July - September 2015
As Compiled by JT Smith
ANNOUNCING A NEW FEATURE on your web site. As a convenience to Classmates and Next-of-Kin, there is now an online form that may be used to make changes in contact and other information in the Class Database. Just go to the Home Page, run down the menu to Roster, and select Data Update Form. You will see the opening page of the form, the upper section of which looks like this.
Below this header, the first page of the form identifies the Classmate and the effective date of the information. It also includes a life-status selection that determines which subsequent section(s) of the form will be used. Living Classmates will be directed to a section for entering their current contact information. For deceased Classmates, the form will branch to a section where the Next-of-Kin can enter/update their contact information plus the details concerning the circumstances of death, interment location, and other information that may be of historical significance. Please use this form for any and all future changes, and feel free to provide feedback on anything about the form itself or it's use.
Andi Biancur announces that the online Registration Form for the 55-yr Class Reunion is now up and running. You can access it via the Reunions option on the Home Page Menu, or if you prefer to do it now, here is the direct link: http://www.cvent.com/d/zrqvvc
Andi Biancur's report on the COS Group's recent luncheon has been posted to the Local '60 Groups section. Access it from the menu on the Home Page or directly HERE.
In response to a Class News call from Ken Alnwick [come on, Gents; help Ken out with some news for Checkpoints], RG Head has provided this update on his current activities: "There seems to be a rumor that I was elected Man of the Year for 2014 in Coronado, CA. Cant confirm or deny, but it was a hell of a party. Just goes to show you cannot rely on popular elections. Carole and I have been traveling a lot this year. Joined the small Class of 60 group for the river trip from Amsterdam to Vienna in May. Then in August we went back to Oxford Univ. to attend a week-long class in The Battle of Britain Revisited. (Carole took Jane Austen.) Then we hopped over to Aachen where we were invited to visit the Luftwaffes Tactical Air Force Wing 31 Boelcke, named after the World War I ace. The attached picture is RG sitting in the cockpit of their airplane, the Eurofighter. The LtCol is Stefan Kleinhaver, the Wing Commander. The trip home was on the Queen Mary II for Caroles birthday. The visit to the Wing was the result of a book I am writing on Oswald Boelcke and the Blue Max. I built an Albatros D. II that is now in the San Diego Air & Space Museum. I had so much material on its famous pilot, I started the book, which is about 380 pages. The Foreword is by Ron Fogleman, and the Afterword is by a former 31st Wing Commander. Mike Loh has seen part of it. Busy looking for a publisher. A German magazine is publishing my short article on Boelcke, and Air Force Magazine has a longer version for review. Id be interested in hearing from anyone who has inroads into the publishing business for either articles or books. Thats all for now. I have to go race my sailboat. Check 6! rg "
Andi Biancur sends the following report on the memorial service for Doug Rekenthaler at USAFA: "Several of the local members of the Class of '60 joined [Doug's] family and friends in celebrating his life as he was laid to rest here at the Academy on 2 September. The service, held in the Cadet Chapel, was followed by a poignant ceremony at the cemetery. Present at the event were Ron & Connie Yates, John & Deanne McCullough, Dick & Sally Sexton, Fred & Marylou Porter, Jim & Mary Waddle, Jack & Elaine Brush, Bruce Mosier, Jim Glaza, Andi Biancur, Denis Walsh, Pete Roe, Tony Bilello, Norm Haller, and Ed Montgomery '59, as well as several of Doug's friends and business associates."
E. Montgomery, J. McCullough, R. Yates, D. Sexton, N. Haller, T. Bilello, F. Porter, J. Brush
Norm Haller represented us at the memorial service for Doug Rekenthaler on 2 September with these words:
"Doug, how we miss you, technologist true, buoyant to the end, a genuine friend. Doug had boundless enthusiasm, looking past the health chasm, on to the next big deal; for business, a real feel! Early on we'd meet for lunch, and talk much. Later, he'd call by phone; to my "Hello," "Hi Guy," was his familiar reply. We'd talk technologies galore, new areas and opportunities to explore. Even more dialog with e-mails; at those, Doug was both terrific and prolific! So Doug, a long life, numerous accomplishments, many praises earned. To where it all began you've now returned. From your classmates of '60, R.I.P."
Norm prefaced this tribute to Doug with, ". . . many people attended yesterday, including family, many classmates, business associates and friends, etc. There was also a surprise near-flyby by two fighters just as the ceremony was ending! (Doug apparently had connections to authority beyond that of mere mortals.) Best regards, Norm"
Thank you, Norm.
Gordon Flygare sends this via Ken Alnwick: "Ken, When my father died in 2003, my sister and I put a few dollars in a scholarship at a high school that we were connected to. This year the winner was a young lady with the name of Lily McDonough. This is a picture of Lily with her high school lacrosse team.
"For some reason USAFA was slow in their response to her application, and so she has entered the Military Academy, Class of 2019. If we have any womens athletic contests with West Point, our team should be warned. Lily was adopted from China, and we all must be thankful that she is on our side. Gordon"
Thanks to George Lester who contributes this: "Hi, Everybody - I got some pictures from Bill Carnegie. That's Charlie Liggett standing next to "Mother Russia" in Berlin in 1958. The next picture is dated 2015. ... George."
Les Querry reports the passing of our classmate Tom Seebode. Details are sparse; Tom had been suffering from form of ensephalopathy for some time, but the actual cause of death is not currently available.
An obituary published in Columbia, SC newspaper The State can be viewed here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestate/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-frederick-seebode&pid=175658530. This obituary is repeated and other information is provided on the Thompson Funeral Home's website at http://www.thompsonsfuneral.com/obituaries/Thomas-Seebode/#!/Obituary. A guest book is also available at the latter site.
Addendum: A funeral service will be held during our 55-yr Reunion on 2 Oct 2015 at 1530 at the USAFA Cemetery.
Les Hobgood checks in with Team Hobgood's exploits at the 2015 BBORR: "For those of you that really cant wait for my yearly Big Bend Open Road Race update, here tiz. True to the last update, my daughter Rani Hobgood did procure a 2003 Corvette Coupe that has an integrated roll bar and qualifies for the higher speed classes in the BBORR. We entered in the 130 MPH class and came in 6th (1.8 seconds off in 118 miles of driving) which is not bad for our first shot at higher speeds. I drove the first leg and posted 165.2 MPH through the speed trap. On the return leg, Rani cut it at 165.3 just to show she could beat the old man. The rules allow you to go up to 168 MPH to attain the 130 average. While we did not place in the race, we did come in 1st in the Victory Dance Contest again this year. This is a very closed and private event created by us that do not drive all that precisely but very competitively. Yes, you have broken the code, we were the only contestants. We have a good chance of doing well in this closed event next year. And, by the way we were officially sponsored by the Boerne Brewery which was proudly displayed on our Team Hobgood T Shirt. This supports my core values of fast cars, beautiful women, bad golf and good beer."
Howie Whitfield sends the following: "At the end of June, 24-29, I took a white water rafting trip with the Sierra Club on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in central Idaho, a wilderness area. Below is a description of the trip and a couple of pictures.
Best wishes,
Howie
"The trip staged out of Stanley, Idaho, population of 50, elevation 6,500 feet, in the center of the spectacular Sawtooth Mountains Basin. There were 24 in our group, larger than normal, plus 6 guides. Everyone in our group were in their 40s and up. The guides were in their 20s. They provided each of us a large dry bag to carry a sleeping bag, personal clothes, etc., that isnt accessible during the day and a smaller dry bag for during the day items, rain jacket, etc.. We traveled by a school bus 2 hours over paved then dirt roads to the put-in at Boundary Creek. From Boundary Creek it is 100 miles to the end of Middle Fork where it intersects the main Salmon River. Over the six days on the river we encountered roughly 15 rapids per day with 2-3 being class 3 or 4. Water temperature started out about 50 degrees. Night temperatures started out in the high 40s. Daytime temperature about 75. We started at about 6,000 ft altitude and descended to 3,000 ft. Temperatures warmed each day and night until they were unseasonably about 90 the last day or so.
"At the launch site our rubber boats, four large ones, and two smaller paddle-boats were slid down a wooden chute to the river. There were a number of other groups also getting ready to launch. The large rubber boats are maneuvered by two large oars. The paddle-boats held 6 paddlers, 3 on each side and one experienced rudder person in the rear. Paddle boat volunteers were given hard hats to wear. We all were given personal flotation devices to wear while on the river.
"We stopped for lunch each day and a few other stops to hike points of interest. We all helped unload the boats and then took our large dry bag and tents and looked for a place to set up our tents for the night. The guides fixed meals. Each group on the river bids with the Forest Service for their camp sites. There were three other groups on the river we encountered off and on. We stopped along the river to hike and visit four sites of interest. Two were large grottos with waterfalls. One was a natural hot spring and one had pictographs made by the 'Sheepeater' Indians, an offshoot of the larger Shoshoni tribe. Historically these Sheepeater Indians used dogs to carry their goods and not horses because of the very steep and rugged terrain.
"The second day the guides inflated four kayaks called 'rubber duckees,' two single and two doubles. I paddled in one of the duckees which negotiated the rapids remarkably well. Even in the roughest rapids none of our boats flipped. The bus met us and drove us back to Stanley via the town of Salmon. The first stop we made everyone was buying ice cream cones. "
Gordon Flygare checks in with the news that he has just had a pacemaker installed as follows: "Still ticking on battery power. ETIC in time for reunion."
Tony Burshnick sends this bad news:
"HOWDY GENTS,
"Well, I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but I need to inform you that one of our classmates, Doug Rekenthaler, passed away on [Tuesday]. He was suffering from the effects of leukemia, and the follow on treatments. I got the word from Norm Haller. He was called by Doug's wife Vicki. She needed to get a contact at USAFA where Doug had always said he wanted to be buried. Norm called me, and I contacted Andi Biancur. Andi took care of things at USAFA and put Vicki in touch with the proper folks at USAFA. ... That is all the info I have at this time."
" I will stay in touch with Haller and Biancur if anything else comes up.
TONY***"
Note: while it is true that Doug was battling leukemia, the apparent cause of death was heart failure. Here's a link to the funeral home's web page where you can sign a guest book: http://http://www.staufferfuneralhome.com/notices/Douglas-Rekenthaler
Ken Alnwick reports on the latest gathering of the Gulf-Coast gang:
"On July 12, 2015, the NW Florida contingent of the Class of '60 convened at Ali's Bistro in Fort Walton Beach for their now annual Redneck Riviera Mini-Reunion. Attending were Frank and Faye Gorham, Bill Gillis, John McClure, Aaron Thrush, Mike and Emma Clarke, Ken and Judy Alnwick, and Pete King and his new bride Myke.
Frank Gorham's current occupation is as the Chief Flying Instructor for a small aviation training company operation out of Panama City International. 'Lots of fun teaching both novice and advanced students', says Frank. John McClure is an Assistant Public Defender in Moultrie, Georgia. He recently obtained a 'not guilty' verdict for an inmate falsely charged with bringing marijuana and tobacco across prison guard lines at the Colquitt County prison, which is located at our old Spence primary training base. His next trial will be a murder case. His defense will be self-defense--his client shot a drug dealer. 'Deserves a medal!' John said. Bill Gillis reports that they at last have an 'empty nest.' Kath is recovering from a hip replacement. They are currently divesting a BMW and the last few boats as a prelude to pulling up stakes and relocating to their home (with pool) in Arizona. Aaron Thrush continues his public service to the community by leading an international affairs seminar called 'Great Decisions' for elder hostel seniors from January through March. Ken and Judy Alnwick once again mustered their entire clan to the FWB/Hurlburt Fld. area, where they first met 51 years ago at the Hurlburt O'Club. Mike Clarke recently received robotic laparoscopic surgery. The robot closed two hernias and a tear in his abdominal muscle. Mike is now pain free. The robot's name was DaVinci."
Ken also passed along this message from Don Stevens:
". . . Howie and Judy Bronson recently visited our Class of '60 outpost along the Penobscot Bay in Mid-Coast Maine. This shot of them with Al and Gail Johnson and Don and Joannie Stevens was taken on July 15th at the Lucerne Beach Club on Phillips Lake near Dedham, Maine. Since it was slightly overcast, we adjourned to the Sea Dog Brewery in Bangor for lunch and tale telling. Billy and Gayle Delony were not available to join us, but the Johnson's, Stevens', and Delony's all live within 10 miles of each other along the coast in Maine (in the summer and fall) living 'the way life ought to be'.
"I had not been stationed with either Howie or Al since pilot training so we reminisced about the similarities and differences in our careers and some of the experiences we had in those years we were apart. The only tale worth repeating might have been when Al and Howie compared notes on their sequential award of the Marginally Magnificent Award given to Al in 2014 and Howie in 2015 at the annual mini-ski in Utah. Both seem to be recovering from their near life threatening injuries which one would think older guys like ourselves would carefully avoid the risk of incurring, but then again... You can see from the picture that Howie is using a single crutch, but more for stability than support.
"Al is as entertaining as ever and all of the girls are more beautiful with each passing day. Al and Gail live in Camden. Joannie and I are about 6 miles down the coast in Rockland. Billy and Gayle Delony are another 4 miles further down the coast in Thomaston. Except for a few health issues which seem common to folks our age, we have enjoyed being neighbors for the past few years. Maine truly is one of the best kept secrets in our great country and we thoroughly enjoy mild summers and colorful falls here. Our welcome mat is always out and we love to have more classmates discover our world. Winters here are another story, beginning typically in October and running through to April or even May, so we all retreat to Florida or DC.
Nulli Secundus,
Don Stevens"
Tony Burshnick's report on the DC Group's recent luncheon has been posted to the Local '60 Groups section. Access it from the menu on the Home Page or directly HERE.
Back in January, we had a nice article about R.G. Head's being honored for donating his scale model aircraft to institutions in his community (see it in the Class News Archives). As an addendum, Mike Loh sends, ". . . Here are the two pics of RG and Oswald Boelcke's Albatross D II WW I fighter."
Denis Walsh sends the following regarding the farewell for George Luck at USAFA: " ... it was a great turn out for Georges send off. An especially good representation from the Washington area. "You can see Georges wife in the front row, seated. Next to her is her son Tom. "It was a rainy day here in Colorado while it has been parched in the Northwest. We will miss George. He did what most of us really wanted to do. Flew 74 different airplanes and acquired 14,000 hours. "Wayne F. Kendall delivered a great eulogy in the chapel, which preceded this interment at the cemetery. Denis " Jim Waddle adds, "As best I recall the following were there: Denis, of course, plus Dick Schehr, Pete Roe, Jim and Mary Waddle, Tony and Carol Bilello, Chuck and Edie Diver, Nels Delisanti, Vick Yoakum, Jim and Jennie Glaza, Jim Bujalski, Wayne and Barb Kendall, Dick and Sally Sexton. Also Ed Montgomery (59) was there."
