11 July 2007
Another great luncheon for the DC '60 at the Springfield Country Club. Sorry more of u could not have attended but summer is a busy time. Jerry de la Cruz and Bill goodyear were tied up with the grandchildren, Ken Alnwick was at his summer home in Florida, Al Johnson was at his winter home in Maine, A bit far for Bill Hales to come, Doug Req just had his hip replaced and had to work the farm out in Iowa, Bob Odenweller had business committments as did Bill Carnegie. RG Head is now a native of California and Bob Fischer was just AWOL.
It was still a lively luncheon: Mike Loh expressed his pleasure with the new AOG Board and I took the other side. Don't think we solved anything. Mike is adamant about using the new Zoomie Nation web sight as a communications link. I would like to give our new Ace Holman web sight a chance. This too remained an open issue. Maybe at the next get together we can reach an agreement. Tom Burke was a marshall at the recent Tiger Woods/AT&T golf tournament here in Washington. He gave us a great rundown on the tournament, the players, and the chances that the tournament will continue in the years to follow. Ralph Lalime told us how we got the motto Nulli Secundus. Seems the first try was Nulus Secundus which meant second to nothing according to the Latin experts. Anyway Ralph straightened them out so that we have our proper motto. Ralph and I were also on the NBC Channel 4 News last week. We were enjoying Starbucks and a cigar when the reporter and cameraman came up and asked if we would care to comment on the recently passed Virginia law that levees additional fines for gross traffic offenses: drunk driving, excessive speed etc. I took the airlifter approach and said "Hang Them". Ralph took the fighter pilot approach and said "Give Them a Second Chance" It made for good commentary on the 5 and 6 o'clock news. Tom Burke just had his tenth grandchild. Haller leads with 15. GJC Fries's youngest daughter will be married in April. George will then look for a retirement home. Leon Goodson enjoyed a trip to Oklahoma to watch his grandaughters reap a bunch of prizes and awards. He has a new super motor bike and continues to challenge the local traffic. Les Querry has set aside the 27th of October for another Falcon Roosting at his mountain top home. Put it on you calendars and if you have classmates in town invite them to come. Les still needs your pictures, slides and old tapes to prepare a super DVD for the fiftieth. Bill Taylor has recovered from his hip surgeries. He is still deeply involved in trying to help the Air Force absorb all its new pilots and determine who will fly the UAV's. Ralph Lalimes son just completed a solo kayak trip down the Potomac River, quite a feat. Norm Haller has an additinal job of dog catcher, almost missed the luncheon! He and Liz will soon head out to CO for Liz's 50th high school reunion. He also enjoyed a nice visit with John Kuenzel and discussed the financial management career field. Mike Clarke continues to run the Air Force Board at the National Academy of Science. He says he will never retire. His wife Nancy is completing her 27th year as the Chief Floral Designer for the White House. If Hillary wins the presidency she will never let Nancy retire. Mike will probably ending up working for his buddy BILL!!!!!!!
Well that is the latest from the 51st Anniversary Luncheon. If I have left anything out feel free to make ammendments and additions.
We have not set a date for another luncheon since we have the AF/Navy game in Sept and Les's event in October. See you there.
16 April2007
Well it was another great luncheon but the weather cut down a bit on our usual attendance Bob Fischer gave it a good try but the winds ,rain, and floods caused him to RTB Mike Loh was going to come but the Noreaster made him change his mind I have to hand it to George Fries though Neither rain, snow, sleet or hail can deter him when he commits to attending He comes up from the Williamsburg area Bill Taylor, Joe Higgins, Bill Goodyear and Bill Hales had previous commitments Doug Rekenthaller is now living in Sioux City, Iowa so that is a bit far to come for lunch Bob Odenweller had to get out his bi-monthly magazine so he too was busy.
Ralph Lalime lead off the discussion with a great rundown on this years Miniski Sounds like a great time was had by all Jerry de la Cruz and Al Johnson also attended from the local area Ralph and his wife, Darlene just finished another great vacation at San Abel Island, FL He got back just in time for the luncheon Al Johnson also recently returned from Maine where he and Gale are supervising the building of their new home on the Main Coast When it is done you are all invited for a visit, right, Al? Al gave us a rundown on the class effort to raise at least $250,000 for the class gift at our fiftieth reunion Although $280,000 has been pledged only $100,000 has been collected A lot of us have not paid up!!!!! We all agreed that we need to pay up if you pledged and if you didn't pledge do so or send in a contribution Nuf said!!!!!
Some of you are old enough that you have to start emptying your IRA. Ralph Lalime will check on the tax laws to see if you can divert some of those funds to this class gift with no tax implications More to follow when Ralph finishes the research Bill Hodson will very shortly be moving to Colorado Springs to be nearer the family I will get you all an address and new e-mail for him when that is all finalized As you know Bob Badger is working on his first novel. Looks like it may be ready by early December Now we have to help him find a publisher Les Querry is still working on the DVD for the reunion Send him you pictures from you career so we can see all of you from years gone by I may even let him have my SUMO tape Bill Carnegie was visiting his son, a State Dept. employee The son will soon leave for a three year tour in Guatamala Mike Clarke is still working for the National Academy of Science and is heavily involved with the AF Board and SOCOM projects He gave us a good run down on the Air Force which showed the CSAF has a lot of problems to solve as the services try to sort out the manpower issues Ken Alnwick just had rotator cuff surgery which seems to be effective He too is still working hard at earning a living over and above all the money the AF gives him Leon Goodson keeps getting younger Now he has a new super bike, a 180 horsepower Susuki Alnwick thinks he should invest in a casket!!!!!! Norm Haller teaches math on Tuesdays to home schoolers in the Front Royal area and still substitutes at Randolph Macon Academy He is still working to get Randolph Macon and the Academy Prep School officials together He is also VP of the local AF Association.
Well that about sums up the luncheon If I left anything out guys just add to this e-mail By the way I am going to convert my e-mail over to the Apple I Mac system. My new e-mail address will be: abursh@mac.com. I will still be able to use AOL for a few months but go ahead and use the mac. com at you convenience.
Once again it was great to see all of you Our next luncheon is planned for the 9th of July which is the anniversary of the day we entered USAFA
Enjoy the rest of spring!!!!
23 January2007
These luncheons just keep getting better and better.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First off, let me thank Tom Burke for setting up the meeting area at his golf club Everything was great: the food, the service and the booze Too bad we did not get our favorite room, but there is always next time.
I also want to thank all of you who came for taking time from your busy schedules to join in on the festivities Our long distance travelers were Mike Loh, George Fries and Bill Taylor from Southeast VA. and Joe Higgins from Charlottesville, VA.
Bob Odenweller and Bill Carnegie our New Jersey members had to cancel due to Bob's business ventures Doug Rek was working on a radar project for his business and had to be in Colorado Did you get stuck in the snow, Doug? RG Head was in San Diego doing some preliminary work for a future move. Norm Haller teaches on Tuesday in Front Royal so he had to regret Mike Clarke wanted to come but some last minute projects at his work site preempted the trip Mike, you do not owe any money but you are fined one cigar payable at the next luncheon.
Now here is a little run down on the rest of us. Bill Hodson is in his last semester of teaching here in NVA He has bought a house in C. Springs and will head West in the spring Al Johnson continues to build his retirement mansion in Maine and will PCS as soon as it is finished and he sells his VA house Les Querry continues work on his DVD for the reunion and again asks us all to get your favorite pictures to him Bob Badger is making so much money with his legal/aviation consulting that he had to stop work on his novel "Nulli Secundus: The Attack on the Brotherhood." We will all anxiously await the finished product!! Joe Higgins has moved to a condo in Charlottesville after spending the last few years in Nellysford, VA He is still helping to take care of Tommy Jefferson's home in Monticello If you are in the area stop by and Joe will give you a great tour of the place. Jerry de la Cruz is still taking college course, doing art shows and getting into photography Had a few back problems with stenosis, but is doing well enough to attend the mini ski out West in late Feb. George Fries wowed us with a story on a recent trip he made to NY to see the World Trade Center. He says that should be a "must see" for anyone visiting the Big Apple Tom Burke is still working for Electronic Systems at old Hanscom AFB Also expects the tenth grandchild this summer He may even catch Haller on that record Bill Taylor has pretty much recovered from all his medical crises. He is still working AF issues full time Leon Goodson cannot stop working and is back consulting for his old firm Says that is the only way he can insure his retirement pay!!!!!!!! Mike Loh is another full time consultant He told us that the Academy made a great decision when they hired the new basketball and football coaches After regaling us with stories about the coaches he predicted lots of victories Ralph Lalime, our space available expert, just finished up a nice three week vacation in Hawaii Transportation provided by the US Air Force Bob Fischer came down from PA where he still works at the Willow Grove Air Museum He is also writing aviation newsletters We sure have some talented guys in the group Finally, Ken Alnwick had a great story to tell about how he became a victim of identity theft and what we can do to keep it from happening to us, and how to recover if it does happen to us His book on John McLucas is now finished Interested? Check it out at the library Ken will now be doing some work for Homeland Defense after finishing up with the Office of Naval Research.
We could not decide on a date for the next luncheon so it was left up to Tom Burke and myself to set a date We will do that and let you all know We did talk about a function that would include the wives other than our stag luncheons Any ideas???????? Ken Alnwick is willing to take this on so drop him an e-mail with any suggestions.
Again, thank you all for making the luncheon another super event.
10 July 2006
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Well, it could not have been better!!!!!!!! This will go down as another great get together made more so by the importance of the day THE FIFTIETH.
First off I want to say to those who could not attend that we really missed you Doug Rekenthaler has just taken over as the CEO of the Radio-Hydro-Physics LLC and had to be up North to monitor one of the company projects He also attained his Law JD on 30 June Bob Odenweller was in Glasgow to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists It is a great honor and Bob was one of the youngest to do it It is on the same par in England as knighthood I guess we now have to call him SIR Robert!!!!!!!!!!! Bill Goodyear had a family vacation obligation Thanks to Les Querry we got to hear BILL After our Doolie summer we had a meal in Mitchell Hall just before we came under the control of the Class of 1959 Bill made a stirring speech which Les RECORDED and entitled the Spirit of 60 It was that and more I only wish all of you could have heard it Mike Loh had a family obligation and Hales and Elsia are just too far away The only one I could not account for was Bill Taylor Bill is all ok with you? Leon Goodson was a no show so I just marked him AWOL.
A quick update on the ones attending: RG Head will soon be moving to San Diego He says he is half retired Son Tim will soon run the Boulder, CO Airport Bob Badger and Liliane want to move to Jacksonville, FL. It all hinges on when they can sell the house here in VA Norm Haller was selected as the outstanding member of the Northern Shenendoah Chapter (435) of the Air Force Association. Great going Norm!. Ralph and Darlene Lalime have a new granddaughter, Sydney The Alnwick's daughter just had granddaughter number 2 Another beautiful addition to the family GJC recently had another grandbaby so that is 10 Al and Gale Johnson will soon be leaving Virginia and heading for Maine All they have to do is sell the VA house Joe Higgins is moving from Wintergreen, WV and will soon be set up in Charlottsville, VA Finally Bob Fischer is a doscent at the Willow Grove Air Museum If you are in the area stop in Bob says it is a great air exhibition.
I asked everybody to relate a story of their first day at the Academy It was amazing the number that could not remember the first day!!!!!!!!!!!! Bob Odenweller remembered the night before when he met Kim Novak at the Brown Palace Hotel. Only problem she wanted a date on 9 July The rest is history I remember Lt Doss L. Smith making me drop my new suitcase and it took three tries before I figured out DROP Then he had me put my Airman's cap in my pocket and turn my military buckle inside out By that time I was so upset I don't remember any thing else about the first day Elsea and Querry also remember the suitcase dropping routine Al Johnson remembered standing next to Lt. Guy Hecker thinking he was another cadet Al had some previous military training so he whispered to Hecker, " Just do what I do and you will be OK." Al really enjoyed the rest of the day Ken Alnwick was asked the name of his roommate and could not remember it So at the evening meal formation he had to get in front of the flight to meet his roommate, Gary Crew We were all told to bring a pair of black shoes for the swearing in ceremony. GJC Fries did but they had tassles on them The ATO's quickly had him tear them off Ralph Lalime rembered that while in the processing line Neal Reavly was told to go to the second floor of the barracks He immediately took off and climbed the fire escape ladder The ATO's were so surprised they just let him go in the fire escape door. I may have missed some of the stories but the day was really a blur to most of us.
Les Querry gave us a rundown on the kinds of pictures he needs for the 50 th reunion CD/DVD project Bottom line is for all of us to send clear meaningful pictures to Les ASAP He will copy them and return them to you. We want pictures not only of your cadet days but more importantly of your active duty time. He may be able to use VHS tapes but hang tight until he calls for them That is a whole new project and we may not be able to do that before the reunion.
Ralph Lalime will be our representative at the Superintendent's conference later this month He really needs some input from all of us as to what we want the Supt to discuss, explain etc. about the present status of the Academy system Now is the time and we have about a week to get the info to Ralph.
Fund raising was again a big issue We do not have a satisfactory answer as to what fund raising costs I will take on the project and try to get some answers before the next meeting Likewise there was no good explanation as to why many of us were asked for different amounts of money to fund the Class Reunion Project We left that up to each individual There are 184 living grads from our class We need to collect between 150,000 and 250,000 dollars Do the math and tell me where we need to expend the collecting effort Asking 10 to 13 grads to donate $10,000 each does not cut it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, that is a recap of the day I hope I have not left anything out or missed anyone's contribution, If I did please make corrections We are looking for a get together in October Les Querry may sponsor that on 21 Oct at his home Let me know if any of you have other ideas for the next get together.
Andi, we enjoyed the pictures of your get together I offered a free lunch to anyone who could identify all your attendees I won the bet. We will send you a picture of the DC '60 group. Can you identify all of us? Rosie, let me know if you need any other info. DC " 60, Andi told me that the consensus of those who returned the reunion survey lean toward a reunion in the early autumn around a football game We will have to wait to lock in a date because the football schedule won't be out until the spring of 2010 Andi noted that the fiftieth gift will probably be the last class gift After that you will be on your own to donate, give a gift etc Feel free to contact Andi on any of these issues.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!!!!!!!!!!!
3 April 2006
Well it was another great luncheon for the fifteen stalworths of DC "60 that could attend Bob Odenweller was all tied up with the editing of a book for the New Zealand gang that just is not going right However, he got a gold medal for his editing of the Collection Club Philatelist Bob had some other good news items for his successful family but we will have to wait for the next luncheon to hear about them Joe Higgins was in the middle of selling his home and naturally that took precedence over the lunch Good thing is he may be moving closer to DC Bob Fischer just finished a long vacation in Florida and needed the time to catch up RG Head is lost Some think he may be making plans to move out west RG send us all an e-mail and let us know what is going on in your active life Ralph Lalime is vacationing in Sanabel, Florida and Bill Goodyear was enjoying some quality time with the grand kids.
We took some time to note the good work Norm Haller is doing for the Air Force Association in Front Royal,VA His picture appears in last months AFA magazine Al Johnson was also recognized for his skiing program at the mini ski in Utah Despite a few cracked ribs he is doing well. He did mention that Howie Bronson and George Pupich were given the Marginally Magnificent Ski Award. He also announced he retired from AFBA as of 1 March Jerry DeLaCruz also suffered some injuries at the mini ski so it must have been quite a session In addition Jerry brought us up to speed on Jerry Mason who as some of you know is fighting ALS I encourage all of you to drop an e-mail to Jerry Mason. (jerbob@ncplus.net) Jerry we will stay in touch Hang tough!!!!!!!
Les Querry brought a tape of the speech President Eisenhower made to us in Mitchell Hall in 1959 Quite impressive and his message still rings loud and clear If you recall you would remember that he said he liked the idea that the Academy would be in his favorite state At time he was given an honorary diploma with the Class of "59. Les is still looking for pictures of the 45 th Reunion so if you have some you would like to share check in with Les. Leon Goodson is considering retirement in June. Ken Alnwick is thinking about retirement but not right away (His daughter Melanie can still be seen on the Fox News Channel on Sundays). On the other hand Mike Clarke said he will never retire. He likes bossing around guys like Mike Loh and Leon who consult for the NAS. Tom Burke, another non retiree, still runs his company TEB Assoc. and is making too much money to retire He is in second place with grand kids at nine. Bill Hodson still teaches at Marymount University and tells us that is wife Fran will soon receive her masters from there Bill Taylor is also working full time and although fully recovered from his second hip operation he still had the docs working on the gall bladder, colon and some of the connecting pipes He is doing well GJC Fries has taken the year off and is doing some traveling California, Idaho and Cleveland Bill Carnegie is so young he is still getting kids married off However, he did claim one grandchild to compete with Badger and Lalime.
The highlight though was a discussion led by Mike Loh about a session he had earlier in the year with the new Superintendent Gen John Regni. Mike is impressed with the direction the General is taking the Academy and from Mike's briefing we all agreed The latest Checkpoints covers these issues so I suggest you read that and if you have questions give me a buzz Bill Taylor also covered the problems we have getting enough qualified pilots into the fighter business He also noted that the Academy does not fill its quota of pilot slots. A big issue that should be a discussion item at a future meeting.
Finally a request from Andi Biancur to send in your questionair about the 50th reunion If you went to the 45 th you should have filled one out If you did not, cannot remember or don't know what I am talking about let me or Andi know and we will send you a copy Also Rosie Cler reminds us that there will be a mini reunion in Colorado for the AF/Navy game The Academy Hotel will be reunion Headquarters.
Again another great luncheon We did not decide on the next meeting, but 8 June could be a candidate Let me know if you have any druthers.
5 December 2005
WELL, DESPITE THE SNOW WE DID MANAGE TO ASSEMBLE A GREAT GROUP OF 12 DC '60 STALWARTHS TO ENJOY A GREAT LUNCHEON AND SOME FINE CONVERSATION THE WEATHER GOT TO BILL CARNEGIE AND BOB ODENWELLER BOB FISCHER HURT HIS LEG WHILE SHOVELING SNOW UP IN PA, AND JOE HIGGINS HAD JURY DUTY MIKE CLARKE HAD TO WORK AS DID DOUG REK. MIKE LOH, GJC AND AL JOHNSON MAYBE AL WAS SKIING, I COULDN'T BREAK THE CODE ON HIS E-MAIL AL, I DID HAVE YOUR PIN, THANKS THANKS TO THE REST OF YOU WHO ADDED TO THE PIN COLLECTION ONE LAST ABSENTEE TOM BURKE!!!! WHERE WERE YOU , TOM? WE CERTAINLY ENJOYED THE USE OF YOUR CLUB.
BILL GOODYEAR HAD A CAMERA SO HE WILL SEND YOU ALL SOME PICTURES.
NORM HALLER WAS CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY SO WITH A SOLO BIRTHDAY SONG FROM LEON GOODSON JOINED BY OUR CHORUS WE MANAGED TO WISH HIM A HAPPY DAY NORM HAS FIFTEEN GRANDKIDS AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED NEW GRANDBABIES IN THE BADGER, LALIME AND BURKE FAMILIES CONGRATS TO THE NEW GRANDPARENTS.
KEN ALNWICK LEAD AN ASSUALT ON FORMER ATO BIERSAK AND RALPH HAD A GREAT STORY ABOUT ASSUALTING FORMER FIFTY NINER LAKENAUGH (sp?) KEN IS STILL WORKING TOO HARD WITH HIS COMPANY, ALNWICK DESIGN GROUP.Ltd HIS DAUGHTER MELANIE STILL CAN BE SEEN SUNDAY MORNINGS ON FOX CHANNEL 5 SHE ALSO GAVE KEN A NEW GRANDDAUGHTER RALPH LALIME REGALED US WITH A GREAT SPACE A TRAVEL STORY ON HIS RETURN FROM A VACATION IN HAWAII TOO LONG TO RELATE BUT HE GOT FROM HICKAM AFB TO HIS HOME IN SPRINGFIELD, VA FOR $16 NOW THAT IS A SPACE A EXPERT.
BILL GOODYEAR TALKED ABOUT FLYING WITH DENNIS WALSH AND KEN HAD A GOOD STORY ABOUT FLYING LIGHT AIRPLANES I AM STILL A FOUR ENGINE GUY BILL TAYLOR SEEMS TO BE COMING ALONG FINE WITH THE RENEWED HIP HE ALSO GAVE US A SUPER RUNDOWN ON WHERE THE AIR FORCE IS HEADED WITH ITS PILOT PROBLEM AND THE FUTURE OF THE FIGHTER FORCE LEON GOODSON IS DOING SOME STATESIDE TOURING IN PHILLY AND SOON THE CAROLINAS HE STILL RIDES THE BIKE!!!!!!!!!!! LES QUERRY IS BUILDING UP HIS WINE CELLAR AND WHEN NOT TOO BUSY WORKING ON WALKING TRAILS UP NEAR HIS PALATIAL MOUNTAIN TOP HOME LES PROMISED TO GET A DECK BUILT SO I CAN BETTER ENJOY HIS POLISH VODKA AND CIGARS WHILE ENJOYING THE SCENERY. IN THE NEAR FUTURE LES WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HIS IDEA TO PRODUCE ANOTHER PHOTO CD WE NEED TO HELP HIM OUT ON THIS PROJECT WHEN IT COMES ABOUT.
JERRI DELACRUZ STILL DABBLES IN ART AND HAS SOME OF HIS WORK IN A SPECIAL DISPLAY AREA HE WILL INVITE YOU ALL TO HIS NEXT SHOWING NORM, THE BIRTHDAY KID, IS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION OF FRONT ROYAL HE ALSO TEACHES IN A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN THERE IS A MAN THAT IS INVOLVED.!!!!! RG HEAD AND HIS COMPANY CONTINUE TO HELP THE NAVY WITH THEIR OCEAN RANGES SEEMS THAT SONAR AND MAMMALS ARE IN CONSTANT CONFLICT RG WILL PROBABLY RETIRE FOR GOOD IN A YEAR AND MOVE ON OUT TO CALIFORNIA BOB BADGER STAYS UP TO SPEED ON CLASS OF ' 60 PROJECTS FOR THE AOG HIS COMMENTS LEAD TO A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE WILL BE DOING FOR THE FIFTIETH REUNION GIFT.
THAT LEAVES US TO ASK YOU, ANDI BIANCUR, JUST WHERE ARE WE IN THE FUND RAISING? SOME OF THE GUYS MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE A SUBSTANTIAL GIFT, BUT WANT TO DO IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR FOR TAX PURPOSES CAN YOU TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND FILL US IN? WE ALSO SPENT SOME TIME DISCUSSING YOUR E-MAIL ABOUT THE ARC NEEDLESS TO SAY NO ONE WAS PLEASED BUT WE ARE STILL IN A QUANDRY AS TO WHERE WE ARE HEADED NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN DC WE NEED TO MEET WITH YOU AND GET THE UNGARBLED WORD.
WELL, THAT PRETTY WELL SUMS UP THE DAY HERE IS WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, AND MAY 2006 BE A SUPER YEAR FOR ALL OF YOU.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR MONDAY 3 APRIL 2006 SINCE AIR FORCE ACADEMY FOUNDERS DAY FALLS ON SATURDAY WE WILL GET TOGETHER ON MONDAY IF TOM BURKE CAN ARRANGE IT WE WILL GO BACK TO THE COUNTRY CLUB.
1 April 2005
WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A GREAT LUNCHEON THOROUGHLY ENJOYED BY ALL IN ATTENDANCE!!!!!!!!!!
MIKE LOH LED OFF THE DISCUSSION PERIOD WITH A GREAT RUNDOWN ON THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE AOG, THE ARC AND THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS I TRIED TO PUT SOME HISTORY BEHIND THE CONTROVERSY BUT MIKE KEPT US IN THE PRESENT THE BOTTOM LINE THOUGH IS WE ALL NEED TO READ UP ON THE ISSUES, WHICH ARE FOUND AT THE AOG WEB SITE, THEN WE NEED TO VOTE WHEN TH ISSUE COMES UP IN MAY MIKE CLARKE WAS GOING TO BRING US UP TO DATE ON THE SEX ISSUES AT AFA BUT I GUESS HE WAS OVERWHELMED BY MIKE LOH'S PRESENTATION NEEDLESS TO SAY YOU HAD TO BE THEIR TO APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE GUYS WHO BROUGHT A PIN FOR THE DC '60 FLAG IT IS LOOKING GOOD BUT I STILL NEED A PIN FROM LALIME,TAYLOR,REQENTHALLER, HODSON, QUERRY, ALNWICK, GOODSON AND RG HEAD THE FLAG WILL BE AT ALL OUR GET TOGETHERS AND AS WE EACH MOVE ON TO THAT RUNWAY IN THE SKY WE WILL PASS IT ON UNTIL THERE ARE JUST TWO OF US LEFT IN A POCKET IN THE BACK WILL BE $100 BILL THE LAST TWO GUYS CAN BUY A BOTTLE OF THEIR FAVORITE BOOZE AND TWO GLASSES WHEN THEY HAVE HAD THEIR FILL THEY SMASH THE GLASSES AND SEND THE FLAG TO THE USAFA MUSEUM HECK WE DESERVE THE KIND OF RECOGNITION THE RAIDERS CUPS GET, DON'T WE????
ALSO A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE GUYS WHO COME FROM A LONG WAY OFF BILL CARNEGIE AND BOB ODENWELLER DRIVE DOWN FROM NORTH JERSEY BOB FISCHER CAME DOWN FROM PA MIKE LOH AND GJC FRIES COME UP FROM SE VIRGINIA AND JOE HIGGENS MAKES THE DRIVE FROM SW VIRGINIA.
RALPH LALIME AND DARLENE WERE VACATIONING IN FLORIDA, BOB BADGER WAS IN COLORADO SPRINGS AT THE DINNER FOR RON YATES, BILL TAYLOR HAD WORK IN CALIFORNIA, ALNWICK HAD A LAST MINUTE JOB REQUIREMENT AND NORM HALLER HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PLUMBER!!!!!!!! I THINK BILL HALES IS STILL ON HIS HONEYMOON IN SC, BUT ONE OF THESE DAYS HE WILL BE BACK JERRY DELACRUZ WAS SETTING UP HIS LATEST ART EXHIBITION GOOD LUCK, JERRY.
A FEW TIDBITS: BOB ODENWELLER'S BOOK SOLD OUT IN THE FIRST EDITION HE IS NOW SERVING AS THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONS TOP STAMP MAGAZINE LES QUERRY IS STILL ENJOYING HIS MOUNTAIN TOP HOME AND WORKING WITH THE CHECKPOINTS EDITOR TO MAKE LOTS OF THE EARLY PICTURES OF USAFA AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US. BILL GOODYEAR IS GETTING HIS PRIVATE PILOTS LICENSE SO HE CAN SHARE THE JOY OF FLYING WITH HIS GRANDKIDS AFTER A FLORIDA VACATION BOB FISCHER IS BACK AT WORK WITH THE WILLOW GROVE, PA HISTORICAL SOCIETY WORKING ON OLD AIRPLANES NOW THAT BUSCH GARDENS HAS REOPENED FOR THE TOURIST SEASON GJC IS BACK TO WORK HE STILL HAS TO PAY FOR THE KIDS COLLEGE TOM BURKE IS DOING WELL WITH HIS BUSINESS AND IS TRYING TO CONVINCE HIS KIDS TO MAKE HIM THE GRAND DADDY LEADER LOOK OUT ,NORM LEON GOODSON IS ENJOYING THE RETIRED LIFE BILL CARNEGIE JUST GOT BACK FROM WATCHING A FEW GAMES IN THE GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE BILL HODSON IS STILL TEACHING AT MARYMOUNT U JOE HIGGINS SURPRISED US BY TELLING US HE HAD A GRAND DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE HE ALSO HELPS RUN MONTICELLO IN HIS SPARE TIME MIKE CLARKE RUNS THE AF SCIENCE AND TECH BOARD FOR THE NATIONAL ACADEMY HIS WIFE, NANCY HAS BEEN ON THE WHITE HOUSE STAFF FOR 24 YEARS MIKE COUNSELED EACH OF THE PRESIDENTS SHE HAS WORKED FOR AL JOHNSON STILL WORKS HARD BUT HE HAS HIS EYES SET ON A MAINE RETIREMENT MIKE LOH STAYS BUSY WITH HIS MANY CONSULTING JOBS AND IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP KEEP THE USAF STRONG.
I TOLD THE FOLKS THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK UNDER THE KNIFE IT IS GETTING VERY HARD FOR ME TO WALK BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STRENGTH IN THE BACK AND LEGS CAUSED BY THE SPINAL STENOSIS SO ON 27 JUNE THE SURGEONS AT WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER WILL AGAIN OPEN UP MY BACK AND SCRAPE AWAY THE BONE BOTH INSIDE THE SPINAL COLUMN AND ALONG THE BACK BONE THEY WILL THEN INSERT SCREWS AND METAL RODS HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP BUT IT DOES NOT CURE STENOSIS I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.
WE DID NOT SCHEDULE A LUNCHEON IN JULY SINCE MOST OF YOU WILL BE GOING TO THE CLASS REUNION IN JUNE RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON HOLD UNTIL THE AF/NAVY GAME IN OCTOBER TOM BURKE MAY TRY TO GET A SMALL GROUP OF GOLFERS TOGETHER IN JULY MORE ON THAT LATER.
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. ANOTHER GREAT LUNCHEON I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ME TO GET TOGETHER AS WE DO SOME OF YOU TODAY EXPRESSED THOSE SAME FEELINGS WE SHALL CARRY ON.