year old. He will see some of you at the AFA-Hawaii game. I expect a newsy note following that tilt.
I did hear from Dale THOMPSON in July ... [He] lamented the change in the cruise dates but managed, with Cherie, to join George PUPICH and Dianne COSTELLO in Maui, Hawaii to offset their grief. Dale is by now the AFLC chief of staff at Wright-Pat AFB, where he works daily with Eileen (THURMAN) SULLIVAN who is secretary to the AFLC vice commander. He states that Bill TAYLOR recently retired from his job at AFIT and relocated to the D.C. area. Where are you, Bill, and what are you doing to fill your time? I get the impression from Dale's note that gentleman farmer Charlie HART and Linda are surviving the Ohio version of the 1988 drought. His correspondence with D.K. JOHNSON revealed that D.K. was about to take a turn at being the mayor of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. He plans to meet his family half way for a brief vacation in November--halfway being Singapore.
My change-of-address cards this quarter arrived about one week prior to deadline; so, I did not have a chance to track any of them down to augment any of the info they contained. They did, however, contain a few clues to some of our changing fortunes. There is no doubt that George PUPICH has arrived. He has taken up residence in Malibu, CA, which, if I am not mistaken, is about as close as you can get to Kona Beach, Hawaii, and still be considered to be in the L.A. Basin. The great switcheroo has occurred again. Tony and Karen BURSHNICK returned (again) to Scott AFB from Northern Virginia ... Tony will put on his third star as Vice CinC MAC. Way to go Tony! George and Evelyn ELSEA departed for Burke in Northern Virginia. It seems that just a short time ago (summer of '86), Tony and Karen had a few of us over at Scott to welcome George and Evelyn to Scott. Also in the D.C. area, Don and Ronnie WOLFSWINKEL moved from Lexington, VA to Maryland, where he assumed duty as the RM at Andrews AFB.
I have tracked Tom and Carole SEEBODE to Roanoke, TX; Jim and Cleon BUJALSKI to Folsom, CA; and I am sure I can get some words on Neal REAVELY and his log cabin business in Montana as well as the story that must go with a management position on Diego Garcia. I'll follow up on these items, but you all must pick up a pen and let me know of your travels. Also, by the release of the next issue I hope to have sampled your thoughts on the 30-year get-together.